Sketch Bhutan June 2018

Last week marked the successful collaboration with Drukasia for Sketch Bhutan 2018, a unique sketching tour. Similar to the previous year, participants from Australia and Singapore joined the all-inclusive tour, engaging in the art of sketching and painting while exploring the captivating landscapes of Bhutan over a 7-day period.

Flight to Bhutan via Drukair

Tiger nest sketch 

Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu

Chimi Lhakhang , Punakha

Thimphu from Namgay Heritage

Live drawing of Sangay

Chimi Lhakhang, Punakha (36.5 cm x 24 cm)

Punakha Dzong, 37.5cm x 21 cm)

Shop houses opposite the post office. (26 cm x 18 cm)

Tashichho Dzong 27 cm x 12.5 cm

The backstory to and Foundation of Sketch Bhutan:
Around three years ago, the journey began with a month-long volunteer experience in Bhutan, where I served as an art coach in primary schools and organizations.

Taught drawing to Shaba Primary and donated some art supplies to their art club.

During this period, I initiated the Thimphu chapter of Urban Sketchers, an effort to foster local artistic communities. However, the internal conflict arose when faced with the question of encouraging art as a hobby or a potential livelihood for Bhutanese children. This dilemma inspired the inception of Sketch Bhutan, aiming to bring tourists to Bhutan not just for sketching and touring but for meaningful interactions with local artists.

The founding members of Urban Sketchers, Thimphu 

At Shaba Primary, I brought them art supplies and sketchbooks sponsored by Bynd Artisan and a few friends.

Unique Focus of Sketch Bhutan
In contrast to conventional sketching experiences, Sketch Bhutan distinguishes itself by not solely emphasizing technical competencies. The primary goal is to offer participants the perfect travel sketching experience, allowing them to immerse themselves comfortably in the environment. This is facilitated by the presence of a professional tour guide and driver, providing a harmonious on-location group sketching experience.

Sketch Bhutan 2017

Highlights of Sketch Bhutan 2018:
The tour showcased various highlights, including discovering a new sketching and painting spot at Tashichho Dzong. VAST Bhutan graciously hosted the group, with local students acting as models. Noteworthy moments included a spontaneous encounter with local children offering candies during sketching in Thimphu and the exploration of color theory and watercolor techniques in Punakha. The tour concluded with a visit to the iconic Tiger Nest at Paro.

Painting Tashichho Dzong 

Another successful run of portrait drawing at VAST Bhutan

Sangay and her friend Tshsten were our beautiful models

The friendly children in Thimphu.

Punakha Dzong. The most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan

Next Sketch Bhutan and Leadership Transition:
The future of Sketch Bhutan hinges on the interest of at least four participants who can register through the Drukasia tour agency. Bhutan's esteemed artist, Rajesh, a co-founder of VAST Bhutan, will take the lead in guiding future sketching sessions. Interested participants are encouraged to contact Drukasia for more information.

Phyllis sketching up at Tiger's Nest

Rajesh, one of the finest artists in Bhutan will be leading Sketch Bhutan tours. Contact Drukasia to book your next sketching tour. 

Learnings and Reflections: The narrative outlines the evolution of Sketch Bhutan over multiple trips, emphasizing personal growth and learning:

1st time:

• The enchantment with Bhutan's landscape and the realization of a wish to paint the place.

• An interesting exchange - my sketches featured on Drukasia's corporate calendar in return for a two-week trip to Bhutan.

Paintings featured in Drukasia's calendar

2nd time:
Solo painting trip.

• A solo painting trip led to unique encounters and opportunities, including a commissioned painting for Drukair and participation in a group show in Singapore.. 

Group show with Asha Karma and other VAST artists.

3rd time:

• A more extended stay in Bhutan involved teaching and volunteering at various schools.

• Immersive experiences in local life and the founding of the Urban Sketchers, Thimphu chapter..

Teaching basic of drawing at VAST Bhutan

• Assisted in founding the Urban Sketchers, Thimphu chapter. The subsequent year saw the founding members of Urban Sketchers, Thimphu, receiving invitations to participate in the Urban Sketchers Symposium held in Singapore.

