This blog was created as a venue for printmakers in Malaysia to come together and share ideas, information and facilities.
We also would like to create awareness, spread the love for printmaking!

Wednesday 26 December 2012

Welcome Dinner in Macau

We managed to get back to the hotel in time to change, rest our feet and then stroll down to the Chinese Restaurant in the hotel. 

The organisers had arranged for all print artists to meet, mingle, catch-up, show each others unique print making!


Each artist brought an exhibition  catalogs of their work
Quite a good turn out! Many artists know each other by reputation but may not have met in person. So this dinner was a good opportunity to meet in person.

For example, Prof Rahman organised the PIPE 2010, a huge print exhibition in Penang some time ago. Today he met one of the print artists from India who corresponded with him and sent in an entry for PIPE 2010.









Sweet ladies.. making sure everything went on well!

Welcoming us!

Dinner is served... 13 courses!  (does not have the usual 'Four seasons' dish served as opening course in Malaysian Chinese Restaurants, -- something different). Food was delicate, light (meaning not too oily or sugary) but aplenty! We gave up after the 10th dish...  We suggested the waiter to pack and give to he staff or anyone who needs it.

The Peking Duck was interesting as we only got to each the crispy skin, before it was whisked away to make another dish.

 
The Singapore print artists
 

Guanlan Printmaking Centre, Shenzhen, China (in white)

Saturday 1 December 2012

Day 2 - Macao Museum

16 Nov - Macau

Walking down the steep slope we climbed last night
Since we already knew how to go to Senado Square, the main shopping cum historical centre with the iconic ruins of St Paul’s over-looking the square, we ventured out confidentally. Some of our team have split, so our group was a bit smaller.  The weather was pleasantly cool and cold intermittently.   

So jealous, watching the seasoned shoppers going about in boots and sweaters.  But we managed either with a jacket or shawl. 

We have not seen the sun, since we arrived yesterday.  The skies would be what we, in Malaysia, call ‘mendung’ – cloudy with likeliness of rain.  However, we were luckily. No rain until the following day.
 


Along the way, we notice the subtle juxtaposing of old and new buildings. In fact the old historical buildings are better maintained than the modern ones..Haha..

Our self-arranged itinerary was to include Macau Art Museum (one end of Macau) & Anshun Batik & Tin Embroidery (on the other side). So, we decided on Museum of Macau, which was near to the ruins of St Paul's Church.

Ruins of St Paul's Church
A shop selling orignal works by Macau Designers (right next to the Ruins of St Paul's Church)


 The MACAO MUSEUM -
 It was a nondescript building set in the hill slope and so the sight of escalators delighted some of us. The has  a uniqueness about it as u can see in the photos.



 Entrance to the museum exhibits.. on the left side, artifacts from western world


 On the right side, is the Chinese world!



First printing press in Macao




Other exhibits showed the mix of architecture, Portuguese way of life, Christian artifacts, pottery, making of firecrackers, silk, astronomy, marriage certificates, etc.

The museum also had a garden called Fortress Garden on the upper level.



It gives a good view of the city landmarks like the very imposing Grand Lisboa Hotel & Casino (in gold colour).

Then headed down to the streets to look for lunch..  All restaurants were small, so difficult to get one that had 7 empty chairs. Finally got a corner restaurant, no frills restaurant. We called individual meals. Some had fish porridge, wantan-like mee, and i chose the quite unusual dish of ox-tongue stew. Very European food is a Chinese family restaurant.



Then we walked back to Senado Square, taking the scenic look...which meant that we got lost, even with maps in hand. Small roads were not listed in the map. That excursion tested us. But our group members were cool about it, everyone trying to help figure out the way. Finally after going one big circle, we landed back in Senado Square. What a way to see the city!

A bit short of time now. Welcome Dinner is to start at 7pm. At 3pm we were still looking for Casa Lou Kou, where the tourist brochure said Anshun Batik and Tin Embroidery demo & exhibition were to be held. Our navigation skills were put to the test again. Again we missed it as it was nestled between other buildings with no visible markings. Opposite it were many shops selling the same food - Beef Offal with additional steamboat stuff on satay sticks. The smell was to strong, we were looking right instead of left. Eventually after another round of walking & map reading, we got back to the 'beef offal' street,  This time we looked to our left and voila! It was right opposite the beef offal shops.

Another joke awaited us. As we entered it's like a old nyonya house, with carvings & decorations all in dark wood, we could find the exhibition. We asked the guard. She sheepishly pointed us towards a young man as she (and many others) cant speak English. Luckily the young man who is involved in setting up the exhibition could help us out. Where's the exhibition, I asked. TOMORO...was the answer!

Aiyah! I was paying attention to the ending date & forgot to check the starting date. Well, at least we know where it is... So, we said goodbye to them and hurried to find transport back to the hotel.

Sunday 25 November 2012

Day 1 - Leaving for Macau



15 Nov 2012

It took 4.5 hrs from LCCT (Low-Cost Carrier Terminal), Malaysia to Macau International Airport in Taipa.  As we were coming in for the landing, all we could see was the sea, ..and more construction.   

The exhibition organisers were there waiting for us and ferried us to the hotel in a lovely 20-seater coach.    

The weather was  drab and everything seemed garbed in grey.  Taipa has lots of high rise condos cramped into a small piece of real estate. But the bridges were spectacular, in size, length and construction.


Casinos dominate the skyline


As we entered Macau City, you see quaint mansions and terraced apartments facing two huge bodies of water called the Sai Van Lake & Nam Van Lake.  The coach makes its way up a steep and winding road and arrive at the Riviera Hotel.

We were met by Frank Woo, our Malaysian-side organiser and we checked in.  Then we gathered in the lobby for our first Macau walkabout .
 
We took the hotel’s free shuttle down to town. It was 5:58pm, Macau time and I gazed at my watch,  6.00pm Malaysian time.  Same time zone but at 6pm the skies already grew dark. So the times for Muslim prayers have to be adjusted.  

Frank took us to Senado Square (Senate Square, is the proper name, I read in the guide book) where u can stroll on mosaic-styled pavements with  bold, wavy designs. 






First order of the nite – dinner.  In respect of our Muslim friends, we all agreed on vegetarian food. We walked around and found a small shop with customer seating of about 20 people. And since there were already 8 of us (two members went off to meet a relative in nearby Hong Kong), we had to go upstairs via narrow wooden stairs.  

The tables were accompanied by dwarf-sized chairs that were surprisingly comfortable!  Flipping through a 2 inch thick menu of photographed dishes, we settled on 7 types. Our criteria – veggies, not mockmeat.  The food was simple & delicious, the company was jovial and pleasant. So we had our first dinner in Macau!



 Then after a bit more wandering through the traditional black and white stone calçada  paved streets and a climb up to see the ruins of St Paul’s cathedral, we decided to head back.

Casinos and shopping centres on the other side of the main road

 …  taking the leisurely route – a long walk back to the hotel, whilst enjoying the cool breeze that was blowing ever so gently.  Macau is definitely a ‘walking’ city. Our short cut back to the hotel was a steep level 8 gradient and it posed a good challenge to us all.

The ‘youngest’ of the group was the first to reach the top leaving the 40 & 50 somethings puffing. And he is 56. But the effort was worth it because we saw one of the best view of Macau by nite.
Macau Tower
Gaudy neon-signed casinos (ala Las Vegas) on the right, the Macau Tower in the centre and bridges criss-crossing the scene.  It is a stunning sight indeed!

One of the many long bridges in Macau connecting to Taipa Island

Tomorrow’s another day, The other print artists will be checking in soon – from Singapore, India, Taiwan, etc..
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