Karaoke Sabbath

Today is the Sabbath. Timor Leste has population that is 98% Catholic, so Sundays are quite an event. Everyone goes to Mass, even my neighbour who was up singing karaoke until 4am.
I often wonder how they convince so many people go, perhaps it’s the social/community aspect or good old Catholic guilt. I’m not sure but I do plan to go along one Sunday. I was baptised Catholic, however that’s where my religious upbringing ended. If the mosque is open to all surely I can attend Mass with an out of date baptism.

For the time being, Sunday means the streets are quiet and bare. Slow scooter trips along beach road and a long brunch is the perfect way to spend the morning. No school kids playing, little traffic and best of all, no karaoke! Bring on the lazy Sundays!

Get your dance on!

The sun kissed my shoulders, warming me throughout, the sand beneath me was cool under the top layer, I sunk my feet deep. I breathed in the cool salty air and opened my eyes to the bright blue sky that was mirrored by the aqua coloured waves. I looked both up and down the beach and saw no one. A smile spread across my face. It was a perfect day, clear sky, clear water, warm sun and an entire beach to myself. There is only one thing to do in a situation like this.
Dance
I plugged my ipod in and cranked the volume up. Jet’s “Are you gunna be my girl” blared in my ears and out came the moves. There is something liberating about dancing wildly in a public place in broad daylight. You can sing as loud as you want, try all those moves too dangerous or stupid for the dance floor and best of all, you can do it naked if you so wish. For those who haven’t tried that, please do so or at least put it on your bucket list. “Must dance nude in the sun.” On a side note, the worm is not advisable if you are nude on a beach..

Meanwhile I was pumping out the moves. My dancing style is a cross between Rhianna and Urkel with some hardcore shufflin and some JT thrown in, but on the beach the moves get wild. I throw in a running man, a robot, a matrix move or two and even a cartwheel. I swap to some Ministry of Sound and by the end of the 5th song I’m puffing. I cool off in the empty aqua blue ocean and float under the sun.

Life can be complicated and difficult but in any day there can be a moment that makes your soul smile. A beautiful beach and some good music easily makes all the dramas inconsequential. Life is good and simplicity is perfection.

10th Feb 2012