Bird's eye view

Before I move to Malaysia, let me share with you some really nice and friendly birds we've met in Jurong Bird Park. They may not be as ideal as watching them in their 'natural' environment, but they are truly amazing.

This one's almost caught in the act.

And this one's really caught, in the act.

But he is too shy about what he just witnessed.

Her take has been that of understanding, and wisdom.

And sometimes, just awe in its rawness.

For life is a dance.

Or perhaps, not.

Or maybe, somewhere under the water, a flight of fancy.

You and I are ready to take, any time.

Back from the Southeast

Finally, jet lag has given me this rare moment to commune with writing. I just got back from Southeast Asia, after a month-long break. I said SEA because we have been, not only to the Philippines, but have covered Singapore and Malaysia in this trip.

Six months back, we just thought of stopping over Singapore (so as not to waste trips and plane tickets), and then one of our couple friends wanted to join us. So we thought, why not include Malaysia, and later they would join us to Philippines. And so we proceeded with the preparations. Funny that I am talking about how it began as our journey just ended.

We spent three fast days in Singapore, which I figured is just enough to experience what it means to stay in a 'clean' and 'orderly' city. Apart from that, it's all the same developments everywhere. Shopping malls. Clubs (ok, save for the famous Singapore sling. It's uhmn..slingy?). As I have become accustomed to the really upbeat Bollywood music, Singapore's taste at Ministry of Sound was too techno, thus 'rigid' for us. Food (Chili crab, yes. But we fell in love instead with Buffalo shrimps.) But we were a bit disappointed with vegetarian options. Even if Singapore has this huge Indian community, we didn't find the same variety as we have in Dubai. Most Indian settlers in Singapore came from the Tamil community and they have acquired an accent that somehow sounds like Chinese.

But it was, yes, I would qualify as an experience, which means it is beyond postcard poses. I have finally 'baptised' the Canon SLR we bought recently. And it has been really a feast for my lens these past 28 days or so. I have taken so many shots in Singapore's nature parks, like the Jurong Bird Park. The variety of birds were just amazing. Any city slicker will easily fall in love with such colors. I'll feature more bird shots later in a separate run down.


The night safari was another treat, except that I cannot help but wonder how they have maintained such 'tamed' wildebeasts to ensure safety of its tourists. A tram took us around the 'open' zoo, with deers and lions just meters away from each other.

Sentosa Island was nice, as a huge entertainment park, but the sea creatures in the underwater world park has really captured all of us beacause even in the so many times I have snorkled, I have not seen such species in such manner. When you actually see the face of a sting ray, it's a smiling one!

On the third day, we went around the city minus the tour driver we hired for two days. We tried the 160m-flyer wheel, which did not help in any way for me to overcome my fear of heights. I felt my ankles were being pulled by gravity the whole time, I ended up seating on the floor. We took the metro, walked the streets of Singapore on a Sunday and the myth of spic and span side streets was shattered. We saw trashes! And we caught one middle-aged Chinese spitting, right in front of us. Maybe we didn't look like tourists for him at all. I was expecting sirens after that but no police cars came nor traffic officer issuing fine.

Next: Moving to Malacca via Johor Bahru

Scoliotic

I've been diagnosed with scoliosis. For the second time. The first time was when I was entering the University of the Philippines. A medical certificate was required for the admissions. The doctor said it was thoracic dextro-scoliosis. A mild one and should be no cause for concern.

Now my back has been giving me pains and I had a check up with the doctor some weeks back, now it is lumbar scoliosis. My ortho without even asking me said, I had scoliosis some ten years back. He's given me some medication and physiotherapy exercises. The exercises are very much similar to the yoga asanas I've been doing in my yoga practices. But this time, it is more focused on alignment. My doctor also recommended swimming as a form of rehabilitation.

I realised that the curve in my spine is calling me for alignment, of lengthening my center. I knew somehow this has got to do with my inner alignment, and the larger things seem to call me to gather my inner awareness towards the center. And focus on what really matters.

The structure in the image is a landmark near my place. I have taken the photo one Friday evening, I was walking by the creek, with only my camera as companion. I have always been fascinated with it, but I don't know exactly what to call it. But what I see in it is balance and strength, made more beautiful by the fire under its belly. And that's what keeps it a glowing structure.

As breathe is my fire, posture is my strength.

Turning Thirty

Oh well, one way or another we have to face the music, and so to dance with it.

I went to driving school early in the morning. Made egg masala roll for breakfast, and then we took off for the fish market.

Yesterday was lots of fun. Just few of us. Viren and Blossom made vegetable biryani. I made pansit bihon and hot and chilli crab. I also made buko pandan minus the buko. Instead, i topped it with mango. Semi-hit.

There's cake cutting too. Supposedly a surprise, but I had to open the door when the delivery guy came. hehe. I got gifts too! My baby of course, surprised me with lovely flowers, and a pair of tiny earrings during the evening (replacement to the one I just lost). Blossom gave me a 'ram' figurine and Adnan bought me a book, Nelson Mandela's 'Long Walk to Freedom'. Hmmm. Our housemate Sheryl gave me a tealight candle holder.

We sang the night away in such a sober manner. And my husband said he realised he could sing. His fighting spirit is stronger than mine. Hahaha!

Will upload photos later. My back is aching. Tells me some sign. Hay, life!

Back to Blogging

Hello, please welcome me back to the world of blogging.

For many months that I have been away, living the daily grind of life, I have been restless and have never felt more pointless, not being able to write. It is a sad thing to do, shutting off from this virtual existence. But now I am back, I hope to keep and sustain this blog with daily woes, rants, joys, insights, and simply my way of swimming away from the sea of irrelevance!

Every day of our lives, we encounter the world's changing, fast and furious. My wide-eyed dreamer self sometimes could not keep up to it, leaving me on a standstill. Or sometimes, ending up 'barking on the wrong tree'. It is a crazy world, but we have a precious life to live. It is difficult to hold on to once-firmly held principles, but it is worth trying to keep floating and get hold on to trunks that have deep roots on genuine love and open mind.

On some days, I wonder why I do the things I do against the things I wish I should be doing. There are times that I feel I am in the wrong place, and everything else feels it shouldn't be what it seems to be. But I am only one perfectly flawed person. It's not an excuse, but it's the truth. I consider it an achievement to be able to discern what I am capable of doing and what I just can't pull through. As for the rest of those things hanging out there, waiting to be done, maybe, some other time.

Perhaps, there is no such place for consistency, but there is always room for change.