music

I Am Growing Flowers…

in the darkest parts of my heart, for if light ever enters, it would know where to start. ~Noor Unnahar
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On Sunday evening, S and I went to The Tannery to watch one my favourite musicians, whom I first stumbled upon busking in Queenstown some 5 years ago (he busking not me) at live music venue, Blue Smoke. Of course, Graeme James was absolutely phenomenal – people like him make me wish I was at least slightly musical. On the contrary, S and I were not in top form.

You see, since his arrival, things have been pretty difficult. Getting used to one another’s presence after six months of separation takes work. Funnily enough, and I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing this, Lifa (my Israeli brother with the beautiful Japanese wife) contacted me with a very resonating message a couple days ago:  “Are you guys still madly in love?” he asked, followed by: “When Aki came to meet me in Israel she suddenly wasn’t sure anymore…I would blame it on me coming late to pick her up from the airport but you know…doubts started and all. Eventually we passed that but what I’m saying is that surprises can happen.”

In my case, there have been no doubts, none whatsoever at all. Just disappointments. Allow me to explain: for 6 entire months I had looked forward to his arrival. So much so, that I had booked and cancelled 3 different cafe’s for our first place to go to after the airport (I couldn’t decide which would impress him the most). Next, I’d planned our weekends, and week nights, and basically, every minute of which I was not at work. We’d missed out on so much, now that he was finally here, I wanted us to do it all! But as the old yiddish proverb goes: “man plans and god laughs.” At first S was extremely jet-lagged, then poor guy fell sick due to climate change, then I became sick (both physically and emotionally) due to overly attached girlfriend shenanigans (haha). And, it’s also winter, which means everything is just that much harder to begin with. So, with my grand schemes down the drain, and my expectations unmet, I found myself rather disappointed.

And this is where we chose love. Realising that if we wanted to be more than picture-perfect happy, we needed to put in the effort. So, as kindly as we could, we communicated our feelings, and as selflessly as we could, we acknowledged one another’s. It was an arduous process. It is an arduous process. I can’t say I’ll ever master it. But what I can say is that it was the rain (and shine) which made our relationship blossom. For the sincere way S offered me solace, made me fall in love with his beautiful soul all over again. In the words of Abdu’l-Bahá: “where there is love, nothing is too much trouble and there is always time.”
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La La Land

Let’s just say I’ve never seen anything like it and that it was the most perfectly relatable film, for me, at this very moment. Without going too much into detail, I liked it and I found it relatable for its strong emphasis on following our true ambitions. For following our true ambitions always wins (something I’ve tried to do for as long as I can remember). This above all I celebrate. Not money or fame. (Unless your ambitions are money and/or fame, then we have a whole other issue to dissect!)

Also, I loved Gosling’s character’s sense of encouragement. That is something I find hugely attractive in a person – one of the reasons I fell in love with my boyfriend. Relatable, see! It doesn’t have to be a lover though, it could be your grandmother, your father or your friend’s friend. There’s nothing more beautiful than encouragement. It is so important. And we ALL need it. I’m so grateful to have a few people in my life who gift me encouragement. And I shall take a mental note this very moment to spend more time with them. Why don’t you do the same?

More, Emma Stone’s dresses.

Last but not least, Gosling’s face.

Okay, enough chit-chat. Go see it! It might seem a bit slow for the impatient but trust me when I say, you will grow to like it. Unless you’re a cactus.
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10 Epic Music Videos Filmed In Japan

Interested in Japan? Sick of seeing it through the eyes of a food loving, flower loving, baby loving almost 24 year old? Then these are the videos for you! All very different and all shot in JAPAN!

1. The Killers – Read My Mind
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2. Clean Bandit – Rather Be ft. Jess Glynne 
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3. HONNE & Izzy Bizu – Someone That Loves You
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4. OK Go – I Won’t Let You Down
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5. You Say Party – Underside 
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6.Pharrell Williams – Happy (Tokyo Version)
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7. Sub Focus – Turn It Around 
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8. The Black Eyed Peas – Just Can’t Get Enough
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9. DJ Fresh ft. RaVaughn – The Feeling 
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10. will.i.am – #thatPOWER ft. Justin Bieber 
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