tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224512382024-03-19T18:19:01.795+11:00strings of hopeslight chances, wishful dreams, steadfast faith.
seize the gems of today.lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-88670417130637594172011-06-07T19:58:00.004+10:002011-06-07T20:12:09.593+10:00closureit's a long overdue move, but change calls for closure before new doors can open. adieu!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">the sunset off tanjung aru, kk (courtesy of ypc)</span></em></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615418057201002178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VQGudWZm2DwkS8rWEMS37Qa8jrstXv8fWgzAYe6WflOUJvu_fuyklbMtOlQrOTMUCK1QsgLnKCJ-XggX3U999O233kp6p0lZBHPrwg3_7xBzE597mSUNe2LLnfUqbP-dvjUYOA/s320/P1090473-1.jpg" />lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-23310477085585799092010-09-09T16:58:00.010+10:002010-09-09T17:18:55.895+10:00melbourne revisited<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJDiDguL4IaIxODx8TNiZbgQOwkEpIVoMdQha32Ykc2gO-OcwDzeeEwMJvY-z-Yl1t9FamhsF2ma-RHPpqqxbHq0aMyJRpAMgn9U5vPpK-41PNMqOb5YDwwXL-6Juc75PA2BA2Q/s1600/DSC07685.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514805236567044002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJDiDguL4IaIxODx8TNiZbgQOwkEpIVoMdQha32Ykc2gO-OcwDzeeEwMJvY-z-Yl1t9FamhsF2ma-RHPpqqxbHq0aMyJRpAMgn9U5vPpK-41PNMqOb5YDwwXL-6Juc75PA2BA2Q/s400/DSC07685.JPG" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">the perfect arch</span></em><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify">it was almost perfect.</div><br /><div align="justify">you may not see it from the picture, but there was actually a fainter second ray of colours that was only visible to the naked eye. a double combo glistening in the aftermath of a sun-sprinkled drizzle in Mansfield, after a day's attempt at skiing and a night's worth of acai berry vodka goodness. </div><div align="justify"></div><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">the best kind of happy comes from unexpected surprises that knock on your door when you're dozing off to sleep. the sight promptly got all 5 of us out of the car for some trigger-happy snaps. the trip back to melbourne was a refreshing getaway from a routine that was starting to border on suffocation. who knew we'd be in for some awesome good fun?</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><p align="justify">rainbows really do light up the day!<br /></p><div align="left"></div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-78096762128307789782009-09-01T00:25:00.004+10:002009-10-25T23:17:48.045+11:00the heart of the matter<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">what dyou do when words fail you, and all that escapes your lips are trivial to the heart of the matter? of course, no amount of pleasantry or gifts can mend the broken.<br /><br />what can you do when there are no options to exhaust, but only scars as a glaring reminder of the pain? will the air always be this thick with discomfort, or is there an avenue for a breath of fresh air? is this just another stumbling block in the walk of relationships that matter most to you?<br /><br />what dyou do when every waking moment is tormented by guilt, and even the few hours of light sleep feels like a nightmare? why were values abandoned and priorities shifted in the light of trying times? how many nails must be hammered in before you ever learn?<br /><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">someone please tell me there will be a rainbow after the rain this time.</span> </div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-63476598510413403712009-07-22T00:07:00.005+10:002009-07-22T00:23:57.302+10:00empty clutches in the dark<div style="text-align: center;">if not for the two angels who give without expecting, love without judging, and understand like no other.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTA9eTXG8SGfRbOVVyHhxex855kx7Vu8U0fePEpYQehVgup3Ao8fhTip1wlprSP-fjTpUZehOon2YLwYvHbvpS5qGJH10axrN4TQClRU56imh77XIcfkEQWWDtxIpCb5TnaRzpg/s1600-h/twoloves.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTA9eTXG8SGfRbOVVyHhxex855kx7Vu8U0fePEpYQehVgup3Ao8fhTip1wlprSP-fjTpUZehOon2YLwYvHbvpS5qGJH10axrN4TQClRU56imh77XIcfkEQWWDtxIpCb5TnaRzpg/s320/twoloves.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360918515476063458" border="0" /></a>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-85878958051791643292009-06-15T18:39:00.018+10:002009-06-23T02:32:30.674+10:00there's a first time for everything<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-family:verdana;" ><br />my first sunset</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWGaBVJ9QOB33DmUfBKVcICpmuWA2LQQCLqdF1s6QzCjHye3GyNT55FLOsF4NT-qGDU9az6OWmYOMbD3MlYBo80YceQs5zwIaSPsIZmbGmbXIOC7HEyFhj7L8i_7QyIHtNHjuQA/s1600-h/DSC06630.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWGaBVJ9QOB33DmUfBKVcICpmuWA2LQQCLqdF1s6QzCjHye3GyNT55FLOsF4NT-qGDU9az6OWmYOMbD3MlYBo80YceQs5zwIaSPsIZmbGmbXIOC7HEyFhj7L8i_7QyIHtNHjuQA/s320/DSC06630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347477733006232194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">avilion's chalets lacing the sky in Port Dickson</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">with treasured company, since touching down on malaysian shores. aptly-timed, it was a reward, a welcome and a farewell of sorts for the hardworking hosts of a silver jubilee, a newly-returned china-fied soul and a prospective australian engineer respectively. it was, for the first time in the longest time, the most blissful getaway i could dream of.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style="font-family:verdana;">my first shot</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajvcVi671N8dvKWsCJ0jjREUJJ7F6uqvLRf5JeUk2ItaLZK6WhceYHsk3r-lATQLO0aSIILcr4yOInZ6XV-Gm-5Gizpge9aQrDaCakX2VU-vfzqrftZD6svHqtw6Gfgl4x4k0qw/s1600-h/DSC06723.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajvcVi671N8dvKWsCJ0jjREUJJ7F6uqvLRf5JeUk2ItaLZK6WhceYHsk3r-lATQLO0aSIILcr4yOInZ6XV-Gm-5Gizpge9aQrDaCakX2VU-vfzqrftZD6svHqtw6Gfgl4x4k0qw/s320/DSC06723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347483181304362834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">caught in awe of one Putrajaya bridge</span> </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">of Putrajaya, where the architectural beauty of many structures lie under-utilised and perhaps, unappreciated. objects of great stature include numerous bridges, government buildings and the almost fairytale-like palace they call a mosque. with a trigger-happy family, we now have many photos to look back on.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-family:verdana;" >my first concert</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFJQTXQkbsDkcGyDDdMBNh1ZV13nXkVRF8SQfZdRyJBGo4wpNNH1JHtIGStLzxEmGaTTzZ8-N2A6zyOJ0dx6DNa5iydd8qVHF46BOE-9w1yh5rd7kHE5LzMsFaXiFRjCY6XyYpw/s1600-h/04032009715.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFJQTXQkbsDkcGyDDdMBNh1ZV13nXkVRF8SQfZdRyJBGo4wpNNH1JHtIGStLzxEmGaTTzZ8-N2A6zyOJ0dx6DNa5iydd8qVHF46BOE-9w1yh5rd7kHE5LzMsFaXiFRjCY6XyYpw/s320/04032009715.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347483194125944674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"we sing. we dance. we steal things"</span> </span></div><br />with the incredibly sexy jason mraz. almost a sauna replicate, the stadium thrived on the heat of a seasoned performer who would have done more justice singing in a cozier set up. while in dire need of more air ventilation, it was a heartwarming 2 hours of cheering, clapping and admitedly, some screaming.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >my first touch</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu-ZQMCagP33RApl6KQtBOkHrsCzfeilPFexTllIuwG7JxjAAdNW12LdRA0urag9B1giAHPY_mGjY_hWweG239yVAK4nA4nvPwxEv-U6pCbu7FH-W4w0Xx1FWVxdcqe_XgkezrA/s1600-h/DSC06802.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu-ZQMCagP33RApl6KQtBOkHrsCzfeilPFexTllIuwG7JxjAAdNW12LdRA0urag9B1giAHPY_mGjY_hWweG239yVAK4nA4nvPwxEv-U6pCbu7FH-W4w0Xx1FWVxdcqe_XgkezrA/s320/DSC06802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347483188282140018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">new friends finding home on a rubber thong (not mine)<br /><br /></span></span></div>of morib beach, where we made friends with little crabs and miniature snails in soggy sand. originally meant to be a sampling of the infamous 'hat yi kai' (beggar's chicken), it was a pleasant enough walk on the endless sands of low-tide. note to self: pre-book chicken in advance.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-family:verdana;" >my first flight</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6mcJrwsKJOKhroqbEtO_EMMEwunJzRkV4B4_pQiqEQmn-Vz6EHEHjPdpa6_d2qktltMu_e0wKNsmV2-QB46ZbPq09kO6lTgIKOPXkJkrkuvA4JR103AnIUns0u3wSQh29K4MUw/s1600-h/22032009746.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6mcJrwsKJOKhroqbEtO_EMMEwunJzRkV4B4_pQiqEQmn-Vz6EHEHjPdpa6_d2qktltMu_e0wKNsmV2-QB46ZbPq09kO6lTgIKOPXkJkrkuvA4JR103AnIUns0u3wSQh29K4MUw/s320/22032009746.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347477760560891762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">one of them big bullies before our tiny speedboat ride to labuan jetty</span><br /></span></div><br />to labuan, where tuaran mee, chocolate and beer became the mainstay of work. a steep learning curve that made for an east-malaysia journey of high expectations and adrenaline. luckily, there was plenty of grub to keep going in an island far from home.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >my first drink</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXb4GvNXfB6HQL0PlLgbutpuzYUF2l_tpAYvb9FNDjnvEOVsW_xcuit0tSytb852lqFWW4y2zFmCdaOAYW9h3O2YzOWut5hpK-CrTXkFV72OR3Ym5Vjp4gsk8Sm1hNqK14w5SHA/s1600-h/20032009734.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXb4GvNXfB6HQL0PlLgbutpuzYUF2l_tpAYvb9FNDjnvEOVsW_xcuit0tSytb852lqFWW4y2zFmCdaOAYW9h3O2YzOWut5hpK-CrTXkFV72OR3Ym5Vjp4gsk8Sm1hNqK14w5SHA/s320/20032009734.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347510260033087170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >thirst-quencher</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(204, 255, 255); font-family: georgia;">to have when in need of a thirst-quencher, considering the tax and duty-free haven. for one month only, we splurged. helps to have some crazy colleagues around to keep you sane:) </div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-family:verdana;" >my first chick</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl-A3-2hTdChzDWkH80q81qmfGsF8RfyUnkQc_YD_vhFvRFlJkO7AOMic9lENWooiabxkTFczMmITFiTFAph9IiXLk0QcC36VxZIEBwvMG2Gk3a8iTyDpG7FnNCymf2jfsVKNZQ/s1600-h/DSC06933.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl-A3-2hTdChzDWkH80q81qmfGsF8RfyUnkQc_YD_vhFvRFlJkO7AOMic9lENWooiabxkTFczMmITFiTFAph9IiXLk0QcC36VxZIEBwvMG2Gk3a8iTyDpG7FnNCymf2jfsVKNZQ/s320/DSC06933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347503281195445586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">baby chicks in their wide-eyed innocence</span></span><br /></div><br />in the jungle-worthy throes of poultry and palm oil in Kulim. accused of smelling like a chicken half the time, the exposure to something beyond your usual sanitation standards was quite an experience. but with so much good cheer in tow, it was a memorable 2 weeks:)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >my first real taste</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1SqjCtJBTt5OHm7oPuAXk56dy7NbWLXNZNoJpzJvHMFaE6CUp9dNozYA1-f4Kv8R2IZRy-kqXAoReUvcu6S24uRJdp2bUC3zfWgPkhzYnFmJ0Tfl-9FMbGcH4m2rSoUy9Lppmg/s1600-h/DSC06898.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1SqjCtJBTt5OHm7oPuAXk56dy7NbWLXNZNoJpzJvHMFaE6CUp9dNozYA1-f4Kv8R2IZRy-kqXAoReUvcu6S24uRJdp2bUC3zfWgPkhzYnFmJ0Tfl-9FMbGcH4m2rSoUy9Lppmg/s320/DSC06898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347477743362430130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >penang bridge caught from the backseat</span> </div><br />of penang, complete with sun, sea, sand and (para) sailing. needless to say, the food was up to the mark at any given place or time. for awhile, it was the paragon of healthy living, if you discount the customary oil with every plate of hawker goodness.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-family:verdana;" >my first outdoor jog</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfsBZE6471NcyWo7Yuqx6M3KsfaLSBwwyp0U9iyXUrwfyoAj9d7Nbnx6nfmnh29aZaaOTkre-3eax3PvGj6QwRKSOehJgR7BXH_BeJ1zoFQrWo6zKH11P1VnDgURLRRGRM2r5bA/s1600-h/DSC06980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfsBZE6471NcyWo7Yuqx6M3KsfaLSBwwyp0U9iyXUrwfyoAj9d7Nbnx6nfmnh29aZaaOTkre-3eax3PvGj6QwRKSOehJgR7BXH_BeJ1zoFQrWo6zKH11P1VnDgURLRRGRM2r5bA/s320/DSC06980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347477744107196002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">the lush greenery at penang's botanical gardens</span> </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">of the year, after a a long hiatus. in the company of monkeys and do-gooders, the 'run' was a sorry reminder of how today's gyms have elevated the idea of exercising through made-easy machines and feel-good instructors. nothing beats the refreshing au naturel.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">my first post<br /></div>since i started clocking in the hours in the audit line. i've come to realize that many still stereotype auditors as accountants who deal only with numbers, which is so far off the truth. the assumptions people live with these days.. i beg to digress.<br />so far, so good:D<br /><br /></div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-15809159754905342882009-01-22T02:06:00.009+11:002009-01-22T03:08:35.890+11:00what is love?<div style="text-align: justify;">not a very smart choice to tackle this age-old mire that many try to understand, but fail, and others shy away from. a bewilderment that leaves many questions unanswered, i found some food for thought after a series of events.<br /><br />i thought that love is about making sacrifices.<br />about <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >making choices</span> that messes up your plans, vexes you silly and then realizing in an instinctive afterthought that he really is worth your while after all.<br /><br />love is about plonking down on the sofa next to him and knowing that there's no other place you would rather be.<br />whether you're tired, moody or overjoyed, he is <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-size:130%;" >the first person</span> you're bursting inside to tell.<br /><br />love is about <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">the million and one sensations</span> </span>that flood your entire being when you're missing his company, and you know it is not just an amatory conquest.