Block

太阳雨. Almost everyday. Old legends says that it's a sign of bad luck. Hm.....

It's Aaron.... AGAIN?????

OK, I tried to calm myself down.... Aaron Kwok snatched the Best Actor in the Golden Horse, AGAIN??? However, I haven't watch his winning work this year so, no comment yet.....

It's 10 Years - Long Vacation 悠长假期

It had been 10 years now. This year is the 10th year anniversary of the Japanese Drama . This Japanese drama not only launched and boosted the career of so many stars, i.e. Takuya Kimura (木村拓哉), Yamaguchi Tomoko (山口智子), Takenouchi Yutaka, (竹野内丰), Matsu Takako (松隆子) and Hirosue Ryoko (广末凉子), but it literally epitomised the whole J-culture in Asia in general. It also explored the sort-of taboo topic of 姐弟恋. Lots of unforgettable things associated with this classic J-drama. The elastic ball. The piano. The red and orange sofa. The best soundtrack of a drama series ever produced (think "What Will I Do" and "La La La Love Song"....)

Speaking of which... what had I do in these 10 years???

http://www.jdorama.com/drama.239.htm

The best quote from the movie.... 当人生不如意的时候，就当放了一次长假. As for me, I had DAMN long vacation.................... hahaha............

And of course.... Don't Worry, Be Happy (in the billboard)......

Junebug + Grey's Anatomy

Not a mainstream movie but this movie took my attention when one of its actress was nominated in last year's Oscar for Best Supporting Actress category. Amy Adams. She was great as a typical 阿嫂 in the kampung area, no offense. She is the mirror image of those woman whose life is surrounded her own family and neighbourhood friends. Her husband is distant and she hopes that with the baby being borned, he will spend more time and affection with her. Her performance is the best part of the movie, not to say the movie is a let down but her performance really outshines everything. You can't help but relate to her as you will certainly remember someone as annoyingly naive as her though she's not hate-able. However, the whole movie centres around family, especially for ones where some family members left the family to pursue their own life, which maybe totally different from the one they had when they were small. The issues were very relevant and close-to-us and there's no overdramatic scenes to accentuate it.

This brought me to last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy whereby George's O'Malley's character connection with his father and brothers. He is the most outstanding one among the family (as per general perception of the society definition of success) and he felt that his siblings and father never respect him for his achievement and always undermining him. But it turns out he is also the one who alienate his own family in the first place. So, who's to be blamed? To me, no one. As the father character put it, "we maybe different but we are still family". So spot-on. Another reason to watch Grey's Anatomy... always managed to make me think..... Last night's episode is also featuring the Thanksgiving. Always like that celebration. We should be thankful everyday but some of us tend to forget about it, taking it for granted so Thanksgiving Day will definitely ensure us to take some time to be thankful for everything we have.......

So, advanced Thanksgiving Day this Nov 30!

The Meaning of Travel 陈绮贞 《旅行的意义》

I always like Cheers Chen's songs. Being a philosophy degree holder, her lyrics are simple yet to the point. Of course my literal translation below didn't do any justice to her beautiful lyrics but the Mandarin lyrics coupled with her voice is so soothing and healing as a matter of fact. So, have you ever ponder, what is ur 旅行的意义?

你看过了许多美景

you saw before a lot of beautiful sceneries

你看过了许多美女

you saw before many pretty gals

你是在地图上每一道短暂的光影

you are the short-lived light beams on the map

你拼成了夜的芭比

you matched the Barbie of the night

你踏过下雪的北京

you stepped on the snowing Beijing

你收集书本里每一句你最爱的真理

you collected every quote you love in every book you read

却说不出你爱我的原因

but you just couldn't tell the reason you loved me

却说不出你欣赏我哪一种表情

but you just couldn't tell me which expression of me that you admire

却说不出在什么场合曾让你动心

but you just couldn't tell me what occasion made you fall on me

说不出离开的原因

can't tell the reason you left me

你累积了许多飞行

you amassed a lot of flying experiences

你用心挑选纪念品

you picked travel memorabilias

你搜集了地图上每一次的风和日丽

you been through sun and rain on the map

你拥抱热情的岛屿

you embraced the passionate islands

你埋葬记忆的土尔其

Turkey, where you buried your memories

你留恋电影里美丽的不真实的场景

you remembered the beautiful yet surreal scenes in the movies

却说不出你爱我的原因

but you just couldn't tell the reason you loved me

却说不出你欣赏我哪一种表情

but you just couldn't tell me which expression of me that you admire

你却说不出在什么场合曾让你分心

but you just couldn't tell me what occasion distracted you

说不出旅行的意义

couldn't say the meaning of travelling

你勉强说出你爱我的原因

you forced yourself to say the reason you loved me

却说不出你欣赏我哪一种表情

but you just couldn't tell me which expression of me that you admire

你却说不出在什么场合我曾让你动心

but you just couldn't tell me what occasion made you fall on me

说不出旅行的意义

couldn't say the meaning of travelling

勉强说出你为我寄出的每一封的信

you half-heartedly say that every single letter that you sent to me

都是你离开的原因

are the reason you left me

你离开我就是旅行的意义

but leaving me is the meaning of travelling

多事之秋 Eventful Autumn

Though autumn maybe over, depending where you are, it's really eventful.....

