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Stories from Then and Now : A journey through memories, moments, and the making of who I am—carved in wood, shaped by water, and painted with purpose.
29 May 2025 - Bangkok
The artworks at the exhibition stood in striking contrast—one floor space showcasing vibrant floral pieces, while the next highlighted works of light and craftsmanship. Beyond these curated halls, creativity are all across Bangkok in every direction. Whether in shopping malls, local markets, or even tucked beside street food stalls, artistic expression thrives for those observant enough to notice.
Bangkok is far more than just bars and nightclubs, despite how it's often portrayed. Time may change its people and places, but the beauty of its traditional culture, food, lifestyle, and urban character should never be overlooked.
I came to Bangkok seeking inspiration—to create, to reflect, and to work on my art as I move forward. Art is a journey without end—if you're truly in it, it becomes a way of life.
Painting in progress
Bali - The Island of Gods
17 May 2025. I’ve been travelling to Bali for many years—it felt like a second home in my younger days. I was always fascinated by its well-preserved culture and way of life, making the island feel like a living museum. Across more than a hundred trips, one occasion I particularly looked forward to was Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu New Year, also known as the “Day of Silence.” It’s a remarkable 24-hour period of complete stillness. Even electricity to hotels is cut, no one is allowed to leave their homes or accommodations, and all activities come to a halt. The silence is profound—an entire island pausing in reflection.
What fascinated me most was the eve of Nyepi, known as Pengrupukan, when the streets of Legian-Seminyak come alive with Ngrupuk parades of monstrous effigies called Ogoh-ogoh—the Balinese Yao Guai, or evil spirits. Dances depicting the eternal battle between good and evil, with figures like Barong and Rangda, fill the night with myth, meaning along with loud rhythmic cries and packed performances.. There’s also the Melasti ceremony, a ritual of purification performed by the sea or at sacred springs as in Ubud a day after Nyepi.
I can't help as to keep such memorable experienced, and inspired by their beauty and symbolism, I decided to paint these striking characters and spiritual moments as part of my Bali collection.
Waka Gangga, Tabanan. https://wakahotelsandresorts.com/wakagangga
Royal Kirana Spa, Ubud. https://royalkirana.com/
17 Jan 2009. Bali Again – 2009 Begins
Last year was tedious—with about 20 trips to Bali and other parts of Indonesia. Last week marked my first trip for the year 2009, and I was happily back on the Island of the Gods… Bali. I tagged along with a friend, Alvin—it was his first trip there.
This visit was more relaxed and fun, especially after a long year-end break in 2008. I managed to catch up with friends like Thorsten, Karl Princic, Pak Agung Yokasara, and Putra. I even bumped into Pak Ariel Ali, the GM of The Kayana. Not bad for a quick but fruitful conversation to strategize the transformation of a simple ‘kopi tiam’ into a 7-star resort. I’ll surely be seeing him again soon.
Waka Gangga Tabanan & Kirana Spa Ubud, Bali
As usual, with Alvin, I made my annual pilgrimage to favorites like The Kirana Spa in Ubud, had tea at Bvlgari, and took a nice tour of the spas at The Ritz-Carlton. Don’t miss the iconic Spa on the Rock if you ever plan to visit. The Ritz-Carlton will be rebranded by April this year—so there won’t be a "Ritz-Carlton Bali" much longer. I also managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Waka Gangga for the yearly salt spray experience!
Back to Work at St. Regis
Back to work… the ponds at St. Regis are more mature now. The fish are still a bit timid—it’s time to start training them to behave like circus performers! The plants have grown wild, bursting back to life like nature in spring. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t kind—rain poured down all morning, and not much could be done while waiting for it to stop.
Last year, I was in Queens of India for my RM15 chapati. This time, I managed to swallow a RM70 goreng pisang (fried banana). Anyone? Welcome to Bali.
13 Jan 2009. Mr. Sebastian
Mr. Sebastian was a tourist in my small hometown—tall, skeletal in appearance, and almost always dressed in white, accented by a black leather belt and polished black shoes. He had a fondness for his camera, clicking away cheerfully whenever we asked him to take our photos. He hailed from the Philippines.
The story of Mr. Sebastian is not one I often tell, but it holds a quiet life lesson. Peace and God’s blessings be upon him. As for me—Mr. Sebastian—I don’t wish to follow in your footsteps. This is a tale not quite of riches to rags, but something deeper. Before life’s end, he discovered joy and contentment within himself.
He was friendly, and the townsfolk adored him when he first arrived. Yet, within three years, I began seeing Mr. Sebastian scraping the town’s filthy drains, working alongside the so-called "invalids" to clean and clear gutters and dump sites. Despite it all, he remained cheerful, always smiling, entertaining the children—though now without his beloved camera.
As he neared the end of his days, he withdrew into solitude, living in a small rented wooden shed, surrounded by the things he loved most: his books, an old piano, and a violin. I remember visiting him one evening when I was thirteen, in 1973. As always, he proudly and joyfully showed me his treasured book collection. Then, he played his violin and tapped on the piano keys, music flowing not from the instruments, but from the happiness rooted deep in his soul.
Is this a story of riches to rags—or perhaps rags to riches?
God bless you, Mr. Sebastian. You will be fondly remembered.
10 Jan 2009. Crisp Clear Water?
2009 marked my 25th year working wet—with water.
From aquaculture farms to lake management, my passion for challenging water projects, especially those involving fish, has never failed to excite me.
One of the most demanding projects came just last year at the St. Regis Resort in Bali. I was tasked with designing a water filtration system that would keep the ponds crystal clear at all times—without the use of chemicals. The challenge? These ponds were fully exposed to sunlight all day, with minimal shade.
Challenging as it was, we did it. A total of 700 square meters of freshwater ponds, home to local fish, now remain crisp and clear with minimal maintenance—and the owner couldn’t be happier.
Bill Bensley complemented the project perfectly, planting enough palms to make the ponds feel right at home.
Yes... a tropical paradise—by design.
"I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy."
Rabindranath Tagore.
2008 About Me
My first university was a carpenter’s workshop.
I was about ten when I began learning to plane, joint, saw, and paint wood. Two kind men guided me—one was partially blind, the other a great artist. My inspiration started there. They were carpenters. My friends. My artistic friends. That was where my art school began. Though I was born with a pencil between my fingers, it was Effendy’s work that truly inspired me. His fine touch—both in drawing and in woodwork—never failed to excite me. From that moment on, the art in me never stopped.
My second university was a proper one.
This time, I was exposed to the world of water, fish, and aquatic ecology—all things that make you wet. Highly technical, but creatively conservative. Here, I learned what it meant to be part of Mother Earth: swimming with fish, stung by jellyfish, thrown into the sea, and helping to produce millions of aquatic babies... My body of science. The other half of my brain.
My third university was pure hard work.
Started from scratch—and still remains a scratch! My business. There’s no rags-to-riches story here, just hard work followed by more hard work. The first ten years in business scraped away all I had learned in the language of science—aquaculture, a highly technical field that demands deep knowledge of the aquatic world. The next ten years leaned into art. Designing. Designing artistic ponds and gardens came naturally—like blood running through my veins. The science and art in me have long blended into one. It’s like sitting on a flying carpet.
Follow my blog as I gradually unveil the experiences that shaped my life—from the past to my travels, from job sites to personal reflections, and more.
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