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

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…

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

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

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

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.”

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?

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)

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...