Friendships, My Soul

Writing allows my sanity to be kept in check but I've been slacking. In the last few weeks and months, I've gone through some events and experience, both good and not-so-good.

One thing for sure that stays constant in my universe is friendships, specifically the genuine friendships. Being the only kid, I've been brought up with friends around me and some of these friends are like my brothers and sisters who are closer to me than some blood relations, no disrespect to them. These friends have extended their supports in various forms and offerred blunt but honest advices/opinions during times when I require them.

During my competitive swimming days, we had our ups & downs. Although these brothers- and sisters-in-arms can be a pain in the neck for being rascals, we genuinely supported one another through thick & thin, joy & frustrations, achievements & disappointments. Til this very day, some of these swimming friends are still the closest, truest and warmest friends. We might have grown up and living apart but that bondage that binds us will never break. You can take the swimmer away from us but you can never take away the swimmer in us.

Of course, there are some classmates, schoolmates, coursemates and colleagues that made great impacts then and now. These are genuine friends who I grew up or shared my days with and that they have no ill intentions whatsoever. We could be frank yet there would be no negative consequences to the friendships.

Unlike those childhood and true friends, there are such "friends", especially from the corportate world that are backstabbers and fakes who try to take advantage of the good souls without showing even the slightest true appreciation for our contributions and supports. I question the fact why such "people" not only exist but survive longer than some of those good souls who were taken away from me.

What I've been through over the last few months have made me realised that I should appreciate more of such great and true friends. I abhor the feeling of being taken for granted of my friendship but somehow I always fall into that deep end, offerring my warmest and truest!

Friendships are the heart and soul in my universe. I live and breathe them. They are the one very thing that I cherish, love, respect and fight for. I will always extend my truest frienship to touch their hearts. I would not be me if these qualities were to be taken from me. To take away that foundation that I long for, or the threat of doing so, is to take away suck out my soul and would certainly sadden me. Call this simplicity.

To all my genuine friends, my brothers and sisters, my heartfelt appreciation and love for your kinships. You know who you are. This is for you.

To quote from the Bad Boys movies, "We Ride Together. We Die Together." Friends Forever!

Simplicity version 2: Simplify to Amplify

I've been playing with my camera in full manual mode with an old manual AI 35mm f/1.4 lens. It's great to come back to the basics once in a while and it's so very fulfilling. About 20 years ago during CNY, I remember being handed a film SLR to play with for the very first time. "Turn this til the view is clear then click this button". I got it back then.

Simplify to Amplify is another inspiration that I just thought of. It's not like it's a whole new series but more of a sub-series to Simplicity is Beauty.

What triggered this idea was me reminiscing the moments I had with my late friend. There were plenty of banters between us in topics like auto v manual, pc v mac, nikon v leica and the likes. I miss those stuffs and it's only been a few weeks. Foek On is definitely the inspiration for this.

Now off to bed and hopefully this won't keep me awake...

Simplicity Continues

As noted in my previous Simplicity post, I've neglected this ongoing personal project of mine for reasons like fatigueness and frustrations. In many ways, capturing these images energises me as well as relaxes my mind.

Today, I decided to just venture out around my humble abode with this intended purpose. So, here they are.

Sometimes, there are clarity and calmness within messiness.

Life in Saigon

A long outstanding post that I have been procrastinating for some time. Helping out for friend's wedding did tire me out for weeks. Well, I thought I better get to this before the commencement of my next adventure in about 10 days.

I had the opportunity the visit Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City late last year with my folks. Like all travels, it's certainly an eye-opener. Specifically, life is so simple there. Yet, there exists thess specks of joy and smiles everywhere and almost everyone I walked passed.

We were told that Saigon itself has a population of 10million while Hanoi has half of that. Obviously, the night scene where we saw crowded streets with motorcycles nudging and weaving their way through the heavy traffic with plenty of horns blaring. There are just constantly blaring of horns even with our driver. Overtaking - horn, Turning - horn, Switching lanes - horn, Being overtaken - horn, etc...

A friend suggested that we should try the "Coconut Ice Cream" not too far away from the place we stayed. It supposedly tastes awesome. We did, twice...!

More photos to come but I actually didn't take too many, especially right after the wedding of a friend.

Simplicity - Take 2

After perusing through my collection of simplicity images, I realised that I have been not very actively. Most of the pics are at least 1 year old with the exception of a handful taken recently with an after-thought.

I shall revive this once again, firstly to energise myself and challenge my creativity. Simple composition exudes elegance yet exhibits serenity. It's an art form in one way or another.

The very first stint will be in Saigon (HCMC). I have decided that the gear will be the bare minimum - 1 body, 1 lens and 3 flash acessories (maybe just 2). The gear will be D3, 50mm, SU800 and 2 flashes (max). One lens to snap them all....

In the meantime, here is the link to the Simplicity is Beauty.

I hope I can contain my fervour til then...

Pay It Forward

Sometimes the simplest idea can make the biggest difference
Three imperfect people. One Perfect Idea

This movie, starring the young Haley Joel Osment, is intriguing yet inspiring when I first watched it back in 2000. It is about doing a good deed for three persons who in turn each do good deeds for three other people. So, 3 becomes 9 which in turn grow to 27. If only Bernard Madoff could do his pyramid scheme, there would have been exponential expansions which will certainly have positive impacts to the world.

One of the rules is the person who received the deed cannot pay it back but pay it forward. Hence, the title of the movie based on the novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Well, I have personally received an unforgetable deed from a very closed friend that really made a difference over 3 years ago.

I am paying it forward now. When all else fail, those who stand by and with you are your true friends (this may include family members).