<br /><br />love is when you feel at home even when you're not at home.<br />because <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 153); font-weight: bold;">he makes you feel whole</span>.<br /><br />it is when every other person is playing to an affectation of <span style="font-style: italic;">hello</span>s, and <span style="font-style: italic;">how are you</span>s, but you are <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">consciously being submerged</span> in the ups and downs of a reality show. because things do get blown out of proportion sometimes, and as much as you dont want to, you still cry.<br /><br />love is about finding time to spend with each other, whether on a long-distance phonecall or just sitting by the sidewalk together, trying to watch the world go by but really just <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">drawing out the comfortable silence.</span></span><br /></span><br />right?<br /><br />but i thought wrong.<br /><br />it is not that the flowers and birthday cards dont matter. like all other relationships, it is not just about how far you can go.. but how much you can take.<br /><br />can you take the periods of <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">neglect</span></span>, when it feels like <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">rejection</span></span> but really is just a busy period at work? can you take the <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">unreturned</span></span> text messages that fell on blind eyes because studying for an important exam got in the way? do periods of <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">non-communication</span></span> eat you up inside, and you're tired of being the first to call? can you find it within yourself to understand completely, without expectations, when parents and friends <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">take first place</span></span>?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">love is when every little thing matters, but nothing, absolutely nothing, changes the way you feel even when you know there is more to life than waiting around for the next romantic movie together.</span><br /></div><br />there is no telling how or why or when i will know the feeling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd5-NzpooJuHpUpL9Qunzbo9MsNXqsTtrU4U-iM7jP3m8ZbPILa7HFH02AwSbslSw3luEzNcvJSSA0g57Q6ydUBxNJUA5x9APcHTqQcjyjwKkMe21VGB-HlvoIB75h3XYEiD1xw/s1600-h/DSC06792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd5-NzpooJuHpUpL9Qunzbo9MsNXqsTtrU4U-iM7jP3m8ZbPILa7HFH02AwSbslSw3luEzNcvJSSA0g57Q6ydUBxNJUA5x9APcHTqQcjyjwKkMe21VGB-HlvoIB75h3XYEiD1xw/s320/DSC06792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293775460573822882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />only the sky is the limit.lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-39628355632119322822009-01-17T17:34:00.008+11:002009-01-22T02:59:57.893+11:00here in KL<div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">at Legend Hotel, for my parents' 25th wedding anniversary<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHD7wbRLoqtn-aaed8ON9WA2OzJlCCFkfvOfApxOsjSxOkVgDASTK0H_qBPhkiAmtPeCLtmK8zehVcOh0Mrhv27KmfUGUL3OxOb-BruUW5JD1C0eAEwKng1wQScqhAVmX1qGv9g/s1600-h/KIT_8062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHD7wbRLoqtn-aaed8ON9WA2OzJlCCFkfvOfApxOsjSxOkVgDASTK0H_qBPhkiAmtPeCLtmK8zehVcOh0Mrhv27KmfUGUL3OxOb-BruUW5JD1C0eAEwKng1wQScqhAVmX1qGv9g/s320/KIT_8062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292151029578221074" border="0" /></a><br />it's been awhile.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">the year spent in China flew by, and before i knew it, i was whisked away back to the familiarity of home. everything about home reminds me of something.<br /><br />round-table dinners remind me of my teenage weekend family dinners where we always order too much, which speaks for how we still eat too much today. the traffic lights remind me of the hours we spent getting caught in traffic jams, and how Malaysian drivers have a knack for staring at road accidents. at least i know now that China isnt that much different. the shopping complexes always seem bigger, expanding in height somehow, and there are even more brand names to spoil shopaholics all over. turning into my street, i was reminded of how i used to watch little kids chase each other on their miniature bicycles while walking Chester. that was back when us neighbours still caught up for girly chats during evening walks, when time still passed in opportune steps without the lure of the car or night-outs.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">there are more wine-chillers in the house, which means more parties and more toasts to come. but alcohol isnt everything anymore. spending time reading a good book with comfy shorts somehow feels more inviting. one day, im gonna travel around Malaysia and know the cultures and cuisines like the back of my hand, just like how i made Australia and China my second homes once.<br /></div><br />there's just something about viewing old things with new eyes.<br /><br />i still love my bed:)lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-57547912096261577742008-11-06T13:02:00.046+11:002008-11-09T21:04:39.193+11:0010 things I learnt about China<div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Forbidden City, Beijing</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5EyxozPvGvIcc9WoStATYj4obFe7asECAOznsot3vnaLB7QY91SkSu5Kf9obzf54Wcv7Ov0m2RDcxXkyEiCZFik5eq1KKC4H3LCp54VgsnJw2qjyjAveyCNIvfItw-MdVuueqw/s1600-h/DSC05290.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5EyxozPvGvIcc9WoStATYj4obFe7asECAOznsot3vnaLB7QY91SkSu5Kf9obzf54Wcv7Ov0m2RDcxXkyEiCZFik5eq1KKC4H3LCp54VgsnJw2qjyjAveyCNIvfItw-MdVuueqw/s400/DSC05290.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265375418194078546" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><br />1- The People</span><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;">The habits and ways of the Chinese people are by far the most intriguing aspect to me. Squatting and spitting are as common as tea and flavoured hard-boiled eggs. Added on to this is the tiny-dog fetish (really a limit on dog size imposed on residents within the 3<sup>rd</sup> ring road in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:city>) who are treated like the little kings and queens (refer: one child policy) of the family.<span style=""> </span>These pets are fattened up with so much goodness that their bodies tilt from side to side when they trotter on the streets. Let us not get started on the culinary version of dog hotpot and dog on a stick/in a meal all over the country.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;">I immensely enjoy listening to the verbal banter on the streets even if Shanghainese is still inaudible to me. And of course there is the ‘stop & look’ phenomena similar to KL where crowds gather in an instant upon smelling the chance of a potential verbal/physical fight on the street, or if an old peddler spreads out his admittedly shoddy goods on the steps and attempts to promote each item as ‘useful or ‘valuable’ with much vigour.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Street Market, Old Shanghai ; Puppies for Sale, Yanchang Road, Shanghai</span><br /></p><div face="arial" style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaHKnyAeHdlZnHc6uj2Gk2RY801biwvnjzhj9-wpnY73mi2TCGSfAY1uQPSKovpe9RUzdrxSSOWcKDx7miJcQwsjx8Uvu_TXmzbpUVWAE5_cYbCi3CEih7Cp6DBOoW1ZNWvAdBg/s1600-h/DSC05863.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaHKnyAeHdlZnHc6uj2Gk2RY801biwvnjzhj9-wpnY73mi2TCGSfAY1uQPSKovpe9RUzdrxSSOWcKDx7miJcQwsjx8Uvu_TXmzbpUVWAE5_cYbCi3CEih7Cp6DBOoW1ZNWvAdBg/s200/DSC05863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265388297719814594" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tPMJo-vB9n3cZ0KE0Uve7rn6m67Lyx_q0tzUreZMZaHqil6LOKCs5gCY00d80oVixC8FQCQQ0Uyz-lR0SwC7cgDF8zzFlH7uWx_UlkLsMXOHr9yWThdC8isFs21258I4lnBmwg/s1600-h/16102008597.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tPMJo-vB9n3cZ0KE0Uve7rn6m67Lyx_q0tzUreZMZaHqil6LOKCs5gCY00d80oVixC8FQCQQ0Uyz-lR0SwC7cgDF8zzFlH7uWx_UlkLsMXOHr9yWThdC8isFs21258I4lnBmwg/s200/16102008597.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265387279021991938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-size:130%;" >2- Vibrant Nightlife</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;">It’s like seeing a different side of China after the sun sets; no longer do you see the conservative-looking office workers scurrying off with oversized bags on the streets, but beautiful ladies decked out in classy/skimpy outfits complete with booty shaking moves, and a whole load of hormone-raging men who dress up but let a few buttons down the front loose. Night lights line the popular streets and provide scenery for leisurely strolls and snap-worthy shots.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;">Enter many bars and don’t be surprised to feel like you’re not in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> at all, with large crowds of obvious laowais dominating the space. The local clubs, however, are full with underaged girls and boys who are up for a good time.. and more. Have to say that Sanlitun in Beijing is still tops for cheap drinks at places like Nanjie, Tun bar, Bar Blu and the like (RMB 10= RM 5= AUD 1.2 for a cocktail and RMB 100= RM 50 = AUD 16 for 12 shots), while Shanghai is the place to be for ladies with free drinks every single day of the week if you know where to go. For the alchoholics, open bars (all you can drink for RMB 100) are common in Muse, Bon Bon or Mural.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Bar-hopping in Sanlitun, Beijing ; Landmark Building on Nanjing Road, Shanghai</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_OPt4834-01dYkD0cX6AGSOUYSrpsfv7EnyqKuhB2Gb6TLRPel09j0FwOzpu8iXyHK8OPIWQi_aonX8XQAC_Ezp7DQ8Kz1NXPbQcpWV04c4u-SBW3YNmFj_u_OtGe-5WF2YhqA/s1600-h/DSC05280.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_OPt4834-01dYkD0cX6AGSOUYSrpsfv7EnyqKuhB2Gb6TLRPel09j0FwOzpu8iXyHK8OPIWQi_aonX8XQAC_Ezp7DQ8Kz1NXPbQcpWV04c4u-SBW3YNmFj_u_OtGe-5WF2YhqA/s200/DSC05280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265374149182223250" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3P0_gQQkAPxJlGNeOMp2l8QyToFLiq1lVhU2PNASCHOS2htLlrDxlKVSEd854BxI1jxSat09FEysGhdwtSS7WqiRKsoyW4Fkcz5nmCyphjzZaFecEI7HangERBPW7nyRDIZlZAA/s1600-h/DSC05879.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3P0_gQQkAPxJlGNeOMp2l8QyToFLiq1lVhU2PNASCHOS2htLlrDxlKVSEd854BxI1jxSat09FEysGhdwtSS7WqiRKsoyW4Fkcz5nmCyphjzZaFecEI7HangERBPW7nyRDIZlZAA/s200/DSC05879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265387962998526114" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Bund, Shanghai </span><span style="font-style: italic;">; </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Old School Beats at Windows Bar, Shanghai</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCnRAjPpJJVF_51oC_QEyF1tpbxHuK53t61qcRsZToXdqY5PlmsUs2oSjzj8Sj55oUVX9xvt4QTO5CinLwE41f9NP70RsBT-TkLIE0wj8t3GreWaahzKHiBra2GNoSOX2UgXDxA/s1600-h/19102008602.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCnRAjPpJJVF_51oC_QEyF1tpbxHuK53t61qcRsZToXdqY5PlmsUs2oSjzj8Sj55oUVX9xvt4QTO5CinLwE41f9NP70RsBT-TkLIE0wj8t3GreWaahzKHiBra2GNoSOX2UgXDxA/s200/19102008602.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265388825437840450" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE11DcRsbPb2q9nBBVeCkHDna8GwxCk2oGyKmBHXF-lI9v7k87jLPj5D5HqGb_JAEq8IMG9gtjQrEm2JgE5a3u6-3fHmsqGH-LoT5IsZklTufi3fDjKCDiPjtKPurhED-fr2Fq7w/s1600-h/DSC06006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE11DcRsbPb2q9nBBVeCkHDna8GwxCk2oGyKmBHXF-lI9v7k87jLPj5D5HqGb_JAEq8IMG9gtjQrEm2JgE5a3u6-3fHmsqGH-LoT5IsZklTufi3fDjKCDiPjtKPurhED-fr2Fq7w/s200/DSC06006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265361572365594082" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-size:130%;" >3- Glorious Food</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;">This has to be one of the biggest treats that <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> can give you. . The people from Guangdong province are said to eat everything under the sun, "<span lang="ZH-CN">广东人什么都吃,天上只有飞机不吃,地下只有板凳不吃",</span>and I have to say that an inate part of me still remembers my ancestral roots.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;">My favourite cuisine in particular (we’ll exclude my lifelong love with anything Indian) is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Xinjiang</span> for its ample portions of meat and its Muslim tastes that distantly remind me of Malaysian spice, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guangdong</span> for its light and fresh tastes especially in Cantonese <span lang="ZH-CN">点心</span>(dimsum/yumcha), <span style="font-weight: bold;">YunNan </span>for its generous use of mushrooms and exquisite flavour, Machuria <span lang="ZH-CN">东北</span> for its handmade jiaozi dumplings, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mongolian</span> hotpot <span lang="ZH-CN">蒙古火锅</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shanghai</span> for its <span lang="ZH-CN">小笼饱</span> (steamed dumplings with soup to suck out) and <span lang="ZH-CN">生前饱 </span>(same deal but pan-fried) and all the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Street food</span> <span lang="ZH-CN">小吃</span><span lang="ZH-CN"> </span>like <span lang="ZH-CN">前饼</span> (flour packaged with deep-fried tofu flake), chinese pancake, <span lang="ZH-CN">肉松饱</span> (meat floss pastry) found in any reasonably local area that makes for the best breakfasts!<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;">I’ve also recently taken a unbreakable affinity to bread made of wheat/yam with a sizable piece of butter/blueberry cake nestled right in the middle of it. Unfortunately, the opportunity to sample authentic Hakka cuisine has not materialised.</p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wangfujing Night Market, Beijing ; </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Xinjiang Noodles Maestro, Suzhou, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Jiangsu</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Province</span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIYXVwI-K_dV2Zx-7ykw4Hbm9q8gxXqEWIJgAdbFH5uG4uEgWRWcHgIza-KTAtgos4kJ3mq3-T9rf4s6ZQb5Nikfi4gOAAU5Z01GoDYdGfnWvaLXvPkkVhuBQ4GLmVqOdn2aGhQ/s1600-h/DSC05463.