Best of 2015

Yes I know… We’re in 2017 and the previous year was 2016.

But. I miss the memories of 2015.

And so I generated the best 9 of 2015 instead.

Those were the days.

PerthSydney on Film

Taken with Lomo LCA+, Kodak 200 film.

I’ve been reading about taking positive moments and savouring them, to wire our brains to be able to fall back on positive feelings whenever we need them. And I’ve realised that looking back at photographs are a great way to do that. Splitting my trip posts into many mini posts have also allowed me to savour each portion of the trip again, before placing them all back together in the mind as a “Happy Period”. Very easy to go back to whenever I need a reminder of positive, peaceful and restful periods…

iPhone Magic

For a good part of the trip, I was using the iPhone camera to capture moments too. Main reason being – I misplaced my camera battery on our last day in Perth.

Despite my disappointment (and inclination to be mad at myself), the iPhone didn’t disappoint 🙂

 

Airport:

Rottnest Island:

 

Satchmo Cafe in North Perth:

 

Lake Monger, Perth:

 

North Perth Suburb:

 

Snippets from Sydney:

Stanmore Suburb

Haven Coffee

White Rabbit

 

Graduation in Sydney

The brief trip back.

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.

Barangaroo Reserve

Looking back, I realise this was the last place of attraction I visited in Sydney.

It was a cloudy, overcast day, which sort of mirrored my feelings about leaving the beautiful city soon. I decided to do something about those feelings, and together we went for a walk at the newly opened Barangaroo Reserve. It helped.

Blaq Piq

Only for the window seat. The beautiful, in-the-corner window seat, with a hanging light. Only for that, would I travel all the way there again after my first unsuccessful visit.

 

Live Like A Nocturne

Live like a nocturne.

Simple, not pretentious.

No virtuosity for the sake of virtuosity.

Willing to be supported, not rejecting the complementing forces of harmony.

Flexible, bending and playing with time and space.

Not intrusive, yet profound in depth of emotions.

Does not speak for long, but what little a Nocturne says is able to convey all the subtle naunces of life.

Joy interspersed in sorrow. Calm brewing with drama. That sudden leap. The unexpected harmonic shift. The accidental note.

A Nocturne proclaims the power of silence, the strength of Quiet.

Just when everyone thinks a Nocturne might be easily forgotten, swept under a carpet, walked over like a doormat – the Nocturne replies. Still steady, still stable. Yet with just enough impact to make people think twice about dismissing it again. With subtle force, the Nocturne makes its imprint on the world, quietly yet significantly.

It does not need to be recognized by many, it only wishes to be with those who truly appreciate what it has to give.

Live like a Nocturne.

The Nocturne, although strongly identified with the qualities of night, also has the ability to bring those qualities to the sometimes too-harsh sunlight of day. It can soften the brashness with its gentle lyricism.

As much as the world needs glorious fanfares, magnificent symphonies, stoic marches, catchy waltzes… the world also needs Nocturnes.

Thank you, Nocturnes of the world.

The Hungry Baker

Just memories now.

Goodbye, Sydney

Today I wave goodbye to my solitary lifestyle, and go back to the sunny island I call home.

There are so many memories and stories which have been accumulated here – experiences which I feel immense gratitude for.

The stories which still percolate within will be told in time – the remaining ones from Sydney as well as the recent ones from Melbourne 🙂

They will come, slowly.

For now, let me Breathe, and take in the Beautiful Present Moment of Goodbye.