A semi-filler but with some real life stuff.

Prologue: Ahh Sunday is sabbath so I am rest myself then? NOT. I wonder I there any more assignment that feels urgent enough for me to make be fibrillating now?

在进入正题之前,来点额外的吧! 其实我很想在为这首歌写个部落格文章已经蛮久了，但是就总是抽不出时间或心情好好坐在电脑前用心写，尤其是当我想用中文来写的时候。用中文写部落格可是非常吃力的。难得今天星期日，就来写写吧。

首先，为大家介绍这一首歌，由新加坡歌手Olivia Ong主唱的如燕。如燕也是2009年度收视率最高的连续剧-小娘惹的主题曲。因为小娘惹的故事是述说南洋 (即新加坡与马来亚半岛) 土生华人 (另称峇峇与娘惹，Peranakan 或 Baba dan Nyonya) 豪门的风雨故事, 如燕这首歌的曲也融合了马来传统音乐常有的乐器例如Gamelan与小提琴等，再加上Olivia Ong天竺般美妙歌声，形成了一首动人，百听不厌的一首歌。我每次听这首歌的时候都会联想到一名身穿土生华人独特的Kebaya, 动作典雅，端庄有礼的娘惹，为大家准备一些传统娘惹菜式与糕点。

我本身认为土生华人的文化非常独特，是一个文化交流而成的融合。当初第一批南下的华人在马来亚半岛定居已久后，慢慢的融合本土马来文化在他们的日常生活里面，例如纱笼，Kebaya，马来Pantun，菜肴等与及独特的Bahasa Melayu Baba/Baba Malay。同时，土生华人也维持了华人传统拜祭祖先，福建方言，花瓷等。这可是土生华人与之后而来的新客华人是大不同的。

如燕 (Olivia Ong)
词曲：陈佳明
编曲：Terence Teo
制作人：陈佳明

愿意合上眼才能美梦无边
别让悔熏乌了从前
也许碎片才能让回忆展颜
何妨瓷花拼凑明天
谁带我寻获幸福的模
却自己谜中困锁
谁为我留下缱绻的天涯
信物是抹晚霞

思念如燕它飞舞舌尖
若是真爱配尝几分苦甜
意念婆娑时间里推磨
追随到何处才结果
燕如针线在青空缝编
几幅女红将以泪缀点
誓言斑驳情雾只是经过
风雨中且让我盈步婀娜

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Went to watch Alice in the Wonderland (2010 Tim Burton’s film) the other day with fellow movie goer YenPheng and ChiaMin. This version of Alice in the Wonderland actually is somewhat an adaptation/reimagining of the original Lewis Carroll’s work as it features a 20 years old Alice set in the Victorian Era instead of a kid. Upon further inspection of the ending credit and studying Wikipedia, various elements from other Lewis Carroll’s work (Red Queen, White Queen and The Tweedle brothers are from Through the Looking Glass and the dragon Jabberwocky are from the poem.)

Alice in the Wonderland, with the White Rabbit that lead her into the hole and Mad Hatter in the far background.

My verdict: Thumbs UP. The setting is full of realistic imagination (as it is set in Alice’s dream sequence and sort), the acting is very moving and lively (with special mention of Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter, the ever suave, sensual and mysterious Cheshire Cat (named Chessur in the movie) with its sheepish grin and wit. And of course, the Queens played by Helena Bonham-Carter and Anne Hathaway.)

The Red Queen. Her head is HUGE and she has the thing for big and she’s always dramatic just to get her way in everything. The ever famous line: “OFF WITH THE HEAD!!!!”

The White Queen. Everything in her castle is White. And the way she walk and around and talk is so…dramatic.

And the official theme song for Alice in the Wonderland is titled “Alice” as well, sang by Avril Lavigne. The lyric is talking about mostly being Alice in the wonderland and the music is very different and unique from Avril Lavigne’s usual pop-rock feel but instead sounds fantasy-ish and magical with the piano score, in line with the premise of Alice in the Wonderland. Anyway, here’s the official music video of “Alice”

AVRIL LAVIGNE - ALICE UNDERGROUND (NEW SINGLE)
[Avril Lavigne]

Trippin out
Spinning around
I'm underground
I fell down
Yeah I fell down

I'm freaking out, where am I now?
Upside down and I can't stop it now
Can't stop me now, oh oh

I, I'll get by
I, I'll survive
When the world's crashing down
When I fall and hit the ground
I will turn myself around
Don't you try to stop me
I, I won't cry

I found myself in Wonderland
Get back on my feet, on the ground
Is this real?
Is this pretend?
I'll take a stand until the end

I, I'll get by
I, I'll survive
When the world's crashing down
When I fall and hit the ground
I will turn myself around
Don't you try to stop me
I, I won't cry

I, I'll get by
I, I'll survive
When the world's crashing down
When I fall and hit the ground
I will turn myself around
Don't you try to stop me
I, and I won't cry

Anyway, after we watched Alice in the Wonderland, the three of us went to XianDingWei 鲜定味 Taiwanese Cuisine Restaurant again to have dinner. And boy, what a scrumptious meal we had!

Ah Pheng.

ChiaMin. She commented that she didn’t notice me taking her picture lolx.

And moi.

So what did the the three of us ordered for dinner then? Let’s start of with respective’s main courses.

ChiaMin ordered Hunan Beancurd and white rice as a la carte.

  I ordered Cheese Pork Steak set…

While AhPheng ordered Sour and Spicy prawn set.

Besides the main course, we also ordered side dishes for us to share!

  Ah Pheng ordered Sweet MuaChi thingy.

Charsiew Beef by ChiaMin

while I ordered Calamari Ring in sweet sesame sauce.

  As for drinks, both of the ladies ordered the mixed fruit tea while I stick to refillable plain water. LOL.

AND the aftermath. Look at how long our bill goes! It’s pretty unbelievable at how much are we willing to spend on satisfying our taste bud. More than RM60 is gone just on that day alone lol. We definitely sound financial planning next time!

Epilogue: Phew long post is long. It can be really tiring just blog. No wonder I am somewhat losing the motivation to blog these days. Not to mention the rolling deadlines!