Paper | 5Books to inspire 5New Years resolutions

Coming out of hibernation with 5 good reads.

 

1. Find integrity and meaning in all that you do.

Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie

 

2. As they say in yoga: Now, trees, grow your branches...
MWF seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche

3. Chin up, you fighting, rebellious spirit!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 

4. Live passionately.
The Paris Wife by Paula Mclain

 

5. Live true to nature.
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Bon {WORK} Weekend!

Image via Musings in Femininity

Feeling quite swamped, although Gwyneth, here, looks pretty stoked to be surrounded by crap— I mean, educational material. I'm sorry I keep whining about work. Not cool, I know. I'm going to channel some positive energy, today, so voilà, I present you some weekend motivational // study muuusic:

"You know, a lot of people have various definitions about what jazz is, or what jazz isn't. And after all these years, I've come to the conclusion that all music, if it's played well is good. If it's not played well ... it's not so good. Sometimes, we come up with funny stuff by using our fantasy, and so forth. So now, we're going to try something a little different. [Breakdown.]"

{Side note} I find this quotation pretty hilarious (or, maybe, charming?), because that's how jazz feels for me: A little scattered — with no predictable train of thought, a bit random — but nevertheless, kind of genius.

The electro-nouveau take on jazz really shows how far you can push the limits of this genre. It's exactly how the jazz scene started out in the first place: A pioneer that was either hated or adored. It also goes to show how things really do come full circle.

Random epiphany-status musing of the day?

I really should be writing my paper, instead of thinking about things like this.

Cosmo heartbeats

Handcrafted Modern, Leslie Williamson

Press the arrow button to play.



Favorite Stanzas —

One night to be confused
One night to speed up truth
We had a promise paid
Four hands and then away

Both under influence
We had a divine sense
To know what to say
Mind is a razor blade

To call for hands of above
to lean on
Wouldn't be good enough
for me, no

One night of magic rush
The start a simple touch
One night to push and scream
And then relief

Ten days of perfect tunes
The colors red and blue
We had a promise made
We were in love

Delaying the Real World | Twentysomethingdom

Sometimes, I go on these internet web-jumping la de da's, in which I just google whatever topic of interest I've come upon lately and then jump from link to link to link... Just for fun. It's very educational, in fact!

Today, I began researching something for an article I had to write for my internship. Then, I started thinking about internships, in general and began googling advice on working at an internship (this is my first experience, anyway). Then, I thought of how amazing it would be to have an internship next summer abroad... which led me to more websites and more websites... until I stumbled upon this gem: Delaying the Real World, The Twenty-Something's Guide to Seeking Adventure. Here's a brief excerpt:

"You've got this pearl of a decade in front of you: THE TWENTIES. This is the prime of your life! You've been on a straight path since you learned to tie your shoes, and now suddenly you've got a diploma, enough energy to run the length of the globe, and all the freedom in the world. 

So how are you going to spend the glorious days of your independent youth? In a cubicle, perhaps? Filing papers, or maybe crunching numbers? How about answering phones and scheduling meetings? 

Wrong! Now is the time to do exactly what you want to do and fulfill your wildest dreams. Don't be in such a rush to become boring! Let the early years be more unconventional and experimental. Try things you might never have the chance to do again. When else in life will you have such freedom? If you wait for retirement, the experience won't be nearly as cool. A thousand fleeting opportunities are waiting for you, and there is nothing holding you back from taking your pick. A year of teaching in Brazil? How about working on a vineyard in New Zealand? Or maybe biking across the U.S. strikes your fancy. From event planning at a Las Vegas resort to counseling at a wilderness camp for homeless children, you have such a rich variety of options you won't know where to start... 

The coolest thing about any adventure you choose is that it will be a valuable experience and may even catapult you into a future career. You can never go wrong in doing what you love, because it will only lead you further into your passion. Anyone who says doing the Peace Corps in Botswana or acting in a Shakespeare festival is a waste of time needs to crawl back into their office space. "

I had an interesting convo yesterday - no, make that a vent - voicing my fears that studying fashion and art will turn me into a complete, materialistic SNOB. You can easily get swept up by the glamour of luxury labels and brand names. I feel like everyone around me is obsessed with image. What people don't realize that fashion designers are geniuses - they are intelligent, extraordinary individuals. Sure, a lot of it is about money and social climbing but the ones I really admire - Alexander McQueen, Betsey Johnson, Phillip Lim - they are seriously artistic geniuses! Their collections make me speechless... 

