Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Beauty Secrets from the East - Episode 3 - Thailand




This coming Monday, 2nd of July, Beauty Secrets from the East will be on TV3, 7.30 pm.


In this episode, I travel around Thailand in search of their traditional beauty secrets...


In the photo above, I am dressed as an Ayutthayan princess...


Don't miss out!

Painting Inspiration

A few weeks ago, I received this comment on my site...

You're really talented Sasha. Where do you get your inspirations to draw the paintings that u draw? And do u do a sketch of the painting first or do u have it all in your mind and your hand just does the miracle on the canvas just like that? :) Hope to hear the stories of your talent in one of your entries soon!

I'm flattered by the compliments and interest in the process of how I do my paintings, so as requested, I will try and explain how I do it...

I have been drawing, colouring and painting for as long as I can remember. Like many other children, I always received colouring books and pencils as birthday presents, and my mother always encouraged me to use them... I suppose it's a good way to keep children occupied so mother's can do other things!

When I was in school, I did art as well for SPM....

While I was studying in Australia, I would paint every now and then, just to do something different....dancing, acting, singing, doing massive research for assignments 95% of the time is exhausting! another thing I enjoy doing is refurbishing thrown out furniture (let's leave that for another time...)

So where do I get my inspirations from?

Everywhere really....

I once saw a glass bottle in the shape of a woman's body in a shop in Australia. I loved it so much that I bought a few, then thought it would be nice to paint them, so went to art shop and learnt how to use glass paint from the salesgirl and painted these glass bottles with dresses...

Then I did a few paintings focusing on just the woman's torso...

Other times I may see a tube of paint in a beautiful colour, and love it so much that I just buy it and do a painting cause I love the colour of that paint.


While I was shooting Explorace last year, I carried around with me a small book and would just draw in it anything that I felt like.. usually inspired by something I saw..

All my 'goddess' paintings are inspired by long, thick, luscious mermaid like hair. So I just started experimenting with the form of long wavy hair and somehow these images appeared...







Sometimes I have no idea what I want to paint, but just feel like painting. So i get out a canvas, pick a few paint colours that look good together and go for it...

So there is no real set pattern to me producing my work... but it's all definitely inspired by something I've seen at some point...




I don't consider myself much of an artist. I just enjoy doing it and amazingly, people seem to respond well to them. I think it's cause my paintings never look like I'm trying to hard... cause I'm not.. I'm just doing....

By the way, the paintings I did for KDU ROAR are still available at only RM 395 each.









If your interested, please contact Melissa Chen on 012 347 0389. Good opportunity to get one if you like my paintings!

I hope this little post has been insightful for you...

Thanks again for the support and interest.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Beauty Secrets from the East - Episode 2



Beauty Secrets from the East, Episode 2 in Pagoh, Johor
Monday, 25th of June, 7.30 pm
TV3

mish mash of stories and photos

a lot has happened and I haven't had time to update you and for the past 5 days no access to internet connection cause I've been on location shooting 'Beauty Secrets from the East"....

but here is a brief update of what's been happening with a mish mash of stories and photos...

last week, I went to Jakarta for the launch of the hugely popular brand Coach over there....



I got my first Coach bag for the event... The dress I wore is by a Mat Salleh (Italian I think) designer but resides and designs in Bali... name is Milo's... I bought the dress while I was in Bali shooting for Beauty Secrets... As soon as I put it on, my producer said I really have to get it... "sesuai sangat dengan you! rugi tak beli".... so, I belilah!



I also beli a few nice things while I was in Jakarta... Did I shop til I dropped? Hmmm.... I did have to take off my shoes and walk around barefoot for a while. is that the same thing?

You know someone is your good friend when they invite you at the last minute to an event of theirs. At 3 am, on the day of the premiere of Ning's movie DIVA, Mr Manager/ Gangstarz judge/ Vernon messaged me to attend the premiere as his guest... Of course I was more than happy to go and show my support...




My review on the movie is
1 - Ning did a great job
2 - I really don't think I'm the target market of this movie

And my kitty kats never fail to amuse me with their unpredictable behaviour...

Most recently, little tippy tipsy Tippex sleeping like a... hmmm.. I don't know...




Why lah Tippex? Why?

I just got back from Sarawak... stories and photos from there coming soon... really need to sleep... heavy week this week with shooting in two locations in the space of six days....

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Paintings for KDU ROAR

As you know, I love animals..

So when I was approached by KDU to be involved in an animal rights campaign event to be held at KDU from the 19th and 20th of June, I was more than happy to be involved, and very flattered that they were hoping I could donate some paintings for the event.

So, especially for this event, I have done 3 paintings.

The first one is LILY.




The second one down here is DANDELION 1



And the third is DANDELION 2.




My inspiration for these paintings is the abstractions of the shapes of flowers.

