Maybe no one will read this but frankly this is more for myself...to remember 2009 years later.
2009 marks the end of the "2" digit in front for my age. Sigh.
It is in receiving the impending "3" that I realised that there was so much more I could have tried and done in my 20s - glorious 20s. It is with this that I hope to make the 30s even more exciting and fulfilling.
These were the things that made 2009 special:
1) Yoga
Finally did my Hot TT Training in October and am very glad I did it. It took me back onto the spiritual path and taught me many things about myself. It took me deeper into practice and now yoga isn't just about asanas anymore. It is because of this that God means much more and how I come to see how much I am loved and how much I love Him.
I look forward to Patrick's TT and Lama Murut's course next year. Am so blessed that I get to do it before I go to Korea.
2) Fansong project
So I did the fansong project on a crazy idea but never did I expect that Yoochun would see it and that it would garner this much response. This is definitely a milestone in fandom lol
3) Writing
Got writing for E mag so that was good. Not so good for my fiction side though. Really need to pick up on this part.
4) Organising Klub Party
Yet another crazy idea but 9 jan looks promising..hope this is the beginning of more.
2009 was a year that zoomed past. A year where much happened and shifting in between phases happened. Maybe it is but just a transition for 2010, where a lot is going to happen.
I can only hope that God will be with me and that I will do what is right.
Goodbye 2009, hello 2010~
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Goose's Dream
I really really like the lyrics of this song...
A Goose’s Dream / A Swan’s Dream
Translation by x3Yesung of Soompi
I have a dream,
Even if I’m thrown away or ripped to shreds
Deep in my heart
I have a dream as precious as gem
If by chance, without a reason,
Somebody ridicules me behind my back
I should be patient
I would wait just for that day.
As you always worry,
You say that foolish dreams are poisonous.
Just like a book that tells us about the end of the world
There’s the reality that we can’t turn back already
Yes I have a dream.
I believe in that dream
Please watch over me
Standing in front of that cold wall called fate
I can firmly face it
One day I will pass over that wall
And be able to fly
As high as the sky
This heavy thing called life can’t tie me down
At the end of my life, on the other day that I can smile, let’s be together
Yes I have a dream.
I believe in that dream
Please watch over me
Standing in front of that cold wall called fate
I can firmly face it
One day I will pass over that wall
And be able to fly
As high as the sky
This heavy thing called life can’t tie me down
At the end of my life, on the other day that I can smile, let’s be together
Yes I, I have a dream
I believe in that dream.
Please watch over me
Standing in front of that cold wall called fate.
I can firmly face it
One day I will pass over that wall
And be able to fly
As high as the sky
This heavy thing called life can’t tie me down
At the end of my life, on the other day that I can smile, let’s be together
거위의 꿈
인순이
난 난 꿈이 있었죠
버려지고 찢겨 남루하여도
내 가슴 깊숙히 보물과 같이
간직했던 꿈
혹 때론 누군가가
뜻 모를 비웃음
내 등뒤에 흘릴때도
난 참아야 했죠 참을수 있었죠
그 날을 위해
늘 걱정하듯 말하죠
헛된 꿈은 독이라고
세상은 끝이 정해진 책처럼
이미 돌이킬수 없는
현실이라고
그래요 난 난 꿈이 있어요
그 꿈을 믿어요 나를 지켜봐요
저 차갑게 서 있는
운명이란 벽앞에
당당히 마주칠 수 있어요
언젠가 난 그벽을 넘고서
저 하늘을 높이 날을수 있어요
이 무거운 세상도
나를 묶을순 없죠
내 삶의 끝에서
나 웃을 그날을 함께해요
그 꿈을 믿어요
나를 지켜봐요
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Road of Lost Innocence
There's one thing I love about books. Be it places or minds, they bring you on journeys you haven't had the chance to or couldn't take even if you wanted to. This is why I admire writers and even more so those who make the effort to take their readers on a wondrous journey.
The book that I would like to introduce, however, is not a journey for the faint- hearted.
It was a book I had not planned to buy. It was simply in the 3 for 2 stash in Borders. I had bought it because I thought maybe one day I would need to read it. Indeed that chance presented itself and I finally read The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam.
Taken from the Somaly Mam Foundation site:
"A riveting, raw, and beautiful memoir of tragedy and hope."
Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was twelve years old. For the next decade she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade of Southeast Asia.
Trapped in this dangerous and desperate world, she suffered the brutality and horrors of human trafficking - rape, torture, and deprivation - until she managed to escape with the help of a French aid worker. Emboldened by her newfound freedom, education, and security, Somaly blossomed but remained haunted by the girls in the brothels she left behind.
