are you chinese enough?

i am definitely not. why? because i can't speak my own dialect fluently. i skipped many traditions and cultural events. i've never been to china before. and most of all, i am not fair. the only thing that i can be proud of or to show off that i am indeed a chinese is my small eyes and nowadays they are not enough for others to conclude that i'm a chinese (i know, nobody to blame...) but when reading this book, i realized i am just way too far to be considered as a chinese. i know nothing about my own culture. shame on me!

this book explains to me why the elderly act the way they do, why they are so stiff and strict to their children, why they don't show much affection as the westerners do, their perception on money, health, image; some insights on "prohibitions"/pantangan, our parents expect us to follow whatever "they" want us to do without asking what "we" want; and how secretive we, chinese, are on our sexual lives. it indeed is an interesting book to read.

looking forward to read sky burial, where can i find it, hmmm....

another book by shannon dale

it's a simple book with simple storyline. it's suitable for school-aged kids (yes, i'm way too far for the age range), but it's fine if you prefer a light book. to be honest, quite plain with a small expected twist at the end. i still prefer goose girl than this, though.

what makes me read to the end though is that shannon always brings something unique into her book. in this case, she has these 'poems?' or 'haikus?' (not sure what they are, i'm bad at literature) to open every new chapter, and i love them.

No wolf falters before the bite
So strike
No hawk wavers before the dive
Just strike

pg. 113

I'll raise the ladle to your lips
Dips water on your fingertips,
And stay although my heart says flee
Will you look up and smile at me?

pg 123

Look no farther than your hand
Make a choice and take a stand

pg 178

Thinking it's impossible makes it so. ~Doter~

pg 254

dilettante's first debut!

welcome to dilettante!

it means amateur in italian. i always wanted to try this! yatta! i'm quite happy for the first tryout! :) ottokhe?

ps: thxs sis for being my first ever model! :D

kakashi sensei

it's been years since my bro's friend gave this to him. but he didn't touch it at all. out of patience, i painted it. he got quite upset when i showed the picture to him :P

photograph of the month: may 2011

oopsy... it's late again! :(

fiore

my mom's gardener sold her two beautiful flowers. one named batavia, and another is ... (she forgot what her flower's name is). gotta ask the gardener. delighted to take their pictures.

.-.. --- ...- . .. - ! (love it!)

i bought this book as my own birthday present last couple of months. Not only i bought the book, but also register as a member of a bookstore. i never thought that i'd love times! times definitely heals my yearning for border.

it's a children's book, but there's no restriction it is for kids only. it's surely light for kids to read, yet it's wide and capturing at the same time. normally i strict myself to read thinner books, i'd avoid books which are thicker than my bible. but for this title i'll go for the second and the third books!

highly recommended for everybody who loves adventure, intrigues, riddles, and fun!