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIYXVwI-K_dV2Zx-7ykw4Hbm9q8gxXqEWIJgAdbFH5uG4uEgWRWcHgIza-KTAtgos4kJ3mq3-T9rf4s6ZQb5Nikfi4gOAAU5Z01GoDYdGfnWvaLXvPkkVhuBQ4GLmVqOdn2aGhQ/s200/DSC05463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265366633356253538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO33BKZ0tBprdXjD0VdgErT0NaBoPYnM0EfssMAn6YwVGCHvrpJkQPq_nZlGMBOCzVQOR9bg1QbWKE4Mty3zDTbxQ7Amsotg5uxBcL8bFas15HtyzvYBM9HzIXtGqSlljhkdFeIw/s1600-h/DSC06064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO33BKZ0tBprdXjD0VdgErT0NaBoPYnM0EfssMAn6YwVGCHvrpJkQPq_nZlGMBOCzVQOR9bg1QbWKE4Mty3zDTbxQ7Amsotg5uxBcL8bFas15HtyzvYBM9HzIXtGqSlljhkdFeIw/s200/DSC06064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265367125482324194" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-size:130%;" >4- Crowd Ethics</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;">Much like squeezing the pulp out of an orange to get its juice, taking the subway during peak hours is not for the light-hearted. I’ve slowly learnt to take it with a pinch of amusement, but sometimes I do get aggravated to the point of insanity and resort to the occasional swearing and <span lang="ZH-CN">不要推!</span>only to regret my outbursts afterwards. But still, where else can you see people dodge swinging armpits LOL, reading newspapers at 6cm proximity, and use their elbows for such aggressive purposes? Some youngsters practically jump into a packed train even when it is bursting at the door seams with people. There is never a lack of company anywhere in this country.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;">National Holiday 84,000-strong crowd per day, Summer Palace, Beijing ; Beijing Subway Station</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLY1iQm1QgInf_J1KilB55Tt0FPpnAg_Xc4Tq_IUI6-ZFBr11iMK9RHwJZgR54jtYjo8vBu50w72mr_705PeS2QXLbqdGW-NnGlFxOi-1zCibGujXQJb7u2TqF6CNScXXlBU5bHQ/s1600-h/DSC05627.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLY1iQm1QgInf_J1KilB55Tt0FPpnAg_Xc4Tq_IUI6-ZFBr11iMK9RHwJZgR54jtYjo8vBu50w72mr_705PeS2QXLbqdGW-NnGlFxOi-1zCibGujXQJb7u2TqF6CNScXXlBU5bHQ/s200/DSC05627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265377648781412962" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpVLBAzdSy1YHL0Vpt-rYY1EuU2fyvR78u76iZGN7Gu0JoBB0Mfx9WOfY2PbnBlaH_OoJUl6uWejIjT0p3UslaGUp0-DD2_-BlYOcc-4Zf2pe_Wg55TB3l6SwlSO4lKeWQ_WlSA/s1600-h/08072008505.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpVLBAzdSy1YHL0Vpt-rYY1EuU2fyvR78u76iZGN7Gu0JoBB0Mfx9WOfY2PbnBlaH_OoJUl6uWejIjT0p3UslaGUp0-DD2_-BlYOcc-4Zf2pe_Wg55TB3l6SwlSO4lKeWQ_WlSA/s200/08072008505.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265377327632553954" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-size:130%;" >5- Laowai Adoration</span> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;">Or it may just be condescending inclinations. Always thought to be the one with the deep pockets, the whites are assailed relentlessly by beggars, peddlars, and even the regular Chinese who jump at the chance to have a piece of the foreign-looking high nose.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">"Sir, you want lady?", " Lady, you want watch/handbag/wallet?", " Sir/Lady, can I have a picture with you?"</p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Open Market, Yanjiao, Hebei Province</span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeEY4WgH_zXYYGbiWLjJs5itaQKY2iTGJTnCcpQqvCAQ0-ecWzQaprszSuxGn4lGS_PaRptKvnzjaQB6rfh1o3QlaQf406CW80SKEudw_sYCYRNjTGAh3E7p2BFHTfhqRfI5-dA/s1600-h/n541675211_3861968_4230.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeEY4WgH_zXYYGbiWLjJs5itaQKY2iTGJTnCcpQqvCAQ0-ecWzQaprszSuxGn4lGS_PaRptKvnzjaQB6rfh1o3QlaQf406CW80SKEudw_sYCYRNjTGAh3E7p2BFHTfhqRfI5-dA/s200/n541675211_3861968_4230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265368025422345746" border="0" /></a><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">6- Powderful English</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YPRN-47Sy_sHkXDMmO4MWL1rK9WAukA-6gAqBB8NccU-_1-PWB-47QZPSyqOR-2bQY5H50lsR55i9GA4Jhe9R_FJWODGJ_TVwsL-jKUsuqCmt0dpHZJjOlK4rW64s3896II_cg/s1600-h/30102008620.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YPRN-47Sy_sHkXDMmO4MWL1rK9WAukA-6gAqBB8NccU-_1-PWB-47QZPSyqOR-2bQY5H50lsR55i9GA4Jhe9R_FJWODGJ_TVwsL-jKUsuqCmt0dpHZJjOlK4rW64s3896II_cg/s200/30102008620.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265378985135590370" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">People here are so modest about their proficiency in English that it amazes me. Most are competent in language, if not fluent. The lack of English interaction could be the main barrier, but even then most Chinese students are more than willing to speak out in public using a language other than their mother tongue. There are notable differences in <st1:city st="on">Beijing</st1:city> and <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Shanghai</st1:place></st1:city>, with the latter enjoying a higher level of proficiency probably explainable by the larger manifestation of foreigners in the city.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">7- Travelogue</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">With 56 ethnic groups, differing temperates, cultures and ways of life have sprung up from the 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities and 2 specially administrative regions (lets be nice and assume <st1:country-region st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region> and <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place> have held hands). My regret is not being able to travel to 4 other parts of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>: <span lang="ZH-CN">Guangdong/Fujian </span>to reconcile my ancestry roots and see the habitat genius of the tulou 土楼<span lang="ZH-CN">,Xinjiang</span> to experience the distictly un-Chinese culture and spice-worthy Muslim food<span lang="ZH-CN">,Tibet </span>for the Potala Palace and to make a trip up the highlands for a grasp of tranquility and Sichuan to see the aftermath/recovery of the province and maybe to hug a baby panda.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Horse-Riding in Inner Mongolia ; Desert Boots in Inner Mongolia</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj_aKnha9FSNpWonzNpezJHxqe8XME00FwcM8IOZlT2H5o2hgPzh20VcSneIoCpA6G0rjwlNJGHr_V0i4YRwBzakXsOVCeRS3Rm4adehfkxRRciYZpWDHeABdCotX_Alref5OQQ/s1600-h/melissa+097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj_aKnha9FSNpWonzNpezJHxqe8XME00FwcM8IOZlT2H5o2hgPzh20VcSneIoCpA6G0rjwlNJGHr_V0i4YRwBzakXsOVCeRS3Rm4adehfkxRRciYZpWDHeABdCotX_Alref5OQQ/s200/melissa+097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265368275499348082" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmB2b7MLlhBvLn_yTND5T55FDKwqjnF_dDzV2kEVnf_0Sqw27X9xlvEmNTKNBi3KhpOi9QErWUzpyud65ORl7I2G_WzEE-bf_KroOIAYF_qfpdlAs-4S1n0w92zdtO_TDSNVCZDA/s1600-h/DSC06921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmB2b7MLlhBvLn_yTND5T55FDKwqjnF_dDzV2kEVnf_0Sqw27X9xlvEmNTKNBi3KhpOi9QErWUzpyud65ORl7I2G_WzEE-bf_KroOIAYF_qfpdlAs-4S1n0w92zdtO_TDSNVCZDA/s200/DSC06921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265368844849219618" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">AIESECers at the UN-Habitat World Urban Forum, Nanjing ; Music Concert at the top of Yuejiang Tower, Nanjing</span><br /></p><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsMxoIuQjQVpHiy8r7_8qKSHDFFCDM9A8yDbRjJ7PjY1BxqQW7rciz7lcogFGzeigNEFetT-p_tygW901g1BtPwLHz24-_sthSCoBSHQ66CIhDmQAmSXYA0rrvTH-K020C3w6ZQ/s1600-h/DSC06264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsMxoIuQjQVpHiy8r7_8qKSHDFFCDM9A8yDbRjJ7PjY1BxqQW7rciz7lcogFGzeigNEFetT-p_tygW901g1BtPwLHz24-_sthSCoBSHQ66CIhDmQAmSXYA0rrvTH-K020C3w6ZQ/s200/DSC06264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265382340948018322" border="0" /></a> <a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6_XHJBe1fjxWd2N1fgsDXL8We1XCxUxqMkMW2M4uL1pzBk6RLUdLLP9XhsjzaIgzT_5V-aeTFrKFMZQkdRkOgzAr07_futNUi8p-SfMtQHFJ17ptJO9MIDoyynJ-JKjRG5oDSA/s1600-h/DSC06302.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6_XHJBe1fjxWd2N1fgsDXL8We1XCxUxqMkMW2M4uL1pzBk6RLUdLLP9XhsjzaIgzT_5V-aeTFrKFMZQkdRkOgzAr07_futNUi8p-SfMtQHFJ17ptJO9MIDoyynJ-JKjRG5oDSA/s200/DSC06302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265381867597088386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Camel Throttle, Inner Mongolia ; Yungang Grottoes, Shanxi Province</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnjNYHtB5V3zRFfFG-85AOUcdhIdPRbzcJ9bk5lo3tQBtRs_svsFuYjlTN9d32AIWu9dYHRKgEFJJ4y53Nml5gmISGog8TgrI-n8-bk-dBwmF9PZiQGhEftpfDs2QoJ22TfUaCw/s1600-h/DSC06934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnjNYHtB5V3zRFfFG-85AOUcdhIdPRbzcJ9bk5lo3tQBtRs_svsFuYjlTN9d32AIWu9dYHRKgEFJJ4y53Nml5gmISGog8TgrI-n8-bk-dBwmF9PZiQGhEftpfDs2QoJ22TfUaCw/s200/DSC06934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265369191277234626" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2C8-OEfi-Bg8wiOEflhz865eJhjC3Wh6ObFnIzXXkflU5GDoAKo5O4f8szJ4e2TLBqeFgHUVigrU4KBZ2pa894N7RaWh9vpvV_MO253XSzfYr6BHEEth6AEPck64WHejjdK22g/s1600-h/03052008476.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2C8-OEfi-Bg8wiOEflhz865eJhjC3Wh6ObFnIzXXkflU5GDoAKo5O4f8szJ4e2TLBqeFgHUVigrU4KBZ2pa894N7RaWh9vpvV_MO253XSzfYr6BHEEth6AEPck64WHejjdK22g/s200/03052008476.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265368454640923666" border="0" /></a><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">8- Organic Growth</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">How far and fast <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> has come since the Cultural Revolution (which is another story altogether). It is the only place that warrants a visit every year because so much would have changed in that short span of time. 6 months is enough to build an edifice of 40 floors, complete with retail and recreational facilities. The Olympic Park, amongst other things, is a testament to this. The cost of living has also been accelerating in urban cities, and most will not be able to survive on less than RMB 25 a day. However, the toilet works, while immensely improved, may reek of 'smells' because toilet paper cannot be flushed down the bowl. Baby steps.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Bird's Nest the National Stadium, Beijing ; Water Cube the Aquatic Stadium, Beijing</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6pMYjZOylyzRZZAhBwM-aKP4yycOCpGuwZYM6EHB5wRsyXtpC5Txd8rBgixsEw3RrDzF8AzQBGJ0XoaI0SpbRtUbfVdInqap7FLqISohtmTKBG5PPdHLqz4zK6_0WLTSewajBQ/s1600-h/DSC04572-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6pMYjZOylyzRZZAhBwM-aKP4yycOCpGuwZYM6EHB5wRsyXtpC5Txd8rBgixsEw3RrDzF8AzQBGJ0XoaI0SpbRtUbfVdInqap7FLqISohtmTKBG5PPdHLqz4zK6_0WLTSewajBQ/s200/DSC04572-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265384723895683410" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzIrcxP3VkspLR8HPIXxR_4nnJaJ3iFBMbhBNxhyTjChjOVvK8NOpCrXcFv6x88w3QCCsu2TrB4MRU2Sqw33ZvNZr17UOU-9pDtBEFdHZDjjbm1yMGvMypUn-igg7QC07GaPH1g/s1600-h/DSC05651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzIrcxP3VkspLR8HPIXxR_4nnJaJ3iFBMbhBNxhyTjChjOVvK8NOpCrXcFv6x88w3QCCsu2TrB4MRU2Sqw33ZvNZr17UOU-9pDtBEFdHZDjjbm1yMGvMypUn-igg7QC07GaPH1g/s200/DSC05651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265384488078395858" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">9- Government Regulation</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUx5oXwtg3vcqQJiEY_oI5OKuz2OTKznajSx_dYyvO-FgLP0gBaPyae_eP8DaT09Idyt6MuslyIhQNyVD6f3ZVwfynQlM9yzKp81u0tleFppZNbRC4a4LPv6yDgk585DPGlyyEg/s1600-h/DSC06072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUx5oXwtg3vcqQJiEY_oI5OKuz2OTKznajSx_dYyvO-FgLP0gBaPyae_eP8DaT09Idyt6MuslyIhQNyVD6f3ZVwfynQlM9yzKp81u0tleFppZNbRC4a4LPv6yDgk585DPGlyyEg/s200/DSC06072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265386691283237906" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">The Great Firewall has toned down on its operations of late, but there are of course sensitive issues that will not turn up on your search engine such as the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The media has opened up bit by bit, and officers who receive bribes hit the headlines in no time. Traffic lights are not meant to serve any purpose, and peeing is encouraged at the scene of crime (refer to left picture). And despite the outright ban on the presence of NGOs, AIESEC in China as a company <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"></st1:place></st1:country-region>is still one of the fastest-growing LCs in the world with a growing base of dedicated and skilled members.<st1:place st="on"></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">10- Working culture</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">Sensitive Asian values coupled with crude bigtime bosses magnifies the need to be gentle but firm. Employees work to get through the hours, and the minority who dream big dreams limb the ranks. Unproductivity is quite the norm, motormouth business clinchers (没问题,没问题!) are aplenty, and the same can be said for the sometimes unintentional afternoon naps and apple breaks. Definitely an experience to take away from working in 2 of China's major cities. Event volunteers are on the other end of the sprectrum though; selfless and ever ready to help, I have always wondered how they would withstand the pain of standing the whole day while being treated like slave labour. Turns out that voluntary contribution to a large event, say Beijing Olympics or the recent UN World Urban Forum, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"></st1:place></st1:city>will not only impart intrinsic pleasure, but also add value to your CV.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">World Urban Forum Exhibition Centre, Nanjing ; Sitting Volleyball Work Station, Paralympic Games, Beijing</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpmmvLg0nGibzoBtGE1FPHJLsQnVEJcPUfo3p01jp_lbMwCbK5F9BhLaj2PBb65kPY1opYA4lheKDIXWyjc8jfcf7zY_G78jpXtc_fMy2RXx22b0Fo1I8Z8k-uB81H2z3M5Vlog/s1600-h/DSC06268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpmmvLg0nGibzoBtGE1FPHJLsQnVEJcPUfo3p01jp_lbMwCbK5F9BhLaj2PBb65kPY1opYA4lheKDIXWyjc8jfcf7zY_G78jpXtc_fMy2RXx22b0Fo1I8Z8k-uB81H2z3M5Vlog/s200/DSC06268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265395107551666498" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_LoaG42v3cuePsb0h8HiNi0wHzrnor-_W06REfJhDRL7bjPizkQD9q4ipKoBZAC_Pe47D-VlEOhEgMX82jjPt0jldQVwylWdUVkla6RCZYTwx_MU6DB4S-bnL2ZxmXFa1Kdr_Q/s1600-h/DSC05162.