I can't remember how long I haven't seen a really good movie. Last night finally had some time to watch 2046. Had the dvd for a long time but didn't have time to watch it. It's not the type of movie where you just watch it straight after you come back from work; you need to be alone, quiet, and really 'enjoy' it with all your emotions and 'dissolve' in the mood of the movie.

Ravishing and sensual... Its colour palette is vibrant and lustrous, like something taken out from my favourite Powerpuff Girls cartoons :) The melancholy is quite unbearable at some point it's almost 'heartbreaking'. It's a very romantic movie indeed.

The futuristic part is quite interesting but not my cup of tea. Kimura Takuya is such a 'dunggu' in the movie (personal opinion, dun send me hate-mails :P!) and I can;'t relate to Faye Wong's character: a nonchalant, detached and impersonal character. No wonder her identity in the story written by Chow was a female 'robot' on the train. But she acts really well :)

I like the 60's part in the movie, reminds me of In the Mood for Love, which this movie is a 'continuation'. No, this movie definitely not a purposely made up sequel crap. This movie picks up from the previous movie, as Chow, the protagonist, moved on after the affair with Su Lizhen, to meet another Su Lizhen, to a life equally exciting, full of passion and flirting. He's such a flirt and a Casanova! ANY woman will be entrapped by his charm. Check out the scene where he forced Bai Ling (Zhang Ziyi) to accept his present.

Did I mention the real Tony Leung passed by me in StarHill once? The real person is good looking but I don't think he can rival the fictitious Chow Mo-Wan Wong Kar Wai has created in both equally moving and beautiful movies.

And NW, I want to thank you (ahead) for lending me Days of Being Wild, which I think I will enjoy very much. I really look forward to it (can't wait, can't wait :P) . Again, set in a vividly imagined 1960, hehe. The film won five Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor (Leslie Cheung).

* Oh yeah, I decided to give my Tibetan alter ego a holiday (on the blog) :D So Kelsang Chukie is "off duty" from singing on my blog. Replacing her is the song Perfidia (means betrayal) performed by Xavier Cugat, a song from the movie (what else la :p !) 2046. Hope you'll get the 60's feel :) *

A view like this is the visual that accompanies my 'lonely' (lonely because there are not many cars on the road) drive to-ing and fro-ing KL/Kota Seriemas. I find it quite therapeutic sometimes. Me and my car (now with the 1.5l engine, more horsepower on the road, muahaha!) on a 80km journey, listening to Kurukulle mantra all the way.

The background audio of rhythmic drum and bell with a soothing chant while the car cruises on the highway. And then you see a plane or two that just took off or are going to land, very close and big, as if moving in sync with the music.... It has a very calming effect which I don't know how to explain. It's not a drive, it's like embarking on a quiet journey with yourself, for an hour.

Believe it or not, sometimes when I am back on the many-cars-and-jams highways in KL (LDP, Federal, NKVE etc), I really look forward to the drive to Kota Seriemas... Me, my car and Kurukulle mantra :) and not forgetting planes, planes and more planes :)

Sometimes I ask myself this question and I always come to the same conclusion.

What is everyone busy with?
W-O-R-K.

Yes. That's for sure. EVERYONE is busy with WORK but what does it really mean? It means we devote our whole being into something that is "just" worth the amount we receive in our bank account at the end of the month. Well, that's what you mean to the organisation anyway. And it means you can tell people you are (put in whatever your impressive position/ title here).

Well, good for those with a BIG TITLES and a monthly 5-figure and 6-figure salary la :) But for me and the rest of KL population who "survive" on the lower scale of the 4-figure salary and struggling 'executing' the tasks, hmm... Is it really worth being busy after all?

No, I'm not launching into a lecture, been teaching and talking too much in class for about 2 weeks now, starting to get bored hearing my own voice talking :P I wonder if my students get bored? I guess they do but they have no choice :P They have to listen to what I expound to them. I mean, some of them might even dream of me giving them answers to their exercises or explaining something to them in their dreams, haha! Oh gosh, I am their nightmare!
* May the Lord (whichever religion they believe in) have mercy on them* :D

What I'm trying to say is, can't we not work, hehe :) When do I really get to LIVE? Aiseh... I guess that's not gonna happen, cos erm, just recalled that I need to pay my Streamyx bills, mobile phone bill, electricity bills, rent, need to go fill up petrol again soon, need to buy lunch and dinner.....

