Thursday, February 19, 2004
Things I've learnt during the past week of non-blogging.
1. We humans short-change ourselves tremendously.
Materialism: Why do we sometimes feel that what we buy completes us and makes us whole? Why can't we just be happy as we are, and just remind ourselves of how blessed we have been? Why can't we see that the things that really matter cannot be measured by coin? Why can't we just look at the world God has created for us, see how beautiful His creations are, and thank God for everyday that we live?
2. Hong Kong IS an Island, and Kowloon and the New Territories are part of the mainland.
Asked Dad in the car yesterday, "Why are the New Territories called the New Territories? Is it another Island like HK and Kowloon?" Dad -->> HK was leased to the British when China wasn't doing too well before the Opium War. China fell into greater debt, another parcel of land was "given" to the British, and so they called it the "New Territories". I am enlightened, and bow down to his wisdom.
3. Hockie's passed away
He said,"Nothing really matters. We're like a drop of water in a vast ocean. Sure, my passing may create ripples, but soon, the waters calm and ripples fade, and everything will go on as it once was, as though nothing had ever happened."
I logged onto friendster. I read his blog, a blog i never knew existed. I miss him. I think of all the times we shared. I think of how close we once were. I think of what he was, and what he will never be.
I feel better, letting this out.
Would he have still been around now if he had an outlet for his depression and frustration?
Just pray, and hope that.... i dunno.....
This is what scares me.
That what he said is so very true. That we'll all forget him 6 months down the road.
Leanne rocked @ 2/19/2004 08:43:00 PM
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Saturday, February 14, 2004
I've been thinking of elves and men. Now, realistically speaking, if I were to actually live in Middle Earth as a human, who would I want to be with? Elves! Elves!!! EVERYONE likes the elves. Grace Beauty, Immortality... who wouldn't? But then again, like hello!! I'm human aren't I? And humans and elf don't mix. I mean, its not that they don't do well together. After all, Arwen and Aragorn did get together didn't they. But think of the price they had to pay. Arwen has been brought up as an elf. She's been brought up without the concept of mortality and death. And now, she has to grapple with the fact that her loved one will grow old and die before her, before she eventually fades. And then, Poor Aragorn. He knows that his love for Arwen is a death sentence for her. How sad that is. Knowing that your love for someone may result in their deaths. Personally, I wouldn't ever want to be with as elf... erm.... unless I was an elf myself. Think about it. Aragorn lived till like what? A few hundred years??? He was descended from the line of Numennor, they had pretty long lives. Now, I would be a human right? That would mean that IF I met my elf at 20, and IF i lived till about.... 60??? I would have a good 40 years with my elf wouldn't I? But what would 40 yrs be to an immortal? A drop in an ocean, that would be.
So no, I don't want an elf. I wouldn't want my beloved to go through lotsa heartbreak before they finally fade when i'm done.
That leaves the men (Dwarves and hobbits are out of the question)
Corsairs and easterlings are out. Cos they're evil.
So that leaves the Rohirrim and the Gondorians.
You know what, I go with the Rohirrim.
Sure, the Gondorians are the king of kings. They are the cultured cousins of the more "barbaric" men of riddermark. But the men of mark seem more earthy, more passionate. Look at costume for example. Notice that the armour/chain mail the Rohirrims wear is more thrown on, more "on the go" than the Gondorians' more formal and stately armour. Probably shows that the Rohirrim are men hardened by war, who have been fighting in order to protect and defend their king, land, women and children. Add to the fact that they are experts at horse training and breeding. Think of the Horse Whisperer. Need I say more?
So I say. Give me Eomer, Karl Urban anytime. Give me the wld and savage beauty of Edoras anytime. Sure, Faramir, David Wenham is a sight better than Urban. But then again, we can't have the best of everything, now can we?
Matthew, I am now a faithful follower of the Rohirrim, Men of Mark! Kudos to you!
Cheerios!
Leanne rocked @ 2/14/2004 04:23:00 PM
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Monday, February 09, 2004
Went to Shenzhen today, and boy was it an eye opener.
Did you know that China and Hongking are closer to each other than Singapore and Malyasia???
Serious. No kidding.
Took a train from kowloon, Hong hum station, and it was a 40 minute train ride to Luowu.... this place in Hk, New Territories that's the closest you can get to China. Where is China then? Just across a bridge as long as an overhead bridge. Once you're on that bridge, you're in no man's land. Stuck between Hong Kong and China. No wonder people used to swim acoss China to Hongking. I had no idea it was that close.
