I looked out of the plane as we descended upon Tullamarine.
The tiny Mirabella lights; white and orange, the lego streets, the few cars that drove by lines of brick homes.
It reminded me of the little model town in Beetlejuice.
As the plane screeched to an abrupt, yet anticipated halt,
I checked my heart for signs-
Of excitement, yearning, nostalgia, relief. Negative.
I was calm. Collected. And so indifferent.
It was painfully cold when I walked out of the terminal.
I took it all in, breathing as hard as my lungs would allow. I remember pre-dawn moments like these; the air like daggers, the tip of noses numb and icy, the lonely roads and lonlier souls that walk by, Slowdive's Souvlaki.
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I went back with a mission.
I made lists of places to go, things to do, restaurants to visit, friends to meet.
I made no concession for sentimental hesitation, I approached with a tour-package style itinerary instead.
Needless to say I checked off less than half of what I'd mercilessly listed down.
What I did accomplish was far more meaningful.
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At first light, a girly chat with sooo-missed girlfriend over green tea.
At midday, tempura lunch made by my favourite chef in the world.
At dusk, chinese dinner with friends - old, new, someone else's.
Day 1.
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Spring blossoms, perfectly cloudless skies, mad people on the streets, the horrible Punt Road traffic during footy season, jarring accents on the radio, real coffee and real brekkies.
God I've missed this.
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I'm so earnestly thankful for all the things that friends put my way.
For the ones who took sickies, days-off, organised barbeques, took me to Chapel St Bizaar, jean-shopping in countless shops, hot chocolate at Max Brenner, lattes, macchiatos, and all other things yummy at Melbourne Supper Club, Cafe Orange, Tusk, Cicciolina, Thanh Thanh, and so so much more.
You've made me feel like it's my 4th birthday all over again.
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Special mention for Akira's E-homecoming-tailored banquet:
+ cold cucumber & pomelo salad in mirin and soy sauce, with steamed scallops and home-made mayo (because I'd pointed to the pomelo on the counter during lunch)
+ assorted sashimi: taco (e-fav), tuna, salmon, calamari (divinely sweet)
+ red snapper broth (so delicate and subtle)
+ steamed lotus root ball in crabmeat and fish gravy (another e-fav)
+ stewed king fish with radish
+ grilled wagyu beef salad (because I'd asked about his wagyu sukiyaki and expressed a liking for the meat)
+ rice ball in homemade chicken broth (topped with steamed melt-in-your-mouth chicken breast)
+ steamed caramel pudding (I could never walk out of there without ending my dining experience with this)
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When the time came for me to go.
Leave home. Leave this.
You chose something else.
Stay. Please?
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