"In my next life I would like to be born Indian"

My friend, Chetan sent this to me. 

It's a good read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Note: You can click on the picture to open it in another window for better reading

Vatican says ’Avatar’ is no masterpiece

This piece ran on the Daily Dispatch site in January 2010

“Avatar” is wooing audiences worldwide with visually dazzling landscapes and nature-loving blue creatures. But the Vatican is no easy crowd to please.

The Vatican newspaper and radio station are criticizing James Cameron’s 3-D blockbuster for flirting with the idea that worship of nature can replace religion — a notion the pope has warned against. They call the movie a simplistic and sappy tale, despite its awe-inspiring special effects.

“Not much behind the images” was how the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, summed it up in a headline.

PCD - ...and the show's over?

The PCD were minus 1 Doll - Melody had a back injury so couldn't perform. The group performed some of their well-known hits and strutted their sexy bods showing off how VERY flexible they are :) I don't know if it was just me, but the stage felt a bit empty - maybe I was waiting for back-up dancers (like Beyonce had). There were only a few songs where all 4 Dolls were on at the same time. So it was like 3 Dolls moving around the empty space trying to pump up the crowd.

We were allowed to take photos / videos and I took many video clips - mostly for my brother, 'cause he likes them and has used their music in his mixes. He was psyched that I called him during some of the songs to listen to them for a few seconds~!

I kept having the feeling of, "What's next?" And then suddenly ~ they said they had two more songs to rock for us. 1) Jai Ho! from Slumdog Millionaire and 2) Wait a minute.

Suddenly they thanked the crowd for coming out and went off stage. People started exiting the stadium and I turned to my friend saying, "Is it over?"

The Dolls are on a World Tour and no surprise they're running out of steam. I don't regret going at all. They're good performers, but I think the show would have been more lively with more stage energy.

When I saw Beyonce in November 2007, you almost didn't know what to expect next - she was amazing and kept the crowd rocking at all times.

The PCD had some audience interaction. Two girls from the audience were called on stage for a 'dance off'. They had to shake their booty to "Bottle Top".

I reached home around 00:30. Took the subway - transfered twice, but then the subway closed so I had to take a cab home.

I will not open a can of rotten, green slimy worms...

Images courtesy of google images

Because this is my blog, I have the freedom to say whatever I want and everything expressed on these pages are entirely my own opinion. I don’t claim it to be correct, but they are merely my thoughts.

Time heals all wounds

When we are hurt by people we love, trust and respect, it takes time to get over the betrayal. We may even part ways with them, and as time goes on we gain perspective on why the situation happened in the first place.

We may even realize that we are better off without them in our lives. If they bring no substance to your being, why keep them in your space?

As we trudge through the journey they call “life”, we are continuously meeting people. Some make such an impact on us and they hang around longer than others. I’m reminded of one of my favourite sayings, “Some people enter your life for a season, a reason or a lifetime.” I count my blessings all the time for the special people in my life.

You can choose your friends, but not your family

It’s quite normal to change the company we keep as we grow and mature. I, for example have various “sets” of friends – people I have met at different phases of my life.

But what happens when these “people” we want to drop are people in your family? Just because they are family, do we have an obligation to just be nice to them?

If you want to cut ties with people who have hurt you, then you have every damn right to do so. And yes – even if they are family.

Life is too short so forgive and forget

Life has no guarantee. We have no ‘sell by’ date stamped on us. We never know when our time is up, which is why we should live every day as if it were our last.

God forbid, if one day I fall ill and have a few days left to live, I don’t want to think – “if only…” or “I wish I did…” I don’t want to live my life with regrets. I want to be surrounded by people I love. And more importantly, people who love me.

I value my life, and the lives of my parents, brother and loved ones around me hence, I don’t want to waste my time and energy on people who are mean and add no joy whatsoever to my existence.

Even if they are family.

Bury the hatchet

I have cried a river.
I have built the bridge (with help from loved ones)
And I have gotten over it.

Years have passed and if I look back over my shoulder now, the bridge is no longer there…because I have moved so far forward and I’m in a good place in my life at the moment. I look around me, and I am overwhelmed by the support system I have.

Opening the can of worms

Now, I am faced with a can of worms – rotten green, slimy worms with bad breath! And I am expected to open this can? Hell no. I had to cross that bridge – which I built - to get here, and I did so with great perseverance.

I have forgiven, which is more than most people would do. But that’s where I draw the line. If God himself appeared before me today and asked me who I’d sacrifice my life for, without hesitation I will say my father, my mother and brother. And of course – a certain fairy Godmother who never fails to be at my side during the good times and bad. I’m surrounded by goodness and love. I am blessed.

Hidden fears

I am not ashamed to tell people that I am terrified of ghosts and aliens. Sometimes I'm even afraid of clowns and the dark. And my family will vouch for me when I say I get the creeps even thinking of gecko's! I'm scared of death - and what really is on the "other side". We all have fears, but we somehow find the need to hide behind a tough exterior.

