sacred

william shakespeare's

2009-09-17T17:26:00.000-07:00


Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee. Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare P.S :This poem came into my thought out of all sudden. it reminds me of my secondary school life where we used to memorize all the rubbish,either english or malay literatures. Do you still ,unfortunately or fortunately, remember pak kaduk?=.=

miscellaneous

2009-09-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

‘21 岁了，老了啦。。。 ’

妈：“你老了酱子我是什么哦 "

the can opener

2009-09-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

I am loving this week more and more. It started with incredible Thursday night, accompanied by a Friday that seemed to be dreamy. Sorry guys for Thursday night ,but it was really fun!

'''No, I can’t forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that’s just the way this story goes,
You always smile....
But in you eyes your sorrow shows
Yes it shows.... ''

The dimly lit half-moon hammered in the sky, the glittering southern cross , the spurring ducks which teamed in pairs, the Australian wild grey rabbits which sprinted coyly upon our arrival , the thinking statues in the ponds which freaked us out, the sleeping lake in the perfect tranquility in Canberra , were the witnesses of this remarkable Friday . Canberra was veiled by the air of Spring ,so warm in the night, which was another bonus of the highlight.

'' I cant live
If living is without you
I can’t live
I can’t give anymore
Can’t live... ''

I have never explored Canberra in this way before.

They exclaimed. The Moon was so enlarged, perfectly nailed 45 degrees in the black canvas. It was in the equilibrium between orange and yellow. No one can ever defy the perfection of the mother nature.

''Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted..
I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours ''

We savored every moment of serenity. An absolutely unforgettable night-out.

writing on my forehead

2009-09-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

Everything comes and goes in life, as ephemeral as it might seem. I think I have been lucky all the time in my life. Knowing such great friends in my life ,they come, they go ,some stay , some might even want to walk together with you! Summarizing my life up till 21, friends are my reservoir of strength. Thanks for being my friends. It’s a day of gratitude.

I vividly remember, someone wrote this in the essay titled ‘friends’ during my high school time.

‘Friends are someone who can lend their shoulders for you to shed a tear.’

Human nowadays are pretty oblivious of what are the things that are around them. Usually wretched and forlorn, from within. They search for someone to cling to, and the process is always on the go.

Some say ' Hey, how are you?' to you and when you are ready to answer , you turn your head and say
' I'm fine , thank............'

Yes, they're already gone. More often than not, they don't expect you to answer.

Some forget the pedestrians they’ve met before, some shout ‘ Ah, I know you, but what’s your name again?’.

Some say ’Hi’ to when they are being said to, what’s left is some moment of embarrassment , as they‘ve forgotten who these guys are just after a day.

Some are being tapped on their shoulders on the streets and when they turn their head back, there replies ’HI!. For a second, some frown and bewildered (sadly it doesn’t ring a bell ), some morph their faces with megawatt smiles and stretch their arms far enough and lock you tightly.

Some are being tapped on the right but their friends appear to be on the left , and they know for sure who this guy already is. They both laugh happily.

Some see their friends from far ,already know what they want to say in their eyes ,or what they already wanted to say.

Some drop something on the street and the moment when they try to bend a bit , someone stretch out their hands and pick it up for them. And their eyes meet theirs, they are stunned . They can’t recall their names nor attach their faces with any past events from their ferocious seas of memory in their heads. But, it doesn’t make them to turn their way back and leave. They stay rigidly. Both know that they must have met each other before in their life.

Answers for this situation are peripheral. And, that’s when they grow white beards.

Friendship forges from time to time. Being realistic, who are you now or in the future , is what your friends are and were. Some leave with traces, some are just the footprints on the beach. The waters gush on it everyday but you know who are the passersby.

Thanks for being my friends. HC.

simply the other sides of life

2009-08-14T18:44:00.001-07:00

A thousands splendid suns.
When the Talibans invaded Afghanistan, here it started the tragedy.
Everywhere there were shouts “ Allah-u-Akbar!’ . The same message played from loudspeakers perched atop mosques, and on the radio ,which was known as the Voice of the Shari’a .

