♥Feel the breeze

La Dee Dum

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

I'M BACK ON THE SUNNY SHORES OF SINGAPURA!

And.... yeah.. that's about as happening as I can get. I mean.. tone-wise. Been bumming around the house the past 2 days. Am going to see how long it takes for me to get bored with spending time with me, myself and I, since everyone else is having their finals. Bah.. But it's alright.. Already have plans mapped out for next week! Yay-ness..!

The most annoying thing about staying in the house, though.. is that.. the new terrace opposite my house is now up.. and it's freaking within 10 metres. Meaning.. the side of their house is DIRECTLY facing the side of MY HOUSE! And my entire view from my balcony and room window is blocked.. Not only blocked, okay.. they can totally see through their infinite number of windows into our house.. and vice versa!

How the heck am I going to do things my way from now on (I think close friends would know what I mean) ?! Unless I shut my blinds perpetually and live in darkness.. So annoying! Why would anyone want to design something like that..?! WHY?! This is outright voyuerism okay!! Not even like.. The secrecy of the Gaze!! Rubbish.

Actually have loads and loads to update and pictures to upload.. but. Am in the too-nua-to-do-anything mode.. and will be so for the rest of the week, I reckon.

Oh oh.. thanks gang for coming down so early to surprise me on Sunday morning!! Although I sort of expected it.. it was still a nice surprise, cause I didn't see you guys when I strolled out, anyway. Weekend dinner kays!!

P.S. Heh.. qin, this shall be counted as an update!

7:26:00 PM

Shiok-ness

Monday, November 09, 2009

... is sleeping in for 14+ hours after a fantabulous day...

Yes.. Slept for 14 hours.. reckon is to recuperate the sleep lost during exam week. And it's super shiok!! I feel like a newborn please... especially after a shower. Sweet!

Had a ridiculously awesome day.. Lil creatures and the beach can do wonders, heh.

Anyway.. some pictures.

Can you even begin to fathom how awesome God is to create such wonders?? And it's just a simple sunset, heh.. Blown away, yet again.

Britney's Circus concert post coming up soon!! (had so much fun... saved for the people who shouted at us when we stood up to dance and the lack of big screens.. it was THE best concert yet!)

11:59:00 AM

Whinge and Whine

Monday, November 02, 2009

... It's time to stop!

=.. (

I can't seem to get my act together!!

After saturday, the-day-that-was-created-to-break-me, everything just dissolved into quiet desolation. And I can't get my momentum back! I literally slept the whole of yesterday and I still feel shit tired.

Oh man..

2 more days debster.. and you're done! What the heck is wrong with you girl???!?!

Just have to keep telling myself that.

Ironic.. this is supposed to uplift me, not a platform for me to whinge more!!

So anyway..

I was reading about the gang's latest gathering. And it looked so fun!! I mean, even though it rained for the entire night, they still made the best out of everything and it turned out good... as always. I'd like to think we have the ability to prevail under any and every circumstance. And the guys proved that they still had their bbq skills, heh? Not bad.. fire started under 30 minutes, I heard. And in the rain too! I think there was one occasion back in the day when we had to start a fire under the rain too.

It made realise how much I miss everyone.

I was e-mailing qin.. and telling her that I wasn't very eager to return. I think anyone back home who hears or sees this would be like, "Deb! You wang en fu yi!! Bu xiao nu! How can you be so heartless?! What about your family.. and beloved friends who are all waiting for you to go back and catch up?! It's your home, man!"

But I was really being honest.

I don't know why.. But the anticipation to go home isn't as strong this time. Might it be because I grew too comfortable being here? Or because I still have company here?? Maybe when everyone goes back one by one..

However, after reading the entries and mulling about it.. I realise I do want to be back home. To reconnect and enjoy with the people who matter so much in my life. Even though the urge to may not be as pronounced as last semester's... ultimately, I still want to be back home.

And it's not just about the food, heh..

