Some Thoughts
The CNY period is drawing to an end soon. I still vividly remember the times I returned to Johor and KL during CNY when I was younger. I would be abounded with excitement and anticipation to spend time with relatives of similar ages as me. Playing Poker, watching Crayon Shinchan, savouring roasted pig, going to the market place to have chendol...and most exhilarating of all: lighting fire crackers. I stayed at my grandparents' house when I returned to KL. It was dilapidated, and there's even a cemetery behind it. However, I've never heard or experienced any paranormal activity there. Relatives pay visits, and the whole house would be full of warmth and laughter on this joyous occasion. I was very close with this cousin of mine. Her mum, who is my aunt, resides in HK. She studied in MY and live with my grandparents though. Every year when I went back, I could see how jubilant she was. When we arrived KL in the wee hours of the morning, we would first catch some sleep at my grandparents' house. Then, I would be awakened, when it was still early, by her noise and footsteps on the wooden flooring. In my groggy state and half shut eyes, I could see her peeking into the room, can't wait for me to wake and play with her. My sister and brother mingled with cousins of older ages, similarly for me and that cousin. My sister's "gang" were like in the late teens or early twenties. Slight generation and age gaps, and they would always go light fire crackers without my gang. As children, we wouldn't want to miss out on the fun, so we would always go to the back to of house to find them. When they heard us coming, they would quickly go into hiding, or change location. And then, the stalking and avoiding processes continued. When their party was tired, they went back into the house and we followed. As if they genuinely need a break. They took advantage of the oblivion of my gang and sneaked out once again...
Now, all the above mentioned events were no longer standard. One reason is because we have all grown up. Fire crackers do not seem to excite us as much as before. That cousin whom I was close to, used to be boisterous and naive. Now, she...how to say. From her dressing, make-up and actions, you know her personality has sort of changed. Like this year, she was so adhesive to her boyfriend all day, and we no longer spend quality time like in the past. On another note, the practice of lighting fire crackers or fireworks has not seemed to have diminished. When I went back to Johor this year, after the clock struck twelve, indicating the first day of CNY, the sky was full of fireworks (not that there weren't any before that, but even more). It's like, the whole night sky was free for you to select any field of view, and the firework displays were so brilliant and spectacular. The whole torrent of fireworks last about one hour plus, without an interval of disruption of more than a minute. The exploding lights in the sky temporarily lighted up the clouds and the thundering sounds seemed to be tearing the sky apart. No kidding. Sometimes, the thought of pollution came into my mind. Yeah I think it's really heavy pollution, but, it's not like people put fireworks like this everyday or every month. At the end of the day, I didn't really delve into the detrimental consequences of putting firecrackers/works...
Another thing. Last night I saw on the news that there are heavy snow in many parts of Japan. Like in a particular place, an avalanche killed a trio that was bathing in an outdoor pool at a hot springs inn. The heavy blizzards are not that long since the Fukushima incident. I mean, time is needed to clear the wreckage and for reconstruction of a devastated place, and now, another disaster strikes. Who knows what more would happen in the near future. Yesterday night my father was saying that it is Japan's retribution for triggering the second world war. This cannot be confirmed, but if that is really the case, then why now? The new generations of Japanese are innocent, and similarly new people are replacing the old ones in other parts of the world. Like what my teacher discussed during one GP lesson, the old hatred, discords, and strifes can be erased and forgotten over time. Now we talk about international travel, about people heading to Hokkaido to savour crabs, to Hirosaki to view Cherry Blossoms... Japanese technology has helped to improve lives of people and the Japanese are also notable for the politeness, no? It's like, there is mostly peacetime now, and the brutal, ruthless image of Japan has probably been replaced with a more positive one. It's a pity if Japan receives her harsh comeuppance because of what past people do, and even after it is no longer a warring country.
