* Spoken Thoughts *

Happy 2012

2012-01-02T04:12:00.013+08:00

In life we do things

Some we wish we had never done

Some we wish we could replay a million times

But they all make us who we are

And in the end they shape every detail about us

If we were to reverse any one of them

We wouldn't be the person we are

So just live

Make mistakes

Have wonderful memories

BLESSED 2012
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Confession...

2011-11-29T18:05:00.007+08:00

Life behind a mask...

(Message for him - a repost)

Her sincere apologies for being who she is not and for whom you think she is.

All the lies, empty promises and false hopes were ways to have you a little longer

being caught in the web of deception that got in the way of true love...

The empty chair...

2011-06-20T03:46:00.008+08:00

(Mercure Hotel - Kuta, Bali)

It is hard trying to sing a song that has lost its meaning and therefore regardless of how lovely the voice, it lacks profoundness. Similarly, the ember of a great emotion isn’t strong enough to ignite. What I’m trying to say is…

Isn’t it sad to love just a memory?

The lamp post...

2011-06-18T04:45:00.012+08:00

Looking out of the window one rainy night, I was transported back to a late afternoon where it was pouring cats and dogs. It was unusually dark except for streaks of lightning that flashed across the sky. I could barely see beyond the cold sheets of rain. The surrounding images were distorted by the heavy downpour, thus creating an eerie atmosphere. Thunder crashed violently, sending shivers down my spine. Clinging unto an umbrella, I was fighting against the strong wind that kept pushing me backwards. Eventually the wind tossed away the umbrella and I was at the mercy of the torrential rain.

It was a traumatic experience and I ended up running and crying all the way home, trembling with fear and soaked to the skin... Then the faint rumbling of a distant thunder brought me back to the view outside the window and I realized that there is sadness found in night rain as captured in this photo. I felt the forlornness, the misery and the silent tears of the lamp post as it strives to endure through the cold and lonely night...

Weight loss program...

2011-06-07T10:38:00.003+08:00

A man calls a company and orders their 5-day/10 lb. weight loss program. The next day, there's a knock on the door and there stands before him a voluptuous, athletic, 19-year old babe dressed in nothing but a pair of Nike running shoes and a sign around her neck. She introduces herself as a representative of the weight loss company. The sign reads, "If you can catch me, you can have me." Without a second thought, he takes off after her. A few miles later huffing and puffing, he finally gives up. The same girl shows up for the next four days and the same thing happens. On the fifth day, he weighs himself and is delighted to find he has lost 10 lbs. as promised. He calls the company and orders their 5-day/20 lb. program.

The next day there's a knock at the door and there stands the most stunning and beautiful woman he has ever seen in his life. She is wearing nothing but Reebok running shoes and a sign around her neck that reads, "If you catch me you can have me." Well, he's out the door after her like a shot. This girl is in excellent shape and he does his best, but no such luck. So for the next four days, the same routine happens with him gradually getting in better and better shape. Much to his delight on the fifth day when he weighs himself, he discovers that he has lost another 20 lbs. as promised. He decides to go for broke and calls the company to order the 7-day/50 lb. program. "Are you sure?" asks the representative on the phone. "This is our most rigorous program." "Absolutely," he replies, "I haven't felt this good in years." The next day there's a knock at the door and when he opens it, he finds a huge muscular guy standing there wearing nothing but pink running shoes and a sign around his neck that reads, "If I catch you, you are mine!!!" He lost 63 pounds that week... XD

(I'm not sure who the writer is but it's too good not to share. Laugh your heart out... )

Gingerbread men...

2011-06-02T17:00:00.002+08:00

I couldn't resist taking this photo of the all the cute gingerbread men during my trip to the Movie World in Gold Coast. You see, as a child I was fascinated with the story of "The Gingerbread Man". Imagine baking a gingerbread man and upon opening the oven, he jumped up and ran out of the door, saying, "Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me! I'm the gingerbread man!" What captivated me was the cute gingerbread man running away and no one could catch him except when he was tricked by the fox and eventually got eaten up. I recalled getting very upset with the ending because I just didn't want the gingerbread man to die (in this case to be eaten) and was very angry with the sly fox.

Now that I'm an adult, the story no longer captivates me. As a matter of fact, I find it appalling. Can you imagine how horrifying it can be for a young mind to look upon the gingerbread man as a hero and then suddenly he got eaten bit by bit by the fox until he couldn't talk anymore. Gosh, what an aghast story!!! Eww... and to think that this story is a classic for children. So to all parents out there, please be careful what you read to your children lest their minds be disturbed and if you really want to read such stories to them, do come up with a moral value or whatever...

Left his heart behind...

2011-05-16T03:22:00.000+08:00

These three beautiful young girls are from a rural farm village in Thailand. Their parents have been separated and they are under the care of their grandparents. Divorce rates are high, triggered by married adults leaving their villages to seek wealth in the city. The girl in black is a smart and hardworking 9-year old while the other two are sisters. Charlie, a man of virtue, visited the place and bought them yoghurt after they accompanied him for a bicycle ride around the village.

Due to poverty, some of these impoverished village kids are being sold to agents for a few hundred dollars. Although they are promised a ‘better life’ and a good job, I’ve heard that some were sold into prostitution. What’s going to become of them, nobody knows. They are left to face their own destiny in the hands of the brokers. As for the three girls, there is a streak of hope in their lives and their futures no longer seem bleak for Charlie plans to sponsor their studies and to keep in touch with their progress. You’ll never know when you’ll come across someone who touches your life and when it happens, you may find yourself treading in the footsteps of Charlie...

