The Enchanted Kingdom

Hi peeps! The title of the post comes from the 2 movies that I watched so recently, The Kingdom and Enchanted. I will talk about it soon. Meanwhile, this post will again come in points.

1. Life has been okay since Monday. I've realized I have many things to complete (among which 8 movies to watch, yet to be determined) before I go. Seriously though, I have many things to do and it's pretty scary because I may just fail. One step at a time, I suppose.

2. On an interesting note, I went to a talk by Gerry Ellis yesterday. Apparently he's quite a famous photographer but coming into the talk I really haven't heard of him before. After the talk, I see him more as an environmentalist rather than a famous photographer. His talk was more about his passion for the environment and his way of raising awareness on environment issue especially to kids. He talked much about his experience taking pictures of the wildlife and the website which he obviously is very passionate about, Glossopedia. He talked about his experience taking pictures of panda in China, there were pictures (awesome pictures) and videos and I learned a few interesting things about panda, like the fact that panda actually has tail. He also mentioned that just days ago he was in a place in India where there's half a million camels. I found this interesting because my oh my, that's a lot of camels! It may be possible that there's more camels than human in that place at that time. He showed us the Glossopedia website and we watched a very interesting video about lemurs. You should go and watch it, here. I had a good laugh watching it The talk was interesting and I had a good time attending it.

3. Now about movies. First up is The Kingdom which I watched yesterday with La Gioia and Gascoigne. As I told La Gioia, I don't know I just really want to watch some manly movie. She said, yeah maybe because now you are having so much angst inside you. Yeah, she is maybe right since I have been having Linkin Park therapy a lot these days. Anyway from entertainment point of view, The Kingdom is not bad. However, I cannot help feeling that the movie is way too American. I found it to be quite one sided. The story centered around a bombing done by extremist muslims in Saudi Arabia. After the movie, I was thinking that man! there are just so many movies recently that took that as the theme. I wonder if the muslims found it to be demeaning. I find it damaging to improve the image of Islam. Maybe I'm too sensitive? So there was a big suicidal bombing in an American compound in Saudi Arabia. The motive of the perpetrator wasn't elaborated, just take it as they are extremist and crazy muslims. The FBI team led by (I am the cool leader) Jamie Foxx came to Saudi Arabia to investigate the bombing. The bureaucracy really hindered their investigation but of course the "cool" Jamie Foxx managed to persuade the Saudi Prince to allow them to do more investigation and capture the bad guys. Jamie Foxx appeared slick, smart, tough and of course he had to hold a gun and shoot some rounds and be heroic. He's the typical hero. Jennifer Garner was also in the movie. I found her to be a bit fat. She was okay, not as tough as she was in Alias. Chris Cooper, Jason Bateman, and Jeremy Piven provided some comic relief with their witty lines. They made quite a laugh. I quite liked the Colonel, Faris Al Ghazi. I told La Gioia that, and I said why ya? She said because he's cool Unfortunately he had to die. Yeah, typical American movie, someone had to die. There were some scenes which I found to be so American (as in it made the American appear as the real good ones) like the one where the terrorist was ready to slit Jason Bateman's neck. It was quite a suspense that I was kinda closing my eyes. The tension was nicely built with all the screaming and music. Then Jennifer Garner came in the nick of time to save him. So she had to fought the bad guy and it was quite a bad fight and in the end she managed to killed the bad guy in a very very violent manner but it was portrayed as really cool and after the fight, there were many people in the cinema who gushed "whoaa". So she appeared cool despite of her committing as violent of an act as the terrorist. Yeah you can argue she was doing it for self defense and yadda yadda yadda, but I just found it to be a bit bias Then another scene of showing that the American is the good ones was when Jennifer Garner had to be compassionate and all and gave a frightened little girl a lollipop. It was such a small matter perhaps in the movie, but again I found it to be rather too much positive points on the American side. Maybe it's just me Did I give too much spoiler? Overall, it was not a bad movie, I suppose. I really don't know how the muslim will take it if they watch this movie. I didn't have time to ask Gascoigne what he thinks about it, but I don't think he will think about such issue, he would just see it as a movie. From entertainment point of view, there were suspense, nice action scenes, good lines, funny moments, so it's all quite interesting. It was quite an entertainment, I suppose.

