Life is Good

步步高升 (Balik Kampung)

2012-01-19T08:27:00.000+08:00

无论我们如何努力，尽管我们以最快的速度奔跑，也追不到地球环绕太阳的转动。于是，兔年又接近尾声，我们也再次开始准备回乡过年。

看着我们的“年岁”户口节节上升，不曾下降过，或多或少也会有少许领悟：健康就是一切；除了健康，就是亲人朋友，其他事情在户口不断上升的真相前，都变得次要了。

在我返乡之前，让我分享最后几张巴厘岛的摄影作品，当作兔年最后一篇博文，也当作是巴厘岛系列的结尾。

1。海神庙附近的日落
2。海神庙经历千年日月精华的墙壁
3。库搭海滩
4。山脚下的梯田景观

祝各位龙马精神，身体健康。

It’s this time of the year again, when the Earth is close to completing yet another Lunar cycle of orbiting around the Sun, and most of the Chinese working outside of their hometown again begin to prepare to travel back to their respective village for family reunion and Lunar New Year celebration.

I can already visualize the traffic condition on the highway leading back to numerous towns of the country. It would be like a few concentrated beams of light shooting from the main cities of the country towards the smaller towns of the country. Every vehicle would be like a particle of light, with the difference that there is a driver, and some with passengers, in each vehicle, whose hearts are beating in a blissful frequency looking forwards to the family reunion, which, for many could be an annual event.

As the last post for the year of rabbit, let me share with you a few photos taken in Bali to close out my articles of Bali.

1. Sunset in Tanah Lot. We waited and hoped for a dramatic sunset that did not arrive.
2. Front wall of Tanah Lot Temple. Note the construction materials that had gone thorough hundreds of years of erosion and weathering.
3. Kuta beach.
4. The exotic view of Tegallalang Rice Terraces.

I will shoot off tomorrow like a photon. Happy Lunar New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai to everyone!

欢乐时光（Memorable Bali）

2012-01-16T14:39:00.002+08:00

除了拍摄风景古物花草艺术之外，孩子和家人们在巴厘岛的欢乐时光也是摄影好题材。

小孩们出外旅行，只要有伴，就能玩得天翻地覆，学业功课都被那排山倒海的气势击中飞到九霄云外，爱玩乐的本性表露无遗。

大人们除了游山玩水，暂时返老还童和小孩们打成一片之外，当然也趁机品尝巴厘岛的饮食文化。从简便宁静的山谷早餐，山崖海角的下午茶，到巴厘岛道地菜肴如烤乳猪，烤鸭，沙嗲，特色杂饭，和各式各样的咖啡样本品尝，让每个人都尽兴的满腹而归。

不吃过道地食品，不算来过巴厘岛；若不把家人小孩们的欢乐时光拍摄下来留念，也不算有个完整的旅程。

若干年后，重看这些相片，记忆瞬间就能划破时空，一次又一次的重新体验旅程固中趣味。。。

The trip to Bali was a satisfying one not only for me as an avid photographer, but all members of the two families, four adults and four children, enjoyed the company of each other throughout.

Without companionship, the trip would not have been so enjoyable. The swimming pool was exceptionally fun to swim in not only because it was located in a deserted valley in Bali but also just because everyone got to swim and play together.

The beach looked stunningly sunny and beautiful not only because it was located at the tip of Indian Ocean but also because everyone was in a lovely mood.

The sampling and tasting of the Luwak coffee and other numerous types of coffee was not only awakening but also fun. So were other numerous meal stops that provided for the much needed energy and rest before proceeding to the next attraction.

No trip would be considered complete without some family photos, where our sweet memory was deeply embedded inside, readily available for us to rediscover its sweetness at any time in the future.

返璞归真 (Original Bali)

2012-01-12T08:45:00.004+08:00

返璞归真，才是最响往的生活。

走在巴厘岛乡间的小路上，我的步伐出奇的轻快，我的思绪出奇的松弛。空气中似乎充满无限新鲜氧气，从鼻根吸入后充沛迅速输送全身，令人心旷神怡。

暖暖的阳光透过大树照在身上，徐徐的微风轻拍树叶发出的乐声飘入耳根。鸭子群在翠绿的田里嬉戏，小童们结伴步行上学堂；独自耕种的农人，头顶载物的行人；一幅极其简单自然的画面，竟让习惯了城市里霓虹灯吵杂声电脑电视手机多媒体广告等严重污染的官感，霎时获得释放，回归自然，返璞归真，感觉就像回到最初的起点，只有真，善，美。

巴厘岛某些景点，需要步行一段路程才到达目的地。由于所经过的村庄小巷朴素的田野风光，倒有点像是到郊外远足，连我们年幼的小孩们也虽然疲倦却不喊累。

郊区的巴厘人生活也许清苦，依然依靠山上流下的水洗澡洗衣，但朴实无华的简单生活，是另一种城市孩子们无法理解的现实与修行。。。

In the rural areas, Bali is exceptionally original in nature without much influence of modern technology and western culture.

We noticed that in the village, the villagers still rely on the stream from the mountain as the main water source for shower as well as washing their clothing. There were groups of ducks seen in the paddy field and the owner would come to chase them back home in the evening.

