"If Icelanders were animals, we would be sheep", said an Icelandic magazine editor
The trip to Iceland was pretty eye-opening. Rough terrains, icy mountains, and unexpected gust. The hardest time to bear was the night out to hunt for the Northern Lights with the excursion tour. The wind was so strong, the surrounding was pitch black and the weather was extremely cold.
However, the night was pretty surreal. It was my second time to be able to look up to the clear starry sky, after my first, when I was in the National Service back in Malaysia.
Like how the caving instructor once said, "there is just too much light pollution nowadays. Finding a peaceful mind in a noisy world, or finding tranquility in the city, is impossible."
The Orion's Belt, the Ursa Major and many more unknown stars surrounding the moon. This reminded me how I love astronomy when I was younger, while I was reading the Rakan Sains magazines. Since then, hunting for amazing celestial events have been a dream in the heart.
Soon after, it was there. The Northern Light. The green dancing light appeared. It was as if the fluorescent green acrylic paints fell off from the palette of heaven. It got brighter. Then the reddish/ purple light emerged as well. The sky was full of dancing colours for a brief moment.
I still remembered the moment. Everyone punched his/her fist to the air and kept cheering, just like how we cheered when Lee Chong Wei won his badminton matches.
A Singaporean couple from NTU, who came to Europe for an exchange came to us and asked us whether we could take a picture of them with the Aurora. They didn't have a good camera to take with the beautiful landscape. So, we took for them. We hoped that this would be one of the best memories they share together in their lives.
Along the trip, we met this kind old man, who was the owner of the restaurant where we had one of our dinners. He gave us a souvenir, a picture of him when he was younger, and carrying an unknown species of fish. He reminded me of the book, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. It seemed to me that the preserved fish could be his first catch when he became a fisherman. We didn't manage to get more out of his great stories because we couldn't speak Icelandic.
I wondered what were the stories behind his catch. A catch which he has kept for so many years.
But, yea that was Iceland for me. Full of folklore, the great fisherman stories, the amazing aurora and many more geographical miracles like the geysers, icy waterfalls, and the separation of tectonic plates. All the knowledge I learned in form 3 Geography kept flowing back. "kawasan tundra.." etc
"So, if the Icelanders are sheep, they are as gentle as a lamb. Those who survive since the Vikings, those who play the Icelandic Airwaves music, and of course those who still believe in the tales of Yule Lads and the age-old wisdom that the Vikings have bequeathed to the Land of Fire and Ice."
23 December 2012
15 December 2012
Thinking about your thoughts
The last day of term. The last autumn term of his undergraduate studies-finally has a proper closure. Well, maybe not so proper, since there are quite a lot of works to be done over this break.
But, at least for now, he couldn't be bothered. Plus, the thoughts are pretty messy. Many things are running across his mind.
Some said, that is good and he shouldn't be worried, because they are just like the Gemini meteor shower, where tens of thousands of meteors falling down from the sky, and they are meant to be enjoyed with a calm heart.
Some said, that is probably a test for the soul. And this is because the soul forgets that good things in life don't come easy. The soul assumes that as long as he put in efforts, the road in front will be paved perfectly.
"Probably, that's what competition does to your mind. It distorts the mind." He thought.
Thinking has become an art. Some said thinking linearly is amazing, some said lateral thinking is what makes the world wonderful.
He suddenly gets confused with his own thought process. How should he think about something has become a conscious act.
Just like how you need to draw a picture that attracts the limelight, and not a picture that is hid behind the canvas; and is only found out by the world when you are gone.
But, that is also the time when you start holding your brushes and palette, and forget that you actually know how to draw a picture.
He stands in front of the blank paper. His mind doesn't know how to think, anymore.
09 December 2012
两间屋子的爆炸事件
你站在那里。看着那三间屋子，你蹲下来，不知所措。
一间，还未走靠近些，就已经爆炸了。速度太快，太快，快到你无法相信自己眼前的一切。你问及别人，别人告诉你，你还没到这儿，早就爆炸过一次了。
你问，为什么？ 别人说之前太多人进来时，都躲过了地雷。现在就只剩地雷。
后来，很幸运的，你有机会拜访第二间。打从心里，你告诉自己，进去证明你的能力吧。或许是第一次，到处踩中地雷。
情势恶劣，错漏百出。
结果，很失望地，看着第二间爆炸。
原以为没什么希望了，第三间的屋主，邀请你去拜访。
你告诉自己，不能重复第二间的错误。结果，你并没有重复那些错误。但是，真的不敢说到底情势是如何。
你和屋主的佣人谈天还不错，她所出给你的题目，因为时间的关系，只能够解决一半而已，就像一场玩不完的游戏。
但是，真的希望不是一场梦。
你站在那里。看着那三间屋子，你蹲下来，不知所措。
一间，还未走靠近些，就已经爆炸了。速度太快，太快，快到你无法相信自己眼前的一切。你问及别人，别人告诉你，你还没到这儿，早就爆炸过一次了。
你问，为什么？ 别人说之前太多人进来时，都躲过了地雷。现在就只剩地雷。
后来，很幸运的，你有机会拜访第二间。打从心里，你告诉自己，进去证明你的能力吧。或许是第一次，到处踩中地雷。
情势恶劣，错漏百出。
结果，很失望地，看着第二间爆炸。
原以为没什么希望了，第三间的屋主，邀请你去拜访。
你告诉自己，不能重复第二间的错误。结果，你并没有重复那些错误。但是，真的不敢说到底情势是如何。
你和屋主的佣人谈天还不错，她所出给你的题目，因为时间的关系，只能够解决一半而已，就像一场玩不完的游戏。
但是，真的希望不是一场梦。
你站在那里。看着那三间屋子，你蹲下来，不知所措。
02 December 2012
The Chill
It's now December. All of a sudden, many of us feel that it's now the last month of the year, what have we done for the year?
Walking on the street, the weather literally sends chill up your spine. As per usual, we blame the snowy cold weather. But, come to think of it, this is the last time you will be spending your winter in one of the most vibrant cities in the world.
Next year, it would be the sweaty, humid weather in Malaysia.
Blame the graduation goggles, some said.
Time flies, faster than you would have expected 4 years ago. The first snow you touch with your bare hands, or the first breath that you can see with your eyes.
How you keep talking or breathing to 'smoke' and how you throw snowballs to your friends, or just lying down on the snow for few seconds.
While I was typing this in my small cosy room in London, I became more appreciative towards the cold weather.
26 November 2012
乱语
不知道为什么，突然间很想写些东西。
学会的东西越来越多，学不会的东西，却还是那一样。有时候的确会憎恨自己为什么到了今时今日，还是学不会那样东西。
是害怕的心理，还是脑袋的笨蛋？
有勇无谋地前进，却不知道原来还在原地踏步，又或者很可能还在搞砸某些东西。由古至今，只有以退为进，是没有以进为退的，看来我是个史无前例的笨蛋。
抱歉的话语，也说过很多遍，如果我自己不再改进，我很可能就会把自己推进死胡同里，进而把事件搞坏。
没想到，最难跨越的是思维障碍。
19 November 2012
The Nauticalia-Music Never Dies
They are always there. The same group of people, but different types of melodies.
