17 Nov 08 - 海角7號

after 2 continual sleepless nights of cold i'm on medical leave today.. trust me - being on medical leave is really a boring thing for me.. decided to watch the most talked about Taiwanese movie - 海角7號 (Guoqing gave me a copy when he was in Singapore last month) .. finally i have the time to sit down and watch it..

initially the plot was quite slow-paced.. but perhaps cos i really miss my 'life in Taiwan' hence even the slow country life is appealing to me.. the so-familiar Taiwanese language with Chinese Mandarin and a bit of Japanese.. yet just before it gets on my impatient nerves to switch it off... it suddenly becomes so touching.. the missing and devotion of love.. the unity of people if they are willing to take the effort.. the boldness to step out in love... all becomes so real..

i didn't cry as much as those movie critics said... but it really touches my heart..not the emotional hipe, but the very flesh of heart. what a real story, so simple so real... no effects, no motive.. just real life story.. (it may not win those Blockbuster movies, but it sure has its class of its own)..

i wonder how wld it be - love across continents. i've always been a skeptic of long distance relationship..i guess i can say i've tried but perhaps just like the Jap teacher who wrote the letters.. it's a unimaginable affair to give up life in home country, it really requires courage.. but yet when u leave, it's a mixed feeling of 'leaving for home' and 'leaving from home'..

what a story.. so simple i really cant say more.. but i encourage people to watch it when it's screened in Singapore theaters in late Nov08. cant say it's worth the $10 pricing cos no effects is involved, but it's sure a value-for-money movie.. a domain value which has been masked by modernity.

15 Nov 08 - God is Love

today is my 1st time to an cath holy matrimony.. it's so nice to see all the amplify friends again, and cassilda (bride) is so GORGEOUS! i mean, leo n cass are so smart together.. just one look, u know they are made-in-heaven couple.

personally i'm so blessed by Fr William's homily.. bringing me back to a verse i once harped on - let us love one another, for love comes from God..God is Love (1 John 4:7-8)...
the world has deemed marriage to be a private affair between 2 persons(ie. no fuss issue), a trivial process in life (ie. get-over-n-done-with attitude), a mutual 'understanding' relationship (ie. who-cares-about-others mindset), and even has this 'trial' period of cohabitation. But is it really the meaning of marriage? .. personally, marriage holds so much more significance! the very fact is marriage is sacred - cos God is in the covenant of love! how can it be a private fuss-free affair, when it's meant to be an public declaration of love vows n commitment, under God's witness and blessing? when God is love and love is God, how can it be on 'probation' - cos God is faithful and everlasting!!

cant tell you how much i've been blessed by this reminder on God's Word, but I AM! looking at the newly-weds, i know they have fully understood the true significance of marriage. they will indeed be fruitful in their love and bear fruits -physically and spiritually for the Lord. what a living testimony of God's faithful love still exists in this world! what an honour to know this couple who loves God so fervently and his people passionately!

13 Nov 08 - Friends in Taiwan

it's now holiday seasons... so many people are planning their travel.. and most of them actually came to ask for my 'advice' to Taiwan, including my sister.. i'm glad i can provide some insights but .. honestly, i kinda miss 'my 2nd home'.. i know i've only been back for few months but how nice it wld be if i can just be ard my good friends (in taiwan), spending Christmas together.. just the group of us chatting the night away..

it's not as if i dun have good friends in singapore, but.. i miss my friends in taiwan.. perhaps cos they are really fun-loving (and crazy?), even with those married ones. we can really discuss about anything under the sun, even with their wives n hubbies, tease each other and plan anything together with just a phone call.. i miss Kai, Joanne, Albert, Ares, Jacq, Eli and even my ex-boss Kevin Lin.. haha, i know it's crazy but i do.. and of course, my little princess - Tingting. *argh* i really miss them.. but i know i cant return now. at least not till Ares returns to Taiwan frm his business trip.. (our relaxation trip has alway been put on shelf cos he has been on this super long business trip!!) .. miss those late night chats with Ares and Kai on the phone despite our limited 'common' language..

.. if they know i'm missing them like this, they'll surely be so haughty! ok, guys, time to get your butts to SINGAPORE!!