Look for the Bhutanese in the group !

4th time:

• The initiation of Sketch Bhutan in collaboration with Drukasia, involving eight special participants.

• Confronting challenges in running a successful traveling workshop, touching upon aspects such as cost, preparation, marketing, logistics, and teaching materials.

Sketch Bhutan 2017

5th time:
Second Sketch Bhutan.

• Successful handover of Sketch Bhutan to Bhutanese artist Rajesh.

• Operations continue with increased frequency and the passing on of responsibilities.

• Reflections on the impact of interactions with romance and the realization of a 'role-reversal' effect, gaining insight into personal predicaments and solutions.

Cycling and sketching in Taipei

I embarked on a brief journey to Taipei, spanning from April 26 to April 29, where I seized the opportunity to indulge in sketching and cycling. Gratitude is owed to Paul Chui and Hughes Lu for generously lending me their Brompton bicycle for the duration of my stay. Although not my inaugural cycling experience in Taiwan, I was once again taken aback by the splendid cycling routes that Taipei City has to offer. The scenery is breathtaking, and navigating the city on a bicycle proved to be both enjoyable and convenient.

Took Flyscoot 889 red eye flight to TPE. Painted this in Changi Airport. I was to arrive in TPE at 5 30 am !!!!

My first stop happened to be the lockers at Taipei Main Station. Had a heavy bag and Hotel check-in time is at 3 pm

Nothing is opened at 7 so I decided to go to Visit Long Shan Temple and be among the earliest to make a wish.  Wish didn't come true..... YET

Then I headed up to Tamsui to meet Hughes. He's super duper nice and loaned me his black Brompton bike that is crazy decked out. Also guided me around and off I went from Tamsui down to Shilin area.

Crazy beautiful weather . I was super lucky.  The cycling route in Taipei is super nice.

Entire cycling path runs along the river. 

After Beitou , I found a spot to paint in the shelter. It was super nice.

Half way there.

Somewhere near Beitou

Then I sneaked out from Yuan Shan area and ride towards Shilin area.

Somewhere near Dadao Cheng Pier. Another great spot to paint

Like Seoul, Plenty of bridges and beautiful scenes. 

It is so so so beautiful at some spots,  I can't believe I was in Taipei.

I spent some time cycling around Dihua Street and thought I may bump into a dear friend there. 

The power towers were interesting enough to earn a page in my sketchbook.

Baopiliao Old Street was quite a nice spot to paint as well. Interesting old buildings well preserved.

I sketched the Brompton in the hotel and gave this sketch to Hughes. Thankful to be able to ride his Brompton in Taipei. It would have been a lot more troublesome to bring mine.

I enjoyed the new Taipei MRT to the airport. Its really comfortable and easy

Flyscoot my way back to Singapore. Taipei will always have a special spot in my heart. 

Finally got up the Mao Kong after numerous failed attempts.  Its quite a sight and I am glad I finally scaled up. 

Thank you, Paul Chui and Hughes Lu from Bike Gang for sharing their Brompton with me.  Super grateful for all your hospitality and I look forward to your visit to Singapore :) 

An old sketch I did of Taipei from a hike up Elephant mountain.

4 days of sketching and cycling Taiwan

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Participated in Taiwan's Brompton World Championship racing event last weekend at Chang Hua and decided to extend my stay for a few days, indulging in some sketching and cycling adventures.

Tools of the Trade:
1) My Brompton
2) A pocket sized Accordion Moleskine.
3) Clutch Pencil, Kneaded eraser and a sharpener

Day 1:
Commenced my journey from the hotel near Taipei Main Station to Dihua Street with the intention of sketching the beautiful buildings. However, I found myself cycling aimlessly until I stumbled upon a stunningly lit building.

The lights falling off this building and trees caught my attention.

Sketch of a Street Scene near Dihua Street.

Rode up north and cycled along the river near Shilin. 