‘ It is now known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. These are the laws that we will enforce and you will obey : ‘

1. All citizens must pray five times a day. If it is a prayer time and you are caught doing something other,you will be BEATEN.

2. All men will grow their beards (yes the freaking beards). The correct length is at least one clenched fist beneath the chin. If you do not abide by this , you will be BEATEN.

3.All boys will wear turbans.boys in grade one through six will wear black turbans, higher grades will wear white. All boys will wear Islamic clothes. Shirts collars will be buttoned.

4. Singing is forbidden. ( Yes, u can’t sing)

5. Dancing is forbidden.

6. Playing cards ,playing chess, gambling and kite flying are forbidden.

7. Writing books, watching films , and painting pictures are forbidden.

8. If you keep parakeets, you will be BEATEN. Your birds will be KILLED.

9. If you steal, your hand will be cut off at the wrist. If you steal again, your foot will be CUT OFF.

10. If you are not Muslim, do not worship where you can be seen by MUSLIMS. If you do, you will be BEATEN and IMPRISONED. If you are caught trying to convert a Muslim to your faith ,you will be EXECUTED.

Attention women, listen, listen well.

1. You will stay inside your homes at ALL TIMES. It is not proper for women to wander aimlessly about the streets. If you go outside, you must be accompanied by a Mahram ( males of her immediate family whom a woman can’t be married ,ie a brother, a father or a married uncle ). If you are caught alone on the street, you will be BEATEN and SENT home.

2. You WILL NOT ,under any circumstance, SHOW YOUR FACE. You must cover with burqa (veil) when outside. If you do not, you will be severly beaten.

3. Cosmetics are forbidden.

4. Jewelry is forbidden.

5. You will not wear charming clothes.

6 . You WILL NOT SPEAK UNLESS SPOKEN TO.

7. You WILL NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH MEN!!!

8. You WILL NOT LAUGH in public. If you do, you will be BEATEN.

9. You will not paint your nails. If you do, you will lose a FINGER.

8.Girls are forbidden from ATTENDING SCHOOL. All schools for girls will be closed immediately.

9. Women are forbidden from working .

10.IF YOU ARE FOUND GUILTY OF ADULTERY, YOU WILL BE STONED TO DEATH.

Listen ….listen….. ALLAH-U-AKBAR.

ambivalence

2009-08-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

I’ve always been too lazy to set up the first blog entry until today where I gained momentum and inspiration from a 30 minutes phone conversation which happened today.
I was strike by severe stomachache and queasiness during the midnight until this morning. Food poisoning.
I can’t imagine the clinic on the campus is closed during the weekends and hence, I dialed the ambulance for there was no alternative left for me. I felt excruciating stomachache. The nearest hospital is 5 km away. The pharmacy is closed . I am in Canberra.Maybe people just don't get sick during the weekends.
Here was the conversation over the phone, roughly. It took 30 minutes, look, 30 minutes!

‘Hi, you are calling for the ambulance, how can I help you?
‘I am having severe stomachache and I vomited for 4 times since the midnight until now.’
‘So since the midnight? ‘
‘yes, since the midnight until now’
‘So have you experienced the exact symptoms before this?
‘Yes, which was 3 years ago. I had food poisoning . I’ve been vomiting continuously starting from yesterday until now for 4 times already.’

‘4 times? That’s not too bad for food poisoning’ ,bluntly she replied.
‘urghh….okay. So…’
‘what you had for the last meal and what u had in the morning?
‘Some Korean food , and some yoghurt in the morning right after I vomited.
‘ouhhh , I am not surprised that you are still vomiting until now. That’s the worst food choice you can ever have!’

I was like , =.=o0o, in your face.