I have been going there since 1st year. Now, looking back, it has been 3 years, since the very first time I paid a visit to them.
I never know what's the name of their group, or maybe I just do not care enough I guess. I know that they normally perform in front of a shop named "The Nauticalia". However, whenever things get pretty stressful or rough, I would take some time out and make a trip to Covent Garden.
Then, walking down the street and you will hear the classical Canon in D played by them. Certainly, you don't need a map. Your ears are the best road map.
Sitting down near the stairways, you will see many people standing there, listening to the classical music jukebox. The hustle and bustle outside suddenly come to a halt.
The best thing is I could sit there for an hour or two, just to listen to the harmonization of their musical instruments.
So, every now and then when I go there, I will donate 1 pound to them, just to keep the music going. Without the passionate buskers, Covent Garden will be so much quieter.
And, the cutest thing is you will see quite a number of old couples, standing there to listen to those classical melodies. Then, they somehow will smile to each other at some point of the songs. Probably, that's how they meet back then, or maybe the songs remind them about some memorable incidents which they have been through together.
When I leave London, I think I will miss the music performers here. The world turns to a kid or an old man when the Nauticalia plays the music.
I have been going there since 1st year. Now, looking back, it has been 3 years, since the very first time I paid a visit to them.
I never know what's the name of their group, or maybe I just do not care enough I guess. I know that they normally perform in front of a shop named "The Nauticalia". However, whenever things get pretty stressful or rough, I would take some time out and make a trip to Covent Garden.
Then, walking down the street and you will hear the classical Canon in D played by them. Certainly, you don't need a map. Your ears are the best road map.
Sitting down near the stairways, you will see many people standing there, listening to the classical music jukebox. The hustle and bustle outside suddenly come to a halt.
The best thing is I could sit there for an hour or two, just to listen to the harmonization of their musical instruments.
So, every now and then when I go there, I will donate 1 pound to them, just to keep the music going. Without the passionate buskers, Covent Garden will be so much quieter.
And, the cutest thing is you will see quite a number of old couples, standing there to listen to those classical melodies. Then, they somehow will smile to each other at some point of the songs. Probably, that's how they meet back then, or maybe the songs remind them about some memorable incidents which they have been through together.
When I leave London, I think I will miss the music performers here. The world turns to a kid or an old man when the Nauticalia plays the music.
16 November 2012
The Artistic Barista
The street was deserted, after a whole night of craziness at Soho. The people who danced under the yellow diamonds and ruby lights were gone, while some of them found the love in this hopeless place, some just got more hopeless.
He went into the alleys of sleepless nights, to see bottles of unfinished beers and hard liquors. The cleaners were clearing the streets while cursing the bunch of crazy, mindless people.
After the alleys, he turned right and finally found the coffee shop that he was looking for.
He went in and saw that the coffee shop is pretty simple and vintage. He ordered a cup of flat white, and sat inside the corner of the shop, while taking out his camera to snap some photos.
And, he began to see that the barista was paying full attention to do some beautiful latte arts. On the other end, some customers drank away the latte right after being served.
So, he asked the barista.
"Hey, uhm why do you put on so much efforts on latte art?"
"So that people don't just drink the coffee, but feel the arts, and most importantly they can taste the arts."
"Well, some of them don't really enjoy the arts before they drink."
"I like to make the coffee beautiful. That's all i care about. ha. Maybe some don't care, maybe some care a little, but maybe, there are some really like seeing a flower and taste the latte, or smile to the smiley face while drinking the coffee."
He walked out of the coffee shop. And he thought that, well, the world is not that hopeless after all, when you are brewing hope in the most unexpected way in life.
04 November 2012
The Haphazard Randomness
What if, the street arts are gone?
What if, the underground tube music performers disappeared?
What if, the skateboarders at London Bridge and Mile End are no longer there?
The weather is turning cold. It's the time of the year again, where the autumn is handing the baton to winter.
The wind is blowing strong, as though it is putting some ice cubes on your cheeks. The pavements near Lexham Garden, which are usually crowded by yellowish-brown maples leaves, are slowly disappearing into raindrops and snows.
After putting yourself through a perfect, mechanical learning system for almost 4 years, you forget to see the world as how it is.
You thought that all people should be perfect. They should be performing at their peak all the time. The pinnacle is the goal for everyone below the pyramid.
Once you arrive at the summit, you don't see the great view under the mountain where previous climbers have told you. Instead, you see a taller pyramid. A higher peak.
Every human being is trained to be a perfect fighter. You can't be unorganised. You can't do things haphazardly.
Then, you suddenly realise, you almost forget the feeling when you float like a butterfly and sting like a bee in the badminton court.
You suddenly realise, the camera lense is full of dust. The beautiful angle which you can capture intuitively, have lost its geometry.
The words in your mind, are no more like pixies which dance gracefully, but are arranged into A-Z in a dictionary, or a thesaurus.
Getting confused in painting, by putting on the colour of imagination on the canvas. And, you begin to worry why this colour is not 98.57% similar to the example.
I am glad that in my fourth year, I begin to see life as a haphazard randomness.
What if, the underground tube music performers disappeared?
What if, the skateboarders at London Bridge and Mile End are no longer there?
The weather is turning cold. It's the time of the year again, where the autumn is handing the baton to winter.
The wind is blowing strong, as though it is putting some ice cubes on your cheeks. The pavements near Lexham Garden, which are usually crowded by yellowish-brown maples leaves, are slowly disappearing into raindrops and snows.
After putting yourself through a perfect, mechanical learning system for almost 4 years, you forget to see the world as how it is.
You thought that all people should be perfect. They should be performing at their peak all the time. The pinnacle is the goal for everyone below the pyramid.
Once you arrive at the summit, you don't see the great view under the mountain where previous climbers have told you. Instead, you see a taller pyramid. A higher peak.
Every human being is trained to be a perfect fighter. You can't be unorganised. You can't do things haphazardly.
Then, you suddenly realise, you almost forget the feeling when you float like a butterfly and sting like a bee in the badminton court.
You suddenly realise, the camera lense is full of dust. The beautiful angle which you can capture intuitively, have lost its geometry.
The words in your mind, are no more like pixies which dance gracefully, but are arranged into A-Z in a dictionary, or a thesaurus.
Getting confused in painting, by putting on the colour of imagination on the canvas. And, you begin to worry why this colour is not 98.57% similar to the example.
I am glad that in my fourth year, I begin to see life as a haphazard randomness.
27 October 2012
October's Thought: Creating an ecosystem of ideas
It's autumn again. The autumn wind whispers, and the maple leaves fall.
A seasonal change of colours, inspires the changes in the mind. Some would say it's a paradigm shift, I would call it an 'accidental autumnal thought'
You know, the beginning of the term of a final year, when everything is not as hectic yet, and you begin to imagine how to do more things with the limited time you have.
Like how you throw a boomerang near the Ayers Rock in Australia 4 years ago, it's time to get the boomerang back and throw it again to other places, before the final year ends.
