28 on 28

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.

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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.