Random Websites of Interest

Since I didn't post an entry for yesterday, I'll treat you guys with some of my favourite websites to surf on when I'm really bored...

Dance [Cover] Team

Decided last night with friends to get people together and do K-pop dance covers. It'll be something to look forward to when we finish our exams; everyone is so fed up with sitting at a desk or computer for 10hrs straight for a whole month now.

What would be fun is that none of us has had dance training at all! Although I used to do ballet, which doesn't really count towards this type of dancing. I can't wait. I've been dancing (badly) as part of my exercise each night - just taking parts of different dances just to give variety to normal aerobics, you know?

But since we all love dance music and want to learn, we decided to try gather a group together.

These girls are our motivation; they've had no training either, but work darn hard.
 d(*^-^*)b

I like the sound of that, because I work freaking hard too....

Best Moment?

Have people ever asked you when was the best moment of your life? Or, whether you live for today or tomorrow?

Just been thinking about mine, and if I have a 'best moment'...

I guess, there are so many 'good moments' but for me, there isn't the one 'best moment'. We improve everyday, learning from our experiences, and I think we should aim for moments better than the ones we had before, and they naturally happen. Although I've made mistakes, like we all have, in the past, I don't dwell on them; I learn from them.

Why regret something that cannot be undone?

I'd rather use it to make myself better now, at present. I do look for the future, but I wouldn't say I live for tomorrow. I'd say I always live for the moment and enjoy it, but prepare for the future; I'd do what I want honestly, today, but not in a way that I'd regret tomorrow - I want to be prepared and anticipate the future, but live the present.

A Missing Part of Me...

"Because it's music, I'm willing to give myself to it... even through suffering and blindly aiming at something and somewhere impossible for me... it's music, and it makes everything feel right..."

Been spending a good portion of the morning watching videos and generally 'fangirl-ing' over my idols. Watching the backstage footage of how they practise all night, even if they're tired... it reminds me of my music days... and also the type of days I'd yearn for.

Of course my music days has not stopped, but they aren't how they used to be. It's tough being in music, and especially the music industry, but somehow I just feel it's worth it, despite the pressure and the amount of stress. I'm a masochist 笑. It seems so much more fun in a band rather than going solo, which piano is, most the time. Even now, my heart truly lies in music, stubbornly, even if I don't want it to. I'd love to work so hard towards something that it really tests you to your limits; the results feel much better and satisfaction tastes like victory.

I came out of 'music' because Music Conservatoire/College made me really ill, without realising. 

Music was an addictive drug to me; it's fine if I don't touch it and forbade myself to, but once I started, I couldn't stop, I couldn't stop myself aiming higher and forcing myself to do the physically impossible for my body. It was poisonous to me and yet I yearned for it; every part of it - the highs and lows and the side effects.

I was an addict to the stress, the pain, the tough yet fulfilling schedules, and even more so the victories, the satisfaction, the adrenaline rushes, the nerves tingling and the numb feeling of being on stage. It was love, hate and addiction all in one. 

A very potent mixture.

Happy Easter!!!!

Happy Easter Everyone!! 

(For those who celebrate it)

Feeling much better today after a early night, I really should do this every night, rather than cramming work during midnight!

How many Easter eggs have you received? I've got 3 sets. And I've only eaten ONE of the mini praline eggs. I'm being good, no?

Sunshine and Spontaneous Haircut

Ah, I've spent all day working/revising for exams and not had time to think of what to write on here.

It was a lovely day, I went browsing in boutiques in another part of town and enjoying the sun. So many cute little boutiques where I can rummage through selections of clothes... Didn't find anything today though.

Just had a spontaneous haircut when my mother re-layered my hair... it's looking amazing, but I'll have to see in the morning 笑.

I really need to sleep earlier... my body is showing more signs that it's been suffering. I've been sleeping around 1am lately... Usually I would sleep around 10-11pm. I'll abandon my revision early tonight, before I fall sickly again.

Oyasuminasai mina san!

お休みなさい皆さん！

(*^_^*)Zzz

Revision Companions

On a beautiful sunny day with a pleasant breeze, I'm once again sat at my desk by my amazing window.

However, today my companions are:

Two large works I must familiarise myself with before the exam

Don't underestimate it... the pages are super thin.
So there is a lot of it.

There's possibly over 1000 pages in that ring-bound text... and a further 800 pages in the textbook.

EASTER!

When Easter Eggs are appearing and rolling in from neighbours and friends, you know it's Easter coming up soon... In fact I have no idea when it is... this Sunday?!

I've finally finished my assignment; just have to finalise it and polish it up, but that can be left for another day when I have clearer thoughts and mental judgement.
Trust me it was hard. Not because it was an assignment, but it's so tempting to snack during working!!

My home is blessed with snacks and other food-ly temptations wherever you go.

I've managed to stay away from them so far.

