Winter shopping 2008

Shopping galore !

The online magazine that is delivered to my Gmail informed me that Uniqlo is having a sale till Nov 24th and that’s when I knew I had to grab the items above that I’ve been wanting to have. Feeling all content right now & I promised myself, “That’s it for this year !”. Have you done your winter shopping yet ?

Flumpool: 花になれ

Visit their official website here.

This song is their debut song and was also used in the au LISMO TV commercial

Simply love the melody and the violin in the song

息も絶える環状線沿いで
色褪せた星と　闇空の下
いつのまに僕は　自分らしさと
生き方のレシピ　探しているんだろう?

素晴らしさという忘れ物
取り戻しに行こう　くたびれた夢
幼少の頃　砂に埋めた様に
十年後僕に　この歌を捧げよう

笑って泣いて歌って　花になれ
咲き誇れ　いつか　光溢れ
歯痒くても　きっと　受け止めるよ
未来は気にせずに

数えきれないほど　何度も
君の名を呼んだ
何処かで微笑んでるかな
夜空に放った　僕らの
声は喧噪の中　消えて
優しく僕らを包んでゆく

繰り返しの日々が嫌んなって
いっそ可憐に　輝いてみようか
永遠に咲くドライフラワーよりも僕らは
散りゆくとも　一心不乱な桜になろう

笑って泣いて歌って　花になれ
咲き誇れ　いつか　光溢れ
歯痒くても　きっと　受け止めるよ
未来は気にせずに

数えきれないほど　何度も
君の名を呼んだ
手のひらに残る温もり
あの時　誓った　僕らの
声は喧噪の中　消えて
君といた街に　立ちすくむよ

いつのまにか　傷つく事が怖くなって
まだ蕾(つぼみ)のまま
光の射す場所を　ずっと探してる
明日もきっと

何処まで行けば　笑いあえるの?
自由や希望や夢は　僕が思うほど
素晴らしいかな?輝いているのかな?
未来をこの胸に

数えきれないほど　何度も
君の名を呼んだ
何処かで微笑んでるかな
夜空に放った　僕らの
声は喧噪の中　消えて
優しく僕らを包んでゆく

Dear Woman

A sudden urge builds up in me
To simply scribble out these words
Words … yes, words prancing around in my mind
All about you, all the illustrative details about you

The moment my eyes laid on you
Your existence played that song
The song I’ve been looking for, high and low
The song that satisfies everything … simply everything

Every moment spent together was of distinctive meaning
You gleam before me, even from a distance away
The idea of being acquainted to you is enough to give me a sense of pride
A reminder of how much I’m fond of you

What I was and what I am to your eyes
That is what I wonder
No, that is what I fear … out of choking
Each moment my mind enters the labyrinth that says your name

“Time passes when you are not looking”
Those aren’t my words
But they hit the right notes
When my ears picked them up from a moving picture

Have I scared you with the scale of my unfulfilled dreams?
Do I not portray what you have in mind as a partner in life?
Questions are all I have on where I stand
Answers, what I don’t possess, lies there in you

Courage was what I had in the past
Courage is what I don’t in the present
Now, to even face you, I shiver shamefully
Timidness … nothing else compares to this invicible barrier I face

To utter those pure, honest words … how much courage must I gather?
You moved on and on, my heart hurts as you do
I’m stuck, stalled as how you last seen me
Foolish, one may say … yes, I am a fool in love with you.

The movie, “The Kite Runner”

Watch it, watch it and watch it !

A real moving story that just needed to be shared

Watching this movie simply reminds me how I should be appreciating my happy enough life more. It also gave me a big tight slap in the face for being so ignorant all these times regarding the Taliban issues in Afghanistan. The way they illustrated Kabul, I’d definitely wished that someday I have a chance to visit it although I know that it wouldn’t be the same as it was a couple of decades ago. The story simply portrays all the good values Muslims practice and I’m glad I could understand from the background of where I was brought up in, Malaysia. There are more to this movie that I wish to share but I guess the best is to watch it. It will definitely clear away all those misunderstandings that people have towards Afghanistan. There must be more to the issue raised in this movie definitely I believe and I plan to learn more about it in the near future for the message was definitely a clear one to me. The culture of flying a kite is very beautifully captured in this movie. The fact that children around the world still suffers as we speak hurts me but I promise to do my part one day. Thumbs up to the wonderful team who created this great movie.

Barack Obama for the 44th President of the U.S.A.

Historic win, indeed !

Obama proved that “change” can happen.

It’s official that the 44th President of the United States of America will be Barack Obama, backed up by his vice, Joe Biden. Obama is no more longer a Senator Barack Obama, he’s now the Mr. President Barack Obama. It’s amazing to witness the win of what once regarded impossible, of course, but also to see how much attention the world is giving to this long lingering election which had finally come to an end. Nothing will change overnight but it is definitely a start of a new world. Obama has the voice, the resilient voice to utter out the messages that were growing in him. Now, I guess the eyes of the world are going to be diverged to see how he’s going to lead the weakening country and also on how he’s going to face all of the many unsolved major problems in the world. At least, I think I can believe that he would be a President who won’t simply start a war for any reasons (18 out of 43 past presidents were not involved in any wars, just see who the rest were and they make the majority). Congratulations, USA, I do believe you’ve made the right choice. May peace really be with us.

