The Fall and The Rise

Berlin. Twenty years ago today, I was watching the news on tv with my parents as I did everyday. I heard about the fall of a wall in Europe. Of course at that age, I didn’t know what the fuss was all about, but I do remember everyone was talking about it. Some weeks later, the USSR collapsed and in Captain Planet, Linka now comes from Russia.

Some years later, I became a student of history and political science. The discussion of these events no longer became a stranger to me. Today, many still have invisible walls and conflicts continue to happen because of differences. Twenty years seem too short a time for much change to happen.

Perhaps one should take some time to remember the essence of this speech.

Two thousand years ago the proudest boast was civis Romanus sum. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’… All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!’

Cambodia. Cambodia also celebrates its Independence Day today. On 9 Nov 1953, Cambodia achieved independence and was no longer a French colony. Having just visited the country, I have been reminded yet again that I know so little of Asia. There is so much diversity and rich culture that one can never imagine some events only happened thus recently. And I realized I will be a student of history for as long as I live.

Pictures are still uploading from my trip… Hoping they will be up soon!

Before going home…

I thought I’d pen a few words before I blog about this trip. I’m still at Phnom Penh and am waiting for the flight home. This trip has been eye-opening. This place is so full of history and so rich with culture that I am happy to find this gem before it becomes too commercialized. I think there are so many places out there that I have not yet discovered. Having already travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Hawaii, and Maldives at this age, I’m glad I made a trip here. While I have already been to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Cebu and Danang, as well as many parts of Malaysia, this trip has reminded me how little I know of Asia.

I miss the girls and miss watching anime as and when I like. I miss having the internet at my fingertips. I also miss the daily grind, strangely. But there is nothing I would give to forfeit this experience.

See you all back home.

Blog Action Day

It’s Blog Action Day again and the topic this year is Climate Change.

Just about three years ago, I remember discussing Climate Change with my French friends. AS and I were on a holiday there and he wanted to ski. Unfortunately, because of global warming, it was a particularly warm winter and we skied on manmade snow.

On the same trip, I began to notice how much climate change and global warming is on the minds of the French. I thought it was probably because they enjoy four different seasons, while I don’t have much to vary between the monsoon season and ‘hot season’ – usually from March to August. And because of this, it was probably why most Singaporeans would not find Climate Change a daily topic to think about.

That winter, it snowed heavily in late February. It snowed at the village I stayed in, and it snowed in Marseilles. There was enough snow to build snowmen, even in Marseilles. It became a particularly cold and snowy day. Unfortunately, I was back in Singapore.

The thing is, ever since that trip, I noticed an increase in promoting awareness on Climate Change. Indeed it has since affected the local community here than before. Rainy seasons are no longer rainy, and hot weather has become more unbearable. As I type this entry, we are having alternating hot days and cold,rainy days. (Today seems to be in between, surprisingly)

I think we are making improvements, and slowly informing the general public about how damaging our seemingly small actions could do. It’s not a big step forward, but sometimes, little ones go on a longer way.

almost done with september

last week. it flew by just like that… things are quiet (literally) in the office since there’s no one around except 6 of us. over at my side, there’s only me. it was not very quiet email-wise, but i’m ok. I’m only upset that my weekend was burnt. -_-…. one document is all it takes i realize. One of my biggest and most tedious write-ups crashed (AFTER i saved…) and there’s no way the full document could be retrieved. The people who could come look at the system also didn’t manage to come in time. I burnt my friday knitting evening, my Japanese class, and the whole of my saturday because of that. Major SIGH.

flu-y. I’m also kinda flu-y these days. I might just take off on time today to get some rest. Too bad it’s monday.

Formulas and Hams. URGH…. what else is going to be worse???

Mang. Care for some dosage of fur?

On Leave

On Leave. I’m on leave today… Miss staying at home with the girls… I like having to wake up to their happy faces and then not having to leave them alone at home within 30 mins.

Birthday. Today is also D’s birthday. YOOHOO! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Okok. Some pictures of Mang with no e-collar. She looks younger here somehow:

And here she is snoozing as usual

As you can probably see, she still has those polyps. But they aren’t as angry as ever and the ears are much more manageable now. She’s also a much happier cat now. =^..^=

Weekend. I had a great weekend. Saturday’s hash was a good one and we managed to catch up with Mollie’s most-favorite-person-in-the-world-other-than-Daddy, Anderson. That’s why I didn’t manage to catch a picture of her, but here’s Millie.

I also finished watching Mr. Brain and I wish I have Kimura Takuya’s hair now. I particularly enjoyed Nakama Yukie’s performance…

AND I also played games on my PSP, although I could do better by working on my PS3… maybe later today.

OH and on Friday I watched G-Force. it’s really cute!!! I wanna watch it again!

And yesterday I went with D to a PhilWiinds concert. Flavor of the day: Spanish. It was very enjoyable, especially the second half. These concerts always make me miss my days in the Symphonic Band.

Am meeting an old friend for lunch… and then I’ll see what I shall do for the rest of the day. Miss my Happy Corner though!!!

quick one again!

just to say mang is alright and doesn’t have to wear her e-collar 24/7 anymore… (she does when we go out)

and then we have hash later.
so i’ll post pictures later i think

A quick one

Mang is ok, one of her little lumps disappeared and the other is still there. No signs of becoming smaller. She will have a minor cauterizing session soon and then she will be discharged tomorrow.

Millie put on 200 grams and is a little squirmy taking her kennel cough prevention – the squirmy part is expected.

Mollie lost 1 kg (WHY?!?!) but is happy and chirpy and bouncy. – that is expected too.

They are all doing fine.

This weekend…

was relatively better than the long weekend last week spent running errands. Of course the highlight was a bowl of blue cheese. Anyways, see why.

UP. I watched Up. It was HILARIOUS. I also particularly enjoyed the details for the dogs – especially the snarl Alpha did … and I LOVE Alpha. Dug is cute too!!! I think the best thing I remembered from the movie was when Russell (was that his name?) the little boy said that the most ordinary things are the things he remembered best. hmm hmm.

Knits. I also knitted abit this week. Oh and I have more yarn!! HAHA

Ghibli. I bought more animated films by Studio Ghibli. (Note: I don’t want to write Miyazaki here because he didn’t produce some of those I bought) Some of them are my longtime favorites and one is something new. Added to my Ponyo limited edition tin case DVD, is Grave of the Fireflies 火垂るの墓, My Neighbor Totoro となりのトトロ, Nausicaa Valley of the Wind 風の谷のナウシ and Tales from Earthsea ゲド戦記. I haven’t seen Tales before so that’s new. I watched Grave of the Fireflies again last night and then Totoro and Ponyo today. I am quite disappointed though, that there isn’t Princess Mononoke… I might check next weekend though.

Ok here’s an evening before another busy week ahead. I can’t wait for the next public holiday already. SIGH!

Missing Weekends

you know sometimes on a friday, you are happy that the next day is saturday. and then you get caught up with errands and God knows what, and you think about work all the time… about what you need to do on monday and the next week. and then you wake up and realize… oops it’s monday.

Mang wants to say this by the way: 67tyszxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Our Pledge Moment