Lost & Found

The boy that has no name

I took pictures of him in a classroom last year in December. It was an orphanage near Thamel, not far from where I stayed.

I didn't know his name. Worst still, I lost the email address he gave me.

Tomorrow when I arrive Kathmandu, the first thing I will do is to try to locate him. And give him this picture I promised a year ago.

I hope he will not find me a stranger. Wish me luck.

The young orphan whose name I forgot

On the road 10

In the comfort of a stranger

I do not know how others feel. But being with a stranger, to me, can be quite a refreshing experience.

When you are on the road travelling, you are bound to meet some.

Be they the taxi driver that takes you around, the waiter that serves you, the hotel manager that accommodates you, or the bunch of kids that always pesters you for candies or money.

You can't walk away from them. For you can't probably survive in a strange country alone.

A stranger, if you observe it mindfully, provides you with a great opportunity to practice non-judgmental way of looking at things. When you see him or her for the first time, you have no burden from your previous baggage, and therefore you are more likely to look at the person as he or she is.

You will not label that person as good or bad, interesting or boring, hardworking or lazy, until you know him or her better. That's the trickiest part, once you know a person in details, you begin to judge with your own dualistic notions based on the information you yourself collected.

I like meeting strangers on the road. That feeling of non-judgment really releases me.

An old stranger I met in Patan

Viral buddhism

Karmapa on Facebook

When asked what his life mission was for the 21st century, the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, now 23 years old, promptly replied: " My mission in this life time is mainly dharma activity. However the dharma must change in order to suit the time and the needs of society and its people. I may give the Buddha dharma a new external shape. I will update its expression so it can most effectively benefit the people in this modern time."

Indeed, his statement comes timely, especially in this high tech era where playlist.com replaces conventional hi fi, and sms spreads the news faster than BBC and CNN.

I was on the net last night. and to my surprise I came across the 17th Karmapa on the Facebook too, with thousands of fans across the globe checking out his activities on a daily basis. He has quickly risen to be an iconic star in the west after confirmation by the 14th Dalai Lama that he was the incarnation of the 16th Karmapa who used to reside at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim.

His recent visit to the USA proved he has more than just good looks. His presence at the venue drawed in as many as 30,000 faithful devotees. His talks inspired many who came close to tears.

Even I was tempted, though not successfully, to become a fan on his Facebook.

www.facebook.com/pages/Karmapa/10737498099

In Rumtek or any part of Sikkim I saw him everywhere

Moroccan touch 1

說走就走

旅行，其實就是短期離家出走的經歷。

每一趟的出走，我把家人、朋友、工作及熟悉的環境擱置一旁，全心投入一個陌生的國度，讓自己疲于奔走的心暫時沉澱于異國風情的空茫中。

和其他旅人相比，我每一回上路，都不攜帶《孤星》旅游指南，只隨着性情和喜好，不管任何季節，一興起，背上背包，說走就走。

發現 Quarzazate，也是一次沒有設防的遊歷。

從卡薩布蘭卡 一路往南下，途經馬拉喀什，整十個小時的旅程中，我風塵僕僕地在高速公路上穿行于荒漠及峽谷間。當日光漸漸依山盡，夜幕低垂下的阿特拉斯山脈，美得難以言喻。

那柔柔的淡黃色月光撒瀉在覆蓋着微微發光的雪白山坡上，像剛抹上脂粉的回族少女。四周一片山靄蒼蒼，時有倦鳥歸巢，偶爾經過山區的小村落，藏有幾許零星燈火，儼如夜空中的朦朧辰星，閃閃爍爍叫人難以捉摸。

山迴路轉處，都是鬼斧神工只有阿拉真神才能造就的雄偉峰嶺，還有那些用石板及泥塊層層疊疊建構起來的傳統民居，在一片田野好山水之中勾勒出家的形象，給予夜間趕路的我一份沁人的靜謐。

我知道，這一路上的月落烏啼，今生沒有多少個機會能再讓我重遇。

Quarzazate 古城入口處

Moroccan touch 2

獨享山空

張開雙眼，面前晨光流滿一地，石土建造的房子聳立在眼前，而冬晨懶懶的陽光正為眼前匠心獨運的一磚一石，一樑一瓦，鋪添瑰麗的色彩。甚至是生了鏽的鐵門，依稀還展現出巧奪天工，釋放出幽幽的摩洛哥文化精粹。

多年游走的經驗告訴我，那些通俗平凡的地方，往往天意安排無數次的重訪，而那些山明水秀人情豐厚的地方，卻往往總是匆匆一瞥。

所以，每回被眼前的景象觸動，我都恣意貪婪地吸收、品味、沉澱。

就在一個拐彎處，期待已久的景象排山倒海般向我涌來，如此的震撼和悸動，已是如今鮮有的體驗了。

五層高的 Ait Benhaddou 大古堡近在咫尺，泥磚古堡櫛比鱗次大放異彩，輝煌的金褐色在晨光的折射下有如一件稀世古老珍品。令我驚悚的是，卑賤的爛泥巴也能孕育出如此氣勢磅礡的雄偉建築。

我小心翼翼趨近，伸手觸摸那扇住滿歲月精虫的大拱門，感受古堡體內蘊藏的一點一滴精華。此時的我，早已變成一台攝影機，時刻警戒地發掘身旁的事物，惟恐錯過眼前的龐巨荒漠峽谷、匪夷所思的泥磚古堡，以及隨時在面前經過，身着鮮艷衣飾又笑容靦腆的巴巴里人。

古堡旁的一角，樓房牆壁的花巧裝潢與手繪紋樣，也同樣叫我傾心凝足近觀，我細心地將每個映入眼簾的畫面留下，永遠保持着原來的面目。

我低頭鑽進那些隱蔽的角落，迎着冷冽的北風，徐徐拾級而上。也幸好是旅游淡季，我不用在人潮推擠中亂了腳步和思緒，可以用冷靜的一顆心獨享山空。

爬上堡頂，居高臨下的角度很適合坐看這座天際山城，我循着崎嶇地面，進入每一間荒廢的房間尋幽探密，窗口外的景觀也隨着每一間不同的房間而變化。

雖是空山不見人，但聞人語嚮，古堡內似有似無的幽靈依舊徘徊不去，彷彿還浸淫在千年王朝的浩瀚記憶中。

卑賤的爛泥巴也能孕育出如此氣勢磅礡的雄偉建築

Moroccan touch 3

冬夜的饗宴

負責載我到 Ait Benhaddou 大古堡的司機叫Mohamad, 風趣的他曾參與好萊塢大制作 Gladiator 的場景布置。由于Quarzazate的地勢得天獨厚，地平線一覽無遺，許多經典名片如 Cleopatra, Kingdom of Heaven, Kundum 皆取景于此地。

