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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Folk Arts Exhibition

Today, (Tuesday Feb. 26th), is one of those trying days for me... Dealing with getting my iPhone fixed.. Running around all over.. And in the Heat of the Midday Sun, too! But that's another story..: 

This is about the Folk Arts Exhibition I happen upon at Taipei SongShan Airport... Stopped by here from my walk - to take a break from the heat of the sun - of course since I have many a walking errands, the sun decided to come out after 3 days of Rain and Gloom...  also as I need to charge my phone batteries....  with SongShan Airpot close by - it was the Perfect Choice for a stopover Break:  Pretty, Bright, Cool and plenty of places to sit and charge - since outlets here are plentiful and are for the use of the people.
 
Anyway, knowing that there is always something f... or a cool exhibition going on, I decided to take a bit of a walk around when my battery was full... Am Glad I did as they are having "The Beauty of Folk Arts: Artifacts Exhibition" on display...  this time around focusing on TRADITIONAL PUPPETS!!!   Just my cup of tea....  :)  These  Puppets are dressed in colorful, traditional costumes - and each DIORAMA is a retelling of an Ancient Chinese Legend - with a Personal Fave of mine, the Legend of the White Snake included...  ...  and a few GODS got the spotlight, too!
Not sure how long the exhibition will be up....  so if you happen to be in the neighborhood - go check them out - you will not be disappointed!  and when there, be sure to see the Departure Schedule Table - you might just be able to catch one of the fun EVA AIR Hello Kitty planes take flight from the 3rd Floor Observation Deck!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

we all need RAIN!!!

Not Mother Nature's downpour, mind you - but we need the other kind that gets us all Hot, Bothered and Wet - Korean pop Singer Rain, that is!!!
 
I have not seen much of him lately, since he signed up for his required Military service...  last thing I saw him in was the movie Ninja Assassin...  a couple or so years back....  But at Carrefour today, I say a Life sized cut out of him sporting some really low risers - endorsing some Men's Hygiene product, Mentholatum....   his pants were so low you could almost see eternity....  I would have taken a snap of it but I quite shy,  it was during lunch hour and Carrefour was quite busy... 
 
Of course, I GOOGLED just as soon as I got home....  the Ad Campaign photos are not new... but they are Fresh as Rain....  Fresh enough to warrant a Blog Entry for this week's HUMP DAY!
 

"Impossible" Not To Cry...

Last week I was able to catch "The Impossible" before it slipped away quietly in the Theatres here in Taiwan....   it did not get as much attention here, I suppose due to the subject matter...  after all, who wants to be SAD in the midst of the Chinese New Year celebrations...
 
But I am sooooo very glad I saw it upon my return to Taipei... already not playing in many theatres - as most movies here have a lifespan of 1 week or so only....  seeing it in the BIG SCREEN made the TSUNAMI effects all the more real and devastating....   I swear, I have not cried this much in the first half hour of a film since the Disney Pixar Animation Film, "UP"....   I have read so much heartbreaking stories about the TSUNAMI in 2004 that claimed so many a Vactioners' lives in Thailand...  but seeing all of these on film, based on a Spanish family's real life ordeals from this disaster, was just too much to take in without shedding tears....  and to happen in the midst of the Holiday Season....  Oh what they went through - physically and emotionally.... one would not even want to imagine, really....  
(ABOVE PHOTO: The real family the movie is based on.)
 
The acting were all top notch....  well deserved Oscar Nomination for Naomi Watts...  and Oscar's Biggest Snub and Blunder, in my opinion, is failing to reward novice actor, Tom Holland with a Best Supporting or Best Actor nod...   he truly carried the film...  such a heavy task for a young actor and he did it all....   he made you feel every struggle, every tear, every heartache...   and most of the time without even uttering a single line.... Good thing the critics all over the world were smart enough to single his acting out and rewarded him with Breakthrough Performer of the Year awards....   Big Future in the movies for this boy, that's for sure....  Am already a Fan!
At the end of it all, the movie is a Great Tribute to one's family's flight for survival, to all the lives lost, and the compassion of the Thai People.  MUST SEE FILM!!!
 
 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Mark Goes Daring!

Perfect to greet this Hump Day with a biiiig smile.

One of my Fave Filipino Singers, Mark Bautista, has been releasing some truly sexy shots on his own Facebook and Instagram accounts... And these happens to be the most daring shots of his I have ever seen....

Photos are taken by well known celebrity photographer, Raymond Isaac.

Happy Hump Day!!!

Friday, February 8, 2013

Friday!

The day before the night before Chinese New Year.... All of Kaohsiung is abuzz with folks buying their last minute necessities to make way for the welcoming of the Chinese New Year... Am sure it is pretty much the same the world over, anywhere there is a large Chinese Community anyway...


Still battling a cold but been able to take part on a few of these running about and even got to snap a few photos... Which made the day go by faster - especially since the boys (Todd n Johnny) are both busy at work and do not have time to hang out with us yet.

Visited a couple of markets...Picked up a few things... New Running Shoes even - best time to buy Anything as all Department Stores have Chinese New Year Sale...


Ready to RUN into the Chinese Ne Year with my Brand New Spanking Running Shoes!!!

Tomorrow, the night before Chinese New Year, the real madness begins!!!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Spring has Sprung!!

Just about Chinese New Year here so really should still be In the midst of Winter for us here in Taipei.. But Spring has Sprung!!!

It is apparent in the Sakura blooms popping out all over the city... The fresh breeze in the air... The smiles on the people's faces enjoying the Sunny Days!