(Photos taken by Charlie and this post is dedicated to him)

Waiting silently...

2011-04-17T01:51:00.005+08:00

Took this picture while I was jogging at the lake one morning. This photo reminds me of the little mermaid statue in Copenhagen Harbour. Just like the little mermaid, this tortoise is also staring out towards the water, as if waiting and longing for someone. See the outstretched neck? It's telling me that it is pining for... hmm... perhaps a lost love. Aww, the poor tortoise... =(

A private getaway...

2011-04-10T04:35:00.005+08:00

(The Gurney Resort Hotel, Penang)

What can be more relaxing than indulging in a Jacuzzi bathtub soaked in hot bubbly scented water? A great way to escape and recharge after a tiring day, unwinding to soft music and perhaps enjoying a glass of alcoholic drink while gazing dreamingly into the vast ocean... with thoughts floating further and further away from reality. Hehe... Sorry, but my thoughts tend to roam. It was such a shame that I missed the picturesque view of the sunset.

Tied up in solitude...

2011-03-19T01:20:00.004+08:00

(Taken in Selesa Beach Resort, Port Dickson)

The idea of being completely tied up in solitude is terrifying. It reminds me of horror films where one is caught, tied up and thrown into the cold eerie dungeon, left mercilessly to perish. My first sight of this tree being tied up from top to bottom at a corner and isolated from other trees was utterly pathetic. Needless to say, this tree must have grown up in forced solitude. Not only does it face loneliness but also restriction in movements. What could the tree possibly have done to deserve such cruel punishment? In a nutshell, my first impression was filled with the worst possible negative thoughts.

However, as I began to observe the tree and its surroundings further, I began to notice things that were oblivious to me earlier. Although other trees are missing, there is a potted plant hanging next to it and some creeping plants around. Vines droop down, gently caressing the tree trunks, at the same time acting as a shade against the strong sunlight and pouring rain. And the strategic position of the tree with windows on both sides allows it to have a good view of the activities inside. Therefore the tree is alone yet not lonely. It taught me a valuable lesson on how to draw contentment from solitude and find joy in those tied up moments.

Pause and pray...

2011-03-13T05:12:00.003+08:00

Be strong Japan

My prayers go out to you... ♥

It is also a time

to give second thoughts

to salvation for

tomorrow may not come

God bless...

In search of miracles...

2011-03-07T01:28:00.014+08:00

Tampaksiring Temple is a holy spring water temple. This pool is sanctified by the Hindu society in Bali as they believe that the water can heal various diseases, hence a popular spot for both the locals and tourists. Throughout the ages, humans have been searching for miracles and some people would accept anything that is extraordinary as being miraculous. Majority would not hesitate to follow suit, having the notion of "there's nothing to lose". The locals, ranging from infants to the aged would submerge themselves inside the pool while some tourists would queue up with empty bottles to collect the "holy" water. Others would either wash their faces in the pool or simply dip their hands in the water with the hope that a miracle would happen.

This reminded me of a verse in the Bible taken from John 10:25 - Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me..." Yet, we turn our backs on Him and seek elsewhere for miracles but the good news is Jesus still loves us and will give us our miracles if we will seek Him in faith. God bless...

Hope against hope...

2011-03-05T17:01:00.034+08:00

This photo was taken in Tampaksiring Temple (also called Tirta Empul Temple), Bali just after a heavy downpour of rain. While a wet weather is an inconvenience to the visitors of the temple, it means income for the day to the boy in the rain. He was among a group of native children who ran excitedly to a group of visitors when it started to rain, hoping to rent out their umbrellas. All the children left after the group hurried out of the temple except for this boy who stood there patiently, hoping against hope that someone among those few seated would suddenly decide to rent an umbrella from him. Such is the life of the poor...

(Al, this is for you. As you can see, I'm embarking on the idea that you've suggested and this, being my first post, is specially dedicated to you)

What are words...

2011-03-05T02:36:00.003+08:00

The words speak for itself
Beautifully phrased...

But is it love or conscience?

And if it's love, for how long?

And if it's conscience, it won't last

Call me a pessimist or whatever

This is a fact... this is life...!!!

Everlasting love only exist in fairy tales...

Eternal beauty...

2011-02-13T02:15:00.002+08:00

Among all Shakespeare's sonnets, the greatest that was ever written was Sonnet 18 - "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" It contains a theme of beauty and love which is compared to that of the beauty he sees in nature. Sonnet 18 focuses on the beauty of the young lover and although beauty fades, this person's beauty will not because Shakespeare has locked it in his verse forever and therefore will be remembered by everyone who reads this poem. I'm truly captivated by the very fact that words are able to immortalize one's beauty...

SONNET 18

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade

Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;

Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

Click here for the paraphrase to understand the poem better...

Reflection...

2011-01-23T01:30:00.003+08:00

Look at me, I will never pass for a perfect bride or a perfect daughter

Can it be I'm not meant to play this part?

Now I see that if I were truly to be myself, I would break my family's heart,

Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me?

Why is my reflection someone I don't know?

Somehow I cannot hide who I am though I've tried

When will my reflection show who I am inside?

(Sometimes there's a need to conceal what we think and how we feel)