Speaking of food, I cannot wait to sink my teeth into Auntie Alma's homecooked food!! =(

I'm severely deprived of fish.. and veggies.. Auntie!! Please prepare a feast for my return!! Hahaa (So root-less, still expect to be served with love and generosity from people back home.. *Smacks self*)

Should really learn from Job.. Not that my circumstances is of any significance compared to his.. But yeah, he fell, got back up and remained faithful. It has to be an important message if God compels you to read a particular book, heh?

Meh.

Okay, done whining..

10:11:00 AM

Broken Chains

Friday, October 16, 2009

It's amazing what God can do in one week.

How He can use simple things to touch us so deeply... to remember the magnitude of His everlasting love.

How He puts us in certain situations and brings difficult circumstances, so that His plan for us will come to. And ultimately, we come up tops... because it's God's plan.

Nothing is by coincidence.

And nothing is impossible, with God.

Was reading Wednesday's devotion from FCBC's page.. and it talked about remembering who we are- rightful children of God.

The devotion inserted this a little part of 'Lion King'... and it spoke so deeply into my heart.

Mustafa: Simba (son)... you have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me...

Simba: How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be...

Mustafa: Remember who you are. You are my son, and the true King... Remember...

(It's super 'geng'.. cause 'Lion King' is like the first disney movie I'd ever watched and the first one that ever touched me so much that I was sobbing away in the darkened 'theatre' of my kindergarten class. So for God to use this and show me His love... allowed me to view in from another perspective, and yet have the exact same emotions, if not more... is powerful beyond all words.)

We are saved because of His grace and mercy. But time and again, we defy Him and go into the world with our sinful ways. We live as if we don't know our God. And time and again, He forgives us of our iniquities.

It is only when we finally realise and remember the magnitude of His love that we begin to accept it and start to live right. I yearn to grow so much closer to Him, and to stay forever close to Him. But my human flesh is weak.

That is why we need to rely on God's help. With our meagre abilities and strength... what we can achieve is pathetic. But if we turn to Him... everything will be magnified and we can find true joy and rest in Him. I see His works in me so clearly now and I can't wait for more to unravel. And now is the time to step up to that mission to do His work and bring glory to His name.

What hypocrites we'd be, if we took His grace and just live our everyday satisfied that we are saved. Is that all there is to being children of God?

I pray that everyday I grow that much closer to Him as I take up the cross daily.

Indeed, chains are broken and lives are healed... eyes are opened and Christ is revealed.

As surely as the sun will rise

You'll come to us

Certain as Your words endure

You'll come

Let Your glory fall as You respond to us

Spirit rain

Flood into our thirsty hearts again

You'll come

9:08:00 AM

Business As Usual

Thursday, October 08, 2009

... His perfect timing

This past week has been awesome. Actually, this whole semester has been a blast. In every single sense. Sure, the workload may be heavier and assignments results may have dipped (I've struggled a whole deal to come to terms with it.. *Sigh* "Becky, you should know"), but every single day is filled with unexpected surprises.

Just when you feel like giving up on everything you've worked your arse off, He sends someone/something to supply you with so much more strength and joy.

Just imagine that.. but every single day.

I don't know how else to put it, but God works in marvelous ways... and always has. The seed of faith that He has planted, the miracles He performs, the answered prayers. Things like these takes my breath away and does something in my very core.. so monumental that all I could and can do is stand in awe.

3 more weeks before finals.

I will pull through!

10:26:00 PM

The Dilemmas of a Fowl Friend in a Globalised World

Monday, October 05, 2009

So some time during last week.. or two weeks ago, I came across one of the resident peacocks in the Arts building as I was strolling towards my Psyc lecture.

The sight of them have become little less than an everyday affair... but their presence and grace never fail to catch me breath. Everytime I get the chance to see them, I stop everything I'm doing (unless I'm late for a lect/tute) and just observe them.

