Beginnings, ends and in betweens

August ends today, and I can't stop smiling. Not because I'm glad its over, but because I'm glad it happened.

I've officially begun the 25th year of my existence. Slightly thrilling, but scary stuff all the same.

It's funny how you can know someone, yet not know them really. And they sneak up and surprise you in the strangest ways. When you least expect it, but most need it.

The all-too-familiar feeling of butterflies in my tummy is back. Together with weak knees and a beat-skipping heart. I love being in love.

If you didn't know this already, I love being surprised. Not with big splashy gestures, but with quiet little acts of kindness. Like my risotto lunch today :)

I'm now wiser when it comes to Sri Lankan house parties. I can safely say been there, seen that; 'that' referring to seeing people collapse on the dance floor, throw up on the door step, break a tap, pass out in the middle of a dance routine and all in all, have a blast of a time. No one quite does it the same way ;)

My first drive-in movie was quite a cool experience. The weather Gods were on our side, and pizza in the park, complete with a picnic mat, cool evening breeze, the lake nearby and starlit sky made for a happy Saturday evening. Baybeats afterwards proved to be quite interesting too. What would we do without music in this world?

Sunday morning/afternoon was spent sprawled on the floor, watching the rain, listening to music (the Goo Goo Dolls!), absorbed in my own stream of thoughts, and sketching. Yup, it's been a while since I let myself go in the world of colour, art and form. Then spent a good two hours curled up and snoozing under the covers. Rainy Sundays are the love.

On a side note, I need to stop shopping. Really. I've averted the furniture crisis for now. Yet to come is the financial one *sigh* But on a happier note, I've begun my little bookshelf of select reads. Mostly on exotic travel destinations though, haha. I don't know what to do with myself sometimes.

I'm also nearing the end of The Alchemist. About time I'd think. It's such a strange book. But I'm quite taken up with the whole omen thing now. Maybe my missing the bus to work today was an omen that I need to spend less time sleeping in on Monday mornings and more time chugging down coffee and regaining consciousness. Yeah, I've got reading 'em omens down to an art.

Scuba diving adventures await. Anyone want to be my buddy? I promise not to throttle you with the diving gear :)

I thus make my grand exit and say goodbye to August, its rush and all its happiness, with this line from Live:

"We spend all of our lives, goin' out of our minds, looking back to our birth, forward to our demise.."

Between who you are and who you could be

...is a matter of perception.


















It's also a measure of distance that is entirely up to you.



















I think I'm finally emerging from my rut.

On being a Leo

If this is true, I'm the worst Leo ever born.

Awaiting the magic...

I wonder where all my passion for life has gone.

I've taken to thinking of myself as a troubled free spirit lately, just for the drama of it all.

I also think I've managed to get myself into some kind of rut; what worries me is that it's become almost comfortable in this new little hidey-hole.

I'm actually craving the inspiration, the adrenaline rush, the wildly beating heart, and the 'jelly legs' that once upon a time was part of my daily existence.

I need a new addiction.

23, and a bit

By far, this has been one of the best years of my life.

I've grown in so many ways (haha, yeah not just sideways),and I'm finally finding my way to where I think I need to be.

I bought my very own camera, launched into the world of photography, took up roller blading and dancing, and travelled:
Sri Lanka, Bangkok, Malaysia: Cameron Highlands, Project Europe: On a Clothesline, Malaysia:KL, Phuket.

Loved, lost, learned. Loved anyway.

Financial independence; never felt better.

Firsts: credit cards, permanent residency, Absinthe. Resurrections: Bookworming, swimming, running.

Built more bridges, repaired a few. Managed not to burn a single.

I have reservations about turning 24. Well not like I can stop it. :p But its pretty much a 365 day countdown to 25, and I am not that
happy about this.

*takes a deep breath, and plunges in headfirst...*

Namesake

During one of my long lapses in productivity today (I tend to have a lot of these somehow :p), I discovered something quite funny: A novel titled 'Amrita' was written back in 1994, by a Japanese author named Banana Yoshimoto... *chuckles*

Apparently she won a couple of awards for the book. I so need to find a copy!

This discovery came about because I was trying to explain to someone the uber cool meaning of my name, or at least Wiki's take on it: 'Amrita (अमृत) is a Sanskrit word that literally means "that which is immortal" '.

