境界

悲哀呀，有时和一些没有文化的人谈天真的是让我想作呕。他们一不爽就用粗口或是贬低你的家庭/宗族。庄子公元前298年说的话至今还是很中用的，在陆地上蹦跳的麻雀是不会懂得鹏鸟的执着的。和朋友或亲人谈话时也会发现同样的症状的。当你看到的东西多了以后，接触的东西多了以后，理解扩繁了，你会察觉到有些对话你是在是应付不来。并不是说你不懂，而是你会发觉那些人说的话根本毫无意义。举个例子，我上个星期和一些朋友谈话时，发觉到有某个人不停的抱怨。当时我就对她说了，“人间必定有不满足的地方，要懂得体谅。”然而，她还是不停的唠叨。后来就发现了，跟境界低的人，怎样都是无法和他们说道理的。

所以呢，我老爸虽然比我年老，但经验也比我丰富多了。他当我还在读高中时就和我说过了，我会跟着成长找到不同的朋友。现在想想，还真是呢。有时跟以前的朋友谈世间的东西他们根本完全不懂，难矣哉。算了，人非圣贤，孰无能过。只要他们做人能堂堂正正就行了。所以呢，读者们，提高自己的境界吧！正如学习如逆水行舟，不进则退。保重！

Time beyond time

Time 时钟 時間 Zeit temps...

So many terms to describe the one thing that has been known to us since the prehistoric age, time.  Men are slaves to time; beasts are at the mercy of time; success is determined by time; time is always of the essence.  No matter what we do, time will always be there to bind us and move us towards our destruction.  Even the most successful person in the world is nothing more than a bacterium in the face of time.  So, the only thing we can do is to struggle within the time frame allocated to us and make the most of it.  Other than that, demise abounds.  That being said, how can we escape the clutches of time?  Simple, we master time itself!  I believe a lot of you have watched sci-fi movies whereby time machines were made to alter the designation of time.  But the message in between the lines is, control time itself.  When one can successfully control time, one will be able to become the master of life and death.  Fast forwarding an event, going back in time or even halting the flow of time itself will no longer be a fantasy but a reality.

However, the day a person can do that, that person will become God.  In the Christian's creed, no human can come close to God.  So I challenge you young minds now, become God and overturn any doctrine that you were exposed to!

A good animation

Alas, a good animation, so hard to come across and yet, when you do, it ends so abruptly as it has come.  Once again, the season of new animations has arrived, this time bringing with it heaps of novelties and inspirations that may leave you in awe.  However, as we are all well aware of, not all animations are good and worthwhile to watch.  So, the major question is, how do you identify a good animation?

Well, this is a very subjective question and everyone has their own criteria for determining whether an animation is good or not.  Personally, I like animations that have a story to tell.  It doesn't have to be action packed or thrilling, a good story will automatically capture the viewer's attention as well as deliver something that the viewers will not forget.  Furthermore, a good animation, by virtue, must have good and intricately drawn sketches.  Colourations must be awesome too!  If not, why bother calling it an animation.

Finally, since I am a guy, the girls in the animations must be cute!!  However, the definition of cute has been changing for quite some time now in the animation world.  Before the 21st century, girls with big eyes were considered cute, but towards the 21st, the demand for anime girls increases, more realistic looking anime girls were introduced into the spectrum and has been like that since.

 In short, a good animation comprises different standards but at the end of the day, you will set your own standards for a good animation.  I will leave you with my favourite animation up till this day.

Decisions

Do you believe in fate?  More often than not, we will come across a situation whereby we need to make a decision and usually, this decision will directly affect the later steps we take.  Thus, I urge you all to think things through before giving an answer.  You have to always bear in mind that life is a one way road, there's no U-turn.  If, somehow, you screw up, what should you do?  You proceed and make sure that the next decision you make is not as shitty as the previous.  Life will find a way.

It's about what you can, not what you can't.

