HOW TO FIND MY SOUL // Last Dinosaurs live.

(Warning: Last Dinos puns ahead.)

  Sunday Night saw an enthused me, with the chance to see one of my favourite bands live. It was an evening I'd been looking forward to for absolute ages. What overcame me was an unexplainable, concurrent feeling of both effervescence and tranquility. After the first one or two songs, I realized how natural it was to be able Stream all their lyrics by heart. To me, Last Dinosaurs aren't all just about eccentric funky tunes, but way more. I've fond memories tied to their every circa 2012 track, and their second album was surely one to send me in a surreal frenzy yet again.

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  So imagine me, close-eyed and vividly singing along. Honestly, what an atmosphere there was - even right from the beginning. We met some extremely like-minded people. Everyone's energy was fuelled by one another's. It was bliss, in the womb of the venue, as every guitar riff and melodious nuance ricocheted off the walls; just the right Time and Place, you could say. And to be honest, I have certain opportunities to thank. This very highlight of my year, as minor as it may seem, was all managed in serendipity. The fruition of these events came about with me putting my foot forward, for something I love.

"I try to crystallize my fictive thoughts / You may not realise, but that's what I'm here for" — Evie

   That so happens to be writing. Never In A Million Years did I think I'd ever get the chance to meet/talk to any of the members of Last Dinos. Yet a while ago, I had a mountain of luck. Having the experience of firstly chatting to one of my musical idols was incredible (courtesy to Isolated Nation) - followed by the tangible occasion itself. I've found serious gratification in these intertwined passions. See, music has been a crazy paramount part of my existence and I quite literally could not live without it. Fuse that with writing, however, and you have yourself a winning deal.

"If or only you could feel this with me / Maybe you would change your mind, and tell me" — Always"

“Keep me in your flame, or burn me it’s the same / We're never gonna win” — Karma

  In the case of Last Dinosaurs, they are quite possibly the most sentimental band I've had the pleasure of pouring myself into. I Can't Decide what I'm more happy about - the experience of being within arm's reach of creators who have had so much of an impact on my wellbeing, or the fact that I got to tell them how their music has helped. There's just something about Wellness that is evocative of so many earnest emotions. Every verse has me floating, almost suspended out of this world. For weeks on end I'd chime with its words regarding the overall journey of self: songs purely devised of introspection, the focus on growth, some touching on mental health, and of course, good old nostalgic love. 

"If or only you could feel this with me / Maybe you would change your mind, and tell me" — Always

The conclusion: It's all Karma. Keep the positive energy flowing. Always stay grounded, know where you lie on the equilibrium scale. Take Your Time to assess it all. Remember your worth. You deserve the very best, nothing less. The patience pays off. Don't you worry, don't you blink. Let yourself take a chance. Things will go from Zero to hero before you know it. 

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CLOUDSTREET // theatre review.

Do you believe in miracles? I recently had the luxury of witnessing one at the State Theatre Centre in Western Australia. Not long ago, Yuxian suggested that we snap up our tickets for the closing night of Cloudstreet, a local production with tickets selling fast. Adapted by Nick Enright and Justin Monjo, the play is a powerful stage adaptation of Tim Winton’s acclaimed 1991 novel. As noted by director Gregory Jones, it delves into the themes of “spirituality, inclusion, community and a sense of belonging.” Cloudstreet hits particularly close to home, proving to be one of the most successful works of Western Australian drama.

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Sydney iPhone diary.

  Hello! I'm not dead. It's been a while since I've had a proper life update, or since I've been on here really. I've missed being able to blog. If only I could succinctly sum up the past month or so... at best, it's had its up's and down's but I am just indebted to what I have - even if melancholy kicks in when it pleases. I haven't had exciting pursuits up my sleeve since the start of term, but for now, I'd love to share my overdue Sydney travels.

  So, this girl went to Sydney three weeks ago. What was most exciting was that I hadn't been back there for a decade! I grew up on the suburbian outskirts of the city but fail to recall very much. I was only in town for the weekdays so I knew I had to make the best of it. I grabbed a few great suggestions of places to visit + things to do, off my beloved blog friends (thank you Tara, Bella and Gerry!) My camera haplessly malfunctioned the night before my flight, hence I relied on my trusty iPhone for visual documentation. (Do excuse the horrendous quality! My camera still needs replacing, which has me heartbroken.)

DAY 1 // KING CITY   →  Darling Harbour, Sydney CBD, Sydney Fish Market, Thaitown
Touched down, checked in, scoped out the streets and famous landmarks, then met up with a great friend of a friend. I've only ever known him through his digital presence, so it was pleasant seeing someone so dear to my friend in person.

