Another New Year

I thought to myself "So THIS is how it feels like to live in a fairy tale...", as Angkor Wat slowly emerged from the dusky shadows into a soft gradient of light.

100% Ps untouched. Out of all the photographs I took, this is the one that I love the most.

It is befitting that I picked this beautiful sunrise to accompany my New Years post. This was my second Angkor Wat sunrise, and I had been hoping that this attempt would reward me with a really strong and powerful photograph (the 1st sunrise had a lot of cloud cover, was beautiful nonetheless). I imagined saturated hot colors dancing behind the temple, something similar to a fluttering Cambodian silk scarf. However, the temperature suddenly dropped overnight right before my 2nd scheduled sunrise trip, causing the earth to emanate rolls of misty vapor upwards into the sky. There were no clouds to refract the sunlight, but instead, the entire sky WAS the cloud, a watercolor curtain draped from Heaven to Earth.

At first I was a little disappointed because the sunrise was evolving the opposite way as I had envisioned. But us humans cannot control sunrises, it is what it is, we can only watch it unfold. Soon enough after settling into a nook in the Angkor wall, I accepted that God decided to show us a soft and mellow beauty today. When we open up our hearts we'll also open up our eyes and minds, and be able to appreciate things of different shapes and forms... and so that's what I did... and was rewarded with a strange and powerful connection to the world.

I loved drawing sunrises as a young child, although how exactly do you "draw" a sunrise if it's not exactly anything tangible? I shaded blank white sheets of paper with colored pencils with gentle and consistently pressured strokes, until all the colors blended into one another like a blended borderless prism. That morning, I saw my childhood come to life. It was a truly magical moment, realizing that dreams do come true. I cannot adequately describe the amazement churning inside me. And I felt peace. At the same time, I realized that Angkor Wat had encountered a million sunrises before, that perhaps only I thought that this sunrise was very special. Ultimately, my consciousness is what defines who I am and what my surroundings are. So at the end, I felt both very small and very big. Isn't this what Man has grappled with since the dawn of time?

Thus what is the meaning of another New Year? It is big because we make a milestone out of it, a measuring stick to track our achievements. But in truth, just like my colored pencil sunrise, there really is no definable border between adjacent periods of time. And that is why we must live and reach our goals IN THE PRESENT, because the present is the future and the future is the present.

Therefore, New Year's Resolutions are bullshit.

If you want to do something, don't wait. Just do it. 

Also, I don't think that New Year's Resolutions should include goals that we should reach anyway. Because for goals that are good for us, it really starts with the very next decision that we make. For example, if our resolution is to eat healthier, start with the very next thing we put into our mouths. So my goals to succeed professionally, to continue traveling, to build meaningful relationships... these are not resolutions since I can work these goals relatively easily with my current resources. 

I think that resolutions should be reasonable dreams. These are dreams because you do not possess the skills or background to achieve this easily. They should be self-challenging, self-improving, and a self-indulgent. :) So for 2013, I have just 2 resolutions.

1) To be able to speak conversational French or Spanish.

2) To be able to sing well.

Those are my 2013 sunrise clouds, adding a little spice to an otherwise already incredibly beautiful spectrum.

Blitzen'd

A few weeks ago around mid-December, the always lovely, always sassy Ailin threw a marvelous house party so all of us friends could celebrate Christmas together before we officially scattered for the holidays. Dress code: White. Beverage code: Alcohol. Behavior code: Irreverent. 

Ailin has a pimp-ass apartment with REAL FURNITURE and REAL KITCHEN STUFF, objects that I dream of acquiring in the near future as Shanghai becomes more and more "home". This is particularly resonant as I peck away on my laptop, precariously perched on my collapsible/collapsing Ikea table tray. Gah... I am also drinking Chianti out of a coffee mug at this very moment. Hahahaha. :p

Le sigh, perhaps my home one day will come with a gilded Baroque picture frame too.

Non-stick ladle (and sexy lady accessory)... included?

Somehow we managed to convince the guys to stage an "Evolution of Man" pose... and Kun ended up as the advanced homo sapien. Clutching a bottle of wine, ofc.

Boys doth protest taking photos, but we know deep down you love the attention. ;)

Oh, I guess cradling bottles of wine WAS the theme of the party.

