When the clock strikes 11:59pm on August 31st, a strange anticipation starts thrumming under my skin. Spooktober is upon us once again, my friends. Visions of misty dark forests and small towns with buried secrets flood before my eyes. These coming months will usher in darker skies, crunchier leaves, and folk festivals that celebrate the... Continue Reading →
Earlier this summer, I met up with a friend on a hot and humid June afternoon. The recent rains have been a huge relief to Hong Kongers, so much so that we've been compelled to utter a word of gratitude after complaining nonstop about frizzy hair and humidity. Just before another burst of showers fell... Continue Reading →
I might have a bit of an obsession with the ocean. I’m not entirely sure why, but I know it’s there because I saw Moana in the theatre 4 times and cried at each screening (this was pre-Disney boycott. Then there’s the small fact that my family and I have never actually lived too far away from... Continue Reading →
Trucking across the Karakoram Highway from Pakistan to China while dressed as a guy is my ultimate bucket list item. I couldn't think of a proper opening so I decided to drop this random bit of lore instead. It’s actually the result of a vivid dream I had years ago after binging too many Marco... Continue Reading →
In early 2019, my friend Sharanya and I decided to pack our bags and go to Nepal. Fresh out of uni and already disillusioned by the world of working adults, it's fair to say both of us were going through a pretty rough patch. Think disgruntled male office worker written by Imtiaz Ali (but with... Continue Reading →
Last year on Twitter, I decided to start a thread of songs that reminded me of spring: light, airy, joyous, hopeful. Sometimes filled with yearning. A simple premise, kick-started by an illegally converted video of Elo Ji Sanam from Andaz Apna Apna. It then grew to some 20 songs, followed by recommendations from a very... Continue Reading →
How to even begin my first random rambling post? Today it's all about something I hold close to my heart - Eveningness. What is this "eveningness", you ask? First and foremost, is a feeling that we all hold deep within ourselves. From Penang to Hanoi, Kathmandu to Chittagong, Nairobi to Cairo—it's the thing you sense... Continue Reading →
Smell is a powerful thing, it really is. I live near a Chinese graveyard so there’s no shortage of old ladies climbing up the hills every weekend to burn offerings for their loved ones. Some things smell quite nice when burning, like paper notes and mini wooden houses. Others, not so much. Once, my neighbour... Continue Reading →
Monsoon Season 