Happy Mid Autumn!

Happy Mid-autumn 2012 people!

First of all yes, wishing you a very happy mid-autumn festival! Okay yes we're in Singapore so the weather isn't as cool as autumn. Or in fact it's totally not like autumn at all. Oh I wish I could go back to that day when the GTs and I were celebrating mid-autumn in Duolun. It was cold, we were playing fireworks, and the city itself was filled with fireworks. Nice right?

Anyway today was a great Sunday again. As usual began my day with going to the temple. Since it's full moon day we have another full moon celebration hehe. And then I went to Novena to pick up my race pack for Real Run 2012 which is 3 more weeks! And boy I haven't been running! I'm starting this week though. Went to shop a while looking for white pants for Kathina but I couldn't find it. I'll try to find it in Clementi! Sayeoh said sport shops should have white track pants. I think those are fine as well so I'll give it a try hehe.

Headed straight to Tanjong Pagar next to attend Mus'art concert! Where Huili, Joscelyn, Carmen and Glennson perform! Really enjoyed the concert cause they really capture the concert's title of "Playtime"! I love Proffessor Alex haha it's my favourite song. And oh yes I met Miss Dorean Tan!!! OMG It's like 6/7 years since I last seen her! Glad to know she still remembers me, though she couldn't remember my name. But at least she remembered I play the clarinet! ^^

And then I went home cause I have dinner fixed and needa do grocery shopping haha.

Anyway yes today is mid-autumn festival, the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. It's the day where people would eat mooncake and the children would play with lanterns. And then the moon would be really really bright. If I were to return back to old Chinese civilisation I would be outside sipping hot cups of tea and eating mooncake while listening to someone playing guzheng or erhu or something like that. And I would write poems....

And no I didn't do those tonight. In fact I spent my night well in front of my laptop munching mooncakes and sipping tea beside me. Alone. How sad! Haha. Usually back in my hometown, we would set up an altar in front of my grandma's house and we would "pray" to the moon. It's been a tradition, unless it rains then yeah. I miss the accompaniment and laughter we usually had. It's really sad how now, I'm spending this day alone. But oh well nevermind.

 My cuppa tea. Taste of home away from home

I guess somehow things and times have changes. I realised now... Yeah okay maybe it's unfair for me to say this since I spent the night in my room. But well when I was young mooncake festival was something I always look forward to. Especially in Pei Tong primary when activities would be aplenty. I remember in P5 my sis and I joined the pomelo cutting and decoration competition haha which we won! Then in P6 there was a lantern-walk thing which I went as well, to help out Mrs Leow :P Some of my friends would go too. Those were the times.

Now I wonder if things are still the same. If children nowadays still share the same excitement as we did back... 8 years ago. And I can't imagine the coming years. I really hope this tradition won't disappear forever. Well for sure, I will still carry out this tradition till my children and grandchildren and so on. Even when I grow up I'll ask my siblings and cousins to come back and we can have a gathering just like last time! :)

My mum always remind me every year to go and buy mooncakes for mid-autumn festival and eat it at night. Of course I did! I got myself Marriott Mooncakes and OMG they're so freaking goooood. I got the chicken bakwa and mixed nuts. To me they are THE BOMB haha. First time I had salty-filling mooncakes and they are really good! Bought some for the research peeps and Ciara tomorrow hehe. Hope they like it :)\

Double yolk and the chicken bakwa with mixed nuts!

Mid-autumn, like what Mr Lawrence shared with us is one of the major festivals the Chinese celebrate (second to Chinese New Year). Where people would head back home to celebrate it with their families and get reunited again, under the bright bright moon. Of course I do miss home. Been 11 years since I last celebrated mid-autumn back at home. I couldn't even remember when and how. But well yeah, I know I'll get to celebrate it soon enough, at home :)

Alright I guess that's all for tonight! Shall not emo haha. And hello October! You're here tomorrow. You sure do come quickly, but it's okay! I love it and I don't mind :) Week 25 ahead so here's to a too-fabulous twenty-five! 9 more weeks to go. Let's go baby!

中秋节我会想到家
那些日大家会笑着
秋日月亮的大光下
那些年我还小孩子
生活和未来是什么
我只有梦想和自由
今天呢?

Thus Have I Seen (THIS) Buddhist Film Festival

  

Thus Have I Seen

Today was another awesome Saturday! And as awesome as it is, also, a thought-provoking one. Which is really nice though haha, I love being caught in deep thoughts cause of an action, cause of something. But yes, awesome Saturday is awesome. I went to watch 3 more screenings of the THIS Buddhist Film Festival 2012 with Saeyeoh today! They are Angin, Your Mind Is Bigger Than All The Supermarkets In The World and One Mile Above! All great movies/documentaries.

I will write my thoughts of the films I watched today later on hehe.

 

 The autographed CD of Angin! Thanks Dharma in Action hehe

So I met her at 11 today and we went to watch our first two screening (Angin and Your Mind). It was lovely of the director of Angin, Mr Winaldo Artaraya Swastia to come down and have a Q&A session with us after the screening of his movie. And yes he's Indonesian! I'm really proud of him, to have someone who's able to create such a beautiful and sweet short-movie that is really meaningful. And it was even more meaningful when he explained the meaning behind the title Angin (wind).

As a fellow Indonesian I'm curious of course, so I asked him what inspired him to make a movie about Buddhism in Indonesia? And I'm glad to know that well not only there isn't any Buddhist Fictional movie before Angin, but he also wants to share his passion and happiness in showing the teachings of Buddhism. After the movie screening I met him outside and have a chat with him. And wow his father is from my hometown Sukabumi! Haha. And of course I took a photo with him ^^ and I got myself an autographer CD of Angin for the Q&A session (Thanks Dharma in action!)

 Me and the director of Angin, Mr Winaldo!

