Dolphins at riverside.

Soft,warm and purple,the shiny steamed eggplant was stuffed with deliciously marinated meat. Next, we tasted seafood wrapped in delicate sheet of white flour. Yum Cha. Where my best friend and i pig out late on a Sunday morning.

We ate with a gusto, after a great night out. It started with Trina's graduation dinner at a lovely Italian place.It started with Freakonomics, the conversation. Floating in the realm of ideas and opinions, it was almost relaxing,natural and joyful. Some people prefer light banter, but it seemed too tempting to ignore, to explore, to challenge my belief system. What is right? Inherent feelings and its warping with logic. Another perception,another detail, another principle,another reason. Spiritual growth and friendship. Are they one and the same?

Little Jumbo, for such a cute name, the place seemed a little too sophisticated. Lilting, jazzy music wafted around the candlelit tables. Pretty cocktails. Happiness. Perfect place to reward oneself. I hope for a lot of nights like this when I am working one day, hopefully with someone whom i regard as my soul mate.

Back to the jasmine tea at Yum cha. We walk out of the restaurant satiated and like all girls, start shopping. We were goofing around when we tumbled upon Shlix, a gelato place as good as Il Dolce Fredo in Melbourne. Winter in Brisbane is not really winter, and the creamy, soft coloured flavours of gelato is just what we could not resist.

Impulsiveness goes hand in hand with a quirky sense of adventure. Kylie and I decided to walk the hilly roads all the way to New Farm where we found a magnificent view of the Story Bridge. We also saw beautiful newlyweds and their family. The bride was radiant.Her blue eyes were dancing with joy whereas the groom's eyes was tender and never wavering far away from his lady trapped in layers of crushed white lace. Mellowed with thoughts how lovely life was,we walk down the hill to stroll by the river.

Dup.dUp.DUp.DuP.Same feelings,same urges,same trains of thought.

The strangely hypnotising music under the massive bridge kept us rooted on the spot. Then we screamed. As loud and as long as possible before bursting into fits of giggles.

A little glimpse of a fin. Was it a shark? I yelped excitedly and grabbed Russell and Kylie. We waited and waited, but nothing seemed to be in the water. I saw it!..so i waited. A while later we spotted not only one but two dolphins! They were swimming playfully in sync in the stinking Brisbane river. We decided this was the highlight of the day and followed them all the way to Riverside. Then,we watched sunset in silence.

Later, we walked into the Groove Thing for the first time, and i liked wine for the first time. The classy yet homely interior design, the river and the gorgeous food is probably what that made Rachel choose this place for her birthday this weekend.

It was now getting dark. We were wrong about the highlight of the day. We had two. The moon was so large and low on the horizon,I thought it was the streetlight. City ferry ride across the river to our favourite fish and chips place. We had dinner and I head to Batavia to wait for another set of friends to watch Batman.

Batavia and a book.oh boy. I am definitely doing this again. They make the best tea. The chai aroma captured the beauty of the heavy Indian/Arab decoration. I read a book that was almost decorated similarly. Beauty was strangely tangible that night.

Batman. It was violent. Why does the society shrieks at physical violence and treats emotional violence lightly? Heath Ledger's acting was great, and his emotional depth made me wonder what was really going on with him. My heart hurt for him,and i wondered how many more people in the world, look alright from the outside but are in a spiralling turmoil, slowly withering away.

I cried all the way home.

It was such a perfect day, my first day of holiday.


p/s:Christian Bale was hot.

A little pick-me-up :)

Sometimes, when I feel lost,bruised and beaten, i read this email from mum.

It never fails to put a smile on my face, and the day gets better.

Much love, Lava


They're written by Andy Rooney , a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words. Enjoy.......



I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned....That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned....That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned....That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned....That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned....That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned....That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned....That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned....That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned....That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned....That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned...That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned....That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned....That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned....That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned...That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned....That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned...That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned....That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned....That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned....That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned....That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned....That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned....That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned....That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned....That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Happiness

She could almost taste it, the constant beginning of smiles.

A few pages to dwell on first. Relaxing, sunny morning ferry ride, passing the tall, formidable buildings. Bright blue, glimmering water by riverside, the cold air kisses her plump cheeks, letting strands of hair run astray. The yachts dance lightly with ripples from the citycat on the left while the smartly dressed crowd sip on their coffee in the trendy cafes littered on the right.

She peeks again at the lapping water, then the sky, calmness sweeping over. Confidence.

Up the curvy stairs. Magnificent architecture.

Keep walking, trying to be graceful in heels, till she reaches her destination. She now sees herself, for what she could not perceive before. The difference is, now she also envisions what others perhaps, did not see in her.

A dream, of values and mind, fused together.

Of trust and friendships

Friendship is weird.

Full laughter and sillyness.
Happy times and tears.

Respect and kindness,
Tenderness and trust.

No standards to be lived up to.

It is a funny feeling.