All This Sunlight Floods My Soul

It's another beautiful day.






Waiting to collect photos of goings-out.
Meanwhile, here are several unposted favs. =)





There's gonna be some dancin', some groovin',
'cause I've got my solar tank filled to the brim.




I love this, crinkly ocean effect.



~Sun worshipper~

"Fine Like Buteeeeeeeeeerr"

All-effective remedy for one SwirlDancer:



Heaps of sunshine.



Of course, ice-cream and crackers wouldn't hurt either.

Picture above shows poundcake and peach compote, yumm.




There is an airy feeling, a lightness inside me. I've been writing loads, reading regretfully little, worrying occasionally and picking myself up - repeatedly.
With so many things on the agenda, the bright-eyed planner in me sometimes - but rarely - fears there may not be enough time to achieve them all. But it gives meaning and flavour to an otherwise plain existence as man.



To be just man, without plans, without dreams, is unthinkable. And here lies the rub; a dreamer may be one who floats with her head in the clouds, a dreamer may also likely be the one who falls hardest when the bubble is burst from beneath her dreaming form; she hurtles through space, clutches at time, and lands on leaves of brittle stem in the glen below. Her homeland.
Yes, I have been disappointed time and time again, not just as man, but as dreamer. Despite the sidelong glances ever present from Risk, I don't suppose this part of me will change; bruises heal slow in this fragile flesh, but I am not afraid.



Trials ended for me yesterday, then it was straight out after dinner for some downtime with my VP. I'm so glad she waited for me; Step Up 3 came out a loong time ago in dance movie time!
We hurried from work, from home, and settled in place long before the lights were dimmed for 3D action - meaning I did not, contrary to usual practice, go in late for the movie. Eheh.
I'm still thinking about how, when I left the theatre, no words would come to my tongue to describe what I'd just seen. "Awesome" was too weak a word. This is a movie that lived up to expectations; stunning choreography throughout, sicK breaking; the first qualifying rounds I especially favoured for its raw, fierce energy.
In a word with best fit, it was DOPE.




Legacy Perez, my muse for his inspirational brand of breaking.


No conventional ballet-meets-street-dance routines here; this was entirely off the hook with moves so fresh and gritty I could barely blink for fear of missing a step. Then there was the effortlessly lighthearted Broadway-styled number between Moose and Camille; it turned my mouthends up and even let loose an unsuppressed giggle or two. Charming to a fault. Tango too was used to great effect and managed to look classy instead of the usual borderline tacky.



Accent move before movie's finale choreography


Another plus point was the storyline, which evidently had received more attention this time round - thank goodness. Instead of being a mundane vehicle to get us from danceclub to the showdown, this one made a brave attempt at portraying its male protagonist as something more than just a devoted dancer.
I should stop now. But not before saying, the whole sense of family in the movie... reminded me immensely of the peeps over at Subang! ^ ^

Drove over to Sunway Giza and chilled awhile more before parting, each with thoughts enough to keep her up for hours still. In Lienn I've found a fellow dreamer; one who made me realise I'm not victim to the brittle stems that await our kind when the rainbow gloss vanishes; one who showed me I'm stronger even than I think.

Imported ThDC

Jam-packed week and -end. Been floating in the 'sick' region for nearly a week now; darn sore throat threatened to ruin my Wed Psych presentation but it suddenly cleared two hours before. Deliberately cut classes for the first time - two days in a row. Once to sleep in hopes of recovery, and once to burn rubber to Subang.

Last dance practice on Wed.

Last dance performance on Thurs. At least, until A2 ends in late Nov. =(



Thurs also happened to be Yee Fai's birthday; good thing it coincided with Subang's ECA Drive and they invited us to perform!



The circumstances were bad though; it was an outdoor affair and had rained thoroughly beforehand. The stage was soaked and I had to detour to pick up a hard copy of our soundtrack. Thank goodness I still made it in time.
Didn't know we were the first ones on; I hate rushing right before a performance. After rolling on the waterlogged stage and successfully ruining my hair within the first twenty seconds, I was only satisfied that I jumped decently high compared to past stage attempts!

Gosu on his way down.

After the nerves it was plain chilling.



ThDC cousins in attendance at TDC senior's birthday celebration! =)



It was good getting to know Subang more; we went to Fullhouse which I've been wanting to try for ages!




My father's now in Bangkok on seriously the best business trip. A man, an array of fishing equipment, and a body of water full of monster fish. Epic.




