Dark nights,

Indeed, The darkest nights produce the brightest stars. Late night calligraphy doodles with an office pen and dividers, and of course with Matchbox 20 on repeat - nostalgic of good ole school nights and procrastination at its best. On the brightest note, have signed up for my first calligraphy class with Souldeelight on 27 June @Wessex Tavern, really excited and we'll see what amazing sparks transpire.

The Midnight sun,

In awe of His wonderful creations - it's amazing how I stumbled upon this time lapse video about 3 years ago and then again today, but much has changed since then. The world out there is vast and great, with bountiful beauty beyond the shores to discover. And indeed, Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries on earth that I've been blessed to visit: Iceland I, Iceland II, Iceland III.

是什麼讓我遇見這樣的你?

是什么 让我遇见这样的你
是什么 让我不再怀疑自己
是什么 让我不再害怕失去
在这茫茫人海里 我不要变得透明 

 Been diggin' this new indie Taiwan singer, 白安. Stumbled upon her when incessantly surfing Vimeo. Love it that her videos have such a subtle trippy feel to it, and an equally mesmerizing voice to complement - she reminds me of Best Coast! While she has been criticized for her sloppy Chinese enunciation, I love how she embraces it to express herself in song. This artiste makes her way straight into my music library, perfect for the early morning commute on reflective train rides.

We're all nothing but specks of dust in this universe, but what made us abandon all fear of loss, what made us stop questioning ourselves? Amidst the haystack of mankind, two souls meet and they may end up as lovers - is it only fate that makes that happen? 是什麼讓我遇見這樣的你? What let me meet someone like you? I know it's a terribly loose and clumsy translation, but it's testimony to how English can't fully encapsulate the beauty of the Chinese language.

P.S. Am currently reading a mortician's autobiography - while it demystifies death, it inadvertently reveals the fragility of life
 

Silent thoughts,

Raspberry Pana Cotta topped with chrysanthemum petals! Am not a huge fan of Pana Cotta but 'twas a good spread to feast on (both on the eyes and for the tummy) at the 13th Dave Ulrich Asia Forum. The speaker was extremely engaging, making it an extremely light-hearted organisational development seminar with so much great information about effecting change from within. Have most certainly learnt a lot, owing to his experience and insights.

Times flies, and I've been at my job for about a year - filled with ups and downs but definitely enjoying the exposure to the spectrum of HR functions around and thankful for all the learning opportunities. As a newbie, it takes time to strike a balance between work and play - reality most certainly doesn't come with a sprinkle of stardust. Just take time and take heart ♥

Have also been getting busy in the kitchen lately, and trying out a multitude of recipes for Macaroons - still finding that one recipe that perfects it! If anyone has tips for baking Macaroons please drop me a note :) Have a feeling that it's due to the liquid food colouring that messes up the consistency, time to hit the baking racks once again.

Also hoping to journal more often, and to constantly remind myself not to get caught in the daily grind of things to miss out on the little joys of life - much like the beauty of scribbling down my scattered thoughts and watching the world go by.  Not to mention picking up a few good books, on my list writes: Smoke gets in your eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty and Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander. Time has come and go, and while my thoughts may have matured along the way, deep down - my sentimental inclination silently remains.

Indeed,

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised ."

Proverbs 31:30 

What do you wish upon?

I'm not a superstitious person by heart, and by faith - but when this wishbone necklace came in the mail, I was really excited ♥ In traditional Euro-American culture, the wishbone is said to symbolize luck. It is customary for the wishbone to be pulled apart by two people, when it cracks the person who ends up with the longer piece will be granted their wish.

Lucky charm or not, this elegant piece is definitely in for keeps. (and sure hope I don't see it cracking!)

The LDR Chronicles,

Look what came in the mail, all the way from the Cold war era Soviet passport photograph machine in Berlin! These picture strips never fail to put a smile on my face, and to brighten up my day :') Having a long distance relationship is never easy, and I'm glad to say we're nearly done with ours - with R graduating next year July/September. God has indeed been gracious through IB, army, our university days and this 3 year long distance that we have to go through. 

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

                                                                                                                             1 Corinthians 13:7

I'm not going to count the chicks before the eggs hatch but I'm really thankful for all the experiences that we have seen through. It's not easy, but it's definitely not impossible. Trading personal touch to intimate conversations through computer pixels in the form of Skype, daily (but heartfelt and un-curated) text messages and the occasional air mail that flies over a thousand miles to land in the hands of the other. Counting down to the very day that we'll have a reunion, planning our next adventure trip together or even just looking forward the small things within the relationship like praying for each other and playing gin rummy online (and having his jacket which smells just like him lying next to me hahaha don't judge). R's graduation is next year, but this new (possible) new stage of our life feels very, very, real.