It’s been a year …

Ah Ma, everyone’s fine

In remembrance of Tan Gey, 1st November 2007

Red Packet: The final gift from Ah Ma

Today, my sister reminded me through her e-mail (an e-mail to ask for my help to check her Japanese essay for the coming final term exams this week) that it has been a year since my grandma from Dad’s side had passed away. I recall vividly of the whole dramatic year I had in 2007 for certain parts of it still lingers around up to now. It started off with me not doing well with my final year project back in degree but I eventually got through it, somehow graduated and continued on with my masters. Before beginning my masters, I was having a tough time securing a scholarship to support my 2 years tuition fees and daily life expenses since my contract with the government scholarship had ended in March, 2007.

It was then when I got to know about Ah Ma’s situation. (That is how I call my grandma from Dad’s side) Pancreas cancer, final stage and the doctor confirmed that she would only last for about half a year for the cancerous cells are spreading rapidly to her other internal organs. I was shattered to know the fact that she’d be leaving us soon and since life wasn’t at the right beat that time, feeling helpless for I was miles away from Ah Ma here in Japan and filled with anxiety after being rejected by a few scholarship foundations, simply put I was not enjoying life at all. Again, somehow I persisted and the current scholarship foundation supporting me found me to be suitable to be one of their 26 scholars of the year which I am real thankful for without it, I guess I would’ve decided to quit masters and return home for good.

Well, soon after that, I decided to make a trip back home to visit Ah Ma, after a few times that I thought I could not see her anymore before she leaves us. She was being hospitalized when I was back home. The last thing she gave me was a red packet with a RM50 note in it. I understood and felt the love so much and I still keep the red packet in my wallet even right to now. While I was back home, many incidents happened which includes a serious brother fight between my youngest uncle and my Dad. I can’t help myself being all softy at that time, tears were running out of control and that is when my heart ached the most that despite being the eldest grandson of Ah Ma’s, I couldn’t do anything to make things better. I still feel the same up till now.

Anyway, I was reluctant to return to Japan but my stay back then was only for 10 days. I had to come back to Japan because I had another challenge that I had in my mind that needed to be solved as well because it was regarding my future; yes, the dreadful job hunting. Actually, at the same time, my grandparents from Mom’s side weren’t doing well too. Grandma with a bad heart and had a small heart-attack then, but she’s fine now. Grandpa had a mini stroke that had made him bed-ridden and he too left us last June this year. So, the trip home was to see my dear grandparents from both sides. On my flight back to Japan, I was devastated.

Well, to continue on with the story, Ah Ma left us for good on November 1st, 2007. No one can tell how hurt it felt to be here all alone, it did felt like the end of the world. The very next day, I went to a seminar of company with heavy legs and continued to put on a smile throughout the whole thing. I did informed the fact to the HR representative who was touched that I came after all. Anyway, this was one of the 3 job offers I got. On that weekend, I was scheduled for a Tohoku Trip and I was going to cancel it and find ways to go back home for Ah Ma’s funeral but everyone at home said it was okay. My good friends were kind enough to cheer me up and of course, we had a good time but my heart was thinking about home all the time.

After coming back from the trip, I stayed over at my good friends’ place for I really needed company and that is when I called home to ask about the funeral and to talk to everyone back home. After the call, I was so depressed that I had to just take it out. The two good friends were kind enough to comfort me and you know who you are and thanks. Overall, it was good friendship that has taken me through all the hardships. Friendship can sometimes provide more than what family can. Life’s always been challenging for myself as much as it has been a great one for me. It just makes feel that I should appreciate more of the people who are acquainted to me through blood or even through any type of relationship.

A message for Ah Ma

Ah Ma, it’s been a year already.
Life’s going on fine for me right now and
I must say for the rest of our Soh family as well.
it must be for all the prayers and blessings you’ve showered us with.

Visited Gong-gong this year, he’s healthy but of course, he misses you dearly.
Tina just got married and the rest of the cousins seem to be doing real good.
I’ve secured a job for myself already and trying to enjoy what’s left of my student life.

I still have your red packet and it always reminds me of you.
Love you and missing you, home in Muar was different without you
but I can hear you say, “Life must go on”.
Ah Ma, please continue to shower us with your love and blessings.

Your eldest grandson,
Ren-ren

P.S. That is how my family calls me by my Chinese name taken from the last character “仁” repeated.

Octoberians Birthday Bash + Halloween Party 2008

Fun, fun and more fun

Random friends meeting up together to have simple fun.

Check the following album for the rest of the pictures:

URL: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41371&l=268f1&id=695687901

Happy November !

A quick update !

Had a wonderful time being a clown and danced all night at the Ageha Halloween Party 2008 !

It was Ben’s birthday as well, Happy Birthday Ben !

***

A Birthday Wish to Shu Li !

Here’s your card dear ! Have a blast today and have a great year ahead !