Today is a perfect day.
Nothing in particular happened. It's just me, the soft breeze of the wind, the sound of children in the distance, the birds.
Staying inside my house, and just enjoying the day!
Aaah...I love it.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Friday, September 16, 2005
Yoohoo...
Reporting live...from the airport (as if...)
Off to my beloved country, will be staying for slightly more than a week only this time. I hope everything will be well.
Oh Changi, of all the times I've been here--which is not many, by the way--I never got to really browse around the reputedly world's best airport (my information might be outdated). So, today, I'm determined to really take a look on what they are offering here, in this huge airport.
Well, after about 20 minutes, here I am, bored, writing. A great many varieties of shops, but since I'm on shopping strike, I guess I'll leave them alone for now.
See ya!
Off to my beloved country, will be staying for slightly more than a week only this time. I hope everything will be well.
Oh Changi, of all the times I've been here--which is not many, by the way--I never got to really browse around the reputedly world's best airport (my information might be outdated). So, today, I'm determined to really take a look on what they are offering here, in this huge airport.
Well, after about 20 minutes, here I am, bored, writing. A great many varieties of shops, but since I'm on shopping strike, I guess I'll leave them alone for now.
See ya!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
My first cow attack!
I was asked to do an article on my recent trip to Malaysia, the following was how it happened, though bits and pieces have been added in or altered.
Being adventure seekers and nature lovers (ehem), the four of us (Silvia, Cynthia, Carol, and I) decided to pack up and do a short sojourn to Malaysia to escape the hustle and bustle of workaholic Singapore. The plan was simple: to climb a mountain and camp at the summit, then return the next day. Alas, the location: Gunung Belumut in Johor. Altitude: 1010 m. Equipment: water, food, walking sticks, jungle boots, insect-repellent, plenty of good humor and never-say-die attitude.
We set off to the Malaysian town of Kluang in a stormy Friday evening, arriving at our hotel at the ghastly hour of 3 am for a quick nap before starting the remaining leg of the journey towards Kahang Timur (20 km from Kluang) at the base of the mountain. On our way to base camp, we passed this plantation where you can find cows grazing on the grass. "So skinny, the cows," I commented. Silvia agreed.
After a quick reconnaissance to the jungle, it was settled that we would do the climb early the next morning instead. We were hoping the muddy path from yesterday’s heavy rain would dry up by then, and camping was jettisoned in favor of chalet. So we spent the afternoon browsing soft toys in the nearby town of Ayer Itam and snacking on the famous Ramlee burgers. I managed to buy some crackers for the guys. Three for ten ringgit, anyone? On our way back to the chalet, we found the herd of cows coming towards our direction, apparently making their way home, wherever it was. We waited a while for them to pass, (un)fortunately it wasn't long. Another photo opportunity missed!
Armed with our boots and headlights, we began our trek at 6.30 the next morning. The air was refreshing; its natural jungle scent filled our lungs and woke us from early morning drowsiness. Along the well-trodden forest path we could hear the occasional ripple of stream in the distance and the sharp cries of the animals. I had some reservations about the sounds at first, but as the cries grew closer and to my relief (or disappointment to some), nothing peculiar was in sight. Perhaps my mind was too busy imagining being attacked by monstrous giant apes to notice.
Two hours into the forest, we came across this crown-shaped rock the locals named ‘Batu Mahkota’, or simply, ‘Crown Rock’. The giant rock was quite a phenomenon; circling a patch of raised ground, its surface bears semblance to tiny but consistent waves. Well, I thought, who knows what else was in this vast jungle? It turned out, many other things. Carol had read in an article that a couple of years ago tiger sightings weren’t uncommon in the region. Imagine our surprise when, coming from deep valleys of the jungle, a roar was heard. More like a yawn than a roar, actually. Nevertheless, my heart skipped a beat at the sound, thinking who'd be the lucky one to discover my remaining bones, if ever. Cynthia murmured a faint "It was only wild dogs" as I looked around for the source of the sound, then Carol whispered "Hurry! Hurry!" to us, causing us to quicken our steps. Not wanting to give myself an unnecessary fright, I decided to trust Cynthia's words (although we decided later that it really was a tiger's roar).
Breathing sighs of relief after no more roaring ensued, we were thrust to another challenge. Looming above us was 90-degree steady ascent all the way to the summit. Silvia gasped at the sight (she later told me it was an amazing feat for her to climb down those slopes, she thought she wouldn't be able to make it down after we reached the summit). After managing to climb the steep slopes with some difficulty, we finally made it to the false summit. It was a wide clearing where cloudless blue sky hung above our heads. To get to the true summit, we passed through tracks surrounded with dense foliage and mossy trees, an attribute that earned the mountain its moniker ‘Belumut’, which means ‘moss’ in Malay.
The true summit was marked with a pyramid-like rock pinnacle, upon which people wrote a series of graffiti bearing their names. We took time to catch some breath and dig in our lunch, which consisted of delicious tuna and salmon sandwich, before making our descent.
The roundabout trip usually takes 7-8 hours, but it was 9 hours for us because we took time to make our way down those steep hills. The descent was more of a relaxed affair, I got to really look at the vegetation and the different species of flora found in the forest. Found quite a pretty trumpet flower. Not bad.
By the time we had dinner at a local restaurant in Kluang, I was already half asleep. The trek had totally sapped my energy. However, we still had some bits of reserved energy to shop for fruit and enjoy fresh coconut drinks before heading back to the Lion City. Four thousand burnt calories, some sore legs, and a good night’s sleep afterwards, I feel great!
Being adventure seekers and nature lovers (ehem), the four of us (Silvia, Cynthia, Carol, and I) decided to pack up and do a short sojourn to Malaysia to escape the hustle and bustle of workaholic Singapore. The plan was simple: to climb a mountain and camp at the summit, then return the next day. Alas, the location: Gunung Belumut in Johor. Altitude: 1010 m. Equipment: water, food, walking sticks, jungle boots, insect-repellent, plenty of good humor and never-say-die attitude.
We set off to the Malaysian town of Kluang in a stormy Friday evening, arriving at our hotel at the ghastly hour of 3 am for a quick nap before starting the remaining leg of the journey towards Kahang Timur (20 km from Kluang) at the base of the mountain. On our way to base camp, we passed this plantation where you can find cows grazing on the grass. "So skinny, the cows," I commented. Silvia agreed.