Cabinet considers foreign owning of Proton Holdings share.
Razak Baginda being detained to help investigations of the murder-bombing of a Mongolian gal.
Our beloved Tun Mahathir was admitted to Institut Jantung Negara. Badawi visited him for 20 mins.

Democrats broke republican's monopoly. Did you get the message Mr. Bush? His immediate response? Sacked accidental-rifle-sportsman Rumsfeld.
Bombing again in the Southern Thai province.

As for me? Seriously thinking of my career path.......................

可可西里

Having the thought of watching this movie for quite some time especially after it won last year's 金马奖 最佳电影. Finally watch it tonight with my parents in an open-space food court in conjunction of Chinese 100 years of Cinema. It's semi-documentary and I still remember that there was some controversy of plagiarism. Having said that, it's depressingly good haha.... Simple story line based on true story.

OK, side story.... there's an uncle who sat next to our table talked in a volume as if he was Tun Mahathir being shouted to shut up!!!! He just couldn't lower his voice when the movie was shown on the screen and babbled non-stop about his travel. He said Brazil gals are hot and couldn't leave him alone cox wanted to take pics with him, about Medan and Lake Toba, about AirAsia etc etc......Finally it rained and we moved the table and he FINALLY shut up. Thank god.

Wild Sex (U-Rated)

First of all, let me clarify that this particular post is definitely not R-rated but very family orientated, just like my whole blog by the way. It’s the title of the program I saw in NGEO (National Geographic Channel), portraying unexpected and surprising features on the sex of the animal kingdom (take out human, if you wish to cox the program leaves out human sex of course!).

I still remember I read a book on praying mantis by a Taiwanese author 刘庸. He reared the mantis as a pet and monitored its life as some kind of experiment and observation purpose which he slickly translated it to the relevance of life. Good read I would say. One of the things I remember from the book is that upon mating, the female mantis will actually bite off the male’s head! Talk about the pleasure of sex or rather in this case, the price of sex!

OK, the animal sex is actually more varied and confusing as portrayed in the program. One species of male shark actually had to bite the fins or the female shark in order to insert its reproductive organ into the female’s organ and left permanent mark on its body. So SM right? Not forgetting about all the fight among the males before they get the privilege to mate? Most of the male species ended up died or severely injured, proved the logic of the Chinese sayings, 红颜祸水. Minx can mate for 8 hours straight! And mussels are indeed an inevitable mobile uterus for bitterling fish! (Both males and female dumped their sperms and ovum into the mussels and mussels will carry them as their surrogate mother!). And some of them are very selfish and possessive too! I forgot what species but the male will inject some chemicals into the female body after the mating ritual, which will be able to eliminate the sexual libido of the female so they will not stray around and 红杏出墙. Unbelievable!

I couldn’t help but relate it to human beings’ love relationship. Not mentioning about the SM thingy, but love really can hurt and left permanent scar in one’s life. Fight among the males? Normal. Surrogate lover? Temporary stand-in lover? Selfish and possessive lover? So….. human do reflects some animal behaviour indeed.

(The title is just a gimmick, 喧哗取众）

Grey's Anatomy Goes to Venice

The rear view of the Bridge of Sigh (Ponte of Sigh)

Typical view of Ponte of Sigh

Watching Grey's Anatomy on ntv7, one of my fave time on TV besides the Monday treat of AXN's Amazing Race, House and Nip/Tuck. Meridith's patient is an old lady who's only have 4-5 months left. The loving husband requested her not to tell his wife the news but out of ethical issue, she did and the patient herself asked her not to ler husband know. She asked "How can a relationship built based on lies?" The patient answered something like, "It's not lie, it's the future". And she said they're gonna go to Venice. According to her, whoever went under the Bridge of Sigh in a gondola will stay together forever.... Another urban myth or tactics to romanticized Venice?

I was in Venice May last year and it was kinda devastatingly romantic but I am all alone! Of course being a budget traveller I dun have that kind of money to ride on a gondola so there's no chance to go under the Bridge of Sigh in a gondola. However I wish one day I will, with someone that matters to me hahaha...... (insert a desperate look and laugh here)

Datuk Z & Selangor Sultan, Pak Lah and Dr. M

Datuk Z : Istana Idaman and Restoran Satay in your Kg Idaman? Bodyguard in your Istana Idaman's construction site? I think he watched HK triad movies a lot and taking the cue from Johnnie To's HK movie.
Selangor Sultan : Cool ruler. Wa respect sama lu!

Pak Lah : 沉默不再是金
Dr. M : 一发不可收拾

Anonymous Wisdom

"Loving someone is giving him power to hurt you, but trusting him not to"
Anonymous

Did you give that power away? Wish you had and your trust is not betrayed.

The Pledge, The Turn................ The Prestige

It's always quite a scary affair to watch a movie which had been tauted with so much anticipation and expectation as most of the time it will turn out flat. However The Prestige is certainly not one of them. Helmed by the ever dependable casts of Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johannson and Michael Caine, and directed by Christopher Nolan and written by him and his brother, The Prestige is indeed a prestige itself.

Tight storyline with nicely layered plot intertwined with lots of flashback, it's gripping with suspense and what's-next's anticipations. Love the fact the characters were all human, e.g. not overly pure black and white with substantial amount of flaws which indeed brings them to life.

Are you watching closely? You better be...

