"I used to love cooking as a teen and my sister who runs a school canteen in Batu Arang often asked me to head there and help her out. And I remember telling her, 'who wants to go to a small town, so boring and all.' What do you expect from a teenager," she said laughing.

However, right after her SPM (high school final examinations), she decided to experience a holiday with her sister in the small town. And little did she know that it would be the start to her most favorite love story to date!

"So I thought ok, officially school has ended for me, let's not disappoint my sister and accepted her invitation to stay over at her place for a bit. I would go over to the school canteen to help her and my brother in law out. And that's when I met him, my man - V. Govindarajanthran, looking so smart and dashing. it was love at first sight with this teacher. They say high school love and all, and probably that felt like it for me!"

Her sister later moved out of Batu Arang after a few years, but she stayed on until her daughter turned five, when her husband got a promotion. Never say never they say! 

My sister still teases me today, "You never wanted to come to Batu Arang but you found your soulmate here and stayed on longer than us!"

"We'll be married for 50 years next year and I must say we'll be lost without each other. We have our fights and all but I surely could not have asked for a better soulmate. These days, we enjoy being home watching Tamil serials and movies, I don't quite understand them entirely but I enjoy sitting with him!"

Thamaraiselvi Subramaniam who is today well known among the social media community for her beautiful and unique dreamcatcher, shares with us her story of how she went from a little girl who admired the favorite handmade willow hoop, with eye-catching woven web, to teaching women the art of hand-making them today!

"I'm from a small town. In my little town, it's very rare to see shops selling a dreamcatcher. I remember as I kid, I was mesmerized when I walked into a mall and saw outlets selling dreamcatchers os all colors and designs."

But the self-taught dreamcatcher maker says they were quite pricey.

"Yes, it's expensive and the web is not that nice. I never found one with the color and web design that I liked."

Tamarai added that from a very young age she loved to play with colors and her admiration for dreamcatcher made her want to learn to make them herself.

"I was in love with the colors, web designs, and feathers. It made me curious to want to try to make one."

In April 2016, she kickstarted her dreamcatcher online business dream. She took one year prior to that carefully learn the art to perfection.

"I've since made over 1,000 custom made dreamcatchers! I only do customize orders to fulfill everyone's dreams and wishes. "

She also makes unique dreamcatchers such as Rakhi dreamcatcher and dreamcatcher with names!

Tamarai who is also a crystal lover, incorporated crystals in her one of a kid dreamcatchers, know as the “Tree of Life”.

"I wanted to do something different and hence incorporated all the things I love such as crystal and resin artwork into my handmade dreamcatchers."

Tamarai works as a financial Analyst and has a degree in political science. She enjoys putting together custom made dreamcatchers during her free time. She is also set to be a full-time entrepreneur soon!

"My dream is to be a full-time dreamcatcher designer and become a trendsetter for dreamcatcher as well as the tree of life art."

If you will like to custom make a dreamcatcher or learn how to make one (for ONLY RM200), you can contact Tamarai through her page Laksyaa Dream Catcher or drop her a message at +60 12-473 7874. She ships worldwide! 

She has also introduced her latest gift product - Dreamcatcher Gift Box! Get in touch to order one for your loved ones today!

The pandemic with a doubt is a difficult time for many out there. Businesses struggle to sustain forcing a lot of employers to take the tough step of reducing manpower. During these times, it is great to see professionals and entrepreneurs offering to help individuals in need with photography know-hows.

Patrick Low, a prominent wedding photographer in Malaysia recently shared on his Facebook page EXES STUDIO that he is offering a fully subsidised skills training programme for those who are interested to take up the skills.

Dear Indian girls,

Recently an incident surfaced where a favourite YouTuber's husband attacked her. The husband turned up drunk, in a public hospital, wielding a sickle. The reason for his anger? Because his wife did not acknowledge him in an acceptance speech.

