12.05.2013

Lish's Birthday

It was Lish’s 34th birthday and I made her a mask with birthday message on it. The mask was simple to make, of course, it was very primary school kid stuff but it was full of fun and very Instagram-friendly. And the food at Ju Ne Japanese Restaurant was delicious.
Ju • Ne Japanese Restaurant 樹音: Block A4, Level G2, Unit 4A-2G-3A, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
我只是用了小学时学做面具的技巧作了一个生日面具给丽霞。我做过几个面具送给朋友,可是大家都把它收得好好的。唯有我的这两个朋友戴上面具拍照玩乐,这就是我最简单的用意,而最好的朋友很容易就会意了,而且玩得不亦乐乎。

11.23.2013

Nice Design Speaker

Want a Nixon Blaster?
or a transparent speaker from People People?
I want both.



11.13.2013

Michael Haneke - Amour

我们一直感叹终将逝去的青春,好像没有认真正视到底年老的日子是怎么一回事。这部电影一步一步慢慢地带我们经历老迈衰退的过程,比任何投诉发泄来得更有震撼力。我们跟着80余岁退休钢琴老师夫妇日常生活缓慢的节奏,去体会年老的滋味。妻子半身中风后,由丈夫不离不弃细心地照顾。我们就跟着年老人家说话、走路、生活的速度渡过两小时感觉却度日如年的电影,深深体会老并不是挂在口中那么简单的事情。

镜头角度取得非常特别,写实得来很到位而且有力。不像一般美国电影,在每一个情节都用上配乐煽情。我们听到的音乐,多半是演奏者、退休夫妇所弹奏的钢琴曲,这样反而给予更大的震撼。电影的收音很仔细,老人呼吸困难、翻床、走路……的这些声音,也一一让观众体会年老的生活节奏。近尾声有一幕让人措手不及,实在震撼。导演总是在他的电影作品中让人出奇不意!

Georges and Anne are in their eighties. they are cultivated, retired music teachers.
Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke and the couple's bond of love is severely tested.

Finally Amour is showing in Malaysia during the 2013 European Union Film Festival. I watched with my anticipated x-colleagues and it was a great experience. This film was not only great because it won Palme d'or and many awards, but the film itself had a very good point of view about being old, and actress Emmanuelle Riva delivered a superb performance.

11.11.2013

Reinventing Retail

Extracted from Monocle:

Blackmarket is among the region's pioneers melding fashion and art. It has an active network of some of heregion's most daring artists and fashion designers, but a firm foot in mainstream retail too.

Gabbani is an old-school family business that lives or dies on its name: Francesco on food and drink, his brother Domenico bosses the hotel, Mama and Pap oversee the whole shebang.

Noble. The staff are expert and passionate about wine, and it's ideally placed in a community that rates quality, service and design.

Baker D Chirico, Melbourne. The bold designs and playful delivery draw the customers in but it's Daniel's genuine passion for a good product that keeps his shops bustling.

Intersect By Lexus is a project with bigh imagination beyond the product and long-term goals.

Yakushima Messenger. Kikuchi moved here because of its natural beauty and his business  is a way for him to contribute to the island's preservation.

La Central. Allowing each bookshop to evolve according to local demand rather than a rigid model.

K11 Art Mall is innovating while other retail developers in China are stuck in a rut. The concept should avoid gimmicks and become a true platform for the city's art scene.

This is Mahalle's answer to the cosmopolitan food halls found in London and New York. Yet it is cleverly rooted in Turkish food culture with a strong identity.

J.Crew's strength is both its consistency - as a seller of casual classics - and its multi-faceted approach. Drexler's and Lyon's role has been to steer these divergent paths yet deliver great design and high-quality clothing and services.

Semley is a non-profit outfit staffed by volunteers and stocked with them in mind. If its members ask for a servise or a product they usually get it.

Warby ParkerThe bus is an opportunity to have a physical presence in new markets and serves as a way of seeing in which cities it would be worth opening a permanent shop.

Greyhound has a strong identity that can migrate from fashion to food.

Tsutaya. By attracting more users, the library is being put to better use and has become a source of local pride.

Press Tea. The project takes the apparatus and culture of the coffee industry to a new product.

Jelmoli has taken a traditional formula and injected new life by taking on luxury labels and investing in customer services. Balancing these changes with the brand's unique Swissness had been its real achievement.

