Found & Favorited: Back to School on Etsy
4 weeks ago
Back again from four days of shenanigans, drunken nights, freezing beaches and warm dips in the jacuzzi with a few of the people I love best in the world. Another overload of cherished memories, indescribable but I feel the need nevertheless to put down in words before the cruel hands of time steal them away.
Train-ing it down, damn track work lengthening the journey but not minding much as time passed quickly chatting with the girls. Six dollar bus trip which drove us in circles, before finally arriving at the house, with four p-plated cars out front, one mirroring its owner with the typical derped p plate.
Long drunken nights of “never have I ever…” with vodka punch, shots shots shots, testing of limitations, and drunken ping pong and of course the ever welcoming invite of the bathroom. Leaving behind empty bottles and plastic cups everywhere, one disgusting disgusting sink and quite a few hot pink, apple red painted toenails and finger nails.
Cooking cheap homey meals for a troop of fifteen with help and happily proud of the results, beaming with pride at every empty plate and serving of two. Not so much by the literal sing song thanks despite attempts to stop it.
Braving the beaches despite the freezing waters, sun baking with what little was left of the winter sun, and burying one from head to toe and feeding him yellow jelly snakes. But only staying so long before running home to the warm waters of the amazing outdoor jacuzzi.
Lying on the middle of the driveway, star gazing at the clear night sky and talking, hoping for a shooting star. Intense games of ping pong, messing with gatsby, endless movies snuggled together in front of the warm fire, and late nights talking in bed.
Pruning in the jacuzzi for a few hours under the night sky, ignoring the light sprinkle. Having endless fun with a blown up goon bag, and empty beer bottles, easily amused by such simple objects. Hushing every now and then, hoping not to cop a fine for being rowdy at midnight. Playing “shoot, shag or marry” for every single person and discussing best face, legs, butt and body in both genders together with the boys, completely comfortable and nonplussed. Goes to show how close we have become over six years.
Disappointed by a lacklustre sun rise and one hour of sleep. Running around doing last minute cleaning and packing, sad to leave. A crazy drive home, swerving in and out of the traffic, boxing people in and being pelted with coffee cups and banana skins, mid-driving. Driving at over hundred and pumping the music loud enough to jam together across the two cars, windows down. Moves like Jagger.
Overall, an amazing four days.
side note: that picture is possibly my new favourite picture that I've taken personally to date
The streets strewn with little red ripped shreds, left over from firecrackers. Empty canisters of fireworks at every corner, different shapes and colors indicating the variety. And the fireworks themselves, in a city not banned from lightening them, bring color to the sky in loud booms and whistles. Where one stops, another starts. It's to be expected in a city with a population of 23 million.
Inside, families gather together to share food and talk, as new members are introduced or those come to visit from another country are welcomed back. Children are given red bags, which they graciously receive, all the while behind sweetly smiling faves are already scheming what to buy. a majong table to the side is often full, while children imitate the adults betting peanuts as they play at Big Two.
But all are seated when the food is ready, around round tables with little elbow space. Dishes are piled onto the table, with no less than two dozen at the very least. The talk gets louder, as the rice wine flows freely, and laughter resounds through the small room after every story.
Well at least that's how Chinese New Year is celebrated in my family.
A/N: Another post which i wrote awhile back but then again better late than nothing right?
Homesickness. It creeps up on you slowly yet unexpectedly. In an unfamiliar environment, new sights and sounds, languages and cultures to experience, the last thing you would expect to miss is boring old home. But as the days past, you begin to miss the familiar things, your bed, your room, your routines, and your friends. Til eventually your holiday can no longer be called such and instead becomes your own prison blurring into a countdown of days, of hours, of minutes til your safely back on a plane home. A week left.
A/N: This was written on the 28th of Jan, except I have no access to blogspot in China hence the lateness. Happy to be back in Aus.
