Isles of Capri

Capri. Almost could classify this as paradise on earth. Towering cliffs emerging from azure blue waters, luxuriant subtropical flowers and vegetation spring up everywhere on this magnificent isle off the coast of Naples in the Andaman sea. Probably the most memorable sight in the whole of my one month backpacking trip.







Countless luxury houses line the cliffs. What a place to have a vacation home.














Shops lined with bougainvilleas in the evening sun.











The natural arch. Taken on a 2 hour hike with meindert.
























View of Naples from the ferry with Mount Vesuvius in the background.







I'm feeling nostalgic.

On another note, i've been listening to corrinne may's songs again. Just the thing for a quiet sunday.

Love song for 1

RANT

I had to get this down in writing the moment i got home today. Firstly, i REALLY want to work out of singapore. Why? Blame it on incessant nagging and typical asian parents.

After i went for exchange in europe and saw how some parents interact with their children (grown up children aged 21 and above), i really cant take the way asian or should i narrow it down to some parents micromanaging their childrens activities when they are past a certain level of maturity. A famous example would be something like this:

a child comes back after school.

Scenario 1

child: "Hi Mom!"

Mom/Dad : "Hey! How was your day?"

Carries on a decent conversation.

Authors note: i cant recall when this scenario took place, if ever.

Scenario 2

Child: "Hi Mom!"

Mom/Dad: "Eh your room very messy/your dustbin is full/where did you go/why are you ALWAYS back so late/i told you to do something blah blah blah

Child, SIAN DIAO.
Begins to argue/ignore mom/dad.

Authors note: happens 90% of the time.
-----------------------------

Different huh.
Like when you see someone you dont start with a lecture EVEN if they freaking deserve one.

well what happened today was..straight after i came back home

Mom: Eh where you go

Me: Thomson

Mom: why?

Me: friends place

Mom: I told you to close the kitchen window/you left your plate again in your room

Me: silence.(no use arguing)

Mom: eh next time check the timing of your last bus properly

BEST PART: ITS BECOMING A HABIT

Me: What???!!!

Mom: YAH. last time you also miss the last bus home then come back so late

Me: How i know normally the last bus comes at 12 or 12 plus what

Mom: yah then why must you come back so late??

Me: ????????? so this is about coming back late?

Mom: YAH.

Me: silence. (whatever whatever WHATEVER)
-------------------end of conversation-----------------------------

Nice huh. I think that really says it all.

other classic comments which tend to gravitate towards controlling my life include the following,

1. "WAH your hair so long, better cut it already"

2. "This year final year right, BETTER work hard" (does this mean i dont work hard all along?)

At 24 years old, if studying is not a self motivated activity, forcing or asking anyone to study hard is not going to have any effect ANYWAY. so whats that all about????

Incredulous.

rob ryan

credits for the picture go to Rob ryan.

Just got back from a dinner gathering with the army pals and i realised its quite funny to hang around attached couples especially mingyong and his girl amy. Never saw him being so comfortable with anyone before and really thats a good thing! Anyway back home uncharacteristically early on a friday night mainly because the couples had to go home but im really kind of tired over the past few days and the constant reminder for the job searching is always on the back of my mind.

Been doing a bit of reading with my newfound time after quitting computer gaming, for now and i've just gone through Paulo Coehlo's The Devil and Miss Prym which was reasonably interesting and i finished that in just 2 sittings on the book. Simple storyline with great underlying themes. Just the thing needed for a nice relaxing read.

As for listening pleasure, i recently chanced upon this video on youtube which is an excellent rendition of 'Nothing's gonna change my love for you" by Kaori Kobayashi who happens to be some decently cute girl who plays an awesome saxophone.

Kaori Kobayashi

Back in Singapore

Its been officially almost 3 weeks since my exchange experience ended. I'm back in Singapore and well i guess i'm adjusting back to the lifestyle and horrid weather here. Its warm and rainy and humid. Almost no worse combination than that.

As i stare out of the window, grey clouds blanket the sky with housing blocks blocking any view that i have. No more wide open spaces, no more cool wind caressing my cheeks. I've been spending these few days reading, going out and watching movies to take my mind of everything. I used to wonder why some people cry so much over watching supposed 'tear jerker' movies, but now i know why. They are somehow able to relate to the characters, to feel their pain and sorrow, it could be losing a loved one, a relationship that never worked out it could be anything. Finally, it seems i'm able to relate to them. When i started this post, i imagined that i would have so much to write about but now, there seems to be a block in my head, something that prevents all the words from spilling out. As if it were a self defense mechanism to prevent myself from releasing all the pain at once.

I watched a movie today. There was a old man who had a photo of his dead wife on one side of the photo frame. He flipped it over and there was a picture of a young girl there. It was his first love. Why did he keep that photo? Was it unfair to his wife that he never forgot his first love? After 50 years, when you are reaching your twilight years, what will be worth remembering?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where have you gone. Why have you just disappeared without a trace. What have i done.

I ponder upon the questions day and night, taking brief respites from the sorrow within, by engaging in activities that occupy my time and my energy. Concerned friends give good advice and i thank them for it, but who can truly understand the pain that wrecks my soul. Perhaps God. Outside the window the rain pours down, the droplets streaking its way across the glass, reminiscent to tears that flow down my face.