The Liebster Blog Award: 11 Answers for 11 Questions – Part I

I've had just enough time to...   receive an award for blogging!

It is not the Oscar but it will do, taken in Kuala Lumpur of a recycled statue

“A Thousand Reasons” was nominated for the Liebster Blog Award by Alena, a teacher of Belarusian language and literature who maintained an excellent blog “My Native Belarus” (please check it out). 

What is the Liebster Blog Award? “The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. “Liebster” is German for “favorite”. This award is the “favorite blog award” then. The rules for this one state that you answer the 11 questions asked of you by the Blogger who gave you this award.” 

Well, the Liebster Award is unfortunately not the Nobel Price or even Oscar of Blogging. (*smile*) If you are interested you can check out the Liebster Award’s origin in this very informative post of “Sopphey Says”. Still, it is nice to be recognized by a fellow blogger that your blog is one of her favourite. Thanks, Alena.

So in the spirit of things, I will answer these 11 questions in “A Thousand Reasons” traditional and unique way. An image and a former post (click the links) with explanations to answer each of the 11 questions. So here goes –

Living well in an imperfect world is my motto.

1. Your life motto?

I like what Mr. Spock does, lifts up one hand, divide his fingers and said “Live long and prosper” so I have a somewhat similar motto – “Live an interesting life”. If you can’t, then try to make it as interesting as you can wherever you are.

Why “The Beauty of Imperfection”?

Because it encompassed my principle of living an interesting life in an imperfect world. To take beauty where I find it, to look for it when it when it is not apparent to the casual eyes, and to know I will find it if I just look hard enough. To live instead of waiting only to find -

Alas, I realized too late –

I was only meant to live

Freedom is the ability to cross the road when you want to.

2. What do you mean the word "freedom"?

The first thing I learned in Economics is the differentiation between “Needs” and “Wants”. Needs are what is needed for survival. Wants are what we desire. To have true freedom, we must first be free of the essentials of need to survive. After that, freedom to me is the ability to do what I want without hurting others. And the freedom to not allow others to hurt me. Idealism such as freedom can only survive after the needs have been reasonably fulfilled.

Why “Why Did the Monkeys Cross the Road?”?

Because the monkeys have the freedom to do as they pleased including crossing or not crossing the road. But even they have to conform to the rules of the tribe and abide by them – freedom within boundary is the only true form of freedom or we are wilder than the monkeys.

The Minions know more about wardrobe than I do.

3. Name 5 things in your wardrobe, without which you cannot live.

I swear this is a more difficult question than “freedom”! For a man that is. For there is nothing in the wardrobe I cannot NOT live with except maybe one. Like the Minions Sang “Underwear! Like the moon and the star above, without them, naked I swear – underwear!”

Why “Minions Rule the World”?
Because they answered the difficult question more eloquently with a song than I can with words -

It is a miracle I found this Buddha by the wood in Munich

4. Do you believe in miracles?

I am not really a religious man. More spiritual than religious if you must. I don’t know if I believe in miracles. But I do pray for miracles to occur – mostly, to help someone beyond help. I am not even sure which God I prayed to but I prayed to him to deliver. It does not make me a believer should the miracle comes true, I do not blame Him when it doesn’t. If that makes me human or hypocritical, you are right.

Why “Buddha By The Wood”?
Because, the last thing I would expect to find why wandering in an apartment block in Munich; is –

When I found Buddha on a walk

In a distant land

By a pile of cut wood

Sitting there, serenely 

Where he belongs

The century old rain tree that soothes my heart.

5. What kind of tree you associate yourself?

The rain tree for I’m most at peace under its spreading branches and million tiny leaves. Whether when the sun blinks at me through the tiny leaves or when rain drops dripped down to soak me, I always feel a closeness with the rain trees more than any other trees.

Why “Saving the Rain Trees of Taiping?”

Because in it I wrote –

The trees soothe my heart with a gift of memory

That may not last as long as the trees

Only as long as I live…

These are the answers to the first 5 questions. Come back for the next 6 answers :)

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 

Pussy Riot, Remember Us In Your Revolution

I've had just enough time to...   say a few calm words to Pussy Riot

 Noticed while taking a slow walk in the suburb of Munich

Dear Pussy Riot,

We respect your rights to speak

Will you respect our rights to preach?

We respect your freedom to think

Do you respect our freedom to be

Different as you are different?

In fighting for your rights

Do you step on our rights

Or does that not matter?

There are those that speak with gentle voices

Dream of a peaceful world

And toils to make it better

Believes anarchy is not the reason

Believes you should go free

Remember them in your revolution

Part II – To Carve Out the Soul of An Elephant.

I've had just enough time to...   see how life was breathed into the elephants of wood.

Taken in a handicraft shop on the way to the River Kwai from Bangkok.

To carve an elephant

First, feel its might pulsating

Under your finger tips

Feel its gentleness

Feel its strength

Feel its tenderness

Towards its young

Feel its complexity

Feel its friendship

Feel its relationship

With its herd

Feel its rage

Feel its anxiety

Feel its freedom

In the wild

Dream what it dreams

See what it sees

Feel what it feels

Under its skin

Your hand will know when it is ready

When its spirit course through your vein

When tears well up in your eyes

As you touch the soul of the royal beast

Myanmar Is Changing!

I've had just enough time to...   see the beginning of Myanmar's transformation.

Taken in a Chinese shop in Yangon's Chinatown, Myanmar.

I found myself in the Chinatown of Yangon, Myanmar recently. While my colleagues were buying casual nuts, I took this shot from inside the shop, through hanging lanterns at the street outside. Chinese New Year was just round the corner. Though this is my first trip to Yangon, I could feel the change in the air. Myanmar is changing and it will never be the same again. 

This is the watershed year for the country. After decades of being trapped in its own time zone, Myanmar is finally opening up to the rest of the world. Democracy will follow soon. Business men already smelling profits are descending into the capital by the plane load. 

With the change, more freedom and progress will follow. But not all will be good. Some will find it hard to adjust to the change. The oppressors of the country will probably be the greatest beneficiaries. It must be hard for Aung San Suu kyi. Going after the perpetrator will plunged the country into a crisis, compromising for the sake of the people will let them get away scot free. Because she cared more for the living than the dead, she has only one option really. So the past must be buried for the future to have a chance. But the injustice of it all is quite difficult to swallow. The alternative is worse. 

If you can, visit Myanmar now. In ten years, it will change beyond recognition. Though it is all for progress and a brighter future, it is still kind of sad to see some old ways of Life changed and the country losing some of its charm and unique personality. Happy New Year Myanmar. May this be a happy new beginning for you.

The Best Of An Imperfect World.

I've had enough time...   to reflect on freedom and responsibility.

Taken in Jesselton, East Malaysia

And I never started to plow in my life

That someone did not stop in the road

And take me away to a dance or picnic.

I ended up with a broken fiddle—

And a broken laugh, and a thousand memories,

And not a single regret.

-" Fiddler Jones" Edgar Lee Master

___

Though my chains be shackled to the daily grind,

To earn our morsel of daily bread.

I will prick my ears to pause and listen

To snatches of faint music,

Have a few broken laughs

And imperfect memories,

And no time for regrets.