Singapore is such a modern city with a mixture of different people, just like Malaysia: Malays, Chinese and South Indians with some Arabs, not to mention, Westerners who chose this city to be their home. Check out the video below on Instagram as I did some photography of the city, especially its skyline, which was quite breathtaking.
Film Photography is Having a Resurgence
As a photographer and as a filmmaker, I started with film, and I still do have my still filmcameras (35mm and 645 medium format film), including a 16mm motion picture camera. Unfortunately I I don't have them with me here in Asia. They are back in the US. I definitely want to use them for my conceptual artistic photography and filmmaking. Maybe when I go back to the US, I'll bring them with me. But the bad thing about it is that I already have too much camera equipment, gadgets and accessories with me. Well, definitely shooting with a film is going to be a very different experience and practice since every shot I take costs money, unlike digital photography in which you can take as many pictures as you want, and it won't cost you any money other than when you print some of the best pictures. Maybe I will come up with a project which only uses film. Let's see.
Fear is What Keeps Us from Achieving Our Fullest Potential
I had to post this graduation speech by Comedy actor Jim Carrey. It really resonates with me. When making a decision, I read this to help me go through it without fesr. Here is his speech
“FEAR is going to be a player in your life; you get to decide how much, you can spend your whole life imagining ghosts, worrying about the pathway to the future, but all there will ever be, is what's happening here, in the DECISIONS we make in THIS MOMENT, which are based in either LOVE or FEAR.
So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality, what we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect so we never dare to ask the universe for it... I'm here saying, that I'm the proof, that you can ASK the universe for it, please.
The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.
Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world.
Risk being seen in all of your glory.
I was always out to do something in the world that was bigger than myself, until someone smarter than myself, made me realize that there was nothing bigger than myself.
As far as I can tell [getting what you want] is about letting the universe and working toward it, while letting go of how it comes to pass. Your job is not to figure out HOW it's going to happen for you, but to open the door in your head, and when the door opens in real life, to just walk through it. And don't worry if you miss your cue because there's always more doors opening!”
I am quite fearless, but of course, I can still have doubts since I am a human being.
Maharishi University of Management (http://www.mum.edu) granted degrees to 285 students representing 54 countries. Jim Carrey gave the commencement address to Maharishi University of Management's class of 2014. The University Board of Trustees also presented Mr. Carrey with the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts Honoris Causa, in recognition of his significant lifetime achievements as a world-renowned comedian and actor, artist, author and philanthropist.
War? What Is It Good For?
War affects the whole world. It does not help to have a a war. A tooth for a tooth is not exactly a way to deal even with a bad guy. It will just become a cycle of revenge that can continue for many years affecting lots of lives. Also President Donald Trump threatened to destroy important cultural sites in Iraq. These, I am sure, have religious significance to Moslem people. This, in turn, will radicalize more people from the Middle East and even Asia (Indonesia and Malaysia, and some parts of the Philippines, Thailand, India, Pakistan and even China have a Moslem population). Terrorism will then increase some more. Besides, the Geneva Convention states that any sites which do not have anything to do with military are not supposed to be destroyed during a war. You break the rules of the Geneva Convention, which is the rules of war, then it's free for all. In addition, now oil prices are gonna go up. This, in turn, will increase the prices of goods. At the same time, seeing that Russia, China, and Iran are right now having a military naval exercise, this could also lead to World War III. I am sure if only governments are not allowed to go to war unless their people vote for it in the perfect world, most people would not want to go to war.
Parasite, the South Korean film, an Oscar's Best Picture Contender
There's a big possibility that this South Korean film will win the Oscar's for Best Picture. From all the films I've seen last year, this was the only film that really captured my attention and lasted on my mind even weeks after watching the film. It is that powerful.
New Year 2020
When you say “2020” we usually refer to our eyes being able to see clearly. I think now I can see clearly, having learned a lot about life. It is now time to reflect and look back at what I've learned all these years, and I feel that I am now more of what I should have been all along. I will talk about that later. But for now, Happy New Year to Everyone and hope that you'd have a great year ahead of you. Now almost time to leave this city. Time to go home. Oops, I mean, go somewhere else and make that my home at least for a few days or a few weeks or even for a few months. Home is where my heart is at the moment.
