What Type Are You?

@mondayboo tweeted this so I clicked.

I love the way the test is conducted. The video, the narrative, all those hand motions, and how they have your answers scribbled down on the tiny notepad after. And the resultant typeface.

I am Archer Hairline.

Designed by Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones, Archer Hairline is a modern typeface with a straightforward appearance but one that has tiny outbreaks of elegance and tiny dots of emotion only apparent on closer examination.

If you are someone who is outwardly composed but will occasionally run into the bathroom for a quick laugh or quiet cry before emerging to the world outwardly composed again, then Archer Hairline is your type.

#cathaywtf?

Told the guy I didn't need the Picturehouse envelope for the ticket.

"Ah... You can return it to the usher when you pass them your ticket."

So I tried to. And the girl gave me this blur fuck face and pushed it to me anyway. And I just added another piece of trash to this world.

Seriously, Cathay, what the fuck?

笑翻了我

媽從袋子裡拉出一塊透明袋包裝著的蛋糕，然後問：“甚麼來的？”

弟回答：“我去捐血。他們給的。”

“要死啊！我煮這樣多東西給你補，你去捐掉它換一塊 cake 回來！”

After looking at me snap away for a while, the uncle came to tell me that there was a beautiful alley nearby. He then led me to this and before he went back to do his job (blocking off roadside parking lots with stools and and directing cars into them), he told me that directors have come for a shot of this alley and a famous French artist had done a painting.

Some day soon, I need to go back for a better shot.

#thingsthatmatter

"I'll buy you strawberry shortcake lah. That's what you want right?"

"No. What I want is to know that I am right, and to have cake because I'm right. That's what I want."

It didn't matter in the end how old they had been, or that they were girls, but only that we had loved them, and that they hadn't heard us calling, still do not hear us, up here in the tree house with our thinning hair and soft bellies, calling them out of those rooms where they went to be alone for all time, alone in suicide, which is deeper than death, and where we will never find the pieces to put them back together.

— The Virgin Suicides / Jeffrey Eugenides

Conversation with a friend about a mutual friend and his girlfriend

"每次看到她都不一樣。她現在跟以前差很多！＂

＂很好嘍。他喜歡 plasticine then 剛好給他找到一團。＂

I don't remember how I took this photo. I was on foot the entire time in Malacca. I know where this is, and I know I crossed this road several times. But I don't recall risking my life and stopping in the middle of the road to take this.

Bitchy conversation

She-who-does-not-want-to-be-named: What was her name again? I didn't like the look of her.

Me: Yah. She has that… helpless face. Damsel who needs to be saved.

She: Yah! I can't stand girls like that!

Me: I know. (whines) 救我！救我！(booming growl) 我就是不要救你，怎樣？去死吧！

Us: Hahaha!

Yah, I know. We can be so annoying. But that's what friends are for.

3.26pm: Slouched on the pleather couch in The Library. It's actually just a few half-hearted shelves of books, with more encyclopedias than real reading material. (Although to be fair, encyclopedias are pretty interesting. I did spend a fair bit of time with them in primary school. Projects—zapping pages and pages from thick volumes in the library, making friends with the photocopy auntie, playing catching and getting earfuls from pissed off librarians…)

The ceiling fan is turning lazily, silently. Some jazzy song is playing in the background. Behind me is a window. I could hear a rock band jamming, I wonder in which rundown shophouse, but they have stopped. A muffled rock band is remarkably soothing. I can imagine their dreams, youth, talent and good looks without subjecting myself to the reality that, well, maybe they only have dreams.

3.38pm: It's almost time to head out for my coach ride. Bye bye, Majestic Malacca—for this price, I do think you could have paid finer attention to detail, but we'll save that for another day. In no time, I'll be home. I love travelling and I love homecoming. Sometimes it's the staying that is problematic.

3.14pm: Trapped on St Paul's Hill. It was the heaviest downpour but what made it immense was the whipping wind. It was pushing me off my feet as I stood in the pavilion, rendering the shelter overhead useless. A dash into the darkest recesses of the church ruins was necessary. Fortunately or unfortunately, I had lots of company, including a boisterous group of teenagers hell-bent on filming a music video.

3.23pm: The wind has decided to give it a rest. Slowly the crowd has stepped back out from the dark corners to get some air. Some have headed down the hill with their umbrellas. But the rain is still terribly heavy and the thunder sounds threatening. But I am terribly thirsty.

3.29pm: Fuck! Thunder made me almost jump out of my skin. Twice. Just as I had made up my mind to go.

3.32pm: Oh, my terribly comfortable hotel room, I am thinking of you.

3.33pm: To think the day started off so scorching hot. It's a good thing I managed to see this church when it was still sunny. Because it's breathtaking against a blue sky. The extended Korean family is leaving. I shall follow them. They're so noisy it's comforting right now.

It's easy to feel at home here, along these winding streets.

There are lots of curious guest houses. Shall venture to stay in one the next time. With such charming accommodation options, it's hard to imagine why people would opt to room in generic chain hotels. Which look really out of place here.

Hallo, Malacca!

Yet to take any photos of the hotel facade. The postcards provided in the room do a fantastic job. And quite honestly, that's the classic shot everyone takes.

The room is marvellous.

Mostly because of the bathroom.

And the fluffiest bed.

View from the bed. There's a Japanese novel in the room. Along with boring mags like Prestige, Tatler, etc. The usual "atas" crap.

Welcome tea came in this super lovely basket with fitted slots for the tea set.

View from the window. Walked past the ferris wheel in the afternoon. It's a mini wheel in a mini theme park. So dilapidated I thought it was no longer operational.

Turns out, it was waiting for night.