And of course, in the way the people are dressed... And one of the main Season Dictator of all, UniQlo... Their shop windows and mannequins are all blooming in pastel greens and pinks... And bright as a daisy yellow hues... And am Living it All!!! After all, Spring does bring Hopes of brighter Tomorrows... :)



Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Happy Hump Day!

Wednesday again... Since am down with the Flu, better perk up a bit with some dosage of
Vitamin Beckham.. Photos are from his H&M Spring 2013 Line...


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Monday Blues

This week's Monday Blues is Courtesy of a day st QuanXin SPA...

Such a Great place, I almost did not want to leave anymore.... Everything I could ask for was there: Nice size Gym with state of the art machines... Swimming Pool.. Water Spa... Dry and Wet Saunas.,,, Hot n Cold Jacuzzis... Yoga and Cardio classes.... A super nice Lounge complete with newspapers, magazines, and a selection of beverages... Nice and friendly staff... And even a Cafe of their own!

Truly one need not leave the place.. Just enjoy all the amenities and call it a SPA Getaway... :)

Always Happy to be in the Water...
GYM Amenities - Sorry Folks, Trainers are not considered Amenities... :)

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Pondering...

Now and again, something stops me in my tracks and makes me think of my own mortality...   about getting old and falling apart physically and mentally....  and all these thoughts actually adds up to one melancholy day...
 
"The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young."
-OSCAR WILDE, The Picture of Dorian Gray
 
I had such a day a couple of days ago....  the day started out pretty much like all my days - up at 7AM...  Coffee while I check and answer emails...  attend to pressing matters for a couple of hours or so...  and then, rush off to the Gym to get a bit of workout before they close up for lunch....  Been doing this for a few years now... and have been going to the same place, San Ming Community Gym...  I have always liked this place....  nice and big...  with lots of different machines to use...  so rain or shine, there is no excuse not to go and get a work out....    Since I have been going here for years, I have pretty much gotten to know the same nice people that comes to the place...  I have seen them go through changes - just as they have seen me, am sure....   not just the ones who goes from thin to buff - but sadly, the ones the gets frailer due to old age....  and I have even seen a few  go through the stages of having had a stroke - mild to severe... 
 
On this particular day, my attention was on this man that I have seen for years, who did have a stroke and is being helped go through rehabilitation by his wife and a caregiver/nurse...  They come to the Gym pretty much everyday, but for some reason or another on this day, I spent so much of my between workout hours staring at them go through the motions...  How the two women have to helped him get on each and every machine...  How with all his might, he tries hard to walk on the treadmill, pedal slowly on the cycling machines... and struggle so much lifting the little weights they give him.... 
 
All these got me thinking, what happens if this ever happen to me?  How do I manage?  Who then helps me go through something like this?  Or care for me, for that matter?  Worse, how do I deal with all of these, being the type of person who - for the most part - do not like to depend on anyone else, for anything....  Am more into helping out others, rather than asking for help....  I have gotten used to doing all the job on my own as getting help would just means, troubling another person - and/or making things worse, as am used to doing things my way....  So, if I cannot even get myself to ask for help on everyday matters now, how am I to ask when I get much older and more frail...  :(
 
For years, I have been told by many people that am too independent...   too much so for my own good....   and on this day, I actually Agreed with their opinions...  got scared for the future... and felt soooooo very sad....
"The complete life, the perfect pattern, includes old age as well as youth and maturity. The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquillity of the evening. Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth."
-W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM, The Summing Up
 
Well, I know that I should not dwell too much on such matters... that we all get older and somehow manages though... and am sure, in a day or two, with all the work am to face and the Chinese New Year happenings to come, all these sappy thoughts will have subsided and I will be back to my normal self again... just going through the flow of life and being happy with all that there is...  so for now, pls FORGIVE the RANTS of a somewhat crazy man trying to face his inevitable old age....

Pre CNY Dinner @ Home

Last nite we had the ladies (Juliana, Sue & Cecilia) over at the house for our Pre Chinese New Year Get Together dinner....   a bit early but with everyone's schedules as busy as it is, this was the only time we can do it or it will be after the Holidays - just like the late XMAS Together....  and needless to say, everyone will be going to their respective families' homes for the Chinese New Year break....  Us included, as we head down to Kaohsiung later this coming week....

It was a nice simple dinner... Soup, Salad, & Sausage Pizza - simple except for the fact that everything was home made... personal chef, David.... For the two of us, it was an all day affair - as we shopped, cleaned, prepared, and cooked before the gals arrived at 6PM.....
Then it was time to feast on the scrumptious food & fun chats...  and to end the feast are treats they brought over - Bread Papa's Cream Puffs and Strawberry flavours.....     it was a little after 10PM when the ladies decided to take off as the following day is Church Day, and Sue has to get up very early for it....
SWEET TREATS to end the night!

Friday, February 1, 2013

Love is in the Air

If Love is in the Air, it must be February....  the Month of Love as we all know it... 
Short and Sweet, and there is No Getting Around It....  already the color RED is popping up everywhere....   ADVERTS are becoming more RED in tones and seems like everything else is taking a Heart Shaped form....  when Love tunes seems to be humming in our ears morning, noon and night...  even when there is no real music to be heard....  when we think of the Loves of our Lives - be it past, present or even future....  :)
 it's the time of the year when we do Everything in the name of Love...
 
There is no escaping really, you just need to go with the flow.... 
Live It, Savour It, Love it!