Nocturne campanula love

Nocturne
Artiste: Hirahara Ayaka
Lyrics: Fumika
Melody: F.Chopin / Shiina Kunihito

Beautiful song, beautiful voice, beautiful story set in my favourite place Hokkaido.
Nakai Kiichi is probably not a very popular or handsome actor, but I personally found him really charismatic in the show.

Love, true love is to ask nothing in return
You are my destined soul mate
Your love, adoring eyes
We can see the light because we know the darkness
Everything has meaning, even campanula in the wind

Each one of us has pain and sorrow
Sheds a secret tear
But drops of your tears will fall to earth and
Welcome new life into the world again and again with love

Love, true love is to ask nothing in return
Fated love that is meant to last
My love, your gentle gaze
A drop of your soul within me that I adore
Everything has an end, but we'll be reunited

おくりびと (Okuribito)

It's a film about the dignified job of an embalmer. It never came across to me that an embalmer can play a role in helping to ease the grief of the loved ones. Masahiro Motoki did a very good job portraying the embalmer - his gentle grace and focused mind and utmost respect for the departed when performing the elaborate ritual was really moving.

This film's also a combination of seriousness, humour, emotions, great acting and great music... a very good movie from beginning to the end. 素晴らしい 。。。

Sixth Sense

What intrigued me the most about this video clip was that as it progressed, I kept thinking to myself "Wow, this is amazing.. this is very very cool.. this is superb.." I was really in awe of what the researcher had produced. Then at the end of it, I start wondering if this so-called "sixth sense" will rob us of our natural senses. And then we become like the people in the movie Wall-E.

This actually made me realise something about myself. A part of me embraces technology, but there's also a tiny part of me that resists it. I asked myself if I will get one of this device if it ever comes into the market? ...

My answer is ... without a doubt, yes. But, I think I will use it to make up for what I lack, not to diminish what I already have.

ラスト フレンズ < Last Friends >

这是一部关于现代人面对复杂情感的日本连续剧。
也是在5年里， 第一部让我流泪的爱情故事。。。

非常喜欢剧中 Takeru 对 Ruka 的爱。
不平凡的爱。。 能存在吗？

Welcome 2009!

The past few weeks had been a whirlwind for me and the coming weeks will be the same as well.
Work's been crazy. Then I left it behind for Taiwan in a frenzy. The vacation was just as crazy (but enjoyable) such that I covered almost every possible destination there is to cover.

Now that I am back in Singapore, I return to the same amount of crazy workload...

Anyway, it's the first day of 2009.

My first post in the new year wishes everyone a very blessed 2009 ahead.
And to me, a less crazy new year.

Going places..

Since young, I've loved going to the Singapore's Changi airport terminals.

Whether I'm going there to catch a flight to some destination, or just to send someone away, the airport is just a very nice place to be at. It does not matter that I live in the other end of Singapore.

Love the clean, serene and orderly environment, having MacDonald's while waiting, and the neat rows of bougainvillea on the roads leading to the terminals. Perhaps, the more prominent reason is that it gives me the feeling of going places...

Have you been to the new Terminal 3?

The Departure Hall

The "3-Top" (indoor horticulture)

Neat rows of trolleys

Check-in counters

... and Shopping =)

Real nice right.. it has just been added to my list of favourite places in Singapore =D

Please be happy

On my way to work today, I met an old uncle on a packed train.

He has a head of gray hair. So being a good citizen, I stood up and offered him my seat.

Most elderly folks will gladly take the offer but to my surprise, he waved his hand and replied, "I am very healthy. I don't need the seat."

It was at this moment did I realise how true that was.

Because at a closer look, he was dressed very smartly in a long-sleeved shirt and black pants - like he was heading to a job interview.

I could have been embarrassed by the situation but it was genuine happiness I felt for this uncle so confident of himself. So I smiled and sat down on my seat.

Sensing the embarrassment he might have caused, the old uncle tried to strike a conversation.

"Are you on your way to school... or work..?"

That was a real compliment, I thought.

"I'm on my way to work", I replied.

He broke into a smile and relaxed a little.

"Are you happy? I mean.. with your work?"

Did I look unhappy? I wondered.

Maybe, but lately I have been feeling really tired.

"My work's okay", I tried to smile.

"Please be happy. That's the most important thing."

More passengers came aboard and the uncle moved out of sight.

---

When I got out of the train, the words from this stranger were still in my head.

I looked up.

My.. the sky never looked that blue to me in the longest time.