Away

I am still unable to complete my post on Shanghai, as I will be away for a few days again. Was too busy during Christmas.

Grr...

Su Zhou, China.

We arrived in Su Zhou at night, after a long train journey, and was hungry. So the Teoh family of four took to the streets and hunted for food.

Entrance.

We even invaded the King's ancient city. The entrance was passed and we made it inside, still hungry.

And we saw...

Though we still had our dinner, I understood by then, after looking at the view and the place, why Su Zhou was mentioned so many times in Chinese literature, comparing it to heaven on earth, and why even emperors came all the way from their capital to visit her. With its buildings built on surrounding waters, connected by aesthetic bridges, Su Zhou is literally Eastern Venice. The government had managed to make the entire spot defy time by having buildings and people retain their century-old uniform.

Another reason why them emperors loved to visit Su Zhou is because it is a recognised lenglui or mei nv (pretty girls) factory. Not certified, just... recognised via poems and proses. My mum was observant enough to note that Su Zhou girls had a unique physiognomy, a different facial structure, and continued to say perhaps that is why Zhao Wei was never voted as 'Prettiest Asian Women' . I wondered if the beautiful scenery in Su Zhou contributes to its status as a place of pretties, as the Chinese proverb goes, di ling ren jie.

When you talk about pretty Su Zhou girls, you gotta talk about Dang Bo Hu 唐伯虎, a famous man for his talents and rather feng liu (Romeo-tic) .

His cemetery.

Pork.

Exotic, but delicious. =D

The people told us that life in Su Zhou is slow-paced. Maybe it is in accordance with the government's efforts to turn Su Zhou into a cultural city.

Slow, cool, and serene.

We even had Chinese MacDonald there.

Next stop, Shanghai!

Hang Zhou, China

I just got back from China and finally, some time to sit down, upload these beautiful photos and share with you guys. First stop, Hang Zhou.

There is a saying regarding Hang Zhou (HZ) and Su Zhou (SZ) in Chinese literature: there is heaven above, there is HZ and SZ on earth. Slightly exaggerating, but this shows the position and beauty of these two ancient states in the hearts of poets. I was really looking forward to going into HZ, after being there myself in the realms of old RPG Play Station 'wu xia' games and Jin Yong novels. A cool blast of autumn wind greeted my arrival at the Xiao Shan HZ Airport, which I took it as a good omen.

The first spot we visited, was the famous Xi Hu (West Lake) , which I had been in the realms mentioned above. The entire lake was huge and melancholic, like a cool mirror deflecting pretty reflections of the girls there. With the cold weather and a sweet breeze blowing, it's hard to not indulge into the reminiscent mood swings of ancient poets who once wrote on Xi Hu's banks. HZ city is also known as the city of romance, and Xi Hu plays host to many romantic tales, which were recited by our spirited Christian tour guide and I only remember hearing about Bai Niang (White Lady).

The willow trees producing an 'emo' effect.

So beautiful that it makes you want to cry. Currently my desktop wallpaper lol.

It was a fine morning, and I enjoyed sauntering along the banks, surrounded by Chinese people speaking in Mandarin but with a totally different accent than mine. It adds to the effect, galvanising my imagination of ancient times into a higher degree. After a few walks though, I began to notice something rather awful, which will eventually accompany me throughout the entire trip, to my disgust, that they spit a lot. And everywhere. It's not a peculiar sight to have someone talking loudly in their tongue, clear their throats in a rasping manner, and spit it out hard, bull's eye. It is tang du jia ren, meaning an offence to a pretty lady, which in my case, the scenes and sights of Xi Hu.

Due to the hasty nature of our one-day tour schedule, we did not complete the walking we desired, which may take up to a few hours. We returned to the lake in the later part of our trip, and Xi Hu, well, she satisfied us.

Next stop in HZ was a park. In China, the government built a lot of similar parks, though with varying degree of workmanship and effort. They are greenly serene and spacious, ideal spot for the old to pursue health and the young to pursue one another.

A liang ting, hut, beside a pond covered in yellow leaves.

Now I know how easy it is for them to snap 'wu xia' movies. The background is natural and tailored for such settings.

We went to another spot, this time man-made. It was a place modelled after the Song Dynasty, and it was magnificent. The streets was a lot like them movies, with shops and jiu lou (restaurant) fashioned after their Song predecessors, and the shop people were dressed in Song style as well!

Walking in those streets, I really felt like xiao xia mi, a character in a Chinese RPG wu xia game. In other words, I felt ancient, as if time has decided to return to its lover without considering the people it carried and carries.

