Mons = Home

It's been years since the beginning of the pandemic that changed our lives.  
So many things happened…
The lockdowns, pause and curfew.
The masking, and free face masks from the government.
The ‘cuddle contact’.
The reopening and ease of restrictions.
The vaccines.
The return to normality.
The art exhibitions, from Lichtenstein to Miró.
The Michelin's Festifood.
The new establishments (oh hi Primark and bubble tea shops!), but some others collapse.
The renovations.
And hope.. we emerge into a better world.
 
So many things I wanted to share.
Amid the disruption and isolation, it's given me an opportunity to slow down, tolerate uncertainty, to focus and appreciate what truly matters, the essential and non-essential.    
One of the trends and privileges we enjoy the most is the flexibility, work from home is here to stay. 
Now with the war, energy crisis and inflation, we decided to embark on a journey.. embracing digital nomadism work-cation, on the road – off the ‘gram @feastofbutterfly
Mons is still our home base ❤️  

Spring Breeding Season?

Smells Like Home

Oh how I really miss the smell of the ocean breeze.

The smell of simmering offerings to the gods.

The burning incense.

The smell of paradise, my happiest place on earth...

Pray for Belgium

When I decided to extend my holiday in the tropics last year and skipped the Brussels lockdown, I was pretty naïve thinking things will slowly get better.

Compared to the busy airports like Amsterdam Schiphol or even the main one in my home country, walking easy breezy with minimum security at Brussels Airport had always made me worry. Then it happened…

The day before I went to Brussels for an event at the Embassy and had dinner with friends. As usual, I always park my car in front of my friend’s old apartment at Residence Palace across Malbeek metro station. For me it’s one of the most convenient and favorite location. Only 3 metro stops to the city center. The restaurant we had dinner was only few hundreds meters away.

So shocked when I woke up late that morning and read my brother’s message on the phone. He told me about the blasts. My family, relatives and friends were asking if I was okay. Some of them thought I was having a déjà vu. When I was living in paradise, it even happened twice! In my neighbourhood, where I worked and hung out!

Before in small island, now in small country.

I wonder where to go now…

Mons, after 2015

Hope it won’t be boring…

La Triennale de la photographie de Mons 2015

Le vernissage, a private view for invited guests for the “Exposition des 100 plus belles photos de Mons en 2015 photos” on June 18, 2015.

This event not only one of my highlights in Mons 2015, but personally a milestone and an achievement.

On the Opening Night of the Mons 2015, I had a brag-worthy moment when found my photo in an exhibition of “Mons en 2015 photos”. About a month ago, I got an e-mail from the organizer informing that my photo was selected amongst hundreds of photographs during the one-night exhibition, and will be in the Triennale de la photographie de Mons 2015, featuring 100 most beautiful photos.

Here I am this evening, standing in front of my photo.. feeling so overwhelmed.

Daddy must be proud!

I kept saying that over and over again.

It was exactly 20 years ago he bought me a SLR camera. 

I was very much interested in taking photos but his retro Nikon SLR couldn’t meet my need. He also used to be very passionate about photography and the equipments had always made me wonder. So when I was accepted to get in to the best school in the region and joined the photography club, he got me the latest model of Canon EOS which made everyone so envious. 

The part of learning photography theoretically wasn’t a good memory. Don’t forget to take notes! -as he kept remind me.

I was struggling while he told me not to give up, encouraged me to shoot.. small things and random objects from daily life and once a while took me for photo hunt around the city. I remember, how lovely it was having weekend dates with him going to photo exhibitions. A photojournalism exhibition at The Erasmus Huis, Dutch Cultural Centre had the strongest impact in my mind and then shaping my career path.

The excitement of capturing moments through a camera never stop me, though later I opt for compacts.

This photo was a random shot on Prince Charming’s birthday two years ago. It might be beginner’s luck to be in this exhibition considering it was taken with my pinky shooter. But the way I see my photo with other great artworks today has the same sort of feeling when looking back at an exhibition two decades ago. Amaze and so I nearly cry.

While I was stoked in front of my photo, counting how many people noticed my work, a woman approached.. asking if I took the photo and if it’s digitally altered or photoshopped. To be honest, I did only edit very few things. She's a professional photographer, with a series of photos in this exhibition. Mine is her favorite one, saying she loves it for the color, structure and how poetic it is.

It is indeed a very strong image to me. Sentimental. As I called this photo “Grey” which reflects my life in Belgium. Everyone would easily associates with the sky. Yes, the epic Belgian sky.. grey and cloudy. Those dark clouds surrounded unhappy thoughts. Deep sadness and sorrow. Doubts and frustration. Don’t cry or give up.. because every cloud has a silver lining. Climb or crawl! Those stairs surely will lead to somewhere. And the only way is up. Where the trees look joyfully alive and nothing can’t stop them from standing tall and strong.

