Risked

Have you ever risked your life without knowing what you sure get? I just did few days ago – an escapade wasn’t worth taking or life risking or paying a visit. I wouldn’t go if I knew for certain. Every single day in this foreign land is to do something at my peril – a non-negotiable must. But at the end of the day I’m always aware that it’s my job and now part of me.

We went to this long trip by motorbike last week to behold the famous mountain. Two words – so disappointing! These pictures will paint my frustration.

BIG HOLIDAY

Ten days is a huge holiday, but when I thought every familiar ritual is predictable – it’s not. There’s always a tiny thing to spot even if one is conversant with these routines. Name it, and I think have seen it. Everything is done the same way except for this family who celebrates Khmer New Year at the cemetery, not skipping a year – to honor their ancestors and loved ones who’d gone before them.    

The norms no longer excite me – it’s the time spent with the host – whose hospitality is so out of question. This time was different from previous immersion.    

    

Pack and Unpack

There’s good and bad in moving out. The pleasant side this time, I’m no longer bound to stressful routines – no more monthly bills to anticipate or cloud of dust to clean or disturbing honks of cars to bear or loads of things to care about – I’ve been delivered!

I’m going to miss my veranda though, but even then, things had never been the same lately – not to mention a nasty neighbor next door and the annoying sounds from the building site just across from my porch, and many more. For now, I’m so fine with another packing and unpacking stage.

Again!?

Sometime in August two years ago, I wrote a prolific article in my blog about the hassle of moving in and out. This is what I define a draining life of every passerby. For the last three days this week, I was caught in the same cycle again – restless – which sapped my energy.

For as long as we are in a foreign land, this stage is absolutely unavoidable – we move in and so move out. And stress is there if one continues acquiring a lot of stuff. Again, I’ve learned to let go materialistically until I embrace a simple living.

False Hopes

They’re sweet aroma to a delicate nose or an enticing fairytale to the eyes or soft music to delicate ears –as usual, the weakest and the dreamer easily falls for it. Like a child, I fell for it over a thousand times. I am trying to grow up recently – to simply rely on what’s believable – the worst, trust no one.

You hear these deceitful words a lot and they often said undone. And if you are in this boring situation…get out and get real. “Promises are made to be broken” they say, so I wouldn’t hesitate to second the motion.