A beginning of many bright days ahead. Here we go again!

quick note: Quaint Melody is on facebook, please ‘like‘ me!

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Season of whole
• Where I was
• Moonlight rendezvous
• Raindrops of yesteryear
• Light

It is still the same, the bright round sphere,
shining behind veils of thin clouds.
I gazed upon the illuminating moon, looking for that wonderland
In that faraway land where mystical tales live long,
Where dreams are realised and smiles beam bright.

千古明月依舊
中外人事已非

It’s been cloudy with occasion showers throughout the day, I thought I wouldn’t be able to see the moon tonight. Just a little after midnight I gazed upon the sky, and there it is, rays shining through my window sills. The photo is taken just after midnight. The positioning of the moon seemed to be somewhat different from this time last year. It’s funny how the moon almost always brings out feelings of melancholy and notalsgia for me. Must be the occasion. It’s the season of longing and love, it’s the season of whole.
Now tell me, did you see the moon tonight and how did it make you feel?

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Moonlight rendezvous
• Colours of autumn.
• Pathway
• At the dawn of light
• Idyllic bliss

Smile blossomed on your face, like a river flowing deep into my heart.
We laughed, cried, simply being silly together.
This winter . two souls . one heart
We’re finally home.

妳看到花，笑了。然後，我也跟著笑。 一切盡在不言中。

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Good things come in small ways
• Window of innocence
• Going home
• A song for you
• A lazy Sunday afternoon

It is funny, how quickly you move
Flowing through those happy moments in the blink of the eye
It is merciless how slowly you drag on
Through the dark and hollow hours

I am lost
In the waft that is time…

It is moments like this I shall persevere
Resting like a bear in hibernation
Long as I could I wait
For the idyllic days won’t be far
Longing for the psychedelic lights
Shinning upon me once again

我拼命想抓住那 時間的沙流
卻怎麼只有 空洞的風
陪我漫步欄柵

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Masquerade
• Daze
• Haste
• Blossoms
• Season of whole

It was the perfect way to start the day. I woke up to a knock on my front door.
A box of delights was sent from afar, by an angel who’s close to my heart.
It is little delight like this that makes life beautiful.

What was the delight that made your day?

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Touched by an angel
• Ugly beautiful
• Masquerade
• Going home
• Tenacious light

I was touched by an angel
In a sunny afternoon

The innocence in her eyes
It touches my heart
So pure, so full of hope.

I wish to grasp the moment
Hold it close to my heart
Still, it starts to diminish, as time goes by

Though, I’ll never forget that beautiful encounter
The sunny rays from an angel

希冀

在妳眼中閃爍的希冀
有一種純真的感動

我想把它緊緊地抓住
放進口袋裡

但那些真摯的年歲
終究還是  漸行漸遠

Post from: Quaint Melody

• A quaint encounter
• Feeling
• Morning delight
• Window of innocence
• Hold

As I slowly strolled between the majestic red walls, trying to imagine the days that were
A quaint feeling arose out of nowhere
A mixture of sorrow and grandeur; almost a weird sense of belonging
For a minute, I lost myself in the overwhelming rushes of emotions…

Stay tuned, more to come soon!

My apologies for the lack of updates lately, I’m having a grand time traveling at the moment. Thousands of photos have been taken, but this little laptop is simply not fast enough to process them all right now. Here’s one for your viewing pleasure. Can you tell where I was?

Post from: Quaint Melody

• There she goes again…
• Little things in life
• Dream holiday
• Haste
• Feeling

The little things in life
Ones worth savouring over
Those that seem so mundane and ordinary
Those worth a second look on many occasions

Time and again, we make choices
Decisions that mold us into the people we are today
Some righteous and some wicked
Of all we come to embrace
Of which we grow to love

Life can be an eccentric witch
Along come sorrow
But laughter is always not far away

Ain’t it grand!

note: You haven’t seen my expressive self over dropping comments because I’m busy planning an upcoming holiday, but I am reading via my reader. Stay tuned to find out where I’m heading!

