Frangipani flowers braid

frangipani flowers braid :)

I'm so happy that I have flowers braided into hair. :) wish my mom would stop telling me not to do that cause of pontianak.... hmmm but that month is over right...

3 idiots

Finally I've watched 3 idiots. A show that struck so close to my core.  I'm so terribly surprised how close to reality yet aptly exaggerated to sufficiently showcase the highlights and main issues in life and college. I love how it made me laugh and cry and I love that it was 3 hours long.


I've been frequenting this website. http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/03/things-to-worry-about.html

Intriguing letters from the past. And that current one is amusing. Some touching, some fiery, some with wisdom, and some with wisdom I don't quite agree to. An interesting read for a day of musing.

So tired

There's all this pressure to make ends meet and more. To attain the 4, 5, 6 etc... C's (hey i'll give you some better C's to strive for! Compassion, Contentment, Courtesy, Charity, Clarity of thought!!) and the never ending comparisons and temptations to out shine, out-earn, out-country club.  SCOFF SCOFF Yeah I'm scoffing at you. Armani BABIES!!! Imagine that, the state of society and materialism is represented by the "Baby Gap" Ooh I've got a nice one! Mini Armani! Take that! Your offspring, mere brand representatives, slapped with the hot iron on their sweet cheeks once they're hot out the oven. Pardon me.

It is probably not too difficult to make ends meet with my qualifications and prospective job, but the pressure to provide is hateful. The unyielding want for luxury that we cannot afford. No compromise, no agreement? I know we're both not spendthrift, but the constant talk about it scares me to my wits end and such a sensitive topic to broach it is. Treading oh so carefully, I don't want to control the accounts, to limit the spending to set a budget. Don't want to come off as overthrowing authority and taking the reins, to hurt her feelings. I realized what I want is to feel security and that you have a rock solid will and will not be conned by a passing salesman. I want you to have financial security.

Wow this post sounds like I'm having a midlife crisis in adulthood, but before I get into the workforce I have to say, I will not be sucked into the rat race. (CROSSES FINGERS!)

Ah that was just a rant, I'm sure everything's fine, and I can meditate on this and calm myself and isolate those nasty thoughts and worries. Its gonna be tiring 7 days a week :( but look at the happy days as well :)

Went to Gardens by the bay with Ma and 6 Auntie and gugu, :) The place isn't nice but SSO made up for that. And of course the AWESOME free, view of fireworks  up close!!

A sun-drenched land

My wanders have brought me to a sun-drenched land,

To abandoned towns half-buried in sand.

Where as far as the eye can see,

There's not a soul but you and me.

Bones, bones scattered about,

but its for diamonds we're on a lookout.

Howling winds and quaking doors,

Going out to sea, coming home with sores.

Zooming over the open sea,
Over white horses and swells there's lots to see.
There to the horizon! Whales and dolphins,

seals and gannets, cormorants and penguins.

The time will come, for me to leave,

to fly away across the seas.

But the soul's not at rest, the heart not still.

To come back to this land, I must, I will. 

Camping at Namtib biosphere reserve

Well so there's been many exciting adventures in my life and this must be the top of the list so far. I've learned to drive a boat, double engine rigid inflatable hull boat, driven about for a few days as well, scaled rock face, conquered a hill/mountain, seen the milky way, photographed dolphins on a rocking boat, seen wild horses, springbok, gushawk, orix, fire, camping in the cold... OKAY let me elaborate.

So on the 15th of June, we set off in the morning after some last minute grocery shopping to travel 1600m up the country side towards Aus in search of a hearsay camping site called Namtib Biosphere reserve. And after about 2 hours drive we found the first sign, indicating to turn off the main road and after another 30 mins drive we finally came to the second sign and a third 7km away. Driving off the main road along a beaten track which would be covered in savannah grass in a week if no car has passed that way in that time. It was a long drive up a smooth deceiving slope into a valley nestled in the mountains (to me, hills to them) and we finally reached the campsite. 

We had two tents, Tess and Simon in one and Sara, Shannon and me in another. It was a beautiful sight, something from the scene of lion king, where the sun peeping over the hill cast glorious rays over part of the grasslands and the shadow of the hill stretches out on the side like the "dark side" just like the movie. It was close to sundown as we finally managed to erect our tents and tent covers no matter how slipshod it was. Light was running away fast and despite torches, it was pitch black and walking to and fro the washroom 150m away could get us lost totally!

The stars were magnificent! I've always dreamed about going away to some country and seeing the sky lit up with stars and never was I able to imagine a sight like this. I was standing there mouth agape realizing why would people get into Astronomy and oh I finally see the light. Unless you have been in a place like this and witnessed it with your entire being, it is very different from watching a documentary of stars on television or even in a dark cinema. I was swept away. Walking in the darkness from the washroom I felt as if I was taking step by step into the galaxy itself. I was walking among the stars along the milky way. Oh yes I could see the shimmer of the milky way. I could not get enough of them. 

