Anson

One short sleep past, we wake eternally

The markets crashed and the heavens poured its heart out as if in mourning. Today we were taught a lesson on the frailty of life, Memento Mori. But we were also reminded that in spite of darkness there is always hope, as long as we fight for it. And he fought a good fight. How does a man live forever?
Through his good name.

Rest in Peace JB Jeyaretnam

Narcissus

Metaphor
meets
Metamorphosis

From the Chrysalis
blooms
A flower

XF

Lucy in the sky with diamonds

You looked me over
with glazed eyes;
That never yielded
but empathised.

I thought those nights
would never end;
Not realising that
some roads are dead ends.

It was the smile
that did me in;
And bitterness never
tasted so sweet.

Like the Levanter
you came and went;
Now my riverside
sunsets are spent.

Welcome

双栖动物

A welcome precedes a farewell. Yet a farewell is needed for a welcome. And even if one does not leave, the mind is always on the move. A yearning to see what lies beyond can be perceived as a disdain for one's surroundings; people and environment. But it could also simply stem from a certain self consciousness, perhaps a bastardization of the Kantian 'Self'. To say that what others perceive of your actions does not matter is politically correct. But it is hard to live with. Although one can travel alone, it is undeniable that no man is an island.

"At bad moments on his trips he had sometimes distracted himself by thinking of Devonian scenes: green fields, thatched cottages and daffodils. He would return to a nice house, a bit of garden, the job. But that could never hold him for long. Although his body might long for the end of cycling - a flat seat, a straight back, unclenched hands - his mind was terrified of stopping. And in his mind, he never did."
~Obituaries, Ian Hibell

Charon

Two coins for the boatman

In our final moments, we will realize that relationships are what life is all about. It is the only baggage that we are allowed on board. Wisdom is learning that truth before the crossing.

Sommerfugl

Cool Blue

Philosophy may have begun when people started thinking about the beginning, but it is equally probable that such reflections were inspired by the realization that things have not just a beginning but also an end. Like a serpent that devours its own tail, the beginning and end can seem like one in the same. And perhaps they are. Everything is to some extent circular and even life moves to this circular beat, a powerful rhythm. From caterpillar to butterfly may seem like a short time but it is quite literally a lifetime, before the cycle begins again.

Fog

每一天，都有一些事情会发生
每段路，都有即将要来的旅程
每颗心，都有值得期待的成分
每个人，都有爱上另一个人的可能
想爱就不能害怕会有伤痕
没有人完整，却有人能信任，才找到永恒

Bamboo

Building castles in the clouds, with feet firmly on the ground.

One cannot help but feel that the seeds of hope were planted within us even before conception. After all, our entry into this world is a by product of hope. Man and woman hoped, perhaps not always specifically for a child, but hoped nevertheless for something and hence brought forth life. Yet as life wears on, hope seems to have becomes more of a bane than a boon. With hope came its corollary, desire. And perhaps the bane of hope lies not so much in hope itself but the inability to distinguish between hope and desire. In true spirit of the ghazal, I invoke myself in homage to Hafez.

She who finds silence does not wandering desire;
so why desert journeys do you desire?

Dear one, midst the yearning you thrust out to God,
stop for a moment, ask what you desire.

O blessing-giver, rising forged from grief's flame,
ask yourself, what does this pauper desire?

We are masters of yearning, not of insight;
when giving arrives you shall not desire.

If you want to possess life, don't moralize,
just plunder on 'til you do not desire.

The friend's pure heart tells the same tale as Jam's Cup,
reflecting those needs you will not desire.

Gone are the days I sought help from a sailor;
gaining the pearl, the sea you'll not desire.

O seeker, leave me, there's no more to say;
friends abound and foes we never desire.

O seeker, leave me, there's no more to say;
friends abound and foes we never desire.

Silence Hafez, art and knowledge will suffice;
to dispute our souls is not our desire.

启程

想到达明天，现在就要启程

And so the journey continues, still with no end in sight. Not having an end in sight can be frightening at times, but fear keeps you alive. Not having an end in sight can also be uplifting at times, because hope spurs you on. As this leg of the journey draws to a close, although still incomplete, I paused to count my blessings instead of my 'missings'. Apart from celebrations at home and with my family, I realised that I have no photos of the other birthday celebrations that took place. And I am glad that it turned out this way. The well wishes, souvenirs and gifts will always conjure up an image in my mind, complete with the right emotions. After all, a photograph is merely a tool for communication, a conduit to the depths of humanity. As a photograph fades or gets misplaced, the imagery in my mind will always linger on. Sure, the emotions may change, in tandem with my relationship with the subjects, but it is through this that the imagery grows and becomes all the more a part of me. Entrenched.
Happy 26th.