After watching his movie, it really inspired me to make a short movie as well about Buddhism. Though I'm not a movie maker heh. Or well maybe perhaps a short photography project? So I convey my thoughts through pictures hehe.

Then Saeyeoh and I went for lunch at Seoul Garden. Oh gosh it's been such a long time since I ate there and we had a yummy lunch (and filling one too). Had a good chat and good catch-up as well! :) And so then we make our way back to Lido for the last movie screening of the day, and of this year's festival, One Mile Above by Du Jiayi!

It was such a great movie. Throughout the movie I was just awed in silence for it's awesomeness. It's one of the most beautiful and one of the best movies I've ever watched! So touching, sad but at the same time it's just wonderful... I'm so glad that I got two tickets from the super-fast-selling seats back in August whew. I watched the trailer back at Mangala Vihara when Dharma in Action people came there to give a short talk of the festival. I know I have to watch this one!

After the movie I got myself mooncakes! Thanks to being an M1 user I got 15% off hehe from Marriott! And then we decided to go to a place near Raffles Place, beside the Singapore river to just chill with the evening breeze. Thanks for intro-ing me to that place! It was really lovely and nice. Should go there more often to chill hehe. And yup, that's all for the day!

Right moving on to my thoughts about THIS Buddhist Film Festival.

So basically I watched three movie screenings today, and the three of them are really great movies/documentary to begin with. Angin, as Mr Winaldo explained, is used as a theme of Anicca (impermanence). I think it's a great movie to show how things come and go, that all things are impermanent yes?

Your Mind Is Bigger Than All The Supermarkets In The World (I'll cut it short with Your Mind) is another great experiential documentary too. Though the documentary is just video stills of the director, having a conversation with her meditation teacher in Sri Lanka, I feel that watching it makes me feel like I'm -there- too with them, talking, enjoying the view. Some of the words that I picked up from the docu were really great too.

I particularly like the part where Upul Nishanta said something about living the moment. How true that whenever I do work (say my report), I can't just think of the THING I'm doing now. I'll think of the other parts of my report. I'll think whether it's good enough. I'll think whether Dr Simon would like it or not. I can't just think of the present! The thing I'm doing NOW. And hence yes, it's important to just focus on what you're doing now, rather than just... Keep on thinking of the future and worrying yourself unnecessarily. Live the moment!

And another one is about happiness, and unhappiness. So happiness is when you're able to do what you mind wants you to do. If you're not able to do what your mind wants you to do, you get a punishment which is known as, unhappiness! So yeah, basically it all comes back to the fact that happiness is from within. We create our own sadness and happiness. Less of the outer things that we get or we face. Interesting ya?

Last but not least, about life. The words that ring in my head the most is this. You can use the life to understand about the life. What is it? And also, how life is one huge laboratory where we carry out our experiments. I think it's true how much life is one great journey. And to understand this journey, I think only we can do so. We can't tell people hi this is life. We tell ourselves what life is. Cause though we all live to die eventually, it is our definitions of life that make life so beautiful.
 
Following THIS theme for this year, "Open Your Mind", going to four screenings of the movies showcased really made me open my mind more about my religion, but actually more to life. Especially today's movie screenings. I've learnt a lot and it was just great to learn more. So far all of the movies are thought-provoking. It made you think, and most importantly it made you feel. And I think that is a very important feature of a film.

Thought I wouldn't call myself as a strong Buddhist, I truly enjoy learning its teachings (Dhamma) and also trying to apply it in my life. Though so far, I find it really challenging and yes it's possible of course. I was talking to Saeyeoh today about religion, and well perhaps, some people convert away from Buddhism cause maybe one of the reasons is that they couldn't follow the teaching and find it difficult. Well I heard it from somewhere... Buddhism is not about learning about being a good Buddhist. It's learning about life, learning about yourself.

And to think how complex life can be, you should understand my point, yes? :)

Alright what a long post. To all the organisers and everyone else who made THIS Buddhist Film Festival 2012 possible, thank you very much for your hardwork and dedication! Truly enjoyed the movie screenings I went to. I hope to see you again in 2014 hehe. Thanks for opening my mind, and well here I go saying....  

Thus Have I Seen.

Impermanence

Hello, I wanted to blog yesterday but oh gosh I just fell asleep from like 10 to 4, then I woke up to switch on the alarm, and then went back to sleep till 8! Haha. Wow that means 10 hours of sleep haha. And well somehow my heater wasn't turned on in the morning so I had to bathe in cold water, in a cold morning. Damn that was really cold haha. But refreshingly awakened me.

Anyway yeah yesterday wasn't a really good day I suppose. Somehow after work I just couldn't wait to end it and get out to go for practice. I guess that's why I just fell asleep at night to perhaps wish to forget whatever happened today. But whatever it is, this week's words of motivation for me is contemplation of impermanence. Anicca, as I learned today.

To put it simply, I'm just worried. And well, I'm just a human.

Today we played Jericho in band and I really love that song. I've been waiting for 5 years to play this great song from one of my favourite composers. I first heard it when Commonwealth Band played it for SYF in 2007 and they were so good. I searched the song and found it. Since then I was only able to listen to it on my iPod and fantasise to play it haha.

Somehow I feel at times, band is the thing that keeps me sane these days haha. I feel sad at times when I'm reminded with the fact that MD XVI will be my last concert as a student in SP. And probably, my last band concert as a student. I still do hope that I can go back though one day in the future to play as an alumni or something like that hehe.

Sigh well things will come to an end of course, we all know that. Nothing lasts forever. Just feels sad cause band has been a part of my life for the past 6 years or so. To know a part of your life will be gone feels surreally weird at times. I hope though that of course, it won't disappear forever. Still have my dream to make realise with.

