the view outside your window

The Space Between

2010-12-16T23:05:00.005+08:00

on the car, to a farm

Adelaide absolutely surprised me, in a good way. nothing excites me more than the buzz and energy of bustling cities and the fact that Adelaide was everything but overruled my preconceived notions about the city. Adelaide has space. beautiful, serene, wondrous space which allowed me to release the breath i never realised that i had been holding ever since, well, i don't quite know...

(just a disclaimer, i was as relaxed as a teacher leading students overseas could be.)

Marking the View

2010-10-06T22:49:00.004+08:00

the sacred weekend wasn't so sacred after all.

at a quiet cafe in town, with research papers and reflective journals for company.

thanks for the memories, 4b1!

Deceptive Appearances

2010-09-17T23:26:00.004+08:00

from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on a cloudy day, Tokyo looks almost drab and lifeless.

but Tokyo is anything but.

The Wingtip

2010-09-16T22:28:00.004+08:00

"Follow your instincts, fly off into the horizon. Chase the sun like you would your aspirations; a wondrous future lies ahead"

(inspirational words from hongwei, who was on his way to Genting)

A Glimpse of the Fireworks

2010-09-12T16:08:00.004+08:00

the fireworks from Universal Studios, as glimpsed from our hotel's balcony through further windows.

after all the antics, chatting, junk food and monopoly deal, the four of us, from our blue-pinafore days, went into a satisfying 9-hour slumber.

An Artificial World

2010-09-06T21:44:00.003+08:00

i have never been a fan of artificial worlds - never quite saw the appeal of the Disneylands. suffice to say, i wasn't quite entertained by our little red dot's newest tourist attraction, Universal Studios.

a picture taken from the window of one of the many shops within.

Wanderlust

2010-09-02T23:35:00.006+08:00

admittedly, our trip to Japan in June was to attend a wedding, but we also made our way down to Kobe, from Osaka, to meet up with a university friend. the last time we visited Japan, he introduced us to a trendy, hole-in-the wall izakaya in Shibuya, Tokyo. this time, he zipped us around Kobe in his awesome Japanese sports car. this was taken during dinner at another izakaya in Kobe.

the trouble with browsing travel albums, however, is that wanderlust hits like a fist to the face.

(and i'm sorry for our reflections in the window)

London

2010-08-24T20:43:00.006+08:00

of London, sent in by the one who calls the world his home.

we met when i was on exchange in Newcastle in 2007, he was a friend of a friend. a couple of months later, we ran into each other unexpectedly at London's Leicester Square (the coincidence!). a facebook message arrived two/three years down the road - he was preparing to pack his bags for Singapore (with side visits to Southeast Asia and the frequent trips back to Hong Kong). after a short stint in Singapore, he decided to return to wet and gray London, but apparently he can't get enough of the sun on our island...and he's travelling halfway across the world once more.

hello again, looking forward to catching up, steven!

The Sky

2010-08-21T20:01:00.003+08:00

"The merciless winds of change; overshadowed by the drone of construction and the lights of the enveloping skyline, the unforgiving barriers of buildings that mar our view of the angry sky."

(gui an, a first submission from a student of mine. brilliant!)

Late Night Marking

2010-08-16T00:11:00.006+08:00

the slashing of the mighty red pen, accompanied by the occasional droning car engines.

taking a breather, from the 19th storey.

a window of his own

2010-08-12T18:09:00.007+08:00

i'm cheating here, technically this isn't a window, but the yakitori chef works his magic behind this glass partition.

i stopped updating this blog two years ago, after our commencement from the university, after our graduation trip to Japan. i was exhilarated then, having completed my thesis, thrown my mortar board into the air the way they do in the films (and then scrambling to retrieve it, unlike the films) and was getting all ready to be a Grown Up.

it has been two years. we revisited Tokyo, after attending a wedding in Osaka (oh, how grown up). we're now engaged, Working Adults...but we are all, in a way, still looking for our own window, to work our own magic in this world.

Weaving Through the Traffic

2008-07-12T23:13:00.005+08:00

we had just attended our Commencement ceremony and were heading out for drinks and dessert after packing our robes, when we saw this man, with his amazing eco-friendly vehicle, zooming down the road.

