Tradition

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Bak Kut Teh

How many years has it been?

Passed on from grandpa to auntie...

How many years more?

Who will take over and keep the flame alive?

How many traditions lost?

Home

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Kuih Kah Pek (Kapit)

Home is:

where you were introduced to everyone in this little town/village,
as the grandchild who has returned from Australia.

where grandma specially ordered Kiuh Kah Pek,

knowing that you won't be hanging around for Chinese New Year.

Joy

Camera fun

It doesn't matter how old the model is,
it doesn't matter how heavy and bulky it is,
it doesn't matter how long it takes to focus,
it doesn't matter how small the screen is,
it doesn't matter how slow it is to replay photos,

all it matters is the joy it has, and still is, giving me
every time I'm with it.

And that's more than enough.

♥

Thank you

Volleyball

Dearest volleyball buddies,

    Listening to all your volleyball stories, training sessions that I missed, competitions where I was absent, I used to feel slightly left out. I had doubts and have even questioned about my decision of leaving my home country, and the life I've built alongside you guys.

    True, I could have shared all those events and excitement. You have no idea how much I miss you guys, particularly when I saw a team of rather short-built players, whose amazing team spirit brought them so much joy and success. Haha!

  

   But now, if you ask me again, I really don't regret a single bit. 

  

   First and foremost, I have gained so much from the new life I'm establishing. And thankfully, still am.

   Secondly, no one could take away all those memories that I had with you guys. They have already become a part of me, ingrained within me.

 

   And what's more? Our friendship and mateship have also persisted and even evolved throughout these years. 

 

   So really, I couldn't ask for more. Thank you, truly. 

   

   And I shall look forward to the days when we become old aunties, enjoying a game of volleyball, together. =P

Shihui

Love

Equal Love

Love is love is love.

Unforgotten

Little corner

You can change and polish its outer appearance,

but you can never take away its true essence.

This is Chinatown.

Merry

Friday, December 24, 2010

Not worn

I don't need big crowds,
I don't need fancy gifts,
Santa has already given me the best:
The company of my dearest friends.

So, on this quiet Christmas Eve,
I'm happy with just the soundtrack of my life.

Epiphany

Contemporary

Two years ago,

I got introduced to contemporary art 

while travelling around Europe.

It shifted my world.

Today,

I went to the National Art Gallery of Malaysia

for the first time.

It shifted my world,

again.

Mangosteen

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Mangosteen

You guys have no idea how much I miss this,

how surprised I was when I found a random stall in the middle of nowhere was selling them,

and how much joy these little bunch of sweetness brought to me.

=)

Now, where do I get more of them?

The other side

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Edge

Sometimes,

it's nice to stop at the edge of the world,

rest your legs,

close your eyes,

and listen 

to what the other end of the world 

has to say.

Who knows?

You might learn something new.

Development

View from the balcony

Once upon a time, the view of the Petronas Twin Towers was unobstructed.

Then came the high rising condominium,
the high voltage towers and cables,
the express highway,
and then,
suddenly you realised how tall the tree has grown.

Company

Sunday, December 19, 2010

15 balls

What can you do in the middle of the night?

watch a movie in the cinema,
cheer for your football team at a Mamak restaurant,
catch up with friends over teh o ais limau,
sing until your voice break at karaoke,
make fun of the losers of drinking games,
play pool and lament about your poor skills,

all while enjoying each others company.

Connection

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Sip & Surf

I spent my morning sipping and surfing in the coffee shop, waiting for my friend to finish the talk she had to attend. 

And no, I didn't think they are wasting my time at all.

I don't know. 

I'm enjoying following my friends around, being introduced to their routines, while being taxi-ed.

Somehow, even the most mundane activities appear interesting to me, 

because at least I'm having a taste of them, at least these make it easier for me to imagine how their lives are usually like.

At least, I felt connected.

Caught in the Middle

Friday, December 17, 2010

Not just tea.

Signs of getting older:

Catch-ups and gatherings

that often involve

work politics,

traffic jams,

money.

And tea.

Yet,

we're still

trying desperately 

to hold onto

our ideals.

Volleyball

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Instinct

One, two, three;

dig, set, spike;

serve, defend, attack.

They have become

some sort of

ingrained instinct

within me.

New Beginning

Sunrise

I've always felt like I need to get to know Kuala Lumpur again every time I come back,
more so after not being back for the past 2 years.

There is the new highway right next to my apartment,
the new building in my high school,
the fancy looking streets of Brickfields,
and most importantly and interestingly,
the new working routines of my friends.

It's refreshing,
but it also kept reminding me
how time had passed.

Joy

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Headhunter???

This may look like a scary photo,
but you have no idea
how much
joy
it'd brought to the people,
both young and old.

Inspired

Monday, December 13, 2010

Privilege

Five weeks in Sarawak have:

amazed me,

amused me,

intrigued me,

touched me,

and

inspired me. 

Someday, I will be back. =)

United

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sing

FACT:

Music brings people together.

Final Gatherings

I miss travelling around Europe

with my brother,

tasting beers

from different countries.

It's not just the taste,

it's more about

the stories we exchange,

the joy we share,

and 

the bond we form. 

Similar

Friday, December 10, 2010

Nasalis Lavaratus

Look at your hands,
look at your feet,
look at your knees,
look at your tummy,
look at your face,
look at your nose,

you could have been one of us.


Or perhaps,
you are one of us.

Sunset

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Orange

The sentiment is similar these days:

final few daylight hours of the day,

final few days in Sarawak.

And then, everything starts afresh again.

To end, is to start.

New

Choo Choo!

I learn new things everyday.

Today,
I got to know,

Thomas,
Percy,
Gordon,
James.

xD

Pause

Cleanse

Stop,

revive,

survive.

Bond

Pu'er

This is what "yum cha" literally means:

Drink

Tea.

Not eating

"Dim Sum"

But it's OK,

at least

they both

bring people

together.

Kampung

Kampung Kiding

What if,

you are a little boy,

living in the middle of the mountain,

surrounded by clouds and mist,

flying hand-made kites,

scoring goals between goalposts made of bamboo

trekking 4 hours per day for school,

and being amused by the occasional visitors?

Life would be nice,

eh?

缘

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Visitors

67 billion people on Earth,

I'm still constantly amazed by,

how you and me,

coming from different 

corners of the world,

all converge

on the same place,

at the same time,

for the same reason.

Uncle

Bas Sekolah

I remember every time I went back to Butterworth, I would see the school bus that I used to take every day in primary school, randomly on the road.

Taking the bus trip today reminded me of Ah Chek (Uncle), the driver of my school bus.
I wonder how he's doing now.
Hope he is well. =)

Fame

Distinct

Very often, we can't judge a book by its cover.

Just like how a small humble town like Kapit,
accessible only by boat,
was mentioned in Lancet multiple times,
and featured in an Australian ABC documentary.

And the reason?

Two words:
Malaria Knowlesi.

Date

1924

Perhaps it's a
coincidence,
that we visited
Fort Sylvia
86 years
after
history.

I don't know much,
but somehow,
I was able to
relate
a bit more
to this
unique
little town.