We always fall in loneliness (photograph by David Olkarny)

槟城11岁单亲家庭优秀男童坠楼身亡后，心里就在盘算该不该写下这段鲜为人知的尘封往事，好让诸界瞭解在单亲家庭长大的孩子，内心究竟有多么的脆弱。

我是一个在单亲家庭长大的孩子。8岁那年，原本如童话般美好的家庭在瞬间碎裂；几经辗转，从北马漏夜逃离到中马，数月后再被“偷渡”到南马，监护人从父亲变成母亲，而姐弟再聚首又是数年后的事了。

在小学期间，我也是品学兼优的好学生。我努力把书唸好，为的不过是希望能得到为生活打拼、终日在外忙碌的母亲的讚赏；小小的心灵也好希望在家长日时，妈妈能到学校帮我领成绩册，从老师口中听到她的孩子有多么的乖巧。

可我永远记得，同学一一跟着父母手牵手回家了，校门口的铁闸半关了，只有我和大我1岁的姐姐紧紧牵着小手，怎么盼都盼不到妈妈的身影。同学们笑我没有父亲，当时十来岁的我不知如何辩解，只懂得掉眼泪，把这些委屈往心里藏。

12岁那年的某一天，我和姐姐吵架后，心里非常难受，一心觉得这世界上没有人爱我，连我父母都不爱我。于是，随手拿了数十颗药丸，全吞下了肚。后来口吐白沫，被送进了院灌鼻洗胃；住院期间，父母都没来看我，妈妈还怪我这孩子给她添了很多麻烦。

院方想要给予辅导，可我从辅导室仓皇害怕逃走。心想，你们这些大人说这么多，能帮我解决问题吗？你们能还我一个健全美满的家庭吗？如果不能，说这么多有甚么意义？

一直到廿多年后的今天，每当说起这段往事，我妈仍以“她那时成绩不好”来作为我自杀的动机。她完全不瞭解真正的原因无关学业成绩，而是因为我觉得这世界上没有人爱我。她到现在都还不瞭解！

如同许多孩子及青少年自杀后的新闻呈现一样，家长和校方总会跳出来说，这孩子是多么的优秀，成绩多么优良；可单亲家庭小孩努力唸书，为的就是希望能藉由优异表现来得到其他小孩轻而易举就能得到的家庭关爱。可最后他们得到了吗？没有。一直到十七八岁，我仍哭着问久未见面的父亲，“你能不能不要跟妈妈离婚？”他说不能。

这就是单亲家庭孩子心中，最大最苦最心酸最痛彻的无奈。所以，他们才会想“死了就一了百了”。

我很幸运的活到了今天。但每当看到有单亲家庭小孩寻死，各界端出来的言论当中，没有人看到问题的真正核心――无关成绩，无关生活品质，孩子要的很简单，就是家庭温暖。

若这些早逝的小孩活在我成长的那个年代，心里大概也常哼着潘美辰的《我想有个家》“……我好羡慕他，受伤后可以回家，而我只能孤单的，孤单的寻找我的家……”

(文 ：丹青，刊登于星洲日报／言路）
[source: http://opinions.sinchew-i.com/node/23946]

Happy Mother's Day (Khmer mother and daughter, shot in Cambodia)

Your arms were always open when I needed a hug. Your heart understood when I needed a friend. Your gentle eyes were stern when I needed a lesson. Your strength and love has guided me and gave me wings to fly.

To all mom, a Happy Mother’s day. Big thanks for all your unfailing sacrifices and the unconditional love you’ve been giving us!

五月的康乃馨，没有雍容华贵的姿态，没有浓香四溢的味道，只是平平淡淡的样子，就如日夜操劳、毫无怨言的母亲。

祝全天下妈妈,母亲节快乐!

2012 Wesak Day procession in Melaka

Wesak is the thrice blessed day to commemorate the birth, enlightenment (nirvana) and death (parinirvana) of the Buddha. On every Wesak Day in Melaka float parade is held; and a larger scale one is held on every decade of the celebration.

