Blurry Images

So, in the midst of the busy workload, my subconscious decided to give me some respite by sending messages through the dreams. I only remember bits and pieces of it because it was a late night and an early morning.

I dreamt that we were in Puchong. Or at least we were because of the neighborhood mall that we patronized. The layout was as exactly how I remembered it to be, even though I've never lived there in real life.

The person I was with was taller than me, and while he wasn't sinewy, it was evident that he frequented the gym from time to time. Don't ask me why, but his presence gives off the aura of safety and being cared for.

We found ourselves in a quiet shed near the mall. Even though it was constructed with zinc, it was bright and airy. There was even a decent-looking couch and a table fan, which made us feel lucky that we were there after-hours. Since we had the shed to ourselves, we merely made ourselves comfortable and I fell asleep.

Then, we had to attend to some matters. Seeing that barely anyone knew the existence and location of the shed, I left my backpack there since it was burdensome to lug it around. By the time we returned, there was a senior citizen tidying up the shed. So, I took the opportunity to ask whether he saw my passport (since I couldn't locate it anywhere).

He mentioned that he hadn't seen it either and asked whether I was the owner of the backpack. When he arrived, he saw the bag but didn't want to move it since he knew the owner would eventually return to get the item.

…

Then, in a change of scene, we all found ourselves in the living room of a decent house, working out the arrangements for bed. Since there were a handful of us, it meant that we all had to bunk up and share beds for a while.

Mr. Protector took the room upstairs while my mom and I took the one downstairs with another lady. She was a known associate, but I couldn't remember her name.

Truth be told, I won't need the help of a dream interpreter to assist with this. The moment I saw the neighborhood mall and Mr. Protector in the dream, I already knew what was going on—it was my subconscious's way of sending help.

Sprinkles of Stress

Ironically, this was something that I dreamt about, and here's how it went:-

Credits: Photo by Alice Triquet on Unsplash

I was in a high-rise building overlooking a lake. Opposite the lake was an island-looking place with a bench, and seated on the bench was a mother with two young children - a boy and a girl. The mother was in the middle and reading to the youngsters on her left and right, respectively. 

They were separated from me by that pool of water in the lake, whereby the high-rise building was on one end, and they were at the other end, making them the only ones on the other side. It was as if they were on their private island.

The next minute I knew, I smiled like I was relieved and satisfied that everything fell into place as I collapsed onto the floor. As this happened, the camera pans to someone else - a man of fair complexion - as I landed on the ground with a thud. 

In the next scene, there were office colleagues around for a corporate event. Two women were gathered around a four-tier cake that resembled a wedding cake at the same place where I had collapsed, while I, still very much alive, was observing their behavior in the distant corner. Time travel, much?

Then, I was in a public area and trying to reach out to someone acquainted with me. However, before I could vocalize my thoughts and call out to him, I noticed that someone else - a woman - had approached the said person. So, I didn't bother to do anything and headed out on my way with my trusty umbrella to take the escalator down… to somewhere.

Riverbank Promenade, SA

There was a sense of relief while walking in the rain; it was as if I craved to be in it and wanted it to flush my buried emotions. Even though I could hear someone calling my name, I ignored the person and walked faster to blend with the crowd and cause the person to lose sight of me. I even ditched the umbrella aside in the process. Yet, he narrowed the distance between us, and as I continued walking ahead, I noticed two people walking past me with spectacles soiled in the rain. 

One even looked at me with a sad face, as I continued to ignore the person who had called my name from earlier. 

And it's time to decipher the dream, bit by bit. 

I remember feeling at ease and relieved when I saw the lake; it was as if everything was falling into place when I saw the bench and the small family. Gosh, it might even mean that the water could be drawing me in. According to the online interpretation, they mentioned that "If you can see the lake is huge, this symbolizes that great changes are on the horizon. If the lake is deep in nature, it means that you have a fear of deep emotional situations. Lakes in dreams generally signify an emotion and energy in which you have taken to yourself."

