Falling leaves, settling
No, it's not Autumn. The rains have arrived again, and the weather is somewhat similar to fall.

The past few weeks have seen certain changes to the environment at work, and all i can say is - more work but not necessarily mean exponentially more dough. Someone asked me, or rather tried to force my brain to think like they would. Well, honestly, i wouldn't say i'm resistant to change or whatnot but really, there are some things that need time, patience and a lot of luck. If it isn't yours, no matter how much effort you put in, it'll float away like those red falling leaves of autumn that naturally falls from the tree every year, as a greeting for the impending winter.

On the side, i've been hearing about some goings-on that disturb me so. And even if i do believe that serendipity may mean a little effort or push before the windfall, i don't believe in bull-dozing and so to my friend who is in a dilemma, i remember how that felt - i do understand how you feel. So like i said, when you think the pressure is too much, don't do it then. With these words, i look too at my reflection and say it again like a mantra.

The truth of the matter is everyone wants to win. No one wants to fail. But one can only beat a path to the door, with their own instruments and in their own way. I'd rather be my own cat and swish my tail and walk my own crooked way - be it successfully or not, i'm not you.

SONG FOR A MOOD
Leaves / Ye Zi - Chen Xiao-juen. This is the demo version since i couldn't buy the OST of the Rose. It's a poem, really. The tune too is poetic. Makes me feel all sentimental and sad whenever i listen to it, yet i love and enjoy the feeling. Imagine leaves floating down from a tree, you and i are leaves, too.
11:53 pm | Category: , | 0 comments

Seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness ...




Keats describes a beautiful fall afternoon and somehow it reminds me of a certain holiday i had in Japan, a couple of years ago.

As i look back, i remember so many things i encountered and experienced, those which brings a smile at odd times of the day. The lazy afternoon, on a rather cold day, in a town called Otaru (小樽). A tourist town, they had converted warehouses lining a canal into restaurants, cafes and shops. Otaru itself is quaint little town, of a old-world, European sort. Check out this website. Glass, specialty chocolate and pastries are the usual and yummy omi-yage you would end up buying. I bought a heavenly tea flavoured confectionary which i couldn't bring myself to eat - i still have one tiny piece left.
Delightful lil' Otaru also introduced me to the amazing King of Cakes, the Baumkuchen (obviously a German delicacy, it's roughly translated to Tree Cake). Layers and layers of cake mix are actually brushed on a huge skewer-thing and it is 'baked' in a spit. It is baked golden in a sort of a 'pole'. A round cake, when you cut it, you'll see the many layers - which is very like the trunk of a tree with its rings, hence the name.

An Orgel museum and shop sits between the numerous confectioners, with the world's largest steam clock at the front. And would you know - all i have to remember this pretty town is a music box that cannot play, probably got spoiled during our return flight.
But i loved the ambience, the cold brisk autumn air, the delicious unmelting ice cream we had, the bustling little cafes, small but heartfelt displays of musical boxes ... the feeling i was visiting and not staying, a oddly magical moment which i will always hold dear. Sometimes staying isn't all its tricked up to be. Not if you have to see the world pass you by, or best leave, leaving behind social creatures who cannot see beyond a shallow smile and kind but meaningless sweet talk. Don't be shallow, see beyond the person who is a friend but a terrible work partner.
Sigh! Not angry, a little sad ... and slowly coming to terms with the horrifying truth. I guess i have mellowed through the years ...

SONG FOR A MOOD
Milk Tea - Masaharu Fukuyama. The oh-so-handsome singer songwriter is sometimes so underrated. Sure, he sounds the same. But his music doesn't. If you think he is overrated and are judging him by his model looks and stature, are of an opinion that he lacks talent - then please listen to his latest album, a collection of songs that he has written and sang within these five years. I was a little suprised that some songs were folky, some rock and some sounded that he composed with a piano and not by guitar. And so, it is easy-listening on a whole. Yet, it is also diverse and a little different, each a single to stand on its own. I hope to share more of them. This song, i fell in love with, because well, i fell in love with milk tea recently of the Kenyan variety. So it brings me a smile.
1:08 am | Category: , | 0 comments

SAYONARA, Bee
This is it. D-day. Bee's leaving and we've been trying to keep strong about it. Jay and i both think we should let Bee go happily to her new life across the ocean, to another land. And so ... 風繼續吹 ... may the wind continue to blow, softly and breezily in your part of the world. Thanks for the angst, tears, laughter, guidance and memories.