Written in exquisite, spare, unflinching prose, The Road of Lost Innocence recounts the experiences of her early life and tells the story of her awakening as an activist and her harrowing and brave fight against the powerful and corrupt forces that steal the lives of these girls. She has orchestrated raids on brothels and rescued sex workers, some as young as five and six; she has built shelters, started schools, and founded an organization that has so far saved more than four thousand women and children in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Her memoir will leave you awestruck by her tenacity and courage and will renew your faith in the power of an individual to bring about change.
My thoughts on it:
When I first read the book, I was a little apprehensive. I had just read another memoir that had been less than beautifully written despite an interesting story.
This is a book that does not seek to impress with flowery writing. After all, the content itself is enough to keep the reader occupied. I wish I knew French so that I could read the book in its original text. However, I don't so I would have to be content with the English version
And contented I was.
I found my heart being wrenched at many points and at some, I could feel the tear ducts being squeezed. There are things that people like us, who have the fortune of living in peace and have access to material comforts, can never understand. There are horrors that we will never be able to imagine even if we tried. How can we possibly understand what is like to be sold like livestock and tortured like a slave
The book begins with:
"1n 1986, when I was sold to a brothel as a prostitute, I was about sixteen years old. Today there are many far younger prostitutes in Cambodia. There are virgins for sale in every large town; to be sure of their virginity, the girls are sometimes as young as five or six.
In Cambodia, and throughout South-East Asia, tens of thousands of children are forced into prostitution each year. They are raped and beaten. Many are killed."
And that's only the beginning. It is merely the miniscule tip of the iceberg that is the story (or should I say, stories?)
It is easy to be indifferent. I won't say more but I greatly recommend this book if you are ready to open your eyes to another kind of life, another side of this world we live in - one that is full of injustice, darkness and terror. I am sure this is not the only one of its kind but it will shake you.
It shook me, for sure.
"A riveting, raw, and beautiful memoir of tragedy and hope."
Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was twelve years old. For the next decade she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade of Southeast Asia.
Trapped in this dangerous and desperate world, she suffered the brutality and horrors of human trafficking - rape, torture, and deprivation - until she managed to escape with the help of a French aid worker. Emboldened by her newfound freedom, education, and security, Somaly blossomed but remained haunted by the girls in the brothels she left behind.
Written in exquisite, spare, unflinching prose, The Road of Lost Innocence recounts the experiences of her early life and tells the story of her awakening as an activist and her harrowing and brave fight against the powerful and corrupt forces that steal the lives of these girls. She has orchestrated raids on brothels and rescued sex workers, some as young as five and six; she has built shelters, started schools, and founded an organization that has so far saved more than four thousand women and children in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Her memoir will leave you awestruck by her tenacity and courage and will renew your faith in the power of an individual to bring about change.
My thoughts on it:
When I first read the book, I was a little apprehensive. I had just read another memoir that had been less than beautifully written despite an interesting story.
This is a book that does not seek to impress with flowery writing. After all, the content itself is enough to keep the reader occupied. I wish I knew French so that I could read the book in its original text. However, I don't so I would have to be content with the English version
And contented I was.
I found my heart being wrenched at many points and at some, I could feel the tear ducts being squeezed. There are things that people like us, who have the fortune of living in peace and have access to material comforts, can never understand. There are horrors that we will never be able to imagine even if we tried. How can we possibly understand what is like to be sold like livestock and tortured like a slave
The book begins with:
"1n 1986, when I was sold to a brothel as a prostitute, I was about sixteen years old. Today there are many far younger prostitutes in Cambodia. There are virgins for sale in every large town; to be sure of their virginity, the girls are sometimes as young as five or six.
In Cambodia, and throughout South-East Asia, tens of thousands of children are forced into prostitution each year. They are raped and beaten. Many are killed."
And that's only the beginning. It is merely the miniscule tip of the iceberg that is the story (or should I say, stories?)
It is easy to be indifferent. I won't say more but I greatly recommend this book if you are ready to open your eyes to another kind of life, another side of this world we live in - one that is full of injustice, darkness and terror. I am sure this is not the only one of its kind but it will shake you.
It shook me, for sure.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
He's Just Not That Into You
He's Just Not That Into You is just about one of the best books I have ever read when it comes to relationships. In fact, it's one of the best things I have ever done for myself.
Which is why I was a little sceptical when the movie came out. And yep, they killed it. When I saw the ending, I knew the film HAD to have been filmed by a man.
I saw the show with a friend from overseas- someone who's older, dated guys of different nationalities from me and stayed in cities I have never been. Nonetheless, our pre-movie dinner proves that it doesn't matter where you come from, live in or date. The kinda bullshit that men offer when they are just not that into you is about as universal as the women who would believe that bullshit. Heck, it's about as universal as love itself or perhaps I should use sex. That's probably age old universal.
We have both been through the same heartaches, craziness and embarrassment. While we both hope we are a little smarter, chances are we fear would do the same. And yes, we both read that book.
