An urge to slow down

The body signals signs of pain
The energy level going low
Dizzy and seeing white spots
The body's indications to slow down

The outside world continues to move
The body has its own pace
Wishing to take a break from the world's game
To go slow till the body recuperates

Staying indoors

The overall PSI readings readings for 7 Oct 2006 as at 4 p.m. was 128. This implies that the air quality has reached a level deemed to be unhealthy. Visibility level is fairly low too.

I initially have plans to go out to check out one of the Singapore Biennale sites, but I decided it would be wiser to stay indoors. I am keeping most windows of my flat unit shut. I wish I have air-condition unit, but I shall make do with the fan since the ventillation is still fairly bearable with the use of the fan.

I am feeling listless. I don't know if this is due to the poor air quality. For those affected by the haze, please take good care folks.

Weekend at City Hall

Here's a post that I have written about my visit to one of the Singapore Biennale 2006 sites: Contemporary art at City Hall.

Hopefully it may entice some of you to check out the Singapore Biennale 2006.

The sound of the double bass is therapeutic

This evening, I had double bass lesson with my tutor, MJ. We spent the first part of the lesson on right-hand technique. He gave me a task for this week's assignment. It is to play an exercise fairly similar to playing the G Major scale, but in the following manner:

Play the following notes, with the bow direction "as it comes":
G-d-G-A-d-A-B-d-B-C-d-C ...etc (d - open d string)(G - open G string)
(Is this the way to write the notations?)

At first sight, when I saw MJ doing the demonstration, it looked pretty easy. When I tried playing it, I realised that my mind became confused after playing this way. However, accordingly to MJ, such exerises can help in the right-hand coordination. I trust him on this.

The next part of the double bass lesson continued with working on the Marcello's Sonata in g minor. I spent some time playing the first movement but more time was spent playing the second movement. I can clearly hear that my rendition of the second movement today is much better than my rendition of it during my exams. MJ demonstrated and sang to me how I can play this movement more musically so that the melody lines can be clearly heard and understood. It felt satisfying to be able to bring my proficiency of playing to a greater height. Not just technically, but musically.

I have been working on the Marcello's Sonata in g minor for more than two months. I am having the thoughts of organising an informal recital where I can perform the Marcello's Sonata in g minor. Then again, even if I do get a piano-accompanist to play with me, I would like to work on my sense of tempo first before even thinking about having a recital. I admit my tempo fluctuated inappropriately when I was playing the first movement of the sonata. MJ reminded me to be mindful about keeping time.

After the double bass lesson, I could remember feeling a sense of inner peace and comfort in me. The sound of the double bass still rang in my ear. I could remember how heart-warming it felt to feel the vibrations of the double bass. The whole experience felt therapeutic. Not that it stopped me from coughing; It just felt as if it was gently re-energizing me from some of the drained feeling that I get from the recent bout of poor health. This has brought some relief.

Air pollution makes the cough worse

I smell smoke in the air today. Visibility today is not as clear as it used to be. The air feels polluted. This isn't helping me recover from the cough. I can only try to stay indoors for as long as possible to be away from the polluted air.

Wishing for fresher, clearer air.

Scream

Cornered by poor health
Life seems robbed away
Most moments lived in pain
Despair seems growing everyday

Scream!
As if in protest
Only to find the sound pierce deep inwards
Ripping what is within, all apart

Dali Dali

Surrealist Piano, Bronze, by Salvador Dali, Edition No: 1/8

Does anyone here know who Salvador Dali is?

I took art history lessons in my Secondary school years, and I recall learning that Salvador Dali is an artist who is closely associated with the Surrealist art movement. I do not personally adore his works, but I don't have anything against his works either. I prefer some of his sculptures to his paintings. It appears to me that the best way to understand Salvador Dali's works is to understand his approach and philosophy towards life, which I personally know very limited about.

Anyway, for those who wish to know, the above photo was taken at Boat Quay, There are now a series of works by Salvador Dali being displayed right her as part of the Dali in Singapore exhibition organised by Opera Gallery, held from 14 Sep to 14 Oct 2006. You may also find sculptures and paintings by Dali at the following places during the given period: Wheelock Place, Ngee Ann City, Capital Towers, and Opera Gallery.

