Happy Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms of this world and a special happy mother's day to my mom and to the amazing women in my life who have shaped me and influenced me to be the girl that I am today.
May 12, 2008
May 10, 2008
Sneak Peak...
From yesterday's shoot-much, much more to come....(O; 
May 08, 2008
Kume Jima
Mark and I just came back from a short weekend to Kume Jima-an island 20 minutes away on a plane ride on the Southern part of Okinawa. The first day was sunny and gorgeous and the rest of the time was cloudy and rainy, perfect for an extremely lazy and sleepy time there. We still enjoyed our trip tremendously, it was definitely a good last trip before departing Okinawa. Here are a few from the trip:
Tomorrow, I am going on a cool shoot with several amazing photographers, if anyone is interested, give me a call or email me! Can't wait!
April 30, 2008
Kyoto
If you don't love Kyoto, you don't love life" Lonely Planet-Kyoto
And if you don't love Kyoto with a good friend, then you really really don't love life....Suwanee
Honestly, what is there to not love- art, culture, history, beauty in all seasons. In essence, Kyoto is a perfect city.Though it was a whirlwind of a trip, it still was a very fun city to explore. Brindha, my Indian goddess friend graced me with her presence by meeting up in Kyoto for the Cherry Blossoms while enroute to America.Hanging out with Brindha, you never get a dull moment, or you never leave without remembering the hysterical laughter shared with her.So to be hanging around Kyoto for a few days, exploring, getting lost, eating, shopping, getting more lost, then hitting the Japanese bath house to soothe our blistered toes, and topping it all off with a relaxing massages and a few sips of sake, What more could a girl want on a mini-vacation! I didn't take that many pictures, but managed to get a few in
.
April 21, 2008
Beyond Thank you's.
I am recovering from an amazing and busy weekend at the Foster Bazaar.I had no idea it would be so busy and so many great people stopped by, even just to say hello and chat with. You all are so incredibly amazing. THANK YOU to EVERY single person who made my weekend so awesome! I also want to say that it was my biggest show I have put on and it would be completely wrong and arrogant for me to even think that I did it all by myself. No,no, no...not even close. I am eternally grateful for all the amazing people who were a HUGE part of it...Natalia-You blew me away-without you there, the entire thing would have been a disaster-Dana...Your forever giving heart humbles me to the core...Aiko-you are priceless-your thoughtfullness makes you one of a kind...Mark...your support and love is beyond any words I could ever utter...most important of all...God who gives me strength and courage through it all, holds me together....I am blessed beyond measure...
Thank you.
My last show is this Saturday, April 26th at the Kadena Schilling Center from 10-3 p.m.
I am taking orders for selected photos and size. If you are interested in a specific photo and size, please email me at
info@suwaneephotography.com or leave me a comment with your information.
April 18, 2008
Foster Bazaar
Come out, come out! I would love to see you this weekend and have a chat with you before I take off in 4 weeks! (It's madness-I am still in denial!) (O:
But tomorrow, 10-6 p.m. at the Foster Field House, you will find me tugged away in a cute little corner of my own to the left of the entrance.
I hope to see you there or I will be quite sad and lonely back there.....(O; 
(Stories of Kyoto coming later in a couple of days....)
April 07, 2008
March 27, 2008
March 21, 2008
Sarawak-Highlights
Borneo-Heart & Soul
( a long one!)
These moments are my greatest memories and highlights of Sarawak.
1. While enjoying breakfast in a small fishing village, a stranger unexpectedly took time out from his cafe to show us his village- all from the goodness of his own heart and would not receive a thing from us as a thank you for his time. Even more heartfelt, he sacrificed his sleep, which he usually gets during the day, since he works the graveyard shift as a head guard at a nearby Holiday Inn Resort. As we said goodbye, His words, translated through Adlyn, “His heart is full and happy because he felt like he had helped a new friend accomplish a great mission-photographing his beloved village. Be happy, prayer, and take care of yourself. ” I turned and wiped tears off of my eyes.
2. An old man, curious, but mostly excited to practice his English. With his eyes sparkling, beaming two front teeth, his face lit up when I told him I lived in Japan. He excitedly said, I speak Japanese and I can sing Japanese songs! I asked if he could sing for me, and not even within a second, he was projecting from the top of his lungs a couple of Japanese songs! Then the non-stop stories of how he used to perform Dutch dancing. Without taking a break and with my camera ready, I asked if he could show me how he used to dance. Sure enough, the next thing we knew, he was busting some old dance moves for us! I offered to buy him coffee for breakfast, he declined, but asked for tea instead. He then proceeded to tell us, his heart wasn’t always so good, so every day for 30 mins he peddles around town, on his granddaughter’s humble pink bicycle, to exercise. He never skipped a day because it’s good for his 76 year old heart. It was the best hour of coffee talk I have had in a while.