Alright I guess that's all for now. Tomorrow will be an awesome Friday! Woohoo

I Love Pulau Ubin

 Memoirs of Ubin on 23/9/2012

Today was such a great Sunday!!! Oh gosh I'm so tired though, body aching but totally worth it and fun! Anyway yes today I spent the day at Pulau Ubin with my awesome and lovely DBS 1.5 2010 people! Hehe. Well mostly from the 02s haha only Zaki is from 01 haha. But nevermind, we're all together hehe. So I met Zaki at 9 at Tampines, and waited for the rest, and we reached Ubin at about... 1130! Started cycling after a few rounds of bargaining with the bicycle aunty haha.

As usual for an Ubin trip we went to cycle around the island of course. First we went to the west side of the island. To Ketam quarry, and also to attempt to go to Nordin Beach but the path was blocked by fallen trees so we couldn't go. Poor Bobby for falling down and hurt himself on his hands. I hope your wounds will heal ASAP! After the west exploration we went to Mamam beach for lunch.

It was my first time like cooking outdoor for a day-trip! Thank you Zaki for bringing the mesh-tins and the stoves and the solid fuel. It was the most delicious lunch ever. The lunch you cooked yourself! Though it's just a simple instant noodle, it's divine I tell you haha. And we spent a few hours at Mamam beach talking, chatting and as for me, chilling out while listening to music.

After 23 weeks, I finally get to just sit down by the beach and listen to music!

Anyway we rushed to Chek Jawa for a while to walk on the coastal walk. And then we just spent a short time to walk around there as the day was getting late and we had to return our bicycles, and to also make sure we leave the island on time. Though we didn't go back in our planned time of 6 PM hehe. Once we reached Singapore we went to Simpang Bedok for dinner (thanks to Beixi!) and we ate like we haven't eaten for 20 days.

Oh man such a lovely day in Ubin I must say! Though now I'm writing this with an aching body, and dreading work tomorrow for I surely know I'm going to be tired. And that tomorrow will be a long day too. But well nevertheless, I had such a great time, a great Sunday. And also a great weekend as well. Plus it's been such a long time since we gather together (I can't remember when!) and it was good really :)

Anyway well... Now I have to say, after like (this is my 4th) many visits to Ubin, I think Pulau Ubin is one of the loveliest place on earth! I love its nature, the smell of the trees and the leaves, the freshness of the forest and the aroma of the wood. Somehow cycling through Ubin reminds me of home. I don't know why, it reminds of my hometown.

I think Ubin as a place, that the more you visit, the more you'll fall in love with it!

Alright I think that's all for now. I should head to bed for tomorrow will be a long day, and hey it's WEEK 24!!! I can finally say 10 more weeks to go! Hehe. Soon it'll be single digits haha. And yup, here's to a too-fantastic week twenty-four, and also... The last week of September. See ya!

Great Saturday is great

 Live the moment

Yes! Today was really a great Saturday hehe. Don't you just love it when your day goes according to what you have planned since the day before haha. Just makes you feel like as if everything is going smoothly which is good of course. I went for an impromptu dinner and drink with Chris last night and when I reached home I just fell asleep haha. What a good sleep though.

Went to Vithya's house for jamming practice session again. Kai was slightly late so we were watching TV first haha. It was a great jamming session though! Got my chords and fret positions sorted out so now I can play it freely. Then we had a small chat after that before I rushed home. Just love making music and jamming, let your stress and feelings out! :)

Then I rushed home cause I'm going for THIS (Thus Have I Seen) Buddhist Film Festival! It's my first time going for a movie alone, and going for a film festival as well! And yay yay yay I went for the opening film which is Souls of Zen. It's such an inspiring and thought-provoking movie, though sadly there were a few technical glitches here and there. But it's fine, at least I get to know and understand the flow of the entire movie. Really good though.

So basically Souls of Zen is a documentary about how Buddhism plays a role during the aftermath of the March 2011 Tsunami in Japan. Surely we all know how devastating it was, but the media doesn't really cover the Buddhism aspects of the disaster. How the Buddhists in Japan help in the situation, offering aids in refuge, food, and of course, funerals.

I find some parts of the documentary scary, especially seeing the real footages (which I've never seen before) of the tsunami. Just listening to the stories of the monks, like how they have to wrap the bodies with sheets, and since they have no enough coffins they have to put them in boxes. How the survivors have to identify the bodies of their loved ones, how some of them are still looking for missing people months after the disaster in March. These stories are just... Scary, and sad.

Made me think how fortunate I am to well, have not met any huge-scale disasters.

And at the same time I'm also touched by the generosity of the people in Japan. The monks, the people and many more. How they started raising donations days after the disaster. How there was no looting though disaster stroke. People from different walks of life and religions giving counseling talks. The monks offering place of refuge in the temples and so on.

However one particular scene that seriously got stuck on my head is this.

So due to the disaster, many graveyards were swept away. And the tradition of the graveyard being passed to the next male generation (or something like that) makes it quite difficult for single women especially, when their time has come. So there's a place in Tokyo where they make graveyards underground, where urns are stored. And also you can sort of "reserve" your name there when you're still alive.

There is a woman who was being interviewed. So she's a member of that place and now that she's living alone, she spent her time there with the other members. She's in the chorus club and she said that when a chorus' member time has come, they will sing a song for that member. So she was saying she couldn't think of the song she wants the chorus to sing. And somehow... She looked rather positive and "happy" talking about death. Laughing, smiling. Instead of fear and dreading.

After the movie this got me thinking. Like... Well don't deny it, but there are parts of life when we fear death. We wonder what will happen after death. And there are times we wish we would never die. But of course that won't happen. After all humans' final destination, is death. All of us will go there for sure, just a matter of time.

Of course, as well, I have never met anyone who's like "I can't wait to die!" or something like that. I think death is a destination that no one looks forward to huh? Unless we've lived a life we all want and we got sick of it and like we wish we would just end it. And if this happens most probably you're having severe depression.