We often sat around the campfire to keep warm and with all the chatter about me I just snuggled into my extra blanket satisfied to listen to the conversation and gaze at the stars. On the first night I think I suffered from smoke inhalation and felt very uncomfortable the whole time until we doused the fire and got up. At that point I puked and brought back the delicious steak dinner we had. Oh well, I did feel much better after that.

On Saturday, a family of the neighbouring camp suggested to us a quaint waterfall nestled in a valley 15min drive away so we decided to go check it out. Taking about 2 hours of climbing up a valley of boulders and rocks before we reached the place I felt quite wary of my shoes which have been ducted taped to prevent falling apart!. There was no path so we just stumbled through the bush avoiding cacti and other various thorny bushes, Tess and Simon forged ahead, kinda ignoring us. I find the people here too independent, it would be the sort of situation in which if you were with your Sg friends you would turn around ask how are u spur each other on. But no, the scary thing was the lack of camaraderie. Picking our way across rocks and boulders each getting bigger looking as though we're traversing across the remnants of a rockslide. Avoiding nests and swarms of large wasps even I was a bit more than necessarily wary off, eyeing carcasses of rotting porcupines or something alike. When we found the rock pool, we had to find the waterfall of course, and now we travelled higher up, climbing over metre high rocks, then it crossed my mind," How are we going to get down?" ahhh.... I wished all the while I had bought trekking shoes. We set up pit stop at the waterfall. It was worth the climb. But oh they wanted to move on and I don't wanna be left behind! Moving on climbing between granite and boulders and finally I got stuck. Stuck on top a perch of boulders that I can't find a safe way off without jumping and crashing my ankles against rock. With knees trembling and in a half crouch I examined each edge and finally had no choice but choose the least steep one and sort of slid and jumped off. Then me and Sara who were separated from the group made our way back to the pitstop but completely bypassed it behind some more rocks and got lost for a bit before back tracking.

Never felt safer to meet up with the rest who were already lying in the sun dozing or reading. The scary times, sliding uncontrollably off a rockface was over and I was glad to be on solid flat ground when we reached the campsite.

But lo behold the next day they've decided to climb the hill behind the campsite! So I went up but this was harder! Because you can look behind you and see that you've climbed so high up. Inching along crevices fingers clawing into the rock for a finger hold, foothold anything. I grabbed and bushes and rockfaces hoping for something to stabilize myself as we climbed higher and higher. I had to tell Sara, I was afraid of heights! There were flat boulders, metres across and wide, flat as a floor but at an angle that you can walk up, so smooth I was afraid of sliding off but we still carried on, with me on all fours crawling up. Till I just called it quits there and waited for Sara to go to the tip and come back for me.

Waiting there, my imagination ran wild and I hollered for her but only heard my echo. Imagining the horrible slide down I thought I would be stranded and dehydrated without water or rescue and started thinking what to say in a farewell video. I'm mad. Altitude sickness HAHAHA. The way down was just as treacherous but I was overwhelmed to have overcome my fear and also be back at camp ready to end this camping experience.

Vrooomm!

It was a beautiful calm Thursday afternoon and we've launched the boat from the slipway, clambered onto the boat from the jetty. I was sitting behind the console applying sunscreen before we set off when Tess turned as asked me if i wanted to drive the boat! I was like "Noo.... hahaha..." thinking she was joking. So she asked again, I said "No really?!" And she was serious!

It is not easy! Quite heavy to put the engines into gear and the steering is much less responsive due to the water, so if you've turned right you need to counter turn to the left quite a bit to go straight after. I'm so proud of myself! Feeling good. :) Just came back from camping as well, will write about that in another post. It was a well deserved break from the office and sea days. I've been doing photo identification of bottle-nosed dolphins as fast as I can, hoping to be set to the acoustics analysis soon before I go, I think I would benefit more from learning those skills. Data collection is a serious business here in the field of research and I'm impressed with the administration and how they use efficient software to enter the data and okay I don't know about the statistical analysis, have to read up on my own for that, they won't need me to do that.

 

Southern Right Whale!

Spotted this one off the north coast on the calmest of days. 4/6/12. Hardly any wind, the sea was like a sheet of glass.  To me this beastie was huge already! the biggest animal I've seen so far, can you imagine if I was to ever meet a sperm whale or humpback! One day, maybe. The Right whale was about twice the length of our boat. I'm trying not to be too touristy here, I know the rest probably had their touristy spells and took all their touristy photos already. So all these boat photos are taken sneakily behind their backs probably from my jacket pocket! Embarrassing haha but its difficult and I'm proud of these few good photos I have. 

