Mori girls like cameras

 It has been well documented that mori girls are avid photographers. The original Mixi community of mori girls notes their propensity for wandering around and exploring, camera in hand. Mori girls are partial to solitary adventures and introspective journeys. In addition, inside the heart of many a mori girl is the desire for self-expression, which manifests in small ways like their individualistic fashion and lifestyle choices. Combine these two factors and you'll see why photographer is dear to the heart of many mori girls who want to document their adventures in a creative and inspiring way.

The beauty of photography is that it's accessible to almost everyone. There's no need to get lost in technical details if you're not into that sort of thing. A simple point-and-shoot will suffice for many (and, indeed, a good photographer can make more amazing with the simplest of cameras than someone else with tons of gear). Other mori girls may prefer digital SLRs because they let them play around with their pictures even more. Still others favour toy cameras like the Holga, Diana or Lomo. But it is the vintage camera that secretly pulls at the heartstrings of many mori girls. Selecting their film with care, lovingly loading the camera, anticipating every shot and then feeling excited while waiting for the film to be developed adds to the experience. Analogue SLRs, rangefinders or medium format cameras, there's one for every mori girl.

Whichever camera you prefer, remember that it's not that camera that matters but who's behind it. In my experience, the most basic digital point-and-shoot cameras can take pictures you never knew were possible, and never will until you get to know your camera intimately. Take sincere pictures and people will be able to see something of you in them.

I myself have a Konica C35, and my dad has vintage SLRs like the Olympus OM1 which I get all excited over. I like using film because it makes me ponder my shots more carefully, and I enjoy selecting films and seeing the various effects each has. But seriously, some of my favourite pictures were taken with my trusty Canon Digital Ixus iZoom, a tiny point-and-shoot that I bought with my first ever real paycheck (from a temporary job) 3 years ago. It's breaking down now but I hope I can keep it alive for as long as possible! I've taken so many 'bad' pictures over the years, but I have enjoyed the process, learnt new things and preserved great memories.

By the way, check out Miki's photographs. I chanced upon this on the web sometime ago and have since fallen in love with the way she sees the world.

Image source: Rocamiki

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Mori girls like bicycles

Despite the whole fascination with forests and flowers, most mori girls are city girls. For most city girls, commuting is an inescapable (and in fact, sometimes enjoyable) part of daily life. Whether they are riding trains, buses, scooters, cars, or just using their two legs to walk to the corner store, mori girls are a pretty mobile bunch...

... which leads me to the mori girl's vehicle of choice: the bicycle. Environmentally friendly and inexpensive, bicycles let mori girls feel the wind in their hair and the air on their cheeks, all while getting them from Point A to B in the most fuss-free and enjoyable way possible. Best of all, bicycles can be customised to showcase the mori girl's quirks. In my city, I've seen pastel pink vintage-style bikes with wicker baskets in front and flowers wound about their frames.

Bicycles also feed mori girls' love for vintage items. A simple European-style road bike (as opposed to mountain bike) has the air of times gone by. Just look at these pictures of Audrey Hepburn on her timeless bike.

Grace Kelly too!

Mori girls' loose clothing and flat shoes are ideal for bike riding. No need to worry about breaking your heels on the road or your skirt being too tight to pedal in!

Unfortunately, living in a city often means the roads are usually filled with cars, not bicycles, and it can be inconvenient or even dangerous to cycle if there are no bike paths. In my city right now there are bike paths but they are limited. However, I did live in a European country for a period of time and there, bikes were the default vehicle of choice. It was a wonderful and memorable experience, biking down to the city centre with friends, one after the other, balancing my bag on the handlebars (my bike didn't have a basket) and whirring gently past the prettiest city imaginable.