Saw a dead bird when I cycle back to Taipei Main Station.

Made a pit stop at Yuan Shan to participate in a figure drawing session. The model seamlessly transitioned between poses every 5 minutes, revealing a distinctive Taiwanese feature that intrigued me.

Visited CCH Studio for another figure drawing session, enjoying a lively atmosphere and friendly fellow artists, including a retiree. The studio was packed, and the instructor's warm welcome made the experience memorable

Day 2 : Early morning cycling along Tamshui and exploring the market.

My Sketching Companion & Tools 

Stopped by Jian Tan and noticed the evolution of shops, including new bicycle stores and the addition of a Louisa Coffee Cafe.

Day 3:
With a slight drizzle in Taipei, I decided to escape to Taichung via HSR. After reassembling my bicycle, I enjoyed some local Milk Tea at an 85c Cafe. Sketched scooters before embarking on a cycling journey to Taichung Confucius Temple, capturing the scene in just 30 minutes.

Taiwan's national commute = The Scooters. Their daily dosage of hugs and snuggles.

Got to rest early before I take part in the cycling race tomorrow at Chang Hua 

Gotta look sharp when riding a bicycle in Taiwan. 

Day 4: Brompton World Championship day at Chang Hua

Didn't bring a cover and was hoping to not get caught in the Train.. hehe lucked out 

Woke up early to take the local train to Taichung HSR but mistakenly hopped on an express train, traveling beyond my intended destination to Zuoying. Embracing the unexpected, I jumped on the next train north, reaching the race on time. Surprisingly, no extra charges were incurred—an unintentional round-island adventure on the HSR.

I made it to the race on time, after all !

Race of 12 Km and the fastest guy finished in about 19 minutes. 

My entire trip in a piece :) 

In summary, a fantastic trip filled with gratitude to all my Taiwanese friends who joined me and made the experience memorable

Cycling from Seoul to Busan ( 4 rivers cycling pathway)

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Sept 5.  2017
I packed my tiny bicycle and flew to Korea. 

Needed to discard more stuff for the trip.  Excess baggage is bad.

This was a rather spontaneous trip and a much needed one for me to clear some matters off my head.  Besides, I enjoy being out and about, getting lost and figuring my ways around. It’s something I always wished I could do in college but was never financially capable. Given my present good health, a bit of saving and plenty of down-time from work, I thought it was high-time I complete these to-dos.

Brompton all packed and ready 

Flight to Seoul. Quite a pleasant flight.

Not really a sketching trip:
Since I wanted to pack as little as possible, I only managed to bring a tiny sketchbook and broke a few decent brushes to fit them into a small hard-case.  To shrink everything down, I brought 2 tiny plastic cups and used them as water containers. With two set of cycling attires, some washing detergent, I am off to Korea’s 4 rivers cycle path way.  My goal is to reach Busan from Incheon via her dedicated 600+km cycling path. I had about 7 days to do so and did not plan much. Fortunately, I found someone’s itinerary on google map and it was super nifty. Thanks John Graham
 

Map I found online that got me through the entire trip.

Day 1:
I woke up around 8/9 am and took the airport train to Cheongna In’t City Station. Inflated my tires and proceeded to the starting point at Ara West Sea Lock. I also bought a mini passport to collect all the stamps along the way.

Journey of a 1000 miles began with one step. Starting point at Ara Lock 

Today, I rode more than 60km to Seoul and stayed overnight in a motel near Gil-Dong. It rained a little but thankfully not too heavy and I managed to arrive safely.  Daily routine of washing clothes began...

Rained a little but I got to Gil Dong.

Day 2:
Rode about 100 Km today towards Yeoju and passed by the city of Hanam to arrive at Sun Valley Hotel in Yeoju. It’s a water theme-park hotel and costed a little more but I thought there would be a nice view for me to do some sketching. Passed by numerous tunnels built specially for cycling today; It was spectacular.

