it's a new way to travel...

-me last Monday, the 25th, on my way to check up on my MOM... like SARS before it, the SWINE FLU has made the people resort to wearing face masks once again, when traveling... not very stylish but it is SAFER... it is actually scary... trying to stay healthy as to not catch a flu during these rainy season.... fear of being quaranteined for about 10 days or longer even... and my roomies along with me, in case I do end up getting sick...

It has been raining here in Manila.... which is fine by me as the rain helps with cooling down the HOT HUMID weather.... things are fine... well, as fine as they could be... just a bit much to take in sometimes... but I know I NEED, I MUST, MUDDLE THROUGH IT ALL!!!

missing it again!!!

The end of the week marks another Dragon Boat Festival celebration in Taiwan.... and once again am missing all the actions and festivities, for today am flying out to Manila to check up on my MOM and her not-so-good health... am actually at the airport now, awaiting my flight to Manila...

Am really SAD about this as it seems am forever missing this Holiday which is a FUN one... with lots of festivities happening by the RIVER, where we run... DRAGON BOAT ROWING contests... music, food, and lots of revelers...

My only consolation this year is that I happen upon some practice run while biking by the river yesterday morning, SUNDAY... so am able to watch some practice runs & even snap a few shots.....

ting bu dong (i don't understand)

With another BDAY just around the corner -- I am to be a year older, a year wiser.... or so they say....

then why is it that when it comes to LOVE*LIFE*HAPPINESS - and the meaning of it all - am still pretty much in the dark...hmmmmmmmmmmm.....oh well, just as I always say: "GO WITH THE FLOW...."

Benjamin Button

Now and again, a movie comes along that touches me in so many ways, it is so hard for me to put it all into words.... I have to watch it again, and again, just to get the full jist of what the movie is about FOR ME!

Benjamin Button is such that I must have seen it 4 times already.... it was such an emotional journey of a movie -- touches all sorts of aspects of life: relationships, aspirations, fate, life journeys, loss, love, death, ageing and everything else in between....

Brad Pitt chalks up another notch in his MUST SEE MOVIES.... his acting, IMHO, just gets better and better as he gets older... he brings so much emotions to his character even when not saying anything... he remains, to me, as the ultimate Hollywood actor of his generation - looks, acting chops, smarts to pick the right movies to make, and last but certainly not the least, compassion for the world he lives in...

So, instead of me going on and on about this movie (and about Brad!) - as am sure most of you have seen it by now - I will leave you with some of my FAVE PASSAGES:

*People whom we seldom meet are are the ones that give a big impression to us.

*Be whoever you want to be. There is no time limit. Stop whenever you want. You can change, most day's the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best of the worst. I hope you make the best.

*Along the way you bump into people who make a dent on your life. Some people get struck by lightning. Some are born to sit by a river. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim the English Channel. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people can dance.

*we're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?

...and my MOST FAVE of all:
***Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.

IKEA - More Than Just A Furniture Place: Part II

Over the years I have gone and visited IKEA shops, whenever there is one, in my travels... I always find it exciting to see the latest offerings from this SCANDINAVIANS furniture shop... it is always AMAZING to see how simple they make everything for people to DIY to make their home even much more cooler, stylish and functional...
Here in Taiwan, there's a couple of IKEA shops that I go to now and again... Taipei & Kaohsiung... every visit something new... something exciting... not only in the furniture offering department but the highlited room designs on display... ideas on how to make your place - no matter how tiny - cool & cozy.... It never ceases to AMAZE me how many shops & boutiques I have been in and recognize IKEA goods... even our Taipei home is filled with IKEA stuff...


But nowadays, IKEA, offers soooo much more to the family -- that is has actually become a regular hangout for family and friends.... both IKEA shops in Taiwan has now expanded their restaurants -- their menus run a gamut of choices - local and internationally flavored... and at such AFFORDABLE prices.... the menus changes almost every two weeks as well , so people can keep coming back again and again...For me, the BEST part is that they also offer FREE WIFI connection.... so, whenever am in KAOHSIUNG - IKEA Breakfast trip is a total must for The Wus and myself... we go quite early armed with our own individual laptops - not only do I get CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST with limited supply of COFFEE, TEA or SODAS - I get to check in on my emails, do a bit of computer work, and even BLOG for a good couple of hours.... Ali for a special price of NT$39 (roughly $1.10US or 60 Php)... how can you beat that??? even going to regular Internet Cafe anywhere in TAIWAN would have costed me the same for just an hour... with no meal of beverage to boot....

