| Once Upon A Time in Hong Kong: Kowloon City |
[May. 7th, 2007|05:30 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | 2005, china, hong kong, hongkong, kowloon, kowloon city, sony, sony cybershot m1, 九龍, 九龍城, 九龍城寨, 九龍寨城公園, 陳慧琳, 香港 | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Taman Kinrara, Puchong | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | 陳慧琳 - The Touch Main Theme | ] |
Blooming Life: Flowers blooming off an unidentified tree in Kowloon City.
I was feeling the dread of not having much to do at home, so I dug out my hard disk drive and chanced on pictures I took in March, two years ago during my 14-day holiday cum work with Ben in Hong Kong. I remembered an entry I wrote of my first day in Hong Kong and that was the last I wrote of the trip. I decided to do a series of entries based on the photos I took, like a photo journal. Not much on personal content but more focussed on the facts of the places I visited. This is the kickstart to "Once Upon A Time In..." Series of other cities I have been to in the past.
* * *Mention Kowloon, one might associate it with images of billboards lined along the streets of densed, cramped buildings. But that's Mong Kok; a shopping area in Kowloon that covers major roads like Nathan Road, Canton Road and Argyle Street.
( Story + Pics Inside )
Related Story:
HKG Trip Day 1: A Brush With KCR
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| Hati Yang Terusik |
[Apr. 30th, 2007|03:16 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | english, hati, heart, malay, minda, nikon coolpix 2100, poem, poetry, puisi, seremban, thorn | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Taman Kinrara, Puchong | ] |
| [ | Mood |
| |  gloomy | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | SEAMO feat. Azu - 心の声 | ] |
I wrote a Malay poem tonight. Literally translated as "A Stirred Heart". Thought of sharing. I am going to extend this entry with its English equivalent in a few days' time. Maybe prior to that, someone would like to help come up with its translation. You can be creative, up to your interpretation.
* * *
A building somewhere in Seremban, Malaysia.
Hati Yang Terusik
by Vincent Lai
di celah-celah mindaku
terpautnya cebisan kata-katanya,
yang masih menyelubungi
fikiranku yang kusut.
aku lalai,
pintu hatiku yang lama tertutup,
tiba-tiba terbuka,
terusik oleh isi hatinya.
mentari yang menyinari kamar
seolah-olah mengasihaniku.
sinar bulan sabit yang lemah
bagaikan sindiran yang cemuh.
merana aku sehari
terusik aku sepanjang malam,
dicemari keluhan hati
di setiap pelusuk diri.
***
A Stirred Heart
by Vincent Lai
Translated into English from a Malay poem, "Hati Yang Terusik"
1354H, 30 April 2007.
between the corners of my mind
still bounded by traces of his words,
shrouding my clouded thoughts.
the careless me;
once a long closed heart,
its doors suddenly left ajar,
stirred by his innermost voice.
the rays of the sun
that made way into the chamber,
as if took pity on me.
that faint glow
of the moon crescent,
as if a laughing stock.
for a day I was in despair
the whole night disturbed I was,
poisoned by the sighs of the heart
that infected my every part.
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| What You Won't See In Malaysia |
[Apr. 26th, 2007|09:07 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | 2007, censor, censorship, cho seung-hui, cigar, ciggy, hillary, hillary swank, johansson, killing, korean, massacre, rampage, scarlett, scarlett johansson, shooting, swank, time, time magazine, tobacco, virginia, virginia tech | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Taman Kinrara, Puchong | ] |
| [ | Mood |
| |  nerdy | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | Tribeca - Frozen Lake | ] |
Issue number sixteen, volume one-sixty-nine of the TIME magazine dated April 30, 2007 has many of its articles centred around the Virginia Tech massacre. The magazine's cover page which has been glitzed by the faces of celebrities and top figures around the world, is now a collage of smiling photos of victims killed by their fellow college mate on a 9-minute shooting rampage, Cho Seung-hui.
// Time.Com, April 30, 2007 Edition //
Flipping through the pages of the magazine, what caught my eye was neither of the pictures related to the massacre, nor the avant-garde architectural photos of some Düsseldorf buildings. They were what would have been stunning portraits of Hillary Swank, Scarlett Johansson and other actresses; that are ludicrously censored with a black marker. And these are not topless pictures; exposing breasts, nor of the actresses in skin-wrapping dresses that show the outline of their nipples, which those self-enforcing people always censor.