This year 2012, Wesak Day was celebrated on last Saturday, 5th of May and it also marked the 50th year Wesak procession in Melaka, one of the grand celebration. Procession which is normally held on the eve on Wesak Day however was carried out on Wesak’s night this year.

Thousands of devotees thronged Melaka town and some from outstation just came by and joined the celebration. More than sixty Buddhist Temples and organisations took part this year’s procession which covered 7.7 km, from the former site of Eye on Malaysia passing through Jalan Merdeka and Bukit Cina, to Kubu Stadium in Jalan Kubu.

Kenn-Wai, Fred Yap and I didn’t miss such a grand celebration. We gathered at the main entrance of Dataran Pahlawan shopping mall which was also the judging stop and enjoyed the colouful and brightly lit floats, performance by dragon and lion dance troupes, rhythm from several school bands, Chinese and Sri Lankan dances.

There were tens of photographers gathered there to capture their best shots in order to take part in the Wesak photography competition. So we had to get a little room to see and photograph the procession.

The last float was from Seck Kia Eenh Buddhist Temple as usual. And it passed through the judging stop just before midnight and it was only half the journey to Kubu Stadium. We wondered what time the procession concluded. It would be very late we guessed.

We enjoyed ourselves on that night. Although the Wesak procession is held here in Melaka every year, we would have to wait for another ten years to see such a grand one again.

Thanks to all the organizers, volunteers, community members, students and supporters for the hard work in helping to make this procession such a success.

Sharing some shots taken. May all beings bEE happy.

Murder most fowl: The seagull successfully securing a first course

A murderous seagull that gobbled up a duckling got more than it bargained for when it returned for another helping.

It swooped on the ducklings as they swam with their parents in Herbert Park, Dublin, last week.

But the mother duck, who initially had eleven ducklings in tow, finally forced the gull away by aggressively flapping her wings.

Photographer Paul Hughes said: ‘I was taking pictures in the park and saw this gull watching the young family.

‘This is the time of year ducks raise their young, so predatory birds like gulls are always on the look out for an easy meal.

‘The gull was waiting for one of the ducklings to stray from the group and when it finally spotted one it swooped in for the kill.

‘The gull was able to grab hold of a duckling in its beak.

‘But when it came back for a second helping mum was ready and fought the gull away until it had to turn tail and fly off.

‘The chick ducked under the water. There was a lot of quacking and squawking going on.

‘It was a stressful moment for the mother, but in the end she saved her family.’

Foiled: The seagull scoops the chick out of the water, but drops it when the mother swoops in

In a flap: The angry mother proved she was no sitting duck and chased the attacker away

Brave: The fearless mother is not deterred by the seagull's size advantage

Taking flight: The seagull is in no mood to hang around

Happy family: The ducklings with their protective mother

[source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136932/Mother-duck-fights-seagull-defend-chicks.html]

Congratulation to Sum-Ying and Thai-Boon!

I was busy recently and didn’t keep up the pace with wedding shooting update. Happy Labor Day to all.

Right, Thai-Boon and I were classmate during secondary school. We didn’t keep in touch after we went for tertiary study. Until last year I started using FaceBook, we contacted again.

We then met up in March, together with his lovely partner Sum Ying, and I was invited to shoot on their big day. It was a great honour to witness and photograph a good friend wedding.

On their wedding day, Brendon and I worked together to capture the wonderful and genuine moments of the sweet bride, groom and their family and friends. When the Thai-Boon and brothers went to pick the bride, they had to go through a few door games ‘designed’ by the sisters. It turned out to be hilarious later especially during the game with Wasabi, where one had to eat the Wasabi spread on a part of another person’s body.

After the wedding ceremony, we went to Heeren Street for a short outdoor shooting session with the couple before everyone headed back to rest and ready for the evening reception held at Restaurant Lu Yeh Yen. Everything was gorgeous and fantastic on that day and I got to meet many old friends during the reception.