I looked up the firm he's checking out and found... Now this is passion.


Through fishing trips with local Thai anglers; conversations with them over many long days and nights; listening to lectures and applying all that to personal experimentation, I learned and perfected an entirely different way to fish.

Whether you're a beginner or seasoned angler ; whether you look to fish alone, with family, friends or companions; whether your budget is modest or generous; our team will help you forget - in just one day - the constraints and pressures of your hectic working life.

As far as fishing is concerned, I humbly admit that this old fisherman has learnt quite a few new tricks!
Is it not fantastic to be able to write such things, with all my experience, at 71 years of age?

It will be THE fishing event of the beginning of this millennium for Bangkok, for Thailand…my last love !



What a beauty.



Today was a full day out, productive but I'm so tired.


Things changed a little bit more on Tuesday. And even more yesterday.
I've missed being outdoors for too long. Everyday cooped up without seeing the different moods of the sun I love, forsaken in an iceberg of a concrete slab. So I went for a walk without telling anyone and it was just like last time. Even coming home, just like last time.

There was too much inside me. Too many thoughts, emotions, nuances, recollections, imaginings.
I wrote, and I wrote.

And I found myself again.

A Minute or Two in Jan's Sunshine

(way overdue)

...was what I spent just before I ran in to make this post - the one I kept putting off, always telling myself there'd be another time when I'd feel less preoccupied. But I never did. The days just rolled one into another, in a cycle as blameless as it is natural; and who am I to stop the order of nature?

I love the sunshine on my lashes, the wind on my cheek. Birdsong cuts through the air, like a forgotten lullaby - my old friends, I am glad to still hear you. Powdered wings flit around and past me; now I barely flinch. Maybe it's true I shall grow out of this fear someday.

Locomotion through the slits in my garden walls bring me out of reverie; but no, it is not the brown dog I was hoping to recognise. And its owner, not the leather-skinned old man who used to grin at us as we pedalled our bicycles across the road in haste, in the sort of fear little children have when they see a sharp-toothed critter coming their way (the dog, not the man).
With a pang of regret, I am unable to recall the last time I saw the brown dog on one of its evening walks. I only remember the shock I felt when, a few years ago, I noticed both dog and owner had grown scrawny and aged together, like partners heading for the same deathbed. And I wonder if he has indeed gone, on to the next world.


I'll now seize the chance to run through the many happenings of January!


9th
Second time in my life hanging out with my cousins from my father's side. They're closer to me in age but we're quite distant. Am glad my older girl cousin takes the initiative to bring us out. We spent the day at Sunway Pyramid drinking smoothies, feasting on Sakae Sushi delectables (scallops were a hot choice with me, thanks to their sprinkling of black pepper), playing pool and basically ignoring the gloves and socks we'd brought for ice-skating.

Lol, one delay led to another and by the time we were done taking photos at Dreamworld, a two-hour spell in chairs sounded nice. Which brought us to Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. Rightly relegated down my list of 'Movies I Wanna Watch' beforehand, it was entertaining in a commonplace way, with characters two-dimensional to the point of being hackneyed (except for the slightly enigmatic Crepsley, well done to John C. Reilly), and a paltry romance subplot thrown in like an afterthought. Just alright.



10th
Michelle Too's newborn sister's full moon party. Scrumptious servings provided by caterers; I had two mid-sized rounds!
Rushed off for the highly anticipated Sherlock Holmes. Was supposed to be a treat for my mother - I lent her my Sherlock Holmes novels later, she was having a binge on him - but was pleased 'nett could join us as well. The show was really good! The writers did the character justice, bringing out his trademark wry humour, uncanny observations, superior intellect, and most of all... his wit. I loved how it was done, especially the men's facial expressions. In comparison with Cirque du Freak, the love interest here hit it off, providing an interesting collage of rivalry, enticement, and undeniable chemistry.



11th
Glad it was a holiday from college. Attended the burial of Giovana's grandmother. I woke up close to 6 in the morning and in my haste forgot to bring my phone along. Only realised when I wanted to call Gio while stuck in a jam outside Summit.
It was a Buddhist affair, an echo of my grandfather's funeral rites - he was my closest relative ever to die, and I was only 6 - except now I was observing it with more understanding. I remember my grandfather's rites as a happy occassion, playing catching to our heart's content, and I, relishing my ability to outrun them.

