If You Don’t Know Me By Now.

I've had just enough time to...   meet a girl who looks like me. 

Taken in the Flower Festival of Kai Feng, China.

This girl is a lot like me. I’m not saying she looks anything like me. For she does not. For one thing, I’m male and she definitely is not. And I’ll never be able to balance myself in that high heel boot that rise up to her knee. And the thighs that held her up are smoother, silkier and fairer than my muscular trunks that are more practical than pretty. But mine serves me better in time of danger though I cannot remember when was the last I used them for that. Anyway…

Despite her auburn hair that falls below her shoulder, despite her arched eyebrow thinner than a brush stroke, despite her elegant manicured fingers ending in stunning red, despite her slender waist protected by a warrior’s belt (I can’t picture myself wearing that even in war!), despite the fact she is female and I’m definitely not!, I still maintained she is a lot like me. It is the way she stands.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I can never strike as sexy a pose whatever I do, legs together or legs apart. Maybe I should explain myself better. Take another look at the picture. More carefully this time. Take in the details. Notice where she is facing. What she is doing. Where everyone’s else attention are. Do you get the picture now? That is how she is so similar to me.

Still don’t get it? Like the song said, “if you don’t know me by now, you’ll never never ever will”. And by the way, that is perfectly okay too. After all, I’m the odd guy out.

_______

All the things that we've been through
You should understand me like I understand you
Now girl I know the difference between right and wrong
I ain't gonna do nothing to break up our happy home

If you don't know me by now
You will never never never know me
- Seal

Never Trust A Monkey.

I've has just enough time to...   be cautious of a monkey.

Taken in the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali where monkeys dictates.

In the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali; monkeys are everywhere. And even where you do not see them, sneaking up on you. They fear no man nor beast for after all, they are the descendant of God. But godly creatures they are not. They have been away from their god Hanuman for too long and been near to man for longer still. They lost their noble ways and gain the wiles of human and that is not pretty. They traded their innocence for the intelligence of man not knowing that the soul was part of the bargain. So the monkeys there are there now are more man than beast and that is sad. So sad.

For now, they don’t warn you when you’re down in beautiful Bali “Never trust a man.” They warn you “Never trust a monkey.” And it is all man’s fault. For it was not a monkey’s nature to covet and steal till they saw it in the intelligence of man stealing from their neighbours.

Never trust a monkey!

And Never We Ants Shall Meet (Not)!

I've had just enough time to...  study ants.

Taken in an Art Exhibition on Ants in Jenjarom, Malaysia.

Will we meet and

If we should meet

As friends or foes?

Will we find

Should we meet

Wonders or bias?

Will we fight and

If we should fight

Know what we are fighting for?

Maybe it is better not to meet

And live in our own little state

For we are not ready

For the wonders that is the world.

_______

And now my friends, let us watch the video together and sing along. It is easy and I know you can do it. After all, it is just about ants, how difficult can that get?

Bang A Drum For My Country

I've had just enough time to...   bang a drum for my country.

Taken in a shopping complex in KL where the audience are mesmerized by the banging of drums.

My voice is stifled

But my heart bleeds

It bangs loudly

But the air is stilled

It carries nothing

Of how we feel…

So I bang on a drum!

I bang it loud to take my shout

I bang it soft to mourn our grief

I bang it slow to gather our pride

I bang it quick to hasten the pace

And the sound carries the roof

To the city below

And the citizens look up

And stamp their feet

And the uproar rose through the land

“Equality for all in our motherland!”

_______

I called upon my brother

Just the other day

He said, "John I'm gonna

Die if I don't start to live again"

I work each day and night like clockwork

Just tryin' to make ends meet

I could kick this bad world's ass

If I could just get on my feet

I'd bang a drum for the dyin'

Bang a drum for the truth

Bang a drum for the innocence

Lost in our youth

Bang a drum, bang it loudly

Or as soft as you need

Bang a drum for you brother

And a drum for me

- Bov Jovi

There Are No Steps In Dancing.

I've had just enough time to...   dance without steps.

Taken in a school concert where I enjoyed the confused mice having fun.

Grace is not everything

Harmony doesn’t count,

For much

Not when you’re having fun!

Spontaneity is the rule

Unbridled joy needs no collar

Bolt any way you want, as long

As you are, having fun.

Enjoy the innocence while it lasts

When all is fresh

Worry not about the steps

Just have fun!

A Spider Above My Head.

I've had just enough time to...   shoot the spider above my head.

Taken during an early morning hike up Ampang Hill, Selangor, Malaysia.

I saw a spider on a web

Hanging high above my head

Looking at me with a hundred eyes

Does it think I’m a fly?

It spreads out its eight long legs

Readied itself for the perfect catch

Doesn’t it realize?

Its downfall is its appetite.

_______

Look, he's crawling up my wall

Black and hairy, very small

Now he's up above my head

Hanging by a little thread

Boris the spider

Boris the spider

- The Who

Everyone’s Free (to Wear Sunglasses)

I've had just enough time to...   wear sunscreen and sunglasses :D

Taken in the morning market of Kota Kinabalu just before the sun is high on the sky.

Trust me,

Everyone ought to wear sunglasses

Before facing the sun.

Sunscreen may cover more

But if you protect your sight

It will be quite alright.

When the world is too bright

It will let in just the correct light.

But remember to take it off

When it is approaching night.

