时光飞逝。没想到我喜欢郭富城也快三十五年了。当时我才九岁。他现在也快六十岁了。听说他的第三孩子在多几个月会到来了。 我的偶像真是宝刀未老！恭喜恭喜！
Time flies. Aaron Kwok has been my idol for the past 35 years. I was 9 years old when I first heard his iconic song, 对你爱不完 or Love for you never ends. He is definitely the best singer dancer.
Time for the mooncakes and pomelo with family. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
First published on 31 July 2022 (from 2nd paragraph onwards). Straits times should fact check and not publish false information from western media that Taiwan is not China. Officially, Taiwan is known as Taiwan Republic of China (ROC). Now I rarely buy Straits times. Politicians should be mindful and not create unnecessary conflict by retracting the One China policy that was agreed by both Taiwan ROC and China. Don't take peace for granted. I posted the following post 3 years ago.
I enjoy going to the National Palace Museum in Taipei to admire the exquisite antiques and arts. These antiques spanning from Shang dynasty to Qing dynasty were secretly transported from China to Taiwan when Chiang Kai-Shek realised that they might lose the Civil War (1927-1949) with the Chinese Communist party in China.
Chiang Kai-Shek served as the leader of the Republic of China from 1928 to 1949 in mainland China but retreated to Taiwan, officially known as the Taiwan Republic of China (ROC) and continued to serve as a leader there until his demise in 1975. He and his Kuomingtang party had always dreamed of winning the civil war and return to China. That is history. Both mainland Chinese and Taiwan leaders agreed on the One China policy.
Nancy Pelosi is making the situation worse by going to Taiwan. What is her purpose? They are already supporting the wars in Afghanistan and Ukraine, advocating democracy movement. Yet left them in tattered and leaving these countries in worse states then before. These countries are still mired in wars. They are repeating similar strategy- divide and conquer. The world needs to speak out and not keep quiet.
It is just weird that she chose to visit Taiwan during the Hungry ghost festival period, also observed by the Taiwanese Chinese.
USA greatest threat will be from within. I don't think they will enjoy peace for provoking wars around the world. I would like to share the following poem ironically by US Holocaust Memorial Museum.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Recently I heard this awesome performance by Zhou Shen and Angela Chang. I love how their beautiful pristine voices blended harmoniously. It's also an inclusive performance where the autistic boy played the ocarina (陶笛), a ceramic wind musical instrument confidently well. It's important that parents observe their children's strength and develop further from their interest and strength and high probability they grow up to be happy and confident. Do not force them to be what you want them to be.
最近从《天赐的声音》听到这首动听的歌。分享给你们。
最近我听了一首周深与张韶涵的精彩演唱。我特别喜欢他们纯净嗓音的完美融合。这是一场包容性的表演，其中一位自闭症男孩自信地演奏了陶笛，一种陶制吹奏乐器，技艺十分熟练。
父母应关注孩子的天赋，从兴趣与强项出发进一步培养，这样他们长大后更有可能成为快乐自信的人。切勿强求他们成为你期望的模样。
Hi all, I visited Gardens by the Bay, Flower Dome for the Alpine Adventure Starring Begonias recently and this is definitely my favourite theme at the flower dome as I love Switzerland and the stunning vibrant begonias!
Click here to visit my Blooming Flowers and Arts blog here. You can also watch my flower channel here. If you love flowers, travel and art, like and subscribe my channel.
It's quite rare to see Joe Rogan's face softened when talking physicist, Thomas Campbell. Highly recommend that you listen to their conversation.
Today my friend from China shared with me this awesome Chinese music 象王行 Elephant King Walk composed by 关大洲 Guan Da Zhou. I really like the inspiring melody by 关大洲. In this music video, you get to see Chinese musical instruments like erhu, pipa, dizi, drums and guzheng. Awesome performance!
I heard this song from WeChat and love this song be it the melody and lyrics. It just make you reflect on life.人生如戏，戏如人生。
作词：蟲二顛 作曲：妖狐公子
一曲定重楼
一眼半生筹
看的全都是那诡谲云涌
入得此门不回首
无需宣之于口
我对案再拜那风雨瓢泼的残陋
再聚首
戏子多秋
可怜一处情深旧
满座衣冠皆老朽
黄泉故事无止休
戏无骨难左右
换过一折又重头
只道最是人间不能留
误闯天家
劝余放下手中砂
张口欲唱声却哑
粉面披衣叫个假
怜余来安座下
不敢沾染佛前茶
只作凡人赴雪月风花
绕过胭脂楼
打散结发扣
唱的全都是那情深不寿
入得此门不回首
无需宣之于口
我对镜遮掩那风雨瓢泼的残陋
碑已旧
戏子多秋
可怜一处情深旧
满座衣冠皆老朽
黄泉故事无止休
戏无骨难左右
换过一折又重头
只道最是人间不能留
误闯天家
劝余放下手中砂
送那人御街打马
才子佳人断佳话
怜余来苦咽下
求不得佛前茶
只留三寸土种二月花
Today is Duanwu day to commemorate Qu Yuan. Let’s enjoy the dumplings.
Happy Vesak Day! Last week, I visited the Buddha Tooth Relic temple at Chinatown to thank the Buddha and Bodhisattvas for safe trip and also to pray before Vesak Day. I was surprised to see many tourists visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic temple last weekday. It is a popular attraction. Do take note to dress appropriately. If you wear shorts or short skirt, you be offered a wrap cloth to cover.
