Holiday reading

Eve before Christmas Eve
Waiting for the barbarians
Seeing the real humanity

Christmas Eve
Kabalmysteriet
Realizing your existence and thoughts

Christmas day
The Baker Street letters
Poorly written suspense novel

Boxing Day
L'élégance du hérisson
Work in progress... Shall report back

when first world meets the third

long long time ago, I read a book called turning mountain (in mandarin)

life is turning and turning and more non stop turning

you're sitting on a chair, and you still haven't stopped turning

day by day, most of us live life like ants

we get caught up in loopholes

we take pictures of ourselves and post it on facebook, refreshing every 30 seconds to see who "like" it.

instead of having a good time hanging out with friends, we choose to spend time taking photos to show it off on facebook

people in third world live better than first world, in the heart

first world problems are meaningless when moved to third world countries

first world issues are laughable when seeing how third world lives

first world people are empty when meeting third world children

of course, not all first world are what is described above. but there are plenty, there are plenty.

the australian boy, gabe

We met at the airport going from Lima to Cusco in Peru.
Him and his female friend sat across me in the waiting benches, waiting for the gate to open and of course obviously, because we are in South America, it's "south american punctuality". I was on the fourth day of my travels and asked them to confirm that I am at the right gate going to Cusco.

"Hey, this is the gate for flight at 10:30 to Cusco right?"

"Yeah, we are on the same flight."

"Cool, where you guys from?"

"Australia, my friend is travelling with me for a month and then I am off by myself to Bolivia then Argentina."

"Really! I am on the same route as you!"

"Well, let me leave you my email, we could meet up again (write down his email on my "fuck you and your blog" journal, and I also ripped a paper out and wrote mine)"


We didn't meet up until La Paz in Bolivia, a month later.

On one of the busy intersection of La Paz's busiest tourist district,

"Gabe!"

"Jenny!"

Gabriel is from possibly the most boring town in Australia, Canberra. He was a trouble child, getting into trouble in school and eventually dropped out of high school and did not complete university till he was 26. His parents broke up relations with him until recently. His sister is even worse as she does not like hanging out with family, even during Thanksgiving and Christmas season. He decided to travel to South America to record sounds. Sound of the street, the alleyway, the wood workers, the party shouts, the bus driving by and the singing of the Amazon birds. He turns out to be a slightly famous Australian DJ doing gigs for festivals and clubs. He is tall, slightly fat and always carries his recorder. He has a interesting way of controlling his finances, he rather spend extra money on private rooms than eating a good healthy meal. He sleeps for 3 days straight and parties for one big night then continue 3 days of sleeping. He stays quiet for a long duration and can not be disturbed by crap music. He gets angry at crap music, aka, mainstream music.

The bookshop owner, Heraklion.

Two years ago, when I was working as a part time assistant manager in an aromatherapy shop, my friend Dino invited me to a trip with her to Greece. Being in a state of wandering what to do in life, I jumped on the invitation and requested a three week vacation. The thrill of the unknown is exciting; the weird food and the unimaginable stories.

We made it to Heraklion, Crete. The people there take siesta seriously. The streets and shops is deserted at 2pm sharp. 

Dino was looking for postcards to sent home on a small alley when I wandered into the little book shop. The owner stroked a conversation asking what the heck we ridiculously Asian looking girls are doing on this island. He then delightedly ran down the swirly stairs to the basement and fetched a bottle of ozu (and of course the 3 little shot glasses).

We sat in the simple bookshop by his office desk and exchanged stories, over shots and shots of ozu, at 2 in the afternoon. 

"I use to work in the bank making tones of money. It's selfish and I'm ashamed."

"Why?"

"People should not see money as the most important element in life. You are better with enough money to live a healthy happy life than excessive money"

"Is this why you opened this book shop? to do what you love?"

"All these books are my favourites throughout different stages of my life. It represents me and I want to share it with others. like you."

I looked around the shop, carefully on all the titles of the books. This little shop, represents him.