This is the root of the problem. In the Indian community - we are taught from young - as girls that we are the ones that ‘provoke’ the men to anger. When we raise our voices when we give them the stink-eye when we turn away in anger. We are taught don’t be too smart, don’t attract too much attention, don’t show off your wit. The subordination of women and girls is embedded in all of the advice, the upbringing given to us from very young.

In relationships we are reminded - the wife should not be more educated, more successful than the husband. Even if you earn more than him, you should hand over all of your salaries to him in order to make him feel like he is the head of the house. We can only imagine how much of talent and energy goes into maintaining the fragile egos of the Indian man!

This poor girl - she is one who puts her husband’s name before her own. She works hard from all that we can see to keep a clean home, to cook for her family and to be a good mother and wife. And yet it is never ‘subordinate’ enough. So women - take heart- it’s not for the lack of effort we get anger from the men in our lives.

This is about the men in our community. What standards should we expect from them? How they should behave? How they should treat us? This husband in question is a grown-ass man. He knows that actions have repercussions. He can bite his tongue and hold back his anger. If he chose to. But he didn’t. He could NOT have gone to the hospital with a weapon. But he did. Because he chose to.

Even when I’ve had a few glasses too many and am angry, I don’t take a sickle and go over to have a word with my husband! The reason he did it was because he thought he could get away with it. Let’s not let that happen. Let’s teach our girls they deserve better!

Self-worth and self-esteem are not achieved in a second. In fact, it takes a lifetime to build these. Amma always said - “The world will try to strip you of your self-esteem every single day.” This is especially true for girls who see everywhere the messages we are simply not good enough. Our skin colour, our weight, our shape. When we keep silent. When we talk too much. The way we dress, the way we don’t dress. Whether we are single, married, divorced, widowed. The world and it’s Aunty has an opinion on what we are worth.

So if we have a girl in our house, in our life - what can we do to teach her she deserves the best?

At household levels, we should endeavour to rid ourselves of gender stereotyping of chores i.e cooking is for girls, washing the car is for boys. We can ensure equal sharing of food and time for play. Many girls, especially after puberty, are not allowed to pursue sports or go out with their friends as much as boys are. In some homes, the bulk of the money goes towards educating sons, where possible try to be fair and divide the monies equally. In fact, some very bright girls had to argue with their parents to allow them to pursue their studies in a different state or country - just like their brothers did. If we are talking about equal opportunities in the world out there - we first have to start at home.

Let’s listen to our girls. Let’s teach her that she has a voice and an opinion and she deserves to be heard. Often we call these girls ‘vaayaadi’ and tell them to keep quiet. Let’s hear her laugh out loud - you know the type of laugh that ends in a snort? Without telling her that that’s unbecoming. Let’s teach her to negotiate for what she wants from us. That’s a lifelong skill which will become useful

Let’s let girls taste and enjoy freedoms - even if it scares us when they go away from us. When they come back in the wee hours of the night. When they experiment with life and boys. When they travel with their friends. When they learn dangerous sports like skydiving and mountain climbing.

Let’s teach girls independence - that they can take care of themselves. To run a house by themselves. To earn, to invest, to ensure they can take care of themselves in their old age. They can make good decisions for themselves about work, health, relationships, money.

Let’s give girls the security they can always come back to us if they make a mistake - if they hook up with the wrong boy if they get pregnant if they have an addiction if they get into trouble if they get beaten up if they make a mistake. Let’s tell them they can turn to us in their darkest hour and we will be there to catch them and support them and to be there with them.

And if a girl knows that - then she is stronger and can face this world because someone sent her the message sometime in her life - that she is worthy, she matters, she deserves better.

A Malaysian football fan, Ganeswaran Segar's dream came true recently when his painting caught the attention of his favorite football club - Liverpool FC! 

Ganeswaran, 29, from Nilai, a die heart Liverpool fan shared in a WhatsApp message that he was in disbelief when he received a message on Twitter from James Carroll,  Liverpool FC's head of news.

The message came after sending a video of his painting to the football team's management purely to show his love for the club, without any expectation. 