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_LoaG42v3cuePsb0h8HiNi0wHzrnor-_W06REfJhDRL7bjPizkQD9q4ipKoBZAC_Pe47D-VlEOhEgMX82jjPt0jldQVwylWdUVkla6RCZYTwx_MU6DB4S-bnL2ZxmXFa1Kdr_Q/s200/DSC05162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265394172981699602" border="0" /></a><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">In conclusion, being an overseas Chinese with fairly near blood ties (grandpa is a <span style="font-style: italic;">Taipu Hakka </span>that came from a certain Fuliao village in GuangDong/Fujian), I see many cultural similarities and differences between the Malaysian Chinese and Mainland Chinese. Subtle inclinations still hold strong, such as the proper respectful way of addressing elders in your extended family, and the emphasis on education and eating customs. Meanwhile, there are tangible differences moving down south.. during Chinese New Year for example, <span style="font-style: italic;">jiaozi</span> (dumplings) is not a mainstay dish but instead we have <span style="font-style: italic;">yeesang</span>, a communal and celebratory dish where all members of the family gather around to toast (by using chopsticks to mix the ingredients) outloud in Cantonese to the new year. Originally Malaysian.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">San tai gin hong! cheong meng bak sui! lin lin gam leng!:)</span><br /><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"></st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></p>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-10249848762835120662008-10-19T20:05:00.010+11:002008-10-20T12:13:32.956+11:00the good the bad and the beautiful<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:130%;" >the good</span><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">- 生前饱 and spicy-sour noodles on wujiang road, lilian cake egg tarts, bubble tea and turkish breakfasts<br />- evening walks after work along huaihai road where beautiful faces on huge billboards stare at you while you people-watch<br />- AIESEC Regional Induction Conference in Jiangsu where new friendships overshadowed the shiny 4-star apartment<br />- having friends from Beijing in close proximity again, rekindling old times in a new place<br />- exploring old shanghai by peeking into torn down shikumens where sturdy bamboo sticks hold up the livelihood of many<br /></div><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:130%;" >the bad</span><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">- overpriced drinks at classy bars where people dont dance to good music<br />- officers in the metro station shouting repeatedly over the PA system to tell you that the metro line is now closed (so get out)<br />- bargaining your way through any shopping transaction because the starting price is always ballooned to multiple proportions<br />- bureaucracy in every institution coupled with grey areas at work that throws certainty out of the window<br /></div><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:130%;" >..and the beautiful</span><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">- the tight AIESEC network among locals, interns and alumni; providing a welcome getaway by inundating everyone's calendar (and inboxes) with daily activities<br />- the housemates at The Palace who make for entertainment and late-night chats; giving almost a family-like support that transcends just average friendships<br />- the growing circle of friends; restoring your faith in the people under the AIESEC banner and its borderless international network<br />- the possibility of so many opportunities, so many new cultures to learn about, and so many countries to travel to.. if i have the chance, the money and the time.<br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">how far can you go?</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfqd70lWRFnVAMzhAkWiydjBirYlD1PqeqVpCmjxPGF9DQHZC-e0moXuSnBst6krvA1SxubJhtVkjDBeu_FwqTtO7h6fDgRq-vlcOf7aEqWZKwBHLDqMHqJ31VJ_-zaIJpWoMCQ/s1600-h/DSC05497.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258804827626226018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfqd70lWRFnVAMzhAkWiydjBirYlD1PqeqVpCmjxPGF9DQHZC-e0moXuSnBst6krvA1SxubJhtVkjDBeu_FwqTtO7h6fDgRq-vlcOf7aEqWZKwBHLDqMHqJ31VJ_-zaIJpWoMCQ/s320/DSC05497.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />yeah, shanghai is starting to be pretty damn awesome:)lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-11404553114557200732008-10-07T00:17:00.007+11:002008-10-07T01:16:41.123+11:00beijing is way cleaner than shanghaiat least from what i've seen so far.<br /><br />the streets leading to my apartment complex, otherwise known as 'the palace', are filled with little eateries, convenience stores and fruit gardens that produce as much junk as they do the enticing smell of fresh bread and spicy soup.<br /><br />and i still find myself instinctively walking away a little faster whenever i hear someone perform a gurgling/cackling throaty noise that will inevitably lead to a blot of spit on the ground.<br /><br />cosmopolitan as it is, the glam clan is mostly only seen in the endless shopping complexes that line the city streets and colour the night sky on Nanjing Road.<br /><br />the Bund is currently home to a long stretch of construction site, probably in preparation for the World Expo 2010. ah, but still no obstacle for the scores of locals who fill the entire viewing platform adjacent to the Huangpu River.<br /><br />the skies are foggy, and while the weather is not as humid as it was in summer two months ago, is already slowly picking up winter's cold wind.<br /><br />everywhere i hear the somewhat slurry-sounding shanghainese dialect, on the streets, at work, in restaurants, at supermarkets, on the metro..<br /><br />speaking of which, the metro is another battlefield of pushing and jostling bodies with complete disregard for the ethics of ‘先下后上’ blared on the loudspeakers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iruly7TIJKTLQIvLW47U57gS0_fMvjv4MiJv6WpWqhTHQwKFX8W5VN-S8ctYBPcdIr4BKNQP5sh-b8zevGJOZ9NkYGcsJRyTXJ1jpDto3c9ghgQ7Ic6MTX6V9FmL26OnwMJR8g/s1600-h/DSC05799.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iruly7TIJKTLQIvLW47U57gS0_fMvjv4MiJv6WpWqhTHQwKFX8W5VN-S8ctYBPcdIr4BKNQP5sh-b8zevGJOZ9NkYGcsJRyTXJ1jpDto3c9ghgQ7Ic6MTX6V9FmL26OnwMJR8g/s200/DSC05799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254033554277321938" border="0" /></a><br />yes im here in shanghai. another nomad move, although not as painful as expected. thank <span style="font-style: italic;">you </span>for making the transition all that much easier.<br /><br />now im really on my own. again.lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-74706733216351094992008-09-25T15:01:00.007+10:002008-09-25T15:51:09.823+10:00destructivethe pakistan mariott hotel suicide bombing that inflicted pain on too many..<br /><br />the 2 year detention of RPK in what is supposed to be a need for religious rehabilitation..<br /><br />the reckless implementation of nonsensical policies and baseless institutions set up to bring 'democracy'..<br /><br />contaminated milk that has hindered many all over the world from their daily dose of dairy products..<br /><br />the collapse of what is supposed to be one of the strongest financial markets in the global money-obssessed world..<br /><br />the usage of taxpayer's funds to buffer the loss of stability brought upon by ambitious firms themselves..<br /><br />the inadequacy and inefficiency of certain departments to ease the transition of their employee transferring to Shanghai..<br /><br />the debilitating fear that numbs your body in the night's cold when you realize you're being stalked by a random guy on the street..<br /><br />the impounding sense of loss and loneliness that drowns the mind, heart and soul every time solitude beckons..<br /><br />the wave of tears that give a merely temporary form of release, only to hit again relentlessly..<br /><br />the helplessness that stares at you in the face, knowing that you can do nothing about everything at all.lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-37544938442094415152008-09-18T22:36:00.029+10:002008-09-21T12:22:28.596+10:00My Paralympics Story<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Paralympics Opening Ceremony at Bird's Nest</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6qADRf4Y8TbFe2ve2iw7YlynHo54cuq7NlV4s1CXAlytaEad0cma9gHDrFFzLn9n4WryRs0lq1CY6oLxctUA1tTS4JvNJxgbeyAmff7pzDA6yUR_y0MzHgNglnBu6LNRHhl9bQ/s1600-h/DSC05047-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6qADRf4Y8TbFe2ve2iw7YlynHo54cuq7NlV4s1CXAlytaEad0cma9gHDrFFzLn9n4WryRs0lq1CY6oLxctUA1tTS4JvNJxgbeyAmff7pzDA6yUR_y0MzHgNglnBu6LNRHhl9bQ/s400/DSC05047-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247342151039866546" border="0" /></a><br />and the spectacle began.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">being the lesser-known other half, the Paralympic Games is a <span style="font-style: italic;">parallel </span>competition held alongside the Olympic Games. first held in Rome in 1960, the Beijing Games had about 4,200 participants from 147 countries. while the Beijing Olympics boasted grandeur and splend0ur that exceeded ordinary expectations, the Beijing Paralympics shared a genuine and heartfelt love that transcended the extraordinary.<br /><br />i was privileged enough to have a taste of the Paralympics spirit because dad sits on the Asia Oceania Committee Volleyball for Disabled (AOCVD). With an official tag that allow you access into any sporting venue and VIP lounge, playing unofficial interpreter and tour guide has given me an insight into the Games and allowed me to meet many inspiring people from around the world. technical directors who stress over the most minute details because they want to create a flawless flow of events, competition managers who devote themselves to organising everything but still find time to show you around, and sports officials who are passionate about their respective sport.<br /><br />more importantly, the Paralympics athletes, whose zest for life has gained them more respect than any able-bodied athlete. among the lessons learnt while watching Paralympians compete is that you first have to have self-respect before others can respect you. acceptance of your own strengths and shortcomings can go a long way in making dreams come true.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">福牛乐乐 at the Games Village</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI0i04ri-xPp6nExyVjldUfjKGHDf1OsQnIHviRvtVb8YaJZlEv0795oilSFY9QEMAWj9-cnPi0ySNUy1ZX8VbBO-XRx4sETWLiFWbIh0tGRgv2ARvoOeV-m435AAtbebaR8oQg/s1600-h/DSC05491-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI0i04ri-xPp6nExyVjldUfjKGHDf1OsQnIHviRvtVb8YaJZlEv0795oilSFY9QEMAWj9-cnPi0ySNUy1ZX8VbBO-XRx4sETWLiFWbIh0tGRgv2ARvoOeV-m435AAtbebaR8oQg/s200/DSC05491-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248054669080935762" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI0i04ri-xPp6nExyVjldUfjKGHDf1OsQnIHviRvtVb8YaJZlEv0795oilSFY9QEMAWj9-cnPi0ySNUy1ZX8VbBO-XRx4sETWLiFWbIh0tGRgv2ARvoOeV-m435AAtbebaR8oQg/s1600-h/DSC05491-1.JPG"><span style="font-style: italic;">sitting volleyball at China Agricultural Gymnasium</span></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3zZdnnLzqT7BgdIICK-0J24zmObsThjmOsqdwX_fAHzTg0OcEwhUgDFcfh6hM0UnEHj8nLB65PROC4mxle8UJ8z5jn_M2Rd8WjeWLTBTSSNqqkf7DH73LUVjjrZfdNGPFpW-SA/s1600-h/DSC05109-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3zZdnnLzqT7BgdIICK-0J24zmObsThjmOsqdwX_fAHzTg0OcEwhUgDFcfh6hM0UnEHj8nLB65PROC4mxle8UJ8z5jn_M2Rd8WjeWLTBTSSNqqkf7DH73LUVjjrZfdNGPFpW-SA/s200/DSC05109-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247366612930596034" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-style: italic;">from the VIP stand</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u4NPFMoCQRWQabDQ6DLwcEl7jim5YL7hWcUBe9Ok-G78NiX4MuonG-wRR58Ly-ChJr7HaBd6EphYnnJ1XnnjIi77uB8pAzAiPOJ6SLypmdF7MLGmsjHsoVTxWy3afhDIFCrLqQ/s1600-h/DSC05023-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u4NPFMoCQRWQabDQ6DLwcEl7jim5YL7hWcUBe9Ok-G78NiX4MuonG-wRR58Ly-ChJr7HaBd6EphYnnJ1XnnjIi77uB8pAzAiPOJ6SLypmdF7MLGmsjHsoVTxWy3afhDIFCrLqQ/s200/DSC05023-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247371223129434194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">the First Lady at the Malaysian Embassy </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ9Picr25JYZnGl10LVLQCWGh74T1tBtxzYretELFpHEyIs7IbjIHmAjRQR1DPMWTUsO616j50V9E_uRcBHbvXXhFQLaqUENAS4vFZ4O5GWKLuNGatALVvhI45I5Mg6eEMN08Sg/s1600-h/DSC05099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ9Picr25JYZnGl10LVLQCWGh74T1tBtxzYretELFpHEyIs7IbjIHmAjRQR1DPMWTUsO616j50V9E_uRcBHbvXXhFQLaqUENAS4vFZ4O5GWKLuNGatALVvhI45I5Mg6eEMN08Sg/s200/DSC05099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247362952150315618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Opening Night inside Bird's Nest</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKipMScmHSOFh62ggOyqxBFZXQUfIsCuW8yAtnaf05TvVRl4a2gd6R5XcfdiSiMPASl0eRAtE0wI4vtx7AdbgzHeO-SDpGU0hryTmrpjKwqL7yzGv1Ssz-L9wwLXH9lRQzlilcQ/s1600-h/DSC05192-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKipMScmHSOFh62ggOyqxBFZXQUfIsCuW8yAtnaf05TvVRl4a2gd6R5XcfdiSiMPASl0eRAtE0wI4vtx7AdbgzHeO-SDpGU0hryTmrpjKwqL7yzGv1Ssz-L9wwLXH9lRQzlilcQ/s200/DSC05192-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247370472463753874" border="0" /></a><span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">athletics: 800m on wheels</span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKt7ldjvbin0BtwTJfvIbxgVz433SdUvh98z6oO8dC7pRnDbADsL3CWh_EKtPVkbj6y9vODERKnT1aGInef9fe_7a04YBAjD5e5wZtiSUS5OmnMajJz1GpaAQPAa8mKseUUd4sA/s1600-h/DSC05283-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKt7ldjvbin0BtwTJfvIbxgVz433SdUvh98z6oO8dC7pRnDbADsL3CWh_EKtPVkbj6y9vODERKnT1aGInef9fe_7a04YBAjD5e5wZtiSUS5OmnMajJz1GpaAQPAa8mKseUUd4sA/s200/DSC05283-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248052692107989746" border="0" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">some of us volleyball regulars </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9IjaMNwMzUE57K5LFonIfQRxxceVMWAYiglts0TShaGlt_WDrvKW17jTXPOnjC1QquF4kisQF6IxH-Vs2OMfSMgqR3rKtsHhiEdbQdXDZyobYoQIut5JDzEYzgvM3Q50zih8Eg/s1600-h/DSC05101-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9IjaMNwMzUE57K5LFonIfQRxxceVMWAYiglts0TShaGlt_WDrvKW17jTXPOnjC1QquF4kisQF6IxH-Vs2OMfSMgqR3rKtsHhiEdbQdXDZyobYoQIut5JDzEYzgvM3Q50zih8Eg/s200/DSC05101-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247369700457899522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Malaysian delegation!