Learn You Inside Out

After a brief holiday, i come back to office with mixed feeling. A friend asked what i concluded out of my recent walkabout, and honestly, i don't have any. without a doubt, the walkabout was one of my major achievement this year. but, i am still too dazed and stunned to talk of what i have witnessed along the holiday. its a very humbling experience, of how limited our capabilities and understanding are. and how lucky i am to be who i am, where i am.

Cambodia is a very beautiful and romantic place to visit (think of old temples, vast lakes, paddy fields as far as the eyes can see). it is also safe for woman, solo traveler.

Lifehouse's Learn You Inside Out rings true for what i feel for Cambodia.

See my feet on the ground, But it feels like the worlds gravity drowned, When I'm with you I'm high

Instead of hiding my face, My minds in your eyes, Can your love embrace, Me as I am

In the silence you stare at the world, Your eyes are screaming to be heard, I want to learn you inside out

When time isn't on our side, All we have is now, For the rest of our lives, Let's stay up all night

In the silence you stare at the world, Your eyes are screaming to be heard, I want to learn you inside out

All that changes is time, Can't keep you inside of me, You're out of my mind, I wear you on my sleeve

In the silence you stare at the world, your eyes are screaming to be heard, I want to learn you inside out

I see all that you want to be, Look into your soul, Looking right back at me, I want to learn you inside out

pic from Google Image..

golombon*

Jen, Dawn, Me, Juvi, Popong, Fread

[i like this picture, because somehow, i got a dimple (and i love dimple, instantly freshen up a look) which is not actually a dimple. it's a laughline (positive) or a deepen premature wrinkle (very..very negative)] on our recent visit Downunder. for more pictures of us, go to her

i tried not to compare the place with ours, because it'd be really unfair. it's an expensive place to live in, eating out everyday is out of question. even at the sloppiest fast food joint. but, how can one not fall in love with a place where even a construction workers spend sometime off their lunch time reading?, and where books are waaaaaay cheaper than a cuppa? their waiting area at airports are almost like a library, people read while waiting for their flights. its a culture, we must aspire to adopt.

Personally, i'm still short of 20 books to read to reach my annual bookreads of 54. reading will not make us any smarter then those who doesnt, or make us any better than the non-reader. but, reading certainly broaden up perspective and with that, better understanding of others and oneself. and i guess, that's how we armed our self to face the world.

my students are still away for their mid-term holiday. the office is quieter than usual, many of my muslim colleagues are still on holidays. truthfully, i miss my kids and colleagues. the holiday was great. Australia is a lovely country. i'll go again next year maybe (Perth). but, right now, nothing will settle me better than normal classes to attend and the mundane tasks of tending to my kids.

advice for Malaysian visiting Australia, please dont bother applying for a room at Malaysian Hall Melbourne (they still exist? they didnt reply to our numerous e-mails and phone calls and faxes). and i also dont recommend staying at Malaysian Hall Sydney (something should be done there, the place looks really rundown). but, at least MH Sydney replied to our enq promptly. and the students squatting there are mostly polite. with one exception for the golombon* kid. haiya... teda orang ambil gambar kah si golombon?

*fat/overweight

p/s: astaga.. makin golombon plak sy lepas cuti-cuti ni

a very fine day

on a fine day,  

sometimes, we get lucky to see the blue sky

with blotches of fine clouds

(most of the times, we're just too busy to look up) (sigh!)

on  a fine day,

sometimes, we get lucky and get away

to an island

with friends we love to hang with

(most of the times, we're too busy minding our own business) (darn!)

on a fine day,

we get lucky to come across

with a person

we're more than honoured to be friend with

(yay! u guys rawk!!)

p/s: all pics were taken by Jane's Nikon D80. thanks jane!