Today, I had a little chat with a very intelligent man.  We were having some idle chit chat when suddenly he brought up the new iOS6 which improved the overall usability of apple products that support the platform.  It happened in an instant!  What was supposed to be an idle chat between two best of buds quickly became a debate about humans' dispositions.  I argued that due to certain environmental constraints, humans, albeit being equipped with all the necessary resources, will not be able to shine and cast away the shell of oppression.  However, this intelligent man argued that blaming one's impotence on the environment is a lame excuse.  He proceeded to saying this, "It's not about what you can't do, it's about what you can.  Throughout civilizations, empires rose and fell.  Particular individuals shone and paved the way for a brighter tomorrow.  Is it because they were born in such an environment that they were able to succeed?  NO!  It was because they had the determination and conviction to become better!"

He talked about how Steve Jobs went to India to learn Zen and Buddhist's teaching when he was retrenched from apple.  He did not lose hope, he persevered and by doing what he could do, seizing every available opportunity and experimenting, he was able to come out on top and beat his competitors.  "Gates wanted everyone to use Windows; Jobs envisaged homes with their own personal computers."  Due to this, the world changed.  When I heard his points, I was perplexed.  Who is this person I am talking to?  Just a few weeks back, he still sounded like me, an immature kid who didn't know the reach of his arm but within a few trials, he has grown to become such a wonderful person!

After we talked, we talked some more about how we were faring with our current lives and what we had planned for the future.  When we parted, the words he said kept reverberate in my head, "It's not about what you can't do, it's about what you can."  That's goddamn right!

"You are what you choose to be!"

The Calming Breeze

Shudder...Shudder...
It doesn't matter,
Winter is fading,
The winds are changing.

Outside my house,
Not a squeak of a mouse.
Wonder if I was doused,
Whilst fumbling on my couch.

I can see the light
of the morning blinding my sight.
It feels so nostalgic
and I can't help thinking it's magic.

Spring is here.

The calming wind,
The blossoming buds.
The warm feeling that permeates
into my soul and whispers
in my ears:
"Lift up your head
and move forward"

What is Teaching?

More often that not, people perceive teaching as the teacher does the talking and the students listen.  This has been the definition of teaching since ancient times and until this very day, some society still perceive it as so.  However, a great lecturer once told me, "Teaching is learning.  You learn what the students have to teach you."  When I first heard this, I was also confused since I am one of those "orthodox" person and listening to this simply left me baffled.  I mean, what could the students possibly teach you that you don't know right?

Fast forward to today when I was teaching, I finally understood what my lecturer meant.  Students are constantly learning something new, not just from the teacher but also from their interactions with their surrounding.  What teachers teach to them is technical knowledge from books that abides by the social norms but what students teach teachers is the knowledge about how to respond to a human being.  Students are all living beings and the teacher's everyday behaviour will be observed by the students and they will react accordingly.  For example, if you are constantly happy in class and you always use a soft voice to teach them, they will infer that as you are a friendly person and they can get to know you without any fear.  This also applies otherwise.  Hence, after years of teaching, a teacher will swiftly advance to becoming a professional psychiatrist.

So, what is teaching?  Teaching is learning and what you learn will ultimately shape what you teach and what you can become.  Cheers.

The Start of A New Day

When things take a turn for the worse and you feel like you do not want to wake up tomorrow, let me tell you something, bygone be bygone.  A new days will always come, and in that new day, there will always be new sensations to experience.  So, whenever you are feeling frustrated or lethargic, just calm down and think and understand that, no matter how bad things may seem, a new day will always come.

Reliving The Past

People say that the past can make one stronger.  In historians' eyes, the past can either make or break a person as societal expectations and pressure come into play.  Nevertheless, regardless of the past we had experienced, I firmly believe that reliving the past is what defines us humans.  We have seen in movies often the characters just pushed on even though something bad happened to them.  Let's face it, if all of us could do that, then there wouldn't be terms such as "developing countries" and "third world countries".  It is exactly because humans fail to understand the severity of their own actions that lead to blunders happening time and again throughout the course of history.  Reliving the past will not only help people to understand their mistakes better but it will also serve as a reminder that they have lived through it.  No matter how difficult or painful, be it happy or jovial, that part of the past makes us who we are today.