Ms. Julie, partner-in-crime.

3 Js! Love you girls.

If you're looking for reindeer movers, look no further.

We played White Elephant, which turned out to be an awesome fiasco. 

Min as the Dungeonmaster, laying down the law. Those who wish to steal a present must take ONE HALF-CUP OF VODKA.

Taotao was so shocked that she dropped her red wine at a White party. O_O

But she ended up taking that uber shot for a gold digital Casio watch (that I bought!). I like you, you have good taste, Viv.

That half-cup of vodka means nothing for Ty.

If Ty looks at you while holding a bottle, that next shot has your name on it. RUN.

But deceptively, sometimes it wasn't just Ty. These pictures document how Jon and Ian cornered me (I tried SO hard to escape) to have a "mouth cocktail"... which is essentially a big gulp of hard liquor followed by juice that "you're supposed to swish in your mouth to mix". 

Don't plan on patenting this idea, boys!

Playing reindeer games!

Prance prance prance.

Our Shanghai Fram-ily. :)

Tina's Grown-up Tea Party

I'M BACK FROM CAMBODIA! :) 

Ok now to systematically clean out my flash card... there's been so much content since mid-December, it's probably best to keep things short and sweet to prevent blogging fatigue.

December was crazy. Really crazy. Well, before you expect to be regaled with wild naughty stories, anti-climatically it was only crazy with WORK. And with tons of work comes a lot of cancelled plans, lethargic hibernation time at home, tight schedules, lack of sleep... which all adds up to a very... cranky... Miffy. Is there an emotimonster with fangs? ("'\(;_;)/'") That could be venomous fangs or big old teardrops, either works hahaha.

BUT between this madness I managed to plan Tina's 30th Birthday Dinner Party (with Yumi's help!) at ElEfante, an El Willy concept. The theme was "Alice in Wonderland", with Tina as the female protagonist of course! I bought bunny ears, top hats, fascinators, party favors, decorations... hopefully that day turned out very special for a special friend. :)

This is for YOU! :D

Cheers, from the friends who love you the mostest.

Greeting another year with Grace.

Jess, Annie, Tina, Karen.

Hm... I don't think we're Playboy material, haha. :p

If only we could all see Through the Looking Glass...

12.12.12.12.12

You know, it's just a human construct?
But actually today is not just any day.
真希望能夠祝你生日快樂。

Enneagram!

Firstly, I would like to memorialize my eternal gratitude to Karissa for being my genius banter buddy in the most epic and legen----dary snark chat of all time. She is, the one. ;) Posting our conversation on this blog would bowl you guys over so badly that I would warn everyone to don adult diapers first, but it's really never good to laugh at someone else's expense. So I'm going to save you from burning in Hell and selfishly hog all the deliciously bad karma for myself. Mmmm... tastes so good.

Secondly, I would like to share with everyone... Ennegrams. (Again, credit: Karissa) It's a personality test that categorizes you into nine different numbers (although you can be of any mix, depending on which ones are more or less dominant). You can take the test here to check it out what you are. When you're done, please do share them with me in the comments section so I verify whether you have subconsciously lied to yourself. Haha. :)

[EDIT: Okay what's up with the men (Andrew, Chris) being everything BUT 2s? Yea you guys are assholes! Hahaha. And the women being 2s (Mom, Karissa) means I have a pretty good support system out there. :)]

Here is a detailed dissection of what this whole number mumbo-jumbo means.

These are my results -- I'm a 7 flanked by 6, 8, and a healthy dose of 2. Confusing? Well, I guess the dude who ends up being stuck with me is in for a reeeeeeal treat. This is your warning when you do your background check, stalker-face. :p

Type 1
Type 2
Type 3
Type 4
Type 5
Type 6
Type 7
Type 8
Type 9

But this is so true! Wah! O_O
Sevens have anxiety about their inner world. There are feelings of pain, loss, deprivation, and general anxiety that Sevens would like to stay clear of as much as possible. To cope with these feelings, Sevens keep their minds occupied with exciting possibilities and options— as long as they have something stimulating to anticipate, Sevens feel that they can distract themselves from their fears. Sevens, in most cases, do not stop merely at thinking about these options, however. As much as possible they attempt to actually do as many of their options as they can. Thus, Sevens can be found staying on the go, pursuing one experience after another, and keeping themselves entertained and engaged with their many ideas and activities.