Ever wondered why most oil deposits are found in the Middle East and other less developed countries? I think it's a gift from God. The oil is meant to help them earn revenue and to develop. Unfortunately, people often cannot see eye to eye and engage in heated disputes, culminating to wars and destruction, trapping the people in a poverty cycle and wasting precious resources. Or, countries are constantly haunted by corrupt, inefficient and incapable leaders. Hence, even with a plentiful reserve of oil, a country still cannot achieve proper economic growth. Going into wars make people poorer, and when they are poor, it builds their greed and hunger for money and profits. That's when they want to own more oilfields and oil becomes a firestarter of yet another dispute. People should learn to share, be thoughtful and wise. Some things are indeed lamenting. I think that imperfections need to be present in order for us to strive for betterment. However, some imperfections will only land people in an endless suffering and they just have to wake up. Like, from what I saw from yesterday's news as well, supporters of an Egyptian football team sparked a havoc and raided the pitch because they could not accept the defeat. I mean, no matter how much the team means to you, it's a football game. Having said, there is a possibility of losing. One cannot infuse other matters into a football game and aggravate the anger within. When it's a football game, talk about sportsmanship. It's not like supporters of the opposing team jeered? Stay wise and don't let insanity get the better of you, that's the first step to creating peace, and isn't that what people are coveting for?
Now, all the above mentioned events were no longer standard. One reason is because we have all grown up. Fire crackers do not seem to excite us as much as before. That cousin whom I was close to, used to be boisterous and naive. Now, she...how to say. From her dressing, make-up and actions, you know her personality has sort of changed. Like this year, she was so adhesive to her boyfriend all day, and we no longer spend quality time like in the past. On another note, the practice of lighting fire crackers or fireworks has not seemed to have diminished. When I went back to Johor this year, after the clock struck twelve, indicating the first day of CNY, the sky was full of fireworks (not that there weren't any before that, but even more). It's like, the whole night sky was free for you to select any field of view, and the firework displays were so brilliant and spectacular. The whole torrent of fireworks last about one hour plus, without an interval of disruption of more than a minute. The exploding lights in the sky temporarily lighted up the clouds and the thundering sounds seemed to be tearing the sky apart. No kidding. Sometimes, the thought of pollution came into my mind. Yeah I think it's really heavy pollution, but, it's not like people put fireworks like this everyday or every month. At the end of the day, I didn't really delve into the detrimental consequences of putting firecrackers/works...
Another thing. Last night I saw on the news that there are heavy snow in many parts of Japan. Like in a particular place, an avalanche killed a trio that was bathing in an outdoor pool at a hot springs inn. The heavy blizzards are not that long since the Fukushima incident. I mean, time is needed to clear the wreckage and for reconstruction of a devastated place, and now, another disaster strikes. Who knows what more would happen in the near future. Yesterday night my father was saying that it is Japan's retribution for triggering the second world war. This cannot be confirmed, but if that is really the case, then why now? The new generations of Japanese are innocent, and similarly new people are replacing the old ones in other parts of the world. Like what my teacher discussed during one GP lesson, the old hatred, discords, and strifes can be erased and forgotten over time. Now we talk about international travel, about people heading to Hokkaido to savour crabs, to Hirosaki to view Cherry Blossoms... Japanese technology has helped to improve lives of people and the Japanese are also notable for the politeness, no? It's like, there is mostly peacetime now, and the brutal, ruthless image of Japan has probably been replaced with a more positive one. It's a pity if Japan receives her harsh comeuppance because of what past people do, and even after it is no longer a warring country.
Ever wondered why most oil deposits are found in the Middle East and other less developed countries? I think it's a gift from God. The oil is meant to help them earn revenue and to develop. Unfortunately, people often cannot see eye to eye and engage in heated disputes, culminating to wars and destruction, trapping the people in a poverty cycle and wasting precious resources. Or, countries are constantly haunted by corrupt, inefficient and incapable leaders. Hence, even with a plentiful reserve of oil, a country still cannot achieve proper economic growth. Going into wars make people poorer, and when they are poor, it builds their greed and hunger for money and profits. That's when they want to own more oilfields and oil becomes a firestarter of yet another dispute. People should learn to share, be thoughtful and wise. Some things are indeed lamenting. I think that imperfections need to be present in order for us to strive for betterment. However, some imperfections will only land people in an endless suffering and they just have to wake up. Like, from what I saw from yesterday's news as well, supporters of an Egyptian football team sparked a havoc and raided the pitch because they could not accept the defeat. I mean, no matter how much the team means to you, it's a football game. Having said, there is a possibility of losing. One cannot infuse other matters into a football game and aggravate the anger within. When it's a football game, talk about sportsmanship. It's not like supporters of the opposing team jeered? Stay wise and don't let insanity get the better of you, that's the first step to creating peace, and isn't that what people are coveting for?
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