Turn to page 51. They are MERELY pictures of the beautiful actresses holding a cigarette or a cigar. Have we suddenly turned into little kids who can't already decide what's good for us? Should they now also censor pictures of ammunition or action figures holding a gun?
// Original Picture: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection //
Such a laughing stock.
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| KLCC Revisited |
[Apr. 17th, 2007|02:08 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | camera, claire, convention centre, eddie, food court, juice bar, kl, klcc, looi, neuy, nikon coolpix 2100, pc fair, photography, suria, yew wai, yuen | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Taman Kinrara, Puchong | ] |
| [ | Mood |
| |  cheerful | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | Evan - Nobody Else Like You | ] |
// One of the Petronas Twin Towers //
( Story + Pics Inside )
Related Stories:
KL Sojourn: 23-30 May, 2006 [ Pt. I ]
Bridge Over The Towers
Twin Towers
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| Long Distance Relationships |
[Mar. 14th, 2007|01:34 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | airport, cambodia, changi, cousin, east coast park, ecp, ferry, fish & co, food, kl, ldr, lj, long distance, long distance relationship, safra, singapore food, tanah merah, wei ling | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Mounbatten, Singapore | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | Sophie Zelmani - Leaving | ] |
// Cousin Sister @ Bedok Jetty //
Came back from seeing my elder cousin sister, Wei Ling off for her flight to KL at Changi Airport. Might be the last time in two years I will be seeing her as she will be flying off to Cambodia this Friday where she will be based. She treated me to Fish & Co with the seafood platter for two order, and Caesar's salad with smoked salmon. For the first time, we talked on matters related to her family as usually we'd just have pep talks about work, travelling and general things. I briefly questioned her on her boyfriend's thought of her going away for that long. I mean, I can not imagine being away from someone I love for that long and pardon the cold feet for some, I had been in a long distance relationship and it was quite a challenge. And I am not the first who asked her that. She didn't really give me an explanation, but I think she will be fine. Long distance relationship pursuers out there, be strong for love!
// Cousin Sister @ East Coast Beach //
Wei Ling appreciated the time I spent with her throughout her stay in Singapore. Even though I didn't meet her everyday, at least I tried bringing her around trying out different Singapore food. I believe I managed to convince her that the food here is not that bad. Singapore is not just about shopping, as she realised that there are nice places around, such as the previous Sunday, I brought her to the East Coast Park where we went cycling for 2 hours, all the way to the Safra Resort near Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Just as she waved at me after clearing the immigration checkpoint, I gave her a faint smile and waved back, pacing my steps slowly and finally walked down to the bus stop. I'm going to miss those short rendezvous with her. Those are the only time I ever converse in full fledge Hokkien dialect in the 2 years of my stay in Singapore.
Tomorrow is a new chapter in my life. After a hiatus from work, I'm finally starting the training with my new company. And I have a LJ friend for a colleague. How interesting that is gonna be?!
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| KL Sojourn: 16 - 24 February, 2007 [ Malacca Detour Pt. 2/2 ] |
[Mar. 1st, 2007|06:48 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | 2007, alan, asian, cambodia, catherine, caucasian, chinese, chinese new year, cny, dataran palawan, drizzle, fort, fort a famosa, girl, historical, khmer, lantern, looi, lunar new year, malacca, melaka, neuy, ocean sky international limited, oranges, pavillion, phnom penh, plum blossoms, rain, singapore, textile, totoro2006, trishaw, wei ling, yuen | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Mounbatten, Singapore | ] |
| [ | Mood |
| |  accomplished | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | The Magnetic Fields - The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure | ] |
// Trishaw Man In The Rain, Car Window Screen //
( Read Part TWO Report Here, More Pics Inside )
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| KL Sojourn: 16 - 24 February, 2007 [ Malacca Detour Pt. 1/2 ] |
[Feb. 28th, 2007|12:27 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | 2007, alan, ayer keroh, canon, cendol, chicken rice, chinese new year, cny, eddie, food, guynxtdoor, heeren house, hoe kee, jonkers walk, looi, lunar new year, malacca, malacca river, mba, melaka, neuy, plus, powershot a40, restaurant, totoro2006, yuen | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | On my bed overlooking the window, | ] |
| [ | Mood |
| |  nostalgic | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | Peer Bjorn and John - Young Folks | ] |
( Full Report Here, Sensational Pics Inside )
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| The Innocence Of Youth |
[Feb. 16th, 2007|02:38 pm] |
Wrote another photo-accompanying poem for my friend again after a lapse of one week he asked me to write it. Like a collaboration kind of work. I tend to have this habit of procrastinating when I'm not inspired right away. But today, the inspiration is back. Must be the kid in me coming out, as I'm heading back home to KL for the Lunar New Year celebration with my family and friends there. HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR everyone!