Check into Sun Valley hotel with a super nice view of the river and did a sketch 

Day 3:
Woke up super early today at 6 to start my ride at 7.  It was a little foggy and I met Gaith from Canada and Mangi from Korea during today’s ride. We rode about 100km to Suan Bo. At first, I was feeling ambitious and wanted to try for 150 km.  Mangi laughed and didn't think I can make the distance. I forgotten that I will be facing some serious elevation pass Suan Bo until Gaith busted out his maps and discussed about the journey ahead. We reached Suanbo and I checked into a hot spring hotel.  Suan Bo was a quiet town with a bunch of restaurants and hot spring motels.

Met Gaith and Mangi along the way. Mangi was super nice and paced down to accompany me all the way to Suan Bo. I felt bad slowing him down.

Checked into Suan Bo

Day 4:
Woke up at 6 and started my ride a bit before 7. It was super foggy and the climb started right after away. There were a few teaser climbs before the eventual climb…500 metres over a stretch of 5km. The down ride was superrrrrr fun.

Climbing is always a struggle and more so if you are fixated with the thought of pain.

I reached the peak eventually :) It was gorgeous. 

I eventually made it to the top.  It was a really pleasant feeling and I wanted to hang out there for a little more but have some serious distance to go .

It took me a while and I struggled a little with my tiny bike. Since I don’t know where I am going and how far it will take, I throttle ahead.Eventually I reached the peak.

This stretch from Suan-Bo toward Mueng Yong is the most beautiful . It also happen to be the most strenuous. I don't know if they planned it that way. 

100 km later, I reached Nakdong-Ro at about 5pm and check into a small love motel. Those funky lights they had in these love motels were awful. Accidentally, I flipped them on a few times and thought I entered a haunted house. It was funny.

Day 5:
Mega foggy day. Though I intended to ride down to Hyeongpung-Myeon, I realized from the weather forecast that I may be cycling into a thunderstorm. The forecast indicated 95% rain. Decided to jettison today’s destination and cycled into Daegu. Checked into a nice hotel and will take the KTX (bullet train) to Busan tomorrow. That way, I can spend an entire day in Busan. One free day in Seoul too.

Checked into a hotel in Daegu and got upgraded to a suite.  Super good sleep

Best sleep through the journey. No funky lights in this hotel :P 

Day 6:
It poured in Daegue and the forecast was right. It rained all through Busan. Managed to jump onto the subway, then KTX and kept myself mostly dried.

Haedong Yonggunsa is so sublime. I paid my respect to the Buddha here and thank everything for the safe journey. I got lucky and saw the storm from the distance. 

When the rain stopped in Busan, I hopped onto the subway and cycled to Haedong Yonggunsa, a 14th century seaside Buddhist temple. It was magnificent and I speed sketch a little of the coast.  Fukuoka (Japan), from what I remembered is just about a boat ride from Busan.

A quick sketch in The Perfect Sketchbook pocket

Spend the night feasting sashimi at Jagalchi Market. Kind of crazy to be chewing down moving octopus.

Checked out Gamcheon Cultural Village before I set off to Seoul . I envy artists from abroad having spaces to work their craft. I read that there are lot of artists who lived out here. 

Day 7:
Took the KTX back to Seoul. Cycle a little through the city to stayed near Hongdae. Lots of hills in Seoul but it was quite fun to cycle through the back alleys and narrow streets. Eventually, I reached my hotel room and explored the nearby universities and fashion streets.

Finally got to sketch Seoul a little. 

Day 8:
Time to ride back to Incheon from Seoul. Today I got more time to sketch along the way and did a few tiny sketches before eventually resting in a hotel at Incheon. My cycling trip is finally over.

Finally some time along the cycling path. 

Farewell Seoul :) 

How I tripped in a Vipassana retreat and realized that its a cult

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On December 20th, I embarked on a Vipassana 10-day silence meditation retreat, a decision rooted in personal growth. This unconventional experience required surrendering valuables, maintaining silence, and adhering to a strict schedule—complete with early wake-ups, 10 hours of meditation, and limited meals. No contact with the outside world, even eye contact, was allowed, adding a unique layer of challenge. As someone who has explored various places, this marked the first time I was without my sketchbook, making it a particularly demanding undertaking.