How did I know all these? Oh, I read these from the plaque that was found on the base of the Surrealist Piano. Look closely at the legs of the piano. Do you see that these legs wear high heels?

**
By the way, Melvin Ryan Tan has written a post on Youth.sg on the Dali in Singapore exhibition, you can check his post here.

Irritating cough

Found blood strains in the phlegm when I coughed out phlegm from my throat first thing in the morning. Subsequently, for the remaining of the day, I did not notice blood strains in the phlegm.

This is not the first time something like this has happened in my life. The last time when something like this has happened, I did a thorough check-up to ensure that my lungs were functioning early. The doctor told me that no problem was detected with my lungs functioning.

I wish the air can get better. My voice is getting hoarse, not from the flu, but from the coughing. It is such an irritating cough. Does anyone have any remedy to relieve me from the very itchy feeling that makes me feel a strong urge to cough?

Soft-cases

For those who are keen to learn more about the double bass, Jason Heath has a post titled: Sorting out double bass gig bags.

I have bought myself (or rather, my dear double bass) a new soft case this July. This was purchased from a local music shop in Singapore. It costs about S$320. The factors that prompted me to purchase it are as follow:

1) it has two wheels underneath (so I can roll the double bass from places to places).

2) it has fairly thick padding (although it may not be as thick as the Mooradian double bass soft-cases that Jason has mentioned

3) it has a number of fairly sturdy handles so that increases the ease of handling and carrying my instrument

4) Cost-effectiveness. It can be purchased locally. I have calculated that if I were to get a Mooradian soft-case, I am likely to have to purchase it from online overseas sources, and the cost can be fairly high after including the air freight charges and factoring in the exchange rate. Having bought it from local sources, I hope that it would be more convenient for me to seek help if the soft-case needs some form of maintenance (e.g. a wheel replacement).

Let's hope that this case would serve me well enough for a couple of years at least. Here's a snapshot of my double bass in the new double bass soft-case.

The tune

The dark vast skies
It is now night.
Pitch darkness
Envelopes the entire sky

A tune rings in my mind
Which I wish when sung,
could pierce through the starless skies
Dot the bleak skies with twinkling stars

But had once hummed the tune
And whispered its lyrics
No one seems to bother to listen
Others misunderstand or show disapproval

Then would mustering enough faith and courage
Help one believe
That the tune shall be sung
Whatever the rest of the world may react?

For its expression is unique
If not sung
How could the world know
What it is missing out on?

Hazy skies

The poor quality of the air is making the cough that I am now having worse. Not only is the air making me cough more frequently, it is making me cough more violently. At this rate, I wonder when I would ever fully recover from the bad flu that has plagued me since early last week. Some parts of the day, I wonder if all the coughing may just puncture my lungs and take life away from me. Living with a bad cough makes one feel as if quality life is being robbed away.

According to the PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) Reading for Singapore, the overall PSI reading for today stands at 73.

I have already felt it was unbearable for me when the PSI reading for yesterday was 41. 73 makes the air feel almost as if it is a silent-killer. If it goes up to beyond 100, I fear that I may have to consider using a mask that is linked to an oxygen tank.

Life feels as if it is getting unbearable. I can only urge myself to keep looking out for simple little pleasures from my everyday-life to attempt to delight myself.

Wishing for fresh air. Yearning for the fresh air from Aberdeen, Scotland.

Bottled Up

Feeling bottled up
As if I have not enough room for expression
Eager to express
But the restriction seems there

Missing out on...

Chun See writes about Kampong Fruit Trees (Part 1), (Part 2) on his blog Good Morning Yesterday. It seems that I am missing out on tree climbing and the nice fragrance of fruit trees. Do you feel similar?

If you would like to find out more about kampong fruit trees, please check out:
Kampong Fruit Trees (Part I) and
Kampong Fruit Trees (Part 2)

Monologue

What would make life worth living for?
Surely not just to eat and sleep?
How could one bide each day, each second
If there wasn't something worth living for?

But is life an endless cycle?
That comes all to square-one
Like rain will soon be followed by sunshine
Every step ahead seems to be laid

Yet if this was the case
Would it imply life is no more than being mechanical?
The details may vary but the themes are similar?
Then is there any meaning to live for?

What breathes life into a living creature
How is the survival instinct being programmed?
That urges one forward
Even in the faces of the unknown and realms of darkness