Love

Stumbled upon this and I really wanted to share and keep a copy of it here. Cos its one of the most amazing takes on love I've ever read, other than the one in the Bible.

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran:

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Giving thanks

Been up to many things recently and I`ve been wanting to post up pics of my mountain climbing trip with my research lab ppl. But fate has it that I`ve been swamped with stuff to do. Lots of stuff and i just keep going and going and taking breaks to cool off and going at it again.

Kinda hit a rut today and my body just says `No more` and im like `Come on, you`ve stuff to hand in tomorrow` and it goes `blah......`

and this goes on and on and I go online to read motivational stuff to get going and I daydream of living in a beach side hut doing nothing but paint and play all day and listen to Jack Johnson.

and finally it all clicks and I realize how lucky i am to be here doing this. How many people can say they have a full scholarship, in a first world country, getting a degree. I mean i have freedom to do anything and everything i want to and that is more than enough for me.

Lesson learned today is to never have anything get in the way of you remembering to always give thanks. Give thanks for the gifts that are bestowed on you. Every single little thing is a gem. Always, always give thanks every single day. Never forget.

Hello blog

Hi there readers, if there are any left that is. It has been awhile since I last wrote in here. Been busy with stuff, life, and to be honest with you, I went through an all time low sometime last year and that made me stop writing here. Simply because I could not do it at all. Was basically wrung dry and all the creative juices stopped flowing.

Anyway, that was last year. A long long time ago. And since then I did so many things, learned so many things and I practically feel like a new person inside now. Funny thing is, everything around me is still almost the same. Sometimes I look around in amazement because I don`t relate to things that I used to hold true.

I guess the credit goes to my amazing trip to Europe with Joann, starting my new part-time job as an English teacher and moving on to fourth year in university. Little changes here and there might not seem like much, but they actually make a world of difference. Going to Britain and Paris has helped to open my eyes to the world in a subtle yet profound way. Everyone knows that traveling and journeying is one of the best ways to enrich oneself but, I am always struck by the magnitude of it all on each and every voyage.

And working as an English teacher has got to be the best thing that ever happened to me in Japan. Haha....sometimes I feel kind of guilty because its easy money. So easy and so enjoyable are my lessons that I don`t think of it as work but as having fun chatting with people. And the staff there are all so interesting to talk to. Its like a mini English/Japanese cultural experience every time I pop by.

And fourth year in uni is kinda fun, less classes and more on research lab stuff plus design stuff im working on. Its totally more cool.

I seriously thank the high heavens and the universe for everything that has and will come to be. I think through all the journeying that I have done, I am finally more at peace with myself and with life and I think that I am inching closer to my answer as the days pass by. So grateful and at peace. I just hope everyone gets it too, eventually.

Anyways, since I`ve got my groove on, I will be posting up more stuff in the days to come.

Till then take care and have a great day wherever you may be.

Green-Yellow-Orange&Red

Many friends in cars as we make way,

to feast on awesome colors on a clear fall day,

Strolling, snapping memories and caroling along,

t'was a fine moment to belong.

Random

Lots of input less output nowadays. Reading through a slew of things and soaking up much. Funny how sometimes the creative bug tends to lie low.Mainly it has been scribbles on paper and half hearted attempts on the stove.But one must always do.Too much talk kills it all.

Neways, some current light reads for fun.

Finally I know what Ratatoullie taste like. Veg stew. Urgh.... I want Remy to cook for me!

This freaking taste like Keropok lecor. Prob is its not crunchy much.

Mushi-pan made wif rice cooker. Told ya I've been lazy. Muahahaha.... Need some fireworks to fire up the future wif Apple crumble in it.

Care for a cup of tea?

I desperately need some tea,

A little sip would do.

A dose of Hatter's brew,

will make me all brand new.

La, la, la..... a very happy unbirthday to you!

Eat, Pray, Love

Searching. Forever searching. That`s what we do. We are forever searching for that one thing that will make us happy, that completes us, that makes our life worthwhile.  Some people find it in family, some in love, some in money... the list are endless. And when we get it, what happens? Does everyone stay forever happy with that one thing? If they don`t, do they try to make it work or abandon it in search of something else?

The circle of life. The wheel that is ever turning, never stopping. Over and over and over again.

Im taking a spiritual view nowadays. This circle of suffering it must be no more. The middle way seems best. Has always been and always will be. It has always been calling out to me-the other path, the one less trodden. I`ve always felt like a lone boat out at sea. Hardly anyone seems to be tunning into the same radio frequency. When they are, I thank the high heavens; when they are none, I sail on. It is no wonder that I turn to books or other pursuits to find amusement.

And when I chance on a jem like "Eat,Pray,Love" , I feel as if I`ve found a new best friend. The one that knows just what Im talking about and even better, have gone through it all to tell me her story. Her love and wars, won and lost. People she has met, lessons she gained. They are like little pockets of wisdom. And as I nod, and nod, grin, laugh and smirk through it all, I find that Im just that more determined, that more ready to start the ball rolling.

