War, War Is Stupid

While on our way to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) City, Vietnam, I was mentally arguing with myself on the official soundtrack for the trip. I was about to borrow Tour of Duty's OST, Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones, but thought it was too testosteronic. So I settled with Miss Saigon's The Heat is On in Saigon, Last Night of the World and Sun and Moon. (Listening to them now while writing this post). It was Superfriends' (several others absent) first time to go on an out-of-the country trip together. They are my girly super girl friends and I was wondering how our first trip ended up in a tour oozing with testosterone. Hush! Actually, it was my suggestion to go there thinking of the exquisite Vietnamese cuisine. Ooops! I didn't know that the footprints of war are still heavily lodged in the place.

Superfriends

Girly girl

Girly "mess hall"

Girly barracks

So when the guided tour started, I can't help but mentally play Culture Club's War Song:

"War, war is stupid

And people are stupid

And love means nothing

In some strange quarters

War, war is stupid

And people are stupid

And I heard them banging

On hearts and fingers, war!"

Part of our city tour on the first day was a visit at The War Remnants Museum. The exhibit there is proof that what Boy George is whining about is all true. Part of the exhibit showed the savagery of war. Of course, this is one-sided. After snapping a few pictures, we did not linger much because we did not want to absorb the gruesome mood. (But how come we were late in showing up at the bus? hehehe)

Bang!

Toy solider, not a boy-toy

Although the Vietnamese claim that they "won" the war, but the casualties show that no one really wins in any war. Be it between nations or among neighbors, colleagues, friends, families and clans.

Perhaps (just my hypothesis) to make up for the grim traces of war, a favorite pastime in Saigon is wedding pictorials. Young couples pose in front of the camera all geared up for this sport even though no actual exchange of vows was to take place. Too bad we were not able to take a shot at one of these exhibitions of love. Yes, make love, love, love, not war...

The Elusive Path to Happiness

Have you ever experienced frantically looking for your pair of eyeglasses, turning everything upside down to locate it but to no avail, only to find out that the seemingly elusive specs had been sitting right on top of your head all along? Well, people who simply cannot find happiness and think that seeking happiness is a wild-goose chase may be sharing this ridiculous situation. Many attempt to pursue happiness, but they look in the wrong places. They rummage through material possessions, people and relationships, addictions and experiences, turning their world upside down like a cluttered handbag, not knowing that happiness has just been patiently sitting on top of their heads all along, waiting for its presence to be recognized. For happiness is just a decision you can make in your mind. You bet, the path to happiness is elusive if you look elsewhere but within.

What Has Been Clouding My Mind?

Curly-haired little girl?

We are always traveling, my husband and I. We drive, we fly, we sail miles and miles. We wonder as we wander. And it was during one of these wanders that I developed a penchant for clouds. (I think this happened when I shifted into a home-based freelancing career where I spend most of my hours in the confines of our house.)

Our Mighty Creator looking over us

Pristine white ... cottony soft ... irregularly shaped... somewhat dream-like ....as if a fantasy.

Winnie The Pooh exerting to fly

My closest encounters with them were during plane rides that are usually interrupted by air pockets. Then one day, while hubby and I were exploring planet Earth, I began seeing images portrayed by the clouds of different shapes. Like a tableau portrayed in the game Charades. I saw an atomic bomb explosion, a turtle, white, raging ocean, and many more I can't remember.

Atomic bomb explosion

The grandeur of the clouds way up above us makes me gape, leaving me dreamy and awestruck, reminding me that there are a lot of things I do not know about. This means that there is so much to explore. They are a glimpse to the Force that is behind everything.

The Merlion of Singapore

You may not see what I see. Or you may see things I did not see. But cloud-watching may just be pretty much like life and the diverse perspectives that individuals see. The least we can do is respect one another's point of view.

Little Bear talking to Papa Bear

The abyss

Happy Birthday!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Shoot and Run

Many years ago, I ditched jogging/running in favor of walking due to the many bad publicity about the heart-pumping activity. Although it has not become a fad here in the place where we currently reside, I have started running again just a couple of months ago. The feel of the wind against my face, the outdoor scent (I am a work-at-home individual so going “outdoor” sort of thrills me) the sight and ruckus of kids playing, smiling faces of socializing, the calming effects of the sight of the still waters of the river visible from my “jogging track”, the rhythm of my pounding heart, in sync with my retiring iPod and the exhilaration of sucking in oxygen and jettisoning carbon dioxide making my nostrils flap like a bird’s wings, all make me look forward to my late afternoons these days.











For the longest time, I had wanted to capture the moments during my run. But my bulky camera prevented me from doing so. Nonetheless, when the inconveniences of my monthly period overtook my excitement to run, while hubby was available to run, I thought of the idea that while he run, I shoot.











Late afternoons own a special place in my heart. Muted orange sunsets playing with the shadows can be so sad and heart-breaking to gaze at but very romantic. It was one of those afternoons, because we started late and most children have already gone back to their homes. We run just inside the subdivision where we live.