Lucky draw

I've never had much luck in lucky draws, so sometimes I don't even bother, but this time I thought I'd give it a try. (after all, there are MPH vouchers to be won, and nothing to lose!) It's on Lydia Teh's website. If you join and win, think of me! :P

L'appartement

I just watched L'Appartement (the apartment), a French movie. There was an American version of the movie, Wicker Park, which I had watched with some friends a few years ago. It has a pretty interesting psychological aspect, since it tells us the story from different characters' points of view.

The story is about a man who catches a glimpse of a woman he once loved in a bar, and sets off to search for her. Throughout the movie, there are flashbacks that shows us why he is looking for her. You can read a more detailed plot here.

Warning: If you want to watch the movie first, you'd better not read any further.

After watching the movie, the (simple) storyline is this:
A and B (both girls) are friends. Then one day A sees C(a guy) who works in a video store. She likes him, and when a home video she took of her friend B was broken, she sent it to his shop for repair. But C, upon seeing B on the video, falls for her. So B and C hooked up. The relationship ended when A deliberately didn't pass an important message from B to C.

All this was in the past. In the present, where the movie starts, B and C almost bump into each other, and A does all that she can to stop them. (A and B are still friends) Of course, in the end she's found out.

(I'm not putting down any names 'cos there are two versions and I can't remember whether the names are the same)

It's hard to say which version I like more. The plot is pretty much identical, with the C's friend working in a shoe store (there is a detail about shoe size in the story). But in the American version, the ending is pretty predictable, with B and C getting back together after being broken up by A a few years ago. However, in the French version, things are much darker, with B having hooked up with a married man after she and C were split up by A. She left the man after he killed his wife to be with her, he ended up killing her as well. (at the end, of course) And C, after reading A's diary, ends up falling for A. But it's unclear whether they do really end up together, because ta-dah! small detail, when C saw B in the bar, he was actually about to marry another woman!

I can't remember whether C read A's diary in the American version, though. I just remember thinking that things were pretty bad for A, and that she was somewhat pushed out of the spotlight by the two main characters (B and C in the American version) But in the French version, it's hard to tell who exactly is the lead actress, it might be A.

The thing is, in American movies (especially love stories) there are always happy endings (or is it often?) In French movies things can get a little less happy, but that makes it less predictable as well. The personalities of the characters are also more complex, making it hard to say who's the "good guy" or the "bad guy". There's no absolute black or white, it's in shades of grey, which makes it more like life, doesn't it?

Another thing about the difference between the two movies: the American version was harder to understand because the past was shown starting with scenes from the more recent past, then slowly moving back to the time they met. In the French version, the past was shown starting from the time they met, moving forwards. And they had different hairstyles, making it easier to tell what was in the present and what was in the past.

Edit: I really don't understand why they had to make another movie in English. Couldn't they have just slapped on some subtitles?

Pay it forward

Pay It Forward was a book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde, which was later made into a movie of the same name.

In it, a young boy, Trevor, was challenged by his teacher to come up with an idea that could change the world and to put this idea into action.

He then did one favour for three different people. By accepting his help, each recipient was obligated to do likewise. So, one good deed became three, three became nine, nine evolved into 27 acts of kindness and the cycle of altruism continued.

This work of fiction has been championed in real life by the Pay It Forward Foundation. All over the world, people are having their meals mysteriously paid for by a stranger, finding their car in a parking lot freshly washed or being informed at a highway toll booth that someone had paid their toll.

If you happen to be at the receiving end of a kind gesture, make a mental note to Pay It Forward.

I think I heard this story before, but I can't remember when... this article was in The Star today. There was another article about things you can do to make people (and yourself!) feel good, here it is:

Lighten someone’s load without weighing down your wallet.

There is more to Ramadan than fasting. Acts of charity are also important at this time of year and musn’t be limited to only financial contributions.

Take time out to help the marginalised, lend an ear to one who needs a friend and steer clear of the crabby.

I have been helped by strangers many times, so I do believe there are truly kind people out there.

