Marina’s Bloggariffic

Uh oh. Guess whose birthday it is today :|

There comes a point of time when you stop wanting to celebrate and hang on tenatiously to your current age.

I wonder what it will be like when I finally hit the magic 30?

— Updated —

I guess I could ask for some presents like an LCD monitor to replace my CRT one or Creative Vision M.

But at the moment, one small gift that would be greatly appreciated would be for your help in helping out for the Lebanese Cause. Any form of contribution, manpower, food supply or donation will be greatly appreciated.

Email me your contact if you are keen. More information on this website.

Fact:

The first time when you ride on the road, it tends to get overwhelming. Especially when you are on your own and not familliar with the road. But in time, you’ll enjoy it and feel freedom and a sense of accomplishment.

—

I was talking to Red online and told him the news about the scooter. Coincidentally, he owns a Vespa himself and gave me some practical advice while being on the road.

I was still under euphoria. On a whim, I said, “Lets go out on our scooters!”. Surprisingly, he agreed.

I brought my brother along with me and we met up at the Taman Jurong bowling alley before riding off together.

“Hey! What do you think?”

“Ah! I’m envious”

“Aww … I’ve always wanted this one”

“I think I’ll get one in time”

“You ready to go?”

“Yes, but please go slowly, I’m not familliar with the roads yet”

Red led the way and we rode along Boon Lay way to Holland Drive and I took in the lovely and tranquil sights along the way. There was this particular area that I’m not sure about the name of the road that we passed though but it was lovely.

It was suburbia - bungalows of different types shaded with many flowering trees of many different colours. I think it was beautiful.

We reached Sixth Avenue and headed for this place called “The Tea Party”. Friendly waiters greeted us and then we looked at the menu. My gosh, there was such a wide array of teas there, it was mind boggling. We must have taken at least 15 minutes just to read and flip through the intensive menu.

I’ve never seen so many different types of teas being served. There were more varieties of tea here than even the Chinese Tea House that I visited 2 years ago.

At length, I just picked at random, a flowery rooibos tea, my brother, spicy tea and Red had this tea with an unpronouncable name.

But when the tea arrived, we were all enthralled and breathed in the beautiful flowery tea smell.

Ahhh!

Soonafter, a couple arrived and came up to us. Immediately, I knew that they were Fadhli and his girlfriend Yati.

Actually this was the first time that I’d be met Fadhli in real person. All these while, I’ve been talking to him online.

I first got to know him though deviantart and thought of him as a very talented artist. He did works like these, which are most impressive.

It was a comfortable meet, they were very friendly and I was a little surprised even, to see that there was no awkwardness among any of us.

We had a lively chat over tea, got baffled at the Shah Alam supernatural display, laughed over Richard Gere jokes and cracked our heads over this completely wierd game called “Fact or Crap”

Me (reading a random card) : A rattlesnake can commit suicide by biting itself

Red : What kind of stupid question is this? Crap!

Fadhli : I think its possible. Fact

Yati : Hmm .. I’ll just tikam-tikam (choose randomly)

Bro : And I’ll go with the majority vote

Me : The answer is ‘crap’. Rattlesnakes are immuned to their own venom. Please put a token in the pile.

Everyone : What the heck! Richard Gere must have used his visa card to change the answer again!

It was an evening of enjoyable fun and laughs. Too bad the evening passed by so quickly. Eventually, we had to say our goodbyes. But it was a such a pleasant day and I hope to have more pleasant days ahead. :)

OMG! LOL! OMG! BBQ!

Look everyone! My new baby! The Vespa GT200! Its what I’ve always wanted. Its not green, but I could spray paint it in a year or so.

I guess its a kind of personal birthday present for myself, after passing my 2B riding test last year.

My brother and I went to AS Phoon Motors in Changi this afternoon under the recommendation of a friend and after our test and transaction, I’m the new owner of a lovely grey-black vespa :)

I must say that I’m pretty much impressed by it because riding is so smooth. Its automatic, so there’s no gear on it but amazingly the pick up speed is rather fast.

Its been a while since I last rode, so when I left the motorshop with my brother behind me, I felt nervous. I forgot a few basic rules and nearly got into trouble while I was changing lanes.

But after a while, we were riding and it was there again, the feeling of the wind in my face and the coolness of the evening air. O I love it!

