SashaManuel.com http://www.sashamanuel.com Life in Stills and Words Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:13:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 2006-2007 sasha.manuel@gmail.com (SashaManuel.com) sasha.manuel@gmail.com (SashaManuel.com) 1440 http://www.sashamanuel.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg SashaManuel.com http://www.sashamanuel.com 144 144 SashaManuel.com | Life in Stills and Words.Photo-journal by Sasha Manuel SashaManuel.com SashaManuel.com sasha.manuel@gmail.com no no sashamanuelhttp://feedburner.google.com Truth and Lies http://www.sashamanuel.com/truth-and-lies/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/truth-and-lies/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:59:54 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=861 Explore: ]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/truth-and-lies/feed/ 0 0:00:01 I read somewhere that the camera is the eye of truth and lies. To a certain degree, I somehow comprehend the candor. Significantly, it is what is not captured that matters in some ways. Senses. An image fail to convey the sound or the feel of the [...] I read somewhere that the camera is the eye of truth and lies. To a certain degree, I somehow comprehend the candor. Significantly, it is what is not captured that matters in some ways. Senses. An image fail to convey the sound or the feel of the subject. Nor can one taste it’s physical existence, only see and allow logical thought to explicate. Interpretation. What was construed to be true can be false; flawed to be whole. Risk and chance, inconstancy and caprice. And one moment that can enchant you to alter your mind’s landscape. Then again, a picture of a portion of fate cannot be the sole basis of a lifetime of accurate estimation. Kismet comprised of flukes and bad choices — surely, there’s more to life than what the eye sees and the mind fathoms. Trivia: Photo of a plant called Rabbit’s ears (Ruttya fruticosa) at Colac, Victoria, Australia, January 2013. Explore: Into the Woods Light sneaks through branches and sound carried by the wind.... Heartstrings Memories seemingly borrowed but resoundingly etched. Rummaging through a past;... Weeds and a quick existential query I go out to see the world and my attention’s... Explore: Into the Woods Light sneaks through branches and sound carried by the wind.... Heartstrings Memories seemingly borrowed but resoundingly etched. Rummaging through a past;... Weeds and a quick existential query I go out to see the world and my attention’s... Life, Photography SashaManuel.com no no Heartstrings http://www.sashamanuel.com/heartstrings/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/heartstrings/#comments Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:18:19 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=851 Explore: ]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/heartstrings/feed/ 0 0:00:01 Memories seemingly borrowed but resoundingly etched. Rummaging through a past; unearthing a lightness out of romance. .. unwrapping a straw for my drink. .. a bouquet of peach roses delivered to my door. .. introductions made at a street corner in[...] Memories seemingly borrowed but resoundingly etched. Rummaging through a past; unearthing a lightness out of romance. .. unwrapping a straw for my drink. .. a bouquet of peach roses delivered to my door. .. introductions made at a street corner in some foreign land, ending up watching a film based on my favourite book. .. a quick trip over a flyover simply because he knew I’d like it. .. receiving my first love letter from my first love. .. the first phone call from a crush who became my first boyfriend. .. learning that a crush went out of his way to get my number and ask me out. .. that first kiss. .. waking up to a soft kiss on my neck. .. picking me up and carrying me for reasons unknown to me. They still make me smile. And they cause me mull things over. Surmising that it’s more than saying the words, “I love you.” It’s the tiny things that show just how much. It’s not about scaling heights or moving mountains. It’s showing the capacity to make the affection plainly visible, not materially but through acts with their own language. As with moans and sighs, without words they carry meaning; express emotions. The magic is in the birthing of comprehension in the company of souls; compounding sense and reason. Where will this take me? “You’ve gone a million miles How far did you get? That place you can’t remember And you can’t forget.” ~ Bruce Springsteen, Secret Garden Trivia: Photo taken at the Colac Botanical Gardens, Colac, Victoria, Australia, January 2013. Explore: Into the Woods Light sneaks through branches and sound carried by the wind.... Weeds and a quick existential query I go out to see the world and my attention’s... One thing to hold on to There was a time when you walked this earth. The... Explore: Into the Woods Light sneaks through branches and sound carried by the wind.... Weeds and a quick existential query I go out to see the world and my attention’s... One thing to hold on