Last Day on Day 4

Day 4 - 17 Aug 2025
Last record of the recent ALSW trip in Phuket. Forgot what did I do in the morning; probably having hearty breakfast with friends whom we met only once a year during ALSW. In order not to miss the mass group photo at Golden Dragon Monument at 12noon, we arrived early to take photos with friends. This time we had not one but two national flags for the mass group photoshoot. Love it!

We walked to the Phuket City Hotel under the scotching hot sun for the final closing ceremony, what a blast with the 'yellow pencil' passed to Urban Sketchers Pune for the next ALSW. Very sure the tag is "ALSW2016Pune"!

Well, the spirit was so high we continued to walk to the Sunday Night Market at the old town and I did a sketch after having my dinner at Little Phuket. Ya, I didn't eat much or forgot to eat at the closing ceremony. The night ended in the high note with another group photo at Soi Pradit lined with beautiful graffiti art.

See you in Pune next year!

Parade at Phuket Old Town on Day 3

Day 3 - 16 Aug 2025
The hightlight of the day was the colourful parade for the opening ceremony of Thailand Biennale at Phuket Museum. No wonder the grab driver said it was closed! I could still sketch with other sketchers outside the museum with the huge red bear in muaythai outfit. I took pictures with gorgeous locals dressing up for the event. Just noticed I wore the same matching purple, soft pastel colours too.

In the afternoon, I sketched the big 7-colour on the wall of Tu Kab Khao restaurant. That's where I witnessed the parade. I saw the artists I met earlier at the park next to the Golden Dragon Monument holding the banners in the parade walking past me. The entire road was closed for about an hour or two and the whole street came alive with music and dance! It was very quickly back to normal with cars and people strolling at the sidewalks, wow, just so nimble and efficient!

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Phuket Sketches

I did two loose Arches and two Etchr Accordion Sketchbooks for this trip Asia-Link Sketchwalk Phuket 2025. The sketches were posted individually and this is the collage of all of the sketches including the collected stickers.

Thanks for a memorable experience.

Dr Sketch

Day 3 - 16 Aug 2025
Dr Sketch session at event center. I was a little late but my patients are so patient waiting for me. I prescribed more "Grammar Pills" in art and design. Fun time.

People on Day 1

Day 1 - 14 Aug 2025
777 participants from 26 countries for the event in Phuket not to mention those came without the tickets. It was impossible to say hello to each and everyone daily. Thanks to those who said hello and took photos and sent to me. I am not good in taking photos with people so here is a collage on people I met on Day 1. Interestingly, I could identify by my outfit to know which day these photos were taken.

Registration was to start at 1pm so I went to local coffee shop for my breakfast with the recommendation of our Grab driver. I did a sketch at Aroon Restaurant with Michelin awards from 2019 to 2025. I met a couple of sketchers in the shop and along the way. Many sketchers already busy sketching as I strolled leisurely before settling down with another sketch at the Golden Dragon Monument and met a group of Thai artists preparing for the Thailand Biennale Phuket 2025. Photos of Biennale at my post.

I also met a group of Taiwanese sketchers led by their teacher. Very busy saying hello and catching up with old friends plus meeting new ones during registration from 1 to 5pm. Party began soon after with a sumptous welcome dinner and spectacular performances. What a blast and fruitful day.

Surprise!

Day 1 - 14 Aug 2025
I name this photo collage "Surprise" because it is still a surprise to me up to this day. I was so shocked Asnee and I were called up to the stage and each received the Legend Award with a beautifully presented Museo brush as senior founders of Asia-Link Sketchwalk.

The stories of ALSW is here at this link: Link

Last Sketch at the Airport

Day 6 - 24 July, time to go home, a quick sketch at the airport with calling cards, coaster, servettes thrown in to building fond memories!

Etchr Accordion Sketchbook
Size: 390 x 210mm

Kafei Dian

Day 5 - 23 July, while waiting for the cocktail dinner at Pik Wah Bar & Cafe at Jalan Petaling, we went to chill at Kafei Dian at Jalan Panggong

At around 5:15pm, the place was empty so I continued a sketch in the Etchr Accordion Sketchbook.

The interior deco of this corner was based on that of a Chinese wedding room concept with red banners in the ceiling and red flower-balls here and there. There was a huge red lantern on the right and a huge vintage luggage was found at the opposite pastel turquoise wall at the entrance to this room.

Sketching enables one to discover the details in the surroundings.

Etchr Accordion Sketchbook
Size: 390 x 210mm

Light Capture

Day 1 - 19 July, 3rd sketching location.