Departed after Take The Lead

Watching Departed to me is like watching The Da Vinci Code. Having read the book, I felt that I am obliged to watch the movie. Same as Departed. Having watched the Infernal Affair, which happened to be one of the best HK movie these few years, I felt that I have to see how Hollywood churn out their version. Of course, one cannot help but comparing the two version. However, I told myself to keep my mind open as scorsese will not copy the HK version.

Just like the HK version, the supporting cast stole the limelight most of the time, as did Jack Nicholson here (HK version's Eric Tsang). However I think Martin Sheen's character was being reduced to minimal unlike HK's version Anthony Wong's. Particularly I miss the tension when these 2 rivals share the screen in HK version whereby in Departed, both only meet each other almost in the final part of the movie with Mark Wahlberg being thrown in as well. Another suporting cast I found brilliantly played is Alec Baldwin. Maybe his Emmy-earning performance in Will and Grace keeps lingering in my mind I think.

Worth mentioning is Scorsese's combination of the 2 female characters into one in Departed. I personally find that it's refreshing. It's also simpler since the focus is more on the male lead, hence saving some screen time for the more core plot, so-to-speak.

Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio as Andy Lau and Tony Leung. Not a fans of Damon, I think he played his part good enough. And so do DiCaprio.

In general I thought it's an entertaining piece of movie, purportedly to be Scorsese's last work on gang triad. Having said that, Infernal Affair still triumps with its rich pretext and portrayal of the traditional HK/Chinese triad. It's rich image and subtext on the Buddhism iconism is really a rare and exquisite in recent HK cinema.

I always find myself subconsciously drawn to some feel-good cum inspirational stories. Based on a true story on Mr. Dulanie, Take The Lead is a simple predictable-in-some-familiar way kinda movie. Helmed by Antonio Banderas, he's basically the only recognisable famous face besides Alfre Woodard of Desperate Housewives fame. The story is decently good enough for an inspirational piece which draw out some memory of other films such as Save the Last Dance for Me and Shall We Dance (though both focused more on the individual conflict) and I will take it as the dance version of Music of the Heart (one played by the ever brilliant Meryl Streep and Gloria Estefan).

Enjoyable though Banderas' Spanish accent and charm can come across as unfathomable sometime.

OH YEAH! SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI AND BELATED DEEPAVALI!!!

It's Moi. Taurean

Below is the description for a Taurean; another piece of self-appreciating post to cheer up the moody-gloomy period of my life. (Yeah....holiday with no travel plan is depressing enough.....)

Suave and compromising. Funny and humorous.

Stubborn. Very talkative. Calm and cool.

Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed.

Loyal.

Does work well with others. Very confident. Sensitive.

Positive Attitude. Thinking generous. Good memory.

Clever and knowledgeable.

Loves to look for information.

Able to cheer everyone up and/or make them laugh.

Able to motivate oneself and others.

Understanding.

Fun to be around. Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly personality.

Secretive. Boy/girl crazy.

Loves sports, music, leisure and traveling.

Systematic.

Hot but has brains.

My Own 音乐探险家

First of all, I have to extend my apology to 陈颖见 because I decided to do a write some entries based on his excellent radio program 音乐探险家. Well, since I won't be able to have a chance to host my own radio program ever, then this is the next best thing. So, 陈颖见 if you happen to read my blog, and you do not permit me to pursue my this next-best-thing, send me an email and I will respect your decision.

Today, the theme is, what will be the 10 albums that you will bring along with you if you were stranded alone in a deserted island / 流落到荒岛? 陈颖见's selection are Jamie Cullum's , 旺福, 陶吉吉's first album, Josh Rouse, 王菲, Kings of Convenience, Black Eye Peas, Faith 杨乃文's <应该> and ..... I forgot another two.

I revisits my mp3 song list and can't really single out any albums for that purpose so I compiled a list instead for my unfortunate 流落到荒岛 event.

1. Home - Michael Buble (what other perfect way to be melancholic while you are stranded in the deserted island?)
2. 雨天没有你 - Faye Wong (有你的雨天，叫做浪漫；没你的雨天，叫做忧郁) - I once heard the original English version, anyone can tell me?
3. 还是会寂默 - 陈绮贞 (stranded alone, of course will be lonely lah!)
4. If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher (haha... for the mere fact that if I could turn back time, I won't be stranded in the deserted island right?)

...........................................................................................OK, I'm sleepy, I will continue next time.

Sunday Rant

As dreadful as it is, I mean Sunday, I tried to do something useful and meaningful such as dreaming, be a couch potato and go hiking.

Things got pretty exciting lately in Malaysian politics scene. Thanks to our nation's favourite son who blurted out the famous issue of "being sidelined", things were piling up. MCA decided to demand an apology which ended in an anti-climax way, the different way we treated our neighbours; one causing us fake sense of being in the foggy old London town but we treat it with our famous tak-ape attitude, no apology demanded, and another neighbour where an old man's comment on "sidelined" issue was being cooked up to the maximum temperature ever and demanded an apology, our Takaful brother who issued an instruction not to extend wishes to our Indian brothers and sisters Happy Deepavali, the 18.9% vs 45% issue etc...........

Again, God Bless Malaysia. Malaya is 50 years old next year!