On this day, my sister seemed calm and unperturbed. Perhaps she'd already spent the worst of her sorrow the preceding weekend - the soul left on Fri, burial was on Mon. Only her mother cried, and hid her eyes behind shades. We had a sunny morning all the way; with dolefully cheerful music coming from traditional instruments, and incense permeating the air - not that I had any particular objection to that.
Gio took me to see the deceased when we reached (it was near Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka in KL). I looked at the elderly figure who had always been in my sister's life, who'd seen me periodically growing up beside Gio, whom I'd shared a vacation bedroom with when I was 13, whom I'd heard snoring... now devoid of life.
After that brief moment, the morning passed with several prayer sessions. Standing at the back and smilingly refusing the joss sticks, we had the view of all other relatives bowing, shuffling and basically waiting for the next instruction to bow. Honestly, if I learnt one Chinese word this day, it was "bai". Several other humorous observations struck me, but I don't recall them now.
A bus to the cemetery. Tying a red sash to my sister. Feeling very 'ang moh'-ish as she translated the priest's instructions. A clod of earth thrown atop the coffin with strictly just one hand. Back onto the bus and back to Subang.

We took advantage of Gio's leave and spent the afternoon at Summit. Lunch at Hainan Chef to see Aunty Karen, then peeked into every photo store to find my cousin - the only one of my age.



12th
Went to the Placement Centre in Taylor's Subang with Carmen. All on account of some important uni-application form. On impulse, I dropped in at the studio across the road. TDC was busy rehearsing for the next day's flashmob and they were using Tik Tok! Somehow or other they got me standing on a chair, recruiting dancers for my flashmob. Which paid off, since half my mob was imported from Subang. Afterwards, I brought Carmen to Patisfrance for a customary 4 scoops of gelato, before picking up something for her mother's designer business.


14th Got my wish, but at a price. Came back late from college, no electricity at home. Got lost on the way to KL Pac. Had problems collecting our tickets. But I did it. Went for Men in Tutus and it was worth it. Funny, engaging, brilliant execution by the hulking ballerinas.


16th Unexpectedly marvellous reports from from all lecturers at the Parent-Teacher Meeting. I felt like a mushroom whose shelter rock had just been removed; the sun was dazzling. But my academics went downhill right after that - this new semester.


22nd Trained hard the whole week leading to this ECA Drive Day. ThDC's first flashmob ever was a success! I was too anxious to demo at the Club booth. Why hadn't Subang called to confirm if I could go get them now? So I left Sri Hartamas a little late and it was jam the way back and Subang crew and I arrived with 5 minutes to spare 'til performance time. I hadn't peed, eaten, or drank in hours. But it was time to go. I remember how my lips cracked into a smile for the audience and how very dry my throat felt as I danced - parched as the sands of Gobi.


30th Showdown 2010 auditions with TDC. Met up unplanned; visit ThDC's blog for details and pics. =]

You Bathe Me, Sweep Over Me

I love all this golden sunshine.

Brief Getaway : Part Two

To continue where I left off...




A bed of flowers.




To our surprise, we wound up at the edge of Jonker Street!
Awesome.




All we wanted was some ice-cold 'cendol' to counter the rivers of sweat we'd produced.




During our quest, we beheld this attention-grabbing display.
Actually it was me who slipped in to "just see how much it was worth".




Then we all impulsively bought one each, just like the mindless consumers that vendors love.




A non-alcoholic fruit drink.




They come in delicious combinations :
Apple + Peach
Apple + Lemon
Apple + Guava
Apple + Passionfruit




Best served chilled.




Spot the fake.




Having been on our feet the whole afternoon.




The 'cendol' they'd been looking for.
They kindly ordered one for me without knowing that...
I don't eat 'cendol'. Ahah.




I have a problem with the red beans and santan flavour.




'Gula melaka' no enough.




And that concludes Part One (the Malacca bit) of my getaway.




The very night after my return, I stayed 2 nights at my father's. It felt like a mini-vacation, 'cause I didn't have to wash dishes or do the laundry or... anything that a maid could do!





(My TTDI dressing table)
Part of the telephone wire hairtie collection I've amassed.




Some very furry creature on the garden wall.




A Persian cat! =)




Now I remember, I've often seen it dozing atop the neighbour's retro car.




Cat eyes.




Looking into the dining room.




The view.
Uhm. I wanna thank God that I'm not thaaat short as to make it my view.




