Nothing Heavier Than Words

I've had just enough time to...   carry something heavier than words

Taken in a small village in Ubud, Bali of strong women with strong neck

This load is not heavy

I’ve carried heavier still

Earth, stone and ore

Sand that got into your eyes

Salt that made you cry

I can still smile

Carry my head high

See that child running there

He is mine

I carry these loads

So that his head will carry -

Nothing heavier than words

I stayed in a small resort among the padi fields of Ubud, Bali where you have to travel through the village to get there. One morning when I walked outside, I saw the women of the villagers carrying large pails of black sand on their head to fill a field. The loads looked very heavy and I wondered how they can balance it on their head when I will have trouble lugging them with my hands. And they have to walk quite a distance to and fro for the whole day for many days that will be needed to fill the field. What a tough way to earn a supplementary income – all for the sake of their family but they can still smile. This reminded me of the thousands of tablecloths (I hated red chili stains on white tablecloths as they are the most difficult to get rid of) my mum has to wash to give us a proper education. 

No Photo, Yes Tomato.

I've had just enough time to...   shoot a "No Photos" sign

Taken in a Shanghai food exhibition :D

I said “no photo” 

You said “yes tomato” 

I said “no film” 

You said “yes firm” 

I wrote it in black & white 

You said its blue & black 

I said “its Chinese” 

You said “No Italian” 

I look at you 

You look back at me 

I smile sadly 

You smile back 

I put down my sign 

You put down your camera 

The world is alright

These are the celebrity chefs they asked us not to shoot, ain't you glad I did! :D

Two Views of the Field of Gold

I've had just enough time to...   view the field of gold.

Taken in Sekinchan, Malaysia of the farmer surveying his field of gold

The farmer surveys his field of gold

That stretches to the blue sky above

And he sees a year’s toil

I stood there at the crack of dawn

To see the sun shedding its shine

And I see her hair of gold

The farmer smile

I too smile

At the prospect of a satisfying harvest

That the approaching night

Will soon cover that field of gold…

Love Is A Universal Language

I've had just enough time to...   pass another Valentine.

Taken one night wandering around in Shanghai

Love is universal language

Needs no translation, for it is

Spoken with a smile, a touch,

And a hug

It travels the seven seas

Crosses the highest hill

To return to roost

Before a warm fire

And a blanket shared.

_______ 

 Love, it's a special day

We should celebrate and appreciate

That you and me found something pretty neat

And I know some say this day is arbitrary

But it's a good excuse, put our love to use

Valentine – Kina Grannis

A Smile Is Quite A Funny Thing.

I've had just enough time to...  let a smile escape.

An instant capture of of a smile in Beirut, Lebanon.

A smile is quite a funny thing 

It wrinkles up your face 

And when it's gone, you'll never find 

Its secret hiding place 

But far more wonderful it is 

To see what smiles can do 

You smile at one, she smiles at you 

And so one smile makes two


- Anonymous

_______

I can write a lot about smile and the things that it can do. But no words of mine can replace what one smile can do. Not all smiles are equal however, and the most delightful ones are - those that bolt from the heart before you can scramble to close the gate. They are the purest and rarest smiles of all. And to the one who gives and the one who receives – what a delight it is!