I always make sure that I will on my couch with Astro on Channel 102 for a program called 音乐探险家 hosted by 陈颖见, a singer from Malaysia. He studied in Australia and I guess he's back to Malaysia now. His 2-hours show is a feast both to the ears and mind. I found that my musical taste is quite similar to him and I got to know some nice songs and singers from his show. His show has a weekly theme, e.g. listening to music in library, laziness, 70's etc. Though the show has officially ended now (it's currently on re-run on Channel 102), you can still read some of the transcript of his show here. http://www.nanyang.com/index.php?ch=15&pg=66

I wish I can have some radio show like that!

Quote from Alan's Blog

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world.

Tempting Thurs

Stranded in Bintulu. Thank God the hotel comes with free WiFi. Browsed my ex-roomate's blog and found another side of him. He can really write! And funny too. His entries are full of stories, quirky but that's him. Definitely gonna read his blog more. And I would like to wish him; Good Live, Good Pay and Enjoy Your Babe!

Fire

The world think North Korea is playing fire with the nuclear testing.
BUT
We Malaysian are sick of the haze caused by the Indonesian fire.

UN Secretary-General

If there's no last-minute changes, the next Secretary-General for UN will be Ban Ki-Moon from South Korea, the first Asian since 1971 Myanmar's U-Thant. Having no veto vote from anyone of the 5 Security Council members, he is almost certain to grab the post unless the remaining 192 members chose other candidates, who have not been vetoed by the-5.

It's confirmed. His first mounting is his neighbour playing with nuclear I guess. What a way to start of a new job???

still.... You Belong to Me

Hmm.... thanks to the wonder of internet, I found another excellent rendition of "You Belong to Me". It's actually one of the track in the Shrek 2 soundtrack! How can I miss that? Sang by the soulful voice of Jason Wade (Lifehouse), it's a soothing listening tune and it will stay in my Sony Network Walkman for a VERY VERY LONG time.

You Belong to Me

The first time I hear this song is Tori Amos' rendition, which was included in the Monalisa's Smile soundtrack. Amos is always mesmerising with her own style and charm which normally transform the song and own the song (borrowing the comment from American Idol). Go look for Amos' version of Amazing Grace and you will know exactly what am I babbling about here. Then the next version is the one by Michael Buble. That made me wonder who's the original singer here. Do let me know if you have any information on that, or any other version by other singer that you know....

The lyrics are nice, intriguing my interest in the travel in Egypt which at this point of time, way beyond my poor budget. Pyramids, Niles, Sphinx, the Orient Express, Algiers....... romantic I guess...... However, I can always dream haha......

Enjoy.... You Belong To Me

See the pyramids along the Nile

See the sunrise on a tropic isle

Just remember darlin' all the while

You belong to me

See the market place in Old Algiers

Send me photographs and souvenirs

Just remember when a dream appears

You belong to me

I'll be so alone without you

Maybe you'll be lonesome too, and blue

Fly the ocean in a silver plane

See the jungle when it's wet with rain

Just remember 'til you're home again

You belong to me

Fly the ocean in a silver plane

See the jungle when it's wet with rain

Just remember 'til you're home again

You belong to me

Devil Wears Prada to Banquet

My 10 Points Summary :
1. Nice loose adaptation of Hamlet
2. Good casting, eventhough I dun quite really like Ziyi. Surprise : Wang Xiao Ming's general character is far more impactful than Daniel's Wu Luan.
3. Love the opening scene, still haunting my mind, the song and the choreograph of the dance performed though the way the artistes there stand still for the assassins to get their life is way too unrealistic.
4. What happened to the soldiers? They're all "Lord of the Ring" type!
5. Opened my eyes of the existence of candle chandelier haha......
6. The set is too lavish to be true but yet, still very beautiful and one couldn't help but thinking it's really being geared towards Oscar, nominations at least if not winning
7. If you like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, you'll love this. Not typical Chinese period piece with less action kung-fu scenes than CTHD.
8. Pay attention to the dialogue.
9. Ziyi looked better in period costumes and yes, she's good here. It's practically she or rather her character who drives the whole film.
10. Nice musics by Tenger (Mongolian singer?) and the closing credit song by Zhang Liang Ying.



Watched the long awaited chick flick.... Devil Wears Prada. Not a chick, what made me went to watch it is due to the mere fact the fantastic Meryl Streep is in it. And once again, she scored!!!! I would say she single-handedly transform the movie from some predictable-plot of small girl went on a path threading away from her original life goal by shifting the attention to her character. Of course, Anne Hathaway is doing a good job as the main character, managed to portray her struggle of choosing between her original dream and the glitter-and-fame life in front of her. Not a avid fashion follower myself, the movie is STUFFED with tonnes of clothes, bags, shoes and name throwing which I am not tat familiar with. All in all, a good turn out for Streep though it may be too easy for her and generally an enjoyable one.

Million Faces - Paolo Nutini

Oh the phone you know it never stops, it's the last thing I hear at night

And the first thing I hear in the morning.

And as I start to let it burn my head, you slowly creep into bed

And i'm done talking

You say you know how i'm feeling,

I just need to try to settle down

Oh a million faces pass my way

Oh they're all the same, nothing seem to change anytime I look around

Oh who knows just what the future holds

All I want to know is if it's with you

Tired as hell and falling up the stairs, filled with a thousand cares as you walk out from the bedroom

Though it feels like all my fire has gone, you just turn me on

Can't believe how much I want you

You say you know how i'm feeling, I just need to try to settle down

Oh a million faces pass my way

Oh they're all the same, nothing seem to change anytime I look around

Oh who knows just what the future holds

All I want to know is if it's with you

We're distracted by the hard times, and the troubles that we make

Let us throw them in the ocean, let it wash our cares away

Oh the phone you know it never stops, it's the last thing I hear at night

And the first thing in the morning

Oh a million faces pass my way

Oh they're all the same, nothing seem to change anytime I look around

Oh who knows just what the future holds

All I want to know is if it's with you

We're distracted by the hard times, and the troubles that we make

Let us throw them in the ocean, let it wash our cares away

Oh the phone you know it never stops, it's the last thing I hear at night

And the first thing in the morning

Let it wash our cares away, let it wash our cares away...