Its freezing here, the wind chills you to the bone and the openess of the town makes it colder. When I was in NY and the temperature was lower than this, it didn't feel as cold due to the buildings I suppose. Ah but out at sea my nose could've fallen off! Snuggling into a cold duvet and furry blanket on a queen-size bed now. :) I'm the lucky one among the interns for getting the larger bed, I suppose they're being nice by not taking over this bed when the intern for may left. Tomorrow's gonna be an office day!

Heaviside Dolphins

 Endemic to these parts of Africa, I'm studying one of the smallest dolphins in the world :)

Well the office work I'm helping out with is regarding bottle-nosed dolphins. see how I have to identify photos to see if they are of the same individual or not. So after 3 days I'm almost done, went through 197 dolphins, 60 odd more to go :) I think they gave me something irrelevant to while away my time but oh well.

Its amazing, today we spotted a Southern Right whale! We went about 10m away from it nearest. My first whale sighting. Its really something different to be out at sea spotting animals, hence the wildlife tourism. But that's not good because those tourist vessels harass the animals unnecessarily and cause stress and induce trauma like propeller injuries. So.... not everyone is so lucky like me! I'm still trying to fit in. It is difficult, I don't know many of the habits, speech patterns, cooking styles, even CHOPPING. I get it all wrong. Washing one cup, big no no, have to wait for a full load. And I thought I was being good by washing when there are dishes there. And oh gosh they don't rinse the soap off! Just set it aside with all the bubbles, to either be wiped or sit there. Cooking a lot of western food like baking bread and gnooki. Well I help out with the preparation of ingredients. This I hope to bring back as something learned, though I doubt I'll know the recipe I hope to get the cooking habits and intuition. I'm really stressed when I can't fit in, don't know what to do with myself hovering about the kitchen table trying to be useful and not get in the way. UGH! I want to belong and feel relaxed! But the food they cook is great, Tess is a great cook.

34 hours, 5 airports, 4 flights.

It was tough. Sleeping at OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg was so cold the metal bench was sapping my heat away. So cold it was such a long night. All the shops were closed and there was no internet nor power sockets. At windhoek I nearly couldn't pass customs. All the counters started closing and directing me to another and the last one had escorted someone away. Scary. The last plane I took to get to Luderitz had a diameter of 2 meters interior! Smaller planes have less ear pressure, I wonder why.

 I nearly missed my last plane. The airport was so small you had to walk out to the landing strips and the waiting area was just one for all. The sign said south african airlines bound for Johannesburg so I didn't approach, yet it was time already!! so when I did go and find out it was my flight I had to literally run to the plane! and also Some one took my seat and didn't give it up!! Terrible. They are a little inconsiderate. And I've noticed they shuffle their feet while running. It is amusing. I was watching them at the airport.

When I arrived at Johannesburg, met so many people. The Chinese tourists on the flight there told me I was so brave and awesome to travel alone hahaha. They said that in passing. Then, while sleeping over at Johannesburg I met this Japanese lady, Leiko, she just spent a month in Namibia, and another in India and has no plan where's she going next! Quit her job, up-ed and left, going away for a year with a 15kg luggage and worn out normal sneakers! I wanna be like her and do that! She's 30. Sweet, smiley lady talking to any strangers that talk to her. I wonder how does she keep safe. She can't drive! Then inside Johannesburg airport after checking in I met a Chinese man going to Namibia,  he thought I was mainland chinese and I didn't understand half of what he was saying, but I did catch that he's living in Namibia and they have a substantial population of Chinese :)

When I got to Luderitz airport it was only a little bit bigger than a 5 room flat!! (The old ones) I had a mouthful of sand as a greeting from Luderitz. pui pui!! Quite funny though. Tess, the researcher I'm working under was late. Then I realised that Tess and Simon are a couple. They are the researchers I'm working under. Its alot of hard work here. There's another intern, a masters student and pHD student. Everyone's really into their work and have been here since May. I wish I was here in May, then it wouldn't be so difficult to fit in now.

Its time for Africa!

Resolutions

So when a good friend passingly says, "Why so insecure?" Amidst what I would call kidding around. Brain goes into code red. Guts churn and you so wish the floor was an abyss. OR at least turn back time and have said something else. How does it slip out?

Self-confidence. So subtle, so out of my reach. Its not being over confident, not showy and boasting. Realised how often insecurity is starting to show. When I get too excited over an achievement, repeating it to myself and others. When I evade talking about what I can do because I don't know its worth. Jokes aside I guess people can see through me! Perhaps its not about if I talk to much about something or downplay it alot, but rather the way I talk about it. ARGH the transparency is sickening. Feel as if people can look into me and point and say "why is your kidney purple!"


