Handicapped

A few months back, a visually-handicapped came to register for the exam. He was worried, because this is going to be his first time, and he would have to memorise the pieces. He would be unable to take the sight-reading test as well. He was assured that we would make the necessary arrangements and adjust the criteria.

He came to take the exam today. He was going to play the Erhu.

Before his turn, I reassured him that we have already made the adjustment. I could sense his nervousness, but I couldn't help but admire and respect his courage.

While I was leading him to his exam room, there were looks from other candidates and parents. Hopefully this could be some sort of a motivation and encouragement to them.

For somebody who may not have seen an Erhu, and to be able to play the exam pieces, it is indeed an achievement. The Erhu itself is not an easy instrument to master. His instructor ought to be applauded as well, for having the patience to teach a visually-handicapped how to play an Erhu.

At the end of his exam, he walked up to the examiner to thank her. I do not see this in other candidates. This is something all of us should learn from him. And this is what I respect him most, that he showed respect to the examiner, to the exam board.

When he came out of the room, he was telling me how nervous he was, how badly he had performed. I smiled, and said, "You have done your best."

He may be physcially handicapped, but he has so much more courage than the rest of us. Sometimes I feel that we are the handicapped ones instead, because we don't dare to try, we don't dare to fight for our dreams and desires. We trap ourselves in, while they see no boundaries.

A lesson to all.

Hell weeks

Let hell begin!

a long 2 weeks. Wish me luck.

birthday

Thank you all, for the wishes. :) Rather peaceful this year, and I'm very satisfied with that. :) I don't ask for much, getting to do the things I like is enough to make my day. :)

My birthday wishes are simple, and rather realistic too. Hopefully they are achievable in the coming year. :)

ok, again, nothing much, just more photos, taken this week.


At Esplande roof terrace


Singapore's cityscape


The street names say it all


Takashimaya's gigantic christmas tree


Ice-cream man on a busy street


Boys' brigade on duty


Hi! Look at me!


Orchard Road's christmas light-up

Let's celebrate christmas!

Actually I dread the Christmas, I dread hearing Christmas songs. It will never be the same.

toy's play day

Roaming alone can be a therapeutic thing. Nobody to irritate you, and you become oblivious to the crowd around you. Tiring, yes, but it's fun when you enjoy what you do. :)

Decided to just take a walk down Raffles Place area, since I've brought my toy out. I should have brought the tripod along as well, super damn hard to take nice pictures at night without a tripod. grr.

The toy is also taking a toll on my shoulders, I had to rush into the Crumpler's shop just before they closed for the day, to get a shoulder pad for the bag.

But anyway, nothing much to blog about, just wanna upload some relatively-satisfying pictures I've taken in the past week. :)


A bunch of red pens forming into a 'red flower' *thanks to the stationery sponsor*


Behind the office


The Pipa


At Coffee Club Express


Lonely girl sitting by the Singapore River


Walkway to the Fullerton Hotel


Along Anderson Bridge, I factored the Singapore Flyer into the background on purpose, but sadly, not to much effect.


Walkway to the Merlion Park


Ice-cream uncle outside the Esplanade

That's all, peeps. Looking forward to bring it out again some time later in the week.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIYUN!! :D May all your wishes come true, and always be happy! Thank you for being crazy with me.. hahaha.. Go get your PhD, and invent some elixir or something, and we can stay young forever! wahahaha..

Avenue Q

It sucks to be me~~ It sucks to be me~~

My favourite from the musical Avenue Q. :)



The most hilarious musical I've watched by far, Avenue Q was indeed entertaining. I've been wanting to watch it, partly because I wanted to find out how uncensored it would get (knowing how conservative this society is), and because it has a Filipino cast. I wanna see Aiza Seguerra. haha..

And I was really amazed at how puppets can have a musical of their own, and the high-standard performance put up. Many of the cast members were actually the voices behind not one, but two or three puppets. And at times, the cast members had to voice over two puppets in a song!

It was damn funny too. Many times I couldn't help laughing out real loud, and the theatre was also roaring with laughter. Many interesting dialogues and lyrics. I couldn't understand some parts of the musical though, either the characters were speaking too fast, or the content was to implicit to understand. haha.. I need to find the lyrics!

I think this musical is worth watching. People, if you have not watched it yet, GO NOW! tickets selling fast! :D

ok, the rest are photos taken in Esplanade, but not with my toy. Too bulky to bring it out. hahah..


colourful hula-hoops at the Esplanade foyer


Inside the durian shell

ok, time to get some sleep. I'll need my coffee in the morning. argh.

tilt-shift photography

If you are an ardent CSI follower, you would have remembered that in the 7th season, there was this killer who was so damn good in making miniatures. Everything looked so real, and it was in an exact ratio of 1:24. Amazing.

It just so happened that Mr Miyagi's blog featured this technique called 'tilt-shift photography', that uses Photoshop to make your photos look like a 'miniature shot'.

And so, instead of working on what I was supposed to work on, I was having fun playing around with Photoshop. And tada! I created my own miniature shots! :D



Don't they look like model cars to you? haha.. this was taken in Bangkok, and best thing is, the cars there are always in vivid colours, which make them look even more like model cars. :D



This is Balay Negrense, an ancestral home in the town of Silay, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Not a particularly good photo to do this 'tilt-shift' effect, but it looks like I was taking the shot from the window of the model house. haha..



And this! I like this result! haha.. This is a section of the Bago River that flows from the mountains of Bueno Aires in Bago City. The man and the carabaws just look like fakingly real miniatures. haha..

When you know the proper Photoshop techniques, it can be oh so fun. haha..

ok, time to get back to work. :P