Say you, Say me !

2010-11-29T20:19:00.000+02:00

On hearing the broken jingle
Of that childhood ice-cream van
Memories of everything I could have done
But didn’t
Came swirling into my mind.

Through the open window
The sounds of that peak-hour traffic
So typical of our decaying world today
Invades my senses
Engulfs my soul
Which to the desk in the study is chained.
I am reminded that someday
I too shall join their ranks.

And so I let my dreams
Be that river of hope running through the desert
Forever subduing my pain.

And so I let my dreams
Be that mighty lighthouse of belief
Forever guiding my way.

Sreddy Yen

After the rain...

2010-11-21T19:30:00.000+02:00

...this was what I found crawling along my window!

Snails are such slow-moving creatures and most people find them to be mundane. However, I found some very interesting facts about them that may show that they aren’t that boring:

As snails move they leave behind slime. This slime is like a powerful form of suction for them. This is why they are even able to move upside down, around corners, and other comical situations. It is a myth that this type of slime is going to make humans ill. Many people worry that snails being in their garden will ruin the foods grown there and make them unfit for consumption but that is all false.

They have the reproductive organs of both males and females which categorizes them as hermaphrodites. However, the myth that they can create offspring on their own is false. They must mate with another and then both of them will have the ability to lay eggs.

Snails don’t see very well so they have to rely upon their good sense of smell to help them find their prey. They also aren’t able to hear.

Snails are very strong and can lift up to 10 times their own body weight in a vertical position.

It is believed that there are at least 200,000 species of mollusks out there including snails. Many of them haven’t been found and classified yet.

What is this?

2010-11-09T12:43:00.000+02:00

I found this bug sitting on the side of the wall the other day. Can anyone identify it? It looks really outlandish...

Update: Thank you Joan (a.k.a The Bug Lady) from Photographs from South Africa, for identifying this bug. This is a Rayed Slug, a moth belonging to the Limacodidae family. I did some research, but could only find some general information on the Limacodidae family. They are often called slug moths because their caterpillars bear a distinct resemblance to slugs. They are also called cup moths because of the shape of their cocoons. They are mostly tropical, but occur worldwide, with about 1000 described species and probably many more as yet undescribed species. These moths are also said to cause serious defoliation of palms.

A poem for my friends

2010-10-17T14:41:00.000+02:00

Parting
(For AJ, KK, SM and SM)

For me, you have been candles
That glowing, guiding light
That showed my how one handles
The daunting without fright.

For me, you have been warm
That fire, shinig bright
Ablaze in the darkest storm
Keeping me through the night.

For me, you have been spring
Those splendid, budding flowers
That did my spirit fling
Higher than tall towers.

For me, you are a friend
Helping hands did to me lend
You're people I shall never forget
The best I've ever met.

~Sreddy Yen

2010-07-25T09:02:00.000+02:00

Grahamstown: National Schools Festival (Part 3)

2010-07-16T19:16:00.000+02:00

On 7 July, we had free time to roam Grahamstown, nicknamed the "City of Saints" because of its many places of worship.

First, my friend and I arrived at the Albany Museum, a natural science museum housing many fossils, sea shells and stuffed mammals.

The museum also had an Egyptian mummy:

Next, I visited the Rhodes' student art exhibition where exquisitely creative works were on display. Other than the usual paintings, there were some interesting "things". Here is a face sculptured out of baked bread (Taryn King, 2nd year BFA)...

...and yes, this dog (Francois Knoetze, 2nd year BFA) is made from chewing gun and found objects!

I also went to an exhibition call "The Binding" by Christine Dixie. The hardships of children soldiers was movingly recreated by means of toy soldiers:

Next came escapade through the many buildings in Grahamstown with my daring friend, Cuan. First, we arrived at Grahamstown's landmark: The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George.

There was a building with an impressive clock tower next to the cathedral and so we decided to go "check it out". It turned out to be the City Hall! After some unexaggerated flattery about Grahamstown's charm and splendour, we were granted permission to scale the many narrow and pigeon-poop covered stairways into the clock tower.

Here is a view from the top...

...and here is my friend capturing the scenery through a broken clock-pane (is that the right word?)

After popping in some of the shops lining the Grahamstown streets, we arrived at the Methodist Church. Unfortunately, this was the only photo I could get of the exterior:

However, here is a photo of one of the magnificent stained-windows:

The Observatory Museum was our next stop. In 1859, Henry Carter Galpin bought a simple double-storey establishment in Bathurst Street for £300. During the next 23 years, he made extensive changes. The front was elegantly decorated, and a basement and three floors added to the back. Rooftop developments included an observatory, from which the building took its name, and what was for many years the only Camera Obscura in the Southern Hemisphere.

Next on the list was St Patrick's Catholic Church. Unfortunately, after knocking for five minutes, the doors just would not budge.

We even went into the library (because I insisted)!

By this time, four hours had passed since we set off on this adventure. Our legs were exhausted and so we decided to sit down on the sidewalk to jot down the day's events.

On the way back to our residence, we dropped by the High Court. I was so worried that we would be arrested for tresspassing!

Next to the High Court is the South African Library for the Blind. Since Cuan and I had literally invaded every attraction in Grahamstown, we decided to have a look inside.

A woman who works there gave us an unexpected tour of the Library. I was so moved by what they do for the blind that I forgot to take photos. The Library has two Norway-imported braille-printing machines costing half a million each and they print bestsellers for the blind. A 300 page Stephen King novel translates to 10 thick braille books! There are also numerous volunteers who read books which are recorded and made into audio books. Thus ended an extraordinary and unforgettable tramp through Grahamstown.