Photo by fcscafeine/iStock / Getty Images

Founded by S.N. Goenka, the Vipassana group operates globally, relying on donations and volunteers. Although claiming to be secular, it predominantly aligns with Buddhism, as interpreted by Goenka through recorded sessions. The retreat segregates genders, employing DVDs and recordings for meditation guidance, with minimal verbal interaction permitted. My introduction to Vipassana came through a friend, Karla, and my interest in mindfulness led me to embrace this seemingly cultish experience.

Photo by selimaksan/iStock / Getty Images

Here's a chronological account of my journey:

Photo by CREATISTA/iStock / Getty Images

Day 0-

Took an ATR from Singapore for the first time

I boarded a Firefly ATR prop plane from Singapore, bound for Malaysia's Dharma Centre. Having enrolled in the program, I arrived in Kuantan, where the center is graciously situated on land donated by a prosperous family managing a plantation and adjacent hotel. At the Kuantan airport, I encountered two volunteer servers who joined me in a cab to the center. Both Paul and the other lady had participated in Vipassana more than six times. In our conversation, they candidly forewarned me about the challenging nature of the retreat.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with the commencement of noble silence, marked by the signing of an agreement form. Emphasizing adherence to the rules, we surrendered our 'contrabands'—phones, passports, money, wallets, and the like—before being assigned to our modest rooms. The accommodations featured a small, basic space with a thin mattress, a pillow, and a bathroom equipped with a cold running shower. For hot water, a communal pail was available outside. Additionally, a meditation seat was provided in each room. Daily program outlines were posted outside the cafeteria, indicating whether students could remain in their rooms for self-meditation or gather in the hall for instructions.

The hall we meditated in

Rooms we slept in

Day 1 –
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could sleep the night before, only to be abruptly awakened by a rather annoying siren at 4 am—an intense 'Gong' that resounded about 10 times with each activation. Its purpose was to signal the beginning of either a meditation or meal session, becoming increasingly hypnotic after repeated exposure throughout the day.

On the first day, our instruction centered on Anapana, a practice involving observing the sensation of breath in and out of our nostrils. The focus area for observing this sensation would gradually decrease over the next three days.

As I closed my eyes to meditate, my monkey mind kicked into high gear, leading me into a whirlwind of random thoughts, ideas, and fantasies. The sheer randomness made me question my sanity. By the end of day 1, I found myself mentally exhausted, plagued by a raging headache, and experiencing pain throughout my body.

Despite contemplating leaving, I decided to give the experience a bit more time. Each day, before the conclusion of our final meditation session, a discourse ensued, accompanied by a recorded video of S.N. Goenka teaching Dharma. Initially entertaining, these sessions evolved into subtle mockery of other religions and beliefs in the subsequent days. Goenka, a charming figure, seamlessly integrated humor into various Buddhist teachings, transforming the room of quiet attendees into a space filled with laughter. I couldn't help but wonder if laughter was considered a violation of noble silence.

Day 2 -
My sleep quality took a nosedive. I found myself back in the metaphorical boxing ring, and on this particular day, we honed in on our breathing sensations, focusing from the area around our nostrils to the upper lips. Strangely, my monkey mind decided to take a break. Instead, when I achieved moments of calmness and focus, my mind would seamlessly drift into a subconscious or light non-REM sleep state. Describing this transition proves challenging due to its smooth and elusive nature.

Frustrations mounted as I questioned why my willpower seemed incapable of aligning with my intentions. During one episode, I slipped into my subconscious, realizing I was in a dream state with vivid imagery of stirring a spoon in a cup. Upon waking, I discovered that my physical hand had mirrored the dream motion. The experience was undeniably trippy.

By day's end, a slight headache had set in, and I struggled to find rest at night. Even when it felt like I had drifted into sleep, my alertness persisted. It's akin to the sensation of experiencing super-long and slow breaths during sleep, with an added layer of vigilance to each inhalation. The roles of my conscious and subconscious mind seemed to have mysteriously flipped.

