THOUGHTS IN BED

There is a scene in Passengers that really stuck with me even after the movie ended.

The scene when he first stepped out of the spacecraft, floated around the galaxy while taking in the splendor of the universe.

I thought it was so poignant because he never contemplated to kill himself until the very point when he was marvelling at something so beautiful that a sharp realisation jolted in him - he didn't have anyone to share this joy with. That was when he decided his life was not worth living anymore.

It got me thinking: Loneliness doesn't just come when you have no one by your side when you're sad with but also when you have all the happiness in the world yet you have nobody to share them with. Perhaps the pain is more acute in the latter.

I started to put myself in the character's shoes. I imagined admiring a beautiful sunset or watching a magnificent fireworks display. And wow, it really hit me that indeed the experience would be a lot more enjoyable if you could share and marvel in wonder with someone you love. This thought lingered in me for quite some time until another realisation dawned upon me: was that why God created man?

Not in the sense that God was lonely but if I were God - who is the fullness of joy, peace and all things good - I would also want to revel in that joy and happiness with others as well.

Like when a scenery takes your breath away and you say to God, "Wow, this is amazing. God you're so amazing!", He is beaming right back at you saying, "Yes! I wanted to show this to you!"

He delights in our pleasure. Isn't that mind blowing?

I don't know about you but it was honestly a revelation to me because nature always reminds me of God's prowess. Now, I can't help but to think of God sitting next to me and enjoying the scenery before us and saying, "I wanted to share this precious moment with you."

A warm fuzzy feeling swamped over me. That night, I drifted off to sleep knowing that I'm very, very much loved.

Book: Great Gatsby

I discovered this read on tumblr, as always, when people kept reblogging quotes from it. I blame tumblr that i had the impression that The Great Gatsby was a love story about time travelling. And so, i dived right in with that sort of expectation only to be disappointed.

I never wrapped my head around how Nick was so welcomed by people. Strangers would tell him secrets, people would invite him over for dinners and i was like, "Dude! You dont tell a long lost classmate about you having an affair on the first reunion, much less introduce the woman to him!" I never got over the reason why Gatsby was so head over heels for Daisy either. There was very little explanation why they were even attracted to one another. Also, their love story was told from Nick's, an outsider, point of view. It is ineffective for the romance genre because it lacks personal moments for the readers to understand and feel the characters' love for each other.

And so, I was confused upon reaching the end of the book. Not only did i not understand their love, Daisy eventually abandoned Gatsby and Gatsby died because of her. What had i just read? This was hands down one of the worst romance book i've ever read. Unconvinced by my own disappointment, i went to Sparknote it and i came to the realisation why i was disappointed.

Because this is not a book about romance (or time travelling.).

It is an allegoric book.

I suck at understanding and interpreting allegoric book.

Sure, it is a love story between Gatsby and Daisy but the romance is just a coverup, a metaphor of the 1920's American society (which is another reason why i couldnt relate properly because i had zero knowledge about their culture back then). With this renewed vision, the incidents in the book began to make sense. Appreciation soon replaced disappointment. And it is indeed a fantastic read.

If you are looking for romance, skip this book. Try the movie instead. There are still some allegoric elements in the film but they played up the love story more. The visuals are stunning. The castle, the parties, the facial expressions... it all helps in making me fully realise the depth of Gatsby's love for Daisy. Plus, i really enjoyed the way Baz Luhrmann shot the romantic scenes. I honestly think that this story is a story that looks way better on screen than in the mind because of the lavish lifestyles and extravagant details. (Or was it because i hate reading long descriptions which hindered the way i visualised the story setting?)

one of my favourite love montages in all films
The ultimate question: did i regret reading the book? No. I still think it was a wonderful read despite the small misunderstanding at the beginning haha. Both the book and the movie were amazing in their own way. Absolutely amazing.

PS, i realised why characters were so open towards Nick after watching the movie. Tobey Maguire acted as Nick and come on, you look at Tobey Maguire's face and you instantly and instinctively want to trust that guy. He just has a very... warm, trustworthy, guy-next-door feel. There's a reason why he is the perfect spiderman ok? Great casting right there.