-s

First Night in Osaka

2008-07-06T23:44:00.005+08:00

a late evening, darkened streets, closing restaurants.

from our hostel (J-Hoppers Osaka) window, we watched the sushi restaurant where we had our dinner switch off its signboard and lights.

our first night in Osaka, and we have already met the friendliest sushi chef, who presented us a plate of torched salmon sushi with "service". "no pay money," he said. then he grinned to himself as he watched us enjoy our meal.

-s

Webster, located halfway between Houston & Galveston near the Texas Gulf Coast.

2008-06-28T00:37:00.002+08:00

"This view is outside my kitchen window in Webster, Texas. I use my laptop on the table there and get to see all sort of wildlife. Birds include a redtale hawk, mockingbirds, cardinals, bluejays & others. Squirrels, cats and possums also pass by. One of these days I am going to get some yellow paint & put some sunflowers on my neighbor's shed."

(janette, whose window view i would LOVE to see, touch, smell and feel with my own eyes)

The Street of Hong Kong

2008-06-27T14:06:00.004+08:00

the clutter, the chatter and the colour.

(chinbin, whose picture i've forgotten about for too long)

The Man and his Umbrella

2008-06-21T21:43:00.005+08:00

Japan is not all about technology, neon billboards and fugu.
We arrived at Kansai Airport, a tad disappointed that it was raining, but excited nonetheless. from our train, i spied a man and his umbrella, walking against the wind and the rain.

2008-06-01T23:12:00.000+08:00

we're off to Japan for about 2 weeks.

will be back with more photos.

From Vienna to Salzburg

2008-06-01T23:08:00.002+08:00

" view from train window, Vienna to Salzburg (Austria)"

(joanne, who actually sent me quite a few wonderful photos)

Versailles (on the outskirts of Paris), France

2008-05-28T00:55:00.003+08:00

"View of Versailles Palace gardens, Versailles...from the window"

(joanne, she who pleasantly surprised me with an email on a bleary morning)

A Teochew Lullaby

2008-05-26T11:24:00.003+08:00

"the window of Kopitiam Hougang Mall, on a rainy morning a year ago. a Teochew lullaby that coos a bustling HDB estate to sleep."

(jw, he who is oddly at the university's library despite the fact that we've already graduated)

Castle Keep, Newcastle

2008-05-25T22:57:00.006+08:00

oh, i'm sorry for the lapse in updates again, i was too busy revelling in the fact that i'm no longer an undergraduate. now, am chatting online with the BFG erik who's studying for his exams in Newcastle and randomly browsing through some photos.

this is from the window of Castle Keep which i visited with derek, another exchange student at Newcastle. i remember we did this during our last week in Newcastle, when we were zigzag-ing in all directions to places we thought we would visit during our time there but never did.

(s, theviewoutsideyourwindow)

The Shanghai Winter

2008-05-04T00:03:00.000+08:00

"singaporeans in shanghai winter. estated by the snow. looking at the white streets from a 24-storey-high apartment. this is the city we are going to be for the next one year. excited about the different environment and anticipating the differences we can make in this city."

(ew, a singaporean in shanghai for NOC)

California, Riverside

2008-05-03T00:42:00.002+08:00

"This is a picture taken from my apartment near campus. The palm trees, UC Riverside bell tower and of course the famous "C" mountain that everyone must hike up to. A overcast winter day with a tad of sunshine - totally surreal. =))"

(cailin, she whose window view i'm envious of)

You Will Only Enjoy These

2008-05-02T11:50:00.004+08:00

"the fantastic blue and orange sunsets here in ithaca"

(jessie, she who sent in this marvellous set, a wonderful surprise when i opened the mail today morning)

The Calm of the Business District

2008-05-01T23:26:00.001+08:00

"Singapore's Central Business District in the cool late evening, through the frame of two coconut trees at Kallang Riverside Park. On an occasion which can no longer exist. The Ephemeral and the Eternal, concurrently, yet one never knows which is which."

(jw, who should be studying for his finals)

Kingston, Ontario

2008-04-28T22:26:00.001+08:00

"Prelude to a heartwarming Thankgiving Dinner at 83 year old Eileen's: Sunset at King's Street East, Kingston, Ontario. Captured by Auntie Candy. I loved this little university town pretending to be a city. This is one reason it should stop pretending."

