I suddenly woke up this morning after dreaming about Orang-utans. Beautiful, gentle orang-utans literally monkeying around the enchanting forests of Borneo. This was a pleasant surprise after months of weird, recurring dreams. Has that ever happened to you? I still remember the first time I dreamed EXACTLY the same thing a few nights in a row and I honestly thought it was the effect of having a Psychology degree. Needless to say, people have thought me to be a specimen of the Crazus Eccentriculus but it does happen. I'm still doing some research into it, so look out for my first very intellectual psychology post!
Orang-utans have been on my mind for quite a long time now. It's probably since the day I saw a bunch of tiny toddlers being wheelbarrow-ed around an Orang-utan Sanctuary, all of them trying to push their mates off. This video ---> isn't the same as what I watched on TV but it's as cute as. Look at them just sitting there!
A couple of months ago, I watched an episode of The Jeff Corwin Experience, where he visits the beautiful country of Indonesia and get up close and personal with the Orangs themselves. I've loved and admired Jeff Corwin since I was a kid , and he's always inspired me to just go out there and do what you can to help the gorgeous creatures of the animal kingdom. I guess that's how my house ended up with my five babies. They're not just animals, or dogs, or pets. They're my family. They've been there with me through everything. No expectations, no judgements. Just pure love. And that's pretty much the connection I have with any animal. It's unconditional. As harsh as this may sound, I don't think people are capable of that kind of unconditional love. Love yes, but unconditional? Quite rare.
Orang-utans are one of the most endangered species in the world as per IUCN status and are currently seen out in the wild only in the dense rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Have a look at the IUCN website. http://www.iucnredlist.org/ There's a classification system of how much in danger or how safe a particular species is. And it is positively shocking to see the pages and pages of Endangered and Critically Endangered species. It's not just a few. It's a few hundred, a few thousand.
I've always had a special love for the Great Apes, and I don't know what it is about these large, orange creatures that make me feel so good, but they do. As ironic and weird as this statement may sound, they seem so much more human than human beings themselves. I'm hoping my dream does come true and I get a chance to wheelbarrow a whole bunch of them around their gorgeous natural habitat in Borneo. That'd be awesome.
P.S: If you get a chance, watch The Jeff Corwin Experience episode of him in Borneo. =) His interaction with Orang-utans is truly something else.
Metal has been a massive part of my life for years now and has, contrary to popular belief, taught me things I couldn't have learnt otherwise and brought out a more emotional side, something which even my own species isn't capable of doing. Ask a random person what they think Metal music is? You'll definitely get replies such as , " It's just noise!!!", or my personal favourite, " That music where people sound like they're throwing up?". There's a whole list of hilarious responses to the above question. Many times I've even pretended to scorn on the very existence of heavy music just to see what other people think. What can I say, it's the psychologist in me that wanted to experiment. It's this, and of course my eternal love for the metchul world that propelled thoughts into this article.
Many times, I've been told that the kind of music I listen to has a bad effect on the mind and that it is depressing. Although scientifically or whatever, this may have been proven, it's not entirely true and there are living pieces(or people) of evidence that prove otherwise. That's when I link people to the lyrics of songs by Gojira, Decrepit Birth, Tool, Amorphis, Insomnium, I could go on and on, rather than the songs themselves. Lyrics play an integral part of metal music. They have an underlying and rather in-depth emotional meaning. It just goes unnoticed by a non-metal-head because of a mass belief in the evil intended in that kind of music, because of loud distortions and blast beats being misunderstood as there being no rhythm, talent or concept behind the music, which of course, is far, far away from the actual truth.
The genre of metal isn't just an ordinary one and is definitely an acquired taste. It's very rare that you suddenly wake up one day and say, "I want to hear death growls", and blast Amon Amarth to the extent that your neighbours curse you behind your back. It's a gradual process. But when you become a hardcore metal-head, you're constantly mentally consumed by another world, a world which boldly faces the ideals, the theories and the feelings that everyday society shuns and calls taboo. The songs sung and played by bands of the heavy calibre, are not just normal songs. There is always more than meets they eye, the same can be said about what you hear when you tune into metal. At first, all you can hear is down-tuned guitars being played at raging speeds, the drums showing no mercy on your sense of hearing, growls that are positively blood-curdling. But what does a member of The Brotherhood hear and feel?