After a quick reconnaissance to the jungle, it was settled that we would do the climb early the next morning instead. We were hoping the muddy path from yesterday’s heavy rain would dry up by then, and camping was jettisoned in favor of chalet. So we spent the afternoon browsing soft toys in the nearby town of Ayer Itam and snacking on the famous Ramlee burgers. I managed to buy some crackers for the guys. Three for ten ringgit, anyone? On our way back to the chalet, we found the herd of cows coming towards our direction, apparently making their way home, wherever it was. We waited a while for them to pass, (un)fortunately it wasn't long. Another photo opportunity missed!
Armed with our boots and headlights, we began our trek at 6.30 the next morning. The air was refreshing; its natural jungle scent filled our lungs and woke us from early morning drowsiness. Along the well-trodden forest path we could hear the occasional ripple of stream in the distance and the sharp cries of the animals. I had some reservations about the sounds at first, but as the cries grew closer and to my relief (or disappointment to some), nothing peculiar was in sight. Perhaps my mind was too busy imagining being attacked by monstrous giant apes to notice.
Two hours into the forest, we came across this crown-shaped rock the locals named ‘Batu Mahkota’, or simply, ‘Crown Rock’. The giant rock was quite a phenomenon; circling a patch of raised ground, its surface bears semblance to tiny but consistent waves. Well, I thought, who knows what else was in this vast jungle? It turned out, many other things. Carol had read in an article that a couple of years ago tiger sightings weren’t uncommon in the region. Imagine our surprise when, coming from deep valleys of the jungle, a roar was heard. More like a yawn than a roar, actually. Nevertheless, my heart skipped a beat at the sound, thinking who'd be the lucky one to discover my remaining bones, if ever. Cynthia murmured a faint "It was only wild dogs" as I looked around for the source of the sound, then Carol whispered "Hurry! Hurry!" to us, causing us to quicken our steps. Not wanting to give myself an unnecessary fright, I decided to trust Cynthia's words (although we decided later that it really was a tiger's roar).
Breathing sighs of relief after no more roaring ensued, we were thrust to another challenge. Looming above us was 90-degree steady ascent all the way to the summit. Silvia gasped at the sight (she later told me it was an amazing feat for her to climb down those slopes, she thought she wouldn't be able to make it down after we reached the summit). After managing to climb the steep slopes with some difficulty, we finally made it to the false summit. It was a wide clearing where cloudless blue sky hung above our heads. To get to the true summit, we passed through tracks surrounded with dense foliage and mossy trees, an attribute that earned the mountain its moniker ‘Belumut’, which means ‘moss’ in Malay.
The true summit was marked with a pyramid-like rock pinnacle, upon which people wrote a series of graffiti bearing their names. We took time to catch some breath and dig in our lunch, which consisted of delicious tuna and salmon sandwich, before making our descent.
The roundabout trip usually takes 7-8 hours, but it was 9 hours for us because we took time to make our way down those steep hills. The descent was more of a relaxed affair, I got to really look at the vegetation and the different species of flora found in the forest. Found quite a pretty trumpet flower. Not bad.
By the time we had dinner at a local restaurant in Kluang, I was already half asleep. The trek had totally sapped my energy. However, we still had some bits of reserved energy to shop for fruit and enjoy fresh coconut drinks before heading back to the Lion City. Four thousand burnt calories, some sore legs, and a good night’s sleep afterwards, I feel great!
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
The 'why's of life
I'm upset. This afternoon, I received the news that a major air crash has occurred in Medan. As bad news goes, the effect wasn't immediate. It took me some time to process, and now, after researching and asking family at home, it finally dawned on me that this really, really is terrible news.
I ask why. This is the sixth major air accident worldwide since August. Why, in such short span of time, horrible events keep manifesting themselves? The air crashes, Katrina in New Orleans, tsunami earthquakes in Asia, all pre- or un-warned; I have a visceral conviction that people are expecting worse things to come. Forgive my negativity, in my current state of distraught mind, I felt the urge to ask the very question people asked themselves when the tsunami struck. I tried and tried, to dredge up the answer I know lies somewhere within the deep enclaves of my being.
I was not a big believer in Him. Still, I find myself uttering words like 'My Goodness!', 'Oh My God!', or 'Gosh!' to trivial things ever so often. Perhaps I do have faith after all. The tsunami and today's crash struck the deepest impact because of the proximity of the events and the fact that my family lives in Medan. My heart never skipped a beat when I heard the news. I have faith that my family will be okay. I have faith that my relatives and friends will be fine. I just couldn't bring myself to even imagine [...]. This is my power. My strong-willed determination to never accept any possibility that anything [...] can happen to them. I'm one of those people who vehemently deny the existence of anything remotely harmful to their loved ones. It pains me to write that last line. I'm that egoistic. This is how I protect myself.
But I digress. When disasters struck, humans start questioning. Why did God do this to us? Why didn't He save the people? Was this fated? Is this the way He punishes us? I ignored those questions because I believe it has nothing to do with the God that I presume people pray for. I refuse to believe there is one supreme omniscient being that controls the universe. It is oxymoronic when we say God is a being that transcends our imagination. I believe disasters happen, just as the sun rises and the rooster crows. It's part and parcel of our world. If there's one thing I believe in, it's science.
Now, to appease those who would disagree with me, I equate God with Faith. My faith is my God. Not faith in God, but faith (for lack of a better word) in anything I want to. This is how it works: Every being has faith (forget in what), then God lies within their core, the collective core consciousness of all beings in the universe forms an 'x' (I don't know what x is), which in turn governs everything. We're all our own mini Gods. Just like in Buddhism, "Buddha lies within us." This crude thinking is quite old school, but it made much sense to me now.
I don't have the answer to everything. As I progress on this entry, contradictions abound. There's still much to learn, much to find answers to, but I shall take things slow. It's sad and enlightening that the events that have befallen us lately could give me inspiration. Life is contradictions.
