What's with the Boots?

Since early this morning, people kept noticing that I was wearing boots. These are not new and I have even worn them a lot of times but it was only today that I received such curious glances and second looks and amazed compliments as well.

I know it was because I decided to wear them the "proper" way, my pants tucked inside the boots. I normally hide the boots under the edges of my jeans because I have already anticipated such reactions when people see you wearing them.

I thought of how this may be one of the differences in living in a tropical country. If you wear boots in Switzerland or most of other European countries, you probably won't get any second looks as this is what they usually wear especially in the cold seasons.

In tropical countries, however, people wear boots for fashion. People wearing them usually stand out since not many people wear them everyday.

Personally, I am quite fond of wearing clothes for fall or winter. Back in Dubai where winter falls between ten to eighteen degrees at its lowest, I usually got excited to wear cold weather clothing.

But living in Singapore does not allow me such extravagance when it comes to winter clothing. However, these past few weeks, the weather has been a bit cold and wet, thanks to the rainshowers we experience of late. Though we have these occasional downpour the temperature does not get too low to warrant wearing thick wool or fur jackets.

And so I found myself settling in my old pair of boots, one of my most comfy footwears. I just hope that someday I will get to experience "real" winter where I can wear knee-high boots without being too flashy and illiciting curious glances again.

Bright Lights

I am always amazed by dazzling bright lights. The light symbolizes hope, wisdom and all of our heart's desires. The brighter they are, the more fervent our dreams become, wishing someday soon they will all come true.

The Artist

A painter, a singer, a writer, everyone is an artist in his own right. Some may praise you, some may mock you. But only you can say where your talent really lies. And as I had realized a long time ago, mine was never in painting! :D It was fun, though. ^_^

http://instagr.am/p/S5m81CNOda/

The Weight-Loss Program

I have been enticed to try out this weight-loss program recommended by a friend after I've seen his collegue's picture.

I'm on the fourth day of the weight-loss program. I know that I haven't religiously followed the meal replacement, I ate crap for dinner the first two days.

I feel lighter and I don't know if it's just psychological. Honestly, I'm struggling with this program right now. I get hungry in between meals and snacking on nuts doesn't satisfy my cravings.

Constipation is also another problem. I've read that this can be one of the side effects especially during the first week of the program. I am just thinking that probably my tummy is not yet accustomed to eating just a few food so I am not yet able to flush it out because my stomach is not yet "full".

I haven't done any exercise for the past three days as well. I must really set my mind on doing this because it will all come to waste if I don't.

I'm still feeling optimistic, I've just started afterall. I just have to be stricter and more driven. As always, I know that it's all in the mind.

The Hunger Games

I learned not to expect too much in film adaptations made from books, especially the ones that I read and loved and become addicted to so as not to get disappointed in the end. But The Hunger Games is different. It is one of those rare occasions that the movie is as close as the story in the book as it could be. Perhaps the fact that Suzanne Collins is one of the screenplay writers helped, since she herself is the author of the book.

Jennifer Lawrence seemed perfect to be Katniss Everdeen. She portrayed her role very well as a good hunter, a provider, a sister and a friend. Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne were well played as well. Though I visualized Haymitch Abernathy as somewhat comical, Woody Harrelson played the part just as well, a drunkard yet with sense and a touch of seriousness and maturity in the role. Elizabeth Banks portrayed the role of Effie Trinket nicely as well though in my mind, I had someone more exaggerated. All in all, I believe the casting for the film was well thought of and the actors and actresses did give justice in their respective roles.

The settings of the scenes in the film were great especially depicting the differences in the most impoverished districts such as District 12 and The Capitol where everything was so lavish and exaggerated. There were obviously several differences between the novel and the film, yet the story in the film still captured it all. As what I've read in other reviews, I also believe that the film adaptation is more serious than what it depicts in the book. It is a story with sense and emotion that will truly capture the hearts of the movie-goers.

I personally rate The Hunger Games 4 stars out of 5. I just hope the next franchise would be shown earlier than the previously announced November 2013.

The First Dragon Boat Experience

I've been dying to try out dragon boating for sometime now and finally, I've come to experience it for the first time. The call time is 1 o'clock and I ran a bit late but we got there just fine. It felt funny that the place is just in Kallang and it was around the area where I used to live and yet I only got around to trying the sport now.

When I got there, I started to prepare. I put some sunblock cream on my face, put on a baseball cap, gloves and life vest. I was then given a wooden paddle, the length of which should be the height of my chest or armpits. We proceeded on the riverbanks where the senior dragon boaters briefed us and gave instructions.

As dragon boating is a serious sport, we did some stretching before proceeding to the boat where they will give instructions simultaneously as we paddle. There may be a lot of dragon boat techniques out there and I've read most of them but I listened and watched intently as the instructors shed them out.

The first command of the captain which sits at the bow or in front of the boat facing the rest of the crew and is usually the "drummer" is STAND-BY. This is where we hold the paddle with both hands, one hand holding the TEE (handle) of the paddle and the other hand holding the shaft three inches away from the blade. We position the paddle in front of us and lean half of the body forward. The captain then shouts PADDLES-UP, where we position the paddle 45 degrees away from the body at the side of the boat. Then we start paddling as the captain instructs and we submerge the blade of the paddle in the water to CATCH and PULL water, then EXIT from the side of the hip forming a "J" and repeat the process until the captain shouts EASY where we stop paddling altogether.

We did the entire paddling process counting by tens as the captain instructs for a fifty, forty or thirty strokes. We also did it by pairs, all the while coaching and instructing us with the correct positions and posture. When we reach the other part of the shore, we got out of the boat and the seniors taught us the techniques one on one. Then we start paddling again until we reach back the docks.


Personally, I find the sport quite enticing. The training is rigorous and a good workout for the body. My entire body will probably ache yet I have no regrets. I will definitely be back for more.

Another Beginning

Kicking off another start in blogging with pessimism is not entirely to my taste, yet here I am, tangled in my thoughts and emotions that I somehow realized that I had to recreate my blog. It only dawned on me that everything seemed wrong, starting from my blog title.

And so with a little bit of thinking and tinkering, I came up with this- The Barren Walls. What exactly do I mean by this? Well, it's just it- bare. As always, writing has been my most effective means of communication, not only with others, but to myself as well. Perhaps this might be a little confusing but with somebody like me, whose thoughts always run as quick as lightning, they all get messed up that the only way I can straighten things out is through expressing them in words.

I may not be in my high spirits lately, and I've definitely been better. But expressing myself once again made me realize how much I missed it. I came to like the new me, so bubbly and friendly, not my usual brooding self. But there are really some things that can wear you down. And as my usual solace, I return here. It's just like a prodigal son, or a reformed drug abuser, or a stray husband coming home to his wife, knowing that after all that's been said and done, he still has to come home.

There are things in my life for the past couple of years that I should really be thankful for, and I am really grateful. Even for the pain, the sorrow, or the loneliness, when all has passed, I came to look back and learn from them. I rushed and I fell. I picked myself up. I learned. And now I am careful. I can honestly say that I have become a better person. And this is only the beginning.