Day 3 -
I awoke with barely any sleep, feeling incredibly fatigued but oddly not sleepy. The day's meditation instruction directed us to focus on the sensation around our upper lips. However, my experience took an unexpected turn as I found myself repeatedly drifting into my subconscious, feeling like things had gone haywire. Seeking guidance, I approached the teacher, who advised taking breaks, washing up, and resisting these mental intrusions. Despite my willpower being on full throttle, exercising control proved elusive.

When I inquired about my sleep deprivation, the teacher nonchalantly mentioned that meditators don't need much sleep and urged me not to worry. Frustration mounted as I struggled to stay awake during meditation, often dozing off within minutes. In one instance, I found myself walking a dog in a dream, only to realize upon awakening that my subconscious was steering the ship. Behind me, another participant displayed equal frustration, resorting to repeatedly hitting his head when nodding off. I yearned to connect with him, but later discovered he had left the retreat, discreetly facilitated by the management to avoid influencing others to quit. This observation hinted at manipulative and psychological factors embedded in the design of the retreat.

Day 4 -

We concluded the Anapana phase, marking the official commencement of Vipassana meditation. According to Goenka, the initial three days served as preparation for our 'mental surgery.' The core concepts were straightforward:

We had lost touch with the subtle vibrations occurring within our changing form, referred to as Chi, chakra, or sensations in the context of Vipassana. Goenka asserted that Buddha traced suffering back to our attachments to pleasures and aversions, prescribing equanimity as the solution.

Through meditation, we sought to recondition ourselves to feel these sensations.

Avoiding labels for these sensations was crucial, as attaching labels equated to fully developed concepts, fostering attachment.

Once we could feel these sensations throughout our body, the directive was to observe them without labeling as good or bad—an analogy to accepting our ever-changing realities.

A pivotal moment unfolded in my meditation today. We were tasked with three sittings, maintaining a pose without movement for an hour. This ritual aimed to awaken our senses and cleanse past misdeeds. Skeptical of my ability to sit still, I continued to grapple with my subconscious. Before lunch, a revelation struck—I had been projecting my breathing onto an imaginary self. This realization, that our self-image is revealed laterally inverted through a mirror, prompted contemplation on how harshly I treated my subconscious. It dawned on me that it was time to be kind to myself.

Returning to the meditation seat in the afternoon, I finally succeeded in meditating without falling asleep. Despite persistent pain throughout my body, my subconscious began cooperating. Later, we were guided to shift our focus to the top of our head, and though initially challenging to catch the accent, I mistakenly thought we were instructed to focus on the top of our hip. To my surprise, this adjustment induced a cooling sensation sweeping down to my hip, intensifying the experience. The day concluded on a positive note, with a sense of accomplishment, and I enjoyed a better night's sleep.

t.

Day 5 -

Today's practice involved sweeping the focus from the top of our head to the bottom of our feet, observing without reacting to the rising and dissipating sensations. Remarkably, I successfully felt these sensations, maintaining equanimity and not moving an inch during the three lock-down sessions, each lasting an hour. It marked my inaugural experience of mind over matter. The excruciating pain in my legs and back transformed into mere sensations that rose and passed away.

During one session, a mosquito landed on my finger, extracting a bunch of blood, yet all I perceived with closed eyes was a robust sensation. Without categorizing these sensations as pain or pleasure, I remained oblivious to what was happening until the session concluded. However, that night, I developed a severe headache. As I lay down to sleep, an intense pressure on my face persisted. Surrendering to the stretching pain, I somehow managed to fall asleep for a few hours. Unfortunately, these discomforting sensations during sleep continued and intensified over the subsequent days.

Day 6 -
The meditation continued smoothly, yet a lingering sense of unease pervaded my experience, and I couldn't identify the source. Was I inadvertently projecting my imagination into my practice, causing issues? Despite this uncertainty, I persevered with the meditation, following the escalating instructions to channel focus on the body.