He or she hears a subliminal message, one that declares the reality of life that we are ignorant to today, the undeniable elegance with which guitar riffs compliment the clean vocals and raspy growls, heck the fact that a song can have cleans and growls together is magic to any adoring metal-head's ears. Peace. Not anger. Not hatred. A feeling of calm, and being at peace with oneself and with the world.
Head to a metal gig? No, you won't see lighters being waved from side to side, or people dressed in bright celebratory colours. You will see black, (well mostly, I've seen girls in bright pink with My Little Pony bags), a sea of black t-shirts, each one a tribute to the wearer's favourite band, long hair of various long lengths, and of course piercings in the most unheard of places. Moshing for minutes on end, crowd-surfing, not to mention, my favourite form of and possibly the only form of dancing I will ever do (besides maybe a waltz or two), Head-banging. The rush that you get, when you windmill in time to the track that's playing, it's unbelievable. I've never been happier than I have when I'm rocking out to my favourite band and whipping my hair on people's faces without being looked at like I've gone completely mental. Of course, too much can lead to severe injuries but you have to be smart enough to be in control of how much you put your neck through.
I've been in Sydney for a few months now and the scene here for us metal-heads is sheer paradise. Even though there's not that many of us, gathering at a small pub or hall to listen to bands that really know their stuff, it's an absolute pleasure. For a few hours, you meet other members who are part of an uncommon breed of human beings just like yourself. There's no judgements, no worries, no misunderstandings. If understood and listened to the right way, metal can bring you that inner peace that people in suits and ties rave about in their million dollar best sellers. It can make you accept the way the world is, in all of it's flaws and finery and the best part? Be happy with it.
You'll be surprised as a lot of people I know, to find that metal-head's are actually soft-hearted creatures and not always out to slay someone. They're not ALL junkies with no purpose in life. Those are a class of people that use metal to justify whatever it is they're doing that society frowns upon, therefore giving the rest of us peaceful metal lovers a generally you're-not-healthy-in-the-head reputation. I've also met some very, very intellectual people at gigs and it's so nice to hear what people who share a similar love of music have to say if you're ready to listen.
What am I really trying to say here? What is this woman's point you ask? My point here lovely people is that metal isn't all negativity and Satan chants. There's that too. But even that, if listened to with a certain amount of objectivity, can be enjoyed. Underneath the armour of black clothing, excessively pierced and tattooed bodies, you'll find a normal human being with a passion like no other for a genre of music that inspires them and brings out feelings like nothing else can. That ladies and gentleman, is the power of what we like to call The Metal Brotherhood.
I've always been a creature of the nocturnal. I'm not quite sure why. But my brain has never seemed to adopt the concept of shut-eye during hours of normalcy. Initially, during my time as a school-goer, I'd be up till 2 or 3 AM, which was the usual time I'd slowly drift to sleep, and much to the surprise of many, I'd be up by 6.30 in the morning, reluctantly getting ready for school. Don't get me wrong here, I did love school, I just didn't fancy having a bath or studying physics which had no relevance in my eccentric life whatsoever. I'd watch football, randomly browse the Tube, talk and giggle late into the night with whoever was willing to listen. It was during these late nighter's that I also discovered some very interesting food combinations, one of my all time favourite's being pineapples, olives, parmesan and maple syrup on crackers. Creativity abounds best during the ungodly hours.