Traveling is like a Book But an Eye Opening One
With travel, you get to really see what it is like out there, especially with long term travel. For most people, what they learn about the world is from the TV, books and the internet, but it is not the same. The more you travel, the more you learn about what is real and what is considered is someone else’s perspective. Everyone has their own experience. Everyone’s experience of a place is different. Let’s say a person goes to Thailand, and over there, she is treated like shit, and she writes about it in her blog or does a video about it in her vlog. Then maybe a million people get to read her blog or watch her vlog. What happens then is that these people now have a bad impression of Thailand. And then another person goes to Thailand and all he has over there are just great experience. Wherever he goes, he is treated like a king, then for sure, on his blog and vlog, his content will be about Thailand being a great place. So then maybe only three thousand people are able to read his blog and/or watch his vlog. Then only three thousand people get a great impression of Thailand. There is a quote from Saint Augustine, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page,” and that is so true. So for those who cannot travel all the time or maybe do not have the luxury of being able to travel, my goal is to show the two sides of the coin when it comes to my travel experience in every country I visit. I will write and do a video about a place, its culture, its people, its beautiful spots, but at the same time, I will also show the bad part and the ugly side. But the thing, for every bad part and ugly side, there is some reasoning behind them, so I will not just label as such and such. Also for me to focus on the negative aspect is not a good thing. Every place, or even every person, is like a coin. It has two sides. The bad side and good side. Nothing is perfect. Sometimes I do believe that sometimes there is a beauty even in the ugliest of all places. Anyway to read more about my experience in each country and each city, make sure to follow/like/subscribe to all or some of my Social Media Channels. The links are right below.
Looking Forward to the New Year 2020
I am looking forward to the New Year and will undertake a major step in achieving a major goal in my personal life, in getting my career not just back to where it was before but more, in trying to be as healthy as possible and in fulfilling my travel objectives.
For sure, I am so tanned now from hanging out too much at the beach and pool, from trekking and hiking, from walking a lot here in Asia. My Mom was even surprised, telling me that she has never seen me this dark, considering I go to the beach and hiking a lot in California too. She even joked that "you are now tall, dark and handsome." Not sure about the handsome part. I am just decent looking. Somehow I think the traveling just made me look haggard. My kind of traveling is not what I consider luxurious since I really go out there and try to experience the outdoors, the nature, the local life and even go to neighborhoods where most tourists have never been. I try to capture everything with my camera and to experience its environment fully. The only thing I care about when I travel is where I stay. It has to be clean and very comfortable with an air-conditioner, and the host (if it is an AirBnB) or the receptionist (if it is a hotel) has to be friendly and helpful. If not, I tend to move to another place right away. I hate rude people. A smile definitely makes someone's day. It is easier to smile than to frown.
Follow Your Heart ❤️
Making a decision is rough. It is what I fear the most: of making the wrong decision that could lead to the wrong path. I have to be able to see some signs according to my instinct before I can make a decision. That's why I am quite spontaneous and also slow when making a decision. Every decision I make is based on a strong feeling or what we call, instinct. There has to be a hook that doesn't let go of me, for me to make a choice. Just hoping that it still leads me to my overall goal whichever choice I make. Making the right decision is the most stressful thing to do.Maybe for every choice, I take a long way instead of a short cut, but in the end, it still goes to the same goal. For the most part, I always take the road less travelled.
"Trust your instincts, and make judgements on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you."
David Gemmell, Fall of Kings (Troy, #3)
This advice doesn't always work in my case , but I always follow my heart no matter what.
“The Future belongs to those who Believe in the Beauty of Their Dreams.”
I Will Be Doing Podcasting
Next year I will start a podcast about travel, life, photography, filmmaking, art and writing. Are you interested in that? Let me know what you think of it. I will be posting the link to my podcast once it is up and running. So follow/subscribe to/like my Social Media Channels to get updated about it. The links are right below the picture of my handy digital recorder to be used for my podcasting. Also please share this to your friends and family who might be interested in this topics.
Are You a New Photographer or Filmmaker?
If you are, I highly recommend the camera equipment on this link just because I've used them and I have been very happy with them. (Disclosure: Some of these product links are Amazon affiliate links, which means I might receive a small commission if you decide to purchase them). If you are a new photographer and/or filmmaker, no need to buy the most expensive equipment. What's important is your own vision, your creativity and your content:
This is most of my photography and video equipment. Some of them were not included in this picture such as a new mirrorless camera, a new action camera, a gimbal, a 360 camera, etc.
I Am Also a Digital Media Producer and a Social Media Manager
Please be informed that in addition to doing photography and video projects for exhibitions and screenings around the world and for my book, I am also available to do photography, video, writing, and copywriting for advertising and social media digital content creation (which is what I do for freelance work). In addition, I am also a freelance Social Media Manager for Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, Pinterest and other Social Media Channels. The great thing about me as your Social Media Manager is that I can also produce the videos and stills for your Social Media needs since I am a photographer and a filmmaker myself. Please send me a Direct Message @ my Instagram account (www.instagram.com/chrisrevon) with an info about your business/company and what you want, and we can collaborate and discuss what I can do for you.
