Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! (video I took at Cheonggyecheon)

Dreams and magic

 

It’s almost intuitively such that the surge of emotions and the urge to write come almost instantaneously. Not a doubt, I’ve watched my favourites all over again, a couple of days to Christmas. Watched Before sunset, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve got mail in the wee hours, like they are some prelude to the festive season only that festive is not quite the word, it’s the warmth one feels whenever Christmas is near. Of course I must apologize to many out there who may think otherwise, but for me, Christmas is unforgivably liken to a cup of hot chocolate with a marshmallow on a rainy day, or the pair of boots that make the splashes of that puddle of water. Somehow, am able to identify myself with some of the characters in the movies and having watched them repeatedly over the years, I can even recite most lines without any mistake. Just like Nora Ephron has written in her scripts, many of us have our own play-lists in terms of music and movies, and they are part of what made up our identities now, I guess. The thought of a second chance in love in Before Sunset, that there may be a someone who will complete your life and that you will stay and not dissolve into molecules should you be hugged by him/her is heart-warming. And that winter would be so cold without warm memories, since we already missed the spring as suggested in An affair to remember featured in Sleepless in Seattle will remain ever so true. I may still wonder if there would really be a someone who will be waiting on top of that Empire State building or wherever we are meant to meet and that we are M.F.E.O….made for each other. I will be reading the signs and hopefully he does decode and know them too, and one touch of his hands and we’ll both know that we will be together forever. Forever is indeed a big word, so much so that one may get nervous or get cold feet at the thought of such an engagement, still, I am sure at the presence of someone, anyone would have just held tight to each others’ hands and never want to part. And yes, do bump into me round the corner, whether or not it’s arranged or by mere coincidence or accident. It’ll be great to share a latte at the coffee on the go, or just sit around and talk about books and music and movies we both love in a mega-bookstore or just a tiny, cosy bookshop. A daisy is rare on this island then send me a mail and let me hear the beat of my heart and only that when the PC lit up that powerful three words–You’ve got mail. (Or does it make up four words instead?) I know I wouldn’t care if it’s in Paris or New York, Seattle or Baltimore, for as long as there is this destiny prescribed by the great “cosmic” whom I know personally as Lord God, I will fly to be with him. It’s Christmas and it will always be full of hopes and dreams and magic. Three days to Christmas for the year 2007, I am just relieved and glad that I am still pure and spiritually connected to appreciate what life has for me and all.  And so to all readers out there, have a magical Christmas!

Stay…Reality bites

One of my most favourite actors, Ethan Hawke starring in this movie before his Before Sunset sequel. Of course there was the ever so beautiful Winona Ryder whom I guess acts better than she occasionally does her act at the shopping malls. And to think that it was Ben Stiller’s first attempt at directing, this guy is truly talented! So what’s so great about the movie? Yet another Youth and confusion, angst and complication all-in-one production? Well, I kind of like the philosophical confusion, life getting mixed up yet never giving up on finding one’s own identity without any role models or heroes to look up to. What’s life? What about relationships? That sex is the quickest way to ruin friendship? And what is it that I need? That there will really be someone there who is concerned and who gets groovy over one or two of those rock pieces? Well, for everyone will die alone someday, the answer to many of those unanswered questions is really simple, it’s….hmm…I don’t know!

만나죠?

Pass on the plate of fortune cookies, the fate lies not in one’s hands. The spring does skips its turn when winter lasts longer than it should, and turning around doesn’t turn back the time, what’s past has past. No one is a philosopher when the heart needs to be dried of its tears flowing endlessly, the rational cannot tally with the emotional and sanity fails to act on its will.  Don’t pretend to know when knowing is too profound for the faint heart, the light’s too dim, teardrops to be ignored. Day after day, running after something that is never in sight will not reap its harvest, winter has come, the harvesting autumn long passed. Hear the words, if not the flying foliage, the colours long faded, the skies too high to reach for. Perhaps the legends and folklore have it, when the magpie is in sight, a meeting is inevitable. Then one magpie came and flew away, another followed suit, still, besides these magpies, no one was in sight…

Worldcup Stadium

언제 꿈은 아루어진어요? 아니면 꿈이에요? 이제 중요치 않아요.