Of adventures and traveling, people and their stories, food and culture...the marvels are endless. And can only happen when you start an action, throw a rock, buy a ticket. Why not then Joyce, I questioned myself? Ah....and in reply, I hear words and whispers by 'others'

"The path less trodden is one of suffering." *came wif a knowing admonishing look*

"Ah....." *speechless silence*

"NONSENSE!...bla...bla....bla...." *this is final look*

"..............." *zoned out look*

and still I hear it. Why not then, why not?

P/s: Movie not as good. You`re better of just with the book. Treasure it. Love it. And what the heck, give it a name and croon to this new darling as you leaf through her already dogeared pages.

Im done! All 5o of em.

Heart lotus...

Really heart lotus.

The streets of Taiwan in the morning without traffic is divine.

Be happy, always.

Abstract stuff

More abstract stuff

Runny nose.....finish half box of tissue edi :(

Channeling Monet

View at Genting.

Random sketch in flight.

View at Genting again.

Heart waterlilies 2

Aichi Triennale 2010

Went to Aichi Triennale with MayC! Its an art fest of sorts, with artist from all over the world showing. Happy, happy,happy to get a dose of color and ideas :DDDDDDD

First stop is the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art. See the green tubing thing....its one of the installations. Its connected here and there. I like how it interacts with the building and makes the place more fun. Challenges the concept of how we view space. 

Installation by Yayoi Kusama is one of the main reasons why I want to go! She is obsess with dots and repetition. 

The work below is done by a China artist titled Day and Night. Its really really nice lor. Looks like fairies dancing on the walls with all the gold and purple strokes. And since its so long, its like a never ending picture. Surreal. The best part would be a video showing how its all made. And guess how it was done! By burning up gunpowder stuff!!!! So cool can. 



Next is all these wooden animals everywhere in a white maze. Simple and interesting the placement of ze animals were spot on too. Super keng is transporting all these stuff and setting it up. All the thought put into these exhibits brings me to tears. These artist are a dedicated bunch. 

And this!!! Muahaha......gave MayC the bejeebers! Its done by a Malaysian artist currently based in Taiwan. From Kuching too! Haha.

Cannot take pic cos its like a short film thing, so I shall try to explain it cos its way cool! Basically, we walk into this darkened room. Everything is dark, cannot even see where to step, so you sort of extend your hand and walk on. On the left you see white figures sitting, watching something. A bit scary edi, cos don't know if they are real humans or figurines. So walk closer to investigate. Wah, lucky, humans watching a film. Phew....so we move into the enclosed space and watch the film. Since all the seats were taken, we had to stand. Film starts of with a scene in the cinema with red seats. The whole place is empty except for a chinese lady and an indian guy. She is eating apples and after each bite offers it to the indian guy sitting behind her. This continues for a long time. Weird and we still don't know what this film means. Some ppl left then so we sat down on the red seats provided and tried to understand this film.

Then comes the next scene, a chinese uncle is smoking while sitting in the red cinema chairs.Beside him is a little boy who is eating a snack. This continues for a while and the scene changed to show the same uncle and boy filmed from the front. But now there is a grandmother on the uncles side and a picture of the deceased grandfather on the little boys side. By now, MayC and I were the only ones sitting on the red seats and suddenly it all came to me.

Me: MayC, I think I get it edi. Do you get it?

MayC: Yeeerrr....dun say!!! *grabs my arm*

Me: Nonono, I think its something like Inception. We are watching ppl who most probably are watching others. 

And then the ppl in the film started to fade away......so we freaked and ran. Hahaha....

So do you get it?

This is another cool one. Its a L-shaped corridor with a 45 degrees mirror so ppl can say "Hi!" and wave at other ppl on the other end :D  Its tiny too with lots of doors, so it has a Alice in Wonderland feel to it :)))

Walls of buildings. Looking at cities from diff perspective I guess. 





At Oasis 21, someone left Woodstock at the railing. Love the quirkyness of things like this :D

Another installation by Yayoi Kusama.  

There were many other great works, but sadly most of them cannot take pics one T_T Even the ones I have here, mostly I curi-curi take one. Haha.....so too bad. Cannot share la. Cos too many I will kaput anyway :P Interested then go c urself la :D It runs till 31st of October.

Next is Domatsuri! Super keng we went without knowing there was a matsuri happening! Lots of dancing, food stalls, ppl, kids, parade.....gotta love the energy!

M.I.C.K.E.Y M.O.U.S.E !!! I know its all about the advertising. Happyest place on earth? Pah! But when the song got blasted out into the air, my hands are clapping, Im singing along to the cheesiest song and I don't care. The world is beautiful again and birds are flying in the air.

Had oddles of FUN, out in the SUN! 

Thanks MayC for teman-ing me!!!!!

 <333