Frames

Its sad,
that we now only meet
at weddings or funerals.

Between

A pit stop, somewhere in between Pergamom and Ephesus.

It is pit stops like these, in the middle of nowhere, that really make me really feel like I am traveling. The mountains, the blue skies, the different language on the signboards and the air; heavy with a scent of the unfamiliar. But this scene looks ordinary. Everything here looks modern and of my generation, composing of artifacts that are present in my day to day life back home; Yet different.

It is these pit stops and not the heavyweight attractions that make me feel most like I am really journeying. The dictionary defines 'journey' as a travel or passage from one place to another. I think this definition is lacking somewhat for I rather suspect that in the word 'journey' belies a time frame, un jour or a day. A day's travel or passage from one place to another. Time changes the complexion of things and everything is a function of time. Some things rot over time, like onions. Some bloom, like tulips. We all know that distance can only be traveled over time and yet sometimes we forget that we need to give each other ample time to bridge the gap. Some will say that the test of a relationship lies in whether it can survive the ravages of time and others will tell you that time heals all wounds; including heartaches. I will simply caution that falling out of time is inevitable and that Life is no more than a journey; our memories, the souvenirs we've picked up along the way.

Onion

The past is gone except in memories.

In headaches and in worry
Vaguely life leaks away,
And Time will have his fancy
Tomorrow or today.
~Auden

Onion

Layer by layer; Side by side.

This afternoon, I drove through the Lavender area and noticed that a love hotel had sprung up right next to a funeral parlor. And so, on any given night, the passing of a life is being mourned in one building whilst in the other, the act of creating life is celebrated.

Tea

Not say I don't appreciate poetry;
But you speak of poetry which have no rhyme,
Not like the ones I sometimes quote
"What is our life so full of care
We got no time to stand and stare?"
But still I must admit
I don't like poetry
Very much. I like music.
~Ee Tiang Hong

Grow

The growing tree.

Today I learnt that we are all like trees, in need of sunshine and rain to grow; Laughter is our sunshine and our tears, the rain. We all can appreciate laughter but often question the need for tears. Tears are necessary because like rain, they seep into our roots, causing us to focus inwards and to examine our soul.

Natura

Corner shop greens; Midnight grocery.

I like street corners. They're always full of activity; people coming, going or loitering. In life, we will pass through many street corners. Sometimes the people we meet will be coming and other times, they will be going. Some will journey with us to the next street corner and then leave us; none the wiser. Some will just brush by us, making contact for only a fraction of a second and yet leave a lasting impression. Regardless of who we meet or what happens at each street corner, change is guaranteed; sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse. In a way, a street corner is really a function of time and space, making everything seem relative. But whatever the theory, I think I'm going to loiter in the shadows of this street corner for just a little while more, before I must move off again.

窗外

好几天了没有你的消息　
才发现其实想着你
当爱被紧紧的锁在心底　
自由就张开翅膀飞出去
每天都是新的练习　
用今天换走过去
用明天换走失去的

Pipedreams

Hangers: 10 x 4

I made a mess of things.
She said "its ok, boys are like that..."
How true.

Tree

天快亮了你的心呢
他曾经属於我的
我该走了你的手呢
有没有一点点舍不得

Natanz

On the road to Natanz.

Natanz, famous for its pears and serene orchards, is also home to Iran's gas centrifuge uranium enrichment plant. The landscape, just beyond this sign is littered with anti air-craft batteries and army checkpoints; a deterrent to Israeli air-strikes and foreign or IAEA spies. The UN has imposed a fresh round of sanctions on Iran again for its nuclear activities. I have never been a fan of sanctions, they are a blunt tool that hurts the people more than the powers that be. Either that or they are insignificant which chips at the credibility of the issuing body. Whatever views you may have on sanctions and Iran, Gwynne Dyer's interesting commentary is worth a read.

"They added that it would take Iran another three to five years to produce a "deliverable weapon that is usable", if that were its intention. But they did not say that Iran was actually doing those things, just that it could. They also did not mention that you can say exactly the same things about Germany, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, and the Netherlands. Each could produce enough enriched uranium for a bomb in a year, but that it would take them three to five years to produce an actual weapon. Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Australia would take a little longer."

Feet

Grounded.

Now the stage is bare,
And I am just standing there.
Emptiness surrounds.

Mimic

Masjed-e-Jomeh, Isfahan

I like the interesting light patterns on the wall, the result of sunlight streaming through the lattice windows. I like how this beautiful pattern juxtaposes the intricate patterns on the tiled walls, man's vain attempt to mimic nature. The former effortless and the latter, almost contrived.

Star

街角的祝福

只因为我不想打扰
只因为怕你解释不了
我只好假装我看不到
就把祝福留在街角

Domestic

Tulips, on the desk.

The fact that he does not tell me the truth all the time makes me not sure of his truth at certain times, and then I work to figure out for myself if what he is telling me is the truth or not, and sometimes I can figure out that it's not the truth and sometimes I don't know and never know, and sometimes just because he says it to me over and over again I am convinced it is the truth because I don't believe he would repeat a lie so often. Maybe the truth does not matter, but I want to know it if only so that I can come to some conclusions about such questions as: whether he is angry at me or not; if he is, then how angry; whether he still loves her or not; if he does, then how much; whether he loves me or not; how much; how capable he is of deceiving me in the act and after the act in the telling.
~Lydia Davis, Story.

Dreams

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
~W.B. Yeats

Buzz

Too real for reality.

Even my dreams betray me.
I miss the places we haven't been.

Reminder

Helsinki; Hang in there.

It was an instinctive urge to hang from these bars. Other than that, I can't really explain why we did. We hung around and watched the sunset on the city. It was nice, quiet and peaceful. I can't believe it was so long ago. Then again, I can't believe its been three weeks already.