The Rest (From Both Sides Now) - Part II.

I've had just enough time to...   look at things from both sides now.

Taken in the same small street in Jakarta.

"Look at the man. How lazy. Papa told me many men are like that. Never do well because no put in effort. Sleeping all the time. Not working. Lazy. Always poor."

"Oh, car horn. Calling. Must go. When I grow up. Papa said don’t be like that."

(please read part I)

_______ 

Tears and fears and feeling proud to say "i love you" right out loud,
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, i've looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange,
they shake their heads, they say I've changed.
Something's lost but something's gained in living every day.


I've looked at life from both sides now,

From win and lose, and still somehow

It's life's illusions i recall.

I really don't know life at all.

Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now

The Rest (from Both Sides Now) – Part I

I've have had just enough time to...   see a body at rest and not wonder why.

Taken in one of the small street in Jakarta.

It has been a long day. Sixteen hours and my whole body is aching. I have not had a bath and have not seen my family but the extra money will come in handy. Boy will start his schooling soon. And Indah should see a doctor for her cough.

No point going home now. Will just rest here for while and start another shift. Just a short rest. Man, I am weary…

(Watch out for the conclusion Part II)

The Light At The End of The Tunnel

I've had just enough time to...   see the light at the end of the tunnel.

After a long time in the dark, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel (Ipoh, Malaysia)

I saw light at the end of the tunnel.

I saw white clouds and blue sky.

I have been in the dark for too long

And my eyes need to adjust to the light.

But I know where I’m heading to

And what I’m leaving behind

As I walked towards the light

At the end of the tunnel…

Forever Young.

I've had just enough time to...   yearn to be forever young.

Taken in Malacca - just the words I was looking for.

On the shortest day of the year,

When they said you added one,

I chewed on glutinuous balls

and wish that I was forever young.

_____

Let's dance in style    Let's dance for a while

Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies

Hoping for the best but expecting the worst

Are you gonna drop the bomb or not?

Let us die young or let us live forever

We don't have the power but we never say never

Sitting in a sandpit    Life is a short trip

The music's for the sad man

Forever young 

I wanna be    Forever young

Do you really want to live forever,

forever, and ever

Forever young

I wanna be    Forever young

Do you really want to live forever,

forever, forever young

"Young Forever" Jay-Z | Mr. Hudson

A Santarina Grants Me A Wish.

I've had just enough time to...   extract a wish from the Santarina.

Taken of the Santarina who is waiting to grant the wishes of her patrons.

On a day when I make wishes out of thin air,

A Santarina popped up in front of me,

Rubbing my eyes to see if there is a mistake,

For there she was in red, white, and flesh.

Hopping forward like a mischievous imp,

I plonked in front of her with a moonlike grin,

She had the Old Man’s eyes and her laugh was is a little odd

But I dismissed that for I am bought.

I rattled out my wishes longer than an airplane’s trail,

She noted it all down with a sip of ale.

And when I finally ran out of fuel, she remarked with a merry jingle

“What an impressive list,” and gave me a naughty twinkle.

 That was my happiest moment, superseded by the next,

When she coolly asked, “credit or cash?”

For I realized I had not departed for the North Pole

And the floor was still beneath my sole.

I gave her a smile and she smiled back.

Without a word, I turned and walked away.

She shouted after me “Merry Christmas!”

Without turning, I said “Merry Christmas to you too!”

And the people around me wondered who I was wishing to.

Beauty In Ordinary Places.

I've had just enough time to...   look for Beauty in ordinary places.

Taken as I casually pass by a drain in the built-up city of Kunshan, China.

You can find Beauty in many places if you look for it. There is some Beauty that you cannot ignore, like the crimson glow of a setting sun or the moon’s radiance on a dark night. But there are other Beauties that you have to train your eyes for.

But first you must look. Not just at the steps in front of you or the ones you left behind. Or the destination you are hurrying to. Look around you casually, be aware of your surroundings, absorb the environment, feel the air, take in the atmosphere, listen to the sounds of life and as if by magic, things hidden gradually appear. At first tentatively, then bursting forth in their full glory.

Beauties reveal themselves to those for look for them. Like this wild flower by a ditch did in the fading light of the city of Kunshan which I just happened to pass by. To the hundreds of passer-bys, it reveals itself to me because I was looking for it. I may not know what I was looking for but I will recognize it when I see it.

Charity Is For The Needy.

I've had just enough time to...   to do a little charity.

Taken of the broad back of a World Vision Volunteer in Lebanon.

I believe -

“The most important virtue of any religion is compassion,

Without which there is no reason for any religion.”

I also believe that charity is for the needy irrespective of race, nationality, religion, age, gender or any other artificial classification that defines and divides what a human being is. I like to see charity in action – not just in prayers and the building of temples but the building of hospitals and a helping hand in the dire hours of needs.