In the picture, the red lanterns and bustling streets, and the distant mountains which towered over them, create a wu xia feel to the entire place. A reader of Jin Yong or other similar novelists would totally understand what I am trying to say here.

We went to other places, which were less interesting to talk about. The day ends earlier here, and darkness descends about 5pm.

The railway station. Next stop, Su Zhou!

Gratitude

My current mood is as the title depicts.

It is the holidays, friends are available and jolly, and the weather agreeable as a whole. I am helping my parents to teach some of their classes, and like I said, teaching is something in me, and it makes me happy at times. Of course lar, both of my parents are tuition teachers what. Lol.

I will really loved to answer those who are asking me what am I doing now with this: I am happily waiting for my results, stress on 'happily' .

I entered the nasi kandar shop last night, looking for the two of my friends, and saw them sitting at a table with a girl, back facing me. Her contour was unfamiliar, though an attractive one, with her hair tied up in a high and light ponytail, revealing her fair skin at the back of her neck.

I walked up to them and looked at her. Sensing my puzzlement, or perhaps doubting it, one of them told me her identity, and I realised with a laugh inward. The hottest girl in school, not my school, but the hottest anyway, and I forgot about her.

Upon the revelation of her identity, I sat down and started to compare her present countenance with the one in my memory bank. I understand why she escaped first instance recognition: she looked much older, more reserved, and tired. Even her beauty was increased in the matured manner, free of the schoolgirl aura I remembered.

I was rather pleased that she could still remember me. The most I had with this missy was a tuition class together, with her in front and me the middle row. The four of us talked and chatted about each other. Our conversation was carried out with me playing the quiet one, as my friends were better acquainted with her.

It turned out that she was no longer studying, having got her diploma. She works now, traveling between home and places for them. The best I can convey is that she lives in a different world now, the bigger one. It is rather difficult to talk to someone from a different and, supposedly, lower world. The questions are answered awkwardly and the feeling is never pleasant. After telling us that she had broke up with her boyfriend, who was our friend, she excused herself and joined her parents.

The three of us were left speechless for a while, deep in thought and reminiscence. One commented that since she is already working, there is a strange feeling about her, as if we are kids in her eyes. One said that she had never been the book-type, and it is probably why she is where she is today. After a pause, he added that people who are good academically are not necessarily good people too. Which left us all in a solemn and pondering mood again.

Memories, sparse ones, returned to me that night. I thought about her, and I thought about funny life. There is a sense of regret and reminiscence, when eventually, theories evolved and apply themselves in real-life situations. It is easy and convenient to put them forward, but the application is cruel and never simple. Perhaps the reason for such pondering is her stunning beauty; it is much easier to dismiss a plain girl. But that will change soon enough, beauty will be a liability, or something less, and more eternal things will preserve, until everything returns to dust.

A Piece of Love

I watched Twilight and Mulan yesterday and today. Here is what I think.

Entering into the cinema, I was already aware of Twilight's popularity. I watched the first episode out of curiousity, and the second one as an effort to please a friend. Secretly, I wanted to see what's so captivating about this movie, I have to see for myself its charms, even after the lousy first one.

I saw what I expected.

Forget about the romantic parts, I have no business with them. As a single guy who had never been part of the script, I have no say and right to judge. Instead, I want to draw attention to some of the 'hidden' values in the movie, and probably the book as well.

Even knowing that it is an American movie with American values, I was still shocked at the portrayal of the father and daughter relationship in the movie. In my opinion, Bella was never the perfect daughter, but her father is certainly near perfection. I expected it, be it American or whatnot, that the modern definition of family relationships is fading into oblivion and ingratitude. In Twilight, B was so ever ready to flee with her love. Note this conversation:

(One of the guys) : what about Charlie?

B : I'm eighteen, I can go wherever I like.

Are you serious? I did not like it. It was the ultimate disrespect for filial duty, and its supposed romantic love story begun to look ridiculous. Leaving your old daddy behind without any justification but love is nothing romantic, even if it's Edward the Hot Vamp. Imagine the old man returning from his police duties to find his daughter missing, and missing for ever. Imagine the effect on him.

Then again, this might work for the Western world, but I earnestly pray, prithee, that this never seeps into our world and culture. Never. And Miss Swan was clearly shown to be only eighteen. A terrible thing to do, just before your foray into the adult world.

Blind love. When love becomes something like this one, it turns into an ugly shade. Love should never obstruct our responsibilities as human beings, whereas logic should not dictate our lives. Bella leaving her father just like that, her eager readiness, is simply disgusting and revolting.

