a tear falls

Photo from Photobucket

a tear falls
frozen in midair
by your coldness

Beijing Sojourn

We visited Beijing (formerly known as Peking) in China in April 2006. It was spring and the beautiful blossoms of the plum, peach and magnolia were in full bloom. The first places that we visited were the Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City. They were large and it took us a few hours to cover these two places. Next we took a rickshaw ride through Beijing’s Hutong which is a neighbourhood of narrow streets surrounding the Forbidden City. The Hutong gave us a glimpse of how ordinary people live. That night, and for a few nights more, we feasted on Peking Duck. To me, Beijing’s Peking Duck is the best that I have ever tasted!
And then, it was to the Great Wall! We went to the Badaling Section of The Wall which is said to be the easiest to climb. While up The Wall and looking down at the barren rolling hills below on the outside, I suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu. I felt as if I was back among my comrades defending The Wall against the Mongolian hordes and I joyfully shouted out to them, “I have returned!” (in Chinese, of course). My wife and daughter were startled but not surprised; they know that I can be strange at times. However, the other sightseers seem to keep their distance after that.

Bali - Kecak and Fire Dance

The photos are of the “Kecak and Fire Dance” that we watched at a place called Uluwatu in Bali in November 2008. It was performed in the evening at an open-air theatre above a sheer cliff high above and overlooking the Indian Ocean and close to the famed Uluwatu Temple.
Accompanied by a choir of chanting and singing men dressed in sarongs, the dance around a fire tells the story of how Rama defeated the evil Rhawana to rescue his love, Sita. It was an enchanting evening as night quickly fell and the moon and the stars came out to watch the dance too!
This holiday is my favourite because it was the very first time that my family (the kids and us) went on an overseas trip together.

Huddled in the cold

Pic by kellied263

huddled in the cold
beyond the glare of neon lights
a forlorn Christmas

A stroll hand in hand

a stroll hand in hand
in cold desolate autumn
your soulmate and you

a glimpse of summer

Kyoto, Nov 2009. Pic by Lee Swee Wei.

a glimpse of summer
beyond autumn’s crimson veil
nature’s tapestry

Yesterday's sunshine

Kyoto, Nov 2009 by Lee Swee Wei

yesterday’s sunshine
fluttering in the cold wind -
golden leaves of fall

A quiet puddle

Photo taken at the Taiping Lake Gardens


a quiet puddle
yearns for yesterday’s rainbow
gentle autumn rain

A chorus of chimes

Pic taken at Chang Rai, Thailand.


a chorus of chimes
dainty bells ring in the sun
on a windswept day

The daffodil

Photo by Cheezbucketgirl.

I gazed upon a daffodil
lazing in the dawn.
Drooping in the morning chill
she then gave a yawn.
With a shriek that shook the hill,
in a flash I was gone!

Tropical Delight

Soft hairy spines on the outside
Around an oval or round shape;
A woody seed on the inside.

The colour changes as it grows,
From green to yellow and to red;
And like the flowers of the rose,
The fruits are clustered in a head.

Remove the leathery thin rind;
A whitish fruit just like a grape
With succulent flesh you will find.

The juicy type clings to the seed;
It’s watery and often drips.
It’s the firm type I like indeed
That’s crunchy like potato chips.

[a roar]

Pic by Tammy_M

a roar
swirling in the mist
waterfall

[in the morning]

in the morning
above a still muddy lake
a lotus blooms


The lotus grows in muddy water and rises above the surface at dawn to bloom into a beautiful flower, unstained by the mud. As such, it is a symbol of purity as well as hope.

Atop My Favourite Hill

When I returned to my old house,
Nostalgia creeps in to arouse
A yearning for the days of old,
Of childish spats and antics, bold;
When peace prevailed across the land
Of lush green fields and grazing cows;
I will wait for you, yes I will,
Atop my favourite hill.

I gaze upon the old hill there,
Upon the hill slopes with parts bare;
Where brownish rooftops seem to hide
Among the treetops that abide;
The roads below wind gently and
Loud honks of car horns fill the air.
I will look for you, yes I will,
Atop my favourite hill.

Like sentries, lampposts queue in line
Beside the trees that grow so fine;
Inviting birds to have a rest,
Thick cables wait for their behest;
With crickets chirping as a band,
The only thing we lack is wine.
I will dance with you, yes I will,
Atop my favourite hill.

Where is the cool, swift-flowing stream
Where minnows frolic in my dream?
Where are the gorgeous butterflies
Which dance amongst the flowers, nice?
If I knew who is in command,
If I could lay my hands on him …….
I will cry with you, yes I will,
Atop my favourite hill

by their beds

by their beds
a cupboard filled with memories -
old folks’ home