visuali-shing

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10.06.16

1. How do I feel?

Well, today is my penultimate day in London, and I’m beginning to feel a bit nostalgic. It’s crazy to think I only have two more nights here, because only a few days ago, the thought of leaving hadn’t really hit me. It’s a funny feeling, because I’m not exactly sad, but I also have a small longing for what could have been. Maybe I could have seen my friends more, tried more restaurants, explored more of the nightlife. There’s always a desire to do more, to have more, to be more, but ultimately, is more better?

2. How did I make others feel?

I think today, I made others really happy. After having lunch, my good friend Long and I spontaneously shot a short film. So, I made my acting debut today, and we had many laughs during editing. Days when you can spend time with friends doing things you both love are the best, and remind me of the fun you can have from actively doing things. When we were kids, my friends and I would think of so many seemingly random things to do. In a way, boredom is the gateway to doing something fun.

3. What am I grateful for?

I have been saying this all day, but I am so grateful for my friends. It wasn’t until this week, when I sat back, that I realised how many good friends I have. I have so many people around me who genuinely care for me, and for a while, I really overlooked that. The last few days have really brought me some renewed appreciation for all the great people around me.

4. Was I stressed?

Aside from briefly being hangry, really no stress at all.

5. What made me smile?

I went to my last evening class (for now) at RGA Gymbox today and put in some good rounds with the guys and girls. For my last roll, my friend Basil decided to rip my gi to shreds as a going away present. Looking at the tattered gi jacket in the locker room, I couldn't help but smile. I wore that gi to my first training session there, and today, after three years of loyal service, the time for it to retire finally came.

After training, I went to dinner with my good friend Robert. 

The last few times we hung out, we didn’t get to talk much because there was always a schedule to keep to. Tonight, we weren't having any of that and had a nice stroll through North London , talking, taking pictures (check out some of them below) and laughing. It was a good night and the perfect way to cap off my penultimate day in London.

[myreverence]

[aumonique]

www.facebook.com/aumonique 

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Experimenting. Tasmin, 2016. 35mm.

[aumonique]

Love this so much.

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the introvert

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introverts

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[Saigon/London]

biker east / biker west

xe đạp ta / xe đạp tây

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The Sushi Chef: Oona Tempest and Toshio Oguma

Tanoshi Sushi NYC was born from a variety of happy accidents. King Ang, the owner, happened to come across an empty space on the Upper East Side that had no ...

I've been fascinated with the culinary world lately. To be able to inject one’s creativity into such a primal aspect of life is incredible to watch.

[kechuyennhaminh]

Ngày xưa mình hay nghĩ, ghen tuông là biểu hiện của tình yêu.

Đến bây giờ mình vẫn nghĩ vậy.

Nhưng cũng chỉ là một dạng của tình yêu.

Anh nhà mình thuộc dạng không bao giờ ghen. Đó không phải kiểu không tỏ ra ghen tuông, mà là trong lòng hoàn toàn không có sự ghen tuông. Mình đi chơi với giai thì chỉ dặn đi cẩn thận, mặc áo ấm. Mình nhận hoa nhận quà của giai thì bảo là cho anh gửi lời cảm ơn. Mình kể chuyện về giai thì lắng nghe bình thản, lâu lâu bình luận, lại còn tư vấn các kiểu cho mình. Quả là hiếm có khó tìm, số một miền Bắc, không có số hai (nói theo ngôn ngữ của bà).

Anh bảo, anh nghĩ ghen tuông biểu thị cho sự tự ti và liên kết yếu kém giữa hai con người. Đã thế, lại còn tốn quá nhiều năng lượng. Dành cái năng lượng ấy mà làm chuyện khác. Tình yêu là chuyện của hai người, và chỉ của hai người, phần còn lại là thế giới. Vì thế anh chẳng cần bận tâm đến việc người khác có thích em hay không. Cũng có thể anh dành hết sự chú ý về phía em rồi nên chẳng biết được mấy thằng khác ra sao nữa.

Còn mình, thay vì hậm hực như lúc đầu, bây giờ lại thấy hoàn toàn dễ chịu khi ở bên một người như vậy. Nói chung món ăn có tí hạt tiêu thì cũng ngon, nhưng không có cũng được, lại đỡ bị nổi mụn.

Nhà Mình

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“Anh bảo, anh nghĩ ghen tuông biểu thị cho sự tự ti và liên kết yếu kém giữa hai con người. Đã thế, lại còn tốn quá nhiều năng lượng. Dành cái năng lượng ấy mà làm chuyện khác.”

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StoryCorps: a friendship lost and found, 40 years later

Nearly 40 years ago, two best friends said goodbye to each other by holding on to different ends of a paper streamer.

True friendships are eternal. Check out this amazing story, courtesy of StoryCorps.

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One Day at SRAM

SRAM Headquarters was captured in action over the course of one day with employees providing their perspective on their new Perkins+Will designed workplace. This…

“It's a beautiful place to be.”

