My mother's hometown is Alor Setar, and she always takes me to my grandparent's house for the Chinese New Year school holiday. Growing up in a small room in Farlim and the crowded township of Penang Island, I can still clearly recall how, on the bus rides from Butterworth to Alor Setar, I would constantly glance out the window at the expansive views of the paddy fields. Because of my upbringing and my experiences growing up in a small room, I felt a subconscious sense of freedom and joy.

Every day when I'm at Alor Setar with my grandparents, I get on my grandfather's motorcycle and he takes me to the surrounding paddy field and rumah pam. Alor Setar is where my passion for motorcycles began, and the sight and sensation of the wind blowing in my face remain in my subconscious to this day.

I continued to follow the same habit up till the university era, even inviting my Johor friends to come and stay. My subconscious finds solace in the open, serene paddy field. As I repeat my action every day from sunrise to sunset, it serves as both a shelter and a practice area. When I'm not taking pictures outside, I'll be inside working on the pictures with my grandparents as they watch TV or go about their everyday business. My grandma usually makes more food when I'm around.

I can go out without worrying since my grandfather always makes sure the motorcycle fuel is at its best. Every time the vacation comes to an end, I always look forward to going back there. This is the cycle of life; as I'm ready to board the bus at Shahab Perdana to go back to Butterworth, I experience mixed emotions of leaving and then looking forward to the meeting again.

The flowers in the back alley used to blossom beautifully, but they have since wilted. My grandmother knows that I enjoy taking pictures of them, so she spends extra time taking care of them. Despite moving to my uncle's house in Penang, she continues to act in the same way.

My grandparent's house was sold and the only memories left are in these still photos I took throughout the years, and I am thankful for each and every one of them.