2010-07-12T18:36:00.000+02:00

This photo was taken at The Owl House in Nieu Bethesda. I will soon be posting more photos and stories about my Grahamstown trip.

Grahamstown: National Schools Festival (Part 2)

2010-07-11T12:21:00.000+02:00

After signing the Code of Conduct (yes, this meant no smoking and drinking for some!), we boarded the bus again and rolled down the hill to our respective residences. The boys stayed in Jameson House and so I lugged my luggage up a flight of stairs to Room 9.

We then had a quick supper and rushed off to our first show: Angeli e Demoni. The effects created by this spectacle using fire, flare and fireworks were amazing. Throughout the performance, fiery images of serpents, bats, gigantic marionettes, mirrors, flaming walls, claws and wings appear drawn in fire. However, I felt that the cliched storyline of good versus evil was a bit disappointing.

The next day (o5 July) started with the official opening ceremony and a keynote address by Dada Masilo at the 1820 Settlers Monument. Then it was time for my first workshop! I was assigned one called Beneath Your Body and here I explored my ability to express myself through physical works and discovered my inner capabilities.

We saw three productions that day: Molly Bloom, Quack! and A Teacher in the Bushveld. This version of Molly Bloom was edited from the final chapters of Joyce's classic novel Ulysses, but did not lose any of its poetic beauty and erotic bawdiness. Quack! was an interesting "Afro-Gothic thriller" about a man who escapes into a parallel universe while lying delirious in hospital. A Teacher in the Bushveld was an adaption of Herman Charles Bosman's short story about the adventures of a young man in a teaching post at a small bushveld school.

A lecture by Donna McCallum (a.k.a The Fairy Godmother) was on the programme for Tuesday (06 July) morning. I truly enjoyed her motivational speech on Creating your Extraordinary Life. It was not the usual didactic type; she involved the audience and gave her speech "oomph!" through her enthusiasm.

On this day, we watched two productions: Tree Boy and Swan Lake. Tree Boy was my favourite production throughout the festival. Within a simple narrative frame set in the South Africa of the 1960s, the piece evokes the nature of a journey through time, relationships, growth, loss and healing. I was not "mesmorised with [Dada Masilo's] contemporary take on Swan Lake", as the programme notes said. I did not like her amalgamation of African dance with classical ballet. However, everyone else seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the performance.

Grahamstown: National Schools Festival (Part 1)

2010-07-10T12:51:00.000+02:00

On 03 July, two bus, with about 70 pupils from PBHS, PHSG and CBC, commenced their journey down to Grahamstown.

"Oh my word! How much longer will this bus ride be?" After travelling for 11 hours on the bus, that was all I thought. On this first day (03 July), we travelled throught three provinces before arriving at our first destination: Nieu Bethesda. This place is the home of the world-renowned Helen Martins and The Owl House.

Helen Martins began an obsessive project around 1945 to decorate her home and garden. She used cement, glass and wire to decorate the interior of her home and later build sculptures in her garden. Almost all the walls of the interior of the house were covered in decorative and colourful crushed glass. In 1964, she was joined in her work by a Coloured man named Koos Malgas, who helped her build the sculptures in her garden. Martins drew on inspiration from Christian biblical texts, the poetry of Omar Khayyam and various works by William Blake. The sculptures are predominantly owls, camels and people, mostly pointing toward the east as a tribute to Martins' fascination with The Orient. Though the sculptures in The Owl House do not show great detail, I was extrememly fascinated by the tales behind their creation.

That evening, we headed off further into the hills to Weltevreden Farm for a supper in the shed and a wonderful overnight rest.

The next day (04 July), we were on the road again and reached Graaff Reinet. Here we visited the Pierneef Museum, which houses the thirty-two panels Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef was commissioned to paint for the interior of the then-new Johannesburg Railway. These panels are considered to be some of his best work and display his distinctive style. I felt very privileged to view the artwork of one of the best of the old South African masters.

At around noon, we boarded the bus again and roared off to Somerset East to see the Walter Battiss Museum. The Karoo town of Somerset East is Walter Battiss' birthplace and the museum houses a lot of his works. Walter Battiss is considered the foremost South African abstract painter. During a 1949 trip to Europe, he befriended Picasso, who would have an influence on his already quirky style. Though I am not interested in abstract art in general, it was amusing to see the works of someone who taught at my school for many years.

After that short visit, we raced off to Grahamstown. We went straight up to the 1820 Settlers National Monument. The Monument honours the contribution to South African society made by the first big influx of English settlers. However, it commemorates the English language as much as the Settlers themselves, as it is the main venue for the National Arts Festival. At this monument, we received the information regarding the National Schools Festival, which was the main reason for our visit to Grahamstown.

Today's flower: Camellia

2010-06-29T13:06:00.000+02:00

FIFA 2010 hype!

2010-06-28T11:54:00.001+02:00

It has been some two weeks since FIFA 2010 first kicked off here in South Africa. Thanks to this, I have a five-week winter holiday! I am definitely not a fan of the "hooligan sport", and thus did not buy any tickets to watch the games live at the stadia. However, I did take part in this lavishly splendid event in my own way...

My third oil painting!

2010-04-04T19:12:00.000+02:00

My third oil painting is finally complete! It has taken me about a year, with long breaks in between, to finish. The original picture of these irides from which I worked came out of a book for watercolours. I think it definitely has more "feel" in oils.

Back with a photo...

2010-03-28T16:52:00.000+02:00

Whew...what a busy first term back at school, but now it's time for Easter holiday! Anyway, here is a photo I took just yesterday. It seems as if the flower is of the same species as this Foto Friday post...

