Second-order Stories

Nice, France 9.19.2010 Hello Tumblr! I shall deem this the first of many random musings to come! I created this “space” for many reasons—some of which I cannot tell you as of the moment. But simply, I start this today in an attempt to possibly locate myself in the cloud that I am currently drifting in. I guess it is only normal for anyone to go through this stage at least once in his or her lifetime; although, I believe that mine was compounded by my experience of being pulled into and out of extreme contexts over a brief period of time. So, this “space” serves as a sort of medium where I can encounter myself, a place where I can “meet” myself so that I can, possibly, see myself more clearly. Alright, so my random musings will come in the form of words, photographs, and drawings—all of which composed by me unless I quote someone else. After all, I set this up primarily for me to see myself from a distance while at the same time going through the motions of myself. But hey, if you also happen to look at this “space”, you are most welcome! I’d love to be inspired by you. Because aside from what I’ve mentioned above, I’m also looking for other sources of inspiration. Anyway, that’s it for now. To start off, here is a photo from Nice, France last September with my boyfriend, who is also my best friend, Andoy.
Jan 6

Nice, France 9.19.2010

Hello Tumblr! I shall deem this the first of many random musings to come!

I created this “space” for many reasons—some of which I cannot tell you as of the moment. But simply, I start this today in an attempt to possibly locate myself in the cloud that I am currently drifting in. I guess it is only normal for anyone to go through this stage at least once in his or her lifetime; although, I believe that mine was compounded by my experience of being pulled into and out of extreme contexts over a brief period of time. So, this “space” serves as a sort of medium where I can encounter myself, a place where I can “meet” myself so that I can, possibly, see myself more clearly.

Alright, so my random musings will come in the form of words, photographs, and drawings—all of which composed by me unless I quote someone else. After all, I set this up primarily for me to see myself from a distance while at the same time going through the motions of myself. But hey, if you also happen to look at this “space”, you are most welcome! I’d love to be inspired by you. Because aside from what I’ve mentioned above, I’m also looking for other sources of inspiration.

Anyway, that’s it for now. To start off, here is a photo from Nice, France last September with my boyfriend, who is also my best friend, Andoy.

Paris, France 9.4.2010 One thing I’ve learned: events are more beautiful when being looked back on than when being experienced. Because after the experience itself, you piece together even the most mundane things, growing continuously into something more wonderful.
Jan 7

Paris, France 9.4.2010

One thing I’ve learned: events are more beautiful when being looked back on than when being experienced. Because after the experience itself, you piece together even the most mundane things, growing continuously into something more wonderful.

Jardin des Tuileries, Paris 9.5.2010 I took this shot around a little bit after noon while we were on our way to Champs-Élysées. It’s amazing how these people manage to linger under the sun during the hottest time of the day, either sitting in benches with their noses stuck on books, or having conversations that would go on for hours, or just wandering around until they uncover something that sparks their interest. All this, while they let their children free to sail the seas. 
Jan 7

Jardin des Tuileries, Paris 9.5.2010

I took this shot around a little bit after noon while we were on our way to Champs-Élysées. It’s amazing how these people manage to linger under the sun during the hottest time of the day, either sitting in benches with their noses stuck on books, or having conversations that would go on for hours, or just wandering around until they uncover something that sparks their interest.

All this, while they let their children free to sail the seas. 

Montmartre, Paris 9.4.2010 I love how this one came out. Initially, I intended to take a photo of the window display of this gallery that we passed by. I never expected for us to be incorporated into it though.  That’s Andoy to my left—and yes, I could say that I do miss him! 
Jan 7

Montmartre, Paris 9.4.2010

I love how this one came out. Initially, I intended to take a photo of the window display of this gallery that we passed by. I never expected for us to be incorporated into it though. 

That’s Andoy to my left—and yes, I could say that I do miss him! 