But even those with the kindest hearts can be overwhelmed by the idea of doing charity, thinking it will take a great sacrifice of time and money to make a difference.

On the contrary, you can do something for others with just what you have. Give any one of the following ideas a shot and you’ll surprise even yourself.

Pick up the tab

Go up to a cashier and inform her that you want to pay for the next person. If you prefer, you could even get the cashier to slip a note with “A Random Act of Kindness! Pay it Forward” written on it, to the person.

Tell the cashier not to reveal who did it, or, flee the scene before the message is delivered. You’ll miss out on the recipient’s reaction, but remember, no-strings- attached type of gestures are very noble.

“Somebody paid for my order at a drive-through once,” recalls Syed Haznan Syed Hadari, 28, a cabin crew member. “It really made my day, so I try to do it as often as I can,” he adds.

Newspaper giveaway

Buy copies of The Star and put a Post-it note between the pages saying “Pay It Forward”.

Give the paper free to people at the bus stop or waiting for the train.

“Practising the Pay It Forward principle makes me more aware of spontaneous acts of kindness,” says Gillian Wee, 23, a student who found inspiration in the movie Pay It Forward.

Online angels

When you stumble upon a website you like, leave a comment for the web host. He may be having a bad day and your words may cheer him up.

Vanessa Teh, 24, a kindergarten teacher, goes online often to touch base with friends and acquaintances.

“Now and then I log on to job search portals. Many of my employed friends are itching to move on so if the leads are relevant, I will pass them on,” she says.

Clean up your act

Arm yourself with glass cleaner and towel, and clean dirty car windshields for free. Later, put a “You’ve been tagged! Pay It Forward” note on the car.

“I do not have a lot of money, but I try to help in whatever way I can,” says Samuel Ng, 19, a student.

“Whether it is by clearing my table at a restaurant, moving a supermarket trolley that is obstructing traffic or giving coins to someone fumbling for change, I know that small favours make a difference, and that’s good enough for me.

“I also usually leave a generous tip for the waiter/waitress at a restaurant. Nothing over the top, just enough that he/she will notice.”

Loot bags

Fill little containers with inspiring messages, badges, stickers and other fun stuff. Take a walk with your loot and plant it where it’ll be found.

You can also put together a writing kit with stationery, envelopes, stamps or art supplies and hand it over to the patients at the hospital.

“I found out about a woman who was divorcing her abusive and alcoholic husband so I made her a hamper of scented bubble bath and mood-lifting DVDs, and couriered it over to her, anonymously, with a note of encouragement,” says Saerah Mat Tareq, 35, a homemaker.

“My sister did this for me when I was going through a bitter divorce, and it really helped me get back on my feet.”

Take the toll off

Pay for the toll of the car behind you.

If you are travelling on a road where the toll is based on distance, give the booth operator RM10 and several “A random act of kindness for you” cards with instructions to pay and pass them out.

“Once the people I paid for drove past me on the highway and waved and blew kisses at me,” says Syakira Dahlan, 29, a librarian.

“I think I felt happier about that than they did,” she adds.

Flower favours

Buy a few stalks of carnations and give them out, one at a time, to anyone who looks worried or distressed. Attach a “Pay It Forward” card to the stem.

“On the way home from work, I’ll hop off at the Petaling Street LRT station and buy cheap hydrangeas and whatever flowers they have on sale for my home,” says Edlina Maisarah Mahmood, 30, a personal assistant.

“I also buy extras so that I can make a flower arrangement to drop off at the nursing home near my house,” she says.

“After two or three visits, the residents have started referring to me as the Gadis Bunga. It feels good to know such a simple gesture can change someone’s day because somebody showed they cared.”

The movie’s on me

At the cashier window, request to pay for the movie tickets of the person behind you. Give the cashier an “It’s my treat!” card and ask her to hand the purchased tickets and card to your selected recipient/s when they arrive at the ticket window.

Alternatively, you could buy movie tickets and give them out with an attached “It’s my treat!” card.

