As an anniversary present, I bought myself a Kindle.. :) It was something that I've been wanted to buy for a couple of years.. and now seems to be the right time to get one as I will be reading lots of academic papers for my research and I do not want to print out all of them except those that are really useful.
Although there are 5 different models of Kindle, Amazon only ships 3 of them overseas.. and luckily for me, I only wanted the most basic reader, not those fancy colored ones.. so instead of USD$79 (for local US shipping), it cost me USD$109 for it to be shipped to Taiwan.. and to ensure my Kindle has proper protection, I bought a cover for it (US$19.99).. Thus with the shipping charges and import/custom taxes, I paid a total of USD$166..
So here are some photos of my latest toy... :) :) :)
taken out of the outer box..
kindle in e box..
semi-leather cover..
powered on and ready to read...
how it looks like.. my Kindle with its cover..
Looking forward to loading lots of books and journals into this new toy of mine... :) can't wait..
Came to Taiwan exactly a year ago today... and what an 'exciting' 365-days it has been.. :) there were periods of crazy busyness and phases of blissful idleness.. and it was also the first time I didn't go home for CNY..
In short, I've completed 22 credits of my PhD requirements.... started teaching English.. read more than 65 books (fiction and non-fiction, in English and Chinese).. 'survived' several typhoons, tropical storms and (minor) earthquakes.. watched lots of US drama series and TV programs over the net or the cable.. and many other mundane stuff... :p ;)
sky's the limit.. no? ^.^
These may sound trivial and insignificant to some, but I am contented.. I may not be earning big bucks but I have (almost) full control of my time to do whatever that I like (limited by the $ factor only).. I have my health, my family and my OWN time.. I am choosing to 'trade' money for time, as I truly believe that time is the only limited resource in the world..
Anyway, in the next 365-days, I hope to make a decision on what my research topic will be... select my instructor/mentor... complete a publishable paper.. read 100 books.. see more of Taiwan... see a concert or live theater performance at least once.. just to name a few..
Thus in the next 3 - 5 years, I will be doing the things I like (reading, learning, writing and pursuing my PhD in the process) while supporting myself with my language skills that will not go obsolete.. what more can I ask for, right??
:) :) (mmm.. I could do with more $$ though.. :p)
I have a TV in my room.. one that has cable.. even though there are more than 90+ channels to choose from, I usually tuned to just a dozen of them..and they are mostly English channels, as I am kinda sick of Taiwanese variety/talk shows..
Here are the channels that I'll surf and watch.. :) Channel 5 - CNN
Since there is no other English news channel available (like BBC or Channel News Asia), CNN is my default news channel.
Channel 18 - National Geographic Channel 19 - Discovery Channel Channel 20 - TLC Channel 21 - Animal Planet
I simply love these 4 channels.. Dog Whisperer, WW II series, Mythbusters, Deathliest Catch, Dirty Jobs, No Reservations, Cake Boss, Man vs Food, Animal Cops, and many many more..
Channel 45 - Star World
For Hell's Kitchen, America's Next Top Model, Masterchef US & Australia and many more..
Channel 45 - Jet
This is the only Taiwanese channel that I watch and only a couple programs that I will watch.
Channel 65 - HBO
For all the wonderful HBO original presentations and some block-busters movies..
Channel 67 - AXN
For all the CSI episodes.. :)
Channel 69 - Star Movies
For movies, what else..
Channel 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55
Taiwanese news channels which I will surf through for local news..
What I usually do is to just switch on the TV and leave it as background noise.. unless, when I need to concentrate, like doing translation or reading a very difficult paper..
Heard someone humming a tune at the MRT station recently and it just sounded so familiar.. I went searching for it online and found that it was a song that I first heard being sang in a Disney cartoon.. and this prompted me to start sharing some of my favorite Disney 'oldies' here with you.. starting with that tune that I heard.. :)
Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book (1967)
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
So just try and relax, yeah cool it
Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
You're working too hard
And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
no, I'm not referring to aggressive dogs or threatening psychos... I'm talking about kids on planes.. those who are parents will definitely take up arms against what I'm about to say, but I suspect some of them would jump at the opportunity to do so if there's isn't any 'stigma' attached to it..
Kids who are noisy and/or rowdy on planes should be muzzled or tranquilized.. or parents should be fined or made to pay more if their kid(s) is gonna annoyed everyone else on the plane.. It is bad enough that we have to tolerate lousy in-flight meals, utterly uncomfortable seats, small confined space and insincere smiles when we fly.. but we did not agree to be tormented by these little devils who can't seemed to sit still and keep quiet.. They may be 'angels' in the eyes of their parents, but they are a real pain in the ass to other passengers..