‘oh really? I din’t know that.’
‘So have you taken any medicine up until now?’
‘ yes, some electrolyte and some diarrhoea medicine’
‘now look, you are telling me that you are having diarrhoea medicine while u DON’T have diarrhoea?! That sounds a little bit silly but look, if you don’t have diarrhoea ,do not ever take medicine for diarrhoea, understand?’
‘you should have taken some painkillers like panadol or paracetamol to ease your continuing pain.’

I was like ,yes maim, sorry for that. And stop giving me lecture on the phone! I am dying right now.
The conversation continued, as smoothly as before. She sensed no omen that something could have just happened by having this prolonged and dragged conversation.

‘So, is your medicine in tablet?’
‘Yes,,’I replied impatiently .

My pulse fluttered . I felt disgusted and immediately a powerful surge of queasiness flowed from my belly up to my throat. I was trying my best to control the threshold of my throat ,and
‘ hey, I can’t help it but I feel like vomiting now, I will call you back shortly.’
‘No, wait ! Let’s draw a conclusion right now, do you need us to send you an ambulance right now?’

yes ,she said a "NO"

I was like, hey, you finally got the point. And, it’s not too late for you to ask me whether do I need an ambulance before I don’t have the chance to answer

‘urgh,yes I think I need an ambulance.
‘So where are you right now?
‘in the ANU, the sports hall.
‘the what?’
‘the sports hall’
‘the … ??!’
‘sports hall!’
‘now ,look, I can’t hear you. Are you on a mobile? stop walking to and fro. The line isn’t clear.’
‘ok ,the sports hall,it’s near to the union court in ANU .
‘where is the union court? Is that the place near to the bar? (Vivaldi )
‘yes.’
‘So where will you be waiting for the ambulance?’
‘ union court’ (DUH!)

I couldn’t help it but I’ve tried my best to lock my throat and I could literally try the gastric juice.

‘Sorry I really need to vomit now I will call you back immediately once I am done!’
‘No! so do you still need an ambulance?’
‘I think ………yes………….’ ( please let me go!!I need to clear it right now.)
‘so whereabout in union court will you be waiting at? Since the union court is kind of big.’
‘I will be waiting at the bus stop in union court’
‘so what’s the address of the location?’

I felt the intensed urge for me to go to the washroom right now.

‘I don’t know what’s the exact street but there in only one bus stop in the union court.’
‘so which bus stop?’ is it the one near to the bar?’
‘yes, it is the bus stop where the students wait for their bus or car in anu , the only place in the union court.’

‘YES, I KNOW WHAT A BUS STOP IS!’she grunted.
‘so that’s where you will be waiting for us?’
‘yes………………………………................’

‘do you still need an ambulance or u prefer to rest at home because from what I see , you don’t need an ambulance and vomiting 4 times in a day seems to be normal. People usually vomit up to 10 times for food poisoning before they need to be sent to a hospital. So do you insist that you need an ambulance?’

The condition worsened . The next moment I realized was that I was already in the washroom.

‘do I need to pay for calling an ambulance?’
‘yes ,you need. It costs $500 for inspection and additional $300 for sending you to a hospital’
‘ urghh , I think my OSHC can cover this.’
‘well ,I am not sure about what an OSHC can cover. Is that a health/medicare insurance for overseas student?’

Hey ,wth? Well, I forgive her ignorance.

I proceeded the dialogue.
‘I think I don’t need one, I will call you back in an hour or two if the condition deteriorates.’
‘well, I think you’d better rest in bed for the whole day and don’t eat anything AT ALL ,maybe just drink some plain water will do. Eat some toast bread in the night.

‘ok’ I urgently hung up the phone and flooded the toilet.
It felt good to be ,still, alive after the LOOOONG conversation with the nurse and I am not dead yet.
That’s the point I think.

I m fully recovered by now. Don’t worry.
A lesson dedicated for the people.. Reach out your friends with a vehicle and don’t ever call the ambulance if you could.