Kissing a dolphin!

2010-02-06T15:03:00.000+02:00

Three years ago, I was in Hualien Ocean Park and I kissed a bottlenose dolphin! Their skin texture is so smooth and dry.

Foto Friday

2010-01-29T19:36:00.000+02:00

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2010-01-24T09:35:00.000+02:00

This is another one of my French poems...

La vie – c'est quoi?
On voyage
Sur le chemin de la vie
Mais à la fin
On ne saura plus
Le but de cette odyssée.
Cependant, on n'apprend
Qu'une realité:
On détruit cette planète fragile.
Donc, on aurait mieux fait
D'être mort?

Photo source: click here

Foto Friday

2010-01-15T21:29:00.000+02:00

Thought for the day

2010-01-11T14:57:00.000+02:00

There is nothing like the razor sharp tongue of a good friend to cut through the lies we tell ourselves.

~Laura Moncur

Photo source: click here

Foto Friday

2010-01-08T10:17:00.000+02:00

I haven't been away this whole holiday so I haven't had a chance to add to my photo collection. However, here is one I took a few years ago when I visited my home country, Republic of Taiwan. This photo depicts an inlet of Nanfang-ao Port, a major fishing port of Taiwan.

Hualien Distillery

2010-01-07T11:04:00.000+02:00

Here are some innovative ideas on how to decorate a toilet. I took these photos a few years ago, when I visited the Hualien Distillery in Hualien County, Republic of Taiwan.

Merry Christmas to all!

2009-12-24T18:04:00.000+02:00

Here are some Christmas trivia which I found amusing...

1. The abbreviation of Xmas for Christmas is not irreligious. The first letter of the word Christ in Greek is chi, which is identical to our X. Xmas was originally an ecclesiastical abbreviation that was used in tables and charts.

2. In France, Christmas is called Noel. This is derived from the French phrase "les bonnes nouvelles," which means literally "the good news" and refers to the gospel.

3. Christmas trees are edible. Many parts of pines, spruces, and firs can be eaten. The needles are a good source of vitamin C. Pine nuts, or pine cones, are also a good source of nutrition.

4. Christmas trees are known to have been popular in Germany as far back as the sixteenth century. In England, they became popular after Queen Victoria's husband Albert, who came from Germany, made a tree part of the celebrations at Windsor Castle. In the United States, the earliest known mention of a Christmas tree is in the diary of a German who settled in Pennsylvania.

5. Christmas was once a moveable feast celebrated at many different times during the year. The choice of December 25, was made by Pope Julius I, in the 4th century A.D., because this coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. The intent was to replace the pagan celebration with the Christian one.

6. During the ancient 12-day Christmas celebration, the log burned was called the "Yule log." Sometimes a piece of the Yule log would be kept to kindle the fire the following winter, to ensure that the good luck carried on from year to year. The Yule log custom was handed down from the Druids.

7. Hallmark introduced its first Christmas cards in 1915, five years after the founding of the company.

8. Historians have traced some of the current traditions surrounding Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, back to ancient Celtic roots. Father Christmas's elves are the modernization of the "Nature folk" of the Pagan religions; his reindeer are associated with the "Horned God," which was one of the Pagan deities.

9. In 1647, the English parliament passed a law that made Christmas illegal. Festivities were banned by Puritan leader, Oliver Cromwell, who considered feasting and revelry, on what was supposed to be a holy day, to be immoral. The ban was lifted only when the Puritans lost power in 1660.

10. It is estimated that 400,000 people become sick each year from eating tainted Christmas leftovers.

Source: click here

Avatar

2009-12-21T11:47:00.000+02:00

"Avatar", directed by James Cameron, is certainly a compelling movie. Some of the themes portrayed in the film really made me think. Why do culture clashes always seem to end up in a chaotic mess? The colonists (in this movie, the humans) did not appreciate the positive aspects about the indigenous people(the Na'vi tribe). Also, the humans desired the precious stones that were under the dwelling place of the Na'vi tribe. Does this not epitomise what colonisation was about? Lands were only made colonies because they contained valuable resources or because they were "strategic".

I feel that major underlying messages include the destructive potential of science and technology, and the importance of religion as a support. The Na'vi people had a well-established religious belief. The humans tried to destroy the Tree of Souls (the center of Na'vi religion and culture) with their advanced weapons; however, the Tree is unscathed in the end. Does this mean that religion will always prevail over science? However, it is due to science and technology that the protagonist, Jake, was able to "move" into his Avatar (a genetically-engineered human-Na'vi hybrid body). Does this mean that science will aid religion in its fight for survival in modern day society?

As always, love is another theme in "Avatar". It was not only Jake's love for Neytiri, a princess of the Na'vi tribe, but also his love for his adopted home and people, that moved him to protect them.

The Na'vi people lived in harmony with nature because they formed bonds with the wildlife they tamed. This reminds of of the French novel, "Le Petit Prince", where the fox says that to really understand someone, one has to form bonds with it. Does global warming tell us that we do not know our planet well enough yet?

I really thought that the graphics were amazing, especially the 3D effects. I highly recommend this film to everyone, though it is rated PG-13 in USA.

Look at the similarity...

2009-12-18T12:18:00.000+02:00

I saw this post on another blog and I felt a deep urge to post it on my blog. Look at the similarities between the Obama 2008 campaign logo and the logo of the Taiwan Solidarity Union. Does Obama support the independence of Taiwan like the TSU? Well, if he does, I definitely support him!

Poem...

