Dear You-

It hasn't been too long since we've last met. How are you? I can never tell because one day it'll seem like your world is tumbling down but then you'd be on top of it the next. You're a real mystery, you know? I like that. I've written you down on the 6th page of my notebook but on the next it says, "what happened here". And what did? I don't know, you. It's like you suddenly (and still are becoming) became (even) more apparent in my life, without even being present, and not by choice. It frustrates me sometimes as that makes me wonder how you're doing over there. Not that I don't want to care, I do and in fact, a lot. A lot and having more added, might just slowly stir my mind insane. It's funny, though. Because I don't even know (think) if the thought of me runs through yours even once in awhile (if not ever). I hope it does.
Since our last meet, I must say I have been happier and yes, I think it's because of you. Well, despite the few days of over-thinking, reminiscing, questioning and feeling.. lost, I've been happy. Confusion was constant, however, about everything (you). Driving me from wall to wall until that one day I burst. Words wouldn't come out right and everything became 100x more sentimental. At these times I resort to writing as salvation, but there was nothing to write about. Sentences just couldn't be formed and nothing made sense.. but it didn't have to. I found peace, somehow. Never mind the (many) days I spent staring at my phone, wondering if (hoping) your name would pop up on screen. Relentlessly, I wait and wait.. And waited. Why? I wish I knew. It never did, of course, besides times when I tried to start a conversation which never could last for more than 5 minutes since we have nothing to say.. but it was worth it. I don't know why it how it or what made you some part of me I wish I didn't need.
Not really sure what to feel about that but I want that to stay. I'm scared you'd forget about me. The thought of you being astray and/or me rendered unknown by you, terrifies me that it makes me unable to even spell words right (I misspelled terrifies probably 6 times; and misspelled too). I can't say I'm in love with you, because I'm not.. Not yet, at least.
If I ever see you again, I just might. I just might tell you that if you dared, to come a little closer because one way or another, I want you to stay. Somewhere in the middle of the same notebook where your name is inked on the 6th page, I've written you a letter that you may (or may not) read one day.. if we ever meet again. I'd like you to know, I hope that we do.

PS: It makes me smile foolish, every time you call me silly.

X

#2

A part of me dies every time I'm back from my travels.

Don't get me wrong, KL is and will always be in my heart, it just never really feels like home here. In fact, I don't feel home anywhere.

Maybe I'm a nomad.. I like the thought of that. 

Like a wanderer but never lost.

Though I won't move just because of rainy weather.

I'd stay until my heart's content.

You know what they say; the world is your oyster. So why stay in one place when there's so much more out there? 

I think my eyes feed on new sights and soul on places unknown.

I wish I had explore my own city as much as I have others. 

Maybe then I'd miss "home".

But no, I think I'd like to stay an aimless globetrotter.

And my favourite block at Gillman Barracks';

Good Wednesday, everyone.

Strangers We Meet

(drafted March 10, 2013)
Meeting strangers is a wonderful thing. An unintentional encounter. You don't know them, and they don't know you. Sometimes you may even be so brutally honest with them more than you could be with anyone else. And it's ok for you to be whoever you want or say whatever you want to them because they don't now you and you don't know them. That may very well be the only time you are ever going to see them. When that moment ends, it's gone and you never look back. But what I realised is that honesty is easily distinguished among strangers.. at least to me. You are unafraid of what you speak because who will ever find out about what you said to the person you met on a bus on your way to work? You reveal your deepest, darkest secrets, you divulge and paint a virtual story of your life, fearlessly and instantly. You have no reason to feel ashamed. For all you know, that stranger would be the one who would help you through your hardest times.

Not too long ago, I met a stranger who asked me, "What is love?". That question had never seemed so difficult and yet for me to convey my answer, was effortlessly easy. Was it because he was someone I didn't know and it was alright for me to be sentimental without being judged or mocked at for being so? I remember thinking that it didn't matter whether what I said made sense or not, he asked for my thoughts and I didn't have to watch my words. I could say whatever I want and then he would be gone, unseen, unheard of and forgotten.

But that moment of time didn't leave me. I didn't forget. In fact, it constantly replayed in my mind, his question and my answer. It left me with wonder. I started wondering and reflecting about the world we live in, love, life and basically just everything. It wasn't the kind of wonder that was arduos but somewhat blissful. I started to walk a little taller, laughed a little louder and be a little bolder. It's amazing how little things like meeting a random person on the street makes you realise that the world really is a beautiful place and people really aren't that bad. 

Strangers We Meet is a series of short films that features people I have never met before, who are unknown to me, some whose names I don't even know, all asked to answer the same question. These scenes were filmed undirected, unplanned, unscripted and are arbitrary answers. These are real people, expressing real thoughts and feelings. 

In this very first Strangers We Meet, I have collaborated with Tasha Faye of tasha-faye.blogspot.com, one of the most talented photographers I know and also one of my closest friends, the one who encouraged me and helped me take the first step to start Strangers We Meet. I have chosen "What is love?", to begin with because it was the question I was asked that inspired me to do something I have never done (or even thought of doing) before; producing short films and meeting strangers, intentionally. I hope watching this will leave you inspired, make you smile and see the world the way others see it. I hope it opens your eyes to the beauty of this world.

To the strangers who have willingly let me film you and helped make this happen, from the very bottom of my heart, thank you. If you are reading this, I want you to know that I am grateful and appreciate every one of you. Hopefully this makes your day a little brighter too. I couldn't have done this without you. 

X

As for what my reply was to the stranger, I might share it one day. Till then, I hope everyone is having a lovely Monday. If not, I hope this video makes your day :)

Blissful wonder

And if you were to have asked me
what I liked about you
right there and then
I would have said
that I like that you keep me wondering,
wanting to know more
and more
but you never leave me hanging
you leave me with
a blissful wonder.

It's not that I fancied your thoughts
or the way you spoke.
Not the way you looked,
the attention
I was given,
there was
more.

So much so
that it left
me
wondering.
What
Why
How
do you do that?

Because it was clear to see
at least to me,
you weren't even
didn't even
wouldn't even have to
try.

You were you.
I was me.
We were there.
Listening
to the raindrops
sing
in blissful
wonder.

Solitude

"Not everybody understands solitude."

We're sitting by the riverside as it rains heavily, meeting for the first time. It wasn't unusual or uncomfortable though.

Meeting a stranger is a wonderful thing I feel. I don't believe people we meet are strangers, I think we're just bound to meet the people we meet at some point of our lives. It's just the matter of time and coincidence, maybe.

The world seems brighter nowadays. Solitude is good.