Imagine being stuck on a plane for hours with 2 or more noisy kids who kept shouting, whining (which btw was confirmed by Science to be the most annoying sound), crying and making all sort of high-pitch noises that made screeching noise of fingernails on chalkboard sounded melodious... Only Asian civility and unwillingness to be the 'bad' person is preventing something ugly/unpleasant from happening (like smacking the kids, smacking the parents, etc.. one can fantasize, no?)..
With the prevalence of budget airlines, more and more people will be flying.. and since anyone (with $$) can fly, the level of courteousness and good manners will definitely plummet.. so I won't be surprise if cases of air-rage go up in the future..
p/s: I wrote this after the trip to HK..suffered the torment of noisy kids throughout the 4 hour flight.. so do pardon me if you are offended.. Just make sure YOUR kids aren't annoying the hell out of your fellow flight-mates..
Continuing from my previous post on my dad's garden.. Other than papayas and bananas, my dad has lots of pitaya in his garden too.. pitaya, or otherwise more commonly referred to as 'dragon fruit'.. Here are some photos that kinda chronicled its fruition..
a small bud on the cactus-like tree
it starts growing.. then it flowers for a day..
the flower dries out and the fruit starts to grow..
a closer look.. dried petals..
a tree can have multiple fruits growing at the same time..
it slowly ripens.. turning red..
all ready to be plucked and eaten.. :)
'Buah naga' as it is called in Malay, is a good source of Vit C and Vit B (B1, B2 and B3), and contains sufficient amount of phosphorus, calcium and antioxidants. It has also became one of my favorite fruits.. :)
Here's a song from Nickelback that kinda made fun of all celebrities, and rock stars in particular.. the lyrics is hilarious, but no less untrue.. :p :) And I like the way the music video was made...
Rockstar
I'm through with standing in line
To clubs we'll never get in
It's like the bottom of the ninth
And I'm never gonna win
This life hasn't turned out
Quite the way I want it to be
(Tell me what you want)
I want a brand new house
On an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub big enough
For ten plus me
(So what you need?)
I'll need a credit card that's got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet
(Been there, done that)
I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
My own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher and
James Dean is fine for me
(So how you gonna do it?)
I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair and change my name
[Chorus:]
'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny with her bleach blond hair [end of Chorus]
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up assholes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free
(I'll have the quesadilla on the house)
I'm gonna dress my ass
With the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves to
Blow my money for me
(So how you gonna do it?)
I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair and change my name
[Chorus]
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial, well
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
I'm gonna sing those songs
That offend the censors
Gonna pop my pills from a pez dispenser
I'll get washed-up singers writing all my songs
lip sync 'em every night so I don't get 'em wrong
[Chorus]
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
This week I am sharing some poems from Sarah Teasdale, an American poet. enjoy!!
At Sea
In the pull of the wind I stand, lonely, On the deck of a ship, rising, falling, Wild night around me, wild water under me, Whipped by the storm, screaming and calling.
Earth is hostile and the sea hostile, Why do I look for a place to rest? I must fight always and die fighting With fear an unhealing wound in my breast.
At Night
Love said, "Wake still and think of me," Sleep, "Close your eyes till break of day," But Dreams came by and smilingly Gave both to Love and Sleep their way.
Debtor
So long as my spirit still Is glad of breath And lifts its plumes of pride In the dark face of death; While I am curious still Of love and fame, Keeping my heart too high For the years to tame, How can I quarrel with fate Since I can see I am a debtor to life, Not life to me?
Went to Singapore early last month.. Met up with my god-son (and his mum), a friend from my NUS-days and a few ex-colleagues.. didn't really take many photos.. so here are a few of them, and mostly of food.. :p
Boon Keng MRT.. looking out..
my single room at The Hive.. a bed, a mirror, a table and air-con..
Old Chang Kee.. currypuff, fried squid heads and yam cake.. :)
Ramen.. not Ajisen, but good enough.. w Handy
Pan-fried black pepper salmon.. at Fish & Co.. w YP.
McD.. w Rio, Cody and Voone.
Visited the "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" at the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands too.. thanks to Loreen, I didn't have to pay for the entrance ticket.. :)
@ the ticket counters
ticket n e brochure..
Since visitors are not allowed to take photos, I can only show you the entrance to the exhibition. :p
yes, that's e flying car from The Chambers of Secrets..
The exhibition was good, but not fantastic.. It is catered more to adults and teenagers as it showcased lots of props and costumes used in all the 8 HP movies. If you don't have the patience to read the labels associated with those props and costumes, you will finish browsing in less than 30 minutes.. To get the best experience, I would strongly encourage those visiting to rent the audio guides (SGD$6). It will give you insights into how some props and costumes were designed and the difficulties faced while designing them. All in all, I kinda enjoyed the exhibition and shall give it a 3 out of 5.
