were there falling stars...?

my...my....do mind what you wish for....
things just might happen ;)

-moenlite-
[hoping that the last comes through as well...for the sake of all mankind, etc, etc....:P]

the title

got the movie title.....it's Insomnia.
Geez... :P

-moenlite-

a much needed break

Woke up by a friend’s phone call, reminding me of her plans to go to KL, and wondered if I still wanted to go and spend the weekend there.

Thought really hard…..then figured since I had missed one trip just a week ago, I might as well go, instead of mopping up and down my apartment floor doing nothing.

So there I was, buffing up whatever thesis work that could be done that day (and a lot of things did indeed popped up :), even had to rush to the medical library to get this book recommended by someone that had also referred me to some other people as resource persons. Printed some materials for the road (hey, I did read it up you know ;) Prepared my email account to make sure that important emails were indeed accessible and that the mailbox would not be clogged (yet it was indeed clogged by someone who had sent me a 4mb email with pictures, just 15 minutes after I left for the library, thank you very much for letting me know what possibilities could occur….my goodness :P)

So there I was packed with books, my camera and trying to minimize the bag weight as low as possible (considering my abilities to travel very-very heavily :P), and convincing my self this is the vacation I need :)

We decided to take the train to KL, partly because the buses were fully booked, and partly because we estimated we’d arrive at a more ‘sane’ schedule, since the bus would have us arrive at around 3 something in the morning in a country where we had no zip codes attached to us.

The train was okay, we took the sleepers, despite the (thick) smell of feet (of course we first worried it was ours, then wondered it if came from the two big men across us, then figured it was something the train had ‘collected’ from the many passengers riding it. My nose was definitely stuffed when I got off, reminding me of a ‘similar-not-so convenient’ trip I had some time back…flying business class for 12 hours….yet that’s a different story all together hehehe)

All in all, the train ride was good. Queuing at the customs was indeed not a problem (something people had been warning me all the time), the only thing was that there was no clear guidance/signs on where and what was happening. Then again, we figured, for the sake of being adventurous, we just followed through, no complaints.

Arrived in KL’s central station around 7.40am, managed to wake up my good friend who was kind enough to pick us up.

We washed up, rested for a while, and headed for breakfast (brunch would be more appropriate I think). Had nasi lemak at this nice spot, which Rafiq claimed was what was left of KL’s traditional ‘kampung’. Cheha and I tried (hard) to make resemblances with the ‘kampungs’ that we have back in Jakarta, and came to the conclusion that the ‘kampungs’ here were very dry and a large part of the roads were mostly cemented, which might be the reason it had less of a ‘slump’ impression, at least for Cheha and myself.

Rudy had to go do some work, so Rafiq was fully responsible for showing Cheha the ‘real KL’ (it was her first trip there), I just followed along, since I don’t remember really doing the ‘introduction to KL-101’ before.

So we did all the works; drove through Muzium Negara, visited Universiti Malaya, went to Masjid Negara, and lastly went for a tour in KL Tower (Cheha and I even did the audio toursity thing). And of course took pictures like mad, having Rafiq as our (energetic) art director ;).

After Rudy was done with his work, we headed for Genting Highlands. Drove all the way up there, parked the car and took the Skyway cable car. Just when we were inside this cable car thing did I realize how nervous I might be, going up in mid air, relying on a cable to swing (yes I’m exaggerating) us up. So I thought…..be calm…be calm….then guess what, the thing stopped after 5 meters leaving us hanging hundreds of meters above a wild forest (no exaggeration this time). When the whole thing started to move again, did the ‘speaker’ voice out an introduction mentioning that this was the longest and fastest (my my…) cable car of 3.4 meters (yup, get all the info when you’re on the thing). The forest was really really deep, but it was really lovely. Wish you could see it.

Spending the day at Genting Highlands was fun. We didn’t really get on any of the rides, just had dinner and enjoyed the scenery. Cheha and I got a henna tattoo ;) was kind of fun. She hesitated, remembering that she’d start working very soon, yet I just went in, justifying that having it on the side of my hand would be quite discreet (not :P), and that being a student gives you the privilege of doing ‘stupid’ and ‘crazy’ things once in a while (like dying your hair red…hmmm….did I just say that? :P).