A beautiful wedding full of laughters. Happy wedding to you Thai-Boon and Sum-Ying, and thanks for inviting Brendon and I to be part of your wedding.

May all beings bEE happy. Let the pictures tell the story.

hands on Canon new flagship EOS-1D X

Canon upcoming flagship of the EOS line, 1D X has lots to live up to.

Thanks to Canon Malaysia. I had a chance to play with few of the upcoming Canon’s products including 1D X together with Kenn-Wai. I am however not going to do a full review on 1D X (which is available all over the internet) but to share some of my experience on playing with it and also the images of new Canon Speedlite flash 600EX-RT and the new Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT.

My first impression: I really likEE the new ergonomic design of 1D X. The hand-grip is more comfortable which is quite similar to that of the new 5D Mark III, better than my 5D Mark II. Canon also takes a different approach on the 1D X’s button placement, allowing me to have quick access and navigation on menu and settings.

This new flagship of Canon EOS camera has a larger 3.2″ and improved 1,040k dots LCD screen. It will be a great advantage for us for on-site image evaluation. And checking of the ISO range on the camera setting, it can be expanded up to 204,800. I didn’t do any test on ISO performance because I was in a bright environment but hopefully I can do it next time.

I did a few of shots with the 1D X and the focusing really impressed me. Fast and accurate! 1D X has an entirely new autofocus capability with a massive 61 autofocus points, providing high autofocus accuracy and precision, low-light autofocus performance. Thanks to a DIGIC processor dedicated strictly to helping the autofocus.

Besides autofocus, 1D X can shoot at 12 fps (14 fps with mirror lock-up). It is a revolutionary improvement for a full-frame camera; remember that the larger sensor, larger and heavier mirror to move. Yet 1D X can produce a full frame quality at high speed. Check on video clip below on the continuous shooting of 1D X recorded. It was shooting like a machine gun. So wildlife and sport photographers are just going love it.

Next a real shooting, I took two shots with the 1D X camera, one of Kenn Wai with the new Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT and one of the buildings and beautiful sky. These were standard shots without playing much with the settings, therefore I wouldn’t comment much on the image quality.

Reading on the specification, 1D X is packed with top-end features which meet the needs of professional photographers. It should be released very soon as to be ready in time for the London 2012 Olmypic game.

Thanks again to Canon Malaysia for the arrangement. Sharing some shots of the 1D X.

May all beings bEE happy.

pro-looking of 1D X

rear view of 1D X; 3.2" of 1,040,000 dots LCD screen, larger and clearer screen compared to the other 1D-line, the viewfinder is also significantly larger (0.76x)

top view of 1D X

1D X has new autofocus system (61-point AF system with 41 cross-type points)

1D X pushing the ISO range to 204800

new battery for 1D X, LP-E4N (2450mAh, backward and forward compatible with LP-E4)

Kenn-Wai with 1D X; its enhanced ergonomic design is more comfortable

my Canon Speedlite 580EX II and Canon new Speedlite 600EX-RT

Canon new Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT

model: Kenn-Wai, shot with Canon EOS-1D X and Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM and Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT

subject: Melaka Raya, shot with Canon EOS-1D X and Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM

a short clip of 1D X’s burst mode:

特列宁·晃子《请照顾我女儿》

晃子已於2008年2月25日离开人世，走时只有36岁，那一年尤莉亚只有2岁，今年已6岁。

晃子是在2006年诞下精灵可爱的尤莉亚。但命运捉弄她，一边迎接新生命，一边却要面对自己生命的终结。

万般不捨也不能改变命运，她將对女儿的无限牵掛化成文字，写成了“遗书”《请照顾我女儿》，这本书日前更翻译成中文版。

纵然化疗令身体虚弱的晃子连提笔的力气也没有，她仍竭力口述录音，將生命里各种课题――朋友、吵架、恋爱、金钱等娓娓道来，要教女儿人生智慧，教她如何做一个女生。

口述录音教女儿生命课题

晃子在每段录音，都充满元气地跟尤莉亚说早安，每句话都充满关爱和思念，她把握一分一秒向女儿做最后告別，希望留下这书作女儿的礼物。这份礼物，母爱满泻。

晃子希望女儿將来读起妈妈留给自己的书，知道妈妈的爱及面对的痛苦抉择。

晃子在怀女儿时腰痛得厉害，初时以为是普通孕痛，到一天痛得无法走路，才发现脊髓有恶性肿瘤。於是，在保住自己还是孩子之间，她面对痛苦选择。因为分娩后才治疗將有生命危险，但她最终选择保住孩子。

