Hello, It's me, again

My last entry for this blog was posted a couple of years ago—2 years and 9 months to be exact. That means I have been putting aside the "need" to write more. I have always kept a journal for as long as I can remember but because I own an iPhone, and I do have a relatively short attention span, I can be easily distracted away from my notebooks.

For the almost three years that I have been MIA, I have done a few things in between. The major one was that I did go back to work—meaning yes, I have certainly travelled more than I stayed home. I am not exactly sure if that's a good thing (it's not) but let's just say, it wasn't bad either.

In 2016, I went back to work in Saudi Arabia for a little over 6 months. The same thing happened this year, in 2017. And in those months, I was fortunate enough to see different countries with the family I worked for. (I'm a PDN for a Royal Family, if you care to know, LOL.) At the risk of sounding burgis, yes, those travels were free—we flew on privately chartered airplanes, driven around in big cars, stayed in 5-star hotels with stacked mini bars, and went to eat at really fancy restaurants where they serve you little portions of food at a time—the whole shebang. It has all become a blur though, because it was work, and the whole time  I was there (yes, even when we were in New York), I was dreading to go home. It wasn't all rainbows, but that's another story.

At some point, I will properly put entries for each travel and tag them like any responsible person who runs a blog does, but for now, here's a lazy summary (A.K.A. Photos Grabbed From my Instagram) of where I've been for the almost 3 years I wasn't posting anything on here.

WTA | Beginning

We're (kind of) back! Write up to follow! 

Film roll vii | Cortina d'Ampezzo Due

We stayed at the beautiful Cristallo Hotel Spa & Golf when we were in Cortina. It sits atop a hill, overlooking the town itself. People travel to this place to ski but I wouldn't mind lounging in bed all day with hot cocoa I'd also like to point out that half the time that I was walking around, I swear this song was on loop in my head.

Film roll vi | Lazy days in the countryside

I don't know how to write about these. Maybe I do know but my mind is elsewhere at the moment. Mostly about home, salty air and sunsets, and waking up sans the sound of any alarm clock, all preferably next to him.

Denford, Northhamptonshire, United Kingdom

January 2012

WTA#12 | Music

Work has been busy these days. By the time I get off it, there is barely enough sunlight to shoot or none at all. I also have maybe 4 rolls worth of film I haven't posted yet and a couple more I have to develop. I have to quit this lazy spell. I have been actively posting on Instagram though. I don't know what that says about me. Heh. 

I'll try catching up with my WTA, I promise.

Venice, Italy
June 2011

Click for Aldous, Carlo, Deng, Ian, Ika, Ire, Kristal, Nova, Tina, and Phillip’s WTA.

WTA#11 | Wind

Or lackthereof~

If my 16 year-old ~*emo*~ self was the one blogging at the moment, I bet that leaf has a lot of stories to tell. Well, mostly about holding on and letting go, and being alone and lonely. But since it's me, the 26-year old homesick one, I will tell you that this was taken in January, on a beautiful winter afternoon while walking around Chester Square. And that although that leaf appears to be strong and holding up rather good all by itself, I bet it wants to party with its friends on the ground. 

London, United Kingdom
January 2012

Click for Aldous, Carlo, Deng, Ian, Ika, Ire, Kristal, Nova, Tina, and Phillip’s WTA.

WTA#10 | Work

I am always asked what's my line of work or what job do I have. And while I would want to talk to you about it in details, I can't. To tell you about it lightly, I work for a high profile family from the Middle East who travels a lot. For most months of the year, I live in Riyadh. For the other times, I usually find myself in another country, sitting at the back of a car, lacking in sleep, in an unfamiliar place, with the most fantastic view.

Cortina, Italy
January 2012

Click for Aldous, Carlo, Deng, Ian, Ika, Ire, Kristal, Nova, Tina, and Phillip’s WTA.

WTA#9 | Sunset

I don't think I have a specific genre when taking pictures but I'm sure landscape isn't one of my stronger points. Sunsets especially.

Also, I have a ton of photos taken from airplanes, but that would be another post of its own. Late (and old lol) picture is late!

Venice, Italy
June 2011

Click for Aldous, Carlo, Deng, Ian, Ika, Ire, Kristal, Nova, Tina, and Phillip’s WTA.

Quand tu arrives a Paris, tu ne veux pas partir

I have been to Paris for the first time in October 2010. We stayed for five days and it was apparent at that time, and when I look back at it now, that it wasn't enough. Five days, five short days and after almost two years, I still haven't forgotten how it looked, and most especially how it felt like. I've seen it in autumn, I'm sure spring will be another kind of beautiful.

Please listen to this song when you look at these pictures.

Film roll v | Cortina d'Ampezzo

En route.

We don't have bacon here in Saudi Arabia so whenever we're out of the country I make sure I have them almost every breakfast. Heh.

We stayed at a hotel called Cristallo up in the mountains so we have this view when we look out our window. It was always beautiful whether it would be snowing,

or not.

WTA#8 | Artist in Action

I think the artist was working on a drawing of this.

Venice, Italy
June 2011

Click for Aldous, Carlo, Deng, Ian, Ika, Ire, Kristal, Nova, Tina, and Phillip’s WTA.

Film roll iv | Belgravia + Oxford Street

WTA#7 | Flora

Plus points for anyone who can name this flower.

London, England
February 2012
Canon A1 + Fujicolor C200 + 50mm f/1.8

Click for Aldous, Carlo, Deng, Ian, Ika, Ire, Kristal, Nova, Tina, and Phillip’s WTA.

WTA#6 | Horizon

a.k.a. Badly Exposed Photos Of The Sunset

This was en route to London last January. It was the first trip where I brought (save for my iPhone 4s) only my Canon A1 to take pictures. I just had my rolls developed today and while I only have a handful of decent shots compared to the hundreds I would have taken with my DSLR, I'm still happy with the results. Film and its unfathomable charm has definitely found its way to me, and I don't think it will go away (I don't want it to go away) any time soon.

Click for Aldous, Carlo, Deng, Ian, Ika, Ire, Kristal, Nova, Tina, and Phillip’s WTA.

WTA#4 | Silhouette

I am posting another stock photo. I am still in London but we'll be flying later today to Cortina, Italy. So far, I'm on my second roll of film and have not even once, regretted leaving my DSLR. Fuck yeah.

This was taken still in Spain, on a ride home from Malaga to Marbella. This was around 8 or 9 in the evening already--the summer days seem to be longer in that part of the world as the winter nights are here in London. I like the latter more than the former.

Click for Aldous, Carlo, Deng, Ian, Ika, Ire, Kristal, Nova, Tina, and Phillip’s WTA.

WTA#3 | Street Signs

Hullow! I'm in London and I didn't bring my DSLR so these are from the archives. I think these were taken in July 2010, my first ever trip to (Marbella) Spain.

Click for Aldous, Carlo, Deng, Ian, Ika, Ire, Kristal, Nova, Tina, and Phillip’s WTA.