Around this time tomorrow night, I should be on board the Air Asia X plane heading towards Gold Coast, Australia.. And it shall be my last trip for the year.. :)
Booked the ticket to Gold Coast end of Aug (MYR$437), while I secured the ticket back to Malaysia only early this month (AUD$594).. I had wanted to stay longer than just the 5 weeks (Nov 24 - Dec 30).. had wanted to stay over the New Year too, but unfortunately, Yvoone - the friend that I am bunking over with in Brisbane, is going on her own family trip during the New Year period..
Just wanna go somewhere for my birthday, for once.. Never been to anywhere to celebrate my birthday.. had always stayed home, wherever home is/was.. plus the fact that my birthday falls so close to Christmas, it was always difficult to take long leaves of absence from work.. not to mention that it is THE peak period for traveling too, with everything from air tickets to hotel accommodations costing at least double or even triple than usual.. But this time round, I decided to treat myself to a nice and memorable birthday present..
By being out of the country and away from the mundaneness of everyday life, I hope to straighten out my thoughts, free myself of some emotional baggage, gain some clarity and perspectives, and be in a better position to make the right decisions pertaining my future. Of course, all these will be done on top of my main objective of spending some quality time with my godson, Rio.. :) Can't wait to see him and his elder brother, Cody.. :) :) :)
Australia, here I come!!
Nov 23, 2009
Nov 22, 2009
Western Japan 2009: Manhole covers
Just like the unique door knockers I saw in Siena and Macon, each area, city and prefectures in Japan has its own distinctive manhole cover designs.. Didn't really notice them until I made this trip..
Here are some interesting ones that I saw...
More photos of manhole covers that I have taken..
Found this website which showcased a lot more Japanese manhole designs.
Here are some interesting ones that I saw...
More photos of manhole covers that I have taken..
Found this website which showcased a lot more Japanese manhole designs.
Nov 21, 2009
Blackout (II)
And I thought the blackout last Sunday was a rare occurrence, a freak accident that I was unfortunately enough to experience.. Two days ago, we suffered another 3 hour blackout from 10pm to almost 1am.. That was just the electricity supply..
Let's talk about water.. During my last 50 odd days here, there were 4 stoppages of water supply.. lasting from a few hours to half a day.. not to mention the frequent episodes of low water pressure that caused the water to drip, rather than flows..
Then the internet connection.. within the same period, I was cut off from the cyber-world for at least 5 times, between 4 hours to 2 days.. the unavailability of internet connection could have been longer if I didn't lodge a complaint to the ISP-cum-telco company.. and guess what, I am being charged MYR$1 per call for telling them that their service was down!!! And the charges was applied regardless of whether I managed to speak to a customer service officer or not!! Unbelievable, right??
After living in countries where such basic infrastructures and services - constant and uninterrupted supply of electricity, water and telecommunication - are a given, I couldn't comprehend why such incidents are still being allowed to happen in a country that kept boasting about its progress and modernity.. It is both incomprehensible and frustrating, to say the least.. and frankly, I refuse to subject myself to such low quality of life!
Let's talk about water.. During my last 50 odd days here, there were 4 stoppages of water supply.. lasting from a few hours to half a day.. not to mention the frequent episodes of low water pressure that caused the water to drip, rather than flows..
Then the internet connection.. within the same period, I was cut off from the cyber-world for at least 5 times, between 4 hours to 2 days.. the unavailability of internet connection could have been longer if I didn't lodge a complaint to the ISP-cum-telco company.. and guess what, I am being charged MYR$1 per call for telling them that their service was down!!! And the charges was applied regardless of whether I managed to speak to a customer service officer or not!! Unbelievable, right??
After living in countries where such basic infrastructures and services - constant and uninterrupted supply of electricity, water and telecommunication - are a given, I couldn't comprehend why such incidents are still being allowed to happen in a country that kept boasting about its progress and modernity.. It is both incomprehensible and frustrating, to say the least.. and frankly, I refuse to subject myself to such low quality of life!
