Of work and holiday

I was walking across the airstrip that links Changi Airport to the hangars one Saturday afternoon. The sun began to ease up a bit in the west while the silhouttes of aircrafts on the southern horizon began to grow in numbers. It was the peak period for the airport. There were landings every 2 minutes. Singapore Airlines worked on hour-glass transfers. Passengers from Europe departs in the morning, reaches Singapore for dinner and get on a connecting flight to Australasia and other parts of Asia right after. I'll be on her flight to Perth the next day. But that day, like the rest of the days before it – is pulling my head sideways to attend to various loose ends that I need to trim up before my holidays.

I came back home late the day before. It was Andy's birthday. I couldn't plan much for him, frustratingly. We had a simple dinner at Tanjong Pagar's Railway Station right after a short climbing session at Climb Adventure.

Realised that I'm getting weaker. My movements were still well-balanced but lacked the precision of late. I get pumped up pretty quickly too. Perhaps its age. Perhaps its the bizarre week. But it was a good workout, with great company too. I hope the others had a wonderful time there as much as I did.

I reached home about half past midnight and quickly tried to catch some sleep. I've got a climbing clinic to attend to, the morning after. I've got to assist Jamilah and Madelene in their preparations, then quickly scoot off to work overtime at the hangar. Then I remembered that I had to meet Kamaruzaman's dad first. He wanted me to pass some money to his beloved son in Perth.

The aircraft descended beautifully while I was busy in my thoughts. The clouds reflected some of the sun's rays around its shape while its middle portion sifted the slanted rays into several lines of light. There's some inexplicable aura of romance in the air. I looked at the aircrafts around the hangars and whispered, "Don't worry, you'll be up there soon. Where you belong".


Singapore Airline's Jubilee 777, sending us off to Perth

Then I made my way briskly to my next workplace in Kembangan.

A few days later, as boredom creeps in while I was in the City Stay Hotel Apartments, I began to read a book a friend recommended to me – Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. It was as if she knew this book was what I was looking for. I was immersed and mesmerised by it within a few pages. One of the conversations in the story had summed up some of my own thoughts nonchalantly:

"Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything, for granted".

The author then went on to describe life metaphorically. His last statement churned me up a little. Although my heart is losing faith, my will remains a staunch believer.

"A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle."

Sounds like a wrestling match, I say.

"A wrestling match.” He laughs. "Yes, you could describe life that way”.

"Which side wins ?"

He smiles at me, the crinkled eyes, the crooked teeth.

"Love wins. Love always wins." (Mitch Albom, 1999)

It evoked some kind of rejuvenation. I feel glad. Not many people I know share the same sentiments. Maybe we once did. When we're still very young. As we grew older, these values are traded, or diluted, or lost, without our knowledge, many a time.

"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." (Mitch Albom, 1999)

Each of us has our own way of living our life. We place our priorities on different things. We do not share the same values. Or perspectives. Or paradigms. I know. I'm being vague here. But that's what life is about, right ? We do not get answers in the face. It's usually whispered in the wind. If only we'd listen. If only we put our values to the right things. Then we'd be living. Then we'd be human.

I watched Hitch on the way to Perth. One of the advices Hitch usually gave his clients was that, "begin each day as if it's for a purpose". I wish I could remind myself that everyday. I used to. Just before Chin Ming went to Australia 5 years ago, she confessed that she finally understood my perspective of being a warrior in life. A fighter. A knight.

And that's after 3 years of close friendship.

Liza came to see me at the City Stay Apartment. So did Kamaruzaman. And Faizal. We're supposed to meet up at 5. Liza was the earliest. And she arrived at 6. I called Kamaruzaman and Faizal a few times. We caught up on stuffs in a posh colonial-inspired café. I messaged Haslinah, asking her whether she'd be interested in joining us at Makan2. Apparently, she's still at her friend's place in Joonderlup. Maybe we'd meet up some other time. I thought of Farhan (TK Sec). I wondered how I could contact him.

We spoke of little things at the café. Nothing deep or too serious. Liza was an information booth. My mum's list of queries could all be answered. From university courses, to business opportunities, to work permits, to permanent residence matters and of course, current tourist attractions. This happened while Kama, Faizal and I were busy chiding one another and laughing at our own antics.

