The Planet Earth : BBC Series

I have been so hooked to this documentary : The Planet Earth by BBC. This series were filmed by a team of really passionate photographers. After every documentary episode, they show how it was shot and you cant help being amazed by how tiresome and gruesome the journey of bringing us this whole series, can be. I am still on the first dvd as work has been keeping me back late almost every night.

But I try to watch an episode every night before I sleep. To date, I love the series done on the piranas in the amazon. You get so excited and afraid for the diver cum photographer!

Dinner with Schmit

I just have my dinner with Schmit in the airport before he departs for Dubai. It seems that Dubai is the place, after China. Everyone I know seems to be jetting there for work.

It's a very heavy dinner. Emotionally, I mean. He was sharing with me his tumultuous experiences in his life . He makes me feel so minute and my daily worries seem very insignificant and diminished. I left the airport, feeling rather heavy hearted.

I am not sure why I feel this way. I guess I always pour out too much emotions over the slightest matter.

If there is one thing we can change over our course of life, what will that be? Will it be life-changing?Will it change the course of life we are leading?

I believe in opportunities and intuition. There always will be an event that catalyse us to sway from our daily rut and to do the otherwise. An enactment requires both a scenario and matched mindset. Life-changing moves doesnt just happen with a click. It must have a catalyst.

My Khmer friend and I

I finally finished arranging and selecting the photos to develop. This is Vannez and I at Kalun waterfall having our really kampong roasted chicken under the palm hut. This 18 years old tutu driver and I became fast friends during my stay in Cambodia. Vannez is really a sensible boy who loves his family, misses rearing the buffaloes and hopes that he can marry the Vietnamese hustler living across the street ,from where I am living. I make him laugh and he is constantly amused how I could just talk to people on the streets, and perhaps, thats why he confided in me and told me so much of his life and aspirations.

Sometimes, we sit back and start to really believe that God has not been really fair and destiny has been bestowed to each and everyone of us. Like it or not.

I told him cheerfully that I am sure he will succeed one day in whatever he wants to do. He asked me why I was so sure of it. I just smiled. Cause I am really not too sure what destiny has in mind for my young Khmer friend.

Kulen Mountain

Thats the enigmatic lady who sits at a quiet corner of Banteay Srei. I asked if I can have her picture taken. She smiled. I offered her a sweet as well. I cant afford to give them money as I brought only three hundred US and the transport and admission charges ate up almost every penny. Moreover, I think its not really polite to give strangers money . Vannez was out of sight when I took this so I cant seem to understand whatever she said. I just smiled used sign language to asked her how she is.



Oh, this two boys are the aspiring kungfu fighters of Kulen Mountain. They are hilarious as they demonstrate their moves to me. I tell Vannez to tell them to be thai boxers instead!



Vannez and I did something really crazy in Kulen Mountain. We stripped to our boxers and swam in the waterfall. Its really crazy as we did not bring any towel or extra boxers to wear. Wesimply waited to dry in the sun! The weather is cool and the water is clear. It was awesome so I dun really bother too much about swimming in boxers! But the boulders were really slippery. I almost slipped when I took this photo.

Born in Cambodia

I was bored with Angkor Wat after a day of visiting the temples. Its over-exposed. You see it in all the posters before you get to the real place. On the second day, I urged my tutu driver, Vannez, to bring me to the outskirts and villages out of Siem Reap. It was a very bumpy ride. There were no tracks. One of our tyre got punctured on the way and we have to stop in one of the village's bicycle shop for an hour to get it fixed. I took this waiting time going around giving sweeets to these kids living in the village. They are so happy playing and posing for my camera. The eldest gal on the left is really the sweetest. I only have three sweets left and she gave it to all her siblings and yet still grin so happily.

The next day, on my way to Phnom Kulen mountain, I stopped by and gave her one whole packet and yet she gave all but kept one. Such an angel. If its me, I will keep all for myself !


To the end of this stretch of route is where the gal and her family lives. She told Vannez that its about ten minutes walk from where we were. All the houses there look about the same; which is as such.


Thats where about twenty homes take their shower. Their common shower area. Its clean water that has been built by donors and UNICEF. I asked Vannez if this village is stricken in poverty and he looked at me puzzled," They have house and water, why poor? " That's his exact reply. I asked Vannez to ask the sweet sensible Khmer gal if she is happy in the village and what she likes to do. She likes to take care of her brothers and sisters. She likes school as well. Thats what she told Vannez in Khmer. She is really very very likable. I think I took so many photos of her.

Reconciliation

I thought it thru out the entire of my Cambodia trip. And its the first thing I did when I got back home after my afternoon meeting and yoga class.

I just put down the phone with my mum.I finally muster the courage to reconcile with my past, in one way or another. I promised her I will have lunch or dinner every month or two.

I always thought by keeping my distance from my folks , I will not end up like them. I do not wish to be like them. Even in this moment. But sometimes, I see so much of my mum in whatever I do. I see her in me. It will never go away.

There are resentment that I know I can never put down completely behind me. I come to acknowledge this cruel fact. Time erases everything but never the ones that haunt you day and night.

There are many scars that I have kept so closely by my heart that I fail to realize they do not have to be a part of me. I have a choice.