This song is for you, because you like it so much. May your new life be as sweet.

SONG FOR A MOOD
Silence is Golden/Cham Mak Si Gam - Leslie Cheung. The legendary Gorgor wrote this song with lyrics penned by Sam Hui. Beautiful tune, thoughtful lyrics and the melodic voice, these make this song truly lovely and classic. And now, silence - let's listen.
9:30 am | Category: | 0 comments

Spam or Ura Smap?
I remember reading something online about smap and the webpage was quickly removed later. The writer sarcastically compared them to spam.
If you ask me, I like Smap. Sometimes I even lurve them. They are one of the hardest working popsters in the biz. They sing, dance, host, cook, act, write and look very handsome all at once. Of course, i'm not saying that they do it well, BUT some of them do most of these things well. AND if you're a Smap fan, you probably are a Takuya Kimura fan, too. After all, when you learn more about them, you'll notice that Kimura-san (who is the most competitive of the lot, and kiasu) is really good at most of those things. The man sings, dances, cooks, acts and looks too damn handsome. And did i say he cooks!

Was telling Jay the other day about one of the 'punishments' which was making riceballs/onigiri for the entire crew of their concert - 200 people. And it was the year that Goro had a ban so poor Nakai had to make 400 onigiri for the crew the next day. He had to start immediately after the concert - poor Nakai-san. In the end, he called Tsuyoshi to help but ... someone went back to sleep, with a curt - Do it properly, ganbatte!. Hahahahahahaaaa
Still i guess it was quite a good stunt when Kimura, Tsuyoshi and Shingo showed up with more ingredients and they completed the 400 in time.

Then there was the time by Tama-sama (The Ball King, Kimura having won their periodic snooker game) gave the losers (Tsuyoshi and Shingo) the task of picking up garbage around the beaches of Japan for 27 and half hours. Hilarious!

okokokok, i'll stop waxing lyrical over these jokers. If you wanna see them at their best, google SMAPXSMAP (read as SmaSma) and you'll know what i mean.

Alternately, look out for some of their solo projects. i'm going to wait for 'Change', Kimura's latest drama which centres on a teacher who is pushed into an election. So apt, ya. Plus, i recently came across Shingo in one of his stellar performances in Galileo (which i'll touch on later)

SONG FOR A MOOD
Fly - SMAP. My very favourite Smap song. Kimura singing jazz. Now that is unusual. From their 13th album, this version is actually from the single which i bought in Hong Kong. It's one of the few Smap songs that aren't overly pop-py. Listen and you'll be surprised. I always need this song to remind me that Smap are a bunch of guys who work hard to get where they are now, and they deserve it.
1:32 am | Category: | 0 comments

My cup runneth over
It's been nearly a month since i've updated this blog. In between, i've been to Penang (1); watched Gary in concert (2); wrote loads of reviews (3); did a 'not-too-bad-compilation' of book capsules (4); read many books (5); watched some TV dramas (6); gotten into hot soup and out (7) ... and made a few decisions about my life (8) and lifestyle (9).

(1) went with Eri-chan. had fun.
(2) wow! Mr Cao-Ge is too cool. He won Best Male Vocal in 19th Golden Melody Awards, which is decided by industry peers
(3) yes, i'll be rolling in money soon ;-p
(4) errr, i like some of the stuff i wrote for August issue
(5) The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett, Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (halfway), A Hatfull of Sky - Terry Pratchett, Good Omens - Pratchett & Neil Gaiman, Penelope - Marilyn Kaye ... and i forgot what else
(6) worse, i think it was SP (with Junichi Okada), half way through Romantic Princess (Angela Zhang & Wu Zun), Galileo (the very cool Masaharu Fukuyama & Kou Shibasaki), Yukan Club (also halfway), It Started with A Kiss (ISWAK, the first part), Hana Zakari no Kimitachi e (Taiwanese version, also halfway and charmed by Ella's delightful performance), Forensic Heroes II (TVB one, with Kevin Cheng ...) AND i'm so taken by the movie Penelope (with the quirky Christina Ricci and James McAvoy and i forgot what else, too
(7) We will not talk about this :-(
(8) Don't go there either ... but there is one thing - i would like to fall deeply in love with paper again
(9) Went jogging

As you can see, i really have been busy. Most of all, i wanna remember that feeling in Gangnam without having to fly 6 long, uncomfortable hours on the fabled national carrier of ours.
2:30 pm | Category: , , | 0 comments