Avignon, France 10.2.2010 Despite the fact that I was adequately operational with these things, it’s a shame that I never once got out to use them during my stay in Europe.  Never let this happen again.
Jan 9

Avignon, France 10.2.2010

Despite the fact that I was adequately operational with these things, it’s a shame that I never once got out to use them during my stay in Europe. 

Never let this happen again.

Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, Paris 9.5.2010 There’s always magic even in the most everyday of things—you just have to look close enough. And among the magical things that day, this was one of them. 
Jan 9

Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, Paris 9.5.2010

There’s always magic even in the most everyday of things—you just have to look close enough. And among the magical things that day, this was one of them. 

La Tour Eiffel, Paris 12.23.2010 This was my favorite memory of us in Paris, and the night before you left. I love you and I miss you, but this was all for the best. See you in a month’s time!  Let our love be the one thing you won’t leave behind. - Mae
Jan 9

La Tour Eiffel, Paris 12.23.2010

This was my favorite memory of us in Paris, and the night before you left. I love you and I miss you, but this was all for the best. See you in a month’s time! 

Let our love be the one thing you won’t leave behind. - Mae

Marseille, France 10.3.2010 The sky was clear from any clouds, except seagulls that swooped and darted from the sky to the water—or to the port beset by fishermen. Everything was washed in a monochrome of blue. Unlike most of the people in that boat, we stayed outside, at the forward end. And as we sailed further out into the sea, it didn’t take long for the wind to begin swaying the sea and for the waves to start tossing the boat. Before we knew it, sea water would occasionally splash into our faces and the boat would start throwing us about in the air—causing us to literally fall on our bottoms hard.  They were bold enough to still stay at the very tip of the boat’s bow even if the sea was fooling around that day.
Jan 10

Marseille, France 10.3.2010

The sky was clear from any clouds, except seagulls that swooped and darted from the sky to the water—or to the port beset by fishermen. Everything was washed in a monochrome of blue. Unlike most of the people in that boat, we stayed outside, at the forward end. And as we sailed further out into the sea, it didn’t take long for the wind to begin swaying the sea and for the waves to start tossing the boat. Before we knew it, sea water would occasionally splash into our faces and the boat would start throwing us about in the air—causing us to literally fall on our bottoms hard. 

They were bold enough to still stay at the very tip of the boat’s bow even if the sea was fooling around that day.

Avignon, France 10.2.2010 The vessel starts spinning. He holds on to the hand rail, still hesitant, but at least this time, he already smiles a little. Give it time and he’ll be lifting his hands up in the air, laughing. 
Jan 10

Avignon, France 10.2.2010

The vessel starts spinning. He holds on to the hand rail, still hesitant, but at least this time, he already smiles a little. Give it time and he’ll be lifting his hands up in the air, laughing. 

La Tour Eiffel viewed from Trocadéro, Paris 12.28.2010 If there’s one place in Europe that has truly captured my spirit, it would be here. The Eiffel Tower can of course be viewed from various places around Paris, but Trocadéro homes its loveliest self. Here, the Eiffel Tower stands at great heights in solitude, as it ignites the sky and all the seemingly small buildings in the horizon with its light. At eleven in the evening, it sets the sky ablaze—for the first ten minutes of every hour—with its twinkling lights that accompany its already amber glow which has been radiating since dusk. And at an hour past midnight, its golden ardor disappears, and for the last time, for ten minutes, its twinkling light illuminates the sky by itself. It then gives way for the stars that it mimics to brighten this beautiful city—this city that I get this immense feeling of attachment from, this city that’s one of the most endearing places in the world that you will ever find yourself in. And now that it’s once again miles away from me, this photo—that I took during my last night—helps me remember how I felt when I was there—because I never want to forget.   J’ai deux amours, mon pays et Paris - from the song J’ai Deux Amours
Jan 13