That is why, to you readers out there, don't discard the past please.  The greatest past one could ever see in one's family is his/her grandparents and parents.  They are literary walking fountains of knowledge and experience.  I won't say wisdom here as some adults are completely negligent to it.  That aside, listening to a few advice they have to give will never hurt but only benefit us.  I am not saying that we need to conform completely without cogitating but more often than none, the advice they give is worth the while.

With that, I would like to bring the curtain down on today's topic by sharing a fabulous music with everyone.  This musical score comes from a very heartwarming movie I watched when I was still a child, please enjoy it.

Mysteries...

Today, our world is filled with mysterious happenings and some of them are completely out of the humans' interpretations.  Often, we find in newspaper and magazines cases which involve murders, assaults and abuses. And this really gets you thinking, why do all these mysterious things happen?  Humans are said to be able to make justified discretions based on their innate intelligence but from what I can see, some of these humans lack that and portray, albeit not explicitly, signs of acute moral insanity.

So comes today's main topic, are extraterrestrial lifeforms more bizarre than humans?  The answer, from my perspective, is obviously no.  Humans are by far the most complicated and elusive creatures I have ever laid eyes upon.  Every action they take, every word they utter and every motive they have completely defy the rules of relativity.  Sometimes the consequences are so covert that you contemplate the likelihood of scandal.  So before we even dwell into the 4th dimension or outer space, it is imperative that we get to know ourselves first. Only then do we have the right to disseminate our principles and thoughts.

"So what are you?"

An Amazing Song!

Well, as the title suggests, I just came across an absolutely marvelous song!  Days of searching and continuous effort finally paid off, I got my hand on the full version of the song and I must say the full version is incredible!  Where is this song you may ask, sadly I cannot reveal it to you as it is copyrighted but it can be found on youtube.  The song is called Sora wa takaku kaze wa utau and it is currently used as Fate/Zero's ending theme.  My previous post talks about the power of music but this will be focusing on songs.  Indeed, once in a while, we will come across incredibly powerful songs that can touch the soul and this is one of them.  It may appeal to some and appear totally loathsome to the rest and I perfectly understand this logic as no two men are the same.   Babbling aside, I present to you the cover of this song.  Enjoy.

The Sound of Music

Today, I would like to talk about something that's very close to the soul.  I believe disregarding our cultural differences, everyone must have had listened to songs that have touched their heart and some, their very core of their existence.  Hence, in today's post, I will be touching on the very topic that I have introduced.  My brother just introduced me to a song of desperation and despair by Secondhand Serenade, "Your Call".  The intriguing part was how both of us interpreted the song.  While he interpreted the song as a love confession, which quite obviously it is, I interpreted it as a craving for something that is lost.  But there was one common ground in our interpretation and that was this song really touched us.  Hats down to Secondhand Serenade.

Sorry, I have digressed from the main topic.  Songs, regardless of our predisposition, are a gift that humans created for themselves.  While most of the time we read people saying that it was God who created music and stuff but they forgot one key essential thing.  Even if God really did create music, it is humans who materialised that music and disseminated it to the world.  A wise person once said, "God depicts, humans make happen."  That's why credits should always be given to the songwriter, if not, that would be so depressing.  Songs are an amazing window that can alleviate the predicament one is in and give hope to one who's in despair.  I am sure most of us have watched Shawshank Redemption.  In that movie, Andy personally said "Music is something that lives within you", meaning to say when we have acquired the essence of a song or music, it cannot be taken away from us, even by God.  That's why we always see people who have lost their memories or those who have suffered serious injuries can still react to the music they like.

Indeed, a good song can definitely wash all your sorrows and worries away.  So people, please listen to some good music/songs.  Life is so much more vivid with its presence.

