... and they rejoiced in song and dance for theirs is an unspoken covenant between kindred spirits and empath beings...
"In visualizing life we travel nomenclaturally outward
through the gossamer pavilions of Earth's biodiversity."
Edward O. Wilson, in "The Future of Life" (2002)
The gossamer pavilions... the title of a biodiversity discussion in the university stopped me dead in my tracks. The phrase was pure magic.
through the gossamer pavilions of Earth's biodiversity."
Edward O. Wilson, in "The Future of Life" (2002)
The gossamer pavilions... the title of a biodiversity discussion in the university stopped me dead in my tracks. The phrase was pure magic.
I was standing at the corner of Arab Street waiting for the pedestrian traffic light to turn green. My mind drifted with the afternoon heat and the blur of vehicles passing by. Suddenly, `Allahu akbar...' resounded from behind me. I had not noticed that there was a mosque nearby as they are quite inconspicuous in Singapore. The Muslim call to prayer or azan mesmerized me in nostalgia and homesickness. Growing up, I used to live opposite a surau and sounds of azan several times a day marked the daily passing of time. In university, azan was synonymous with waking up, lunch, and dinner. I suddenly recalled the melodious takbir that signaled the arrival of Syawal. It really has been a while since I heard the familiar strains of azan, however faint. Today in Singapore, at that busy little street corner... azan was a call to home.
*Photog & card: Ryan
My 25th birthday celebration kicked off with an early surprise dinner on a riverboat, being thrown into the sea, blowing out candles on the beach and playing fire sparklers with a bunch of dearest friends! A lovely and memorable start to the week-long birthday celebration...
"... You like who you like lah..." - Orked's lament in the bedroom conversation with Lin.Just watched Sepet, a Malaysian feature film by Yasmin Ahmad. A lovely paean to first love, lovingly told without losing itself into a commentary on racial, religious and moral issues. I can go on and on and on about why I loved this movie, why I raved and am raving about it to everyone I know, why I am going to buy the vcd/dvd when it's out and why I am going to watch it a few more times. But I think it will suffice to say that this is one of the rare Malaysian stories which is told with such honesty and simplicity that it finds its way into your heart and stay on your mind long after you have left the cinema.
Opening in Malaysia February 24th, 2005
some SMSes archived in my mobile phone:
`su yin Chinese Calendar is 22 day of the 8th month mum’
`204C. F to C is minus 32 X 5/9. Hmm. Apa you doing :)?’
`Love in ur HEART, warmth in ur SOUL, contentment in ur LIFE, peace in ur HOME. May God bless U with these priceless gifts thru out d new year. HAPPY NEW YEAR!’
`Oi! Lish got married today! Congratulate her!’
‘Of sleep I am recently behind, damn sampat pantuns on my mind; to my horror my subconscious finds, indigo bears and others like your kind’
`Haloo chikora! Jay’s concert on 29th Jan next year… can go watch sesame street!’
`... Would that you could meet the sun and the wind with more of your skin and less of your rainment, for the breath of life is in the sunlight and the hand of life is in the wind… and forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair…’
`su yin Chinese Calendar is 22 day of the 8th month mum’
`204C. F to C is minus 32 X 5/9. Hmm. Apa you doing :)?’
`Love in ur HEART, warmth in ur SOUL, contentment in ur LIFE, peace in ur HOME. May God bless U with these priceless gifts thru out d new year. HAPPY NEW YEAR!’
`Oi! Lish got married today! Congratulate her!’
‘Of sleep I am recently behind, damn sampat pantuns on my mind; to my horror my subconscious finds, indigo bears and others like your kind’
`Haloo chikora! Jay’s concert on 29th Jan next year… can go watch sesame street!’
`... Would that you could meet the sun and the wind with more of your skin and less of your rainment, for the breath of life is in the sunlight and the hand of life is in the wind… and forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair…’