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Where I was
• Of love and broken hearts
• Blog-hopping
• Idyllic bliss
• Lone star

When the glistering lights are finally quenched and darkness creeps in,
you will see the eloquent beauty of life.
Darkness can bring out the tenacity in us.

But are you afraid of the dark?

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Masquerade
• Ugly beautiful
• At the dawn of light
• Light
• Time

The path we choose to walk on
It can be a lonely one sometimes
Doubts and dispute, they creep in like a sneaky thief
Take heart, light is always not far away

I wonder between the good and evil
Trying to grasp that centre point
The delicate balance of life
It’s fragile like a bubble sphere

We live in a labyrinth, walking around the intricate maze
Taking in the scenery as I figure my way around
I see the light shining towards me
When will I reach there, I will never know
I just keep striding on
Letting out a resounding roar

When choice is a way of life, do we make them from our heart or the scrutiny of society?

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Season of whole
• Going home
• Flames of emotion
• My mountain
• Light

Happiness exploded into a jubilant of reds
I let my feelings run free
There’s no need to justify how I feel
Letting go is incredibly liberating
No matter what that might be

I hope you’ll find your sea of reds too

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Flames of emotion
• Feeling
• Light
• Euphoria
• Living life

I always feel a strong sense of harmony when I’m atop a mountain. The winds, the view and the calm air all form into a feeling of enchantment. The pensive thoughts diminished and I’m able to find the inner-peace. Mountains have that magical spell on me. Here, I can set myself free in the oasis of serenity. The world of hustle and bustle is left behind, I can hear my innermost thoughts and hear the rhythm of my soul. No fancy frills and thrills, just magical moments with me and myself.

When I take in the serenity in the air
I hold on tight to my heart and soul
Embracing my live as it is
Rediscovering the charming moments in life
My world as I see it, can be as wonderful as I want it to be

Post from: Quaint Melody

• A quaint encounter
• Lone star
• Idyllic bliss
• Of love and broken hearts
• Haste

It was a quaint encounter
I saw you moving along slowly with your pals
Pausing every other step to savour the rich lush green
Right to the top you went
Lazing away the steps
Not a care in the word

Trailing along in the chilly winds
I walk up to the top behind you
Suddenly, you turn, looking right at me

For a moment I lost my self staring right into your enthralling eyes
I saw a soul behinds those eyes
A soul so old and battered
A strong sense of empathy rose from my innermost thought
What it really was, I couldn’t tell
I just set myself free in this captivating moment
Letting the feeling wash over me

In the complete silence between us
In this beautiful and fateful encounter
Just you and me

Post from: Quaint Melody

• My mountain
• Touched by an angel
• Where I was
• Hold
• Good things come in small ways

The moon was beaming, stars twinkling across the universe
When I looked upon the sky, I thought of my loved ones
Though we’re miles apart, our hearts never felt so close

The rounded moon seemed to speak wonders
Illuminating scrolls of tales and dreams
Tales of love and togetherness
Songs of mellifluous melodies

I caught a spark in the dazzling light
and immersed myself in the majestic mist that is the night
I heard a quaint melody, coming from afar
From the land of mystical tales
Where dreams and emotions intertwine into a beautiful weave of symphony

明月高挂
悠悠地訴說著憂怨往事
幽思千古情恨
故人是否仍舊 孤寂

當我望向青空
憶起遠方親朋
人月是否 依舊

* Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese Festival. It is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon in lunar calendar. Read more about it here.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Season of whole
• Idyllic bliss
• There she goes again…
• Colours of autumn.
• Pathway

When the buzz is over and crowd has dispersed
A lone star is left at the stale scene
In its dreary state it stands alone
Months and years it awaits
Reminiscing the old glorious days
While awaiting its future to be made

There’s a bittersweet taste lingering in the air
Is it something new or an old familiar scent?
When all is done and said
What is left to savour
What is left to behold
Hope or despair?

When we say we are the owners of our destiny,
does it include those bleak moments in life?

