The fairy tale is the first form of literature I encountered. This was before I learned about Disney. I remember when I was very young and my mom would always tell me Cinderella's story before going to sleep. I imagine a very pretty lady wearing a very beautiful white gown, going to a very nice elegant party, maybe play some parlor games (and winning some candies, too!)... she then realizes it was already late so she runs off. I guess girly shoes aren't much help when you're running... so she loses her shoe.
We admire those stories so much. Because it speaks of something very ideal. Something magical. But these only exist in our minds and in our imaginations. And these hold something special to us when we were children. We want to explore... to go beyond what is familiar to us.
But when we grow up...we grow old... we learn more about the world beyond our homes...
Life suddenly doesn't seem like the ones in fairy tales right? Well, not all the time.
Sometimes, we get tired of these tales... stories telling us of a utopia where everybody lives happily ever after. Life isn't really like that now, is it?
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Friday, March 09, 2007
Kars Critics - 300
Other than the fact that it was an obvious sausage fest, the movie gave me a glimpse of the complicated situations we're faced with every single day.
The idealogies were simple. Honor, glory, justice... and yet, they seem to be the hardest to achieve, the most impossible to reach and the most painful because attaining these requires more sacrifice.
Depth aside, I loved the movie. Mainly because it showed half-naked men, weilding heavy swords, long spears and thick shields. How's that for subtlety? So sue me, I'm a woman. I love guys showing their assets, as do guys who love women in skimpy clothing.
The packs were amazing... they're too perfect, too chiseled to even be real, I reckon. I swear they even had bikini waxes, what and with their high-cut banana hammocks. Make up was flawless, as real as it gets.
The cinematography was unlike any other. It was a cross between a movie and a collection
of digital masterpieces. The hues used were uncanny and unconventional but it did justice
to the whole movie. A blend of gothic, warm and earthy tones.
The music made the mood as well. The bass-driven, rockish tones gave 'umpfh' to the action scenes. It complemented what was already happening.
I just had to notice the action. Their moves were as graceful as those in martial arts films. Usually, you'd think brutal strength would be raw and very masculine at that. But in this, the swings, the turns...each step is a beautifully-made choreography. The elegant side of battle.
The speed of the film also varied, which emphasized the raw strength of each Spartan. Their muscles rippling, sweat dripping as they pounded on the Persians and Immortals...
*stops nosebleed*
In our world today, especially my society, discipline and justice are merely propaganda... these words are used to beautify the sentence and nothing more. They are beautiful words but they don't hold power over people anymore... globalization promoted individualism and self-centeredness.
Sometimes, I'm thinking if we are more barbarians than the people who lived in ancient times.
The idealogies were simple. Honor, glory, justice... and yet, they seem to be the hardest to achieve, the most impossible to reach and the most painful because attaining these requires more sacrifice.
Depth aside, I loved the movie. Mainly because it showed half-naked men, weilding heavy swords, long spears and thick shields. How's that for subtlety? So sue me, I'm a woman. I love guys showing their assets, as do guys who love women in skimpy clothing.
The packs were amazing... they're too perfect, too chiseled to even be real, I reckon. I swear they even had bikini waxes, what and with their high-cut banana hammocks. Make up was flawless, as real as it gets.
The cinematography was unlike any other. It was a cross between a movie and a collection
of digital masterpieces. The hues used were uncanny and unconventional but it did justice
to the whole movie. A blend of gothic, warm and earthy tones.
The music made the mood as well. The bass-driven, rockish tones gave 'umpfh' to the action scenes. It complemented what was already happening.
I just had to notice the action. Their moves were as graceful as those in martial arts films. Usually, you'd think brutal strength would be raw and very masculine at that. But in this, the swings, the turns...each step is a beautifully-made choreography. The elegant side of battle.
The speed of the film also varied, which emphasized the raw strength of each Spartan. Their muscles rippling, sweat dripping as they pounded on the Persians and Immortals...
*stops nosebleed*
In our world today, especially my society, discipline and justice are merely propaganda... these words are used to beautify the sentence and nothing more. They are beautiful words but they don't hold power over people anymore... globalization promoted individualism and self-centeredness.
Sometimes, I'm thinking if we are more barbarians than the people who lived in ancient times.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
February 12
Since it was National Holiday in Japan, I decided to go sightseeing!
I went with Phoebe and her friend Diane (who has been staying in Japan for a few years now) to Himeji.
Himeji is the best example of traditional Japanese castles. Pictures of me and the castle (how conceited can you get!) in my multiply site.
We took a 1-hour train ride to Himeji station and took the bus towards the castle. It was very nice and very well-preserved.
*side comment* I'm eating Cadbury's Dairy Milk with Peppermint...it's like eating toothpaste with chocolate. A nice but weird feeling... weird, but nice...
I was shamelessly taking photographs of the castle from different views, angles and what not. Feeling professional...hahaha! I didn't care. As long as I got good shots, I'm ok with it.
We went inside and went up the 6-storey structure.