Mohamad 是個典型的巴巴里人，友善率直又好客，他帶我回家作客，其妻子和孩子們皆對我的到訪雀躍不已。

傳統的摩洛哥家居有點類似中國的四合院，四周建有房間、廚房和客廳，中間的露天庭院則是冬日取暖的好地點。

在盛意難拒之下，我留下來和他們一家五口用晚飯，大伙兒圍坐在矮小的圓桌邊，一鍋地道的 Couscous 在冷冷的冬夜里吃起來，叫我這個過客感到異常的溫暖。

現在回想起來，那一頓飯雖然不是山珍海味，卻是我生命中最豐盛的饗宴。

Quarzazate 當地流行一句家戶喻曉的格言：登門造訪的客人是上帝派來的，給予他們你所擁有的。

我有幸親身體驗這句格言的含義，實屬人生一大樂事。

Mohamad和他的傳統摩洛哥家居

Give a little

The Little Painters

Saigon Children's Charity approached me to help them design two sets of greeting cards, one for Christmas, the other for Tet Vietnamese New Year.

A total of 200 children paintings was sent to me for my perusal and selection.

In those colourful strokes I saw hope and ambition, and a new generation eagerly to explore the world of opportunities outside.

The charity kicked off with a spectacular live performance by HCMC Ballet Symphony and Orchestra at the Conservatory of Music, followed by an Art and Photography exhibition sponsored by HSBC Bank.

Ms Thu, the organiser from Saigon Children's Society, called up one day, and told me the greeting cards were doing very well.

In return I wished her all the best for the year of 2009.

One of the Christmas paintings.

One of the Tet Vietnamese New Year paintings.

Going home

回家

離開家鄉已經整整15年，由于工作因素，曾先後定居新加坡、曼谷及胡志明市。

總覺得自己活像一個居無定所的游牧民族，一路上隨着周圍環境的改變而更換目的地。

就這樣來來回回十數年，從湄公河邊的寧靜公寓，密密麻麻的政府組屋，機場旁的法式民樓，到土生土長的民居板屋，回家，因地點不同，感受也不一。

唯一的不變，是家的味道。

身為一位廣告創意工作者，自己確實是比常人較能接受新奇事物。家的詮釋對我來說，也有了不同的精神與物質層面。

一個創意是先從一張白紙開始的。而一個家也是始于一個陌生的空間，經過日月精華的悉心照料及主人和房子的朝夕相處，家的氣氛才會全然地釋放出來。

住不久的房子不會有家的味道。就像床頭上的舊被單的味道，往往令我們更容易入眠，新的被單在怎麼華麗，也取代不了舊的。

最近回一趟吉隆坡公幹，才赫然發現茨廠街賣福建麵的金蓮記有了新家，但我還是喜歡坐在舊攤前享受嘈雜的叫賣聲。

上個月回曼谷，常光顧的那家日落街老字號餐館也已搬家，取而代之的是一棟別墅洋樓。

家，不會永遠固定在一點，不會永遠不變，但百變中依然不會離開主人的存在。

家和主人是互相依存的。

偶爾一連幾個星期到幾個不同國家出差，家的界線也隨着出入境的頻密而變得模糊起來。有時候，晨早醒來，時空的交錯下也難免混淆，不知自己身在何處。

家，時時隨着“境”轉。但對我來說，回到哪一個家，我似乎完全已不在乎。

記得把心也帶回家去。

Autumn retreat

下田修行去

小一那年上作文課,班主任要我們寫出自己的志愿. 記得當時我想當的是一名農夫.

30年后到農禪寺打佛七, 意外地獲悉東初老人也是從農的.

最大的證據無非是寺外那一片稻田,至今仍完好地保留着.

秋高氣爽的午後,坐在石岩上放眼望去,綠油油的田和藍幽幽的天,加上蟲鳴鳥啼,已叫人樂不思蜀.

佛七期間嚴厲禁語.凌晨五點開始拜佛, 念佛, 禮懺, 聽開示, 繞佛, 直至晚間九時的大回向。確確實實是過着日出而作,日落而息的日子.

除去早午齋及藥石的時間,沒有一刻不是用在修心工作上的.

末法時代欲以正知正見來修心養性,老實說,比下田還辛苦呀.

靜坐是修行, 勞動也是修行.

Little big things

聽話的螞蟻

晨早起來喝水時, 發現水壺內有一堆死螞蟻, 連續好幾天, 情況都未見好轉.

細心觀察後才知道螞蟻為了解渴, 甘冒喪命之險爬進水壺內喝水, 死去的就是那些不慎失足跌進水里的.

想了一個對策之計: 在水壺旁我放了一個盛着水的小淺盤, 方便給經過的螞蟻飲用.並輕聲告訴它們往後別再冒險爬進水壺內汲水.

從那天起, 螞蟻們就再也沒有出現在我的水壺內.

小如螞蟻, 也有善解人意的時候.

Home stay

山居小住

維鬘學會的月美姐带我和阿量到她的山居小住一晚.

品着她泡的烏龍茶,嘗着從內灣老街買回來的客家小吃,我的心漸入空靈.

居高臨下遠眺尖石鄉上重疊的山影.山還是山…

回來西貢後,偶讀虛雲老和尚著的一首偈,意境神似,當下法喜充滿.

山居意何遠。放曠了無涯。　
松根聊作枕。睡起自烹茶。
山居道者家。淡薄度歲華。　
灶底燒青菜。鐺內煮黃牙。

此處非彼處, 意境兩相投.

on the road 9

越男

住在西貢一段日子, 發現成天泡在咖啡館裡無所事事的絕多數為男人.

他們抽着煙, 談着天, 手裡握着的咖啡杯, 似乎永遠都喝不完. 煙氣氤氳的館子內, 偶爾會碰見喝過洋水的越南男人, 用破爛的英語交談.