A heartache of some sort

"Here, it never snowed here. Afterwards it did."

February, please be good to me

21st Jan, Monday

At Pearl's Centre, you will find a cluster of roadside stalls selling Northern China food. An extremely pungent and spicy smell will sting your nose when you walk pass. And when you turn to look at the food they serve, you cant help but to wonder "Wow, do people really eat that?"

And so i decided to try with my friend one day for lunch. Not bad, except that it is very oily.

24th Jan, Thursday

NYDC has some of the nicest cakes eveeeeerrrrrrr :D

26th Jan, Saturday

Finally satisfied my craving for Zam Zam. Watched The Impossible with Naby that night. The movie was ehh ok. But omg, the person who sat beside me was such a jerk. I came in the cinema, sat down, groped my bag in the darkness for my hand cream. So this man beside me tried to be helpful by shining his handphone light even though i told him its ok because my brain is wired to be a GPS when it comes to my own bag.

He just kept shining for me which i thought it was nice until... he started to stare at me and Naby. He turned his head so that his entire head was facing our direction and he just stayed in that position for like a minute or so. This was during the commercial time. We endured another 2 hours of him trying to blast our brains off with his non-existent "optic blast". Cyclops wannabe =.=

Oh, talking into his phone during movie time? Check. Letting his handphone ring and refusing to pick is up? Check. Go out for a smoke and then contaminate the air when coming back, making people near him (ME) choke? Check. Banging his head on the headrest repeatedly? Check.

30th Jan, Wednesday

1st Feb, Friday

2nd Feb, Saturday

Project BLESS. My hair looks nice for a change :')

close your eyes and open your hearts

The best decision i have ever made in life is to become a Christian. Like seriously.

There are so many things i want to tell people about God. About how great He is, about the miracles He's done. And i know people wont believe me easily but thats cool. I wish people would come up and challenge me to my beliefs. Because then, i can throw out evidence after evidence, miracles after miracles. And even after that, if they still dont believe, or perhaps they find a loophole in my argument, i will go back and study the Bible or ask others about the certain issue and learn how it really is. And i'd get back to the person and continue the debate. I believe that challenge is a great way to grow. Oh, you know what? I dont care. I dont care if the person is receptive or biased or what. I just want someone who would sit down and listen. Just listen. Because there are so many things that is threatening to burst out from my heart. I want to share and share and share. I could talk about God forever, i think. I cannot contain it inside me anymore. I want to tell people my story, i want to tell people other people's stories. All i want is to share this goodness i have discover. But religion is sensitive in Singapore and people always shun away when it comes to talking about God. I dont know why. I think many people have misconceptions about Christianity. So i'll just swallow down this recklessness i have and just hope somebody will ask me about why i am so convicted. If they think i am crazy, then let them be. But i hope they'll ask me. Ask me why i am crazy. Because then, i can show them evidence and videos and cool scientific stuff. YES, SCIENCE! Who said that God and Science cant be mix? I know i am going in circles and circles but i just cannot stop. Ok i shall end here.

 

Watched it yesterday. AND OMGWTFBBQ. Easily one of the best movies i have ever watched! Its really sad though. I cried until my chest felt tight. It reminded me of Confessions (Japanese movie). Both are twisted but Confessions is really extreme. Anywho.

Love the cinematography. And some of the scenes are really breathtaking. And of course, it doesnt hurt that the boy looks so adorable :D
*Pedophile moment.


BEFORE YOU GO, JUST WANNA SHARE SOMETHING:

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1: 16-17

Have you heard of laminin? It is a protein and it is vital for the maintenance and survival of tissues. Why? Because it freaking holds all your cells together! Every one of them. No joke. Your skin? Yup, all glued by laminin. If laminin isn't produced correctly, your muscles may form improperly, giving you a form of muscular dystrophy.  Or you may just fall apart in a way similar to aging, a condition called "progeria". You can google to know more about it. But what is amazing about laminin is it looks like this:

How cool and amazing is that? There are so many interesting stuff i want to share and this is only the tip of it.

