R.I.P

All the news networks such as CNN, BBC, CCTV9 and more were focused on one and one thing only for the whole day today.

At about 8am in Manila today, a tourist bus by Hong Tai was carrying 25 Hong Kong passengers when the bus was held hostage by an ex-policeman. The inspector was accused of accepting briberies and hence was suspended and kicked out of the police force 2 years ago. He claimed that he was being framed and wanted a reinstatement and re-look into his case again. He wanted to retire honorably, which will be by early next year and he needed the pension monies to survive.

The whole crisis lasted for the next 10 hours. During the whole crisis, all major news network broadcasted live of the event. It was calm initially and the negotiations between the hostage taker and the police force went went and the hostage taker even did release 10 of the hostages by batch.

Then suddenly, the whole event took a 360 degree turned. When i tuned into CNN, the Philippine special police force were forcing their way into the bus. They tried all the ways they could to break in. They smashed the windows, the emergency exit and even the main door but because of the security film that was on the glasses, they could not get in. Throughout the whole time, there were gun shots from inside the bus from a M16. There will visible bullet holes on the windows and there were no signs of any movements in the bus. Any survivors?

It was just like watching a movie from Hollywood or Hong Kong. Just that in this instance, the police force could not break in in seconds. It took them hours. There were fear that the hostages were all dead in the bus. At the end, just like in the movies, the hostage taker was shot dead in the head and half of his body lied hanging out at the main door.

At the end, out of the remaining 15 hostages, 6 of them were killed.

Isn't life unpredictable? Isn't life fragile. These Hong Kong travelers went to Philippines happily, promised a memorable holiday that they would enjoy. I am not sure when they reached Philippines but the sad thing is, they were supposed to leave and go back to Hong Kong tonight, but within the few hours from reaching the airport and returning home, 9 of them will never be able to see their family again. 9 of them will never be able to board the plane alive.

May they all rest in peace.

Minus One Plus One

I think there is a season of love that is periodical.

Last year, around this time of the year, some friends i knew fell in love, and there were few of them who grew out of love.

The Westerners tie this "season of love" to the summer season where there is no school. Teenagers spend most of the time getting sunburned under the sun and getting all high and drunk most of the days. With these combinations and also the sexy bikinis, the macho bodies, of course there will be a lot of chemistry in the air. Besides these, summer is also a season of colors, flowers, joys, relaxations and a lot of parties and interactions. 

The Chinese also named this period as the season of love because we have the Chinese valentines' day falling in between June to September every year. This year it fell on August 16. This Chinese Valentines' Day is called the 七夕 or simply means Seven Days of Nights. Folks tale had it that the princess of the god could only meet up with her lover, who was a mortal, during this special night. A bridge made up of birds will formed from the earth into the sky so that the love birds could spend time together. 

This year again, the same phenomenon happened. A friend of mine got heart broken. Surprisingly, another friend of mine finally found a new love a week after i got to know about that sad news and this twist of fate kept me thinking. 

What if there is a law of nature when it comes to love? Just like there is a law of nature to all the other things on earth. What if there is a quota for successful relationship annually? If so, there will make perfect sense! There must be a minus one and plus one automated formula in the universe to keep everything in balance. Hence, if there is really a quota, it will really takes a relationship to breaks and falls before a new one can begin. And for those who successfully got married, there will then be a new empty spot available in the system. For those who got heartbroken, they will then be given a number, put into the system again and wait for their number to be called again.

I know i am being silly here but come to think of it, it does sounds right. And that means also for those who are currently single and available, their turn will definitely come, it will only be a matter of time. Suddenly the world of love seems brighter aint it?

Greed

Was out with KC yesterday afternoon when a conversation between up makes me ponder.

I was looking at my skin when i casually mentioned that my skin looks different compared to last time.

KC then casually replied that that is normal. Everyone gets old and it will be reflected on our skin. He then jokingly asked if i wanted to have skin of an 18 years old?

Of course i do! Who doesnt?

Then he commented saying how funny and irony humans are. We wanted so much to grow up when we were younger but wanted to go back in time when we really are older. Wost still, we want a mature brain of a 30 year old but a body of an 18 year old.

Such greed in us. No wonder the beauty and cosmetic industries are blooming every year.