華燈初上, 男人們意猶未盡, 不肯離去. 一個個吞雲吐霧, 彷彿忘了家裡頭還有等着他們開飯的女人.

一杯在手, 話題沒完沒了.

on the road 8

腳踏千金

有一回身上帶多了錢, 逛夜市時唯恐被人扒去, 急中生智把錢藏在跑步鞋里.

左右兩邊各塞進五百美金.

說也奇怪, 整個人走起路來, 每一步都清清楚楚, 整個心都放在兩腿上. 深怕步伐走得太快, 錢會不慎跑出來示眾.

平時自己走路總是心不在焉, 常被外境所轉. 眼着色, 耳着聲, 鼻着香, 舌着味, 身着觸, 意着法, 六根染六塵而生六識, 一顆心忙得不可開交.

此刻我才深諳內心的浮躁狂亂.

也在此當下一刻, 我用自己的腳步攝住那顆隨波逐流的心.

用心走路看似簡單, 其實不然.

On the road 7

森林中的法語

“森林”是由一堆樹木因緣和合而成的.

單從意境上看這兩個字的結構,已有身在林中不知處之感.

從農禪寺解七出來, 順道走訪三義木雕博物館. 第一次見證檜木的巨大, 叫我合不攏嘴. 一看樹齡, 不得了, 足足活了600至800年, 不成妖, 也多已成精.

月美姐說尖石鄉山上的檜木更大更壯觀. 幾個人也無法環抱一根樹幹. 可惜我無緣親眼目睹.

古詩有曰: 人有情而易老, 樹無情而長青.

無情并非沒有覺知, 而是不感情用事.

咱們凡夫就是被無始的貪嗔癡所毒害. 七情六欲侵襲着我們的清凈心.

不老亦難呀!

“森林”這兩個字是一堆樹木的縮影.

heard + quoted

A few words of wisdom

I'm in the midst of reinventing the office meeting room on the third floor. The ultimate challenge: to create cool design with as little money as possible.

I can't change the furniture as it will be too costly.

I can't paint the wall in other colour as it will not coordinate with the surrounding areas.

I can't open another window as the building management will not allow it.

What I did: well known quotes cut out in stickers and pasted on the glass panel and the entrance door. The wisdom words don't just beautify the meeting room, they also help inspire the creatives from the department.

Some of the quotes on glass panels.

Life's journey

Same same?

A friend of mine had bought a new Toyota sedan. The car looked stylish and quite spacious inside. He was very proud of it and often drove his friends around the city.

A few months later, a transportation company used this new Toyota model to launch its taxi service. You can see them almost anywhere in the city, the once-exclusive car model is now painted in yellow and black. 

Suddenly, the privilege of owning it has disappeared. 

My friend was upset and decided to trade in for another model. 

Mind you, but where has the privilege gone? 

Old taxi, from Varanasi to Sarnath.

Points of view

The other side

It's very easy for us to forget the other side when we are so caught up with what we see in front of us. Too many times we see things the way we want to see, conveniently neglecting other possible points of view.

But if we change our angle of seeing a problem, sometimes we will be rewarded with not just a solution, but a whole new world of possibilities.

World renowned painter, Renoir, said it best: "When I have arranged a bouquet for the purpose of painting it, I always turn to the side I did not plan."

Nelson's column, seen through an autumn branch 

in Trafalgar square.

Gourmet trip

Italian touches

I was briefed to do a print campaign for a posh Italian restaurant in Bangkok. The client claimed that it has one of the most expensive menus in town.

I did a tour around the kitchen with the Italian chef. He made 10 dishes for me to try and one of them was a salad made with really expensive tomatoes. "All the ingredients are imported directly from Italy! " the chef proudly acclaimed.

I saw a simple visual idea in those words he told me.

Making use of the colours of the ingredients, I managed to say "truly Italian" in an interesting juxtaposition. 

Indeed, when you look deeply, you can see the sun, the rain, the soil, the hard work of Italian farmers in those ingredients.

Italian flag 1 with crabmeat as an appetizer.

Italian flag 2 with lamb chop as a main course.

Italian flag 3 with fruity pudding as a dessert.

Book to share

Life is a beach

We are like the children on the beach, joyfully involved in building all the beautiful sand castles. We get fascinated by what we created, quarreling over seashells and digging spades. We go through all kinds of emotional ecstasy about what we gain or what we lose.

The enlightened ones are just like the adults on the sun decks underneath the shades. They sip their cocktail while watching the kids "playing" friskily on the beach without any judgmental remark. They will not get upset or angry or disappointed over someone stepping onto the sand castles. They just watch from a distance, as if they are not in the scene.

-- Taken from "Almost Buddhist" by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche.

Frolicking on the beach of Cote D'azure, Nice.

On the road 4

Healing power of voices

I was introduced to Dr Goh at Selayang Hospital. She is the founder of the Hospice centre whose mission is taking care of dying people in the rightful buddhist tradition. I was in discussion with her to see if a collaboration between her centre with the 1000 stars foundation in Bangkok was possible. The talk was promising.

In the lobby where patients waited in agony, I watched impermanence and emptiness of self in close inspection. Hospital is where life begins and ends. To me it's also the most practical place to observe Buddha's teaching on life's impermanence.

Dr Goh told me the importance of talking with the dying people in dignity and truth. And it reminded me of a hospital ruin I once visited in Perga, Turkey. I was informed by the tour guide that the doctors, during the Byzantine period, built a long tunnel filled with water and plants for patients to walk inside.

And the doctors themselves, being sympathetic, would talk to the patients in angelic voices through a specially designed sound "holes" via the tunnel. And it healed many of the patients with the voice therapy. I found it so miraculous if we knew how to watch our speech and make good use of it.

At the hospital lobby where I bid farewell to Dr Goh, I suddenly thought of Brian Eno and his soothing, haunting music.

The British composer, once laid on bed in hospital after a serious accident, said of his new discovery on music combined with the environment. It all happened with a broken tape recorder playing music so faint it almost blended with the sounds of the rain outside Eno's room. Hence he had an idea of combining these two elements together and became the pioneer of ambient music.

The hospital, after all, is not such a bad place to get yourself in touch with enlightenment.

Ruins at Perga, founded around 1000 BC.