晃子死前的遗愿，就是希望读者看了她的书后可以写信给尤莉亚，照顾尤莉亚，给尤莉亚力量成长。

妈妈想用各种方式，陪伴未来的你……

写给我的亲亲尤莉宝贝，妈妈要用笔写下给你的话，用声音录下对你的叮嚀，妈妈的生命已经接近终点，但妈妈想用各种方式，陪伴未来的你……妈妈每天看你一天天的长大，你的笑容像天使一样，脸蛋像花儿般灿烂，但妈妈的生命却一天天的削减，在病房独自面对孤独与恐惧，有甚么办法可以让时间走慢一点，陪在你的身边久一点？如果你看了这本书，能够知道妈妈在甚么样的心情生下你，时时刻刻为你？想写下这些话，那么妈妈就感到非常非常幸福了……

2月6日妈妈剖腹生下你

妈妈从2005年秋天开始生病。那年夏天，妈妈才怀了你，所以发现时，你还在妈妈子宫里……10月之后，腰突然很痛……医生都说“你是孕妇”，既不为我做检查，也不做任何治疗，只说“等你生完孩子再治疗……”

进入12月后……双腿开始发麻，排尿困难，走路都开始有问题……医生说脊髓出现肿瘤，要马上动手术切除，妈妈嚇坏了！

因为在怀孕状態下不能接受癌症治疗，如果以妈妈的治疗为优先，就必须让你早產，这代表你无法像普通的小宝一样出生的可能性很高……然后，妈妈向爸爸保证，一定会带给他一个健康小宝贝。妈妈问爸爸：“Do you really want this baby？”爸爸哭著说：“Yes，对不起，I want both。”

2月6日妈妈剖腹生下你。

尽可能和喜欢的人在一起，好好享受人生！

尤莉亚，你是女生，所以我相信你不至於和別人打架，但可能会常常和別人吵架，和爸爸，还有朋友……人不是单独活在世界上，必须和很多人產生交集。一样米养百样人，当然可能遇到合得来或是合不来的人，在和这些人相处的过程中，难免会发生爭执。

吵架不是坏事，但更重要的是，吵架后要言归於好。和好的秘诀在於“隔一夜”……隔了一夜，双方心情平静下来后，就可以冷静思考。

活在人世，要尽可能和喜欢的人在一起，好好享受人生！

要记住，绝对不能先有后婚

在瞭解对方的心意之前，整天都提心吊胆，心神不寧，对方的一举手、一投足都会让人的心情跟著一喜一忧（笑）。学生时代有很多时间，也有很多对象，可以谈很多恋爱，和同学一起分享恋爱的点滴也很有趣。

再长大一点之后，就要展开一场寻找人生伴侣的漫长恋爱旅程……这时候的恋爱和以前那种只要不喜欢，马上就分手的恋爱方式不同，可以花更长的时间观察对方。

不要忘记“即使再亲密，也要注意应有的礼节……”

每个女生都希望有朝一日可以和喜欢的人结婚……尤莉亚，要记住，绝对不能先有后婚。

[source: http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/243976?tid=2]

Organ donation advert (google image)