At night, the persistent stretching sensation on my face returned, disrupting my ability to sleep. I could only manage a few hours of rest by lying on my back. The increasing asymmetry of this sensation alarmed me, and concerns about it being a potential warning sign of a stroke started to intensify.

Day 7 -
I came to the realization that, while scanning my body parts, I was still projecting imagery in my mind. Doubts about whether this was imagination crept in, prompting me to seek clarification from my teacher. He advised me not to look for sensations but to sense them. Expressing my confusion, I asked how one could know the location of the arm without imagining it first. In response, my teacher emphasized that if the eyeballs were moving during the practice, it was not the correct approach and might be contributing to my headache and stretching pain.

As an artist, I explained that it was challenging for me to prevent my eyeballs from moving in my mind while scanning from head to toe. This realization led me to understand that, no matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to stop my eyeballs from searching for a placement. Surprisingly, I wasn't frustrated; instead, I welcomed this insight, though I wished for relief from my persistent headache. The stretching sensation on my face intensified during the night when I relaxed my facial muscles, and I struggled with difficulty breathing.

Day 8 –
I made the decision to leave the retreat that day. Despite the teacher's insistence that the sensations I experienced were positive signs of past bad deeds being eradicated through Vipassana meditation, I couldn't shake the feeling of being in a cult. Another theory suggested by the teacher was that heightened sensitivity during Vipassana practice might reveal underlying medical issues, potentially signaling a stroke. Concerned about my health, I questioned whether completing the retreat was worth the risk.

Expressing my understanding of equanimity, I stood firm in my decision to leave. The teacher continued to insist that I was giving up, solidifying my belief that this environment had cult-like qualities. They reluctantly allowed me to pack up discreetly, instructing me to wait in my room until the other students were in the meditation hall to avoid drawing attention to my departure. I left with a cab at 1 pm, with Hiroshi, a fellow participant, joining me in breaking the noble silence.

We shared our experiences, laughed, and discussed the surreal nature of the retreat. Hiroshi, a scientist from Singapore, revealed that he had been silently suffering from bug stings, which I had mistaken for an air freshener. After parting ways, the cab took me to Kuantan Sentra Terminal, where I found my way to Kuantan city, checked into a hotel, and took a warm shower. Despite checking in, sleep eluded me that night.

The next morning, I decided to return to Singapore earlier than planned, enduring an unpleasant bus trip that took over 8 hours. The peculiar stretching sensation on my face persisted, prompting me to see a doctor upon reaching home. After checking my blood pressure and heart rate, the doctor prescribed sleeping pills, providing some relief as I finally managed to fall asleep at 11 pm after a restless night.

My only sketch done in Kuantan

8 hours of bus ride back to Singapore !

Photo by cyano66/iStock / Getty Images

What did I learn from this experience?

• Danger of Unsupervised Mind Activities:
  Prolonged engagement in intense mental activities without proper guidance can be risky

• Complexity of the Mind:
  Our minds are delicate and intricate, influencing thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and sensations.

• Nuances of Breathing:
  Breathing is a nuanced process, involving movement, rhythm, speed, and factors like food, thoughts, and ideas, impacting our well-being.

• Power of Silence:
  Silence allows us to hear ourselves and reveals our judgments and assumptions about others, emphasizing the importance of positive self-dialogue.

• Addiction Awareness:
  The retreat highlighted the addictive nature of activities like checking news and social media, prompting reflection on time lost to such habits.

• Equanimity Beyond Beliefs:
  While not subscribing to religious or pseudoscientific claims, I appreciated the concept of equanimity in S.N. Goenka's teachings.

• Creativity in Religion:
  Religion is seen as the pinnacle of human creativity and art, being conceptual, intangible, and capable of uniting or dividing.

• Economic Perspective:
  In the absence of entertainment, clothing became my economy, emphasizing the importance of resource management and planning.

• Shower as Purification:
  The shower became a source of joy and relief in the restrictive environment, symbolizing the cleansing and non-judgmental nature of water.