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoWTepb_yXtDX6ZcEicsdD2pTSgEbvnGuaxxSgKU_ES-CJSgBZRAhyphenhypheni0j1-h7o_AWK4yNYJ5SEKuN4nIzxg4ePfl3dcEXe7df17FQFOUbd66cuhJDf5hQ80BH5Hkf3ehyphenhyphenHrCvJg/s1600-h/DSC04993-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoWTepb_yXtDX6ZcEicsdD2pTSgEbvnGuaxxSgKU_ES-CJSgBZRAhyphenhypheni0j1-h7o_AWK4yNYJ5SEKuN4nIzxg4ePfl3dcEXe7df17FQFOUbd66cuhJDf5hQ80BH5Hkf3ehyphenhyphenHrCvJg/s200/DSC04993-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247369054579215378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sports Minister & KL Mayor in Beijing's Kedutaan Malaysia<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjCLOK0aZuweOJsiMwO_TYffd4LbItMFhYCwhNGG5AFaxAPiGKYvQF_Ca7xrE1eleYvlsfIpUjoe8lEhleOpF_LOVf4_Q4gWeT8znCHiQ6nD1nGqBL6h0zS7lsuWhcGaGlBTb4Q/s1600-h/DSC05102-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjCLOK0aZuweOJsiMwO_TYffd4LbItMFhYCwhNGG5AFaxAPiGKYvQF_Ca7xrE1eleYvlsfIpUjoe8lEhleOpF_LOVf4_Q4gWeT8znCHiQ6nD1nGqBL6h0zS7lsuWhcGaGlBTb4Q/s200/DSC05102-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247368305676576002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">swimming at the Water Cube</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ms6UGGXNbkiSf-13DntRou_awkzq7t5nmKOmk5bd5PZZoW8j4d8c3OXXs5tKcWE7rlE3njOzs1SGb-V1wZkUf3UrRila0uqBgcnOe1sCSs2AvINqSUoZY751tTfAtHkt5wNhow/s1600-h/DSC05336-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ms6UGGXNbkiSf-13DntRou_awkzq7t5nmKOmk5bd5PZZoW8j4d8c3OXXs5tKcWE7rlE3njOzs1SGb-V1wZkUf3UrRila0uqBgcnOe1sCSs2AvINqSUoZY751tTfAtHkt5wNhow/s200/DSC05336-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248054905889713698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">traversing the Juyongguan Great Wall with a helpful volunteer</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3zZdnnLzqT7BgdIICK-0J24zmObsThjmOsqdwX_fAHzTg0OcEwhUgDFcfh6hM0UnEHj8nLB65PROC4mxle8UJ8z5jn_M2Rd8WjeWLTBTSSNqqkf7DH73LUVjjrZfdNGPFpW-SA/s1600-h/DSC05109-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTKdCAWYuFGVwFbY0dY-pvsv5_RSWsnZA9PtOliY7L0OV-ku7LnjLj7QUlysQ5t9DR5vDOWVQbLIp3yGNA80Fnh8SMnYA1HhD0Q_s1p84uJ1DXxvgAhQcqg4BV2TV_KWRf8qj_Q/s200/DSC05507-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247367633370715858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">wheelchair basketball at Wukesong Stadium<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7aKlw30z60ixA1D8jIfYBXa70HyUZMBkuU2CJV_OiFlm196j3PZVDLnTwyHXTFuq6Yeml1jdSCsiF3NeuuVggK_-XjM52aUkrpiMi9a441I94h_Rgr9sZIpvlrAxd4vok37PxQ/s1600-h/DSC05315-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7aKlw30z60ixA1D8jIfYBXa70HyUZMBkuU2CJV_OiFlm196j3PZVDLnTwyHXTFuq6Yeml1jdSCsiF3NeuuVggK_-XjM52aUkrpiMi9a441I94h_Rgr9sZIpvlrAxd4vok37PxQ/s200/DSC05315-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248053242896263058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">dinner with close friends at </span>花家怡园<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJUSeAdyfwQ8JGzESfPl-BP5aNHvkl2y7pOAL757pAFkKr1w7Ot17yGtpeVY3DWF7QlnCjKhbDf3J-3E_9B_5KZHY4KbQBtrwcBt9865EiRQB4OygNBn-I9Jvlh6LY9diFfdrsA/s1600-h/DSC05357-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJUSeAdyfwQ8JGzESfPl-BP5aNHvkl2y7pOAL757pAFkKr1w7Ot17yGtpeVY3DWF7QlnCjKhbDf3J-3E_9B_5KZHY4KbQBtrwcBt9865EiRQB4OygNBn-I9Jvlh6LY9diFfdrsA/s200/DSC05357-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247363872686162434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">gold to China<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZPRnfOBpQigq4j0AbezBxMH1S_r6Sedcx3wBkeQ8dc6imj-K9LHel8EVYUr1TPtBY0tO-tpCdOlKCxYrcaW-wWqfmApA7tfAmQR1GAGdZ4AIlA1h69rcAF1CZes4RMWEz4o1fw/s1600-h/DSC05657-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZPRnfOBpQigq4j0AbezBxMH1S_r6Sedcx3wBkeQ8dc6imj-K9LHel8EVYUr1TPtBY0tO-tpCdOlKCxYrcaW-wWqfmApA7tfAmQR1GAGdZ4AIlA1h69rcAF1CZes4RMWEz4o1fw/s200/DSC05657-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247367236357431618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Closing Night outside Bird's Nest</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbD6nlObsJtMaAkHdVo36GHG6LsIYSOIp-bDtjBpKSPCaifUlThSVsUPnFxJhQ3dqE8dKXMUC2_rI70k-w9VFj5CqMmZxLa01bZzm8O3tpzYA6O-f9NiSm4aE2F934U4rS6ldM0A/s1600-h/DSC05249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbD6nlObsJtMaAkHdVo36GHG6LsIYSOIp-bDtjBpKSPCaifUlThSVsUPnFxJhQ3dqE8dKXMUC2_rI70k-w9VFj5CqMmZxLa01bZzm8O3tpzYA6O-f9NiSm4aE2F934U4rS6ldM0A/s200/DSC05249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247370216055886418" border="0" /></a><br />it has been the week of a lifetime.<br />a memorable end to my chapter here in Beijing, and a good start to a new Shanghai journey.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Paralympics Closing Ceremony at Bird's Nest</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavoBS4AnYmhRbOOAWf8ECRGQt-8fU8AATNShYbbRA1WjfBId7I59me1QyuXoSKVT4Q1ptGddTx8B7yWajJ9VFJ8D3roz9JSHeflYJ3qOgbZI0CmOcJTRIabGV6pk6bkHuq-iAiw/s1600-h/DSC05174-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavoBS4AnYmhRbOOAWf8ECRGQt-8fU8AATNShYbbRA1WjfBId7I59me1QyuXoSKVT4Q1ptGddTx8B7yWajJ9VFJ8D3roz9JSHeflYJ3qOgbZI0CmOcJTRIabGV6pk6bkHuq-iAiw/s400/DSC05174-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247340564245797682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">the flame fades under the fireworks extravaganza</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZv87kI84fZD2_2oP4aFDFltlAVVXv_hSU_0jg6gMP5vWwk_SdwQpTTCW0EybwkPOMzMeOTeOQOkI8b6WnYfDiUqB26EDq4O0D2I80N97bjwiCAG24A8wNQMUzWTFl4Gxan73Ag/s1600-h/DSC05221-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZv87kI84fZD2_2oP4aFDFltlAVVXv_hSU_0jg6gMP5vWwk_SdwQpTTCW0EybwkPOMzMeOTeOQOkI8b6WnYfDiUqB26EDq4O0D2I80N97bjwiCAG24A8wNQMUzWTFl4Gxan73Ag/s400/DSC05221-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247339761950628754" border="0" /></a>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-44195789800583748062008-09-04T02:45:00.007+10:002008-09-05T01:17:05.952+10:00misunderstood but it's okay<div style="text-align: justify;">when casual catch-ups turn into obligations. or social gatherings turn out to be nothing more than aimless roaming with multiple detours. something which is both amusing and disturbing at the same time. hey, i tried. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">it's tough to accommodate all when time itself is a mighty opponent.</span><br /><br />when others disapprove, and assume the worst without understanding. so being nice is said to be too friendly, and being cold is called using the trump card. im just being myself. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">what if this actually is the real deal?</span><br /><br />when physical attraction remains to be the only draw. and the lines of familiarity get entangled with what shouldnt be. what makes me feel whole again may only be a temporary illusion that may hurt much more than it rejuvenates. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">silly as it sounds, sometimes being mean is to mean well.</span><br /><br />when too much spice causes daily discomfort. but never bad enough to deter relentless gastronomical adventures from the deprived soul. . <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">only to be accused of being</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">gluttony.</span><br /><br />when seeing is feeling heartpangs and knowing that more needs to be done. more time spent, more walks and talks together, more love shown and shared with loved ones. including the loyal dogs we call our best friends. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">i wish with all my heart i could.<br /><br /></span>~~<br />but i am blessed enough to be able <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >to laugh</span>. and cry. express my emotions with friends whom i will always share a bond with.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >to speak my mind</span> and share my innermost thoughts with a treasured brother who listens and shares with equal trust. to hope that he knows his 19th birthday means the world even if i cant be there.<br /><br />to explore familiar haunts with renewed delight and seek new pleasures with newfound vigour. nothing better than<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" > to sample local tastes</span> with family. and revel in the usual banter that keeps me sane and grounded. to know without a doubt that there is nothing that stands between blood.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >to love</span>, and be loved in return. and hopefully make others happy in the process. im still learning.<br /><br /><br /><br />it's good to be back, but the days have never felt so short.. it's as though they were snatched away before i could fully absorb the force of it.<br />if anything, it is fuel to last the next two trying months before the next trip home.<br /><br /></div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-35778469695393753832008-08-21T20:04:00.003+10:002008-08-21T20:12:15.757+10:00let success be measured by the happiness in your heartIn the midst of little observations and quiet realizations, i found the above quote to be beyond many's reach.lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-27932673966174573792008-08-09T18:04:00.010+10:002008-08-09T18:28:08.072+10:00Olympics Opening Night 080808pictures speak louder than words.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE2u2agxXxq6EOOBkvV5QUQx2_ff5pOSGgDIyOc4XPmoYbvXfTKyiAYyE2cUZQvMfvkjVLDxuORkFxUhHnbsI1lvKis3ZPyeSqFzo-FG3lI-FeNpNHzonvDQv4ZYYB6OS_YsOqg/s1600-h/DSC04843.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE2u2agxXxq6EOOBkvV5QUQx2_ff5pOSGgDIyOc4XPmoYbvXfTKyiAYyE2cUZQvMfvkjVLDxuORkFxUhHnbsI1lvKis3ZPyeSqFzo-FG3lI-FeNpNHzonvDQv4ZYYB6OS_YsOqg/s400/DSC04843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232427286330796642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sanlitun Bar Street;</span> the 5 Olympic rings was a spectacular sight, even on the screen<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cLK4bn3NY2g4VAXmdi3RmhFD41ek9SzWNcF3yZPZkvCSV885PPtno8cHZrxs5BnwhyBEOghvMx67pPa_5hXFQwko_w3rfkzGAJ-lHFanPNUOxuUJpPYYa3O0nT8V0_LjCAYglQ/s1600-h/DSC04845.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cLK4bn3NY2g4VAXmdi3RmhFD41ek9SzWNcF3yZPZkvCSV885PPtno8cHZrxs5BnwhyBEOghvMx67pPa_5hXFQwko_w3rfkzGAJ-lHFanPNUOxuUJpPYYa3O0nT8V0_LjCAYglQ/s320/DSC04845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232427087880246226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">beer, chips and baijiu all around; </span>but we were still hungry for more<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppCrau3lmBspEGWq1Y76sRu2tQtywVdlkT0XSUAFutedAlwW3tMlmkvJaPQTMW4KJof4F7RuUADqakW9j771jT_PAkOlQm5pDaC4yfKS7i_pw6umIMb4dGZMp7PgO6dBGHSegLA/s1600-h/DSC04849.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppCrau3lmBspEGWq1Y76sRu2tQtywVdlkT0XSUAFutedAlwW3tMlmkvJaPQTMW4KJof4F7RuUADqakW9j771jT_PAkOlQm5pDaC4yfKS7i_pw6umIMb4dGZMp7PgO6dBGHSegLA/s200/DSC04849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232426768496540370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MVHTMA60YOvvQNQe0ECDxZyYzrVbSGnz-2HUhPABx5cgxR8ff-886f7JfediggnzVePrniRHbt24lLvnhuwgcwAk9D9j6RE3Yes1PEw1pxvVAkxXSXt1m6XzGYJNNmpGI6OrBQ/s1600-h/DSC04858.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MVHTMA60YOvvQNQe0ECDxZyYzrVbSGnz-2HUhPABx5cgxR8ff-886f7JfediggnzVePrniRHbt24lLvnhuwgcwAk9D9j6RE3Yes1PEw1pxvVAkxXSXt1m6XzGYJNNmpGI6OrBQ/s200/DSC04858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232426460042131762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sanlitun Open Area & Worker's Stadium North Gate; </span>where we joined in the endless chants of '加油中国!' till our voices were hoarse<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0m3CIjKcYtabr9GPWl2_9P9GTJTU2pefDMv5zs-LllFy70zus-SMtL4ta92v8aQsK-C8iG7WJFYw9CEInr1TAmnriCd8kqqDPavPZGWROCw1swKKWe4EZ0TxhPee3C6MQYGIfQ/s1600-h/DSC04851.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0m3CIjKcYtabr9GPWl2_9P9GTJTU2pefDMv5zs-LllFy70zus-SMtL4ta92v8aQsK-C8iG7WJFYw9CEInr1TAmnriCd8kqqDPavPZGWROCw1swKKWe4EZ0TxhPee3C6MQYGIfQ/s320/DSC04851.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232426187440791922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">some of the happy people;</span> Australian flag or not, Malaysia still Boleh!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">beach volleyball prelims tomorrow, a good chance for a tan!=D<br /></div></div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-523525974049848912008-08-02T12:30:00.016+10:002008-08-02T13:28:20.543+10:00Beijing skieson a typical foggy day, you can stare at the moon head-on, and wonder why it's so huge in evenings, and in a strong orange hue that stands out in the grey sky. okay, so maybe some have told me that it's actually the sun. still, a sight to behold.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWubixjYnKM94Edju9PlAFSV5QLmr_7R7UwgtNThdhZBP77uSim4wQfayPnzOpfvfwp6CmjvHZdGZLbnDDXPKRzppyErWTu7RN4c_7Nw91vhvv0eBHDDFBEdUNFp_FPwL1a4Xbuw/s1600-h/20080724512.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWubixjYnKM94Edju9PlAFSV5QLmr_7R7UwgtNThdhZBP77uSim4wQfayPnzOpfvfwp6CmjvHZdGZLbnDDXPKRzppyErWTu7RN4c_7Nw91vhvv0eBHDDFBEdUNFp_FPwL1a4Xbuw/s200/20080724512.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229753778027003458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQgp_Gd664tW2AcS_c0g84DmvhdPBkf5X_jKX2Af7rm4CThi2DcAsbwKm_c6QgVIPoaVnj-r0E13h1wnVrzcI5Dao0FxAXhacXLgVw3dApwUKVo_SavGvw9Dc1sv0fVuk3XLdcQ/s1600-h/20080724513.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQgp_Gd664tW2AcS_c0g84DmvhdPBkf5X_jKX2Af7rm4CThi2DcAsbwKm_c6QgVIPoaVnj-r0E13h1wnVrzcI5Dao0FxAXhacXLgVw3dApwUKVo_SavGvw9Dc1sv0fVuk3XLdcQ/s200/20080724513.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229754160471340226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">on a lazy afternoon, people-watching while leisurely strolling the streets at Beijing's popular spot for its scenic lake views and traditional courtyard houses 四合院. kudos to the guy who sat on his rooftop with a Tsingtao beer in hand; a pretty damn cool way to watch the flurry of activities below.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">at a pivotal bridge crossing at Hou Hai 后海</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjnsd3gRWhs0FEnkpzdtEYvEHxswJNUWzUfCR1jWO64aHOV2A95I-Qwp8Qa4G6apuukdexVbN_cgWBKRHBcDuWhRuStwwEovCc8KzMnfCJWRPFI9VObNhUHE3ROOFyaecTjRrMA/s1600-h/20080726514.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjnsd3gRWhs0FEnkpzdtEYvEHxswJNUWzUfCR1jWO64aHOV2A95I-Qwp8Qa4G6apuukdexVbN_cgWBKRHBcDuWhRuStwwEovCc8KzMnfCJWRPFI9VObNhUHE3ROOFyaecTjRrMA/s400/20080726514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229743321593573090" border="0" /></a><br />on a spontaneous night, you unexpectedly catch the soothing fountains and night lights along the park, a scenic prelude to witnessing the string of high-end shopping malls coming to life along the streets. and of course, we couldnt resist battling it out in mindless arcade games that provided many laughs and much-needed endorphins.<br /></div></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">the Chinese Catholic Church at Wangfujing 王府井</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZWy1_hrvWeERyGew9njHBP93eTSkgkYTCajMSMEru9IDKQn1X30lIoby3pSOQNw-rSN1jzSwDt0Ezn74Q_l_BZ-ssElhw6jgAPbRSqp1ZD_qDeZkl9AdTwuFpxtqTkvSGPcFGA/s1600-h/20080727517.