离开你就是旅行的意义
Japan, Autumn 2009, 23 Nov - 6 Dec
(Including Koyasan, Nikko, Kurama, Kibune and Takao as newly marked territories among the usual old favourite haunts. Despite a 2D1N trip out of Tokyo, we could only manage to cover the shrines in Nikko and had to miss out entirely on its beautiful waterfalls and the we-simply-can't-find-it Lake Chuzenjin. Most eateries are closed by 4.30pm in the small town and it gets pitch black by 5pm. Yes, we learnt that the hard way - the hard, hard way.)
I travel for the sheer thrill of running away and be incognito in a foreign place. To live freely and uninhibitedly, to lose my expectations and Singaporean-ness; to loose my ties where I am bound. Do you? The escape was fun, and altogether tiring: I have never walked so far or climbed so high or descended so precariously, physically so for the past year combined. Mentally and emotionally, I kept asking myself what I want from Life, when to ask for Happiness is too vague, Contentment is too complacent, Career Satisfaction is too sad, and to desire Love is too vulnerable. I am still questioning and looking. Yet I cannot lie: I am secretly pleased to be home and not to live out of a suitcase (we shifted four times, of which one was a stay in a monastary).
At this point, I suddenly remember a late night conversation when I made a promise with a witness around that the next time I like a him in that way, I will not act elusive, or mysterious, or attempt buddify a budding relationship. Sadly, I have become a pro at naturalising (neutralising) how I feel about these boy-girl matters. If only someone could see through platonic hypocrisy and confusion! And of course, then as far as Freudian theories go, my thought-to-writing process reflects what I want is Somebody from Life.
*
Spending Christmas Eve in Singapore with DBF instead of pretending to be a kept woman. Surprise! He offered to pay a portion of my flight + accommodation at his place in Hong Kong initially to spend Christmas together. I can still remember what we did Christmas eve in 2003 - tucking into the infamous crab beehoon in Geylang! Thereafter, we had those 4 years of cold war and here we are, full circle again. Life has its own strange ways of making things right, whether it is to comfort, to compensate or to console or even to complicate(!).
So I should shake off the dusty and melancholic residue from travelling and continue with the Angelinesque project of giving my life the makeover. Resuming tomorrow. Stay tuned.
(Including Koyasan, Nikko, Kurama, Kibune and Takao as newly marked territories among the usual old favourite haunts. Despite a 2D1N trip out of Tokyo, we could only manage to cover the shrines in Nikko and had to miss out entirely on its beautiful waterfalls and the we-simply-can't-find-it Lake Chuzenjin. Most eateries are closed by 4.30pm in the small town and it gets pitch black by 5pm. Yes, we learnt that the hard way - the hard, hard way.)
I travel for the sheer thrill of running away and be incognito in a foreign place. To live freely and uninhibitedly, to lose my expectations and Singaporean-ness; to loose my ties where I am bound. Do you? The escape was fun, and altogether tiring: I have never walked so far or climbed so high or descended so precariously, physically so for the past year combined. Mentally and emotionally, I kept asking myself what I want from Life, when to ask for Happiness is too vague, Contentment is too complacent, Career Satisfaction is too sad, and to desire Love is too vulnerable. I am still questioning and looking. Yet I cannot lie: I am secretly pleased to be home and not to live out of a suitcase (we shifted four times, of which one was a stay in a monastary).
At this point, I suddenly remember a late night conversation when I made a promise with a witness around that the next time I like a him in that way, I will not act elusive, or mysterious, or attempt buddify a budding relationship. Sadly, I have become a pro at naturalising (neutralising) how I feel about these boy-girl matters. If only someone could see through platonic hypocrisy and confusion! And of course, then as far as Freudian theories go, my thought-to-writing process reflects what I want is Somebody from Life.
*
Spending Christmas Eve in Singapore with DBF instead of pretending to be a kept woman. Surprise! He offered to pay a portion of my flight + accommodation at his place in Hong Kong initially to spend Christmas together. I can still remember what we did Christmas eve in 2003 - tucking into the infamous crab beehoon in Geylang! Thereafter, we had those 4 years of cold war and here we are, full circle again. Life has its own strange ways of making things right, whether it is to comfort, to compensate or to console or even to complicate(!).
So I should shake off the dusty and melancholic residue from travelling and continue with the Angelinesque project of giving my life the makeover. Resuming tomorrow. Stay tuned.