Many years later, I'm still awake while the rest of humanity is in the midst of secret dreams and their REM cycle. I've been told many times that it is an unhealthy habit, and that I should somehow trump it. I have tried, many a time to put myself to sleep, even going to the extent of ensuring no food is accessible, and my iPod and laptop were locked. The horror. You know the funny part though? I do get up when I have to even if I have only had about two to three hours of sleep. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, ( I do catch up on my sleep later during the day sometime or whenever I can ), but I'd say I have some weird sort of stamina. more mental than physical. I'm not going to dwell into the science of 'being nocturnal' but all I can say is, it's not as bad as it is made out to be. At least that's what I think.
I have done excessive research on the matter mind you. And everywhere I read, I come across the word 'Insomnia'. One of my favourite words by the way. Sounds so very classy. I'm not an insomniac. Insomnia is in fact, the 'inability to sleep'. I can MOST CERTAINLY sleep. This is coming from a person who can sleep for 9-10 hours straight without waking up. And I assure you I do not have an even remotely stressful life. =P
It's as I read somewhere, the natural 'state of being'. That's just how I function.
And that's when I came across something really interesting. It's called the 'Circadian Rhythm'. In other words, it's a sort of internal clock on which our bodies run, and sets the natural pace and rhythm to which we live. Pretty fancy hey?
I'm trying to work on bringing down the nocturnal behaviour down to a minimum because it really just is not healthy. I had dark circles. DARK CIRCLES. THAT'S LIKE A UNICORN WITH ANOTHER HORN.....ON IT'S BUTT. POSSIBLY WORSE. I woke up one morning, because that's what one usually does, excuse the stating of the obvious. The first thing I usually do is brush out my hair. Not my teeth. My hair. Yes I am slightly obsessed when it comes to my hair as I have mentioned before. So I woke up with great difficulty.
This is how I feel in the morning.
This is how I look in the morning;
I figured I would use this precious ungodly hour of the day to put down a list of things I do that keeps me awake. I guess I have nothing going on around me so late and I love that time. It's blissful if I do say so myself. I just sit and do whatever I feel like. Or fly. Depends on the mood really. I'm not always sitting you hear? I AM NOT. One thing I'm yet to do during my hours of awakening ( bahahahahaha ), is, picture this if you will, sneak out of the house with my car keys and drive off into the mysterious nothingness of the night. I've gotten as far as just outside my gate so that is definitely on my to-do list. You know, be all fancy, swipe the keys off the key holder in the kitchen and head for the great outdoors in my fancy black chariot, although my keys are usually in this weird psycho looking basket which is held by a bear. Not a real bear of course. The stuffed kind. I'm talking teddy bear types. Not a real stuffed bear. And my car isn't even remotely chariot-like although I'd like to imagine so.
If you didn't already realize what all the hullabaloo about driving off into the 'mysterious nothingness' of the night is, it's this: I'M GETTING MY LICENCE IN TWO DAYS BEECHES. Oh the joy, the freedom, the sheer awesomeness that is me and my mad driving skills. But I shall save that for another post. Indeed I shall. Brace yourselves for yet another bout of narcissism.
Got my license by the way. Now to get one in Sydney and jack a car I can drive.
TO THE LIST: (charges with light saber in one hand and bejeweled sword in the other)
1. Listen to music till my ears pop out from the sides of my face. Apart from the fact that this is what I do 90 % of the time I'm awake, I love my late night music sessions. It's peaceful, I don't have constant interruptions from unwanted sources ( HA. you're not here Mum..nyaaah). I don't even realize the time float past. Not only is it one of the best times to listen to music, it gives you the chance to actually hear what you're listening to. Do I not make sense to you? Think about it. Do you actually know what you're listening to, besides just knowing the name of the band/artist and the song? I get a chance during these ungodly hours to kick back, eat sour candy and take in whatever it is I'm listening to. The lyrics, the melody, the brutality, the rhythm. It all makes a little more sense in the depths of the night.