Anywho, back to the topic of Delaying the Real World: coming across this website and book unexpectedly, really brought me back to Earth. It reminded me just how much I need to keep grounded no matter what work I'm doing... and not take stuff so seriously. 

Hoping to Set a New Tone for a Busy, Dramatic Week

The beauty of life is that we are ourselves but we can also use imagination to be anything (doesn't it sound like a reading rainbow song?). So, we can imagine to be in the shoes of other people and wonder why they act a certain way. I'll quote Einstein to back this up: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world." So this is my secret weapon and I'm sharing it with everyone out there (guess it's not a secret anymore). Whatever bad and terribly sickening circumstances finds you, remember that you have a mind- so use it.

When I was little, I had a love affair with a book titled The Little Princess by Frances Hodgsen Burnett (check spelling of author?). This very precocious girl is sent to boarding school, while her father goes to war. The stupid headmistress hates the brilliant girl but sucks up to her because she's mad wealthy. But, the girl's father dies and she is supposedly left penniless because rumor says her father lost all his money before his death. Out of anger, the stupid headmistress makes her a scullery maid. Tough times come about but in spite of all that, the girl rises above all the hatred and humiliation using her imagination. For a seven year-old girl, it was a beautiful story. This wasn't a typical children's book about "self-esteem" (i-think-i-can-i-think-i-can) or believing in yourself. It was pure beauty because that girl was so above all that. She didn't have to prove anything.

It was a beautiful story. And it still is. Imagination, sounds pretty vague, but that's what makes it seems like magic. I'm not going to oversoul this term to death. But lately, I've been finding that imagination and inspiration and peace may be all the same thing. That's my sappy, bohemian moral for the week.

The Other Boleyn Girl | Actually Serious Books

I recently finished the book, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. It was a thorough account of a historical event, I believe. However, one aspect made me uneasy: it felt a bit overly romanticized. Mary Boleyn: sweet and innocent. Anne Boleyn: evil and ambitious. That was that. I didn't really have to finish the book without knowing how literary karma would complete the plot. BUT I will say, we all need one of those summer-beach-reads once in a while. It was a typical scandalous-romance-type read and I'm looking forward to see the movie, a scandalous-romance-type of chick flick.


My next recommendations: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. They're a bit more serious, though I'm hoping Eat, Pray, Love will be a good transition from humorous/serious to actual serious/serious.

Last Minute Preps

So tomorrow is the big day... aka climbing the highest peak in Southeast Asia! Am I ready? Will I make it? Is it going to rain? Too bad the only answer I know is to the latter question... Yesterday, my sister and I "trained." We packed a backpack, put on the mountain boots, and walked all over KK... drawing some strange looks. I've given up on the 'Are you Japanese?' question. I just say yes and continue on my way. We also stopped at a huge farmer's market and bought some souvenirs for friends. I was looking at some picture frames and straw bags but then succumbed to exhaustion- too many things to look at, mental overload. We stopped at Upperstar for dinner and trekked home. Michele, Rosa, and I have already planned to go the spa after the mountain climb... pretty excited for that. As for today, I'll need to go get stuff for the trip, maybe start on some school work (eh...), blog/email, bookstore, enjoy the last week of Malaysia... then, off to Singapore, again :)

PS. I finished Harry Potter... J.K. Rowling is a genius.

Girls Just Wanna Shop

I finally found an internet cafe that I like- after some testing out of different ones. So, I'm back to my reporting. I love using this job as an excuse to use the internet. "Where are you going, Chrysan?" Umm... "I have to go update my blog for the Poughkeepsie Journal!" Haha. It's like getting paid to shop.

