the adventures of a curious cat

May 29th, 2008 | Posted by Sharon Joy

How can I set free anyone who doesn’t have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it’s a lie – people claim they want to be free – everybody insists that freedom is what they want the most, the most sacred and precious thing a man can possess. But that’s bullshit! People are terrified to be set free – they hold on to their chains. They fight anyone who tries to break those chains. It’s their security…How can they expect me or anyone else to set them free if they don’t really want to be free? I think people resist freedom because they’re afraid of the unknown. But it’s ironic…That unknown was once very well known. It’s where our souls belong…The only solution is to confront them – confront yourself – with the greatest fear imaginable. Expose yourself to your deepest fear. After that, fear has no power, and fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free. – Jim Morrison

More than a month ago,  I did what has got to be the most daring, possibly craziest, thing i’ve ever done in my life. I quit my job and left a healthy company that had been good to me and paying me very handsomely. I don’t have another job waiting for me, I didn’t and still haven’t applied for another job, and I have no plans of applying for one yet soon. No, I am not worried, and no, I don’t have plans. All I know is tomorrow, I’m going to get my tattoo. I always wanted to get a tattoo, and I know what tattoo I want but people had been stopping me. I am so going to get that tatoo… it’s the word “Malaya” in alibata. For those who don’t know, alibata is the ancient Filipino alphabet, and “Malaya” means “Free” Is it a coincidence that I was born on Independence Day? It’s not a form of rebellion for i am not rebelling against anyone, or anything. I’m getting it because I want it. Pure and simple.

On Friday, I am flying to Clark, stay with Lyn (a couchsurfer in Angeles City who agreed to host me for a night) and then fly to Malaysia the next day where I’ll couchsurf with Eddie in Kuala Lumpur for 2 days and then get on the plane to Sarawak and stay there for 2 weeks with the parents. I will be spending the most anticipated 30th birthday there. I plan to spend it with the monkeys in Borneo if my parents do not object. Then I start my solo backpacking through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia for a month.

I’m a bit scared, but mostly excited. I don’t have much savings, and I don’t know how I can last with the money I have in my bank. I don’t know what happens next, and I am so amused with myself. I swear I surprise even myself. So, here starts my journey… here’s to what lies ahead of me! Livin la vida loca!

So help me God. Ehe.

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May 7th, 2008 | Posted by Sharon Joy

My favorite book in the world. My Bible.

While looking for interesting events happening in Hong Kong around the time I’d be there, I came across this announcement:

Before the Fame: Sketches of Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Date: Opening on 03 May 2008 (Sat) at 6:30 pm
Venue: Fringe Club, The Economist Gallery

There are no words for the joy, the bliss, the happiness I had when I went to that exhibit. I wanted to take down all the drawings and hug them.

An interesting thing happened before we went to the gallery. On the MTR on our way to Lantau Island where the World’d biggest outdoor buddha was, a very old Chinese man caught my attention because he was talking on the phone in perfect English. A little later the seat beside him was available so I took it. Then I saw a very familiar sheep that served as zipper handle on the bag of this old man. I had thought it was keychain, and then realized his bag had the picture of the Little Prince. A smile broke into my face which he caught when he looked at me and I looked up to him and said “The Little Prince. I’m a fan.” I told him about the exhibit of the sketches that was to open that night and he said he’d go see it in the coming days. He was a very sweet, gentle old man. I liked him. He told me that if I had enough time, I might find it interesting if I walked back from the Giant Buddha. Later on the cable car, we saw that it would be a very very long walk that would probably take hours and hours to get to our destination. My friend said, “It’s just miles and miles of walking with nothing interesting to see.” I wanted to reply: “It’s not about what you can see. What is essential is invisible to the eye. It’s only with the heart that one can see clearly. And my heart clearly sees a journey. Like the journey I’ve only started, and a destination I’ll make up as I go along.” But I didn’t say a word.

“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.” – Le Petit Prince

Click image for photo album.

Le Petit Prince

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May 6th, 2008 | Posted by Sharon Joy

wall art

From my photo album: Hong Kong Lomonation

Went to Hong Kong back in May 2008. If Hong Kong were a zodiac, she’d be a Gemini, like me. There’s the concrete jungle of a city and there’s the serene island just off Kowloon where monks live and small fishing villages exist. Only had 3 days, and 3 nights to see the place, which is not enough for a place like Hong Kong unless you can teleport at will.

Itinerary had to be modified to prioritize places to visit. The museums, Felix bar @ The Peninsula, SoHo, Mongkok, Spring Deer Restaurant, Lan Kwai Fong, The Peak, Sketches of Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry @ The Fringe (which is one of my favorite part so I’m dedicating a separate album for it), The Giant Buddha, Po Lin monastery, the Wisdom Path, Nong Ping Village. Wasn’t even able to get a glimpse of Ocean Park and Disneyland which I’m not regretful about because because frankly, I don’t really mind not seeing Mickey Mouse. The very long walks made my legs sore for days but it’s all worth it!

Hong Kong had been an awesome trip, and a wise teacher.

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