MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
Well, I had one of the best Christmas as well. Met so many friends during the 全球慈青日, and I get to use English so frequently without anyone complaining about my accent, talked to a dear friend for a long long time, and got some very nice gifts from home, as well as a surprise gift of a second monitor for my use.
It’s a blessing to know so many people, to receive so much love from everyone. Thanks.
More stories to tell soon… =D
HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO!!!
A visit to the Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園) during the autumn is beautiful. It’s the closest experience with nature and its beauty. Water from deep mountains is so clean, so pure, you can really see that it’s blue…
In order to encourage more visitors, some paths are created for visitors to walk through. Due to this reason, you may experience some water dripping on top of your head, and in some areas, you may observe increased risk of getting hit by a rock.
There has been several cases of deaths due to falling rocks. So during typhoon or heavy rain, visitors are strongly discouraged from visiting this place. If it’s sunny after heavy rain the day before, please don’t even consider visiting this hazardous place. Nonetheless, nature is just fascinating and you can experience it all in Taroko Gorge and National Park.
Some aborigines here making business out of arts and harvests of the forest.
Somewhere at the swallow grotto (燕子口), we had to wear safety helmets for ‘some’ protection, cause even with safety helmets, it doesn’t deter larger rocks to crack your head like an egg. So some visitors chose not to wear them.
I think the most interesting part of Taroko gorge are the rock formations and the layered stones, some close approximate to the Grand Canyon in the US. View the photograph below with red-cyan anaglyph 3D glasses for best result.
This trip there may only be a one day trip, but the view up in the mountains was breath taking. I would want to spend more time there, and I’m definitely looking forward for a second visit.
It works… cause it requires much patience and creativity. It’s healing because we get closer to mother nature! Just love the experience! My art piece to share with everyone.
Perhaps I should be an idiot.
Or someone who couldn’t think or talk or listen.
To ignore others when they are hurtful.
To keep my mouth shut when they’re not willing to listen.
To stay away from all the rumours said about me.
To act stupid when they’re being sarcastic.
Afterall, an idiot finds much more joy and laughter in life.
Perhaps I should just decide not to care anymore.
儅我給意見的時候，你們認爲我在強迫意見。
儅我不在的時候，你們都自認爲這個、那個，胡説。
一直以來，我都在嘗試給意見，但是都被推開。
看來就算了。既然你們都不在乎別人說什麽，我就繼續靜靜聼就好了。
你們在乎的，也只有Gossip而已。
都是在說他人的是非。
Ever since my ranting about some expensive stuffs in Hualien, someone brought some nice gifts all the way from Malaysia. Thank you so much. Didn’t expect so much love from everyone.
Has been so busy these few weeks… and I really hoped that I could find time to share some experience here with everyone…
National Geographic Magazine is one of my must read reading material of all time. Not only I improved my use of vocabulary and diversify my writing techniques when I indulge myself in the articles, I get myself abreast of all the latest news and updates, especially on environmental discussions.
Recently, I found myself watching the National Geographic Live! Explorers Symposium featured in the Apple iTunes Podcasts. I couldn’t help but agree more with one of the discussions in the episodes – Seafood and Survival by Barton Seaver. He is not a scientist, but merely an observer. As a chef, he realized the importance of a meal to humans – it is where humans get together as a family. As he got older, he came to realize that the seafood he used for cooking has become exorbitantly expensive, and some of his favourite catches were no longer there for harvesting. It was then he said this, “As chefs, we are responsible for creating a demand of exotic food. We are the one who popularized shark fin soup and we are now in control of the natural selection of seafood species.” He believed that it is our duty as the harvester of our natural resources should use our natural resources wisely.
“Sustainability is not about the environment, it’s about sustaining people. We may have used an eco-friendly method to cultivate shrimps in farms, but having a shrimp buffet as a business is not a sustainable method. Sustainability failed on the human part.” He’s right! At the end of the day, we’ll be affected when the ecosystem collapsed. I can firmly say that ecosystem is there to support our living!
In short, we should really take a step forward and look at our dinner plates. You are indeed what you eat, but at the same time, the Earth’s wellbeing is what you eat too! So be responsible for what you consume.
Sorry to say this, but I hate competitions very much.
Ever since I was small, I was put into competitions with my cousin sister and brother.
Then I was put into competitions again, from singing to story telling to whatever Chinese Know-it-all competitions, in which the Chinese class made me absolutely miserable.
Then in Secondary School, I was put into competitions again, this and that and everything else.
It was in UTAR in which I found no competition at all, I competed with myself.
Then I realized this, it wasn’t that I don’t like competitions, I just don’t like to compete with other people. It makes me miserable when I lose, and it makes the other party miserable when I win. Plus, I hated the idea of being put into comparison with others.
Now, I love the idea of competing with myself. Absolutely love the idea of self-competition.
Then here I am again, being put into a situation where I was being compared at what I’m not good at. I’m sorry to say that I’m not good at sports, so stop comparing! I tried my best every time and I compete with myself to do better each time.
So I guess I’ll have to say this, I’ll never join another competition that is all about winning. It’s not the winning that matters, it hurts me when people started comparing me with the others. I loath that idea. Hated it so much right now.
And don’t get me started on respect. How am I to respect another person if he doesn’t prove to be worthy of my respect? Respect is EARNED, not because you’re merely more senior than I am. Please, for heaven sake, stop all these childish games. Grow up!