（雪兰莪‧八打灵再也4日讯）交通部长拿督斯里江作汉今日宣佈，凡更新驾驶执照的民眾，可以选择是否填写器官捐献意向同意书措施。

询及上述措施何时落实，江作汉並没有说明明確期限，只表示会儘快落实，因为目前交通部法律顾问仍需研究相关的法律事宜，並克服一些技术问题。

签署捐器官须亲自办理

他说，有关问题包括一些人士並非亲自到陆路交通局更新驾照，而是通过朋友或跑腿，也有者是通过诸如MYEG电子政府服务措施上网更新驾照，但是签署器官捐献意向同意书需要个人亲自办理。

“这些都是我们须要克服的挑战。”

江作汉今日见证阳光无线电德士私人有限公司的100辆德士参与“传播爱，拯救生命”活动，並繫上象徵器官捐献醒觉运动的“绿丝带”仪式上，这么表示。

他表示，上述器官捐献意向书是属於自愿参与性质，並非强制性措施，同时，一些国家，如美国已落实这项措施。

他说，我国去年就发生逾40万宗公路意外，其中在车祸中丧命的人数有6千877人，比2010年的6千872人增加5人，相等於每10万宗车祸有3人死亡，而一般上器官捐赠者都是车祸死者。

德士司机参与活动

活动总策划人周虹伶表示，参与上述活动的德士司机及德士將繫上“绿丝带”，同时德士上也將放置活动传单供乘客索取。

她表示，今日活动也推介面子书专页SpreadLoveSaveLives，以便通过社交媒体让讯息更广为流传。

阳光德士私人有限公司首席执行员崔卉仪表示，该公司德士司机平均每天载送15至20名乘客，每天平均行驶200至300公里路程，这意味著100辆德士一个月將会有至少6万名乘客可以接触到这项醒觉运动。

李霖泰：366死者已捐出器官
万五人痴等换器官

卫生部全国器官捐献行动委员会主席丹斯里李霖泰表示，我国仍有1万5千人等待器官移植，迄今共有366名自愿捐赠器官者遗爱人间，拯救无数人性命。

李霖泰也宣佈，截至今年3月，我国签署器官捐献意向同意书的宣誓捐赠者总共有19万1228人，无论如何，该人数仍然不到全国总人口的1%，仍然须要鼓励更多人参与这项活动。

国家器官移植资源中心首席协调员拿汀丽拉雅斯敏表示，19万名宣誓捐献者当中，以华裔最多，约有55%，其次是印裔约25%，接下来是巫裔约15%。

[source: http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/242542?tid=1]

Congratulation to Grace Lee and Hian-Kim!

We’ve just finished Grace and Hian-Kim’s photographs from their fabulous wedding at Melaka in early March.  On the fourth day of March, Kenn-Wai, Fred, Steve and I were invited to document the wedding for our friend, Bear Lee’s sister, Grace and her charming man Hian-Kim.

We started to photograph early morning at Grace’s place. Grace just looked gorgeous with the great work of Nini the markup artist.

The evening reception was held at Hotel Equatorial Melaka. Stunning environment, joyful guests and wonderful bands just made the dinner very special.

Both Grace and Hian-Kian are very sweet couple. We were honoured to capture their big day. Thanks and congratulation to the both of them.

May all beings be happy.

Earth Hour in Malaysia (image from http://smksripermata.wordpress.com)

Hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world unite each year to support the largest environmental event in history – Earth Hour.

More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 alone, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. It also ushered in a new era with members going Beyond the Hour to commit to lasting action for the planet. Without a doubt, it’s shown how great things can be achieved when people come together for a common cause.

On Earth Hour hundreds of millions of people, organizations, corporations and governments will come together to make a bold statement about their concern for climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. Earth Hour symbolizes that by working together, each of us can have a positive impact in the fight against climate change, protecting our future and that of future generations.

Set Your Clock 

On March 31st at 8:30 p.m. local time, Earth Hour will cascade around the globe—from time zone to time zone—uniting the planet under a single, simple, call to action.

How does climate change occur?

