Don't Create What You Cannot Love

I've had just enough time to...   love what I create

Taken in a shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I did not ask to be created

To be given life

Don’t expect any thanks

For bringing me into being

To this world I was “born”

It is no big deal

Nothing special

To think I owe you

When you are in my debt

Don’t create what you cannot love

You are responsible -

Love what you create

The Lizard On The Peacock's Head

I've had just enough time...   to chase the lizard from the peacock's head

 Taken of the magnificent peacock at the entrance to Fairy Park, Klang, Malaysia

I asked the lizard

What is it doing

On the peacock’s head?

The lizard said

No one looks at me

But all at the peacock instead

So I climbed on its head

The Lizard is vying for attention on the peacock's head

But they are not looking at you

They are looking at what on its head!

You don’t get it, do you?

They are still looking at the LIZARD

On the peacock’s head

The peacock is not too pleased, who would?

But the lizard doesn't care...

 

Everyone is looking at it, that's all that matters to him even if it is undeserving

Why Men Dress Up?

I've had just enough time...   to learn why men dress up :)

The Men of Octoberfest, Munich wants to be...

“When men dress up…”

The professor paused. He tapped his pipe against the table, and moved it to his lips in one smooth slow motion. He dragged on it with a few sharp sucks till smoke came out his nostrils and his ears. He closed his eyes and give a deep draw, opened them and blew out the smoke in a long slow continuous stream the way John Cage of Ally McBeal poured water from the jug in the courtroom. When he stopped, my entire attention was on his bushy moustache and the words that poured out.

“When men dress up…”

He paused and I hold my breath. My chest was heaving from an agitated heart keenly waiting for the profound revelation. Unhurriedly, in a deliberately studious manner he continued -

“… according to my comprehensive surveys and researches … over many years of studies … through many countries … and many cultures … of many segments of the population … I’ve reached the irrefutable conclusion … the undeniable truth ... of why men dress up!”

“Yes?” I inquired impatiently.

The professor shot me a disapproving look. Composed himself and continued, “Men dress up because … because …”

“Yes?”

“… they want to be boys!”

Boys again!!!

                                               (Who remembers Ally McBeal? J)

The Wind Cries For A New Flag to Fly!

I wish I've enough time...  to see a new flag flies...

This flag is torn. A new flag is needed.

Torn and tattered

Fluttering in the wind

A symbol of hopelessness

Of faded dreams

The storm rages

Tore it to shreds

Who planted the proud flag?

Why did he leave it to neglect?

The wind cries

For a new flag to fly!

5 May 2013 – The Darkest Day In Malaysia Electoral History.

Sadly, I've had enough time...   to see darkness envelopes my beloved country...

Darkness envelopes my beloved country

The Fifth of May was the darkest day in Malaysian Electoral History with massive voting frauds that returned the incumbent to power. At this moment,  100,000 Malaysians of ALL races are gathered in Kelana Jaya Stadium, Petaling Jaya mostly wearing black to protest against this abomination. This image represents the darkness that covers our nation and is the page profile picture of many Malaysian in facebook. And like the legend of the moon eclipse where the noises created by the people drove the sky dog from consuming the moon, the thunderous voices of the people shouting “Ubah!” (“Change!”) attempts to drive away the evil consuming our land.

Please google Malaysia Election Fraud and go to YouTube to see the “evidence” of fraud. Prepared to be shocked!

Malaysia Votes – One Nation, One People, Divided.

I've had just enough time... to vote for hope

My finger stained blue on election day...

Today, the 5^th of May, my countrymen votes. It has been an emotionally charged period that has divided and polarized the nation. If there is any agreement in rhetoric, it is – we should stay “united as one nation, one people”. The government said we are and should persevere this proud heritage. The opposition said we are not and pushed for a change.

But the sad thing for Malaysia is – the people know better. Whether it is the government or opposition, things are not going to change that much.  Discrimination by race is so deeply ingrained that it is not going to disappear overnight. It is only – “Will it be better or worse than the current state?” Whether it is for the citizens who condone it for the benefits they bring, the citizens who oppose it for the pains they suffer or for the majority who live with it because they don’t know what else to do. We are all living a lie. The country is sick because the people are sick. And we are all sick because we made moral and ethical compromise; and we made them because we are not brave enough to stick our necks out and things are not bad enough to compel us to. And, we are afraid that things will turn out worse.

I have my finger painted blue this morning after I cast my vote. I left the polling station with a heavy heart because I voted not with enthusiasm and optimism. I voted for what I think it is the lesser of “two _____”. And I cry for my country because of that.

Fun in the October Rain!

I've had just enough time...   to have fun in October rain!

Taken in Munich during a heavy downpour in the Octoberfest

Weather is never the cause

Of happiness or misery

But when weather is the excuse

You know you are happy!

Cheers!

What greater joy is there than

To be cheerful in pouring rain

To shout at the elements

Do your worst and do it in vain!

Getting cozy in the rain

Soaking wet and shivering

Perfect excuse for cuddling

Loud thunders that is deafening

More excuse for watering

A perfect excuse to get close

Cheers!  To the Weather!

Cheers!  To Friends!

Cheers!  To More Rain!

Cheers! To Everything!

The Artist Who Paints With A Knife

I've had just enough time...   to learn about Life from the artist who paints with a knife

The street artist I saw in the street of Yangon, Myanmar who painted with what he has 

He paints with what he has

A kitchen knife

And a worn out brush

Sitting cross-legged bent to his task

He has no time for complaining

Of Life and her cards

He smiled when a piece is complete

A moment’s pause to savor it

Then start on the next sheet

The artist who paints with a knife

Has a lot to teach me about Life

He used the knife to create the while lines against the dark patches to create the required shape

That is a worn out wall brush that he is using

He adapted his painting style to the tools that he has

Dashes of the broad brush and fine stroke of the knife and you got a bamboo groove

The only good brush is used to draw more delicate portion of the painting

The whole painting almost done all in just minutes, and it now belongs to me :)

And the memory that came with the painting makes it even more valuable to me

The Hardest Thing to Move

I've had just enough time...   to try moving...