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZWy1_hrvWeERyGew9njHBP93eTSkgkYTCajMSMEru9IDKQn1X30lIoby3pSOQNw-rSN1jzSwDt0Ezn74Q_l_BZ-ssElhw6jgAPbRSqp1ZD_qDeZkl9AdTwuFpxtqTkvSGPcFGA/s400/20080727517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229743038771458210" border="0" /></a><br />.. and on a clear day, you can even glimpse the far mountains that you never even knew existed, and watch the clouds envelope the CBD in its white and blue glory.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">from the 21st floor of LG Twin Towers 双子座大厦<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeV8iuh5hGFKo0RaDWjzaaw2a_wefzD-r56HPErnWakALQLEdJymOKKX5sR-S5zEErr-nDehhzyZV8_idCZkFvFqiK8D4EwYa0cZrYkHF6wOquN01HFrig5kRKbX2P2b1whaiFw/s1600-h/20080801519.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeV8iuh5hGFKo0RaDWjzaaw2a_wefzD-r56HPErnWakALQLEdJymOKKX5sR-S5zEErr-nDehhzyZV8_idCZkFvFqiK8D4EwYa0cZrYkHF6wOquN01HFrig5kRKbX2P2b1whaiFw/s400/20080801519.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229742795677275570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">in front of Jianguomenwai Avenue 建国门外大街<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfkUi_bpymF7MuihtjYsA8WPuy55IW4Hjb5hgRZ0rPc5pGMXhEd3wq_p1DKePfPbKP2ZicCS4zYk8s5PETtx002y_hCKyk2qiqp1dgF1osdXZKOrzm2TL99pJx9hmUiZWYnxf_w/s1600-h/20080801521.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfkUi_bpymF7MuihtjYsA8WPuy55IW4Hjb5hgRZ0rPc5pGMXhEd3wq_p1DKePfPbKP2ZicCS4zYk8s5PETtx002y_hCKyk2qiqp1dgF1osdXZKOrzm2TL99pJx9hmUiZWYnxf_w/s400/20080801521.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229742542077564626" border="0" /></a><br />crazy.<br /><br />crazy beautiful.<br /><br />just like how friendships are.<br /><br />even if it's an exhausting talk in between the zooming subways trains, or a long-distance phone call on another sleepless night. or the well-meaning comments, and the casual e-mails.<br /><br />yeah.<br /><br />it's the little things that catch you on your way down. so even if everything isnt okay, there's always something worth living for.<br /><br />thank <span style="font-style: italic;">yous.<br /><br /></span>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-47617334243683127142008-07-23T21:54:00.007+10:002008-07-23T22:48:11.154+10:00.<div style="text-align: justify;">everyday after work, i find myself looking for something i dont even know.<br /><br />i'll walk into the Ole Supermarket at the Twin Mall. sometimes i come out with 3 pastries, sometimes 1, sometimes i dont buy anything. today i bought a sandwich.<br /><br />i'll walk aimlessly along DongDaQiao Road, hoping to come across an interesting store that would catch my eye. there never is any treasure to stumble upon.<br /><br />i'll walk into many titbit stalls, fast food eateries and sweet-smelling bakeries along the way. sometimes i look at the menu, feel disappointed, and walk out. most of the time, i buy something i dont even want to eat. but i finish it anyway.<br /><br />i'll browse through Zara, Mango, Jessica, and other the retail outlets at The Place, twice over, in the casual, women's and men's section. of course, i've never once found a decent piece that i wanted to try on, or buy for someone.<br /><br />then i'll go to every bus stop, trying to find the right bus to take me back to the apartment, even though a part of me already knows i'll end up getting on a random bus after checking 10 bus stops. the bus conductor can tell me the way anyway.<br /><br />or i'll feel the wind brush against my skin every 3 minutes in the subway station, because i watch every train open its doors.. but never get in. because i just cant be stuffed to join the mass of angry people mashed up inside the train.<br /><br />and i'll get to Dongzhimen station, and confuse myself with the gate entrances despite having moved into the apartment for almost a month now. and after making the same mistake everyday, i'll walk into Ole Supermarket again, this time at Ginza Mall, and look through their bread section that i already know like the back of my hand. i'll still walk around the aisle anyway, deliberating, but knowing that it would be the same variety as yesterday. most of the time, i end up buying the same flaky pastry with butter cake inside. the one time i bought their chocolate cake, i almost puked from the sickly sweet chocolate syrup and abundant cream. today i bought yogurt.<br /><br />i'll then walk to the mini supermarket opposite my apartment, and pick up cheap, random junk that i know will make me hate myself when im done with eating them. but i do it anyway.<br /><br />and every night after hating myself i'll try to sleep, but end up tossing and turning. or having little naps with vivid dreams that bother me. and so i dont really sleep.<br /><br />i drive myself to the point of disgust at the food i eat, the money i spend, the time i waste and the lifestyle i lead. but i also cant be bothered to change.<br /><br />i think something inside me has died.<br /><br />and i dont know how to go about it anymore.</div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-8648930286225310032008-07-20T21:55:00.018+10:002008-07-21T23:43:18.529+10:00love weekends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQLvJbcjDOMbJsRJHBDGG_g8MjzEBVqdbHs-stS-qv48t5ZFwdE9kqHohQ-NVGWzKglf1jIytJNOyTFuS36FvMBbRBpJKfRlsVF7x7B33w11zRzDoWS7oex6G3T8iOyMYKCc27A/s1600-h/DSC04822.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQLvJbcjDOMbJsRJHBDGG_g8MjzEBVqdbHs-stS-qv48t5ZFwdE9kqHohQ-NVGWzKglf1jIytJNOyTFuS36FvMBbRBpJKfRlsVF7x7B33w11zRzDoWS7oex6G3T8iOyMYKCc27A/s320/DSC04822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225065632153675330" border="0" /></a><br />especially waking up to <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >a stream of sunlight gently flooding the room</span> on a glorious afternoon. it's <span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">idyllic</span> to just lie in bed snuggling against Honey, Whale-phin, three other pillows and a light comforter. makes for a great start to the day.<br /><br />today's screening of Boomtown Beijing provided an insight into how the lives of some of the city dwellers have changed in tandem with the upcoming Beijing Olympics 2008. on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the cozy Salud Bar at Nanluoguxiang, a few of us AIESECers trespassed into the <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204); font-weight: bold;">seemingly ordinary</span> lives of a <span style="font-size:130%;">passionate</span> 12 year old child, a <span style="font-size:130%;">righteous</span> taxi driver, a <span style="font-size:130%;">visually-impaired</span> athlete and an <span style="font-size:130%;">educated</span> elderly man. irrevocably linked, all three harbour noble dreams of making a difference for themselves, their family, and the country they call home.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPg6MEvy_WxlhvzXJZqyEiBEgvvVwt9pVV9FRPMAn-b9KgdI1VE2KdRIskT3mRXD4IhzuVRGcFi-cMK6fo27P4YDUtLS6It1QfD46-Sw92T-tk7IPfk7l7-MTQzORzBB5hOVNCjQ/s1600-h/boomtown.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPg6MEvy_WxlhvzXJZqyEiBEgvvVwt9pVV9FRPMAn-b9KgdI1VE2KdRIskT3mRXD4IhzuVRGcFi-cMK6fo27P4YDUtLS6It1QfD46-Sw92T-tk7IPfk7l7-MTQzORzBB5hOVNCjQ/s200/boomtown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225069213739069346" border="0" /></a><br /></div>the documentary was admirably <span style="font-style: italic;">local</span>, touching on the importance of <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-style: italic;">before</span> and <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">after</span> rather than focusing on the grand show of<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> today</span>. filmed a year ago, the story tries to capture the essence of Beijingers living in the countdown of the upcoming Olympics. the film explores the tribulations of a young boy who wants to be an Olympic torchbearer, a taxi driver who wants to be a model citizen for the world to see, a determined athlete who wishes to bring home a <a href="http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/index.shtml" target="_blank">Paralympic </a>gold medal for his country, and a determined old man who wants more than anything to share the Chinese art of stick-flipping and ribbon-dancing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfkl18DmjHu2-KtJM6Qzn9DIpGCGRTUwDFr_EBb5jpLQsNX8s4ZnVgxduowT16CXYGeL0_aPQglTMJ8YohdExi89dc-HeglioNT033cmBnl_PiH_xmCNwONR62XayrquQZxWs2A/s1600-h/DSC04823.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfkl18DmjHu2-KtJM6Qzn9DIpGCGRTUwDFr_EBb5jpLQsNX8s4ZnVgxduowT16CXYGeL0_aPQglTMJ8YohdExi89dc-HeglioNT033cmBnl_PiH_xmCNwONR62XayrquQZxWs2A/s200/DSC04823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225076580552262306" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />it makes me think of how far Beijing has come since the days of extremely-tight government control, of how astounding sky scrapers now adorn the city's grey skies, and of the changes it has brought to society. in the subtle ways of society behaviour, <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204); font-weight: bold;">materialistic desires are interwoven with a genuine need to retain sanity</span> in a city where rapid growth is the only way to go. some have gladly embraced the economy growth, and along with that western cultural infiltratons and mindsets.. but is it at the expense of their identity? the children of today no longer do their own farming to bring rice home, while the old still plant vegetations in their relocated apartment compounds because they cannot let go of a lifestyle that was so ingrained in them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ebf6PgFd-OxiacTSCCTKjpTR3E4Nva8iEwOKTv1jEIxEwxPOvA8zfjzYEkkykcK0Oao23siVaufapdrbWw_GIuhwVs4Y98zKcM_nnMasJi6yzydiXHrQeiy5654mbA49GSa8oQ/s1600-h/DSC04827.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ebf6PgFd-OxiacTSCCTKjpTR3E4Nva8iEwOKTv1jEIxEwxPOvA8zfjzYEkkykcK0Oao23siVaufapdrbWw_GIuhwVs4Y98zKcM_nnMasJi6yzydiXHrQeiy5654mbA49GSa8oQ/s200/DSC04827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225084367584037874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">do the locals all wait in anticipation of what the Olympics has to bring, or have they already spit out the bitter taste of what is to come in light of critical media spotlight from the world? do they understand the government's ambitious plans for infrastructure and technology, or do they clamour away at the remaining bits of familiar sanctuary soon to be given up for modern housing? what is the best way to preserve cultural heritage while alleviating poverty and providing a higher standard of living for the huge mass of people living under the five-star-red-flag banner? does such a way exist without compromising the virtues of yesterday?</span><br /><br />if there was something i took away from today, it's that behind every champion is a multitude of failed attempts by other determined but forgotten souls. and it is the latter that makes the outcome <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">extraordinary</span>.<br /><br /></div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-89772784023459075512008-07-08T00:44:00.010+10:002008-07-08T21:46:10.634+10:00funny howchinese men wear their shirts halfway up on the streets, showcasing <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">tummy glory </span>for all to see. the feel of cool breeze against sweaty skin must be well worth the exposure..<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />a bowl of 小豆面 doesnt taste as good as it should in a solitary meal, as compared to when there was company. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">how come it makes such a big difference?<br /><br /></span>text on the computer screen seem to get smaller each day. i have been enlarging the text size to 150% their original size, or hitting the Ctrl + too often. <span style="font-style: italic;">this cant be a call for spectacles...?!</span><br /><br />changing rooms in china gyms have no doors, no curtains and no shame. the shower hall is a mass of water and naked bodies that strut their stuff like no tomorrow. <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-size:85%;" >awesome.</span><br /><br />senior managers have a publicly-assumed right to throw tantrums in mid-day. throw in an unfortunate local employee, some heels and a pretend-nonchalant audience to boot. that's <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" >office drama</span> for you.<br /><br />every monday has been a renewal of diet vows, because they keep getting broken with KFC cravings, McDonalds dinners, instant noodle suppers and ice-cream indulgence. did i mention <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);font-size:130%;" >beer</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">?<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRsIB4xgq-JKGVSh0abLXOcgH8ANrbsaAw-K7EK_ZMSWnMltXAemoLg1-55NTuYa95FDvT9dM8L1ZWRIMtQi0NUlYgWreKjInnUSFLvQVd21fU7OXiTCcu6ALL_erVYM1vAwuHg/s1600-h/08072008505.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRsIB4xgq-JKGVSh0abLXOcgH8ANrbsaAw-K7EK_ZMSWnMltXAemoLg1-55NTuYa95FDvT9dM8L1ZWRIMtQi0NUlYgWreKjInnUSFLvQVd21fU7OXiTCcu6ALL_erVYM1vAwuHg/s200/08072008505.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220607585374171362" border="0" /></a><br />having a slightly less harrowing trip on the subway involves spending more time traveling. just leave the house half an hour before you should, and work another hour overtime. simple measures to tire your body, but rest your crowd-averse soul.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />moving closer to work also meant leaving loved ones behind.. in a way. got so attached to wangjing and its people that it felt like i was moving away from home, instead of moving into a my own home. <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">why does every little thing remind me of goodbyes?</span><br /><br />there is a distinct odour in every mode of public transport. step in for a whiff of everyday stench. welcome to Beijing, where<span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-size:130%;" >sun and sweat play together in summer.</span><br /><br />having a shower is essentially a game of luck. the temperature rotates from icy cold to steaming hot in 3 minutes. i shower for 15. one minute you're testing the water.. the next minute you're jumping out of it.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">walking is the best remedy</span> for everything. heavy dinners feel lighter, lines of thought become clearer and heartaches are less of an ache. the puppy search in the rain with a good-hearted korean stranger was cool. now moving on to finding comfortable working shoes..