- unfinished state
where there is perfection there is no story to tell - ben okri
something inside me is struggling. i’m trying to hush the restlessness, trying to retreat into the quiet inside my mind. in this act somehow, i find myself wanting to create.
so i painted.
i never painted for fun. i painted back in high school, because it was required in our syllabus. i am bad at art. and i cannot stress enough, how bad i am at art. i can’t even draw a stick man properly. if i was any good at art, i would’ve made a radically different career choice - interior designer perhaps. not info tech that’s for sure.
anyway - i painted. i bought a set of oil paint, some brushes, two canvas. i filled the canvas with colours without rationalising. it was therapeutic. the first two “art” i painted, were downright ugly. i shrugged, threw them away, and bought two more canvasses.
i began again, broadly stroking the colours onto the stark white.
at one point while painting, i stared at the unfinished art. it resonated with me somehow, its incomplete state struck a chord. it was like the painting paused, to take a breath.
i looked at it, examining the negative space. my eye sees the many possible ways to finish the painting. the subconscious is teased - it is prompted to fill in the blanks. the more i look at the painting the more i feel as though the art is luring me for an expression. and the fact that it is silently urging something out of me, makes it art.
so i left it unfinished.
- safe and sound in malaysia - for a while
just a quick shout to say that i am back in malaysia, safe and sound. i owe pictures, and a lot of words. however, before i can catch my breath in my good ol home, i have to run to singapore next week to meet my future employers.
when i’m back, i’m gonna take it slooooooooowww, and end the year on a very quiet note.
- leaving on a jet plane…
angels in vienna, my rugsack as pillow in the overnight train to florence, rushing like mad to make it for poland flight, going around warsaw with nadine, losing my luggage, freezing my ass off and finally now roaming in rome.
Me be back soon with expanded stories of the above.
Till then, ciao bella and bello!
- crazy 24 hours
Ladies and gentleman, it will be a country hopping 24 hours for me before i reach my intended destination - warsaw, poland.
From budapest, 3 hours train ride to vienna. Then grab dinner. From vienna, an 11 hour journey to florence. I meet Nadine, we grab breakfast. Then we hop onto a train to Rome - one hour 30 minutes. We grab a leisurely lunch there.
From Rome, we take the Leornardo Da Vinci train to the airport - 30 minutes. Then fly to warsaw.
So that’s Hungary-Austria-Italy-Poland.
I won’t be having any wifi services in Poland, so you’ll probably hear from me when I reach Malaysia next week. In the meantime, smile!
- p/s: hungary version
i got hungry and really annoyed about being trapped in the room because of the downpour. I’m in Hungary godamnit, and I refuse to be hungry in Hungary.
Threw a sweater on and dashed out. Figured i’d grab something light from a convenient store nearby. All they had were boring sandwiches though. I ain’t having no boring sandwiches. Not in budapest, no boring sandwiches!
Despite the rain, i walked. Instinct took over. I found myself yet again, in the christmas fair. And the closest food stall sold sausages. Sausages dipped in mustard with bread it is then! It was delicious. I was wet, but satisfied.
When i finished, i figured i needed something to keep me warm. Warm enough till i get back to my room, you know? Naturally, the choice was mulled wine. a big mug of course. I carried the mug and sipped while watching the stalls close down.
I sipped faster. If i finish my drink before the hot wine stall closes, and return the mug, i get half my money back!
While sipping, i came upon a musical instrument stall. I saw a jew harp. It was pricey. But i wanted one. Always wanted one after i saw what it can do and the sounds it can produce from last year’s rainforest world music festival.
well, i bought it despite the price tag. And i blame it on the mulled wine for impairing my good senses temporarily. I also bought a porcelain ocarina hungarian musical instrument. It’s cute. Pretty pricey too. I tell you, this mulled wine is….not good for the wallet :D
Took a slow stroll back and enjoyed the night streets. Street musicians serenading us in the rain….a saxophone player, a violinist.
Almost threw some money into their hats then remembered - i need some money for lunch!
I have just about enough for another mug of mulled wine…..
- the rain in Pest certainly is a pest
its raining in budapest. Sigh. Good thing i started my day realllll early and covered the majority of sights that i set out for myself!
Budapest is divided by the danube river. On one side stands Buda - the green lung, on the other side is Pest, the urban sister. Several bridges link these two together - the most scenic, and also the first bridge that was built between Buda and Pest, is the Chain Bridge.
I woke up very early, had a hearty breakfast and strolled by the riverside. It was foggy. Gray, windy, chilly. But very invigorating. The city was just waking up. I strolled along the tram tracks on Pest towards the Chain Bridge and slowly crossed it, taking in the sights and enjoying the view of being smack in the middle of Buda and Pest.
I seem to be crossing many bridges during this trip. The Ponte Vecchio at Florence, the bridge at Pisa, Charles Bridge, and now Chain Bridge.
Anyway, I intended to ride the Siklo uphill to Buda Castle alas, this funicular railway was close for repairs! Undeterred, I climbed up via the Royal Steps, and was rewarded with a gorgeous view of the city.
I spent some time at the Fisherman’s Bastion, contemplating the vast view and the fog. Then I gawked at Matthias Church’s colourful roof. Its impressive architecture though, was hidden under covers as the church is currently undergoing renovation.
