of ghosts and eating

tis the month of Ramadhan and also, the Hungry Ghost month. these past fews year have been interesting for me, in relation to my thesis research on Ghost Stories in Singapore, as both these months seem to happen around the same time, or one after the other. it intrigues me because of the beliefs that surround each of these months. this year, they’re happening at the same time.

during Ramadhan, Muslims fast, abstaining from food, water and vices from dawn to dusk. special prayers are done. we believe that during this blessed month, Satan and all his ghostly/spirit friends are locked up so as to not lure us into doing evil deeds. this also means that any transgressions committed is a result of your own choices.

alternatively, during the Hungry Ghost month, it is believed that all ghosts and spirits of ancestors are set free, crossing over into the world of the living. special prayers are done. food is offered to hungry ghosts so as to appease them. and we are told to be careful of where we step for there are joss-sticks everywhere.

so, while the Muslims believe that all other-worldly beings are tucked away from this realm during the month of Ramadhan, they are out and about for the month of the Hungry Ghost. pretty cool ain’t it! multi-culturalism. uniquely Singapore.

Filed under: words

things to do with a sprained foot

lie in bed
inspect the threadcount on sheets
watch TED talks
rotate foot slightly from time to time
stare at the ceiling
read a book
and then another book
rub ointment on both feet, in case the other feels left out
plan the upcoming week
compare the size of swell to normal foot
poke around
think about revamping the wardrobe
wishing there was a bell to summon people to get food/water
limp around with a brolly as Magic Stick
lie in bed
it’s Sunday

Filed under: words, rant

a blossom

Etiquette II: On Getting Down and Dirty

Filed under: photography, photo, projects

Women Without Men

watched Women Without Men, a film by Iranian photographer Shirin Neshat. and because i am such a fan of her work, i watched the film twice when it was screened at 8Q at SAM recently.

the story revolves around pivotal moments of 4 women who decide, consciously or otherwise, to be without men. they are bodily, politically and spiritually extracted from settings which throb with male dominance, and retreat into the lush greens of an orchard, which bears all.

the cinematography is awesome, that goes without saying. i particularly love how we discover so much about each character without the need for much dialogue as their expressions tell all. each arch of the eyebrow, pause, so poignant. and i especially love how when veiled, yes, the women are covered, erased of their womanly silhouettes, but how it also instantly forces the gaze onto their faces, whose masks reveal all.

Filed under: photography, words, movie, she, stories

Things To Do

Things To Do:

1. Thing 1
– subset of Thing 1
– sub-subset of Thing 1
– another sub-subset of Thing 1

2. Thing 2

3. Thing 3
– to finish Thing 3 by 15 July
– subset of Thing 3
– sub-subsets of Thing 3

4. Thing 4 and 4.1
–  post Thing 4
– subset of Thing 4.1

Filed under: words, projects, rant