Wednesday, January 13, 2010

If your life were a novel . . .

Imagine this. Your life is a story, and you’re the protagonist. This story revolves around you - your interactions with the people in it, your thoughts, dreams, goals, achievements, mistakes, joys and regrets.

How would you describe it? Is your life a routine? Or is it full of unexpected surprises?

Do you enjoy fulfilling relationships with the people you love? Or are your interactions with them too few and bland?

If you can use a colour to describe you and your life, what would it be? Why?

How do your thoughts influence or affect your life, and the people around you? Are they inspiring? Cheery? Or depressing? Moody?

What are you proud of? What are the things you regretted doing?

Does your story bring a smile to the readers? Tears of joy on their faces?

If your life were a novel, what kind of story would it be? Will it be a bestseller? Or not?

I think many of us live our lives as it is, as things happen. But do we stop, look back on the events and reflect? Do we analyse what has been good and bad?

Truth is, we usually don’t. That’s why we make the same mistakes more than twice, sometimes. And we’re blinded. We only see the things we want to see. We’re deaf. We only hear the words we want to hear.

So if we were to write about our lives, many of us might find it so hard to even begin to describe the characters in it. Yes, the most challenging person to write about is normally the one whom we should know like the back of our hands - ourselves. It’s not easy to acknowledge our faults and openly admit it in front of a crowd, is it? But when we’re able to do that, it can be so rewarding. And relieving.

And what roles do the others play and how they play them? How are the inter-relations influencing the dynamics and the development of the story?

If you were to write your story using more than one person’s point of view, how would that change the nature?

I think it would be fun writing this story. Because I’ll never know what experience I would get. What do you think?

An Expensive D&D

It was our 2nd wedding anniversary. Hubby and I went to our most loved Japanese restaurant Tatsuya for a night of pure, unrestrained and luxurious gourmet indulgence.

Used to locate at Park Hotel (formerly Crowne Prince), it now sits snugly in Goodwood Park Hotel beside the main entrance.

We called only in time to reserve a table at the outdoor area. Yes, business has been amazingly good at this watering hole. Fortunately, that night’s weather was cool and nice. With alluring jazz songs playing softly in the background, the ambience was set just right. 

Just right for couples to hold hands, lock gaze, whisper sweet nothings while waiting for the chef to decorate their little sushis.

Then, when the food is served, you look at these miniature rice dumplings for 3 seconds, admire the art of Jap cuisine for the next 5 seconds, and start eating. Once the first piece of sushi goes into your mouth, you forget about this person sitting opposite you. All the lovey-dovey stops. The food placed before you is the only thing you live for and you’d die for.

Is it really that good? Yes, I’m afraid it is.

We started with this appetiser - Crab Meat Tofu. Cleverly blended, the tofu had a textured feel when I bit into it. I could taste the strips of crab meat amidst the tofu’s softness. The preserved egg yolk added fragrance and a creamy sensation. My tongue was particularly delighted by the juice from those bits of salmon roe, which had just the right amount of crunchiness. This was just perfect.

Then we had the beef. Two half-palm thin slices of top grade matsusaka beef from Japan cooked in aburi style - half-broiled. A little crispy on the outside and tender inside. There was some fat which lubricated the chewing in my mouth. I didn’t quite appreciate this though as I’m not a fat lover. Given that it cost $20 per slice, I thought one slice nicely suffice!

Finally, the star of the night arrived: 8 pieces of sushi specially prepared by the chef. We wouldn’t know what would be on the plate until it arrives. The chef decides. Hence, there’s always the element of sweet surprise on top of the heavenly taste.

That’s it. The chef’s sushi was heavenly. You have to eat to know how great it is.

Our spirits and mood were lifted up after the sushi, and we were hungry for more. So we ordered one more special sushi that wasn’t on the menu - Salmon Roll.

It was a maki with a tempura prawn and avocado as the inner filling, and half-broiled salmon lying on top bathed in a special sauce. With some mayonnaise, it was simply lovely.

Tatsuya is truly a place for divine cuisine. If you want to celebrate a special occasion to dine and date, it’s a good choice.

The only reason you should reserve it for really special occasions is because the heavenly food comes with a rocket price. Unless you order from the menu, otherwise if you’re looking to taste the chef’s selections – which are the ones that separate them from the other Japanese restaurants – be prepared to part with a three-figure sum. Just to give you an idea, a plate of chef’s sushi (8 pieces) alone cost $110.