The original village life of Bali is a purity that is hard to experience in the city. Ironically there are many city folks who lead a busy city life with the objective of retiring and retreating to a peaceful and quiet life one day.

We met with a rich Danish American here who owns a beautiful resort in a valley in Ubud. Obviously he had chosen Bali to be his permanent residence, and his quality of life here is really admirable.

Who dares to say simplicity is not the ultimate sophistication….

天涯海角 (Romantic Bali)

2012-01-09T13:39:00.001+08:00

站在巴厘岛最南端的峭壁上，面向着水天连成一体的印度洋，吹着迎面而来的海风，心情莫名的兴奋，潜伏已久的意识呐喊起来。

乌鲁瓦图也许不是个发达的城镇，其大自然景观的气势却得天独厚，教人把一切烦恼抛诸脑后，宁愿在此乐活慢活发呆一辈子。

断崖庙的绝景不止吸引了游客，也引来了大群的猴子猴孙在此常驻，可见其山灵水秀必定不亚于神话里的花果山。

这里也有些专门帮情侣们安排度蜜月甚至婚礼和结婚照的服务，包括浪漫的住宿，梦幻的玻璃小教堂等。在晋身柴米油盐阶段之前，小两口在此宠一宠自己也是应该的。

风尘仆仆来到这天涯海角，为的只是喝杯下午茶，听那海浪打在岩壁的声音，和看那冲浪高手们和大海最亲密的接触。当然也不忘了好摄一番。。。

We found the romantic face of Bali at Uluwatu.

Here, the soft and sexy Indian Ocean comes in close contact with the strong and handsome Rocky Cliff of Uluwatu. Their encounter results in the most natural sight and sound entertainment of the wave hitting the rock, in a way that melts the heart of all souls.

Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple was built here in the eleventh century facing the breathtaking view of the cliff. This is not only a popular tourist attraction but it also attracted large groups of wild monkeys to make this place their home. It is a dream natural habitat after all.

There are some villas here that provide services for honeymooners, as well as photo shoots and special itinerary for newly married couples. Most of the villas have beautiful facilities and scenery overlooking the Ocean.

If you want to get out of the hustle and bustle of city life, Uluwatu can provide you a dream retreat where you can pamper yourself with either a spa treatment or just taking your own time sipping tea while watching the wind surfers in action or listening to the sound of wave hitting the rocky cliff.

巴厘岛微距生态（Natural Bali）

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000+08:00

巴厘岛的天然微距生态，给我们的旅途增添了些小乐趣。

除了神秘的火山，漫长的沙滩，蜿蜒的河流，浓密的森林，壮丽的断崖，纯朴的村庄，葱绿的梯田，尔雅的居民；巴厘岛路边一草一木一虫一蚁皆流露着自然气息，感觉就像投入大自然的怀抱。一些微距生态在我们不经意间出现，逗乐了孩子们，也让我的微距镜头派上用场。

你看，巴厘岛的蜘蛛是否特别妖艳，连蜘蛛网也散发出野性。你看，巴厘岛的苍蝇和辣椒是否与众不同，谁敢说不是火山泥孕育出来的。你看你看，巴厘岛的绿叶本身就是艺术，可比美任何一件最细腻的手工。还有你看，巴厘岛的宝贝螺还是活的，生活在天涯海角的花圃里，还和我们共用一条行人道。

真情流露的巴厘岛，与其坦荡荡的热情，在瞬间就把我这个好摄之徒给征服了。。。

(注：“天涯海角”是巴厘岛乌鲁瓦图位于印度洋县崖上方的度假村的称呼，拥有海天一色的景观并可让人俯瞰印度洋，来到这里，我们都醉了！)

For my trip to Bali, I brought along three Canon lenses, i.e. 10-22mm wide angle, 50mm f/1.8II and 100mm f/2.8L macro lens.

For all my travel abroad, I would consider the 50mm f/1.8II a lens that I would definitely bring along due to its negligible size and weight (yet it provides for large aperture and sharp images). Another lens that is a must-bring-along is none other than the 10-22mm ultra-wide zoom lens that is extremely suited as well as versatile for scenic landscape shots. For the third lens that my bag was capable of carrying, I hesitated between the 100mm macro lens and the Sigma 18-250mm super zoom. Eventually I decided to choose the 100mm macro lens due to its better image quality and macro capability.

The result of the decision was some macro shots that I would have missed if I brought along the 18-250mm super zoom instead.

The images here were shot as the opportunity arose without our intentionally searching for the subjects. I like to take macro shots, and it sure felt nice to shoot bugs and plants away from home. The spider was more photogenic and wilder than those in my garden, the fly and the chili just looked special compared with those in my neighborhood, the plants were more artistic, and the shell critter from the Cowrie family detected by my kids was such a good model that I could hardly find near my house.

Bali really is a paradise for a photography enthusiast like me….