And then he mentioned that actually all we really wanted is to go back to the time when our minds were still clear and pure. Where things are always black or white. Where things are just as simple as ABC.

Tipaza In Style

How best to capture the beauty of Tipaza by filming it?

Tipaza

KC organised a day trip to Tipaza last Friday. Tipaza means "Stop Over" in the Ottoman period and it is situated about 50 minutes from Algiers. KC's local colleague, Yassin, who was a tour guide before joining Toyota ALJ, helped brought us to Tipasa. There were 8 of us in total. Besides me having the mini camera, all others have the giant professional ones. So they were quite excited over this trip because they could not compare which camera is the best! Haha.

However, since that was the last weekend before puasa, the jam was massive because everyone was rushing to the beach to enjoy. So it took us nearly 2 hours to reach Tipaza.

By the time we reached Tipaza, it was already lunch time. So we decided to go to the restaurant that was nearest to the entrance of the ruins. To my delight, the restaurant is nicely and tastefully decorated. Even the washroom is uniquely decorated.

We have all the princesses from the Disney world ..

A bunny on the ceiling...

 

          Giant toothpaste! It's for toilet paper really.    The owner offers a wide range of perfume for 

                                                                             the customer to choose from! How nice!

Finally Roman Ruins! This is a Unesco site and it cost 20 dinars to enter. We were told that we are not allowed to snap pictures in any historical places in Algeria because the Government is the only party who is allowed to sell pictures of the historical places. However Yassin told us that small camera like mine should be fine but for those who have the giant cameras, which was basically everyone in our group, will have to hide the cameras and only take them out when we are inside the ruins.

 

The old Roman bath. Only to be taken over by pigeons now.

Souvenirs for sale!

KC was all geared up at the entrace only to be told to hide the cameras due to its law. Hahahahah

Tipaza is a huge place! There used to be the Roman theatre, the basilicas, bath, church and a lot of small sections of ruins. There wasnt any descriptions of the side in English so i have to assumed that some of those small sections of ruins must be houses in the past. What is funny about Algeria is we are not allowed to snap pictures but we are allow to climb, touch and litter the place. How sad because the place was poorly maintained because of this.

The Colosseum 

 

What is left of the Apollo temple.

The golden sand, bluest sea and clearest sky.

 

(left) Pretty craving on a tree in the ruin. Nizam was in Tipazza 3 months ago and it wasnt there. So he told us that this craving is new! (right) Pine cone on a closed-up. Pretty!

When i was busy indulging myself enjoying the view in the ruins, suddenly i felt someone hold my arm and turned me over. When i looked towards the direction, i saw a little girl. When she saw me, she gave out an "ohhhhh" and laughed. Then her father came over and spoke to her and she apologised to me while still smiling. I reckon she must be excited to see a Chinese. So i asked her to help me posed for a photo.

 

See no camera except the mini one! Haha i feel so proud of my mini camera!

 

View at the base of the hill.

View from the top of the hill.

 

Ahhh....finally! All geared up with the largest camera they got. Time for the photography club to commence!

The 4 of the right pretending to be cool while on the left, 2 so called photographers taking the photos.

The ruins of the church at the top of the hill.

Ruins of the mosaics. Colors are still bright.

The whole Roman ruins is in a V shape. We started off from the left wing and ending our visit via the right wing. At the right wing, there were less ruins except for the theatre. 

The Theatre...

Dad: Let me pose! Cheang!

Toh: What is this pose man? We are not in China! Roman you know??

Dad: Opps!

So after Tipaza we then visit the rounded "pyramid" which was situated about 15km from the ruins. The "round-ramid" was built for the daughter of Cleopatra - Selene. It was rounded at the bottom and only sharpen at the top because in the Ottoman period, the Egyptians' pyramid technology was not taught to the Algerians. Once again, we were not allowed to snap pictures except for me! Mini camera rules!!!!

Fields of golds during sunset. The phenomenon of our great nature.

I see me!

There is an opening at the pyramid where people could peeked in. There is nothing to see really except pitch black darkness but there was really cold wind coming from the pyramid as if there is an air-con installed.

Since we cant take picture, why not we climb the "round-ramid" instead?

Two brave souls at the top of the "round-ramid".