I ask why. This is the sixth major air accident worldwide since August. Why, in such short span of time, horrible events keep manifesting themselves? The air crashes, Katrina in New Orleans, tsunami earthquakes in Asia, all pre- or un-warned; I have a visceral conviction that people are expecting worse things to come. Forgive my negativity, in my current state of distraught mind, I felt the urge to ask the very question people asked themselves when the tsunami struck. I tried and tried, to dredge up the answer I know lies somewhere within the deep enclaves of my being.
I was not a big believer in Him. Still, I find myself uttering words like 'My Goodness!', 'Oh My God!', or 'Gosh!' to trivial things ever so often. Perhaps I do have faith after all. The tsunami and today's crash struck the deepest impact because of the proximity of the events and the fact that my family lives in Medan. My heart never skipped a beat when I heard the news. I have faith that my family will be okay. I have faith that my relatives and friends will be fine. I just couldn't bring myself to even imagine [...]. This is my power. My strong-willed determination to never accept any possibility that anything [...] can happen to them. I'm one of those people who vehemently deny the existence of anything remotely harmful to their loved ones. It pains me to write that last line. I'm that egoistic. This is how I protect myself.
But I digress. When disasters struck, humans start questioning. Why did God do this to us? Why didn't He save the people? Was this fated? Is this the way He punishes us? I ignored those questions because I believe it has nothing to do with the God that I presume people pray for. I refuse to believe there is one supreme omniscient being that controls the universe. It is oxymoronic when we say God is a being that transcends our imagination. I believe disasters happen, just as the sun rises and the rooster crows. It's part and parcel of our world. If there's one thing I believe in, it's science.
Now, to appease those who would disagree with me, I equate God with Faith. My faith is my God. Not faith in God, but faith (for lack of a better word) in anything I want to. This is how it works: Every being has faith (forget in what), then God lies within their core, the collective core consciousness of all beings in the universe forms an 'x' (I don't know what x is), which in turn governs everything. We're all our own mini Gods. Just like in Buddhism, "Buddha lies within us." This crude thinking is quite old school, but it made much sense to me now.
I don't have the answer to everything. As I progress on this entry, contradictions abound. There's still much to learn, much to find answers to, but I shall take things slow. It's sad and enlightening that the events that have befallen us lately could give me inspiration. Life is contradictions.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Reflection
On the day of my birthday, the time has come, once again, for a moment of reflection on the 22 years I have breathed and lived.
My utmost gratitude for the wonderful set of parents I'm this lucky (or has it anything to do with luck?) to have. While writing this post, I'm reminded of the upcoming Father's Day on June 19. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we have Parents' Day - or Parent's Day for those single moms and dads out there - as well? But, today means nothing to my Mom and Dad. Why? Easy breezy, they don't celebrate my Gregorian birthday. Grins. Culture, people. Still, they are the best parents ever.
Ego, coming right up!
Needless to say, human thinks about themselves all the time, only on several occasions can they be outright selfish without being frowned upon, and birthday is one of those days. Thanks to the great system our ancestors have invented or rather, discovered - what with all the concepts of time and space - we celebrate birth day each year! Hell, my 22 years of flesh and blood may just be 0.0000000000001 milliseconds for some beings in the galaxy far, far away.
Today was a long day, all was spent talking with a group of great people who have been with me through thick and thin these past four years. Friends really do make your day! And well wishers from other parts of the world, reading your words and hearing your voice made me smile like an idiot.
Positivity aside, birthday is also one of the days you can't help but think about your own mortality. Argh, I am so self-conscious. Can't seem to stop talking about myself.
Really. Thanks.
My utmost gratitude for the wonderful set of parents I'm this lucky (or has it anything to do with luck?) to have. While writing this post, I'm reminded of the upcoming Father's Day on June 19. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we have Parents' Day - or Parent's Day for those single moms and dads out there - as well? But, today means nothing to my Mom and Dad. Why? Easy breezy, they don't celebrate my Gregorian birthday. Grins. Culture, people. Still, they are the best parents ever.
Ego, coming right up!
Needless to say, human thinks about themselves all the time, only on several occasions can they be outright selfish without being frowned upon, and birthday is one of those days. Thanks to the great system our ancestors have invented or rather, discovered - what with all the concepts of time and space - we celebrate birth day each year! Hell, my 22 years of flesh and blood may just be 0.0000000000001 milliseconds for some beings in the galaxy far, far away.
Today was a long day, all was spent talking with a group of great people who have been with me through thick and thin these past four years. Friends really do make your day! And well wishers from other parts of the world, reading your words and hearing your voice made me smile like an idiot.
Positivity aside, birthday is also one of the days you can't help but think about your own mortality. Argh, I am so self-conscious. Can't seem to stop talking about myself.
Really. Thanks.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Belief-o-matic
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html
So, I'm a Mahayana Buddhist first, Theravada Buddhist second. The Jainist in me ranks up high too! Neo-Pagan, New Age, and Unitarian Universalism are something I knew nothing about, but they sound cool.
Try it!
The breakdown of my belief systems:
1. Mahayana Buddhism (100%)
2. Theravada Buddhism (93%)
3. Jainism (88%)
4. Neo-Pagan (82%)
5. New Age (79%)
6. Unitarian Universalism (77%)
7. Hinduism (77%)
8. Liberal Quakers (72%)
9. Sikhism (67%)
10. Taoism (66%)
So, I'm a Mahayana Buddhist first, Theravada Buddhist second. The Jainist in me ranks up high too! Neo-Pagan, New Age, and Unitarian Universalism are something I knew nothing about, but they sound cool.
Try it!
The breakdown of my belief systems:
1. Mahayana Buddhism (100%)
2. Theravada Buddhism (93%)
3. Jainism (88%)
4. Neo-Pagan (82%)
5. New Age (79%)
6. Unitarian Universalism (77%)
7. Hinduism (77%)
8. Liberal Quakers (72%)
9. Sikhism (67%)
10. Taoism (66%)
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Everwood
I urge everybody who hasn't seen this excellent family drama to start watching. Set in a town amidst the breathtaking vistas of Rocky Mountains in Colorado, the show tells the story of a world-renowned surgeon who, after the death of his wife, gave up his life in New York and moved his family of two kids to Everwood. Andrew Brown (Treat Williams) was suddenly faced with the challenges of raising his two kids, which he didn't play a big part while his wife was still alive. The son, Ephram (Gregory Smith), is a smart teenage boy who quietly resents his father for the lack of attention his father paid to him and his sister before the death of their mother. The daughter, pre-teen Delia Brown (Vivien Cardone), is as sweet as you can ever hope.