旅者与人（Balinese People）

2012-01-04T09:49:00.002+08:00

也许是我们以旅者的心情看巴厘人，总觉得他们都很悠哉闲哉地过生活，并都平易近人，有着极其温和的个性。

负责驾驶的巴厘叔叔，以平稳的驾驶技术，东南西北穿越巴厘岛大街小巷山区闹市，不徐不疾不温不火，完成我们六天顺畅的旅程，其耐力和耐性值得一赞。

旅店中的职员，画廊里的画家，炒咖啡豆的青年，都尽责的做着他们的功课，悠闲中不失敬业乐业的享受着生活的每一时刻。

村庄里的小孩，路边的头顶小贩，文化村里的舞蹈员，都是生命舞台的表演者，也是身为旅人和摄影发烧友双重身份的我的摄影目标。

所谓旅人一转身，就是一辈子。所有在巴厘岛有缘一见的人，也许一辈子里就只有一面之缘。能将之摄入镜头留念不失为一乐事。

除了巴厘人，一些同是旅者身份的人物，也被我摄入镜头中。。。

Whenever a photography enthusiast travels to a new place for vacation, the local people always make for a good photography subject. There was no exception in my trip to Bali.

Balinese people are generally friendly and contented. In an island rich in historical, culture and art heritage, and with its economy largely depends on tourism or related activities, most of the people are soft-spoken and well mannered.

Other than our extremely friendly driver and tour guide, the people that we met there including the painter, the coffee bean baker, the hotel staffs and the kids on the streets all were always seen in a relaxed mood. The only slightly stressful encounter was with a few villagers trying too eagerly to sell some local merchandise to us.

Besides the local people, I managed to snap a few shots of other tourists while waiting for sunset in Tanah Lot Temple.

People are indeed interesting subject to shoot in photography.

艺术一周 (Artistic Bali)

2012-01-01T08:00:00.000+08:00

在巴厘岛的一周里，我们无时无刻都被艺术包围着。

不管在旅店里，街道上，餐厅或神庙里，各式各样的画画，石雕，木雕等都在散发出它们独有的气息，悄悄的感染着所有周遭灵魂的情绪。

一幅画，到底包含着多少创作能量？一尊石雕，又到底有着几许灵性和意念？

我在想，巴厘人为何花费如此巨大的时间与精力在艺术创作呢？是在向世人展现他们的才华，是和宇宙对话的方式，还是一种精神抒发的表现？

我当然想不出任何结论。

因为人本身，又何尝不是一件最具震撼性的艺术创作。。。。

祝各位在新的一年里，身体健康之外，人人都充满无限的创作灵感。

Bali is truly an artistic island.

Throughout our six-day stay here, all sorts of art forms ranging from numerous paintings, handicrafts, sculptures and architecture surrounded us.

Down here, we need to learn to turn down our pace of living. Else, we would not only miss the numerous creative paintings and art creations both along the street and in the galleries; but we also would not have noticed the details embedded in the daily objects such as the meticulously crafted doors, the exotic architecture exclusive to Bali, and the numerous wood and stone sculptures that complimented the buildings.

It may be not exaggerative for me to say that in our six day here, I had seen more paintings and sculptures than I had in my whole life, till now.

As I grow older, I learn to slow down and appreciate art more and more. Our trip to Bali opened my eyes even wider to the Balinese art, culture and style of living.

It's the first day of 2012, wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year...

巴厘岛风光（Scenic Bali）

2011-12-27T10:06:00.002+08:00

巴厘岛是个独特的岛屿，在这个高科技时代，她不仅没有高速公路，没有火车铁道，没有高楼大厦，也没有很多工业；她有的，似乎是与生俱来的艺术血统，流露着浓浓的文化气息，以及自然不造作的优雅气质。

对于巴厘岛的风景，如果我是个诗人，我会诗兴大发而吟诗作词；如果我是个歌者，我会心旷神怡而高歌一曲；如果我是个作家，我会舞文弄墨大做文章；如果我是个画家，我会手痒难耐就地取材。

然而，我只是个摄影发烧友，于是我只好让可怜的相机超时工作，履行它的职责，把巴厘岛的明媚风光带到大家的电脑萤幕前。

There is no absolute unit to measure how beautiful a place is. Whether a particular place is considered scenic or not may be highly subjective and relative to each other. It is also not incorrect to say that beauty is always related more (or entirely?) to art rather than science.

Bali is an island of art and culture in nature. I was astonished to be told that there is no highway at all in the island. Neither is there a railway service nor mass rapid transit. I could not see any high-rise building taller than a coconut tree (the pagoda shape temple may be the tallest). There is no industrial area (I only saw a Coca Cola factory throughout my stay there). Almost the whole population is dependent on art and culture, tourism, and agricultural sector to make a living.

I shall not describe how scenic the island is. Instead I shall let the pictures here uncover the mask of Balinese scenic face.