The price aside, it’s a good place to please your date, as could be seen from the many couples we saw that evening. 

Oh, if you’re lucky, you get to spot some celebrities too! And who are they, are you asking? Well, the likes of Fann Wong, Christopher Lee and Tay Ping Hui. An incentive to go or not, it’s up to you!

If you’re going, bon appétit!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Love is the answer in Avatar

Love is the answer.

That was the conclusion I got while craning my neck backward to watch the humans and Na’vi slaying one another in a bloody painful battle in Avatar.

There were no sides to be taken, because I’m sure nobody likes to see so many lives dead, homes destroyed, natural habitats demolished and trees that contain more interactive cells than the neurons in our brains razed to the ground.

Yet, the war did happen because of human greed. For greed, they’re willing to attack and invade a territory that doesn’t belong to them.

On the other side, trust, comradeship and love bond the Na’vi fiercely and closely. They fight to protect the planet, the people and the animals they love. Yes, even those strange creatures are loved by them.

What do the humans fight for? One person’s ambition? Another’s greed? Do these bond them for life, or only as long as they share the same goal?

Once a Na’vi couple is mated, they mate for life. There are no betrayals in the world they live in.

But betrayed they were.

And amidst the fiery bombings and heartbreaking betrayals, it is love that makes forgiving possible. It is love that heals the emotional wounds, reunite hearts and create miracles.

Love forges alliances and creates trust. Violence and greed, on the other hand, burns bridges and creates mistrust.

It is love that propels one human being to discard his real body and identity to be completely infused into his avatar. The figure that was supposed to represent him. Yet it eventually became him.

Love is the answer.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Wee! I’m old and happy!

The verdict was out. I stared at the screen in dismay as two digits splayed out in a big, loud fashion – 73. How could it be? How could I have degenerated so fast over the last few days?

According to the screen, I was 73 years old. But, barely a week ago was I only 63! So, what happened?

I couldn’t accept this fact. Depression overcame me as I slumped in the couch, pressing my knuckles and letting them sink deeply into the plush leather seat – my comfort zone – and reflected upon my own misery.

I can’t be that old, I thought. I had breezed through the tennis, smashed the bowling pins and almost had the pitcher flown away from the strong gush of wind created by the intensity of the ball I had hit!

So, how could I have aged 10 years in four days?

I sighed, and wallowed in misery even further.

But, deep, deep inside me, I know. Truth of the matter is, I’m not a sporty person. I mean, tennis? The ball isn’t even in my court! Bowling? That’s not up my alley. And baseball? Gosh! This, I should have scored since I do most of my running at home. 

“It’s okay, you’ll do better the next round,” Stuart consoled me with a sly grin. Of course, he was at least 20 years younger!

A few rounds of self-reflection (those games aren’t my favourite and I’ve yet to find my forte) and self-motivation (at least I’m not a centenarian, there’s still room to go!).

Keeping fit has always been an elusive challenge for me. The minute I think of doing exercise, something would crop up and prevent me taking action. So, when this little white thing appeared in my life a week ago, and looked very promising to sort out my existing exercise regime, I decided to just give it a go. The selections available were tempting, and they were screaming and yelling to me to be pally with them. So I did! And very quickly, I was hooked.

Tennis, boxing, baseball, bowling. You name it, I’m game! Because all I have to do is press a button and I can play standing up, sitting down or even lying down on that soft, plush couch. 

Welcome to Wii Sports. I bet you’d known what I was talking about if you already had one fixed in your home.

What’s the beauty of this game? Well, according to my observation and some active participation, it can be concluded that Wii Sports (or some other games) can be a pretty good tool for family and friends bonding. It lets two people who can be 50 years apart in age become the best of friends in just two seconds.

It lets two people who are in love to be either more in love, or to hate each other’s guts so much that they swear never to see their partner. Stuart had the cheek to beat me in boxing, so you can only guess how well-treated he was after that.

It lets parents step into the world of their computer-games addict children and learn to appreciate the fun of playing together as a family.

There was so much laughter, bantering and teasing going on while Stuart and I were playing with our niece and nephew. Later, when their mother joined us, we had our chance to tease back at her.