Easter Is Coming~

Oh Frabjous Day, Caalo Calay~  Easter is on its way and by golly, it's Good Friday here!  Woohoo!  I hope all of you have your plans planned for the Easter break.  I, for one, am going to travel to Wellington and Rotorua!  Sadly, I will be on a solo mission to these places as my parents instructed me to go by public transport and I totally understand their concern.  Well, these places have a lot to offer including the mudspa, geothermal walk and mutton bird FTW!  I always believe that if you want to go traveling, make sure you can pay for the tours and whatnot because usually, they have elaborated explanations about the local attractions.  Well, I am not saying you must go for them but if you can, don't hesitate!

Now, for a little background story about Good Friday and Easter Monday.  Good Friday commemorates the death of Jesus as he carried the sins of his people (as they say) on him and went to get crucified (Amen Jesus).  He was said to be resurrected after 3 days (cause they saw a hole at the burial site) and all the people there were jolly and proud to that their preacher had gone back to the realms of the Gods.  Well, that's about it.  So, Happy Easter everyone and have a pleasant break~ ^^

Something Wonderful...

Today I just finished an extraordinary movie titled "Hear Me" or "听说" in Mandarin.  This movie demystifies the bond between sisters and the tenacity of a man to chase after the girl he likes.  Now here's the catch, one of the sisters is actually deaf and due to that, her sister had to use sign language to communicate with her.  Our hero saw this at the beginning and misunderstood the situation, thinking that both of them were deaf.  So, in the end...I will leave the rest for you to find out.  Anyway, back to the topic.  After watching this movie, something just welled up inside me, something alien that has never appeared in me before.  Like a surging wave that rushes up my brain and jolts every single nerve in my body.  A tear slided slowly down my cheek before I knew it.

In short, this movie has shown me the power of love, hope and perseverance.  I highly recommend this movie to everyone who wants to have a good laugh and at the same time, a good lesson.

"As I pray, I hope the world will be filled with hope"

The Sense of Achievement!

I am sure almost every one of us is familiar with the title for today's post.  Indeed, almost all of us are slackers by default BUT when we actually accomplish something, even a sloth can shout hurray.  So, does it pay to work your ass off and not having any entertainment at all?  Well, the answer is quite obvious but I will say it in case you guys don't know.  The answer is....*drum rolls*....YES!  Well, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. But think about it from another angle, if you work like an ox today, you are actually paving your own future ahead of you.  If you slack off now, your future will only look bleaker by the second.  On the contrary, if you strive now and don't give in to the temptations of entertainment, buddy, your future is pretty much set.

So, back to the topic.  A sense of achievement is pivotal if you want to develop one's mental fortitude.  As they say, one who always experiences failure will in the end turn into a failure himself.  Don't ask me who said that, I just hear about it from old folks and I assume that this is the common knowledge all of us should know.  Even as a child, we all like to achieve the target and expectation set for us.  This is because that will make us feel competent and at the same time, earn the praise of the person who set the target for us.  Talk about double the joy.  That is why whenever you see someone fails, never sneer or condescend them but learn from them and scrutinise yourself for any similar mistakes.  You never know, you might be the next person sitting on the bench mopping.

With all that's said and done, don't give up on your endeavours.  Sure they won't pay off immediately but the joy, satisfaction and pride that follow the completion are astounding!  So, here's a small picture of the thing I have completed.  Woohoo!

A Quick Update on New Zealand's Weather

Aloha all you wonderful people, it has been quite some time since my last post and I humbly aplogise for the delay.  For all you avid readers out there and those of you who stumbled across this blog by chance, thank you for your patience.  Now, your patience is about to be rewarded.

Bringing you live, from the heart of New Zealand, Auckland itself is the update on Auckland's current weather (nothing better to talk about).  MY GOSH!!  It has been raining two days in a row now and it is freaking cold!  Winds howling here and there, umbrellas flying off and shoes getting soaked, going to class in the rain depicts a lot of miseries.  Just today, I saw a guy's umbrella flew off his hand and into the vast sky.  He stared at me, who was under an umbrella and I stared back at him, who had just lost his umbrella.  A few moments of silence was broken away by laughters and I couldn't help but laugh at that sight.  He also laughed because it was the first time this happened to him.  After that, we nodded to each other and went our separate ways.  After reading that, you must be wondering, "Why didn't he share his umbrella with the stranger?".  Well honey, the answer to that would be "How do you squeeze two people under an umbrella meant for one?"