Music for airport, Eno's debut in 1972.

Eye-witness

The End

Leaves are falling. It's the end of summer, and the beginning of autumn.

Temperatures are dropping. It's the end of sunny days, and the beginning of cool windy days.

I am aging. It's almost the end of my 30s, and the beginning of my 40s.

It's 3.32am in KL. It's almost the end of the night, and the beginning of a new day.

See, nothing stays put at one point of time. Something is ending and something begins.

Old couple strolling along Hyde park, London.

On the road 3

Faith that never rocks

A few phrases to share on the power of faith when one's walking on the middle path.

Faith is courage; it is creative while despair is always destructive. -- David S.Muzzey.
Faith is a passionate intuition. -- William Wordsworth.
Faith is like radar that sees through the fog. -- Corrie Ten Boom.
Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark. -- Rabindranath Tagore.
Faith ... must be enforced by reason. When faith becomes blind it dies. -- Mahatma Gandhi.
Faith and doubt both are needed - not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve. -- Lillian Smith.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. -- Martin Luther King Jr.

For me, faith is not knowing what you will be rewarded, but you are still happily pursuing it.

The holy rock at Kyaiktiyo pagoda, Myanmar.

Room with a view

Music and surroundings

Tadao Ando, once in his book, wrote about his experience of music connection when he saw a really mystic view somewhere in China. It was Brian Eno's music which floated in his mind and completed his illusionarary feel of what he saw.

Out of my room window from a homestay in Essaouira, I was greeted with a peaceful scenery that reminded me of German composer, Anuragi's soulful piano. The music played in my head so clearly I felt I was engulfed in the middle of a concert.

The surroundings had become the music. And the music the surroundings.

Sunset by the window, with a lone seagull.

Take a peep

The laundry man and his
white blankets

Walking through the backyard of a guesthouse in Luang Prabang, I came across an old laundry man at work. It was in the middle of the day, the sun was high up and he was putting all his washed blankets on the clothe line, a task he was probably sick of doing and couldn't wait to finish it.

A few metres away from him, I was actually enjoying my view and marvelled at the simple beauty of a daily life.

The next thing I noticed, a barking dog came after me.

Beauty lies in everywhere, even in mundane daily life.

Booklover

Writer by the Seine river

I took this picture upon entering the Shakespeace & Company bookstore in Paris. It was an old building with worn-out bookshelves and furniture, full of tourists and local book lovers. But I was drawn to the quotes written in white chalk by Sylvia Beach.

It was also a dream for me to have a little bookstore, better still if it comes attached with a cafe selling teas from around the world.

Life is beautiful when it's at its simplest.

Remember Ernest Hemingway in Paris? I bet you do.

Architexture 1

Let there be light

I am in love with Tadao Ando's architectural works. From the Garden of fine art in Kyoto to the Temple of water in Hyogo. You can find his passion and dedication everywhere in Japan.

Born in Osaka, Ando did not receive any formal architectural schooling. Instead, he trained himself by reading and travelling extensively through Africa, Europe and the US.

In opposition to traditional Japanese acrchitecture, Ando creates spaces of enclosure rather than openness. He uses walls to establish a human zone and to counter the monotony of commercialism. On the exterior, the walls deflect the surrounding urban chaos, while on the interior they enclose a private space. To him, walls are the most basic elements of architecture, but they can also be the most enriching.

Like any great photographer or painter, Tadao Ando is also a master of light. I saw clear evidence of this creative use when I stepped into the Church of the Light in Ibaraki. I was immediately taken aback by the sheer power of the presence of light.

Ando often uses Zen philosophies when conceptualizing his structures. The space of the chapel is defined by light which enters from behind the altar from a cross cut in the concrete wall. Beyond the walls there is profound emptiness ozzing a sense of serenity in the stark contrast between light and shadow.

I could feel the divine power of light touching my soul.

Streaming light from God, Ibaraki of Osaka

Middle path

Giving is believing

In the early morning if you walk along the old city of Bangkok, you will bound to meet a group of monks - young and old - walking barefoot across the neighbourhood getting their alms.

This is probably one of the beautiful sights Bangkok can offer to a visitor, provided of course you can rise up early to witness it. If I stay at the Arun Residence by the Chao Phraya river, usually I will get out of bed at 6am, half an hour later I will be seen with foods in my hands, ready to make my offering.

The monks are not supposed to look around while walking. And they should be mindful not to step on any living creature on the ground, be it a little worm or an ant, to avoid killing.

Some of the monks have to travel from the other side of the river by boat to get their morning alms. From my hotel balcony I can see Wat Arun in the background, with twinkling orange-robed novices on the wavy water of the mother river.

Novices with their morning alms, Thailand

On the road

Leaving your home behind

Taking a journey to me is leaving familiar things at home behind. When I'm in a new country, I try my best not to judge or expect or compare. I take in what the world gives me.

We should always remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. Travelling is about exploring and experiencing what you have not in your own country. With an open mind and a willingness to get lost or cheated by touts, you can proudly call yourself a traveller.

The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist. I guess Russell Baker is always in fear of being recognized. But to blend in with the natives, you need careful observations from what they wear to how they greet.

For me, it always pays to make friends with a local.

neighborhood on a Luxor street

Old tales

In the shadow of Gods

Man is a strange creature. At one point he claims he knows all and wants to conquer the world, on the other he builds unbeatable feats in respect to the almighty above.

The Emperor Qin who desired to be immortal and built the Great Wall instead. The Genghis Khan who invaded half of the world and left his generations all over. The Napoleon who went to the wars in Europe and left with nothing but a few paintings in the Lourve.

And the Pharoah, who at one time, saw himself as the godsent creator of the universe and built the Pyramids and Sphinx.

Standing in front of a gigantic pillar at Karnak temple in Luxor, I felt so small and insignificant.

Karnak Temple, Luxor.

Pyramids, Giza near Cairo.

Asian spirits

08.08.08

Today is an important day for China and its people. The day the Summer Olympic starts on 08 day 08 month and the year of 08, with the live worldwide telecast at 8pm.

So much has occured for the past few months prior to the Olympic opening.

The torch relay has created much troubles from London, Paris to the US admist the Free Tibet campaigners around the world. The riots in Lhasa put the issue on focus and ended with a bloody military crash that cost many lives. China and Tibet's indifferences were stuck in the pages of history. The future looks bleak for both.