2. Watch Stand Up Comedy and laugh myself to sleep. Live, Laugh, and Laugh some more. That is a policy I very strongly believe in. Where would we be without a good laugh hey? Wal-Mart that's where. Or face-down in elephant poop. Don't ask me why, this is just what I think. I have this really really weird habit. If I'm watching something funny, and I mean, really really funny, I rewind it and watch it again. And again, till I literally believe in the non-existence of my torso. Such as this scene from the movie Hotel Transylvania:
Aw man. Epic stuff. I remember watching this on a night flight to Sydney, and I kept bugging my sister to watch just that one scene. oh, everyone was sleeping too while I was cackling like a witch high on crack. Good times. Woke some people up too. I WAS the cause of that.
I love watching stand up comedy. I've posted lots of videos and there are some more due! Honestly, you forget everything when you watch a comedian trip on the world. Especially when it's someone like Dylan Moran *swoon* .
3. Exhibiting Literacy
Being literate, I think it's important we give our educated minds a little attention every now and then, a break from the nutters people are in real life. I'll write anything. To-Do lists, the chorus of a song, yes, my blog. If you let your mind wander a little, and trust me it really isn't that hard, I forever live in a constant state of daydream, you'll find that there are things inside the little crevices of your cranium that you had no idea even existed. Keeps your mind alert, clear and well, makes you awesome. I have extra respect for people that read and write. On their own. I don't mean University assignments and text books. But taking that little extra effort to dig deeper into something. or dig out as the case may be when you're being all creative and whatnot. If you want to get an idea, albeit a slightly exaggerated one of what I look like when I'm being creative, there you go.
4. TEEVEE Show Binge:
I think my best (or worst) is two seasons in two days. I think it was Arrow. I can watch a lot. My eyes have un-human abilities. I don't wear glasses either because I'm so excessively cool like that. It's good to just kick back and mindlessly watch something , because it does just that, lessens the mind, if that made any sense but I'm sure you know what I mean. I'm a sucker for anything that's crime and law related, also with a little comedy thrown in like Castle and White Collar, even Dexter. Dark and psycho thrillers like Hannibal absolutely get me hooked and I think I finished that in two or three days too. I'm a little bit picky about the shows I watch, it needs to entice me on the first few episodes or I'll just get bored. But yes binge! iz gud.
There's lots more, but I have an itch on the bottom of my big toe and I don't like that. Also there's this ONE mosquito which is plaguing my very being right now so I'm off to battle the little bugger.
Stay heavy dewds. I shall return with more on my Nocturnal Nemesis.
So today I was having lunch with a friend of mine, and we were just talking about how we have the most abnormal reactions in awkward or emotional situations; hysterical fits of laughter, sarcasm, or just faces of stone. I'm not too great with emotions or expressing them. I'm sort of like Hannibal that way, you can never really tell what I'm feeling because either I'm really quiet or I'm laughing like a hyena on crack. I don't particularly like the rest of the world knowing how I feel either so I like it that way, although many times it has gotten me into bouts of trouble leading to me expressing too much pent up emotion or just not giving two shits at all. But then it comes right back to hysterics and sarcasm. My two defence mechanisms. So on my usual daily internet junkie spree, I came across the phrase, 'Brain Dump'. Basically, it means just that, dumping all the shennanigans your brain has to put up with inside your cranium and letting it all out, or atleast some of it out. And what better way than to blog about it hey? Now now, this is not about me letting out my 'pheelingzz and eeemoshaanz', but more or less to give you kind peasants an idea of what really goes down in my supersonic noodle-organ every now and then. The Brain-Dump section of my blog you could call it. And trust me when I say, I have THEE most random thoughts, so I'm sure this will be rather entertaining for you to read. And like I always say, I take great pride in my Chinese Zodiac Rooster trait of being honest so this is me, being completely honest. I'm really excited about this new addition to my virtual creative life so here's Brain Dump #1
DECEMBER 12th , 2013
1. I really need to put an earring into my sixth piercing before it closes. AGAIN. Discussing piercings today with someone, I'm considering one on my inner ear lobe but apparently it kills and takes one whole bloody year to heal. Well I don't blame the body really, snipping off bits off skin with a needle isn't really the brightest of ideas. then again, my ears are hot shizz. Also I love the sound when the piercing is done, makes everyone else around me flinch. I'm a little messed up in the head like that but I like it. Contrary to popular belief, I still need to squeeze the life out of someone's hand when I'm getting one done. Adding more holes to your body isn't all fun and dandelions. Also, why in Honolulu's name would anyone pierce their friggin cheeks? stick a jewel on there if you really want shiny cheeks!!!!!! or body glitter.
