Great Music of February

Right so as usual, let's talk about the great music I discovered in this month of February! Can't believe it is ending. February is always a month that to me, seems like it "never happened at all". Although to be honest quite a lot of things happened in this month. Well Chinese New Year is one. Maybe it's because there's too many happenings, that this month seems very quick. Anyways, here goes!

Great Music of February:
- No Enemiesz by Kiesza
- Sound Of A Woman by Kiesza
- So Deep by Kiesza
- Malleable Beings by The Paper Kites
- St Clarity by The Paper Kites
- Young by The Paper Kites
- Such Great Heights (Scott Bradlee & Postmodern Jukebox featuring Kiah Victoria cover)
- Yalang by Groove Agents

Song of the month: Yalang by Groove Agents

Although I discovered Kiesza back in 2014 through her single "Hideaway", I only got the chance to buy her album while I was in Singapore back in January. And just had a proper listen to it. I love her songs, it is pretty upbeat (except for a few) and I just love the beat. Perfect song to nod your head and just release the inner dancer in you. My favourite will be Hideaway by No Enemiesz is awesome too!

Similarly for The Paper Kites, I discovered them back last year too. And I have to thank Candy for helping me get their album from Aussieland! :D Thanks a lot Candy. Hmm I have to say I really love the sounds of The Paper Kites band. I love their songs and I don't know why but they give me a feel good vibe listening to it, especially for "Young". They're working on their new album now and I so can't wait to hear it! I hope they release iTunes, or better, I hope I can find it here.

Such Great Heights is an awesome song by The Postal Service. It is definitely inside my "Great songs of my life" list. I discovered them all the way back in 2007 I think, through my sister. And this song was the first song from them that I listened to. Iron And Wine did a great cover of the song, and I thought they're the only one who can make a justifiable cover of this great song. But Scott Bradlee and Postmodern Jukebox did a great cover too, with the wonderful voice of Kiah Victoria! When they first uploaded their cover on Youtube I just quickly downloaded it. And it was on repeat for days heh.

Yalang by Groove Agents is an awesome chilout song that I discovered accidentally in this compilation album (sorry I forgot which one). A very oriental and Indian feel to it. Perfect song to listen to on a Sunday afternoon in an empty grassland. Well I wish I can do this soon hah.

Alright that's all for the great music of February! Here's to more great music discovery for the rest of the year! Discovered quite a lot of new music in the first two months of 2015. So yep, pretty eager to know what's in store for me in the next coming months. Till then, ciao ciao!

Retro

So last week I ordered this awesome gadget I've been wanting to get for months (or even years actually). Yup it's a Discman! And believe it or not it's been ten years since I used one of these. Well to be honest I'm actually still using this when I was in secondary one. Until my sister gave me an iPod as a birthday present and.... Yes. I didn't use it anymore. And actually I don't know where my old Discman is now. It's definitely not in my house. Or maybe it is hmm. But definitely not usable anymore.

My brother and eldest sister owned a Discman too last time. And being the youngest child, I always get these "inherited" stuff from my siblings. I've been using my sister's Discman when I was in primary school. I can still remember listening to it while traveling to Orchard, or Changi airport. And back in 2004/5 era, MP3 players began to appear. So when people saw me using the Discman on the MRT, I got the stares. Maybe I should try using this in public and see people's reaction mwahaha.

And then yes, my sister gave me an iPod touch for my birthday (and a gift for doing so well in secondary school) and I stopped using the Discman. But don't get me wrong, I've been collecting CDs since primary school, up till now. My favourite artists and bands, and everything else. Even though I don't listen to them on the go using a Discman. Because I still believe that owning a physical copy of your favourite music is better than just.... Owning files on your computer. Although I'm not going to be hypocritical and say that I don't import these albums into iTunes. Yes I still do. But it feels great to own a physical copy of these music! I'm a proud owner of a shelf of music CDs hoho.

