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Today…

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14th May 2013

Tuesday Evening

First thing in the morning was to do laundry. Meaning, I had to carry 6-7 kilogrammes of wet clothes for approximately 400 meters in the rain to put them in a drying machine. But today, I’m overwhelmed with a strange sense of peace and uncertainty. Later, I had to walk approximately another kilometer to reach a friend’s house to deliver her badminton racquet (which I strung). Then I spent the rest of my time in the library. I’ve been here for 4 hours now and its only 4.33pm. Felt like forever, but I’m also busy with stuff at the same time. Then things got a bit sour, I got some bad news from Ceci. She’s having a really really rough day. I promised her that everything was going to be fine, but yet things still turn out like that. It felt like I lied to her, that I’ve made her believe in some fairy tale to only break her heart hours later. I was angry.

But at the same time, I also received some good news from my dearest. She had an opportunity to help a patient by translating languages. I know these opportunities are rare and I’m so proud of her taking this up with pride. I’m in the library but my mind is filled with images of her helping a pregnant lady going through labour. I closed my eyes and I see her holding a stranger’s hand like its happening in front of me. I can’t help but shed tears of joy. And I’m still in the library by myself.

Just moments ago, I opened my file to find some documents and I found something that really pushed me over the edge.

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A memo note she hid in my file

Today is a day of duality for me. I feel both happy and sad. Satisfied and disappointed. Lazy and motivated. Strong and weak. My only lifetime wish is that I am strong enough to make her happy for the rest of her life.

Group picture !

My 23rd Birthday

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26th April 2013
Friday Night

Group picture !

Group picture !

Ever since I was a teenager, I never really liked having birthdays. At that time, ‘Friendster’ was the Thing and everybody would also get notifications for birthdays. I didn’t like it because the people who wished me, whether online or in person, felt insincere. When I arrived in University, I started using Facebook instead and decided to NOT reveal my birthday online, just to see is there anyone who remembered my birthday. No one did. =) I was happy that day. I can’t remember who found out and the word began to spread among my peers. I remember looking out the window, feeling at peace with the world outside and inside. I guess, ever since, I never really liked attention on my birthday.

Still reading (got quite a few)

Still reading (got quite a few)

Photographing the photographer 1

Photographing the photographer 1

Laugh =)

Laugh =)

But soon after, I met my dearest. At that time she was my good friend but she would drive me mad with celebrations like Birthdays (A LOT OF THEM), Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and virtually every holiday of every major religion/culture in the world including Easter, Deepavali, Chap-Goh-Meh and Lantern Festival. It’s not that I hate it, but at that time, I was just not used to celebrating holidays. For years, she made huge fuss over birthdays and how important they are. Maybe I’m getting soft, or subconsciously, I’m beginning to understand how important these things are.

Beth and Lija

Beth and Lija

Birthday Cake !

Birthday Cake !

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Working together in a game !

This year, my birthday is the best so far. It’s simpler, but I was much happier. I get to spend time with my dearest, while having great food from friends. I get to hear love stories from new couples and even discussed a little about elections (at that time, it hasn’t happened yet). I was forced to read out small messages from my friends who attended. They even added quotes into the messages from my casual conversations such as “Did you know”, “Smile”, “Yes, dear”. We laughed out and loud throughout. All in all, I had a really really great time. Can’t remember me having so much fun in a short few hours.

Group picture !

Group picture !

Thank you my dear. I love you.

Final Group photo.... Curved mirror as always

Cycling in New Forest

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Both shy characters

Both shy characters

Human beings are outdoor social creatures. Last Saturday, my dearest and I along with a few other friends went to New Forest to go cycling. It was planned for a while and we were all looking forward to it. And it didn’t disappoint. We rented mountain bicycles from Cyclexperience in Brockenhurst. Interestingly, I couldn’t find much material on what to do exactly on renting bikes from Cyclexperience. So we all kinda went in a little blind but Prece has been to Brockenhurst for cycling before. She previously rented from another shop but the path after renting the bike is the same.

Plump cute face

Plump cute face

We got off the train from Southampton and took the overhead bridge. We came down on the side OPPOSITE the train tracks, away from the restaurant, Palio 2. Walked along the road parallel to the train tracks. We saw a long cabin filled with hanging bicycles. We met a nice guy at the reception. Paid our individual 16 pounds all day rent for mountain bikes at around 11 am.