Outside, the chic designs of Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum are just captivating..
The iconic tri-tower
The entrance to The ArtScience Museum
lotus pond around the Museum..
Looking across to CBD area
At the end of my trip, I feel more like a tourist than someone who had lived there for almost 12 years. So much has changed since I left in 2007 and I really missed the 'old' Singapore.. Still, have a Happy 47th Birthday tomorrow, Singapore!
If you have read my entry on my dad's garden of abundance, you would know that my dad loves to garden and my house's garden is filled with crops and vegetables.. and here are some of the 'new' crops....
nice green lettuce
calamansi or "limau kasturi"
yam plants.. a few more months before harvest
okra or more commonly known as 'lady finger'
Fragrant leaves and lemon grass.. or commonly referred to as 'pandan' and 'serai'
Can you guess what these are? they are green beans (绿豆)!! or to be more accurate, 'mung beans'.
we need to wait until the pods turned black before harvesting.... sometimes, the green mung bean plants look so similar to the red ones (red mung beans or 红豆）that my mum can't be sure what beans she had harvest until she peel them out of their pods!
Frankly, I am quite hopeless in recognizing plants.. if not for my dad, I can't even differentiate a durian tree from a rambutan tree.. and unfortunately too, I did not inherit his green fingers.. but I don't mind getting dirty or working up a sweat under the sun.. so I think I might cut it as an agriculturist, if I decided to hang up my PhD (after obtaining it first, that is).. :p
Okay, back to the garden..
ginger plant..
pumpkin.. ornamental ones, not those edible types..
long beans.. beside a banana tree and a tiny banana sprout..
Sugar apple plant.. my dad did not plant this.. the birds did it.. the nature's way... As the garden has plenty of trees and shades, birds like to 'hang-out' here.. and they kinda eat and poop here too.. so lots of 'unauthorized' germination happening.. If not for my dad's superb plant recognition skills, he would have chopped off this plant before it can even flower much less bear fruit, like now... :)
winged beans
Other than these, there are also dragon fruits (pitaya), chilies, pineapples, papayas and bananas.. And I really like to spend the early evenings gathering crops.. cutting chillies and looking for harvestable crops.. like these..
some of the veg I've gathered..
Too bad we can't rear any chickens in our compound.. then we would have a source of protein to supplement all these greens.. Seriously, with the world climate going crazy - devastating droughts, floods and fires in many food producing regions, food prices are sure to rise.. thus it is always good to be self-sufficient even if it is not 100%..
You can do without all those high tech gadgets (like iPhone, iPad, etc), but you definitely need to eat, no? So maybe now is a good time to be a farmer... ;)
In my opinion, it is hard to find someone who hasn't heard about Lady Gaga or any one of her songs.. and not many dare to take her songs and sings it in a different way.. and Idina Menzel did that during one of GLEE's episode.. thus born a new version of Lady Gaga's Poker Face... :) So enjoy this alternative rendition of this 'iconic' song..
Poker Face
I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas, please
Fold 'em, let 'em hit me, raise it, baby stay with me
Love the game, intuition, play the cards with spades to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart
Oh uh oh oh oh uh oh oh
I'll get him hot and show him what I got
Oh uh oh oh ho ho
I'll get him hot and show him what I've got
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
She's got to love nobody
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
She's got to love nobody
P-P-P-Poker face, p-p-poker face
P-P-P-Poker face, p-p-poker face
I wanna roll with him, a hard pair we will be
A little gamblin' is fun when you're with me
Russian roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love, if it ain't rough it isn't fun
Oh uh oh oh oh uh oh oh
I'll get him hot show him what I got
Oh uh oh oh huh uh oh oh
I'll get him hot show him what I got
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
She's got to love nobody
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
She's got to love nobody
I won't tell you that I love you, kiss or hug you
'Cause I'm bluffin' with my muffin
I'm not lying, I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunnin'
Just like a chick in the casino, take your bank before I pay you out
I'll promise this, promise this
Check this hand 'cause I am marvellous
I'm marvellous, I'm marvellous
I'm marvellous, so marvellous
She's got to love nobody
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
She's got to love nobody
Have a great week ahead!! Be safe and stay cheerful!!
