You don't take a photograph...

Finally bought myself a camera necklace and had a fun time taking photos of it last weekend.  This one was taken in front of our house. That red bokeh there was actually my blouse hanging in the clothesline. I just love the summer afternoon light and the warmth it brings to photos. On where photography has taken me still surprises me most of the times. But I think I've fallen in love with it because it gave me a different perspective, a different lens to look at life, if I may put it that way. 

When I look at this photo, I remember my father sitting in his "kubo" and taking a siesta. I remember my nieces going about just outside the house playing with the other children in the neighbourhood. I remember just falling in love with the lemony light. Oh yep, photography made me feel cheesy and poetic like this. Like the quote says, we don't take photos, we borrow it, or to be specific, we just borrow moments. Because that afternoon and that moment weren't just mine. They too, belonged to others. 

Life is Full of Beauty

It's Friday!!! I am heartily looking forward to this weekend. For a change, there's no funeral and cemeteries  I have to go to. My last three weekends were spent attending funeral and searching for cemeteries, it's just excruciatingly depressing. I know despite all these sudden deaths, life is still beautiful. There are plenty in it that are beautiful... if we only take time to notice them.

Lord please lavish those precious people with the awesomeness of heaven. And may the people they left behind get through the grief by your most awesome grace. This I pray.

Where Am I?

At the 7th anniversary of a Christian fellowship I attended on February 26th, the speaker posted this question: "Where are you in your walk with the Lord?"

That was two weeks ago and the question still lingers. Last night, I went home asking where am I in my life in general? The recent death of a cousin has got me all thinking about my own life, how I've been living it. Am I making a difference? Am I moving towards God's purpose? Have I established meaningful relationships? What will people say about me when I die? Why am I hurting just by writing down these questions?

Maybe I'm hurting because I know I haven't done anything to answer those questions. Yes, I might have done small things to live life in a good way, to say the least, but honestly, I don't think I'm living life fully. Because otherwise, I wouldn't have to feel this way.

That night at the fellowship, I remember myself crying out to God, silently, almost begging... "Lord I don't really know where am I in my walk with you... I think I've already forgotten to dream, scared that once more, my dreams will cause me pain, not happiness... Please give me a new set of dreams... Just something to get back on, something to fuel my soul everyday... something to make me feel alive... something that will be worthy, for you and for this world..." This prayer still echoes in the deep recesses of my heart.

Missing Teas and Talks

I miss chitchats with old friends over a cup of tea or coffee. I wonder where they are and if, like me, they too are stuck in the busyness of work. Probably. *Sigh. I'm just too overworked to ramble more. Out now, leaving you with this quote and photo:

"Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you. 

Now tell me about hundreds of things." 

~ Saki

Hong Kong Promenade

Just want to post some photos I took at Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) Waterfront Promenade in Hong Kong on my trip there last November 2009. TST is probably one of the most accessible and the cheapest spot to go to in HK that you simply cannot miss! Here are 5 things I love about it based on one fine winter afternoon visit:

1) Roses at the Promenade - After seeing these lovely blooms in TST, I have officially fallen in love with roses! :) Look, they were lovely, weren't they? *Sigh. See this album for more roses.

2) The famous harbour of HK - plus some cheap ferries sailing by. Riding a ferry is also a must try!

3) Photo op with a stranger - This Chinese looking guy asked me to join him for some photos at the Avenue of the Stars, why not chok-nut? He was looking at his camera; I was looking at mine! Hahaha! :) I love my yellow get-up and boots! Boots is love. :)

4) Oldies in the Promenade - I love the oldies at the Promenade too. I made a chitchat with this lolo fishing; stated that he'd been there for hours but wasn't able to catch any... till hallelujah!!! I came and he caught one small bloated fish!!! :) I could not forget his joy though not captured here! :)

In HK, you see most oldies and retired folks in the parks and in the promenades. I think that's why HK has so many parks and promenades fit for tambayan. This place is just an oldies friendly place. I wish Philippines could do the same.. but when oh when?!

5) And finally, SUNSET - I got there at almost sunset time so I stayed there till the sun hit the horizon for some sunset shots. I learned this famous TST sunset from a guy I met in Kowloon Park. He scrawled the direction in my notebook so off I went. :)

*** 

Some travel thoughts: My travel in Hong Kong (that lasted for almost a month) was a period of humbling and then trusting back the Author of my life again. What God may have taken away, I know he would replace it with something greater and grander. I just have to trust again and continue my walk with Him... one day at a time.