[Thanks to Beth (welshdragonz@hotmail.com) for these lyrics]

I attached here an album review from by Steve Jelbert from Times Online.......

The Scottish teenager Paolo Nutini is old before his years, as dull and predictable as any veteran singer-songwriter. Presumably his record company believes it has unearthed the next James Blunt, but Nutini is more like the new Jimmy Nail. His vocal technique involves a tepid growl inexplicably interrupted when he yells the odd syllable at random — it sounds like someone singing a ransom note. Weak, drably arranged songs such as the awful New Shoes, the banal Rewind and the interminable Autumn don’t help his case. Still, the public currently has an insatiable appetite for such humdrum fluff so failure will probably not be countenanced. Personally, though, I found listening to this atrocious record physically painful.
STEVE JELBERT

I can't deny that his recording company may think he's the next James Blunt but I enjoy his music. And putting the review above is to show that I'm an open-minded person, who can tolerate others' opinion and embrace diversity hahhahaha......................

Amos Lee in House (AXN)

Monday night is exciting in AXN. With House and Nip/Tuck.... what else to complain?

House ended last night's episode with a signature tune from Amos Lee, Color. Nice song.

暗示 - Sandy Lam

暗示 / 曲 Chika Ueda / 詞 潘源良 / 編 趙增熹

當你說 你想起遠方一處

從前在那裡是那麼開心寫意

現在卻似被困的小子

我聽到了 已經不止這一次

為何定要借助某一些相關語

就像你永沒法可啟齒

難道要我去話你知

我早知道你心意 別再暗示每一次

其實若你決定要走 卻怕說這句子

我也暗暗了解 不可把你留住

緣份斷還未斷時 若要痛就痛一次

無謂又再暗示我知 故意怕我介意

蠶蝕我心 好比倒刺

早知道 長夜盡頭夢醒時

原來是最愛亦最傷心的一次

但是也算是個新開始

無謂再去暗示痛多幾次

情路到此 了斷何時

I only know recently there's a Mandarin version of this song, e.g. "Spring Rain".

Another "J"

To add to the long list of "J" male singers (think James Blunt, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and John Legend) lately.... the newbie is James Morrison (not to be mistaken with the Australian trumpet player).

Paolo Nutini

Another soulful voice, quite the batch with Blunt, Jack Johnson and Bailey Rae. Check it out... especially the catchy "Loving You"

Ohh ohhh woww yeaa

Back off loneliness and hello tenderness,

i've been waiting for your call for so long

and it musta been hard

just to follow your soul,

to stick to the road that your heart wants you to go

and as you slide through the door

with your morals on your sleeve

and i think its time for all those morals to leave

so lets get down and freaky baby,

lets get restless baby

cmon' get crazy with me

and i said when your loving me,

im loving you

and i love your pwroess and the things that you do

and its your flawless soul

that bleeds my stone and when your loving me

im loving you and thats when weve got it goin' on

oooooo

so many people think weve got it wrong

they try to break us but we wont play along

so lets get down and dirty baby,

lets get restless baby

and i said when your loving me,

im loving you and i love your prowess and the things that you do

and its your flawless soul

that bleeds my stone

and when your loving me

im loving you and thats when weve got it goin' on

oh goin on and i was so

and i needed another home and you fly in my arms

you just fly into my arms

and i said when your loving me,

im loving you and i love your prowess and the things that you do

and its your flawless soul that bleeds my stone

and when your loving me

im loving you and thats when weve got it goin' on

when your loving me, im loving you

and i love your prowess and the things that you do

and its your flawless soul that bleeds my stone

and when your loving me im loving you

and thats when weve got it goin' on

My Sex Education Handbook (hahahahaha......)

Remember this book vividly as it's the primary source for my sex education hahaha......

Books and Reading Material

Bought this series for RM6/unit. It comes together with the sequel and prequel. The Condor something translated in English. It's the classic martial arts novel from the great Jing Yong. The passion of watching the TVB drama series channeled into my strong interest to learn Chinese which lead me to my long process of Chinese self-learning. And I am proud of that now!

One of the dreams while I am in secondary school is to become a writer. Haha.... penulis lah katakan... I participated in lots of essay writing competition and enjoy the sajak too. Well... all of them in Malay. I managed to win some nation-wide competition and it did boost up my profile and confidence. I was even selected to represent the school in the pantun competition, no small feat for a Chinese student I think haha.... But the writing passion soon disappear just like that! I think I lacked the discipline and determination. To make it worse, my Malay deteriorate dramatically now due to lack of usage and practise.

My school bulletin and I was the Editor for the 1st volume ever!!! I guess it's still being published now...

My reading material when I was in primary school. Haha...kinda childish right?

My Malay reading material, with lots of title useful for the writer-wannabe hahaha..........