On the northwestern Xinjiang where muslim Uighurs abound, terrorist attacks have forced China to again use crude force to curb the violence. Bombs in Shanghai and nearby Kashi has claimed many lives including 16 police officers.

And just a few days before Olympic kicked off, the smog caused major pollution in the old city of Beijing, threatening the committees to consider pulling off a few matches including marathon and cycling.

But, the day still has to arrive.

Let's join our hands together and hope China will make the XXIX Olympic the best in the sports history. Let's also hope China will go through all the life's humanitarian lessons along its way before it can proudly acclaim a mighty nation of the world.

"Real strength is not just a condition of one's muscle, but a tenderness in one's spirit."

Hence the description for my entry to the Visa Beijing Olympic "Faster, Higher, Stronger" photo contest. I hope it reflects a future China which the whole world wants to see.

Shortlisted and now on travelling exhibition in Asia.

Flight details

I know why the caged bird sings

Looking at my recent schedule, I begin to realise that I have slept in a hotel room more often than at my own place, taken flights more regular than taking a taxi and believe me or not, left the airport and came back again within 12 hours.

A quick glance at the flight details will reassure my stance.

5 april to 23 April HCM city to KL for friso shoot.
23 to 25 April KL to BKK for pepsi music online.
26 to 29 April back to HCM city.
30 April to 4 May back to Singapore.
5 May in HCM city.
6 May till 10 back to KL for firso talking tots online.
11 May till 13 KL to BKK for pepsi max shoot.
14 May till 16 back to HCM city.
17 May till 21 back to BKK for pepsi max online.
22 May till 27 BKK to KL for friso rocky onine.
28 May sting ppm in Bangkok.
29 May 1.10am BKK to manila.
29 May 7.20am Manila to Brunei.
29 May 4.50pm Brunei to Kota Kinabalu.
31 May back to HCM city.

Some mornings I woke up not knowing where I was, but i was quickly calmed down by the familiar sights and sounds outside the windows. Some occasions I spoke Thai when I was supposed to converse in Bahasa or English. Once I almost missed my flight due to an hour's time difference.

Freedom to fly is a gift. It's quite another when you have to do it often.

But I truly enjoy it.

Morning flight, Patan Durbar square, Nepal

Clay maker

A Japanese lesson on attachments

I learnt how to make tea cups and rice bowls from a humble Japanese master, Kitokuchi san.

He gave me a piece of wet clay and showed me how to press the clay with even strength and meticulous attention, of course with the help of a swirling machine.

Within 20 minutes I was amazed to see out of the formless clay I had transformed them into a shape which we proudly call a tea cup and grew attached to it happily.

To see a piece of clay a while ago and a beautiful zen cup minutes later was a mysterious transformation I have never encountered before in my life. It gave me the perspective to observe how things come and go.

Everything in our life is composed of other elements and never exists independently. The names we give them are nothing but a conceptual idea. A cup is never a cup without clay, water and heat. The same can be said to all other things in our life.

All the possessions in our life – cars, houses, furnitures, even pets and plants – are created by different causes put together. We do not own anything in this life. So there is no point of clinging to them.

Now when I hold a cup in my hand, I see more than just the cup itself. In it I see the sun, the rain, the soil and the ceramic master.

I can see the whole universe in a tiny tea cup. I can also see impermanence and attachment dwelling in the very present moment.

From nothing...

to something.

Bookaholic

Living with books

Of all the bookstores I have visited throughout the world, a handful of them is worth coming back for, partly for its cozy atmosphere if not for its book selection.

The shakespearce and company near the Seine river, is a cool place for book lovers. Ernest Hemingway used to come here often by taking a detour to avoid the bakery shops as he was out of money to get even three square meals. On top of the bookstore there are guest rooms reserved for writers from around the world.

The Pilgrims on the Thamel road, is quite different from its parisian sister. Ran by an Indian yogi and choked with cheap books printed from India, it's a little run down but certainly filled with atmosphere authentic enough to charm any bookworms.

The Passport, right in the corner of the old city, is a beautiful haven for anyone looking for a moment of peace and serenity. Its owners, Yong and Num, are friendly and helpful to any visitors to their book-scented room.

On any leisure weekend, a stop at any of these bookstores will surely enlighten your day.

Don't even think of trying it when you are in Bangkok.

Dream home

The city I once knew

From my window of Maya hotel I could see the Petronas twin towers in full view if I lie down on the bed. The towers look even more dramatic when it's against the rising sun in the early morning.

They looked a bit out of the place when first built on Jalan Ampang. 1o years later I returned to a city where the skyline changed beyond my recognition.

My close friend, Yong Ming, took me to see the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. I had always had a fascination for this building. Designed by British Architect Arthur Benison Hubback in a mixture of Neo Moorish and Mughal style, it houses the hub of the railway in the city.

What impressed me most was not only Mr Hubback's meticulous detailed plan, but also his open mind to adapt Islamic elements as part of the key designs throughout the whole building. In 1910 he could have easily designed a European-styled building. But instead he adopted the local influence and built the most notable architecture of that era.

Sadly, as I strolled on the pavement in the late afternoon sun, I noticed corny-looking flower lamp posts erected along the main road trying to beautify the atmosphere. A renovation campaign probably under a few talented men from the Tourism board who must have thought they had done a great job.

What an eyesore for me! But who should take the blame?

The importance of discerning eyes matters most when it comes to housing developments. At Sentul East I saw hope and consolation from a series of YTL projects, most prominently the KL Performing Art Centre.

The architecture was created out of an old railway station, making it look classic yet modern with its glassed walls. According to Yong Ming, Sentul was still a poor neighbourhood a few years back.

Kudos to the visionary inspiration crafted by YTL. I hope more Malaysians will use this as a benchmark in future developments.

When I looked down from the plane on the city I once knew, I was glad it escaped my cruel scrutinies and became the talk of the town.

Twin towers, from my hotel balcony on 13th floor at 6.30 am

When you respect the local culture, you get it in return too.

