"The sharp knife of a short life

I've had just enough time..."


- "If I Die Young" The Band Perry


I see Beauty in many things. And like the ghosts that only speak to you if you notice them, they tell me wondrous tales. With my camera and my thoughts, I captured these as faithfully as I can to share with you. And by doing so, they gave me the reasons. And though the thousand reasons may not all be sweet and some indeed bitter; they are still reasons to live. Come to think about it, that is Life, isn't it?

Saturday 30 March 2013

Truth Like Fishes Are Elusive Little Creatures.



I've had just enough time...   to look for little fishes


Taken of the little fishes I found in a pool in Malacca by standing very still


The sharpest pain is to be misunderstood
The biggest sacrifice is to allow to be misunderstood
But only the misunderstood will understand this

It does not matter, does it?
Life is more about understanding and sacrifice
But the hurts persist

The hurts will subside over time
Like sediments in still water
But will never disappear

So don’t stir the water
Don’t muddy it
Fishes can only be seen in clear, still water



The elusive fishes are gone if you are not as still as the water



Wednesday 27 March 2013

When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Gets Going but…



I've had just enough time...   to shed a tear for the fighter

Taken from St. John Fort in Malacca on a rainy day



When I was young I was taught 
“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”
That is how I lived my Life
Which saw me through many fights
These scars bear witness to the fact
It is not courage I lack
For I believe - “The tough gets up from the dust”


Now the dust has cleared
And clearly I see the battle field
The broken spear, the fallen shield
Comrades that shared a drink and laugh
Now laying face down in the dust
My weary hand can't hold up the sword
Without a sound to the ground it drops


It takes an effort not to sink to my knees
There is no more fight left in me
I slowly turn and walk away
My Life will change from this day
It doesn’t matter what others say
How I ran away from the fray
Even a hero must call it a day…



Saturday 23 March 2013

What Is A Lion Doing On A Roof?



I've had just enough time...   to feel for the lion on the roof


Taken of the lion on the roof in a small street in Malacca


I saw a lion on a roof
What is a lion doing on a roof?
I’ve no idea
It had seen better days
That I’m sure
Now left to the weather
Its days are numbered
But I felt
It rather be on the roof
Than in a dark attic
Among the dust and forgotten things
Here it watches the crowd below
They used to watch him roar
But no one looks up now
They are too busy finding their ways

I saw the lion on the roof
It is slowly fading away






Tuesday 19 March 2013

The Beauty of Imperfection



I've had just enough time...   to appreciate the imperfection of Life

Taken the same misty morning of the lake in Ampang Hill, Kuala Lumpur


I draw my lines straight
And my circles round
I pray to the God of Order
And fight chaos every day
I search for symmetry
The way some search for Truth
And I thought I found it in a pyramid
I explained Life through logic
Believed in the power of deduction
For everything has a reason
Even God
Only waiting to be found
When I understand
I will know what it is all about
Meanwhile I am a searcher, a seeker,
An explorer, an adventurer, a priest
But none of these titles fit
Till one day close to dying on my bed
A little hand on mine brought barren wells to life
Alas, I realized too late –
I was only meant to live






Saturday 16 March 2013

Dragons In Love



I've had just enough time...   to witness dragons in love

Taken one early misty morning in Ampang Hills, Kuala Lumpur


Dragons in love
Shook the world apart
Restored the knight's faith
Weary of killing
Down sword and shield
To take up the plough
Planted seeds of hurt that
Burst into a thousand bloom
Attracted the Monarch
From far away
But the knight was not impressed
Till it bore fruits
Lemon bitter to
Squeeze on rare meats
On laid tables waiting
Till the curtains lifted
By night winds
Through open windows
The farmer toasted
Red wine
To slain ghosts
Merry laughter
Echoed from the hut
Through the night

Dragons in love shakes the world



Wednesday 13 March 2013

What The Old Man Said to The God of Prosperity.