Now, if you were to add all our ages up, it would be more than a hundred. But still, we all behaved as if we were only 15. So there you go. We’ve easily and effortlessly closed the huge and ugly generation gap with just a touch of a button. 

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Mis-Adventures In Taiwan

When you think of a national park, what picture comes into your mind? Do you see a beautiful garden with blooming flowers dancing in the air, happy and fruitful bees decorating the horizon and possibly a sparkling lake radiating serenity and happiness to every visitor?

Well, I saw that in my mind, and it drew me like Winnie the Pooh to honey. I was hopelessly seduced and tempted to the idea of lunching by the lake. It would be idyllic and so romantic, I thought.

Without further consideration, I changed the day’s itinerary to include this event. I turned to Stuart and excitedly announced the decision: “Let’s go and have lunch beside the lake at Yang Ming Shan National Park tomorrow, ok?”

With his eyes still staring straight at the TV, he nodded his head and answered “Ok” robotically. I thought with glee about the romantic surprise he would get when we got there the next day.

He didn’t get his romantic surprise, but I got a rude shock instead.

Having told Stuart at least twice that I wouldn’t be going to Yang Ming Shan because I wasn’t dressed appropriately (in heels and dress, I think not!), it somehow didn’t seem to register in his head that we would be heading to exactly where I didn’t want to go!

By the time we realised, or rather I, realised, we were already half-way up the winding road uphill. Yes, we were going to Yang Ming Shan after all. This was Day 2 of my Taipei trip. Welcome to my first misadventure.

As my mistake continued to stare at me blatantly in the face as we meandered our way up the mountain in the taxi, I began to sulk. I felt so indignant! How could I make such an error, when I’d specifically told the hotel receptionist that I didn’t want to go to Yang Ming Shan, but the national park? Yet, nobody pointed out to me the obvious – that the national park was situated in the hill itself. Gosh! What was I thinking of when I saw the name?

We could smell the strong sulphur aroma wafting into our noses even when the windows were all winded up. Wanting to make the best out of this dire situation, I grabbed at every opportunity to take photos. Can you see the hot spring at the background?

Upon reaching our destination – which by now I wasn’t entirely sure where exactly it should be – at the taxi driver’s recommendation, we alighted at one of the more popular restaurants there. By this time, our stomachs were growling.

The soup cheered us up, since it warmed our stomachs pretty well. It tasted good too! And we treated ourselves to a hearty serving of hot, steaming buns – a Yang Ming Shan specialty.

Their specialty soup - Pineapple Bittergourd Chicken soup. Was very tasty, especially in cold weather!

Our lunch venue - the entrance, alfresco and indoor dining areas.

With our stomachs full, warm and happy, we – or rather I – were finally game enough to explore the place. Though the road ahead didn’t look very promising, we decided to walk uphill instead of down since that was where we came from. A short walk and I was in for a very pleasant surprise. Guess what greeted us?

Ta-dah! Windmills! Lots and lots of them! See, aren’t they cheery and cute?

My excitement evaporated shortly as we continued our trekking while looking out for the one and only transportation that could send us out – the public minibus – without seeing any in sight. The wind was blowing stronger by now and I grabbed onto my thin sweater desperately, swearing under my breath about this wrong decision.

Finally, after walking for another yard, or kilometre, or metre, or god-knows-how-long-it-was, we stopped. The road ahead was a very steep and windy road lined only by trees and nothing else. So, we had to stand there and wait for the bus. Now that would have been fine if the weather was cool and nice. But when it was chilly and windy and the only piece of clothing that could provide that one ounce of warmth was just a tiny cardigan, standing in the open would be the last place you want to be.

That was when I started to pray: “Oh Lord, please, please send us the bus now, before I freeze to death here. Please Lord, please. Amen!”

Lo and behold! The bus appeared! Talk about a speedy answer from God!

I couldn’t have scrambled onto a bus any faster in my entire life, truly! And we sped away from my first misadventure in Taiwan and went back to the city.

As I sat on the bus I couldn’t help reflecting upon this incident. In life, we like to make plans. But how many times do our plans turn out to be exactly how we envision and like them to be? More often than not, they don’t. So how do we deal with these irregularities? Sulk? Throw a tantrum? Stamp your feet with regret?

You can do all that, but you also know as well as I do that doing all these won’t help a bit.

The only thing we can do is to go with the flow and think of the next best alternative, with a positive attitude and can-do spirit.