********

I apologise if the sense of sorrow in this writing affects you. They just poured out of me when I was standing across the street snapping this scene. I believe that sorrow shouldn’t be something we repress but rather, embrace. It’s only when we truly face up to our demons and accept the dark places in us can we achieve true happiness and be totally content with ourselves.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Idyllic bliss
• Of love and broken hearts
• My mountain
• Haste
• Little things in life

Oh my child, hold on with your little hands.
One day they’ll be strong, strong enough to build a castle of your own.

It’s Friday Friday Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!

Post from: Quaint Melody

• A child’s innocence
• Touched by an angel
• Window of innocence
• My mountain
• Wintry Domain

Why does the sky seems so grey
Is it because of me
There’s no one left in sight
I feel the world closing in

Of all the places I’ve been to
All the people I’ve seen
People come and go
But memories, the memories of them cast footprints in my heart

As time goes by, I learn it’s all the grand plan of life
Of all the love and broken hearts
Of all the victories and battles
We’ll rise and shine again

*I notice Akismet is recognising some regular comments as spam. Don’t be alarmed, I’m keeping an close eye on it.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Blog-hopping
• Little things in life
• Idyllic bliss
• Light
• Happy parents day!

I took a moment and stood there in the middle of the busy street.
People passing by, quickly in their paces.
Of tourist, students and people in their business suits, none of them seemed to have a minute
to spare.
People rushing here and there, trying to fit in as much as possible in a day.
Steps so cold, life so hasty, in the fast lane of metropolis life.
As the steps advanced, precious moments are left behind.
Is it, worth it?

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Lone star
• Little things in life
• Where I was
• My mountain
• 5:52pm

A match of light can illuminate even the most impermeable darkness.
Where there’s light, there’s hope.

Happy Birthday my homeland, the place that always tucks my heartstrings.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Light
• Tenacious light
• At the dawn of light
• Light
• 24/7

Music is playing, people dancing around
I turn and turn, hoping to catch the tunes
I see wonders, in the smiles and laughters
I see sorrows, in the hesitations and pauses
Are they a facet or emotions from the heart
One couldn’t tell, we just take it on and dance away
I strike along, looking to grasp that pace of life
In the world of a big masquerade, going round and round…

Post from: Quaint Melody

• What a wonderful world
• Tenacious light
• Flames of emotion
• Living life
• Pathway

Words unsaid, but we know they are there.
It’s understood like the many subtle things in life.
You blink, and I return a tender gaze.
Not a word uttered, but it’s louder than ever.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Ugly beautiful
• Feeling
• Flames of emotion
• Little things in life
• A quaint encounter

I love -
Breaths of fresh air in the morning, sound of child’s laughter.
Tinkling sound of wind chimes, flows of clouds on blue skies.
Sights of dazzling colours of nature, smells of freshly brewed coffee from the cafés.
Smiles on strangers’ faces, melodious sounds playing round and round in my mind.

I love this beautiful day. I love this beautiful world.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Masquerade
• A beautiful feeling
• At the dawn of light
• Yesterday once more
• Colours of autumn.

5:52pm . Sunday . Queen Street
People hurrying away home, preparing for the week’s start.
A stray of orange clouds appear in the sky, over the heritage Civic Theatre.
I stroll along the street, observing the beauty that is the city.
Sunset came and went away, so beautiful, yet so quickly.
Like many things, it’s gone before we even realised it’s there.

Carpe diem! Seize the day!

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Light
• Haste
• Land of the long white cloud
• My mountain
• Silver lining

Let the emotions run wild, it’s a beautiful thing.
When things go your way, cheer away;
When things go awry, let out a roar;
When your heart is broken, cry aloud.
It’s what sets us apart, the ability to feel and express.
One of the many wonders of life.

I hope your weekend is plentiful!

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Feeling
• Masquerade
• A Jubilant of reds
• When thank you seems to fall short
• Going home

Walking along the path like a thousand times before,
My mind is muddy and body so worn,
There’s only one place I want to be,
Take me home, take me home.