My father tends to the garden himself.
Over here, he is seen gazing at his grape vines.




Healthy and on the way to be right for picking!



Baby grapes look rather like nostril hairs.




Thus, it's really encouraging to see them turn out like something usually seen in a supermarket!




Papa at the main entrance.




Couldn't resist buying that ballerina bottle.
Its' figures are pretty, and the scribblings upon it are legible and sensible!
But that's the last bottle I'm buying, really.

Chapter One of NZ : Drunk In Sheer Brilliance

Well, this is the beginning of my mega post on my latest vacation to New Zealand.

Date and Time of Departure : 12th January 2009, 9.30 p.m.
Destination : Auckland



Sink with me into the depths of the sky.
Got a nice window seat on the edge of a wing.



Violet Haze
He actually used that as the title for his assignment.



My first glimpse of Auckland.
Later I came to know that, every 20 km or so, a friggin' beach would appear. It's so coastal, I was floored. 'Cause I was pining away for the seaside just the weekend before. Imagine my jubilation!
Mega-uber-wack-kau-happi la weii. =D



The fabled rolling hills! They're beautiful.



Bare farmland... being farmed.
It looks like streaks on a shirt.



It gave the impression of being orderly... I was already liking Auckland.
*OCD, Beckham's disorder speaking*



Touchdown!
Ooo yeah, I'm readyh for you
Are you ready for me, AUCKLAND si-tehhh?? XD



Actually, I disliked that the flight felt normal to me. Where was the excitement and anticipation?
Even packing didn't seem like a major affair; I just ended up zipping the suitcase on everything I needed without the usual buzz of picking what to bring.

And then there was him.
A real, live STOP-GO man using his real, not-so-live STOP-GO sign to let us across the road.
It was seeing him that gave me a jolt of realisation;
I was here, 10 hours away from home.
I'd endured motion sickness as a consequence of bad turbulence and now that I had my feet firmly planted on Kiwi soil, I was dang well gonna enjoy myself and soak it all in.
God bless him, ahah.



I was quite taken with this quirky signboard.
If you look closely, you'll see the names of major cities of the world, and how far they are from Auckland.
Photo taken from a moving car; sorry it couldn't be clearer.



Grazing cattle and sheep are a common sight in the pastures, as you whiz past.
I spotted a few clans of horses, too, looking very dignified under the shade of kauri trees.
Okay, I've never heard of a 'clan of horses' either, but for once I can't find the right word to use! Hahah.



We pulled up in front of a rather neat, non-descriptive stucco house. This was where I'd stay, with my uncle and aunt and their 3 kids, for the next 18 days.



Rubbish collection is seriously organised there. Citizens are expected to separate their waste for recycling and each house gets a huge recycling bin for that.



A real drive. Like, a straight, gravel-ly road lined with charming houses and blooming gardens. I know it doesn't show here, but the flowers there are reli pretty.


I think I was kinda fascinated by the road.
So unlike ours, uglified by paint and potholes.



Step 1 :
Fulfil a dream.

My 14-year-old cousin, Angeline, took me round the neighbourhood on bike. This is the one I rode, and yes, everyone wears helmets there. So for the first time in her life, Nicole puts on a helmet for cycling.



She took me to the playground.
Auckland is full of playgrounds and reserves. When we think of reserves, we picture vast, faraway green lungs like FRIM. But there, a reserve would be more likely to be sitting right next to your house.



And one thing about their playgrounds, they're all built pretty much the same way.
There is a wooden frame to contain the playground, and this frame is filled with wood chips; no soil whatsoever.



I found it an odd but lovely practice. The wood feels dry and chippy against your feet; doesn't hurt at all.



I admit, when I first saw Angeline (after about 4 years absence), I got a shock. I'd brought old clothes for a size L or M at least. But here she was, slimmer than even me! and every inch the hot chick.



At least, that was the very strong first impression I got. Hehe.



The first place of interest while cycling was the bike park.
The kind where people (like me) who happen to be riding pink bikes skulk round the edges, hoping the pros don't notice. Lol.

As for the dream fulfilled...
It's perfectly safe to slip off your bike and chuck it to one side, before running off on a whim.
Correction : Before running off on a whim, spending an hour or two wandering like a free spirit, and technically leaving your vehicle in no way locked.
And knowing you'll still find it where you left it.
*Big big smile*



Where we were at, was actually the base of a dormant volcano. In fact, the whole of Auckland is built on fertile, dormant-volcano land and is likely to be annihilated in a couple-a hundred years' time. A depressing thought, if you feel for your descendants.