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MUNCHIES Presents: Lobster Luke

Luke Sandburg—a.k.a. “Lobster Luke”—is a friend everyone wants to have. Instead of paying nearly $40 per pound for California spiny lobster, he braves the da...

I’ve always been fascinated by the sea. The immense diversity of life and the culinary possibilities it brings is beyond my mind. Perhaps even more amazing are the stories of people who are one with the ocean. 

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A Dream About Love.

Last night, I had a dream about love.

I saw myself walking down a path buried under a sea of fallen leaves. The way ahead was a scene of the warmest colours. The red and yellow carpet, the radiant rays of the setting sun, and the relaxing pace of a closing day was made perfect by the touch of my lover. We walked with our arms around one another, relishing in each other’s pleasant company. I remember vividly the sweet smell of her hair, her playful chuckles as we talked about our days and the feeling of her head as she leaned on me. It was pure euphoria.

Now, why is this dream about love? There’s a simple answer to the question. You could say I described, perfectly, a scene from any corny romantic comedy movie and such an explanation could be the end to this story. However, I think it goes deeper than that. To truly understand love, you must experience both ends of the spectrum. When I woke up, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of dread. Where was my lover? My heart was beating out of my chest. Was that all really a dream? Why would my mind present to me such a beautiful and peaceful moment, and be cruel enough to rip it away from me at another moment's notice?

I woke up heartbroken.

Obviously I'm okay now as it was only a dream, and the images mere fiction (or perhaps a memory from the many similar days with my lover). However, I do long for that magical feeling of love and the capability to experience such a powerful all-encompassing sensation is truly one of the most otherworldly blessings of our short lives.

One day, perhaps my lover and I will walk that path again. The sea of fallen leaves will be there and with our arms around one another, we will bask in the warm rays of the setting sun. Until then, let us continue doing so in my dreams, my love.

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My Grandpa.

I'm thinking back to when I was younger, about the things I did with my Grandpa. On days when I got good grades, he'd take me to Lê Văn Tám park. Under the pagoda next to the makeshift badminton court, we would have chocolate coated milk popsicles. Being a kid, I had so many questions and he'd take the time to answer all of them. I remember his many stories about working at the bank, and enjoying ice cream after work as we were doing. 

Then he'd take me to the bookstore. On days when I got 10/10 he'd buy me a toy, but only then. Those were good times and I have to admit as I got older, I took my Grandpa for granted. Only when I sit down, and watch him as he talks, do I realise how much older he has gotten.

Too often, we get too caught up in our busy lives to step back and cherish the fleeting moments we are priviledged with those we love. Tomorrow, I will visit him and ask him again about the bank, the ice cream, Saigon, and her many brothels.   

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Saving Foetuses: My Latest Dream.

I had a weird and hauntingly vivid dream last night.

It was just another day at school. I was late to a lecture, and was hastily power walking down the hallway in the Lincoln's Inn Fields building of LSE. While dodging the stream of academic pedestrians, something caught my attention out of the corner of my eyes. There, below a bulletin board and against the bottom of the white wall, were two objects resembling foetuses. Curious and somewhat disturbed, I approached the beings to gain a better view.

Upon closer inspection, I was baffled. The two foetuses were fighting, and flailing each other's little head. Their skin was translucent, showing thin green veins coursing above their under-developed skulls. Suddenly, they both froze and the flailing stopped. Their small eyes rolled back and lifeless white glares took their place. The foetuses were dead.

In a full mode of panic, I struggled to decide on what to do. Someone's babies just died right before my eyes. In a haze, I picked up the two lifeless bodies ran to the nurse's office. I remember thinking about how small their heads were; each one resting perfectly in my palms. I ran and ran as impulse took over and completely ignored those around me. In minutes, I'd reached the room and shouted for help. A middle aged nurse ran out to see what the commotion was about. I showed her the now very pale bodies and she reacted in a manner resembling Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'. In response, the entirety of the medical staff came and took the foetuses from me. I was told there was nothing else I could do and I should leave everything to them. Still in shock, I made my way back to my lecture hall.

Naturally, I couldn't concentrate, and sat staring at the lecturer in a blank state. All of a sudden, the P.A. sounded and a female voice called out 'Shing Chan, please report to the medical office'. I was bewildered and sprinted straight back to where I came from. I bursted through the door and almost ran into the nurse I'd met earlier. She held my arm, and told me I'd just saved two lives. Behind her, a group of other nurses brought out a white shoebox. Inside, the two babies were now back to full life. Even better, their skin as no longer translucent and they looked healthy; as if they'd been so all along. They looked up at me with their round eyes, and smiled so wide their pink cheeks were pushed up. The nurses passed the box to me, and I stared back in disbelief. I started weeping and all I could think was I can't believe I just helped save two fleeting lives.

Then, I woke up.

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Today's Top Three.

Some photos of Granny from my shoot for Cafe Bernard.