They are all acrylic paints on canvas. Measurements of all of them are 18 inches x 18 inches and they are priced at only RM 395 each.

For information on how to purchase one (or all!) of these paintings, please contact Melissa Chen on 012 347 0389.

Full proceeds of all the sales will go to the KDU ROAR fund.

I hope you guys like the paintings and I look forward to all of them being sold!

BEAUTY SECRETS FROM THE EAST - EPISODE 1 - BALI

Hello everyone!

Just a reminder,

don't forget, tomorrow night, Monday the 18th of June is the FIRST EPISODE of my new show 'BEAUTY SECRETS FROM THE EAST'.

7.30 pm only on TV3....

This episode was shot entirely in Bali... you will see me dressed as an Ayutthaya Princess, at the beautiful Git-Git watetfall and experiencing many many beauty treatments....

Don't miss it!!!!!

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Mona Lisa?

having a bad hair day today... will need a hair dresser's help to tame this wild mane of hair..... though it drives me crazy sometimes, when my hair dresser asked me the ther day if I want to cut it i said "NO WAY!".... I've always wanted hair all the way down to my waist.... you know like the Disney mermaid Ariel, Pocahontas, Puteri Gunung Ledang..... I'm hoping my hair will reach my waist by the end of this year....

As I was trying to have breakfast this morning, Joberg was in another one of her grandmother story telling moods.... I think she was telling grandfather stories this time too....

I have lots of writing and previewing to do today..... this is the tedious part....

My director just gave me the next batch of my shooting dates today. As I looked at it, I'm trying to figure out when I will have time to sleep.....
I have a lunch or dinner date with Vernon aka Mr Manager/ Stupendous Gangsatrz Judge this weekend.... except it won't be in Malaysia... It will be overseas...

Many people have told me that I look like Mona Lisa... especially when my hair has not been blow dried or tamed....

I haven't firgured out yet if that's a compliment or a complete insult..... I'm taking it as a compliment because that painting is worth so much that I think that no insurance company is willing to insure it...

In the words of Estelle Nadau of the Louvre, "The Mona Lisa is inestimable. She belongs to the French state,which is its own insurer, that is the reason why she is not insured." It has no assigned monetary value. It is priceless.

Many years ago, I was in Paris and I went to the Louvre (art gallery, the one in the movie Da Vinci's code) and saw the original Mona Lisa painting that Da Vinci himself painted with my own eyes.

I have been to many art galleries across the world and I have not seen painting as closely guarded and protected as the Mona Lisa.

A cube of bullet proof glass has been put around it and inside the cube it is climate controlled and there is also a very big and mean security guard officer standing next to the cube with a huge gun....
There was also a huge crowd of people around it....

What surprised me most about the Mona Lisa is that it's actually quite small.. I thought it would be 48 inches x 60 inches.... It's actually only 21 inches x 30 inches...

And what did my genius brother say at the top of his voice in front of the priceless Mona Lisa, crowd of people from all over the world and the scary gun wielding security officer?

"IS THAT ALLLLLLL??!!!"

I felt like borrowing the security officer's gun.....

But now Mona Lisa has a $7.5 million dollar room of her own at the Louvre in Paris,France. It now hangs in the Salle de Etats. It gives the millions who come to see the painting more room and a better view.

Anyway, I myself have just finished another 3 paintings which I will be sharing with you soon...

If you're interested to read more about the Mona Lisa, this website has lots of great info. http://www.monalisamania.com/

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Kembara timba ilmu kecantikan (Harian Metro)

MEWARISI kecantikan semula jadi secara turun-temurun sememangnya satu anugerah yang tidak terhingga. Namun, lazimnya masyarakat dalam sesebuah tamadun memiliki rahsia dan warisan amalan kecantikan tersendiri untuk mengekalkan wajah awet muda dan kekal menawan.

Merungkai rahsia kecantikan ini, program dokumentari 13 episod terbitan TV3, Beauty Secrets From The East (BSFTE) kembali menemui penonton untuk musim ketiga setiap Isnin, jam 7.30 malam, mulai 18 Jun ini.

Berinspirasikan kejayaan musim lalu, Secret Garden tampil sekali lagi menaja rancangan ini buat kali kedua. Jika musim pertama Maya Karin muncul sebagai pengacara dan Aishah Sinclair pada musim kedua, kali ini BSFTE menampilkan ‘orang dalam’ TV3 sendiri, Sasha Bashir sebagai pengacaranya.

Pemilihan Sasha sebagai pengacara kali ini kerana BSFTE mahu menampilkan kelainan dengan berkonsepkan ‘travelogue’ (catatan perjalanan) iaitu pengacaranya turut sama menjelajah ke tempat sumber dan mencuba sendiri jenis rawatan kecantikan yang dipaparkan. Jadi, pemilihan pengacara yang berpengalaman luas dan mampu berbicara spontan bersesuaian dengan konsep kali ini.