古老的神话 (Mythical Bali)

2011-12-22T08:38:00.002+08:00

巴杜尔火山，是巴厘岛上的其中一座活火山，曾经在1917与1926年爆发过。举凡有山的地方，就有本土的古老神话，使得原本就高深莫测的山峦更添加了一些神秘色彩。

话说好几个世纪之前，兴都教之神西瓦发现巴厘岛的居民思想单纯，却对大自然虔诚的膜拜并都具有佛心，于是选择了巴厘岛宣扬兴都教教义。

西瓦的爱女，妲驽却抗议巴厘岛没有高山作为归宿。于是西瓦就从爪哇东部把三座山移到巴厘岛。最大的那座山，西瓦把它分成一大一小的两半，自己住在大山的山峰（这是阿贡山）上，把小山峰（这是巴杜尔山）让给女儿住。

妲驽分得小山，心有不悦，因此巴杜尔山偶尔还会冒烟喷火。

无论如何，妲驽最终成为巴厘岛居民信奉的水神。巴厘岛每年农作物与稻米的丰收，都是靠水神引用巴杜尔湖水所灌溉的结果。

拍摄着浓雾笼罩的巴杜尔山，心灵上深深感受到大自然的巨大魔力。

According to myth, many centuries ago, there was no mountain on Bali Island. Siva, Hinduism’s deity found that the Balinese people, even though still savage at that time, seemed to exhibit a reverence to such deities. Hence Bali was chosen by Siva to be the special place where he would bestow the wisdom and teachings of Hinduism and bless the island with the presence of gods.

However, the daughter of Siva, Dewi Danu, objected moving to the island, as there was no mountain suitable for the residence of deities.

Siva then proceeded to break off three mountains from Eastern Java, and move them onto the flat land of Bali. The largest of these mountains, Siva split into two parts and gave the smaller one, named Gunung Batur to Dewi Danu to reside on. The larger peak, known as Gunung Agung, was to be the residence of Siva.

Dewi Danu went on to become the Balinese Goddess of water who ensures timely irrigation of Balinese crop and paddy fields every productive year.

The images of Gunung Batur above were shot from Kintamani during a misty day, however the mist does make the final images look more mysterious and mythical.

非一般山谷 (Mysterious Bali)

2011-12-20T08:32:00.002+08:00

巴厘岛神奇之旅，是我在网络上消声匿迹了一个星期的原因。

首次踏足巴厘岛，来到这座幽谷中的千年古庙，竟有似曾相识的感觉。荒山野岭，古木苍苍，山涧溪流，足以栖身的山洞，荒秃的石壁，和石壁上雕朔出的庄严神像，我活生生的行走于这片土地上。

时间像是回流到神秘的远古时代，空间却是这山谷里，族人们都在忙着开山劈石，拜祭神灵，种稻打猎等等。每个人都在生活着，劳动着，不察觉时间的流逝。每个人生活的目的，为的就是大自然的神明与英明的君主。

我的快门按了又按，深怕错失了任何现代城市里已经绝迹的时间痕迹。

族人们必定不知道，几百年后远在荷兰的另一个文明，登陆巴厘岛后以殖民方式统治了这个岛屿。也必定没有任何智者会料到，若干年后会有一群群的来自世界各地的陌生人乘搭一种能在天上飞的工具到此一游，对他们的鬼斧神工唧唧称奇。

My free-and-easy tour to Bali was indeed a fascinating experience. Bali has its many faces that are both mysteriously charming and exotically interesting.

As an enthusiastic shutterbug craving for photographic subjects, the island is a dreamland. Opportunity for photography is almost everywhere ranging from sunny beaches, scenic mountains, historical temples, artistic paintings and sculptures, rural villages, fauna and flora, people and animals etc.

The images shown here are taken in Gunung Kawi Temple Complex that was built around a thousand years ago. The tall, sculpted rock walls of the mountain are majestic looking. It was hard to imagine how difficult and how much time it took the people at that time to complete the complex.

My presence here alone was enough to make me feel that I had travelled back to the ancient time, and the whole structure of the temple complex made me deeply appreciative of the ability of human being (in the lack of modern construction equipment) to turn their imagination and creativity into reality. If such a majestic structure could be built and carved out from the natural rocky mountain, what else could not be accomplished?

I shall share with you more photographs of other faces of Bali in the future posts.

梦的启示

2011-12-09T08:26:00.001+08:00

一连两晚，希望能继续延续怪梦境里的际遇，却不得要领。

单独置身于无人幽谷，求生意识是否足以让我手无寸铁的肉身与大自然对抗，抑或会命丧黄泉，令我相当好奇。

此时此刻此地，金钱名利已毫无意义。和我拍摄的微距昆虫们一样，我唯一的人生目的是求生存。幽谷里有着无数生机，野果可以果腹，湖水可以解渴；然而却也隐藏着无数的危机，一不留神，分分钟被毒蛇野兽偷袭，实在不可怠慢。

思念的，当然是亲人挚友；但若能和任何人在此相遇，就算是最丑的陌生人，想必都比中六合彩还更值得高兴。悠悠深谷里，孤独没有同伴，似乎生无可念。

倘若成功生存于此大自然，并整顿好起居饮食，且有一班同僚作伴，这片幽谷里的确有着无限的可能，到处都是无数的机会。不仅可以男耕女织，可以建造一座小城镇，还可以建立完全的民主制度，提倡使用绿色能源，没有污染的环境，所有食物都是天然的有机食物。总之思想可以想得出的，都有可能一一实现。