4. Moving on, watch Enchanted with Vivy today. Actually I wasn't that interested in it because I know it's so not brainy, however I just feel I need to watch something, so off we went to watch it. The cartoon was Disney traditional 2D. The type of cartoons that filled my childhood days. I found that the drawing was pretty and all but I do realize that such cartoon may not be able to captivate kids at this time and age as it did to me last time. The fairytale side of the story was very fairytale like. It was really traditional Disney. The human part of the movie was just okay for me. I've never been a fan of Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden here was too dumb or perhaps plain for my liking. Amy Adams as Giselle was oh so sweet! The singing was sweet and a source for laughter. The singing scene in the park was quite Bollywood for me and I think they did try to make it that way. They have nice songs which I will surely try to locate. I didn't really like the ending. Ah, stupid me! The ending was pretty obvious just by seeing the poster of the movie but I had hope that Giselle would just end up with Prince Edward. Overall, it was somewhat entertaining. The characters were interesting at times (like pip the squirrel) and the cartoon was kinda nice for me. It was definitely a lighter entertainment than The Kingdom and it also requires less brain.

Okay, that's pretty much it. I actually bought a book today. It may not be a good decision since having more stuffs in my room is never been a good thing to do but I just felt like I need to use my time better. I guess I've been using much of the time recently to read and all and now that I didn't have anything to read or complete I feel rather empty, hence why I bought the book. Anyway, reading is enriching right? The book that I bought was The Kite Runner. Again may not be a good idea as well, since I feel that story centered in Middle East is a bit too saturated, but I chose the book since ... well it kinda stayed in my head since the Mr told me that it was in Mrs. Thyme's book club years ago. So what the heck, let's read it. I hope I can finish it soon because I heard the movie is coming out in December. Another thing to finish before I go.

Alrighty, that's all peeps. Take care okay!

:) eKa @ 8:13:00 PM • 0 comments

How Fragile Life Is

So I got online this morning, something which I don't do much these days because ... well, the only reason I do it was to mainly catch the Mr but it's been months since we last talked, so I guess he is so busy. Anyways, so I looked at the people in my contact list and JTG sent me a message "Have you heard about Pierre?". I hadn't but Ata's nickname was already quite obvious. Sigh. JTG gave me a brief story about it and gave me the article link. I was pretty stunned and shocked. I sms and emailed Vivy about it. I was contemplating if I should tell Gaby but I haven't done so, even until now. I just couldn't give such bad news.

Pierre, sigh. I was never actually close to him. I got to remember (perhaps) our last 2 encounters. One time was a few weeks after I left NUS, in the 151 bus. Exchanged "hi, how are you? What have you been doing". He was working with some theater company then or something like that. Then the last meeting was maybe last year or the year before, I kinda forget. Saturday morning, I was going to my morning engagement and I saw him. I exclaimed "Pierre!". He was with his cousins I think. A small "hi" then basically that's it.

I got to thinking much, I guess partly because of Astley too. Pierre had a freak accident just like Astley and the thought of how fragile life is just keep on playing in my head. I wonder what happened when that happened to them. Did they see it coming? Did they close their eyes and knew that that was it? Or they didn't think that it was death calling them? Did they manage to say a prayer? What was their last thought? Was it painful? Such torturing thoughts, really. The more I think about it, the more I got to feel really sad, and this despite of me of not being close to Pierre. Sigh. It's all been written by God but I guess the tragic demise just makes you wonder "WHY?" over and over again, why does it have to happen that way?

Anyways just like Astley, I'm so sure Pierre will surely be missed a lot because just like Astley, Pierre had done a lot, to Kent Ridge Hall, to all the productions that he had helped. I guess for us the living, what we should learn from the people who leave us is to make sure that we have done as much as we can in our life. So when we are gone people do feel our presence in their lives.

:) eKa @ 9:34:00 PM • 0 comments

That 11 Days

11 days since I last wrote. As you may have expected there's nothing interesting that happened in that 11 days, but let's just write it down anyway.

1. Sunday (11/11/07) - Went for Wei's wedding dinner. He didn't put La Gioia with us, but I got to sit with Ms. Kiera, Mimi, and Mel (surprise, surprise). It was really good to see them again and I'm glad I got to share the table with them. Surprisingly met Aika there. Since I saw her, I was expecting to see others familiar faces but none to be found. I got to thinking how different our circle of friends have become. There I was sitting with people I've known for maybe 2 years or so and I was thinking of all the people whom I didn't stay in touch with, people whom I shared my glorious university days with. Yeah, I am a snob. Told Osh that I met Aika and told him how I didn't know so many things about her now. Osh told me that apparently he hadn't been seeing much of her either. I guess you just meet new people, make new friends. However the realization that it comes with the cost of forgetting your old ones does make it sad. Still, I'm not doing anything about it.