to There was a time when you walked this earth. The... Life SashaManuel.com no no One thing to hold on to http://www.sashamanuel.com/one-thing-to-hold-on-to/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/one-thing-to-hold-on-to/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:46:17 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=844 Explore: ]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/one-thing-to-hold-on-to/feed/ 0 0:00:01 There was a time when you walked this earth. The sands and sun witnessed our paths crossing as eyes sparkle with recognition and lips touched by a glimmer of open smiles. Words whispered at night; sense sent to space and back, your voice traveled t[...] There was a time when you walked this earth. The sands and sun witnessed our paths crossing as eyes sparkle with recognition and lips touched by a glimmer of open smiles. Words whispered at night; sense sent to space and back, your voice traveled through wires. Souls metaphysically merge at a passing, tragic juncture. “Someday when you look back to our conversation tonight, you’ll understand.” Peter had told her quietly. “I was just given the opportunity to tell you this..” {excerpt from Summer’s Tears, written circa 2000′s} Three years and a decade ago in April, I knew you. In the final hours of your time, I was gifted with a glimpse of what could be — how it should be written. Grateful for the courage. Humbled by your love. Out of the wreckage, blinding hope shadows the memory of you. It is one of the things I now hold on to. “But to that second circle of sad Hell, Where in the gust, the whirlwind, and the flaw Of rain and hail-stones, lovers need not tell Their sorrows. Pale were the sweet lips I saw, Pale were the lips I kissed, and fair the form I floated with, about that melancholy storm.” ~ John Keats, A Dream, After Reading Dante’s Episode Of Paolo And Francesca Trivia: Butterfly-shaped cockleshell, photo taken at Goolwa Beach, South Australia; December 2012. Explore: Just A Little Bit More ..if I can touch the sky, I’d risk the fall.... I need to love you with whiskey. It hurts to love him sober. Wow. Love. Do I?... Horizon Foreign soil. How often do you think about the future?... Explore: Just A Little Bit More ..if I can touch the sky, I’d risk the fall.... I need to love you with whiskey. It hurts to love him sober. Wow. Love. Do I?... Horizon Foreign soil. How often do you think about the future?... Life, Poetry SashaManuel.com no no Into the Woods http://www.sashamanuel.com/into-the-woods/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/into-the-woods/#comments Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:53:00 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=836 Explore: ]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/into-the-woods/feed/ 0 0:00:01 Light sneaks through branches and sound carried by the wind. It’s a concoction of endless rustle of leaves and wood, and busy bustle of unseen creatures — feral and foreign. Can you imagine a place where trees are taller than skyscraper[...] Light sneaks through branches and sound carried by the wind. It’s a concoction of endless rustle of leaves and wood, and busy bustle of unseen creatures — feral and foreign. Can you imagine a place where trees are taller than skyscrapers and cover the sky? Imagine yourself lost. Or, imagine yourself exploring. Disappear among the crowd of trees. Roaming the shadows, strolling in twilight. Master the terror of the unknown; sift through its limitless favour. Climb branches. Collect leaves. Carve love hearts and initials on a bark. Build Terabithia. Trivia: Photo taken at a state sorder, South Australia and Victoria States of Australia, January 2013 Explore: Weeds and a quick existential query I go out to see the world and my attention’s... Box of Chocolates You open a box of chocolates and you are confounded... Pointless things “..she just up and quit. Staying there any longer, she... Explore: Weeds and a quick existential query I go out to see the world and my attention’s... Box of Chocolates You open a box of chocolates and you are confounded... Pointless things “..she just up and quit. Staying there any longer, she... Life, Travel SashaManuel.com no no Weeds and a quick existential query http://www.sashamanuel.com/weeds-and-a-quick-existential-query/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/weeds-and-a-quick-existential-query/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:17:01 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=816 Explore: ]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/weeds-and-a-quick-existential-query/feed/ 0 Pointless things http://www.sashamanuel.com/pointless-things/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/pointless-things/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2012 06:35:16 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=803 Explore: ]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/pointless-things/feed/ 0 0:00:01 “..she just up and quit. Staying there any longer, she concluded, was a waste of time. I think it was the right move, but