As the story unfolds, we discover that the arrival of the Browns was not entirely welcomed by the only other doctor in town, Harold Abbott (Tom Amandes). The two had tensions for a while, further amplified when Harry's mother, Edna (Debra Mooney), join Andrew's free practice as his nurse. Ephram also found himself secretly harboring a crush on Harold's teenage daughter, Amy (Emily VanCamp), who still can't get over the death of her boyfriend and place the blame on his surgeon, Andrew. We were introduced to other colourful characters as well, such as Amy's brother Bright (Chris Pratt), Edna's husband and school driver Mr. Irv Harper, and Andy's friendly neighbor Nina (Stephanie Niznik).
The show was unafraid to deal with many issues, such as teenage pregnancy and abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, a husband's homosexuality, and medical marijuana. It got me hooked instantly after I watched the pilot of Season 2 on TV. Every episode has something new to offer, and it never failed to touch my heart in many ways. The cuteness factor of Gregory Smith doesn't do any harm either. Go watch!
Interesting tidbits:
Marcia Cross, the oh-so-perfect housewife from Desperate Housewives also guest stars in several episodes, playing Linda, Harold's kid sister. Linda was returning home after traveling around the world to exotic locations and using her medical skills to help people in remote villages. As a result, she is very much a carefree individual. Talk about 180-degree difference.
Brenda Strong, also from Desperate, appeared in flashback sequences as Andrew's dead wife in the beginning of Season 1, much the same as her character in Desperate.
As the story unfolds, we discover that the arrival of the Browns was not entirely welcomed by the only other doctor in town, Harold Abbott (Tom Amandes). The two had tensions for a while, further amplified when Harry's mother, Edna (Debra Mooney), join Andrew's free practice as his nurse. Ephram also found himself secretly harboring a crush on Harold's teenage daughter, Amy (Emily VanCamp), who still can't get over the death of her boyfriend and place the blame on his surgeon, Andrew. We were introduced to other colourful characters as well, such as Amy's brother Bright (Chris Pratt), Edna's husband and school driver Mr. Irv Harper, and Andy's friendly neighbor Nina (Stephanie Niznik).
The show was unafraid to deal with many issues, such as teenage pregnancy and abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, a husband's homosexuality, and medical marijuana. It got me hooked instantly after I watched the pilot of Season 2 on TV. Every episode has something new to offer, and it never failed to touch my heart in many ways. The cuteness factor of Gregory Smith doesn't do any harm either. Go watch!
Interesting tidbits:
Marcia Cross, the oh-so-perfect housewife from Desperate Housewives also guest stars in several episodes, playing Linda, Harold's kid sister. Linda was returning home after traveling around the world to exotic locations and using her medical skills to help people in remote villages. As a result, she is very much a carefree individual. Talk about 180-degree difference.
Brenda Strong, also from Desperate, appeared in flashback sequences as Andrew's dead wife in the beginning of Season 1, much the same as her character in Desperate.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
You're minding your own business, running errands, watching people pass by, reading your old novel. The air-conditioner suddenly decided to lower its temperature to its lowest as a form of rebellion of having to work all-day long, 24/7. You put on a jacket but are still shivering, while quietly cursing the sudden change of temperature. Then it struck. The admission came not before a long hard battle with yourself. How could it be? How is this even possible?
You're sick.
It's not that you weren't warned, but you can't do anything about it. Instead, you tell youself everything will be just fine. Now see what you've done?! Please, slowly savor the outcome. The misery and the constant lump in your throat.
And here you are, telling the world of your miserable condition. For what? To elicit some heart-felt responses on how you will get well soon? Or to satisfy your own narcissistic desire of getting attention to yourself? Yes, that might seem to be the case.
P.S.: Ignore this post
You're sick.
It's not that you weren't warned, but you can't do anything about it. Instead, you tell youself everything will be just fine. Now see what you've done?! Please, slowly savor the outcome. The misery and the constant lump in your throat.
And here you are, telling the world of your miserable condition. For what? To elicit some heart-felt responses on how you will get well soon? Or to satisfy your own narcissistic desire of getting attention to yourself? Yes, that might seem to be the case.
P.S.: Ignore this post
Saturday, April 16, 2005
It's been more than 2 weeks since my last update. Well, a few things happened within those 2 weeks, though I couldn't quite remember the details. A mini vacation with the extra dose of sunshine was on the itinerary, a 2-day project marathon, minus the sleep, a day to compensate the sleep deprivation, a meet-up with my supervisor that didn't turn out well, a few dirty and cheesy jokes with like-minded friends, and lots of heavenly street food. It was a blast.
However, we are perpetually on a quest for the better things in life. Sometimes it takes sacrifice, hard work or the lack of it, and plenty of bs-ing. There are two more important events happening in the next two weeks, I have to admit, that does worry me a bit. I am never one to take things very seriously, or to dwell too long on a certain thing or event. A passage on The Art of Happiness taught me not to worry on stuff that I can or can't control. It struck a deep cord with me for the simplicity of the truth behind it. Yet being an imperfect human being that I am, life's constant worrying occasionally lurks in and shadows your mind when you're reading or in a shower. Ah, I guess that's just how it is. For now.
Enough of the ramblings. Anyone who have seen the movie Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter,...and Spring will agree that the movie is nothing short of breathtaking. The director Kim Ki-Duk has truly surprised moviegoers by chronicling a man's life in four seasons, and in the process touched a nerve with the audience. The movie contains very little dialogue, and it doesn't really need one. The actors and the scenery speak volume of the beautiful story the director-cum-writer is trying to portray. I won't divulge the plot or anything here, let's just say Buddhism has everything to do with the movie. I cried twice during the entire length of the movie, even sob during one particularly touching scene where the older monk.... (see for yourself!). Yes, I'm not embarrassed to admit that I do cry. What are the tear ducts for? I need to see more movies like this, so I could cry more. You know, in my present life, few events had me crying anymore; I don't know if it has to do with the grim reality of life or the superficiality of it. All in all, go see the movie! Buy DVDs, VCDs, or whatever. You'll need another story like this to lift your spirits up.
