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“Imagining a life spent by the beach with every surfing adventure, a lifestyle that revolves around finding and riding wave after wave — knowing that that sort of high is simply within reach — and the utter simplified life, consciously relaxing your mind and forgetting all the other life matters as you paddle out to meet that wave you’re going to ride.

I’m no longer surprised why there are folks who choose to live to surf.”
– Siargao, uncovering the life in and around the ocean

I still wake up to the call of the waves, sometimes. Yes, my heart’s set on answering.

I’ll see you again, Siargao.

Trivia: Photo taken at Cloud 9, Siargao, Philippines; October 2011.

Explore:

• la Mère et l’Enfant
• The Pursuit of Love
• On My Way Home

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Change that forges its way through and around obstacles towards its destination. Carves, reacts, erodes, and deflects. Creates art, sustains life. Resourceful and noble, an immeasurable and fleeting force.

It can adapt. We are only asked to respect it. It is infinitely wiser than we ever dare think it to be. It knows where it’s going and that’s where it will ultimately end up regardless of what it may encounter. You can try to control it, manipulate it, destroy it. In the end, you’ll realise that you may never lord over it at all.

Always with hope,
Sasha

Trivia: Photo taken on my way up to the ridge of the Mt Pinatubo Crater, Zambales, Philippines, July 2010.

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Cold wind caresses my face; I refuse to turn away. My mind had seen what my eyes had not. I hold on to my heart and let it do what it does best. My hands can only obey.

In swiftness, in haste.
What is there to see?
Quickly, quickly —
Do things make sense?

Emotion champions over reason. I loved and loved deeply. You touch my thoughts in fragments, in bursts. Do I? Should I? Why would I? But I’m left with just this memory of having loved you deeply.

In swiftness, in haste.
What is left to see?
Quickly, quickly —
Will anything ever make sense?

Trivia: Pine trees, clouds and the blue sky. Taken whilst in transit on the winding roads leading to Camp John Hay in Baguio, Philippines; May 2009.

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I wonder if I truly see the true beauty of the mundane. A life we consider extraordinarily dull may just be a rare gem for others. Do we pause and say thanks for letting us get a glimpse of their treasure?

We scoff at the everyday rustics of the roads we take in life. Are we really all that far above them? Perhaps if we take a moment and let the flare of light get pass the reflection of ourselves that we seem to have mired our vision of the rest of the world, we’ll see that moments pass in a blur and yes, taking stock in the little things will eventually count.

Life is like that it seems.

Hey, Mr. Man: That day made me long for you to come and take me home a little more than usual.

Lead me to your door, take me where you are.. at least for just a while.

Trivia: Taken whilst in transit along the rural roads of Laguna headed back to Manila; April 2009.

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A sick day brings back memories of a recent trip to Australia. The land of green and gold. Thoughts of Summer often cheer me up.

Starting with the little things. One would simply walk past them without a second glance. Missing the beauty of something wild and untamed. How it adapts and changes with its surroundings.

To the bigger things.

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Panoramic views of cliffs, fields and trees in high contrast to the deep blue colour of the sea that can inspire the artist in you. Churning out a multitude of ideas on how to capture everything in all it’s majesty. It’s a wonder how people opt to drive in speeds that don’t allow them to take all these things in.

To travel is to nourish one’s soul, I believe.

Trivia: First photo was taken lomo-style while walking – Star of Greece, Port Willunga, South Australia; January 2009. Second photo was taken whilst in transit from up North headed back the the Southern suburbs of Adelaide; January 2009.

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The sun blinds my eyes but I see you. Or, at least, the idea of you.

Hold my hand. Feel the wind. Savour the sand beneath our feet. Let the waves chase us.

Laughter. Stories. Photographs. And miles and miles of road ahead of us.

New year, new hope.

One simple wish.

That I’ll soon start taking roadtrips with you.

Trivia: Photo taken whilst in transit. Whizzing past numerous roads, Northbound. Australia, January 2009. Thanks, S.

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Sometimes, I’d pause and weigh if it’s best to toil and rebuild or to just leave it be. There’s a certain beauty in the rumbles, you see. Aged, rough, discoloured, and life seems to have flourished around it.

