here's the itinerary. drop me an email / fb msg if you wish to catch me! for those i haven't contacted - i'm sorry i haven't - probably been too scatterbrained or didn't have your email address. looking fwd to seeing you!
Thu 3 SIN -> NY
Fri 4 NY
Sat 5 NY -> PHL
Sun 6 PHL
Mon 7 PHL
Tue 8 PHL -> NHV
Wed 9 NHV
Thu 10 NHV -> NY
Fri 11 NY -> PHL
Sat 12 PHL
Sun 13 PHL -> NY
Mon 14 NY -> PDX
Tue 15 PDX
Wed 16 PDX -> SFO
Thu 17 SFO
Fri 18 SFO -> SIN
Monday, 31 August 2009
Monday, 24 August 2009
burger king it ain't
(if anyone can guess how the heading and the main text connect tell me. you are smart!)
the face the tibetans present to the world is that of a dalai lama - generally a warm, fuzzy, tolerant brand of buddhism. however on my recent india trip, i happened upon a slightly darker side during my visit to dharamsala.
before buddhism arrived in tibet, the tribal religion was called "Bon" - a tribalistic and shamanistic religion which (as I was told) venerates local gods, oftentimes with malevolent characteristics. according to the guide i was with, many Tibetans still practice Bon in synthesis with Buddhism, except that the gods (demons?) of Bon are subject to Buddhist influences / constraints and are forced to do good.
aside from popular worship, there also exist a number of Bon mediums (for a better word), who will conduct the appropriate rituals and have the spirits reside in them, whereafter they will prophesy and make pronouncements etc. the rituals appear strikingly similar to the rituals practised by mediums in traditional chinese or another religions, involving sacrifices and sometimes self-inflicted harm etc etc. i was brought into one of the Tibetan temples and a ritual hall, although thankfully i did not see the medium or the ritual. apparently the highest ranking medium (who the highest ranking spirit inhabits) also serves as a spiritual adviser to the government, and the Dalai Lama's personal approval is needed to invoke him, so that he will not be unduly harmed / tired out.
i found the whole thing very interesting, as it was definitely at odds with the public Tibetan image. that being said, very few of the people i met believed in or adhered to such practices. they were gentle, normal, peace-loving people.
the face the tibetans present to the world is that of a dalai lama - generally a warm, fuzzy, tolerant brand of buddhism. however on my recent india trip, i happened upon a slightly darker side during my visit to dharamsala.
before buddhism arrived in tibet, the tribal religion was called "Bon" - a tribalistic and shamanistic religion which (as I was told) venerates local gods, oftentimes with malevolent characteristics. according to the guide i was with, many Tibetans still practice Bon in synthesis with Buddhism, except that the gods (demons?) of Bon are subject to Buddhist influences / constraints and are forced to do good.
aside from popular worship, there also exist a number of Bon mediums (for a better word), who will conduct the appropriate rituals and have the spirits reside in them, whereafter they will prophesy and make pronouncements etc. the rituals appear strikingly similar to the rituals practised by mediums in traditional chinese or another religions, involving sacrifices and sometimes self-inflicted harm etc etc. i was brought into one of the Tibetan temples and a ritual hall, although thankfully i did not see the medium or the ritual. apparently the highest ranking medium (who the highest ranking spirit inhabits) also serves as a spiritual adviser to the government, and the Dalai Lama's personal approval is needed to invoke him, so that he will not be unduly harmed / tired out.
i found the whole thing very interesting, as it was definitely at odds with the public Tibetan image. that being said, very few of the people i met believed in or adhered to such practices. they were gentle, normal, peace-loving people.
Sunday, 23 August 2009
figaro / magnifico oh oh
like the week, volatile, but ended slightly up. i don't like it how my mood is following the stock market, they used to be inversely correlated. sigh.
while writing, i am listening to
- Sail - Armin van Buuren
- Give it Away - Deepest Blue
signs i am getting old:
- when i bend down to pick up stuff dropped on the floor, it feels like my brains are coming out through my nose.
- i get backaches while stretching.
- i forgot what i was going to write for the rest of this post ~ i'll be back with more =p
--part 2--
got my kite flown (for non-singapese, got cancelled / stood up) six times in the past eight days. maybe i'm being a little sensitive about such things, but i seem to be some kind of magnet for people cancelling on me. am i being too nice about it? (this is probably a first). maybe i should chew people out the next time. but its one thing that really surprises me is how flaky people can be in terms of double-booking, not fulfilling promises, or just being general dicks. fulfilling an appointment is a way of showing how you regard the person isn't it? no respeck man.
although chris did point out that it is by-product of my commitment-phobia - because i shy away from involving myself in too many scheduled or large group events, the bespoke environment makes it dangerous that i'll be overexposed to flaky people (i.e. one flakeout can spoil a whole weekend). counterparty risk as they say, or maybe need more capital.