2. People have the wrong idea about metal. Look what it's done to add to the Christmas cheer!
This band is so awesome! They make me want to hug a tree,wear a tutu and headbang all at the same time. Someone turned up in a tutu last month to a gig. Another chick with a My Little Pony bag. I'm not quite sure why they must be so very rebellious. who would've thunk you could be rebellious with a My Little Pony bag? My idea of rebellion was shoving 43 grapes into my mouth, listening to European bands growl Satanic verses and colouring my hair red. Balls that was, I'm so glad it's back to normalcy now. I love my hair. It's like my baby. Pretty soon I can use it as a scarf for Sydney's winter. It's not quite there yet, more like a replacement for a coconut bra. Not that I like wearing coconuts but it serves the purpose.
3. I love how even after atleast 14 years of using the internet I still keep like 2962936238 tabs open. Doesn't slow down anything for me, people are just jealous of my mad tab skillz. Writing down memos are so 20th century anyway. Tabs are the way to go!
4. I'm still contemplating this 365 day photo challenge. What if I miss out one day? Do I take two the next day? I'm sure no one will notice. Or I could just count one day from the next year and start my own Calendar. That could work. I might have to take selfies. I find selfies and skype the two most awkward things EVER. I've taken a few selfies but it's been with the aim of showing people my gorgeous self. Oh how I do love me. Is all forms of social interaction meant to make you look like a total retard? On twitter it looks like you're talking to yourself and on Skype it looks like your looking at yourself. Unless the other person switches on their video then it's cool. But what the hillabean do you do staring at each other? Every time someone says, COME ON SKYPE, all I can think to myself is, " Man, why? I have eyes, ears and nostrils just like you. They're just positioned differently."
5. I really need to find another job. I'm hoping someone replies to my emails at some point or I'm just going to have to walk around wearing a signboard to make myself a little more seen to potential Employers. Maybe some fresh donuts hanging off my ears. I still have room believe it or not.
6. I have so many posts to finish. ljehweihfwlefkjlwefj. Baby steps they said. Patience they said. WHO ARE THESE STUPID PEOPLE.
7. I'm hungry. again. two bowls of cereal, a whole Indian lunch of fried rice, three curries and a Samosa, followed by Mushroom and Tomato Penne and then two bowls of rice with gravy and pickle for dinner. Oh not too mention the three bottles of Organic Cola I drank in a matter of 15 minutes. man I downed those beeches at supersonic speeds. I'd be a pretty darn good drinker of beers and the like. I reckon I could hold my own though and not get all 'hungover' and wack in the head. I'm wack in the head as it is. I ate too much chocolate as well. CRUNCH I shall return on the weekend. What a name for a gym. CRUNCH. It's a wonder I even joined gym, is that name supposed to motivate non-gym people like me?
8. To the couple sitting in front of me slobbering on each other's faces - Did you know the human mouth has more germs than USA and Canada put together? Don't even ask me how that's possible, but it's a fun fact. I like fun facts. You two sound like birds with diarrhoea. If that's what you call romance, I'd rather have donuts hanging off of my ears.
9. - So I'm looking at this as a base for my new endeavour, and it's like the Universe really does want to challenge me. 1. Your backyard on a Snowy day. What about for people that don't have a backyard, like me? What about for people that live in a country where of course, it refuses to snow when it's supposed to, like a normal country. I may have to change these a little. Or I'll just do what I always did to pretend it was snowing and rub some thermocol together on plants. Man, my creativity levels just astound me. Why is there that stupid curvy red line under thermocol? I DO NOT WANT THE WORD THERMAL I WANT THE WORD THERMACOL. How are computers smart? I don't get it. Don't you spell it like that?