I’m sure of its majesty when it was first built. Any new thing always has that particular attractive element. It’s always fresh and novel.

But what of museums and historical sites? Why are they more precious than any new thing? I’m still looking to find an answer to that question.

Personally, I believe that beauty and value comes with time. Aged, rough, discoloured and esp because life had flourished around it.

Trivia: Photo taken of the Ta Prohm Temple (think Tomb Raider) situated somewhere in the Angkor Region, Siem Reap, Cambodia; February 2008.

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Looking at a block alone, you’d wonder how something good will ever come out of it. It looks plain. It seems like it really won’t amount to anything of value. But take a second look and this time, really look.

The block is strong enough to be a foundation of something bigger than itself.

Sure it won’t act alone. It will need other blocks to complete the task. To make that bigger thing possible. But without that one block, the rest will not achieve anything, too. They’re all part of the whole.

There are certain things in this life that will seem unsightly; something you’d assume you can do without. However, these things may be the very things that make everything else work. They’re the things that will make your foundation secure. They’re the building blocks made strong for all the bigger things to come.

It’s often good to take a long, hard second look, yea?

Trivia: Photo taken on Angkor Wat Temple grounds, Siem Reap, Cambodia; February 2008.

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A tall massive, skyscraper will never fail to capture the attention of anyone who passes by. Looking up will make you realise you’re small; feel less significant.

But did you know that you’re bigger and more majestic than any of the skyscrapers in the world? You are actually a whole lot stronger. You can make skyscrapers but skyscrapers cannot make you. You have the ability to destroy one; in turn, if it wishes to destroy you, it must first destroy itself. Its beauty and splendour will fade.

Whereas, you move. You grow. More importantly, you have love.

You are indeed small and insignificant against it, then again, you’re larger in so many ways.

Trivia: Photo taken outside the Saigon Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; February 2008.

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An unexplained fondness of balloons. Never really questioned it. Drawn to it just like a child would be.

I had always wanted to have one. I’d bring it home, tie it somewhere, and just watch it float. Sometimes, I’d tie it around my wrist or hold the string between my fingers as I walk about the house. There are times when I would let it go, but only within the confines of the house so I can easily retrieve it.

But then there are memories of seeing balloons float away. Out of my reach, gone forever. I remember the feeling of loss. I had never wanted to see the balloon go.

That’s probably why I had stopped bringing them home. I had taught myself to ignore them, however strong the desire is. I had hardened myself to it. What is the use of wanting something if it’s not going to last?

But in remembering these things, I’ve found wisdom.

Like balloons, wishes and dreams have enchanted me. As a child, I had wished for certain things to be a part of my life. I held on to dreams with fervor, relishing in their presence, never wanting to let go. But we all know that nothing in this world lasts, right?

I had failed to realise that bit of wisdom in time. With all the disappointments, I had chosen to ignore my dreams; the wishes of a child. My life thus changed.

Life without dreams is an empty life that much I’ve realised.

If I still have all the balloons I’ve ever had then my life would be filled with unnecessary clutter. How can I move freely? Will I have enough room for other balloons to enter my life?

Isn’t it the nature of the balloon to float and fly? Isn’t it more beautiful to see it being carried off by the wind, floating up towards the sky? A child would believe that it will reach the clouds, reach places one can only dream of reaching. Wouldn’t that be a better way of perceiving things?

The lesson of learning to let go of wishes and dreams is something I’m taking with me; from this memory of my balloons.

I’d rather be living even when it means a million times I have to let go. I choose to believe as a child would. Find joy in dreaming, believe without flinching, and let go like I now know how.

Dreams, like balloons, can be found in the most ordinary of places. I just have to keep expecting.

I’ll bring home a balloon again and will be happy to see it go; let it be carried off by the wind simply because I know it will be as it should be and everything will be all right.

I’m grateful for a life filled with second chances.

Trivia: Top photo taken outside the Basilica de Santo Niño, Cebu City; May 2007. Bottom photo taken in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; February 2008.

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