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i turned twenty eight.

By gent

February 2^nd, 2014

Like any other day for a while now, I begin this one with my best friend and only living being on earth who loves me unconditionally to an absolute degree.

Yet this day brought me some place special. The MV Logos Hope is a vessel that houses close to 400 crew members - all volunteers from over 45 countries - and sails across the globe spreading its message of goodwill by way of being the world's largest floating book fair filled with over 5,000 varying titles of educational and Christian books. The crew are also involved with charitable work in the various countries they're docked at. Along with my uncle, I was invited by a friend of the management when the MV Logos Hope was docked in Singapore over the Chinese New Year period to tour the ship and take photographs. I'm not religious, but I sure as hell was excited.

That's what we all need and deserve, yes?

Crew on board the ship delighting and educating children from special needs schools who were touring the ship. Some of these children may not have the ability to hear or speak, but their smiles and their looks of wonderment as they were introduced by animated, kind, and gentle sign language speakers to the experience at every section of the ship makes me believe even more of a bright future for them.

People are amazing.

The senior crew on the right teaching volunteer crew the ways of the ship. Also somethingsomething new crew learning the ropes pun somethingsomething. While on board there are many volunteers who do not necessarily have skills but are taught within their 2-year stint on board. You don't learn these things in school.

My uncle taking a shot of the resident volunteer photographer Augustine from South Korea. In the middle is Cat, the resident communications personnel who's from England and who also led us on our very interesting tour with tales of help, hope and even pirate ships.

If I said I wasn't absolutely charmed by their hospitality, I'd be lying.

Ahoy mateys, this here where the ship be moved by ye Captain.

Just a couple shots of the interior of the ship and the book fair. Pity I wasn't able to capture more with the limited time I had.

A very beautiful print and messages of love and encouragement at the end of a very meaningful visual presentation.

I would've jumped on the next boat out, but my non-belief stood in the way. It was definitely unfortunate, but one must respect the ways of others. Our tour had to end some time, but it's on to my next destination not 20 minutes away.

In Sentosa, hanging paintings make me laugh.

In the newly opened S.E.A. Aquarium, children are bedazzled by the myriad fish available behind (hopefully) 10-inch thick glass. So bedazzled they will hit every next tank asking their parents "What is this?" and the Singaporean Father can only answer "Fish" while the descriptions are on the walls.

Because hey, see through glass panels allow us to look at sea creatures swimming right under our feet, therefore sit down because reasons.

Because what good would my own narrative space be without me snarking at someone using a tablet to take photographs.

Huehuehuehuehuehuehuehuehuehue herp derp.

So this guy was photographed by everyone present. I'm not surprised. If you scraped the inside of a freaking fish tank with a ruler I'd take your photo too.

These jellyfish are only here because they are colourful.

Also they're fascinating as hell.

Also the Singaporean Father answered "Fish" once again when his daughter asked what these were.

The fuck, man.

I wanted to insert some sort of meaningful verse into this picture but all I can think of is what sauce goes well with this.

A couple more views of the world's largest aquarium at the Open Ocean experience.

Beam me up, Sharky.

Through all the snark, through all the burning remarks, I remain amazed by everything I see and I do not wish for this to change one bit.

But sometimes.. I wish someone would give me a comforting rub on the noggin, or a simple hug and tell me that things will be better, that things will be alright, that I will be okay, that it is okay for me to ask for this...

On the twenty-ninth day of the year, I'd like to have wished a happy twenty-eighth birthday to myself.. alas, it really was just another day behind these highlights.