Sunday, July 12, 2020

Rain as it has always been




















1. The Rain Now
I look out from the window and take a sniff of the cool midnight drizzle - the smell that brings memories back to senses. Amidst the silent backdrop lies the sound of rainwater gushing down the drain culverts like nobody's business, and unperturbed by the ravages of disease. Regardless, it is apparent that the rain has now presented itself as a therapeutic medium and offers the troubled minds a sense of peace and calmness.

Much have changed since the last torrential rain in 2015 so it is not surprising that more changes would be observed in the coming months of post COVID period given that we are now living in a volatile and uncertain world.

The cooling breeze is unexpectedly soothing contrary to the restless mind reeling from emptiness and insecurity caused by the worrisome pandemic. While we are living in the new norm now, let us not forget that someday in the future the rain will bring us another set of bizarre sensation. That is when we are old enough to call today a history. 


2. The Rain Then...
I looked out from the bus window and realized that the torrential rain was perhaps unprecedented in this tiny tropical monsoon island. It came abruptly, like a child bursting into tears when he scratched his knees in the playground. Spattering droplets on the thin metal roof clearly amplified the uneasiness in one's mind caused by the inclement weather.

As I was pondering about, the magnitude of rainfall worried me - the fragile umbrellas, helpless pedestrians seeking for a proper shelter at the void decks. Nothing about the vulnerability of life that was more explicitly presented than this rainy landscape. Yet, the bus driver seemed indifferent to the changing scenes, perhaps he had embraced the resilience of mankind in the adverse environment, let alone a short downpour; and flash flood was definitely out of the question. To him, perhaps being vulnerable was an inevitable recipe of daily life

The bus slowly made a turn, signaled the indicator before it came to a halt at the bus stop. Some passengers were desperately fumbling their umbrellas, waiting anxiously to make an exit attempt without getting wet. Other than the muffled rain droplets, the silent dialogue between the driver and the passengers was obvious: His indifference was warranted by the quiet space in the bus whilst their insecurity stemmed from the need to mobilize themselves across different spaces to get home. I wondered, what kind of belief would we ascribe in our lives?

Moments later, carried away by the rhythmic rainfall as the sky fell pitch dark, I snugged myself in front of the flickering monitor, hoping to find similar traits of human beings in the sea of the virtual world.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

The Beauty of Night


#Friday night

#Dark blue sky with traces of pink clouds

#Slow-moving vehicles at cross junction

#Plying taxis on the lookout for customers

#A handful of night joggers who love the serenity of night

#Dimmed street lights

#Last train with a few commuters

#Quiet train tracks

 #Lights-out at HDBs

#North-eastern monsoon wind

#Black-Blue-Pink-Yellow backdrop - quiet neighborhood

#Away from the hustle-bustle city center

#End of a busy week




When the moon shines high,
and the strong wind clears you mind,
The healing of stars makes everything alright,
All in the presence of a beautiful night.





Citation:
Desmonde C, #Hashtags feelings, January 2015


Thursday, December 11, 2014

The Familiar Landscape


Windows of Unfamiliar Landscape

The Familiar Landscape
Spectator: Dchee

The clock of holiday is ticking away once again. With competitive price slashing in the airlines industry, intercontinental travel is made easier in the recent years. It is no longer a dream for one to have breakfast in one country, lunch and dinner in another country.

Some say travel is therapeutic. Which is why going abroad alone can mean a lot for a person when it comes to understanding oneself. Let's be honest, it is about going to the airport alone, sitting next to a stranger, finding the way to your hotel, grab the breakfast alone and occasional chit-chat to strangers; things that you would not have done in your everyday routine.

To be in a foreign land, sometimes in a totally unfamiliar society, makes one listen closer to his/her thoughts. When the world seems indifferent to your existence, it is no surprising that you would become your own best friend, telling yourself the next best decision to make for it to be called a day. I suppose the meaning of a day is beautifully calibrated that way.

Looking out from the unfamiliar window on surprisingly painting-like landscape, the thought of blissfulness emerged out of the totally relaxed mind; you guiltily imagined the whereabouts of stress and worries you used to have back in the hustle-bustle city. You chuckled, acknowledged that those are part of the mechanics in the unknown realm of life.

It was lunch time, you grabbed a quick bite at the nearby stall which has quirky food that drove your curiosity. You took out the city map, going through marked locations that interest you and made your way there. Deep down inside you understood that artistry is perhaps not your cup of tea, but being miles across your hometown made you feel that your time was meaningfully justified. So you went on with the thrill, letting the senses absorbed in an unrestrained fashion.

Watching the sunset closes another therapeutic chapter in your travel log. Seeing the expected busy night life you began to relate back to your hometown, good or bad. You knew it was another lonely night spent in an exotic corner of the world that you thought you knew. Talking to your monologue, thoughts surfaced once again with much recollection of the past and you probed harder to fathom the purpose of tomorrow.

There after, you plunged into another slumber therapy.

I guess, the hype of travelling is all about being alone in an unfamiliar landscape. To truly uncover oneself, internalize the monologue that arises, discover the familiar landscape in the yet unfamiliar world.




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