* * *
The Innocence Of Youth
by Vincent Lai
The eyes, the nose, the mouth
the facial lines of expression
the embodiment to human emotions.
the child clasping to his mum
as his eyes wander innocently
amidst the shambles of his hut.
the purest nature of expression
only a child can own up to
for he never hides from his basic right;
his feelings.
the child can ignore the pains of truth
and be just contented, be secured
in the embrace of his beloved.
that life is a beauty
we can live witnessing and embracing
the innocence of youth all over again.
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| Swedish Sausation |
[Feb. 12th, 2007|03:31 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | artiste, daniel gabriel alessandro saucedo grzech, danny, danny saucedo, idol, idol 2006, music, singer, sverige, swede, swedish, tokyo | ] |
| [ | Mood |
| |  bouncy | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | Danny Saucedo - Tokyo (Radio Version) | ] |
TOP [Cover of Danny Saucedo's single, TOKYO]
BOTTOM [Photo by David Bicho courtesy of DANNYSAUCEDO.SE]
Barely 21. Fresh from the Swedish singing talent programme, Idol 2006, Daniel Gabriel Alessandro Saucedo Grzechowski; born to a Bolivian mother and a Polish father is officially known as Danny Saucedo but fondly referred to as just Danny, is an up and coming singing sensation from Sweden. His latest single, Tokyo is already knocking on the local radio charts there. Although he's the sixth person to be voted out in the finalé of the last Idol, Danny Saucedo is not to be struck off the list just yet for he is just a victim of a popularity voting system. Watching him perform on soul and R&B songs in fan videos on YouTube, you cannot help but notice the maturity in his presentation and brilliantly executed notes of this young star.
Danny's early exposure to choir singing at age 5 and having started a band at age 16 must have prepped him for this but hey, even if you trained for years, and not confident to perform on stage, then that's not idol material eh? Having said that, talent alone does not ensure success without the confidence and one failure should not be the end of the road to success. I'm sure someone from the recording company saw something really great in him and that would not have been what it is today had he took it hard on himself when he was out of the competition.
Facts aside, I'm raving on his new single, Tokyo which is quite different from the selection of songs he picked to sing in his Idol race. This pop song grows on you, that you can't help but dance to it. Admittedly, it is quite cheesy with the lyrics, but it's a dance track and so it can afford to be just that. Some day, maybe Paul Van Dyk may spin on it and who knows some other DJs might make it an even bigger hit. It could well be a gym class song to groove your steps on.
This young man has lots of potential and given the time, he's gonna be it. Interestingly, some fans claim he's gay and they are probably right. His Tokyo cover has this rainbow-ish pop art vibe drawn all over and his image does quite reflect him so. But heck, who cares right?! He's young and bright, the whole world should just have their fingers crossed and see.
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| The Back Of Things |
[Feb. 8th, 2007|03:37 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | chinatown, cryptic, heart, nikon d70, poem, poetry, rider, storm, threat, war | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | In My Room, Old Airport Road | ] |
| [ | Mood |
| |  blank | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | Kent - Elite | ] |
Perhaps it is too difficult to interpret. But these are the very words that came out of my head and reflected my momentary emotions. Some friends told me my poems are too cryptic to understand. Maybe I don't want to be understood, just heard. Perhaps the accompanying picture which I shot a couple of days ago at some back alley in Chinatown will speak more than the poem itself.
* * *
The Back Seat
by Vincent Lai
Behind the winged rider
thrilled he is not.
Behind the vexed heart
the pillion rider aches inside.
As if so much in common
they prided.
As if so much in vain
they tried.
Tonight an idiot he was called;
in the spur of an activity.
Tonight he became someone else;
from whom he was a dear one.
As if so much there was
it becomes insignificant.
As if so much there is
it is now a void.
Behind the eyes of his
the light dims.
Behind the mind of his
he wants to put behind.
As if the storm is gone
there is now a dry spell.
As if the war is over
there is now a looming threat.
