Scary Symptoms

Five months into the year 2010, natural disasters have been wrecking havoc around the world in an unprecedented and catastrophic scale. The raging volcano eruptions in Iceland, Guatemala and Ecuador spewing ashes and turning the sky grey. The violent earthquake in Haiti, Chile, China and Indonesia shattering homes and lives, leaving us agape with the aftermath. The torrent flood in Central European countries such as Poland, Austria and Czech Republic, as well as southeastern Australia, sweeping away lives and livelihood.

Some say that our planet Earth is getting sick. These are the symptoms. Time is ticking away so quickly that it calls for actions right here right now, before it's too late. I'm wondering, if these are just merely symptoms, how would it be when our planet Earth is really coming down sick with something. Can you even begin to imagine?

I don't think I can, and I don't think I want to. I believe neither do you.

So please do our part, no matter how smaller that is, and go green for our only planet Earth.

Wesak

There is a Buddha in us, pure and sacred and virtuous and honest and kind. We used to listen to him and those were the happy days. We were free and contented. Somehow, for whatever reasons, we drifted apart. Our inner Buddha retreated and we let him. We thought we no longer needed him. We thought we would be OK without him, since we have other fun things and cool stuff. But the truth is, we are not OK. We are becoming hollow and sad and lost.

So on this sacred day, look hard within, search deep inside to awaken your inner Buddha. Listen to your inner Buddha and discover the joy of Buddha, the joy of life once again.

2 Days at the Beach

Just got back into town, after spending 2 days in a beach side town,

WORKING!!!

*Photo taken in Koh Tunsai (Rabbit Island), off coast southern Cambodia.

Smile Again

The city of angel was turned into a burning hell for the last two months or so. There was too much anguish and violence.

It's over. At least for now.

May the people of Bangkok be smiling again.

If These Walls Could Speak...

They would wail and scream and howl like a banshee.

Photos from Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, former office S.21 in Phnom Penh. That was a draining afternoon.

Birthday Road Trip

Another birthday, another long drive.

Taking a road trip along the old route up north for my birthday long weekend escape. The plan was a quiet weekend at a homestay plus some hiking in the woods and some swimming in the ocean and some photo-snapping along the way.

Over the weekend I went for a couple of hike. The first day was sunny but the hike was tough. It was a solid hour of 45 inclination steep climb. At the top it offered the sweeping view of the harbour and the ocean. But the sun was high and the light was harsh and flat. More importantly, I was sucking so much wind that I couldn't be bothered with taking pictures. Continued on further to the other side of the hill hoping to lead to a quiet beach, but it was the wrong trail.

The second day, armed with all the correct trail information, I set out again. The hike was 32 times easier then the day before. Generally it was a lovely walk in the jungle along the beach. No steep climb! At times I could hear the waves crushing upon the shore walking under the canopy. Finally I got to the beach, long shoreline, silky soft sand and turquoise water. Then the clouds moved in ever so swiftly and it started to rain. Time to jet!

This was the only time I actually took out my camera throughout the whole trip. It was dusk, and the setting sun painted the sky with magnificient firery hues. I remembered missing out on capturing this breathtaking sight the last time I drove through. SoI pulled over to snap a few, and later perched my camera on the milestone to capture a few long exposures light trail shots.

Bliss

Looking at him sleeping, wondering if he's dreaming, smelling the scent of his hair, feeling the warmth of his body, listening to the hum of his breathing. I have everything in the world. I have the whole world in my arms. I'm simply happy, and content.
To have the one you love sleeps in you arms, that must be one of the warmest and most blissful feeling in the world.

Rainy Weekend

Rainy weekend.

I used to hate it, waking up to a gloomy and wet weekend. It's just no fun cooping up at home during the weekends. I'd miss my lap swim in the pool. The grocery run would turn into such a miserable trip. My laundry would get musky. Arrrgh! I'd turn grumpy, cranky and snappy, ready to bit off anyone's hand or head, if anyone gets close enough.

But now, I love it. I love rainy weekend.

Waking up to a chilly drizzly weekend, I'd just put on my flannel and laze around. Reading, surfing the net, sipping coffee and best of all napping, all morning, or even all day!

I must be getting old, or lazy, or both.

When

In the eyes of a mother, her children will never be grown up, never be able to take care of themselves. That's why Mom will pack up packages of meat and chicken and fish and fruits and detergent and dish washer and this and that for me to bring along as I return to KL, after spend some time with them at home. She'd say it's fresher or cheaper where she gets those. As usual, I'd not take any, keep those home so she and dad and enjoy them. I'd ask her to spend the money on herself, and reassure her I'm taking good care of myself.

Mom stretches every penny, saves on anything and everything and keeps the money stashed up for us kids.

I just want Mom to enjoy life, live a little, indulge a little, splurge a little.

It's like we both stand at the different end of the bridge, spanning across a very wide gorge. Water under the bridge is roaring past, loud.

When are we moving to either side of the gorge together? Or when are we meeting each other in the middle of the bridge?

Guilt-ridden, I want to cry.

Happy Mothers' Day, Ma.

Less

It is the human desire to have more: more toys, more time, more money, more freedom, more love, more everything. There is simply no end to what we want more? Will it ever be enough?

I turn 34 today. Birthday boy gets everything he wants, right? While there are so much that I want more, let’s take a step back, and look at what I want less.

I want to be less judgmental, for not everyone driving faster than me is a maniac and not everyone driving slower than me is an idiot. They speed ahead because there might have been a life-and-death emergency. They drive slowly because they are lost and intimidated by the big city traffic.

I want to be less sarcastic, for it’s said that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Smart-ass remarks as such aren’t helpful in solving any problem. On the contrary, it can be very hurtful at times.

I want to be less abrasive, for it’s just plain mean, even though I harbour no ill intent. There is a Chinese saying,“有话好好说”(you have something to say, say it nicely). Well, if there’s nothing nice to say, just shut the fuck up. Opps…

I want to be less egocentric, for I’m not the king of the universe and the world doesn’t revolve around me. (Well, maybe just one day in a year.) I’m not always right. I don't need to be always right.

Less is more.

Happy birthday to me.