Okay, what's that question again? Do you think you're awesome? :) Let's go think about it. Believe in yourself.

Arias

Suddenly I feel as if I've been trying to fit in to mainstream music for so long. Not any more.

I worry for future generations /own children being exposed to all sorts of ideals from media. I guess we all want to mold our kids into our ideals. I hope I won't overdo it though. :)  Hahaha I wonder how I've developed this taste for music. I should stop thinking about children and think about work first.

How I Learned to Trill (rolled R)

I'm going to master this! Almost got it! Learned it from this video! Yay I can rrrrrrread the witches properly soon!

Rrrrrremove your vigs vitches of Inkland! :D

La Vie en Rose - Edith Piaf

Its a day for music. I want to do MANY MANY recordings. Moulin Rouge was playing just now, Andre Bocelli yesterday. AHHHH!!!! I shall master this song in French!

Mister Sandman - The Chordettes

I love her eyes. They're quite cool, no? :P

Merry Christmas!

 This year was a different one in my experience of caroling and it has been the most fulfilling one, one that at the end of it I did tell myself this should be done again and I'll return with the next group if they need me.

 Though the beginning was so full ambiguity and everything was unknown and I panicked at every turn. It all ended well and I'm so relieved! Finally no nightmares of carols playing on loop inside my head.

I love old people!

We all WANT figgy pudding

This house needs a bit more liveliness. Hence the gatherings I'm organising! But I'm so fearful of rejection. Yikes. Had Shing and Cher over already. Lots of fun even Nugget couldn't take our craziness! :) Taboo with them is really fun! Gonna have a JC class gathering on Friday. They seem a bit overboard. alcohol and crazy people doesn't seem to go well together. I'll have to watch and see that they don't puke or pour stuff on the very precious sofa. I know I asked and Ma said its fine but I don't think she knows what she's agreeing to. Anyway another one on 28th for G3 girls :) twister and Taboo and sleepover! 30th for choir lovelies. :) Happy that this xmas season is going to be jolly and not lonely!


Lets not think about that. I'm going to the esplanade library to hunt for something! Its a surprise if I can find it. :D

P.S. Didn't find it in the end!

painting the acorns gold

 Well the red queen wanted red roses and so we have to paint the roses red.

Painting everything else gold is really fun. Glitzing up everything :)


I'm so glad that we finally went to salvation army and lo behold our tree was WAITING for us after 2 years nobody bought it! HAHAHA such luck. Came home and spent the 3 days pimping the tree, searching for lights and ribbons. Sadly my old decorations from Maria's mom is gone... forever! thrown out to MINDS or some charity place. :(

women in history

Well today, I watched two movies! ''Enid'' and ''Temple Grandin'' not to difficult to guess what they were about yes? HBO movies are good. I'm not sure if this counts as a review but well not reliable, definately biased and just an account of my views.

Visit http://www.templegrandin.com/ the real Dr. Grandin answers some questions.

Temple Grandin is a true story! And my prof just talked about her last semester! I was so happy to know what was going to happen before it did in the movie. See she has austism and still overcame many difficulties and went on to college and made a big difference in the animal husbandry industry. She understood the behaviour of cows really well and made this applicable and economical for farms and slaughterhouse to implement her methods. Methods in which were more humane and treated the cows with respect instead of scaring them out of their wits and without and reason to either.





'Enid' was insightful to know the life story of the author of many of my childhood stories, the whishing chair, the enchanted tree, famous five, other short stories... Didn't know she was so weird and had such a difficult life. Acted by helena bohman carter! Really good. I realised what she (helena) meant when she mentioned in a 'the end of harry potter', ''people think actors reinvent themselves in each character and we do try but I find myself still in each character'' or something along those lines... And I see her in it! Because when she was acting all controlling and tyrannical in 'Enid' it was the same tone and style as 'Alice in wonderland' the red queen! :p also when's she's acting like she's socially queer (not caring what people think), its like Bellatrix. Hehee loved the movie. Didn't know Enid Blyton had an awful personality, pushed away her husband and kids. Also don't know if I can take the movie as the truth. :)

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Sometime today

Isn't it so romantic? Well I saw such a cute couple cycling like that on the way home from choir camp today. Heehee so romantic! Well the idea at least, wind in your hair, skirt fluttering.

I ate with my hands today! I miss thosai at sheng siong. OKAY soon I'll go eat there, perhaps this week. I love our new house but the area here doesn't have nice food. Unlike serangoon nth ave 4. Lots of my favourite stalls there. I miss them! :)