Well… can I reserve my comments on this? I have an idea of where this is going, but I don't think it's suitable for the public domain. 

For the part where I collapsed after seeing the bench and its occupants, it sounded more like my body decided to give up on everything and end things. However, the online interpretation has an alternative: "You may dream of collapsing when they are desperate for rest and rejuvenation. There may be a sense of exhaustion experienced in daily life on a physical, emotional, or mental level. Fainting can be a sign of concern about the well-being of a family member. This dream may indicate the dreamer's wish to protect and care for their loved one or even a subconscious awareness of a family issue."

Oh my, this is absolutely accurate - I've been swamped with the sudden influx of work, thanks to the timing of the year and the changes in work scope. All I want at the end of the year is just to sleep, instead of seeing or meeting any human to maintain the level of friendship/relationship. So, I guess this is the indication from my subconscious to take a chill pill and one breath at a time instead of biting off more than I can chew.

As for the part where I tried to reach out to someone but was ignored in the end, I think it is merely a reflection of my psyche as a result of the above. (Yup, the desire to stay at home and not breathe in the fresh air is rather strong now.)

There are two contrasting suggestions to this. One interpretation is that "Dreaming about getting ignored is likely related to your inability to express, or understand, your emotions. Or in your waking life, you feel or assume that you’re just being taken for granted by someone you’re trying to please." Judging from this sentence alone, I'd say it just goes to say that I'm repressing my emotions in exchange for stability or peace - and it's affecting my subconscious.

Another interpretation is that "Dreaming of being ignored may be associated with your emotional detachment from others. It’s probably because of past events that greatly hurt you, which caused you to feel safer when there are no attachments." Maybe the subconscious is craving more human contact whereas my ego merely wants to push everyone else to a safe distance since it feels that there is a danger if I'm too close to anyone.

The part where I took the escalator to head to a lower floor also speaks of something. The online interpretation suggested that "When you dream of going down on an escalator, this indicates that you may fail to meet your expectations. You dedicated yourself a lot to get into a more comfortable position, and now you have almost lost everything. Someone envious would make this happen. It would help if you thought smart and don’t let your efforts go to waste. Your achievements are the result of your work and sweat. Hold on tight and stay firm in what you are doing."

Again, a sign of asking too much from myself? Perfectionism about to say hello?

A Dream of Swimming in Stress and Insecurity

I dreamt that I was in a brightly-lit commercial store and having a chat with an acquaintance about the products and services that the place offered. I was seated behind the counter while he was leaning over to make it easier for him to hear me.

At the same time, a good friend was done with his business and about to leave the store when his gaze landed on me. Knowing that he wasn't of the same nationality as me and he loved hugs (like really, really loved them), I took the initiative to give him a goodbye hug.

One thing led to another and we left the store together while behaving like we were high on alcohol as we made our way down a dim alley. Obviously, I was worried, but when I saw the streetlight shining on a signboard at the end of the road and with him there, I knew that I was okay because we were about to arrive at the main road.

So, here comes the dream interpretation.

From the get-go, the moment the place appeared in the dream, I already knew that this place exists in real life. Even the placement of the streetlights in the back alley too.

About the part where I gave the good friend a hug, I actually don't know the person in real life, which makes the interpretation a tad bit difficult. I suppose we can approach it from two angles - where I know the person and us being strangers in reality.

"Dreaming of hugging a friend – If you dreamed of hugging some friend, that dream could indicate that your friend needs some help from you, especially if your friend was the one hugging you. If you hugged your friend in your dream, that dream could be revealing your current feelings of loneliness and isolation." - Dream Astro Meanings

Judging from the way the said person behaved in the dream, it was giving me the aura of someone else - a person whom I know. I'm not sure whether he needs my help because we've barely been in contact for a long time now, so maybe it's me who is subconsciously feeling the effects of self-isolation?

How about us being strangers in real life?

