Missing a Different Kind of Solitude

Perhaps it’s the overdose of human interaction I’ve had over the past few days, but I’ve been missing the life led in Sydney.

Especially when a Friend send me a picture of the vast landscape from down under.

It reminded me of the unhindered sunsets and sunrises I used to enjoy right outside my window. It also hit me – How much beauty in our daily lives we are missing. Not only because we are too busy with our phones and work deadlines, but also because we are literally and physically blocked by all our high-rise apartments, our fumes from vehicles and our factories, our haze. We’ve also blocked ourselves from such beauty by simply not have the desire to experience them. By simply not having the determination to make them accessible to ourselves.

With this realisation and missing, I felt a Pang in my stomach, an ache around my heart. I found myself yearning for the days when I could start by witnessing the quietly beautiful sunrises, and end the day with the solemn silence of sunsets. I miss the days when I could wake up and not say a word to anyone for the entire day, save for speaking the service staff. Texting, and the mandatory Skype sufficed. I miss the days when I could go out with no agenda except to experience the new and be with myself.

Do not misunderstand – I love being back home. I love being in the moment. I love being around family and friends. I love my work and where I am now. I love being financially independent and stable… for now.

But.

I just miss that Life I used to have. And I accept that part of the beauty in this nostalgia comes from the fact that it was a Fleeting time. The blue of distance. Some things are more beautiful far away.

Cafe Fred

A chance stop after collecting my printed photos from Officeworks. Happy with the pictures and seat… not so much when the latte came…

Good Morning Penrith

 

High St Depot

Surprise! New cafe in the neighborhood!

I’ve Scene You Around

When the temperatures were friendlier.

Well actually they still are. Been having chilly mornings with increasing sense of Spring in the afternoons. People are still throwing on layers and wearing scarves on the streets.
May it stay this way for a long while more!

The Coldest Winter

Actually it’s only my second winter, but by comparison it’s definitely the coldest.

I’m not complaining, though. Cosy layers over sweltering heat and humidity any day.

 

Sunset at Penrith

I realise I have lots of sunrise pictures, but rare are those with sunsets…

That’s because I’m always back home, safe and sound inside my cosy room, before the sky gets dark. Coming back this late is a treat I partake in only when I have company.

Morning Train

Still part of the early morning series.

I just happened to be up really early that day. At the station, I realised – how often am I going to get the chance to be at an almost-empty train station?

Autumn in Penrith

I was feeling slightly bummed about not having the time and opportunity to go up to the mountains as yet, due to the unfriendly weather and extra placement days this year. Was feeling sorry about missing the autumn colors. What a pleasant to have this beautiful sight greeted me one weekend morning, just along the road nearby!

5 minutes till I needed to run for the bus, and so I started snapping in the early morning light.

Really loving the autumn colors! And also feeling slightly sad that this is possibly my last autumn in Aussieland. All the more reason to cherish and live in the moment 🙂

Contrast

There’s nothing like days and nights of biting winds, floods and storms to make one fully appreciate the beauty of light and warmth.