Watch Video here: https://youtu.be/g6DoQK8rCZM

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ganesh_imaginart/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ganeshandarts

Ganeswaran was informed that his painting of Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League victory, known as The Six, had an interested buyer. 

When enquired who the painting was for, he was told it's for the club's assistant manager, Pepijn Lijnders.

Ganeswaran, a self-made artist whose love for the club grew strong over the last 16 years said it took him 11 months to complete the painting. 

He began his painting last June and completed it in April, using pencils, color pencils, and watercolor that he carefully picked to complete the masterpiece.

Congratulations Ganeswaran! We are surely so proud of you!

If you'll like to get your favorite star's painting done, contact Ganeswaran through his Instagram: ganesh_imaginart or Facebook: Ganesh ImaginArt or email ganesh.segar22@gmail.com

His painting was also featured as the main attraction at the newly launched Boot Room at Navigator’s Restaurant Bar & Bistro in Jaya One.

Boot Room is the Malaysian version of an original outlet at Anfield – the home of Liverpool.

Liverpool FC fans should definitely visit Boot Room especially to check out the ‘Champions Wall’, replicas of the Champions League and Premier League trophies, and other autographed mementos donated by KL Kopites president Sashidaran Nair.

His amazing work was also featured in TwentyTwo13! 

READ MORE: https://twentytwo13.my/issues/malaysian-artists-work-catches-the-eye-of-liverpool-assistant-manager/?fbclid=IwAR3cCI3oc1BmFvEhJdzQCmfUwvqSTGA421J-BlMfZtl4zQKzT9Us5g6iNQg

Photo and Story Credit: Ganeswaran Ganesh Segar Facebook Page & https://twentytwo13.my/

M. PARAMANNANTHA VELOO, 71, realised he still has the charm for painting when he picked up the brush again after ages during the Movement Control Order in Malaysia. 

The former insurance agent and a self-made badminton champion who lives in Bukit Mertajam, wanted to make his time at home useful and decided to go back to doing what he loves, painting.

it takes him about three weeks to complete a painting and has already sold a few! 

Tesini Nathan who shared her father's artwork on Facebook said that her dad unlocked his talent this year thanks to the Movement Control order.

"He used to paint when he was much younger, it was his hobby."

However, she shared that her dad never continued painting after settling down as his priorities shifted to painting the happiness of his family in everything he did for them on a daily basis.

"We actually never had any of his paintings in our house."

But the Movement Control Order in Malaysia got him to pick up from where he left his art love.

"The pandemic got him stuck at home and created an opportunity for him to rekindle his passion."

Besides painting, the Perak Indian open tournament Badminton Champion (doubles), also provides free badminton coaching for underprivileged children in his neighborhood. 

You can get in touch to get yours done today. Contact: 0164072090 or 0138359011

Check out some of his painting done during the MCO below:

In a post shared by SMK Wangsa Melawati, the school announced the launch of a free pantry to help its students ease their family's hardship with a rack filled with essential items. 

Among the items available for students to pick and take home are biscuits, cooking oil, canned food, milo, flour, rice, mee hoon, and soap. 

Some of us have probably been using a facemask for 6 months now but there's a good number among us who are not bothered about finding the closest waste bin to throw the used facemasks away.

This lackadaisical attitude turned a lot of public places into a complete eyesore, also posing a health hazard to members of the public.

Worried about the growing problem, Vasugi Ramasamy and her brother Suriya Kuppusamy decided to drive around their hometown by bike to pick up the used facemask they see along their ride.

Vasugi who is an Accounts Clerk in Econsave, Parit Buntar dedicated her time after work and on off days to do this with her brother who is a student at ILP Nibong Tebal. Their selfless contribution to the community covers various streets from Sungai Bakap to Parit Buntar.

The siblings from Taman Kesumba, Sg Bakap in Penang said they decided to start this initiative as face masks that are not disposed of properly will pose various health risks to the public.

Vasugi also hopes the public will dispose of used facemask responsibly to the environment clean and our community safe from any possible infections.

Photo and story credit: Vasugi Ramasamy