Mental Note

rue du Boeuf

Just round the corner; Bouchon and rest. Vieux Lyon, France.

I like street corners, other than the fact that they are handy for slinging dope, but also because you never really know what lies beyond the bend. The anticipation and surprise makes the ordinary special. This photo was taken in Lyon where I went traboules exploring with my local guide Stephane. After a long day, walking up and down the slopes of Saint Jean, this bouchon was a sight for sore eyes and sore feet. Hearty lyonaise food and good cheap wine always lifts the spirits. Now, I can't wait for the exams to be over, so I can finally see beyond the next bend.

Ordinary

Blue skies, spring flowers and apartment blocks;
A scene from the ordinary.
Just not my ordinary.

in-spire-d

Roof & Spire; Tallinn, Estonia.

Been looking through my photos the past few days, trying to sort them out. I wonder if I will ever get round to printing them. Digital really makes me trigger happy. I remember the good ole days when I only used film cameras; every shot counted. Can't wait for the exams to be over. I have no mood to study, my days are spent reading financial reports, the FT, the economist and a few books. I made the mistake of re-reading my Sartre and found a new meaning to it all. scheisse. In preparations for my trip i've also downed a few Orhan Pamuks. For some strange reason, 陈绮贞的 "旅行的意义" keeps playing on loop in my head. I'm sure it has something to do with the pent up wanderlust. I have this deep seated fear that I will never see all that I want to see before my time is up. Inspired Insecurity.

Rush

Back to the time when everything was film and good.
What a rush.

Sparkle Foam

Foaming at the mouth,
Already. Exams tomorrow please.
That would be nice. Thanks.

Edinburgh

Red Light; Go.

Word associations are dangerous. Once we sink into a fixed definition, we are often unable to get out of it. And we allow the association that we have made to think for us. Ceding the power of rational thought is a sin and a grave danger. Loose associations tends to over simplify and generalise. It is one thing to see the big picture and quite another to miss out on a crucial detail. Besides, Words are inherently flawed when it comes to accuracy. We use numbers for accuracy, words for summary.

Kobenhavn

Uniformed, Individuality.
All made identical but each diverging;
Being different the same way.

Fast Food

Stop. Eat. Pho.

Ed: click on the pho-to for description.

White Light

Pockets of light, made brilliant by the darkness.
The darkness that has no source; that needs no source.
We strive for knowledge without overcoming ignorance.
For its is better to be in the know than in the dark?

Blind Hope

The Aeschylean Prometheus
Chorus: Did you perhaps go further than you have told us?
Prometheus: I caused mortals to cease foreseeing doom.
Chorus: What cure did you provide them with against that sickness?
Prometheus: I placed in them blind hopes.

Wisdom

Though leaves are many, the root is one;
Through all the lying days of my youth
I swayed my leaves and flowers in the sun;
Now I may wither into the truth.
~ Yeats

Note

A lingering note, hangs in the air.
I wait for the crashing silence that usually ensues

Finally finished the last paper of my undergrad life. Actually, I feel like I've just written a masters thesis. Anyway, a brief moment of joy before exam preparations begin. Lets make it a long brief moment. Nevertheless, it is a bittersweet moment. The end of papers marks the end of carefree student life. Hellooo corporate drudgery but also Helloooo financial independence. Life is a progression or is it a trade-off?

avida dollars

Show me the money; Floating market, Lake Dal, Kashmir.

For the past couple of days, the papers have been filled with articles and apologetics about the ministers' pay hike. I say Just Do It, since it will be done anyway. Spare the pages for more newsworthy articles, like global warming. Kudos to the PM for donating his pay increase for the next 5 years. If I could guarantee my employment for the next 5 years, I wouldn't mind donating a bit of it too. Personally, I have nothing against paying top dollar for top quality products. I'm only just slightly concerned that the top quality product might have a lock-in effect, raise barriers to entry and abuse its dominant position; eliminating competition.

St Simeon

Room with a view; Sahara or Nile view? Sahara please.

This photo was taken at the ruins of St Simeon Monastery in Aswan. Did a bit of grad trip research this afternoon, flipping through guidebooks on the middle east and the silk road at Borders. Some of the pictures reminded me of my excursions in the Sahara. I love the desert, the solitude, the colours, the texture. May would be too hot for a desert expedition, although a trans-sahara one would be a nice road trip. I only have 26 days of holidays this May. Really short, too short for a proper grad trip. But I think I shouldn't be complaining. Law students have it easy when it comes to job hunting. Besides, I think I already had a grad trip; my one year on exchange.

Boat Lady

Splendid light in a Simple scene.

There is something special about Hoi An. Even the light has a special luminous quality; the way it wraps around everything, highlighting simplicity. I wonder if 3 years later, Hoi An is still the same? I am sure the rest of Vietnam has changed dramatically, thanks in part to the advent of budget airlines, bringing more and more tourists. Vietnam was one of the best trips that I've made, largely becasue I had no plans at all. I just had to get from Hanoi to Saigon in 22 days.The Boat Lady's story was one of simplicity, and yet, contentment.
For me, it was a story of contrast. For her, it was just life.

Draw Closer

Come, Journey with me.
Together, we will light up the darkness.

It has been a long time since I attended Easter Vigil mass. Although the readings were long and aplenty, I did find them interesting, perhaps because the Old Testament is so dramatic. I suppose the mass could have been more meaningful if i had managed to adhere strictly to my lenten promise. Anyway, Congratulations Jason and Cheryl on your baptism!
Last night for the umpteen time, somebody remarked that I didn't look like a law student. (I believe it was an arts&social science/Comm studies face I had) I don't know if that's good or bad. But maybe it explains why my aviation paper is turning into a war of attrition. Think I should start looking for alternative careers.
Happy Easter everyone.

Nameless Station

The auguries, the inaugurations
Proceed at vast expense, banquet after banquet.
A fire of the mind is invoked, and this is what
We must live with as the century raises itself
On crippled limbs to proclaim victory.
Neither Alexander nor Trajan Combined
Such arrogance with ignorance
But in the end, what difference does it make?
Persepolis burned, and Fallujah is emptied
~ John Ash, The Parthian Stations.

Passing

3 Generations pass through 5 foot ways.

Snapped this picture yesterday at Chinatown with my new N73. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the result, even though I shouldn't be since the phone has the same megapixel count and lens as my Contax Digicam. Although I must say that the night shooting capabilities are somewhat limited and the shutter lag takes some getting used to. I think I will have lotsa fun with this phone.

Reflections Tangled

你我的过去
被順時針的忘记
缺氧过后的爱情
粗心的眼泪是多余

SmokeyStars

Back to the bridge where I first found stars.
So much has changed, even I have changed;
At least from Red to Black.
Every passing day brings some change.
Yet life is still the same.