Again, time for another reading.. Gonna start my PhD 2nd year next month, so it will be interesting to see what the cards will say.. Note that all pictures of tarot cards are from http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth/ and there is no intention of infringing any copyright. 所有的塔罗图片都采自竹猫星球塔罗馆 （http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth)，本部落并无意侵犯版权。
對 學 業 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Education
現狀 Current Situation: 宇宙 [The Universe]
你念書算是很平順的，雖然資質不算非常出色，但你有耐心、知道怎麼累進自己的讀書習慣，所以越到後來表現越好。
You don't have much problems studying. Though you might not be very gifted, but you are patient and knows how to take advantage of your reading habits. You can only get better.
問題 Problem: 調整 [Adjusment]
你的讀書方式比較一板一眼，雖然效果也不差，但遇到棘手的問題時，會很難靠自己的力量突破，因為思考模式已經固定了。
Your study methods are kinda rigid and humdrum, though fairly effective. However, when faced with some tough obstacles, you can't really make much of a breakthrough by yourself as your mode of thought is too mechanistic.
建議 Suggestion: 塔 [Tower]
這張牌顯示在念書出現瓶頸時，不要太過好強，就承認自己的不足吧！補習、向老師跟同學不恥下問，都是很正常的事。
This card shows that whenever you reaches a bottleneck in your studies, don't be too proud and just admit to your shortcomings. It is natural to take extra classes or learn from your classmates or teachers.
對 健康運勢 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in: Health:
現狀 Current Situation: 女皇 [The Empress]
這張牌表示你的健康狀況良好，而且目前生活壓力也不會太大，你對食衣住行都很講究，也常保持放鬆跟愉快的心情，所以健康一直維持在不錯的水平。
This card shows that you are in good health and don't have much stress in your daily life. You are very cautious about what you eat, wear, live and travel. You are always relaxed, thus your health remains good.
問題 Problem : 命運之輪 [Fortune]
你不管做什麼事都要用掉很多精力，透支體力是你一個很大的壞習慣，不管現在的健康狀況如何，未來都還是要付出代價的，要自制喔！
No matter what you do, you tend to overexert yourself. Thus overtaxing yourself is a major bad habit that you have. Regardless of what your current health status, you will have to 'pay back' what you 'over-used', so be prudent!
建議 Suggestion: 賢者 [The Magus]
你要隨著自己生活、工作上的變化，調整對自己健康狀況的認知，不能同一種保健方式一直用下去，要靈活的感受自己身體每一個變化，定期閱讀保健相關的報導跟新知。
You need to adjust your health consciousness according to your lifestyle and work routine. You cannot keep to the same routine all the way. You need to be aware of your body's changes and keep up to date with the current health information.
對 人際運勢 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Human Relationships
現狀 Current Situation: 愚者 [The Fool]
你對於朋友的態度是很隨緣的，不會特地去對朋友挑挑揀揀，什麼樣的怪人你都可以接受，朋友的屬性也都各自相差很多，身邊一堆特異人士。
You are nonchalant towards your friends. You don't choose your friends and accepts all, even 'freaks', to be your friend. You surround yourself with all sorts of friends.
問題 Problem: 藝術 [Art]
你跟朋友之間是特別親密的，也許是有革命情感、也許是一同經歷很大的事，但是連結太深，有時生活太糾結，會無法抽離。
You are exceptionally close with your friends. Maybe it was due to a common experience or major event. However, this bond is too deep and can be very restrictive to your daily life.
建議 Suggestion: 賢者 [The Magus]
象徵你在社交關係中，需要學著開誠佈公的說出自己的感覺，但又要注意說話技巧，才不會讓人老覺得猜不透你在想什麼。
This shows that you need to learn to express your true feelings in relationships. However, you need to be careful how you express yourself, else people will not know what you are trying to convey.
對 財 運 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in: Wealth:
現狀 Current Situation: 惡魔 [The Devil]
其實你的財運一直都不差，有存款也有財源，但你擁有越多，就越覺得不滿足，總是一直去渴望別人擁有的，而無視自己手上的東西。
All these while, your fortune is fairly good as you have both savings and means of earning more money. Yet, the more you have, the less you feel satisfied. You tend to want what others have and ignore what you have.
問題 Problem: 藝術 [Art]
一切生活所需的金錢你都足夠，但是你最近可能有個大計劃，例如想旅遊或是進修，急需一筆錢，所以才會感覺到錢的重要性。
You have sufficient money to satisfy your daily expenses. You are in need of money as you may have some big plans, like traveling or furthering studies. Thus, these reminds you of the importance of money.
建議 Suggestion: 調整 [Adjustment]
這張牌表示，你需要建立一種紀律，來規範你自己的花錢習慣，建議用定存、記帳的方式，來檢視自己的開支習慣，會給你很大的幫助。
This card shows that you need to establish a routine to rein in your spending habits. You are advised to use fixed deposit or account recording to help you examine your expenses.