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_unZl4nO2Yp7ZMDzi3qdT7IC1s6iOEdUeepgATJZq1Ydt6aXps1fpy5f7cT04fLwwGRGQzhmlkrcJgFdgrmtQLqYgBsX00CMI5p6VxAa1kptJCZA3GRu699_9ub8SPUdGQJ34_w/s1600-h/DSC03460.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_unZl4nO2Yp7ZMDzi3qdT7IC1s6iOEdUeepgATJZq1Ydt6aXps1fpy5f7cT04fLwwGRGQzhmlkrcJgFdgrmtQLqYgBsX00CMI5p6VxAa1kptJCZA3GRu699_9ub8SPUdGQJ34_w/s200/DSC03460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220299782964961010" border="0" /></a><br /></div>things start falling into place just when you thought you have hit the roof. you look back and laugh at yourself, and be thankful for the friends who not only put up with your crap but waddled in the mud with you. <span style="font-style: italic;">you both</span>, especially.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br />im looking forward to the best 前并 opposite the apartment tomorrow. crispy goodness, cant wait :D</div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-53965407162950567562008-07-04T01:26:00.014+10:002008-07-04T02:47:16.541+10:00different name same game<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">how do you expect me to believe you?</span><br /><br /></span>you and your sugar sweet words and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">beautiful bluntness</span>. i may have unwittingly played your game before, but it was naivety that did me in, and unjustified assumption that made you lose the match. the first time was nothing more than empty guilt, but <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >the second time you made me hope.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>it was obvious the fittings did not suit the layout, yet i turned a blind eye to the misfit. thrice stupid, except this time, i am not going to let it get past tonight. i may have partook of your luring scheme, but this is only a short-term stay.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">i just cant believe you almost fooled me again</span>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">there never is a right one, is there?<br /><br /></span></span>silly me, to spend my few free hours searching for something, <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">anything</span>, </span>that could remotely deceive me into believing that there could be a connection, however small that link may be. of course there were <span style="font-size:180%;">the right moments. </span>the casting glance lasts a split second too long, and you know in that instant that there is meaning to <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">more than meets the eye</span>. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">the customary parting step</span>, the barely audible whisper that traces the last farewell.. and more. the design is perhaps more creative than before, but there is still nothing one can do to the blueprint. and so the same people half-battle, half-concede to a setting that is so strikingly similar to what was before. no agreement. no resolution. no truths. or maybe this is the truth.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">to want to believe, to secretly hope, to be afraid of being disappointed again.. these are the traits of </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">the willing fool</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">. </span><br /><br />apartment-hunting sucks.<br />so does the humid weather, horrible civic attitude of the local Chinese and the reckless drivers on the road.<br />it is fucking rock bottom when the past catches up with you, and you are reminded of things you thought you forgot about.<br /><br /></div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-38365033192267193362008-06-25T20:34:00.003+10:002008-07-04T02:42:52.660+10:00there's something in the air..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdQ7-j5qgZuWwvp4BUxMAbsZAaw8LuGOYcCHBl7BMWlq80hmzrnGAvVLnjQEKmD-7GkQBoJL_d-5cCn0JwKfkPfzEztNsFgrwvoOutHV11n_TtD8TmfEWtYv8kyLdTdoVGrgYAw/s1600-h/25062008500.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdQ7-j5qgZuWwvp4BUxMAbsZAaw8LuGOYcCHBl7BMWlq80hmzrnGAvVLnjQEKmD-7GkQBoJL_d-5cCn0JwKfkPfzEztNsFgrwvoOutHV11n_TtD8TmfEWtYv8kyLdTdoVGrgYAw/s320/25062008500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215765765748017666" border="0" /></a><br />.. makes you wonder if you're breathing in air or smog.<br /><br />the week has been a blur of festivities ranging from hanging out at 南锣鼓巷, travelling across 望京 looking for a badminton court, meeting thomas' incredibly nice chinese colleagues, discussing, worrying and then re-evaluating the job at Savills, having a rain adventure in 三利屯, and of course, being forced to walk up & down 26 flights of stairs.<br /><br />i know better than to let this week go without appreciating the little things; like learning the bus system, knowing the best spot to stand on the subway, and finding home on a white and orange sofa. cannot believe i will join the throng of workaholics next week!lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-15833890189529375212008-06-18T16:59:00.031+10:002008-06-24T16:45:25.040+10:00so long, farewell..i wish <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> to say goodbye.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">it is said the world over, and repeated too many times, but time really just flew by. cannot even begin to comprehend how this experience will affect me in the future, whether directly or indirectly. to have people from all over the world flock to Beijing, for the purpose of learning the language, and by so, understand that little bit more about the intricasies of the Chinese culture. we are different from each other in so many aspects, but yet like-minded enough to want to learn. to know. to share. i have made so many new friends; some close enough to randomly give a call wherever they may be in the world, while others make a memory of my time at BLCU. it almost feels like <span style="font-style: italic;">stolen time,</span> because everyone comes together for too short a time just to steal a few good moments.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpH5C2P0GvjFZhfXBVJnrkeAwY4bRjKfwyEtbP7i0RPPmy6N4b7InocWVNY8W9RWt66xN5sHPsoUHWySfS_etDKPuI5IovkyFgUoGtphq_N6kWYAtYt4s-28GLl2-St_H1q8YHQ/s1600-h/DSC04765-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpH5C2P0GvjFZhfXBVJnrkeAwY4bRjKfwyEtbP7i0RPPmy6N4b7InocWVNY8W9RWt66xN5sHPsoUHWySfS_etDKPuI5IovkyFgUoGtphq_N6kWYAtYt4s-28GLl2-St_H1q8YHQ/s320/DSC04765-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213128772865584594" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />today was the last day of class. in room 210, we shared our experiences with our three teachers who painstakingly taught us with more patience than you and me combined.<br /><br />郭老师, 我最后明白为什么您觉得我们俩的想法很像. 有很多事情, 虽然遇到困难, 我们都能做得好. 我希望未来也能坚持克服什么困难, 然后可以一起分享我们的亲身体验. 董老师, 您教得真好. 老师上课很精彩, 所以我们同学从来都不觉得无聊. 我们的口语水平很快就可以提高是因为有您的关照. 封老师, 我们都觉得您对同学们真耐心呀! 因为您的皮肤白白的, 所以穿着红色的衣服真相配.在我们的心里, 老师们已经留下了很大的印象.我非常感谢!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkm_s5xKgL1odkcFOx8ArZcHGXRe14ZVTFNS-jQy3cVyLC-URDny00N80X8AovJrtANRihP3kwj-eq8hb8BqK4zx-QBY0VJDClGsWJtncSZZHnQPq72BWlqsOcZj9jw5YF8WIQw/s1600-h/DSC04762.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkm_s5xKgL1odkcFOx8ArZcHGXRe14ZVTFNS-jQy3cVyLC-URDny00N80X8AovJrtANRihP3kwj-eq8hb8BqK4zx-QBY0VJDClGsWJtncSZZHnQPq72BWlqsOcZj9jw5YF8WIQw/s320/DSC04762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213122699560690258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">flowers, thank you cards, little notes, and even a class video can only add on to the colourful experiences we had in the classroom, and out of it. funny how 3 months can do so much. doing an intensive language course is like going on a holiday with a 100 other strangers, only to find that they are the brothers and sisters that God forgot to give you. maybe one day our paths will cross again, in Beijing, or in another part of the world. for now, i wish all of you the very best.<br /><br />(the sweetest, Beijing kaoya dinner, joyful jess' birthday, toothy tomo's birthday, at Mutianyu Great Wall of China, at Bei Hai Park, limestone cave before Shidu, night out at Pyro's & Propaganda, all smiles, Olympic Stadium Birds' Nest for China Athletics Open, spell BLCU at Inner Mongolia desert, the best classmates, farewell dinner at Conference Centre, acting stupid at Tian Tan, exploring Tsinghua & Beijing Uni on a bicycle)<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkVTx0kWCzWphucOFNzpXmaFZTRqPcIUV4p6JHpK77m2OsJ6lsnrxizFTk2xDFQwFqBxEfHY0GvYK3NgOfaqrU8c1Zr0i08ZvwLchsbGLRCvvUurkqGCpJVaKsaU3m7tyBthdhw/s1600-h/DSC04745.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkVTx0kWCzWphucOFNzpXmaFZTRqPcIUV4p6JHpK77m2OsJ6lsnrxizFTk2xDFQwFqBxEfHY0GvYK3NgOfaqrU8c1Zr0i08ZvwLchsbGLRCvvUurkqGCpJVaKsaU3m7tyBthdhw/s320/DSC04745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215335095252660178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOO08CXGCaq4fwRcaQ9yASiwfoRQsY2kk2Gx9c7kC08n4n0o4xyjM_W_O5IJd0AwSG2RR-XFvzXdr-2dU76oSbRm3hb2RcZWBGcjV7m9Cuoa3-dNQ_Rn9qxYgezgwQD2dK-gj3FQ/s1600-h/melissa+062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOO08CXGCaq4fwRcaQ9yASiwfoRQsY2kk2Gx9c7kC08n4n0o4xyjM_W_O5IJd0AwSG2RR-XFvzXdr-2dU76oSbRm3hb2RcZWBGcjV7m9Cuoa3-dNQ_Rn9qxYgezgwQD2dK-gj3FQ/s320/melissa+062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213142358504907634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb3yJoeFHnGuq5djkC2iPR6yZoVJwQL-heqXbfWt40IvoBohEePePaP9K0kxmmVREhIrjuXgN4I44zbZULML1PuT0XgUSfDD06jL0k0lt5tQLGTu9O3SAmJm6zwggDDYHrVqeQg/s1600-h/melissa+035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb3yJoeFHnGuq5djkC2iPR6yZoVJwQL-heqXbfWt40IvoBohEePePaP9K0kxmmVREhIrjuXgN4I44zbZULML1PuT0XgUSfDD06jL0k0lt5tQLGTu9O3SAmJm6zwggDDYHrVqeQg/s320/melissa+035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213133678624709090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZvV-Xn-_aXZUKVE2q1KHrMOb3sRFDFLgLKmXRoS2EaZja4gJWBGalJfgc_lh054UgnrLKcxcaTEIxE6v0-uNml2kXEv5t6ZKcP4hKHipjycSVr3RT8DvN5D_CyeiZZxnOnSIOw/s1600-h/30052008492.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZvV-Xn-_aXZUKVE2q1KHrMOb3sRFDFLgLKmXRoS2EaZja4gJWBGalJfgc_lh054UgnrLKcxcaTEIxE6v0-uNml2kXEv5t6ZKcP4hKHipjycSVr3RT8DvN5D_CyeiZZxnOnSIOw/s320/30052008492.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213125163268438178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nWVEcd_9tRP5fPe3r4t9L8PfxD0FneJ-553wQK9wS1eJ4H4xvXhtFstBHBn6wCpzS0fBVoSXkcpFQ3stue13GBOE2-i4XjrqSYHW_gTPumZ5LkFDR0yyCYemkpessxdOvyvHCw/s1600-h/melissa+044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nWVEcd_9tRP5fPe3r4t9L8PfxD0FneJ-553wQK9wS1eJ4H4xvXhtFstBHBn6wCpzS0fBVoSXkcpFQ3stue13GBOE2-i4XjrqSYHW_gTPumZ5LkFDR0yyCYemkpessxdOvyvHCw/s320/melissa+044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213130246719685890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcRV_X5u13COU1_qSUE09II75Vw7IvQMvCiYhEzWK7Nywbi3gVD9s5hyphenhyphen4Ysnw2Jhf5SRKQtDQNf9yrXp2ttmgg__84oBNQKmlkiv_Zt09GvAbYN15YCwMpRNLGuRtOLDNm49UgA/s1600-h/DSC04209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcRV_X5u13COU1_qSUE09II75Vw7IvQMvCiYhEzWK7Nywbi3gVD9s5hyphenhyphen4Ysnw2Jhf5SRKQtDQNf9yrXp2ttmgg__84oBNQKmlkiv_Zt09GvAbYN15YCwMpRNLGuRtOLDNm49UgA/s320/DSC04209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213125657977667986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzCPnIw1ZQIoOtDQHSBwvMhsUjnCV9NbeUDNRdNmbGrT86geWirRVCkHMpUCh5bzTMPyKGYU4pDpX9yw22Lg2Zrqqi_h6Mx-m-G4EvT3YlID04fSFG-3_zxmCUjgLEyuTnjOEvw/s1600-h/shidu+059_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzCPnIw1ZQIoOtDQHSBwvMhsUjnCV9NbeUDNRdNmbGrT86geWirRVCkHMpUCh5bzTMPyKGYU4pDpX9yw22Lg2Zrqqi_h6Mx-m-G4EvT3YlID04fSFG-3_zxmCUjgLEyuTnjOEvw/s320/shidu+059_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213126406091212722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignu9ohJ3JBfkP8uexmerlQUJuqECuBaE6FxQrt8qBIRxdEk5I47_rznDYBLfO0j5y1mhICHl9b1R2eNql18STLJaqfHX9nc3zRPZKDm35RW8WPmyMlsY26bA5qksqvX_UEzuZyQ/s1600-h/DSC04679.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignu9ohJ3JBfkP8uexmerlQUJuqECuBaE6FxQrt8qBIRxdEk5I47_rznDYBLfO0j5y1mhICHl9b1R2eNql18STLJaqfHX9nc3zRPZKDm35RW8WPmyMlsY26bA5qksqvX_UEzuZyQ/s320/DSC04679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213126975880233586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplqk5C2aGcS78DRuCwtxNTG0ILMc8MkwcCC06hNQy6hdFd0VIeUJGt5vItGq8JGpHq99fH_oKmG94OCRTauNjFchy_IS1BxsDW_DdWASY5Zja2OXseEhwThvGa8MLJ4aQ-8NS3w/s1600-h/DSC04638.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplqk5C2aGcS78DRuCwtxNTG0ILMc8MkwcCC06hNQy6hdFd0VIeUJGt5vItGq8JGpHq99fH_oKmG94OCRTauNjFchy_IS1BxsDW_DdWASY5Zja2OXseEhwThvGa8MLJ4aQ-8NS3w/s320/DSC04638.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213127378390724322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz8GeGpeXBKkI4FONQN1BqwPIr3Os3nNsHTn8qhHNOJitVhFFAbdQiI-xEZZSwS86BRoCgwC6GSPGHTpfLMZcR9kLJ7jnbG-bvGoTTFCgg_GdMSiXVlVOEpTthe2lvyFswVylvw/s1600-h/DSC04554-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz8GeGpeXBKkI4FONQN1BqwPIr3Os3nNsHTn8qhHNOJitVhFFAbdQiI-xEZZSwS86BRoCgwC6GSPGHTpfLMZcR9kLJ7jnbG-bvGoTTFCgg_GdMSiXVlVOEpTthe2lvyFswVylvw/s320/DSC04554-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213127617680729666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLgjnakzI55px9kC2b2KxByeeQ2_yeLIqsuC13VSFtrTQVE27e83r8QMNr3avml9jPKXk9oY4880lfjfkcdc1uCGh6sdbJYSzU6suqRgzPyycSG8lcB9qpy7o_7iH7KroAOjsbg/s1600-h/DSC00653.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLgjnakzI55px9kC2b2KxByeeQ2_yeLIqsuC13VSFtrTQVE27e83r8QMNr3avml9jPKXk9oY4880lfjfkcdc1uCGh6sdbJYSzU6suqRgzPyycSG8lcB9qpy7o_7iH7KroAOjsbg/s320/DSC00653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213129581006928514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQAo0gKjzp1cOY9xHv7Mgp1J4vpeHtMaRX56ufAXP6VnSUpHBIGEW66_H-35eUmblZlHrQ1i04nboKiawhv5Yu0ZTWRLGZ27XWAIZ29ssm5UZ1MV0B6ing4_KAHJndIfi5JR-0Q/s1600-h/DSC04629.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQAo0gKjzp1cOY9xHv7Mgp1J4vpeHtMaRX56ufAXP6VnSUpHBIGEW66_H-35eUmblZlHrQ1i04nboKiawhv5Yu0ZTWRLGZ27XWAIZ29ssm5UZ1MV0B6ing4_KAHJndIfi5JR-0Q/s320/DSC04629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213127926726267442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrGYxwZBKl3Wv-CiSKXy1MYUaj_AJuGYanonVORnY3fOlufSflQz06jxk9btKUGw-US5NRc2lPquv4CZa9OiJiCwcvp5Ug9zd_ZPrh06_YLzxDeH3CDPxXCHdmNiHRo0mcEio7A/s1600-h/DSC04737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrGYxwZBKl3Wv-CiSKXy1MYUaj_AJuGYanonVORnY3fOlufSflQz06jxk9btKUGw-US5NRc2lPquv4CZa9OiJiCwcvp5Ug9zd_ZPrh06_YLzxDeH3CDPxXCHdmNiHRo0mcEio7A/s320/DSC04737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213128570004830978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zSETcSxrkeILfSydDOq_xk8SovAO0o0FFBoPa8Lt-C5EY1PP6aBwhCUNe5MeIPuKMmJ2hNOS02sD-OSsi8BfQMw40xpLUn6iQvngJQrQTObdwS0TExJn9f9XujHqNjrAfKng7w/s1600-h/DSC04413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zSETcSxrkeILfSydDOq_xk8SovAO0o0FFBoPa8Lt-C5EY1PP6aBwhCUNe5MeIPuKMmJ2hNOS02sD-OSsi8BfQMw40xpLUn6iQvngJQrQTObdwS0TExJn9f9XujHqNjrAfKng7w/s320/DSC04413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213126131083064226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdAdqsLsRbDkP75tuw4PFtfWe7hfpZgjPMfk92aD7bwTlOmuAaaHuGuJUTZDkcs4Xoh4KC-5hYyHnTzzAhQThdRod1OdmK4tMa7RUZdW-M1oRtA_pvxjLLarP0h_uwWp9yRhxTQ/s1600-h/DSC04710.