As the quote says, is not the destination that matters but the journey. Surely we all have a journey to embark before we all die. And this journey is what matters the most. From born, till we die, we create a story and embark on a journey that no one else can ever experience, but yourself. A story you'll never get tired of, a journey worth suffering and embarking in every moment.

But still, why do we fear death?

Oh cheeeem talk! Haha. I guess THIS' slogan is true. It's "Open Your Mind" Surely watching the first movie has opened my mind to many things. I still have 3 more films to watch next Saturday! Can't wait! ^^ Especially the closing film, One Mile Above :D

After the film I decided to go to Chinatown to take photos of the lanterns-lit streets! Made the right choice to go there, took some awesome shots and I really love it hehe. Reminds me of that time in 2010 when Sandra brought me there to teach me how to take long-exposure shots! Damn, 2 years passed by, feels like it was last year! So thank you Sandra! Without you, I wouldn't be able to take those shots I take today hehe. And hey it's mid-autumn once again! :)

Yup that's all for today I guess. Can't wait for tomorrow! Going to Ubin with my DBS 1.5 people hehe. Gonna have a great time together with them! :) I'll see you again! What an awesome weekend :D Enjoy, refresh, relax and unwind~

Book of Days

 This way could be my book of days

Suddenly and somehow I just got reunited with this awesome song by Enya titled Book of Days. The first time I heard this song was like in... P4? That means 2003. I remembered I got exposed to Enya songs thanks to my awesome Angklung teacher Ms Cindy Ho. We played most of her songs in the ensemble. My curiosity got over and I searched her online. And found her!

And till now, her voice never fails to enchant me.

Anyway I always sort of think of this song whenever I blog, whenever I write my diary. At times it feels like I'm writing my book of days. The book which contains what's been going on in the day. The words written on empty pages, and then the ink would stay there like memories imprinted on our minds. Something like that. Basically, my book of days.

Can taste the beginning of the end. Yet it seems so far away, no?

Anyway, here's some parts of lyric from Enya's song Book of Days. I love it!

One day, one light, one moment
My dreams could be tomorrow.
One step, one fall, one falter
East or west, over the wide ocean.
One way, to be my journey
This way could be my book of days

I'll find my day, maybe, far and away, far and away.

One day, one night, one moment
With a dream to believe in
One step, one fall, one falter 
Find a new earth across the wide ocean
This way became my journey
This day ends together, far and away
this day ends together, far and away
Far and away

Goodnight :)

Emptiness gives you space

 

One of my favourite quotes from Buddha :)

Today I have to say wasn't exactly a great day. Not in terms of work, but the things happening outside of it. Well I guess it's just part and parcel of life. A storm is with me now, but I know it will be gone soon. If I have to go with the storm, then I'll get away with it. I'll say goodbye to it. The sun would then shine in front of me again, like a beautiful child smiling in front of me.

Just life.

Was just walking with Vithya. We split at FC2 cause she's heading home while I head for band. So I went to FC3 from FC2. The long way, from the library, to the sanctuary, and the different blocks. Now that it's the holiday, the school is very empty. Not many people were there. Somehow, though I was having a long way to go, I enjoyed that solitary walk to FC3.

The emptiness of the school made me ponder and think about life a lot. As I walked pass these buildings, memories start to reappear in my head. Stories are appearing, pictures start to flash themselves. Like when I walked pass Colours, I remember those year one days when that used to be my favourite studying place, or playing-games place. Library would remind me of exams days, and also the lessons I had at level 3. The sanctuary (T6/T7 area) is where my classes used to be in year one too.

Well as the three years went pass, these places change in one way or another of course. More posh, much nicer haha. Well but of course at the same time much nicer too. Walking pass these places made me realise how much I miss student's life. Those days, carefree days. Well but I know that we are all getting these days back very very soon. So yeah.

I just can't imagine as well, how much I will miss the school ground once I graduated from SP. Afterall, school is always our second home right? :)

Ah well okay was kinda a sad day to start the week. But I know tomorrow will be a beautiful day. So yup, no matter what it is, tomorrow will be beautiful! :)

Great Sunday

Hello everyone! Today was such an awesome Sunday I must say! Thank goodness for great weather, it's really lovely at the end haha cause we thought it's gonna rain. Anyway yup today's Azmi's Birthday! So happy birthday to you Azmi, may the year ahead be a great one! So as it's his birthday today he decided to invite us to Forest Adventure for a great Sunday out!

Well... Sadly only 4 people (Kai, Saeyeoh, Ardin and I) turned up, oh well. Sunday's a busy day I guess! Hope I can meet up with the others soon hehe.

Anyway yup so today I went to the temple in the morning as usual, and today apparently is the new moon celebration! I was surprised to see a lot of people in the temple, never seen so many before haha. Turned out there was this event so it's cool, first time being in such event! And yes this time round I sat on the right corner/side of the temple haha.

To be honest, going to the temple for me is not an obligation. Not a necessity. And I think it's good, when you want to go the the place of worship because you want to and not cause you have to. To me going to the temple, and chanting, is an activity that calms me down. At the end of every Sunday service I'll feel more calm and happy somehow.

I think it's yeah, don't go to a temple cause you feel you have to. I mean yes it's good of course to go to the temple. But if you don't want to go I suggest you better don't either. Cause it's like you're being forced kinda thing? Like just go cause if you want to but you know... Okay get what I mean right! Haha. Talking in circles now.

So from Eunos I head over to Bedok Reservoir and met Saeyeoh and Kai! Then Ardin joined us later. Oh man it was such a fun day at Forest Adventure! Though I've been there (like two years ago) but this time round I tried new things hehe. I love the zipline through the reservoir! So cool :D We were talking about out via ferrata memories at Mt K and we wish we could do something similar up there! That will be awesome really. Of course, scary too.