This is the second sketch in the Etchr Accordion Sketchbook. However, it is the third location, first location at Chinatown I did a loose piece, second location was inside the Central Market. This is a very cozy cafe, Light Capture, opposite the very first May Bank Building frequented by tourists from China. Not as viral as the one in Kota Kinabalu though.

Etchr Accordion Sketchbook
Size: 390 x 210mm

Kuala Lumpur Sketching Trip this July

Photos of Johor Trip

Central Johor Railway Sketching Excursion

These are taken in our hotel call Starz Hotel in Kluang. We heard the owner is Anson, the lady who also runs Kluang Days and Star Restaurant. We are on a Central Johor Railway Sketching Excursion from 17 - 19 Jan 2025. Here are the loose long format sketches and a few more in the sketchbook after visiting Kluang, Renggam, Simpang Reggam, Bekok and Paloh. There is even one tiny one on the right.

Tomorrow we will be leaving at 4:30am to an event "Festival Bunga Nanas" in Simpang Renggam.

My first Sketching Trip to Johore

Join me and others for the upcoming sketching trip in Johore! Thanks Chankerk Teh of My Art Space : Art Enriches Life for the invitation.

Posted by Tia Boon Sim on Sunday 1 December 2024

Secret Garden in Seoul

This 2023 trip I did not go to Secret Garden at Changdeokgung Palace coz I had been there, did a sketch with my son in 2009. I also did other sketches of Bongeunsa Temple and Aquarium at COEX. These sketches are still on my Flickr.

Day 11 - Insadong

Finally did a sketch in Insadong after lunch. Very crowded in the day but very empty at night when we went there last two nights. We stayed in Insadong after returning from Suwon.

Posted by Tia Boon Sim on Wednesday, 11 October 2023

Finally, a sketch at Insadong near to the hotel where I stayed. Hotel Kuretakso can be seen right in the middle of this sketch.
11th sketch on 280 x 255mm Saunders Waterford Watercolour Sketchbook.

Day 10 - Gwangjang Market in Seoul

We returned to Seoul from Suwon on Day 8 and arrived at our hotel in Insadong in the late afternoon. On Day 9, we took a subway train from Insadong to COEX. On Day 10, I was back to sketching with my usual Moleskine Japanese Album. A sketch on Gwangjang Market, another iconic traditional market in the busy city of Seoul.

Big Sketch at Jangan Park

Day 4 - ALSW Suwon 7 Oct 2023 Final day, met so many familiar faces from past Asia Link Sketchwalk. Not too familiar...

Posted by Tia Boon Sim on Saturday, 7 October 2023

I had lunch at one very small eatery on the second floor of a building. I did not know we need to use the scissors to cut the photato starched noodles so it was rubbery that I could not finish. Then I was late by just 2 mintues for the final group photo. I saw the group at a distance and tried to walk faster and faster. Absolutely hate myself for that but I could not walk fast at my age. Nevertheless, I did join fellow sketchers for small group photos here and there. The consolation was to take a bus with the younger sketchers from Singapore and catched up with them along the way. Also I had a really good BBQ dinner meal with my usual travelling pals KK from Penang and Pramote from Bangkok. We used to travel together to the symposiums in Lisbon (2012), Barcelona (2013) and Paraty (2014) and not to mention the one in Singapore (2015).

Anyway I completed the big sketch with the rest of fellow sketchers from this angle.

10th sketch on 280 x 255mm Saunders Waterford Watercolour Sketchbook.

4th Day in Suwon sketching at Buksudong Catholic Church

Final day of Asia Link Sketchwalk we took a subway line from City Hall Station to Maegyo Staion then a crowded bus to Suwon Hwaseong Museum. On the way walking to the Museum, I spotted a sketcher and went in to the compound of Buksudong Catholic Church. The group almost completed their sketch when I sat down and started to sketch. I continued to sketch after taking a group photo with the group who left with the sketchwalk staff. I met Ravi and his other sketchers who also stayed back to complete their sketches.

Buksudong Catholic Church was established in 1923 during the Japanese occupation of Korea, and is one of the designated Catholic pilgrimage sites. The church was shaped like a bishop's mitre and there were many beautiful sculptures on the green lawn.

9th sketch on 280 x 255mm Saunders Waterford Watercolour Sketchbook.

First Day of Asia Link Sketchwalk Suwon

This is Day 4 for my Korean trip but first day of Asia Link Sketchwalk event in Suwon. after 1pm registration, I went to the rooftop of Suwon Convention Centre to sketch the beautiful Woncheon Lake.
4th sketch on 280 x 255mm Saunders Waterford Watercolour Sketchbook.

Ipoh Sketchbook

A sketch at the airport lounge at Ipoh International Airport to kill boredom. Also the last sketch in the Moleskine Japanese Album Large. Another travel sketchbook completed.