August 17th, 2009 §
I was given a free entry over the weekend for the 10km race at the Army Half Marathon. It was quite strange really – I was running with a Men’s Open tag but started with the 6km fun run crowd because 1) I overslept and 2) I couldn’t find the start point.
My intention had been to start the run at 7, end at a comfortable 8ish, have breakfast before meeting friends for a uni ride at 9. Reality though was hopping off and checking in my unicycle at 730, finally locating the start point at around 745 and running off with this voice in my head telling me I had to finish by 9.
The run was probably more of 10.5km than 10km, maybe more. I finished in about 1:10, ran past the crazy lines at the Women’s baggage collection where hordes of angry sweaty females were waving their number tags at the counters, got my uni and cycled off into the day looking a little deranged with a can of 100plus and a bottle of water in each hand.
Then I got lost and ended up a whole train station further.
I think I should get back to running – at the same run last year I was clocking around that same time over a 21km distance. I also think I should be more conscious of doing things like stretching. My chest feels like it’s giving birth each time I breathe now.
August 13th, 2009 §
When I tell people that I need to cross timezones to travel to my driving school, I am not kidding. I took a stroll around the area and find myself, once again, in what qualifies as The Wilderness here in Singapore.
Little Guilin is right smack in the middle of housing estates and is surprisingly serene and picturesque. You can almost imagine spending the afternoon there, picnic mat laid out, feeding your loveydovey significant other a spoonful of curds and whey, then basking in love and warm sunshine.
You’d be lost in the moment and some turtles will drift on by and the doves will sing and dance and the world will once again seem like a beautiful place devoid of worries and frustrations.
But of course, the reality is, as you set your picnic mat on the pebbles, it catches fire due to the burning afternoon heat. And the illusion of paradise is shattered by the ugly high-rise buildings in the background that peek out like your belly from your leotards* after your 12397th mooncake.
*Note: Leotards are traditional attire when any Chinese family invites you over on Mid-Autumn Festival.
August 7th, 2009 §
The moon looks awfully round and big today. I don’t think I got it as sharp as I could – at the highest zoom, I couldn’t press the shutter without shaking the cam.
August 3rd, 2009 §
August 3rd, 2009 §
On a beautiful Sunday like it was yesterday, I went unicycling a lot on the beautiful green fields near my place. The grass was green; butterflies were flying; birds were chirping and the flowers were blooming.
I ascended the rolling hills, captivated by the pastures and cool summer breeze.
One of the paths eventually led to the riverside where the tired could take a breather and a cool sip of water.
The hustle and bustle of city life seems miles and miles away- it’s easy to be lost in your thoughts, ruminating on life and philosophy while staring at the clouds with your back on the ground.
And as I followed the path back out to civilization, I looked back and mumble a quiet goodbye to the unsullied lands.
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Who am I kidding? This being Singapore, the trails were hot, humid and the cesspool was brimming with mosquitoes. The wooden bridges had termites and mud and missing panels and my tire’s a little too worn.
Still, it’s a good place to build skill though – after 2 hours on this, I spent another 2 hours trying (and failing) over and over to seat drag properly. I will get it by the weekend.