For when all around you is getting dark

It is best to trust your own sight.

(Inspired by Mary Schmich - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

_______

This humorous, witty and charming "commencement speech" by Mary Schmich will be what I would have loved to hear if I am among the graduating class. But no, the one we heard was dried like sand, rough like sandpaper and probably palatable only to chickens in a coop. So enjoy this imaginary speech that is full of great advice including scientific one like wearing sunscreen (ha ha love that! what an opening!) and I even throw in the song by Baz Lurmann for you to enjoy!

We Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston.

I've have had just enough time to...   sadly see the passing of a Superstar.

Taken of this morning's sad headline - we will miss you.

In the night sky

Some stars shine brighter than others

But you shone, the brightest of all.

In the vast distance between us

In the deep silence, all I hear –

Are the songs you sang…

_______

I hope life treats you kind 
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of. 
And I wish to you, joy and happiness. 
But above all this, I wish you love. 
And I will always love you. 
I will always love you. 


- Whitney Houston

The Cheerful Boatman of West Lake.

I've has just enough time to...   take a boat ride on West Lake.

Taken of my cheerful boatman of West Lake

It was my fortune to hire this cheerful boatman to take me on a tour of the romantic West Lake. She effortlessly pushed the heavy oar and gently swayed with the rocking of the boat wearing a perpetual smile on her face. And in a sing-song voice, she narrated the romance of The Scholar and The White Snake.

One of the lovely view of the lake.

Through her words, I imagined the scholar walking under the weeping willow meeting Lady White Snake and falling in love with her. How the strict monk seeking to uphold the Law of Heaven forbade the union of man and spirit and drove them apart. And when he could not severe their love for each other, imprisoned her under the Pagoda for eternity. A tragic but beautiful love story. So if you go to the West Lake of Hangzhou, hired one of the boatman for this is the best way to view the lake and hopefully, you will get a boatman as pretty and as cheerful as the boatman who showed me West Lake.

_______

This animation film by Yun Tin Ruan, a famous comic artist in China give a slightly different take. It tells of White Snake practising for 1000 years to be a perfect woman. She falls in love with a man by Hangzhou's West Lake but the man's distrust eventually kills their love. The tale is used as a metaphor for the relationship between man and woman in a male dominated society. Watch it - the animation is fantastic!

Love Is A Universal Language

I've had just enough time to...   pass another Valentine.

Taken one night wandering around in Shanghai

Love is universal language

Needs no translation, for it is

Spoken with a smile, a touch,

And a hug

It travels the seven seas

Crosses the highest hill

To return to roost

Before a warm fire

And a blanket shared.

_______ 

 Love, it's a special day

We should celebrate and appreciate

That you and me found something pretty neat

And I know some say this day is arbitrary

But it's a good excuse, put our love to use

Valentine – Kina Grannis

A Bowl of Hot Noodles In Chilly Weather.

I've had just enough time to...   enjoy a bowl of hot noodles in cold winter.

Taken just seconds before I dug into this hot bowl of noodles on a cold Shanghai noon.

Days of summer or

Winter chill, all I need is

Steaming hot noodles

On a cold winter noon in Shanghai, we were in-between meetings. There is too short a time for a proper meal but too hungry to forgo it. We spied an eatery that serves fast food – Chinese style that is. And there is nothing better than a steaming hot bowl of noodles on a cold winter day.

I ordered a bowl of “Lion Head Noodles”. The Lion Head refers to that single large chunk of minced meat that took pride of place in the soup. It is said that if the Lion Head is really good, it will stick to the wall if you flung at it. I was too hungry to give that a try and let my mouth did the evaluation. This beats a burger any time.

A Shy Guy That Fly

I've had just enough time to...   coach a shy guy to fly

Taken in my early morning hike up Ampang hill when I have to look hard to catch this shy guy.

I may be a shy guy

But not one that sit idly as

The world passes by

It is just not my style

To do the shouting

But the observing

From a distance

For it is difficult to see

When your mouth is spouting

You may think I’m a shy guy

That I am -

But not because

I cannot fly

_______

But I don't want somebody

Who's loving everybody

I need a shy guy he's the kinda guy

Who'll only be mine

- Diana King

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?

I've had just enough time to...   try to mend a broken heart?

Taken of the sculpture in Bali that has a king size headache

I have a headache

That splits my head

And cuts my eye.

The doctor says “no cure”

That split in your head

Comes from that crack in your heart.

And no modern medicine

Can mend a broken heart

Since Humpty Dumpty had that great fall.

_______

And how can you mend a broken heart?
How can you stop the rain from falling down?
How can you stop the sun from shining?
What makes the world go round?
How can you mend a this broken man?
How can a loser ever win?
Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again

Bee Gees - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?

Live Like Horses.

I've had just enough time to...   live like horses, sometime.

The first thing I saw outside my window one early morning in Anyang, China is this lovely bronze horse.

Outside my window

Night has taken over

It is time to leave.

The uncompleted words

Are piled in a heap

For another tomorrow.

I locked the door

To an empty office

The last to leave.

The street light

Threw my long shadow

To the car waiting for my exit.

I sigh and I wonder

When can I live like horses -
Free.

 _______

Someday we'll live like horses
Free rein from your old iron fences
There's more ways than one to regain your senses
Break out the stalls and we'll live like horses 

- Elton John & Luciano Pavarotti