in other signs of advancing years, have started thinking about kids recently. perhaps its all the little ones i get to carry / entertain / tear apart from fighting / trip innocently in church. but one particular facet is of academic interest. how "Christian" should one bring up one's kids?
granted, one is instructed to instruct your children in the way of the Lord, blah blah. but we realise that a lot of children's media and instruction on Christianity is actually quite shallow and (like adult education, sadly) endless repetitive of the same platitudes to do this, pray for that, believe in this, etc. which doesn't really help except bring up a bunch of cultural churchified and immature ones.
my own experience as a proselyte is somewhat different. without any formal background (at least none that i have accepted), it falls to the raw, searing and painful moments and the tender whispers and self-taught / absorbed doctrine. no syllabus, no regimen, highly dangerous and equally vulnerable to false things. i don't know.
while writing, i am listening to
- Sail - Armin van Buuren
- Give it Away - Deepest Blue
signs i am getting old:
- when i bend down to pick up stuff dropped on the floor, it feels like my brains are coming out through my nose.
- i get backaches while stretching.
- i forgot what i was going to write for the rest of this post ~ i'll be back with more =p
--part 2--
got my kite flown (for non-singapese, got cancelled / stood up) six times in the past eight days. maybe i'm being a little sensitive about such things, but i seem to be some kind of magnet for people cancelling on me. am i being too nice about it? (this is probably a first). maybe i should chew people out the next time. but its one thing that really surprises me is how flaky people can be in terms of double-booking, not fulfilling promises, or just being general dicks. fulfilling an appointment is a way of showing how you regard the person isn't it? no respeck man.
although chris did point out that it is by-product of my commitment-phobia - because i shy away from involving myself in too many scheduled or large group events, the bespoke environment makes it dangerous that i'll be overexposed to flaky people (i.e. one flakeout can spoil a whole weekend). counterparty risk as they say, or maybe need more capital.
in other signs of advancing years, have started thinking about kids recently. perhaps its all the little ones i get to carry / entertain / tear apart from fighting / trip innocently in church. but one particular facet is of academic interest. how "Christian" should one bring up one's kids?
granted, one is instructed to instruct your children in the way of the Lord, blah blah. but we realise that a lot of children's media and instruction on Christianity is actually quite shallow and (like adult education, sadly) endless repetitive of the same platitudes to do this, pray for that, believe in this, etc. which doesn't really help except bring up a bunch of cultural churchified and immature ones.
my own experience as a proselyte is somewhat different. without any formal background (at least none that i have accepted), it falls to the raw, searing and painful moments and the tender whispers and self-taught / absorbed doctrine. no syllabus, no regimen, highly dangerous and equally vulnerable to false things. i don't know.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
wobba wobba
the bird from "Up" is very cute. i now use him/her as my facebook profile pic.
~~~
i think i have settled into what the job now. was completely depressed about work at the end of last year, and i really praise God that had an understanding then-boss, and that he opened up a door for me to swap into something that had... purpose. from writing pointless compliance memos to something which means a lot to me - the uncovering of truth.
i like the way the french put it in their letters (despite the awful english). our job is essentially to "put in light" securities fraud. at least at my level i'm too far down the food chain to worry if it is expedient to pursue any angles, but my calling is just to uncover the truth and hope that sunlight will get perpetrators.
it is not an easy job - reams of paper and mountains of data to comb through, but the opportunity to serve God is very obvious and immediate.
i think i am happy enough to stay for a little while longer.
~~~
i want to propose to my (as yet unidentified) prospective wife in old Jerusalem, under the Wailing Wall, in the shadow and witness of the Almighty's throne.
~~~
thought the quarter-life crisis was over. not yet it seems. in any case this is quite interesting
http://www.eyeweekly.com/article/55882
~~~
i think i have settled into what the job now. was completely depressed about work at the end of last year, and i really praise God that had an understanding then-boss, and that he opened up a door for me to swap into something that had... purpose. from writing pointless compliance memos to something which means a lot to me - the uncovering of truth.
i like the way the french put it in their letters (despite the awful english). our job is essentially to "put in light" securities fraud. at least at my level i'm too far down the food chain to worry if it is expedient to pursue any angles, but my calling is just to uncover the truth and hope that sunlight will get perpetrators.
it is not an easy job - reams of paper and mountains of data to comb through, but the opportunity to serve God is very obvious and immediate.
i think i am happy enough to stay for a little while longer.
~~~
i want to propose to my (as yet unidentified) prospective wife in old Jerusalem, under the Wailing Wall, in the shadow and witness of the Almighty's throne.