However, we are perpetually on a quest for the better things in life. Sometimes it takes sacrifice, hard work or the lack of it, and plenty of bs-ing. There are two more important events happening in the next two weeks, I have to admit, that does worry me a bit. I am never one to take things very seriously, or to dwell too long on a certain thing or event. A passage on The Art of Happiness taught me not to worry on stuff that I can or can't control. It struck a deep cord with me for the simplicity of the truth behind it. Yet being an imperfect human being that I am, life's constant worrying occasionally lurks in and shadows your mind when you're reading or in a shower. Ah, I guess that's just how it is. For now.
Enough of the ramblings. Anyone who have seen the movie Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter,...and Spring will agree that the movie is nothing short of breathtaking. The director Kim Ki-Duk has truly surprised moviegoers by chronicling a man's life in four seasons, and in the process touched a nerve with the audience. The movie contains very little dialogue, and it doesn't really need one. The actors and the scenery speak volume of the beautiful story the director-cum-writer is trying to portray. I won't divulge the plot or anything here, let's just say Buddhism has everything to do with the movie. I cried twice during the entire length of the movie, even sob during one particularly touching scene where the older monk.... (see for yourself!). Yes, I'm not embarrassed to admit that I do cry. What are the tear ducts for? I need to see more movies like this, so I could cry more. You know, in my present life, few events had me crying anymore; I don't know if it has to do with the grim reality of life or the superficiality of it. All in all, go see the movie! Buy DVDs, VCDs, or whatever. You'll need another story like this to lift your spirits up.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
8.2 Richter scale earthquake off the western coast of Sumatra
CNN -- An earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 8.2 struck off the coast of Indonesia Monday -- on the same fault line that originated a December 26 earthquake that launched a deadly tsunami.
For the second time in just a couple of days after 3 months since the boxing day tsunami, an even stronger earthquake has occurred. The warning center reported the quake has even been measured up to 8.5 Richter scale. Authorities in the different regions affected have issued statements regarding the possibility of tsunami occurring.
Many survivors have not even recovered from the trauma they suffered, and another one struck. Blimey, if this doesn't wake us up on the importance of an tsunami warning system in place in the region, what will?
Let us hope this time it's just the earthquake.
The quake occurred at 11:09 a.m. ET (1609 GMT), and is considered a "great" earthquake, the largest of seven grades.
The grades are very minor, minor, light, moderate, strong, major and great.
-----------For the second time in just a couple of days after 3 months since the boxing day tsunami, an even stronger earthquake has occurred. The warning center reported the quake has even been measured up to 8.5 Richter scale. Authorities in the different regions affected have issued statements regarding the possibility of tsunami occurring.
Many survivors have not even recovered from the trauma they suffered, and another one struck. Blimey, if this doesn't wake us up on the importance of an tsunami warning system in place in the region, what will?
Let us hope this time it's just the earthquake.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Have I told you lately?
Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.
- Rod Stewart, from Have I Told You Lately
Sitting alone in my room at 2 am isn't doing much to elevate my current state of dysphoria. The stream of melancholic love songs that's been playing on my radio doesn't help either. Lately I have been thinking about stuff that is and isn't happening in my life. Ideas have been hanging around in my mind, but the lack of enthusiasm to pursue them eventually weighs me down.
Ignorance really is bliss. Things can be so ugly yet so beautiful, so beautiful yet so ugly. Try to be positive but still find consolation in being negative. The shoulds and should nots in life are things that could make or break you. I can't escape duality, is that how it's going to be down this path from now on?
It is now time to finally take a stance.
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.
- Rod Stewart, from Have I Told You Lately
Sitting alone in my room at 2 am isn't doing much to elevate my current state of dysphoria. The stream of melancholic love songs that's been playing on my radio doesn't help either. Lately I have been thinking about stuff that is and isn't happening in my life. Ideas have been hanging around in my mind, but the lack of enthusiasm to pursue them eventually weighs me down.
Ignorance really is bliss. Things can be so ugly yet so beautiful, so beautiful yet so ugly. Try to be positive but still find consolation in being negative. The shoulds and should nots in life are things that could make or break you. I can't escape duality, is that how it's going to be down this path from now on?
It is now time to finally take a stance.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Happy Google-Doo!
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
My dream camera
Ah, everyone is allowed to indulge in some fantasies, aren't they?
At a tag of USD$2,359.99, I may have to wait 'til I'm 50, by when cameras will have become obsolete.
Charity
It seems that everywhere you walk in Singapore today, you'll be bombarded with the sight of uniform-clad schoolgirls/boys seeking your kind-hearted donations. Yes, doing charity is a commendable show of humanity. Yes, volunteering to collect charity is good. And yes, I applaud Singapore's huge amount of donations for the tsunami victims and National Kidney Foundation and so on and so forth. The people's effort -especially schools and institutions, and celebrity charity shows- really paid off, as the city-state has become one of the most active and swift donators in the world, funds-wise or volunteer-wise.
Apart from all that, in my own corner of the world, I am beginning to feel that giving your spare cents for charity has somehow turned into an obligation. [Everyone else is doing it, why aren't you?] is the vibe I'm getting more and more these days (it's just me, as you know, volunteer is the word) . I frequently find myself fending off one or two collectors every few steps I take when pacing around the ever-popular Orchard Road area. I have no objections to charity whatsoever, mind you. In fact, as I said above, I applaud the act. But one donation at a time, please. I'm struggling myself, if I keep giving to spare myself the after-guilt, I'll be broke in no time.
On second thought, what a clever idea it is! Why not spare some dollars if you're going to splurge thousands on Ferragamos and Pradas? It's all in the marketing, baby.
Apart from all that, in my own corner of the world, I am beginning to feel that giving your spare cents for charity has somehow turned into an obligation. [Everyone else is doing it, why aren't you?] is the vibe I'm getting more and more these days (it's just me, as you know, volunteer is the word) . I frequently find myself fending off one or two collectors every few steps I take when pacing around the ever-popular Orchard Road area. I have no objections to charity whatsoever, mind you. In fact, as I said above, I applaud the act. But one donation at a time, please. I'm struggling myself, if I keep giving to spare myself the after-guilt, I'll be broke in no time.