This time, the boomerang wants to wander more, before it goes back to where it used to be.
It has been quite while, you thought. There wasn't any new experience or ideas to write.
The writing has been dull. How I wish I could find back the oasis of ideas. Therefore, I started to pick up activities which observe the beauty of things.
Like photography and acrylic painting, the two activities which teach you how to find the beauty in something, and capture it.
Or, try to colour some imagination and creativity on it. The core idea is to make something beautiful. And, I think most of the times, we forget to find the beauty of something, in our daily lives.
Well, I hope that those 2 activities will help to fuel my writing, and keep me going with more interesting stuff to write.
17 September 2012
Pictures
You touch the wall, walking down the small lane, thinking of the pictures in your heart.
The finger tips, ignited the flame of thoughts, as they glide through the surface.
A picture that is vivid, yet vague enough; clear but murky, stirring up bits and pieces.
Standing away, running away, not sure what should the body do and it falls.
Falling hard, into a cosy dreamland; flying like a feather, defying gravity.
Newton was laughing at your stupidity, Einstein said you are flying in the speed of light.
Cuz the picture in the heart is travelling in time
Sinking in the ebbs of memories,
Writing down the lyrics of an unknown feeling, under the traffic light, at the crossroad.
-luminodreamer-
15 September 2012
Audition for Life
So, one day, everyone in the town was very excited. Something big was going on.
There was an audition. No requirement, just a desire to win. The prize is a huge amount of money.
Many people went for the audition and went back empty-handed. None of them passed through.
Some of them began to speculate, this was a scam. It was only held for the elites. But, this young kid did not think so. He decided that he would like to go for a try.
Many, including his parents told him it would be a waste of time. Still, he wanted to try.
He went for the audition, and he won.
Many people asked him how.
"This is how, " he continued,
"The old lady asked me one question. 'Tell me a story of your life'. "
"I do not have one. But I always believe in having many small stories instead. The past that you wanted to hide so much. The future you want to achieve so much, and the present that you want to keep, and escape so much. "
"I don't know whether I have one, but I think I have. Mine is pretty ordinary I guess, and not that big to tell, but it's big enough to tell my parents and my grandchildren."
The old lady cried, and gave him the money.
*inspired by America's Got Talent*
There was an audition. No requirement, just a desire to win. The prize is a huge amount of money.
Many people went for the audition and went back empty-handed. None of them passed through.
Some of them began to speculate, this was a scam. It was only held for the elites. But, this young kid did not think so. He decided that he would like to go for a try.
Many, including his parents told him it would be a waste of time. Still, he wanted to try.
He went for the audition, and he won.
Many people asked him how.
"This is how, " he continued,
"The old lady asked me one question. 'Tell me a story of your life'. "
"I do not have one. But I always believe in having many small stories instead. The past that you wanted to hide so much. The future you want to achieve so much, and the present that you want to keep, and escape so much. "
"I don't know whether I have one, but I think I have. Mine is pretty ordinary I guess, and not that big to tell, but it's big enough to tell my parents and my grandchildren."
The old lady cried, and gave him the money.
*inspired by America's Got Talent*
12 September 2012
梦想和事业的对话-不放弃，不退缩。
今天天气比较晴朗，所以梦想和事业都约一约，打算出来咖啡店谈谈天。
梦想：yo! 事业，好久不见，近来无恙吧！
事业：唉，别谈了。老板给压力，累都累垮了。
梦想：那是当然的啦。你不是一早都知道了吗？
事业：知道又怎样。难道你知道驾车会用车油，很贵，你就不驾车，不抱怨吗？
梦想：那倒是。让我告诉你一些事吧。
事业：什么事？我很忙，很累。简短一些，用“三个重点”的方式告诉我。
梦想：你以前不是这样啊？人生的故事和历程，如何用三个重点的方式告诉你呢？
事业：什么事都可以简单都说出来的啊。没那么长吧？
梦想：人生的故事和点滴，重要的是那个过程。就好像你小时候，你听太空人上太空的故事。或者汪洋中的一条船里的主角，又或者我国的科技人，潘建成 （KS PUA）苦中奋斗的故事。若把它们简扼地告诉你，哪有乐趣呢？
事业：我没那么多时间。哪像你，还在读书，有的是时间，精力。做了工，不像读书，开始后，就没有结束。像个吸取所有光的宇宙黑洞。
梦想：我可能不太明白。但是，我能说的是，一天里，好好地发个好梦，也算不错啊。看看朋友的近况，听听一些舒服的歌曲。压力是有，但是不能忘记编制自己的故事。
事业：什么故事？每天都那么累。
梦想：自己的故事。做你喜欢做的事，就是一个故事了。故事不需要复杂，不需要很大。
事业：每天都过着普通的生活，哪有故事？
梦想：故事，只需要真诚和耐心。说的人真诚，听的人有耐心， 就可以了。
事业：哪有那么简单呢？
梦想：想想吧。可能你开车时，听到的音乐；或者和朋友聚餐，谈到的话题；或者做工面对的难题，都可以是自己的故事。没有人可以质疑你的故事，或者决定它有多精彩。因为那是你自己最宝贵的经历。
事业：单纯。。。。
梦想：很多时候，我们忘了，笑对人生，单纯的心，很可能像个笨蛋，但是却是最难能可贵的心态。
事业：如果雨后，没有彩虹，那岂不是很失望。
梦想：雨后有没有彩虹，不是看天，是看你自己的。
事业：哦？？
梦想：如果你心中没有热情，没有太阳，那雨后，又如何有彩虹呢？
事业若有所思，静下心来，开始慢慢咀嚼五味人生里的道理。
01 September 2012
The Rainbow
Never thought of how fast 10 weeks could just pass like this. This is sorta like a relativity concept in between the actual time that has passed and the amount of time you thought it would take.
Yea, so the end. The end of the summer internship. On an eventful day back in Malaysia, a historical milestone for the country and for my own life journey.
Looking back, in hindsight, the journey has been a bitter-sweet and meaningful one. It was pretty tough at first. The environment was pretty uptight. Still vividly remember on the very first day of the orientation, I got told off because I went to the toilet and was 'late' to come in. (because the EMEA Chairman has got into the boardroom before me)
Plus, with all the business and programming training and developments during the first week, I was thinking that how am I going to get through these 10 weeks, given the limited knowledge and experience I had on the asset management industry and programming.
Besides, as interns, we were given a task to form a group of 7/8 people to participate in the Portfolio Management Challenge. Given a virtual fund size of GBP 1mil, we had to come up with an investment strategy to outperform an actual benchmark within this 10 weeks.
Back then, I wasn't even sure that equities = shares, and what index weightings and P/E ratio are.
Well, the rest is history, they said.
The sweetest victory is to turn a doubtful and scary beginning, to a high-octane climax, and to a thumbs-up ending. When you managed to present the fund in front of so many MDs, you know that the late night studies on equities research are definitely worthwhile.
The 10-week would have been more challenging and tougher if there weren't these bunch of interns who continuously cheering you up, and the guidance provided by my line manage, mentor and buddy.
