I see Beauty in many things. And like the ghosts that only speak to you if you notice them, they tell me wondrous tales. With my camera and my thoughts, I captured these as faithfully as I can to share with you. And by doing so, they gave me the reasons. And though the thousand reasons may not all be sweet and some indeed bitter; they are still reasons to live. Come to think about it, that is Life, isn't it?
I've had just enough time to... listen to the sound of falling leaves...
Taken one chilly morning in the backstreet of The Rock, Sdyney
Leaves
fall
The
speed of tears
Smash
the ground
Silently
splash
Quivering
echoes
Through
silent streets
The
Giant cries
Tears as
many as leaves
Catching
the mournful wind
Through skeletal
branches
Till nomore leaf is left to shed
Then deadly
silence
Winter
is here to stay
Sometimes
you are sad. You may not be able to point out a single incident or even a
number of incidents that are making you sad. They may have some effects but you
know they should not make you as sad as you are. You are just sad. Stop looking
for the reasons. Indulged in it for a while. A sad movie, a sad story or a
sentimental song. Or a chat with an old friend, a long walk in the park, an
evening by the sea. Do whatever works for you. Sadness prepare us for happier
times. Just don't lay on It for too long. It may get so comfortable that you would
not want to get up again.
I've had just enough time to... be thankful for leaves
Taken in the garden village of Sungei Buloh, Malaysia
I was in the
town of Sungei Buloh (River of Bamboo) shopping for orchids before the Chinese
New Year. In those old less enlightened days, this place was used to isolate a
leper colony from the general populace. A vocation was needed for these displaced
people and in an ironic way, growing flowers and plants was the profession
chosen for them. Now it is a thriving town engaged predominantly in the
gardening business. The city has expanded and engulfed the area making it a very
valuable real estate. Now, those once shunted lepers and their descendants are
not only businessmen and women but also millionaires putting a final irony to
the Town of The River of Bamboo.
Everyone
was looking down because there were flowers in glorious bloom everywhere. On
both sides of the small lane, on every multiple racks, in every stall and
corners, any space that can be squeezed in, flowers of all varieties and colors
and forms smiled back at you. But my attention was up, at that wondrous spread
of rain tree branches and the millions of tiny leaves blinking at me. Whenever
the wind stirred, a few shook themselves from the branches and floated down in
an erratic but graceful dance to join the other fallen leaves on the roof.
I love
flowers but it was the leaves that talked to me that day. And leaves always reminded me of that sad song
叶子yèzi (Leaf ). I
heard that haunting voice as I stood by the road shoulder looking up feeling
deliciously sad while boisterous trading were happening all round me. And what
made it even more poignant is that I will never hear her singing a new song
again. '阿桑' (Ah Sang) had a hard life. She was discovered
singing in a pub and “Leaf” made her famous. Just when it appeared that Life is
finally giving her the break she deserved, she quietly left the entertainment
scene. Not long later, the world was shocked to learn that she has succumbed to
breast cancer. She was only 34.
叶子 Leaves
阿桑 Ah Sang
叶子是不会飞翔的翅膀 Leaves are wings that cannot fly
翅膀是落在天上的叶子 Wings are leaves dropped in the sky
天堂原来应该不是妄想 Heaven is not wishful thinking after all
I've had just enough time to... be fooled thrice and love it!
Taken of the thrid surprise - a juicy carrot cake
The next day, an ex-colleague
dropped by at the flour mill. They asked me if I have the time for lunch and I
said “Of course, there is always time for old friends”. We went to a
Thai-Chinese restaurant and I was surprised at the turn out. Hmm… Quite a biggroup. After fragrant Pandan chicken, fiery tom yam soup, steaming fish brewing
in salted vegetable and other sharp tasting foods that I missed dearly for the
last two weeks…
They brought out another cake with a
single lighted candle and sang the birthday song in the restaurant. I was fooled
again. It was a coincident that my ex-colleague visited us that day and my devious
colleagues made use of the accidental visit to fool me. That was the second
surprise.
Though that lifted my spirits, I
struggled through the day hardly able to keep my eyes open as I was still in my zombie state. After 3.00 pm, the
jet lag effect kicked in and after so many visits to the restroom, I must have
washed the skin off my face. So when the call came in to go home a bit earlier,
I was all for it.
After dinner, I thought I would call
it an early night when my sons brought in yet another cake with another single
lighted candle and sang the familiar song I heard thrice within 24 hours. This
time it was a juicy Carrot Cake with butter cream icing. The bakery bought me a
Black Forest because they think it is my favorite while the flour mill a Mixed
Fruit Praline because they think I will like it. 3 cakes and 3 surprises within
24 hours. I smiled, thinking the three different groups have different opinions
of the types of cake I liked. Maybe, they have different opinions of the person
I am too. Whatever, I felt most blessed that day, to have good friends and
family to celebrate my birthday with. Strangely, another strong emotion took
hold at the same time. I felt rependant at my good fortune and thought of
seeking forgiveness from all I have hurt one way or other through the years. Thankful
andrependant was how I felt on the day I was surprised thrice.
I've had just enough time to... be surprised not once but thrice
Taken of the new products that are launched on a very special day :)
June 11 2013, I have just returned
from US the day before after 30 hours of plane rides and waiting in airports. I
then had the longest sleep I had in years lying flat in bed for almost 12 hours.
But I was not fully charged. Two weeks of traveling through multiple time zones
have taken a toll on this old body. I knew I had to leave the office early and
planned to leave sharp at 5.45 pm. At least that was the plan.
At 4.00 pm, a call came in that involved
the future of a colleague and a long discussion ensued. I divided my time
between two factories. At 4.22 pm, I received a call from the bakery requesting
my presence. They said it was not urgent so I planned to go over before 5.00
pm. At 4.45 pm on the way down, I dropped over and have a ‘few words’ with a
colleague that lasted an hour and a half.
In the bakery, the factory manager surprisingly
ushered me upstairs instead of having the discussion in his room. By that time,
I was feeling groggy, running on auto and reserves, and wishing there was a bed
somewhere I could lay down to drift into blissful oblivion. In the meeting
room, I was surprised to see all the Heads of Departments waiting for me. I was
embarrassed that I’ve unwittingly kept them waiting for so long and apologized
profusely. They seemed strangely cheerful in spite.
They showed me the new company
products that they said will be launched tomorrow. I’m quite absent minded but
they laughed that I will never have to ask any of them the launch date for
these products because it was on my birthday! I was touched by the gesture. Before
I could settle down and digest the feeling, a few of them that left the room
earlier came in with a cake and a single lighted candle and the whole crowd
burst into the birthday song. I good naturally protested that it was unfair todo it a day earlier to catch me by surprise but I was of course naturallypleased that they went through the trouble to surprise me. I was a zombie that
day but they light a fire under the zombie to wake him up. That was just the
first surprise…
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 …”
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!
Today, the
5th 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.
