出走的勇气

今晚出席了一个短片影展 《跟着镜头去旅行》，两部作品都是台湾艺术大学电影系女生的FYP。

〈游幕民族〉： 一个女生为了追求电影梦，游遍了世界，除了有机会出席各大国际影展/追星，也结交了各地爱好电影的学生。

〈那个夏天〉： 一个女生几年前去了西藏/新疆背包旅行，拍了许多照片。几年后，她决定重返故地，寻找照片中的人们，亲手把照片交给他们。

感觉上，〈那个夏天〉比较感人，也确实拍得比较好。
不过，映后座谈却是〈游幕民族〉导演的一番分享，令我开始反省。

她说自己在家人朋友当中都是被宠的，所以有些任性/自我，常常take things for granted。
她觉得自己需要“出走”，到一个没有靠山的地方，到一个没有人认识自己的地方。
一走就走了六个月，爱上了一个人旅行，每当觉得孤单，就继续向前走。
一路上帮助她的陌生人，令她觉得世界就是她朋友。
孤单的时候，自己就是自己的朋友。

唉，我觉得我没那个勇气。
虽然我的确很想“出走”。
我很想拥有她所拥有的那种纯粹的快乐/为了自己而活的快感。
可是我的意志不够坚定。
旅行，对我来说，不能充满未知。一切一定要安排得妥当，衣食住行都要舒适。
看吧！我还是继续当我的王子好了。

王子病

yeah i'm a spoilt brat and i'm not ashamed to admit it.

when i stay overnight in other parts of taiwan, of cos there are economical accommodation everywhere (can be as cheap as S$20 per night)...BUT even if it's just for sleeping purposes, i need my room to be 单人房（最好是双人床）, 有冷气，有电视，有浴缸，枕头要厚，邻居不能吵...yep and i'm willing to pay for all these.

很多人告诉我： “只是睡一晚罢了/有四面墙壁和一张床就行了/出国旅行不要那么计较...” blah blah blah~

WHATEVER. 我要就是要。你管我。

PCK shd only be famous in Singapore

when introducing Singapore to foreigners, do i really have to mention Singlish & Phua Chu Kang?

okie i won't deny that he brightened up my day a few times, but that's it. does the whole world need to know about his existence? apparently our Tourism Board thought so by arranging him to appear on Amazing Race in his signature attire (i know that was eons ago but...ARGH)!

so i'm in taiwan, and someone suggested screening clips of Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd during International Week. SERIOUSLY?! how is it gonna boost our tourism trade, and how am i gonna intro him in chinese?! “他是一个家喻户晓的电视角色，穿着黄靴子的承包商，没文化的大老粗，动不动就抠鼻屎，可是我们都觉得他很好笑”...?!

i'm not ashamed of him or anything. okie maybe i am.

if u really wanna intro 经典电视角色，at least choose someone like 月娘 （小娘惹） lah! can link to nyonya culture blah blah blah...

EmoNoMore

so i deleted all the emo posts written in taiwan.
reasons being:

1) i'm not supposed to emo in taiwan.
2) this is not supposed to be an emo blog.

so between 10 Apr and 2 May, it's not that i din blog.
my loyal readers would have read those now-censored posts.

i shall TRY and enjoy the remaining 50 days to the fullest.

再见萤火虫

the last time i saw fireflies was 15 yrs ago.
memorable, yes.
but not in a pleasant way.

1995, family vacation at Brisbane Australia.
visit to fireflies caves after dinner.
struggled to walk on slippery rocky paths while holding onto a torchlight.
we were told to beware of bats and leeches (in the end i saw both).

by the time we reached the caves, i was already frightened to tears.
totally no mood to see thousands of fireflies blinking at me.
can't wait to return to our hotel (or even Singapore).


15 yrs later, didn't know what to expect.
just hoping there wun be bats and leeches, or unknown noisy creatures.
and so, here came 北埔大湖村赏萤区.

7pm, sky wasn't pitch dark, but the fireflies were already out to play (and mate).
IT IS A SIGHT TO REMEMBER, EVEN WHEN I'M 75 YRS OLD.
grasslands covered with fireflies, blinking and lighting up the paths like guardian angels.
even the stars fade in comparison.

after a few failed attempts to capture them on camera, i simply gave up (not like other persistent folks who kept adjusting their camera settings and positions, but also to no avail).
BASKING IN THE MOMENT IS MORE IMPORTANT.

just being there makes me feel so blessed.