And so is this???

The Direction of Stress or Disintegration for each type is indicated by the sequence of numbers 1-4-2-8-5-7-1. This means that an average to unhealthy One under stress will eventually behave like an average to unhealthy Four; an average to unhealthy Four will act out their stress like an average to unhealthy Two; an average to unhealthy Two will act out under stress like an Eight, an Eight will act out under stress like a Five, a Five will act out like a Seven, and a Seven will act out like a One. 

The Direction of Integration or Growth is indicated for each type by the reverse of the sequences for disintegration. Each type moves toward integration in a direction that is the opposite of its unhealthy direction. Thus, the sequence for the Direction of Integration is 1-7-5-8-2-4-1: an integrating One goes to Seven, an integrating Seven goes to Five, an integrating Five goes to Eight, an integrating Eight goes to Two, an integrating Two goes to Four, and an integrating Four goes to One. 

Type One 

The Reformer
The principled, idealistic type. Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic.

Type Two
The Helper
The caring, interpersonal type. Twos are empathetic, sincere, and warm-hearted. They are friendly, generous, and self-sacrificing, but can also be sentimental, flattering, and people-pleasing. They are well-meaning and driven to be close to others, but can slip into doing things for others in order to be needed. They typically have problems with possessiveness and with acknowledging their own needs. At their Best: unselfish and altruistic, they have unconditional love for others.

Type Three 

The Achiever 
The adaptable, success-oriented type. Threes are self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious, competent, and energetic, they can also be status-conscious and highly driven for advancement. They are diplomatic and poised, but can also be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them. They typically have problems with workaholism and competitiveness. At their Best:: self-accepting, authentic, everything they seem to be—role models who inspire others.

Type Four 

The Individualist
The introspective, romantic type. Fours are self-aware, sensitive, and reserved. They are emotionally honest, creative, and personal, but can also be moody and self-conscious. Withholding themselves from others due to feeling vulnerable and defective, they can also feel disdainful and exempt from ordinary ways of living. They typically have problems with melancholy, self-indulgence, and self-pity. At their Best: inspired and highly creative, they are able to renew themselves and transform their experiences.

Type Five 

The Investigator
The perceptive, cerebral type. Fives are alert, insightful, and curious. They are able to concentrate and focus on developing complex ideas and skills. Independent, innovative, and inventive, they can also become preoccupied with their thoughts and imaginary constructs. They become detached, yet high-strung and intense. They typically have problems with eccentricity, nihilism, and isolation. At their Best:visionary pioneers, often ahead of their time, and able to see the world in an entirely new way.

Type Six 

The Loyalist 
The committed, security-oriented type. Sixes are reliable, hard-working, responsible, and trustworthy. Excellent "troubleshooters," they foresee problems and foster cooperation, but can also become defensive, evasive, and anxious—running on stress while complaining about it. They can be cautious and indecisive, but also reactive, defiant and rebellious. They typically have problems with self-doubt and suspicion.At their Best: internally stable and self-reliant, courageously championing themselves and others.

Type Seven 

The Enthusiast
The busy, productive type. Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, and practical, they can also misapply their many talents, becoming over-extended, scattered, and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with impatience and impulsiveness. At their Best: they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative, joyous, and satisfied.

Type Eight
The Challenger 
The powerful, aggressive type. Eights are self-confident, strong, and assertive. Protective, resourceful, straight-talking, and decisive, but can also be ego-centric and domineering. Eights feel they must control their environment, especially people, sometimes becoming confrontational and intimidating. Eights typically have problems with their tempers and with allowing themselves to be vulnerable. At their Best: self-mastering, they use their strength to improve others' lives, becoming heroic, magnanimous, and inspiring.

Type Nine 

The Peacemaker
The easy-going, self-effacing type. Nines are accepting, trusting, and stable. They are usually grounded, supportive, and often creative, but can also be too willing to go along with others to keep the peace. They want everything to go smoothly and be without conflict, but they can also tend to be complacent and emotionally distant, simplifying problems and ignoring anything upsetting. They typically have problems with inertia and stubbornness. At their Best: indomitable and all- embracing, they are able to bring people together and heal conflicts.