Not to forget my buddy's colleagues. I still remembered that night, on the 3rd of July, when one of them left his work on the desk and taught me about alpha, beta and the concept of outperformance, while he was actually rushing his task to send over to the US people. This was because the 4th of July is the Independence Day in US. (Oh and the CFA notes as well!)
My buddy has been a great teacher. He taught me how we should really focus on the important things in life, to make career decisions. He didn't take up a very lucrative job in an investment bank in the States, but would rather come over to Europe to have a family with his current wife. He recalled his experience back in 2007/8, when Lehman Brothers collapsed, he was overlooking the building from the other side of the street. He saw the throngs of people rushing over to the bank to get their savings. At that moment, he knew that money is not everything. It can come and go anytime, and it's not really within your control.
"Money can only give you that much, what is more important is what can you do with the money?".
And to my line manager, if possible I would really like to give him a toast, over a pint of Becks, or maybe two. The cool lad who does kite-surfing and chess. Without his patience and trust, I wouldn't be able to study so many software development concepts in the team project, and completed a graphical user interface. He admired the efforts I put in and allowed me to put my own signature on that small chunks of codes. It'll be launched globally in San Francisco, London and Tokyo in weeks to come, when everything is ready to get into production.
There are two things that move me to tears. Firstly, when your team member actually sends you a private message to send his gratitude, an acknowledgement of the efforts that you have put in for the portfolio challenge, while what you have done is nothing greater than just 'keep trying and keep going'; and the second one is the review by your line manager.
"It's great to have you here, Peter".
It has been a great 10-week. It really is. I couldn't ask for more.
Yea, so the end. The end of the summer internship. On an eventful day back in Malaysia, a historical milestone for the country and for my own life journey.
Looking back, in hindsight, the journey has been a bitter-sweet and meaningful one. It was pretty tough at first. The environment was pretty uptight. Still vividly remember on the very first day of the orientation, I got told off because I went to the toilet and was 'late' to come in. (because the EMEA Chairman has got into the boardroom before me)
Plus, with all the business and programming training and developments during the first week, I was thinking that how am I going to get through these 10 weeks, given the limited knowledge and experience I had on the asset management industry and programming.
Besides, as interns, we were given a task to form a group of 7/8 people to participate in the Portfolio Management Challenge. Given a virtual fund size of GBP 1mil, we had to come up with an investment strategy to outperform an actual benchmark within this 10 weeks.
Back then, I wasn't even sure that equities = shares, and what index weightings and P/E ratio are.
Well, the rest is history, they said.
The sweetest victory is to turn a doubtful and scary beginning, to a high-octane climax, and to a thumbs-up ending. When you managed to present the fund in front of so many MDs, you know that the late night studies on equities research are definitely worthwhile.
The 10-week would have been more challenging and tougher if there weren't these bunch of interns who continuously cheering you up, and the guidance provided by my line manage, mentor and buddy.
Not to forget my buddy's colleagues. I still remembered that night, on the 3rd of July, when one of them left his work on the desk and taught me about alpha, beta and the concept of outperformance, while he was actually rushing his task to send over to the US people. This was because the 4th of July is the Independence Day in US. (Oh and the CFA notes as well!)
My buddy has been a great teacher. He taught me how we should really focus on the important things in life, to make career decisions. He didn't take up a very lucrative job in an investment bank in the States, but would rather come over to Europe to have a family with his current wife. He recalled his experience back in 2007/8, when Lehman Brothers collapsed, he was overlooking the building from the other side of the street. He saw the throngs of people rushing over to the bank to get their savings. At that moment, he knew that money is not everything. It can come and go anytime, and it's not really within your control.
"Money can only give you that much, what is more important is what can you do with the money?".
And to my line manager, if possible I would really like to give him a toast, over a pint of Becks, or maybe two. The cool lad who does kite-surfing and chess. Without his patience and trust, I wouldn't be able to study so many software development concepts in the team project, and completed a graphical user interface. He admired the efforts I put in and allowed me to put my own signature on that small chunks of codes. It'll be launched globally in San Francisco, London and Tokyo in weeks to come, when everything is ready to get into production.
There are two things that move me to tears. Firstly, when your team member actually sends you a private message to send his gratitude, an acknowledgement of the efforts that you have put in for the portfolio challenge, while what you have done is nothing greater than just 'keep trying and keep going'; and the second one is the review by your line manager.
"It's great to have you here, Peter".
It has been a great 10-week. It really is. I couldn't ask for more.
10 August 2012
I dream a dream
It has been a tiring day, and you can't wait to fall asleep on the cosy bed that sits right across the workbench.
You are sleeping soundly. You arrive at the limitless ground of dreamland that brings back the fragrance of your memories, manifesting like a colourful bubble in your dream.
It's as if you are dancing gracefully in the space, looking for the rationality in the surprise that life has brought to you.
But, you smile at the irrationality, because nothing is prettier than having faith in fairy tales.
The night is dark, cold and lonely. You are as though the little girl who is selling the matches, hoping to light up a flickering flame on the candle, seeking for a warm shelter.
Life brings us patterns that we have no idea how to decipher, because they aren't rows and columns of white pendaflour lights in the office.
You hold on, eventhough it means nothing to everyone, because it means something to the small corner in your heart.
It's like that girl in your dream, that you wanna hug so much till the dawn of sky, and see the sky burns down to a sweet yellow.
And, you wake up.
You see a clear blue sky. The tranquility that cheers you up to a bright new day.
You are sleeping soundly. You arrive at the limitless ground of dreamland that brings back the fragrance of your memories, manifesting like a colourful bubble in your dream.
It's as if you are dancing gracefully in the space, looking for the rationality in the surprise that life has brought to you.
But, you smile at the irrationality, because nothing is prettier than having faith in fairy tales.
The night is dark, cold and lonely. You are as though the little girl who is selling the matches, hoping to light up a flickering flame on the candle, seeking for a warm shelter.
Life brings us patterns that we have no idea how to decipher, because they aren't rows and columns of white pendaflour lights in the office.
You hold on, eventhough it means nothing to everyone, because it means something to the small corner in your heart.
It's like that girl in your dream, that you wanna hug so much till the dawn of sky, and see the sky burns down to a sweet yellow.
And, you wake up.
You see a clear blue sky. The tranquility that cheers you up to a bright new day.
08 August 2012
Work2Break
It seems like ages ago since I have taken a proper break. Suddenly you feel like you wanna be a reckless driver-drive into a dimension where your Kancil will become an A380 airbus.
I thought I was busy. But instead, it's just so I thought. I wasn't that busy, yet I am taking less breaks than before. Most people claim that they have no time for this and that, but if they were to take a step back and look, they will definitely have the time to do things that they wanted to do so badly.
That was an old claim, an old thought that people knew but forgot to do it still. We still claim that we are busy.
Sometimes, we tend to forget that a few words will paint a rainbow in a person's rainy day.
Working life is like turning a blue sky into a grey one, and hoping that one day it will turn back into a clear, sunny day. We are working so hard, so that we can take a break later.
