Late nights.

I love nights. Its the only time i feel like i have the world to myself. The ominous silence. The soft patter of rain outside. The night chill (artificially generated by the trusty air conditioner).

I like peace in general. Back in college, i used to escape from the presence of regular college jocks and females by looking for a quiet corner, preferably tucked away in some lonely part of the college.

Now Taylors is small. Make no mistake about it. The term *University* in the full name of it is a total misnomer. Its simply because the have more than one campus that they proclaim the establishment as a *university*.

And take that idea of smallness and factor in an addition few hundred people swamping the place in January. For people like myself whom have enjoyed he better part of october , november and december last year in an almost empty campus., life is inevitably hell. I HATE THE CROWDS!!!!!

Like i said. I like a peaceful corner all to myself or with five people i can live with in Taylors...

1) Ting Feng
2) Nicole
3) Tim Weng
4) Chee Lyn
5) Chin Yuen

Ting Feng is the best person to be with and stone with all alone in an empty class (the aforementioned lonely corner i usuallly frequent). He's.....understanding, obliges you no matter what nonsense you have in mind and is similar to me in a lot of ways.

The three girls....people i can definitely live with in Taylors. Funny, interesting to talk to and.....they don't disturb you when u want peace.

Tim Weng..the best of the three. He NEVER disturbs you. NEVER irritates you and has this general air of calmness about him that is quite appealing to hot heads like mine. Just watching him relaxing in a corner of the, room reading a book is theraphy in itself.

So, back to my topic...gah..lost it..might as well ramble on.....

I used to have these really special corners in high school.
St John's Institution is over a century old , so u do have a lot of hidden corners u can relax in and the top three are.......


1) The Chapel.

Make no mistake. Despite being not religious, this is one place in the entire schoo I can truly relax in. Located in the 70 year plus old main block, the chapel has this charm that the rest of the school does not. It is a place of peace. Quiet (cept on fridays during prayers) and u have comfy chairs to sit and even sleep in. All you need is a good book and you're set. The stained windows, with soft lighting coming through is the main reason i love this place. And you occasionally come across the old brothers living just past the chapel in their own quaters....and the conversations you have with them can get very very interesting. I'm weird in a way..i love a good story especially ones from old people and Brother Lawrence (ex principle) can give pretty good ones.

2)The Library

One of the few places in the school to be fully air conditioned...that by itself is an attraction. Its generally empty which adds more to its appeal. Ah, the many hours spent there, enjoying the peace in it, reading the old books there and being away from annoying people. BLISS. It is THE place to prepare for a debate in as daniel and i quickly found out. Internet connection within the old style place. So , you sit among old books and dusty shelves, zooming the internet for info in the comfort of a secluded and air conditioned place.

3) The top floor of the form six block, above the squash courts.

Now, due to the age of SJI, u inevitably have ghost stories for every nook and crany of the place. The toilet, the library and the oh so cliched ghost storie about the chapel. This place in particular isn't spared. There is supposedly a *Langsuyir* (vampire) haunting this floor. The condition of this floor, strewn with old tables and chairs, old benches, locked unused classrooms actually doesn't help dismiss the myth about it. But, this has been a fave spot of mine to watch a squash match in private or just to sit n read a book. ITS VERY QUIET. Of course, the ghost story does nag at the back of my mind whenever i go there alone early in the mornings (have had weird experiences there such as noises.....can be easily explained away.....sudden movements of chairs,,the top ones toppling down at one time..also easily explained....but stuff like these are enough to scare a person and believe me, the atmosphere up there in the mornings is truly chilling. But in the day..its actually inviting.




Yeah...I love lonely spots.....pity taylors doesn't provide enough of em.


Cheers.