So, next time your traveling and come across an IKEA shop - be sure to go in and check it out... you just might be surprised with all the AMENITIES they offer their guests...

NOTE: though there is no time limit as to how long you can stay, they do not provide sockets for your computers... so always make sure your battery is full for MAXIMUM WIFI CONNECTION!

she's baaaaack!!!!

Presenting: Dynamite Girl Susie
after a year HIATUS, our baby is back... she's not only as good as before but even better...

after we suffered the BIG LOSS that I Blogged about back in NOV, I almost gave up hope in continuing on with Susie... after all, how are we to produce her when her molds were stolen from us along with everything else... Am so THANKFUL for my dear friends , Jason Wu, David Buttry, Percy Newsum -- for giving Susie another lease on life... and for making me realize once again, how this world of dolls, are filled with really nice and caring people.

Extra SHOUT OUTS to Mary, Larraine, Juliana & Pat Henry for always keeping me on the right track... I appreciate all the pep talks that kept me going.... and going... and going....

And of course, all of you who have supported Susie & us, R&D, all these years... We APPRECIATE EVERYTHING and LOVE YOU ALL!!!

More Updated Photos Here.

...a million miles away....

Here we lay face to face once again
Silence cuts like a knife as we pretend.
And I'm wondering who will be to first
to say what we both know
We're just holding on to could have beens
and we should be letting go.

[Chorus:]
It feels like your a million miles away
as your lying here with me tonight.
I can't even find the words to say
I can find a way to make it right.
And we both know that the story's ending
We play the part but we're just pretending
And I can't hide the tears
cause even though your here
It feels like your a million miles away.

Was it me, or was it you that broke away?
For what we were is like a season Love is change
and every time I think about it
It tears me up inside.
Like the rivers of emotion
but I got no more tears to cry.
[Chorus:]

[Bridge] We can try to talk it over
but we walked that road before
While our song is playing its last note
We both know for sure
that it's time to close that door.
[Chorus:]

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Milk: The Movie

This DOCU-DRAMA of a film totally hits all the right nerves... one need not be a HOMOSEXUAL in order to appreciate, honour & celebrate what Harvey Milk, his co-horts, and the Gays of the 70's did for the community and for civil rights of Gays and other minorities.

It is so hard to even fathom how the Gays, pre 70's, had to deal with all the harassment not just from the bigots and simple minded people of the world... but to deal with being persecuted by the powers that be, too. As depicted in the movie -- so real, and sooo affecting. And the saddest thing is that, though GAYNESS, has been accepted and even embraced in some parts of the world, there are still countries where being GAY does not stand give you any rights whatsoever... in fact, it is BEST to HIDE this fact - so as to be able stay alive.

Director Gus Van Sant, a fave of mine since My Own Private Idaho, brought out superb acting from such a talented cast headed by Sean Penn... as always, Mr Penn embodied the character he was playing... throughout the duration of the movie, I did not see Sean Penn, I saw Harvey Milk. The supporting casts could not have been right on... James Franco (just the right amount of manliness and gayness in one dreamy package), Emile Hirsch (too funny seeing SPEED RACER act soooo naturally girly!), DIEGO LUNA (fiercely mental queen)... and so many more....

A SPLENDID FILM!!! Totally recommended seeing, or watching again, this film and what perfect timing as GAY PRIDE MONTH is coming up... will give you much more causes to CELEBRATE GAY PRIDE.NOTE: It was an added BONUS that the movie took place in San Francisco... so WONDERFUL to see parts of my beautiful city by the bay....

starting the week off POSITIVELY with these lines I heard, while listening to BBC radio last nite, before going to bed.... I like it.... ==============================
...if u reach for the stars, you get the stars...
but if u reach for the Heavens, you get the stars thrown in...
===============================

well, since we are making an effort to reach for things anyway,
why not reach for it all.... who knows, we might just get all our
heart's desires....

have a great week everyone...

Farrah!

Friday the 15th, NBC airs (aired depending on which time zone you are in...) Farrah's Story, Ms Fawcett's chronicle of her brave battle with CANCER -- since diagnosed back in 2006...
I so wish I could see this... am sure it will be INSPIRATIONAL.... as she has been since making a SPLASH as one of the ORIGINAL Charlie's Angels. Totally underrated, she proved her acting talents in subsequent projects on TV, Movies & the stage, such as Bruning Bed, Extremities, Murder in Texas, Poor Little Rich Girl, etc...

I am one of those boys who grew up with that infamous poster of her in the red bathing suit... watched Charlie's Angels religiously... and even collected photos and memorabilia of her and the show avidly...