Bridge

Across the bridge, home.

Over dinner this evening, mom mentioned the tall trees in the garden of our Chorleywood house. I was probably about five then and the trees seemed so tall, towering over everything. I remember them swaying gently with the breeze, like gentle giants dancing to a slow number. I can still hear the sound of branches creaking and leaves rustling. Cold crisp air froze my nostrils as I inhaled, filling my lungs wih life. Most of all, I remember the smell. The smell of a bright autumn day. I miss those trees and those memories.

Dream

You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

We nursed a nice decanter of single malt Scotch, that has been aged over 15 years. 15 years, that's how long I've known him. Some people mature over the years like whiskey, whilst other simply spoil. He shared with me his dream of one day being able to attend mass with his wife (now protestant) and kids (to come), as a family. I had no dreams of such worth to share and so I silently sipped my whisky, hoping to find a noble dream at the bottom of the glass, envious of my friend who no longer lives for himself alone.

Stare

Stop and Stare, I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Start to Dare, you might actually end up somewhere

Monday

Painting the Monday blues

A long overdue post from my day off on Monday. What a liberating feeling it is to be up and about only because you want to and not because you have to. Monday was all about conversations. I woke up bright and early to watch the migratory birds at Sungei Buloh with my usual accomplice. We talked about evolution, the soul, stem cells, nature and the human condition. After lunch, I visited Mr Tan Choh Tee, a family friend and a career artist who is also a cultural medallion award winner. I had promised to visit his new studio months ago but as with everything else I had been putting it off for no good reason. We spent the afternoon drinking chinese tea and talking in Chinese about light, colour, traveling, Paris, hues, shadows; we agreed that Picasso was a true genius and he thanked my Leica for bringing forth impressionism.

Script

The man who can't be moved

Cos if one day you wake up and find that you're missing me,
And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I can be,
Thinking maybe you'd come back here to the place that we'd meet,
And you'd see me waiting for you on the corner of the street.

Adopted

Joie de Vivre

Not so long ago, I used to think that the true measure of success is whether one can afford a swanky downtown penthouse, own a fancy car and live the swinging bachelor life. A life different from the ordinary. A refusal to sink into mediocrity and obscurity has perhaps prevented me from looking at success from the other side; there is always a flipside. Now I am beginning to see that it is easy just making money and buying properties or cars. All you have to do is work smart and work hard. But to be mediocre takes more effort. And by mediocre I mean the average family man, who has to juggle his career, his wife, his children and himself; who has a sensible home and drives an economical car. As long as you keep the money coming in, the properties and cars will grow. But the same does not apply to a family or to your offspring. You can't throw money at human relations and expect them to blossom and bloom. There is no denying that human relations are always complicated. There is no substitute for time and the personal touch. A new perspective is always refreshing, but not always adopted. Touche.

Vino

In Vino Veritas

We drank, we talked and we smoked;
Agreeing that the Summer of 69 rocks.
For all the memories that it evoked.

short

固执算不算任性的要求
付出也可能看不到结果
终于你还是选择了放手
用逃避让感情犯错
承诺算不算任性的要求
人总是不能太容易感动
当爱失去自我失去包容
只想要从混乱解脱

Ride

White Horse Red Door

Lets ride out this storm. But this ride isn't going anywhere. Who is taking who for a ride? Flip open today's Straits Times and you will see economist predicting a bearish outlook, immediately followed by news that COE for small cars have plunged by 30% due to a lack of demand. Potential small car buyers are feeling the pinch of the softening economy. Will this move up the chain? COE for big cars have only fallen by 2% and Open Cat COE has risen by 2%. Who said COE was only a revenue generator?

Stars

Under the darken sky
we watched and waited
wishing the stars align
to give us a sign

The road is long
with no end in sight
will we stay strong
through the night

Under the darken sky
we watched and waited
then said our goodbyes
with heavy sighs

Holga

My mom hates my books
She thinks they keep me awake
Life's not that simple