where is this sun you speak of?

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and my quinoa-corn-edamame-feta salad, heh I am currently reading "A tree grows in Brooklyn" and it reminds me so much of my childhood. It does not mirror my life however it often makes me reminiscent of the good old days. While this is not a book review of some sort, which I will probably do after I have finished the book, I want to write about the memories tied with this book ( this physical book ). I remember buying this book at the second-hand bookstore at Victoria Plaza back in 2014. The name of the store is just simply "Bookstore" and the storefront shows this name in green text, all caps, and each letter is boxed in green outline. It was my favorite shop in the city because (1) it's a bookshop, (2) it's cheap, and (3) old books are like a treasure. The third point reminds me of the young guy telling his friend about how much he loves going back to the store because finding a good book in the sea of bookshelves is like finding ...

I turned 30 years old six days ago. Surely, I do know what it means to be at that age but I can say that it is kind of liberating. How? I don't know. Accepting it just makes me feel that way.   Wow, my nephews, nieces, younger cousins, and the kids in my neighborhood are going to look up to me and see me as an adult. It's funny because I should know (and maybe I do) even before I reached this age anyway but I guess being 30 validates that these younger people are actually looking up to me as a full-fledged adult (and not their friend at their age which I want to be forever~ hahaha). How crazy is that?!  Anyway, so 30? Yeah, 30. Wow, 30.  Well, things have been the same. It's not like some magic happened overnight. I am still the playful twenty-something, but I guess we shall see in the long run!

Manoy Toben and I, Desert Safari, Dubai, 2019 Even though I am very far from my family during the pandemic, I am still grateful that I live in a place where I feel safe and comfortable. And I am willing to take this opportunity to learn to live simply just being at home and learning how to deal with simple household chores. I would like to think that taking a responsibility for some chores would help me get ready for the future - who knows. The coffee shop nearby where I go and visit sometimes on Friday or Saturday mornings. Sometimes I think it's good to be out (and cautious) and see the outside world . I like spending early mornings in a cafe, reading a book, having my cup of coffee and a cookie to pair with, while also watching the city slowly gets busier as the day progresses. I have witnessed that the company that I work for is not only customer-centric but also people-centric. I admire our CEO's positivity most especially during the pandemic. I hope things would get bett...

I posted this on Instagram today - and thought that I can post this on my blog. A street bookshop in  Amman, 2018 I saw this photo today and it made me realize how bookshops and libraries are one of the nice places to be in and looking back I remember some memories around it and for memory keeping, I'm going to write them down. One of the fond memories I have in grade school was spending afternoons inside the Assumption's school library where we get to lay on a mat surrounded by a two-level baby blue-colored bookshelves filled with children's books and pillows. And I would only leave once Mama arrives to fetch me home. And I've always wondered how it is to be older and get to pick up books on the other side where things seem to be a lot less colorful and in taller bookshelves (lol). In hs, I think I may have overcome intimidation as there were a couple of books listed in my borrower's card and I wish I could go and ask a copy - in case it still exists (Sweet Valley ...

Siem Reap, Cambodia 2019 Am I ready to begin again? How do I answer yes without knowing anything about what lies ahead? Though the thought of it makes life feels longer and full of content - whatever the future maybe? How can I answer no and just let life be the same day after day? The thought of it makes life shorter and question, what's the point of living? I am learning how to let go fully accepting the loss, and I feel strong. I am learning as the day goes by, it feels lighter bit by bit. I am counting days, weeks, and months. I am ready for new beginnings.