Through the years, she has remained an icon, and a household name... through ups and downs, through her relationships... and throughout I have remained a BIG FAN! Always getting excited when I see photos of her in the news; seen her latest projects, etc...

From the recent reports, her health issues has been taking it's toll on her... and no one is sure how much longer she has - fighter that she is... but throughout, she has remained a POSITIVE PERSON - who still believes in MIRACLES... and now, I, along with countless of others - DO PRAY FOR ONE OF HER OWN.

Farrah Fawcett, Forever my most Fave Angel... and one of my most Fave People in the World.

mini Pleasures : Part IV

while hanging at the bookstore in Kaohsiung, to pass the time, I picked up this book called Apartment Therapy... I always am drawn to see what wonders people are doing with their home, no matter the size they do have, and this is one of those books...

Lo and Behold, while flipping, I came across this familiar looking doll in one of the pages... prominently displayed... why if it isn't our very own, Picnic In Provence Susie doll... Totally made my day, and put a BIIIG SMILE on my face -- that's for sure!!!
Just goes to show ya, there is always something to SMILE about.
Have a GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE... and SMILE!!!!

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness gives us the capacity to make a new start... And forgiveness is the grace by which you enable the other person to get up, and get up with dignity, to begin anew... In the act of forgiveness we are declaring our faith in the future of a relationship and in the capacity of the wrongdoer to change.
-Archbishop Desmond Tutu

mini Pleasures : Part III

while down south, we went to see the Premiere of STAR TREK in KAOHSIUNG's DREAM MALL what a treat... not only was it a GREAT FUN FILM, we also happen upon an EXHIBITION of some of the cutest VINYL TOYS, CI BOYS & Taiwan's very own, TOFU... just my luck as it was already 2nd to the last day....
More Photos Here

mini Pleasures : Part II

Meet the HIGHLIGHT of our last trip down to KAOHSIUNG: Humbao!!!

Humbao is Chinese for Hamburger and he is Todd's newly adopted, 3 month old Schnauzer... Todd loves Hamburgers, hence, the name.... Just the cutest little puppy... playful and loving... i smile seeing at the way he runs like a rabbit, walk sideways, his tiny barks, and most especially, how he eats sitting down...

hays, having these cute little doggies really makes me long for my very own... alas, still not in the works for me now.... just glad that for the weekend, Humbao was mine to play and love....LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!HEAVEN IS A PLACE WITH DOGGIES!!!
More Photos of Humbao PLS Click Here

mini Pleasures : Part I

It seems to me that themore digital the world gets, the more we obsess about gadgets... just yesterday on CNN's iReport, the topic was "What's Your MOst Fave Gadget..." how can one choose, there seems to be more and more coming out that we all cannot live with out... not that we have th money to buy them, nor the know hows to even operate them to their fullest... LOLs...

Just saw the cutest mini HP offering in one of the local fashion magazines... the tag line that caught my eyes: "The World's First Digital Clutch" not only did it make the news for it vibrant, sleek, and bold design by Vivienne Tam but also for the fact that, like a little clutch bag, it travels lite (starting at only 2.25 lbs.) and very handy...so had to google it right away.......

Presenting, the very limited Vivienne Tam designed, mini HP...

it simply amazes me how these things are getting smaller and smaller....

the Vivienne Tam Edition is Fashionably Girly -- so DEFINITELY NOT FOR ME (too bad as I have been a FAN of Ms Tam for quite some time now..)... but need not fret as they are also available in basic colors: Black; Silver, White, Grey... they are the smallest ones I have seen so far.... you can find out more about them HERE.

WOLVERINE KICKS ASS!!!

Don't care if most people think that my review of this movie is biased - as most people know, am such a BIIIIG Hugh Jackman and XMEN fan... the movie TRULY KICKS ASS in my opinion. It delivered in all aspects - sticking to the comic/cartoon storyline (from what I remember anyway), enough action, cool characters, and cool actors (Ryan Reynolds, Liev Schreiber, Will.I.Am, etc) for support....

Hugh Jackman IS Wolverine.... pure embodiment of Male Angst... He delivered in both the acting and action department.... am already anticipating the next installment....

failure according to Mother Teresa

a beautiful mantra to kick off a new month...

"To love. To be loved.
To never forget your own insignificance.
To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you.
To seek joy in the saddest places.
To pursue beauty to its lair.
To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple.
To respect strength, never power.
Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never, to forget."

- Arundhati Roy