On second thought, what a clever idea it is! Why not spare some dollars if you're going to splurge thousands on Ferragamos and Pradas? It's all in the marketing, baby.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Please bear with me
As I experiment with different styles of how the blog page look like. Until I've set my mind on a particular design, it will continue to go on like this. Mis apologías.
UPDATE: Phew. Finally. Thanks to sonchan for providing the banner; it's anything but plain now, don't you agree? I'm crossing my fingers that there'll be fewer changes from hereon. Heh.
UPDATE: Phew. Finally. Thanks to sonchan for providing the banner; it's anything but plain now, don't you agree? I'm crossing my fingers that there'll be fewer changes from hereon. Heh.
Ghosts and men are not that different after all
人是還沒死的鬼, 而鬼是死掉的人.
(Man is a living ghost, and ghost is a dead man)
How very true. The popular Taiwanese variety show, 我猜我猜我猜猜猜 (Guess Guess Guess) recently featured girls who look very much like ghosts in real life, which I think is an outrageous program idea. Five girls were chosen, each was questioned on how they got labeled as a ghost look-alike and their eerie encounters with ghosts. At the end of the show, a contest was held through voting: the one who resembles a ghost most wins! Unbelievable! Imagine how the girls' parents or friends must have felt, seeing their daughters, sisters, and friends compete for such thing?!? I must admit though, the show was at times hilarious at depicting the girls--they were asked to wear clothes associated with female ghosts, eg. red Chinese qi pao/cheongsam, schoolgirl uniform; one wore a bright red lipstick while another didn't wear one at all--and it almost shames me to say I laughed out loud quite a few times. The show's popularity stems from its originality. You should see it sometimes just for the sake of checking out.
In another related entry
Men and ghosts may live in different realms, but they certainly co-exist together. Humans fear death is the end of everything; some may say there is no life after death, some may say otherwise, but most associate death with a negative image, but is that necessarily true? Or is death a beginning of something else, something not quite like what we imagine it would be? ZhuangZi, a man who is universally regarded as the greatest Taoist after Lao Tzu, answers it best with his theory of relativity (no, not that theory of relativity). It goes like this:
Another great story of Taoism I'd like to share, the "Butterly Dream" is perhaps the most celebrated dreams ever recorded in the history of Chinese Philosophy.
(Man is a living ghost, and ghost is a dead man)
How very true. The popular Taiwanese variety show, 我猜我猜我猜猜猜 (Guess Guess Guess) recently featured girls who look very much like ghosts in real life, which I think is an outrageous program idea. Five girls were chosen, each was questioned on how they got labeled as a ghost look-alike and their eerie encounters with ghosts. At the end of the show, a contest was held through voting: the one who resembles a ghost most wins! Unbelievable! Imagine how the girls' parents or friends must have felt, seeing their daughters, sisters, and friends compete for such thing?!? I must admit though, the show was at times hilarious at depicting the girls--they were asked to wear clothes associated with female ghosts, eg. red Chinese qi pao/cheongsam, schoolgirl uniform; one wore a bright red lipstick while another didn't wear one at all--and it almost shames me to say I laughed out loud quite a few times. The show's popularity stems from its originality. You should see it sometimes just for the sake of checking out.
In another related entry
Men and ghosts may live in different realms, but they certainly co-exist together. Humans fear death is the end of everything; some may say there is no life after death, some may say otherwise, but most associate death with a negative image, but is that necessarily true? Or is death a beginning of something else, something not quite like what we imagine it would be? ZhuangZi, a man who is universally regarded as the greatest Taoist after Lao Tzu, answers it best with his theory of relativity (no, not that theory of relativity). It goes like this:
"How do I know that enjoying life is not a delusion? How do I know that in hating death we are not like people who got lost in early childhood and do not know the way home? During our dream we don't know we're dreaming. We may even dream of interpreting a dream. Only on waking do we know it was a dream. You and Confucius are both dreaming, and I who say you are a dream am also a dream.Looks like plenty of gibberish, but it certainly is something to think about. Many things in life aren't as black and white as we thought, cause there's always room for some grey area. Again, Taoists reject the idea of dichotomy, which is in my opinion, two extremes of essentially the same thing. Everything is extremely relative. If there's no beauty, there's no ugliness. Or, if there's no good, there's no evil. Sounds good to me.
Another great story of Taoism I'd like to share, the "Butterly Dream" is perhaps the most celebrated dreams ever recorded in the history of Chinese Philosophy.
The great Taoist master Chuang Tzu once dreamt that he was a butterfly fluttering here and there. In the dream he had no awareness of his individuality as a person. He was only a butterfly. Suddenly, he awoke and found himself laying there, a person once again. But then he thought to himself, "Was I before a man who dreamt about being a butterfly, or am I now a butterfly who dreams about being a man?"After straying from man-ghost relationship (if there is one) to Taoism and plenty of dreams, I think I should stop here. Too much straying ignites headaches.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Food for thought
Last night I was reading Wangjianshuo's blog on hating doing something and hating to start doing something. Evidently, there's a lot of difference between the two. Jianshuo provided an excellent example: it's not that he hates sleeping itself; he has this initial resistant of going to bed at night as there are hundreds of reasons for being awake.
Fast forward to my current situation. However I tried setting my mind to start working on my project, I procrastinate, surfing here and there, reading magazines, and before i knew it... no work is done. But come another time when I have actually immersed myself in my work, I do enjoy it. The same is true for most things: as we contemplate doing this and that, taking art courses or volunteering for a good cause, how many of those do we eventually end up doing?
Procrastination is a common disease. Self-discipline is the key. Yeah, easy to say, darn hard to do. Nevertheless, it boils down to how one cultivate one's mind and not surrender to external pressure, or shall we say, temptations. A note to myself: Study Buddhism.
Fast forward to my current situation. However I tried setting my mind to start working on my project, I procrastinate, surfing here and there, reading magazines, and before i knew it... no work is done. But come another time when I have actually immersed myself in my work, I do enjoy it. The same is true for most things: as we contemplate doing this and that, taking art courses or volunteering for a good cause, how many of those do we eventually end up doing?