I decided to go down to the World-cup Stadium, to visit the museum and just to see how it would be like in the winter. The air was freezing cold, especially so when the wind blew directly at one. The subway ride was a smooth one, not as crowded as taking the other lines and will definitely get a seat to and fro, but it also means a rather boring ride. Meant to just take a long ride down to Incheon so that I can look outside the window where Hangang is, then again, that is not my destination for the day. So it was all the way to the Stadium, going through every significant year of the growth of the soccer team(s) for them to finally emerge fourth placing in the 2002 World Cup.  In actual fact, there wasn’t much to look at, apart from some rather interesting soccer related interactive games. Took a picture with the team using multimedia technology of course, with Park Ji Sung right in front of me! (He’s finally returning to the field upon recovery from his injury, well all the best and all the way “Ji“!) What truly caught my attention was the words on the wall…Dreams come true…do they? so dream on! Or will be…well, dream on!…..?  

Vincent

First heard the song in class back in junior high school. It was during an English class but I can’t remember how it came to be included in the lesson. Yet the song was so impactful and I knew it was sung by its songwriter, Don Mclean and immediately after school that afternoon, I went running to all music stores to search for the album. I did not make it in the first attempt but eventually, somehow, I was able to find it after some hard work. And the song has been imprinted in my mind since. Later in my senior high school days, I came to know a little about the Western Art History and was first introduced to a great artist whom my teacher admires. He was nonetheless the great Vincent Van Gogh. You can imagine the joy I have had when the song and to whom it was written for finally made sense to me. And though I love other artists like Picasso and Monet, Matisse and Klimt, Van Gogh remains one special person to me.

This exhibition claims to be of the largest scale outside Holland and many important pieces were revealed right before my eyes. Yet I was searching high and low for my first Van Gogh paintings, the Sunflower or The Starry Night and of course they weren’t there. Looking at his paintings, I couldn’t help asking the question how did he gain such popularity and admiration when he may not be as skilful as Picasso or that his impressionistic mood can’t really be compared to Monet’s masterpieces. So is it just his sorrowful life and premature death? Or is it because of his thick paint brush strokes? Then I saw the brush strokes that always suggest movement such as the rays of the sun and in the painting, The country road in Provence by night, every single stroke or brush may also depict the varying tones of colors and the change in the light. Sometimes just by slapping a different color onto the backdrop of the canvas will bring about a 3-dimensional effect and pieces such as Sorrow and the Sorrowful old man (at eternity’s gate) are just some examples of how his paintings can move you with simple yet sincere brush strokes.

To be true, it’s still his life and personality that make him special to me. And the song that went…for they couldn not love you, but still your love was true…I remembered listening to it years after my first encounter after a glass of long island tea and someone just said it softly to my ears,  ”Vincent”…That happened too, on a starry starry night. 

역

像個永遠的旅人

Rhythm of the falling rain

 

It finally started to rain, sort of expected it to and grace be to the Lord, it stopped when I got back to my humble abode. Been learning new things day by day, seeing and feeling the change or some may call it the progress or others will call it the decadence of the city. I decided to sit on the fence, at least until I am more certain of how I really feel and what I really think. Been to Mok-dong this evening, just checking the place that SJ used to be at some time back since I didn’t make it to his hometown. Nothing in particular at that point of time, mere curiosity I should think, it’s like my sense of curiosity is finally back and that is definitely a good sign. I guess everyone yearns to have a little adventure in a trip, like wanting to have some excitement in life and certainly to be in a purposeful journey or something. Been listening to the sounds and noise, the rhythm of this city these few days. Instead of plugging into the Ipod like always, acting cool and simply disinterested, I chose to stick out my ears to listen carefully to the heartbeat of the city and it turns out to be in sync with me. Finally, I am like part of it, no discomfort whatsoever, no pretence, no obligation too, am just a part of the city and a part of the masses, the hearts that beat as one.  This is again what I am going to miss much about this place, like cutting a piece of myself whenever away from it. Peculiar thought, yet so true….

Seoul search

Took the public bus non-stop, all in a day. It was so addictive that I just couldn’t stop. Been wanting to do this for a long time and even when I wasn’t alone, there was simply no chance too since the subway is so efficient and convenient. Yet I never actually like traveling in the subway. Call me a dinosaur, would always prefer taking the bus or the train for that matter, things that are too easy to come by will get by with or without too easily, that is exactly what I dislike about it. Found yet another fun activity and that would certainly be the playing “getting-lost in the big city”, something like hide and seek only that one is playing only by oneself. kind of like it, the many facets of life when you allow yourself to be lost. you will be found in a very different manner and that is what life is all about, I think, finding oneself. Well, this certainly sounds like an answer to the question I’ve posed just a day ago. Perhaps the chapter on Plato and Aristotle did get into my dumb head. Was wondering how on earth can one come out with such a brilliant idea of The World of ideas like Plato did, and Aristotle can actually reject it!  Will get to this in the future posts if I can actually consolidate my own train of thoughts.