However, rainy days also have its merits.  For instance, when you are in your own room, as I am now, sipping some warm Milo while looking at the other vehicles and pedestrians getting bashed by the rain, it just feels good~  Not to mention I have just finished exercising, so this freezing...I mean cool atmosphere is just what the doctor ordered.  So, whenever it's raining or about to rain, get yourself a cup of hot drink, sit in front of the window or sit on a bench outside your house and watch the poor souls walking past getting pummeled by those droplets of rain.  Yes, it is sadistic but hey, we are humans.  With that, I will sign off with a picture of tonight's weather, courtesy of the Auckland Weather Department.

An escape...

Today, I went to retrieve my parcels at Richmond Road.  Initially, the plan was for me to take the bus there and I should have had ample time to slowly stroll to the post office.  Alas, fate was not to be.  The bus I wanted to take was 20 minutes behind schedule and by the time I realised, there were only 5 minutes before the post office closed.

Frantically, I ran with all my might to make sure that the trip was not for naught.  I did not stop and by the time I reached my destination, I was almost out of breath, so much for google maps (this confounded software told me it was a 4 minutes walk but it took me 9 minutes to run there).  Fortunately, the receptionist was a nice lady and she allowed me to retrieve my parcels albeit it was past their working hours.  Upon securing my goods, every last drop of energy left my body, leaving me languour and apathetic.

Slowly but surely, I sauntered back.  It was then I realised that the place I was at was beautiful.  Simply breathtaking in its own way.  The post office was situated in a residential area, far away from the boisterous life of the city.  As I walked, I looked around me and found that the houses around me each has their own unique design.  What was more, I found a PROTON SAGA there, parked amids the other cars.  Go Malaysia, the only one car that was actually recognised by the world!

As I walked out of the small pavement, I turned around to take one last glance at the small area that, to me, was an escape from the harsh and fast-paced reality.

"Pause for a second and glance around you.  There are things far more vivid than you can possibly imagine."

A New Beginning

Every good thing must come to an end.  This also applies to where I was staying at previously.  I will be moving into my new apartment tomorrow.  What shall await me there really excites me.  I will be doing a special post tomorrow on my new apartment with pictures.  Back to packing~ :)

The Return of the King!

Happy New Year and Happy Lunar New Year everyone!  God, it has been ages since I last posted here.  Frankly speaking, I am addicted to an online game *hides embarrassment* and have had no time to post at all.  Well, now that this addiction has abated a bit, I'd figure I might as well resume my life as a writer.  I bring with my return some good news and bad news.  Bad news is I won't be doing any follow up reviews on the anime episodes I have missed *bowing apologetically*; good news is you can expect more of my day to day activities and what I have been up to.  It might be a bit more mundane compared to the high, thrilling of animes and movies but I thought I might as well reveal a bit of my life so that you guys can know what kind of person I am.  At this stage of life, I have completely forsaken Yu-Gi-Oh!  The new sets and the new cards, along with the banal list of decks simply made me feel disinclined to go back to this card game.  Heck, this card game reeks of corruption and anguish (to those who are less able) and thus, I shall have no foot in this repugnant realm.

Well, back to the topic, a new year, a new resolution, a new perspective of life.  Ah yes, humans are such beings who like to deceive themselves yet, when a target has been set, they will work frantically to achieve that target.  So my New Year resolutions are as follow:

1. Save up $$, spending less on food and games.

2. Study like a bull.

3. Experiment and *steal* new recipes.

4. Learn the way of the guru.

5. Be committed and dedicated to the responsibilities given.

6. Be myself only when it really matters.

7. Make no enemies (or minimise it at best).

8. Enjoy life and don't whine over the trivial details.

So there we have it.  My new resolutions to kick start this fantastic year of Olympics and FIFA.  I hope all you people out there have come up with resolutions yourself so that you will be able to find a purpose in life.  Until next time, ciao~

"Make way for the king."