Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Ah, so tough to filter photos when there are so many pretty ones! Amsterdam and Utrecht were really beautiful cities (thought Amsterdam was slightly grotty IMO).

The Anne Frank museum was done up really nicely and being in the house made the whole diary so real. Seeing the quotes and the different rooms where Anne Frank wrote about her life in the annex made me really think about how we are so fortunate now to have all the opportunities that we could want. It’s sad to think that someone at her age had to suffer the prejudices that she did. But then again, now we live and learn from what happened in the past and the museum was a good reminder of that.

"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." -Anne Frank

It’s amazing how after everything, she can still say that. Respect.

Euro Trippin'

So it’s been a crazy adventure so far! I’m really missing my computer now cos I can’t even upload anything at this point. The south of France has been incredibly surprising and gorgeous, I totally understand what they mean by the light here is from another world. It’s so soft and beautiful and… (no other words). l can’t believe I have been living out of a suitcase for nearly a month! Aside from missing my ahem, friends and my computer (I haven’t touched one in four weeks!) I have been learning and getting reinspired by all the history and natural beauty around me. Have loads of stories to tell, but they will have to wait. Till then my friends <3

Lost.

Let’s not take another cab
There’s a welcome world outside
Let me walk with you we’ll take our time
Make a left or make a right
Let the crowd just push on past
We don’t have to go that fast
We can disregard every sign
Don’t care what we leave behind
We could get lost in this city
We could forget how to make our way home
We could fall hard in this city
We could get lost
We could get lost
They might wonder where we are
We might lose sight of the sun
When it gets a little dark out there
Just don’t let go of my hand
We could get lost in this city
We could forget how to make our way home
We could fall hard in this city
We could get lost
We could get lost
Lost, lost when the light disappears from your face
Lost, lost like we’re falling all over this place
We could get lost in this city
We could forget how to make our way home
We could fall hard in this city
We could get lost
We could get lost
We could get lost

- Mark Sholtez

“If I didnt love you
I’d be happy enough
Cause I wouldn’t know I would
Miss anybody this much”
— Mark Sholtez

Missing pieces.

Hardly any time
Move on move on
These streets are knowing
Shouting out my name
Yours too
Ours
The calm soul-less city
Resting from life
I imagine how it is like
I breathe in deep
Remember the pieces
That make my heart yearn
For empty roads
Stoned pavements
Couldn’t be there
Right now
Should be here
For now
For a while

2.

The things I will miss about you is uncountable. Last night as we drove home, I realized how much my life has changed and been formed by this wonderful place, filled with endless memories and stories of adventure. Sure, I’ve had my crying days here, but nothing is perfect. You have an endless sky of stars, that is always visible to the naked eye, constantly reminding me about the bigger things out there waiting for me. You can never be replaced, and will always have a space in my heart.

I never thought I’d have to say goodbye to you so soon, but this is it. It’s time for me to move on. I can’t wait to see what changes time will bring to you, but at the same time, please always stay the same ol’. I will see you again, hopefully sooner than later. And I know you will be happy to see me again as I will be to see you.

Thank you, my second home you shall always be;

Love, me.

Schpankew.

I couldn’t think of anyone/else I’d rather have instead of you all.

L, you’re the best I know, your hope and belief in me/what I do really baffles me. I cannot understand how you can trust and believe that I can do certain things. But guess what, here we are at the finish/start all over again, and suddenly I realize what I/We can do. All of us have dreams, and this is ours to realize. Let’s take it, run with it and make it worth the while.

To all who have given us your support in any way, thank you for making this happen. It couldn’t have been done with you.

22.

So I turned 22 a week back. Amongst all the craziness with the filmfestival, my friends managed to take time to bring me out for a crazy wild night, which was fantastically awesome. Plus the fact that we couldn’t wake up the next morning and were so tired, but it was totally worth it.

Thankyou to the people who made my day, for making those long distance calls to make my day absolutely special (: and turning up even though the plans kept changing. You all make everyday worth waking up to and chasing those dreams. Thankyou.

Chuckie.

In the apt words of Uncle Kracker,

"You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile”

I think the rest of us agree with Uncle Kracker indeed (now you remember the words not?!)

When we were little.

See that little door in the fence? My cousins used the stay next door, and we used to have the run of TWO massive plots of land to run around in (of course on hindsight it’s not that big). Of course, we took our bikes and rode around the entire compound, caught red grasshoppers and put them on our bikes so that when we started riding, they’d jump off the spokes and fly everywhere in a sandstorm of red. 

E said ‘no one is getting younger’. Agreed. We can only look back and see your young, fresh faces letting the thrill of being free and worry-less take over our being. That being said, we are getting older, and hopefully, somewhat wiser.

Some things don't change.

Penang has always been second/third home for me. I’ve spent a large amount of time there since I was a kid and up till now, I love heading back to see family and friends that I’ve grown up with. I haven’t seen some of my cousins since we’ve all headed off to study, and grandma’s 80th was the perfect excuse to meet each other again.

The celebrations started the day before with all the respective aunties and uncles arriving and the mahjong marathons started. I think seeing all my granduncles and aunties and family reminded me what life should be about; people. My grandmother has lived such a full life, seeing photos of her in her younger days with my grand dad (that I’ve never met) and her sisters, with my mum and uncles and aunties, etc, made me realise that when I turn 80 years old, I want to have more than 150 people celebrating with me.

On a random note: The kitten’s name is Noodles, we call her chicken noodles cos she’s such a chickenliken.

Across.

So I’ve managed to get across the causeway (by air and all the way on the other end). The number of flights I will be taking in the next few months kinda scare me but I am thankful for the amount of flight time I have to just zone-out.

It’s gonna be a crazy few months, but will try to keep up with the photos and also the writing.

Toodles!

If you haven’t heard…

Singapore Film Festival Melbourne is HAPPENING! (:
Visit at www.sffmelbourne.com