There was a craze during my Form 6 years - undergraduate years for the writer Liu Yong. Bought quite a number of his books but find that it's repetitive after that. I guess it's quite hard for writer, or any artistic contributors to maintain authenticity and new, interesting works all the time.

My reading material when I was studying in university. Totally engrossed in anything movie or film-related stuff. The cover above is one of my favourite movie, In The Mood for Love by Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung.

I still remember this small story book. My childhood is kinda boring, without cartoons (can you imagine tat???) and TV is minimal. This book was purchased form the Doulous ship, the Church ship where volunteers travel around the world and I remember the story vividly. It was also the reading material for my sister later on. It's in Chinese and amazingly, both of us manage to digest what's all about though we never study Chinese.

Concerts

My first ever concert is the concert by Lee Hom. I think he's still new that time with his new recording company, Sony. The concert was held in PWTC backed by the KL Orchestra and it's good showcase of his talent. He even restaged his final year graduation piece and enrolled a KL gal to perform with him.

My 2nd concert is David Tao which I attended with my sister in Stadium Merdeka and it's a blast! Then I attended Siti Nurhaliza's concert in KK Likas Stadium courtesy of Maxis Hotlink and she's brilliant. Nice powerful vocal Datin Siti.

Other concert I wish to attend? Faye Wong, Jackie Cheung, Sandy Lam (yeah....I'm the old generation), Eason, Karen, Cheer Chen and Michael Buble. Well.... if Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Sarah Vaughn still alive.... I dun mind.....

What to do when you are under the weather?

The answer to the above question is.... blogging. It's raining in the morning here in KK. A long delayed post of the old stuff I unearthed in my room.... Upon taking pics of them, I threw them away...

My trainee card and also safety and health personal passport during my stint as industrial trainee in Shell. Brought back memory of staying with the Kab family in Miri and also the housemates there..... Pat, Kat, Justin, Chee Haw and Bala... and other trainee, e.g. Kitty, Chek Tang, Ngui, David, etc... Time do flies and Miri always held a special place in my heart...

The saving grace for poor student like me, GRADS. Confirmed flight at 25% discount and stand-by seat at 50%.

The student card when I was in USM. I like the baldy look I sported during the 2nd year. Easily maintained because riding on motor with helmet didn't do much justification of having a sophisticated hairstyle, not to mention with the enormous size of my head (the one with brain inside), it's almost impossible to don some fabulous hairstyle, hence "botak" seems the right way to go. Hm... uni time... such a nice time with some sweet memory, spent in the ulu town of Tronoh, Perak for the first 2 years of undergraduate and then another year in Transkrian/Parit Buntar. Miss you guys and gals......

Another memorable phase in my life, the real freedom and independence from home as I spent my form 6 in Kota Kinabalu. Stayed in a hostel with some quirky and fun character, made up of nice fond memories.

Boring and too-self-righteous period of my life, spending the priced years of secondary school time being a school-prefect and other politically-correct activities. Missed out the rebellious years of my years though never regret spending majority of my time in Red Crescent activities with a group of really good friends.

A testament of my book-wormish style and lilfe in general. I have 4 library cards which enables me to borrow 8 books which I can finish in just a day or so. Definitely a regular visitor to the town library knowing every single librarian there. Pathetic huh?

The name tag of my proud Red Crescent uniform. Lots of my life experience came from the 5 years of involvement.

Warm Springs

Brilliantly helmed by Kenneth Branagh and Cynthia Nixon of Sex and the City fame. The story is about the struggle of Franklin D. Roosevelt (Branagh) before he went on to win the US presidential post for 3 terms and his wive, Eleanor (Nixon) who's instrumental in his life's story.

Great casting with Branagh and Nixon (a good departure from her role Miranda in SATC series) and Kathy Bates joining the plot at the later stage. HBO nailed it again this time.

The Flight That Fought Back - United 93

Watched the Discovery offering this morning. My heart sank. My feeling tanked. My mind numbed. It's amazing how the family members of the passengers on the United 93 flight braved themselves and came forward to tell their stories. Bravery.

Though some fraction of the society may dismissed this as some propaganda to provoke the emotions and stirred up the "oh-the-war-is-needed-to-end-terrorism" sentiments, I chose to ignore that and focus on the passengers of the flight instead. Like what one of the family member said during the show, they were fighting for their going back to their family, for their promises to their families etc, not really the will to prevent the flight to crash to Capitol Building as it was speculated.

My condolence to the family members of the passengers of United 93.

Now I am waiting anxiously for the release of United 93 movie which was already shown. Filtering out the 911 sentiments, I think we can take the movie as it is and dismissed any speculations on the propaganda thingy, which is inevitable. Hmm.... very oxymoronic right?

God Bless.

Fair?

Scene 1
KT told the media that some abuse of the fund allocated to some schools may happened. HH attacked him in response to that, with personal attack remark such as his lone ranger way in his own party and saying KT trying to become the race hero.

Ending
KT have to apologize and his immediate boss came up with an official statement saying KT made mistake as his remark to media is deemed to be disrespect to government servants.

Scene 2
JK said his own people were being sidelined in the development in state P because state P is not headed by people his own race. And he also said that other race, C in particular will take advantage if his own party is weak.

Ending
JK being asked to apologize but he refused to and seems like his bosses were at his back.

MY QUESTION
Is this fair? Who is trying to play with race card here? Who's being arrogant here?