Saw something quite disturbing today. The many vagrants at the subway station, lying their boxes acted as their bed or house or something. So many of them and nobody except myself seems to care much about it. In this freezing cold night when the temperature can easily dip to a mere below 6 degrees celsius, I just can’t bear the thought of how they can survive with those paper boxes. But they will survive I am sure, or at least I have seen some packing up and go in the day at the Seoul Station. They just bring along their blanket, if they have it in the first place and then they move from one place to another. Sometimes, they may be lucky to get a bottle of soju from begging along the streets and then it’s getting warm and drunk. I don’t like the drunkards and they come in all sizes and shapes, regardless of age and certainly, usually of the same gender–male. It could be a scary encounter when you are dragged along by any of these like a lady I saw at the Yeongdeungpo station. It is one of those bus or train terminals where you travel to and fro Seoul and some parts of the country and again, you get to see a lot of reality in this big city. The irony is that so many of these happened right before your eyes and no one actually bothers to care or most did not, saw some kind souls volunteering their time and effort and maybe even money to distribute free hot beverage to the homeless outside the Cityhall station. I really think that the government should do something about the gap between the rich and the poor and this comes in aptly and timely since it’s the election period. Apparently, it will be the presidential election day on 18 December or around that period of time. 

The cityhall and alongside the Cheonggyecheon have Chirstmas trees and the decor all nicely out up to welcome the festive season. The departmental stores playing merry-making songs non-stop and just looking at the prices of their so-called discounted wares and you will understand why Seoul is the most expensive city in Asia, it sure is. I mean I love Seoul, will always be missing Seoul when I am away, the vivacious spirit of her optimistic people and the festive mood all year round. Yet, I think more of her people will need to pause and reflect upon themselves, what really matter in their lives and in life itself. Am reminded of the full-length mirrors erected in almost or all subway stations and I think to myself, why care about the reflection in the mirror instead of reflecting within one’s self? I have no answer to this as I too am always lost in the chasing after the clouds and the wind. It’s like the debate of the philosophers and their philosophies, whether to be more Hellenistic or to be more Socratic/Platonic. We are but each a dweller in Plato’s allegory of the cave, each seeing the shadow and imagining that we have perhaps caught a glimpse of the image of the shadows.

The night gets even colder, my hands are numbed till they hurt and the head gets numbed too, bet the brain cells are too. One thing for sure, people will always flock to the more delightful to the senses, this therefore explains why Dongdaemun is bubbling with life 24/7  while the self-professed never to sleep Namdaemun is merely breathing its last at half past eight in the evening. And as for Incheon Chinatown, well, you will only get an eyeful of older folks in the train line 1 and buses loaded with easily excitable tourists. This writer is only interested in its Jajangmyeon served in the seafood flavour.

August Rush

Watched the movie today, it was great. Must admit that it was actually a feel good movie, not quite art house or anything to say about its possible aesthetic values, but I really like the way that it portrays music to be and to make everyone wants to listen more to the many sounds produced around us, even noise made. Like the fact that the classical and the rock can go hand in hand, not anything new since many other of its predecessors have already done that and also in the music making such as Storm or the  Nanta( Korean version) have long explored that genre. Still, it was good, a simple story with some really heart warming numbers. At one point, I was almost brought to tears and that was when the protagonist was asked the question”what is it that you most wanted in this whole wide world?” And then it was just a simple one word answer ”Found”.

I was speechless and felt a pang in the heart for like two seconds? To be found like how he would find his way by following the music that keeps running to him? To be found in this entire universe when all one could do sometimes, is really to be waiting to be found… …The snowflakes flying in the air, freezing temperature and yet, the heart was warmed by the belief that I am not alone in thinking stupidly, well, believing in things good.

August Rush. I think there will be better movies in the recent release, but it will remain in my mind for sometime. And what a coincidence, there’s actually a movie title that suits my day–Christmas in August. Well, it did snow even though Christmas will take some time to arrive.