Ahh, le sigh.

blah blah blah

Alvin and the Chipmunks 3 last Thursday.
I didnt think the movie was very good ):

in another life

Went to watch Kaiji 2 last Thursday with my sister. Not bad la though i preferred the first movie. And omg, we went into the wrong theatre. Super funny and paiseh sia. When they asked us to put on our 3D glasses, me and my sister were like, Kaiji is in 3D?!

Hahahahahaha.

That's me, mirror image.
I saw a girl with purple hair just now. ME WANTS MY PURPLE HAIR BACK TOO >:( Or should i dye blue?

The blue very nice right? But i doubt i can get that colour. And Ariana Grande looks so pretty in red that i want red hair too! ): WHY SHE SO PRETTY? >:(
I think i wont look good in red though. Plus i have a lot of tops that's in red in colour. Red hair + red shirt = very frightening visual, yeah? Aiya, dont know la. I think i will dye my hair next month or something. See how lor.

Lol, i have to start mugging soon. Life sucks la.

Addicted to...

• The One That Got Away
• Tonight Tonight
• Hit The Lights

will i ever...

"You know when I said I knew little about love? That wasn't true. I know a lot about love. I've seen it, centuries and centuries of it, and it was the only thing that made watching your world bearable. All those wars. Pain, lies, hate... It made me want to turn away and never look down again. But when I see the way that mankind loves... You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful."

-Stardust

Humans are so contradicting. They love yet they hate; they are beautiful yet they are ugly
Some brought love and joy into my life but there are others who made me weary and sad.
I wonder, how much can i love someone before i start to hate them?

I can move a mountain if You are the strength of my life

I bought 2 shoes on a whim yesterday! I was walking past this shoe shop when i saw the oxfords! I've always wanted to buy oxfords but i cant NEVER seem to find a perfect and cheap one. The previous brown shoe i bought was in ruins so when i saw the oxfords i was so excited!

I tried on like 4 pairs of shoes. I really wanted to buy 3 pairs but i didnt. Not because i would regret - i dont think i would regret - but i knew that if i buy the black oxford, i will sure buy another black oxford in another design because im searching for them currently. Then i will have too many shoes to wear. Im not a shoeholic, really. I just need a few basic few and im good to go.

And the two shoes only add up to $34.90! OMG. So cheap can? Bye bye FEP. Im never going back there for shoes, ever.

My mom didnt scold me when i bought two shoes at one go BECAUSE SHE HERSELF IS A SHOEHOLIC! Hahaha, should see our shoe cabinet. More than 50% belongs to her. Too bad im more of a clothes-holic instead of a shoeholic if not i will probably get away for buying so much stuff ):

Finished watching Soul Surfer yesterday. Its about a talented surfer (Bethany Hamilton) who got her arm bitten by a shark and how she overcome the difficulty of surfing with only one arm. Very touching )': Especially when its a true story! Everyone should go watch it. It's not like those action-packed or funny movie but there are many learning lessons (: The actress is AnnaSophia Robb. I still remember her from Bridge To Terabitha!

 
The real Bethany Hamilton (front) and her best friend, Alana Blanchard, who was there during the shark attack.

They are both professional surfers who are very well known now and omg they are soooooo tall! And Alana Blanchard is really beautiful (:

On Friday, May Lin came over to my group after presentation and said "very well done". Well, i wouldnt have cared if not for the fact THAT WE DID THE PRESENTATION THE NIGHT BEFORE ONLY. I swear. During class, i was still busy editing and finding information about my slides because we only decided who did what slides that day. And the presentation was so boring because it was all notes. Duh, we didnt have time to put in nice stuff and we couldnt even find the correct clip to give an example. The fact that our last minute job got a compliment from our teacher is so shocking and unbelievable that i have to put in this picture:

 

Maybe she was being nice so she complimented us but when our results come back...

C!

Hahaha. So glad that DM and CP2 CA1s are over. Can now take a teensy weensy puny mini little break. Whew.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength"

- Philippians 4:13