This blog is so neglected. Just returned from a month long trip to Palawan, Philippines. I should have documented more of my thoughts, the sights, feelings, etc. I guess I didn’t find the time to. It felt like traveling back in time when I was there to the 60-70s Singapore.
Houses were made of attap leaves with no telecommunication network, electricity, flushing toilets (some still practiced open defecation). In one village, the only water source was a polluted river. It’s tough having to live in conditions like that But I suppose over time, one can get used to it.
I might have enjoyed myself a little too much over there that there’s this dreary feeling when I had to return.
There were nights where the entire city was shrouded in darkness and you could see the stars so much more clearly. The sari sari stores in the neighborhood were lit by candlelight. It was both fun and not fun at the same time.
Anyhow we even saw fireflies in the tree next to our apartment for one night. They are truly miraculous to watch, like magic stardust floating around.
I enjoyed the quiet but the sounds of tricycles and the motorbikes broke the silence most of the time.
I brought along Gabriel Garcia Márquez’s Memoir living to tell the tale. Quite an amazing read. And I find myself yearning for that kind of lifestyle- whiling the time away in cafes chatting about everything under the skies with people who share your passions like books, arts, whatsoever. Will do the review soon.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Monday, August 20, 2018
It’s been just one bad news after another the last few weeks. Sometimes I think I’ve been so protected under this invisible dome that I find it difficult to deal with bad news.
I wonder again if we have been chasing the wrong things all this time.
You know how it is, when we want things others have, think the things others want us to think, lead the lives we think others will approve of.
We romanticize things and spend our time focusing on man-made rituals rather than What’s truly important.
Find the perfect engagement ring, the perfect house, plan the perfect proposal, perfect wedding and perfect honeymoon, but forgetting to ask ourselves if this person is the one we want to love, to protect, to share all things with, for the rest of eternity. Most of us are short-sighted these days. We want these instant gratifications because there are some situations we want to get out of-the fear of loneliness, the need to flee the nest, social pressure, etc. what is it do we really want?what is it do we really want the other person to have? Are we the best for them? Are they the best for us?
I’ve ruminating on Ecclesiastes. How true it is that everything is meaningless under the sun. Solomon the wisest man had EVERYTHING and EVERY experience that one could ever have but eventually found no pleasure in any of them. What was his conclusion in the end? Obey God’s word. Period.
I think we will all reach a point where we find all this running and indulging in things, silly and futile. There’s always this insatiable appetite for what’s next.... what’s next? Do I really care? I don’t know.
I wonder again if we have been chasing the wrong things all this time.
You know how it is, when we want things others have, think the things others want us to think, lead the lives we think others will approve of.
We romanticize things and spend our time focusing on man-made rituals rather than What’s truly important.
Find the perfect engagement ring, the perfect house, plan the perfect proposal, perfect wedding and perfect honeymoon, but forgetting to ask ourselves if this person is the one we want to love, to protect, to share all things with, for the rest of eternity. Most of us are short-sighted these days. We want these instant gratifications because there are some situations we want to get out of-the fear of loneliness, the need to flee the nest, social pressure, etc. what is it do we really want?what is it do we really want the other person to have? Are we the best for them? Are they the best for us?
I’ve ruminating on Ecclesiastes. How true it is that everything is meaningless under the sun. Solomon the wisest man had EVERYTHING and EVERY experience that one could ever have but eventually found no pleasure in any of them. What was his conclusion in the end? Obey God’s word. Period.
I think we will all reach a point where we find all this running and indulging in things, silly and futile. There’s always this insatiable appetite for what’s next.... what’s next? Do I really care? I don’t know.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Jane Austen- pride and prejudice
Pride and prejudice is so much nicer than sense and sensibility even though the subject matter revolves around yet again, courtship and marriages.
Much of the content were largely similar to sense and sensibility, so I’m not quite sure why I enjoyed this book so much more.
Perhaps much of it can be attributed to the highly likeable characters in the book like Mr Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, and Mr Wickham.
I am not sure what the debate was about Mr Darcy but I would think everyone would love to have a Darcy in their lives- someone who appears standoffish but is actually warm and kind. His unwaning love for Elizabeth despite the rejections and the lengths he went to, to help her out of sticky situations, sigh....
I guess it appeals to our “desire” to have a hero in our lives, much like how the Marvel Avengers appeal to most.
Much of the content were largely similar to sense and sensibility, so I’m not quite sure why I enjoyed this book so much more.
Perhaps much of it can be attributed to the highly likeable characters in the book like Mr Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, and Mr Wickham.
I am not sure what the debate was about Mr Darcy but I would think everyone would love to have a Darcy in their lives- someone who appears standoffish but is actually warm and kind. His unwaning love for Elizabeth despite the rejections and the lengths he went to, to help her out of sticky situations, sigh....
I guess it appeals to our “desire” to have a hero in our lives, much like how the Marvel Avengers appeal to most.
A little history of literature- John Sutherland
Meant to write a review on this book as soon as I finished it but procrastinated till I’ve largely forgotten what it is I wanted to say about the book. Although the subject matter seems a tad dry(history!), this book was anything but. The book comprised mainly of small chapters on various authors like Chaucer, Shakespeare, types of writing eg epics, tragedies, subjects eg utopian/dystopian worlds, etc, which made reading it both a breeze and thoroughly enjoyable.