We had dinner at wawawa bistro after that, really yummy (ehh the fish and chips a tad bland) and it was so funny hahaha. We wanted to surprise Azmi with a slice of cake. So when he went to the toilet I talked to one of the waiter to get one. However I saw Azmi coming back and to reduce suspicion I went to like "okay get me one slice of that cheesecake now!"

And when Azmi was damn near I blurted out

"Okay pretend we didn't talk and go get the cake!" HAHAHAHA

And the plan kinda failed cause we thought the cake came and it was Kai's tiramisu hahaha. But she didn't mind sharing and well Azmi got to go too so yep. And when I was about to cancel the order from the waiter I asked Azmi to look away hahaha. Oh man so funny.

And maybe I was a bit high, that explains heh.

We headed home after that. Weird how I was feeling REALLY sleepy on my way back and I was telling myself okay better go home, bathe, blog a bit, sleep by maybe 11. Time check? 11:39. Okay plan failed. And plus I wasn't feeling sleepy at all! I don't know why. Weird body, you gave me false hope of a long sleep tonight heh.

Oh well but nevertheless I had a great Sunday :) Though it was only the 5 of us I really enjoyed today! The laughter and the adventure of course. Though we were talking about life and so on. Which makes me think a lot, as usual. But well c'est la vie haha. Live in the present, is my sole reminder to make today awesome! To make life awesome too.

Talking about live the present, look what I made last night!

YES after 22 weeks of telling myself I'll do this on a weekend, I finally did it -_- so yup I made these photo-quotes on Friday and Saturday, printed them and on Saturday night I did this! Isn't it cute and sweet? Hehe. And this is my favourite quote! I found it off the internet, author not sure who.

Yup! Dedicated to my DBS research people! Press on, we can, do THIS!!!! Goodnight everyone, may week 23 ahead be an awesome and great one. Can't wait for next weekend, THIS Buddhist film festival and DBS 1.5 Ubin outing. Yay! :D Goodnight everyone :)

Missing Inner Mongolia

 366 days ago

Right....

Well yeah I know that 366 days ago I was still in Inner Mongolia, in Duolun to be exact, still going on with the environmental project I was a part of. Today is the 12th of September. And 366 days ago we just finished planting our saplings. I could still vividly remember that day. As usual we worked from 9 - 1 and then 2 - 5. I could still remember it was a cloudy afternoon. I wished it would by sunny at the end of the day. Cause it's our last day of planting.

My planting partner was Togo. I could still remember the chats we had. I remember we tried many ways to cover our nose and mouth cause all the dirt and sand that were flying everywhere. I remember we were talking about songs. I played Hoppipolla for her, and Sacral Nirvana too. And she loved it as well. We talked about food and so on. We tried different ways to plant it as efficiently as possible. There was drizzle and I was getting worried.

Then we finished planting. And the sky turned yellow. Then orange. We all went up to the railway track and we stood side by side. I took a photo of our silhouette against the setting sun. The sky was deep yellow. And I could still remember the moon was shining bright across the field. Every bit of the day, somehow sticked to my mind like a glue. Stitching every memory that I have of the trip.

What else can I say, the best two weeks of my life after all. Something I'll never forget. It's somehow becoming a memory, a story I can always look back upon to, to seek comfort in the present when it gets uncomfortable. Looking back again and again, the memories never fail to bring a smile to my face. It feels great. Sucks being a sentimental person.

Time seems to fly really quickly. It really feels like the trip just happened somewhere this year. Well at least not ONE YEAR ago you know. 366 days seem to fly really quickly... It seems like it was yesterday. I guess thinking back it was really one of the best memories and best days of my life. We were so bonded, the things we did were really great. Life was simple, everything was simple.

And well I guess it's true how simplicity brings us happiness yeah?

As I said 7 days ago, I'll have a great time reminiscing of the trip for the remaining 6 days I suppose. Thankfully I wrote everything down. In my small humble diary so that well in the future ahead, I can always refer it back again and again and again. Oh the lovely times!

Alright that's all for tonight. Shall head to bed early. My neck has been a pain in the neck (literally) cause I slept on the wrong side and I couldn't turn it to the left, or look up or down. And sometimes it got hurt suddenly -_- Ah well hope it will disappear tomorrow. Okay bon nuit!

Sentimentality escapism

Beautiful

 366 days ago

We finished digging

Right, just decided to blog today cause... I just feel like it hehe. Well I guess I just need to pour my heart out or something like that. Some days I just feel like this, some days I just don't. My body's feeling weird just now while I was watching TV. Feeling sort of feverish and... Weird but okay I really don't know. Switched off the aircon and I'm feeling better with a cup of tea.

It's going to be mid-September now as we all know it. Well yes, about 2.5 more months to the end of ITP. Now I even know when everything (aka FYP and ITP) will end eventually, finally. So apparently my report is due on the 30th of November while my presentation will be on 3rd December, and hooray I'm the 2nd to present! It's okay cause well eventually I have to present too eh haha.

Plus the faster I'm done, the better.

Waiting perhaps is the word I use now. I'm waiting for this to be over. Well sad to say, yes I truly miss the student's life. For the past... 5 months or so, I've been having attachment. I miss those days when I would just come to school for school. Talking with my friends, laughing. Back to studying. Just... Not ready to let go of my student life yet.

Well as I always told myself, which ironically somehow I never apply to myself, there's time for everything. And like the Buddhist teaching, the contemplation of impermanence, I know that everything good or bad will come to an end. Keyword: everything haha. So yeah and as another Buddhist teaching also says, one must live in the present earnestly and fully. So live the moment!

I may seem like a fool but well, I hang a whiteboard on my door saying "Today will be beautiful" just to remind myself everyday, to make the best out of it. And I'm initiating a project called Project 12 Words. So since I have about 12 weeks left, I'll think of words every week to boost my morale everyday. Because optimism is what keep us driving at times.

Live day by day like as if the storm is going to pass. Live day by day knowing nothing's gonna last. Live day by day fully cause well, we only have one life after all.