In my hometown (where I'll be moving back to soon) there are no bike paths at all and a crazy amount of cars on the road. I'll probably only be able to ride my bike around the residential area where I live, to the local park and perhaps to the nearby convenience store. Still, it's nice to be able to ride down to the park to read a book on a cool evening, the smell of other people's dinners wafting from their windows,  the sound of my tyres on the tarmac filling my ears. I'll be sure to do that! I have memories of riding my bike down to the city centre with a friend or two in the wee hours of the morning when there were no cars on the road, pedalling furiously for one or two hours just to buy a $3 bowl of noodles from our favourite 24-hour noodle shop. Sadly, most of my friends have grown up and have to work the next day, or would rather drive the car down instead. Still, I'll remember to give my bike some exercise now and then!

If your city isn't bike-friendly, you can still ride your bike close to your home, or go further later at night when most cars are off the road. Just before or after dinner, or early in the morning are the best times to ride. The best bags to take are backpacks or little sling bags or pochettes--just tighten the strap. As long as your bike doesn't have a high bar in the centre, you can wear long, loose dresses or skirts to ride. Be sure to wear comfortable flat shoes like rubber-soled slip ons. Take a bottle of water with you (you can even attach it to your bike if your frame has a holder), a sandwich and go where your heart pleases!

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Mori girls like markets

Some people believe that to live well, a person needs to eat well. Mori girls know that doesn't mean dining at posh restaurants everyday, or feasting on foie gras and caviar. If you feel like you haven't been enjoying your food lately, wake up early one morning and make a trip down to your local market!

The market isn't the most peaceful of places, especially on a Saturday morning. You might be pushed and shoved, and stallholders will be shouting left and right. In such a lively atmosphere, you'll be feeling awake in no time even if, like me, you're not a morning person.
 
Mori girls love fresh produce. Have a stroll about the market in search of the freshest apples and strawberries to bring with you on your next picnic, or crisp greens to add to a salad eaten by the window at home on a lazy afternoon. Mori girls like to D-I-Y whenever they can, and what better place to try your hand at creating than your meals? The market gives mori girls the opportunity to try new recipes and devise their own menus, instead of being at the mercy of fast food joints and cafeterias.

I recommend bringing along a canvas tote bag to carry whatever you buy. They're easier to use and more environmentally-friendly than plastic bags. Many markets have food stalls; if yours does, you can enjoy a fresh breakfast to reward yourself for making it there so early.

I used to get everything from the supermarket since the closest market is a half hour walk away and I could never wake up early enough. Nowadays, though, I try to get all my fruit and vegetables at the market because everything is so much cheaper and fresher. I read somewhere that the fruit and vegetables at supermarkets are treated with chemicals to make them last longer. Yikes! My market also has a deli selling fresh cheeses, breads and meats. Perfect for stocking up on ingredients to build sandwiches with. There are also stalls selling fresh yoghurt, nuts and muesli, tastier and more nutritious snacks than bags of potato chips from the supermarket.

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Mori girls like libraries

This is the first in a series of features on stuff mori girls like. Of course, you don't have to agree with everything featured here. After all, each mori girl has her own distinct identity. However, it's nice to have some inspiration sometimes--that way we can all learn a bit from one another.

The public library is a place that is near and dear to many a mori girl. Losing yourself in a stack of books in the quiet of a warm afternoon, surreptitiously devouring a small bag of candy. Your library scores extra points if it's housed in an old building and has sturdy old wooden tables.

Because many mori girls tend to pursue a number of solitary interests, the library is the perfect place to read up on anything from sewing machine technique to the history of the graphic novel. Be sure to bring along a warm cardigan or scarf as the air conditioning in many libraries tends to get a bit chilly. You may also like to take with you a small bag of snacks, nuts or dried fruit perhaps, and a flask of hot tea.

I visit the library at least once a week. Sometimes I go just to collect books and DVDs I've placed on reserve, but every so often I can't resist browsing the shelves for books on random subjects. There's another library in my city that doesn't let its books be lent out, but is housed in a beautiful historical building with a reading room that's got a domed glass ceiling--perfect for an afternoon with a favourite novel.

Image source: A Perez

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