One thing I can’t help doing when visiting new and foreign places is to compare. From beautiful sprawling landscapes to widely varying ways of life, I’ve always enjoyed a healthy dose of culture shock. Even though a lot of the time not all comparisons are based on equal variables, I can always count on one constant: beautiful skies.
Hong Kong
Melbourne
Sydney
Regardless of where life may take me in the future, at least I know that there's a greater purpose to my existence. And that reminder is there everyday, wrapping humanity in a vast blue canopy that transcends all borders.
You know it's been a bad year when we spent the last 3 months of the year reading about it in past tense.
You know it's been a bad year when TIME Magazine dedicates a
16-page memoir to the passing of the world's greats in 2009 alone.
You know it's been a bad year when our celebratory countdown to New Year's fireworks display lasted no more than 12 minutes.
My 2009 hasn't been the best. I did decide that it would be the year for learning, and learn I did. Lessons are difficult things to digest so, in a way, I did achieve my goals though I hardly planned for it to be such choppy waters. With 2009 in the rearview mirror, 2010 is off to a bleak start.
Bombings/attempted bombings everywhere, Malaysia paves the way for
terrorism, musical divas accept awards
drunk, lunches at desolate, badly decorated cafes cost RM18, I have classes scheduled on my birthday, Malaysians have more things to be
discriminated for, and the much anticipated The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus turned out be a
self-indulgent Terry Gilliam spin that regular people might not appreciate.
At least, for now, with every New Year comes something new to work towards. I dread a time when that too will come to an end; when all a New Year holds is a reminder of a better time.