Of course, I dont know how it will be when my first monthly installment comes in. Hope I can still afford it :P

But at this point of time, I’m in euphoria!

Who wants a ride? :D

As I walked back home from my night class, there were many people by the roadside lighting up joss sticks and burning of paper.

The hungry ghost festival is here again.

The Chinese Buddhists Taoists believe that during this month, the gates of hell opens up and the spirits of the dead goes back to earth to seek food and visit their living relatives.

There’s not much to eat in hell. Thus on this month, you will see plates of buns, cakes and fruits left by the roadside. You will also see people burning articles, like hell money, even paper version of television and shirts as they believe that these articles will materialize for their deceased loved ones.

Its was rather somber atmosphere but at the same time, eerily peaceful as the wind gently caressed my face.

Will I still be remembered when I am gone?

After much hunting from different movie stores, I finally found the Korean show, Il Mare.

It was spectacular! If you are into hearfelt and romantic movies, this would definitely be a good choice to immerse to for the next hour and a half.

Without spoiling it too much, the gist of the story goes this way :

It is currently Christmas 1999. The movie starts off with a woman who has just moved out of her home by the sea, to her new apartment. Expecting an important letter, she places christmas card with a message in the mailbox for the next tenant to forward to her new address.

A man picks up the letter from the mailbox and replies back to her that he is actually the first tenant and that there was no previous tenants before him. He looks at the date of the letter and was amused to see that it was 2 years ahead in the future.

They finally found out that the mailbox was able to send messages at the same day and time, only two years apart.

After several correspondence, they began to have feelings for each other and decided to meet. But how do two people from two different years meet each other?

I was truely enthralled by the movie, there were several scenes which left me sighing for the hero. One memorable one was when he goes to the train station and managed to see the woman and she gives a big smile.

But she wasnt smiling at him, instead, she was smiling to her current boyfriend. It was 2 years before so she couldnt recognize the hero. He’s left dejected.

“Was I just a stranger to you?”

“Am I only a meaningless, faceless stranger to you?”

Tearjerker!

I love the visuals of the movie - beautiful colours of the house beside the sea, the salmon pink sky, soft snow falling by the window. The two characters who acted as the main protagonists were perfect in their chemistry and timing.

Not forgetting the musical accompaniment that truely heightened one’s heartstrings.

So sad!

Some may say that the storyline is rather farfetched with the wormhole theory, but I say just let it flow and enjoy it as it is. It is really a charming and beautiful movie.

Actually I only knew about the movie while watching the advertisments that were currently playing for the movie ‘The lake house‘ starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.

But after knowing that it was actually a remake, I decided that I’d rather watch the original one instead. I’m usually disappointed with Asia to Hollywood remakes ever since ‘The Ring‘.

Though I have a preference for foreign movies to be watched original, as it is with subtitles, the reality is, they are a majority of people in the world who are more used to spoken english movies which justifies these remakes.

Oh well.

Last friday, the 21st July, the school where I worked at celebrated Racial Harmony day. I saw many students and teachers decked in beautiful and colourful costumes - the Malay baju kurongs or the Indian Sherwani and Saris, and a few Chinese Cheongsams.

As I admired their lovely costumes, and smiled at the laughing and chattering students, I reflect back and visualise what happened on this same day about 40 years ago.

Though I wasnt there to witness it, I could picture it in my mind. Especially when I see a photograph, its easy for me to immerse myself in the atmosphere, and to see, to hear and even feel what was going on.

The racial riots of 1964. 36 people dead. 556 injured. Needless deaths and injuries due to the lack of understanding between different races and propagated with much hatred between the Chinese and the Malays.

The Maria Hertogh riots is another haunting event that must never be forgotten. A simple adoption between a Dutch and a Malay, to turn out with a riot with many injured and deaths.

May we hope and pray that nothing like this should ever happen for our future.

I feel Racial Harmony day should transcend from just the wearing of traditional clothes to the deeper appreciation of the freedom and liberty we have now.

But one question nags my mind. If we emphasized so much on race, does that make us racist?

Not quite a podcast. But the song really touched me and since I love to karaoke … Lets sing together!

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Dedicated to my dearest cartcart :)

And uh … I have no regrets … I have no professional training.