2009-12-17T09:14:00.000+02:00

La realité des examens

Si un jour j’ai un rêve
Je me reveiller
Et je saisirai l’occasion
D’être la personne
Qui se cache dans mon coeur.
Mais maintenant
Je ne suis pas motivé
Et je dois étudier
Pour tous ces examens inutiles.
Donc je deviendrai une personne
Comme les autres – sans individualité
Ainsi, je me baladerai
Sur le chemin de la vie
Et je me poserai une question:
Qui suis-je?
Moi?

Sreddy Yen

(I wrote this poem a few weeks ago when I was really tired of studying for exams. I hope I may have one or two French readers who may comment on this as it is my second French poem...)

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-12-13T15:24:00.000+02:00

Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge.

Audre Lorde (Carribean-American writer, poet and activist)

Foto Friday

2009-12-11T18:58:00.000+02:00

Exams are finally over and I'm back in BlogLand again! Here is today's sunset...

Foto Friday

2009-11-27T19:17:00.000+02:00

Foto Friday

2009-11-21T18:19:00.000+02:00

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-11-15T09:42:00.000+02:00

We are often advised "to give", for giving brings more blessings than receiving. Real happiness is the pure, comforting, and delightful feeling that comes after giving.

~Dharma Master Shi Zheng-Yen

Foto Friday

2009-11-13T14:54:00.000+02:00

Here is another photo from my school camp some weeks ago...

For another photo: click here

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-11-08T13:57:00.000+02:00

I am convinced the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like the leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed.

~ L. Frank Baum (author of The Wizard of Oz)

Photo: Internet

Foto Friday

2009-11-06T14:51:00.000+02:00

This is the flowerhead on top of a leek...

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-11-01T10:23:00.000+02:00

Do not look down on small contributions to society as being shabby. Even the tiniest bolt must be screwed on tightly to function its full capability.

~Dharma Master Shi Zheng-Yen

Foto Friday

2009-10-31T05:52:00.000+02:00

What flower is this?

2009-10-26T19:51:00.000+02:00

Can anyone identify this flower that grows in my garden? It is grows annually at around this time of the year.

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-10-25T08:27:00.000+02:00

To forgive others is to endow kindness on our own self.

~Dharma Master Shi Zheng-Yan

Pretoria, jakaranda stad, dis weer Oktober maand!

2009-10-24T08:26:00.000+02:00

It's that time of the year again when the Jacaranda trees are in bloom. How I love our new purple ceiling! These trees bloom during exam times at the end of the year and thus there is a myth that says if one of the violet flowers drops on your head, you’ll be ok during the exams. Hmmm...I think I must start taking a stroll everyday!

Roses...

2009-10-21T20:55:00.000+02:00

The only flowers that seem to be ablooming in my garden now are roses. Here are some inspirational verses from literature that concern the rose:

What is pink? A rose is pink
By the fountain’s brink.
-Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830–1894), British poet

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
-William Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet)

"Marilla says that a large family was raised in that old house long ago, and that it was a real pretty place, with a lovely garden and roses climbing all over it. It was full of little children and laughter and songs; and now it is empty, and nothing ever wanders through it but the wind. How lonely and sorrowful it must feel! Perhaps they all come back on moonlit nights. . .the ghosts of the little children of long ago and the roses and the songs. . .and for a little while the old house can dream it is young and joyous again."
-Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne Of Avonlea)

"At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows;
But like of each thing that in season grows."
-William Shakespeare (Love's Labour's Lost)

The Secret Garden
"Where, you tend a rose, my lad,
A thistle cannot grow."
-Frances Hodgson Burnett

Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.
Geography and Plays
-Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)

The Rose Family
The rose is a rose,
And was always a rose.
But the theory now goes
That the apple’s a rose,
-Robert Frost (1874–1963)

Gather therefore the Rose, whilest yet is prime,
For soone comes age, that will her pride deflowre:
Gather the Rose of love, whilest yet is time,
Whilest loving thou mayst loved be with equall crime.’
The Faerie Queene (l. 16–18)
-Edmund Spenser (1552?–1599), British poet

The Rose of Battle
Rose of all Roses, Rose of all the World!
You, too, have come where the dim tides are hurled
Upon the wharves of sorrow, and heard ring
The bell that calls us on; the sweet far thing.
-William Butler Yeats (1865–1939), Irish poet and playwright

The Sick Rose
O Rose, thou art sick!
The invisible worm
That flies in the night,
In the howling storm,
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.
-William Blake (1757–1827), Poet

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying
-Robert Herrick (1591–1674), British poet, clergyman

‘Tis the last rose of summer
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone;
’Tis the Last Rose of Summer, (l. 1–4)
-Thomas Moore (1779–1852), Irish poet

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-10-18T09:07:00.000+02:00

Every achievement originates from the seed of determination.

~ Dharma Master Shi Zheng-Yen

Foto Friday

2009-10-16T15:46:00.000+02:00

I have just arrived home from an amazing school camp on Maretlwane, the school farm. This is a scene from our hike...

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-10-11T09:42:00.000+02:00

A false friend is like a shadow - they are only there when the sun shines.

~Anonymous

Photo: Internet source

Hmmm...interesting!

2009-10-10T15:01:00.000+02:00

We all know that potpourri is a mixture of dried flower petals and spices that is used to scent the air. However, do you know the origin of the word?

The word "potpourri" comes into English from the French word "pot-pourri." The French term has two connotations. It is the French name for a Spanish stew with a wide variety of ingredients called "olla podrida." Literally, however, the word "pot" in French has the same meaning as it does in English, while the word "pourri" means rotten. In English, "potpourri" is often used to refer to any collection of miscellaneous or diverse items.

