First day in the Maldives

Hi Chia!

So a quick post on our first day in Male.

We woke up feeling exhausted, the time difference was a bit of a challenge (we are 3 hours behind Perth), however we got ourselves up and out of bed.

Here are some pics.

Our view from the balcony:




Male all flagged up with political fever. When we arrived last night, our taxi actually ran into a protest. We has to reverse out of the street. We were pretty safe and we got to our hotel soon after.







Some cool street art.



The AMAZING WATER! This is the water in the harbour; you know, where there is usually murky water with junk everywhere and rotting seaweed? Not in the Maldives! It's turquoise blue!




Kev and I had a free arvo and I asked him if he was willing to help me achieve my weird goal to walk or run around a whole island. He didn't hesitate to accept the challenge. We ended up walking for about an hour and 15 minutes to finish a complete loop around the island of Male.



We were super proud of our walk! I was gloating at accomplishing this mission!




The walk allowed us to appreciate things that other tourists wouldn't see, like where the army stay, where the landfill is placed, volleyball courts!, a lap and paddle pool created in the ocean by the locals so that they could swim!

We are now chilling in our room and are going to rest up as tomorrow we take the seaplane to the Maldives Whale Shark Research Program (MWSRP) base and start our volunteer role!

I'll try to blog when we get Internet access, however, I do not know how frequent that will be!

Surprise award!

Hi Chia!
Oh my god! So something awesome has happened! I've been dying to tell you, but I was waiting till it was announced officially.

On Monday or Tuesday night (my days are blurring now) I received an email from the Directr team. I've been getting emails from them because I had issues with uploading films so I didn't think much about it. However, I was overwhelmingly surprised when I saw the subject line:

'Congratulations! You are Directr of the week!'

I had no idea what this was about, but as I read the email I realised that it was a pretty awesome thing. They have a blog on their website and they interviewed me so that they could write about my films and include some fun and interesting facts about me.

I was and am still so very stoked! I started making the films because it was just so fun seeing things that I imagine in my head come to life! I also thought it would be a great way to keep my creativity up and keep my mind thinking of film ideas/acting approaches/possible scripts to write.

I also loved that I could choose the songs to play over the films. I spend a lot of time listening to songs to find the right mood and lyrics to match the overall emotion and impression in the film.

I guess I am so very chuffed that my efforts were recognized! I didn't expect that! It was more of a personal thing :)

Any who the link to my interview is here:
http://blog.directr.co/directr_highlight/directr-of-the-week-anna-sasson/

Also, while in transit in Singapore, I made another film:
http://directr.co/m/4vv6k3

Kev and I are now in KL airport. It's 5.21pm and we have been here since 2pm. Our flight to Male is at 8.45pm. Aaaaaahhh! A few more hours to go!!!

Belated Sculptures by the Sea

Hey Chia!

A quickie post!

Here's a photo which Kev took when we, together with Clem went to Cottesloe beach to see Sculptures by the Sea.

I had just finished snorkeling and caught up with the boys. I absolutely loved this sculpture!

Photos over the Easter break

Hi Anna

Easter school break will be over this Monday. That means back to supply work and you know how much I dislike it at times.

I haven't blogged in ages and plenty has happened since then. I can't even remember where to start! The fact that I put up some photos on FB and Instagram probably give you an idea of what I've been doing.

I like lists.. so I'm going to give you an extensive list of things I've been doing!

I've:

Been cooking/ baking for people and also cooked for!


Forget the name of this dish but it was cooked by Jmi (on the left) to celebrate Lauren moving into her new room.  Enzo in the middle is one of Lauren's housemate and is the most enthusiastic person I've ever met.


Been invited to a dinner party organised by Bonnie and her rollerblading group. Spot my savoury capsicum muffins!


Bladed until my left foot has a blister and it still hasn't healed after 2 weeks :/ This was taken today when we were texting. Hyde Park is becoming my second home now.


Had my first skateboarding lesson with a 21 year old a while back. Remember the guy who sold me my blades?  He thought I was around his age but hey anything to cross off something from my bucket list! I thought I was quite good and didn't fall with my purple ballet flats, not the ideal skating shoes.

Rearranged and redecorated my room too many times but finally got some photos developed. Theme is photos of friends and places I've been with them. One pic is not, but I love that photo! He he!


Gone shopping a bit too much. Really retail therapy helps for about a day or two.. but that is better than nothing!

Bought a new wallet from Michael Kors to replace my old one that I love so much but has gotten to the point of looking a bit scrappy to use. I was debating over this but the customer service was terrible, and it was a little bit big and steep :( Regardless, I love the shape and delicate size of it. Plus the colours on the inside and the coin purse can be removed from the back. BUT I'm going to keep dreaming about the Prada one!

