away at home (Lost In Translation)

You know you're no longer in Melbourne when you look out your window and see an electrician hanging along the rails of a 15th floor balcony by only his left arm with no safety harness while fixing an air-conditioner with his right.
I rushed for my camera but when I got back he was done already. I don't know. I didn't see him. Maybe he fell. I'll check later on my way out the carpark.

I've been back for almost a day. It's quite a weird feeling. Most of my friends who live around me here in KL aren't here. Correction: None are here. Not to say that's a bad thing. With fingers crossed (only because they're so busy with their own social lives), I could catch up with the jyg, test out y's 360, catch up with the cckler's, as well as my classmates, whom both are mostly in Subang - a nice half an hour from my place without traffic. Jezza's been a champ though. Messaged me two nights ago saying he's got a spare ticket for Transformers. That man's a prophet. So that's my itinerary for the night, I guess. And tomorrow evening, I'm heading back down to Kluang with my brother Mervin.

Mum has been updating me with the latest local goss and news. Yes, there's a distinction between the two. For the latter, I'm sad to say that life around has been getting rather bad. The crime rate for one, has been shooting up the roof with Johor Bahru leading the pack (rather proudly too, I'd imagine). Snatch thieves and daylight robberies (no, the literal one, not the ridiculous shopping-prices kind) are getting out of hand. It's no longer safe even for the streetwise in JB these days. So to my Singaporean friends who enjoy crossing the sea for some late night food and shopping, you may want to think twice (or perhaps thrice) now. Mum even elaborated on how robbers stretch a rope across a street to smack motorcyclists off their bikes and rob them. Creative, I must admit. But not something to be proud about.

I'm glad though that my trusted DVD shop in Hartamas is still open. The boss there is a great guy and knows his movies rather well too. Not many do. I'll need to pop by a bit later to pick up some titles. I hope I can get a copy of Hors de Prix on DVD. That'd be great, even though I've watched it already. I've so far got this movie called Three Times, a love story set in three different eras; three different reincarnations, but one unfinished love by one same couple. I can't wait to pop it in my player. Dad bought a plasma. If I told you the deal he got, you'd probably die like watching the Ring tape. So I won't.

I bought a book today. The 13½ lives of Captain Bluebear. It's RM50 here. It's AUD$32 in Melbourne. I just saved RM50 from not buying it earlier.
Also thinking of getting a Haruki Murakami book. Been recommended heavily by a friend, but don't know which one to start with. Any suggestions? Books are so much cheaper here.

I've learnt today that much can change in 6 months. More obvious are those that you've been away from. Like changes back here. It's obvious when I've been in Melbourne during the semester and I'm back now to see it. But more importantly and dangerous are the changes which I've been going through back in Melbourne which are material yet easily looked over due to familiarity (like a child's growth, for instance; where it's harder to notice he's grown taller and bigger if you see him everyday). It takes my return here, away from Melbourne, to be able to have an unbiased view of what's been going on; looking back as if a reel of film replayed.
It's a scary journey I've taken so far. And what the future holds God only knows. Which is good too, I guess. But sometimes I just wish I knew what He's thinking too. I rarely get any opinions from Him regarding certain decisions or contemplations I go through. It's as if He's left me alone to make up my mind, saying 'Either way will do, boy. It's just a matter of what load you want to carry and if you're ready for the consequences'. And I don't like that. I'd rather Him tell me what He wants and I'll try my best to obey. It's so much easier that way.
I don't know what I want anymore.

Anyway, I think I should sign off now. If you've read this far, I applaud you. You're a good friend and listener, and I thank you for that.
Now I should hit the gym before my size 28 jeans starts betraying me. :)
I love this place.

p/s: Silas Liew, if you're reading this, you're a clown. I dialed the number you gave me and a nice lady picked up and talked to me in Malay saying the number I've called doesn't exist. Please check your email soon, so I can pass you Sharene's card for you to sop over and you can buy me a meal that's not Nasi Lemak Seringgit.