Why Would I Write

Category: Thoughts

  • Lapse

    Just put something down dammit. Stop erasing and rewriting your words. I’ve been telling myself that for the past 20 minutes. You don’t accomplish anything by doing nothing. Just start, don’t stop, let it flow.

    I’ve never traveled so much before in my life. When I signed up for this job, I had no idea there was going to be so much traveling involved. First it was local, then interstate, then to Indonesia, the US, and now, Thailand. Next week, I’ll be in the UK and the following month I’ll be in Indonesia again.

    Currency. Why do we need different currencies? Why can’t life be a video game. Let’s just all use gold coins. Or ringgit notes (kek). Until now, I haven’t gotten used to counting money in Indonesian Rupiahs. Why do they have so many zeroes? I think they can truncate three zeroes and their currency would still function properly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything cost 1 IDR.

    I finally took the plunge and invested in a proper luggage bag. Wow, what a difference it makes. Now, I just throw all my shit I want to bring into the bag. I don’t have to compromise on my items anymore. Also, it’s so much fun pushing my bag compared to getting straps digging into my shoulders. I guess I should have invested in one a long time ago.

    After all these years, I think I can fully use my whole passport. I think now I’ll be able to renew it because I ran out of pages – not because it expired.

    I wonder what Snuggles thinks of when I’ve been away for so long. What goes through her mind? I hope she doesn’t get upset. That would be terrible. I’d rather she forget that I existed instead of being sad and waiting for me to return.

    Sometimes I wish I could be in two places at once.

    The other day I dreamt that my elder sister and my friends organized a birthday party for me – on her own birthday. Confusing right? What’s worse is that I forgot it was her birthday and she was upset about it. In my dream, I was telling everybody thanks for coming to my birthday party. I woke up feeling guilty and confused. Why would you organize someone else’s birthday party on your own birthday?!!

    My next gig will be number 100. I hope I get to do something before the end of the year!

  • How to pay for rap music (you don’t want)

    Just another day – or so I thought. I stepped out of the cold, dark Abercrombie and Fitch flagship store into the bright, hot sidewalk on 5th avenue. I looked around for some shade to stand under – nothing in sight on this side of the street and I wasn’t going to bother crossing the road just to smoke a cigarette. So I leaned against the glass and lit up a stick. Under the blazing sun, I smoked my cigarette and observed people walking by, going about their daily lives.

    I was about to finish my death stick when all of a sudden I saw a CD in a clear plastic sleeve thrust in front of my face, accompanied by an announcement from a stranger, “hey man, this is my CD, check out my music, I’m giving it to you for free.”
    (more…)

  • Tales from Tangerang

    Tales from Tangerang

    I can’t believe it’s been almost 3 weeks since I left KL for the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Jakarta. Tomorrow is the last day of the sale before we start the whole tear down – something we all dread since it’s not exactly fun. But hey, overall, it’s been a great trip.

    Firstly, the sale isn’t even in Jakarta. It’s actually in a city called Tangerang, 25 kilometers away from Jakarta. Something I only discovered after landing. Not that it really mattered – people from all over Indonesia attended the sale anyway. Also, BBW Tangerang doesn’t really roll off the tongue.

    Tangerang is a pretty nice city. It’s not too different from KL, so I didn’t really feel homesick (not that I feel homesick often anyway). However I do miss people and Snuggles, so I’m looking forward to going back home.

    I’ve come to appreciate the efficiency of Malaysian cashiers. They are really miles ahead when it comes to efficiency. I’ve never waited so long for a McDonald’s meal before.

    Counting in Rupiah is challenging. Maybe I’m just mentally challenged but shit, the number of zeroes they have to deal with. Why not just remove three zeroes since the lowest denomination they have is 1000 anyway? I have no idea. But stuff here is generally cheaper than back home. And even the pop up restaurants outside the event didn’t cost an arm and a leg for a drink.

    My command of Malay is terrible – and despite Indonesian being pretty similar, there are quite a number of words which don’t carry over. I definitely had trouble communicating sometimes. Fortunately I have Google Translate to help. Download your dictionaries for offline use – it seriously helps.

    The sale has been tiring. On the plus side, I feel like I can lift heavier shit. No idea if I’ve been this strong all along or I’ve gradually gotten stronger over the past few months. I’m also better at using a pallet jack than I was a few months ago. Nicked myself with a cutter earlier today – only injury I’ve had so far. Saw this one dude with a hugeassmotherfucking water blister on his toe. They call it ‘kapalan’ over here. Something to do with a ship because there’s water inside the blister.

    I also learnt some important words – the Indonesian word for masturbate is apparently a word that sounds like ‘cholly’.

    Also discovered a new band which I’m digging a lot – The 1975 (thanks Pam! btw do check out her paper craft, it’s insane) here’s one of my favorite tracks from them:

    They remind me of California Wives. Good shit.

    Other than them, Cigarettes After Sex and Lil Dicky has been my playlist for the trip.

    I saw a man wash his hands with the water from a urinal. I’m not sure if that’s better than the plethora of dudes who don’t wash their hands at all.

    Also, eating food that’s 12+ hours old can give you a tummy ache.

    I made plenty of new friends and even managed to meet some old ones.

    It’s been a good trip. See you again, you crazy, crazy book hungry people.

    bb