Page 192: Jumping Into Puddles with Sigur Rós

Wet converse shoes, soaked body, and tired feet. That night, I did not care if I get sick the day after. I cried and smiled all at once. It’s all because of Sigur Rós.

On November 23rd, Fort Canning Park, Singapore filled with hundreds of people with the same purpose, to watch one of the greatest bands from Iceland, Sigur Rós. It was raining since mid day, stopped for a while when they came to the stage, and on again like half an hour before the concert ended. They opened the concert with “Í Gær”. Jónsi with his signature style of a cello bow on guitar, his angelic voice, and enigmatic sound from the band hypnotized the audience. Including me, of course. I got goosebumps and bit my lip instead of screaming hysterically. Weeks before the concert, I was hoping they would play any song from their fifth album, Takk, especially “Gong”, "Glósóli", "Hoppípolla", and "Sæglópur" . Also "Ágætis Byrjun" (from the album Ágætis Byrjun) and “Vaka” from the album ( ). Eventually, it came true. The second song was “Vaka”. I’ve tried my best not to cry like a baby, and I did. Well, I cried a little. Hehe.

But my tears were streaming down when they performed “Glósóli”. I just couldn’t help it. Maybe that’s the magic of a good music, although you don’t understand the language and definitely won’t be able to sing along perfectly, it gets into your soul. Next, “Svefn-g-englar” from the album Ágætis Byrjun. This song also appeared in Vanilla Sky the movie. Ah, yes, I got the shivers! Back then, I couldn’t decide whether it’s because of the rain or the beautiful sounds from those talented people on the stage. Now I’m sure it was the sounds.

Jónsi didn’t say much during the concert, not even introduced each song, only a few “thank you” and when he was introducing the new song. I couldn’t remember the title, though. After “Svefn-g-englar”, Jónsi smiled to the audience and the next second I grinned like Cheshire cat when I heard the intro from “Sæglópur “. Followed by “Fljótavík” and then “Viðrar Vel Til Loftárása”, no one sing along. I was sure it was because of its hopelandic lyrics. Haha. But obviously I could hear people were screaming “Jónsi!” or “wohoo!” “Whoaaaa! Sigur Rós!” over and over.

Another mesmerizing moment came when they performed “Hoppípolla”. There were inexplicable feelings rushing through my brain that made me cried and smiled at the same time. Probably it happened to everybody else at the venue at that time. We were happy, for sure. It's a bit funny because "Hoppipolla" means "jumping into puddles" which was kind of represent the condition during concert caused by the weather.

They also performed songs from their latest album Valtari, like “Með Blóðnasir” and “Varúð”. In between those two they performed “Olsen Olsen” from the album Ágætis Byrjun. For Encore, they chose “Ekki Múkk” and “Popplagið”.

Conclusion: It’s a magnificent concert. And every little cell in my body was happy.

Page 191: Yeah, It's Happening

"All my friends have different plans to make their lives worth while

Some for the better

Some for worse

Some have gone to different cities searching every mile

For missing pieces that will make a whole"

1995, The Radio Dept.

---

yeah, it's happening

*sigh*

Page 190: Childhood is…

Climbed a mango tree that used to stand tall in front of my house.

Watched Mahabharata, Ramayana TV series, and wayang wong with my grandma. And for no particular reason, had a crush with Indrajit.

Went to Senen with my mom where we bought a lot of Album Donal Bebek and other books.

Had a little “party” every Saturday night with my dad and sister. No TV, just music from my dad’s old tape player. It was always The Beatles or Koes Ploes that made us dance like a bunch of imbeciles. Haha.

Ate unhealthy snacks that my parents forbid.

Had a strong hunch that under one of the classes at my elementary school, there’s a box filled with treasure. I remember my friend Septian and I were planning to come there at 2AM. It was so easy to convince him with a fake map that I drew. Of course, we never made it. Man, I was such an idiot back then.

