三步一拜

每年的卫塞节，虔诚的佛教信徒，会以不同的方式纪念佛陀出生、成道觉悟、逝世的一天。
今年我参加了在光明山普觉禅寺的三步一拜仪式。这是我平生第一次参与这类型的大型膜拜活动。在仪式开始之前，我的心情是既兴奋，又存有一丝的忧郁。我能顺利地以正确的方式完成整个仪式吗？我一直凝视着前面已经开始三步一拜的男女老少信徒们。在心里反复的模仿与练习他们的一举一动。
在众人海里，令我印像最深的是一位妈妈。她推着正在婴儿推车里熟睡的孩子，一边虔诚地三步一拜，一边小心翼翼地把婴儿车往前一推。我心想，这位妈妈在开始仪式之前已经知道在她面前的，是一条崎岖不平，有高高低低，上上下下斜坡的道路。但她还是勇敢地选择了以这样的方式，带着她的孩子，陪她完成三步一拜的仪式。我顿时感触良多。有一些人会为自己一向来秉持着的信念，不管前方的路有多艰辛，有多坎坷，还是坚决地往前走，做他们觉得有意义，有价值的事。我心里不由地涌现了对这位妈妈的敬佩。。默默地为她与小孩加油！妈妈你真行！相比之下我的方式可没得比喔，简直是小巫见大巫！
随着前面一排排信徒，虔诚地往前跪拜，我也开始了我那晚的小旅程。说也奇怪，当我跪下，心里默念着佛经，首足与大地触动时，心情是平静的。心无杂念，感觉很奇妙，难以形容。虽然有些地方因为路面比较粗糙，膝盖，手臂有点痛，但往前的决心与对佛祖虔诚跪拜的信念，足以掩盖一瞬间的疼痛。就这样，反反复复，左左右右，上上下下，在一个无风，平静的夜晚，我完成了三步一拜的仪式。在终点，当从佛像里喷洒出的水，淋在我身上时，我默默地向佛祖虔诚的祈拜。
佛祖希望你能引导慧琳，让她能像生前一样，继续为众生贡献。因为我知道能让她最开兴的，莫过于帮助有需要帮助的人。就让她继续开心地活下去吧！

Groovy Kind of Love

When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue
When you're close to me, I can feel your heart beat
I can hear you breathing near my ear
Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love

Anytime you want to you can turn me onto
Anything you want to, anytime at all
When I kiss your lips, ooh I start to shiver
Can't control the quivering inside
Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love, oh

When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do
Is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue
When I'm in your arms, nothing seems to matter
My whole world could shatter, I don't care
Wouldn't you agree, baby you and me got a groovy kind of love
We got a groovy kind of love
We got a groovy kind of love, oh
We got a groovy kind of love

Lunch

Hey guess who I had lunch with.. the other day? Sulin & Yen Hui.. your close pals!

And the funny thing is.. hmm not so funny actually.. I forgot about the lunch meeting totally. Was queuing for my food when Yen Hui called me.. "Hey what time are you coming? Soon?"
I sped off immediately.. yeah I know, I've always chided you for forgetting your appointment with friends.. I know how it feels now.. GUILTey!

And you know what?! Yen Hui is pregnant with a GIRL! Yes! Girl! We've been saying that all our friends are having boys.. So rejoice! For she shall be the fairest damsel in the kingdom.. all the knights in shining armor beware! Cos' only the fastest, bravest and most chivalrous gentlement shall win her heart! hehe

Anyways, we were gossipin, bitchin, complainin.. ha.. sounds familiar?

At end of the day, we all miss you, big time...

Another day in paradise...

Saw the MTV for Phil Collin's Another Day in Paradise.. it was a hit during our times. A distant past? Yeah, ask the teenagers nowadays and they will most probably scratch their head.. Who? What?
It is a meaningful song, written to bring attention to the problem of homelessness all around the world. It was released to critical acclaim and a huge hit back then.

Paradise.. what exactly is it?
Paradise is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and idleness. (source: wikipedia)
To some, paradise is a distant dream, a pursuit often interrupted by the daily rigours of life.
To me, true to wikipedia's definition, it simply, is a place of contentment, but not necessarily a land of luxury and idleness.. every word of it. And this place is also not necessarily Utopia or somewhere in the distant lands... it's just right under our nose.. Home.. where we share joy, laughter, love and simple pleasures in life with our loved ones. I know I have been there, with you right by my side.
To you? I do hope you're residing in paradise.. a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless.. a place where there is only peace, prosperity and happiness. One day, another day, more days.. forever more days.

Hokkaido

Hokkaido, a place that holds fond memories for both of us... a very special place indeed. We spent a lovely week of our honeymoon there before extending our stay in Japan, travelling south to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

We were lucky then, it started snowing on the second day of our trip. It was the first time I saw snow and with you close by my side when it first snowed, the feeling was surreal. Simple joy, pure bliss...

Visited dad and mum.. just back from their trip with Fang and Weihao in Hokkaido. We were talking about Otaru Musical Box museum, the cafe which sells coffee together with its cup... remember we visited these places before?

You'd always been urging dad and mum to do more travelling ever since they retired. I'm sure you're glad that they had visited the very place which you'd enjoyed ... We all share memories, not to mention those unforgettable moments with you.

We all miss you, as always...

Random photo of you...

Was going through Brian's thegaleria.com website, showcasing his works.. suddenly thought of looking for Ren & Piotr wedding album. Remember? He was Ren's wedding photographer and I was shocked to see him at Ren's wedding after so many years, since Uni hostel days.

Somehow, I have this feeling that I might find your photo taken during the wedding party at Ren's place. When I found the album, realise that he had posted about 60 photos... slim chance of finding you, I tell myself.

At first glance, didn't find any of our group photos taken.. but got this nagging feeling that I might find you somewhere in the crowd.. somewhere..

True enough, my efforts paid off... you were captured in an off-focus shot. Brian was taking aim at a mother talking to her kids and in the background.. was you. You were brushing your hair lightly..

I remember.. you were sitting at the living room beside Ren's grandmother. You talked to her for a while in Hainanese.

Trust your feelings... randomness of life, serendipity...someday, somehow, somewhere