You Are Beautiful

In this crazy world that we live in, the words we need to hear the most are often drowned out and sometimes even overshadowed; by commercial clutter, by society's noise, by consumer campaigns, by wants and desires. It has been almost 2 weeks since I've got back home. Home is where the heart is but what if the heart is still perched on an ageing apple tree in Chorleywood, what if the heart is still watching the sunset from 5-14 Skejby Vaenge, what if the heart is still wondering the Sahara by moonlight, what if the heart is still watching the sun rise up from behind the Angkor Wat, what if the heart is still awed by the Patio of Lions at the Alhambra, what if the heart is still trying to unlock the intricacies of Picasso at the Rena Sofia, what if the heart is still taking a stroll along the tiny river Chess... What then? If only I could uproot my life here and pack it into a shell like a snail. Yet there are days where I feel like I have never even left Singapore and it is shocking how easy it is to sink back into my old life and to let the experiences and lessons learnt on my stint abroad fade into the recess that lies beyond memory's reach.
But don't get me wrong. It is not like I am unhappy to be back. On the contrary, I am delighted to be back home. I suppose that I just need more adjusting and getting used to the pace of life here. It is hard to run the rat race when you have to constantly refer to a compass to find your true north. But I believe it is better to be on the right track then to have to drastically change course later on in the race.

Memento Mori

And every fair from fair declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimmed.
~Sonnet 18

Nothing physical lasts forever
And memories are too easily discarded.

Moon Rise

Moon rise over skejby.

Our life is a journey
Through winter and night
We look for our way
In a sky without light.

The Best Chef

Kudos to the best chef in the world, or at least my world.
Successfully debunking the saying that one should never trust a skinny cook.
But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't trust yours truly when I cook.
It just means that unlike most things, size doesn't matter.

sun flower

Flowers to brighten up my day.
Van Gogh painted his sunflowers in the last 2 years of his life, just before he committed suicide.
I guess the flowers didn't work for him.
But it most definately did for me.
I find it easier to start a new life than to assimilate back into an old one. Mountain making maybe my speciality but only if there are genuine molehills present.

Skejby Sunset

My last skejby sunset, unfortunately not viewed from my former apartment.
Is sunset part of day or part of night? This enigma is compounded by the fact that the sun in Denmark sets at about 10.30pm now. Enigma. Can it be night if there is still bright sunlight.
An enigma and a large serving irony has been the day's menu for the past few days.
I am tired but I have so many things to do and so many people to please.

Light from Light

The fabled light at the end of the tunnel.
Promises lie beyond and certainty is left behind.
I looked up at the sky today, for the first time since I got home.
I wish I didn't.
I wondered why I took so long to do so.
I wish I didn't.
I desperately searched for a large window to peer out of.
I wish I didn't.
Nothing framed for me to partake of.
And every frame the same.

Home, finally...

Finally home. SQ351 parked and ready for boarding was really a sight for sore eyes. I don't remember ever being so excited about a flight before. In fact, for somebody who loves travelling, I am a horrible flyer. I couldn't sleep a wink on the 12 hr flight back home in spite of a big comfy flatbed.
The wait for the flight was excruciating. Airports are always filled with fond memories but I think that it would be Copenhagen Airport rather than Changi Airport that is the one for me. Its filled with tears, laughter, embraces, anxiety, anticipation and joy. Sitting in the lounge waiting for my flight gave me the time to replay these memories, I remembered saying goodbye to Matt last July, I remembered meeting WJ and having to send her off in what was too short a period, I remembered the anxiety of being late for my flight to Amsterdam, I remembered the joy of coming home after 3.5 weeks in Egypt; Civilisation! and I'm sure when I go back to Kobenhavn Lufthavn I will remember the 13th of June and my wait for SQ351. Ah... another memory.
Anyway, here's a slideshow of my Aarhus Adventure.
Its not really a summary of my year abroad, to put that into words or to say that I could capture it all in pictures would be to cheapen it. Rather, this is the secret formula for having a good exchange. Enjoy.

Farvel Aarhus

Who would have thought that one year could go by so quickly. Today it is Farvel Aarhus, tomorrow it is Farvel Danmark. The past couple of days have been filled with farewell dinners and lunches and lounging by the beach. Many thanks to all my friends in Aarhus for taking the time and effort to cook and for all the thoughtfull farewell presents. I try to see this exchange stint as a begining. The begining of new friendships; Aarhus was just the meeting point. I am indeed blessed/lucky/charmed or all of the above, to have met such great people and to have a hassle free exchange.
Now, I just can't wait to get home.

Dwarfed

Things have been very hectic the past few days with the wedding and all.
It was nice meeting my parents again after a good 10 months or so. It wasn't as weird as I expected but it was nothing to rave about. I think the best thing about meeting them again was that my mom kept saying that I lost so much weight. Ireland was fantastic and the coast of Northern Ireland was stunning. I was dwarfed by the deep glens and dramatic rocky coastline. I was also the guide, driver and photographer for the family. The wedding was really good fun. I am exhausted even though we are back in Chorleywood because we have been sight seeing the past 2 days too and I am still the guide, driver and photographer. More updates in a couple of days I suppose.