Ignore the strange alignment of all my pictures.. I can't quite get blogger to line them up and it's driving me mad!

Also a gorgeous floral rug from UbranOutfitters.com because they had a sale. Definitely working the garden look.



Bought more plants including my beloved Venus fly trap. So far none of them have caught any bugs themselves and I thought I could, but I struggled to bring myself to kill this little flying insect I spotted in my room. Sorry traps, you're on your own.


Been garnishing all my meals with basil or coriander picked straight from the window sill. My mini herb garden in the kitchen.

Enjoyed the gorgeous scent in my room thanks to the pair of pink hyacinths that Pene bought for me! I am a big fan of these!!!!


Tried interesting things from the local international supermarket. It's called Way2save, and when I first heard of it I thought no way was I going to buy anything from there, but seriously they have products from Hungary to India! I've been getting my pita bread and hummus for breakky from there!

Anchovies are fine.


Pate in little tins are attractive but not buying them ever again!I couldn't even read the labels but I spent a good 20 minutes pretending I could and deciding which type I wanted judging from how pretty the packaging was.

Will be buying these jackfruit in a tin again. Never have I tried them from a tin and was very eager to dig in I opened it upside down :/

Laughed out loud and thought of you and Mr D when I saw this. Did you know you can buy a DIY ukelele that comes in a box everything included and if you're really clever- it comes out looking like this:



Had another laugh when I received your card made from elephant poo! Sorry but there is definitely something lingering there! Before I read what you wrote, I caught a whiff of something lol! Will try and get a pic of me wearing the earrings. It's been ages since I've worn dangling ones so this will be a fun challenge :) Your gifts brought back happy memories of Cambodia :)



Lastly, been staying up way past my bed time of 10pm and catching up on episodes of Desperate Housewives, New Girl (if you haven't seen this, DOWNLOAD!! I want to be Jess and live with three hot guys!!!) and Homeland.

More pretty things! NATA.ArtRoom

Hi hi Chia!

The photos of your trip to Brighton looks like something out of the movies or tv! Especially the pier part!

I had been sleeping in this morning, as I have been sick for the past few days. When I eventually woke up, Kev told me that you had blogged. I was surprised and outraged that he had read it before I had! =P

I really like your photo of the lobster-prawn-crayfish? It's so funny! For some reason it reminds me of Homer from the Simpsons and his pet lobster that he ends up eating up! =D

Shopping YAY! You look gorgeous in your profile photo and in your half-length mirror shot. Classic, timeless- Love it!

And, your plants and candles! I am loving how you are making yourself a home. It's making me want to have a place of my own to love and to make it mine. I hope you do get a venus fly-trap! I've always wanted one! They look so cool, and I think you will have a lot of fun with them!

NATA.ArtRoom

You may be looking at my title and asking what is 'NATA.ArtRoom". Well, on Saturday I went to this workshop in napkin art! Napkin art? YES! Napkin art!

I saw Tracy and Alison's napkin art in the city during lunch time, and then later on when I was walking to the train station on my way home. I was attracted by their 'vintage looking' bags that they had for sale. Each one was beautiful and was different from the other. Tracy and Alison was super friendly, and super approachable. They explained to me that the patterns on the bags were all made from napkins, and that if I wanted to, I can tell them what I like and they can make it for me, or, I can come to one of their workshops and make my own.

Given that the night before, I was browsing through all the Cath Kidson stuff on the web (obviously influenced by your earlier post), I was super excited and really really keen on doing something different. Doing something not sport/exercise based. I have been so busy trying to get fit, and balancing it with work and family/friends, that I had not written, drawn or read a good book in a long time. I had not used my creative part of my brain and I started feeling a little 'grey'.

So, even though I was unable to drive on Friday or Saturday because I was dizzy, and nauseous from the flu, I went to Tracy and Alison's place to do the workshop. I figured that since I shouldn't be doing anything strenuous, doing some arts and crafts indoors was the perfect thing to keep me distracted from feeling like crap.

Kev was such a hero this weekend. He was patient with my whining and my genuine (and at times, exaggerated) moans of discomfort, and he drove me everywhere this weekend, which included driving me all the way to the otherside of Perth to attend the NATA.Artroom workshop.

Mr P.O.P being a hero! =D

During the workshop I was a little flustered because I just felt dizzy a lot of the time, and concentrating and looking at something for a long time made it worse. However, it was still super fun. I decided that I wanted to make a beauty bag, because the bag that you had gave me broke. So I was given a plain canvas bag to work with and I was let loose to choose from all the lovely napkins that Tracy and Alison had collected from their travels.

The napkin wheel and the napkin bits and pieces that I chose

They had a napkin wheel and folders and folders of napkins. I was amazed at how pretty some napkins could be. I can no longer dismiss a pretty looking napkin as merely something that I would wipe my food left overs, or a dirty table, as they are inspirations and tools for art!