With its focus on premium products and design the Liquor Control Board combines the weight of state buyer with an expert, discerning approach. Despite the recession, the board turned its largest profit ever this year, $128.4m - largely off a 6% annual gain in wine sales.


11.05.2013

Sekinchan Paddy Field

Sekinchan is famous for its paddy plantation. We saw many green paddy fields and instantly felt hearts opened wide. We quickly ran to the field and touched the paddy, took picture with the paddy as if they are our friends and bought them for meals at home later. They were adorably short and fat.
适耕庄出产稻米,所以在这里可以看见稻田。刚巧我们到访的十一月初可以看见绿油油的稻田,我真的非常高兴。住在吉隆坡的我甚少机会看见稻田,从小至今不超过五次。所以,能够可家人一起出游且看见大片的稻田,感觉真的是很舒服,心胸也突然广阔起来。

Pantai Redang

We came to this Redang Beach at Sekinchan to catch some breezes and embrace the Sun by the sea. There were many visitors on this public holiday. Some were walking by the beach, Some were sitting at by the hawkers enjoying some light meal and drinks. It was pleasant but the beach was not very clean. We ate ice-cream and did not litter the beach at all. We wanted it to look clean and beautiful.
听说适耕庄的热浪海滩是因为某部电影而声名大噪,但是我真的没能记起是什么电影,或许我真的没有听说过这电影。本来看起来应该是很不错且风景绮丽的海滩,但因为海滩上有不少垃圾,所以我减了不少的分。最美的景点,就是在河口旁插了彩色旗子的地方,除了看见大海蓝天白云,还可以看见停泊渔村的渔船,这幅景色最迷人。

Bukit Melawati

已经很久没有跟家人一起出游,所以特别选了星期二这公共假日到瓜拉雪兰莪玩一玩。开车从吉隆坡出发大约须一个小时。雨停后路还些滑,所以驾驶也没太快,反正也不是在赶时间。一路的风景很不错,原来马来西亚种植了一大片的棕榈树。听说马来西亚是世界第二大棕榈出口国,比起世界第一的印尼,国土比例相对更小的马来西亚竟然也排名第二,可见所砍伐的森林也不少。虽然如此,看见绿色的风景比看见高楼还要开心。

不知不觉就来到皇家山底,因为雨过天晴后阳光不是很猛,所以气温不太热,出游真是太舒服了。把车停好后,我们首先到眼睛店拿哥哥的眼睛,而且妈妈也买了一副新眼镜。之后,我们就准备去搭小火车。矗立在山前的白色钟塔古色古香,静静地在山底守护皇家山。搭上小火车的我们犹如回到孩童时代一样快乐。没想到我人长这么大还是童心未泯。

小火车其实是机车拖着两车厢,徐徐向山顶出发。路上看见一些旧式的马来建筑物静静的受葱绿的草木包围。来到山顶我们就看见高耸的灯塔,即刻就像游客一样到处拍照。我们看到有小贩贩卖喂食猴子的食粮,于是就买来喂养它们。一开始大家都很害怕。我不知道贵为万物之灵的人类竟然是那么害怕动物。我觉得应该是太久根大自然隔绝,没有好好地了解如何跟大自然共存,所以才觉得害怕。于是,我让猴子爬上了肩膀也没有赶走它,尝试习惯跟别的动物近距离相处一下。喂养后,下山的感觉特别好。
 
Clock Tower at Bukit Melawati;
colourful train-car going up to hill top;
Malay style house;
light tower at top of Bukit Melawati;
feeding monkeys;
I could not remember when is the previous family trip as it was long time ago. So we decided to visit Kuala Selangor on this public holiday, Awal Muharram, which was about an hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. We had been busy working with computer and playing the phone, so we wanted to spend precious times to attach with family and detach from devices. 

Bukit Melawati was the first sight-seeing destination. Instead of walking up the hill, we took the colourful train. It instantly brought back my childhood memory as a kid who love fun and adventure. The views at the top of Melawati Hill was breathtaking, we saw the coastline from high.

The highlight was to bought food and fed the monkeys. They were not over aggressive but very demanding, only left when they are given food. There was a mother with son attached climbed on me and tried to get food. I stood there and let people take some pictures. It was fun.