• Kindness to Oneself:
  Treating oneself well, both mentally and physically, contributes to a more tolerable and positive perception of the world.

• Acceptance of Change:
  Embracing the inevitability of change in oneself and others can lead to a more positive and adaptable life.

• Perspective on Reality:
  Different perspectives on a spilled milk bottle reflect the subjectivity of life circumstances and choices.

• Vipassana Techniques Variation:
  S.N. Goenka's Vipassana technique differs from others, and caution is advised due to injected personal theories that may impact participants.

• Commitment vs. Attachment:
  Distinguishing between commitment and attachment is crucial; one can commit to an endeavor without being attached to specific outcomes.

  
  In summary, the experience emphasized the need for balance, self-kindness, and a nuanced understanding of the mind and its activities. It also highlighted the potential risks associated with intensive practices without proper guidance.

• The whole experience felt a little like watching Black Mirror on netflix without a super horrifying ending.

The song I unconsciously been whistling to when I was alone in my room. 

Maybe its time to try some hypnosis ?

Can Drawing be Taught ?

Every time I tell people that I teach drawing.  I am faced with this assumption that it cannot be taught. 

Half in jest, I often joke about artist profiles that stated how young they were when they started or how long they have served as apprentice to famed artists. These profiles seem to incite a sense of head-start, discouraging others from joining if they have discovered Art later in life.  It is also worthy to note that romance occupied the arts. 

Many love this notion that an artist is born, never made. To me, that’s a little ludicrous. Imagine a baby born and the next thing you know, picked up a pencil and started drawing ! A true and natural talent, ya ? I would personally run if I witness such prodigy ! (traditional arts we talking about here BTW)

Many Asians have this tradition that 'predicts' the future of their kids base of items they would pick during their birthday . This baby shows an affinity towards money. (image from Japanupdate.com)

Dramatic, I know…but that also seems to be the romance fantasized by many.  Interestingly, this is also how many artists are commonly evaluated or marketed for his/her monetary worth. 

Dali, clearly understood the importance of being perceived as a born-Artist and introduced himself as the divine Dali and informed his audiences that he was born with the blood of Gala. No kidding.

Are Artists are born?
Well..... Though I can’t dispute that some are born with better hands and eyes coordination. The same can be said for driving, flying or even walking. Some of us just have peculiar motor-skills but we can all learn to be better drivers, swimmers, runners or pilots.

So,.....Yes ! drawing can be taught and everyone can draw.  As far as how well one can draw.. It all boils down to the level of interest, effort and determination.

Personally, I have taught drawing for close to a decade and here are what I have observed:

Sketch of my students during studio time. 

• Improvement and progress are always the most dramatic during the first few weeks of drawing classes.
• Students are thrilled when they learnt that there are actually proper instructions and technique to drawing/ they would pick up pace on hands and eyes coordination and their observational drawings would improve dramatically during the first 4 weeks. 
• Depending on the group’s size, progress usually tapers off around week 4 when students noticed the development of their peers. When students notice that others can obtain better results, many start to lose interest and reduce effort. (risk adverse strategy) This is often challenging since it’s hard to justify for the additional effort required.
   

Sometimes, students get so competitive over drawing that they openly criticize outstanding students for spoiling the 'market', guilt tripping them, in collective effort to stop the better artists from widening the gap. (This is a very common scenario in Singapore schools/society)

Some competition is good but excessive competition and insecurity is death to motivation. 

So do I think drawing can be taught?

Well... My conclusion is that it can be taught but only some can accept or afford the necessary effort required. I have also personally come to believe that it’s a lot healthier to learn drawing when you approach it like Yoga, instead of O-level Mathematics.

When you don’t have to reside livelihood on drawing, you won’t be pressured to compare your effort and with less anxiety, you can definitely achieve better results.

You must enjoy art to learn it. 

I am currently conducting a sketching tour (For beginners) to Bhutan in Jun 15-June 21. Join me and rekindle your love for the arts. Limited to 10 particpants. Visit www.drukasia.com for more information.