John Bays Collection III

John, thank you for photographing these beautiful feather friends in London. You are a true diamond to all friends and followers of my blog. Friends, may I present the universal symbolism of freedom... they can walk on ground, swim in the sea, and enjoy soaring into the sky. I see these babies as hope, joy... love!

Friedrich Nietzsche said "In reality, hope is the worst of all evils because it prolongs man's torments." Interesting, isn't it? How about you? What is hope to you?
Hope keeps me going in my life. It gives me a reason to smile in my darkest days. It gives me a happier vision for the days to come. And when I start daydreaming... I know hope will make it all better, in time.

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops...at all. (Emily Dickinson)

When there's a flicker of hope... joy will trickle into our hearts.  Joy is like a bird which, when pursued, flies farther and higher. However, if you be still and take notice of your surroundings, joy can be just right there staring at you.. waiting for your recognition, appreciation, and embrace.

You have to believe in happiness, or happiness never comes.. Ah, that's the reason a bird can sing - On his darkest day he believes in spring. (Douglas Malloch) 

Happier of happy though I be, like them I cannot take possession of the sky, mount with a thoughtless impulse, and wheel there, one of a mighty multitude whose way and motion is a harmony and dance magnificent. (William Wordsworth)

Love in my life is what makes me happiest of all. Love is magical to me. It starts off slow and cautious, and as it grows, miracles happen. At times, it may seemed as though it had disappeared from the face of the earth, but it will reappear again when the time is right. Love brings hope. Love is joy. Take away love and our souls die a slow death. 

Walking hand in hand... smiling at each other with our eyes... enjoying wine... moonlight kisses... enjoying little moments in life... is what I call "love".

If a bird falls in love with a fish, where would they live?

Who gets the fins and who loses the wings?

It's an irony.

That's how cruel but poetic love can be.

The Lipstick Plant

Gwyneth Palthrow once said..."Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick."

May I introduce to you... The Lipstick Plant from Malaysia 

(It's original native land is our neighbour-country Indonesia)

... tubular flowers emerge from calyxes that looks like lipstick tubes...

... Walla! We have "red lipsticks" ready to bloom...

Red is passion; desires and lust

Red is sexuality; reflections of one's identity

Red is sophistication; one's worldly tastes

Red is all drama; vivid emotional events of one's life

Red is charisma; spiritual and personal qualities

Red is love; deep affections for people around us

Reflections...

These past 2 months have been insane for me. Life has been passionate and fun; wouldn't change that for anything in the world! Work has been barmy; the only thing that I can change is my attitude towards it all. Best thing from my work are my students; totally love them all. Studies has been demanding; I really really really need to improve on my time management...sigh. 

Nonetheless...I always have time for a girls' night out!!!

... there is just something about wearing a red lipstick...sexy, mysterious, and alluring... *giggles*

Background:
The pictures in this blog entry was taken using my mobile phone. My family and I took a drive one weekend for fun and landed somewhere outskirts of the city. Enjoyed the countryside and found a small nursery. This was where I saw the Lipstick Plant and was hooked! The "lipsticks" were too fascinating to be ignored.

First name that came to my mind was "Penis Plant"!!! Oh well...
Then, John Bays from London set me straight. 
After doing a bit of research, this plant is actually pretty common in my rainforest land. However, I have never seen it before. Guess it is God's way of showing off His wonders in His time as we live our life, or else life would indeed be boring!

Pillows of the sky

I have always wanted to take pics of clouds, from "take-off" to "landing" and I finally got my wish last month.  These pictures were taken from a little town named Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu, my home. The plane ride took about 30 minutes. Hope everyone will enjoy being in the clouds with me in this entry of mine :)

Leaving Sandakan...after spending 3 days there...a mini family vacation during the Chinese New Year holidays.

Now, if God made the clouds so beautiful, did HE not mean us to gave upon them and be thankful for them? - Alfred Rowland -  

You can't save a cloud like you can save a leaf or a flower or a rock...clouds are now! - Terri Guillemets -

They are fair resting-places for the dear weary dead on their way up to heaven - Joaquin Miller -

I am the daughter of Earth and Water, and the nursling of the Sky. I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores; I change, but I cannot die... - Percy Bysshe Shelley -

Afflictive emotions - our jealousy, anger, hatred, fear - can be put to an end. When you realized that these emotions are only temporary, that they always pass on like clouds in the sky, you also realize they can ultimately be abandoned - Tenzin Gyatso -

My beautiful home approaching....

Home Sweet Home

Shades of Purple

A sophisticated person has a millionaire's confidence!

Be inspired to be classy and sophisticated, not focusing on being like the rich and wealthy but rather to have high confidence in oneself that radiates the inner beauty and inner qualities that are royal-like.

A truly elegant taste is generally accompanied with excellency of heart

- Henry Fielding -

Class comes from your inner spirit...

Class is a relaxing and graceful spirit...

Sophistication is a quality...in expanding our minds, widen our horizons, and believing in ourselves.

It is a more beautiful way of doing things and experiencing life...

Fall in love with your life...

Each layer of sophistication adds quality to your life...

The only real elegance is in the mind; If you have got that, the rest really comes from it 

- Diana Vreeland -

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!

Lemon Basil

 Basil...it means King in Greek.

- Christmas began in the heart of God; it is complete only when it reaches the heart of man -

 For weeks, I have been searching with much difficulty for the perfect flower to feature this December, to close this year meaningfully. It has been quite a strenuous year for me but thank God, it ended beautifully.
Thus, I present to you the Lemon Basil to conclude the year 2012.

 Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart. - Basil Rathbone -

 This year started off majestically for me, with a tour around Europe. Work demanded more of my time and tolerance, but I endured. My dad braved a couple of surgeries and is recovering superbly, Praise God. Furthermore, I have a teenage daughter.....enough said!!!!!

This year ended contentedly...for the love of a family is life's greatest blessing.

 A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.

A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship and he who plants kindness gathers love. - St Basil -

 Lemon Basil, a wonderfully fragrant and deliciously fresh herb, is a symbol of love.

Love has no desire but to fulfill itself; to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night; to wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving 
- Kahlil Gibran -

Around the world...

Italian suitors signaled their love by courting with a sprig of basil in their hair.

When a boy accepts a sprig of basil from a girl in Romania, love and marriage is in the air.

In Mexico, the basil is carried around in the hope of returning a lover's roving eye!

Love is the flower of life

- D. H Lawrence -

A new year is unfolding - like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within.

 - Anonymous -

Another year is blushing at sunrise

Dear Lord, let it be as long as you promise to be with us

I pray for another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace

Another year of gladness in Your presence

Whatever coming days may bring

It matters not, our hands in Thine

For we shall continue to live in Your strength, love, and grace

I pray for peace, for light, and for hope for the new year

May we all step into the unknown with confidence, positive thoughts and love for one another.

- I am the new year, I am an unspoiled page in your book of time -