Monday, November 29, 2010

Batik Fun Walk 2010


Doesn't it spell FUN? That was the draw for me.


Sunday morning saw my friend Grace and I among participants in the Batik Fun Walk 2010 organised by Yayasan Budi Penyayang. It promised to be different walk - non competitive, fun and to top it all, wear Malaysian batik and do it in your own style! Shout out for Malaysian Batik!

We met at Seri Pacific Hotel to be flagged off. When we arrived, the dressing up had begun in earnest. We were each given a complimentary piece of sarong, a breakfast snack box, a bottle of mineral water, our participant number and a lucky draw number which we dropped into a big box.

Dressing up needs more pairs of hands


Participants loosened up their joints with an aerobics instructress. The music got everyone moving and in the mood. After the walk, entertainers kept the tempo up with songs and guitar playing. The lucky draw was eagerly awaited. So many prizes were given away and the grand prize was an LCD TV. Lucky fella!

Wear Batik the fun way and exercise too

Get into the groove, everyone! I had to laugh when one of the emcees said, 'loose your bones' (!!) when he announced the start of the exercise.

Music, exercise, batik, charity, family fun - all part of the Batik Fun Walk


I wanted to be different, batik-style. The volunteers and I of The Sunshine Group had recently done a session of batik painting of our beloved national flower, the Hibiscus on pieces of cotton squares with the residents of Selangor Cheshire Home. I sewed them on a plain tee-shirt and wore a scarf sporting hibiscus motifs on my head. The sarong was worn like a 'samping'. That was my fashion statement. If only my friends had seen how proudly I displayed their art work.


It's my Hibiscus Day, batik style

Have to say batik made heads turn that morning. Wear it short,long, wrap around the waist, on the head - it was batik fashionistas weaving through the streets of KL as we wound our way past the Open University campus and onwards. A bonus as we pounded the roads was to be closer to nature as the greenery hemmed us on both sides during part of the walk and to hear birds twittering, that is if your heart was not pounding louder than those sweet calls!

Grace tackling batik

2 pretty heads are better than 1!

Spice up - sexy legs do get some roving eyes!!

The long and short of batik - which is your style?

Looking smart from top to toe

Grace and I finished the 3.9 km walk in about 33 mins. Gosh, those leg muscles felt the pull as the gradients started. Little ones were pushed along in their prams/buggies by doting parents.The one who got a generous warm round of applause when the prize for the oldest participant was announced went to 81 year old Tan Chiu Chong. This octogenarian calmly walked to the stage to receive her prizes. Dem lazy bones of mine won't do anymore!!

When you live to enjoy another day, you gotta shout for joy! Mouth big enough to swallow a whale!!

The prize was proudly plastered by the largest group participants - 29 to beat!

Buddy for the batik fun

' I love Malaysian Batik' - Grace from Argentina enjoying celebrity moments.

Jenny Lee won on creativity. Batik walked all over her!!!


The event was a wonderful gathering of friends and families who made the effort to promote Malaysian batik in a fun way. So, take batik to the streets and wear it as casually as you like but batik also finds its way into high fashion. Only a week before the walk, I attended a high tea cafe fashion show themed Batik Delight hosted by Galeri Seri Endon which was to promote Malaysian Batik - Crafted for the World. It too was a lovely afternoon.

Crafted for the World -batik worn by models


23 comments:

  1. I just love the amazing print on the batik materials. The tee-shirt is beautiful too. Also, I'm very cold at the moment and am jealous of the people walking on the palm-lined streets (hearing the bird calls). Sounds like a wonderful experience.

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  2. Wah! I can see that it was such a fun fun fun event! You too made a fashion statement there with your hibiscus batek, not bad! it didnt matter if you dont win any prizes but the sporting spirit all made it worth while to be there! I wish I was there too..

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  3. I really like your t-shirt wish I have one as well. The event look so much fun. Oh how I miss tanahairku.

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  4. Hi Sunshine Girl,
    I can't believe the detail on the batik you showed here! I think it is very beautiful. My daughter made batik art in grade school and we framed it. I have never tried it but it looks fun!

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  5. I love batik.
    I used to make knot batik a lot - easy to make at home.
    Thanks for sharing this walk,
    greetings still from Helsinki...

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  6. ah...the revival of the batik! Batiks are so beautiful and we should use more of them, they are fun, cooling and super pretty if you have the right materials. Happy week ahead :)

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  7. What a memorable walk for both Grace and you! I love your blue hibiscus, and your open-mouthed joyful shout! Just don't "loose" any bones about it, Keats! I did a dinosaur batik piece at school. I wonder if the organisers would have let me wear it! My art teacher declared it unconventional but gave me an "A" anyway.

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  8. I was able to see how an actual dying of Batik here in our Country... I didn't know that it could be as fashionable as this...
    have a great day and happy blogging

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  9. On the whole it must have been a fun experience.
    By the way 3.9 km walk in about 33 mins is not bad I say.

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  10. Congrats!! You made it... And the pictures are excellent!!

    Now, Blogtrotter Two is waiting for you in Luxor... ;)

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  11. I'm a big fan of Batik. Very interesting post, Keats!

    Have a nice day!

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  12. I love batiks and have a few in my collection.

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  13. So much color and beauty. How can you not feel joy and enjoy the walk and festivities!

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  14. LOL! The creativity that such event spurs!!! Cool!

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  15. What a fun day! Wonderful, beautiful materials. Good to see the men were enjoying themselves with those snazzy shirts too!

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  16. Batiks are so colorful !!!
    I love it also ...
    I have a few at home :))

    Sorry for my late visit :(
    I try to visit some blogs
    when i have a good mood ...
    Thanks for all your sweet words
    it means a lot to me THANKS
    its nice to have real friends in blogging world.

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  17. Looks like a fun event. I love batik. I used to have a batik table cloth but I used it until it was totally worn out.

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  18. What a fun event! I'm impressed that it only took you 33 mins for 3,9km. I don't think that I'm in that good shape. Have a wonderful weekend, dear.

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  19. So much fun! From your post, my mindset of old-fashioned batik changed. They dont really look that old. Like for the shirt you wore, nice one!!!

    Btw, I've got you an award..Hope you'll like it.. :)) Here's the link:

    http://thetacube.blogspot.com/2010/12/versatile-blogger-award.html

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  20. Batik fun walk followed by a fashion show is a superb way to create buzz!!!
    We thoroughly enjoyed reading your post about Malaysian Batiks. Indeed this traditional art form is not specific to one country, but has roots across the world.

    We at Kala Cafe (Kala is the Hindi word for Art) work for preservation of traditional art forms of India like Batik through residential art immersions with the artists and by bringing art to homes of art aficionados.
    You can visit us at www.kalacafe.com

    To support our cause do follow us for latest updates - www.facebook.com/thekalacafe ; www.twitter.com/thekalacafe ; www.kalacafe.wordpress.com

    Thanks.
    Team Kala Cafe

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Great to have you popping in!