Speaking of shopping- I bought a brand new bag from Charles and Keith. And after lunch at the Revolving Restaurant with my family, I discovered a blue stain all along the sides of the bag. I was so mad. No more white bags, for me. It's brand new. I should've bought the velvet black clutch but of course, I went for the bigger bag. I have this habit of taking my life's belongings wherever I go. Oh well, I still have some more shopping to do before I go to college. I'm starting to go for more expensive brands now. It's so annoying when you buy something moderately priced but then they have such easy wear and tear. You have to replace them so often. I don't know- would you rather buy expensive- but higher-quality- stuff or cheaper- but low-quality- stuff?

Aside from clothes and bags, I've noticed that one expensive thing to buy here is... books! Since they all usually come from out of the country, the currency exchange can be brutal. One hardcover book (USD 30) can be about RM100+ here. Last Saturday, I went to the bookstore to buy what else, but the new Harry Potter book! I looked at the price and decided that I would rather buy one back at home. That means, I'll have to wait until mid-August to find out what happens in this series. Not the case for other Harry Potter fanatics. While, I was at the bookstore I saw cameras flashing and a nice car waiting outside. A newly wed, bride and groom, had stopped in (on their wedding day!) to purchase the novel. So, that's what their doing tonight, huh?

Anyway, I'm going for now. Going to Rumba, later tonight with friends. It's the Latin dance club and lounge at the Meridien Hotel! I have pictures from meeting the rugby players from the international team, Asian Barbarians. I didn't know they were so famous, actually... It's annoying that the internet connections at these cafes are so slow. That's the reason I haven't been able to post pictures that easily.

The Pickup

I finished The Pickup this morning- had plenty of time because Rosa kept tossing and turning all night. She couldn't sleep and kept me awake, too. Then I kept tossing and turning. I even fell off the bed and woke up mumbling something. I always do that.. weird. So, now I'm tired, awake, and been restless out of my mind while she sleeps soundly. I do what I usually do when I'm restless- think a lot, read a lot, write... baloney.

So, I read The Pickup and really liked it. It's one of those books that make you think a lot. Even though its' required reading for Cornell... I always find it weird that the books I'm reading run parallel with whatever I'm living. Some songs make you remember a certain time... with me, it's also books. I was thinking about "The Table" in the book... a nameless sort of group that just hangs around the cafe doing nothing but talking... baloney. Kind of a retreat from the real world. And I had that feeling too. People here really like hanging around cafes... In the book, it's the "L. A. Cafe". Yesterday, we were all hanging around the "San Francisco Cafe"... SO WEIRD. and now, its' like a ritual... like in the book. Julie, main character, travels to a completely different world- Africa. here I am, in Malaysia.. halfway around the world. REALLY STRANGE.

And I didn't choose to read this book!! It's required reading!! hmm..

Yesterday afternoon, we went to Sutera harbor (that fancy golf resort place). We had a dim sum buffet... pretty fancy. The place, in itself, is a luxury-for-white-people-mainly kinda place. It's really beautiful. I always have the uncanny ability to choose the best items on the menu... I ordered chicken dumplings, crispy noodles with seafood, shanghainese style buns, pan-seared fish in thai sauce, red been sesame rolls, egg tarts, and mango pudding. (wow I'm getting hungry again). maybe I was meant for fine dining. heh. lunch was amazing though. really. Sutera is on a peninsula sort of thing.. I can see it from my bedroom window. it's especially pretty with all the lights at night. The whole place is supposed to be a golf club.. but its really a lot more- what with restaurants, sea activities, pools, bowling, karaoke, bars and lounges, hotels... more like a resort!
And very trendy. The poolside bar is actually carved into the pool so that the bartenders are level with swimmers. You can actually swim over to the bar and there are seats under water... order a drink, while still in the pool!! I'm amused so easily.. couldn't stop staring.

Anyway, I explored all the possibilities for sea activities. We're planning on island hopping.. I can finally go snorkeling again!!!! So excited. And also try something totally new... scuba diving! I'm so pumped. If you haven't figured it out.. I'm a nature enthusiast and addicted to anything adventurous... so, updates later on the revolving restaurant and transformers!