A brown roof and a tall tall tree in the horizon,
The familiar blue door in sight, quiet light shining through,
I see you standing there, through an open door,
Arms spreading, with a smile.

When I lost my heart and the road seems to be leading nowhere,
It’s good to know there’s someone there,
I’m here now, it’s good to be home.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Pathway
• Light
• Flames of emotion
• Feeling
• Shadows in the sun

This photo disturbs me a little, but it’s also one of my favourites.
It seems so much like life. At times, it is like a bed of roses, but there will always be thorns lurking in the most unexpected corners;
When we thought things had hit their lowest, the lights often present itself during our most
forlorn state.
Sometimes. that little bit of imperfection is what makes it perfect.
That very shattered bits are what we need to put things back in perspective.

Disastrous yet hopeful, such is life.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Tenacious light
• Little things in life
• Masquerade
• The sound of silence
• A beautiful feeling

It’s been raining on and off the whole day, gloomy clouds and blue skies alternate in the space up above. Sitting by the window, the droplets of rain caught my eyes. Every single one of them seemed to be the same yet so different, forming dots that dazzled under the rays of the occasional sunshine.

As I was mesmerized by the psychedelic dots, a song started to loop in my mind. It’s not particularly special, yet seemed so fitting on such a day. The melody brought me back to those innocent years of youth, when everything was much simpler and free of worries. For a minute I lost track of time and space, I seemed to be back in those days, feeling the droplets of rain falling on me once more, round and round I twirled in the rain like I used to, into that golden year that seemed so faraway.

coming soon:

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Masquerade
• Yesterday once more
• Land of the long white cloud
• What a wonderful world
• Time

After what seemed to be two days of sunshine, the rain resumed. Gloomy clouds roam the skies once again. Although the greyness can turn one’s emotion to be melancholy, it certainly has done some good to my much neglected garden.

Isn’t that how life is? There’s always two sides to a story, always a silver lining in sight, although sometimes we need to really pay attention to see it. Much like the faint rainbow in the picture, it is there, just subtly, waiting for you to discover.

Sometimes, perception is everything.

UPDATE: The answer is here. Did you spot it?

Post from: Quaint Melody

• 5:52pm
• Light
• Of love and broken hearts
• At the dawn of light
• Land of the long white cloud

It was not a particularly eventful day, just one of those days when there was so much on my mind. I just wanted to get away. So off I went for a walk around the neighborhood, randomly snapping away. Along the way, I saw a familiar red van parked by the roadside. A postie was clearing the mails. I contemplated whether to approach him. It was then our eyes met and a smile greeted me. We struck a conversation and he kindly let me take some pictures. A few clicks later, I thanked him and we parted ways. As I saw the van disappear into the horizon, a smile blossomed on my face. It’s amazing how a kind gesture from a stranger can affect us. The brief encounter certainly brighten my day.

Fresh air, friendly souls. It’s wonderful how little it takes to put things back in perspective. On the way back, I saw the most breathtaking scene. Thus the story behind my previous pictorial post ‘Shadows in the sun‘. It was also the very same day I took the picture in the post ‘Window of innocence‘.

Let’s slow down our steps to do a second take, to admire the things around us. For good things come in small ways.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• A quaint encounter
• Window of innocence
• Ugly beautiful
• Touched by an angel
• Hold

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

It is so very true. One quote that applies to all, the old and young. How many times have we let something slip at the heat of the moment that hurt another person, only to regret it later? Is it worth that moment of verbal victory, especially when it comes to those we love and care about? The same goes for good things as well. When is the last time you gave your loved ones a hug and tell them how much you love them? Don’t wait till tomorrow for it may never comes. To live in the moment is to let those around you know they’re loved. Do it now!

My affirmation for today, never go to sleep without letting those you love know that you care. I shall hold on to this as a reminder, always.

The ability to love, that’s the greatest thing of all.