This poor one over here, just so happens to be in my path and was subjected to 10 minutes of potential threat with a strange weapon that is my phone. I can just imagine the thoughts that were running through his mind.

Hmmm... Human.

Food.

(*Cocks his head to a side)

Where's the food? Don't they usually come with food?

No? This one has a strange object in its hand.. reaching out towards me. Coming closer!!

(*Saunters away along the railing)

Must get away. But how?

The only way is to get down on the ground.

But it's so close to me!

Should I jump down the other side, then?

It's three-storey high, though.

Hey, I'm a bird... Can't I fly?

Never tried.

I might just die.

What am I going to do?!

Or not. Because he looked pretty relaxed.. just basking in the sunlight, lost in his own thoughts. Didn't really mind me circling him, trying out different angles. He was probably thinking..

Oh, another fascinated human. I shall pose and indulge it. After all, I AM THE most beautiful creature on the face of this Earth.. (*Smirks)

Anyway... I just had a fleeting thought.

How does the peacock know who and what is a threat? Has its life been so normalised, growing up and interacting with humans that it no longer see humans as threat? As a group of people that may potentially hunt them for their gorgeous turquoise feathers, for food (a bit extreme.. but yeah)? Doesn't it feel unjustly treated that humans have assumed unoccupied land as theirs and just build whatever flippin' hell they want at the expense of another's home?

Just like how we are living in a globalised world that's constantly being bombarded by products, information, culture of another. Well, mainly the western world... How do developing countries feel about being used for their cheap labour and relatively abundant (yet rapidly depleting) raw materials and land? Do they feel glad because they've been given a piece of the 'global market pie' or do they feel threatened because their culture might possibly be diluted and lost... They do profit, yes. But more often than not, they are just earning on the terms of the 'powerhouse', and it's obviously a marginalised income.

Or do they simply not know any better? Because they've grown up in that environment when it has always been this way... Being unjustly treated and marginalised.. They just grow up thinking it's normal.. and this way of life isn't much of a problem to them. They don't know any better because they don't know.

Or is it that they don't have the agency and power to defend themselves? A people without face and voice to rise up the negotiation platform just because they are doing the more menial work and getting paid less.

For the humble peacock (or not so humble.. because everyone knows.. as proud as a peacock. heh), things might not be so detrimental. For obvious reasons... they can't be compared to people who are being discriminated or rejecting their culture for survival's sake. Life's good for UWA's peacocks.

But if they know any better and have the power to peck humans to death.. They'd realise that people are invading their habitat for the sake of their own development.. and just letting a select group of peacocks to live out of obligation. Just so they can say that they've done their part in helping others and assimilating them into the new world.

I think we all need to find a balance. How far are we going to allow our identity to be washed-out before we lose it completely? How are we going to preserve it? In some cases, even to the point of fighting the invading forces to resist change, in order to prevent the introduction of a whole host of social and economic issues.

I suppose we could all sit on the fence.

For us, (disgustingly) privileged people living in places where freedom is a personal right, it is easy to do. But is that really how we want to live out our lives? As selfish capitalists, scrambling after the cheapest resources just so we can produce and cater to the rich (who might possibly be ourselves!)? Subjecting the voiceless and powerless to 'OUR' way of life.. just because we think it is the best way? Just because our narrow minds can only imagine one civilised way to live?

Is homogeneity the only way to go?

I say give the peacocks the right to choose. Only then, can we say we genuinely want what is best for them.

** I am not referring developing nations and marginalised individuals as peacocks.. just using them as analogies.

On a lighter note..

Good news abounds! So many lives that are about to be blessed so infinitely!! I just love it when people share good news. Their happiness just burst out of them like a ray of hope and infect you for days. Especially the creation of new life and relationships!!

Sigh.. happy happy... so happy for you guys.

(*beams)

3:54:00 PM

Swordfish Hotkiss Night

Monday, September 28, 2009

Breathing to the beat

So last Sunday was PARKLIFE.

One word.

Sublime.