To everyone who is also going through a long distance relationship, hang on there because it'll all be worth it - and you'll know it when....you know it ♥ 

A Beautiful Mess,

Organic mess VS Curated order - which side would you choose?

I love this frozen snapshot of the security guard post at Red Dot museum (where the colleagues and I went down for a site recce for an event). It's a great juxaposition between the raw organic mess in the foreground and the curated orderly pattern of British styled red letterboxes in the background. Does it speak volumes about our daily lives at large? Do we gravitate towards order? Sometimes, we try so hard to reach out in the distance to curate the future, and yet in the process we neglect the present organic affairs, little thoughts that matter. Or, do we consciously try to curate our thoughts and hold back the unconscious stream of thoughts that truly speaks for who we are.

It definitely reminds me of the art class where Ernest was telling me to be more organic in sketching out some rocks. "Be more organic! That looks so planned, be more human!"

Shying away from order doesn't seem so bad after all, yes? The world needs more beautiful messes.

An open-palm book,

And indeed, the world is a book that we can never read enough of. Lavished in some me time on a lazy Saturday morning, with no better companion than a National Geographic subscribe - which probably explains the stirred up wanderlust. This picture was taken at Barcelonette beach in Barcelona 2 years ago in March (my goodness, has it been that long), it was a fine day after a full day languish in a heavy storm. Oh how unlucky we were, as we were told that it only rained 3 days in a year. On hindsight, we were really blessed to have step foot into Spain even though it was a short trip! Fast forward to 2014 and we were also walking around LA with palm trees in their fully glory. Hi Ana, if you're reading this, miss you and our travels ♥

A penny for your thoughts,

If you had a penny, would you give to a happy or sad man?

Instinctively, we tend to have an almost knee-jerk perception to give to the sad man - but why, is the warped idea of money bringing about happiness so deeply ingrained in us for us to react this way?

Mornings,

Toss out of bed, daily regime. Email. Whatsapp. Bathroom, showered and feelin' fresh.
Smooching the furball, and dashing out of the door
Headphones on, world shut off.
Lift a-waiting - tick tock, why wouldn't it stop.
Strutting to the beat, the trains never have a seat.
Heading up north, pacing through the throng and stairs.
Emerging from the fingerprinted glass doors, dart from small talk.
But only to be shrouded in a blanket of warm humid ambush.
Fishing around for a morning pick-me-up, two gold coins gets me none other -
French toast how I like it, baking in the crisp plastic.
Warmth and smile, fresh jug of water.
Good morning world.

The daily grind (or maybe not),

Cutting to the (paper) chase - I don't have an appreciation for coffee and have been abstaining from caffeine but I'm slowly being induced into the world of having that morning cuppa of.......no, I'll save myself before that happens. In the meantime, I'm so glad to be back in office tomorrow :3

Yesterday I saw an article advertisement on the 3 steps to finding that engagement ring.

I think it's a sign, world. (Play along if you must)

Learning it the hard way,

It's been a bad/good long weekend, I can't really decide.

Friday marked the end of a 2-week long project and celebratory drinks for an unwinding.

Saturday was Y's wedding, she's such a beautiful gorgeous bride ♥ The long distance relationship with R made me slightly weepy inside (and I'm such a sucker for sappy love songs) but we know that the distance will be worth the wait :') It was also good to meet the colleagues in an informal setting! Saturday night hang out with the good ole gang over good food and drinks - sinful hawker feast at Chompchomp and drinks at Ponggol waterfront! So glad to be able to catch up with them amidst our crazy schedules, and finally finding time to meet up just like old times :)

So the horror begins on Sunday (or a week ago when I got bitten by sand flies during a picnic in Botanic gardens). I've been battling the sandfly bites close to a week, and had gotten steroid cream from a pharmacist. Unfortunately, that didn't really work very well and during the worst days, I even woke up to the itch of the bites - which cumulated in red swells on my legs. After the wedding yesterday, I decided to visit the doctor for anti-histamines and anti-inflammatory pills and a mandatory injection. And viola, I'm allergic to the remedy of my allergy! Come Sunday morning, my face was dry and flushed with red bumps on my cheeks. Mortified, I stayed home the entire day (while spamming water and honey) and also stopped the anti-inflammatory pills after finding out that there was steroid in them. Did some research and indeed, this was one of the side effects. Fortunately, I'm a lot better now and am so glad!!

Moral of the story: do some research before introducing anything foreign to your body, or learn it the hard way.

I daresay it's been a good weekend though, Saturday at least ♥.  Really hope it gets better by tomorrow, and hope that all you folks are having a great long weekend! Ciao!