现实世界里，基本上问题不变。地球与人类本身也是宇宙的一部分，也是大自然的一部分。每个人都必须在自然界里求存，和群体刻苦耕耘创造自己的世界。

生活由你决定，思想决定未来（是真的吗？）；你说是它就是，你说不是它也不是。。。

怪梦

2011-12-07T08:15:00.001+08:00

昨夜，做了一个梦。

因某种事故，让我万念俱灰，独自奔跑至深山。见一小溪，一舟停泊，于是泛舟而去。忽遇漩涡人仰舟翻昏死过去。

良久，感觉阳光耀眼，环顾四周，群山环抱，绿草如茵，鸟语花香，置身一湖边，湖里鱼儿嬉戏，莫非此处是桃花源不成？

喝了山泉，吃了野果，到处观望一番。这山中幽谷竟人烟绝迹。屡寻出谷之路不果，且攀山之途险峻，呜呼！难道我命该在此度过余生？

惊悸之余，寻得一山洞小歇。细细思量之后，实在想不起为何会流落在此。只好盘算日后日子怎么过。

也不知过了多久，倦极而眠。睡醒，即回到现实世界。近日多神驰于书中，想必是日有所思，夜有所梦。

话说回来，如果现实生活真陷身此地，如何是好？最根本的生活需求是什么？

原来现实生活也不赖。。。

随便想想

2011-12-05T09:30:00.001+08:00

在我们生活中的外在选择与一举一动，都在我们控制范围之内，比如我们决定去跑步，或选择读某一本书等，都是我们有意识的选择；但这种意识控制不到任何体内的操作，比如我们不能用相同意识控制心跳，不能控制消化系统等，这些内部操作必定是脑袋里一种无名意识的功劳。

除了这些体内运作，会不会也有一种无名意识左右着我们的某些行为而不被我们轻易察觉呢？

1. 相同牌子的酒，不同场合有不同的味道，从苦涩难喝到甘醇无比。酒逢知己千杯少：是心情在作怪，还是某种意识在操纵着？

2. 同一个运动选手，在相同的场地，有着不同的表现，从差强人意到特殊表现：是心理在作怪，还是某种力量的作用？

3. 我们做运动会流汗，但夜晚在冷气房里发恶梦惊醒时也是冷汗直流。是生理因素，还是某种无名意识在活动？

4. 原本有点累，但做起喜欢的活动如摄影（或你超喜欢的其他活动），累的感觉一扫而空，反而精神奕奕：是头脑的因素，还是有神秘力量在驱使？

心理学家声称有种神秘的宇宙意识或潜意识，可以使你成为天才，也可以把你变成疯子。它与生俱来，潜藏在每个人体内，让每个人都有无限潜能，等待着你去运用它。

只要控制意识的脑和控制潜意识的脑可以和谐顺畅的沟通，你就心想事成了。

然而，欲善用此种潜意识的最佳法门，也许只需保持心境开朗，多关怀，活出自己，做自己喜欢的活动，随缘，虔诚，自在。

姐弟俩

2011-12-01T08:24:00.001+08:00

明年的新学年，衡将是六岁的小朋友了。平时搭校车上幼儿园的他，每逢老爸没上班载他去上课时，总是兴高采烈喜形于色。“我爸爸哟！”车门一开还没下车就向人喊着。原来老爸亲自载送他到学校是那么光荣的事。

在购物中心里看到喜爱的玩具，衡通常都会带点含蓄的对老爸说：“我好喜欢这个耶。”期待着老爸会买下它。遇到超喜欢的，就带点恳求的望着老爸轻声问：“爸爸，买给我好吗？”看着他充满希望的眼神，老爸心里很想全都买下来。但最终老爸通常只答应买下一样，毕竟控制欲望也是人生的一堂课。

在外郊游时，老爸若溜去摄影，衡就跟着老妈和彤。待老爸转回来时，惯例都会为彤，衡与老妈拍摄几张出其不意的人像照。衡一见老爸，必定高速冲过来和老爸会合。

老爸和朋友聚会时，衡喜欢依偎在老爸怀里；走累了会叫老爸抱抱。而彤则有大姐本色，对弟弟说长大了不可以叫爸爸抱，应该自己走，衡对大姐相当敬畏，唯命是从。

彤即将十二岁了，曾几何时，她的偶像已经从老爸转成飞轮海了。老爸长得好丑，飞轮海帅呆了，彤毫不客气地对老爸说。

慢慢地，老爸和老妈会越来越老，越来越丑。老爸和老妈将慢慢淡出，彤与衡姐弟俩将成长成人，有自己明确的性格，自己的生活。

在那遥远的某一天里，如果彤与衡带老爸老妈去郊游，去散步，老爸会很光荣的对人欢呼：“我的孩子哟！”

我们是动物综合体?

2011-11-29T11:16:00.001+08:00

听说，思想决定未来。我们现在的处境与所作所为，是我们所有过去与现在的潜意识与有意识思想总和的结果。就如植物的枝叶都自然向着阳光生长，树根都朝向水源生长，控制着植物这些向光与向水性的，必定是一种无意识的，潜藏在植物里的与生俱来的思想。

几年前，我觉得生活是一种选择。而每一个人都是独特的，每个人有不同的选择，不同的目标，不同的志向，不同的野心；这些不同点，必定是每个人的有意识与无意识思想朔造出不同的性格。性格决定你的人生选择，进而决定生活品味。

自然界里的野生动物，都有着它们独特的与生俱来的思想意识。老虎的勇猛，马儿的善良，猿猴的机灵，水牛的勤奋，豺狼的狡诈，蛇蝎的恶毒，狗儿的忠心等等。而人类却有着所有动物的综合思想，因此有勇猛之人，有善良之人，有机灵之人，有勤奋之人，有狡诈之人，有恶毒之人，有忠心之人等等。

