The Importance of Being Lucky in Landscape Photography

These two shots of the same spot were taken with the same camera, same lens, almost the same settings, at approximately the same hour of the day, yet five months apart.

The season has decidedly changed, from dry to rainy one. The difference of mood and overall tone is astounding.

Oftentimes, when we travel to some place, we just have to make do with whatever in front of us. We can't be lucky all the time, can we? :)

Ode to My Mother

You know in movies, when the main protagonists are losing their loved ones, how they’d lament and wish they could spend one more day together, and then cue some sort of tear-jerking orchestration. I’ve always thought that those kind of scenes were a tad too melodramatic.

How wrong was I.

Apparently, there’s nothing like losing your family, mothers, fathers, sons or daughters, sisters and brothers. It really leaves a hole in your heart like no other.

Forty days have gone since my mother passed away, yet the grief and the sorrow still lingers. Especially since, she left us so suddenly. None of my family was prepared of her being gone. She was just so healthy and cheerful in that morning.

Anyway, so there I was, in our family living room in my hometown, one of the more unreligious person you’d ever find, reading passages from the Holy Quran. I did sometimes read the whole translation curiously, because truth be told, I was doubtful of the relevance of that particular verses. However, I kept reading them knowing that she would be sad otherwise.

I wrote a piece in my blog about my father a while back. When he found out about it from my in law, I was told that he was so touched he had tears in his eyes. And I know deep down my mom probably wondering when I was going to write about her. I was going to, truthfully, but somehow it got postponed. Then all of a sudden, she’s not here anymore. I am disappointed at myself so much for this.

My mother was the real ambassador of our little family. She was fluent in five traditional languages, and got along very well with the neighbors or organizations she’s into. The one who single handedly kept everything beautiful in our home. Everything just seems so drab and empty now that she’s not among us anymore.

If I have even an ounce of creativity in me, pretty sure that it belongs in her gene pool. It’s just I don’t have her tact and grace in social life.

My father and I talked the other day mourning the fact that two most social members of our ever so decreasing family, both have gone now. I on the other hand have always been built like him, timid and awkward when socializing with other people.

I know that one could get carried away exaggerating facts when talking about one’s family. However, my late mom and late sis were indeed very well liked throughout their life. The many people that visited us during their memorial service were a testament to that. I’ve got to thank them for their prayers, hopefully it will somewhat summated to my inconsistent and unreligious way of praying for her.

Forty days have gone and here’s an ode to you, Mom. I’m just throwing the sentiments out in the air, hoping that it will reach to wherever you are now. I’m truly sorry I didn’t write it sooner, but know that you always live in my memory. Me, Dad and Fitra miss you so much …

Argh there goes that tears again …