I can't stomach horror movies, and even though I'm a student of the TV medium (and I learned some of the special effects), I refuse to watch any scene that involves disfigured faces or listen to scary voices.

I can't even bare to look at pictures of ET (yes, the friendly alien). I have no need to look at photos of ET or even watch the movie. So, you will never find me "Google-ing" this creature.

...and please, don't tell me that we should overcome our fears. There are fears that we can and should overcome. And I have... but there are certain things I will not face, because I have no reason to have them in my life.

I've used all this as a metaphor. What I'm trying to say is that I have already lived my own horror movie, but it's over - and I don't want to go back and buy the DVD. It's over...

So don’t make me open that can of rotten slimy worms. Because I won’t.

I want to emphasize that this is my space where I can express any feeling I desire.

I facebooked your MUM!

image courtesy of Google images

You know social phenomena have reached new heights when it starts making headlines on reputable news websites. I’m talking about facebook. These days, people don’t seem to swap phone numbers. They merely say, “I’ll find you on facebook.” Not having a facebook account is almost as bad as not having a cellphone number – everyone is on it. And I mean everyone!

I have been in company where embarrassing photo’s have been taken of friends. Despite their present ‘euphoric’ state after generous amounts of alcohol, people still manage to say – “don’t you dare tag me!”

I find it really amusing when my friends bring up facebook during a night out. I mean, a few years ago we may have been classified as computer geeks, but these days if you're not online, you're considered to be a possible social misfit.

Let’s face it, if you’re on facebook, there is at least one photo that you either hate or are embarrassed by. And it was most likely uploaded by friends! But – it’s ok, because the whole point of being part of a social networking site like facebook is that YOU control who sees your personal details and those embarrassing photo’s!

Everyone has at one point or another received a “friend request” from someone you either
a) don’t know
b) don’t like

... And it’s perfectly fine to hit the “ignore” button. They’ll never know you’ve rejected them. And you have every right in doing so.

But what happens when the friend request is from your mum or dad?!

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the folks having their own facebook account, but do they really want to see what their precious baby was doing on Friday or Saturday night while hitting the town with the boys / girls?!

I highly doubt it…

So - is it cool to have mum and dad on facebook?

Nearly Korean?

I was in Seoul this evening and on my way back home on the subway I found myself smirking.

Why?

I've started wearing leggings (inner wear) - a vital piece of clothing for a Korean winter.

I was wearing what apparently is a 'typical Korean' coat - numerous pockets and zips.

I was standing on the subway - I have learned how to balance without falling over!

I had my MP3 player hung around my neck.

I was listening to "Ko Jid Mal" by Big Bang (hot Korean group)

I wasn't pulling out my subway map every few minutes to see how many more stops I had.

I was reading my Korean textbook - learning Hangeul!

I had gimbap for lunch.

I have rice cakes in my fridge.

...An Indian girl from South Africa in South Korea!

My washing machine pissed me off today

The fact that my family doesn't have a washing machine is something that I have been proud of. Yes, amongst my family we own state of the art technology - from camera's, to TV's to turntables. But there are certain things we just like to do 'old style'....washing clothes by hand. Because of this, my clothes have had a longer life-span than if I merely tossed them into a machine.

I know how to hand wash clothes and my first encounter with a washing machine was during my first week at university. And I used it for four years straight.

Washing machine owners know that you should separate your whites and colours...as well as different textures.

Different textures...

So this morning at 06:30, I decided to do laundry (my linen). I put the powder and softener in their respective compartments and hit start.

There was no warning or beeping noises that made me question my sheets and pillow cases.

But when my washing machine finished tossing, turning, rinsing and spinning my linen ... it kindly alerted me that it was ready to be taken out and hung - courtesy of a few gentle beeps.

When I took my load out, to my surprise ... a black object with my Hello Kitty bus card fell out.

Yes, it was my cellphone (smelling like softener!) It must have been on my bed when I gathered my linen.

*sigh... it's just one more thing I have to deal with.

**Mental note: Always check every item carefully before putting it into the machine!

Can't beat the conveniency in Korea!

I keep getting asked "do you like where you stay?" and I keep answering "hell yes!"

I live a 10-15 minute walk from my school and a 2 minute walk from the bus stop. I live just on the border of a market place - with dozens of little stalls and shops. On my way to school, I pass at least 3 bakeries (that I know of). There are stationery stores a few metres away from me, there are clothing stores, shoe shops, so many restaurants, and I also pass at least 5 grocery stores every morning. There are also about 5 hair and beauty salons (that I know of) and a few seamstresses.

On the other side of my apartment building, it is more of a city life, with beauty stores, take out places (like PIZZA HUT) etc...

Everything in Korea is convenient, convenient, convenient. From coffee (sugar, coffee and creamer mix... just add water!) to throw away cups to food stalls at every angle you turn... to shoe repairmen who have little booths on the side of the road!


Nearly every Korean who owns a car has navigation. The cab I rode in on Friday even had a screen in the car for backseat passengers!


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