That day, a cute birdy flew into the balcony of our home. At first it circled around happily, chirping happily. It started shrieking when it realized that it doesn’t know the way out. Its friend heard the cry and was circling outside of our balcony, largely concerned, but doesn’t know how to help the trapped bird.
I hastily took some photos before approaching the bird, worried that the alarmed bird might smash against the window and hurt itself. After several minutes of gesturing towards the window, and whispering “over here! over here!” It finally decided to heed the advice and flew out of the window.
It was finally free, and it flew off, partner in tow.
I waved bye bye, and hope that it will learn from this nasty experience and not get trapped again.
I googled, it was a sunbird.
xxx
Went to have dinner, and auntie at the restaurant was alarmed that I was there alone.
“小妹妹，做么你一个人吃饭？“
“这样没有人会抢我的食物。“
Auntie chuckled and took my order.
“我不要虾、还有octopus”
“aiyo, 不可以挑食。“
“aiya过敏嘛，不是挑食，可以吃我也想吃！”
“噢，原来这样啊！“
Auntie quickly went to kitchen and yelled out my order. When she came back with this huge bowl of mentaiko chirashi, she wiggled her eyebrows at me.
“我想，你会喜欢的。“
I didn’t quite understand her words, until I started eating, and discovered that the bowl was made up of 70 percent fresh cut sashimi and maybe 30 percent rice. That day, I couldn’t finish the entire bowl, and this was the first for me.
Thank you auntie, for feeding me well.
xxx
Out exploring, and the skies are pretty. Clouds looked really fluffy, just like the freshly spun cotton candy.
蓝天白云 – perfect recipe for a scorching afternoon.
I was really thirsty and had to duck into a random shop to get myself a chilled bottle of mineral water. Ever since the mineral bottles have gone for the more green look, the bottle caps have became thinner, and I forever struggle with opening them.
After trying for a good 5 minutes, I admit defeat and went back into the shop to ask for help from the cashier auntie.
“aiyo girl ah, 年纪轻轻就没有力！“
She wet her palm with the damp washcloth on the table and twisted the cap open.
“谢谢你，不然我就渴死了。“
She reminded me of my mom, both of them are of similar age as well.
“Girl ah, 你很夸张勒！“
“救命恩人勒！“
Both of us had a good laugh while the other customers watched with amusement.
Thank you auntie, for helping me with a seemingly small task.
Ask and you shall receive.
xxx
While I was standing underneath the sign, I felt that it is a sign that I should slow down and enjoy the moment.
The warm breeze, the hustling crowd, the stream of cars.
“What are you looking at?”
“Nothing, the sky is really blue today.”
“Yeah, now that you mention it, it is really blue.”
“Don’t you think that this is an interesting place?” I uttered a random sentence back to the stranger.
“Why so?”
“The mix of grey of the urban at the further back, and the burst of colors along the shop houses. The old and the new playing together to give life to this place.”
“Hmmm, you are right!” He lifts up his camera and started clicking away.
“Thank you for seeing joy in the ordinary.” He smiles and walks away.
Thank you for the conversation too, random man on the street.
xxx
This Wednesday saw the birth of unrest, and my anxiety bubbled.
I don’t know what to make of the news, and I grapple with reality each morning I open my eyes.
I did what I do best, I block out my feelings and continue my day.
As I sit and type this, the complex feelings just found its way out of the barricade.
“顺其自然。“
I guess life will always find a way.
xxx
Hiam 