This was an incidental shot. Look at the guy with his tongue sticking out! Haha

While we were enjoying ourselves at the site, KC was asked by some kids to take photo together. So the guys were teasing him that the girls must have thought he looks cute. While he was happily enjoying his "celebrity" status, the girls then came to me and request for photos too! Hahah immediately the "cute" title KC was carrying vanished into thin air! Again, i was the strange looking Chinese who all the locals are intrigued to know.

What a day! Splendid!

Blessing Indisguised

My dad started living by himself about 15 years ago. Since then my brothers and I have been living with my mother and then by ourselves and have been accustomed with living without him. Of course every now and then we will meet up for dinner or a mahjong session. Sometimes my dad will stay over with us for just 1 or 2 days when he had a stop over in KL during his business trips to any other part of the world.

My relationship with my dad is a funny one. One one hand i wish for his company, on the other hand i get very uneasy staying with him. I adore him yet i am also afraid to be too close to him.Like i said, i wanted so much to be able to  live with him but at the same time, finding it rather awkward. When he stays over, he is more like a guest rather than a family member. I tried my best to make sure his brief stays with us are comfortable and pleasant.

My dad just went back to Beirut after staying with KC and me in Algiers for 5 days. He has been coming over to Algiers quite often these few months and have been staying with us rather than in the hotel. When he was gone yesterday, i think back on the time he was staying with us and i am very glad and very very happy. If it wasnt because of KC working here in Algiers, i would not have the opportunity to live with my dad again, even though it is a brief one.

I used to hate doing houseworks when i was younger. Now that i am getting wiser (a.k.a older), i often look forward to my dad coming over to Algiers so that i could just do his laundry, cook him some home cooked dinner, tidying up his bed or even being in the same room with him watching a TVB drama. These are the only chances that i got to really spend some time together with my old man.

To some of you, spending time with your dad is just an every day task and it is a norm. But for me, it is different. It is something i wish i could have but at the same time afraid of having it. I love my dad, very much, but i do not know how to spend time with him as his daughter. Having these chances in Algiers had given me the time i needed to treat him as my dad again and not so much of a guest.

And thanks to KC, he organised a one day trip for us on last Friday.

I was very happy over the trip. I was happy because it has been ages since my dad and I took a picture together. What's more, it has been so long that i forgot when was the last time my dad actually requested to snap a picture together and not requested by me. It has also been ages since my dad referred me as his dear daughter and gave me a hug before he left for Beirut.

I love you dad.

Sting

Not this Sting!

How i wish it is this Sting!

For the first time in my life, i got stung by a bee!

It happened when i was busy clearing the dishes in my living room. I step on something and instantly i felt a sting on in between my toes. First i thought i stepped on someone's toe clip in the carpet. But the sting keeps getting stronger! So i had look.

To my horror, i saw a bee on its back, at the edge of dying. Then i looked in between my toes and i saw its bee sting attached on my toe! Immediately my toe was numb! I had heard of horror stories of how people had died from bee sting.

I yelled and said i got a bee sting and my dad scared me by saying i will loose my toes! Ohhh no! So i rushed in to the room and applied the antiseptic cream and saw another half of the bee sting still stuck to my toe! 

Sigh... the numbness remains.... for another 10 minutes before it was gone. Well thank god the bee was not that deadly. 

We always encounter a lot of first time. This is definitely one to remember and not that good experience. 

Oil Spills

Recently, over the last few months, everyone is aware and talking about the oil spills.

We have oil spilled in the Gulf coast. Billions of dollars were spent, sea life got affected and died just to restore this blunder.

Then there was oil spill in northern China.

Both have raised concerns on the safety and security of mankind exploiting the mother nature as well as destroying her. 

Yesterday, there was also an oil spill in Algiers. This time i personally witness the whole process and felt the pain that an oil spill brings.

My poor arm! Skin getting burnt from the hot oil, from the shoulder down and now my right arm has dark spots that look like those spots from aging. Luckily i rushed into the toilet and grabbed hold of the toothpaste and rub my arm over it. If not, it should be worst. 

Remember the movie "There Will Be Blood" starring Daniel Day-Lewis and ect? In my case, i should say "there will be scars!"

On happier note, some lucky girl got pretty flowers delivered to her work place today. Well at least there is one person who is happy and celebrating her good fortune.