Listened to my dad talking about UFO and alien and conspiracy theory. He still does this every time he got the chance. And I’m still his loyal partner to discuss with.

Danced under the rain.

Played galasin and overly competitive on it.

Obsessed with kungfu and every TV series with kungfu in it.

Created games with my sister and cousins that our parents considered as “dreadful” like:

   - Made my sister stood still, put an apple on top of her head and threw her with a knife in attempt to imitate a circus act that we had seen on TV.

   - Jumped freely from top of the bunk bed, with a simple rule: landing on our knees. I still remember my aunt yelled “do you want to break your legs?!”

   - Made a human tunnel and compete who can hung on the longest on such a weird position.

Hoped that one day I could find a magic door that leads me to wonderland where I can find unicorn, dragon, big foot, and other whimsical creatures.

Be the clumsiest kid in the family.

Screamed each time I saw onion’s skin. Until now, I still think it’s one of the most disgusting things in this world. I’ve learnt not to scream anymore, though.

Licked car freshener (orange scent) because I thought it would taste “fresh” just like orange. My uncle caught me while I was doing it, and I think my mom, although she laughed really hard, was very ashamed at that time.

Ate paper glue. It’s sweet. Seriously.

When one of my biggest concerns was afraid to wake up late on Sunday and I would missed my favorite cartoon series.

When I did lotsa lotsa stupid things.

When I was allowed to do mistakes because I’m just a kid.

Page 189: Maybe, For A While

Maybe, someday, when I really really tired of everything and everyone that always tells me to live a life like the way they want me to, I’ll have a journey by myself, not telling anyone about my destination. When the word “it’s my life” won’t keep their mouth shut.

Running with horses, meet strangers, swimming naked, just like Alexander Supertramp. But I don’t want to die the way he did, hehe. 

Maybe I will find a nice place to stay for a while.

"My shadow runs with me

Underneath the big white sun

My shadow comes with me as we leave it all

We leave it all far behind"

-Far Behind, Eddie Vedder-

Page 188: Current Addiction (part 12)

I'm still in love with this album...

especially this song:

There's a mark on me

Love song burning up in effigy

Two roads diverging in a lovely dream that only two can tear 

It's hard to understand

The cruel, cruel summer of a water ban

A dead grass cradle and a water can

To hold our prayer for rain

Be the same

Have we severed every courtesy we've made?

There's a mark on me

Scorched earth lovers, is that all we'll be?

Road diverging in a living dream of hope and love and time

Be the same

Though we severed every courtesy we've made

Be the same

Though we severed every courtesy we've made

Now we severed every courtesy we've made

Have we severed every courtesy we've made?

Page 187: A Girl Who Reads

Date A Girl Who Reads by Rosemarie Urquico

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag.She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilightseries.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

---

One of my favorite writings about girl that reads. I know it's a bit narcissistic, haha. :P 

Page 186: Sometimes... Part 19

Sometimes, I am enjoying asking tricky questions to people that love to brag. 

Just to see how far they can go. 

In my imagination, their heads go bigger…

and bigger…

                            and bigger…

and BOOM! 

Haha.

image courtesy: here

Page 185: Rich and Smart

Look. If you came from a rich family, and you’re smart (and good-looking), please don’t expect me to praise you.

Here’s why: because if you have money, will have access to education more than the unfortunate ones. You have that chance to be SMART, focus on your study, because you don’t have to think bunch of problems like, “how will my parents pay for my school?”, “I have to find a job immediately to support my education”, etc.

On the other hand, it will be shocking as hell if you’re stupid. Well, if you have some kind of disabilities, that’s another case. Maybe this is also the reason I get irritated a little when I hear rich kids that apply for some scholarship for the sake of prestige. What’s the deal? To prove that you’re smart enough? Trust me, some people need it more than you, because they simply couldn't afford the fees. Oh, and that pretty face, yeah, you also have that access to treat your outside beauty. Nothing really special about that.

Do I sound like a cynic now?
Blah, maybe I just envy you, you lucky spoiled brat.