11.02.2013

A Postcard from London

收到了Kyle旅游伦敦时寄来的明信片,收到时真的很开心。现在已经很少人寄明信片了,应该是上个时代的事情。是啊,我就是上个时代的,非常喜欢明信片,而且可以看见朋友的笔迹,真是很开心。
This is the postcard I got from Kyle while he traveled to London. I miss London very much. I wish I could visit again very soon.

10.15.2013

FRIM: Love Nature

每到周末,我都想找朋友到大自然走走、跑跑,呼吸新鲜的空气以及欣赏葱绿的树木。我不是一个上健身室做运动的男人,可能因为中小学时期都有参加童军的关系,我特别喜欢户外活动和露营,不管如何努力都培养不起到健身室运动的习惯。而身边的朋友都喜欢到健身室运动和锻炼身材,所以,每到周末,我要找朋友去行山也不是一件很容易办到的事情。

这班很可爱的旧同事也跟我一样很喜欢大自然,所以我们特别约在一个周二早晨到甲洞森林局晨运兼野餐,因为今天是公假,所以人特别多。这个周六因为吊桥维修所以没有登上那段比较艰辛的路程。我们还是沿这Rover Track上山,然后循着瀑布走下山到达野餐的地方。

这次的野餐很丰盛。我们打包了炒米粉、炒面、印度煎饼、肠粉、黄酱饭,吃得不亦乐乎。喝的有100Plus、冰咖啡(登山前已经喝完了)和包装豆奶。吃得七七八八后,我们打算将包装豆奶泡在冷温的河水,顺便也泡泡自己的双脚。在城市中也能到森林享受到大自然,应该也算是一种小确幸吧。

I am not a gym person. I have tried and it does not work and it is waste of times and money. I am more like a outdoor person, perhaps I was a scout during primary and high school days. Most of my friends like to go to gym, so it is a bit hard for me to get friends to go with me. Friends are the best motivation.

One Tuesday morning, which was an off day for Malaysian, my nature-lovers x-colleagues cum friends and I went to FRIM for a lovely walk and picnic. We packed a lot of food, as if the main purpose was eating but not exercising. We took the Rover Track but did not went up to the canopy walk as it was closed today. We tracked down along the waterfall and reached the picnic area. It was satisfied to eat after sweating.

It was a nice and lovely morning, just like the old days I had.

9.24.2013

Baek Zi Young - Crying

最近在追看这部很动人、感人、剧情超好的韩剧《好医生》。很久没有看见剧情这么认真的电视剧。故事中心围绕着一个自闭男想要成为医生,以及周围人物的感情关系,和医院职场的争权夺利。故事和剧情真的很精彩。有机会一定要参与这样的制作。

Baek Zi Young (백지영)  - Crying (울고만있어) (Good Doctor (굿닥터) OST)
This is the OST for a very good Korean Drama " Good Doctor". I really love to see this drama, it has substance and the storyline is welldone. It is a serious production that give high standard. 

YoonMiRae - Touch Love

刚看预告的时候,《朱君的太阳》是一部述说见鬼的韩剧,感觉蛮恐怖的,很令我期待。但是,真的看得时候,除了讲述这个看见灵异的女孩,更下笔墨着重人与人之间的关系,是在很精彩!这是我不外出呆在家看的韩剧。

There is a very interesting Korean drama, "Master's Sun", showing now at KBS World. The teaser diverted us to think that it was a horror girl-seeing-ghosts drama, but the main story was about human relationship. I kind of like it. 

9.16.2013

Listen to The Rhythm Of The Rain

This is the lovely song for the movie "Rhythm of The Rain" (聽見下雨的聲音)

竹籬上停留著蜻蜓 
玻璃瓶裡插滿小小森林 
青春嫩綠得很鮮明
百葉窗折射的光影 像有著心事的一張表情 
而你低頭拆信 想知道關於我的事情 
青苔入鏡 簷下風鈴 搖晃曾經 
回憶是一行行無從剪接的風景 愛始終年輕 
而我聽見下雨的聲音 想起你用唇語說愛情 
幸福也可以很安靜 我付出一直很小心 
終於聽見下雨的聲音 於是我的世界被吵醒 
就怕情緒紅了眼睛 不捨的淚在彼此的臉上透明 
愛在過境 緣份不停 誰在擔心 
窗台上滴落的雨滴 輕敲著傷心 淒美而動聽 
而我聽見下雨的聲音 想起你用唇語說愛情 
熱戀的時刻最任性 不顧一切的給約定 
終於聽見下雨的聲音 於是我的世界被吵醒 
發現你始終很靠近 默默的陪在我身邊 態度堅定