动物界所望尘莫及的，是人类的善变。

在静下来的时候，试着观察自己的思想，了悟自己的性格和对生活的要求与品味，应该能让我们在迷悟之间，生活得更精彩。

注：图片拍摄于狮城动物园。

白沙浮半日闲

2011-11-25T09:16:00.001+08:00

武吉斯街，也叫白沙浮，人潮汹涌，嘈杂无比，却酝酿着浓浓的生活气息。

我拿着相机，融入争相购物的人群，川流不息的人流，精彩的讨价还价声，仿佛置身在台湾士林夜市，又像在香港的女人街，或昔日的吉隆坡茨厂街，只差没有迷失在时空交错中。

我不徐不疾地走着，看着。与世无争的心境如此平静踏实，虽然周遭众生喧哗热闹，我无需禅坐，也几乎进入无我的状态。

印上喜力啤酒(Heineken)的背心高挂一边，莫名的吸引了我的视线；是品牌的魔力，抑或是前世因缘呢？

走着走着，就穿越整条街市，出现眼前的又是截然不同的景色。

只见三轮车夫悠然的等着游客上门，不禁想起小时候乘搭三轮车上学的情景。

原想喝杯喜力啤酒解渴，却遇到亲切的冰淇淋叔叔慈祥的笑颜，再次触动心弦。谁说人生的梦必定要非富即贵？谁说市井小民没有梦？

杂谈一则

2011-11-23T15:48:00.001+08:00

自从步入中年之后，每逢参加结婚宴会，都觉得新人都像小孩。观看大马与印尼的东运会足球比赛，也发现球场上追逐的竟都是一群小伙子。也许这也是慢慢变老的现象吧。

上周六出席了一场同事的女儿的结婚晚宴，终于让我重新有了不老的感觉。

新娘看起来三十多岁，个子高大，美丽大方。新郎是个南非的洋人，风度翩翩，样貌看起来却比自己老得多，有五十多岁左右，如沐春风，随同儿女们走入人生的第二春。

宴会里华洋掺半，新娘与新郎说出他们一路走来的艰辛（五年的感情），感谢亲戚朋友的一路支持，欢喜的神情洋溢脸上。

女人一般上都有过人的直觉，当然也能掌握自己的幸福，对这段飘洋过海的爱情，也给与最深的祝福。

宴会中，一位同事说到，家中有了女人，家庭就安定。因此古人创造“安”字的结构是宀下加女。说的也是。

家庭的和谐，家中的女人功不可没，必须给与最大关怀与配合。

生死就像电脑开关 (On-Off Switch)

2011-11-21T08:59:00.001+08:00

苹果之父- 乔布斯，是一位公认的科技界奇才，年轻时曾经远赴印度寻求人生真理，其产品也充满禅意，将一切复杂简单化与自然化，取得空前成功。

读乔布斯的传记是一种享受。通过文字，从他被亲生父母离弃被养父母领养，童年成人创业成家低潮高潮，直到他临死前的信念，深深觉得他的一生虽然只有五十六年，却远远超过许多人的一生的总和。

他述说在印度七个月的经历，让他深深领悟到在印度村落的人们，他们没有像美国人般理性处理问题，而是用一种直觉面对问题。这种直觉，不像学术性的知识，它是于生俱来并通过日常生活经验而练就的一种境界；这种直觉的境界，对他来说，比理智思考学得的知识更强而有力。

也许他就是在贯通中西后在众多电脑人才中脱颖而出。

他在临终前说，他对人死后有另一世界相信度有五十巴仙。他说这也许太高了些，但他觉得在人生旅程中经历了那么多并累积了一些智慧，突然间一切就这样消失，有点匪夷所思。

他也开玩笑地说，也许生死就像开关，一关机，就离开了。

I especially like the paragraph where Steve Jobs describes his experience in India:

“The people in the Indian country side don’t use their intellect like we do, they use their intuition instead, and their intuition is far more developed than in the rest of the world. Intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful than intellect, in my opinion. That’s has a big impact on my work.”

“Western rational thought is not an innate human characteristic; it is learned and is the great achievement of Western civilization. In the villages of India, they never learn it. They learned something else, which is in some ways just as valuable but in other ways is not. That’s the power of intuition and experiential wisdom.”

On death, he said:

“I like to think that something survives after you die. It’s strange to think that you accumulate all this experience, and may be a little wisdom, and it just goes away. So I really want to believe that something survives, that maybe your consciousness endures.”

“But on the other hand, perhaps it’s like an on-off switch. Click! And you’re gone.”

“Maybe that’s why I never liked to put on-off switches on Apple devices.”