Naturally scented plants used in traditional potpourri include:
allspice, cedar wood shavings, cinnamon bark, cloves, fennel seed, jasmine flowers and oil, lavender leaves and flowers, lemon balm leaves and flowers, lemon and orange peel, marjoram leaves and flowers, mint leaves, mugwort, rose petals or oil, rosemary leaves and flowers.

Photo: Internet source

Foto Friday

2009-10-09T22:40:00.000+02:00

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-10-04T16:19:00.000+02:00

Happiness comes not from material wealth but less desire.

~Dharma Master Shi Zheng-Yan

Foto Friday

2009-10-02T11:46:00.000+02:00

Foto Friday

2009-09-26T09:39:00.000+02:00

Oops...I completely forgot yesterday. Can anyone identify this flower? It is so pretty!

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-09-20T09:47:00.000+02:00

Time is a precious gem to a wise person, but to a fool, it is like a handful of mud, without any significance.
~Dharma Master Shi Zheng-Yan

District 9

2009-09-19T20:57:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, I watched District 9, a South African science fiction film directed by Neill Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson. The film stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope and Robert Hobbs. This film deals with the issues of xenophobia and social segregation. The title and premise of District 9 were inspired by historical events that took place in South Africa during Apartheid in a residential area of Cape Town named District Six.

Despite its positive reviews, I have to say that the language used in the film is horrifying! I don't believe that it is necessary to say "f*&k" after every other word (is this the reason why it was able to reach Hollywood?). However, the film deals with sensitive themes in a highly creative and humorous way which will not offend any race. Also, I think that the special effects were quite well done, considering the film's budget of $30 million. Overall, I would give it 6.5/10.

Foto Friday

2009-09-18T20:06:00.000+02:00

This Friday, I wish to share with everyone the façade of my school. The school building has national monument status. It was built in the Neoclassical style and dates from 1909. The school grounds also include a pine forest and an artificial lake (Loch Armstrong). The grounds form a protected bird sanctuary and are home to several species of birds. Notable alumni include: Max Theiler (Nobel Prize laureate who produced the vaccine against yellow fever), John Smit (captain of the Springbok rugby team) and Damon Galgut (novelist).

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-09-13T10:38:00.000+02:00

We grow wiser by each experience. Wisdom is enhanced through the interaction with people and affairs. Therefore if we avoid that actuality of life, and dislodge from people and affairs, there is no chance to acquire wisdom.

~Dharma Master Shi Zheng-Yan

Foto Friday

2009-09-11T21:55:00.000+02:00

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-09-06T09:54:00.000+02:00

生氣就是拿別人的過錯來懲罰自己
Getting furious is a self-punishment over other's fault.

~Dharma Master Shi Zheng-Yan

Foto Friday

2009-09-04T15:57:00.000+02:00

This week has been so busy that I haven't had the chance to photograph the blooming flowers... This is another photo out of my trip to Antibes last year.

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-08-30T09:23:00.000+02:00

Today, rather than posting Master Chen Yen's Still Thought, I've decided to take a passage from my favourite book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho:

Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realise their destiny.

Foto Friday

2009-08-28T18:48:00.000+02:00

This is just too funny...

2009-08-27T21:26:00.000+02:00

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-08-23T09:40:00.000+02:00

口說好話，如吐蓮花；口說壞話，如吐毒蛇。

Good words are like lotus flowers blooming on our lips; bad words are like poisonous snakes hissed out from our mouth.

Foto Friday

2009-08-21T16:03:00.000+02:00

The Life of a Flower

2009-08-19T16:32:00.000+02:00

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-08-16T09:56:00.000+02:00

信心毅力勇氣三者具備, 天下沒有做不成的事
Nothing is impossible with confidence, perseverance and courage.

Solitude

2009-08-15T14:59:00.000+02:00

The world in which we live is constantly changing, and what society demands from us as individuals is usually different to whom we really are when we are alone. Solitude recalls the image of a hermit, or the anti-social amidst a crowded society. Though these people may be alone, they do not necessarily feel lonely.

Solitude is the perfect haven for self-realisation. It is the oasis in the middle of the desert; the place where one can rejuvenate oneself. Solitude is also the intimate friend who constantly reminds us who we should be. But once released back into the chaotic society in which we live, we lose the "real" us and conform to the absurd social norms. Solitude shows us what we should be, while society shows us what we are.

During the day, we are like ants that are forever interacting with the objects around us. We continually seek for the "food" which will sustain our souls, yet forgetting to enjoy the contentment Mother Nature provides us. Fighting for personal gain seems to occupy most of our time, but we rarely fight for what we desire within.

Monks must be blissful in their serene abodes away from the hustle and bustle of city life because there, they can meditate and find enlightenment. Thus, they benefit from solitude to the fullest. Usually, when I am stressed out, I retreat to my bedroom and recompose myself to find tranquility within. I also enjoy yoga, as it helps me to relax and to feel even-tempered.

On the other hand, there is another type of solitude; one which is forlorn and which is experienced daily by the residents of old age homes. Many of these elderly never experience the joy of welcoming visitors. Certainly, I sympathise with them, for "no man is an island, entire of it self." We all appreciate the company of our friends, as they may comfort us in times of grief or disappointment.

The sun rules the sky alone, and when the clouds decide to conceal its radiance, the sun can do nothing about this except give in. Thus, the day becomes gloomy and dismal. However, when the clouds wish to darken the night sky, it is unsuccessful. The moon always has the company if the stars and together they are invincible. This is true for humans too. If one has loyal friends, one never has to fear the obstacles in one's way, but should one choose to be solitary, one will certainly stumble on the hurdles strewn in front of us.