It is probably only a small scale event but huge and means a lot to me. It’s more than a dream come true. Here, abroad.. in home away from home, I have the chance to show off what I got. From thousands of entries, I am proud to be finally chosen as one of the best. I was failed on the previous event and good to know I’m not giving up. All the efforts seem to be worthwhile now and this is the reason why I’m here, in Mons. Excited to do more and better.

Thank you everyone who had given me this amazing opportunity.

* Yves Vasseur (commissioner Foundation Mons 2015), Xavier Canonne (director of The Museum of Photography in Charleroi), Bénédicte Thomas and Francis Delanativité (president and secretary of the Royal Photo-Club Montois)

La Triennale de la photographie de Mons 2015

June 19 – September 26, 2015

Ateliers des FUCAM

Rue des Sœurs Noires 2

Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4.30 pm (closed at 3 pm in July and August)
Saturday, 1 -5 pm (closed on July 21, August 15 and Sunday)

Mad Sky

June 5, 2015
Looking out the window, a moment I thought what a beautiful Friday in sunny June.

It was 31 degrees, counting the days to summer solstice.

Around 5.30 pm the sky suddenly changed its appearance followed by strong wind and heavy rain.

Though only lasted for few hours, it was frightening.

#nophotoshop

Small World, Tiny Mons

You know how small Mons really is when... my French teacher is his colleague's partner. 

They bought a house, which turned out to be my fellow homecountry friend house's where I used to hang out. 

Now I still visit the house and hang out there, but with different owner.

And finally the new next door neighbour is a friend from the French class.

Yes, Mons is indeed so small.

First Year, Remembering First Taste

First few days in Mons, at the Grand Place

This morning I  try to remember the first day I got here by reading the first e-mail sent to my Dad.

Yesterday, Alban asked Prince Charming: “Don’t forget to wake me up at 5 am because I need to go to the airport”. Can’t believe he remembered! With Kamil, they picked us up at the airport and we became good friends ever since. 

It was a slow drive from Brussels to Mons due to snow.

We went through the highway and I really enjoyed the view. The morning traffic not that busy, compared to my hometown. Along the way there were not so many buildings, just tall pine-like trees and it’s all white. Felt like a dream, in winter wonderland.

I could tell we already in Mons when finally saw beautiful old-style houses. Typical European town just like in movies. I could feel the tranquil vibe.

Our welcome lunch was quite fancy, in a prestigious restaurant called La Table du Boucher. Guess I also spotted our mayor. 

After a full meal and still with jet lagged, we had to walk around through unfamiliar streets. But was so happy along the way I finally saw familiar signs such as Esprit and The Body Shop. So, I thought it won’t be that bad living in Mons.

I would like to thank our friends, esp. Prince Charming colleagues. They helped us doing our first grocery shopping, accompanied us to lunch for the first few days, organized paperworks and basic living stuff, giving lots of recommendations, got us cable tv so I could watch CNN and BBC instead of Frech dubbed programs (yes they even dubbed Spongebob Squarepants becoming Bob L'éponge), and of course set up the internet so I could connected to my family and friends.

Looking out of the window, still can’t believe I’m thousands miles away from home.

But hey, Mons is our new home!

- February 10, 2011- 

Exactly one year living in Mons

From Mons to the World

Finally after one full year…

Having better understanding about living here. Battling with thoughts and euphoria. I decided no longer keeping the candy jar for myself. Now I will share the flavors for everyone.

The reason I create this blog is actually to help people to get a view about Mons.

I’m not a travel writer or photographer nor dedicated writer.

I’m not really into art but excited to tell everyone that I live in the European Capital of Culture 2015.

Even Mons is not as busy as the capital or many other popular cities in Belgium, but Mons is a lot bigger than I thought. Maybe I’m walking the same path, the same street.. but feel different each day. And it made me the person I am today (the one with a blog, yeay!).

I once browsed a blog, a guy from my home country said he’s feeling alone in this quiet little town when he was living here for few months.

A neighbour described this town as boring.

And for me personally, the first three months I felt the same way too.

Mons may be boring.

And quiet.

Or old.

But after one year, I feel fine.

I love Mons!

It has a big heart replacing the “o”.

A big heart to accept me.

And let me to learn.

Just from a single bonjour and smile from the locals, they made me part of them.

While here, I’m trying to experience as many things as I can, so the candy jar will be filled with more and many flavors.

I’ll keep writing to remind me every taste about Mons.

And this is just the randomness of me in this charming little town :)