These Memories I Cling To – VII: Farewells

I still have not forgotten my friends from the first ever semester that were just there for a single semester. Yeah, they were primarily exchange students, but they showed me how much variety the world holds. We had a farewell for Sandra who left just a day after her submisson. It was fast, her flight was early in the morning. When the sun rose, she was gone already. Such times always remind me how fast it is to lose the things you love.

I miss the others too. I never saw Hanne since then, I met Lalo in Singapore when he travelled with Vita once, but that was it. Other than my gang, I started to interact more with the current archi students of my batch along with new faces. Life moves us on, but we shall always remember the past as well. 🙂

Exit 2013: Sandra, Lalo, Hanne
Enter 2014: Existing archi year peeps, Logen, Nicco, Ras, Ashrul

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These Memories I Cling To – VI: Beyond

My last few days spent in Tassie in 2013 involved 2 road trips, the first being to the Bay of Fires with Luke. We headed to the Binalong Bay side instead of The Gardens, which I ended up exploring 2 years later lol. The view was indeed stunning. The placid waters laid amongst rocks of a fiery hue set us a landscape of such grandeur, my eyes were just in awe. I also remembered climing up so many rocks, we did not know how to get down. Lol.

The 2nd day was a trip to Wineglass Bay, joined by Lalo and Su Ni. Su Ni is a real gem of a friend as well. I remembered Lalo and Luke sleeping in the car because we set off really early and they were pretty tired. Su Ni was tired too, but she make sure she stayed awake to keep me, the driver, company. I found that really thoughtful of her. It was only when the rest woke up, did she finally take a nap in the car. We did not expect a hike at Freycinet, because we did not do research, but the walk was certainly enjoyable and the landscapes, though different from the Bay of Fires, proved to be stunning as well.

These landscapes are truly epitomes of what Tasmania really is.

“Live in one
Divide for a reason
Coming home is arduous and ex-static
The sea is as calm as it is stormy
Live in one
The multiple one“

Omnium Gatherum, Beyond

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These Memories I Cling To – V: In Fields

I remember the Tulip Festival being nothing short of amazing. It was a pretty long bus drive there, but those fields of tulips were just stunning. I already knew the SSA girls, but a trip with them made the bonds closer. In fact I met Kuay Yee and Colina just last Thursday for a buffet lunch at the casino and it was really nice still being in touch with them.

I remembered the mediocre fireworks at the end and Priscilla and I were just commenting on how much money Singapore used on fireworks. The ones at the tulip festival were realy boring. At the end though, there was a kid that shouted,’That was amazing!!!’

Lol, kid.

“Heaven’s tears from the sky
Gently sways upon the rye
The sparrow’s tune lost in the breeze
The foxes’ hearts now at ease
Their breathing now a single sigh

Lacklustre skies and a single tree
And a harvest for the farmer’s plea
His tender faith and that one belief
Sowed in fields of pestilent grief
Would they, with the pollens — flee?”

Passion’s Grace, Optimism Leads To Nothing II – In Fields

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Number 9

It’s no real news that I like T-ara. So they got a new song out recently, So Crazy, and at the same time since I’m back in the T-ara groove recently I’ve been watching old videos as well. I got bored and watched some dance covers of No. 9 since it’s one of my favourite songs (seriously though, that passage in the chorus is so addictive). I then realized how much effort these k-pop stars must put in to actually be tight in their dancing. I am no dancer, but wow, this is no joke.

At the same time it is nice to see that the public is viewing them slightly more favourably now as well.

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These Memories I Cling To – IV: Everwake/Sleep in Sanity

Everwake, Passion’s Grace 2/9/2013. Model: Charya Tith

“Sleep calling me and my dreams are wondrous“

Anathema, Everwake

I flew to Melbourne during the semester break – to do a photoshoot, or rather, to do a glamour photoshoot. It’s the last one I have taken since then. You know, sometimes I wish my friends are more open to such things, I feel my opportunities are very restricted.

Anyway, Charya is a friend whom I have met online through Tumblr and we have been talking often ever since. Since as early as Janurary 2013 we’ve been talking about coming together to do a photoshoot. Arriving in Tasmania in July 2013, I felt this was the perfect opportunity to do so since she resides in Melbourne.

Meeting someone you met online, in real life for the first time is awesome. We were comfortable and it wasn’t awkward at all. Meeting someone for the first time and the first thing we did was to do a photoshoot seemed really professional, but it was all laughter and fun. Shooting in a dark space was also new to me and it certained presented itself as a fun challenge to me.

It was a pretty unforgettable photoshoot. We learned many things along the way.

Sleep in Sanity, Passion’s Grace 2/9 – 4/9/2013.

“Insane you sleep, I sleep in sanity“

Anathema, Sleep in Sanity

The rest of my short Melbourne trip was spent catching up with my Police squadmate Russel and meeting up with some of my UTAS friends who landed the following day. Walking around Melbourne and trying new eateries was certainly fun. Dragging all my stuff around while walking everywhere wasn’t fun though.