Shelter from the rain

Nur Nadia Sulaiman, 29, a graphic artist gives away inexpensive raincoats she stashes in her handbag to those running for cover when it’s pouring.

“I used to volunteer at an orphanage in my student days, but when I started working, I couldn’t come anymore because of the long hours on the job,” she explains.

“I felt bad letting the kids down when work commitments took me away from them. Now, I’m no longer attached to a volunteer organisation but I try to help others when I have the means.”

A sign to ponder

If you have money but no time, donate it. If you have no money, but have plenty of time, donate that. If you have neither, donate messages of goodwill and support.

Kids in juvenile detention centres or elderly people in nursing homes would love to get letters from you. Even sending an e-mail to the editor of a local newspaper to highlight the good deeds being done by others is a great voluntary exercise.

Not fond of writing letters and e-mails? Print out some inspiring signs and put them up around town or write thoughtful messages on balloons and stick them on parked cars.

Coin stash

Drop some coins in someone’s potted plants so they’ll get a pleasant surprise when they do their gardening.

“I used to shallow-bury coins in the sand pit at my daughter’s kindergarten,” said Teja Ahmad Taruddin, 27, a beautician.

“It brought the kids such joy to find them, and it cost me almost nothing.”

Have extra coins at your disposal? Tape them to public phone booths with a note inviting people to use them.

Door makeover

To make being away from home a little better for her friends, Felicia Anak Ningkan, 14 – a boarding school student – and her hostel mates get together at night to decorate the door of a birthday girl.

“It just makes being away from home a little easier,” she points out.

Humour me

Cut out a comic strip, interesting article or horoscope and tape it to someone’s car, desk or door.

“I keep magazine and paper clippings on certain subjects and when I come across someone who would be interested, I give them away,” says Diandra Hussein, 33, a civil servant.

Help the homeless

Have you ever spotted a homeless person and felt sad you couldn’t help him? Even a small act like donating old blankets and clothes that are still in good condition will go a long way.

“When I do my regular shopping, I purchase trial size products such as toothpaste, shampoos and soap bars to give away,” says Lisnawati Nasaruddin, 21, an internal auditor.

“Buying small quantities each time I go to the store doesn’t break the bank and I get to do my bit for people in need,” she says.

Sweet gesture

“I believe in the feel-good properties of chocolate, so I carry around mini bars in my backpack to give to people who look like they could do with some cheering up,” says Emilia Liyana, 26, an event coordinator.

“It does make people smile, and is fun to do.”

After you

If you get to the grocery store checkout line at the same time as someone else, let them through first.

“When stuck in traffic, the last thing anyone wants to do is let a car get in front of them, but just remember that somebody else let you, so Pay It Forward,” points out a friend.

Start them young

Teaching generosity to the young will start them off on a path to kindness.

“When I lost my job, doing charitable acts kept me sane and provided me with stability,” says Ayeshah Muhd Tahir, 26, a single mother.

“I want to raise my two children to be kind and not materialistic,” she adds.

One activity her kids enjoy is the Trash Race – “I take them to the park and they compete to pick up the most litter.”

Good deeds are contagious and the world is a better place once you pay it forward.

What do you think? Would you do things like that?

Trust fluff to convert me

Really. I wasn’t planning on using much of Facebook when I joined it. But I found that I could adopt a fluff-Friend (a pet) and now I'm crazy about my little Squirrle! (no typo there, it's my fluff-Friend's name!)

Cute, eh?

And my fluff-Friend even won some races (I've looked after it well :P) Here's the trophy:

The bear on it makes me think of my own little bear!

Okay, I'm converted to Facebook now. *melts*

(PS: If you want a fluff-Friend, ask me to invite you! That way I can get some extra "cash" and I'll get your fluff-Friend something to eat, promise!)

Paris

I was in Paris last weekend, and the Citroën showroom was open, so I took some photos:

There were stairs to go up and look at the cars on the higher platforms, but we didn't go up.

