Ísland

It was only going to be a matter of time before I wrote a post on Iceland. My love, my light, my life, that most wondrous, beauteous of lands. It all began when I was 9 or 10, when my class was doing those pick-a-country-projects, and I got Iceland. An all-consuming, fiery obsession was the result.

I often get the "why, Iceland?" from people, sometimes with a certain tone of disgust or more often, confusion. I guess it's understandable in that a country of around only 250 000 people doesn't appear to offer much. But the richness of its history, culture and day to day life astounds me. It's a land of glaciers, geysirs, volcanoes, desolate landscapes, whales and puffins, cute sheep, amazing food, Sigur Ros (one of my favourite bands), hydrogen-powered cars, no pollution, a stunning gene pool, avant-garde deconstructed fashion, ...I could go on for ages.

More recently, it's been prominent on the global stage because of it's economic meltdown. That's a different post. Suffice to say, I wasn't upset about the relatively cheaper prices when I went there, but I hope my injection into the economy of US dollars (actually, Hong Kong dollars masquerading as USD) did something to help.

I finally made my way to Iceland last year (strange to think it's 2009 now, huh) with my boyfriend. It was everything I had imagined it to be and more. I can try my best to convey to you with photos how it felt, I could write poems and stories but I would be doing Iceland an injustice. As is, I'll leave one of the best polaroids I took with my lovely SX-70 in Iceland at the Haukadalur geysir fields.

Happy New Year!

I clarify this for myself. I've waited a long time to start a private blog. I went to Xanga to express myself with two blogs, one public and one private. But that was once upon a time. DeviantArt helped me develop as an artist.

I started this blog in secret. No one I'm acquainted with knows (as of now), and that's how I'd like to keep it. I'm not particularly comfortable with letting people read my personal thoughts, even my friends. The real me, the person I am when alone is something I treasure. If you like what you see, do let me know. You'll be a bright spark in the gloom out there.

I won't pretend my thoughts are particularly special, that 'people don't understand me' - because I'm sure some do. I'm just not sure if they understand my writings in the way I mean for them to be understood - and if i'm still writing for myself, not for "they".
Which brings me here.


















so welcome, stranger

東京

A homecoming trip? To my new home: Tokyo, Japan! It's been six years since I last visited and really, I'd forgotten just how fantastic a city it is. I speak minimal Japanese, but my parents are fluent and I went around with some friends so all was well.

Highlights:

• The food was amazing. I'm no foodie, but I have eaten at a good number of top restaurants and I like to think I try to be discerning about what I shove down my gullet. Also, I love seafood so it was an ocean-edibles mecca for me.
• Doing some shopping : ) More on this later
• Just wandering around and taking in my impressions of this place as an adult (supposedly). When you're around eleven or younger, you have more important things on your mind than the city i.e focused on acquiring as much Hello Kitty, Keroppi, Chococat, other Sanrio character memorabilia as possible.
• Laughing at various Japanese inventions. They are an ingenious race, yes, but have far too much time...as a result, they might've strayed off the road and ventured into silliness.
  

Just a small sampler of photos:

The gorgeous flower arrangements were on display at an exhibition at a fancy department store (the name escapes me right now). The Japanese are very into their fancy department stores. My mum had free tickets, so off we went! The art of flower arranging is called ikebana, which is a highly disciplined art form where nature and humanity are brought together. Form, shape, line are strongly emphasized. It's a beautiful, rigorous art and I wish I could do it!