Instinctively I agreed. It's always about the smallest and most simplest of things, isn't it? A simple short stroll in the campus at night with a nice breeze with awesome company and looking at the sky together. There was something serene and zen about it that I can't put a finger to. I didn't mind leaving school only at 11pm.

And then I started thinking about the simple and free things in life that's always awesome. And I figured, that as we humans get more technologically advanced, we're plugged in or wired up almost every second. Plug in to the mp3/iPod when we are travelling, wire up to the internet when we are in school, build connections with our handphones. That's why I will appreciate it when my handphone runs out of battery when I'm outside. Well, after getting over the initial panic of being uncontactable and lacking a means of communication, I find myself no longer needing to worry if I missed out an sms from someone - I'm out of the house, I'm uncontactable, and now I can do anything and go anywhere I want without disturbance. Yes of course I know this cuts both way but I think I've made my point.

Going back to the issue of free things in life, inevitably the play of mankind VS nature comes to mind. We always celebrate the human spirit when we push ourselves to surpass our past achievements and raise the bar/standards. Indeed, when Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE was unveiled on 4th January this year, I was amazed by the advancements of mankind that has allowed us to build a building standing at 828m. But I recall being at Taipei 101 last year (which held the title of the tallest building in the year prior to Burj Khalifa's completion), and as much as I was wow-ed by sheer presence of the building, there seems to be something lacking. Maybe it's because when we are in that state of awe, we are not so much awestruck by the sheer height, but rather, people are more interested in the view of the surroundings and unmistakenly, the sunset.

There's something so simple about sunset that makes it so magical. It's free, and you can see it everyday, yet people can never seem to have enough of it. The warmth of the sunset, the magnificent view that blankets upon the land, the stillness of the whole event - it's just naturally breath-taking that you stay captivated, not wanting to miss any moment of it.

I would think it great to have the company of a few friends to share the breath-taking moment - to do something together that's simple yet amazing;

or be in the company of that special someone while gazing at the sun dipping beneath that horizon - holding hands as if it's a sign of promise and commitment which the sun witnesses, to be in the arms of each other, 2 hearts beating as one, so as to minimise the disturbance;

or to simply spend the view in solitude - pensive, self-reflexive, indulging in the beauty of nature.

Had wanted to go on more about the grandeur of nature and other issues, but I think it's somehow apt to put a stop here, for now. There's something inexplicably breath-taking.

Somehow I found myself to be in the blogging mood while in school during a random break in between lessons, but I don't exactly have very well sorted out thoughts right now. So found this partial draft entry which has been overdue for weeks. Ohwells, so here goes.

I remember writing this sentence for an intro to an exposition essay in secondary school:

Many people walk in and out of your life, but only heroes leave footprints.

Well, if I still go by this, then I would have had many many heroes in my life already. I realise that most people who have crossed my path in life generally do leave their footprints - be it a pleasant mark that I can look back and smile to myself, or the ostensibly indelible less-than-desirable bruise.

Well, that aside, maybe I should change my definition of a 'hero' to someone who has influenced me to leave positive footprints in other people's life.

Just want to look back at 2009 as I step into the new year 2010. As people have told me, and as I do myself admit, 2009 has pretty much been a year of great change. In many aspects, both internally, externally and more.

First up, perhaps the most noticeable change (especially for my church frens), is the apparent heightened consciousness pertaining to fashion. Not that I have transformed from a caterpillar to a butterfly, or from a fashion noob to a fashionista - but more of someone who now pays more attention to looking better. Of course I'm not at the forefront of the ever-changing retail industry, but definitely now I'm more aware of things. And on the topic of self-grooming, well, you might possibly assert (as what my parents definitely do think) that I have become more vain. That largely depends on how you define vanity. If vanity means taking an extra look in the mirror to make sure that everything goes well and is in place, if vanity means becoming more particular about appearance, if vanity becomes more aware of personal grooming, then yes I have become more vain. But if vanity means reading every single piece of fashion news, if vanity means reading fashion websites/blogs and attempting to emulate them, if vanity means thinking that appearance is much more important than the inside, then no, I have not become more vain. And to the hero that has made me more aware and initiated into this whole new era, well, that's something you have left behind in my life that I can possibly never forget.

On the inside, I have become more settled (or so I think), more shameless (not entirely in the negative sense), more aware of my shortcomings, etc.

Ah, just one more person to thank, for being that (more or less) constant in my life last year, especially through all the crap, and thanks for bearing with my crappy moodswings. And for remembering all the seemingly silly and unimportant details which actually speak volumes. The chat with you last week really made me realise how I was like last year. And to this hero, I just wanna thank God for all that He has given me, and you, that as much as it was really scary to know that you still remember all the things which I did not even articulate, and even unsettling to hear that you could sense the underlying undertones, it's pretty awesome to know that there's someone who is that in sync especially when I didnt think it was the case. :)

Just a short one for 2009. I think I'll leave most of it to memories. Here's to an awesome 2010, or rather, more fulfilling and meaningful and even humbling year.

Halfway through my criminal law readings for Tuesday - will do the other half tomorrow. I should be heading to bed at such an unearthly hour, given that I need to be in school around 10-ish for more research and my day tomorrow probably only ends around 10pm. So that's a good 12hours in school.

Somehow, I'm feeling this zen now. At a most weird time, to say the least. I'm not done with my school work, I have choir scores to revise/memorise, I have to wake up early, I'm not exactly having things going most smoothly, having personal stuff to sort out, having church work to ponder about, and of course the list can go on indefinitely. Yet, it's really weird. It's a subtle zen that I have not been acquainted with.

I'm pretty sure I'll be back on this space pretty soon - sometime this week. I've got lots of sorting out to do, to ramble about some issues, and more importantly, to sort out the balance for school-church-others.

Alright then. What an anti-climatic first post for 2010. And on a very belated note, blessed 2010 to everyone out there, and may the Lord continue to lead, guide and bless each and everyone of us, for Great is His faithfulness, in His time and in His plan! :)