Our teachers and parents told us so. And, many people told us so as well.
We forgot to smell the flowers; to feel the wind; or even to touch the wall, which used to vibrate the vibes of laughter.
Our footsteps, try to catch up with our minds. And, we lose touch with the pavements that we are walking on.
The suits, the shirts, covering the gold statues, which imprisons the happy souls and the childish acts.
Your daily route is fixed, like a procedural programming language, telling you to take a tube from Queensway station and get off at the Liverpool St. station every morning, with an exception of weekends.
Deep down, I miss the smile. As big as the sun. cheering me up to a bright sunny day :)
20 July 2012
The Paradox of Crowd
Coming out from the tube station, walking towards the crowd, feeling like a small fish in a big pond, swimming across the lonely souls.
The more people you meet, the more lonely you are.
Getting down the stairs, to the basement of the heart. You begin to wonder, how she feels and how she thinks.
Like a soulful briefcase, waiting for the light across the road to turn green.
Rows of coffee shops, brewing the closing eyelids. Standing by the counter, reminds you of the virtual coffee breaks, which you drank over the words on the instant messaging space.
Call me insane, finding words and emotions amidst the numbers and pie charts. That's exactly how it is. You need the night to see the moon, and touch the cold to feel the warmth.
There ain't a dream that built on a pile of cash and coins. Cause a dream is like your sweetheart that sweeps off your feet.
Are you brave enough to kiss your dreams?
The more people you meet, the more lonely you are.
Getting down the stairs, to the basement of the heart. You begin to wonder, how she feels and how she thinks.
Like a soulful briefcase, waiting for the light across the road to turn green.
Rows of coffee shops, brewing the closing eyelids. Standing by the counter, reminds you of the virtual coffee breaks, which you drank over the words on the instant messaging space.
Call me insane, finding words and emotions amidst the numbers and pie charts. That's exactly how it is. You need the night to see the moon, and touch the cold to feel the warmth.
There ain't a dream that built on a pile of cash and coins. Cause a dream is like your sweetheart that sweeps off your feet.
Are you brave enough to kiss your dreams?
03 July 2012
夏天里的雨季· Summer Internship 的起跑点
伦敦这城市，有点儿忧郁。被雨水覆盖着的街道两旁，也显得特别冷清。
第一次在伦敦里当起上班族，也算是开始慢慢体验着当地人的生活。没有学生的悠闲，没有时间的自由，看来朋友告诉我她想念大学的生涯，是对的想法。
那地下铁(Underground Tube)， 就像去年我每天都会准时去搭的LRT一样。每天都要求神拜佛，不要那么多人挤进来，否则，那半小时的火车路程，就够痛苦了。
一天两、三杯咖啡，也算不了什么。看回去，原来和我的大学生涯，也相差不远。对于两者，都不会怎么去留念。至于个人发展呢，那又另当别论。
这里的工作环境，拥有着数不尽的挑战；你身边的summer interns, 都几乎曾经在大银行里做过暑假工， 如 Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley 或 BoA Merrill Lynch 。你的上司(line manager) 和他的朋友，都曾经身历金融界的大事件。
一个，当年在纽约华尔街(Wall St)的 Morgan Stanley 里做工，亲眼目睹Lehman Brothers 倒下的那一刻；另外一个当年在Barclays里上班时，有份参与收购Lehman Brothers的买卖。
这些人，也算是应了 “成也银行家，败也银行家” 这句话。
前几天，在那暑假工的迎新日里，才发现一个很震惊的数据。人事部( HR)告诉我们，今年的录取率是历年新低，从大约5000位里选出60多位。低下头算了算，录取率都不到2%；这公司还要从这群学生里遴选 first-year analyst。
当然，里面也不乏有好笑的事件。
有位学生在面试里，为了得到这份工，信誓旦旦说 “I am up for any challenge”。
结果，今天，她的上司就给了她一个蛮艰难的任务。
她便说， “我没有这方面的经验。”
“没关系。你说你能够面对任何挑战。你在面试里不是那么说的吗？”
她吓了一跳，不知道自己的一字一句，都被记录下来了，唯有恨自己当时的信口开河。
其实，若把压力，竞争，放一边；这里能够学到的知识和经验，可以说是无价的。
真的，你看得越多，越觉得自己的知识有限，越觉得世界太辽阔了。
但愿，雨季过了后，会有彩虹的出现。:)
第一次在伦敦里当起上班族，也算是开始慢慢体验着当地人的生活。没有学生的悠闲，没有时间的自由，看来朋友告诉我她想念大学的生涯，是对的想法。
那地下铁(Underground Tube)， 就像去年我每天都会准时去搭的LRT一样。每天都要求神拜佛，不要那么多人挤进来，否则，那半小时的火车路程，就够痛苦了。
一天两、三杯咖啡，也算不了什么。看回去，原来和我的大学生涯，也相差不远。对于两者，都不会怎么去留念。至于个人发展呢，那又另当别论。
这里的工作环境，拥有着数不尽的挑战；你身边的summer interns, 都几乎曾经在大银行里做过暑假工， 如 Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley 或 BoA Merrill Lynch 。你的上司(line manager) 和他的朋友，都曾经身历金融界的大事件。
一个，当年在纽约华尔街(Wall St)的 Morgan Stanley 里做工，亲眼目睹Lehman Brothers 倒下的那一刻；另外一个当年在Barclays里上班时，有份参与收购Lehman Brothers的买卖。
这些人，也算是应了 “成也银行家，败也银行家” 这句话。
前几天，在那暑假工的迎新日里，才发现一个很震惊的数据。人事部( HR)告诉我们，今年的录取率是历年新低，从大约5000位里选出60多位。低下头算了算，录取率都不到2%；这公司还要从这群学生里遴选 first-year analyst。
当然，里面也不乏有好笑的事件。
有位学生在面试里，为了得到这份工，信誓旦旦说 “I am up for any challenge”。
结果，今天，她的上司就给了她一个蛮艰难的任务。
她便说， “我没有这方面的经验。”
“没关系。你说你能够面对任何挑战。你在面试里不是那么说的吗？”
她吓了一跳，不知道自己的一字一句，都被记录下来了，唯有恨自己当时的信口开河。
其实，若把压力，竞争，放一边；这里能够学到的知识和经验，可以说是无价的。
真的，你看得越多，越觉得自己的知识有限，越觉得世界太辽阔了。
但愿，雨季过了后，会有彩虹的出现。:)
20 June 2012
My First Publication
My first anthology of short stories. Do have a look and spread it to your friends!
Key description:
An anthology of short stories about my personal journey of thoughts and reflections. Stories about the small things in life which have inspired me to pen down the doubts, fears and uncertainties of a young college student.
Free Kindle for PC/Mac softwares are available.
10 June 2012
A heptagonal story
They were beautiful when I first discovered them, and they still are.
Unlike writing, I do not collect coins back in Malaysia. The hobby of collecting coins only begins when I arrive in London. With an eye for details, tiny pieces of historical events will line up chronologically, displaying their own unique designs for those who are patient enough to collect.