Things Change When You Least Expects It
Even when everything around you feels comfortable and safe, it just feels like it. Nothing is fixed. People change, things change, situations change. These are circumstances which are beyond our control. We might think we have control of these things but not really. It is better to be in an environment where everything is out of your comfort zone, it is a lot more exciting and extraordinary. Just go with the flow and see where it takes you. The unpredictability puts you on your toes and gives your life an edge. I've been told by many that I am unique. My Mom told me the same, but I think they're just being polite. What they really mean is that I am a little crazy. But life as it is, is crazy itself. I am just going with the flow of life as crazy as it may seem.
Time to Say Goodbyes to Anything That's Bad for Me and Say Hello to the Ones Which Are Good for Me
I love this essay. About 70% of the words in this essay I wanted to express myself but never had the time to do it, and this came out. Exactly something that's been brewing on my mind.
https://thoughtcatalog.com/erin-cinney/2018/08/im-slowly-learning-to-say-goodbye-to-everything-that-is-no-longer-good-for-me/
“I’m learning to say goodbye to the people in my life that don’t provide any type of quality on who I am as a person. I’m saying goodbye to the doubters, the naysayers, the selfish, the arrogant, the lazy and the deceitful. I’m saying goodbye to the ones that shattered my heart and didn’t look back to see where the pieces fell. I’m saying goodbye to the ones that planted poisonous doubts in my mind because they had leftover seeds from planting their own insecurities. I’m letting go of the ones who support negative competition, the holier-than-thou attitudes, and the ones who thrive on comparison. It’s time to say goodbye.”
“I’m learning to say goodbye to a comfortable lifestyle because it’s the one I’ve always known. I’m ready to say goodbye to the familiar and safe so that I can make room for the extraordinary and exhilarating. I’m learning to say goodbye to bad habits and limiting beliefs. I’m learning to say goodbye to everything and anything that is preventing me from living the life I want, which is the one I will only deserve upon actively pursuing it. I can’t actively pursue anything when my hands and heart are full of outdated crap.”
“I’m learning to say hello to a new way of life. A one in which I surrender to the worthwhile work of doing what it takes to love myself wholly. I’m learning to say hello to self-compassion in conjunction with the discipline it will take for me to achieve what I have always dreamed of. I’m learning to hold onto the right difficulties – the ones that make me grow instead of shrink. I’m ready to say hello to discomfort because I know it means that the old is being broken down to make room for the new to be built.”
Fortune Cookies
It seems that the fortune cookies I get from Panda Express, a popular Chinese fast food chain back in the US, know so much about me. I always get a message that has something to do with my life. Or maybe it's just a coincidence.. I got these while I was back in the US more than a year ago.
I Used to Be in the US Air Force
I happened to find a picture of myself back when I was in the US Air Force. Even after all these years, I am still aiming high (Air Force slogan: “Aim High”). I don't regret serving in the military. One thing it gave me was discipline. And at the same time, it gave me a chance to go to college through the GI Bill. It didn't pay everything for my college, but it helped quite a bit. Yes, I did pay for my own college. No one helped me. Well, my Mom helped a little bit later on. But for the most part, it was all me. Having been obsessed with photography and eventually, fillmaking, I pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema and Photography despite my Mom's objection. One thing I realized, as long as you're the financing your own pursuit, you have a lot more freedom. Up until now, some of the photography and video projects came from my own pocket. Everything I do is with passion. If there is no passion involved even with a lot of money, then it is not worth it. I have to love what I do and do what I love. For the most part, everything I've done so far involves passion. I gotta have passion for everything I do. It's my fuel that gets me from point A to point B.
Considering Doing a Photography and Video Project about Malaysia.
Come to think of it, I think doing a photography and video project about Malaysia would be very interesting just because of its multicultural and multi-ethnic society, which is comprised of the Malays, Indians and Chinese. It is like a melting pot just like in the US but here in Asia. Majority of the population is Muslim (Most of the Malays are Muslim), and yet other religions such as Hinduism (Most Indians are Hindus) and Buddhists (Most Chinese are Buddhists) exist here; nevertheless, they respect each other. What do you think? Should I do this photography and video project?
If you want to donate and help this project, please go to my Patreon page and contribute whatever you can. Thanks so much for your support.
https://www.patreon.com/chrisrevon
Christmas is also celebrated here in Malaysia.
Who Are Your Real Friends?