Many would say that solitude is avoidance, but I believe that it is self-discovery. When alone, we are able to realise all our strengths, yet confront our weaknesses at the same time. Also, we are able to reflect on our past actions and decide to better ourselves. To me, being able to be alone yet feel comfortable with the forever changing world is the most ideal form of solitude.

Foto Friday

2009-08-14T13:58:00.000+02:00

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-08-09T09:55:00.000+02:00

慈悲沒有敵人 ; 智慧不起煩惱
If one is compassionate, one will have no enemies; if one has wisdom, one will have no worries.

Daifuku Mochi...

2009-08-08T16:06:00.000+02:00

This afternoon, my mother and I made some Daifuku Mochi (a Japanese confection consisting of a small round glutinous rice cake stuffed with sweet filling). The ones we made were filled with redbean paste and a strawberry. This type of Daifuku Mochi is very popular in Taiwan. Here is one for you to enjoy...

Foto Friday

2009-08-07T16:44:00.000+02:00

These tomatoes below have endured the winter frost in my garden...

Something which got me thinking...

2009-08-05T16:28:00.000+02:00

To An Athlete Dying Young

The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.

Today, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.

~A. E. Housman

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-08-02T10:36:00.000+02:00

人生沒有所有權，只有生命的使用權。

We do not have a claim on our life, but only the right to use it.

Goodbye..for now

2009-08-01T19:49:00.000+02:00

Dedicated to E.M. Lemmer

Genial time we together passed
Onomatopoeia and metaphors discussed
Obstacles you helped me overcome
Demonstratives and verbs you taught
Blogs and Austen you to me disclosed
You and I
English lessons will I sorely miss.

~ Sreddy Yen

Foto Friday

2009-07-31T15:54:00.000+02:00

This is my first attempt at insect photography...

A haiku for today...

2009-07-27T16:53:00.000+02:00

Wind howls angrily
Dust, helpless, is blown away
What else can it do?

~ Sreddy Yen

THIS IS NOT MY PHOTO: Photo source: click here

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-07-26T10:43:00.000+02:00

要批評別人時先想想自己是否完美無缺

Before critising others, first consider whether we are perfect and without fault.

Foto Friday

2009-07-24T16:03:00.000+02:00

This is the bark of the Common Hook Thorn Tree, or better known as Acacia caffra.

Thought for the day

2009-07-21T16:57:00.000+02:00

A man is like a fraction whose numerator is what he is and whose denominator is what he thinks of himself. The larger the denominator, the smaller the fraction.

~Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910)

Still-Thoughts Sunday

2009-07-19T10:29:00.000+02:00

Dharma Master Cheng Yen of the Tzu Chi Foundation is famous for her "Jing Si Aphorisms". The term "Jing Si"(靜思) in Mandarin means "still thoughts, or to ponder quietly". Every Sunday from now, I wish to share one "Jing Si Aphorism" with you because they have influenced my thinking greatly.

The contents of Master Cheng Yen's daily talks were recorded and sorted into succinct quotations by two groups of disciples who constantly accompanied her. These quotations became known as "Still Thoughts." Before becoming a nun and while engaging in spiritual cultivation at a temple in Taitung, Master Cheng Yen called herself Ching Szu ("Still Thoughts"). The place where she now resides is also named the Abode of Still Thoughts.

In 1989, great virtuous personalities in the cultural world categorized the quotations based on their contents and compiled them into a book that was again entitled Still Thoughts. It became a best seller, with over one hundred thousand copies sold. In 1992, the Tzu Chi Cultural Publishing Company compiled the second volume of Still Thoughts and translated these quotations into an English edition for worldwide distribution.

Because "Still Thoughts" are quotations taken from live events, each and every phrase feels natural. The words contain deep meaning and pure sincerity. It is like The Analects of Confucius: "The longer it is studied, the more lasting and profound is its essence" (from the writings of Cheng Yi). This book has become the precious "bible" by which Tzu Chi people abide in their speech and conduct.

~ From Tzu Chi Foundation Information

This week's aphorism:

發脾氣是短暫的發瘋。

Giving vent to anger is temporary insanity.

Happy Birthday Mr Mandela~!

2009-07-18T09:11:00.000+02:00

Nelson Mandela, born 18 July 1918, is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. The South African courts convicted him on charges of sabotage, as well as other crimes committed while he led the movement against apartheid. In accordance with his conviction, Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. He is currently a celebrated elder statesman who continues to voice his opinion on topical issues. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela supported reconciliation and negotiation, and helped lead the transition towards multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid, many have frequently praised Mandela, including former opponents. Mandela has received more than one hundred awards over four decades, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

In 2009, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664 urged people all over the world to join them in a bid to create an official Mandela Day, which would be held on July 18 each year, not as a public holiday, but as a day to opt in and honour the legacy of South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela, his inspiration and his values through volunteering and community service. Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an imprint.

The Mandela Day campaign message is: Nelson Mandela has fought for social justice for 67 years. We're asking you to start with 67 minutes. “We would be honoured if such a day can serve to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation,” according to a statement issued on Mr Mandela's behalf.

~Compiled from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia

Foto Friday

2009-07-17T16:08:00.000+02:00

TC Camp July 2009

2009-07-13T16:21:00.000+02:00

With a nonchalant heart, I departed for the Sonitusskool in Pretoria on 9 July to participate in the annual Tzu Chi Volunteer Camp. Even though this isn't the first time I've work with Tzu Chi, I wasn't looking extremely forward to this camp.