I know its going to be hard to start communiacting with her, and eventually my dad, but I know I have to start somewhere. Its a good time, cause all my loved ones will be here for me even if my folks are too much for me to bear emotionally.

Thats another resolution half completed. Now back to reading the reports for tomorrow's meeting.

Banteay Srei: Shiva

Banteay Srei; My favorite temple amongst Siem Reap. Its the smallest and only temple commissioned by a Brahman, but not a king

My first rough out trip

I think it always happen on the night before I travel. I simply cant get to catch the slightest wink. It doesnt help that I am taking a flight at 0600 hrs and I am extremely paranoid about not being able to hear the alarm ring at 0430hrs.

And guess what I have been doing for the past two hours or more ; goggling for my birthday holiday.

I am procrastinating going back to HK to celebrate it with my good pals there but it will be yet another shopping madness for me. Hopefully, I can give this thought a miss. At least till early Jun, when summer sales start. At least the damage is not as extensive..i hope.

I have a few choices in mind and I have , already, progressively planned about it.

There is a client who is keen on hosting me if I am to visit China Jiu Zai Go [ I cant do hanyu pin yin for nuts] followed by taking a train to Lhasa. This holiday is still not given the green light for two reasons. I have to take two weeks of leave. Secondly, I must see if I can survive Siem Reap on a sorta Rough-it-out trip.

I think its a shame that thru out my 26 years of life, I have never gone on budget holidays. I was packing just now and I realised my life have been extremely cluttered in luxe.I cant find another passport holder to put my mileage cards other than a LV and Cartier . My foreign currency are slashed in my Comme Des Garcons. My emergency travellor's cheque is in Prada. My Etro cashmere blanket is in Gucci Overnight. My skincare is in Samsonite Black Label. Lets not go on about my toiletries. The list never ends.

I am unsure if this is fortunate.That enormous amount of money that I amassed to such. Anyway, it seems that 27 is a good digit. Or perhaps I have activated the saving chakra in my house. Recently, it just dawn upon me that this is sheer madness. The indulgence I find every excuse for.

No no. I am not going to take the deadly pact of changing my wardrobe into Baleno-world. I am just going to cut down. To do it in even less moderation.

Anyway, I am travelling by budget Jetstar this round, in a Muji backpack, housing all my stuff in Ziploc bags. I am a little petrified by my choice of US$15/nite hotel. I hope I will be able to adjust.

I just want to do something refreshingly different in 2007. Yup, thats the second resolution after coming to terms on moving on.

There are so many more this year. But I want to do it before talking about anything other this year. So ..hehe. Secret is safe. I think I am gonna surprise myself by all that I am going to change this year.

"越渴望見面然後發現
中間隔著那十年
我想見的笑臉　只有懷念
不懂　怎去再聊天
即使再見面　成熟地表演　不如不見" - 不如不見:陳奕迅 ,填詞：林夕

Eason Chan concert

I just got back from watching Eason Chan concert with Babe and Jamie.
Honestly, I find it rather disappointing. I think Eason's singing is great but there were too many mandarin songs sung. I will have prefer the entire concert in Cantonese.

Somehow or rather, I think that it must be something to do with Singaporeans. I may be biased but I think there is a distinct difference when you appreciate an artiste [ or singer] for its talent and blindly idolizing. Some of the fans , esp the one sitted next to me and the cute trio a few rows ahead of me, were screaming their balls out even when Eason was crooning melancholic tracks. I find it offensive. The least you can do is simply to wave with your light stick but not scream every other moment like you have just seen God.

I dun see this when I watch concerts in Hongkong and ,even , China.

Nonetheless, I did enjoy very much his extremely polished singing and all his Dior Homme, Martin Maison Margiela spring'07 collection. He did a cover of Jet's "Look what you have done"- which has a somehow different feel from the aussie band. "Shall We Talk" remains my fave throughout his concert. I bought Eason new album at the concert just now and I am right about to listen to it.

I love Sunday. Hopefully, the sun will be glorious tomorrow.

I finally am able to face it.

I got my web perks last week when I attended one of the countdown parties in KL.
The first thought that flashed through my mind was to read jay's profile.Dun ask me why but it just flashed thru my mind like second nature.

It has been at the back of my mind since then and i managed to set up an acct and logged on just now. It took me an hour to read through that 50-odd diary entries. I couldnt help but teared as I was reading it.

Its memories like this that reminds you how destructive love can be.
I have torment myself over this enough.

Indeed, he had been the guy that I had loved so dearly this lifetime. I am not sure if anyone could stir such emotion in me again. Not because I do not have the capacity to. But such melancholic love is enough to bear just one lifetime.

No, I am not pinning for anything.
I just wanted to be sure of myself. To test myself to know what I am heading into.

And I know its high time.
For storm trooper to march right into my life! [ right about soon]

:=)

I just got back from KL with Shaun, Dave and Jason. It was good ! I bought so much stuff from WOFS [ World of Fengshui] there!

And i am not going for senjakala massage next time! Errr...

Anyway, will have to wait for Dave and Jason to forward us the photos and video before I can write more on the trip.

I am gonna prepare for a brand new work day in 2007 tomorrow!