Perhaps the highlight of my Korea trip (and I only say perhaps as I still have one day left) would be the NANTA production which I saw tonight. To be truthful, I entered the small theatre with little expectations, feet aching from a full day of walking, and just about ready to have a nap but boy, was I wrong. The show itself is a bit hard to describe or fit into a specific genre, cooking, action, musical, martial arts, romance, drama, technically speaking all of these labels fit, even throwing in a handful of magic.
Loosely set in a kitchen where four chefs are thrown into turmoil when their ill natured manger orders them to prepare 10 wedding ceremony menus, along with his little nephew, in just an hour.* The performers bring the storyline to life through their hilarious actions and face expressions, as they flip, juggle and chop their way across the stage. Warning though, those in the front rows may get bits of chopped lettuce on them.
Also by no means is this a small Korean production, as it's been running for fifteen years and still counting with 6,150,000 spectators of 19,200 shows in 268 cities, 41 countries.* Don't be frightened too by the language barrier, as not much is spoken but rather portrayed through the body language cause after all a picture is worth a thousand words right?
Now I don't want to ruin the show any further as entering with a empty perspective like I did made it all the more worth it. But I would definitely recommend the show to anyone in the Seoul district to open up a night, spend a worthwhile 50 dollars and watch the 100min show.
For more info: http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=292931
*quoted from the NANTA pamphlet
A lone eagle circling in the misty morning sky above the numerous skyscrapers. The streets quiet, the shops closed, even the blaring traffic fewer by the many. By all means, a curious contrast to the night.
A night light show at 8.00pm sharp by Victoria Harbour lit up the various office buildings and sky scrapers. Green and white lasers shoot towards the cloudy sky, pointing towards the heavens, accompanied by corny upbeat Chinese music. The view spectacular from the Avenue of Stars, as the crowds flock to the railings, taking a moment to pause in their busy night to admire the flashing lights, reflecting upon the gentle waves of the water.
Then as the moon fades into the distance, and the sun slowly peeps out from the horizon, the night life again disappears and the quiet resumes once more.
Back from five days of a foreign town, endless ocean, and pure white sand. A blur of memories and fragmented vignettes define the indescribable experience.
Cooking meals from scratch for a troop of twelve, where we’re limited to goods from a single Bi-Lo store. An uncooked rice and burnt rice, take your pick but soothed over through talking and laughing. Jamming to music, and dancing the chorus to ring ding dong with my kpop twin. Walking a short five minute walk to the beach, and accidently stumbling upon others already there watching the gentle crash of the waves and endless horizon.
Over-competitiveness and ignorance of the importance of water, leading to a horrible morning after. But happy nonetheless at the discovery of high tolerance.
Kayaking in pairs, upon the ocean. Slow at first to get in time but eventually succeeding and beating the others home. Playing limbo under the boardwalks as we quietly sailed through the mangroves interrupted by screams and shouts of those who crashed into branches.
A girls night when the others left for boys formal, catching up on lost sleep, experimenting with honey soy chicken and falling asleep halfway through Enchanted. Stealing a friend’s car, exploring the town, and disappointed at the high price for a tattoo. Entertained by the fact that it was normal for girls to saunter around in just bikinis there.
Running from the house at four something in the morning to the beach in our pyjamas, anxious to not miss the first golden rays of the sun on our last day there. Graced with a school of dolphins instead as the sun was blocked by clouds. Playing with the pipis, enticing them to open their shells with sea water, and amused and disgusted at the same time as their long fleshy tongues licked our palms. Ignoring the stares of onlookers, and writing never to be seen words in the sand which would soon be washed away by the waves.
A sleepy car ride home, interrupted by the driver’s bursts of speed, swerves and breaks near the speed cameras. Pelting the boy’s car with squishy grapes, mid-driving, and regretfully missing the car window with the last one despite five years of basketball skills.
Not completely drama less either, but surviving through it and hopefully strengthening from it. It’s been a good five days, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
