Travelling With A Someone

It is always a whole new level when it came to travelling with an acquaintance, a friend, a family member or even a best friend. It isn’t quite the same as compared to your occasional meet ups at cafes talking about recent life happenings nor was it plain phone calls that you fill in the details for that someone over the other end of the telephone cord.

If you prefer savoury food but your best friend chooses the sweets? If you struck that random conversation with a fellow Singaporean but your best friend may not be quite a people person? If you would brave the cold and snap photos of the faraway mountains whereas your best friend decides to sneak into the warm interiors of the ferry? If your best friend knows you secretly prefer the window seat so that you can switch on the shutter function on the camera and start clicking away, thus giving the seat up?
If you actually prefer sleeping nearer to the wall but your best friend has a higher tendency of rolling off the bed if the wall isn’t there to hold her?

Travelling is all about compromising, though at times, sacrificing and we probably all figured that out if we have travelled with someone. You see the most out of a person during one’s travels, in my opinion. At times, I find myself too vulnerable and exposed like an opened book, my weaknesses ever ready to pop out during travels. That particularity about angles, too much of the sky/land captured and having ‘Roberts’, ‘Janes’ and ‘Marys’ being calefares in the background of photos – it creeps silently unto me and the devil in me always takes over the angel I ought to take the role on.

In this trip to the Scottish Highlands, there have been joys too great to be described in words such as watching the mountains, rivers & lochs, wild animals, green & yellow grass go past us on our highlands tour – it was like flipping through the geography textbook we had in secondary school days, trying hard to appreciate and remember the efforts of our teacher who would explain what that formation of the river was called… Now remind me what its name is again?

We talked about how it takes a lifetime or even more to learn how to live. We discussed about how communication and storytelling techniques not forgetting its great details mattered and were one of the many keys to a relationship. We reminisced about the foolish, innocent us with childish acts and candy crushes (as we would prefer calling them today) back in those secondary school heydays we very much enjoyed the most out of all our life phases so far.

Spring Brought Me…

To places I’ve never been, I’ve never seen, I’ve never expected myself to.

This season of Spring is usually the representative of rejuvenation, renewal and regrowth. Cherry blossoms bloom and wild flowers find their ways parachuting in the air, finally landing on a random plot of grass. They added colours to the healthy green grass, a brand new perspective of vibrant colours compared to the snow white of the previous Winter season.

They say Switzerland is simply a large, lumpy, solid rock with a thin skin of grass stretched over it. I nod my head in agreement with that. But this Spring, the thin skin of grass has another layer of wild flowers, yellow and white atop of it.

This was a view I couldn’t stop gasping for breath at, it was such a breathtaking view. It reminded me of the quote “Send me things in the mail. Wherever you go, I don’t care where you go, just send me something in the mail from where you are.” It was a postcard right before my eyes. So far it has only been the postcards featuring Switzerland’s natural beauty that had me fully believe that they are possibly not photoshopped.

When I went down the slope to have my photo taken, I felt so small in this world for a moment. But I wanted to still be remembered by someone.

Looking at where I’ve been this Spring, taking a short train ride and ending up in the Bernese Oberland, climbing up and strutting down in this small steep country and all I see are large brown hotels and houses built the cuckoo clock style.

It’s probably the same view I’m snapping photos of, however, they might turn out different because of the lighting, focus, angle. It’s the same old things – Snow-capped mountains, green grass, blue skies with white clouds so near to me. But these same old things are what kept me falling in love again and all over again with.

This place called Switzerland, where I’ve spent nearly one and a half years, calling it my another home.

How are you enjoying this Spring, wherever you are?

The 7th 1405

It taught me what to do, what not to do. It showed me the ugly side of humans, the beautiful side of them as well. It offered me chances, but also resulted in me missing out on opportunities right before my eyes. It offered me memories to keep, perhaps they ended up as regrets. It made me smile as I looked back, it also disturbed me and left me with plenty of question marks. It was all meant to be.

On another note, Q, you were the one who knew and yet stood by firmly by my side then. Today, the smiley emoticon gave me the assurance and happiness I never expected it to. Thank you

Like I’ve always done so, to look forward and prepare instead of looking back and regret.

This day might or might not remain as my indicator of how fast time has flew past. It’s just a date I’ll remember.

Perfect for this situation and the photo to match with;

“Still, the last sad memory hovers round, and sometimes drifts across like floating mist, cutting off sunshine and chilling the remembrance of happier times. There have been joys too great to be described in words, and there have been griefs upon which I have not dared to dwell; and with these in mind I say: Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end.” ― Edward Whymper, Scrambles Amongst the Alps

Unconditional Love

Thank you Mummy for always being closest to me even when we were in separate time zones and separate stages of life. Thank you Mummy for not letting us get split by dumb facts like distance or time.

And as you read this, the unfinished letter will come soon. I love you.

The Unforgettable Dutch Delights

Mention Amsterdam and you may still hear the old cliches about sex and drugs (I’ve heard a million times about weed prior to my trip) but the truth is that it’s a stunningly beautiful, green and accessible city that deftly blends urban smarts with a cultural vibe that was charming in its own way. Its compact and easily navigable UNESCO World Heritage-listed canals were what couldn’t kept my eyes off them. The cyclists who rule the Amsterdam streets, I became used to them, or at least I was trying to.

The wide cobblestone bridges over the beautiful Singel canal I can never forget.

Trying to peek into the boathouses by the sides of the canals, hoping to be surprised by the simple yet classy interior design. Make time and stay a while, I found myself always pausing my steps and looking around in awe. I’m still in awe at this place I won’t forget its beauty for.

With words from someone, somewhere I read from.

Little Things & Actions

The splendour of the rose and whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent or the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.

I could turn around, get angry and scream but I turn around and forget about it instead.

Talk about the little things that exist and actions we can take in life. :’)

Ticino We Went

Ticino
Lugano • Melide • Mendrisio • BellinzonaI’d like to know about some of the things that they teach down there, like building a lake. If I ever wanted to build a lake, I’d like to know how to do it.

To peep at the world; to see the stir

A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe.

When you’re young you think that you’re going to sail into a lovely lake of quietude and peace. This is profoundly untrue.

Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains.

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