As a whole, it was an awesome experience. You know, the line-up was great, a whole slew of DJs and fab bands. Arts vs Science, Mstrkrft, La Roux (although... it is to be mentioned that she's not very good live), Metric.. so much more.

But what really made it sublime (as mentioned above) was Empire of the Sun.

Period.

And as the act that ended off our night... they were absolutely perfect.

A perfect finish for THE perfect day. I mean that in every sense. The weather was awesome... we could wear just one layer! (can't say that about today's weather, though.. it sucks! And I thought spring was here after a bout of glorious sunshine last weekend)

So anyway..

Back to PARKLIFE.

This was before everyone started coming in.. Hot Samba band.. plus dancers.

Where should we go?

Don't care, take picture first.

The Water Stage.

Where we spend most of our time at.

The Fire Stage.

It's the only stage that's enclosed and tented.. Have no idea why that is. Was it supposed to make the attendees feel like they were trapped in a burning building? Because it most certainly did!

The Air Stage.

Art vs Science!!

"Hey! Ho! Use your flippers to get down!"

There were also the Earth Stage and Wood Stage, which we didn't manage to get pictures of.

21st century hippies.

Then after Art vs Science, as there wasn't any acts we wanted to see.. mostly just DJs.. we went to laze and bask in the abundant beams of sunrays... (it's like we were coming out of our caves after a long period of hibernation)

Hmm... what shall we do now?

Don't look at me.. I just want to bum around.

Meh... This sucks.

Let's....

Take a picture!

Drink!

Make merry!

Drink some more!

Check out other people!

Take more pictures!

I reckon...

... that Pure Blond..

Is the way to go!

Pure Blond, your friendly beverage.

With Pure Blond, life is a song!

Who's that??

Don't care! Just dance with me!

Yeah! (Sarah and Jo are the cutest... they really are)

Apparently, this is DJ Shazam.. Prepping us up before Little Boots makes her debut appearance in Perth.

Heh.. Tie-dye, is the way to go!

And she appears!

I'm gonna take you out tonight

I'm gonna make you feel alright...

... No I don't have a penny

But I'll show you a real good time~

Dusk set in and it was time for another break.

Snack and chat!

Batman and Robin?

I think Metronomy was playing at this time.. and it was PACKED! Really looks like everyone was on fire... as the stage is aptly named. Meh, missed Lady Sovereign because it was just too packed. No way we were squeezing into the mass of sweaty bodies.

So back at the Water Stage we ended. An hour before the final act comes on. (yes, I was that 'kiasu')

Kaskade working the growing crowd.

And all hell broke loose when EOTS came on stage.

Tried to snap a few...

Luke Steele (lead singer) blocked by random hand in the air.

Background not being cooperative.

A could-have-been-perfect-if-not-for-the-hand-holding-beer shot. ( I rather like this shot.. sort of encapsulates all the excitement and buzz that EOTS was bringing. But darn it!)

And finally!

Swordfish.

Hotkiss.

Night!

... One cool mohawk the drummer is working..

And then.. everyone went mad when they performed 'Walking on a Dream'.

Cheers!

That's all for my extraordinary Sunday.

I remember I blogged about heart-shaped bruises.. one of my more.. subdued and extreme abstract of my strain of senseless musings.

And what do you know???

I actually have a tangible heart-shaped bruise!

See??

How cool is that?

And I don't even know how I got it!

Oh, how I wish I could keep it for eternity.

But now... All I have for eternity is REGRET if I don't get my ass off this chair, out of my room and to the library!

Seriously cannot get anything done in my room. Essays and one more big project to go. Plus finals in 4 weeks. I'm just going to have to pull through these few arduous weeks and then... well, think that I'd pretty much be exhausted by the end of it all.. but heck, I have 3 months to enjoy it back home!

Keep me in your prayers, y'all!

(You'll be in mine too! And that's not a prerequisite.. erm.. nevermind, I shall stop here.)

7:17:00 PM