And I noticed this on my way to the train station (to go back to Lyon). It's on the platform of the airport shuttle (CDGVal)

After the word driver there is an asterisk, and on the bottom right is written *he's not on board anyway. Unfortunately the smaller words don't show up so well...in fact they hardly show up at all! I found it pretty funny that they took the time to write that we shouldn't talk to the driver when it's already impossible...kinda pointless, don't you think?
(it was written in French on another panel, but I decided to take a photo of the English version)


And as usual, the Eiffel Tower was "decorated" for some occasion; this time it's the World Rugby Cup (or something like that :P) So there's a rugby ball hanging in the middle of the four posts (high up, of course). I suppose you all know from which angle this photo was taken!

Good old Garfield

Check out what Garfield and his friends have at their bedside! Good for Garfield, he doesn’t have a picture of food :P

What anaesthetists do

Okay, this is too good not to post.



The lyrics:
Everybody wonders what anaesthetists do
While the patient is asleep
Everybody wonders what we do for three hours
While that machine goes beep
Everybody reckons we drink coffee and we gossip and we're generally subversive
Everybody reckons we do crosswords and sudoku and we chat to all the nurses
But do you really think that's all we do
Oh let me tell you now isn't true

Cause we sometimes check the screen
And every now and then we write stuff
And if we have to insert in(?)
We inject a bit of white stuff [propofol]
And we often too alter the lights
Or the height of the bed
Or fiddle with the radio, change the CT
We even check the patient occasionally...
And if they move, we turn up the vapor,
And then we go back to reading the paper
Cause when the patient's asleep
We just sit and listen to the beep
We just sit and listen to the...

Once upon a time I took pride in my job
But now I think it's time to depart
Cause I just sit here everyday
And listen to bleeps of the heart

I got it from this blog. There are two other videos, one is the Drug Song, which reminds me of the Pokemon song (you know, the one with all the Pokemon names) and the other one is about a wonder drug called Paracetomoxyfrusebendroneomycin. They're good, do check them out!

Men at lunch

Here are a few photos I took since my flight to France.

In KLIA, in front of a shop selling suitcases.

Since my father came to Lyon with me, we went to Geneva for a day trip. This photo was taken in a chocolate shop there. You can see the different animal shapes.

Yummy! But it would probably feel cruel to eat them... :P

Today we went to eat crêpes (French pancakes). The weather was pretty good so we sat outside.

This isn't a crêpe...

...this is! (a galette, in fact...but then it's about the same thing)

And at the end of the road, there was a signboard with a picture of a man eating. I guess it was because there were a lot of restaurants on that road and most of them had tables outside...and the road wasn't that wide either!

The signboard isn't very clear...but this way we can see the restaurant with the tables outside. (it isn't the one we ate at, though...ours was across the street)

Bangkok

Do you know Bangkok's complete name? Turns out it's

Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit

or, in Thai:

กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยามหาดิลก ภพนพรัตน์ ราชธานีบุรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์ มหาสถาน อมรพิมาน อวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยะ วิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์

I got this from a French site (click here), and the meaning of the name given is this:

"Ville des anges, grande ville, résidence du Bouddha d'émeraude, ville imprenable du dieu Indra, grande capitale du monde ciselée de neuf pierres précieuses, ville heureuse, généreuse dans l'énorme Palais Royal pareil à la demeure céleste, règne du dieu réincarné, ville dédiée à Indra et construite par Vishnukarn"

or, in English (taken from Wikipedia):

"The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukam".

The Guinness book of records recognises it as the world's longest place name.

Interesting? ;)

RM2 toilet

When I was at KLCC some time ago, I saw this at the entrance to the toilet and I wanted to take a photo of it, but I didn't... So now Geok Ching has sent it to me:


Would you pay to go in? I didn't, I went to one of the non-paying toilets, and they actually weren't quite so bad. Better than at most shopping malls, anyway. If you ever go into this toilet, let me know how it is inside! ;)

KLCC is a shopping mall, in Kuala Lumpur (KL).