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdAdqsLsRbDkP75tuw4PFtfWe7hfpZgjPMfk92aD7bwTlOmuAaaHuGuJUTZDkcs4Xoh4KC-5hYyHnTzzAhQThdRod1OdmK4tMa7RUZdW-M1oRtA_pvxjLLarP0h_uwWp9yRhxTQ/s320/DSC04710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213133151397438882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVt7kjuQ3-UFtYXY6PWagJzIy1uiR6zgkxKQwxHOGUV1Omsnrpio6SMlzMhM_xdrGi4tIJkLzhStyi8eQPoa6Fj2239e_8SORZeYc9qDKGOBiUY656ePlaISp58YmEt-8Ab2F3kw/s1600-h/DSC04734.JPG"><br /></a>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-21588570197133289282008-06-04T15:44:00.007+10:002008-06-04T18:52:55.837+10:00the jump<div style="text-align: center;">Shi Du (十渡), dubbed the Guilin of the North<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2Pp46kb7EJwX7cuuGKRtadHZ7l_sPUuA_7BaOIxQ8dOQNNPxjpNimKX1TUNZ5jMz34LC9SS8hDZ7OV0f-W9mPfjtT_aFMf1qDaRnaNodw2j49KDbwWZM5RbZmuO8Xn3ObAI07g/s1600-h/DSC04647.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2Pp46kb7EJwX7cuuGKRtadHZ7l_sPUuA_7BaOIxQ8dOQNNPxjpNimKX1TUNZ5jMz34LC9SS8hDZ7OV0f-W9mPfjtT_aFMf1qDaRnaNodw2j49KDbwWZM5RbZmuO8Xn3ObAI07g/s320/DSC04647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207939013810138754" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">your heart pumps too fast, your pulse rocks your insides, your hands tremble ever so slightly. on your left, friends clutch at you, undecided between the anticipation of an exquisite adrenaline rush or the tiny possibility that this might actually hurt. on your right, the tiny platform beckons menacingly at you, the last step on solid ground before you plunge headfirst into a seemingly endless drop. you laugh your fears away, half-wishing you could turn back and walk down the safe route. sensations numb your brain, a heady rush consuming your entire self. it is already your turn. you say your goodbyes, smile your bravest smile, and drag your feet to the plank.<br /><br />images flash through your mind.. barely registering.<br />Him. dad. <span style="font-style: italic;">him</span>. home. Peter Pan's Wendy. the mountains ahead, the river below. girlfriends jumping after you.<br /><br />you lift your hands up at your sides, titanic-style.<br /><br /></div>for a moment, you are on top of the world..<br /><br /><br /><br />and then you start falling.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktp5SIPEiW3Qdq1p_FYKJ8_ezZtuWavsTwvX5bw1h2L_vILr6bm2ZKJo0DoXSPDwycFPqORDP8gDSl1RbCn7o9278eRMwRDJS8XFINnnKzl5tq8EuUY7IlCfOsQI-zYrh7MdFmg/s1600-h/DSC04651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktp5SIPEiW3Qdq1p_FYKJ8_ezZtuWavsTwvX5bw1h2L_vILr6bm2ZKJo0DoXSPDwycFPqORDP8gDSl1RbCn7o9278eRMwRDJS8XFINnnKzl5tq8EuUY7IlCfOsQI-zYrh7MdFmg/s200/DSC04651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207945791141018034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP62oP59RXbZvM3vO2sb5SgiKRJA6eKeo1dS-vFACY4WZLTXFPHAStkRB-oWX-zRRyx1oDfZJ6Z8IzL5YJms7AYOUiHUbRXFlGIz81Ol576IVWB36a_OyzxiZaYyjz40sdfoh88Q/s1600-h/DSC04649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP62oP59RXbZvM3vO2sb5SgiKRJA6eKeo1dS-vFACY4WZLTXFPHAStkRB-oWX-zRRyx1oDfZJ6Z8IzL5YJms7AYOUiHUbRXFlGIz81Ol576IVWB36a_OyzxiZaYyjz40sdfoh88Q/s200/DSC04649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207945224785376786" border="0" /></a><br />good thing the scenery was quite a sight, even with cloudy weather.lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-3055566955168059892008-05-21T00:17:00.025+10:002008-06-04T18:58:53.455+10:00just because.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">why bother</span><br />I write because I want to remember. I want to look back 20 years from now, and indulge in reminiscence at past adventures, laugh at once-special lovestruck jolts, see how far Ive come since the days of old reflections, gross humour and childlike naivety. Because hey, if I don’t even know what’s gonna happen<span style="font-size:130%;"> tomorrow</span>, how else will I remember<span style="font-size:130%;"> today</span>?<br /><br />I write because I want my friends to know that I'm still surviving little struggles and living big dreams, and well, maybe stuck in an emotional rut sometimes. If they drop a line to say hi and share their own life stories, that usually more than makes my day. As for being too cryptic, it' because I still find the blogsphere too revealing for my own good. To share the more intimate details of my personal life is to be like the rose trees strutting their colours along Beijing's streets, just waiting to be plucked! I both admire and am appalled at those who have no qualms with online privacy.<br /><br />I write because I want to know what others think about issues that I hold close to my heart. In a way, it also keeps me accountable to my words. I want to hear like-minded thoughts, different opinions and perhaps a whole new aspect beyond what I already know.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Outside The Forbidden City</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8h9lqAShua7wIvqdzYSMREPEINzTnGRkcDo1bLGBCTFJ3oMyjBHHmflUlmlHTad4YR_Ld3Wcur02xYuRkPd8RjMLmqBrRNOLSLn_m0TOYI-4jzgPpPZdMcmgp848mMu4vxyXUw/s1600-h/DSC04174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8h9lqAShua7wIvqdzYSMREPEINzTnGRkcDo1bLGBCTFJ3oMyjBHHmflUlmlHTad4YR_Ld3Wcur02xYuRkPd8RjMLmqBrRNOLSLn_m0TOYI-4jzgPpPZdMcmgp848mMu4vxyXUw/s200/DSC04174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202483019525122498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >sunny side-up</span></span><br />There are extremely good moments caught over lunch breaks with some classmates. Like when we had an incredibly meaningful but downright hilarious conversation about what our <span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family:SimSun;">最理想的职业</span> will be. Over the noise and dank atmosphere in the<span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family:SimSun;"> 食堂,</span>we exchanged our thoughts on <span style="font-size:130%;">the ideal profession</span> in a unique language mixture of Chinese, English and Indonesian. More amusing is the volleyball jargon I've picked up from the locals on the courts, a delightful few hours almost every evening.<br /><br />Weekends are interesting, because there really is quite a bit to do here if you wanna play tourist. From the cultural class trips to Bei Hai Park (<span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family:SimSun;">北海公园)</span> and Temple of Heaven (<span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family:SimSun;">天坛</span>), to weekly get-togethers with the city dwellers who live 8 subway stops away, the experience feels more of a growing journey than Melbourne was. There was also the surprisingly successful picnic out at Chao Yang Park with a random bunch of people thrown together on a lovely Sunday afternoon. definitely up for more <span style="font-style: italic;">jianzi</span>, volleyball with a soccer ball and cheese with french loaf!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Picnic at Chao Yang Gong Yuan</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSm2mJLTjLskw8Dx_1ZpUzfbebvwT1wU56gXJ76DlvxMHwmtGSC2X8Iq3T_pIc3D1oI1MhNM_rWwaGi1NNz-IQZp6xrzh4VV_IYFbmS-ML-e-OQNf9rDST6T2oN5VvLNsch42FQ/s1600-h/DSC04503.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSm2mJLTjLskw8Dx_1ZpUzfbebvwT1wU56gXJ76DlvxMHwmtGSC2X8Iq3T_pIc3D1oI1MhNM_rWwaGi1NNz-IQZp6xrzh4VV_IYFbmS-ML-e-OQNf9rDST6T2oN5VvLNsch42FQ/s200/DSC04503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202504799304280546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cCjr5_adZS8vl7reLqUNfkVQnIDh00qL6iHh52EzXQUMHRgeDOR-StUPEnZKHg6PYv3Usbr-ajsoROcOqYexG6rtC183vpOr1xLZxJKfyfibJOrg4w1rHIlGgbJXaPVMjpsIjQ/s1600-h/DSC04480.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cCjr5_adZS8vl7reLqUNfkVQnIDh00qL6iHh52EzXQUMHRgeDOR-StUPEnZKHg6PYv3Usbr-ajsoROcOqYexG6rtC183vpOr1xLZxJKfyfibJOrg4w1rHIlGgbJXaPVMjpsIjQ/s200/DSC04480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202506272478063090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Class Outing to Bei Hai Gong Yuan</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9T0ZLmrUpNrLGc5nUef_GXSoLtJoMHJqUETmcRsKBGDH5bEXaYNhf2cEPS_3SbrDb5mP4w2errLDuKBrEBzLEbi5Ljddp1AuJUpIW01C2F_Sa6KYVDVhL1aH86eq8vA5b5Svy7w/s1600-h/DSC04217.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9T0ZLmrUpNrLGc5nUef_GXSoLtJoMHJqUETmcRsKBGDH5bEXaYNhf2cEPS_3SbrDb5mP4w2errLDuKBrEBzLEbi5Ljddp1AuJUpIW01C2F_Sa6KYVDVhL1aH86eq8vA5b5Svy7w/s200/DSC04217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202480695947815298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfbJg3LrQ8cMw14TmEWlayV4ruYQJ_b2WkArB2Jk3qJZoSFqNKTE0tKBJJ5bxO8JFapFz3S7PyoXI7W74UPsuE24VZ-93Jl0IZuA7isn6W7ObKBjYJOnAkmjsAg-RbA2FY4EEDg/s1600-h/DSC04202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfbJg3LrQ8cMw14TmEWlayV4ruYQJ_b2WkArB2Jk3qJZoSFqNKTE0tKBJJ5bxO8JFapFz3S7PyoXI7W74UPsuE24VZ-93Jl0IZuA7isn6W7ObKBjYJOnAkmjsAg-RbA2FY4EEDg/s200/DSC04202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202480863451539858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">From Melbourne to Beijing</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgU4z4zz8JjGqRzdOnzPavO7XCYkaIS_Qn81Mm46_-U3Njit6PvJeOOl2gqSL8v5MMNC1UCcbPui8P1DQKaAvRp92k8ai5VFmsvTRGZqrGic7PEqdRaRgf1M2hyphenhyphenzaUamZW-cd7g/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgU4z4zz8JjGqRzdOnzPavO7XCYkaIS_Qn81Mm46_-U3Njit6PvJeOOl2gqSL8v5MMNC1UCcbPui8P1DQKaAvRp92k8ai5VFmsvTRGZqrGic7PEqdRaRgf1M2hyphenhyphenzaUamZW-cd7g/s400/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202478544169199970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">B8 goes to Tian Tan</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L5QZckjM1DKIGeWlAke7VzhHd1XlP1-No0CkOT2scw97L2ov73rGUaIBsi1U9Z740SQiwVEp2hBG8_MtmMHLYnwMjiUMiwhwWwKmO6L4wDSssdN86OQ358vLug8km27KqkXu5g/s1600-h/DSC04402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L5QZckjM1DKIGeWlAke7VzhHd1XlP1-No0CkOT2scw97L2ov73rGUaIBsi1U9Z740SQiwVEp2hBG8_MtmMHLYnwMjiUMiwhwWwKmO6L4wDSssdN86OQ358vLug8km27KqkXu5g/s200/DSC04402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202482001617873330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2K6sjZ8BUTp4zwhKmCUFnqqJz9l4zmhgR_y2uIaT7twiW6V2G_P3E0x2H_TzUMNiReQrPL7UHuGmbodVniCfqy9U6VfxicUV82B__1NMI20jvt-zRwprI4g3RTx3RpIPIJhjJQ/s1600-h/DSC04393-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2K6sjZ8BUTp4zwhKmCUFnqqJz9l4zmhgR_y2uIaT7twiW6V2G_P3E0x2H_TzUMNiReQrPL7UHuGmbodVniCfqy9U6VfxicUV82B__1NMI20jvt-zRwprI4g3RTx3RpIPIJhjJQ/s200/DSC04393-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202481619365783970" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />mental wars</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Then there’s the horrible days where I stuff down half a tub of peanut butter in one sitting, and spend the remaining hours of the day hating myself for that. Only to finish the other half the next day. It's incredibly tiring trying to refrain from puking when your post-meal conscience eats away at your insides.<br /><br />Being a woman also means it's really easy to come crashing down after a high. Worse still, it hits you without you even realizing it. A lazy meal of porridge, a snippet of earthquake updates, a text from home.. any one enough to render you to tears within seconds. for no apparent reason! am so wired for a rocky week ahead.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunset at Chao Yang Gong Yuan</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsp_LCoF_vugd_3AS41_DNjLwofnWxP07RqqH02fyqd_8MGxk0_P9HIwq8xPzieD_FWHxy_vBlTmG91tWLXdt47FJl3vajv6vKoPGQ7mnSFSoG_6BYANEziP5mdC7hapMqdM-fg/s1600-h/DSC04502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsp_LCoF_vugd_3AS41_DNjLwofnWxP07RqqH02fyqd_8MGxk0_P9HIwq8xPzieD_FWHxy_vBlTmG91tWLXdt47FJl3vajv6vKoPGQ7mnSFSoG_6BYANEziP5mdC7hapMqdM-fg/s200/DSC04502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202504460001864146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >the hike up</span><br />Now that I've finally gotten internet credit, I can dedicate time to some serious job-matching. Furthermore, I'm not going to turn on the television for the whole of tomorrow, because waking up to the earthquake updates every day just ends up starting your day on a sombre note. Instead, I’ll turn up <span style="font-style: italic;">Last Night A Deejay Saved My Life</span> (the Fabulous version) to get the body grooving.<br /><br />And my goodness, no more peanut butter for a month. For real.<br /><br />If you try hard enough, one day it'll all be alright.<br /><br /></div>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22451238.post-64905574595920221812008-05-14T19:56:00.007+10:002008-05-21T03:12:57.619+10:00heartbreaking<p class="MsoNormal">A blur of scenes playing across the tv screen..<a href="http://english.people.com.cn/" target="_blank"><br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://english.people.com.cn/" target="_blank"><br /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://english.people.com.cn/" target="_blank">the si chuan earthquake</a>, and the thousands of lives that were lost along with it. Images of children being slowly extracted from underneath the rubble.. some conscious, some barely surviving, many already in the hands of death. the sight of the physically-bruised with their tattered clothes and the emotionally-strung with their helpless demeanour, are enough to render anyone to tears. some parents mourn next to unmoving bodies, some are still hoping for a miraculous recovery. green-clothed volunteers still push on despite the rain, restoring order to a seemingly fallen city. buildings are standing no more, instead there are too many battered souls on the streets, too broken to do much but wish for a better tomorrow..</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">..as if people around the world werent already busy killing each other with haply spoken words, uncontrollable machine guns and suicidal human bombs. this host of natural disasters swamping myanmar, the states and now china cant possibly be any better.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p></p>lisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02633948388295461878noreply@blogger.com1