10. I cannot get over how intense this video is.It's dark, brutal and has a wolf. What I wouldn't give to see Behemoth again. One of the best nights of my life. Seeing Nergal's face just gave me so much strength. My spirit animal is apparently an Otter but I'm definitely more of a Wolf. I want my own Wolf.
I friggin love Behemoth. I should read up more on Mythology. It's been a while.
11. When I grow up, because apparently I haven't yet, I want a room full of just these.
I'm an honest person. Sometimes brutally honest. And as experience has taught me, being that brutal doesn't sit well with, unsurprisingly most of the human population. People like hearing what they want. Yet no one is prepared to listen to what they need to. Which further pushes me to make people see reason in the brutal truth. I cannot stand ignorance, just like I have a strong dislike towards those who seem to be under the impression that they're the sole great beings walking Planet Earth. As anti-Humanimal as I sound for the most part, I really am not. But I am an anti-lets-chop-some-animals-up-and-satiate-our-taste-buds-because-there-are-in-fact-too-many-of-them. I hyphenated that for you so it's easy on the irises (irii?) but it has more effect when you un-hyphenate it.
Now since I'm honest and all that jazz, let me get straight to it. Also, just to put it out there, never do I use the word 'hate'. If you've read a previous post, you'll see why. And as I said before, I only use it when I really have zero tolerance for something. And I think I've reached a point in my life where I've further understood myself and I can safely say that I absolutely hate the fact that animals are killed for people. I didn't understand it when I was 3 and I certainly do not comprehend it now. When I was a child, albeit a weird and rather eccentric one, I knew something wasn't right with the world when I walked past the meat section in the supermarkets. I'd go to the rather humorous extent of pacing up and down that aisle, head high up, nose revealing the elegant nostrils of a 3 year old and with just one phrase I'd impact the reactions of my fellow supermarket-goers greatly; "SHMEH-LAAAAAAAY'.
Translation: Smelly. This positively wreaks. Much to the embarrassment of my family, who would conveniently disappear into either sections leaving me to my young blood protests, they found it hilarious. But I was making a point then. It's not easy trying to communicate when you're that age. No one gets you! Heck no one gets me now even!
As is common being a Vegetarian, I'm forever asked how I survive without meat, how I'm even standing without so much as a flinch when I haven't consumed the dead flesh of another being. I'm very firm but subtle in my views and I don't discuss my opinions or anything about how I feel until I completely trust a person. sometimes it takes more than trust too. Many times in the past, due to reactions, I've just backed off about things when it comes to me. I let the bare minimum surface. This isn't to say that I have a lot of secrets or I keep things to myself. It's more I keep TO myself. Sounds anti-social, but it works for me. Until a few days ago, I was asked yet again why I'm a grass-eater.
Another thing I always make clear to people is that I will not judge you if you eat meat ( well maybe a little), you can do whatever you want. It's just that I don't. But when I'm pushed, sometimes I say things which make people wish they didn't bother asking me questions at all. Said person didn't really say anything harsh, but what he did say caused me to feel so much hatred because of the general attitude of the human race towards the animal kingdom. "It's just meat."
People only see the close-to-end result. Or the end result. But do you see the process? Do you see how your curries and roasts end up that way? What you see are names on a Menu. Just lumps of meat which to people who eat meat are just like piles of vegetables. They bear no meaning. It's just food. It's normal.
It isn't normal. It's a tragic affair happening everywhere on a daily basis in all of the 200 odd countries in the world at every given second. This isn't to say that Meat should be stopped. But instead of being in a constant state of denial, think a little before you buy your next hamburger. Or before you talk to a Vegetarian. Or before you meet me. Meet what's being killed. I can cook my own dinner from scratch. But can you?
Also I've been wondering, it's positively shattering what went down in the Philippines. But has anyone even considered giving a minute of their time to a little place in Japan called Taiji?
I think you should. You'll understand me better then.