My photos certainly do look unimpressive as compared to my more recent trip with Isabel lol.

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These Memories I Cling To – III: Narawntapu National Park

Narawntapu National Park, Passion’s Grace 31/8/2013

Bakers Beach is still one of the most beautiful beaches I have been to. I’ve visited several other beaches, but none compares to this. Our first group trip out of Launnie consisted of Naz, Joey, Bernard, Bryan, AJ, Amir, Saiful and I. A 50 mins drive away from home, we hiked within nature and embraced the different elements around us that treated our senses. We had a glimpse of the beach at the start and it was also our end destination. While I was already close to the gang, especially Naz and Joey, hanging out with the other guys really got us closer as well.

I remembered having kebabs for dinner at Mowbray after that. Kebabs are always nice after 4 hours of hiking. Heh.

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These Memories I Cling To – II: Loving Strangers/Formidable

Loving Strangers, Passion’s Grace 17/8/2013. Model: Bang Eun Seo

“It’s just the start of the winter
And I’m all alone
But I’ve got my eye right on you“

Russian Red, Loving Strangers

My first portrait subject in Tasmania was a Korean friend. They were simple shots around town but it really gave me promise back then that there were more people here willing to pose for the lens. It was certainly a great start to photography life in Tasmania and I have to admit it gave me the confidence boost to do more shoots, especially the one in Melbourne, and those with Annabelle.

We shot a little more when we went to Devonport a few weeks later. It was my first time driving out of Launceston and I really had fun. Til this date, I’ve been to Devonport more than I can count with my fingers (oh my) but the virgin trip is always the most memorable.

Formidable, Passion’s Grace 30/8/2013. Model: Bang Eun Seo

“Keep the flame
Alive
In the dark
And understand
It burns for you
Through the dark“

Omnium Gatherum, Formidable

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These Memories I Cling To – I: Soil’s Song

Soil’s Song, Passion’s Grace 1/8/2013

“False
The dream is so far
Come and take the consequence
Few things are as certain
Winter state
Oppressive wait”

Katatonia, Soil’s Song

4 weeks into my first semester overseas in Tasmania, I flew back to Singapore, abruptly. My grandfather passed away. He was all and well when he saw me off on my maiden study voyage to Launceston. I knew he was growing very ill and I tried to Skype him as well, but he was pretty unresponsive and could just mumble under his breath. I kept saying that I was on the way home to visit him and I told him to wait for me. I guess I was still a little too late. I still miss him to this date.

When I returned to Tasmania, we had a site visit immediately the following day to Woolmers. It wasn’t the best weather conditions. We had to make our own way there as well, hence Joey, Naz and I rented a car and off we went. It was my first time driving in Tassie and it was quite an experience driving along highways of speeds you could never reach in Singapore.

The landscapes were serene, the weather made it melancholic and a light rain enveloped around us and sunlight peeked through little openings through the clouds and sifted its way through the naked branches above us, finally landing upon us as a soft glow.

I am now an experienced student in Tasmania, but I do miss those times when I barely knew anything and everyday I learnt something excitingly new.

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Timeless Winter

Photo: Rumi Toyota

“I dreamt of conversations
In the common language and common tongue
Speaking among the dead and gothic beauty
Between aether and nether
The polarity of nature confounds me“

Passion’s Grace, I Dream (Of A Timeless Winter)

So I was scrolling through old pics and I went all the way back to Scotland, my ORD trip in December 2012. I still miss that place, though I was just there for 12 days. Will I miss Tassie as much, or even more, when I leave?

My memories will be not only be kept, but revisited as well. I reflect on the past, to bounce into the future with a stronger heart and mind.

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Monolithia

They say if friendships last at least 7 years, they will last a lifetime. What about bands? I miss jamming with these folks. Despite not jamming regularly, we are still sticking around and rocking for 7 years and counting. We had drummer changes, we had times when the guys were stuck in camp. We had times when Glen and I were (and still are) absent for almost a whole year due to studying overseas in Australia, we had times when Crystal was absent for a good amount of months as well when she was on exchange in Vienna.

We started out as little kids who wanted to make music for kicks. We squeezed in a few hours each week away from studying and schoolwork to meet up. We patiently took buses and trains carrying our guitars, squeezing through commute. We had quick suppers in order to catch the last bus home.

We grew up to be independent people who compliment each other. We still use this as an escape from reality, but it feels somewhat different as well. We became more flexible with our hours. We evolved to adults, where Glen and I drive with more than just guitars, but pedals, equipment, cameras, mics and a tripod. We travelled further for suppers and we chatted all night long. As life goes on, we have more stuff to talk about anyway.

I can’t wait to jam again. I will miss Tassie when I leave for good later this month, but at least there are still some things back in Singapore that keeps me sane.

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