The castle had many gates... as well as defense structures. The inside was amazing. It's like going back in time. We were even asked to take off our shoes as we went in. We carried them with us in plastic bags and wore 1-size slippers. The stairs were HELL! The oversized slippers didn't help and it kept falling! It was very steep and the steps were spaced far apart... they're not that tall anyway! I think they were conserving wood, I dunno. My knees were shaking when we got up to the 6th level...
But my gawd! The view of Himeji town was just so breathtaking. I didn't feel my legs anymore (maybe I too much pain it just turned numb or I was too dumbfounded with the view I forgot all about it).
The olden days were right! When you are emperor, you are like a god. And it's true. The overwhelming feeling of being on top is humanizing. It's a feeling of realizing that humans are frail creatures and at the same time, a sensation of being god, of being a powerful creature.
Going down was just torture...pure torture. But eventually, we got down... in one piece or another.
The courtyard was very nice but because it's winter, the trees were bare. I'm just gushing thinking about the cherry blossoms flooding the gardens in spring.
There was a well that had a story of a concubine/ or lady-in-waiting (?) that was accused of something and then she was killed. Her body was dumped in that bottomless well. Reminds me of Sadako...*shudder*
Then there was a place where suicide or harakiri was committed. It's a simple place, actually... it was an open space with a stone slab in the middle. I can just imagine during wartimes the many samurai who would take their own lives to prove their loyalty to their (fallen) shogun.
After a two and a half hour tour, we headed back to Osaka to meet one of Phoebe's friends (again). We ate at a Japanese restaurant...something this country never runs out of. ^_^
*keeps sarcasm in check*
We shopped around and I stumbled across Gundam land. I was so tempted to buy this model kit from Gundam Seed Destiny but I have no idea where I will put it in my luggage...
We wandered down to the electronics section...something I'm always fond of. I bought a hub for my room (I sometimes turn on both my laptops and I want them all to have internet).
Yodobashi was such a haven for me...3 floors of nothing but electronics and goodies... too bad money is an issue for me...
I went with Phoebe and her friend Diane (who has been staying in Japan for a few years now) to Himeji.
Himeji is the best example of traditional Japanese castles. Pictures of me and the castle (how conceited can you get!) in my multiply site.
We took a 1-hour train ride to Himeji station and took the bus towards the castle. It was very nice and very well-preserved.
*side comment* I'm eating Cadbury's Dairy Milk with Peppermint...it's like eating toothpaste with chocolate. A nice but weird feeling... weird, but nice...
I was shamelessly taking photographs of the castle from different views, angles and what not. Feeling professional...hahaha! I didn't care. As long as I got good shots, I'm ok with it.
We went inside and went up the 6-storey structure.
The castle had many gates... as well as defense structures. The inside was amazing. It's like going back in time. We were even asked to take off our shoes as we went in. We carried them with us in plastic bags and wore 1-size slippers. The stairs were HELL! The oversized slippers didn't help and it kept falling! It was very steep and the steps were spaced far apart... they're not that tall anyway! I think they were conserving wood, I dunno. My knees were shaking when we got up to the 6th level...
But my gawd! The view of Himeji town was just so breathtaking. I didn't feel my legs anymore (maybe I too much pain it just turned numb or I was too dumbfounded with the view I forgot all about it).
The olden days were right! When you are emperor, you are like a god. And it's true. The overwhelming feeling of being on top is humanizing. It's a feeling of realizing that humans are frail creatures and at the same time, a sensation of being god, of being a powerful creature.
Going down was just torture...pure torture. But eventually, we got down... in one piece or another.
The courtyard was very nice but because it's winter, the trees were bare. I'm just gushing thinking about the cherry blossoms flooding the gardens in spring.
There was a well that had a story of a concubine/ or lady-in-waiting (?) that was accused of something and then she was killed. Her body was dumped in that bottomless well. Reminds me of Sadako...*shudder*
Then there was a place where suicide or harakiri was committed. It's a simple place, actually... it was an open space with a stone slab in the middle. I can just imagine during wartimes the many samurai who would take their own lives to prove their loyalty to their (fallen) shogun.
After a two and a half hour tour, we headed back to Osaka to meet one of Phoebe's friends (again). We ate at a Japanese restaurant...something this country never runs out of. ^_^
*keeps sarcasm in check*
We shopped around and I stumbled across Gundam land. I was so tempted to buy this model kit from Gundam Seed Destiny but I have no idea where I will put it in my luggage...
We wandered down to the electronics section...something I'm always fond of. I bought a hub for my room (I sometimes turn on both my laptops and I want them all to have internet).
Yodobashi was such a haven for me...3 floors of nothing but electronics and goodies... too bad money is an issue for me...
February 11
After my night out with the boys at a comedy bar in Greenhills...I was the only girl in the group, I went home to do some (futile) packing. Early that morning, dad came home for the weekend.
Before going to the airport, dad asked me to take some pictures of the house from outside. It was hot and I was already wearing a sweater for the flight.
