Noma's Blog

#illustration

#illustration

#illustration

It was a nice turn of events when I woke up early to simply catch a sunrise. It was 5.30 as I walked across to the beachfront. But the clouds were too low and unless they cleared, I wasn't going to see one. ⠀ I spotted a stretched out stone jetty which didn't look too far away. I could walk there, I thought, and so I kept walking. ⠀ It felt great to walk on barefoot, to feel the sand, the sea water, and even millions of tiny cracked, damaged shells and corals felt good. I could feel my feet on the ground. I could feel myself walking. ⠀ The jetty before me seemed the same distance 20 minutes into the walk, I began to see fisherman and their gear, and of course the fish that were caught resting on the beach. It wasn't easy to see them alive in mesh bags. I tried not to look or overthink. Life is, after all, a sequence of give and take. We all depend on each other, one way or another. When we take, we must give or we will be made to - against our will. ⠀ I finally arrived much later at the jetty. At the bottom of it appeared to be home to several stray dogs. My luck was that once I arrived, another pack of dogs paid them a visit. It was like watching one of those Twilight films in real life, if you remember the scene where wolves were faced with vampires, and one basically wanted to shred the other into pieces but they were unsure of how the table may turn if one made one slight wrong move. A fear entered my mind, but my energy soon shifted. I came in peace and shall leave in one piece. And so I walked on. ⠀ At the end of the jetty lied a 'lone wolf'. There, among a few fisherman, fishing rods and silence, this apparent, adorable, scruffy mess, rested blissfully, alone and away from chaos. Absent was any desire for power, approval, belongingness, or affiliation. There popped some wise words by Aldous Huxley; the more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the religion of solitude. This is getting truer everyday. ⠀ I walked a total of 6.2 kilometres there and back, no wonder it seemed endless. Although I didn't get to see the sunrise, what I got from this walk is far more rewarding than I could have expected or wished for. Much more. ⠀ 'Noma (at Cha-Am)

However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship. - Albert Einstein (at Chiang Mai, Thailand)

It matters not what's surrounding you. When you're balanced, you're in control. It is not that things cease happening to you, it is just that things cease affecting you. - 'Noma (at Chiang Mai, Thailand)

The reason love hurts is because you don't love enough. The reason life's hard is because you resist. Love wholeheartedly. Live spontaneously. And do that as if it's the only way. - 'Noma (at Doi Inthanon National Park)

They say what is meant to be yours, even if it has to leave for a time, will always gravitate back towards you. The hypothesis is one I firmly swear by these recent years, it applies to absolutely everything I do, big or small, important or not. None of this Marriage Frères tea was originally intended for me, but a gift for a friend of my friend, and my task was to post it. When I had the white padded envelope in my hands that was kindly brought back to me by a colleague on his recent trip to Paris, I knew exactly what it was in that nicely concealed envelope. The smell of Vert Provence seeped through so tenderly that I wish the content was mine. 'What a lucky friend', I thought. My love affair with tea is obvious enough, but my passion for Marriage Frères goes even deeper. Long story super short, all of this is now mine, which is beyond belief. Although, I already have these blends, I am super happy that there's now more to enjoy. Oh you know, fate is curiously intriguing... 'Noma

Tell you something that I've found The world's a better place when it's upside down. (at W District)

: The weather is frightening The thunder and lightening Seem to be having their way But as far as I'm concerned, it's a lovely day... #fashionillustration

: Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you But in your dreams whatever they be Dream a little dream of me... : #fashionillustration

The story goes like this. She wakes up one day and all of a sudden realises life is marvellously wonderful. And so she falls in love...

It's never about mindlessly filling what's empty, it's about consciously adding depth and meaning to what is whole. - 'Noma

If we have met before, we will meet again. A reunion is just a matter of time. And time, a matter of perception. - ‘Noma Rest well… (at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery)

Some are here searching for gold, for all things glisten and glitter. Some are here not knowing why, not knowing how. I am all for the rare souls, across the tables, across the rivers, across the shores, across the oceans - across the world. For the inexplicably profound connections, so few and far between, in one lifetime. - 'Noma (at Kanchanaburi)

It was a road less travelled. One for a fair few. And, somehow, I was always coming here. It is for those who understand that there is no worldly prize on the road, just the journey in daring to walk off, and face the fact that one would likely walk alone, and against all odds, find true companions, who dare just as much to risk all, for the more meritorious finds. - 'Noma (at Death Railway Track)

All, for this very moment. All, for this very breath. All, for this very sight. All, for a reason. - 'Noma (at The Bridge Of The Riverkwai)