Procrastination is a common disease. Self-discipline is the key. Yeah, easy to say, darn hard to do. Nevertheless, it boils down to how one cultivate one's mind and not surrender to external pressure, or shall we say, temptations. A note to myself: Study Buddhism.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Out of the blue
Dreams are strange phenomena. Things beyond our wildest imagination. The most unusual events. Our deepest darkest desires. Somehow, when I dream, I think I control the plot (or it's my subconsciousness playing tricks on me). I have been dreaming numerous times these few months; very peculiar indeed, as I was a sound sleeper who've only had few dreams. I even sourced out library references and Internet resources to interpret those dreams, yet none produced the results I wanted.
This morning, it occured again. Two dreams, one forgotten. It's not exciting in the least. Note: some details have been altered for a more dramatic effect.
And so there I was, having a meal, in a wooden Javanese house. The house is one thing, but the characters are a whole different story. There are approximately 8-10 of us; now...get ready for this: those people are band members of a famous Indonesian band (not Dewa, but more on that later) and a popular American band; and then there was me and my friend. How we all got together was totally lost on me.
In short, I chatted with them (heh) and found out that they are on a break, so they decided to pack up and do some traveling. As of that moment, they are on their way to Tangkuban Perahu, near Bandung, Indonesia. I excused myself to go to the restroom located in a wooden shed right beside the house and was on my way, when my friend got up and followed me without my knowledge. As I bent down to do my own business, there #$%!@ (I won't name names) was, holding a videocam and ready to shoot! As soon as I closed the blinds of the tiny window hole, it ended.
I have to say, the more I type, the more unsure I am of the exact situation. Ah, dreams do fade. Now, for the analysis (I promise, won't be too long):
I've always wanted to travel to Java.
Dewa, a very popular Indonesian band, held a concert 2 weeks ago. I had considered going.
A friend of mine gave me a Tangkuban Perahu key chain last month. (thanks, I!)
The friend in my dream spoke to me recently.
See how it all tangled up?
More on dreams later.
This morning, it occured again. Two dreams, one forgotten. It's not exciting in the least. Note: some details have been altered for a more dramatic effect.
And so there I was, having a meal, in a wooden Javanese house. The house is one thing, but the characters are a whole different story. There are approximately 8-10 of us; now...get ready for this: those people are band members of a famous Indonesian band (not Dewa, but more on that later) and a popular American band; and then there was me and my friend. How we all got together was totally lost on me.
In short, I chatted with them (heh) and found out that they are on a break, so they decided to pack up and do some traveling. As of that moment, they are on their way to Tangkuban Perahu, near Bandung, Indonesia. I excused myself to go to the restroom located in a wooden shed right beside the house and was on my way, when my friend got up and followed me without my knowledge. As I bent down to do my own business, there #$%!@ (I won't name names) was, holding a videocam and ready to shoot! As soon as I closed the blinds of the tiny window hole, it ended.
I have to say, the more I type, the more unsure I am of the exact situation. Ah, dreams do fade. Now, for the analysis (I promise, won't be too long):
I've always wanted to travel to Java.
Dewa, a very popular Indonesian band, held a concert 2 weeks ago. I had considered going.
A friend of mine gave me a Tangkuban Perahu key chain last month. (thanks, I!)
The friend in my dream spoke to me recently.
See how it all tangled up?
More on dreams later.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Random act #623
I was sitting in my room, daydreaming I was kidnapped by a handsome prince, when...
RINGGGG....RINGGGG....(it actually didn't sound like that, you know, we have these cool tunes nowadays)
Me: Hello?
Unknown: 喂? 請問這是業蒨文的電話嗎? (Hello? Is this Sally Yeh's number?)
Me: (pause) Uhm...你打錯電話了. (You dialled the wrong number)
Silence...
Somehow I get the feeling the person at the other end of the line didn't believe me.
Click.
WHAT THE???
I should havepretended I was, then volunteer to autograph Sally's CDs over the mail asked her how she got my closely guarded number.
Well, just another day in my increasingly boring life.
RINGGGG....RINGGGG....(it actually didn't sound like that, you know, we have these cool tunes nowadays)
Me: Hello?
Unknown: 喂? 請問這是業蒨文的電話嗎? (Hello? Is this Sally Yeh's number?)
Me: (pause) Uhm...你打錯電話了. (You dialled the wrong number)
Silence...
Somehow I get the feeling the person at the other end of the line didn't believe me.
Click.
WHAT THE???
I should have
Well, just another day in my increasingly boring life.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Yahoo! Gastronomical feast
For the most part of last year I used to cook like mad. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, supper, and a couple snacks in between (I'm a glutton, btw), an all-round kitchen fare. It may seem like I have nothing else to do in the day besides devouring veggies and (sometimes) meat, heh.
No, no, I insist, that's not true. I have a life, remember?
From where I came, food used to be inexpensive. I mean, really cheap. And fantastic, still is. Everytime I was home, all I wanted to do was to enjoy all the city's eating establishments have to offer. I'd be sitting around the house pondering on what to have for dinner, or tagging along friends who, more often than not, didn't disappoint. Everyone's favorite pastime is checking out what's new and tasty in town, and then passing reviews or recommendations to people they bumped into along the way to another joint. I count myself lucky for growing up amidst these gastronomic delights. But again, what is with all this obsession with food, you'd ask?
Live to eat, or eat to live; that is the question. I'll have both, please. ;) Great food has an orgasmic effect on people; and at times, the content of food blogs out there even borders on the pornographic. Yours truly, for one, derives joy and pleasure simply from cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, never mind all the mess and grease. It's truly wonderful to be able to feed people and watch them consume the food you so lovingly prepared, even if it tastes like chicken poo. Excuse my language.
Food is also a conversational starter, and the company you're having your meals with is just as important. What can I say, great friends make the blandest meal bearable. Which reminds me: thanks M, for being such a good friend and a good sport!
Back to where I started, I don't cook at all these days, for the following excuses:
1. I lived in a place where prepared food was just not affordable.
2. I live in a place where the kitchen is such a sore sight for normal eyes.
3. I spend most of my time doing...not much, which, in turn, occupies my time.
4. I have a blog to update.
5. Why are you still reading??
Happy munching!