I like to form an emotional attachment so that I feel when I give. If I don’t feel sadness and joy in equal measure, there is something wrong with me. I like to see wounds being bandaged, hunger being satisfied, tears being wiped, spirits being lifted. In short, I like to see the effect of kindness more than sympathy per se. So I choose my charity carefully with the same principle which transcends beliefs, borders, organizations or religions. This is my belief and I try to live up to it.

We Humbly Bow to Thee.

I've had just enough time to...  humbly bow to thee.

Tzu Chi volunteers humbly bow to thee.

On behalf of the poor and unfortunates, we bow to thee.

For all your care and compassion, we bow to thee.

For the fate of humanity, we bow to thee.

For your love and tenderness, we bow to thee.

For mother and child, husband and wife, we bow to thee.

For your precious time and effort, we bow to thee.

For brothers and sisters, for friends and strangers, we bow to thee.

For your spirit and empathy, we bow to thee.

For a world in harmony, for love and happiness,

For a caring heart, for supporting hands,

For you, and also for me,

We humbly humbly bow to thee.

Some Hills You'll Never Climb.

I've had just enough time to...   realize there are some hills I'll never climb.

At the foothill of Mount Kota Kinabalu, a hill that has eluded me time and again.

There are some hills you’ll never climb,

No matter how close you get to it.

And you’re left wondering “what if?”

It is alright to pause and wonder for a while

And gaze longingly before you move on.

But move on, you should.

For some hills are never meant

To be climbed – By you.

You wonder if you should persist,

To climb the hill you miss,

Risking it all and make victory more the sweet.

Or try some other hills and discover them new.

But you can never know for sure

Which is which?

But the fact remains, there are more hills

Than you can climb.

And you have to decide,

Which to climb and

Which to miss.

When The World Is A Lonely Place.

I've had just enough time to...   test my courage.

Taken on the top of Maxwell hill, Perak, Malaysia.

When your world is shrouded in mist

And you could not see further than the nearest tree

When it come closing in

And you could not reach for a helping hand

When you are utterly alone

And the world seems such a dreadful place

You will learn what courage is.

Morning Has Broken.

I've had just enough time to...   view another beautiful sunrise.

Taken one fine morning from the hotel window in Klang, Malaysia.

On a morning like this, one just feel like bursting out singing.

_______

Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens 

Morning has broken, like the first morning 

Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird 

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning 

Praise for the springing fresh from the word 

 Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven 

Like the first dewfall, on the first grass 

Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden 

Sprung in completeness where his feet pass 

 Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning 

Born of the one light, Eden saw play 

Praise with elation, praise every morning 

God's recreation of the new day

Waiting Is Forever.

I've had just enough time...   to quit waiting.

Taken while waiting in Bali.

What Are You Waiting - Natalie Grant 

So you wanna change the world

What are you waiting for?

Say, you're gonna start right now

What are you waiting for?

Now, it only takes one voice

So come on now and shout it out

Give a little more

What are you waiting for?

_______

So you wanna change the world 

What are you waiting for? 

“I’m not through dreaming.” 

So you wanna change the world 

What are you waiting for? 

“I’ve a plan.” 

So you wanna change the world 

What are you waiting for? 

“I’m just one small voice, 

There is little I can do.” 

And thus another voice silenced.

Before The Red Gate.

I've have had just enough time to...   pause at The Red Gate.

Taken of myself by myself wearing a T-shirt bought from Bangkok.

Before the Red Gate,

Only one choice to be made.

Enter or escape.

All Kinds of Everything.

I've have had just enough time to...   think of all kinds of everything.

I stumbled upon this shop selling all kinds of everything in Malacca.

I stumbled upon a shop

That sells everything

Except what I need.

But what a shop!

For it has everything

I do not need.

Yet I could not leave.

It has all kinds of everything,

- All kinds of everything,

Except what I need

But I could not leave.

_______

All kinds of everything - Dana

Snowdrops and daffodils, butterflies and bees

Sailboats and fishermen, things of the sea

Wishing wells, wedding bells, early morning dew

All kinds of everything remind me of you

Seagulls and aeroplanes, things of the sky

Winds that go howling, breezes that sigh

City sights, neon lights, grey skies or blue

All kinds of everything remind me of you

Summertime, wintertime

Spring and autumn too

Monday, Tuesday, every day

I think of you

The Sorrow of the Lonely Urn.

I've had just enough time to...   appreciate Beauty while it last.

Taken in the Gunung Lang resort, Perak, Malaysia.

In the shadow,

The urn tells a timeless tale

In soft whispers.

To the attentive grass and

The slow climbing vines.

“Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty”

It sadly said,

“But Beauty fades and Life goes on”

"Nothing last forever,

The truth of beauty is -

When it exists."

_______

Ode on a Grecian Urn - John Keats

Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness!

Thou foster-child of silence and slow time

            Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard

Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;

Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd,

Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone

When old age shall this generation waste,

Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe

Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou sayst,

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty," – that is all

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.