Getting on the mountain bike was initially really nerve wrecking. I haven’t ride a bike in such a long time. Getting on is the hardest. But once the bike starts moving… all is good. But I must say, I was really surprised that I had 2 sets of gears on the handles. I only used to have 1 but that was 4-6 years ago. But i learn quickly enough, 1 gear is for the foot paddles and the other is the hind gear.

Following Prece’s lead, we road for a little while on the road and we were all nervous. Occasionally we would fall off the bike and our handling of the bikes was terrible. But once we arrive in an open field… it was a piece of cake then. I guess, not having cars going by on your side is huge relief.

Girls of the trip !

Girls of the trip !

Boys of the trip

Boys of the trip

Group shot !!

Group shot !!

Soon after biking, we sat down for lunch picnic. Happy times. All of us enjoyed the wind in our faces. The dirt cloud we leave behind, the sun and the clear blue sky. We even had the chance to cycle in the rain and in the mud.

Before we knew it, hours went by. Cycled quite far and enjoyed the sunny forest environment. We had a few hiccups and took quite a few breaks. We ended up returning the bikes at approximately 3 pm.

When we got back, we all made Ba Kut Teh for dinner. Pork, herbs, garlic, rice. Heaven on earth indeed. We even watched School of Rock to end it all.

All in all, we all had a great time, a great day.

Here are the rest of the photos ! Enjoy !

Daily Prompt: Million-Dollar Question

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Why do you blog?

I like today’s daily prompt. I already answered this question with my VERY first blog post here, on TayLearningPhotography.Wordpress.com. But looking back, I wonder have I really achieved those reasons and purposes of this blog.

First post

Screenshot of my first post.

A lot of memories are flooding into my mind right now. I remember the moment I started this blog. It was such a long ago and I was actually quite a troubled guy. I know sometimes people seem to think I’m quite happy go lucky, but I do fall into deep thoughts and even subconscious false insecurities. I used to have an old blog that I’ve never mentioned in this blog. The blog doesn’t exist anymore but that blog preexisted this blog by about 2 years. I started that at the end of secondary school (age 17). I was such a emotional kid, I kept on throwing anger and frustration into writing into the old blog. For years, I trained my writing to be emotional and fiery language. One day when I was university, I looked back at my unpopular, useless, angry blog. I made an important life decision to walk away from all this crap and anger and start focusing on productive things.

And life did turn for the better. I was happier, made better friends, and finally progressed in personality development.  (Exhale with relief)

Ok back to the main topic, why do I blog?

I blog because I want to remember things that happened. I want to have a place to share my view on stories and events. I want to have a place to write freely and share photographs to whoever is interested in my life.

But the biggest reason I blog is that it feels like a private place to reflect on myself. Each time I blog, I put quite a lot of thought into why am I writing and how does my outlook form the blog post. And I don’t know if non-bloggers realise this, but by forcing myself to write positive outlook blog post actually changes my ACTUAL perspective of the event.  As a result (and mentioned before),  I became a better person.

Looking back now, it looks like so far I’ve achieved all my purpose of my blog. But it is a continues process, which means, I still have a long way to go.

Daily Prompt: Trading Places

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a member of the opposite sex for a day? What do you think life would be like?

Yes I have and I wouldn’t choose to swap if I had a choice. =D

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My dearest at her best. Cooking =D

If I were a girl for a day…

Life is going to be really really strange for me. Things that I take for granted would suddenly be things of high anxiety and somewhat concern. Things like going for a pee and even showering. Even things of that my usual ‘guy’ responsibility may change.

Hair

Having long hair would be really really annoying for the entire day. I’m the type of guy who can’t stand to have long long hair. I find them to be of a nuinsence. They block my visual field, tickle and itch my forehead and even my neck. Doing any form of exercise would further aggravate the annoyance.

Clothes

I’m the type of guy which don’t have much variety in my clothes. Choosing clothes is going to be a real mind boggling task.

Dress? Jeans? Shirt? Blouse?

Red? White? Black? Blue?

Flats? Heels?

Wearing high-heels would be a literal nightmare for my feet.

Conclusion?

I’ll stay as a guy. =D