At the base of Pigeon Mountain; the aforesaid dormant volcano.



They say the grass is always greener on the other side; and here is proof. =P



Lonely; and beautiful in its loneliness.



I wouldn't mind tripping over here, really. There's just so much GREEEEN to catch me! XD



Nothing much to see up the mountain...



Except her?
*Wink wink*



Voila! The peak; just a short walk from the base. It's really quite a tiny mountain.



Rugged, peeling bark.



No, I do NOT go around snapping the legs of girls in shorts. She must've taken it herself, while I was off exploring. Tsk tsk.



By the way, the Kiwis call slippers like those, 'jandals'. Odd, and rather cute of them.
And I wonder why some girls walk (or stand) with inverted feet. I heard it's a sign of some foot problem, lol.



How Nature weaves.



View from the top.



Descend.



Showstopper!
You're blocking traffic lah, girlll. XD


We continued walking wherever our feet led us.



Nestled in those emerald blades.



The carefree life.



I really like all the wood around. Makes everything more picturesque.



Little wooden stakes driven into the ground. I couldn't stop thinking about how attractive they looked; 'til my uncle told me they were there to stop cars from getting onto the grass. Owh. How prudent.
The practical minds of adults vs The romantic notions of an adult-to-be.
Oh, how we lose our youth through the years.



"Here we are at the reserve."
"Huh... what reserve?"

Obviously you can tell which one was me.



I pushed aside further questions, though, when I caught sight of this winding path. I'm always up for a long walk. =]



My first glimpse of a pukeko.



Almost the size of a peacock; just not as brilliantly coloured. It is an endangered species in New Zealand.



I forgot what sound they make... something soft and non-intrusive, I think.



The female pukeko(/pukekos). More drab-looking; perhaps they've never heard of gender equality?? XD



A fluke shot. Lol.




That's more like it!
A purple thistle... proudly had its presence known by nearly pricking my finger. Hmph.



Thorny on the outside; won't you come a little closer and find what's on the inside?



Angeline, 14.



A thoughtful scene.



I'm a sucker for these drooping creatures.



I like the way you move it~~



Exiting from the pukeko reserve, we came across a giant slide built on a grassy slope.



It's a long way up.



Not such a long way down, perhaps.



My turn! =D



After work, which is 5 p.m., Uncle Robert took us to Bucklands Beach; one of two shorelines near his house. Such lucky pigs!



My attention was immediately diverted by a large hawk-looking bird.
It circled, swooping nearer, but I never got real closeup of it.



Seagulls. They practically litter the place. =P



I got taken by a new word; it's
Ombre.



We left for the second beach; passing Musick Point on the way. Names like this always make me wonder why Malaysian ones have to be so kayu and unlyrical. Heheh.



Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... Eastern Beach.



I like that the background seems like the work of a paintbrush.



"Ooo..."
Little did I know that in just a few days, I'd own that piece of crap. It wouldn't stand up next to what I'd build. *Wink*



I go around snapping whatever grabs my fancy, and my uncle&aunt call those,
"artsy-fartsy shots". Lol.



Loving every minute of the sea and sand.

Oh, this was also where I cut my foot, sometimes during hopping onto those boulders. So I spent the next four days with a plaster on my foot, wishing I'd been as careful as I normally am.



Next stop; Half Moon Bay Marina, only a short drive away from home.
(Home = Uncle Robert's stucco house)
(Stucco = something you should look up in the dictionary) XD



There's a reason why Auckland is known as the City of Sails.
This marina is filled with yachts; a sign of affluence and luxury.



Suave?
Lol. Aunty May, Uncle Robert, Mummy.



Walk the line between solid truth and watery lies.



To make our first day extra tiring, they brought us to One Tree Hill.
I know; I was so thrilled just by the sound of it!
But no, it has nothing to do with the show and most of all, it was freaking cold and windy up there that evening.



I think we only managed a quick snap and walk around the monument (of whomever it honours).
The wind was biting, and the view was a lilting serenade.



The iconic Sky Tower of Auckland, in the distance.
Little did I know, I was to see a lot of it in my stay there.



Pumping on One Tree Hill.
#1 : He must be unafraid of heights.
#2 : He must be strong, 'cause those stone walls must've chafed his knuckles.



Standing before a pasture dotted with sheep.