Nov 20, 2009
《光阴的故事》观后感 (I)
终于把长达54集的《光阴的故事》给看完了。前前后后花了我将近一个半月的时间。54集，每集大约2个小时。所以孙家、陶家、张家、冯家、郝家和朱家的大大小小、老老少少不自觉地占据了我一百多个小时的光景，那罗大佑的同名主题曲更是在我脑海里挥之不去。
看完这部电视剧之后，我有两种心情。感性的我很高兴剧里的每个角色都有美好的结局：幸福的幸福，美满的美满，无一落单。然而我那理性的一面不禁会鄙视这样的大好结局，因为理智的我很清楚地知道这种大团圆的美好结局只可能在电视电影中出现，现实生活中是不可能的。很矛盾的心情。心里面很希望能够相信这世上还是会有童话般完美的结局，但脑子里却非常清楚地知道现实的生活是多么的残酷及充斥着缺憾。
《光》刻画了台湾本省人跟外省人的相处。虽然我不是台湾人，但在马来西亚，除了马来人跟印度人之外，我们也有好多不同籍贯的华人，所以相处时的摩擦及必备的包容也有雷同。加上我本身祖籍福建，听得懂闽南语，所以十分“享受”孙妈和孙一美的“真情交流”，也让我感到分外的亲切。剧里的对话都很自然地掺杂着闽南话跟中文，就好像新马一带的华人都会不自觉地在一个句子里同时使用方言、马来语、英文和中文一样。比起中国大陆的字正腔滑，我还是喜欢台湾的台湾国语，感觉比较自然不做作。
必须提一提的是《光》一剧的选角都选的很好。最令我意想不到的是黃嘉千。她诠释的孙妈可说是这剧的灵魂人物，把本省媳妇演得那么惟妙惟肖，把台湾本土精神发挥得淋漓精致，所以她赢得今年的金钟奖最佳女配角可说是实至名归。其实每个演员都演得很好：陈怡蓉就是孙一美，赖雅妍就是汪茜茜，杨一展就是陶复邦，黄腾浩就是许毅源，夏禕就是陶妈，黃仲崑就是陶爸，樊光耀就是孙爸等。。当然这些都要归功于编剧，把他们写得那么鲜明那么传神。在这整部剧里似乎没有大奸大恶之人，每个人都有自己的难言之隐，除了毅源的生父是例外吧。
《光》在台湾播放时，全球各地正好饱受金融海啸的冲击。不管是白领、蓝领、主妇还是退休人士，没有一家可幸免。大家的生活虽然变得拮据了，工作也许失去了保障，但是每天晚上看着自强一村的村民们个个不分彼此的守望相助，互相扶持，他们虽物资缺乏但却拥有了满满的人情味，大家的内心里都不禁感到暖暖的。老实说《光》的剧情还算老套，蛮能够预知它的发展和走向的，但它却还是受到广大观众的喜爱。也许它刚好配合到了天时地利人和这三大因素，所以才促使了《光》收视长红的关键吧！
看完这部电视剧之后，我有两种心情。感性的我很高兴剧里的每个角色都有美好的结局：幸福的幸福，美满的美满，无一落单。然而我那理性的一面不禁会鄙视这样的大好结局，因为理智的我很清楚地知道这种大团圆的美好结局只可能在电视电影中出现，现实生活中是不可能的。很矛盾的心情。心里面很希望能够相信这世上还是会有童话般完美的结局，但脑子里却非常清楚地知道现实的生活是多么的残酷及充斥着缺憾。
《光》刻画了台湾本省人跟外省人的相处。虽然我不是台湾人，但在马来西亚，除了马来人跟印度人之外，我们也有好多不同籍贯的华人，所以相处时的摩擦及必备的包容也有雷同。加上我本身祖籍福建，听得懂闽南语，所以十分“享受”孙妈和孙一美的“真情交流”，也让我感到分外的亲切。剧里的对话都很自然地掺杂着闽南话跟中文，就好像新马一带的华人都会不自觉地在一个句子里同时使用方言、马来语、英文和中文一样。比起中国大陆的字正腔滑，我还是喜欢台湾的台湾国语，感觉比较自然不做作。
必须提一提的是《光》一剧的选角都选的很好。最令我意想不到的是黃嘉千。她诠释的孙妈可说是这剧的灵魂人物，把本省媳妇演得那么惟妙惟肖，把台湾本土精神发挥得淋漓精致，所以她赢得今年的金钟奖最佳女配角可说是实至名归。其实每个演员都演得很好：陈怡蓉就是孙一美，赖雅妍就是汪茜茜，杨一展就是陶复邦，黄腾浩就是许毅源，夏禕就是陶妈，黃仲崑就是陶爸，樊光耀就是孙爸等。。当然这些都要归功于编剧，把他们写得那么鲜明那么传神。在这整部剧里似乎没有大奸大恶之人，每个人都有自己的难言之隐，除了毅源的生父是例外吧。
《光》在台湾播放时，全球各地正好饱受金融海啸的冲击。不管是白领、蓝领、主妇还是退休人士，没有一家可幸免。大家的生活虽然变得拮据了，工作也许失去了保障，但是每天晚上看着自强一村的村民们个个不分彼此的守望相助，互相扶持，他们虽物资缺乏但却拥有了满满的人情味，大家的内心里都不禁感到暖暖的。老实说《光》的剧情还算老套，蛮能够预知它的发展和走向的，但它却还是受到广大观众的喜爱。也许它刚好配合到了天时地利人和这三大因素，所以才促使了《光》收视长红的关键吧！
Nov 19, 2009
Western Japan 2009: Nagasaki
Second stop was Nagasaki (長崎).
Although what would normally come to people's mind is Nagasaki being the 2nd city to suffer an atomic bomb attack, the city has other things to offer too..
Went up Mt. Inasa (稲佐山) just in time to witness the sunset.. then I had dinner in a restaurant with a spectacular night view of Nagasaki city..
Then I went to Iojima Island (伊王島町).. wanted to go to a beach since it was still summer.. :) wandered around the island, hiked up to a lighthouse and went into an observation dome.. walked for more than 4 hours under the sun and was totally sun-tanned!
There are several temples and an interesting bridge around Nagasaki too..
More photos over here..
Although what would normally come to people's mind is Nagasaki being the 2nd city to suffer an atomic bomb attack, the city has other things to offer too..
Went up Mt. Inasa (稲佐山) just in time to witness the sunset.. then I had dinner in a restaurant with a spectacular night view of Nagasaki city..
Then I went to Iojima Island (伊王島町).. wanted to go to a beach since it was still summer.. :) wandered around the island, hiked up to a lighthouse and went into an observation dome.. walked for more than 4 hours under the sun and was totally sun-tanned!
There are several temples and an interesting bridge around Nagasaki too..
More photos over here..
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