(jw, he who very kindly waited for a hobbling me to our exams today)

Jesus, I am your Father

2008-04-27T18:11:00.003+08:00

"On the LAST DAY OF MY EXAMS (!!!!) in NUS, to celebrate, I went driving around Singapore. I came across Sacred Heart Church (built in 1910) in Dhoby Ghaut and saw this sight. It was Jesus holding six lightsabres. "Jesus, I am your Father!" it screamed to me. So, I took a photo."

(david, he who came in a shirt and tie for his final examination)

where would you be on a Sunday afternoon?

2008-04-27T17:44:00.006+08:00

i'm sorry for the lack of updates, but it's been a crazy week - essays, exams, and two sprained toes to top it off.

on a Sunday afternoon, overlooking the Southeast Asian Institute of Studies. i'd rather be out than stuck indoors studying. though of course, i'm studying for my last exams as an undergraduate! oh, and my sausage toes probably would not take me far.

-s

Literally a Window This Time

2008-04-18T10:55:00.003+08:00

"this picture is from waaaaay back in December 2004, when I was in Timor Leste. This one was taken in a house that was still being built, which was a nice change from the abandoned ruins near our living quarters that were covered in scorch marks and roofless, with soldier helmets scattered around. we arrived just after the turbulent period, and it was a trip that changed my life. apologies about the quality- it was a vintage digital camera and my ISO was sky high."

(xh, she who takes beautiful pictures)

Kembangan, Singapore

2008-04-16T13:59:00.004+08:00

"the view from my window on a good fine day" (debbie)

"my good friend, Debbie, a fellow Perthling has been introduced to your wonderful site by meee! And she would like to pass you this photo taken from her window from her house back home (the REAL home) in Kembangan." (ellies)

(in a a chain - debbie sent an email to ellies who forwarded it to theviewoutsideyourwindow)

From the Singapore Flyer

2008-04-15T10:38:00.004+08:00

jw has included his captions within his picture.
but just let me say this, we often proof-read his essays and would either get lost in 1. his maze of long sentences, or 2. his incredibly long and explanatory footnotes.

(jw, he whose brains i would love to pick)

the view from the Pantheon

2008-04-14T14:02:00.007+08:00

so when i was in my third year as a History major, i took a class which talked about the issues and relationship between memory, heritage and history. our Italian prof, in his wonderful accent, introduced the heritage of Rome to the class, clicking through the powerpoint slides.

that class went past in a daze. i never really understood anything and scored a miserable grade. perhaps the Italian accent, reading John Ruskin's Stones of Venice (which i later wrote a paper on while on Exchange), more than made up for it.

but i visited the Pantheon last summer. the tiny "window" at the top of the dome, the light streaming in at a different angle each time we looked up, tourists and travellers alike laying on the ground to capture the beauty of this "window".

i ran into the prof after i returned from exchange, i said "oh i get what you were saying in class now!" he exclaimed "finally!"

(s, marvelling at the anonymous architect's ingenuity)

underwater world, sentosa, early 2000s

2008-04-12T00:46:00.004+08:00

"i saw this while looking through my photos in my computer. it is a picture of moon jellyfish and it was taken through a "window" dividing the surface world from the "sea". it was taken about 3-4 years ago, and a whole wave of nostalgia enveloped me as i thought about how good the old days were. but that's how life is, right? the past seems liquid to us, shifting, and moving slowly like a jellyfish and the present is always in the surface world, where we take pictures of the past in our minds."

(david, he who finally shaved)

Sunnersta, Uppsala, Sweden

2008-04-11T00:15:00.002+08:00

"Grumpy cat posing for photo outside my window"

(jovian, he who runs faster than the wind)

Vatican City

2008-04-09T23:22:00.008+08:00

i remember we stood in the queue for close to two hours in the summer heat to get into the Vatican Museum. this picture was taken from an open window, with the audio guide hanging around my neck.

i remember how we squeezed through the crowds to finally get to the Sistine Chapel where the guards yelled "no peek-tures, no peek-tures!" and people jostled with each other for the limited seats. how we stood in awe, craning our necks, staring at Michelangelo's Genesis painting.

yes, i loved Rome. and Florence. and Venice. and Milan. the food, the people, "prego, prego!" i'm certain we'll return, to explore the other parts of Italy, to taste the food of Sicily (if i dare), and to meet more friendly and perhaps not-so-friendly Italians.