I've been listening to my favourite albums again on this Discman I got for myself whenever I'm doing work, or at night. Sometimes I miss listening to some of my old bands and I just listen to them on my Discman. Which gives a very sentimental and warm feeling inside, whenever I do it.

We live in such a digital era now. CDs are being replaced by downloads. And Discmans are being replaced with MP3 players. There's song-streaming websites and apps now too, so that you can enjoy music on the go. CD-selling companies are closing down, some bands no longer release CD albums but just downloads. The good thing is that vinyl is making a comeback and musicians start to release their albums in vinyls again. And yes I too want to get myself a vinyl player actually. But I've been keeping this on hold because there's no place in my room, and also no time to listen to them. Maybe when I live in my own house, I will definitely get it and play music during night time.

I won't be hypocritical too, to say that I use my Discman more than my iPod/iTunes. I still listen to my iPod touch before I sleep, and my iTunes when I use the computer. But to me I still and will always collect the CDs of my favourite musicians and bands. There's a sentimental value to them that you can't and won't feel when you don't collect the physical formats of your favourite music.

We may live in a digital era, but I choose to be a sentimental person in this era! :P

I'm not sure how the future of music industry is going to be like. Maybe CDs will be gotten rid off forever in the next few years, and musicians will just release an MP3 format where we can download from. Maybe Discman will cease in production. And Apple will rule the music-listening world. Of course, technology made our lives better with increased convenience. But sentimentalism, musical pride and "real" ownership of your favourite music will not be present.

It's kinda saddening to think about this. But till the day when CDs are gone for good in life, I won't stop collecting the CD albums of my favourite musicians.

Two worlds

I came across this photo taken by the awe-inspiring photographer behind Humans of New York, Brandon, whom I've been following on Facebook for about 2 years now. You can see the photo here from his Tumblr. This photo is something that I'm pretty sure all (or most) Asian kids have experienced once in their lives. And I have blogged about this last year in April about different generations.

I share the same feelings for her regarding the matter. Although to be frank, my parents never commented or talked about this issue with me. And also I have never opened up to my parents, talking with them about my passions and stuff. At least they know that I enjoy playing music and taking photographs. Obvious from my photographs-filled room and weird taste in music. And also with the fact that I take photos anywhere and everywhere whenever I have the chance to.

I often wondered the same question as the girl in the HONY photo. Why (traditional) Asian parents don't really agree with their kids pursuing their dreams in the arts industry, or basically any field that doesn't produce enough money. But I always remember that our ancestors had went through difficult times bringing their children up. And they simply don't want their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren to experience the same thing. Hence they expected them to have a stable job where they can support their family. Anything else that doesn't support, is unacceptable.

But hopefully as our lives get better along the way, we can all break through this cycle.

To the girl in the photo, I wish her all the best. And I hope she will find a way in which she can reach her dreams without feeling estranged by her family and parents.

I have learned from last year that you should never stop doing what you love even if you don't do it for a living. Never stop what you love doing just because you're not good at it. Don't stop playing music just because you're not a musician or just because you don't belong to a music ensemble. Don't stop writing just because you're not a writer and no one reads your stories. Don't stop taking photographs just because you're not a photographer working for somebody else or working for yourself.

Because your passion will find a way. Or you will find your way slowly, through your passion. And lets face it, life is too short. So please, do things you love doing.

Happy Chinese New Year of the Goat!

 The cousins

Hello hello, first of all wishing you a happy Chinese New Year! It's the year of the goat now and I hope it'll be a great year for everyone, with great health and successes! :) It's been a pretty gallopy year of the horse last year. Well they say the goat is a very "chill out" animal so it will be less gallopy I suppose? Nevertheless, just don't do bad things in this year. And good things will come to you.

Anyway as usual my family had a reunion. My relatives came over to my hometown yesterday and did some prayers for our ancestors as usual on the eve of the new year. It's good to see all of them again, like one of my cousins whom I've never met for a year! Well times have changed now. Most of my cousins are working now, with a handful still studying. Some of my cousins are also back in my hometown already helping out their parents so we're closer now I suppose.