My sister wanted to shop. I planned to climb with Faizal the day after. My brother wanted a go-kart race. We planned for a tree-top walk at King's Park, after scouting around the universities. Our newfound relative will bring us to Albany the day after next. To Margaret's River. To see the whales. The dolphins. Then the kangaroos. The koalas.


On Busselton Jetty, where we saw a seal

Plans do not go as planned though. If you've watched Boys and Girls, you might have remembered a scene where Freddie Prinze declared that the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco is a work of art. It took much planning and executed the set of actions to fruition. He believed that happiness can be planned and then executed too. As expected, his planned happiness didn't come through. However, at the end of the day, he did find love. He realised that even the most random of things may be part of a complicated pattern, a more divine plan. He realised, sometimes one do not need to keep looking and working out a plan for happiness. It happens when you begin enjoying the simple things in life. It reinforces the view that nothing is so definite. That nothing is certain.

Instead of shopping at Harbour Point, we went to Carousel. It was larger and had a good range of products. But it was dear. A little expensive for a similar quality product back home. We went to King's Park. But it was a little too dark to play around. A little too cold for chatting too. Liza brought us there. She was such a wonderful host and guide. Faizal didn't bring me to climb. I reckon he was stressed out at exams.

I had coffee with Haslinah at Northbridge instead. We've alway's talked about catching up. To have coffee one day in Singapore. To think that it only materialised in Perth. In any case, I couldn't complain. The ambience, profiterolles, coffee and service at Valentino's were excellent. There were some Italian waiters in there who spoke with a spatter of their native accent. Suddenly I remembered Farah's (EV Primary) obsession for them. I had to agree with her, although my male ego restraints me a bit. Their voice is clearly a winner with girls. It was deep. And strong.

Boy (Danial) didn't have his wish for go-karting granted as well. We discovered that it was in Fremantle. A good half an hour's drive away. So that got scrapped as well. Instead of racing in go-karts, we took the wheels at the Daytona machines. And had some innocent fun at air-hockey. It was a simple evening out. And it was enjoyable.

I spoke of a newfound relative a few paragraphs before. A wonderfully accommodating family, one whom our memories of Perth will eternally be embedded with. It was an accidental discovery that our distant relative was there. She's my mum's cousin. And as if Fate wanted to make its point, our distant relative's husband once used to be my father's colleague as well. It took just a few minutes, and our parents are chatting as if to make up for the lost time between them. Our newfound uncle, 'Mamu' (as we affectionately call him) proposed a little road trip to see the beautiful countryside around Perth. Suddenly, the rest of the days Downunder whizzed past rather quickly.


Our newfound relatives

Our trip highlights include going down south to Margaret's River where we explored the awesome underground limestone caves, the art of glass making and extensive vineyards. There were more things that we could do there, but for the lack of time and crappy weather – we've got to be contented with the picturesque views of the countryside. I noticed that there were many similarities between Australia and New Zealand. However, while the environments may be the same – their hearts cling on to somewhat dissimilar values.


Depressing weather ahead

Anyways.

On our way to Margaret's River, we passed by the beautiful town of Bunbury and idyllic coastline of Busselton. Although laid-back – it showcased some good use of technology in an environmentally friendly way. These people love the natural beauty of their country and are not too eager to let them be sacrificed for the sake of material gains. As I was entertaining these little thoughts, something crept up to me:

"Australia has got the brains, financial strength, unsurpassed natural resources and land to do a lot of great stuffs that many countries can only dream of. I imagine that they have got what it takes to build a huge and classy airport, the tallest skyscrapers, nuclear weapons, space shuttles and the 'works' that makes the world go gawking in awe. But to date, they chose not to. I wonder why. Perhaps they do not have enough people. Yeah. Australia is sparsely populated. But the migration patterns have been positively assuring."

Somewhere in me, I could not find a reason, reason enough to be a good reason. Perhaps they're the epitomy of humility. That they do not find the need to flaunt their assets. Perhaps they're just lazy. Perhaps they couldn't care less. Perhaps they're happy with how things are. Perhaps they're waiting for the right moment. Perhaps Hoobastank could come up with a better reason.

And perhaps I wrote too much about me. But that's what blogs are for, right ? Me ! Me ! Me ! Metallica would've have put it bluntly – Nothing else matters.