Dharma Master Cheng Yen, a Buddhist nun, founded the Tzu Chi Foundation in 1966 with only thirty housewives. After forty-three years, Tzu Chi has more than four million members worldwide today. Tzu Chi members observe the Master's teachings, follow her steps and diligently carry out the four Tzu Chi missions of charity, medicine, education and culture. Tzu Chi's benevolent activities have spread far beyond Taiwan to the rest of the world.

The first two days of the camp were spent inside, listening to various presentations on Tzu Chi's history and its missions. We also learnt the correct way in which we must carry out volunteer work, i.e. to treat the people we help with respect and more importantly, gratitude. The reason for the latter is because we must thank these people for suffering in our place and also, we must be grateful to them as they are offering us a chance to do good deeds. Presentations on photographic techniques, first aid and vegetarianism were also conducted. These lectures were amusing and informative.

The highlight of this camp was on the third day, as we were to experience the joy of doing volunteer work ourselves. My group was allocated to an old age home in Johannesburg. I have to say that this was once again a poignant experience for me. Seeing the desire for affection in the eyes of the elderly was very heart-warming. We performed a few Tzu Chi sign-language songs, fed and chatted with these senior citizens. Also, Tzu Chi provided for them relief goods including toilet paper, clothes and socks. I felt gratified seeing the delightful expression in the faces of the elderly after we had interacted with them. This trip has reminded me not to send my parents to an old-age home once they become grey-haired because what old people need is not material goods but care and company.

What made this camp pleasant and fantastic was the group which I was in: "Even-tempered". My fellow group members were cheerful and caring. Also, Richard and Jessie, the group leaders, guided the group excellently. After the "bonding games" on the second day, everyone became trustworthy friends. And thus, with a contented heart, I returned home on 12 July.

Please take a few moments to read more about Tzu Chi at their official website or visit the Tzu Chi page at Wikipedia.

Scenes from the Botanical Garden

2009-07-12T16:31:00.000+02:00

View from the top:

Trip to Botanical Gardens

2009-07-04T15:29:00.000+02:00

I was happy with the sunny weather this morning because I would soon be making my first pilgrimage to the Pretoria National Botanical Garden. How would I know that it was to turn overcast very soon? (Murphy's Law~!) Oh well, at least I did capture some photos with which I am pleased.

I was not expecting to see this Ndebele hut inside the Garden. I just love the colourful designs which they paint on the walls. And I couldn't resist doing the "typical Asian tourist" pose either!

Below are two scenes from my stroll around the Garden (which is in reality 76 hectares and should rather, in my opinion, be called a reserve).

Erm yeah...this was supposed to be a TC get-together, so I did not get to see all that the Garden had to offer. I will soon post more photos in a separate post. Lastly, here is a quote to ponder:

One cannot fix one's eyes on the commonest natural production without finding food for a rambling fancy.

~Jane Austen (1775 - 1817), Mansfield Park

Double movie day...

2009-07-02T17:06:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was Wednesday, which meant that movies were half-price at Nu Metro. So, I decided to watch "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" starring Shia LaBeouf at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre. But because my mother is a huge Nicolas Cage fan, she insisted on watching "Knowing", his latest film.

After much argument, it was decided that we would first watch "Knowing" then "Transformers". I have to say that this is an experience I never want to go through again: viewing two films on a single day~! I was so exhausted and hungry afterwards (I abhor popcorn).

And to make things worse, the films weren't enjoyable. I had no clue what "Knowing" was trying to tell the audience. Also, it created such a macabre atmosphere even though it isn't a horror film. As to "Transformers", it was just too noisy and filled with too much action. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend any of the above mentioned films, especially not "Transformers", which so many people have suggested me seeing.

Photos from Wikipedia

Thought for the day

2009-06-30T10:35:00.000+02:00

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

~Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
~Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)

Photo source: Click here

The Day the Earth Stood Still

2009-06-29T16:28:00.000+02:00

Even though this alien invasion movie starring Keanu Reeves lacks action, I really enjoyed watching it because I feel that the message it's trying to get across to the audience is clear.

The themes of the danger of nuclear warfare and the issue of humankind's environmental damages to the planet is evident in this film. I hope that after viewing this film, I become more aware of the need of our planet Earth.

From the last lines of the film, this message is self-explanatory:
Klaatu: I am leaving soon, and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The universe grows smaller every day, and the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all, or no one is secure. Now, this does not mean giving up any freedom, except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them. We, of the other planets, have long accepted this principle....

and the most important:

Klaatu: If the Earth dies, you die. If you die, the Earth survives.

Photo and quotes from: The Internet Movie Database

Foto Friday

2009-06-26T16:27:00.000+02:00

I cut this camellia from my garden a few days ago - I am so attracted to their fragrance~! In Far Eastern beliefs, the camellia is a symbol of beauty and of fortitude, perhaps because of its ability to bloom in autumn and winter. I now share this flower with all of you, so that these winter gales we're experiencing in Pretoria will not affect you :O)

Foto Friday

2009-06-21T12:04:00.000+02:00

Oops...I completely forgot on Friday...

This week, Chi-Chi pops in to say "Hi~!"

Another poem...

2009-06-18T16:21:00.000+02:00

To Freedom

Glimpsing an eagle in the sky

Gliding above Captivity so high

I desired to heave a hefty sigh

Instead, I waved a gloomy goodbye.

Yearning only to take flight

Once true Freedom is in sight.

~Sreddy Yen

Foto Friday

2009-06-12T16:18:00.000+02:00

Inspiration from cloud-watching...