And then I receive these...

可愛いですね！！（かわいいですね）

아이구, 귀여워！！

\(*^-^*)/

牛奶妹

Assignments really drain your energy, and even though I'm on 'Health Management' (笑) I still crave for candy/sweets.

I must admit though, I've kind of lost my urge to eat chocolate and really sweet things - I must've lost my sweet tooth! But what I cannot refuse are Milk Candy.

In fact I love milk so much I've been nicknamed 牛奶妹 before when I was young. Milk, Soy Milk, Milk Candy, Flavoured Milk (Banana, Chocolate..... Mmm!)
Somehow the milky paleness is so tempting and addictive... even non-dairy products like Tofu! All are my favourites!

(*^-^*)


What I really want right now is...

But what I'm having to put up with is...

士多啤梨蘋果橙

England has such bad weather usually; so dull, cold, miserable and rainy. It can really get me down and it's easy to lose your mood, even to eat!

I would eat a lot of fruit when I'm back home in Asia; the surroundings are so vibrant with sunshine and you just feel energised just feeling it and seeing it all. But here in England I used to rarely eat fruit, it just felt wrong and tastes awful.

Now my breakfast includes a fruit salad for starters everyday with at least 4 or 5 types of fruit. In addition, my mother would make me fresh home made mixed fruit juices (and smoothies).
(*^-^*)

At first it tasted good but felt it was strange to have so much fruit, but slowly I can't go a day without so many types of fruit!

士多啤梨啤梨蘋果橙 蘋果橙士多啤梨點樣揀...♪ ♫

(Twins)

"江山易改，本性難移"

Having had a rebellious childhood and had upset many of those who I loved and loves me, it makes me think on the amount of times I've been referred to as 江山易改，本性難移.

A proverb to mean it's easy to change the landscape but to change one's personality is difficult.

It's difficult, but not impossible; after all, we shouldn't want to change completely... we must always aim to be ourselves. What we need, is to shape our personalities. It'd be a waste to completely demolish the landscape and rebuild it; how should one rebuild it, what's the influences, where do we start? It's likely you'll end up replicating from others in parts.

A better solution perhaps is to shape each mountain, the lakes and forests until it's better improved. That way we never lose the unique essence of the original, and yet any 'bad' aspects are altered.

Likewise with personality, we should take influences and learn from others, but never lose ourselves in the transition so that we replicate another's personality and end up living as someone else.

As I've gotten older I realise all the wrongs I've done; all of which are undoable. But we shouldn't dwell in the past, we must take the past and use it to shape our future. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You Scratch My Back, I'll Scratch Yours... but "你帮我先, 我就帮你"?

I'm sure this world is a "You Scratch My Back, I'll Scratch Yours" kind of world, but how many of you know someone who take this really too literally?
I know quite a few, even relatives, who would act upon a "you scratch my back first, then (maybe?) I'll scratch yours" basis.


Even on a very basic social level there are people like this: those who don't smile at you unless you beam at them first, those who don't start a conversation, or text, talk or even appear to notice you unless you make an effort to do so first... obviously you'll have to observe on several occasions.

Do these sound familiar?
These people seem very self-protective, perhaps for several reasons;

Possibly the Best Assignment So Far?

OK, so I've got a tonne of work during Spring/Easter Break and each assignment requires a ridiculous amount of article and journal readings in addition to the textbooks and prescribed reading material/texts.

But...

Shunkashuutou 春夏秋冬 ~ Seasons

It's a beautiful day today, really. As I'm sat here, I'm admiring the the blue skies with cotton candy wispy clouds and the bird song coming from all around. The sun is brilliant but not blinding, just warm and welcoming, seeping through my half raised venetian blinds, letting the warmth into my room.

I love my window; it's as big as the length of my room with three large window panes, two of which open to allow the tranquil April breeze through. Even though I'm not outside enjoying a peaceful long walk, discovering muses and letting inspiration develop in my mind, it feels like I'm sat outside already. My desk is right by the window so I can experience everything just sat here, as if I'm writing my blog outside on an open field; it feels almost cliche but realistically, it's just calming. 

Society and lifestyle these days are rather stressful and fast paced; people (ourselves and others around us) expect results increasingly quicker and better than ever before. It's very easy to lose ourselves to this stress and forget what is it enjoy life, and most important, what our initial intention is. Of course we all must work hard, but finding a way to enjoy hardworking life is important. Don't you think?

It's my first Spring in this room, my previous room also had a beautiful view across a field and park, it was a small valley (althought it wasn't much of a valley because all it had was a small trickling stream). Nonetheless, the view was lovely, especially during days of clear skies or starry night skies.

Have you ever wondered which season you preferred the most? For me, I like them all...

