Cheritera Cinta Kita by Matsuda Mashimaru/ Tales of Our Love Story
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu
~ Lao Tzu
Prologue: It all started with me tagging along with two(2) of my childhood friends and we planned to test our friendship by joining a group of Malaysian and Singaporean photographers (total strangers). People said the best way to test the compatibility of your friendship is through surviving a tough trip together and comes out still emotionally intact.
I noticed that I could see MORE when I traveled with fellow photographer buddies. Photography taught me to spot, stop and appreciate moments better than before. Like when I decided to join them for a weekend photography gateway to Lake Toba, I never thought that I could see more of Indonesia compared to what I had already seen.
Last year, I visited Tibet via overland routes from Xining to Lhasa (1,907km long). I had been curious about Tibet for quite some time. The mysterious Tibetans that stayed up high on the mountain and their features looked a lot like the Native Americans in the US, the stories of the Dalai Lama with monasteries and nunneries playing a very strong role in Tibetan culture, the political struggles and so on.
I visited Whang-od or Fang-od of Buscalan, Kalinga in the Philippines last year with my daughter and a group of photographer friends. Whang-od is the last Kalinga membantok or tattoo artist from Buscalan, Kalinga.
I was not aware that she is quite well known among the tribal tattoo artists until I googled her. A small framed 95 years old woman with shy eyes and I can see that she has that colorful vibrant personality too. You can read details about Whang-od and her tattooing skills here at Lars Krutak: Tattoo Antropologist. And, if you enjoy street photography please feel free to browse through my Zenfolio gallery here at Street in North Luzon, Philippines for more photos of my journey there.
After 10 years (yes! I know … I am old but I have a very young heart), I decided early this year to revisit again my old beloved passion on beading. Did some intense traveling around the globe these past few years just to figure out what I am made off and I figured that life is short, why wasting time wondering either I can or can’t do the things that I wish that I want to do.
This is my first post in this blog.
Trying to link my passion for photography, traveling and jewellery making into one ultimate masterpiece. For a few months, I did some intense read up on jewellery making particularly on beading and attended a silversmithing course in Jogjakarta, Indonesia reason being to brush up my jewellery making skill and at the same time trying to boost up my confident level before I decide to totally jump into doing this for a living.
I had completed some bracelets and necklaces for GayaIzzah.com first jewelry collection targeting for young women last month and alhamdullilah the respond was quite encouraging.
I am currently working on the next set of jewelry collection from the remaining beads that I have in stock coupled with various color of freshwater pearls from Sabah. The next collection is targeted for completion in September 2014. Fyi September is a very special month both for me and for GayaIzzah.com team. So my dearest readers, wish me good luck yeah for my next upcoming creation.
MATSUDA MASHIMARU 