 Reunion satay <3

At night we had a satay session as usual and oh gosh I ate so much satay. And it's lamb satay so yes, very high is cholesterol hahaha. And then we played some games of charades where it is so so so fun and super hillarious. The way some of my cousins acted the words are just too damn funny! Although we're all grown up now, I suppose we still know how to have fun and that's important.

Today my aunts and cousins have returned back to Jakarta. As there was no one around to receive guests it was my siblings who were on "stand by" hahaha. But hmm, I feel like it's a quieter CNY this time round? There weren't many guests over in the morning and they started coming at like 1 PM so yeah. Usually it's full for the whole day. But I'm kinda thankful about it. If not it'll be quite overwhelming to handle so many guests at once heh. And then in the evening we went to my grandmother's house as usual. This time round my nephew joins us and he simply knows how to make everyone laugh :P

Well it's another CNY come and go. It's a pretty late one I suppose, since there's that leap-month in the horse year. CNY has got to be one of my favourite day of the year because it is when my family all reunite together. And with everyone's ever-growing-busy schedules, it is getting difficult to gather I suppose. So yeah, it's good to see everyone back together again.

Alright that's all for now. Wishing everyone an awesome year of the goat ahead!

恭喜发财，万事如意，身体健康! :)

In The Middle of Nowhere

A few days ago I went to this place in my hometown, somewhere near the mountain. I've never been here before and the view there was so spectacular. It was a fine day, but rather cloudy.

I think one of the most amazing feelings on earth is to be in the middle of nowhere. Especially in the middle of nowhere, in a place you've never been before. That feeling of curiosity, amazement and awe is something pretty indescribable. To me I love going to places I've never been before. And Indonesia is such a huge country, there's too many places I want to go to. There's even a large part of my hometown that is undiscovered yet. Sometimes they surprise me a lot. I'll go to an area, and be treated to an amazing view. My wish is to one day go for a drive around my hometown (or even country) on my own.

Being in a place we've never been before is a pretty great experience, because that excitement and that surprise element definitely adds to the great feeling of experiencing it. It's like when you are traveling to a new place you've never been before, you'll think of the sights you're going to see on your way there. Sometimes the sights amazed you more than you expected them to be.

Go out, and see the world. This world is too amazing to not be seen!

Death and all his friends

When I was young, I was really really afraid of dying. Basically, everything that is related to death. I remember when I was in P5 there was this exercise where my teacher asked us to circle things we are afraid of (out of a list). And then asked us to rank it from top to bottom. Number one was death, and number two was getting trapped in the lift. It was pretty hilarious I must say.

But of course along the way, my perception of death changes.

I suppose my first encounter with death, of someone I know closely, would be the passing of my grandfather. Although I didn't have much memories with him because he had dementia, and we didn't encounter much communication, I always remember him sitting around at my grandma's house whenever I go there. So I felt sad knowing that he wouldn't be there anymore. And I remembered crying when I first went to the funeral parlour and hugged my grandmother. And I remembered seeing my mother cry the morning we were heading to the crematorium in Jakarta. As I've come to a realisation that he will be gone forever. And after he got cremated, all I felt was blatant emptiness.

The next encounter would be my late aunt. She passed away after losing her battle with cancer. As she stayed nearby my house, and that my sister/brother and I always accompanied her when she was having her chemotherapy session while in Singapore, I could say that she was someone quite dear to me. I couldn't come to her cremation as I was still in Singapore, and was having exams. I felt really sad and kinda regretted not skipping school just to go back, to be honest.