Took a slow stroll towards the castle, popped into a post office for some stamps, visited a hungarian folk art fair. Thinga are really pricey in Budapest!! I can’t even bring myself to buy a souvenir tshirt, let alone a measly keychain!
By then I was done with Buda and wanted to explore more of Pest. I hopped onto a bus and went back downhill, took the Metro back to the center of town. Walked towards Basilica of St Stephen, snapped a few pictures. Decided not to check the Parliament out - it was impressive from a distance, and that was enough for me.
Earlier in the morning I passed by some people who were setting up Xmas Fair. I still miss the one in Prague, so I headed towards Vaci Utca to check out the Xmas Fair Budapest style!
Admittedly, I was more excited about this fair then sight seeing…..
And tada! I found me some mulled wine. Cheaper and bigger portion than in Czech but not as full flavoured. Yum…..tried some local delicacies, not sure what I ate but quite delicious. Definately doing lunch there tomorrow before I depart!
It then started pouring…. I still trudged on until I couldn’t feel my cheeks nor my fingers, then I figured it was time to head back to my room….tee hee!
Here’s an interesting ditty about Hungary - the man who invented ball point pen, the guy who discovered vitamin c, the inventor of the rubik’s cube, Harry Houdini, George Soros, Estee Lauder and Franz Liszt. They are all Hungarians! However, Hungary also have one of the highest suicide rates in the world! Guess all that talent comes with a price?
Am departing tomorrow for Florence, stopping in Vienna for two hours to change trains. Its a loooong journey but am totally looking forward as I will be joining Nadine and we’re off to Rome for lunch, the flying to Warsaw. I am certainly looking forward to having company, and also relishing the last leg of my europe trip!
- hungry in hungary
arrived hungry in hungary. Not a joke - i didnt have money for breakfast remember? It was a 7 hour train journey, one that i enjoyed tremendously. We passed through Slovakia for two hours before entering Hungary. Thrilled to be in slovakia, even from inside the train.
My adventure today revolves around looking for a self service laundry, and dealing with the cranky lady who manned the shop. Well, that’s the gist of the story. Did make friends with a canadian man who was waiting for his clothes to get clean.
Tomorrow - intensive touring around budapest as i’m leaving the day after!
- train rides
Train rides. Ah what a beautiful way to travel from one place to another. There were trees. Many many trees, leaveless ones in preparation for winter. There were lakes mirroring the landscape ever so perfectly. Cottages with smoke pipping out of the chimney. Snow covered roofs and fields. rivers flowing and flowing. stone bridges. Tunnels. Hills. Suburban areas. Playgrounds with sandboxes. Dogs chasing each other.
It’s like watching the great film of life while being transported to your destination. Given the chance, i would ride trains to all over the world, across the continent of asia, into the plains of india, through trans siberia, into the heart of russia. And so on, and so forth.
(and miles to go before i sleep…., and miles to go before i sleep….)
- leaving prague
thank you in czech is dkuji, pronounced as jek-kuih-yow.
I bought so much hot vino last night that i barely had enough czech crowns for breakfast….i had 20 crowns. Enough for a bottle of fizzy water, and to pay for the toilet. Giggles.
Am sitting in the train on my way to budapest. the train stops for five minutes in slovakia if i am not mistaken.
Right now, i am passing by some beautiful snow covered fields, snow covered railway tracks, snow covered roofs, snow covered branches.
Sigh. I wanted it to snow in prague. There was a very slight chance it would, but it didn’t. I wanted to scrutinize snowflakes, walk through snow covered cobblestone pathways and see my shoe tracks.
I guess for now i’d just have to settle for looking out of the window from a warm train compartment, looking at snow.
- p/s
i drank four cups of hot vino.
:)
and found out i was right - there is cinnamon. and lemon, orange, cloves. it’s called svarene vino, and only available during christmas! so lucky me!
as i sprinted my way back to the hotel, i thought of the good people i met on my sojourn. the italian lady in rome who helped me speak italiano to some telco company. the spanish barrista who was so attentive to me knowing that we both can’t communicate with words. the phillipino waiters who took me under their wing as i ate tapas in their restaurant. the bartender in prague who chats amiably to me a little more everyday. the guy who remembers to give me double plastic cups so that the hot wine doesn’t burn my hand (hehe). the souvenir shopkeeper who gave me a trinket that caught my eye, cause he knows i spent all my remaining czech crowns in his shop.
and the numerous, numerous people who pointed out the way to me as i got lost again, and again.
am hopeless with a map. but hey - getting lost is fun. i have gps on my phone loaded with europe map. but hey - getting lost is fun :)
back home, when i see tourist with maps trying to figure the way out, i make it a point to approach them and ask whether i can help. this is my way of passing back the kindness i received time and again when i travel. it is a very small gesture. it is the least i can do. i’d like to think, it’s because of that, that i get very good luck when i travel. and i do have quite good luck….(touch wood).
so the lesson of the day is this - be kind. you will touch someone’s heart, you will make someone’s day, your goodness will be felt, it will make a difference. you just won’t know it :)
but know this - what goes around, comes around.
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