January 2015

So, for the very first time (in a very prolonged amount of time), I, home-body hermit child, left my more-than satisfying homely lonesome-ness and headed into town with my impeccably gifted friends: Nina, Tamkeen, Lena and Rose.

We made the journey to the long line of hunger pit-stops on Ponsonby road. After much contemplation, we ended up having lunch at a cute cafe on a side-street. It was delicious! Then, we grabbed some much needed, pistachio gelato.

me, before I happily demolished the plate. nyam nyam.

After hours of catching up (or, group social networking and wi-fi abusing), delicious food and loads of laughter, we all made a final trip to Queen st, where Rose spontaneously introduced us to a rooftop. We had never seen a view of Auckland other than that of the Skytower's. So, it was liberating to see Auckland from a different perspective.

A 360 degree scenery of pure Auckland. It was beautiful. Being the spiritual beings we all are, we couldn't help but feel liberated by what we could see. However, it was agreed that it was definitely not possible to feel that liberty through our iPhone camera lenses. That view we saw through our iPhone screens was entirely different. It was hard to believe. And ~~quite~~ verrrrrry irritating. A pixelated mess! But, anyway, although our iPhones weren't able to capture the liberty, our thoughts definitely could.

My thoughts? Watching the miniature bodies below us was especially intriguing for me. I don't know if that was due to my stalker ("person observing") nature, but it was definitely interesting. I watched these bodies scatter the city. Whether they were sitting in the hundreds of concrete structures that surrounded me, whether they were the figures that drove the vehicles below me or even if they were the moving pins that scurried along the streets -- they were all on a journey of their own.

I thought about it. Like a mind game, I struggled to believe that we too, are those bodies. 10 minutes ago, we were the pins scurrying along the streets. And our journey? It started with a cute cafe and made a very impromptu decision to end up on a rooftop. I couldn't help but wonder about the other journeys below me. Where are they going? Why are they walking so strenuously? Are they late? Is their journey just starting? What is he eating? How do they know each other? Why did she go into that building? An abundance of "person observing" questions. The type of questions that I wont ever get the answers to and the only type of questions that I will settle for leaving unanswered.

In a way, I felt privileged. From one spontaneous journey to a rooftop, I could see more than the landscape. I could see more than Instagram photo opportunities. I could see more than the myriad of buildings. I could see more than just Skytower or Rangitoto island. I could see the thousands of walking stories and walking thoughts. It felt almost like an invasion of privacy to be exposed to so much life. I felt like I didn't deserve to see so much. But, I guess I'm blessed. Blessed in what way you ask? Blessed to be one of the billions of walking stories on this Earth. It's a gratifying feeling. And so, thanks to spontaneity and plans bigger than my own; I ended up on a rooftop with 3 old-souls and left with a mind full of inspiration.

2015, I won't ask you to be good to me, instead, I will be good to you.

Rooftop virgins (Lena, Nina & Rose)

Tamiel

Greetings folks!

Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year!

Yes, I know, this post is well overdue. However, I have decided (this decision might or might not have been already semi-decided and completely procrastinated in previous years) that, as part of my 'new year resolutions', it would be a splendid idea to quit the laziness and let my words bleed a lil'. Hence, 2015 me, 10 days late, again in poor posture, comfortably sitting, eagerly-but-barely, letting my fingers do some new years exercise.

A few days ago, I arrived back in Auckland, after 2 weeks in the torrid sun. I ventured a small 3 hours away from my green-grassed, jean-wearing, season-indecisive, body-covered country to a country so vastly different -- Straya' mate! Yes, I made the good old, annual trip to Australia. Gold Coast, Australia actually; the sweltering melting pot for bronzed skin and tourism.

A 3 hour trip to a paradise where I can just.... be.

Auckland, (being the miniature space he/she is) never gives enough room for anyone to remain anonymous. You can't truly get away from the familiarity, the reeking comfort -- the knowing. It's an amiable feeling to be anonymous for a while.

No likely encounters. No caution. No restriction. No care. No Nothing.

I know it might sound ridiculous. But, as ridiculous as it sounds, I love being unknown. In a world where it's de rigueur to have a name and be known, it's an exciting routine-dynamite to wake up unknown. Routine. Dynamite. POW!