2009-06-09T13:45:00.000+02:00

Lament for Lost Liberty:

I don't fancy the life of a cloud
Soaring high above the world so proud
Shading the blazing sun as they please
Movement is something that will never cease

Though you meander so wild and free
You cannot forever roam with glee
For when the winds blow
Freedom will be like fecund lands
Frozen with snow.

~Sreddy Yen

World Environment Day 2009

2009-06-05T16:59:00.000+02:00

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. WED is hosted every year by a different city and commemorated with an international exposition through the week of June 5.

The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You - UNite to Combat Climate Change'. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests. WED 2009's host is Mexico which reflects the growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets.

~From UN Environment Programme

Foto Friday

2009-06-05T16:52:00.000+02:00

Exams...

2009-06-01T15:14:00.000+02:00

Haiku: Exams

Exams: stress, success
Do your best to stand the test
Rest is on its way

Sreddy Yen

Foto Friday

2009-05-29T16:00:00.000+02:00

Looking through the photos I took while in France last year, I realised that I haven't posted this butterfly before. I like how the insect stands out against the coarse floor.

Butterfly...

2009-05-18T16:27:00.000+02:00

I recently completed my second oil painting on 20x20 cm canvas (before, I've only worked with acrylics):

On this painting, I tried something new. For the leaves, I placed a real leaf onto the board and I "traced" the outline using a dry brush. I don't know how to describe this and the photos don't do the painting justice (all my photos are taken with a 3 megapixel camera). Some feedback would be nice and I'd also like to know if this method of "tracing" has been used before.

Foto Friday

2009-05-17T09:05:00.000+02:00

Recorder

2009-05-15T15:33:00.000+02:00

Today, I've decided to take some photos of my recorder...

The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes. It was popular from medieval times but declined in the 18th century. Because the recorder lacks in volume and has a limited dynamic range, instruments like the flute, oboe, and clarinet flourished. During its heyday, the recorder was traditionally associated with birds, shepherds, miraculous events, funerals and marriages. The recorder was revived in the 20th century, partly in the pursuit of historically informed performance of early music, but also because of its suitability as a simple instrument for teaching music. Even though it is often thought of as a child's instrument today, there are many virtuosic players who demonstrate the recorder's full potential. It is incorrect to assume that mastery of the recorder is easy just because it is widely played at a basic level. I believe that just like any other instrument, the recorder requires significant study to play at an advanced level. I plan to play my Grade 8 Trinity exam next year...so good luck to myself!

Symbol Saturday: Rose

2009-05-09T11:23:00.000+02:00

This is the beginning of a new series, in which I will explore the fascinating world of signs and symbols. Now, what do I start with? From the words on this page to the stars in the sky, everything has a deeper meaning integral to the world in which we live. Signs and symbols have become part of our identity, changing as we do. For example, brides in the Western world wear white dresses while for the Easterners, white is the colour associated with funerals. As defined in the book "Symbols, Signs and Visual Codes" by Mark O'Connor, signs are "understood as something that stand for, or point to, something else in a more literal way. A sign conveys information about a specific object or idea." Symbols, on the other hand, "tend to trigger a series of perceptions, beliefs and emotional responses."

It was difficult choosing something to start with, but eventually, I have decided to discuss the flower which, in most cultures, represents courtship, marriage and love. While the red rose may be a typical symbol of love, desire and beauty, the white rose is an emblem of innocence, purity, charm and secrecy. In Roman times, rose petals were a valuable currency. Victorious armies returned to streets strewn with petals. Rose petals were also scattered on graves at the Roman festival of Rosaria because roses are symbols of perfection and are also images of the cup of eternal life. In Islam, the rose is sacred to Mohammed while in Christianity, roses are associated with the Virgin Mary.

Roses remind me of the wars in England during the 14th century which gained the name "Wars of the Roses" from the white rose of the House of York and the red rose of the House of Lancaster. Henry VII adopted the Tudor rose with its red outer petals and white inner ones as his standard when he married Elizabeth of York.

Many English idioms include the rose, such as "roses in her cheeks" meaning the tender, delicate pink colour in the cheeks; "rosebud lips/rose petal skin" meaning very soft delicate lips/skin; "a bed of roses" meaning a pleasant, enjoyable situation without any drawbacks or irritations. The Latin phrase "sub rosa" means "under the rose" and is used in English to denote secrecy.

Here are some quotations about the rose:

1. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may/Old Time is still a-flying

— Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time"

2. The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose.

— Kahlil Gibran

I hope you will journey with me every Saturday into the world of signs and symbols. Please leave a comment for any suggestions on symbols for the next week.

Foto Friday

2009-05-08T07:18:00.002+02:00

This week, Cha-Cha pops in to send his greetings...

Foto Friday

2009-05-01T08:17:00.000+02:00

Sunshine...

2009-04-26T19:26:00.004+02:00

After some very windy and overcast days, the sun finally decided to show its face today. The above photo is taken with a 2 megapixels camera...not to bad for a cellphone hey?!

A quote for today:

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.

John Muir (1838 - 1914) Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of U.S. wilderness

Foto Friday

2009-04-24T10:11:00.000+02:00

From today, I'm going to start a series called "Foto Friday"...this means that every Friday, I will post a photo which I have taken. As easy as that...hope you all enjoy~!

Election day in South Africa

2009-04-22T09:07:00.005+02:00

It's a public holiday for students like me who are not "of age" yet. So I decided to write a haiku to commemorate this day:

Elections: choices

Frantic scramble for the top

Decide your future.

~Sreddy Yen