I love you rain…

What is it about you rain that refreshes
Drops lazily caressing the leaves
Before they pass on the waiting grasses?



Something’s intimate in you leaves,
When you sway gently
To the whistle of the wind



Aaahhh… I’m mesmerized, I’m frozen
Drunk in this moment
Soothing this tired soul, my heart leaps!

ape adventures

- briar fields

- snow-by (aka slimer; trap door)

- traditional chippy

- porters - authentic northern english pub (and nice machines in the 'little rooms')

- tesco (its not japanese dear)

- heritage centre (silk museum)

- barrats and river island (ape-shoeses)

- manchester piccadilly

- pop boutique where barberella is! (probably the toughest haircut ever...)

- forbidden palace?

- night and day

- empire exchange (all about canada in 2 pounds!)

- affleck's palace (kiwi, lime, mango, fancies and masks)

- arabesque, withington

- fuel (twice-filled)

- solomon grundy's (dove è il mio prosciutto di Parma?)

- cafe nero

- slipped my way to waterstones manchester but nicest store assistants, rewarded by the Empire of Gold and Blood! ;-)

- red chili restaurant @ portland street

- samuel alexander building, manchester university

- chemist @ oxford street

- london, euston

- wellington hotel

- waterloo grill

- waterloo station (hard to find the oysters)

- the southbanks (hello 'uncle ben')

- opuz (a turkish kebab in london - by fatos!)

- franco's ristorante pizzeria (if you're a willing spend-drift)

- gielgud theatre (everyone's a little bit racist, sometimes)

- o'callaghans hotel

- abbot lodge

- eddie rockets diner (o'connell st)

- cafe sofia, wexford street, dublin (24 hour breakfast)

- farringtons, temple bar (yes, white pudding is alright with the extra chips!)

- costcutter ballybofey, monaghan, donegal (the best wedges so far...)

have i shared my food choices in Singapore?

apespecials (can be fun too!)

- mango crazy http://www.makansutra.com/eateries.html

- mango pudding (just go to the chendol/dessert stall) http://www.wismaonline.com/stores_sub1.aspx?lvl=4

- kebab (this is the resto not the stall but ok the same kebab) http://www.shirazfnb.com/index.html)

- snacks (i know... but its still apes' choice) http://www.oldchangkee.com/

- pies/tarts (or however you call it) http://www.fancydelight.com.sg/products.html

- blujazcafe + haji lane



for meals (dining variety)

- chicken rice in the world (the best part is the ginger purée with the dark soya sauce!) http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/wee_nam_kee_hainanese_chicken_rice_restaurant/

- indian

1. Rangoli (my first taste of Indian food after 28 years of living - need i say more?!)

http://singaporenet.blogspot.com/2009/03/rangooli-northern-indian-cuisine-pasir.html


2. Lagnaa (good service, nice food which comes with "spicy scale")

http://www.lagnaa.com/


- italian

for nice food, reasonable fare, casual setting (excuse the sound of the cars and buses though...) http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/donna_carmela/

fine dining http://www.garibaldigroup.com.sg/


more to come...

spielberg effect

if an artist's work is shared (as he opted to) and results to a deluge spielberg effect, who is it to blame? is it the artist, the mob or the media?or perhaps we should go back and rethink our definitions of art, art appreciation and promotion? is art to be shared, shared-targeted, all or none of the above?

i remember a friend once telling me "all art has been contemporary". i interpreted it as "individuals having to always struggle at the beginning to be noticed or for their work to be appreciated." but what about the other side of the coin?

i am often amased at how popular culture is viewed in a sort of contempt - as i myself is guilty of. what is wrong if works are hugely embraced and i don't? i ask myself...

A Discourse on Myself...

I may not be perfect but I can love. I can care with all my heart.

I can be stubborn sometimes but I know how to obey. Humble myself is not that hard.

I may be a dreamer but I can start from the low. From there I can get the stars I dream for.

I may be a critic but I know how to listen. And accept mistakes and shortcomings.

I may long for freedom but the responsibility I know. Limitations are always there.

I can smile and laugh, find the simple joys of life, but I know how to cry too.

I may be hard and composed outside but I also feel pain, pains that crush my heart.

I can be silent. But I know how to shout, how to sing, sing what’s inside, shout what’s on my mind!

I maybe a singer, a poet, a writer, a day dreamer or a philosopher, but for sure I will always be the simple me.



* * * * * * * circa 1999-2000 * * * * * * *