ode to my family - Granny

my 96-year-old grandma whose mind's still sharp as knife

Granny

one of the very few persons who had seen you naked before (unless you are a porn star)

who shares all the same worries your parents have for you

who loves you no less then your parent do

Get well soon, Granny

p.s. love you

journey to destination

road trips are meant to be taking your own sweet time, enjoying the journeys that bring you to the destinations

When I was little, I loved long distance travel in car, especially at night (because the weather was cooler and I loved gazing at the stary night sky). I would have this weird fantasy that we would never reach our destination and forever travelling in the car. I suppose I'm more of a pro-journey traveller. However when it comes to long distance flight, I'm definitely a pro-destinationer!

So which type of traveller are you?

man's best friend

Sheba the border collie

Ever since I was little, I had always wanted a dog. Well, in fact in my wildest fantasy I wanted to keep a tiger, a leopard, a monkey, a horse, and a puppy. In fact I did have them at one time, every night I would go to sleep surrounded by them and felt safe. Yeah, they were my pillows and bolster. I had assigned each of them an animal role. I guess that didn't really make me a nerd or freak, right? I mean isn't it absolutely normal for kids to have imaginative friends right? Whatever.

Anyway, I reckoned a dog would be most possible to happen. However, my mum never allowed us to keep any furry animals, because 4 out of 6 members in our family were asthmatic, regardless the fact that had never been the trigger for our attacks. It wasn't until high school has we really had a pup for a very brief period. It was an abandoned pup we found at hawker center that kept following us. We brought it home and by then we were too old and bold to ignore my mum's protest. It was a mixed breed of Rottweiler and it was absolutely adorable. I named it Coco. Only problem was the fleas. But we bought medicine and believed given some times, it would be cured. However, there was another bigger problem. No matter how happy Cocoa was playing with us during day time, at night, it would cry and whine all night. After a week or so, my gramma had enough of it and ordered us to send it back to where we found it. I didn't know why we hadn't insisted. It was sad and heart breaking to leave Coco behind and drove away. I couldn't look into her inquisitive eyes that seemed to ask: why? After that, I never had any other pet.

It's sad to admit to myself that till now, I still can't afford to have one yet. Let's see why. First I'm still living in rented place; second my parents are not really a dog lover so I don't think it's fair for me to get one and have them take care of it for me; third the dog would be awefully lonely and depressed to be left alone when everyone is gone for work most of the time...... These might sound like excuses but that's true. Having a dog isn't about having someone to wag it's tail when you are home from work, or something cuddly to hug when you are in the mood. A dog should be treated like a friend, a companion, for that's what they really are. Just like kids. Don't say things like a family isn't complete without kids; or having kids can strengthen and enhance the relationship of married couples; or that's an obligation to continue the family's bloodline; yadda yadda yadda..... The only reason one should have kid(s) is to give all the love and happiness to the life/lives you have brought to this world. Period.

So don't keep a dog, or any pet, until you are ready to love him/her in return.

autumn colours

trees in autumn costume

autumn colours in vineyard

Autumn has always been my favourite season.

It's the perfect time to slow down your pace to watch how trees put on warm colours in the cool weather; to listen to the rustling of leaves in cool autumn breeze; to smell the sweetness of harvested fruits in the air; and to feel the soothing tranquility of the nature.

sushi therapy

when sad
eat sushi with lotsa wasabi
and blame that green stuff for all the tears

i would walk five hundred miles (and five hundred more!)

top to bottom:

polished pebbles on the river bank at Franz Josef Glacier, South Island

green green grass in Taupo, North Island

autumn fallen leaves in Arrowtown, South Island

couldn't help falling in love

with every inch of land i'd set my feet on

and yes,

i would walk five hundred miles

and i would walk five hundred more

if that would bring me to the kiwiland again!

p.s. against mun onn's better advice, i still wore the canvas shoes instead, but lucky me it only got wet once throughout the trip when I brilliantly decided to stone-hop in a stream!

colours of the nature

top to bottom:

long clouds and blue sky, north island

green leaves and dews in little river, south island

well-polished pebbles on Rakai River bank, south island

red autumn leaves in arrowtown, south island