profile a loner who needs friends. a law-abiding rebel. a rigid hippie. a mediocre prefectionist. a walking contradition. likes travelling the world | rainy days | sleeping in | a good book | cliched romantic comedies | singing in the bathroom | looking at clouds | daydreaming | babies | people watching | late night buses | rooting for underdogs | smell of fresh linen | being alone | when karma works . tag links avril | cam | issac | jovi | leigh | manda nina | the cranky flier | cruz | the satorialist archives May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 May 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 credits skin by: Jane |
Sunday, May 11, 2008 | 4:39 PM
oh simba where are thou? Sunday, 11th May 2008, 4.39pm (South Africa), 10.39pm (Singapore) Present location: Somewhere in South Africa, atop lookout point, surrounded by outrageously gorgeous views.
Endured the mother of all bumpy off-road rides this afternoon while on my way here. Not only was it backbreaking (notwithstanding my already-broken back) and assnumbing, it bordered on being life threatening (I exaggerate) for we were bouncing around the back of the vehicle WHILE it was chugging up the mother of all steep hills. But it was a most unconventional journey too, for we passed friendly locals on a donkey cart, a lone wild horse and had to wait not one, two but three herds of cows to clear the road before we could proceed.
Finally reached our destination and the view was indeed to die for. Lush plateaus stretched as far as the eye could see, bordered by hills and rifts in the distance. Witnessed my very first sunset here and while this might sound ultra clichéd, but words left me at that moment. There was nothing that could do justice to the spectacle that was happening right in front of me. It was as though the sky was putting up a performance just to welcome me. (Yea right.) I’ve been though that today’s sunset wasn’t all that amazing as compared to other days, so am guessing I’m not that welcomed after all.
Dinner was a simple affair but to sit outside in the rapidly (and I DO mean rapidly) cooling night and watch the moon and stars slowly come into light, this was one meal that I’ll definitely remember for a long time to come.
Caught National Treasure with the rest of the guys around and while the show proved to be just as watchable the fifth time round, it was the sight of the 5 of us huddled in the back of the vechicle with nary any moving space that made it all the more memorable.
Emerged from the vechicle to a sky filled with stars shining so brightly and with such an intensity that a flashlight wasn’t all that necessary. Standing outside with the cold cold cold winds rushing past me, taking in all that the South African night sky has to offer, I’m struck by a sense of insignificance. I’m positive that this scene has been here way before I existed and would probably remain unchanged long after I cease to be.
It’s comforting to know that in today’s everchanging world, there are still some things that stay the same. Friday, May 9, 2008 | 10:11 PM
uncertainties abound Friday, 9th May 2008, 10.11pm (South Africa), 5.11am (Singapore) Heading outfield for the first time tomorrow and while am looking forward to immersing myself in the great outdoors and the (according to Ian) to-die-for vistas, there’s a sense of apprehension within as well. Would I be up to it? Well, shall find out. Had a weird dream last night and when I say weird, it’s really so. Can’t recall the exact details (I hardly ever do so) but it involved the cookhouse here, Singaporean food, some secondary schoolmates whose faces where blurry and a waaayyy out of place Eugene. Hmm. Analysis appreciated here! I’m often struck by things to write during the course of the day but when the actual time comes to translate my thoughts onto paper (or into my iPod), they often elude me. So I do apologise in advance if my entries seem rather shallow and brief at times. Just realised that I’m a fifth of the way through. Surprisingly (and thankfully), it doesn’t feel that long. Am seriously enjoying myself here despite the hard work and don’t have much to lament about (for the moment). Coming from someone like me, that really means something. | 10:00 PM
bliss is... Friday, 9th May 2008, 10.00pm (South Africa), 5am (Singapore - I know!)
- Daydreaming beneath an everchanging sky
There’s something about being in such vast and open fiends that makes me retreat into myself. Perhaps it’s an unwillingness to break the silence, or maybe there’s really something about this place that inspires self-reflection.
Monday, May 5, 2008 | 3:18 PM
first impressions... Monday, 5th May 2008, 3.18pm (South Africa), 9.18pm (Singapore)
Vast, unspoilt and arid plains flourishing under the glare of a harsh and unrelenting sun,
A-cool-but-not-too-cold climate that’s too dry, A you-be-sunburnt-before-you-know-it afternoon,
Roads that seemed to go on forever,
Speed limits that would be deemed illegal in Singapore, Laid back people who seemingly spend the entire day queueing for the ATM, Towns and reststops reminiscent of America,
All glimpsed through the window of a never-ending coach ride. This is what South Africa means to me now. Sunday, May 4, 2008 | 10:31 PM
butterflies one last jaunt before i head off to the land of the big 5 and diamond mines. am getting a full-blown pang of last minute jitters and butterflies are just burstling to come out from within. wish me luck and i might just return a more mature and calm me. love, he. | 2:19 AM
mia for all it's worth, my last to emulate golden sparrow from the forbidden kingdom (and to irritate hiang), he will be away for almost the entire month of may and in his absence, he will miss (in order of importance): - his bed - enya's 2nd birthday - mothers' day (hope she doesn't see this) - long hot showers - the internet and msn - the library - 24 hrs coffeeshops - karaoke joints - vesak day he will only be back come 30th may and while he will make every attempt to jot down thoughts and take breathtaking shots of africa, he cannot assure that he is motivated enough to blog about them immediately upon his return. he wishes the readers of his blog (all 3 of them) a very fruitful may, a happy mothers' day and a spiritual vesak day in advance. blessed be while he (attempts to) find inner peace and ponder the meaning of life amongst the vast savannahs of south africa. omm... | 2:10 AM
frosty where are thou?  -checkout the daily lows. they barely hit 10C- he'd be with me for the rest of the month apparently, if weather forecasts are anything to go by. while the protagonist is quite safe from being frozen solid while he is over in south africa, he still must battle the (not-so) cold and prevent his bits from falling off while relishing being in a cold country for the first time. mixed news for cold-loving-island-boy. ie he. Labels: Travel | 1:41 AM
funny lil feeling inside. in the words of elton john, "it's a little bit funny, this feeling inside, i'm not one of those who can easily hide". haven't felt this way in a while for haven't thought of you in a long time. but a msg from you from a foreign land brings back emotions that i thought i'd left behind. you, and only you have been able to make me feel this way, even after all this time. timing's impeccable, for i'm just about to depart for a foreign land myself. gave up hoping for anything a long time ago. just wish that you're well and that we can really stay in touch. actually, i'm good at hiding how i feel. but not so when it comes to you. "I hope you don't mind that I put down in words, How wonderful life is while you're in the world" | 1:30 AM
jitters . countdown to south africa: 1 day yep. that's right. this time tmr, i'd be at the airport and getting onto SQ478, heading for johannesburg, more than half a world away. as in my previous post, am feeling no excitement yet but paranoid me's getting a serious bout of last minute jitters while packing my bag(s) today. am not sure if i'm really prepared for what's to come in terms of packing (afraid i'd leave things out despite my already overflowing bag), the weather (ultracold i've heard), the work (ultratough) and the company (not ultra close). gosh. am already getting homesick even before i leave. dotz.  -you'd def be missed eyeore!- |