if I can be allowed a mediocre generalization, don’t pointless things have a place, too, in this far-from-perfect [...] “..she just up and quit. Staying there any longer, she concluded, was a waste of time. I think it was the right move, but if I can be allowed a mediocre generalization, don’t pointless things have a place, too, in this far-from-perfect world? Remove everything pointless from an imperfect life, and it’d lose even its imperfection.” — Haruki Murakami, Sputnik Sweetheart Secrets and pretenses; lies we tell ourselves and encouraging words we prefer to hear so we’d sleep better at night, essentially are acts of self preservation and nails on the wooden overcoat of our principles. You are, after all, the one who’d live out your life. Breathe in. I see a good life. A life that flows in harmony with my principles. I am surrounded by energies that buoy me up, challenge me to be the better person, fortify the strength and courage I posses to face misfortunes head on, enable me to say, “life is good.” Breathe out. The choice to acknowledge weaknesses will make room for learning. The choice to recognise the importance of quality over quantity in anything or anyone will be a far worthy undertaking than settling for duplicity and knives. The choice to know that a mother, however villainous it may seem at that time, will never condone a selfish and unjust act. Many are the pointless things in this life that may seem significant for a moment. Choosing to remain fixed on the bigger picture will prevent me from getting lost in the details. All things, pointless or not, are temporary. Pawns and puppets to the grand scheme orchestrated. Breathe in. Breathe out. I live in an imperfect world where there are no mistakes and everything is a test. Life is good. Trivia: Photo taken using the Hipstamatic app on an iPhone 4S in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines, March 2012. Explore: Box of Chocolates You open a box of chocolates and you are confounded... The Consequence of Serendipity A taste of a moment falling into your gravity. Such... Just A Little Bit More ..if I can touch the sky, I’d risk the fall.... Explore: Box of Chocolates You open a box of chocolates and you are confounded... The Consequence of Serendipity A taste of a moment falling into your gravity. Such... Just A Little Bit More ..if I can touch the sky, I’d risk the fall.... Life, Poetry SashaManuel.com no no I need to love you with whiskey. http://www.sashamanuel.com/i-need-to-love-you-with-whiskey/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/i-need-to-love-you-with-whiskey/#comments Sun, 11 Nov 2012 12:09:49 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=792 Explore:
  • Rescue Me I stare at them and I swear I felt the...
  • Locus You miss it, you said. In silent agreement, my thoughts...
  • Just A Little Bit More ..if I can touch the sky, I’d risk the fall....
]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/i-need-to-love-you-with-whiskey/feed/ 0 0:00:01 It hurts to love him sober. Wow. Love. Do I? A friend nearly caused a near-accident when she, in bacchanalian fashion, asked: “so, you’re in love with him?” My mind drew blank. Cold sweats and clammy hands, let’s not jump in[...] It hurts to love him sober. Wow. Love. Do I? A friend nearly caused a near-accident when she, in bacchanalian fashion, asked: “so, you’re in love with him?” My mind drew blank. Cold sweats and clammy hands, let’s not jump into any conclusion, shall we? I had mastered the act of dodging the act of asking myself if I did. How do you know? I’m simply thinking that this is taking ridiculously long to get over. Having convinced myself to have been in-love before, on more than one occasion, I can’t help but deduce that I really don’t know what it is like to be in-love. If you incessantly ask yourself if you are, shouldn’t it mean that you aren’t? My case is the constant ambivalence: the guilty pleasure of lingering on the feeling of hope and the mortifying ineptitude of hope. I think of him and I want to hug a bunny. I think of him and I want to reach for a bottle of Jack. I can’t handle bunnies. I can’t handle the comfortable tactile sense of blue skies and lollipops. I’d rather be downing a dozen shots of whiskey and think of the love that I want to give him than seducing my mind to think that fairy tales belong in the non-fiction section. I believe I won’t be able to survive it if I do it sober. Trivia: Photo taken of my bestfriend Jack lit by my bedside lamp in Manila, Philippines last August 2012. Post written semi-sober so apologies if you deem it written in bad taste. Explore: Rescue Me I stare at them and I swear I felt the... Locus You miss it, you said. In silent agreement, my thoughts... Just A Little Bit More ..if I can touch the sky, I’d risk the fall.... Explore: Rescue Me I stare at them and I swear I felt the... Locus You miss it, you said. In silent agreement, my thoughts... Just A Little Bit More ..if I can touch the sky, I’d risk the fall.... Life SashaManuel.com no no Just A Little Bit More