Each coin, with amazing intricacy crafted on it-passes on from one hand to another- like a curious kid who is eager to tell a story to the people who are willing to listen. Somewhere in the small, heptagonal metal, lies an untold story of the eventful incident which has occurred at a time where people today have forgotten.
It's delicately meaningful. The coin represents a milestone of art and history, which may have lost in time. And a collector like me, hoping to pick up one of them at a coffee shop or in a grocery store, to be happy again like a child.
I once visited a street art exhibition near Camden Market. There goes a piece of art saying, 'our only commodity is art, and there is no higher commodity than that'.
Personally, I think that the painter is most certainly right. To tell a story, you don't really need a beautiful mind. What you need are a beautiful heart, and an eye for details.
27 May 2012
Lessons you can learn from a Film Making course
To be honest, I am not a big fan of motion pictures. I am like those who pop by a cinema once in a while when there is a seemingly good movie, with the left hand carrying a box of popcorn and the right hand a cup of Coke and that's it.
However, the film making one-day course that I attended last Saturday was purely amazing. It was taught by a filmmaker from Toronto, Elliot Grove, who has founded the Raindance Film Festival, Raindance Filmmaking School and the British Independent Film Award, and has produced some of the world greatest directors- Christopher Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight); Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes); Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class).
Not to forget also actor like Sacha Baron Cohen (The Dictator/Borat), is also one of the alumni of the Raindance Filmmaking School.
He mentioned that when he was young, due to his Amish background, his mum has forbidden him to go into the cinema because "the devils live inside". And, by the age of 16, he finally couldn't stand the curiosity and he went in for the first time, and saw that the cinema is not so different from a church-it also has rows of chairs. From there, he found his interest in making movies.
He was so poor that he had to live in a farm when he started his career. However, that turned out to be a blessing for him as he was taught to find the behavioral patterns for insects and the growth pattern of the wheat fields. The training was particular useful for a volatile environment like the film industry.
He also said, to follow your dream is an uphill battle, a very difficult task. He remembered how he broke his mum's heart when he can enter the top 3 universities in Canada, but ended up in an art school. And, how embarrassing it was, to tell his friends, especially his high school sweetheart about his interest, but the rest was history.
As he mentioned, sometimes we thought that film making is fake, because it's all about acting; but if we try to see it from the other perspective, it's probably even real than the reality, because in film making, we show every single emotion, by removing the public mask.
To him, motion picture is the most amazing tool that can move a person's emotion. It represents the idea, the social setting and the culture that the scriptwriter and director come from. It's telling a story; by bringing a corner of the world to the centre stage.
So, there he is, inspiring every amateur filmmaker, to become the next Steven Spielberg.
However, the film making one-day course that I attended last Saturday was purely amazing. It was taught by a filmmaker from Toronto, Elliot Grove, who has founded the Raindance Film Festival, Raindance Filmmaking School and the British Independent Film Award, and has produced some of the world greatest directors- Christopher Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight); Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes); Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class).
Not to forget also actor like Sacha Baron Cohen (The Dictator/Borat), is also one of the alumni of the Raindance Filmmaking School.
He mentioned that when he was young, due to his Amish background, his mum has forbidden him to go into the cinema because "the devils live inside". And, by the age of 16, he finally couldn't stand the curiosity and he went in for the first time, and saw that the cinema is not so different from a church-it also has rows of chairs. From there, he found his interest in making movies.
He was so poor that he had to live in a farm when he started his career. However, that turned out to be a blessing for him as he was taught to find the behavioral patterns for insects and the growth pattern of the wheat fields. The training was particular useful for a volatile environment like the film industry.
He also said, to follow your dream is an uphill battle, a very difficult task. He remembered how he broke his mum's heart when he can enter the top 3 universities in Canada, but ended up in an art school. And, how embarrassing it was, to tell his friends, especially his high school sweetheart about his interest, but the rest was history.
As he mentioned, sometimes we thought that film making is fake, because it's all about acting; but if we try to see it from the other perspective, it's probably even real than the reality, because in film making, we show every single emotion, by removing the public mask.
To him, motion picture is the most amazing tool that can move a person's emotion. It represents the idea, the social setting and the culture that the scriptwriter and director come from. It's telling a story; by bringing a corner of the world to the centre stage.
So, there he is, inspiring every amateur filmmaker, to become the next Steven Spielberg.
10 May 2012
The Statue in the Park
It's the same path in the park. The same rough, uneven path that I use to walk to college everyday.
Spring has arrived, yet the rainy season still lingers around; just like the curse on the land of Narnia, but in this case, instead of layers of thick, white snow, the path is blanketed with murky water.
I used to think that cycling to college by cutting through the park will be a cool idea. After a few years down the road, I come to think that probably that was the imagination incepted by movies or dramas.
Walking to college is not too bad either. Every inch that I take, is a hundred mile my mind takes to wonder, just like the pixies in the Neverland.
And, if I cycle, I might miss the chance to stop by this statue.
So, there's this statue, situated in the middle of my path to college. I see many people will stop by and take a picture or purely admire this bronze statue, which seems to be apparated from the ancient Rome.
It's called the Statue of Physical Energy. You will see a knight sitting on a horse from the medieval age, looking towards the Kensington Palace, where Kate Middleton and Prince William reside.
There are many paths branched out from the statue. Just imagine a small roundabout you will encounter on the road when you are driving. I have been taking the same route, every single day, to college. And, now I come to think that if one day, I stop going to college. Which path should I take?
However, as I look up to this statue, I see that it's looking towards the West. I smile.
The last ember of the day, is the flame of dawn for tomorrow. As long as the sight is on the horizon, which path you take is not that daunting anymore.
Spring has arrived, yet the rainy season still lingers around; just like the curse on the land of Narnia, but in this case, instead of layers of thick, white snow, the path is blanketed with murky water.
I used to think that cycling to college by cutting through the park will be a cool idea. After a few years down the road, I come to think that probably that was the imagination incepted by movies or dramas.
Walking to college is not too bad either. Every inch that I take, is a hundred mile my mind takes to wonder, just like the pixies in the Neverland.
And, if I cycle, I might miss the chance to stop by this statue.
So, there's this statue, situated in the middle of my path to college. I see many people will stop by and take a picture or purely admire this bronze statue, which seems to be apparated from the ancient Rome.
It's called the Statue of Physical Energy. You will see a knight sitting on a horse from the medieval age, looking towards the Kensington Palace, where Kate Middleton and Prince William reside.
There are many paths branched out from the statue. Just imagine a small roundabout you will encounter on the road when you are driving. I have been taking the same route, every single day, to college. And, now I come to think that if one day, I stop going to college. Which path should I take?
However, as I look up to this statue, I see that it's looking towards the West. I smile.
The last ember of the day, is the flame of dawn for tomorrow. As long as the sight is on the horizon, which path you take is not that daunting anymore.
