A Flower By Any Other Language

I'm posting this for the unexpectedness value: when I saw the link to "Chinese version of Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" I thought it would be the usual Chinese cover of a Japanese song by Chinese singers, but turned out it was SMAP themselves (the original Japanese singers, none of whom speak Chinese) singing it.



If I understand correctly they released this Chinese version for charity in support of the earthquake relief efforts. I've been out of touch with Japan entertainment news for quite a while, so I've only found out about this from the recent news about them serenading the Chinese Premier with this song during his Tokyo visit.

Pronunciation aside, I think the Chinese cover is really not too bad. It maintains most of the original meaning of the song without being overly translation-awkward, it rhymes well, and the overall thing is pretty amusing. =D Maybe it helps a lot that the song has pleasant and catchy melody to begin with. In fact, my favourite version of the song so far is the lyricless one:



...by a Chinese group, come to think of it. How great that music is universal, don't you think? =)

Listen

This year's Vesak resolution: listen.

This year we have an inter-faith celebration that is open to public, do drop by if you're interested! =)

十二色と 一色あたし

The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.
-- Ludwig Wittgenstein

And I lament the limits of my understanding of this language sometimes, there being someone who speaks so beautifully in it...

...but thankfully the eloquence is not only in words.

Of Witches and Wizards

A quick recommendation of my breakfast reading today:
Why Gandalf Never Married - 1985 Talk by Terry Pratchett

It discusses the portrayal of gender and magic in fantasy literature (he later wrote Equal Rites on this theme). While there are a number of references to the fantasy genre, I think his sense of humor is generic enough for everyone to enjoy. *dangles bait*

Reporting In

It's been a long time since the last blog. There's work, and then there're other things... The usual excuse, you know the drill, lol. I guess I just didn't have as many introspective moments as before, or as many mini-epiphanies I think worth sharing.

Something important to me actually happened recently: my first trip to Japan. =) The main purpose was to attend a work-related exhibition in Tokyo, but of course, I didn't miss the chance to go to a planetarium. Two 40-min shows back-to-back. =q I also briefly infiltrated Tokyo University, indulged myself along the Used-Books Street, got a cheap music CD from the famous Akihabara (and got tempted by a new Sony Ericsson / Cybershot model that might not even make it to Singapore), and took really pleasant strolls along the vast gardens / parks / shrines despite the spring season not yet arriving; among other adventures (and misadventures). Facebook photo albums will follow soon, maybe. (For those photos, I definitely still love my Elm.)



The second-last day of my trip coincided with the Sendai earthquake, which was also my first earthquake experience. It was rather frightening when the building shook violently, but having no prior scale to compare, at the moment I had no idea how severe it was and so didn't really panic. =X Everyone around were calm, even though they did say it was stronger than usual. So it was only later when I realized that public transport had all ceased operating, that I started to feel lost and worried about getting back to the hotel and contacting my family.

Long story short, I had a long long walk (and climb) back to my room that day, but still considered myself lucky when I saw the stranded people sleeping on the floor in the hotel lobby / McDonalds / any available indoor space on my way back, and even more so when I watched the round-the-clock TV news on the tsunami-hit areas. The aftershocks continued to worry everyone, but my flight back departed as scheduled, and here I am.

So yeah, I was happy to be there, and also happy to be back. Warm and humid tropical weather that's kind to the skin and a solid ground you can take for granted. Not traumatized, for sure; I definitely still want to visit Kyoto and Nara one day. =) And having a not-so-bad experience of the earthquake firsthand is good for heightening my empathy towards natural disaster victims. (To quote from Les Miserables, "A little drop of rain can hardly hurt me [...] and rain will make the flowers grow.")

Moving on... I'd say it was back to normal life, but there have been some new experiences at work (attending some intimidating meetings) and outside it (trying to impart my half-baked skills to a group of youths with my half-baked teaching competence; contributing to fundraising projects...) as well. There were also catching-up meet-ups which went pleasantly. I think I'm pretty much enjoying life as it is right now, the excitement and the placidity alike.

A reflection to close off: I dropped by Eka's blog where she wrote at one point:

"It's between choosing your heart and your head. The sceptical-in-love me really wondered if choosing your heart will always make you happier."

That reminded me of a review on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Michael Cohen, who said of Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage as

"a marriage [...] that shows us not that prudent choices lead to happiness but that the prudent are happy choosing prudently."

(No full source, but it was quoted here.) I think that is very well put.

Little Happiness

me and my bits of happiness
a sound,
a sight.

we and our bits of happiness
a touch,
a smile.

If Winter Comes, Can Spring Be Far Behind?

The Four Seasons
NIKIIE


Don't stop talking; please try to go on,
since these unsettled feelings have surfaced.
Nights so lonely that your tears won't fall,
how many of those have you endured alone?

Those who say "I can't"
are not those who want to run away,
but those who don't want to give up.

Because there is spring, summer comes;
Because there is summer, autumn comes;
Because there is autumn, winter comes;
It is a natural thing that the world changes.


Being free from trouble, is that happiness?
It is when you're deeply troubled that certain things will surface.

Those who say "All of myself vanishes"
are not those who want to erase things,
but those who want to change themselves.

Because spring comes, winter is dear;
Because winter comes, autumn is dear;
Because autumn comes, summer is dear;
It is by oneself that the world is changed.


What is it that can't be given up? Who is it that won't give up?
You know it from the start, don't you?
Don't stop talking; please try to go on.

Because there is spring, summer comes;
Because there is summer, autumn comes;
Because there is autumn, winter comes;
It is a natural thing.

Because spring comes, winter is dear;
Because winter comes, autumn, too, is dear;
Because autumn comes, summer, too, is dear;
It is by oneself that the world is changed.


---


Post title has nothing to do with the song, but the conveyed meaning is certainly related.

Before We Can See the Sky

I really should have stalked her better. Not only so that I wouldn't discover these beautiful things so late, but also so that I can perhaps start saying what I've been hearing people say about k.d. lang: "This woman can do no wrong." =D


Katie Melua - Blowing in the Wind (Bob Dylan cover, live)




There have been many renditions of this song but the only one I've heard before this is Peter, Paul and Mary's acoustic version (at the time when I haven't known what the lyrics meant yet). While I like this one for its own style, the comparison just added on to my marvel at the dynamics in Katie's rendition.

On the topic of seeing the sky... 
Welcome back, my beloved clouds, colours of sunset, glimpses of stars.
心配していた--
また会えて良かった。