Drawing On My Thoughts

Have you ever had a thousand things you wanted to say, but just not out loud?

Perhaps a picture is worth a thousand words.

'Echos of a Grasshopper'

by: Tess

I'm missing you.

Love,
Tess

The Bizarre: On Bugis Street

It had been a while since I visited Bugis Street⎼so I rang up a friend to see if she was interested, she was, and off we went.

Kai Tais of Bugis early 60's

The area of Singapore, known as Bugis, has a rich and colourful history. It has long been associated with trading and frequented by sailors⎼at one time, even pirates! But it was during the 1950's through the early 80's, that Bugis Street became internationally notorious for it's nightly congregation of outrageous & lovely Transwomen. Once word got out, the area fast became a place for sojourning sailors and tourists, who came to partake; gawk, or perhaps even looking for love.

A poster from the Movie

This brief, flamboyant time in Singapore's history came to end in the mid 80's, when the entire area underwent an urban re-development and the subsequent construction of the Bugis Metro Station. Despite a recent attempt by the Singaporean Tourism Board to recapture it's seedy glamour, the entire area still feels a bit faded. But perhaps owing to it's colourful past, locals still come for the cheap goods, and tourists still flock; trying to envision a time when their fathers or grandfathers came to separate the men from the women, who were really men.

How I wish I could've seen it back in the day. For more information, start here

Here are a few photo's of my sanitized Bugis experience.

When reconstituted just wont do.

Well, if he likes 'em... I'm definitely buying some!

I bought one purely based on Trade Mark. I mean, who wouldn't?

Of course I wasn't touching it; I just hovered. The Auntie would've kicked my ass!

Neighhh! PPbrr!

Apparently they do lashes as well (for your eyes, not with a riding crop)

*Click*

Salesman: "Hey! No Pictures, No Pictures!"

Tess: "Is that something Jesus would say?!?"

Salesman: "I don't care! *makes shoo-ing motion* NO PICTURES!"

Tess: "Wow, what BIG eyes you have!"

Dolls: "All the better to watch you with my dear"

Tess: "Waaahhhhh... Make them stop!!"

Inner monologue:

"I really like this shirt"

"Should I buy it?"

"Do I need it?"

"Would I wear it?"

"Nah"

(walks away and wakes of the next morning full of regret)

Adjacent to Bugis Village, stands Fu Lu Shou Complex.

Where you can:

✓ Say a quick prayer

✓ Stock up on your Buddhist or Daoist paraphernalia

✓ Have your aura photographed (which of course, I did)

✓ Buy a large amethyst geode, a lucky amulet, or a camera!

It's one-stop shopping!

That's not a monk! That's Winston Churchill!

Taking the inconvenience out of death.

I could add more, but I'm going to take pity on you, (and me, because this is taking waaaay too long) and wrap it up by saying....

Come see me! You know you want too!

I always have beer and salty snacks.

I'll take you to the nicest places.

You will laugh.

I do my hair very nice.

um.... I can't think of anything else, just hurry!

That's it for now.

Love,

Tess

Something Beautiful and dignified

Dear Robert,

You have my admiration. Time and time again; I am reintroduced, and completely in awe, of the decent human being that is you.

You have my respect; for the respect you consistently show other people, even when they are showing you less. You are more.

You are solid. Even when your environment is in a constant state of flux and seemingly fractured chaos, you are unwavering and give testament to yourself.

The only support I can offer you is through my written words, but know that they are infused with deep feeling and great regard.

With Love,

Tess

Something Beautiful: The Tree That Keeps on Giving

This tree. Isn't it beautiful?

Maybe it's more than beautiful, maybe it's majestic.

It has presence.

and

It's teeming with life.

Notice all the other types of living things which have joined forces with this tree? While they depend upon it for their survival, they are simultaneously helping to feed and support it. It's its very own Gaia Hypothesis⧿or stated simply, a reflection of our own interconnection.

We could all learn something from this tree. Your life; the way you live it, and the choices you make are yours alone, but you are not alone.

On that note, I'm going to grab a cup of coffee; because it's way to freaking early to be humming that song thinking like this.

That's it for now.

Love,

Tess

SCHWING!!!!!

Hello!

Miss me?

I apologise for the lull. I was away for a bit.

I'll fill you in on the beautiful and bizarre things I experienced while I was away later. For now, I'll leave you with this photo:

The last time I stood in front of this tree I encountered a smiling elephant exfoliating herself... now there's just a rope for swinging.

I'd rather have the elephant.

But that didn't stop me from swinging! Ohhh yeah baby... I swung!! *whispers* Is this tense of 'swing' freaking you out too? Then I slipped off the rope, flashed at 12 year old (give or take a year), and got sand in some uncomfortable places..

whooo hoooo!! another great trip!!

That's it for now.

Love,

Tess

The Bizarre: You've got to be Jossing me!

I live within walking distance of a typical open-air market where you can: eat a fish head curry, buy fresh fruits and meats, and stock up on your Hell notes... er.... say what?

Joss paper, aka, "Hell notes" (or Spirit money), are sheets of paper made made from coarse Bamboo or Rice paper to resemble currency. These notes, as well as various papier mâché items, are burned in traditional Chinese deity or ancestor worship ceremonies. Additionally, Joss paper is also burned during Chinese funeral ceremonies to ensure the spirit of a loved one is sent into the afterlife with sufficient money to purchase all they desire, as well as papier mâché replicas of favourite items they enjoyed while they were living.

Kinda makes you feel bad for all those people who were burning effigies of George W. Bush a few years back doesn't it?....

Here is my local Joss Paper and Stick Store:

Hell notes are known for their ridiclous denominations.

The bills feature the image of the Jade Emperor on the front and the Hell bank "branch" on the back

Who doesn't want to take their La-Z-Boy & a six-pack with them?

I've been asking since I was 10! Please tell me I don't have to die to get a Schwinn Cruiser.

What? No black?

A house!... and with a picket fence to boot!

Because, even though it's hot, nobody wants to be naked in hell.

When they're making him out of paper.... I'm all over it.

Burning with Love,

Tess

This Errant Blogger

I am an inconsistent blogger at best.

I tend to over-think things when I'm writing. Pffffpt! I tend to over think everything, and this can be paralyzing.

I don't know what the deal is. Maybe I don't like committing to the words, or maybe I think I'll come up with something better later, or that I won't say it correctly. Maybe I'm just a coward, or a perfectionist. Yeah, that's it! I'm a cowardly perfectionist... who likes to procrastinate.

I realize that part of maintaining a good blog is developing good habits⧿and I only seem to know how to develop bad habits.

::stares blankly at the page for the next 10 minutes while sipping a glass of merlot::

What was I going on about? Oh yeah, habits!

In an effort to develop a habit of writing⧿not a riding habit⧿ *snort* I am going to attempt to make regular short posts (in addition to my long irregular posts) about anything beautiful or bizarre that catches my eye. Surely, I can do this right? I like to think we all encounter something beautiful (or bizarre) every day, if we just take the time to look for it.

So here it goes... something beautiful:

I was mesmerized by these rain drops on the leaves of a banana tree after a rain. Did you ever break open a thermometer to see what was inside? They look like Mercury don't they?

With LOVE to anyone who is beautiful and/or bizarre,

Tess