22 November 2007, Thursday, 1546hrs

Travel Buddy

What a Thursday afternoon, airing Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares to You on Class 95. You know there are many songs with many renditions and memories. Now, this one simply hits the oppress button each time it's aired. Check out the lyrics and you will know what I mean.

So, another flea mart this coming Saturday and guess what? I was rummaging through mom's wardrobe and found one NTUC plastic bag that's hiding my poly days fashion! My Valentino short sleeve shirt, Valentino green trousers, Ralph Lauren's long sleeve, all purchased in Kuta Beach, Bali. Flashbacks and memories surged my head immediately! Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Kintamani, Legian Street, White Rose Hotel, Oberoi Beach, Nusa Dua beach, motorcycle ride, tickets from traffic police for making the wrong turn, Hard Rock Cafe Bali, Quik Silver outlets..... all came rushing before my eyes...... This is like, 9 years back? Gosh, how time flies, I've been robbed of my youth by Mr Time, and I've been enriched with knowledge and experience by Mr Time too. How sweet. Aline used to tell me she loved Bali and its beach. She loved the simple life and the beach bummers there too .... Alex loved it there as well. Hmm... wonder how's Aline is doing now. She was more philosophical than I could ever be. She smoked her lungs out, and Valerie and I would probably scream our lungs at Aline too. Then we have Franck and Maria, and their lovely sons, Alexandre and Dominique; and of course Maureen and Michael the Australian couple whom we all hung out over the weekends at the pool..... life was much more simpler then. Wine, food, chats, holiday-making, work, study, and we were all enjoying and sharing lives. Now, I seem to be enclosed in my own world, talking to my invisible friend Christopher Parker and get his opinions over my life and issues. I ain't Melinda Gordon, but I do talk to myself some times, so don't be alarmed one day if you see me talking to someone when no one is around me. Because that would be my invisible Christopher Parker. How bizarre, where are my new friends? How did life get so complicated over the past 9 years then? Beats me. Seriously.

Just received an sms from Frances that this time this hour, we were at Auckland, New President Hotel. First day arriving in New Zealand. Holy God, it's been a freaking year! And this year this time this hour, I'm here typing about flashbacks and recalling the fun at Paihia and Nine Miles Beach! Shouldn't I be holidaying somewhere instead?!?! God damn it. Very poor planning. Ok face it, maybe it's not poor planning but diminishing of friends' powers? Let's see and let's list down:

William and Daylea
What the hell is happening to this couple? Complete silence. It all started with July 1's incident. William was a total disappointment in my own opinion. I can't understand but I can believe that he likes this girl more than anyone could in this world. But does that mean at the sacrificial of his friendships which we have fostered over the years. Merely a miscommunication and arguement with Andy, and he chose to clam up and stay in the shell with his beloved girl. And he's totally bewitched by her. Has he sounded out Andy's side of story before making this move? Not that I know of. The tear became more apparent when we don't receive news from him: no tennis, no more sms for dinner. You hear what everyone says about men argue and fight over girls, this is exactly what's happening. Victims. But it's not even a matter of growing fonds on the same girl, but over a miscommunication over the girl's birthday celebration. Is it necessary to take so much energy to break the bond? Isn't this over reacting? Ok so we are all playing mind games. How busy can we get for not even having a dinner after work? We just do not want to lose out to someone who makes the first move to call, right? Juvenile. He's changed in my eyes, he no longer voices his own opinions, he became her beck and call.

EduTrav
Cindy is busy with her children, Louis has slightly ventured out this year and will be travelling with colleagues and friends to Perth and Hanoi. Left me and Frances hung up dangling. Awful feeling. And of course, Kerri who would never succumbed to long-haul flights (not unless for work).

Andy the Travel Buddy
Forever busy and since in the retail front line, it will never be possible to apply for anything more than 5 days of vacation leave. How sad. Andy has been my travel buddy for years, we've been to several places together and we know each other best. And of course, his ever chameleon transformation has made him able to adapt to P+ and rustic conditions very easily and well. We will get lost in cities and never uttered a word of fear and we will somehow meander our ways out. Isn't that amazing how two grown up men can have such chemistry. It's just like Pascal and John whom we met in Hanoi, and British One and British Two whom we met in Khaosan Rambutri, and many others more whom we met and saw in backpackers street in many parts of this world.

So there you have it, my ex-former-usedtobe travel mates, all caught up in their own utopia. Sigh.....

Oh dear, time reads 16.59, ie, Sports Day!! Yeeehh haaa! I shall leave the office early today... and meanwhile, I shall continue my search for a new travel buddy... ... Adios.....