Taken from a car in the street of the City of Hangzhou where the white snake met the scholar...

You won’t believe the things I moved

Odd shapes and sizes

Light as feathers

Heavier than stone

Smaller than your palm

Larger than the truck

Some I moved down the street

Others transported a thousand “li”

I had moved things together

And I had moved things apart

You won’t believe what I moved

But, the hardest to move

The hardest to move

- is a heart

_______

And that ain't the hardest part

The hardest part is working and I've worked enough

And that ain't the hardest part

Talkin' 'bout a true love

That ain't the hardest part

And that ain't the hardest part

The Hardest Part by Ryan Adams

The Flower Outside The Fence

I've had just enough time...   to admire the flower that strayed outside the fence

Saw these lovely flowers inside a fence during a casual walk in Munich...

There was a flower that would not stay

Where it is safe and orderly

Her contented sisters warned

Of a cruel world waiting but

She said -

“I know we all live and die

And even if I were to die earlier

I want to die outside the fence”

...and saw this adventurous flower sticking outside the fence

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above 

Don't fence me in 

Let me ride through the wide open country that I love 

Don't fence me in 

Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze 

And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees 

Send me off forever but I ask you please 

Don't fence me in

Bing Crosby - Don't Fence Me In 

Bitter Is The Old House That Known Despair (老屋的辛酸)

I've had just enough time...   to take pity on the old house

Taken of the old house I chanced upon in Teluk Anson in Perak, Malaysia

I stood before the old house

And it just stood there

It knows it can stand longer

Than I can stare

It knows I have questions

It knows I care

About its history and

How it gets there

But it is not about to reveal

Its secret affairs

Why should it tell and

Why should it share?

When all these years

No one cares

It will take its secrets

To its grave

Bitter is the old house

That known despair

_________

我站在老屋前

老屋竖立在那

知道它可持立

远比我可凝望

我有许多疑问

我在乎它的历史

它如何走来

但它不愿揭晓

它的私隐

这些年来

无人在乎

为何必须告知？

为何必须分享？

它宁可秘密

带到墓土里

唉！一所历经

辛酸的老屋

 

Paid To Create Dreams That You Will Purchase

I've had just enough time...   to see a dream painted

Taken in a production workshop for disabled artists, Hanoi

The dreams I paint

I wish I am in

But the dreams I paint

Are sold for money

Taken away

Will it be nourished

Or left in a forgotten corner

Among forgotten things

I don’t mind sharing if…

The needle in her hand flew and a picture took shape

I wanted to ask -

What is it you see in my dreams

When you hand over your money

I don’t want to sell if you feel nothing

But I’ve no say

I’m paid to create dreams

That You will purchase

Taking a break and admiring her own dream which will be taken away in exchange for money

The Nai Dee Sculptured Huts Part III – Vic Hua Hin & "The Little Touches"

I've had just enough time...   to appreciate little touches

The Elephant God the office guards

While the big picture thrills and astounds

It is the little touch that counts

The one that said with muted voice “we care”

The one that speaks silently from the heart

A flower on the bed, a smile in the morning

Clasped hands and a little bow

Welcome to our world, may our hearts touch

Softly, gently, with harmony and love

The Teddy Bear in front of the hut

“The Little Touches” 

The Elephant God the office guards 

The Teddy Bear in front of the hut 

A probing question that innocently asks 

Answered by little child asleep on the task 

A dance around the clock 

The imp that holds up the block 

A pink umbrella among the green 

A shadow behind the screen 

The spirits of the tree 

And the spirits roaming free 

The lotus under the sun 

Goes to bed when the day is done

 A probing question that innocently asks

Answered by little child asleep on the task

A dance around the clock

The imp that holds up the block

A pink umbrella among the green 

 A shadow behind the screen

The spirits tied to the tree

And the spirits roaming free

The lotus under the sun

Goes to bed when the day is done

The Nai Dee Sculptured Huts Part II – Tea Under The Rain Trees.

I've had just enough time...   to be captivated by rain trees and huts.

Anyone care for a cup of tea under the rain tree? Taken in the Naidee Sculptured Huts, Hua Hin

When I came across the main yard,  I involuntarily let out a “wow!” exclamation. For there before me is the dream outdoor dining area I will build if I had the money. But it is already built for me, to have a leisurely cup of tea under the giant rain tree. How did the architect build something so close to my dream without consulting me? Join me in wandering through the grounds.

 

 What a wonderful place to have a quiet meal with friends.

Even the main serving area is so tastefully done.

Don’t you just marvel at the architecture?

 

As the sun sets, the ambiance changes. A marvelous example of architecture complementing nature.

 

With the daylight still available, I went exploring. Saw this large building close to the dining area and decided to check that out.  

Like all the other buildings, this large functional building is also tastefully designed and constructed to blend in well with the surroundings. I wondered what it is for?

 

It is a living quarter for a group. It is not only well designed but also very practical and versatile. The hall is big enough to take at least a bus load.

This is such a charming public toilet. It shows that practicality does not have to come at the expense of style and beauty.

I wandered to the other side of the lotus pond to take this shot. The whole complex is very well thought out and planned. I’ve so many pictures that I will continue this on the next post to share with those of you who could not be there.