The next encounter would be my paternal grandmother. Who is someone I really really... Love and is very dearest to me. I grew up with her by my side (except when I'm in Singapore of course), I spent my mornings during school holiday talking to her, and well we were just really close I suppose. I remember that fateful morning in April 2006 when I received a letter from a staff in TSS saying that my sister is fetching me because I have to "attend a family member's funeral". I just got shocked, and I knew it was my grandmother. We quickly bought air tickets home and flew that evening.

My grandmother's passing was really sad for me. I remember crying when they were closing her coffin. When we had to put paper ingots in her coffin. And when she was about to leave her house for the last time (the wake was held in her house). It was definitely one of the saddest day of my life. After her funeral, I remember my cousins and I were sitting in her house being very quiet. It was as if emptiness blanketed over her house. It's almost 9 years since her passing, and I do miss her at times.

Perhaps the reason why I was afraid of death (and is still kind of afraid) when I was young is that firstly, I thought that not everyone will die, so... I don't want to die. And of course, we are all afraid of losing someone we love, someone we know dearly. But as I grow up I discovered that death is a destination we all are heading for. No one lives forever. And of course I learned through Buddhism that nothing is permanent. Not even our lives, or an ant's life, and so on. So I began to embrace death. Not saying I wish to die but to accept the fact that we are all going to die one day.

 I'll always remember a Tibetan saying about death (I think I mentioned it before here): like a foetus in a womb who cannot stay inside longer than it is supposed to be, we cannot stay on this life longer than we are supposed to be. We will all go one day, not sure when and not sure where. And yes, we all have a limit, or what Muslims call as "ajal". Not forgetting Sogyal Rinpoche's words that our body is just something we leave behind. These are the lessons that made me embrace death.

I don't take death as something necessarily negative, and sad. I see death as a reminder of impermanence - a reminder to live my life to the fullest, and to be compassionate always to others.

That being said, I am referring to death as when a person naturally dies from an illness or old age. Not when someone is killed or when someone died because of a death sentence. Because I don't really agree with death sentence, I'd rather go for life sentence. Or make that person do community work for the rest of his/her life. Because only the one above knows when we die, and I don't think we have any rights to take the life of others. No one should set the finish-line of someone else's life.

Ah well, it's a sad post, but something I've been wanting to write about. Of course, I wish that everyone would have a long and healthy life. And I hope everyone will be happy, and live their lives to the fullest.

Because no one else will live yours.

PS: Happy Valentine's day!

Departure

Yesterday someone I know quite closely, passed away. It was a shocking news for me. But I know he's leaving us soon. But not this soon. He's a prominent figure in my hometown's temple, a well-known man in the Chinese/Buddhist community, and definitely one of the most selfless person I've met on earth. Friendly, caring, always there to help, and humble. And he's gone now, forever.

He helped us a lot, from my grandmother's funeral, to the weddings of my brother and sister, and much more. And he also taught me something that I treasured a lot, because not many people, not many young people, know this knowledge. And I am very thankful and humbled by his teachings. I will keep it in my heart, and use it to the best of my ability. And heed his words that I should never misuse this, and always be helpful towards others. And I will.

Like I've learned last year through Sogyal Rinpoche's book, that the Tibetan word for body is lu and it means something we leave behind, well... He has left his behind now. But I know, we know, that before he left his body behind, he has helped a lot of people and that is something I am so humbled of him.

Perhaps, just maybe, he is a reincarnation of what Buddhists know as a Bodhisattva. Or maybe, he is on the path to becoming one. In the next life, or maybe the life after next.

It feels kind of sad to know someone whom you know quite closely with has passed away. Especially when you spent some time months before he departed from this world. I still have a few questions for him and what I regretted the most is to not express my gratitude for the lessons he had taught me. Sigh. Regrets really come too late. But I just want him to know that I'm ever so thankful for his guidance, teachings and stories. And how much humbled I am by his actions.

So long and farewell. Thank you for everything that you have done for us, for your lessons to me, and everything else. I'm so glad to have known you and I hope you'll have a safe passage ahead. My prayers are with you. Thank you and goodbye.

:(