At Level 3, you can explore the museum where you can find out more about the Buddha and his relics in the relic chamber. No photography is allowed in the Relic Chamber.
Before enlightenment, Buddha spent 6 long years practicing asceticism and long fasting, causing his body to be weakened and he almost lost his life. While meditating one day, he heard someone playing a string instrument and came to the realisation that the Middle Path is the way for achieving the liberation of body and mind.
"Cultivation is like playing a musical string instrument. The string will snap if it is too tight, or not make any sound if it is too loose. Indulgence in sensual pleasure or extreme penance are attachments. The Middle Path is the way for achieving the liberation of body and mind."
After attaining enlightenment after 7 days of deep meditation, Buddha had compassionately taught sentients being the Four Noble Truths. Buddha reminded us to think and investigate his and others' teaching before accepting it.
The Four Noble Truths are
1) The truth of suffering. Like it or not, both rich and poor go through suffering. The suffering of old age, not getting what you want, separation, sickness.
2) The truth of the cause of suffering (craving, anger and delusion)
3) The truth of the end of suffering. (There is a way to end suffering)
4) The truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering is the Noble Eightfold paths.
The Noble Eightfold paths which helps to develop Sila (ethical conduct), samadhi (mental discipline or meditation) and panna (wisdom) 戒定慧 are as follows
1) Right Thought (be aware of your thinking with good intention. Eliminate greed, anger and delusion)
2) Right View (understanding of cause and effect, 12 links of dependent origination)
3) Right Speech (Refrain from lying, gossip, idle, harsh speech. If one has nothing helpful to say, be silent) Hmm, this is something I might need to work on it but hey I'm just stating the truth and my intention is to warn people.
4) Right action (moral, honorable and peaceful conduct). Hmm sometimes I'm quite mischievous.
5) Right livelihood (Honest living, Refrain from making a living that harm others like selling weapons, intoxicating drinks, and toxins) This is why I don't support people making use of Buddhism to make money especially in places like night clubs that sell alcohol. Buddha warned his disciples not to drink alcohol as it might cause them to be careless in their action and thus create bad karma. If that dj wants to perform, don't wear monk robe as real monks and strict Buddhists don't drink alcohol. Not drinking alcohol is one of the five precepts for lay Buddhists.
6) Right effort (prevent unwholesome state of mind)
7) Right mindfulness (be aware and mindful of one's thoughts and feelings
8) Right concentration (meditation)
On Vesak Day, this is the day for me to remember Buddha's teaching and to remind me to be mindful. There were some days when I was not mindful and I reacted.
I like this story about how Buddha interacted with an angry man and was not affected by his insulting words.
In this story, as Buddha was walking in a village, a very angry man insulted the Buddha and said that he had no right to teach others. Buddha was calm and serene as usual and he asked the man, “Tell me, if you buy a gift for someone, and that person does not take it, to whom does the gift belong?”
The young man was surprised to be asked such a strange question and answered, “It would belong to me, because I bought the gift.”
The Buddha smiled and said, “That is correct. And it is exactly the same with your anger. If you become angry with me and I do not get insulted, then the anger falls back on you. You are then the only one who becomes unhappy. All you have done is hurt yourself.”
I'm back to Singapore yesterday after spending a month in China as a female solo traveller, to be specific, 25 days at Wudangshan and 5 days in Shanghai. This is my first solo travel to China and I'm glad I made many wonderful friends there while enjoying the beautiful view of vast mountains while learning Taichi. I like the peaceful, quietness and energy at Wudangshan.
There is no direct flight to Wudangshan from Singapore, so I chose to fly to Shanghai and spend a few days exploring the financial city in China. Shanghai is a safe cosmopolitan city which is very similar to Singapore but things are much more affordable there and people are generally really friendly, soft-spoken and helpful. They are different from the rude and loud personality depicted by the media.
During my stay in Wudangshan, my friends appreciated my help in translating for them. During this trip, I appreciate the bilingual policy in Singapore. We can use our knowledge to make the world a better place. With both Mandarin and English proficiency, I felt happy to help to explain and ensure clear communication to help prevent conflict and misunderstanding. Let's use our knowledge and language proficiency to make the world a better and harmonious place.
Click my travel blog here to read more https://travelandenjoylife8.blogspot.com/2025/04/amazing-china-trip-at-wudangshan.html. I’ll be updating my travel there.
Finally I spent some time to update both travel and blooming flowers blogs. Last week I started to travel solo to both city and mountainous places for a month. This is the longest period of time I'm away from Singapore since New York two-week solo travel in 2011. After working hard for 20 years, I decided to do what I always wanted to do which is to see flowers during the Spring time and to explore beautiful mountain. In my former job, I could only have 1 week rest in March and even during that period, I also need to prepare for next week work.
It's the best time to travel when you are in mid-40s when you are quite fit and financially comfortable. I noticed some seniors having difficulty walking up the mountainous area during the travel. After the trip, I'm open to suitable job opportunities. If I can’t find anything suitable then I depend on current passive income and continue to blog which earn some money.
I was wondering if I should create another Youtube channel on travel. After thinking, I decided to just add Travel playlist to current channel on Blooming Flowers and Arts and changing the channel name to Blooming Flowers, Arts and Travel for easy management. So if you like to see flowers, just select and click the Gardens playlist. Also I think it's troublesome for my friends and relatives to toggle between channels and for me to switch between channels to update.
Blooming Flowers and Arts here: https://bloomingflowersnarts.blogspot.com
Heart Sutra and Buddhism: https://heartsutrabuddhism.blogspot.com