居銮 (Kluang)

2011-11-17T09:23:00.001+08:00

就在这个周末，我们来到居銮。靠着导航系统，顺利到达火车站。

来火车站的目的，并非欲乘搭火车回乡，而是慕名而来，品尝火车站的烤面包与半生孰鸡蛋，并一观火车站近百年的外貌。

离开火车站三百米左右，我就把汽车停在路边，然后边走边看居銮的市容。

居銮的市容与国内其它城镇大同小异，顺着铁路边的一排古老店铺，多是印度同胞或卖花，或理发等小生意。犹如到了小印度的感觉。

火车站外有一水果小档，卖水果的两位老人家很友善的和我们交谈起来，对我们说了火车站咖啡店自三十年至今的久远历史，并建议我们到南芭山走一趟。

火车站咖啡店果然名不虚传，高朋满座，华巫印三大民族齐聚一堂喝茶聊天。其中一位印度仁兄与孩子在用早餐，见到我们在等位子即招呼我们坐下，聊了几句，印度仁兄就买单离去。

我们叫了不同口味的烤面包，半生孰蛋与咖啡，味道都不错，却并非独有。值得一提的是这里的风土民情，以及在怀旧的火车站环境下喝茶，别有一番风味。

当然也拍摄了一些相片，让它们也为大家说说居銮，火车站与烤面包的故事吧。

I came to Kluang railway station, not to board a train to somewhere faraway, instead it was for its coffee, toast and half boiled eggs.

The Kluang rail coffee had started in 1930s, and with numerous cafes and modern toast houses mushrooming, it is today still attracting customers from all places around the country.

The toast, coffee and half boiled eggs were wonderfully nice and tasty, but they are not really exceptional, I have had toast and coffee elsewhere that taste as wonderful.

However, the nostalgic feel and look of the place, as well as the friendliness of the people here delighted us.

Overall, it was a pleasant trip. I also managed to snap some photos for sharing as well.

父母是孩子的最大粉丝

2011-11-15T09:55:00.001+08:00

时光飞逝，一转眼年终学校假期又快到了。儿子就读的幼儿园也于上星期主办了常年毕业演出，所有五岁与六岁的学生们都有份参与。儿子的最大粉丝- 老爸和老妈当然也到场支持。环顾四周，所有孩子们的粉丝都到齐了。

时代变迁，老爸小时候从没上过幼儿园，更别说上台演出。老爸的上一代于二战前后连读小学都得断断续续。人类与社会前进的步伐，的确取得不错的成绩。

小学之前的教育林林种种，除了典型的幼儿园，还有脑力开发课程，珠心算，蒙眼课程，三字经诵读班，各式各样的补习中心，加上一些画画班，钢琴班，羽球学院，游泳课程等等，百花齐放，只怕钱不够用，不怕不能开发孩子们的潜质。

反观政府小学的课程反而显得非常死板，除了学术性的标准课程与一些处理得并不好的课外活动，基本上与老爸的年代没有大分别。

老爸期望孩子们可以平衡发展，快乐中学习，感觉生命中的喜悦。

放下

2011-11-09T13:37:00.001+08:00

曾经看过的一个有意思的小故事：

某一天，两个修行者在赶路途中，遇到一位年轻貌美的姑娘想越过小河却忌于水急石滑而不敢跨前一步。

做师兄的伸出援手，背着姑娘渡过小河。

当两位修行者回到修道院里时，做师弟的终于忍耐不住了，铁青着脸就责问起师兄来：“我们修行之人，怎能背着姑娘渡河呢？男女授受不亲呀！”

“原来你说那位小姑娘呀，我渡河后早就把她给放下啦，你怎么还未放下呢？”

做师弟的顿时面红耳赤，干活去了。

昨晚将这小故事讲给女儿听。我想女儿应该不会因此而把学业与功课都放下吧。。。

寂寞摄影者 (Wet Day)

2011-11-03T08:18:00.003+08:00

年尾，东北季候风和往年一样飘洋过海，沿途探访星马两地的亲朋戚友，也带来了连绵的浪漫礼物- 雨天。

适逢周末，带了妻女到狮城年终购物，当然也不忘记带另一知心伴侣随行- 佳能相机与镜头。

用过午饭后，妻女们开始逛街购买衣裤，我也开始穿街走巷上一个人的摄影课。

走了没多久，一场豪雨滂沱而下，霎时鸡飞狗走，小贩们急急收档，路人们四处避雨，我站在五脚基上，眼观四方，雨中即景尽入眼帘，上了一堂有趣的雨天摄影课。

雨天，对露天小贩无疑是一大打击，生意都不能做了。但得以趁机偷他个半日闲倒也不错。

小孩们完全没有愁绪，快活地谈天说地，继续他们之间不见不散的约定。少年不知愁滋味这句话太贴切了。

最浪漫的情景当然是出双入对的有情人，不论老少，和伴侣共撑一把伞，雨水的寒意，永远冷不着心中那丝暖意。

最寂寞的，莫过于这街头摄影者，蹲在湿漉漉的五脚基上，一个人拍摄豪雨落在栏杆上的孤寂景象。。。

When I used a compact film camera sometimes ago, I always thought that rainy day is a lousy day for taking photographs. However, as I was exposed more to DSLR photography, I realized that wet weather too make for good photography subject.

I was doing some street photography on this weekend, when a sudden downpour came and provided me with the opportunity to take some candid shots of people’s reaction in a rainy day.

The street hawkers were busy wrapping up their stalls.

Teenage kids were undeterred by the rain, continuing their journey to their prearranged outing.

Couples, young and old, were seen sharing the umbrella and care for each other in a cold rainy scene that instead warm up people’s heart.