"Dreaming of hugging a stranger – If you had a dream about hugging some stranger, that dream often isn’t a good sign. It could indicate being gossiped about by someone. This dream asks you to pay attention to the people you trust or spend your time with. Sometimes, this dream could indicate some unexpected meeting with someone. Someone could make a surprising visit to you, such as a close friend or a relative. You might unexpectedly see someone in a place you hang around a lot." - Dream Astro Meanings

Considering the fact that I don't know the said person in real life, I suppose this dream is more like an advance warning to be on the lookout, but hey, who knows that it might be hinting at the second part whereby there is an unexpected meaning with someone?

"Dream about street light means awareness. You are experiencing a high level of stress. You are a team player and work well with others. The dream is about your unconscious mind and its suppressed content. There is an unexpected setback in your plans or goals." - Dreams'opedia

As for the streetlight, I'd say that there is some element of truth in this since the nature of my work borders will be a typical example of it.

The conclusion? Either I'm stressed and insecure in my daily life or just so uptight that my subconscious is trying to search for something to knock the stress out.

2023/02/02

So, This is Goodbye

A view of the KLIA airport tarmac | Somewhere from the Malaysian Airlines' Golden Lounge

So, this is goodbye.
The broken hearts scattered along the uneven trails
Coated with remnants of a happier time;
Echoes of laughter filling the air
And ever-lasting brightening smiles.

Memories that taught us love,
The love that once connected us.
Separated by divergent routes with a common goal
Remain the dreams we once shared,
Cemented in our psyches.

The light in our eyes,
Dimmed by the hardships we endured.
Our beliefs,
Fractured by the silent nightly battles
And diminished by the consequences.

History dragging us through familiar territories.
A chance to make amends,
To change the past.
The scarred soul able to make a difference
And silence the bleeding hearts.

4 Items to Personalize Your Office Cubicle

For today's post, we would be looking at items that you can use to spice up your office desk. This has been a topic on my mind for quite some time now, considering that we spend at least 8 - 9 hours at the workplace or maybe even more, depending on the nature of job and industry.

First thing's first.

The most important thing is ventilation. Without proper ventilation, the entire floor space will smell like a musty house. If you're part of the lucky few who has access to your own working room, it is recommended to leave your window open first thing in the morning when you arrive at the office for a wide array of reasons. 

Number one, the weather won't feel like you're on fire and number two, remnants of the cool, fresh air dawn still remain.

Scented Gel / Diffuser

Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash

I understand that windows are a luxury when the cubicles are located on an open floor space, but that doesn't mean that it is the end of the world. You could either use a scented gel of an accepted fragrance (I won't recommend lemon because not everyone might fancy the citrus smell) or diffuser with concentrated essential oil.

Snacks

Chinese Candy

Your office pantry might already have this, but you should also have your own snacks to quench your hunger before or after lunch. Quenching thirst is a given, but not many office workers are aware that you can keep light snacks at your cubicle for those rare days of sudden hunger, especially when hunger is dependent on our individual digestive systems and physiques. Apart from staying awake without the need for coffee, I'd highly recommend earphones (if allowed) because it permits you to tackle those long days in concentration or an extra kick to complete that arduous task. (This is something that I personally do when I am rushing on paperwork).

Utensils

Last, but not least, you should include an item that totally screams you to personalize your cubicle and makes you feel at ease while working. It can range from anything like your own mug all the way to a tiny houseplant (that is heat-resistant and doesn't need much watering) as long as it doesn't pose any inconvenience or take up unnecessary space.

Photo by Cotton On Australia 

The truth is that how you intend to decorate your cubicle entirely depends on the space constraint and your style. You could opt for a basic cubicle where only the stationeries and workload can be found, include a calendar, or even pin motivational notes on the divider of your cubicle - there's no hard and fast rule about it.

The Orange Couch Cafe, SS 15, Subang Jaya

That rainy Wednesday afternoon led me in the direction of a path less traveled and into the lane where cafes and bubble teas are part of the mushrooming list of outlets.