I had planned to make a 'travel' inspired side and then a 'pretty' side to my beauty bag. So I was selecting things that reminded me of my travels, and pretty things like leaves, birds, butterflies, flowers etc.

Tracy and Alison had taken photos throughout the day, and had uploaded them onto Facebook. They said that I was able to take the photos off their page and use it on my blog! =) So I have used some of the photos in this post.

Working away

My work space while working on my travel design

I wanted to go for the 'well traveled' look: an adventure where the experience is the reward.

After finishing my design I took a photo of it so that I could remember how to arrange it.

My travel design

Tracy then showed me how to use the napkin glue in order to place the cut outs onto the bag, and to have them 'melt' into the fabric.

I felt like a child. I was so ungraceful with my brush and glue. I tried hard to be patient and only use a small amount of glue onto the brush. But as time went by, I started adding more glue to my brush. It didn't wreck the design, however it did make the edges of my napkin cut outs break away.

Tracy patiently showing me how to 'melt' the napkin into the fabric

A work in progress

After I finished one side, I started working on the 'pretty' design. By this time, I was really struggling with my flu. I was hot, flustered, and it took forever to come to an arrangement that I was happy about. However, I eventually came up with this:

Pretty and delicate

I think birds and butterflies still tie in well with the travel theme, because they get to see the world in a way that we will never see it. They get to fly and be free! =)

Work in progress

After gluing the napkin pieces, we dabbed our bags with a damp cloth to remove the excess glue, and then we brushed on a 'finishing' glue to set the napkins and to make the bag waterproof. We then finished it off with ironing the bags (using a towel to separate the bag from the direct heat of the iron).

Just when I thought that was the end of it, Tracy and Alison took photos of my finished product and gave me a Polaroid photo of it with a sample of one of the napkins that I had chosen stuck to it. They said that it is a little souvenir to remind me, and to prove to others that the design of my bag came from a napkin.

Me and my finished product!

My bag with the little Polaroid attached

The luck of birds and butterflies

An Adventure where the journey is the reward

It took a little over 4 hours to finish my bag, and I was shocked at how fast time had flown by! I had intended to come in to make a few items, but I ended up only making one! Kev had returned to pick me up at 4pm, but I didn't believe it was 4pm, and I never checked the windows to see him waiting outside! Sorrrrryyy Kev!

I love my bag! I love love love it! I can't stop looking at it, and being super proud that it was designed and made by me! I definitely will be coming back for another workshop another day!

If you would like to find out more about NATA.ArtRoom you can find them on facebook at this link.

Snowing in the middle of summer!

Hey Chia!

How is Jordan?! I know you're probably having a marvelous time there!

Back here, we have experienced some unusual weather.

It is the middle of the Australian summer, however, last night I was able to experience a beautiful fluffy white 'snow' fall on the streets of of the City.

When I say snow, I say feather snow!

As part of the annual arts festival, a French performing arts company provided a free show called "Place des Anges".

Throughout the week when I was in the office, I saw these cables being put up on the top of the buildings in the city. I then saw people on these cables, not knowing what was going on- it intrigued me. So after a work mate of mine explained to me why these cables were being put up, I asked Kev if he would like to go.

So... we arrived in the city approximately 2 hours prior to the show. I ended up making us sit on the curb of St Georges Terrace. It amused me as this street is usually jammed packed full of traffic, buses and people, and here we were sitting on the curb!

Sitting on the curb

Right where the buses would normally drive by

Waiting, and bored...

The show finally started at 8pm... with light-hearted music setting the mood.

The kids were all gasping in delight when they saw the angels descend from the building tops to dance across the sky.

An angel

Giant angel v tiny angel!

 It was magical.

There was something about their white figures twirling across the black skyline that caught the imagination. They started off with a small amount of feathers which the ever present breeze blew to the left of us. It was still beautiful, but after a while I started getting anxious that we would not get any feathers fall on us.

I was wrong.

Dead wrong.

The French performers released almost 2 tons of feathers last night. So many feathers that by the end of the night, Kev and I were walking in feathers that were knee high!

Feathers!!!!

It's snowing!

Snow ball!

Here are some videos!

We left the CBD with feathers EVERYWHERE. They were stuck in Kev's polo shirt, and were hidden in my handbag and hair.

This afternoon, Kev's parents asked us what happened, as they saw these 'random' white feathers sprinkled around the garage door. They thought that perhaps a stray cat had gotten a bird and had taken it into the garage. After we told them where we had gone, it was as if a light had clicked, and they mentioned that they were confused about the 'random' feathers that they saw on their walk this morning in East Perth. =P

The feathers have escaped!

Free souvenirs or stowaways?