~~~
thought the quarter-life crisis was over. not yet it seems. in any case this is quite interesting
http://www.eyeweekly.com/article/55882
Friday, 17 July 2009
subcontinent
to note down where exactly i've been, before i forget
11 (Sat) - Delhi, Paharganj. Terrible weather, crappy room, chaos, disgust
12 (Sun) - Arose at 5am for trip to Agra. still ridiculously hot, tourist trap. another crappy room Agra Fort is really something. Taj Mahal is something else too. FWAH-ness. ridiculously crowded but beautiful sunsets.
13 (Mon) - Stuck on train whole day. interesting squeeze on chair class on way to Amritsar. 3 hours late (woo Indian times!). People in Amritsar are really nice. Woke up innkeeper on arrival at 1am. Got turned away from free accom, but surprisingly nice room.
14 (Tue) - Heavy day. Sikh temple is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. pilgrims, mass (free) lunch, surprisingly orderly and clean. don't really get the Sikhs - they're really nice, but their history is crazy violent. odyssey on 3rd class local bus to PK border. wonderful show, great atmosphere for the flag-lowering. def a bizarre yet safe and good natured sight. excellent punjabi dinner. i like this place.
15 (Wed) - another train odyssey. my indian friends will tell me i'm nuts to take 2nd class unreserved on an indian backwoods local train. but butt hurts, but the scenery from the toy train chugging up into the mountains is cool. got to dharamsala late. surprisingly cool, nice cottage (but noisy), no haggling. i like the tibetans
16 (Thu) - walked around tibetan temples, cow paths, etc. serendipitieously met ex-straits times section 2 editor, now living there. intro-ed to a few tibetan exiles with fascinating stories. liked these people even better. thought deep thoughts about governance and the management of minorities. hopeful yet disappointed. bone-shaking overnight bus ride back to delhi. wished i could have stayed longer.
17 (Fri) - stayed in Tibetan enclave. still bloody hot, hate this city, but glad to be going soon. did some minor shopping. hope i don't miss the flight!!!
kp
PS - think getting minor case of "Delhi belly" but not v powerful leh. anyway can't wait to eat SINGAPOREAN FOOD again.
11 (Sat) - Delhi, Paharganj. Terrible weather, crappy room, chaos, disgust
12 (Sun) - Arose at 5am for trip to Agra. still ridiculously hot, tourist trap. another crappy room Agra Fort is really something. Taj Mahal is something else too. FWAH-ness. ridiculously crowded but beautiful sunsets.
13 (Mon) - Stuck on train whole day. interesting squeeze on chair class on way to Amritsar. 3 hours late (woo Indian times!). People in Amritsar are really nice. Woke up innkeeper on arrival at 1am. Got turned away from free accom, but surprisingly nice room.
14 (Tue) - Heavy day. Sikh temple is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. pilgrims, mass (free) lunch, surprisingly orderly and clean. don't really get the Sikhs - they're really nice, but their history is crazy violent. odyssey on 3rd class local bus to PK border. wonderful show, great atmosphere for the flag-lowering. def a bizarre yet safe and good natured sight. excellent punjabi dinner. i like this place.
15 (Wed) - another train odyssey. my indian friends will tell me i'm nuts to take 2nd class unreserved on an indian backwoods local train. but butt hurts, but the scenery from the toy train chugging up into the mountains is cool. got to dharamsala late. surprisingly cool, nice cottage (but noisy), no haggling. i like the tibetans
16 (Thu) - walked around tibetan temples, cow paths, etc. serendipitieously met ex-straits times section 2 editor, now living there. intro-ed to a few tibetan exiles with fascinating stories. liked these people even better. thought deep thoughts about governance and the management of minorities. hopeful yet disappointed. bone-shaking overnight bus ride back to delhi. wished i could have stayed longer.
17 (Fri) - stayed in Tibetan enclave. still bloody hot, hate this city, but glad to be going soon. did some minor shopping. hope i don't miss the flight!!!
kp
PS - think getting minor case of "Delhi belly" but not v powerful leh. anyway can't wait to eat SINGAPOREAN FOOD again.
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
bass lines
i like songs with strong and complex bass lines. because most people don't listen or rate the bass line, it's like savouring a rare and niche but exquisite dark chocolate when you get one of those songs.
heard the following today, but will update further when the urge seizes:
John Mayer ~ Back to You
Tom Jones ~ Stoned in Love
Michelle Branch ~ All You Wanted
Frou Frou ~ Beauty in the Breakdown
Coldplay ~ Politik
anyone listened to the soundtrack for Emperor: Battle for Dune before? good stuff, especially the Harkonnen tracks. cold, menacing, calculated and powerful.
heard the following today, but will update further when the urge seizes:
John Mayer ~ Back to You
Tom Jones ~ Stoned in Love
Michelle Branch ~ All You Wanted
Frou Frou ~ Beauty in the Breakdown
Coldplay ~ Politik
anyone listened to the soundtrack for Emperor: Battle for Dune before? good stuff, especially the Harkonnen tracks. cold, menacing, calculated and powerful.
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