No, no, I insist, that's not true. I have a life, remember?
From where I came, food used to be inexpensive. I mean, really cheap. And fantastic, still is. Everytime I was home, all I wanted to do was to enjoy all the city's eating establishments have to offer. I'd be sitting around the house pondering on what to have for dinner, or tagging along friends who, more often than not, didn't disappoint. Everyone's favorite pastime is checking out what's new and tasty in town, and then passing reviews or recommendations to people they bumped into along the way to another joint. I count myself lucky for growing up amidst these gastronomic delights. But again, what is with all this obsession with food, you'd ask?
Live to eat, or eat to live; that is the question. I'll have both, please. ;) Great food has an orgasmic effect on people; and at times, the content of food blogs out there even borders on the pornographic. Yours truly, for one, derives joy and pleasure simply from cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, never mind all the mess and grease. It's truly wonderful to be able to feed people and watch them consume the food you so lovingly prepared, even if it tastes like chicken poo. Excuse my language.
Food is also a conversational starter, and the company you're having your meals with is just as important. What can I say, great friends make the blandest meal bearable. Which reminds me: thanks M, for being such a good friend and a good sport!
Back to where I started, I don't cook at all these days, for the following excuses:
1. I lived in a place where prepared food was just not affordable.
2. I live in a place where the kitchen is such a sore sight for normal eyes.
3. I spend most of my time doing...not much, which, in turn, occupies my time.
4. I have a blog to update.
5. Why are you still reading??
Happy munching!
Friday, March 04, 2005
The magic word
Call me sensitive or even small-minded -neither of them bothers me- but to me, it's the magical please. Now, how can you say no to that? U uh, for the record, I'm not trying to encourage wrongful manipulation of good intentions here.
The sheer visual representation of the word alone evokes all sorts of wonderful feeling; not to mention hearing it in person, coupled with sincere, intense eye contact, the right body language and gestures, all just makes the favor even harder to resist. The effect, as we may all have experienced, was so powerful that even the most outrageous demands were OKed on a whim.
Years of unconscious and accidental observance has provided me with a curious insight of human nature. As Buddha once said, people are basically good-natured and willing to help those in need: 95% of the time people would say yes when asked for a favor nicely, if it is within their power to help and doesn't harm others. The rest of the time, either it's a bad day or they're too tired to listen.
Ok, ok, maybe that's just a theory, but at least there's some truth in that, yes? However we resent performing the favor, if we really care about the person, it's just a matter of making a few calls and running some errands, it can't be that bad, right? At the end of the day, when you land your head on the pillow, you should be able to say "I did something good today, and I'm proud of myself", however trivial it may seem. To give without asking anything in return, that is a virtue.
The sheer visual representation of the word alone evokes all sorts of wonderful feeling; not to mention hearing it in person, coupled with sincere, intense eye contact, the right body language and gestures, all just makes the favor even harder to resist. The effect, as we may all have experienced, was so powerful that even the most outrageous demands were OKed on a whim.
Years of unconscious and accidental observance has provided me with a curious insight of human nature. As Buddha once said, people are basically good-natured and willing to help those in need: 95% of the time people would say yes when asked for a favor nicely, if it is within their power to help and doesn't harm others. The rest of the time, either it's a bad day or they're too tired to listen.
Ok, ok, maybe that's just a theory, but at least there's some truth in that, yes? However we resent performing the favor, if we really care about the person, it's just a matter of making a few calls and running some errands, it can't be that bad, right? At the end of the day, when you land your head on the pillow, you should be able to say "I did something good today, and I'm proud of myself", however trivial it may seem. To give without asking anything in return, that is a virtue.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Sunday, February 27, 2005
And here it is again!
I love Sundays, and I'll tell you why.
In my diminutive mind, I always regard Sunday as the last day of the week (a sentiment most people share, I reckon), which means it's when most people start getting anxious for dreading to go to work the next day; all the while at the back of my mind I always have to remind myself it's actually the 1st. The beginning.
Ignorant as I am, spending Sundays in my tiny room is heavenly. The sun, the blue sky, my dying plant, my stack of unread books, my soft fluffy pillow, the buses, the buildings and the greenery, the fog, my neighbors...oh, how thankful I am!
Alas, Sundays also mean procrastination, long naps, slow meals, lazy butt, and a plain waste of time. Pls, help me.
In my diminutive mind, I always regard Sunday as the last day of the week (a sentiment most people share, I reckon), which means it's when most people start getting anxious for dreading to go to work the next day; all the while at the back of my mind I always have to remind myself it's actually the 1st. The beginning.
Ignorant as I am, spending Sundays in my tiny room is heavenly. The sun, the blue sky, my dying plant, my stack of unread books, my soft fluffy pillow, the buses, the buildings and the greenery, the fog, my neighbors...oh, how thankful I am!
Alas, Sundays also mean procrastination, long naps, slow meals, lazy butt, and a plain waste of time. Pls, help me.
Foursome
Twosome & threesome, move over. Foursome is in.
Closer, Sideways, and my lovely friends. We say everything comes in pairs: here it's a pair of pairs. Where does that leave the singletons? Argh.
Closer, Sideways, and my lovely friends. We say everything comes in pairs: here it's a pair of pairs. Where does that leave the singletons? Argh.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Maiden Post: Hello world!
The Life of David Gale
"Fantasies have to be unrealistic, because the moment, the second you get what you seek, you don’t, you can’t want it anymore. In order to continue to exist, desire must have its objects perpetually absent. It’s not the “it” that you want; it’s the fantasy of “it”. So, desire supports crazy fantasy. This is what Pascal means when he says that we’re only truly happy when daydreaming about future happiness. Or, why we say “The hunt is sweeter than the kill”, or “Be careful what you wish for”. Not because you’ll get it, because you are doomed not to want it once you do. So the lesson of Lecaan is living by your wants will never make you happy. What it means to be fully human is to strive to live by ideas and ideals and not to measure your life by what you’ve attained in terms of your desires but those small moments of integrity, compassion, rationality, even self-sacrifice; because in the end, the only way that we could measure the significance of our own lives is by valuing the lives of others."
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