Love is not all in life. There are girls who would be so ready to die for it, without realising that they don't have to. True love is never selfish, and rarely it asks you to ditch your old man like that. The romance is broken when you are ready to forsake your parents.

Another point to note is the surprising occupancy of romance in Bella's life. A friend talked to me about the difference of being single and its opposite, right after he separated. His words were reflected in the movie, when Bella shuts herself from her world for months (November, December), neglecting her friends and, as mentioned, her dad. I do not know if it's just me, but her friends were portrayed as being frivolous and silly throughout the movie, beside the solemn and quiet Bella Swan.

When we allow love to dominate and encroach into our lives like that, our souls are hardly happy, no matter how we deceive ourselves. Deep down inside we yearned for freedom, and no romance can satisfy that thirst. How is it that when Edward Cullen appeared, Bella's friends just scattered into nothingness? How is it that her friend kept talking nonsense while Bella saw Edward's shadow everywhere?

As with most matters in life, there must be a balance. Love is great and happy and all, but a blind one is bitter, destructive, and selfish. Having said that, I know that different people think differently, but there is, somehow, certain duties that will bind us, for they define us as human beings. There are certain requirements, certain responsibilities to tend to, and escaping them all under the guise of romance is a rather sad case.

Update

I went to the Penang Bridge Marathon last week, but I did not participate in the run. The reason is I had joined this event for 3 times during high school, and I am quite sure that I have got what I wanted from it, hence my withdrawal. I went there only to enjoy the freedom I obtained recently. It was great, me getting to know a few friends who have the potential to blossom into closer ones. Meeting new faces is always exciting and fun.

After that, I joined my college's prom night. There was nothing untoward, no mistletoe incidents, and I thought it rather boring despite good organisation from the committee. Of course, perhaps things would have had been a little different if there is someone to bring and carry like a paper doll throughout the whole thing. Or at least, I think those couples enjoyed it more than I did.

A few days into my 2-month holiday, I have found that time slips and creeps at certain phases. It could be swift like lightning, or it could be deadly slow. It depends on various factors; there is no dictator. I think I am enjoying it, though whether will I continue enjoying it is still unknown. All I do now is plan things ahead, trying to make use of time, and to labour its fruits. Friends are an important part.

Shaved

Despite finishing my entire exams, I was not in the best of mood last night. My plans were dashed by a few unforeseen circumstances, the fun was gone, and people were angry. It wasn't very nice, but how long can one stay unhappy after an examination? There will be another day for compensation, as long as everyone is willing to give it a chance.

Reading my blog, I am aware of how much my blog sounds like a monologue. So today, after talking to myself for some time, let us together explore a rather interesting anecdote of a cute friend of mine.

He's a guy, see, so naturally, I talk about him, and his most peculiar attraction and appeal to girls. Since this is my blog, I shall not delve into any explanation of any kind to clarify, but merely to provide some of my thoughts on his magnetic field.

See, this guy, is taller than me. Big deal, everyone is taller than me. All right, he has a nice face. Of course, he shows up in the right place too, but a nice face is a requisite to add on to your instinct. A nice face creates a nice place, and it gives a good impression. So my friend here, see, he gets along well. They like him.

Now with that nice face, and being at the right place, he talks nice. Mind you, not sweet-talking. Those are the corrupted art of fishing, no. Talking nice has another requisite: a good heart. A good heart makes things better in many ways. Call it flirting, call it fishing, point is, they like what they are hearing, see?

A good heart is what sets most people apart. You see, a guy like me, I rarely say good things to them girls, especially when I don't really fancy things they do. This guy, he ain't like me. He's got a good heart, good features, and sometimes he's so sweet you can kiss him, like an angel, quoting Eddie. LOL

I wasn't surprised when he made it unto his new girl friend's blog, complete with an angelic picture and anecdotal subtitles. This ain't his first, and mine. Seriously, I don't think it will be our last. There will be girls willing to kiss this angel.

As a friend, I can only smile and shrug. I feel like Ron Weasley next to famous Harry Potter. Haha! But I ain't negative. Thing is, he works magic with people, girls mainly, and I do the opposite. It is a wonder we are friends, despite the rather ridiculous 'opposite attracts' theory. I should think that I could ask him for a few tips, y'know, just to get my break. Ain't gonna happen Niel pal, that ain't gonna happen.

Perhaps the greatest disadvantage of being such a darling is that he faces quite many problems, many which are discussed together. If it's not about this girl, it would be about that girl, all of them with long hair and fair skin. I am quite free from all these, quite quite free.

p/s: I shaved, hence the title. :D