Its really amazing though. The whole culture and everything. I guess I'm just so used to being polite and stuff like that, but honest, it just doesn't work in China. Its a whole dog-eat-dog world out there. I mean, I always feel bad when they swarm you, and ask you if you want this or that. But give them a minute of your time, and they'll just hang on to you. I figured that not responding and just walking past them works best. Surre, I feel bad. But they're so used to it, its like its part of the culture anyhow.
Take bargaining for example. Bought stuff today, and when they name a price, even though its like damn cheap, you gotta bargain real low. This bag which was supposed to cost HK400, we managed to get for HK210. Opening price was HK190, believe it or not. When last I went to China, I felt bad about bargaining. I mean, its not like tourists can't afford it right? But then again, bargaining's the culture. Everyone does it. Don't bargain, Feel sorry for them, and you're the big time Sucker.
Its sad though, when all's said and done.
Look at China now, and you see growth. Progress. Consumerism. Materialism. It ain't great, but look at where they were 20 yrs ago. Ironically, a great leap forward now that Mao's gone for a good few decades. Even so, its still sad how China lags behind in certain ways. Look at China and HK. Look at how close they are geographically. And you wonder what it was like for those living on the other side when China's doors were close. How can these two places be so close to each other and yet be so different? When HK was on its way to economic prosperity in the 70s and 80s, China was a struggling nation. Now I understand why ppl risk their lives sneaking into HK. A hill is all that seperates Hk from China; A river all that divides HK from China. Half an hour in the dark and you get a chance at living a new life free from communism and famine. (check out Hungry Ghosts: China's secret famine by Jasper Pecker) Half an hour to freedom, or to death. That was the reality then, and it probably still is the reality now.
When all's said and done, do we realise how blessed we are? How much we've been given in life? Now THAT's certainly worth thinking about.
PTL!
Leanne rocked @ 2/09/2004 11:54:00 PM
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Sunday, February 08, 2004
eh, you know, i just had a most wonderful idea. I think I should move to Hawaii when i graduate. Get a job there or something.
think of....
1. the sand
2. the sun
--> (its 9 frigging degrees now....)
3. the people
--> (just read this boook about hawaii, and everyone seem really nice. did you know that they repeat themselves to emphasise something??? serious. true true.)
4. size
--> (big is beautiful. I'd feel like an elle mcpherson there wouldn't i? Need i say more?)
Anyway, Mulas are a further incentive. I gotta invest in one of those.... or are they called muumuus???
Whatever.
They're those brightly coloured tentlike thingies that big mommas wear there.
Great for hiding the flab and what not....
That's not to say that I wouldn't look like a deranged penguin.
But hey.
I wouldn't be the only penguin struttin around eh?
*snigger*
Leanne rocked @ 2/08/2004 07:50:00 PM
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Friday, February 06, 2004
ohmigosh!
i've so totally had it!!!
sit ups don't work man!
i lost weight, no doubt. but i've still got tons of flab on my tummy.
how? how? how?
that's it.
i give up.
.
Leanne rocked @ 2/06/2004 08:43:00 PM
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Thursday, February 05, 2004
i am absolutely and totally obsessed. totally hung up. and that['s the reason for not having blogged for ....erm... ages????
yuppers, i'm totally obsessed over lotr and fan fiction. i'm telling you man, this has taken over my life. either that,
or i have too much time on my hands. i get up in the morning, andd what's the first thing i do??? log on to galadhrim.net to see if there are any new postings or updates. then i sign into yahoo groups, and start checking out current posts/messages, and new files/updates thatv have come up.
sigh.... and i thought that i'd be totally over Lord of the Rings by now.
Went to watch Return of the King a second time again with Qing when mum went back to sg.
My gosh! its really good!!! Even having watched it before. I could watch it again a million times over.
Only thing that i'm not completely pleased about is the fact that Haldir's dead and not in Return of the King. HRumph.
Oh yah, did I fail to mention that I've decided that I'm gonna try and submit a fanfic too???
This is going too far isn't it??? But no matter. I sat in bed last night watching AXN with my laptop on my lappie and drafting out a plotfor my current story. Haven't figured out if its gonna work, but we'll see how it goes! haha!!!
Leanne rocked @ 2/05/2004 02:43:00 PM
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