Finding adventures,

Looking through my travel logs really triggered the nostalgia department, playing around with fonts and quotes seemed perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. This was taken on a domestic plane ride from Chicago towards Los Angeles, and flying over the Grand Canyon was an omega bonus. "Look outside, see what greets you." chimed my seat companion, a middle aged American businessman who went out of his way to bend forward in his seat to get me get a good glimpse. We had a good chat about the evolution of Singapore streets thereafter. It's these little moments like these that count ♥

Square updates,

Hi everyone! A thousand apologies for neglecting this space for an extended period of time, it feels refreshing to have graduated from college and being thrown into the corporate world. Admittedly, I was rather nervous about starting work and (seemingly blindly) attempting to climb up the success ladder - but I guess it's really how you make it out to be. It's my third week of work and I daresay that my department has been nothing but helpful and inspiring, I cannot be more thankful ♥ While the looming review papers and exponential learning curve may seem daunting, the challenging prospects of applying organizational psychology to my field of work is really exciting and the learning opportunities given to a fresh graduate.

On the other hand, I'm also really thankful for the friends I've made over the years, R who has stayed by my side and encouraged me throughout, my family and loved ones - and last but least, God who has been faithful and gracious through these humbling 4 years of college. I can't say that it has been the most smooth sailing of years, but I can say that it has truly shaped me to the independent lady I am today.

For now, weekends are a perfect sojourn from weekdays (even though I bring my work home) and with R having the car, we get to explore the outer corners of the island which is something we always look forward to :) Last weekend I had to work on Saturday, but he spinned by to pick me up for tea at Wheeler's yard at Baleister and we brought Cathy to a dog cafe near Whampoa. And not to mention how we get to explore brunch places in the east, like Coastal settlement. Hope to update my travelogues soon, but for now here's an instagram square update from Wheeler's yard! ♥ 

MH370,

My heart goes out to all the passengers and their families of the flight MH370 that was bound for Beijing from Kualua Lumpur. It was supposed to have reached its destination yesterday at CST 6:30am, but has been missing ever since. Life is indeed extremely fragile and unpredictable, but I'm heartened to see how many countries are chipping in to help! God bless them and all the efforts in trying to track them all down ♥

Little joys,

We don't really like getting swirled into the idealistic world that Hallmark has kindly created in the form of Valentine's but the quiet little joys of of this day has definitely made us cherish our relationship more. Thank you for being my constant, my rock and my bestest friend, even through the geographical distance. Happy valentine's day everyone!

Who says virtual gestures can't be heartfelt? ♥ 

Dimension sensation,

Walking from world to world,
Dimensions we whimsically stir.
My mind's bouncing off the ceiling, how art thou feeling.
Trespassing mirrors - tongues out, images in,
Holding back - saying no to foul or sin.
You say let's go and we wander,
Uncountless numbers 1, 2, what's next,
It's hyperactivity getting its fix.
Shooting up and down, spiraling a cold war,
Morphing into window sides, morphing into the lonely floor.

Stay with me.
Marshmallow bottle tips, airy fairy thoughts,
Can you feel my heart, it's untying its knots.
Back into bed and tucked under the cloth,
Eyelids getting heavy as glitter fades off.
The sun comes up to swallow up darkness, but there I am still in the sheets -
Basking in the half-dazed victory of these organic defeats.

Contentment,

"Why it is that she gets all the attention, and still isn't happy?"

"If I had half of what she gets, I would probably be on top of the world."

What is love?

What is love?

Love is walking on the side of the pavement next to the road so she won't get knocked over.

Love is sacrificing his gloves to warm your numb hands so you won't have to eat your ham sandwich freezing down to your bones.

Love is sharing a bowl of cereal but keeping half above the milk because he likes it crispy and you like yours dunked.

Love is calling out for her to make sure she's safe even when she walked away in an argument far away from home.

Love is calling you beautiful early morning even in your bed-tossed hair and messy PJs sans makeup.

Love is walking barefooted with you in a crowded mall when you shed your soles.

Love is in the form of pixelated kisses.

Love is opening yourself up and trusting your vulnerability and secrets to someone.
Love is propping you up and pulling back your hair to make sure you're okay when you throw up.

Love is driving close to 700km in a day without an ounce of complain to a wrongly mapped destination.

Love is putting down your pride and humbly saying sorry for being unreasonable.

Love is unconditionally loving the other in times when he/she can barely love herself.

Love is sharing a single duvet in the cold winter.
Love is leaving little notes in the most unpredictable places as surprises.

Love is sharing of hopeful dreams to realize together in the future.
Love is praying together in joy and sadness.

Love is tirelessly waking up at 5am everyday during army to have that rare 5 minutes of phone contact.

Love is accepting each other's flaws for all of life's cruelty you have faced, through and through.

Love is respecting decisions made, whether good or bad, and helping you tide through them.

Love is sharing the same faith and thanking God for everything even when everything seems bleak and hopeless.

Love is what anchors you back to consciousness when you're floating into unspeakable dimensions and can't trust what you feel or see.

Love is being to many places around the around but knowing that you wouldn't trade your place next to that special one for anything in the whole wide world.

Love is not giving up through the distance.