I've had just enough time...   to say no to the God of Prosperity

Taken from the hotel lobby of Jesselton Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.


The God of Prosperity approached the old man with the slumped shoulder walking in the street. “Pray to me and I will bestow you riches untold!”

The old man lifted his weary head and looked at the God of Prosperity. A hint of a smile curled up his lips, looked to the ground again and continued on his way.

The God of Prosperity let him walked pass and waited, confident he will turn back for who can refuse free gold. But when it appeared that the old man’s intention is only to continue on his way; the God of Prosperity ran after him; his oversized stomach bouncing up and down as he caught up. How undignified for a God to be running after a man, he thought angrily. Through panted breath, he exclaimed “Are you short of hearing? I offered you Gold! Real gold for free!”

The old man replied patiently, “Leo Tolstoy said - Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.”

The old man continued, “I say - Gold, like Truth, cannot be obtained if you do not dig deep enough. Real gold cannot be recognized by its glitters for eyes are easily seduced. And once you are, you will sell your soul. I will tell Mr. Tolstoy one has to wash away the glitters too.” With that he gave another smile and a respectful bow and shuffled on his way.

The God of Prosperity was dumb struck. He recovered enough to ask “Have we met before?”

The old man replied without turning, “Yes, you were the one who sold me the false gold.”



Sunday 10 March 2013

What The Plovers Stole From Me



I've had just enough time...   to be thankful to the plovers who stole from me

 Taken of the pair of plovers that stole away my worries in a private beach in Hua Hin, Thailand


Walking alone on the wind swept beach
Pounded by roaring waves
It was no lullaby
Peace was not in my heart
Or in my mind


They will make very quick darts across the sand that looks quick comical

While I was not looking
The plovers darted in
Snatched away my worries
In a big hurry


Then stopped dead still. They may face away from each other.

 My head felt strangely light
I left the beach with a smile
For  the plovers
That stole from my mind

Or facing the same direction

If you didn't follow them with your eyes, it takes you quite a while to look for them when they are not moving.

 There, they go on their mad dash again :)


Then stopped to be part of the scenery.

See how easy it is to miss them had I not zoomed in with my shots.

They are very interesting to watch. There are two plovers in all these pictures. Did you notice them all?


Thursday 7 March 2013

Flower, Why Are You In The City of Man? (繁市中的花儿)



I've had enough time to...   lament for the flowers in the City of Man


Taken from a moving vehicle in the City of Yangon, Myanmar


Flower in the city
You are out of place
You do not belong here
Among rusty and stainless steel
The sun burns you
The night offers no sleep
You are valued only for your freshness
But your freshness doesn’t keep
The city sucks all vitality
The remains to the rubbish heap
This is the way the city lives


您孤立此地
此处非你所属
在钢铁与锈之间
烈日噬干您
入夜不得眠
鲜绿是您所有
奈何不持久
城市吸走您的生命力
残骸归废墟
这就是繁市生活之道




The fields and the mountains
They are so far away…
Flower, why are you here -
In the city of man?

田野与山丘
遥不可及
花儿啊,你为何身在此处
在人群的市中
(Many thanks to a dear friend for the translation into Mandarin)




Sunday 3 March 2013

A Bag Too Many, A Bag Too Few



I've had just enough time to...   ponder on how many bags to carry -


Taken in the wholesale market in Myanmar where this is a common sight...

Stacking bags as high as they could  to save a trip...

 Sometimes, that did not paid off and everything comes tumbling down...

A bag more or a bag less
It is hard to know
The difference that will make
Experience may help
Or lead us astray
When the scenery’s the same
But the terrain differs
An extra bag may carry us
To our destination
Or exhaust us
Along the way


 
With their combined weight, they tried to upright the cart...

But it was not enough...

I looked up at the weather
Then search my strength
Take on that extra bag
And pray –
I do not stumble along the way…


So they have to un-load and re-stack them all again...


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