Something delightful I could fall back on 

after leaving home for 15 years.

zen wisdom

沒用的往往最有用
丁一

去年坎城廣告展中，有許多濫竽充數的得獎作品，甚無看頭，獨有一支120秒的銀獅作品，至今我仍百看不厭。

影片拍攝手法簡潔流暢，以男主角自述其坎坷際遇為開場白。

孤僻的他從不受人重視，也不被人了解，在別人的眼裏是個不中用的窩囊廢，走到那兒他都不受歡迎。 從畫面上，我們看到他掀起女性的裙子，弄亂路人的頭髮，颳倒帳逢及整壞老人的雨傘。他似乎像個小無賴，弄得人人雞犬不寧。

有一天，他途經公園一隅，並作弄正在看報紙的一位先生。有禮的先生不厭其煩地請他坐下來，並和他作了朋友，還介紹一份工作給他。

畫面又重回到男主角身上，他自信又欣慰地說：“當別人開始接受並看重我的時候，我覺得自己變得有用起來！”

整支廣告最耐人尋味的地方乃其結尾文案。

“風， 讓我們好好利用它的能量。”

此語一出，才恍然發覺男主角原來是風的代言人。EPURON能源公司將風人性化，呈現出一幕活生生的伯樂識馬圖，創意之妙叫人拍案叫絕。

這個廣告不禁令我聯想起2500年前，釋迦牟尼佛也有個叫般特的弟子，為人忠厚老實，遺憾的是生性有些愚鈍。佛祖讓五百羅漢天天輪流教導他，可是仍然看不出他有甚麼長進。眾弟子都瞧不起他， 甚至不與他為伍。

大悲的佛祖非但沒有唾棄般特，還逐字逐句地教誨他。

日復一日地推敲琢磨，終於讓般特徹底覺悟了，並成為一名備受敬重的法僧。

這個典故提醒了我們，重要的反而不是智慧 的高低，而應該是，我們能否慷慨給予他人一個重生的機會。

有時候不免覺得沮喪，因為在一個以創意表現為指標的廣告公司裏頭，你會發現有好多看似不中用的同事遭受被冷落的厄運。

甚至，有些自詡為“創意高手”的資深廣告人，也不屑與這群不起眼的同事打交道。

但是如果我們放下分別與成見，靜下心來想一想，這些所謂不起眼的同事，卻往往為公司盡下最重大的職責。大家仿佛只看到表面的光華，而忽略了內在的辛勞。就好比一輛時髦的法拉利跑車，沒有工人的裝配，絕對生產不出來。

不妨想想看。。。

沒有美術指導，誰來幫你畫稿？

沒有總機接線生，誰來幫你接聽電話？

沒有清潔女傭，誰來幫你泡咖啡，整理辦公桌，及清理垃圾？

沒有快遞人員，誰來幫你傳送信件？

把視野再放遼闊起來。

路邊的清道夫，駕德士或巴士的司機，賣咖啡的小販們，大廈的保安人員。這些小人物每天都在幫助我們營造一個舒適的生活環境，以讓我們能處在最佳狀態，發揮十足十的工作效率。

我們每個人都受惠於他們經年累月的服務貢獻，是他們造就了今日的我們。

在日本禪宗裏，倒是有一個很吻合的現象，即禪師所強調的“空”，正是取自無用之用的哲理。沒有“空間”，何來一切法遍虛空呢？

比擬來講，一個沒有空隙的杯子，水該如何盛進去？一個沒有空間的手提袋，該怎麽裝下東西？一棟沒有空洞的房子，人是不可能住進去的。

這些看起來多麽微不足道的“空間”，卻無盡地涵括了世間的一切事物。

在我們周遭那些扮演著無足輕重的小角色，卻往往為我們提供了無盡的發揮空間，就像杯子裏看不見的“空間”，看似無用，其實卻是妙用無窮。

世上根本沒有所謂的無用之材，問題是我們怎麽去好好善加利用。如果能從一堆垃圾中瞥見一朵綻開的花兒，我們即以抽離扭曲的邏輯分析，而開始認真的去反省思考。

就如一行禪師在其新著“認識你的自性”中所說的：

“我中有你，你中有我。你我都是同出一轍”

放下一切人爭我執，則處處都是可以啟發我們自性的般若智慧。

A windy day in Lijiang old town, China.

Happy day

Happy Continuation Day

We don't just live for one life time. We are the continuation of countless life times from the past into the present. There's no birth. Hence there's no birthday. 

Likewise, there's no death. And death is not the ending. It's just a continuation phase to the next life.

We can somehow stop the continuation of this karmic cycle if we attain nirvana.

Challenge is, how can we?

The buddha showed us his middle path to the enlightenment. All we need to do is just take the first step and follow him behind. Easier said than done, you might argue. But without our willing mind nothing will open up for us. Not even the Amitabha buddha can take you to the pure land paradise if you are not willing to.

Remember those childhood days when you chose to believe in monsters and later realised it was purely fictional. What you need now is your willingness to believe once more, that your life can be better and beneficial to all sentient beings if we practise what the buddha taught.

The one eternal truth is out there awaiting our discovery.

Give me your hands. And tell me you will.

The largest Buddha Amida in the world, Kamakura, Japan.

Tea retreat

Walking mindfully with Thay

The bus left Pham Ngu Lao at 8.15pm. 5 hours later I arrived Bao Loc in the middle of the night. The gate was closed and I had to trouble a novice to open it for me.

3000 people came for this retreat! I was told and my sleepy eyes awoke a little. the next early morning at 4.30 the sonorous temple bell rang throughout the monastery compound. After brushing I made my way to the meditation hall. I saw seas of heads in the huge hall, with a silhoutte prominently standing out from behind the lighted buddha statue.

It was, unmistakenly, the Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh. This was my second retreat with him and I felt good seeing him again.

During walking meditation, Thay (or teacher as it's called in Vietnamese) led us from the hall down to the tea plantation. The Prajna monastery is, to my surprise, nestled right on top of the tea hill. Thousands of petit yellow butterflies danced admist the fragrance of tea when we walked past. I felt blessed in Thay's presence and I could feel Nat and Koh's presence too.

I also had my first taste of raw tea brewed from fresh tea leaves. It had a biting after-taste on my tongue. The tea meditation was great to relish, beside Thay's comprehensive teachings on how to guide our minds into the 21st century. Most of the attendees were under 30 so Thay focused quite a lot on the problems faced by the young generation.

