It's that time of the year again

Exams are just a week away and me updating my blog, in the day, with tons of chapters more to study, definitely suggests something about my confidence... Not!

For the past few weeks, I was able to draw out time at night to meet up with friends over movies and dinner. We caught three films which I'd been anticipating for months: 

Taken 2, the highly awaited sequel was at most average, compared to the first. I think the disappointment was probably due to the exceedingly high expectations we all had, especially after what Taken 1 delivered. The other 2 movies were instant favorites! It's definitely the kind of shows that I'm always on the lookout for. Still, I'm having trouble tagging a description to such films. Teenage-romance-comedy? Or "Juno-esque"? Or some might call it: "act-one-kind" movie. Hahahaha.

One of my Hanoi-made friends, Henrik from Sweden, messaged me on Facebook recently, telling me how much he loves the pictures from Sapa.

This made me want to look through the album again! And as I was doing so, I realized I'm still suffering from the holiday hangover. These 2 pictures were taken from that wonderful night in Sapa. Never would I've imagined myself partying crazily with people whom I'd only known on that day itself. Drinks, delicious home-cooked food and games made up a totally unforgettable night.

More details will be written in the long overdue posts of Sapa and Halong Bay, which I'm going to pen down as one of my to-do items during my holidays.

May the remaining months of 2012 be filled with joy!

soul mates

Being privy to each other's innermost thoughts, yet feel reassured that you can rely on their discretion.  Showing affection, yet not transcending any boundaries. 

I do believe that soul mates exist, even in a place where Platonic relationship seems to be nothing more than an overused term to describe the pre-confession stage of two close friends.  Pre-confession because eventually, given the nature of how most male-beings are constructed, innocency will be overshadowed by jealousy, and that's the end of their "Platonic Relationship". Something that's supposed to be enduring, has been sadly tagged with a duration, an expiry date.

However, i'm beginning to change my conception of how it all seems to operate; I think i've had enough bad experiences to know that it's not always this systematic because right now, i'm actually clinging on to something, and this time, it's for all the right reasons. 

When quarrels and disagreements remind you of something and someone so dear to you in the past, we ought to seize the opportunity of not losing this special person, for once they're gone, they'll take with them an irreplaceable portion of your memory. 

The falling-out was never easy to swallow. But the fact that it was difficult to shake off made me realize that this wasn't an ordinary occurrence. Distractions were used as an excuse to not confront the problem, though the only thing they did was to prolong it.  In the end, it's all about giving in, compromising and more giving in. If it's worth it, then everything else is secondary.  

Patience and understanding; someday, the pain will be useful to me

Tug at my heartstrings

 Surprising and Unforgettable

A short account of one of my fondest recollections. To Vincent: 

I met Vincent on the 2nd night of my Hanoi trip. When we first saw each other in the dorm, it was like bumping into a long-lost friend. Meeting a fellow Asian really makes you feel that home is never too far away.

Drinks and conversations made up a wonderful evening. And as though the informality of the occasion wasn't enjoyable enough, we sat down on the carpet by the side of the road, and ate BBQ-ed cuttlefish to complete a perfect chill-out session. 
  
It was also on that night, when I learnt my very first travelling tip: Never book everything in advance. I had to leave for another city the next day, and was left extremely discontented at our short-lived encounter. That was the last time we saw each other in Vietnam.

Previously, during my stay in Rome, i remembered having a conversation with this girl from Lisbon.  That night, we sat and talked by the balcony, and she was telling me about her solo adventures. Since then, i've been so highly inspired and motivated to travel, to meet more people like her, and hear what they have to say about their experiences. 

And i have every reason to believe that this desire is real, especially after what my recent sojourn had given me - A tangible piece of memory