Okay I feel much better now.

Anyho, somehow I got into the mood of writing puisi (AKA poems in Indonesian). Just random phrases coming into my head and then I just form them into poems. Well I think if I can, and have the ability to express what I feel in any language that I want, I really don't mind. Just let the feeling flow yo.

Alright I guess that's all for now. Here's a glimpse of my puisi! Good night :)

Sebab aku masih menanti
Untuk hari itu, datang kemari
Dimana semuanya akan berhenti
Semuanya, menjadi memori

Aku tahu suatu hari
Aku kan melihat matahari
Yang bersenyum berseri-seri
Dan rumput pun akan menari

Aku yakin badai akan berlalu
Di tengah badai aku kan berdiri
Dan aku kan pandang matahari
Selalu kuat, seperti dahulu

Air mata dan tawa akan ku simpan
Dan kita pun jalan ke depan
Meninggalkan hari hari ini
Yang akan selalu ku kenangi

Safra Bay Run 10K!

 My fifth race! Great job to all :)

Hello everyone! Yup today I did the Safra Bay Run 10K race! Earliest race I've ever attended as it glags off at 6.30 AM haha. I was done by 7.40 or so. Great run I must say, I love the route, the way they're planned and so on. Though I didn't beat my PB (again) well... Okay many things I can explain but I ain't complaining. And plus it's never the end. I'm still going to run cause I know one day I will beat my PB! I must not and will not give up :)

Anyway yup it's a great run, I met Rusell at the starting point. He's really good with his first race! Congratulations, you ran faster than me! Haha. And I'm also very proud of Weiping who finished the race THIRD in her category! OMG so cool, congratulations! And oh also to Stanley for your first 10K! Good job to us hehe.

Since the race ended early, so I reached home early too like 9.45 AM haha. I bathed and I just lay on my bed watching TV. Feeling rather tired but well somehow I couldn't sleep till about 11. When I realised then, that I woke up at 2 PM haha. And on and off sleeping. Watched a few great movies too. Like Lord of The Rings! Hehe. The weather was rainy, cloudy and gloomy. Such a perfect weather to be spent lazying around on the bed. With the TV on.

So I then get my ass up to get my dinner fixed and yeah, I got it fixed haha. Was craving for some good and yummy hearty meal. I got myself pasta in the end! Really yummy :) It's the stall from Clementi mall foodcourt. Not bad, though a tad bland (I have salty tongue). Walked around popular and then back at home. Whew, on the way back I wished I could have another Sunday tomorrow.

And then I spent the rest of the night tumblr-ing haha.

Well yeah I have to say I am disappointed that I didn't beat my PB this time round again. I was so close, if I were to calculate my time correctly, I could have beaten my PB. But well apparently not. So yeah. But as I said nevermind, cause just goes to show I still have more runs in the future to beat my PB! :) Oh gosh it's such a hard time trying to hold my pee for 6KM okay  -_-

Was so happy to see the toilet at Kallang Park. I ran inside to pee and then washed my hands and then chionged all the way! Haha. I think they should put toilets once every 4KM or so haha. I don't know why either cause right before the race begins, I went to the toilet to pee and I peed a lot. Then just as the race began, I felt like peeing. Oh dear.

So as much as I want to hold my pee till the finishing line... I feel that it's hard for me to focus to run and think of wanting to pee at the same time, for a long distance. That's when I decided to just pee and just chiong the rest of the distance haha. And whew, it felt better.

As promised I wrote some motivation on the back of my singlet. I wrote:

"If you're going through hell, keep going" by Winston Churchill

Which I sadly discovered that it got torn off halfway during the race :(

But well I hope people who saw that gets the motivation and strength to continue till the end! I may seem like a fool doing that (cause apparently I'm the only one who did that) but well it's okay I guess, to motivate the rest hehe.

Alright that's all for tonight. I wanna sleep! Week 22 ahead, here's to an awesomely tantalisingly tasty week 22! Okay I don't know words that starts with a t and another t. Whatever it is, to an awesome and smooth sailing week 22! Ouyeah (Y)

Making music, making friendship

 Because we're connected with one language.

Music.

Well today I must say is an unforgettable day of my life! Well the evening part that is. Today SP symphonic band had an exchange with the Baden-Wurttemberg Youth Wind Orchestra from Germany! They're in Singapore for their Asian tour, and apparently Singapore is their last stop before heading back to Germany. So they did an exchange with us and I must say, it was an eye-opener and a great experience that I'm glad to be a part of!

So thank you everyone who has made this event possible, and successful like Edwin and Huili who were helping us with the food, and also all the committee! Great job :) Without you guys, the event won't be successful eh. Yay! :)

Yup so basically we had sectionals with them, playing overture 1812. Really great of Marco to lead us with sectionals. It's good to exchange information on how we do sectionals and practice etc. The 3rd clarinetists from the band were Amelie and Hendrik who are really friendly as well. It's their first time playing 1812 and they picked up really fast! Really awed by their skills man.

Then we had light refreshments and at the same time to also mingle with them. Quite funny how they made weird faces when I offered them durian puff hahaha. Well it was really nice though, they are all friendly, talking with them was fun as well. I've always enjoyed making friends with people from different parts of the world, talking with them, and asking about their cultures and life in the country. It opens up more of my atlas and we exchange information too!

Playing 1812 with them was really fun, for a first timer, I think they are really good! Besides a few wrong entries but the rest is awesome. Now I really can't wait to perform that on the Esplenade's stage haha. 2 more months! Oh gosh I hope we can pull through hehe.

One particular member that I truly enjoy talking to was a fellow 3rd clarinetist, Hendrik! Haha. He's really friendly and awesome, we chatted along the way to W10 for sectional, and back to the hall. And also during the interaction section as well. And then at the end of the whole session we were still chatting haha. He was asking the pieces we're going to play and he knows them! Dona Nobis Pacem, Mars and Jericho (not sure if we're still playing Jericho though).