(s, having completed yet another essay and browsing albums)

The Windowless

2008-04-06T12:51:00.010+08:00

we visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, when we were in Krakow, Poland last summer. the despair, the desperation of the extermination camp, what they thought when they looked out through the minuscule windows, i can hardly imagine.

we first studied about the horrors of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust in school, the massive numbers - which were both shocking yet numbing. visiting Berlin was an eye-opener, Sachsenhausen concentration camp a somber experience. Oscar was a little reluctant to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, because we had left Sachsenhausen, a work camp, instead of an extermination camp, extremely depressed. needless to say, Auschwitz-Birkenau was jarring - the exhibits of hair, clothing, boots emotive and disturbing. to sit in one of the dark bunks, little light streaming in through the windows, frightfully eerie.

as students of history, we debate about coming to terms with the past, with history. and i have often wondered, how does one come to terms with the history of the Holocaust? needless to say, how concentration camps are exhibited have come under academic discussion and even criticism - for being too dramatic, too emotive, or even political in its purpose. at the end of the day, i suppose, as depressing as a visit to these concentration camps might be, a conscious effort to forget would be even scarier.

(s, wondering about the hopelessness of windows)

With the Singapore Flyer in the Background

2008-04-05T11:12:00.003+08:00

we were stuck in two traffic jams, i was really frustrated with the rush hour traffic, we were supposed to meet our friends for drinks and were hopelessly late. when we were almost reaching our destination, we saw this from the bus.

a soon to be married couple creating new (photographic) memories.

(siok, theviewoutsideyourwindow)

We are Graduating Soon

2008-04-01T23:23:00.004+08:00

"from the NUS Science canteen, can we just stare at the skies instead of working on the final year project"

(angie, who says we are less than a month away from our 18 year struggle with education)

The Land of Cambodia

2008-04-01T00:59:00.001+08:00

"this photo was taken in 2004, on board a plane for singapore after a 3-week expedition trip in cambodia. the search for this photo amongst many others taken during the trip reminded me of the wonderful times i had during those days; the simplicity of life, the adorable kids and friendships forged."

(hy, who says she's been slacking too much)

From Lhasa to Beijing

2008-03-30T21:54:00.003+08:00

"this was taken on the flight from Lhasa to Beijing, in June 2007, when jh and I went to Tibet. Our trip had several breathtaking moments, some literally, because idiots like us like to do jumping shots 5000m above sea level. But this was one of those moments, like when you turn into an alley and suddenly it's a different world. I think we were passing over the Himalayan mountain range, so maybe one of those mountains is Everest. [I was skeptical about this when I checked the map, but my smartass boyfriend tells me planes don't travel in straight lines so it IS possible.]"

(xh, the one i never knew would do jumping shots 5000m about sea level)

(and i'm sorry for the slowdown in updates, was caught in the thesis-web. but i have kissed my shining thesis goodbye, at least for now.)

Trees

2008-03-26T23:19:00.003+08:00

the bearded david sent me this picture, but Captain America is keeping him very busy at the moment. go david, you're getting there!

Vancouver, Canada

2008-03-25T23:07:00.003+08:00

"an exile, in Canada"

(sulynn, who is also known as moolyn)

Singapore, the Dispersed Clouds

2008-03-25T14:28:00.003+08:00

"the sky from my window, somewhere in the east."

(po, the optimistic one)

From Inside a Capsule on the Singapore Flyer, Singapore, 23 March 2008

2008-03-25T01:34:00.004+08:00

"this is where im proud to call it my home.there's a connection between us"

(khairunnisa osman, she who flies)

Hall, Singapore, Night

2008-03-24T22:31:00.003+08:00

after a day of running around like a headless chicken, gaping in astonishment at the sudden downpour, stranded with five copies of my thesis screaming to be bound, returning to my room only after the sun has set - i was ready to surrender to the forces above which all seemed to work entirely against me today.

and then oscar said, "hey, look."

so what if we're both swamped, epiphanies are, after all, still waiting to be discovered.

(s, theviewoutsideyourwindow)

Hong Kong, Train

2008-03-24T00:36:00.004+08:00

"a quick snap from inside the mtr, to remember the places i've been to."