We headed back after having this nice dinner, and decided to go to hartamas for a quick teh tarik and snacks. Met my (malaysian) cousin there…hehehe…that was indeed pleasant, seeing a friendly face among the crowd of KL teens there. the quick the drink and snacks turned out to be very un-quick, one reason being the fact that Rafiq and Rudy (of course followed by Cheha and myself) actually ordered (heavy) snacks, and then….the rain just poured down like nothing else. The funny thing was that Rafiq kept saying….’hey there’s lightning…the rain’s going to go away fast…’ yup…..as fast as the next bunch of lightning…assuring us we’d be staying put for quite some time. And to ‘complete’ the (okay, ‘my’) evening, my cell phone battery went busted. It had given some sign of weakness which of course was un-‘fixable’ considering we were still on the road…and I guess it just cried out for mercy after being used extensively the whole day (hey….how can you blame me for missing someone that badly *guilty as charged* :P).

The rain was not getting any less, it was really really late, so in the end we just walked in the rain (Cheha and I using magazines on our heads, which wasn’t much help :P), heading towards the car that was (brilliantly) parked several meters away.

Woke up with a big headache (part rain, part lack of sleep, part from sleeping right under the air-con, part from being continuously exposed to smoke the whole day from Rafiq’s cigarettes * I definitely am not and refuse to be used to it*), took panadol, still felt it, then tried to ignore it. Had (a late) breakfast (eating the lemang we bought on the way to genting, which apparently uses curry and not ketan item like what I’m used to back home *definitely miss Jakarta food *), went for (an even later) lunch, and then headed for the twin towers and KLCC (yes, the Vinnci shoes was indeed one of the highlighted destinations for us there ;). Kept taking pictures, crossed the street and headed for avenue K (which is still awaiting for an official launching or something) took funny/crazy shots in front of the many ad posters put up in front of the many boutiques ‘to be’. Was indeed fun.

Rushed back, re-packed, and headed for the bus station, yet of course made a teh tarik stop (yes, again!) somewhere on the way. Cheha and I decided we couldn’t take another 8 hour journey sleeping in a train, and Spore was much more familiar for me, even if we would arrive around 3.30am there. The funniest thing was that Rudy had planted the idea of flying back, mentioning that the price was not very different from taking the bus/train. Turns out the price was for one of the budget airlines, arriving in Senai Airport in JB, which meant we still needed to figure out how to cross the border to Spore; and even if we wanted to do this, there was no way of buying the tickets to fly that same day or early the next morning. So the bus sounded like the best solution possible.

The bus was fabulous, very cozy and (yes ;) quick. One thing I don’t understand is how it could show this nice movie with Al Pacino in it, convincing me to wake up (yes, at this point I was wondering if reading in a moving vehicle was good for my eyes….*yup, excuses…excuses…excuses :P*)…and then....just as the story was getting exciting....the video stopped, just like that. Well at that point, arguing about the movie seemed useless, and sleeping seemed like a much better option. Well, the bus trip was nice.

So here I am back again where I started, my books ;)

-moenlite-

[still grateful for the weekend….;)]

on second thought....

hey might be going on that 'travel for fun' thing after all ;)
lets see...

-moenlite-
[yes, spontaneity is good indeed ;)]

i need more coffee....

-moenlite-
[sigh...]

the life i knew

I got an email this morning from one of my vice deans, telling us she was moving out of the faculty.
In the email, she conveyed her goodbyes and explained where she was heading to.
No, we're not close. She even once mis-introduced me as a Filipino to a guest delegate at our school function.
So the email was more of a mass message to all students.
Its just that I didn't expect her to be moving out, she was such a part of the school.

Well, just like I didn't expect many other people I know to be moving in and out of places.

Yeah, actually...reading her email this morning, I just realized how so many people I know are moving and changing positions/locations/etc this very instance.
Well, maybe its always been like this. Maybe I just realized it. Or maybe its the phase in life that people are going through right now, yet these are people from totally different age groups..(?). So maybe its Singapore? Or....maybe it just is.

Thinking again, there's so many people that if i think about it now...are in totally different places than where they were a year or two ago.
Then again, there are those that have and seem to be in that one same place, for quite some time. Yet, you never know.