The rainy season approached with heavy downpours, making a huge number of cicadas buzz with a loud note. A few times Thay's voice was engulfed by the roaring buzz and we were totally lost in nature's cacaphonic symphony.

My cheeks were wet with rains when I left Bao Lac. For a while I couldn't tell if they were rain drops or my tear drops.

monks walking, Luang Prabang, Laos.

Special day

No mud. No lotus.

Today is the continuation day for Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, which literally means universal worthy. He is the guardian of law and always placed on the right of Shakyamuni, while Manjushri Bodhisattva, the guardian of wisdom, is on the left.

Bodhi means enlightenment and Sattva means sentient and conscious. Therefore, Bodhisattva refers to the sentient being of great wisdom and enlightenment. Bodhisattva's vow is the pursuit of Buddhahood and the salvation of others and of all. He is devoid of egoism and devoted to help the others. The way and discipline of Bodhisattva is to benefit the self and the others, leading to Buddhahood.

A few weeks ago, my good friend Nat has taken the Bodhisattva vows in Dharamsala under His Holiness's blessing. Another close friend of mine, Koh, has also taken the vows while he attended the winter retreat late last year at Plum Village of France under the ven Thich Nhat Hanh.

I feel blessed while being with Nat and Koh. They are truly like the lotus in the mud. The lotus is born out of mud, yet it is clean and beautiful. So out of the dirty mud arises the symbol of purity itself. Things in our daily life are only "dirty" or "clean" because we perceive them to be that way. We do not have to erect a wall between them. 

Coincidentally, 3 of us are also born on friday, the day the Buddha was born. I have specially made two stone buddhas in contemplation pose as a dharma gift to them. The stone buddhas, carved out in a really minimal way,  can only tell of its buddha presence if we feel it inside us. We only need to purify our minds so that our perceptions become pure and unmitigated by defilements such as attachment to the self. Buddhahood is truly everywhere.

On the Dalai Lama's official site, I found one of my favourite quotes by Shanti Deva, "For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain. Until then may I too abide to dispel the misery of the world. "

May we turn the muddy world into a pond of clean water, with lotuses blossoming everywhere.

Lotus shot with intentional camera shakes, Siam reap, Cambodia.

Lesson en route

The old man and the sea

On the seashore of Alexandria, I noticed an old man fishing in silence. He had probably sat there for hours but judging from his leisurely manner, he didn't seem to mind at all sitting till dusk.

I squatted down with my camera, he saw me from afar but not even bothered to stop me. I was trying hard not to invade his privacy. The passers-by walked past him in twos or threes. He was not distracted at all and still indulged himself in his own world.

He was truly present in the here and now, between himself and his fishing rod.

I recalled a zen koan of a young novice asking his master: "What is zen?" The master simply replied: "When you eat, eat. When you sleep, sleep."

I smiled at the old man when I walked past him. He didn't return with a smile but I was thankful for the lesson he taught me.

Old man and the sea, Alexandria, Egypt.

Asia today

Back with a revenge

Last friday on CNN's breaking news, Lhasa is erupted in deadly violence as Chinese security forces used gunfire to quell the unrest after 3 days of protests by hundreds of monks in Lhasa, India and else where around the world that marked the anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

I was shocked to see the world's highest city littered with cars and motorbikes set ablaze. Black smoke billowed in the background not far from the Jokhang temple where the riot started. Barely a year ago I was with Jick walking around Barkor street and saying prayers.

My close friend, Nat, now in Dharamsala atttending the annual spring teachings, has probably witnessed the brutal truth the Tibetans have to accept when news of Lhasa riots spread across the Himalaya region.

Last October in Yangon city, the Burmese junta also crushed on the unarmed protest led by monks and many were killed as they marched in the street. A peaceful demonstration has turned uglily into a bloody massacre.

The non-violence approach adopted by Buddhist monks is always met with violent suppression by the opposed party. It was worrying to think if the monks resort to violence to fight for their freedom, there will be even more uprisings like these in near future.

Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has already appealed to the Chinese leadership not to use force and address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through sincere dialogues.

I can only hope the Chinese will drop their weapons, and come up with a win-win solution for both the Tibetans and themselves.

Violence can never curb violence. Only loving kindness and compassion can.

Angkor Wat under a stormy sky, Siam reap.

My thai life 5

可歌可泣的泰國廣告

丁一

記得從一本雜誌上，看過一篇報導，大意是說有一名東歐旅客赴泰觀光，掉了一枚硬幣在地板上，眼看著硬幣就快要掉入溝渠中，旅客急中生智，用腳狠狠一踩，保住了硬幣，但老外卻惹來周圍泰人的白眼及非議。

原因無他，老外踐踏的不只是一枚硬幣而已，而是高高在上的泰皇九世肖像。

我剛來曼谷時記得很清楚，頭一回上當地的電影院，感受到相當大的文化衝突，電影未上映前，會播放一段歌頌泰皇偉績的錄影帶，全體觀眾一律起立示敬，外國人無一可倖免。這位號召力十足的風雲人物，非泰皇蒲密蓬莫屬，他對整個泰國社會有著啟發領導的影響力。

1946年登基為皇，並一路沿用親民的手法，把泰國帶領到一個繁榮強盛，而又文化璀璨的世紀古都，轉眼間竟經過了六十一個年頭，他也名正言順地，成為世界上任位最久的君王。

泰皇九世的慈祥純愛及努力不懈的精神，贏得了六千萬子民的喝采與愛戴。受餽於泰皇的慈善工程的多為東北部的農民，佔了總人口的70%。而且泰皇年輕時，喜愛四處雲遊及探討民生問題，所到之處都引起轟動，成千上萬的泰人都蜂湧而至，只為一睹君王風彩。

更誇張的是，有些伊森族的村民還把手帕鋪在泥地上讓泰皇走過，並將那條沾有足跡的手帕，視為神聖的膜拜物，有的還被供奉在廟宇裡。顯然，泰皇的身份與地位已超越平凡的肉身。

在泰國每戶人家，似乎都安有一幅泰皇肖像，而各大政府機構、私人企業、銀行、學校、餐廳、商店、醫院、機場、車站，甚至於麥當勞快餐店，也少不了它。走在街上處處可見泰皇的影子，每逢十二月五日皇誕，市內書攤擺滿了，以泰皇為封面的各大雜誌，許多電視台的晚新聞，也會爭相報導皇室的活動消息。