I also saw another familiar face - guess who! Whilst out and about, I bumped into Bella out of pure coincidence. Yep, the kickass Bella from Sincerely, Isabella. We were literally just passing by each other when we had a moment of recognition. If that's not luck, I don't know what is.

DAY 2 // LOST ON ME    →  Newtown
Made plans to see Bella in the evening. We met up at Newtown, a quaint little suburb on the outskirts of Sydney, with plenty of groovy nooks and crannies. I instantly understood why it was of such great repute. We had a very late afternoon tea @ the Milk Bar cafe, after she took me round to have a look at the cemetery and parklands.

We mulled over our thoughts, creative pursuits and current lives over sweet potato fries. She's honestly such a darl. I'm very thankful for the time we had, as that girl's got one heck of a busy schedule. (It's miraculous how this is the 4th person I've met through blogging! Someone my age, too, so there was a lot to relate with. Life can be pretty cool sometimes.)

DAY 3 // QUIET ACHIEVER   →  White Rabbit Art Gallery, Hyde Park, Surry Hills
Imbued with a sense of unforgiving wanderlust, Wednesday's lone adventure was fixated on the White Rabbit Art Gallery. I thought venturing out of my comfort zone would serve me more good, and I was right this time. It's a place I've longed to visit, since I've heard rave reviews about it. There was absolutely spectacular art; contemporary Chinese artists are certainly very outside-the-box.

Not to mention, their inbuilt cafe had the most relaxing ambience. Its iconic ceiling decor was comprised of numerous clustered bird cages, and never before had I seen such unique work. I had a pot of oolong tea and scones all to myself. Later on, I caught up with my long-time family friend Katrina. It was sweet to chat after having not seen her in the last few years.

DAY 4 // NANGS   →  Newtown, Circular Quay, Paddy's Markets, Sydney CBD
Lo and behold, we've reached the most exciting bit: 24 entire hours with Mariel! We've been dreaming of this day for ages. (You might know that she moved to Sydney early last year.) The first half of our day consisted of us venturing to Newtown again. There was too much hype to pass it up.

However, it rained torrentially - and needless to say, that dampened things a little. We ate at Moo Burgers, and walked round and had some coffee @ Brewtown. Everything up to the latter was a string of odd experiences, but by the time we settled down for that much-needed drink, things started to pick up. (Let's take a moment to thank the universe for puppies and caffeine.)

We took a much anticipated trip to Circular Quay, home to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. There were some eccentric exhibitions that we uncovered, but our exploration was short. By the time we had to meet up with my Mum and her friends for dinner, we hadn't gone nearly as many places as we'd planned. (Think ever so iconic Bondi and other wonderful spots. I guess there's always next time!)

We did go to Paddy's Markets - even though we would've rathered the chance to visit the Glebe/Kirribilli/Rozelle ones. But in all honesty, I was just way too glad to be able to have physical time with Mariel. (Plus, what better way to wind down after a day's adventure with scrumptious Thai? I kid you not, I had Thai almost every day. No regrets.) When someone you hold close is unwittingly separated by distance, every second you have with them is profound.

DAY 5 // TOTAL ZOMBIE   →  back home!
It was the last day. It was out of lazy nature, too. I slept in rather late (as my sleeping schedule consisted of failed attempts and as a result, me being up till 3am). I got to spend the rest of the day with Katrina, and after dinner we had to say our goodbyes. Fortunately though, I'll be seeing her fairly soon. You know, I thought of the life I could've had - if I were to have stayed in Sydney. I thought of how close I was to growing up and belonging to a city so great, and of course, every other little wishful thought showed up. It's crazy, when you think of how different you could be just by living in another state. I pledged to myself though, that I'd be back again someday.

On a side note, if you're a fan of my Musical Muses series, I have another playlist in store for you! The kind Erin from Being Erin let me do a guest post - now, I'm always in awe of her playlists for every occasion - so of course I had to share some suitable holiday tunes. It corresponds quite a bit to this post. Head on over to have a listen!

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Eventually.

  I've come back around.

  I've missed this - being able to sit down and sift through my thoughts. Ever since Year 11 started, I've dedicated less time to myself and the logistics of my feelings. Having the no-school examination period for the past fortnight, however, has let my mind evaluate and wander. As such, I'm restless. On the other hand, I've also been wildly content.

  The gist: I'm in a good place now. Exams have ended and I'm honestly so excited for the next two months. Winter starts tomorrow. To be honest, this week has been great (apart from my last few exams, but hey, they're done and dusted). I can't wait to get out there with the warmth of company and capture sporadic moments. In fact, I already have for the past few days and I'm left wanting more.