And we were singing to the tunes of Jericho and telling me which parts I need to look for. And he loves some parts of the song too. We talked about so many things, weather, food, traveling and so on haha. The most meaningful thing was though, at the end of the day he came to me and shake my hands and wish me all the best for my studies and the concert. That was really nice of him. And I shook his hands too, wishing him all the best for university hehe.

Well it was really a wonderful evening I must say. Made new friends, made music with them. And I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did too! As Janis said just now, we all speak a common language called Music! Which is true. And I do hope the memories will go for a long way for them, cause it will definitely be, for me. Oh man, I really feel happy to be a member of SPSB, having this exchange is just an awesome experience that I will never forget!

So once again thank you to everyone who has made this event a success!

Alright that's all for the hype of today haha. Today...  Was kinda stressful in the day. But the evening just went awesome. I would say this week has been a long one. I can't wait to rest in the weekend... Though I have Safra! Hahaha. Oh well at least I can chill maybe? On Saturday hehe. Alright heading to bed after this awesome day. Guten Abend!

Music connects, music, joy.

Happy one year anniversary, GTs!

 Felt like it was just a few months ago

That I took that plane to Beijing

Well since today is the 5th of September....

HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO GREEN DESERT @ SP FALL OCIP!

Time flies huh, it's been a year, and it feels like the trip just happened yesterday. I could still remember the trip like as if it just happened a few months ago. What happened on the first day, how it feels like, how it seems like. Everything. feels like it happened in the back of my head. I hope I can still remember them as I grow old. Thankfully I wrote a travel journal. Everything is written there.

Well yup of course I wish I can relive it again this year. Afterall that two weeks were the best to weeks of my life. The friends, the people there, the weather, the planting of the trees. The fact that I simply forgot about life and enjoyed myself there with my friends. Really funny how, somehow, those two weeks moved so quickly. It was tiring, but everything, worth it.

A full day of work. Lunch under the blue sky. Fulfilling dinner. Great chat with my team mates. Watching "wo yao shang chun wang" on TV and random shows. Then falling asleep as I was writing in my journal. Then woke up for a great breakfast, and go back to the field to work. Seems very repititive no? But I love it, for life seems to stop for a while. And I can just forget about it.

Sigh, life's good back then.

Oh well life has to move on. I can't just go back and rely in the comfort of the past to make us feel better. The present is waiting to be lived, the future bright and free to explore. So yup, I'm grateful that I went through that awesome trip. And I can always reminisce about it. I'm proud to be a part of the GT. And I know I can just go back to it when I need to, not everytime.

Anyway today was a normal day I guess. I had a great time watching the concert of the Baden-Wurttemberg Youth Wind Orchestra and it's awesome! Finally get to hear Festive Overture Op 96 live! Lovely song. And like the full songs from the musical Carmen. Nice! We'll be meeting them tomorrow. I hope we'll have a great time with them!

Alright pretty sleepy. I'll see ya tomorrow!

Can I take the plane to Beijing tomorrow?

 Back then, I didn't know how meaningful, impactful the next 14 days will be

Now that I know, I just miss them more and more

Right, today was... What can I say, normal Tuesday I guess hehe. But well got to meet up with a designer to talk about the brochure and so I have to stay till quite late to meet them. Oh well nevermind, it's kinda urgent so it's good to do it anyway. The faster it gets done the better no? And Ciara and I are left with 6 more slides to scan! Whoopie, we're really nearing the end so that's good.

I don't know why but at the end of today... I was just feeling really tired. It's a scary feeling somehow. I couldn't feel "a thing" as I was walking through the bus stops, from the crowds etc. My mind was blank, the noise I heard felt just like a buzz in my ears. Feels like I'm lost in my own world. And it was even worst when a cleaner was shouting "excuse me excuse me" and I didn't move. Until her tray touched my leg that I moved. Sigh...

What's wrong with me?

Anyway today is the 4th of September 2012.

366 days ago (Thanks Shihui for reminding the Leap Year haha), right on this particular night, I was feeling hyperly excited for my Inner Mongolia OCIP which was taking place on the next day. Was still packing my bag, blogging on how excited I was. Still remember those days when I started counting down how many more days left to the trip.

Everyone was reminding each other to bring their passport and put them inside our bags cause, well just in case we forgot about it tomorrow morning :P And yes I put mine already. I was still contemplating on the amount of shirts I have to bring, which ones to bring and which ones not to. Writing my diary... Sigh, those days, I could remember them vividly.

I wish I can simply wake up tomorrow morning, again, at 5.30 AM to bathe and pack up and leave for Changi. Then take the plane to Beijing at 9.30 with my fellow GTs once again. Just like what happened on the 5th of September 2011. But well no, I have work haha. Back then I didn't know how much fun, enjoyable and meaningful that 14 days were going to be.

Now that I know the value of that 14 days, I just miss it more and more. Oh well.

On the side note, I will try to re-share my photos which I've uploaded to tell what was happening on this particular day, back 366 days ago. Well it's going to be interesting. It's going to be nice. A trip back to the past that I will never forget. Stories written on the pages that will never be erased. I still hope though that one day I can go back to Duolun and see my trees once again.

Oh Duolun, I miss you so much

Happy 800th post my dear blog!

 Moon tonight, cropped.

"Make a wish to the moon"

-The Glass Menagerie-

Dear Life Symphony

HAPPY 800TH POST ANNIVERSARY! :D

Thank you for being such a good friend, whenever and wherever for the past... Almost, 4 years already! Every night, I would talk to you (back then) and also you helped me to record the memories that I have written in life. Memories, never being able to retrieve back anyway. So thank you for that. And also the special events worth keeping and written about!

