Another Day

Another day in paradise

There was a beautiful sunset today. And well, it's been quite long since I see one. It's been raining almost everyday here, but thankfully the skies were clear most of the days for this week, and they cleared up in the late afternoons most of the time. Which means that great sunsets can make their way in the evening. I love taking photos of sunsets. They are a beautiful reminder of impermanence. They are a beautiful reminder for me to always smile for tomorrow as a day come to a close.

Anyway I'm going to start a new project this year. Since I took a photo everyday for last year, this time round I'm going to write one hundred stories, from photos that I took throughout the year! This project is called "Seratus Stories" which literally means one hundred stories. The problem is, I'm not sure if I should start a new blog (most probably tumblr) for this project, or should I just write it here and tag it inside so that I can find it easily. Both has a plus and minus point I suppose.

My tumblr is practically dead. Although I do occasionally surf through tumblr. I rarely do it now though. Managing a blog is already kinda difficult, now I have to manage two!

Alright this is my first story out of hundred. Stay tuned for more :)

10 months ago

This photo was taken exactly 10 months ago. The 12th of September 2011, in Duolun County, Inner Mongolia, China. I took this photo of my Overseas Community Involvement Programme (OCIP) team mates when we were there, being a part of an environmental project called 

Green Desert by Asian Journeys.

27 of us went there, planted 1133 fir tree saplings. In an attempt to make the desert green. Surely mother earth has returned her favour to us. As we planted those saplings, we do too plant seeds of friendship among us. The friendship forged, memories captured, stories written.

10 months ago I was standing there in our planting site. The day, 12/9/2011 was the day when we finished planting our saplings. I could remember clearly that it was slightly drizzling. I was feeling down, for I know there wouldn’t be any nice sunset to mark this special day. But I was wrong.

The rain stopped, the sky cleared a little. And the sky turned yellowish-orange. It was a nice moment and we all lined up above the railway track near our planting site. I took my camera, I know it would make a nice shot with the sun against their backs. And so I did. And this is what it is.

The memories, the sight of them as I took this photo is now being preserved for eternity. Till one day when I lost it. But then this photo is enough to make me remember that exact moment by which my mates are standing there waiting for their photo to be taken.

The memories of the trip still linger with me like the autumn air that we breathed. The people, the view, the food, the smell, the air, the coldness, everything. Duolun, the blue skies, the cold wind.

I miss them so much.

When loneliness, gives me happiness

Whew today... Was kind of a failed day. But at the same time it's a really... Happy day for me! Anyway why failed - I'm supposed to go to Punggol Beach for a sunrise shot. Well I DID WAKE UP but... I looked at the window and it was damn cloudy. So I was thinking nahh not a nice day to take sunrise shot. So I went back to sleep! (Y). But anyway yeah I slept again and woke up at 12. Oh what a wonderful day.

Anyway I was really lazing around from 12 to 3. Then somehow somewhat... I have this weird, unexplainable and cool urge of going somewhere. Just go somewhere, anywhere. Just get out of my house. So with a steady gut and this unexplainable urge, I took my bag, took my water bottle, a notebook, a pen and my camera. And I headed to... Labrador Park!

Why Labrador Park? Cause I want to explore something new, somewhere I've never been before.

And here it is. I will explain to you my little adventure today. All of these words were written as accordingly during my small adventure. Lets go!

  4:00 PM - Urge to go somewhere

Currently at bus 7 on my way to Holland Village. I've decided to go to Labrador Park. Not sure why but I just have the urge to go somewhere than rotting at home. For a little taste of adventure, I've decided to go somewhere new, somewhere unexplored by me.

4:16 PM - Buona Vista Interchange

Will take me around 13 minutes to reach Labrador Park. I really don't know what to expect there but hopefully will take some nice shots. And hopefully my time will be enough. 1.5 hours should be ample huh?

4:23 PM - Haw Par Villa

I guess life can be depicted as a train ride. People come, people go. But the train journey still goes on. Some go to the same destination while others different. And at one point of you future train journeys, they will come into the same train you take again.

4:56 PM - Labrador Park

After walking for about 16 minutes from the MRT, I've finally reached the beack (or the park). They need more directions. I'm sorry. Was feeling quite lost but nevertheless I found it! So yup. It's a nice place for a walk and dating cause it's very tranquil. But less for group outings. Exploring new places is always fun. I better get going so see you!

 

5:31 PM - The end of an adventure

Currently sitting on this walkway facing the beach. In front of me lies Sentosa and the slow, moving, crashing waves. The wind is blowing, cooling off my body. I guess this is the end of my little adventure at Labrador Park. a new place explored, a new bliss discovered and felt. I'm still not sure what made me go here, when it's just this urge that pushed me to do all of these. Walking and exploring this new place alone was really fin. I guess it's true that loneliness, gives me happiness.

Yup so I guess that's all for my "little adventure" at Labrador Park! I know it's quite weird and sudden. It's quite... "unusual" for someone to explore new places alone. It's weird for someone to have the urge to go somewhere. Just go somewhere. Well now I do have that urge, and it's really one of the best feelings ever! I'm serious. It feels weird and unexplainable but honestly speaking, it's an awesome feeling.

And the times I had exploring Labrador Park alone, walking along the beach, shooting the photos, enjoying the sea breeze. Everything. Was really awesome. It feels pretty surreal and just great to spend some times alone. It feels like you're coming back to yourself, it feels like the whole world belongs to you. There's an unexplainable sense of freedom you get. And most importantly, a sense of joy. Just pure joy.

Genuine happiness at its best.

We all tend to enjoy others' company with us. But most of the time we forget that we, too, need time to ourselves. Just spending time alone. I don't mean to things like eating dinner alone, or going to school alone. What I mean is - you, choosing yourself to be alone. Sometimes we have "no choice" to be alone. But sometimes when YOU choose to be alone. There's this joy that no one else but you can feel. Pretty lovely.

Not saying we should be alone all the time. Just saying it's important for us to spend some times alone. Not being "forced" to be alone. But your will.

But as the song goes, anyway, we're all alone in this world haha.