“Rancangan sebegini memang dekat dengan jiwa kerana saya jenis yang suka menjaga kecantikan sejak kecil lagi. Pelbagai pengalaman dan teknik baru saya peroleh sepanjang penggambaran ini berlangsung. Antara petua yang masih diamalkan sekarang ialah banyak minum air kosong setiap hari dan bersihkan segala solekan di badan sebelum tidur.

“Antara episod yang paling menarik bagi saya ialah sewaktu penggambaran rawatan kecantikan menggunakan beras di Langkawi dan Ayurveda di Bali yang juga memiliki pemandangan cantik.

“Selain mengacara, saya juga bertindak sebagai wartawan dan perlu alami sendiri teknik yang dipaparkan untuk diketengahkan kepada penonton.

“Saya banyak melakukan kajian sebelum sesuatu episod dijalankan bagi mendapatkan maklumat awal. Selain menyediakan skrip sebagai panduan, saya juga banyak beraksi secara spontan mengikut situasi,” katanya ketika ditemui di Sri Pentas, Bandar Utama.

Majlis pelancaran BSFTE musim ketiga ini disempurnakan Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina. Hadir sama, Datin Mimi Hafizah, isteri Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan, Rangkaian Televisyen, Media Prima Berhad, Datuk Farid Ridzuan; Pengurus Besar Jabatan Majalah, Dokumentari dan Famili TV3, Ahmad Kamaluddin Zaba’ai serta Pengarah The World Of Secret Garden Sdn Bhd, Mohammad Razin Mohammad Noor.

Menurut Ahmad Kamaluddin, BSFTE musim ketiga membawa kelainan kepada penonton dengan membawa titik perkembangan baru menerusi konsep ‘travelogue’. Musim baru ini menampilkan pengacara baru dan penonton dapat mengikuti pengembaraan bersamanya mencari rahsia kecantikan wanita di India, Bali, Thailand dan Malaysia.

“Serlahkan kecantikan bersumberkan rahsia alam, begitulah ungkapan yang sentiasa diberikan penekanan dalam program ini. Antara paparan menarik, amalan kecantikan dan kesihatan menggunakan intipati alam semula jadi seperti rempah ratus untuk mengeluarkan toksik dalam badan, menggunakan madu lebah untuk menghaluskan kulit dan berendam dalam kolam air panas untuk rawatan dalaman,” katanya.

Mohammad Razin pula berkata, musim baru BSFTE juga akan memperagakan kepada masyarakat Malaysia mengenai rahsia kecantikan pelbagai budaya.

“Dengan penampilan hos baru dan berkonsepkan ‘travelogue’, rancangan ini pasti lebih menarik dan inovatif. Konsep ini menampilkan hos lebih dekat dengan penonton dan kehadirannya di tempat yang dilawati memberikannya lebih banyak peluang untuk membongkar rahsia kecantikan di tempat berkenaan,” katanya.

Selain itu, penonton juga boelh melayari laman web www.tv3.com.my dan www.secretgarden.com.my untuk mengetahui kisah perjalanan penggambaran musim ini.

Oleh Mohd Nasif Badruddin

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Beauty Secrets from the East - Season 3

Finally I can tell you what I've been working on! And you will hear it here first!

Many of you may of heard of the popular TV3 show, Beauty Secrets from the East.
It is now in it's 3rd season and I am the host for this season... (yahoo!)
And today was the launch at Sri Pentas!
Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina launched the show by placing a bunga telur in pulut kuning....


I know you're curious about the dress I wore designed by Jovian...

Here I am wearing it with designer Jovian...



As part of the launch I performed a contemporary dance with asian flavour. Performing in Jovian's dress was such a joy as it flowed so beautifully. As a performer, if the dress/ costume I wear is uninspiring, I just don't feel like performing....



I also launched the title sponsor , Secret Garden's website - www.secretgarden.com.my

So far I have travelled to India, Bali Thailand, Langkawi, Pahang and Johor to record this documentary. For those of you who remember my story about being 'attacked' by a leech or pacat, that happened in Pahang while I was shooting in an orang asli village.


Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina and myself with my producer of 'Beauty Secrets from the East', Siti Zainah

I have lost count of how many beauty treatments I have tried!


Beauty Secrets from the East goes on air on Monday, the 18th of June, 7.30 pm exclusively on Tv3.


Of course, here on this site I will share with you pictures and little stories that I haven't been able to share with you before that happened on location.

I look forward to your support!

Monday, June 04, 2007

TV3's 23rd Anniversary


Last Friday was the launch of TV3's 23rd anniversary....

The colour scheme was of course red, yellow and blue, representing the colours in the TV3 logo..



Throughout the month, there will be visits to charity homes and road shows..

More to come related to this!

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Jovian's dress

Today I picked up the dress Jovian made for me for the event on Tuesday....

It's beautiful and I can't wait to wear it....