The lonely street photographer was left confined at the five-foot-way photographing the heavy downpour in front of the railing….

意外有时像一场雨

2011-11-01T09:10:00.005+08:00

人生充满无常变数，也隐藏着大大小小的危机。不管你多么小心，不论你的安全意识多高，意外有时却像一场豪雨说来就来。

在七十年代，一个家庭有六，七位小孩是平常事。小孩多了，顾此失披，欲全面看顾很不容易。有些家庭生了太多小孩，把一两个送人领养也是司空见惯的事。

我们一家就有七个兄弟姐妹，我排行第六，在妹妹和我年幼时，兄姐们都比我们大三至十岁不等，因此得以和母亲分担照料我们，倒也没有什么大意外发生。

依稀记得几宗小意外，除了两宗与马路有关的，印象较深刻的是在田里抓鱼时受伤的记忆。

大约是九或十岁左右吧。当时和母亲到表嫂家时，我跑到表嫂家对面的田边抓鱼，不晓得如何被田边一个铁罐子割破拇指与食指之间的掌丘，血流如注，深可见骨。也许过度害怕，忘了哭泣，只记得跑回去找母亲，母亲帮我包裹后就马上带我去见医生。

医生检验后，用福建话对母亲说，割得太深，也许手掌不能用了，把母亲吓得花容失色。后来缝针敷药疗养一段日子后，伤口完全复原，虽然伤痕陪伴着我至今，但手掌灵活如故。虚惊一场。

时至今日，我仍搞不清楚当年那位医生是吓唬母亲，或是没有治愈的信心。

现代父母养育小孩，时时得打醒十二分精神，稍微有点神经质的还会提心吊胆，深怕意外找上门来。有时候也因此而太过约束孩子们的举动。

花花世界

2011-10-27T14:56:00.005+08:00

活了一把年纪，尝试修身养性，看破世间幻象，却因定力不足而达不到那境界，稍有闲暇就沉迷在屋子前面的一片花花世界里。

这片花花世界，犹如人间净土，除了有灵性的花花草草，还有多元种族的蝴蝶姑娘或翩翩起舞，或小休于花草间，不食人间烟火的生活，使我沉沦其中，流连忘返。

我把心定住，所谓色即是空，才能以平常心和蝴蝶们对话，并向它们请教如何生活得如此快活。

打从毛虫生涯开始，我们就学习随缘，叶子摆在眼前我们就吃，边爬边吃，如果不被鸟儿吃掉，我们就会幻化成蝴蝶。这是我们的命运，只要每十只毛虫里有不被吃掉的，我们的族群就能生存下去。小黄蝶说。

化蝶之后，我们深知时日无多，在有生之年里我们都很珍惜当下，品尝尽所到之处所有花蜜，飞舞取乐。遇到有缘蝶，我们也很随意的交配下蛋以传宗接代。这是我们的使命。黑白蝶接下去说。

突然一只苏铁小灰蝶慌张失措地飞到我们面前。好险！刚才那只大鸟把我的翅膀啄去一片，幸好它把我翅膀上的假眼当作头部，我才逃过劫数。

原来蝴蝶的花花世界里也是充满危机，快活与否取决于其生活态度。

正所谓：“平生修得随缘性，粗茶淡饭也知足。”

泡泡人生 (Bubbles)

2011-10-24T14:27:00.005+08:00

小孩们都爱玩吹泡泡。

轻轻一吹，一粒粒晶莹透彻的泡泡就飘散于空气中，像充满灵性似的，各自寻梦去了。美丽的泡泡，也像空气中的能量，于是忍不住伸手触摸，奈何每次触碰，泡泡就破灭了。泡泡的生命短促，小孩们吹了一轮又一轮，不愿回家。神奇的泡泡，乐透了小孩的心，也让大人寻回了久违的童心。

有人说，生命就像宇宙间的泡泡。当泡泡破灭时，一切都成为幻影。

也许，我们应该说泡泡更像人生的梦想。可能飞得很高很远才破灭，也可能飞不起来就破掉。但我们也许不必太在意，只要每一颗泡泡都能给于生命一点感动，在人生旅途中能够温暖人心，梦想达成与否已不那么重要。

生命中最好的，绝对是非物质性的。比如一座房子如果没有幸福美满温馨的家庭，其价值再高贵也没用。一对伴侣如果不是有着真诚的感情，就算是白马王子配白雪公主也没用。一堆钞票若不懂得善用，也可说是蔽多于利的。泡泡之所以好玩，是因为那飘逸半梦幻感和小孩的童真，绝不是那泡沫水的味道或其外表形态。

花花世界里的人们啊，在追求花花钞票的同时，别忘了生命中就好的，绝对是非物质的。。。

My kid likes to play with bubbles. The bubbles always seem to be full of dreams and promises. Not only my little one enjoys playing with it, even myself, the old man gets to rekindle the fond childhood memory.

More and more people now realize that life is like bubbles floating in the universe. When the bubble bursts, its life ends. Everything becomes just an illusion. So is our life.

The most important and valuable thing in life is never material gains, for instance the most expensive bungalow has no value at all if not occupied by its loving and warm family.

In fact, everything changes constantly. What make the constantly changing world meaningful, are our love, faith and care towards our fellow human being and the nature.