03 May 2012
Bersih 3.0 开讲
*以下文章纯属幽默作用。若有雷同，纯属巧合。
最近，因为考试的关系，所以并没有太去留意这篇新闻。须知道，大学生的责任是读好书。这对拿着奖学金的学生来说，更要保持冷静。
稍微不慎，钱没了；书读不了；那就真是要示威了。Occupy J**。
这有时候，也很恼人。
你不去了解新闻，人家说你在海外不是有KBKK思维的吗？你去评论，人家说你不尊敬合约内容。站在篱笆上，又被说没主见。
随着科技的发展，不需要做太多的research，只要勤开Facebook，各方的新闻和评论都会展现眼前。也有搞笑一族，不断以Bersih题材来开玩笑。
其实，现任政府，无论你怎样看，都已经大势已去，气数已尽。不管怎样，它是必须要走的。时代只会前进，不会退后。
我们看见了国外很多媒体和政治人物，都要控告我国媒体。
就连某官员写给拿着奖学金的大学生的“劝告信”，也曝光了。
这次的Bersih 3.0， 很多人都选择自己要看的东西。这没有错，器官是长在自己的身上，当然你可以选。但是，捏造事实，就万万不可。
就像身材走样的学生，在发放Facebook profile pic 时，只拍上半身一样。
不管这次的是静坐还是示威，在某种层度上，都是为即将来临的大选拉票，或者更为准确来说，“test water”。在生意的角度来说，"market estimation"。
可能，到头来，创办人可能会被人责骂虚伪，但，这其实不过是 " a means to an end"。在这种情形下，有些人会夸大这方面的说辞，但是，想像一下，就算她是虚伪，要那么多人，在星期六，大热天下去游行，也总算要有少少的自愿吧。
有人告诉我，警察打人。说真的，没有人告诉我，还以为有人欠债没还，被大耳窿追打。好像怕他不会死那样。
机会不是没有给，给了那么多年，就像不断说谎的Pinnochio一样，鼻子已经长到不行了。五年后，再奋斗过吧。
最近，因为考试的关系，所以并没有太去留意这篇新闻。须知道，大学生的责任是读好书。这对拿着奖学金的学生来说，更要保持冷静。
稍微不慎，钱没了；书读不了；那就真是要示威了。Occupy J**。
这有时候，也很恼人。
你不去了解新闻，人家说你在海外不是有KBKK思维的吗？你去评论，人家说你不尊敬合约内容。站在篱笆上，又被说没主见。
随着科技的发展，不需要做太多的research，只要勤开Facebook，各方的新闻和评论都会展现眼前。也有搞笑一族，不断以Bersih题材来开玩笑。
其实，现任政府，无论你怎样看，都已经大势已去，气数已尽。不管怎样，它是必须要走的。时代只会前进，不会退后。
我们看见了国外很多媒体和政治人物，都要控告我国媒体。
就连某官员写给拿着奖学金的大学生的“劝告信”，也曝光了。
这次的Bersih 3.0， 很多人都选择自己要看的东西。这没有错，器官是长在自己的身上，当然你可以选。但是，捏造事实，就万万不可。
就像身材走样的学生，在发放Facebook profile pic 时，只拍上半身一样。
不管这次的是静坐还是示威，在某种层度上，都是为即将来临的大选拉票，或者更为准确来说，“test water”。在生意的角度来说，"market estimation"。
可能，到头来，创办人可能会被人责骂虚伪，但，这其实不过是 " a means to an end"。在这种情形下，有些人会夸大这方面的说辞，但是，想像一下，就算她是虚伪，要那么多人，在星期六，大热天下去游行，也总算要有少少的自愿吧。
有人告诉我，警察打人。说真的，没有人告诉我，还以为有人欠债没还，被大耳窿追打。好像怕他不会死那样。
机会不是没有给，给了那么多年，就像不断说谎的Pinnochio一样，鼻子已经长到不行了。五年后，再奋斗过吧。
18 April 2012
不可思议
最近，伦敦好像患上了荷尔蒙失调。天气阴晴不定，Easter Break 竟然下起了冰雹。(hailing)
嘀嗒的声音，在窗内对着Facebook的我，觉得有点儿惊讶。有点儿不可思议。
其实，很多时候，不可思议的事情，反而多的是。就像当年Justin Bieber 一炮而红后，大家都不知道音乐界发了什么神经一样。又或者，看看马来西亚，不可思议的国家问题，几乎成了我国最大的输出品(Export)。
但是，不可思议，往往让你感到，原来，生活像个雨后彩虹，在最想像不到的时刻，美丽的彩虹天桥，筑起了内心美好的希望。
这，或许是理想主义(idealism)在作祟。理想主义最不理想的地方，就是试图把所有东西理想化。就像个小丑，一直想要成为马戏团的主角，才发现，他始终比不上在铁网里奔走的电单车，或者那会喷火的表演者。
写了老半天，才能够吐出那么多文字。看来准备考试这段时间，把脑袋给弄迟钝了。
冰雹继续下，我继续Facebook，那是个多么懒洋洋的下午啊！
嘀嗒的声音，在窗内对着Facebook的我，觉得有点儿惊讶。有点儿不可思议。
其实，很多时候，不可思议的事情，反而多的是。就像当年Justin Bieber 一炮而红后，大家都不知道音乐界发了什么神经一样。又或者，看看马来西亚，不可思议的国家问题，几乎成了我国最大的输出品(Export)。
但是，不可思议，往往让你感到，原来，生活像个雨后彩虹，在最想像不到的时刻，美丽的彩虹天桥，筑起了内心美好的希望。
这，或许是理想主义(idealism)在作祟。理想主义最不理想的地方，就是试图把所有东西理想化。就像个小丑，一直想要成为马戏团的主角，才发现，他始终比不上在铁网里奔走的电单车，或者那会喷火的表演者。
写了老半天，才能够吐出那么多文字。看来准备考试这段时间，把脑袋给弄迟钝了。
冰雹继续下，我继续Facebook，那是个多么懒洋洋的下午啊！
28 February 2012
Midnight on L.A.
Lately, having lots of chocolates, while reading articles or watching series at night.
Seems like a source of evil indulgence, serves as a good source of inspiration instead. It reminds you of a sweet distant memory.
Every bites is an inch walking back in time, seeing a clearer picture of the past, that portrayed an uncertain future.
Lost it in the thin breath, caught it back in the cross road.
Now, flying like an angel, disappearing from the palm of certainty.
'Erm, I don't know'. The brain gave up.
How can you know, if you are running away from the heart?
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
- Just A Kiss, Lady Antebellum
Seems like a source of evil indulgence, serves as a good source of inspiration instead. It reminds you of a sweet distant memory.
Every bites is an inch walking back in time, seeing a clearer picture of the past, that portrayed an uncertain future.
Lost it in the thin breath, caught it back in the cross road.
Now, flying like an angel, disappearing from the palm of certainty.
'Erm, I don't know'. The brain gave up.
How can you know, if you are running away from the heart?