A continuous flow of energy from the sun heats the Earth. Naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases, trap this heat like a blanket, keeping the Earth at an average of 15 degrees Celsius – warm enough to sustain life. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most significant of these gases. The amount of naturally produced CO2 is almost perfectly balanced by the amount naturally removed through photosynthesis and its dissolution in oceans. However, the overuse of fossil fuels is leading to increased CO2 in the atmosphere, trapping more and more heat and warming the Earth.

As a result, we’re seeing more dramatic weather patterns across the globe. 
The effects of Earth’s changing weather not only causes devastating natural disasters but shrinking of the world’s ice shelves and glaciers due to warming sea water. Because ice acts as a solar reflector, the less ice there is, the less heat the Earth reflects.

Did you know? A bicycle is a marvel of engineering efficiency, one where an investment in 22 pounds of metal and rubber boosts the efficiency of an individual mobility by a factor of three (Lester Brown, EPI)

Did you know? It takes 200 litres of water to produce one latte.

Did you know? 78% of agricultural land is used for livestock production.

[source: www.earthhour.org]

Clooney has handcuffs attached by a security official after being arrested outside the Embassy of Sudan today. (photo: Getty Images/Win McNamee)

Police arrested actor George Clooney and others Friday during a protest at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington.

The arrested protesters included congressmen, human rights activists and faith leaders.

“We are here really to ask two very simple questions,” Clooney said moments before his arrest. “The first question is something immediate — and immediately, we need humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Sudan before it becomes the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.”

The second thing, he said, “is for the government in Khartoum to stop randomly killing its own innocent men, women and children. Stop raping them and stop starving them. That’s all we ask.”

Protesters had begun gathering in the street before the protest began and converged on the Embassy once Clooney and the others arrived, holding signs reading “Stop Bombing Civilians Now!” and “End the silence stop the violence.”

Those arrested included United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews; Democratic Reps. Jim McGovern, Al Green, Jim Moran and John Olver; Martin Luther King III; and NAACP President Ben Jealous.

Jealous directed a message to the Sudanese president: “This is what beginning of the end looks like.”

“We are protesting to make sure the Sudanese government knows that the world is watching,” McGovern said. “The United States Congress is watching. And we will be back again and again until they stop using food as a weapon; stop slaughtering innocent men, women and children; and stop spitting in the face of the world community.”

After speeches by several of the protest leaders, a police officer told the group she was giving them a third warning, after which they would be arrested.

A few moments later, the arrests began. The group stood calmly as they waited for the police to apply plastic handcuffs as the crowd of protesters chanted “al-Bashir to the ICC,” referring to the International Criminal Court, where Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been indicted.

Clooney was charged with disorderly crossing of a police line, a misdemeanor, Secret Service spokesman Max Millien said. The Secret Service is responsible for security at foreign diplomatic missions in Washington.

He paid a $100 fine, choosing to forfeit that money to avoid a court appearance, said Gwendolyn Crump, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police Department.

Clooney met with President Obama on Thursday to discuss his concerns about Sudan.

Flanking Clooney in this picture are Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) (L) and his father Nick Clooney. (photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Clooney is surrounded by the media after being arrested for protesting the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan. (photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Clooney testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing next to John Prendergast, co-founder of the Satellite Sentinel Project, regarding Sudan at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington Wednesday. (photo: REUTERS/Benjamin Myers)

Sudanese from the war-torn Blue Nile state collect muddy water, in order to avoid the 12-hour queue at a water pump, in South Sudan's Doro refugee camp in December. More than 80,000 Sudanese have sought refuge in South Sudan from clashes between government forces and insurgents on the northern side of the poorly-marked and tense border, according to the United Nations. (photo: REUTERS/Hereward Holland)

[source: http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-16/us/us_washington-clooney-arrest_1_sudanese-embassy-sudanese-president-omar-al-bashir-ahmad-harun?_s=PM:US]

fire scene search

A man distraught by all the pain and suffering he saw all around him broke down and banged his fists into the dirt.

His head turns upward and he yells at his God.

“Look at this mess. Look at all this pain and suffering. Look at all this killing and hate. God. Oh God! Why don’t you do something!!”

