AT THE SPEED OF NOOR

Dang Wangi LRT station has two entrances, but only one of them has a 2-way escalator and an elevator, while the other only has an escalator that goes down, to the underground track. Both entrances have stairs but they're not just steep but also a long way down/up. Every workday, I have to use a bridge with stairs to/from this station, because there's a river between that station and my workplace. I have to use the 2nd entrance because it's closest to me. As I was walking back from work today, an old Malay pakcik was struggling to walk down the stairs for this bridge. When I asked if he needed assistance, he didn't say anything, just looked down. I asked again, but he didn't move, so I held his left upper arm gently and asked again. This time, he looked at me, slightly nodded, and looked at his feet. We walked down the staircase together, slowly. I warned him that there are more stairs when we reach the station, and he nodded. When we reached the other set of stairs,

I've been listening to ONE OK ROCK for a few years now, and I found out around March 2019 that they would be coming to perform in KL as the opening act for Ed Sheeran. Naturally, it was a no-brainer. Missing their performance is not an option. I had to go. And so I did, with my sister and two of my Japanese-language teachers :)

For the first time in my life today, I saw a hard labor foreign worker wearing glasses. I had to do a double take, because for over 30 years of me being alive, I've never seen a foreign construction worker wearing glasses here. It made me imagine if those among them who needed glasses had worn them... all the work they could've done or could have finished sooner... all the educational opportunities throughout their lives that they could have taken up... all the accidents they could've avoided/prevented. In case you forgot (as I usually do), short/long-sightedness is still a disability. Although these issues can be managed using glasses/contact lenses/lasik surgery, all these require money and a certain level of care that not all of us can afford. I'm so glad that the man I saw has glasses for his eyesight (I hope he has the right prescription!), but I also wish more people could get the help they need for conditions impacting their quality of life. It really is sad that

Bumped into an old friend/neighbor whom I haven't seen in a while today. I didn't notice him at first. Not long after I put down my stuff on the empty table next to him, he looked up and said hi. I think he saw the panic/confusion in my eyes because he then asked, "How's aunty and uncle?" (i.e. my parents), and then it clicked who he was. He said he'd seen me around the cafe a couple of times doing work and stuff, but I didn't recognise him at all. It feels weird to be remembered... I always feel like a blurry insignificant extra in the background of people's movie of their life. I don't think I'll ever get used to being remembered. We had a few simple exchanges like, "How's your mom?"; "Where do you live now?"; "Is your bro still living in the neighborhood?";"I miss the playground"; "We haven't seen each other since high school!"; "Yea none of us are married so we're all pretty

While commuting home on the LRT earlier, there were 2 men standing in front of me, animatedly talking to each other. They were so engrossed in their conversation that the man standing directly in front of me kept leaning back and came in close contact with me (even slightly touched me a few times). It probably wasn't intentional on his part, but it made me very uneasy so I kept inching back, but I couldn't go far because there was a pole behind me. Seeing me looking uncomfortable and casting glances at the two men, a man close to me spoke up and told the guys that I was behind them, which made them move further away. To everyone (especially those with more privillege) who step in to help those who are afraid/unable to speak up in these kinds of situations, from the bottom of my heart, keep being awesome. It's the least all of us could do to be better members of society, but not many would care enough to do it, so thank you.

After a talk session at Raw Art Space last night, I found myself around Pasar Seni after 11pm.  As I was waiting for a few people who were chatting by the sidewalk, I spotted a lady (whom I assume is homeless, because she had with her a small luggage and two worn-out plastic bags) telling off an old man who was lying down on a flattened cardboard in front of a nearby shop that was already closed. I thought she was harassing him because she sounded angry, but after a minute or so of being ignored by him, she raised her voice even louder until I overheard: "Jangan duduk sini! Nanti diorang datang untuk pemutihan, tahu!" (Don't stay here! They will come to 'cleanse' this area!) At first the man gave in (or maybe he was annoyed), as he slowly got up and started packing his things.  Seeing this, the lady walked away from him, towards my direction. He stopped midway and plomped back down on the cardboard after she left tho. I think she noticed that I overheard her inter

I often feel that my art comes from a place of pain. But as I progress in my journey of healing, I wonder if that's just my trauma talking. The beautifully complex paintings visualising the artists' sadness and hopelessness. The tsunami of thoughts and feelings unfurled through poetry, evidence of a heavy mind and heart. The husky, raspy voice in songs I love, most likely caused by smoking habits of the singer. And so forth.

The Basics Title: Mayonaka no Waltz / Midnight Waltz / まよなかのワルツ Format: One Shot Release: 2017 Genres: Romance, Supernatural, Vampire, Dance, Josei Status: Finished Synopsis: A girl makes the acquaintance of a monstrous creature who believes himself to be quite human. Source: Anilist.co My Review This is a oneshot comic that is part of a collection of manga by Nagabe that features anthromorphic animals. I have to admit, this theme is not something I am used to reading, but it was suggested to me by my friend Nana (with a content warning), so I was intrigued. This was a short read, but it made me contemplate a lot on the idea of identity... as a human being who is uncomfortable in the skin they were born in, as someone who struggles with impostor syndrome, as someone who always feels out of place etc. I appreciate manga (or anything really) that hands me questions to reflect on and/or leads me to feel stuff, and this does both.  I wonder if I'll ever find answers to all the question