19 January 2013

10 things Swedish House Mafia Malaysia Tour and Snowing in London have in common


So, on this very auspicious and memorable day, two continents and two countries have two incidents which surprisingly have something in common.

Here we go!

1. It's the SHM one last tour in Malaysia, and it happens that the snowing in London is the last snowing for us. So, as much as you guys miss the DJs, here in UK, we are blanketed with the white snowy graduation goggles.

2. The excitement has been building up, to prepare for the snow, to dance in the snow, since last December; while back in Malaysia, the period taken is roughly the same, but it's to dance in the sweat, of yourself, and other people, that you might know, or you might not know.

3. The people who went to SHM concert, all of a sudden became the small little fanboys/fangirls who saw their idols! And everyone there definitely got reassured when the song 'Dont you worry child" was played. Meanwhile, in London, the magical snow brings you back to your childhood immediately, and you become like a kid once again!

4. So, I heard it was raining over there. Here, snowing. Same, droplets of waters fell off from the sky. Just that it's much colder.

5. Everyone became voiceless after the concert. Over here, people became voiceless after shouting like a jakun. (last year-mah)

6. We looked forward to the concert, but the aftermath, ohmygoodness, nobody wants to get near to the place. Here in London, after feeling so happy walking on the snowy white road, the last thing that you wanna see is the aftermath as well. When white turns to brown and to black. Yikes!

7.  Your eyes definitely will go blind momentarily after the intense light movements, while at here, a wide park covered up with snow will give you a short moment of blindness, and you thought you are in a wonderland. And yes, both sides are in a wonderland indeed.

8. Many people putting up their hands at the concert, hoping that the DJs will throw something at them;  however the people here put up their hands as well during the snow, but they are trying to say " Don't throw the snowball at me! "

9. The fun is to be there with friends, same for snowing, the fun is to be there with friends as well, especially when it's the final showdown.

10. Last but not the least, it's the day to be remembered for the KL folks who went there; meanwhile in London, it's definitely memorable as it's the first day of the last snow for the graduating London peeps.

:D

11 January 2013

The Vague Dream of A City

It was a warm night. He woke up on the bed, with a sweaty forehead. The dream was real, so real that he got confused whether he was waking up, trying to remember the bits of the dream, or he was feeling amused, laughing at the boy who got confused in the so-called reality.

He was talking to a cat. A small, black cat.

"So, why are you here? Why do you come into my dream?"
"No. You brought me into your dream. You dreamed about me."

That was weird. How was it possible to talk to a cat. "Oh, this is a bad omen", he thought to himself. A black cat. He went and checked the calendar. 

"Oh thanks god, it's not Friday the 13th. But, talking to a black cat is equally bad as well. "

He went down from his bed, to the small, brown desk in his bedroom. He switched on the study lamp, and he saw the set of photos that he had taken, for the past four years. 

He smiled to himself. The set of photos, when combined, it would be a story akin to the Aesop Fables. The dream that he dared not wish before that. 

The years had gone by. The dream is still there, sitting there like a demure, young lady, smiling back to him.

He decided to take her out for a date.

The city is beautiful. He noticed that, for countless times in the past four years. To him, the city's like the sweet girl that he loves all this while, revealing different sides of her for the past four years, and yet, still so captivating everytime he sees her. 

This is not exactly how he pictured the city, before he arrived. Just like how you thought your perfect girlfriend would be, she would not be the same girl in your mind, but you would treat her as though she is the angel falling from heaven. 

Many poets, photographers, artists talked about this city. Some came here to stay for a couple of years, to immerse in the culture, and to find inspirations among the crowds. 

"So, do you like this place, after living here for the past four years?" The dream asked.
"I am really not sure. It's pretty. So stunningly beautiful, but in a silent way. I can't say that I like which part of the city, but the city is just perfect as a whole. "

The conversation died there. The emptiness was replaced by the autumn leaves and the cooling breeze. He continued his journey, feeling nervous at times, for he couldn't find any words to describe the place.

He walked past the bridge. The two towers were standing there, mocking at the bridge which is located right opposite them. He couldn't help but laughed on the scenery, and his stupidity. Before he came here, he was a strong believer that the bridge with the two towers is London Bridge. 

"Blame the nursery rhymes." Both he and the dream had a good laugh on that. 

As he was walking down the riverbank, he suddenly knew that what was so special with this place. 

"I think I know why I like this place. "
"Oh, you do? Why?" the dream curiously asked. 

"You see, walking down the Thames riverbank is like a scene from a timeless movie.  Each steps of your walk will transmute into a part of your memory. "

"And.. when you have the chance to come back to this place, you probably find that your memory of this place is like a beautiful mess- of leaves, flowers and snowflakes. At that time, you know that you have never left this place." 

The dream put a smile on her cheeks. She is happy that she is his dream, that comes true finally, and he is happy that he is kissing his dream.

Sitting on a bench near the London Bridge, he saw the red neon light under the bridge. And, the same black cat in his dream, appeared again. This time, he was not afraid to talk to the cat anymore.

"Pussycat pussycat, where have you been?"
"I've been up to London to visit the Queen"
"Pussycat pussycat, what did you do there?"
"I frightened a little mouse, under her chair."

"I have been to London too."




02 January 2013

Piecing the irregular beauties in Barcelona

Unlike other European cities, it gives me an impression of a mischievous kid, who doesn't obey the rules, who runs around drawing random pictures on the street, and who still smiles to you at the end of the day.

It's definitely not classy, not those where you drink champagne and eat a three-course meal. It's ordinary, but it radiates the unexpected beauty through its paella, tapas and sangria.

Walking down the La Rambla, the famous boulevard in the city, you feel like moving through a crowd in a concert or the countdown at Westminster. The constant pushing and pulling are exactly the forces which keep you going back to the main street. Oh yes, and the occasional friendly warm smiles by some pretty Spanish girls. The street is as if the main aorta of Barcelona, pumping a blood flow of people into the city centre. 

The sketchy alleyways, some of them are painted with unknown street arts, while some are sitting there quietly, trying their best to keep the Catalonian history in a safety box. You couldn't help but to feel amazed by the beautiful street arts and spontaneous skateboarding, because they are the masquerades of the unorthodox creativity of the young folks. 

Sipping a cup of cortado, a local coffee similar to latte but with less steamed milk, with a slice of apple cheesecake at Artisa, you would be able to observe the people in the Sunday market near Placa Reial. A bunch of old people will gather at the market square, to sell or exchange vintage photos, stamps, and old wine caps. 

Some said that the city is clean but not their kind of city, some said it's just nothing much to do in a city like this, but i said, it's like a hodgepodge. A place which mashes up the culture, the arts, and the food. You gotta piece up the beautiful parts yourself.

It's a piece of messy art, not a piece of pretentious kiss-ass.

It's a unique city. It truly is.