(yj, who is soon to be on tv, i'm excited)

Newcastle, UK, Spring 2008, with a question mark

2008-03-22T23:31:00.003+08:00

the view from erik's window, its snowing again, in March, in Spring.

i asked, when is spring coming?

he said, next year.

(erik, the big friendly giant)

Taipei, Taiwan, the "window" from the hill

2008-03-22T21:50:00.004+08:00

"I didn't have to spend a penny to get myself atop tall buildings to catch this. I'm really glad there are hills in this city where you can climb 24-7, FOC! 101 is the tallest building in Taipei City, and it lights up 7 colours of the rainbow, one colour each day, in order. Make a guess, which day this was :)"

(moo, the one who climbs the hills)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

2008-03-22T11:49:00.007+08:00

"the view outside my apartment, on a business trip."

(chinbin, the cool hall senior who has graduated)

Newcastle, UK, Central Station, Spring 2007

2008-03-22T00:07:00.008+08:00

late afternoon, the view from my train window, the beginning of a six hour train ride to Southampton, where oscar was at. the luxury of time, then.

(s, theviewoutsideyourwindow)

Shanghai, China

2008-03-21T23:28:00.002+08:00

"on good days like this, i can enjoy the Shanghai skyline, and the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower while cooking my meals in the dorm's kitchen."

(hy, and her stint in Shanghai)

Hai Luo Gou Glacier, Sichuan, China

2008-03-21T01:39:00.003+08:00

"view outside the cable car window. feels great to be on top of the world, looking upon nature's wonderful creations."

(hy, the funkiest Chinese major, the true bilinguist)

Kuala Lumpur, Night

2008-03-20T23:10:00.003+08:00

"...the twin towers in KL, i took it at night, out of my hotel window too. i think i do enjoy such random snapshots of memories."

(yj and hotel windows)

North Carolina, Winter 2008, "The first snow that I ever saw in my life"

2008-03-19T23:55:00.004+08:00

"The first snow that I ever saw in my life was through a window of my dormitory in Elon University, North Carolina.

When shouts of "it's snowing!" first rang down the hallway, I didn't believe it. But soon the snow had gathered on the shrubs and ground outside and I whipped out my camera to snap some pictures of the scene. It was surreal looking at the flakes of ice falling on the window sill and melting instantaneously."

(ziliang, the alternative journalist)

Singapore, Hall, Rain

2008-03-19T15:49:00.006+08:00

it's a rainy afternoon, and i've just taken an afternoon nap. i love how the roads look glossy with rain. i would like to sit by my bed and watch the droplets fall, but my thesis is waiting for me.

(s, theviewoutsideyourwindow)

Thailand, Sunrise

2008-03-18T20:10:00.001+08:00

"this is the view from my hotel room in thailand, we stayed at around the 20th storey. i couldn't sleep so i opened the window to look at the view, and saw this sunrise :)"

(yj, the amazing interior designer)

Singapore, Morning

2008-03-18T12:16:00.001+08:00

the magnificent morning view from the office window, sure beats the Monday blues.
though, why are you at work so early?

(alvin/madmacs, the friendly photographer)

Vancouver, BC, Canada, Winter 2006

2008-03-18T01:58:00.002+08:00

"Usually all I see are grey clouds, grey sky, even grey rain. I trudge to school surrounded by greyness for 15 minutes every morning. The sun doesn't shine. It drizzles just enough to irritate you but not enough for you to need an umbrella. At 4pm, I walk out of class and bump into things on account of it being so dark. But this sight more than made up for the 2 months worth of visual bleakness. My roommates and I stared in wonder at the snow, then I went for a Rolling Stones concert and returned, trudging in ankle-deep snow. The next day, we went out to play. I made a snow T-rex, got gastritis an hour later, and my roommate slipped and fell on some ice, spilling hot soup all over himself. Welcome to winter in Vancouver."

(david, the sexy shorts boy of the NUS history honours cohort)

Newcastle, UK, Spring 2007

2008-03-17T20:11:00.001+08:00

hi, our virgin post. this is the view from my friend's flat, which i noticed when i went over to learn how to make tortilla from her Spanish flatmates, yum. the cows have not come out to graze yet but the sun's beautiful, the warmth which the North of England lacks so much.

(s, theviewoutsideyourwindow)