The flowers in Spring, Sakura during mid-late Spring, then the long warm days of the heated Summer, followed by the auburn tones of the changing colour leaves in Autumn/Fall which fall gradually forming crispy piles of crunchy leaves as the white snow Winter comes. Despite not particularly liking cold weather I love snow and being able to see snowflakes fall; so fragile, each unique and delicately created.

Unfortunately, the beauty of each season isn't always the case, especially here in England. （笑）

Regardless of season or time of day, it always seems to be raining. But rain can be beautiful too, right? (*^-^*)

Gradually through the years I think I've gotten used to waking up to the sound of pitter-pattering rain, somehow its rhythm is calming...

The Innocent and Pure Smile: 天真純潔的笑容

People say that you can see through a person by gazing at their eyes, the windows to the soul. And I believe it. It's very difficult to hide what you truly think or how you feel completely flawlessly.

What I find most attractive and rare is the truly sincere baby smile; a smile that is so pure and innocent with no ulterior intentions or motives, that equal to a baby's smile.

It is this type of smile which attracts me to a person most, because the owner of such a smile, where their eyes twinkle and you can almost see and feel their happiness from their heart, could only be as how they appear - sincerely happy.

These rare 'baby smiles' come in many forms regardless of age; wide and bright with a flash of shiny teeth, or lips together but drawn wide from cheek to cheek, or smaller and slightly more reserved, or even with cute baby dimples. 

And it's true, that despite the variety of smiles, it doesn't truly form a 'baby smile' until a pair of smiling twinkling bright eyes complete it. Ones which show nothing but pure joy, sweetness, sincerity, and innocence straight from the heart. That's the essence of a undoubtedly true smile.

So look out for someone blessed with such a smile, as they do not only belong to babies and children; they really do stand out if you ever see it! Seeing these kind of smiles really make me smile sweetly too as if it's something contagious.

However, regardless whether it is a baby smile or not, a true smile will always be a true smile...

Smile from your heart because it makes the world feel brighter. (*^-^*) Make the world smile with you.

"The Journey of the Little Piano Princess: Musical Talent?" "鋼琴小公主的故事 ~ 小公主的音樂天份？"

Since a young age the little Princess had been exposed to a vast array of music, ranging from Bach and Mozart to Jazz and 60's Rock. But even before that, at less than a year old (8.5 months to be exact) whilst travelling on public transport in the comfort of her mother's arms, she could replicate the various sounds of a passing ambulance to the exact phrase length, delighting an elderly lady sat nearby who smiled kindly at the Princess' mother who was taken aback by her daughter's sudden action.

The Princess' sensitivity to music was thereafter highly noticeable; even during deep sleep the baby Princess' would wake up as soon as a certain song was played on television for the opening of a drama series and promptly fall back to sleep as soon as it was finished.

Music was always played in the house, and the first classical and also piano piece the little Princess heard must have been La Campanella by Liszt; her parents had taken her with them when her father had decided to purchase an audio system which was playing the said piece.

A Quote from the KBS Drama 매리는 외박중 (Maerineun Oebakjoong)

For those who have seen the drama "Mary Stayed Out All Night" (Or "Marry Me Mary"), you might remember this really sweet quote that Kim Jaewook (Jung In) had written on a photo when he was young.

ぼくがいる。。。ぼくがきみをまもってあげる。。。永遠に

"Boku ga iru... Boku ga kimi wo mamotte ageru... Eien ni"

I'm here... I will protect you... Forever.

Japan & Hanami

As I was searching through the internet, just browsing at photos and images of Sakura, my heart sank a little every time I saw a beautiful still image of what I'm sure would be breath taking to see in person.

One of my favourite flowers/trees is the Sakura Blossom tree, and during this time of year, the Sakura would be blooming all over Japan and so people take walks amongst them appreciating the delicate beauty the trees present: Hanami. To walk or sit beneath would be a dreamlike experience as the petals gracefully float downwards before resting on water or grass, just like the feathery light movements of a ballerina en pointe.

Prelude to "The Journey of the Little Piano Princess: 鋼琴小公主的故事"

I think my initial intention of writing a blog was to share the stories of 鋼琴小公主 and her experiences through the eyes of 小龍女. 

The little princess had many difficult and also many rewarding moments in her journey through music; discovering, studying and exploring. Music is the only thing that could bring tears of both happiness and immense sadness to her eyes; it is the only thing the little princess had experienced which brought her so close to the clouds in the heavens and yet the same thing could make fall into the abyss towards the gates of hell. It was and still is an irreplaceable passion.

Via this blog, selected moments and short stories will tell the tale of the Little Piano Princess' musical journey and what she discovered about music, but more importantly, herself and the people around her.

My First Blog

Hello there!

I've been meaning to get a proper blog for a while and here it is, finally!

p(*^-^*)q ガんばります！

I'll do my best to fill this blog with my thoughts, interesting moments, memories and any thing else I feel might interest you. (*^.~*)

I'll write soon!