http://www.sashamanuel.com/just-a-little-bit-more/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/just-a-little-bit-more/#comments Sun, 04 Nov 2012 14:44:24 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=781 Explore: ]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/just-a-little-bit-more/feed/ 0 0:00:01 ..if I can touch the sky, I’d risk the fall. Just to know how it feels like to fly. Can’t help humming along to the music of this life. Isn’t it lovely? See this thing through. Start over. Always. Dream. Dream. Dream. I want my dr[...] ..if I can touch the sky, I’d risk the fall. Just to know how it feels like to fly. Can’t help humming along to the music of this life. Isn’t it lovely? See this thing through. Start over. Always. Dream. Dream. Dream. I want my dreams to be near. It’s on its way. I’m on my way. I’m almost there; everywhere. “And since I’ve come this far, I guess I could walk just a little bit more..” Trivia: Photo taken of a clear blue sky somewhere in the Philippines, April 2012. Explore: The Consequence of Serendipity A taste of a moment falling into your gravity. Such... Horizon Foreign soil. How often do you think about the future?... Airplanes It’s quarter past one. I’m a little drunk and alone.... Explore: The Consequence of Serendipity A taste of a moment falling into your gravity. Such... Horizon Foreign soil. How often do you think about the future?... Airplanes It’s quarter past one. I’m a little drunk and alone.... Life SashaManuel.com no no Box of Chocolates http://www.sashamanuel.com/box-of-chocolates/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/box-of-chocolates/#comments Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:50:05 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=774 Explore:
  • Horizon Foreign soil. How often do you think about the future?...
  • Locus You miss it, you said. In silent agreement, my thoughts...
  • Rescue Me I stare at them and I swear I felt the...
]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/box-of-chocolates/feed/ 0 0:00:01 You open a box of chocolates and you are confounded by the choices. Confident that you’ll get to each of them in due course but you’re also aware of your appetite’s limits. And there’s the weight on the first piece you[...] You open a box of chocolates and you are confounded by the choices. Confident that you’ll get to each of them in due course but you’re also aware of your appetite’s limits. And there’s the weight on the first piece you’d pick up. It has to be special. The first bite — as your tongue recognise the taste of chocolate and your being sink into the languor of its richness — is significant enough; knowing it’ll set the tone of the entire experience. It has to be the choice. You take in the shape, the texture, and call on instinct. Each piece holds a certain mystery and mystery is its allure. While most are relatively enticing, one presents a visible definition of what a chocolate must be. Another displays how it should be. And one more shows a promise of what it will be. Some delight in surprise and adjust accordingly. But there are those who would go over the choices with a fine-tooth comb. The desire to feast on them all is there yet it will come to that point when you will lose it; that moment when you happen on that one piece that culminates the experience. The one piece that elucidates what a chocolate is. Choices leading up to it lit with significance. Exploratory nips, wandering nibbles, and greedy browsing of other options, forgotten. Knowing that the choice, how and when it was made, was what the box of choices — in all its entirety — was for. Trivia: Photo taken at Manila Peninsula Hotel, Makati, Philippines, February 2012. Explore: Horizon Foreign soil. How often do you think about the future?... Locus You miss it, you said. In silent agreement, my thoughts... Rescue Me I stare at them and I swear I felt the... Explore: Horizon Foreign soil. How often do you think about the future?... Locus You miss it, you said. In silent agreement, my thoughts... Rescue Me I stare at them and I swear I felt the... Life SashaManuel.com no no Airplanes http://www.sashamanuel.com/airplanes/ http://www.sashamanuel.com/airplanes/#comments Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:00:32 +0000 Sasha Manuel http://www.sashamanuel.com/?p=768 No related posts. ]]> http://www.sashamanuel.com/airplanes/feed/ 0 0:00:01 It’s quarter past one. I’m a little drunk and alone. Eyes squint at the glare of my computer screen. The blinking cursor daunting, taunting. Fingers hesitant — type letter by agonising letter. “I miss you.” I take anot[...] It’s quarter past one. I’m a little drunk and alone. Eyes squint at the glare of my computer screen. The blinking cursor daunting, taunting. Fingers hesitant — type letter by agonising letter. “I miss you.” I take another shot of whiskey. “Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could really use a wish right now..” Trivia: Photo taken early morning before heading to the Adelaide airport and boarding a plane that will take me to Melbourne, June 2011. No related posts. No related posts. Life SashaManuel.com no no