Come to think about it...I've also been one of those people moving here and there, all of a sudden doing this and then that...continously for a number of years; making people wonder....'hey...what's with the new email address, and the new phone number. You've moved, again?'

And now, staying put in one place and doing one same thing for more than a few months (yes, sometimes I am that bad...but usually the move was inevitable) I can see all these dynamic shuffles, people moving from one place to another.
Some even going back to the same square, and some totally moving to a different place all together.

One thing for sure, better get people's contact details and try to keep in touch, cause you never know what news they'll bring in a month's time.

Seems like you can't t really treat the present as an ongoing thing,
cause it just isn't.

-moenlite-
[revising her contact lists...]

ps: my flatmate's boyfriend is here, tidying up the flat (yes, I am double happy for that *grin*) since she's coming back tonight. How sweet... :)
(I can even hear him whistling to some tune.... ;)

*picture:
The Journey of Time, Andre Harry

when you think of things

current wishes:
- rearrange room: done ;) just need to figure out my room back home

- get friends together for a potluck dinner: definitely need to do this soon, perhaps after the deadline of the first draft (we’ll see)

- spend time home: hmmmm not very possible at the moment

- travel for fun: hmmmm...not very likely in the near future...unless, I get to steal a weekend to go visit my brother...(miss my nephew so much)

- get my thesis done: supposedly in progress...(well, I’m not sure this is a current wish, yet...just needed to write that down, to get it off my conscious hehehe). So, wish me luck.

Boy, does time run fast...

-moenlite-
[with her cup of coffee in one hand...]

*picture:
A Dandelion

to hold one’s head up

My life these past few weeks has been quite interesting, especially in terms of socializing.

I am at the moment on holiday, far a way from home, doing research work, and trying (its been difficult, sigh...) to have a some what sane and healthy life.

I have during these past few weeks met more random people than I think I have ever done, yet at the same time not meet people for days. Definitely not a very good way to prepare yourself before the new semester starts :P

And what’s interesting is that during this period, I’ve just realized that all these encounters (and non-encounters) have so much affect on my mood.
One day I will meet someone and have this very nice conversation, then I shall be very very happy. Then the next day, I might not be so lucky, and get a bit sad afterwards. Then the next day, ‘shower’ it all off when I meet someone and have a good chat.
The worst is when after a not-so-good meeting, I don’t get to meet people for days (literally). Don’t get me wrong, I do talk to people on the phone, usually those that are close and dear to my heart. Yet still, it can be awfully difficult to shred off that bad feeling which could last for days and days, and stick in your mind.
The worst part is, I am currently deprived of having the opportunity to just ask/call someone I am comfortable enough to just be with, for coffee; you know those that you know you can spend hours and hours with without worrying whether you’re boring them to death or not, or those that you know won’t mind if you're just there, period.
Just like him and her, and also my mom. It's been tough without them nearby.

Then it just hit me,...why in the world am I allowing all this ‘breeze’ affect my ‘walk’. Life should be taken as it is. It’s difficult enough, no need to be worrying in the process. There’s just no point.

I remember a story my dear friend Carolina once told me (yes, she was cheering me up actually) that you should only take what you need in to your ‘basket’. If what’s ‘there’ is not what you need...then go on. If you feel that it’s something worth pondering or knowing about, do take it in. No need to fuss and worry about the encounter, it’s the ‘fruits’ that you should pay attention to.
And dear Caro, thanks for sharing this with me then. I know I should have learnt by now to cope, but...hey, life’s like that, isn’t?

-moenlite-
trying to finish my paper, and enjoying it ;)

*picture:
Two Figures Reclining in a Landscape, HenriMatisse

unsatisfied...

Break the bone
Check the twist
Anything to make sure it’s not that perfect fit written in stone

No, it can’t be
Cause you don’t believe in miracles
You don’t believe in goodness
Especially if it's there in front of you
Staring at you in broad daylight

No you’re not happy
No you’re not delighted
How could good things happen
Just when you want to feel all miserable inside

You asked for mercy
You asked for joy
And when it shows itself
You just run away and hide

You chase rainbows
Hoping to catch its shadow
You envy the smiles of those around
You say you can’t be content unless you get the dream that you want

And then when it turns out to be bigger than life
You run away in dismay
Why..?

-moenlite-

*picture:
I'm not tired

[shades]