8.26.2013

SHINee - Boys Meet U


韩国男团SHINee (샤이니)推出新日文单曲“Boys Meet U”,真是韩流侵入日风!《Boys Meet U》是他们第2张原创日语专辑,于2013年6月26日发行。如果听不懂或每听过韩文/日文,就很难分辨得出他们唱的是哪一种语言,因为感觉很Kpop。不过,认真听清楚、听久一些,就会发觉其实那是日文。

SHINee 2nd Japanese album "Boys Meet U" is out now! I am not a particular fan for boy bands but I am slowly getting into it. May be I am injecting the young blood into myself to feel my youth, just may be.

Petition for Stronger Gun Laws in US


States United To Prevent Gun Violence 防枪暴力组织为了征求更多的折回民众加入请愿书,发出了这则广告。这则广告非常简单:一个看似应该是老职员的男人冲进办公室企图对上师开枪。没有交代任何理由或来龙去脉,就是展现人类会开枪的这一刻情绪。我赞成更严谨的枪管!

Simple and powerful: Guns have changed, shouldn't our gun laws? This ad has the effects, but not just because of that. For a long time, I wish the gun laws to be tighten.

Haruki Murakami - Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

I have been wanting to read Haruki Murakami's new fiction for a long time. The new book has been published but I have to wait for the Chinese translation...
很期待村上春树的新作《没有色彩的多崎作和他的巡礼之年》。或许在阅读之前,先多了解Lazar Berman演奏奥地利作曲家Franz Liszt的《Years of Pilgrimage》与美国后抽象派艺术家Morris Louis的画作。

4.14.2013

Cherry Blossom at Yeouido













那天早上我们到汝矣島赏樱花。寒冷的冬季过去,百花盛开的春季来了。虽然天气还是很冷,但是我绝对不会错过此良辰美景。汝矣島沿路一棵棵的樱花树开满淡粉红色的樱花,游客都争着和樱花拍照,身为外地游客的我当然在樱花树下摆下各种姿式拍照。之后,我才静下了心慢慢欣赏。我很喜欢它淡淡的分红色,直觉那就是春天的颜色,而且淡淡的没有余人争艳的感觉。我随着风吹闻到了花香。这花香也是淡淡的,香但不浓郁。可是我就是迷上这种淡淡的色和香。看见樱花飘落时,我不禁想:我会选择在最漂亮的时刻结束生命吗?我也希望能在生命最美丽的时刻淡淡地离开人世。

We came to Yeouido to see the cherry trees blossom. I came from a country with all-year-summer, so this first time of seeing blossom during the spring made me very excited. I love its light pink colour. I could also smell the mild aroma in the air. Everyone there was full of joy of spring. It is absolutely happy to see lives blossom. I immerse myself in this beautifulness quietly for a very long time.

3.17.2013

Weekend Getaway to Cameron Highlands


从吉隆坡出发只需3个小时的车程即抵达金马伦高原,于是我们三人决定在周末到此散心。BOH茶园是我们必造访的地方。下午时分,我们买了茶品坐着欣赏青葱的茶园,静静地享受休闲时光,以及阅读平时在城市腾不出时间阅读的书。一个简单的下午就这样给打发掉,亦不觉浪费青春。

接着,我们到巴拉别墅(Bala's Chalet and Restaurant)继续我们的下午茶时光。我们点了司康烤饼和茶,这也是我们到金马伦必吃的食物。我们一致认为,我们在吉隆坡时都没有闲情吃这类食品。可是一到此处,就一定得到英国式房屋和吃司康烤饼,而且一定要加上牛油、奶油和草莓酱。很有满足感!之后我们继续阅读,享受宁静的下午时光。

晚餐就是大家期待已久的火锅。金马伦高原本来天气就比较冷,是市区的避暑胜地。再加上当晚下了雨,空气更是清新。冷冷的天气和热热的火锅真是人生一大享受。之后,我们到夜市散步购物。我们看见这年轻伙子替顾客镶字在戒指上,于是大家爱兴致勃勃都买了。我们的周末就这样完美饱足。