讓你愛的人感覺被愛，沒有什麼比這更幸福！

coming up next:

Post from: Quaint Melody

• A game of hide and seek
• Going home
• Flames of emotion
• Of love and broken hearts
• A quaint encounter

The panoramic view outside my window, on a beautiful winter evening. click photo to enlarge.

The Maori named New Zealand Aotearoa for a reason. It means ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud’. Sky like this is a common scene all year round. With the cotton-candy-liked clouds hanging low and extending into the distance.

As you know it’s been one hell of a winter, with continuous rain and strong winds. Yesterday was surprisingly a pretty clear day.The above photos were taken then.

I marveled over the beautiful sky, looking forward to the good days to come.

當輕風吹來，當白雲飄過，我心中輕輕響起典典韻樂。

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Silver lining
• Let’s talk about weather
• 5:52pm
• Shadows in the sun
• Wintry Domain

Let there be light,
to brighten the day; to shine away the darkness;
to chase away the shadows; to lighten up my soul.

Sitting in the middle of the room, darkness surrounding me.
The faint light coming from the lamp looks surprisingly luminous, irradiating my face.
Looking into the light, I feel mesmerized. Something so simple yet so illuminating.
The night suddenly feels so bright.

在黑夜裡尋覓絢麗的光環。期待，火花。

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Light
• At the dawn of light
• Light
• Tenacious light
• Season of whole

Life is -
Discovering the sights beyond clouds;
Hearing the voices through noise;
Embracing the raw emotions with your heart;
And most importantly seizing the day with open arms.

What is life to you? Do share with me.

開心地笑，痛快地哭，環手擁抱自己。
努力地發掘生命的色彩。
傾聽快樂的聲音，你我都可以。

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Euphoria
• Going home
• A Jubilant of reds
• Flames of emotion
• What a wonderful world

With shorter daylight, winter days seem to pass by quickly.
I was in a daze mostly. Many thoughts flew by my mind.
What does the future hold for me, I wonder.

在漫長的冬夜蟄伏，等待那一線初春的曙光。

Post from: Quaint Melody

• My mountain
• A beautiful feeling
• Land of the long white cloud
• This too shall pass
• Euphoria

Sitting in the dark, breathing in the cold air, feeling somewhat serene and enlighten.
Inner peace seem to finally find its way to my heart.
Just in time.
24/7, comes the day that I always look forward to as a child.
Happy Birthday to me.
Here’s to good things!

點點燭光，帶我回到那夢樣的年紀。
那年的夢想，在記憶裡釀成了酒。像消逝的年歲，醇香瀰漫，永留心中。

Post from: Quaint Melody

• A song for you
• A beautiful feeling
• Light
• My guardian angel
• When thank you seems to fall short

I pondered, over and over, searching for something that wasn’t there.
‘Let it be for now,’ a voice rang in my mind.
‘Just remember, this too shall pass.’

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Daze
• Of love and broken hearts
• Idyllic bliss
• Silver lining
• Light

It’s a beautiful feeling.
The rays of sunshine, the gust of cold wind in the morning,
the sound of leaves rustling.
Most of all, simply feeling alive. Life should be simple as that.

Post from: Quaint Melody

• What a wonderful world
• 24/7
• Light
• Silver lining
• Raindrops of yesteryear

A song has been playing in my mind for days. It is a song that reminds me of my adolescence years. How I wish I could turn back time, back to the time when everything was still simple as black and white. It was a much simpler time, when hardship of the days were homeworks and exams; when serious business meant fueling between friends; when the true ugliness of the world had not been dragged into the picture.

Tapping with the melodies, for a minute I thought I was in those naive years again. But it was just a memory lapse. I’m still here in my living room, listening to the song, over and over again.

yesterday once more Carpenters

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Raindrops of yesteryear
• 080808 Once in a hundred years
• Crazy Chow phenomenon
• Good things come in small ways
• Where I was

Darkness falls, but fear not. At the end of the passage, a light breaks through.

photography sunset Auckland

Post from: Quaint Melody

• Light
• Light
• 5:52pm
• At the dawn of light
• Tenacious light