Anthropology

So much for complaining that learning nothing from Legal Anthropology. I do think I was being rebellious about it, choosing to say that I didn't enjoy it when I actually did learn much from it. God showed me that it was His plan for me to take the Anthropology module because of today's talk about unlearning the colonial missions we are so used to. Vinoth Ramachandra is an excellent speaker and what he said made everything so relevant, made God so relevant, made witnessing so relevant. The snippets of knowledge I got from Anthropology translated into the tangible, the applicable and I actually understood what he was talking about when he went through the colonial missions and how only when we encounter the 'Other' we uncover our blind spots. Okay, really difficult to put it in coherent language here because it's late and my dreams are beckoning.

It was refreshing and I feel suddenly awakened from that drought I felt for a long time. I do feel extremely blessed.

A Breather

I wish I had a camera, so that I can solidify memories and the funny intricate moments and things I see.

Finally taking a breather from the 2 assignments. I've decided that I really kinda hate churning out chunks and chunks of words to prove a point I don't feel much for. At least exams are less hypocritical, if such an adjective justifies.

Transiting back into school life has been difficult, much more difficult than I've imagine. Then again, I made a mistake for returning only one week before school started and then things just spiralled into a blur of events and meeting deadlines. Which is why I'm extremely glad to declare a one week break starting this week, then onto the next assignment.

Been blessed by many people I meet in school. Everyone in the VCF sub-comm has been a darling, people in the computer lab too (where I frequent now) and I made a few new friends too! Went for a jog in the Botanic Gardens with Jin Huang today, and never felt more blessed by the people around me. I enjoy the little walks I take in the Gardens, or a sandwich lunch by the pond. Saw an interesting specie of birds hopping from tree to tree, excited. Observed two chameleons fighting, fierce.

And I wonder how's everyone in China and Philippines doing now.

On an irrelevant note, I wish I was a redhead. Now thinking of whether to take up Natalie's invitation to dye my hair at her place (ok, not the whole head red).

Blessed Be Your Name

Wang Xing said that I probably should update this blog, not that any one reads it anyway. But I guess he does, and maybe Goldie does too, and some other people somewhere out there. Life's been hectic, it can only be inevitable that I'm sucked into the mindless rat race of Singapore, of running after achievements and trying to prove myself. Except that it is not supposed to be inevitable if I want it, and I should really want more meaning in my short time on earth.

Short time on earth. Few weeks back, I received an sms from Joel during class informing me that Adrian's sister-in-law, Serene, passed away due to child birth complications. We attended the wake and found out from Adrian that the baby, Ethan, was not out of danger yet. In fact, he has very low chances of survival and even if he does, he will probably be brain damaged. No doubt Serene has gone to a more desirable place, yet people here are left to pick up the pieces. Why, God...why? Why does God let this happen? I do not know why, neither do the teary people at the wake. Perhaps we are never meant to know why, perhaps we just have to hold on the belief that God is good, in whatever circumstance.

Perhaps.

Macau

Self-taken photo of us while waiting for the ferry.



Kelvin, Shawn and I went over to Macau for 2 days, 1 night. Macau is a really beautiful place, with an interesting blend of historical buildings alongside flashy casinos.



Boatride leaving Macau, note that long white bridge.







I love the Portugese style buildings along the streets, it has a nice European feel to it.




















This bookshop sells books written/translated in the Portuguese language.






Three of us in front of the ruins of St Paul's.
















A close up.































The streets are completely empty at night as everyone flocks to the casinos. Very very extravagant places, these are.

















The next morning, we went over to the Black-Sand Beach. As its name suggests, the sand on the shore is black, which makes it rather unique.




































I find the mishmash of languages rather interesting. Every signboard in Macau is written in Chinese (traditional) and Portuguese while people usually communicate in Cantonese.

Yay, Jesus!

This post is for my friends in China who wanted to see photos but can't access Flickr

I'm back! I'm back in good ol' Singapore and boy I miss home so so much!

This is XiaoJin, also known as Goldie (by Joel and I ;p) almost my 'guardian' in Beijing, but more of one of my closest Chinese friends. She sent me to the Beijing International Airport on 7th July. Much thanks to Ruyin who helped me lug my luggage and stuff down 4 storeys too. The checking in was crazy when Xiaowei was late and had an overweight luggage. It was a mad rush to get to the plane in time, but thankfully we did and it was actually kinda thrilling looking back on it.


This are the male escorts I had in Hong Kong. But they weren't really escorts because they took more time than I did in the bathroom and were very particular about their hair, and their shirt and their shoes and their skin complexion...you get the idea. I really enjoyed my 5-day rendezvous with them. It was hilarious and almost heart-warming in a weird sense.

This is Shawn, who wants is amazingly tall and who wants to be my older brother except he is actually a good 10 months younger than I am; and Kelvin, who seems to have a quirky interest in Shawn's behind all the time. And I am not kidding on this, here is one more photo evidence:

This was taken at the Black-Sand beach in Macau. Really beautiful, in my opinion. As its name suggests, the sand on the beach was black. But Shawn the tall brother kept insisting it was simply dirty sand.














This is Waikit, my tall mortal and naughty casanova.






This is us along the corridor of our backpackers' hostel in Hong Kong. It really looks haunted, doesn't it?



HONG KONG
Hong Kong is very modern, much more developed than Singapore, I think. I felt like I was back to civilisation when I touched down in Hong Kong, after flying from Beijing. The culture of branded goods seems very prevalent there. Everywhere you turn is some branded goods retail outlet, Gucci, Prada, LV etc etc, not my cup of tea, really.



Chanced upon a group of people filming. Saw one of the older Hong Kong actors. I think being in Hong Kong made me appreciate Cantonese films a bit more because I am now able to recognise the different streets in the shows.
This is the view of Hong Kong's city lights from the Peak. Beautiful.



This is a picture of the building we stayed in. Very characteristic of Hong Kong. Strange to see modern buildings all around and yet have several buildings with dingy living conditions like this around. Land is sparse in Hong Kong.












What can I say, these siew mais are absolutely fantastic and to die for.

Hong Kong- Shen Zhen - Macau

Blogging from HK International Airport now and looking forward to boarding the plane later. It's been a really cool week at HK-Shenzhen-Macau. I think my favourite place is Macau, with it's lovely empty roads (cos everyone is at the casinos), flashy casinos, beautiful Portugese buildings and an interesting black-sand beach. Other than that, the company was fantastic, moving around with three crazy men (later two) was a permanent stitch in the sides due to overlaughter while enjoying the decadent lifestyle of eating and sleeping and eating and sleeping. Ugh.

All the world's a stage

And all men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances.

Not sure whether I'm the one who is stepping out of their stage or they are exiting mine. Whatever it is, there is a new stage to look forward to.

Thank you, China. For all the memories that hold dear.