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
- Just A Kiss, Lady Antebellum
25 February 2012
散思
散开的思绪，在凌晨四点钟，漫步在伦敦的马路上。
看着那9 个deadlines，突然觉得 时间，好像在嘲笑着你。最近，也没干什么，就是徘徊在电脑和头脑之间，尽量把课业赶完。
这，也没什么。都第三年了，习惯了这种非人的生活。
可喜的是，最近倒是遇到一些贵人。开始读起了很多类型的课外读物，一个来到Imperial后，被遗忘了很久的兴趣。
可惜的是，太多的资讯，太少时间，太少精力；在取舍间，往往必须放置一旁。
突然发觉，原来，connecting the dots， 就能把所有东西连串在一起。看起来是失望的苦果，也可能是暗藏着甜蜜果汁。
看着那9 个deadlines，突然觉得 时间，好像在嘲笑着你。最近，也没干什么，就是徘徊在电脑和头脑之间，尽量把课业赶完。
这，也没什么。都第三年了，习惯了这种非人的生活。
可喜的是，最近倒是遇到一些贵人。开始读起了很多类型的课外读物，一个来到Imperial后，被遗忘了很久的兴趣。
可惜的是，太多的资讯，太少时间，太少精力；在取舍间，往往必须放置一旁。
突然发觉，原来，connecting the dots， 就能把所有东西连串在一起。看起来是失望的苦果，也可能是暗藏着甜蜜果汁。
16 February 2012
随笔
最近，天气开始转暖了。天气的瞬间变化，让人无法理解；就像很多事物，依旧走在信念的钢线上。
功课，像往常一样，忙着的时候，也盲了双眼，对很多事情的视若无睹。结果是，灵感也像水蒸气般，蒸发掉了。
也不知道为什么，现在写起东西来，总是欠缺动力，这是最近才发现的。或许，少了生活上的体验，就不怎么想随便写写了。
没有内容的文章，就像没有灵魂的活尸体。Imperial生活的千篇一律，是当人家问起，你就会说，“你我都知道，我会给你什么答案。”
好像很久没有寄情于月了。告诉她，时间会轻轻地，把我想说的话，化成甜蜜的等待。
02 February 2012
春季
很快的，又开课了约一个月。然后，一眨眼，第三年又快结束了。
今年的春季，确实有点不寻常。
不知道是内分泌失调(Endocrine Disorders)，还是月经周期(Menstruation Cycle)乱掉， 冬季像秋天；春天却冷到你不断发抖，嘴巴也不经意地骂起三字经。
零下的温度，加上那不时会刮起的大风，要出门，都要三思。那美丽的公园，现在简直像个坟场，路过的，都走快两步。
谈到春季，当然少不了过年。
屈指一算，现在也有三年没回家过年了。但，托科技的发达，有了Skype这玩意儿，能够隔着荧幕，感受一下家人吃团圆饭， 和调皮表哥剥着柑皮，在你面前示威的表情。
这里的过年，就像在大马过着圣诞节，摆设是有，朋友一大群吃饭也有，就是进入不了那气氛。
只因，笑声下，都隐藏着游子的背影。
今年的春季，确实有点不寻常。
不知道是内分泌失调(Endocrine Disorders)，还是月经周期(Menstruation Cycle)乱掉， 冬季像秋天；春天却冷到你不断发抖，嘴巴也不经意地骂起三字经。
零下的温度，加上那不时会刮起的大风，要出门，都要三思。那美丽的公园，现在简直像个坟场，路过的，都走快两步。
谈到春季，当然少不了过年。
屈指一算，现在也有三年没回家过年了。但，托科技的发达，有了Skype这玩意儿，能够隔着荧幕，感受一下家人吃团圆饭， 和调皮表哥剥着柑皮，在你面前示威的表情。
这里的过年，就像在大马过着圣诞节，摆设是有，朋友一大群吃饭也有，就是进入不了那气氛。
只因，笑声下，都隐藏着游子的背影。
19 January 2012
When Serenity meets Serendipity @Budapest
Budapest, a place
where time stops to enjoy the wine and the jazz.
After all
the complications, finally I can travel out of UK! (*yeepee-yeepee-yay-ing*).
It has been
an amazing trip with more appreciation towards life and culture. The time stops and flows with the rhythm of
jazz, as well as with the aromatic Hungarian latte at the Central coffee shop.
With a small slice of Kreme, a local pastry sandwiched with 2 inches thick of
clotted cream, you smile at the sunny weather outside Ruszwurm, the oldest
confectionery in Budapest.
Quoting it
from a friend, “Be indifferent. Don’t rush into anything. You feel
frustrated and disappointed only when you are rushing for the train.” It changes my perspective in life, and with
many recent happenings, this quote came quite timely I would say.
This trip,
with different travel partners, we initiated many random conversations, from
philosophy to architecture, from arts to politics, from literature to history,
and from coffee to wine. We also saw how different upbringings and experience managed
to strike vibrant and diverse viewpoints on certain topics.
The city is
full of sweet tranquility. Sitting in a decent restaurant, while savouring the tenderloin
steak and drinking a glass of 0.1L Tokaji Azsu 3 puttonyos, we got to watch light,
white fragments of sleet, showering outside the window, covering the pavements.
Or, when you
are overlooking the whole city of Budapest, from the 400m St.Gelert’s Hill,
under 4oCelcius, it’s just purely amazing. Witnessing a city with 1000
years in history, is like stepping on the stones and rocks in the Colosseum , a
fulfillment you get when you visit the ancient ruins which live through the millennium.
Sometimes, when
you are able to see how life can be transformed into a great feast of
self-indulgence in a cultural or historical field trip, it reminds you that keeping
your writing and travelling dreams are essential.
 |
| Taken @Budapest |
You may also like these:
08 January 2012
When lyrics are just not words
When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
- 'I won't give up', Jason Mraz
The subtle tune that sings out your moods, does not always have to be fast and loud; with a little bit of pauses in between, you feel relaxed and at peace with the surroundings.
While I am listening to this song, I couldn't help but wonder, what if Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, Lady Antebellum, Bruno Mars and Boyce Avenue get together, to make a song?
"It would be a disaster", my heart whispers. Yes, it will.
Less is more, I thought.
Plucking the feelings, the guitar in my heart; seems like an endless waltz with the imagination of tomorrow. Best things in life are free, and they are real.
'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up
The wave, quietly washes down the memories of yesterday; but it brings you the beautiful seashell that you never expect.
You sail out to the ocean, with the seashell, and your jar of heart, hoping to reach the horizon, some days.
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
- 'I won't give up', Jason Mraz
The subtle tune that sings out your moods, does not always have to be fast and loud; with a little bit of pauses in between, you feel relaxed and at peace with the surroundings.
While I am listening to this song, I couldn't help but wonder, what if Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, Lady Antebellum, Bruno Mars and Boyce Avenue get together, to make a song?
"It would be a disaster", my heart whispers. Yes, it will.
Less is more, I thought.
Plucking the feelings, the guitar in my heart; seems like an endless waltz with the imagination of tomorrow. Best things in life are free, and they are real.
'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up
The wave, quietly washes down the memories of yesterday; but it brings you the beautiful seashell that you never expect.
You sail out to the ocean, with the seashell, and your jar of heart, hoping to reach the horizon, some days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)