2. So the last time I wrote, I said I would have solitude for a week or so. I did and I loved it so much and I was telling myself that if I have a chance to have an apartment of my own in a city, I would be so happy. I would like that to happen very much! And here I am wondering why I still have noone?

3. A few misfortunes in the past week and today as well. Last week I was rather depressed because there was a possibility that all my files were gone. Seriously when my folder couldn't be accessed in the external hard disk (lucky me, only my folder couldn't be accessed), my head was quickly accessing the damage and I was contemplating how was I to go on. I seriously didn't think I could handle such a blow. I wonder if CC was in a panic mode as well, maybe since I told her not to so she appeared calm because if she was in a panic state, I was surely gonna cry there and then and a tear was actually forming. She stayed on to get all my files in which she succeeded. She actually stayed quite late and I felt rather guilty. I hope Sean was not too upset. I couldn't imagine if Sean decided to get out there and then (Sean is inside CC's tummy). Then just last Friday another misfortune happened. I was quite upset actually and actually I haven't got it all out of my chest. Something you just couldn't tell people *sigh* Then this morning I got an email which made me exclaim "What the FUCK?!?". Yeah I said the F word loudly. I was pissed and still am. It's so unfair and God damn it! Just because I don't complain as much that doesn't mean that everything is so smooth in my life, that I could do everything. I'm tired and frustrated and I seriously begin to hate.

4. Oh yeah, I should mention Tuesday (13/11/07). The day of the Linkin Park's concert and I didn't go. I was in my room feeling utterly bitter about it. I couldn't believe I was in my room writing. Regret.

5. Then today, the D day (Hari H). Was so nervous since morning and I couldn't concentrate much especially after the moronic mail. I was still looking up words and still trying to get as much things into my head but by 1 pm, I decided I had enough. It was so much more difficult than what I had been preparing and I felt rather upset about it. As usual I sucks at the speaking part. It was such a disappointment. I hope I don't fail because of that. That got me thinking, since I'm still not proficient yet, moving to my next plan next year seems rather hasty. However if I don't do it, I wouldn't be able to meet my future plan. Yeah, I do have a small future plan for my life. Though people may say that my "plan" is not really a concrete plan since it's not life changing or as the father of a twin asked me 2 weeks ago, where do you see yourself with it? what are you going to do with it in the future? I hate that sorts of questions *sigh* and yes it's not going to make my life better but I don't know, I just like knowing that I know stuffs, like the capital city of Romania is Bucharest. Anyways, many people had been nice and supportive about today. Starfish actually said good luck many times since long time ago and he was the first one I chose to release my tension after I finished the ordeal. There were many other good lucks (in bocca al lupo) being given and there were some follow up sms as well. Thank you vy, Grazie Carl! So now, we just have to wait and see. We have to wait quite long.

6. Miss home, I miss home so much. Last week, I was thinking that after today I can do another count down, the remaining days 'till home but I'm not feeling all cheery now. Still, I think I can still just look forward for that days at home. Eating my mom's fried noodle. Maybe meeting Rista and Osh (who was sent to Jakarta). I kinda miss Osh now actually. We had some small funny conversation last week. I really need home. I feel like I'm done. It feels like I am really getting towards the end of my chapter this year. I can feel it's ending and I feel my whole entire energy has ran out, maybe just enough (hopefully, it feels barely) to go through the remaining days here. I just want my bed *sigh* A thought just came to my head of how I have to use the holiday to study because if not Gascoigne is so gonna scream at me again *sigh*. I'm tired ... I'm too tired.

However I am taking booking now. Get me before I leave people. Take care!