Which is also why we were both disappointed with the ending. The movie starts off with saying that as little girls, we had been educated that guys who do bad things to us actually do it because they like us. Then, they go on to dispense nuggets of advice on how that is not true. That was barely following the spirit of the book. If that's the case, why give it a Hollywood happy ending? A case of "ah let's just give the women what they want"? You guys are just being the very same people the movie disses in front!
What made the book valuable is how it helped women to recognise that when a guy doesn't call, marry and give a shit, he really doesn't give a shit. However, with the movie's ending, all the director and scriptwriters did was to validate that the guy who hasn't proposed (and probably never will) will get on his knees one day, that the player who has been around the block will suddenly realise that YOU are the one. Trust me, dear director and scriptwriter, most women who watch this movie are going to hear more of the girl's "I'm the exception" than the fact that SHE IS THE EXCEPTION.
The movie totally failed the spirit of the book. This may just be my judgement but I wasn't alone in thinking so.
And to add to it...HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, ladies and maybe with current times, I should just add SHE as well.
Which is why I was a little sceptical when the movie came out. And yep, they killed it. When I saw the ending, I knew the film HAD to have been filmed by a man.
I saw the show with a friend from overseas- someone who's older, dated guys of different nationalities from me and stayed in cities I have never been. Nonetheless, our pre-movie dinner proves that it doesn't matter where you come from, live in or date. The kinda bullshit that men offer when they are just not that into you is about as universal as the women who would believe that bullshit. Heck, it's about as universal as love itself or perhaps I should use sex. That's probably age old universal.
We have both been through the same heartaches, craziness and embarrassment. While we both hope we are a little smarter, chances are we fear would do the same. And yes, we both read that book.
Which is also why we were both disappointed with the ending. The movie starts off with saying that as little girls, we had been educated that guys who do bad things to us actually do it because they like us. Then, they go on to dispense nuggets of advice on how that is not true. That was barely following the spirit of the book. If that's the case, why give it a Hollywood happy ending? A case of "ah let's just give the women what they want"? You guys are just being the very same people the movie disses in front!
What made the book valuable is how it helped women to recognise that when a guy doesn't call, marry and give a shit, he really doesn't give a shit. However, with the movie's ending, all the director and scriptwriters did was to validate that the guy who hasn't proposed (and probably never will) will get on his knees one day, that the player who has been around the block will suddenly realise that YOU are the one. Trust me, dear director and scriptwriter, most women who watch this movie are going to hear more of the girl's "I'm the exception" than the fact that SHE IS THE EXCEPTION.
The movie totally failed the spirit of the book. This may just be my judgement but I wasn't alone in thinking so.
And to add to it...HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, ladies and maybe with current times, I should just add SHE as well.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Making Differences
We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.
- Marian Wright Edelman
Eve Notebook - Fancy Salad
A not so pretty attempt of my fancy salad...didn't get the feta cheese I wanted so the leaves didn't sit as nicely as I would like..
Monday, January 12, 2009
Lots of People...
Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
- Oprah Winfrey
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Perfection...Not
I was watching Bleach and found this surprising piece of gem in one of the dialogues -from one of the characters I dislike, no less...a weirdo in fact...but I liked this particular segment:
I liked it because it presented a different view on perfection, one that is not unique to scientists but to all human beings in general. We spend so much time of pursuing perfection that sometimes it makes one wonder if it's really necessary?
A friend of mine once said that he doesn't want to have all his wishes fulfilled as it would mean the time for death. He wants to achieve all but one wish. Then, there would be motivation for living. When that final wish has been completed, then it would be time to go. Kinda like the perfection theory above isn't it?
"There is no such thing as perfect in the world.
That may sound cliche but it's the truth.
The average person admires perfection and seeks to obtain it.
But, what's the point of achieving perfection?
There is none. Nothing. Not a single thing.
I loathe perfection!
If something is perfect, then there is nothing left.
There is no room for imagination,
No place left for a person to gain additional knowledge or abilities
Do you know what that means?
For scientists such as ourselves, perfection only brings despair.
It is our job to create things more wonderful than anything before them,
But never to obtain perfection."
I liked it because it presented a different view on perfection, one that is not unique to scientists but to all human beings in general. We spend so much time of pursuing perfection that sometimes it makes one wonder if it's really necessary?
A friend of mine once said that he doesn't want to have all his wishes fulfilled as it would mean the time for death. He wants to achieve all but one wish. Then, there would be motivation for living. When that final wish has been completed, then it would be time to go. Kinda like the perfection theory above isn't it?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Yet Another Milestone
15 Dec 2009 marks another milestone towards the dream.
It's a great feeling to know that when you do something you love, the universe will move things for you. Being voted by peers means even more.
May the next milestone by Jun 2009 be of finding a successful agent.
Thank you God, thank you universe...feel very loved!
It's a great feeling to know that when you do something you love, the universe will move things for you. Being voted by peers means even more.
May the next milestone by Jun 2009 be of finding a successful agent.
Thank you God, thank you universe...feel very loved!
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