任勞任怨的泰皇，所親手發起的慈善工程，不少於3000項，其中功勞最顯赫的，有防災防旱用的大水壩，為東北農民防旱特制的人造雨，解決曼谷各道路擁擠的交通大橋，以及大大小小的農業改善措施。去年6月，聯合國秘書長安南，還特地頒發一個勳章，藉以彰顯泰皇的豐功偉績。

泰皇蒲密蓬是位虔誠的佛教徒，時常以奧妙的佛理教化眾生，民間津津樂道的，是泰皇領養過一頭野狗，經過他嚴格的訓練後，而變成一隻深富靈性的狗。

九七年金融危機爆發後，泰皇更是竭力推動自給自足的經濟方針，務必使每個泰人學會知足常樂。除了熱愛攝影及油畫外，泰皇也熱衷於爵士音樂，他本身年輕時可是一位出色的爵士風高手。去年十二月海尼根啤酒舉辦的爵士音樂節，特邀海內外知名爵士歌手，赴泰為泰皇登基60週年慶典獻藝，吸引了百萬人潮。

泰國電視台最近紛紛推出一系列以泰皇事蹟為主的立體廣告，其中有一支「寫信」篇，更是賺人熱淚，入圍了2006年Adman本地廣告獎。

故事敘述一名窮苦的喪父少女，如何承擔重任，供養患上絕症的母親。在徹底絕望中求存的她，寫了一封沒有貼上郵票的求助信。日子一天天過去，終於有一天小女孩接到一封來信，覆信的人竟然是泰皇蒲密蓬，信中噓寒問暖的內容，更讓小女孩及母親喜極而泣。

廣告中的結尾文案是：無論多麼遙遠，父親（泰人對泰皇的暱稱）始終不會忽視我們的存在，父親的心永遠與我們同在。2006年月6月9日上午，在擠滿千萬人的廣場上，我望著站在國會大廈陽台上，向大眾招手的一位白髮老人，兩行熱淚不由自主地，在我臉上劃過。

The King and his jazzy friends in 1963.

My thai life 4

春光乍現的泰國廣告

丁一

來泰國觀光的遊客當中，有八成為男性，其中以歐美日韓居多，這群介於30至60歲的老外，除了飲酒作樂，也趁機享享廉價性服務，食色性也的趨勢，自然而然地造就了泰國醜業的急速發展。

追溯起來，泰國性服務的風行應始於70年代美越戰爭期間，美國當時停駐在南部的芭塔雅，是為了提供消遣娛樂給作戰的海軍們，泰女們的柔情與體貼火速地虜獲了美兵們的心，酒吧一間緊接著一間地開，整條海岸線由一個樸實古雅的漁村，驟變為燈紅酒綠，夜夜笙歌的人間天堂。

這股性開放的黃潮，不僅席捲了芭塔雅，也向西吹襲至曼谷和普吉，北於清邁，南至合艾，先由酒吧紮根而起，後有色情按摩院、阿哥哥女郎秀、三溫暖及變相卡拉OK，演變成一個年平均收入2.5億美元的龐大交易，遠比農業及製造業來得可觀。

泰國政府坐享漁人之利，從中攫取稅收暴利，貪贓枉法下促使了色情集團更加猖狂肆虐，供不應求之際，索性販賣人口，逼良為娼，連童妓也登堂入室，以迎合遠洋尋春團的口味。

我公司有一位同事的表舅，家住清萊省，為山地人，育有4女2男。父母親從前靠種大麻，生活尚可糊口，而今政府全力肅毒，家中經濟頓時入不敷出，唯有靠未滿15歲的女兒操醜業養家，男生也到曼谷當司機，偶爾也充當色情嚮導，為男遊客拉皮條，從中取蠅頭小利。他的表舅一本正經地對我的同事說：「沒飯吃的時候，那還顧得了面子尊嚴問題」

如此豐厚的盈利也不全是拜外國尋歡客所賜，上個月我在雜誌上看到一個性調查，報告指出老外只佔了嫖客當中的15%，其餘的全是當地人。在傳統社會體系中，已婚的男人可能因生意需要，而外出逢場作戲，尋花問柳，為妻者無權干預，風流成性的泰男，也堂而皇之地成為人肉市場最大的買客。

在曼谷著名的帔蓬紅燈區，到處都可見到當地嫖客的蹤跡，潔身自愛的年輕人少得如鳳毛麟角，聽說某些高中女生還明目張膽地在夜店徘徊釣客，賺取外快以滿足物質虛榮，租妻服務在名人界也時有所聞，非洲人種的猛男性服務尤其受到有錢玩戶的青睞。

80年代聞名色變的愛滋病突襲全球，泰國首當其衝，成了帶病菌者最嚴重的亞洲國家，但色情業還是如昔地車水馬龍，客似雲來。海尼根啤酒最近還在帔蓬旁的戶外看板上打了一個醉翁之意不在酒的廣告，看了引人遐思，也不得不佩服客戶的膽大，敢把一個國際品牌和一個聲名狼藉的紅燈區掛鉤。

愛滋病的出現非但沒把嫖客嚇跑，反而帶動了另一個產品的流行，在政府日夜鼓吹安全性行為運動下，保險套的銷路在應急中飆升如搭直升機，各種品牌紛紛在市場推出，更甚者還有專為男同志精心設製的保險套及潤滑液。連和性扯不上關係的電訊產業也來勢洶洶，利用性感美女過足嫖客癮，不只樂了電視機旁的觀眾，也肥了客戶的荷包，廣告一推出即廣受歡迎，捷運的搭客量也突然激增數倍。可見性的影響力，足以帶動整個國家的經濟。

BUG下載服務廣告「辣舞秀篇」，訴說在捷運上有一性感女郎彎下身子繫鞋帶，坐在周圍的男乘客們頓時飽享眼福，剛好此時某人的手機響起，竟是一首流行舞曲，令整個場面更加火辣。性感女郎委屈地成了跳鋼管舞的阿哥哥女郎，原來這賣的是手機ringtone音樂鈴聲下載服務。此廣告還曾榮獲2004年坎城銅獅獎。

Khaosan road at night, Bangkok.