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| Behold Beauty! |
[Feb. 6th, 2007|05:04 am] |
Wrote a poem for a friend who requested for it to go with a photo he took of a pink rose, posted on his Flickr site. To maintain discretion, I will not feature his full name. He asked only to use his moniker, EKoan.
* * *
Behold Beauty!
by Vincent Lai
Behold the petals of joy
in the caressing light,
humbled by the drops of character
they bloom into a subject of beauty.
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| Me, My Music & Ciggy |
[Feb. 2nd, 2007|06:02 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | alternative, cigarette, ciggie, ciggy, cold, dark, down, drug, drugs, helpless, kent, lonely, music, sweden | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Old Airport Road | ] |
| [ | Mood |
| |  calm | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | Kent - Hur Jag Fick Dig Att Älska Mig | ] |
Don't know about you but whenever I am down, lonely, cold, or feel absolutely helpless; I always turn to music and my Ciggy. Kidding, I don't smoke. But the writer of the song I'm going to introduce does, it seems.
My all-time favourite alternative band, from Sweden, KENT has been a Scandinavian success but listeners from this region are not so familiar with. The lead vocalist and the brain behind music writing of this band's songs, Joakim Berg is brilliant and is quite an influence, working behind the scenes of several prominent big-names outside of Sweden.
I find, in moments of solitary, albeit being neither good with the Swedish language nor gifted in it, I could relate to the sweetness of the Socker (sugar) song or the dark and morbid sounds from their last album, Jag & Du Döden (Me & You, Death).
In many instances, even in the warmth by the fire, your heart could feel so cold, so horribly lonely that no sex can heal it, no talk can bring you out of it, no friends can cheer you up no matter how much they try, nothing.
At times like this, only that dear person, one who sees the real you, the inside of you, the one person different from the rest can be the miracle drug healing you from the madness of the world, rescuing you from the depths of loneliness and being the music you want to hear.
At the end of the day, that dear one might well just be you. Yourself.
* * *
Below, is a loosely interpreted English text of the lyrics of the song, Hur Jag Fick Dig Att Älska Mig (How I Made You Love Me) from KENT's Vapen & Ammunition (Weapon & Ammunition) album.
Hur Jag Fick Dig Att Älska Mig
(How I Made You Love Me)
Lyrics and music in Swedish by Joakim Berg
The cold became my friend
my excuse to hide again
in the music
and ciggy became my bro
When you found me sitting helpless
at a table
I had just fallen
into a perplexing world.
You came to my rescue
so unbelievably great,
you want to be mine. ||reprise||
You were never afraid
of those who treated me like thrash
You are the music
and ciggy, it understood
when I was speechless
without words
when I hesitated
when I couldn't believe
that I have something
so unbelievably great,
you want to be mine. ||reprise||
A miracle that you see me
and you continue to see me
A miracle that you see me
as someone who can provide
that makes you want to be mine
you want to be mine. ||reprise||
•~ By Vincent Lai. ~•
17.33H, 2nd day of February 2007.
Old Airport Road.
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| Wake Up And Smell The Reality |
[Jun. 28th, 2006|10:11 pm] |
Wake Up And Smell The Reality
by Vincent Lai
Some people say,
"Time heals it all"
But you,
you just see stars;
hiding behind the grey,
when it's so clearly
black and white.
It's time,
time to rise
from the shades of blue,
time to embrace
the red, green or yellow,
the hues of life
that was once you.
Wake up
and smell the reality
Stop clinging on to the loss,
stop chasing the wind
and start walking
This path is yours,
and yours only.
// For the lost souls out there //
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| I Am But A Fiction |
[Jun. 4th, 2006|01:10 am] |
"my door is wide open, with a warm glass of milk in hand, a cosy quilt and bed ready for that someone who accepts all of me"
by Vincent Lai
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| KL Sojourn: 23-30 May, 2006 [ Pt. I ] |
[May. 30th, 2006|11:39 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | bangkok, berjaya times square, chinatown, damien, gnv, gordon, government, grace, gucci, kl, kuala lumpur, malaysia, mcdonald's, midvalley, morgan, neuy, pagoh, prada, rolex, singapore, sungei wang plaza, times square, william | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | In My Room in Puchong | ] |
| [ | Mood |
| | contemplative | ] |
| [ | Music |
| | The Concretes - On The Radio | ] |
( Read more, with pictures )
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