:) eKa @ 8:39:00 PM • 0 comments

Eka and the Real Boy

The title of the post is in reference to Lars and the Real Girl which I watched yesterday with La Gioia, yMaggio, NanSee, and Gascoigne. So it's not something related to me finding the "real boy". It is still non-existence as ever. I was interested in Lars and the Real Girl because of Ryan Gosling whom I love dearly after watching Half Nelson. I think Lars and the Real Girl is not as amazing as Half Nelson (which if you haven't watched, please please try to get this movie) however the idea for the story and Ryan's performance on it still deserve a bit of a clap. Lars and the Real Girl told the story of Lars, who was a nice boy (as what the town people said about him), who was a bit handicapped socially (or delusional as told in the movie), who bought a girl doll (intended purpose by the maker was as a sex doll) through the Internet and treated the doll as a real girl. Yeah, he's quite nuts. His family (his sister in law to be more exact) wanted the best for him so when the doctor said play along with it, she (dragging her husband / Lars' brother) asked the town to cooperate and accept Bianca (the doll) as a real girl, as Lars saw her. I found it to be the most remarkable part of the movie, the whole town accepted Bianca. When Bianca got sick, the town actually felt sad for her and they sent her flowers and stuff and they comforted Lars and when she died, they actually had a funeral for her. Yeah, I love it no matter how silly or twisted it may sound, I found it to be so touching. It all boiled down to (as Lars' sister in law said) the fact that the town did it all because they loved Lars, hence they all were willing to do everything for Bianca. Very true, very true. You know someone like / love you so much when they're willing to do things for the people around you (not just you) because it would make you happy. So sweet, isn't it? Anyways, the movie was moving in a slow pace as Gascoigne pointed out and I did wonder if everyone (except La Gioia) could take it. yMaggio said it was a nice movie. Gascoigne found it boring. NanSee said it was okay, at least not as dreadful as The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Yeah, she didn't sleep in this one

So today, I actually woke up quite late after forcing myself to sleep again when I woke up at 8 something. Got a nice surprise today, found out that I'm gonna have solitude for a week or so and it feels good. My internet connection seems to be doing fine today but we'll see if it's permanent. It's H-11 and I'm getting a bit panicky because I feel I'm running out of time. I should be using today to get as much thing into my head as possible and yet I am blogging now. An uncle is hospitalized back home for dengue fever and it's worrying. I hope he'll get out soon.

Well, alrighty, I should really do some useful stuff. Take care peeps!

:) eKa @ 3:15:00 PM • 0 comments

[aarrgghh]

I'm rather in a very pissed off mode as I am writing this, because again my computer do not have a stable Internet connection. I don't know when it began, I guess sometime earlier this week. Arrrgggh, I seriously don't know what to do and to see the modem blinking on and off just makes me want to scream! I don't even know if this post will get to be posted. If yes, then:

1. Went to watch Stardust with Vivy on Saturday. I thought it was a good watch. I kinda enjoyed it so much. The handsome guy, Charlie Cox, was handsome and Claire Danes was beautiful. However, I must say that the actors who stole the scene was Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer. De Niro played a queer airborne pirate who had to act tough and cool in front of his men, and behind them, well he was just funny or woopsy as one of his men put it. Michelle Pfeiffer was just simply good playing an evil character as shown in Hairspray as well. She was really an evil witch. Story wise, it was pretty interesting. A nice fairy tale though I guess fairy tale at this age and time do have some gory touch here and there, but I suppose this isn't new, because even classic fairy tales also have some gory touches here and there. Anyways, I love the movie and I do recommend this to all of you if you are wondering what to watch.

2. Unexpectedly met Yongki this week when I was going for my lunch. We ended up having lunch together. It was a pleasant coincidence because I haven't seen him for the longest time and he only spent a week here, as a matter of fact, he should be back home now. He seemed happy, happy with his decision and it kinda put thoughts into my head on where I should be heading *sigh*

3. I can't wait for my holiday back home. I just want to be at home so much that I feel that I cannot take being here anymore. Knowing me, it seems that I will still go through what I need to go through though. Ah who knows, maybe finally I will have a paralysing nervous breakdown. I don't know if that is a really bad thing to hope for. I'm just too tired.

4. It's H-15. I'm getting more worried each day. Carl said that I'd be fine. Q said we had a fighting chance *sigh* and Prabh said I should get a grip and focus, I'd be fine. Darn! What else is new? I am just a pessimistic and panicky person and until I get through it, I don't think I will feel alright about it. I am really running out of time, energy, and brain space. I kinda feel that I just cannot handle everything that I have now, like everything are just beyond my power. However, there's always God right? *sigh*

Okay, I'm gonna stop now. I seriously want to scream seeing the stupid blinking lights in the modem. Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhhh. I'm leaving you with this line that Claire Danes' character said in Stardust. She looked really sincere when she said it.

So yes, I know that love is unconditional.
But I also know that it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing

- Yvaine -

:) eKa @ 9:27:00 AM • 0 comments

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