Payung Lutsinar

Take a deep breath and look outside to see the rain. Drenched. I guess this time of the year what more can you expect. Perhaps its just the cycle of year. Perhaps it's more than that. Regardless this is not the thing I wanted to talk about, but it made for a mellow intro. Ha ha.

Perception, illusion and assumption. All dangerous in their own way and with the now globalized world, these three words become more powerful than ever. With communication between a community a "click a way" (they say) we are becoming more and more distant even if it looks like we are closer now than then. If that made any sense at all then I am sure you might get what I will be trying to say. Ha ha.

Being a human being in this day and age especially as a generation that will steer the country forward we are no longer separated by six degrees.There seems to be pressure for everyone to be connected with one another. Although this can be seen as something positive where people are more united than ever but if the three words mention above becomes the cloud that surrounds us, it will be the crack in the armor of unity. (How cheesy is that?)

My decision not to be too involved in the technological advancement probably have separated me from many acquaintances but it has never come without reasons. People's perception of me does not bother me that much (meaning to say yes it bothers me) but don't let it be what defines me. This seems more and more like a rant. I guess it is.

Perhaps the rain has effected me more than I would admit it had.

Value

Most of the times when you think it is that obvious, it surely is.

Awaken

Eyes blurry. Barely able to see what's happening. Everything is turning white. Am I dead? Again there was a loud shouting of "Clear!" with sounds of electricity charging. I was slowly beginning to regain consciousness. Slowly but surely the white background turns into shapes. Some shadows emerge.

Just when colors begin to fill up the surroundings, a white pasty hand swung across my face. Slap!

Allen: What the hell?
Maria: Good your up.

She starts slapping me again and again.

Maria: You son of a bitch! Wake up! You can't die now. Why are you doing this?
Allen: What the hell is wrong with you?

Tears falling from her face as she reduces the force of the slap eventually.

I have awoken onto a bed that seemed vaguely too familiar to be recognize as my own. Now attached to some kind of robotic device dripping down blood.

Allen: Okay fine I won't. I'm up. Stop yelling. Your voice is all nasally, it's annoying.
Maria: Asshole.
Allen: Well that was uncalled for.
Maria: Only assholes slit their wrists.
Allen: I thought it would be easier and melodramatic and stuff.
Maria: Fuck you.
......................................................................................................

Somebody Else

The room filled with people chatting away. Mostly white walls covered with paintings and pictures spaced apart to make them look more stand out. Perhaps this was the main reason why an art piece looks better in a gallery than it would on your house wall. Marketing.

There she was with a champagne glass in one hand nodding to the nonsense that the guy in front of her was talking about. French art perhaps. Maybe too stereotypical of a black t-shirt wearing guy with a beret. Marketing.

All I can think about was how her hair swerves flawlessly while nodding. It has been 4 years and I have seen that long soft hair grown itself from a bob. I gave a tap on her shoulder just to notify that I was there. She turned around showing me her beautiful light green eyes that when people talk about going green, this is what they meant. Her face gave an expression of confusion and of shock. Not in the good way.

Carmen: What are doing here?
Allen: For you.
Carmen: What?

................................................

Carmen: You're not suppose to be here! (after review by ieraLEE...haha)
Allen: What do you mean? I'm here for you and this is the response.
French Dude: Who's this?
Carmen: This is Allen whose not suppose to be here.
French Dude: Oui.

..................................................

She took me by the hand and dragged me away from the french dude who was twirling his mustache that he seemed to have grown during their conversation.

Carmen: Look, your not suppose to be here. Go back home.
Allen: Why? I'm here.
Carmen: Because its not your time.
Allen: What? What do you mean.
Carmen: Its just not your time yet. Go back home Allen. People are waiting for you back home.
Allen: Who? What people? What are you talking about?

.......................................................

Sounds of rubber souls on white marble flooring like players changing directions on a basketball court.

White uniformed guy: Clear!

6th Drive

The Last stop before arriving back in London was the Bicester Village outlet. Not much to say other than shopping? Ha ha. Also awkwardly met a friend of my mom whom I've met when I was in the States which if you know by now is awkward for me and not anybody else. Did not snap much pictures as not much to see really as well as in London itself as more shopping done than sight seeing.

Sight seeing? Really?

One of few snaps

And Finally the reason "we" all went there in the first place.

5th Drive

A day after having been to Scotland (finally) we track our way down back to London. Of course it was not a straight drive down as we had stops in Oxford, Sherwood in Nottingham, and York. We actually hadn't plan to go to these stops except for the Sherwood forest. By now my parents was also under the weather which meant that driving long distance was not much of an option. The rain was almost non existent by now but the wind was still picking up.

The University town

The forest

And York (taken from a rooftop car park)

Would have place a bit more pictures but I don't know how to rotate the pictures through this blog and have not bothered finding out. (typical...pffft.)

4th Drive

The next day we arrive at our north most destination for the whole trip which was Edinburgh. Not so much had changed weather wise and also with my health but luckily the rain stopped as we arrived at the Edinburgh Castle. My brother had internet connection using his phone so we got tickets on the spot through online halfway through waiting in the line. I wen with the walking guide while the others went by themselves because they couldn't been bothered to wait for the tour. Ha ha. We stayed at the castle for about an hour plus and then went walking along the Royal Mile where we got a bite to eat and snapped some pictures in front of the coffee shop that J. K. Rowling frequented during the making of her potter books.

Inside the castle

Along the Royal Mile

The Elephant House