CONCLUSION: Your PAY is to PAY. That's why they call it a PAY.
I'm working (which I don't want to) to get a pay to pay bills and afford things that may be I don't need but the society thinks I need (which I don't want to) :P

Am I stupid or what? Yes, I need a slap! :p

The Open Tsok last night was especially dedicated to a man who has an honarary doctorate from every university listed below:

- University of Santiago, CHILE
- Rutgers University, US
- Universidad Iberoamericana Mexico City, MEXICO
- University of Costa Rica, COSTA RICA
- University of Puerto Rico
- University of Miami, US
- Nova Southeastern University, US
- University of Toronto, CANADA
- Simon Fraser University, CANADA
- Univerisity Of British Columbia, CANADA
- University of San Francisco, US
- Mongolian University of Science & Technology
- National University of Mongolia
- University of Tromso, NORWAY
- University of Lusiada Porto, PORTUGAL
- Comenius University, SLOVAKIA
- University of Buenos Aires
- University of Brasilla
- Seton Hill College, Greensburg
- Regis university, Denver
- University of Colorado, Boulder
- Chu San University, KaoShiung Taiwan
- University of Rio de Janeiro
- Karnataka University, INDIA
-Université de Paris, FRANCE

Ok those are Doctor Honoris Causa conferred. Let's look at his other impressive titles from numerous universities from many different countries: Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Divinity, Doctor of Humanities, Doctor of Laws (from U of Melbourne & U of Wisconsin), Honorary Professor, Doctor of Humane Arts & Letters, Doctor of Humane Letters, Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Social Sciences, Doctor of International Diplomatic Science, Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Buddhist Philosophy.

You know, working in the education industry, we always receive business cards/name cards with a string of qualifications after the person's name? (Yeah, it's like dat one, the longer the string the better, if u have no PhD, your head is not "permanently damaged" enough for people to listen to u :P !) Well, I don't think he can fit that whole list on a 90mm x 54mm business/name card?! Anyway I don't think he will bother putting them on his business card la :D

He's a real educationist though, on the subject of Mind Transformation and Compassion. And his experience is quite impressive. He has experience of 'practising' and teaching for at least 14 lifetimes haha :P

YES!! He's not some big shot lecturer although he did lecture at Harvard and many others universities all around the world...

Still dunno who he is yet? Ok let me give you a clue:

" May your lotus feet, O powerful Chenrezig, TENZIN GYATSO, Remain in this world until the end of existence".

Erm, who is Tenzin Gyatso? That's for you to find out, :P! Hello, internet search is just a click away!

P/s: I purposely dowan to put his picture here one :P Hehe then there's no suspense or 'surprise' anymore, right?!

[ Click on the picture for a BIGGER view of the flags]

I finally witnessed the flags hanging on condo (reported in The Star, June 13th) while waiting for a traffic light to turn green in Brickfields. No, I was not driving lah aiyoh :P ! Took this on my phone while on the passenger seat.


Below is an extract from the news report:

KUALA LUMPUR: World Cup fever, for some, goes beyond staying up late at night glued to the television.

A condominium resident in Brickfields, Mohamed Redzuan, 31, has decorated his apartment block with flags of the nations taking part in the tournament.

Redzuan: 'I wanted to do something to show my support'Why is he doing this?
“I want to do something to show my support for my favourite teams,” he said, singling out a big Brazilian flag that he bought for RM2,500.

“No regrets,” he said, of the 6m by 12m flag.

“I can even see it from Mid Valley (about 3km away),” he said excitedly.

Another World Cup fan, who identified himself only as Mohamed, 36, spent RM600 for a Germany flag.

A friend of his, Haja Maidin, 38, had worked 11 hours to sew the 3m by 10m flag.

Another 'feat' for MALAYSIA BOLEH? :) Anyway, they did not report who sponsored the Italian flag though.