My flight was at 2pm and I was outside in long sleeves around 11am, taking pictures of the house. There was a slight drama before leaving the house.
The key used to lock my big suitcase was missing. I trashed my room to look for it, only to find out it was already in my bag... such a hassle.
Anyway, my dad was sweet enough to accompany me in check-in. I mean, he even printed his own e-ticket just to get inside the terminal...which also makes the jobs of security guards posted outside to check tickets useless!
The guard who checked my ticket even asked if I was an OFW... haller!
Dad escorted me until terminal fee area (aka this money will never be used to improve the airport). I spent the time in pre-departure reading Cosmo. During boarding, I let all the other passengers board first (I know we'll all get stuck somewhere inside, waiting for some passenger to put his stuff up in the overhead compartment).
The flight was uneventful. boring~ During descent, I saw the city lights. I'm such a sucker for romantic settings.
Anyway, I didn't get to see much of the airport because I was just following the others how to get to immigration and baggage.
It's a very nice airport, considering it was built on reclaimed area... compared to ours....
I got out without hassle and boarded the limousine bus to Rokko Island.
I met with Steph at the hotel and we decided to go to Osaka. She taught me how to read the timetable and how to board which train on which platform.
It was so cold there. My teeth were shattering to the point of breaking/chipping away. But it's so nice there.... the bright lights, the trendy fashion of knee high boots and trench coats. The streets were really nice, unlike ours. Vending machines littered every street corner but too bad I wasn't able to see a vending machine with condoms on it. oh well....
We ate at this resto near the station and drank sweet sherry... it was very sweet and the alcohol was dizzying!
Anyway, we got back at the hotel around midnight.
It was exhilarating... my 1st night in Japan.
And I'm thinking what I'll be doing the next day since it's a holiday.
Otanoshimi ni...
Before going to the airport, dad asked me to take some pictures of the house from outside. It was hot and I was already wearing a sweater for the flight.
My flight was at 2pm and I was outside in long sleeves around 11am, taking pictures of the house. There was a slight drama before leaving the house.
The key used to lock my big suitcase was missing. I trashed my room to look for it, only to find out it was already in my bag... such a hassle.
Anyway, my dad was sweet enough to accompany me in check-in. I mean, he even printed his own e-ticket just to get inside the terminal...which also makes the jobs of security guards posted outside to check tickets useless!
The guard who checked my ticket even asked if I was an OFW... haller!
Dad escorted me until terminal fee area (aka this money will never be used to improve the airport). I spent the time in pre-departure reading Cosmo. During boarding, I let all the other passengers board first (I know we'll all get stuck somewhere inside, waiting for some passenger to put his stuff up in the overhead compartment).
The flight was uneventful. boring~ During descent, I saw the city lights. I'm such a sucker for romantic settings.
Anyway, I didn't get to see much of the airport because I was just following the others how to get to immigration and baggage.
It's a very nice airport, considering it was built on reclaimed area... compared to ours....
I got out without hassle and boarded the limousine bus to Rokko Island.
I met with Steph at the hotel and we decided to go to Osaka. She taught me how to read the timetable and how to board which train on which platform.
It was so cold there. My teeth were shattering to the point of breaking/chipping away. But it's so nice there.... the bright lights, the trendy fashion of knee high boots and trench coats. The streets were really nice, unlike ours. Vending machines littered every street corner but too bad I wasn't able to see a vending machine with condoms on it. oh well....
We ate at this resto near the station and drank sweet sherry... it was very sweet and the alcohol was dizzying!
Anyway, we got back at the hotel around midnight.
It was exhilarating... my 1st night in Japan.
And I'm thinking what I'll be doing the next day since it's a holiday.
Otanoshimi ni...
Battle for Broadband
The battle for internet connection supremacy is on!
My brother and I have been silently battling for the internet... after the PC broke down, the router settings were fracked up as well... we had to use a hub to re-route the internet connection to the other rooms. unfortunately, we are missing the router because the hub is totally useless!
We keep getting disconnected, especially when we're connected at the same time...so working here is useless... very useless.... i think i have to let my brother sleep first so I can use the internet properly.
It's been a long time since I had this problem. The last time this happened, I was still in high school and dial-up access was the trend. The connection was frustrating but we had to live with it. Now that DSL is in, i'm cursing everytime i get disconnected.
Damn you PLDT! Useless piece of....
My brother and I have been silently battling for the internet... after the PC broke down, the router settings were fracked up as well... we had to use a hub to re-route the internet connection to the other rooms. unfortunately, we are missing the router because the hub is totally useless!
We keep getting disconnected, especially when we're connected at the same time...so working here is useless... very useless.... i think i have to let my brother sleep first so I can use the internet properly.
It's been a long time since I had this problem. The last time this happened, I was still in high school and dial-up access was the trend. The connection was frustrating but we had to live with it. Now that DSL is in, i'm cursing everytime i get disconnected.
Damn you PLDT! Useless piece of....
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