He continues, "There are 7 billion people on this planet. We should just be ourselves."

I was 22 at that time, and what he was saying feels real and true. 

He understood what was important in his life. He was not looking for fame and money. Living on an island in the middle of Mediterranean Sea with a little book shop. Seeing the world go by and share his favourite literature along the way.  

Traveller Couple, Doolin.

It seems strange now thinking back why Dino and I decided to make a stopover at Doolin, Ireland on our road trip. This town composing of one street will remain a dear memory of mine.

It took two hours to get from Galway to Doolin.We quickly checked in the hostel by the river stream then hung out by the little garden in front of the hostel house. (striking up a conversation is a talent of mine and it became my duty between our 2 women team).

As the night falls, we hit up the first bar on the end of the street. It was packed with people mingling with a pint of beer in hand. The bar was standing full of people waiting to refill their glass of goodness and the bartenders are working like ninjas (and of course they must be drinking too). The musicians are stomping the ground and singing their lungs out while making harmonic sounds to go with it. The place was full of vibes unimaginable for such a small cross road in the mid of nowhere.

"So! what are you two doing in this little town?"

"Well, for the drinks of course"

I love these little conversation. In these atmosphere, people of all backgrounds come together with no pretentious attitude.

"We are from America, and we love Doolin so much, we been coming here for two weeks every year for almost 5 years now. It's our dream."

It's these small things people say that allows for creativity in imagining what their lives are like and what it could be and has been. 

"You can take the glass to the next pub or just put it on the street, the staff will collect it in the morning."

I took the glass to the next pub and the next and the next, which ultimately ended up back in the hostel and back in Vancouver becoming my favourite cup. It'll always remind me of the simplicity of how some people live their lives. 

Some work to visit a place again and again.

Some people work in a small little pub in a small little town.

Some own shops on a side of a beautiful country road, supplying to whoever needs a postcard.

It's always more beautiful and precious when looking back and I am learning to look forward and enjoy now. Even though now doesn't feel like the best time.

Encounters

The American boy studying medicine in Melbourne dating a german girl living in munich. He gives it all to be with her. We shared a nice meal of all u can eat ribs and a train station sunrise stroll after a long night of dancing. Good luck mister.

She is fantastic at badminton. She lives in Vancouver and missed Olympic 2012 because of citizenship issues. She passed the emotion difficulty phase. She has new goals and has set them in sight.

He is Argentinian. We met in Okinawa hostel. He studies Chinese in chengdu china and is the only person who spoke mandarin with me. I still remember the image of him hugging gunta the hostel dog like a baby standing on the street barefoot right after the afternoon shower.

She is from a small town on east coat Canada. She moved to Vancouver to attend Emily Carr. She has a job that she is capable of yet she isn't truly happy about her life. She is looking for a chance to break through. But maybe it requires her to take the first step.

He takes a weekend to cologne German with his two best friends. We all met in the coolest hostel's coolest Shakespeare theme dorm. We spent the night making rounds to all the pubs in town and stroll in the cold silent cologne streets. One of the most memorable nights. His wish is simple: find a nice girl and settle down. Sometimes, simple wishes aren't easily achievable.

He is a friendly Japanese boy. We met in Okinawa. He taught me Japanese. We taught each other heartache. We are friends in great distance. His goal is to see the world and possess a beautiful heart.

Stranger encounters

I like to meet people.

A phd economist in Zurich from Germany on his way to a meeting with fellow scholars. He hopes to gain a spot in the zurich university as there are tons of competitions.

A Vietnamese web retailer in San Francisco for a conference and heads to buenos aires where he has an apartment for off times. He spends his time traveling while managing his retail shop.

A film maker from rio de janeiro traveling in Europe for work and play, ends up at Amsterdam for a crazy weekend.

A man on a solo road trip from Montreal to the very tip of the Provence makes a stopover at baie saint Paul camp on top of a hill.