Before I had tons of friends, but as I grow old, the number starts to dwindle until I only have a handful of friends. What happened to those other friends? Then I realized that those other friends, they were not truly my friends, they were just passing through. Your true friends are those who stay up with you through the ups and downs of life until now. They are not there because you've got something they need you for. They are there because they want to support you and in return, get your support when they need it. To help each other as you go through the ups and downs of life. If they are still there even when you are down, then it shows that you truly are their friend and appreciate your friendship and will be there to help you go back up. If they are only with you when you are up on the seesaw of life, then they're not really your friends. You are only their friend for the good times. Oh yes, this also applies to family.
(I wrote this in 2013 and yet it still holds true)
My Philosophy in Life
My philosophy in life
Just do my best, and then after that, it is beyond my control, and just pray and hope for the best.
Do what I love, love what I do. No excuses. It is my life. Not theirs. It is now or never.
I used to do things for people, but then I realized later that most of the time, they won't do the same for you. This applies to your family too. Most of the time, it is also your own blood that betrays you and puts you down. So do things for yourself first. Your own happiness comes first. One great piece of advice I've heard: treat yourself like someone you love so much. For sure, with women I get to like, I don't buy them expensive gifts or treat them to some fancy restaurants just to win them. Of course later on, you could do this for her but only if she's really worth it. The thing is if they like you enough, even your little gesture such as a piece of rose counts a lot to her. And I met women who are not materialistic and superficial and did a lot for me, especially here in Asia. My thing is if you start doing a lot for a woman, then that's a problem. It should be an equal exchange. Relationship is a two way street. But of course, based on my experience, external factors such as family and friends get in the way of the relationship. Well, that's another topic.
For sure, things change. People change. You can lose things such as money, a job, a real estate property, a phone, a camera, etc. You can lose people such as through divorces, break ups, end of friendship, and even death. Even your looks, your fame, your popularity fade away, and new younger people will take over your spot. Wealth does not even make anyone happy. My French ex-wife was quite rich with a vacation home right on the seaside of Normandy, France, a winter home up in the French Alps, a nice apartment in the best part of Paris, but even that did not make her happy. From what she told me, she was at the happiest when she was with me. That was kind of nice. It made me realize that everyone is special in their own way. I might not be special to everyone or any other people, but to her, I was. If you bring joy to someone, and she appreciates it. Do the same for her and let them know about it. Definitely learn to appreciate the people who appreciate you, especially for the right reasons, not the wrong reasons. For sure, there are people, even your friends and your relatives, who only appreciate you because of what you have that will be beneficial for them and what you can do for them, but once you can't do much for them or you stop doing things for them, you're out of the picture. It is now all about "what's in it for me" kind of attitude. That's why I love China. Maybe people will say China is like this or that. Don't judge a country by what you hear on the news. Maybe you don't like the government, well the government is not the country. It is the land and the people in addition to its unique culture. Besides, all governments are not perfect. Even the US does some crazy things. When it comes to a country, foremost I look at the people. For the most part, I had the best impression of the people I've met over there in China and made a lot of great friends who were there for me when I needed it the most, and with no hidden agenda, they were just willing to help. And as I continue to travel, I try to be friends with the locals, eat their food and appreciate their culture and respect their religions. Travel, for me, is not about me just enjoying the sights. If it is only for the sights, I would probably just go stay for just three days, see the sights and leave, but instead I stay at least for two weeks to a month and even longer. Traveling for me is definitely more than the sights. It is about assimilating the cultures and meeting the local people and knowing their stories. It is about the full experience. For sure, I learn so much about life and about people just by traveling. Along the journey, I've met a lot of people, not just local people but from other countries. And a lot of them go out of their way to help you if you're lost or want to know more about the place. Also quite a few also have also helped me with my project, expecting nothing in return. You really realize that you are just a speck in this world. It is not just about us. You are just a small part of this world. It's not all about you but everyone. You are just a small part of it. Anyway in the end, definitely experience and knowledge are something you would never lose. Even when your memory fades away, at that moment in time, you were right there, experiencing it. It is all yours. Not anyone's. No one can take that experience from you. It is forever indebted in your psyche as an everlasting experience. If only it can last forever, but that's wishful thinking because nothing lasts forever.
And this is now what I am trying to do with my book, photography and film project and exhibitions, to show this experience to the world and take down the wall that exists among people and build a bridge that will help us understand each other. In the end, we are just one race, the human race.
Maybe if everything works out according to my plan, my next project will probably be about South America and Europe. Even Africa. The world is a book with a lot of pages that need to be read.
Google Keeps Track of Where I Travel
While trying to find my missing phone, I found out that Google keeps track of where I travel. Check out this screenshot. This helps just in case I lose my memory. At least I know where I've been.