I always knew I was special.

Quarks: charm and strange

I know it's been a while. But for someone who writes for a living, I really can't be blamed for the occasional lapse in my blogging; writing is hard work, and heavily dependent on inspiration/creative impulses/boredom/lack of nothing better to do/a fulfilled sleep debt. Nevertheless, I cannot possibly disappoint my loyal reader (s) out there *dramatic sigh* so I have forced myself to pen my thoughts on this very late evening after a LONG day at work...

[Also, not to rub it in or anything *snigger* but I just polished off a Sri Lankan mango.. Oh man, heaven in a juicy, green skinned fruit! As you can see, I have already returned to my chirpy self]

I must share this line from the book I am currently reading: 'It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting...' -'The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. I quite agree with him. If not for our dreams and hopes and ambitions, life would be quite dull I think. Or it would be ok, but just going nowhere interesting. We'd just exist, rather than live.

I was also quite over the moon that I finally got my hands on A Thousand Splendid Suns and finished it the other day. Admittedly, Khaled Hosseini is a really good author. What makes the book even better though, is the realness of the story- it captures human emotion so well, and makes you feel how and what the characters feel. Between this read and The Kite Runner though, I still liked the latter more. But I strongly recommend A Thousand Splendid Suns to those of you who weren't too sure if it is a worthy read- it definitely is.

I haven't had the chance to write about My Sister's Keeper yet- so here's my take on it: If you're trying to decide between reading the book and watching the movie, my advice is to ignore the existence of the movie and buy the book instead. It's been a while since I've read something that had me this hooked, and I honestly can't remember the last book that made me cry. Reviews about this have been good and bad, and a lot of people were disappointed about how the story ended, but I think its subjective- you need to read it for yourself and decide. It's a beautiful and bittersweet story, and hats off to Picoult for doing such a good job.

Ok, onto less bookworm-ish issues: My long standing desire to lie on a beach and be happy was finally fulfilled last weekend- in Phuket :) I need to post another separate little entry about the trip itself, but it was a really awesome weekend getaway. I am such a beach girl at heart. And I love Thai food.

Speaking of food, our first ever string hopper lunch at work was a rockin' success! Complete with masi sambol and some chicken curry + dhal from the local prata uncle.. Much thanks to the sibling for lugging 250 stringhoppers all the way from home. And more thanks to mother dearest for being so great about feeding people :)

I've also been down with the flu for the last week. I suspect it was the infamous H1N1 (it is now cool to have had it, because everyone has- the need to feel included maybe?) which has almost become a trendy disease, but I am glad it's passed its worst. As far as my immune system's concerned anyway. Them poor little white cells..

And.. *drumroll...* I am now properly qualified in basic bhangra dancing. Don't even ask. It's a lot of fun and a pretty good workout though. And I never pass up a chance to laugh at myself. And valiantly fail at improving my graceful nature.

I will thus end for now on that merry note and go curl up with a book. And try and forget all the deadlines I need to meet yesterday. Laters folks!

ps. In case you were wondering about the coolly confusing title of the post, I just discovered today that 2 of the 6 kinds of quarks are called charm and strange. I shall keep this in mind as possible childrens' names in the future..

Colour blind

Yasmin Ahmad will be missed and remembered.

Shouldn't have to give a reason why..

He's so hot. In every possible way.

For lack of a catchy title

August is here, and I am excited. Tradition has it that I celebrate the first day of every month, mainly because it usually all goes downhill after that :p

So today I cleaned my room, dressed up, hit the town, watched a movie, hung out with the sibling, and slept at a decent hour (2am).

I think I shall go rollerblading tomorrow. If I can actually crawl out of bed before sunset.

Also, Singapore and the rest of Asia needs to start importing in apple and cinnamon muesli. Seriously. It is to die for.

I am even more convinced now that I belong in Europe :(

Seeing Callie yesterday (I hope you're reading this babe!) brought back fond memories of my third year at NUS, of completing the crazy business minor, of Vivien, and of how much fun university was in spite of exams and assignments and deadlines ALL the time. Aiyoh, I sound and feel like an old woman :P

I miss my girlfriends back home. Though they're scattered all over the world right now. Hopefully we shall be reunited at Christmas :)

I can't wait for next weekend :D Sun, sand, sea and snorkelling. What else can a girl possbly want?!