A 17year old girl bikes from okanagan all the way down to San Francisco and aims to cross the Mexican border. She's on a mission.

A man with a top corner building in quebecs mont royale square, hosting travelers and owns an online retail shop. He spends his time sitting by the corner window ledge watching the world go by.

A early thirty high end senior barista making his way through school while waiting to be a resident to be granted a more affordable tuition. He loves Asian culture and wants to move to south Korea.

Sunday movies

Horton hears a who
Erin brocovich
The ugly truth
The state of play

Feb 26 tv program, u did good!
Thanks!

It'll never be the same again

Psychologically

Been sleeping plenty yet still feel unwell and not rested.
Psychologically challenged, maybe yoga is in need again.

Hello

You said hi
I reply hello
Everything is the same as before but never the same again

Hello,
We pass each other heart to heart

Hello,
We don't need each other

triumph

look at the big picture
the long run
we must smile
smile at how lucky we are

change, change is the only element that does not change
obstacles is another word for chances
think, in the big picture, what we experience is mere speck of tiny little rocks and stones


triumph starts with a try and end with a big fat UMPH!
-happy feet

Spring is coming

It's coming it's coming!!!

Charlie said

He likes to walk in the rain,
So people can't see his tears.

With

They may not be the best looking
But they are mysterious

They're profession are not glamorous
But it's with skills and passion

They express themselves with intelligence and elegance

They insult cruelly with words you can't fight back

They wear their clothing as if it's thousand bucks a piece
Yet it's actually just their aura

They talk more than phone
They phone more than text
And text more than status update

They eat legitimate cuisine more than pricey dishes

They love Sundays but hangs out on Tuesdays as well



People with class.

Camera

Tell me what you saw
Were they happy
How did they look
Did their eyes sparkle with magic
Can you tell

Run in the forest
Run before the beasts come
Breath with the owls

Shhhhhh...

castle in the sky

We built a private castle
A big huge playground bathing room
Sir George was the black hound guardian
There was a huge bed with duvet blankets and pillows
Breakfast was always served at bed with 2.0 sandwich
We climb up the stairway to the castle in sky every night
Between the two continents, casted above the Atlantic ocean
It was where lobster and cucumber spent their time together
As time went by, they each visit there less and less
One day, they both forgotten the way
The stairs crumble, guardians have deserted their posts, hot water stopped running and the duvets were full of dust

We forgotten our way
We lost
We lost each other
In the big Atlantic ocean

They've let the castle drift away,
They let their hearts crumble.
Lobster and cucumber.

Africa

Morocco Egypt and south Africa. I'll get to you!!!!!!!!

Rendezvous with friends to catch up over coffee is fantastic.

Feeling alive.

okay

Just wait, just wait. It'll all be okay.
The decision was made without objection.
That ought to mean something...

Breath.
This feeling, this heart breaking feeling, this too, shall pass.

Maybe.

Remember this

Remember this feeling
We are young
Experiences to the heart is essential
Now matter how happy, sad, or upset
We mustn't forget to remember the feeling

It's the road we must take, and let's not forget the way.

We'll stay in touch, I promise to not go mia on you.

Always remain.

Because

Because we love each other,
We should let go.

誰知道、我也有機會發好人卡。

Yoga

So I've signed up at yyoga for two week trial and gone there three times, haven't decided whether I will continue...

The sweetest moment of an entire class is when everything is done, the instructor turns the light dim and asks you to lie down, close your eyes and chill.

And now I post a Buddha statue at the side of old Montreal street on new years eve. zen~~~

Sexy Sam sexy pose

Kids part 2

They cough in your face
They pick their nose,
and wipe it on the couch

Yet they got killer smiles.

Fine you are kinda cute,
when you're not mine.

Kids

Kids are disgusting.
They're full of bacteria,
And they have lice.

plenty

the awkward moment when i realized i'm shopping in plen+y with an entire outfit bought from plen+y.

fresh

reactivating blogger now.
deactivating facebook, now.

:) real human being.