And his God spoke to him and said, ”I did. I sent you.”

[source: http://www.storiesofwisdom.com/do-something/]

untitled (by Tracy Martin)

我读过许多文章，多数是写妈妈，很少写爸爸。

我爸住在山村，靠双手割胶，养活我们9个兄弟姐妹，爸妈辛苦一世人，穷了一辈子。

记得我在就9岁那年，生了一场病，看医生要到四五公里的市镇，所以就没有前往。三更半夜时候，身体突然发冷，冷得牙齿颤抖，爸给我喝了一杯热水，紧紧抱住我，让他的体热温暖著我，可是，我仍然不舒服，放声痛哭，爸一双手轻轻拍著我。现在想起来，当时爸一定很伤心、焦虑，泪水一定落了下来。后来怎样好起来，已经记不起，我能活到今天，算是菩萨保佑了。

在我年轻的时候，心头有一股翻身改政的理想。

不想却在1969年，三更半夜就被人带走，离开了爸妈，兄弟姐妹，放逐到石象城的高墻內。一夜之间，爸就失去一个儿子，可以想象，爸会有多伤心，多痛苦呢！这种痛苦，只有做爸爸才会感受到。现在我当上爸爸，才体会到，爸爸对孩子的爱，是无条件，是永永远远的……爸七十多岁时，我的孩子还小，身边只有一辆70CC的电单车，每天忙著生活打拼，从不会想载爸到较远的地方走走看看，但爸没有半句怨言，守著家，看顾孙子。我知道爸有一个心愿，一直想回去中国乡下探亲，看看他哥哥的孩子们，可是，我的经济无法让他成行，就连吉隆坡和新加坡都没有到过。84岁那年，他很平静的闭上眼睛离开人间，不知爸心中有带著掛碍，遗憾吗？希望他不会，但我却有著对他深深的遗憾，层层的內疚。

当生活上遇到不如意事，我耳畔就会响起爸的那一句：“一个人穷没有关系，最重要誌不能穷”。

当我的经济面对困难时，就会记起爸说的话：“一个人千万不能去偷、抢、骗”。当我在欢乐时，心头就想起爸一句：“人千万不要学会吹（吸鸦片）、喝、嫖、赌”。

爸往生时，甚么也没有留下，只留下了一个叫他早起早睡的闹钟，还有一支红烟斗，清清白白一生人。

送著爸走最后一程时，我双手扶棺木，心痛得发不出声音，眼泪掉不出来……老爸，在人生的路上，我永远记住你的话……

[文：章钦，刊登于星洲日报副刊]

This is a very nice violin cover by my friend Chow-Gui. When I first saw his play, I knew I had to share this wonderful cover with all friends here.

This song is originally Christina Perri and written by Christina Perri and David Hodges. The words are magical. It’s about the waiting for someonEE special is often painful, but always worth it as true love endures. If it is meant to happen, if you believe, it will happen.

Heart beats fast
Colors and prom-misses
How to be brave
How can I love when I’m afraid to fall?

But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away

What’s standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

Hope you like this cover. Many thanks again to the wonderful violin play by Chow-Gui and I’m looking forward for his next play.

May all beings be happy.

我不吃鱼翅 (google image)

Shark fin soup symbolizes generosity and good fortune, which also has become an expected component of Chinese weddings. In fact, shark fins are tasteless and may contain high levels of toxic methtl-mercury, which can damage to human central nervous system and causes birth defects in infants.

Harvest of shark fins is the destruction of shark populations around the world and causing untold damage to the oceans. By removing large numbers of these top predators from our oceans, it destabilizes the whole ecosystem and has a detrimental effect on the marine environment and our fish stocks.

The high market demand for shark fin is currently the main driver of unsustainable fishing for sharks globally. No demand no supply! We can do our part by saying NO to shark fin soup during wedding banquets, and encouraging our friends or family who are getting married to exclude shark fin soup from the menu.

May all beings be happy.