And also at the same time, thank you for being a good listening ear, though you don't have a mouth and a vocal chord to give me solutions and talk to me, I'm still happy that you're still here for me, listening to my own problems too. It comforts me, you know. Just like music. Well sorry and thank you for bearing with me for the past 4 years. That's why I love you so much!

Anyway today was... An alright Sunday I guess. As usual I went to the temple in the morning. Pretty... "shocked" when suddenly a bunch of people arrived halfway during the service. And it's so embarrassing... Cause ehh the lady asked me to move in front to fill up the spaces. I'm kind of oblivious to the fact that there's a separation between male and female and... I sat in the middle of the female devotees! Haha.

And the most embarrassing part was I realised this AFTER the service. Daayuum haha. Oh well. No difference I guess. Male or female, we're Buddhists after all. But yes in future I will take note of this. Cause well during my Sunday school back in Indo when I was young, we're also separated with male and female. Male on the right and female on the left.

Wanted to make an exchange of my Safra shirt. Well it fits. Yes. But it's a bit tight. So I was thinking to get an XL one instead. But... They're having a "dire shortage" of t-shirts so nevermind, it's okay! Anyway met Xiao Ping at Kallang Leisure Park. Poor her for getting a not-so-great job. Good to see her again and have a short catchup. Feels like a long time since I last saw her hehe.

I don't know where to go after that heh. So I decided to just take a train to Clementi for lunch but oh gosh Clementi was so packed. So I went to this small Japanese restaurant on the third floor and well okay at least my stomach is filled. Did my grocery shopping at Fairprice instead and yup that's all for the day! I have this bad (?) habit of taking naps on Sunday afternoon haha. Oh well. I had a good sleep though. Though it's only for like 1.5 hours.

And the hardest part is to get my ass up for a run -_-

But I ran! So no complain! Hehe. Good 6K run today, but urgh I don't know why my body was aching. My back, my waist. And not my legs, thankfully. Just feeling sort of uncomfortable but well I'm now... Kinda nervous for Safra. Whatever the case is, I'm going to run it and I'm going to run it goood! Ouyeah baby hehe. So excited. Testing my new running playlist today. Okay nope! Some songs don't make the cut. But I know which ones to choose anyway :)

Alright. I guess that's all for this ordinary Sunday. I think I haven't said this... Hello September! May you be an awesome month ahead, well I can sense it will. Lots of things I'm looking forward to in this month. Though well, sadly there's no holiday in it HAHAHA. Whatever it is, it's a month closer, a step closer to the end. So yup! Be awesome alright! :)

Okay see you soon. Band is resuming this week, excited for that! Here's to an awesomely fabulous great twenty one! Week twenty one leggo! :)

Sunday Night Syndrome

Life at night

 Cause when night falls

The inner mind, arises

Well I'm not gonna blog about life... At night. Actually the title of my post refer to how at nights like this, I would think about life, and the thoughts about life would just randomly and suddenly pop into my head. Before I sleep, on a bus, while I stare at the emptiness. And so on. Well the night, though it's dark, it's also a time when we fell into ourselves, we think what the mind couldn't think of as we told them to do so. The mind just thinks. On its own.

Anyway today was an awesome Saturday! Spent it with Vithya and... Today, I must say, is a milestone in our lives! Haha. Well for both of us that is. She got herself a new, fabulous and pretty looking guitar! ^^ As for me, you'll find out tomorrow I suppose hehe. Special post tomorrow! Haha. But yes we're both happy, we went to IT fair first cause I was buying a ____ and also to help Ciara look for a new external hard drive (got it!) and then accompany Vithya to get her new guitar! :)

Vithya went home while I head over to Stadium to go to Kallang Leisure park to get my racepack for Safra 10K. So sad that I couldn't get the red singlet which looks awesome, cause I'm not an army-active person! Oh well SP emailed saying that we're going to get an SP singlet specially for this event. Looking forward to that! :) Hope it's nice. And... Not abrasive heh.

Yeah I guess that's how my awesome Saturday went.

Well on the bus just now... A long bus ride that is. I passed by Ngee Ann Poly. And I asked myself, what if I actually entered Ngee Ann in the first place? Well honestly speaking, seeing Denise and Waiyee's course (early childhood psychology right?)... It's kinda interesting, and I asked myself, told myself, that perhaps I could have went to that course instead.

Then I also ask myself, what will happen if I actually enter a different course... Say if I went to DMAT instead, or visual communication, or art. Or creative writing. What if I actually didn't enter the science field? What will I be doing now, what will happen in the future. Maybe I should go to Food science instead, or even Nutrition Health and Wellness.

Then my mind ask another question. Then perhaps I wouldn't have done the things I've done so far. To go to Inner Mongolia for an OCIP, climbed Mt Kinabalu, went to Korea for an exchange trip, covering FOC, the camps I've went through. Most importantly, the friends I've made, the people I've met and the memories I've written. Memories, are nonreturnable moments of your life. Once a memory is made, it will always be a memory. You know what I mean.

So well yeah and then I realised, and I came up with this:

"Could haves" and "what ifs" are common questions and phrases we humans come up with at times. A sense of doubt, a sense of regret we all have. Life's after all, never complete without doubts and regrets. They are the ones that make life... Better, more enduring. We learn from regrets, we grow from doubts. But why do we always have it in our mind?

Look at the two terms. Could have - the word "could" already signify a past. Something that has happened, and whatever happened, happened. So why not live the moment, and move forward to the future since there's nothing else we can do about it? Hope for the best, do the things with all your heart, all the way.

What if - the word if signifies a possibility that something may or may not happen. Since we're given a choice, why not choose the better one? If you're afraid things won't work, or if you're afraid the things you don't want to happen will happen, then think the other way. The better way. Cause there's totally nothing wrong to be optimistic, and to look on the brighter side of things. 

Yeah. Those are my thoughts. And how I think about life... At night :)

Good night.