La Tour Eiffel viewed from Trocadéro, Paris 12.28.2010

If there’s one place in Europe that has truly captured my spirit, it would be here. The Eiffel Tower can of course be viewed from various places around Paris, but Trocadéro homes its loveliest self. Here, the Eiffel Tower stands at great heights in solitude, as it ignites the sky and all the seemingly small buildings in the horizon with its light. At eleven in the evening, it sets the sky ablaze—for the first ten minutes of every hour—with its twinkling lights that accompany its already amber glow which has been radiating since dusk. And at an hour past midnight, its golden ardor disappears, and for the last time, for ten minutes, its twinkling light illuminates the sky by itself. It then gives way for the stars that it mimics to brighten this beautiful city—this city that I get this immense feeling of attachment from, this city that’s one of the most endearing places in the world that you will ever find yourself in.

And now that it’s once again miles away from me, this photo—that I took during my last night—helps me remember how I felt when I was there—because I never want to forget.  

J’ai deux amours, mon pays et Paris - from the song J’ai Deux Amours

Pont d’Avignon, France 10.2.2010 I can’t say that I’m fairing well at this predicament—and I’m not surprised. I knew this was going to take some time, but I never expected that it would be this daunting of a task. Today was the first day of class, the first day I saw almost everyone back again. It was just barely a month ago that we were all miles apart from each other and the thought that we’re now walking the same halls, sitting in the same class gives me the shivers. It’s not that I don’t want to be back here again, but you can really feel that everyone, in a sense, has changed to some extent. Of course, that’s to be expected—but experiencing the products of being thrown into great elsewheres for a relatively long period of time and then gathered back after feels new, strange and awkward. It’s not a bad thing at all, it’s just weird.   There are some things though, those things dear enough, that people still retained with them, in them. And maybe that’s enough. But every once in a while, you find someone who’s iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare. - Wendelin Van Draanen
Jan 22

Pont d’Avignon, France 10.2.2010

I can’t say that I’m fairing well at this predicament—and I’m not surprised. I knew this was going to take some time, but I never expected that it would be this daunting of a task. Today was the first day of class, the first day I saw almost everyone back again. It was just barely a month ago that we were all miles apart from each other and the thought that we’re now walking the same halls, sitting in the same class gives me the shivers. It’s not that I don’t want to be back here again, but you can really feel that everyone, in a sense, has changed to some extent. Of course, that’s to be expected—but experiencing the products of being thrown into great elsewheres for a relatively long period of time and then gathered back after feels new, strange and awkward. It’s not a bad thing at all, it’s just weird.  

There are some things though, those things dear enough, that people still retained with them, in them. And maybe that’s enough.

But every once in a while, you find someone who’s iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare. - Wendelin Van Draanen

La Tour Eiffel, Paris 9.4.2010 When you consider the thought that it might not last forever as you’ve always dreamed it would, when you accept that it can always go the other way, when you recognize that it’s ephemeral, everything takes on a heightened meaning, piecing together something more beautiful than what you already have at the moment. Never forget the reality of that course. Most times, it’s what makes you want to love even more.
Jan 22

La Tour Eiffel, Paris 9.4.2010

When you consider the thought that it might not last forever as you’ve always dreamed it would, when you accept that it can always go the other way, when you recognize that it’s ephemeral, everything takes on a heightened meaning, piecing together something more beautiful than what you already have at the moment.

Never forget the reality of that course. Most times, it’s what makes you want to love even more.


Paris, France 9.4.2010 There must have been a time in our lives when we thought of things like all of our stuffed animals would go to heaven, or that when we grow up we’re going to fly to beside the stars, or that every day of your life would be something like this. It need not be when we were children—although it may have been. It’s just that sometimes, this experience occurs in people later on. 
Jan 25

Paris, France 9.4.2010

There must have been a time in our lives when we thought of things like all of our stuffed animals would go to heaven, or that when we grow up we’re going to fly to beside the stars, or that every day of your life would be something like this. It need not be when we were children—although it may have been. It’s just that sometimes, this experience occurs in people later on.