28 on 28
February 28, 2009
This blog is especially dedicated to the Auyongs & the Kohs who looked for me despite having to cope with a pramload of mini-ones each.
* * *
What did I actually do on my 28th? I thought that I’d be spending the entire day in the company of old friends and new minis friends. Earlier, I also made a pact with Pink to be my prettiest self and glam up for the camera that night to capture the residues of my nearly expired youth. 
28 Feb
Instead, I woke up in ABC, Tioman Island with a hirsute man next to me. Both of us were disappointingly clothed despite the humid night and the poor ventilation. It’s apparent that this birthday was diverging off its original plans.
It was quite an effort to awaken him. We made our way to have breakfast by the sea. Then, he took off with a book and I headed off to snorkel in the open sea. I was bobbing in the turquoise waters, peering through fogged goggles at the dark sea urchins which carpeted the seabed & the schools of psychedelic neon fishes.
Come late afternoon, I happily played with the children of the cafe owner. Every child had lively eyes, sunkissed skin and a whole afternoon to spend on playing. How wonderful to be mandated to play. We jostled with brooms and had car races over the sandy BBQ pit till the smaller ones got tired and cranky and had to be put away.
After a shower, I headed out to the jetty to watch the sunset. Stepping over the barricade, I gingerly seated myself right at the edge and it was the loveliest place to be. Nothing between the horizon and me.
Then I hear the soft but unmistakable clicks of a camera and looked back to see a large DSLR camera. The 2 photographers paused and sheepishly asked for permission to continue photographing the lone girl with the gorgeous backdrop. They had no idea that they would have to buy me rounds of birthday drinks and treat me to their national drink, silvovice (alcohol distilled from plums) from Czech Republic that night.
After nightfall, we drank, laugh & chatted by the sea, watching Argentine Jesus execute a flawless fire poi performance. I leaned back in the deck chair to gaze at the stars with the wayfarers, hitchhikers and wanderers. The stars were brilliant that night.
Light pollution
February 23, 2009
“We came spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.” – 13th century Persian poet, Rumi
It’s been this long since I was held spellbound by the sight of stars.
I’ve been gazing at stars for the past 4 nights from the park bench. There’s been a good number of stars on display these recent nights. Clearish star-speckled nights with fast-moving fluff clouds; some shy twinklers fading in and out of view and a handful of steady pulsating pinpoint of white light.
Looking up at the distant stars, I’m reconnected to the sense of infinity, possibilities and the dream of heading into vast uncharted, unconquered territories. I’m reconnected to my memories of star-filled nights.
It’s a biting cold moonless night in Dubbo, New South Wales. I’m 22. I’m standing in the middle of the austere Dubbo Observatory’s field, peering through the telescope at the ‘Jewel Box’, a bewitching cluster of red, blue, green and white stars. I’m shivering and stamping my feet and listening to the guide remarking “yesterday was a lovely night to stargaze but tonight is perfect”. I’m tilting my head back to take in the sight of the sky ablaze with stars. The almost bone white night.
It’s May 2002 . I’m on a recce trip at the Berkelah Falls, Pahang, with the Students Care Service. It’s too hot to be in the tent as I’m running a fever. I drag my sleeping bag onto a boulder next to the relentless stream. Lying on my back, I’m facing the midnight blue dome with the laced edge of black leaves. The thought that these many stars could be sardined into the sky never crossed my mind before.
Was I 19 when I went to Batam on a church retreat? It was a dinner of fried rice with abc soup cooked by a couple of godfearing men, followed by a stroll by the quiet beach. I’m standing near the waves and I know the tide is coming in. I’m reluctant to return to the house of worship while the many stars and the waning moon are hung so low in the horizon.
Why am I this fascinated by stars?
As a 12 year old with an ugly bob cut and uglier gold rimmed glasses, I would head to the Geylang East library just about every school day. I was done with Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew. On my reading list were books by Richard Llewellyn, Ruth Park, Arthur C Clarke and Isaac Asimov and I came across these lines in Asimov’s 1951 novel The Stars, Like Dust -
“The stars, like dust, encircle me
In living mists of light;
And all of space I seem to see
In one vast burst of sight. “
It’s been more than 15 years since I committed the lines to memory and in a week’s time, I mark the passing of another birthday. On the 28th, I turn 28, but I won’t be asking the existentialist’s questions. I’ll be getting my hair tenderly treated by Lawrence, have meals with my loved ones and bounce the little ones and be merry and remember the sight of stars these past nights.
For what it’s worth
February 20, 2009
When you’ve hung around for long enough, you might get around to asking what’s in it for you and I fear you’ll find me lacking because I have little to proffer. My baggage, my bitterness.
My 2008 faves
February 16, 2009
Hopefully, it’s still better late than never.
My fave things for the year 2008. In the order of favouritest to favouritest:
1. Favouritest accomplishment: swaddling the newborns David & Manny without maiming or dropping them. Tough guys they are!
2. Favouritest addiction: reading while cycling on a stationary bike
3. Favouritest bed: the hammock at seaside café, Pulau Tioman
4. Favouritest beverage: pineapple juice which breaks down the proteins into snujuice
5. Favouritest book: Joyce Carol Oates’ incisive ‘Rape: A Love Story’
6. Favouritest communal activity: monthly coy movie nights that’s sadly discontinued
7. Favouritest good news: passing my driving at #1 try
8. Favouritest happy moment: sharing a steamed Jaffa pudding with awesome company
9. Favouritest haven: suntec city’s rooftop pool
10. Favouritest kitchen: the koh’s kitchen where xy lovingly prepares food
11. Favouritest knicker: marks & sparks brazilian cut black lycra
12. Favouritest movie experience: watching Wall-E and cringing when he calls eve
13. Favouritest new-comer: e Art Head who doesn’t expect any favours returned
14. Favouritest purchase: the amazing nokia N82 with 5.0 meg camera which has been dropped countless times.
15. Favouritest restaurant: Tim sum at Victor’s Kitchen, Sunshine Plaza
16. Favouritest song: Amy Winehouse’s Love is a losing game
17. Favouritest vice: indulging in nice sleepwear even though I sleep solo
18. Favouritest watering hole: Mel’s place at East Coast Rd
19. Favouritest website: Twitter
20. Favouritest friend: *Gazing at you*
Protected: Please fasten your safety belts
February 7, 2009
The New Year
February 6, 2009
It’s drawing to the close of the 2-week long Chinese New Year period and I ought to scribble notes about the year in passing.
I’ve hugely thankful for the events and opportunities that have transpired in 2008, in particular for the smooth transitioning into a new industry, the abiltity to walk in heels without pains in my joints and the chance to be fairy godma and Auntie to my godchildren and nephew.
There were of cos the low-lights in the year, but even those events have been bleached out in the company of good folks.
It’s inevitably a tough year ahead. Will put a bit more in the following post.
Song for the week
February 6, 2009
I chanced upon Sabor A Mi in NUS during a random bout of file sharing. Before the concepts of intellectual property and piracy were in the common collective.
It sounded like the right song to watch sunsets and smoke ciggies to.