Taking: advantage of the post-exam break. There's been quality time with more than a couple of friends, all resulting in smiles.
Needing: to learn meditation. Stress can really take me by surprise.
Reading: lots of the Thought Catalog. Particularly a fan of The Lost Art Of Giving A Shit and Read This If You're Worried You'll Never Find 'The One'. (both by Heidi Priebe)
Looking: to be a part of something that offers/demands the prospect of reform.
Enjoying: afternoons of languor and strengthened bonds.
Wishing: for some rad under 18 music gigs. (Yes The Wombats and Last Dinosaurs, I'm looking at you.)
Loving: my favourite Youtuber's vlogs, as well as Buzzfeed's innovation. This concept especially.
Marvelling: at this rendition of Eminem's Lose Yourself, in sign language.
Bookmarking: a bunch of band merchandise and albums.
Wanting: immerse myself in new urban and rural scenes. I want to be a little more exposed, and less sheltered.

Drinking: chai lattes and hot tea. We found the best chai latte yesterday thanks to Chels.
Finishing: Season 2 of Suits. I've still a long way to go, I know!
Wondering: how on earth magicians do what they do. (I went on a bit of a watching spree. Think Darcy Oake, Smoothini and Mat Franco.)
Leaving: ample time for myself.
Knowing: I could do with better improvisation/acting skills. Or, I could stay on the sidelines and just watch Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Opening: up to strangers, and getting worthy words in turn.
Thinking: about the ways in which I would respond to situations like these.

Giggling: a tad too much (at virtually anything).
Hoping: I get my sleep schedule on track. Sleepovers and late-night show binging are guilty causes.
Liking: the heartwarming, unsugarcoated journey of the film, Boyhood. (Picked up on some Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, Gotye and Atlas Genius in there! Scooore.)
Keeping: melancholy at bay.

(Look familiar? This post is a little spin on this one.)

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Mind, drips.

  I'm in Singapore! Yep, that's right. Yet again for the end of year holidays. My first outing of course had to include Benita, one of my favourite girls here. We decided the art museum would be a compelling place to visit. Before we boarded the train, she gave me a few late Christmas gifts - amongst it was band lyric stickers. (Seriously, how sweet of her! They were absolutely perfect, and so hard to come by too.) We picked up right where we left off, with a million things to catch up on. 

  What really caught my eye was the wet-look paint drip decor on the wall of stairs. It was an intriguing welcome to what had been awaiting us upstairs. We were rather keen to see the exhibitions, and of them all we first viewed Still Moving. We approached the room to our first left, shrouded in darkness. This piece above was mesmerizing; a spherical lattice of golden drops. Another enjoyed aspect was the caged abdomen of a metal seal rising up and down to mimic breathing. The wire work as well as the carefully shaped sand helped to exude a sense of mystery to its hidden story. The next piece was of three projector screens showing a montage of worldly scenes, then visually focusing on unspoken of impacts of a natural disaster on human communities.

  Next up was Medium at Large. We found ourselves instantly drawn to the bursts of colour in the exhibition, unlike we had previously failed to comprehend before. The pieces we took particular interest in were Untitled by Mit Jai Inn, April 2008, Tokyo by Chua Chye Teck and Ian Woo's First Heart, Head, Neck and Wing (in order). The structure and variation of techniques in the last piece was noteworthy for me, especially on such a simple medium.

  We began to wrap things up at around 3pm. We walked around the perimeter of the reinvented museum, formerly a 19th century mission school, exploring its every corner. The intricate tiles and ivory pillared walls were of admirable grandeur. We left the place after popping into its souvenir shop, filled with contemporary goods of Singaporean trademarks.

   Right after, we headed for an immensely late lunch. We both settled for ramen and wholesome matcha drinks. Throughout all our conversation topics it was as if Benita was reading my mind, and basically dictating everything I thought of prior to speech. This is what 8 years of friendship gets you, which I can't help but smile about. It was soon past 5pm and we then window shopped at some iconic stores, like Topshop, The Editor's Market and H&M. See, I've made a vow to not spend money on unnecessary things that won't provide memorable experiences. Though Benita's thinking of taking me to another fashion hotspot on the weekend, so who knows if I'll commit!

  Getting locked from my dad's place at 8pm led to impromptu dinner plans. I fortunately grabbed a Starbucks to unwind, on the way to meeting my parents. I ordered an iced decaf Caramel Frappuccino and the guy who took my order was so darn lovely. It's hard to come by good service in Singapore. I already miss home, the warm people and day-to-day ambience.

  Though I think, if I stop being miserable and keep myself occupied for the next month, Singapore could grant me the best start to 2015. I'm still in awe of 2014 slipping away from my fingers, and hence will spend the last day carefree.

  How about you? How are you spending New Year's Eve?

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