Orange Couch Cafe's unique decoration
And that was how I found myself at the Orange Couch Cafe to sample yet another round of their desserts, which shall be introduced later in this review. The moment you enter the cafe, you'll be greeted by hints of Australian-inspired flair with shades of light gray adorning the walls and acting as a silhouette to the minimal decorative pieces. It radiates the cafe's warmth in welcoming you with a homey aura while you sit back and spend moments with your food companion or just chilling out with a cuppa.

The seating area
To your left stands a refrigerated display of enticing cakes for your selection before you place your order with the cashier. Slightly further to your left is the windowsill, which takes advantage of as much natural light as possible to spill into the floorspace while eliminating the excessive use of artificial lights. To your right and ahead of you are the selection of sides, but taking center stage in plain view is the cafe's namesake - an orange couch that is so popular that it warrants advance reservation to avoid disappointments.

Now, let's see the desserts to be recommended.

Orange Couch Cafe's menu

Orange Couch Signature Coffee (RM 16.00)
At first glance, this drink looks like a mug of extraordinary goodness with its balance of colors. You have the mellow, bitter coffee with the orange pulp hiding at the bottom with a slice of caramelized orange resting at the top. Its taste packs as much punch as its visual impact; there is an explosion of flavors including the acidity, bitterness, and sweetness on the palate that leaves an aftershock of tanginess.

It is recommended to stir it before drinking so that the flavors can blend together unless you want to have a cloying surprise.

(No-Bake) Avocado Cheesecake (RM 15.00)
For someone who isn't in love with avocado but swears by her love for cream cheese, this was an absolute winner for me. The cake itself has a creamy texture with slight traces of avocado that is balanced by the cheese in each spoonful, but it doesn't feel mushy either.

While explaining more about the cake, the cafe owner added that it's the cafe's bestseller and a hit favorite among customers, who would return for subsequent visits to satisfy their cravings for this dish.

Chocolate Roulade with Matcha and Mango Cubes (RM 15.50)
I knew I wanted to give this dessert a try the moment I saw the item in the refrigerated display because of its visual appearance - chocolate on the outside but green on the inside with specks of yellow cubes. There is a play of flavors in this roulade as the baker has successfully married the contrast of the ever-so-bitter matcha with the faint traces of sweet chocolate and the sour-sweet mango cubes, making it one of the cafe's bestsellers.

The first bite would introduce you to the chocolate before guiding your palate to accept the matcha through the second bite and surprising you with the faint mango at the end. Due to this combination, the roulade in itself is not overly sacchariferous.

Flat White (RM 12.00)

A part of me would always associate this drink to my undergraduate days in Australia.

This particular flat white is on the strong side, but not overly bitter to the point of being overwhelming. It's just perfect for coffee lovers who are in need of that caffeine kick.

Rachel Berries (RM 23.00)

This is one of their six waffles under the Sweet Waffles Series, all christened with the names of the main characters of "Friends". It consists of the regular-sized waffle with a drizzle of melted chocolate, crumble nuts, a mini pretzel and a scoop of berry ice-cream on top of a side serving of mixed berries.

Matcha Lemonade (RM 15.00)

This drink is one of the four varieties offered under the non coffee series, so don't worry about not being able to visit this cafe if you're not a coffee drinker. For the lemonade, it was actually ordered as a replacement since I wanted to try another drink other than coffee.

Don't let the color confuse you; this is a tangy drink in the sense that there is a faint touch of acidity with a sprinkle of matcha powder and balanced out by a spoonful of saccharine. Such a combination has resulted in the harmonious kick of punch from the lemonade and bitterness from the matcha without either flavor being the dominant one.

A quick chat with the owner revealed that he spent time in Melbourne before deciding to pursue his dream to dabble in the F&B industry, hence the presence of this cafe.

The location of the shop is as follows:-

The Orange Couch Cafe
11, Jalan SS15/4C,
47650 Subang Jaya,
Selangor
Instagram: @the_orangecouch

It might be a tad bit arduous to locate this cafe, so the nearest landmark is diagonally opposite Nasi Kandar Pelita SS15, Subang Jaya. It is situated a row behind SS 15 Courtyard/First Subang.