I'm clueless and deeply disappointed. What a way to celebrate Malaysia day this coming September 16?

Second Chance

It's always a joy to watch a movie with no expectations and it turns out to be a good one. Second Chance is one. Cleverly playing with the theme of church and religion, the plot is not heavy and "hard-sell" kinda gospel movie but personally I think the plot and scenario it depicts is universal in nature, and it happens in other religion too. Again, RM5 is just too cheap for a good movie. Well, I'm not justifying my purchase this way but I don't think I can ever get a chance to watch this in any other way. Again, kudos to those pira%$ with taste!

Riding the Bus with My Sister (2005)

I watched this inspiring story on Hallmark Channel 10. I know Hallmark is known for some warm and inspiring TV shows. This TV movie is directed by Anjelica Huston, famous for her role in The Addam's Family Value movie. When I decided to blog about this nice movie and trying to search the ever-dependable IMDB site for a poster of it, only then I know there's no poster in IMDB site.

Wonderful casting; Andie MacDowell as the title character and Rosie O'Donnell as the "sister" is superb! The movie was actually based on a novel and I guess the author is MacDowell's character herself. If you enjoy Sean Penn's performance in "I Am Sam", then you'll enjoy this. O'Donnell is brilliant and her portrayal is to-the-point without overly dramatise the mentally-challenged character which is so easy to be overdone. Can't compare much to her other movies as I only remember her role in A League of Their Own. Not familiar with MacDowell's movies; the notable one is "Four Wedding and A Funeral".

Go watch the re-run in Hallmark. It's a refreshing watch in the middle of stashes of tonnes of reality-supernatural TV series.

McDull - Spring Field Flower Flower Schoolmate Reunion

Finally I managed to watch this movie after I found a way to re-tune the my DVD player. For those who is not a great fan of McDull, this latest offering with cartoon character and real actors may irritate them more. The story line is absurd and fly horse walk empty. However, I recommend this as the movie has many messages it wish to convey desperately. With so many stars as extras, it's a treat to those who grow up on a steady diet of HK entertainment scene. For me, I'm tickled by Sandra Ng's multiple characters as waitresses in different type of restaurants. Of course not forgetting Anthony Wong as the sailor and also the headmaster for the cartoon character. Enjoy!

My Sis Convo

Long delayed post. Taken during my sister's convocation. So, wish my sister all the best in her search of her new life.

Imaginary Heroes

Helmed by Sigourney Weaver, Imaginary Heroes is so-so to me. Saving grace is... yeah Sigourney Weaver though I think she can do better with a better script. Other casts are pretty unknown except for Jeff Bridges who played her ignorant husband and her daughter played by the effective Michelle Williams. But for RM5, it's quite a good deal.

Can't think of any memorable quote or thought-provoking scenes so I gotta go making up my own imaginary heroes.....

Oh... glad that my movie bug is back. Welcome back my friend!

Movie Quote

Taken from some movie I watched :

God gave us alcohol.
It's a social lubricant; makes us guys braver and gals looser.

Coincidence?

Watching Fried Green Tomatoes (FGT) and Friends with Money(FwM) back-to-back, there's a similar scene.

You waited for a carpark space and patiently waiting for a car who want to leave only to learn that another *&^%ing car slipped in and got it. This a perfect scene to portray an outburst of long-submerged anger and frustration, Frances McDormand in FwM and Kathy Bates in FGT.

Did you have the same experience before?

Fried Green Tomatoes

OK... before I watched this, just by looking at the cover, I guess it's another "Steel Magnolia"-ish kind of movie but it's not.

It's a movie with simple story adapted from a novel whose author also penned the screenplay for the movie. It's a story about a 83 years old lady in an old folks home and a middle-aged woman. The old woman played by Jessica Tandy tells a captivating story to Evelyn, the middle-aged woman played by Kathy Bates. It's the tried-and-tested formula whereby at the end you will find the story told was actually the story of the story-teller herself only revealed at the end of the movie. Nice.

Casting wise... another grouping of acting gems. Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy? No questions asked. Just recall Driving Miss Daisy and Misery anyone??? Then the two Mary's who played the younger character in the stories told, Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker were brilliant too. Chris O'Donnell had a short cameo.

Idgie : I feel better now.

Evelyn : Good.

Idgie : I feel better 'cause all these people'll live as long as you remember 'em...... You reminded me about what the most important thing in life is. Do you know what I think it is?

Evelyn : No, ma'am.

Idgie : friends........ best friends.

To all my friends, who you know who you are.... it's great to have you in my life!

Godfather I

The reasons?

1. Marlon Brando
2. Al Pacino
3. Italian Mafia
4. the unrecognizable Diane Keaton
5. the hauntingly beautiful theme song
6. the sexy Italian language

There's no doubt that Infernal Affairs is the recent best HK movies that ever produced but I can't help but to compare with this Coppola's classic. Now, I'm searching for Part II, purportedly the best sequel ever made.

OK... a detour here.... someone told me that the Infernal Affairs Hollywood remake by Scorcese is crappy. Hmm...... guess nothing beats Eric Tsang and Anthony Wong though they have Martin Sheen as one of them and I forgot the other one. And Leonardo as Tony Leung's character??? I'm very much reserved...........

Friends with Money

Haven't really like Jennifer Aniston's movies except Derailed with Clive Owen. Another one added in my list now is Friends with Money (FwM). I guess in a movie, the group of cast indeed pays important role in one's performance. In FwM, you have Frances McDormand, Catherine Keener and Joan Cusack, what a cast right?