3. The unexpected friendly smiles, laughter, and natural and unprompted reactions from the people of a small coastal village when my camera was pointed at them. Then our unexpected little tour guides on rusty bicycles showing us the way to where the fishermen come in on their boats with fish. The best part was seeing their surprised faces light up when we paid them with Mintos and one ringgit each.
4. Singing ABC’s with two little Iban boys on the long boat in the middle of the rain forest as we were going downstream on the muddy Lemanak River.
5. The freedom after letting go of the fear on the thin-long boat as we journeyed upstream into the Iban village. I’ll never forget the wind and the cool splashes from the river water on my face.
6. The “conversation” with the elder Iban warrior about his shiny watch from Brunei. Neither one of us spoke the same language.
7. Sitting on the dark veranda of the Iban Long House, watching and listening to stories, through body gestures, of the many, many Iban families in the jungles of Sarawak.
8. The faces and some heart drenching stories of the immigrant merchants at the “Cowboy-town”. A small shopping village of Sarawak bordering Indonesia. Their happy, quick smiles and the willingness to have their photos taken. Taking turns, they asked if they could take pictures of me and with me, and I happily obliged. I was more than happy to return their favors.
9. Grandfather’s stories and words.
10. Stories and laughter shared during the entire trip with Addie and her mom, Auntie-Hurairah Suhaili. And the late night splurge of 4 kilos of rambutan on our beds, by JUST the 3 of us…
11. The hospitality, kindness, friendliness, gentleness, and thoughtful words from all the people of Sarawak.
12. Putting
my camera and bag down on the ground, closing my eyes in trying to remember the
very moment that the wind brushed my face, the sound of the muddy waves
crashing onto shore, and a good friend by my side. My heart was overflowing
with contentment, peace, and tears graced my face. Not tears of sadness, but
tears of thankfulness, the happiest kind. 
March 19, 2008
"When you travel, you always make new friends."
These are the words of Haji Suhaili Wahed, or more commonly known as grandfather. And I take the liberty of calling him grandfather as well. A well sought after historian, linguist, world traveler, and educator, a few small conversations with him made me feel like a better person and helped me realized that life is too short not to go out and explore the world we live in.
Early each morning, Grandfather would rise very early in the morning, blast the radio to listen to the news, and then he would head out to sit at his outdoor desk, facing the busy street with cars going by, and read the newspaper. At 87 years old he had lived a long, healthy, and well traveled life, and his quick easy steps do not acknowledge age nor gravity. Never once did I look upon his face without seeing the grin that seems to be permanently etched on his handsome face. Right before Adlyn and I went out to explore the city, we had a quick chat with him. Pulling his desk drawer open, he pulled out a Japanese book, flipped to a specific page and showed it to me, all in Japanese. Knowing that I live in Japan, he asked if I could read Japanese.
"Umm maybe..." With a mischievously smile I said "A-ji-no-mo-to!"
He looked at me with that wise grin and started reading the paragraph in Japanese with no break, no pause, no interuption....
I blushed, "Oh no, he's serious..."
"I wrote this," He said.
Adlyn and I looked at each other in awe. Like two little children enamored with great tales from their favorite grandfather, we were all ears.
He told us stories of how young Japanese history students found him in his own home, interviewed him, wrote stories about him and invited him, twice, to speak to historians and linguists in Tokyo. How did he speak Japanese so well, I wondered and asked.These are his words translated from Malay to English:
"Sarawak was occupied by the Japanese in December 1941 to the end of the war in 1945. I was enrolled in a Japanese School during the occupation and learned the Japanese language in the Si Hang Gumi class. I studied for 6 months. I was able to speak Japanese by then and became friends with Japanese Officers. They took upon me and recruited me to work in a Japanese Government Office called Cheo Sa Bu, perhaps meaning 'Research and Geology' in English. From that day onward, I started speaking Japanese."
His story is a simple one. But dig a little deeper, and you see the innocence through his eyes. How he never saw hatred, but instead, curiosity towards the 'enemy' people. And what it all came down to, through the brutality of war, was friendship- accompanied by the wonder of speaking a new language. After 50 years passed he was invited to Japan to speak about the 'good old days' and met friends who were once upon a time, enlisted to work in the dense forests of Sarawak. And there found a friend.
Then he told us of his travels to America, the long flights, his love of chocolate, and the people he met along his travels. I am certain, after 87 years of living life, he has many many more fascinating stories to tell and share, but one phrase that summarizes my entire trip are these words:
"When you travel, you always make new friends."
Simple words, but they ring so true.
It was the perfect start to our day. Meet Grandfather.
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