I was fascinated by the history of the King James Bible. Prior to the 16th century, the Bible was only accessible by those learned in Latin and commoners had to rely on these translators for the “truth”. Then came Martin Luther who translated the Bible into “common language”, followed by William Tyndale who translated the Bible into English. He was later executed for being a heretic by going against King Henry VIII and Roman Catholicism. During the reign of Mary I, the Protestant bible of Tyndale was not favored and no more work was done till King James I authorized the translation of an official English Bible. Tyndale’s version formed the backbone of what we now know as the KJV Bible.
To be honest, although I own a KJV Bible, I hardly ever read it as I find the prose a little too overwhelming. Still, one of the nicest versions of the Lord’s Prayer is the KJV version.
Anyway when I was reading this chapter of the book, I was fascinated by the length people go to for their beliefs and their love of God. The Bible is so precious that someone was willing to die for it. Yet, many of us take the word for granted, never reading and valuing it.
This book is a highly recommended read for all and not just literature buffs.
I was fascinated by the history of the King James Bible. Prior to the 16th century, the Bible was only accessible by those learned in Latin and commoners had to rely on these translators for the “truth”. Then came Martin Luther who translated the Bible into “common language”, followed by William Tyndale who translated the Bible into English. He was later executed for being a heretic by going against King Henry VIII and Roman Catholicism. During the reign of Mary I, the Protestant bible of Tyndale was not favored and no more work was done till King James I authorized the translation of an official English Bible. Tyndale’s version formed the backbone of what we now know as the KJV Bible.
To be honest, although I own a KJV Bible, I hardly ever read it as I find the prose a little too overwhelming. Still, one of the nicest versions of the Lord’s Prayer is the KJV version.
Anyway when I was reading this chapter of the book, I was fascinated by the length people go to for their beliefs and their love of God. The Bible is so precious that someone was willing to die for it. Yet, many of us take the word for granted, never reading and valuing it.
This book is a highly recommended read for all and not just literature buffs.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
With nothing
At the end of the day, we are on our own.
True love hides its face
And we are forever alone.
Nothing is ever real
All is but a misty dream
And I slip further into the underworld.
No one really knows
The secrets in our hearts
The truth is, neither do I.
Sometimes, sleep is sweeter than life
And I find myself,
Wallowing in my hollowness.
Where do I go,
The path uncertain,
Not with you, no not anymore.
You’ve walked me here,
To the finishing line
The sun has set and the cicadas chirp.
There is no one here
It is just me
Just me and the unknown world ahead.
Say goodbye, say all your goodbyes
Because we do not have tomorrow
Today is all we own.
We will never meet again
Me in my sorrows
A world you are not invited into.
It is just me
Since the beginning of time
I came alone, I shall leave alone.
What do I possess?
With nothing I came
With nothing I will go.
True love hides its face
And we are forever alone.
Nothing is ever real
All is but a misty dream
And I slip further into the underworld.
No one really knows
The secrets in our hearts
The truth is, neither do I.
Sometimes, sleep is sweeter than life
And I find myself,
Wallowing in my hollowness.
Where do I go,
The path uncertain,
Not with you, no not anymore.
You’ve walked me here,
To the finishing line
The sun has set and the cicadas chirp.
There is no one here
It is just me
Just me and the unknown world ahead.
Say goodbye, say all your goodbyes
Because we do not have tomorrow
Today is all we own.
We will never meet again
Me in my sorrows
A world you are not invited into.
It is just me
Since the beginning of time
I came alone, I shall leave alone.
What do I possess?
With nothing I came
With nothing I will go.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Sometimes you just wanna run away,
To a place where only the wind blows
And not a sound is made.
Solace, you will find in this place
A place to hide the tears.
I wish you would hold my hand
And watch the waves with me.
Because, just because
I am afraid.
Of what tomorrow brings.
Of todays that are unlived
And wasted.
I wish you were here,
To wipe away the tears
To tell me everything is going to be ok.
Whispers I hear,
Louder than the roar of a lion
Because, just because,
They speak the truth
I wish to deny.
Somehow I wish you were here
To cover my ears.
But I turn around,
And you are never there.
You are but a lingering shadow
That is never here
When the nights are long.
We don’t belong
You and I
On different corners of the world
You and I
We don’t belong
Forever, spinning out of each other’s sphere.
To a place where only the wind blows
And not a sound is made.
Solace, you will find in this place
A place to hide the tears.
I wish you would hold my hand
And watch the waves with me.
Because, just because
I am afraid.
Of what tomorrow brings.
Of todays that are unlived
And wasted.
I wish you were here,
To wipe away the tears
To tell me everything is going to be ok.
Whispers I hear,
Louder than the roar of a lion
Because, just because,
They speak the truth
I wish to deny.
Somehow I wish you were here
To cover my ears.
But I turn around,
And you are never there.
You are but a lingering shadow
That is never here
When the nights are long.
We don’t belong
You and I
On different corners of the world
You and I
We don’t belong
Forever, spinning out of each other’s sphere.
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