Not the first time to watch McDormand though I am still searching for her Oscar winning effort, Fargo and she's brilliant. Her character is a bit like Felicity Huffman's character in Desperate Housewives. And Keener is a joy to watch and gotta keep my eyes open for her work from now on. And of course, Cusack too.

When I Am Down and Low.............

........... I will need a dose of laugh!
And my dose of laugh comes in form of stupid funny movie, i.e. the HK slapstick movie, Eagle Shooting Heroes. The cast is superb and it's almost impossible to gather such a credible and expensive cast, i.e. Leslie Cheung, both Tony Leung (Kar Fai and Chiu Wai), Maggie Cheung, Karina Lau, Kenny B, Joey Wong, Jackie Cheung, Brigette Lin and Veronica Yip.

The story or rather the characters mentioned were loosely based on the famous chinese martial art novel by 金庸, 射雕英雄传. It's damn funny; Maggie Cheung with her way of utterring her last 2 words in her dialogue after a 2-second pause, Tony Leung Chiu Wai with his swollen "Angelina-Jolie's lips", Karina Lau as the ham sap 周伯通, Jackie and Joey as the love-struck 表哥表妹, Tony Leung Kar Wai with her singing stint almost at the end of the movie, Veronica Yip with her 潮洲腔 and tonnes of funny scenes.

Enjoy......haha............................

I will introduce another comedy flick which was also serves as my comedic dose next time... 92 黑玫瑰对黑玫瑰.

How Malaysian Am I? Part 2

(Referring to previous post)

OK.... so now I'm officially 47% UNMALAYSIAN according to Kenny Sia. The verdict is out and I'm as Malaysian as Michelle Yeoh, which means that I'm as patriotic as going all out to persuade my lifetime partner to PURCHASE an ISLAND in my own home country, and refusing to become a typical "flower vase" in an international sexist movie franchise with a gwai-lo hero (which coincidentally what my partner is)! How about that? Not as bad right? SO, am I patriotic?

As I am writing this, I'm wondering why there's only one house with the Sabah and Malaysia state flag flying along the stretch of the street I'm staying now? I'm also wondering why the so-called favourite child of the nation can blurt out something insensitive to the other "less-majority" ethnic group only being blamed for his youth and inexperience while another decent local actress who chose to speak in a so-called colonist language was being blasted with accusation of being unpatriotic, menderhaka etc etc.......

Also I'm puzzled by the fact that the police forces, who claimed that they were seriously understaffed, still afford to send some troupes to attend the "super-wedding" of the year of our local songstress while the streets and cities were traumatically attacked by hordes of snatch thieves and other criminals. Not forget to mention the never-ending mind-blowing feats of records breaking which consists of acts such as, "the event where most people danced", "the biggest Malaysian flag made by 10 cent coins, used newspaper, beads etc etc......"

With only around 4 more days around, I wish Malaysia a 43th birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (For those who object, please get back your Sejarah textbook and search for the year when Malaysia was formed)

How Malaysian Am I?

Congratulations Tan Cher Kian, you are 47% not Malaysian.

That means you're as Malaysian as...

Michelle Yeoh!

How Un-Malaysian Are You?

Home

Home - Michael Buble

Another summer day

Has come and gone away

In Paris and Rome

But I wanna go home

Mmmmmmmm

Maybe surrounded by

A million people I

Still feel all alone

I just wanna go home

Oh I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you

Each one a line or two“I’m fine baby, how are you?”

Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough

My words were cold and flat

And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane

Another sunny place

I’m lucky I know

But I wanna go home

Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home

I’m just too far from where you are

I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life

It’s like I just stepped outside

When everything was going right

And I know just why you could not

Come along with me

But this was not your dream

But you always believe in me

Another winter day has come

And gone away

And even Paris and Rome

And I wanna go home

Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by

A million people I

Still feel alone

Oh, let go home

Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home

’ve had my run

Baby, I’m done

I gotta go home

Let me go home

It will all right

I’ll be home tonight

I’m coming back home

Remember I heard the song for the first time over the radio while driving and snap.... love it straight away. Buble was more known to sing the American standard and I think Home is his first original tune and being away from my hometown working alone in KL at that time seems to seal the relevance to me.

And now watching Buble's show in Starworld and heard the song again, after continuous weeks of outstation and some emotional roller coasters events surrounding my rather bland and mundane life, my mind went into working mode again. How should you define your "HOME" now? You can name your shabby shack where you sleep after hours of work as home; some workaholics who feel less homely may call their offices as home; some says it's where their hearts lie in, which for that matter, the heart of their partners; or your family. We work in different places nowadays. We might not be working in where we was born or growing up so that's why we have hometown but then again, where's our home?

Was there a song called Love Should've Brought You Home?

I guess it's where the love is ~ OUR HOME

Auspicious Day?

Chinese like the number 8.
Not me... this year...

I wonder how long will the hurt stays? Time will heal I hope...

Ima, ai ni yukimasu (Be with you)

Time: 4.00pm
Venue: Old sofa in S10-3
Weather: Mendung tapi tak hujan
Temperature: Cool (fan is next to me)
Mood: Down yet sober, sad yet clear


Just like the dialogue in the movie, "I've always felt comfortable next to you"
And I do miss that comfortable feeling.................