looks like this greying place is still intact and proper as how it was left 30 days ago. thanks for those who tried to tag - giving it some life spasms that it might require at this point.

well, ive been back for a while already and yes, still on vacation. not to say im lovingly busy or sinfully slacking. i was initially at my sister's place on a stayover since my poor jie's on a looooong MC and to be around as a playmate to her twosmallthings. afterwhich, ive been already working for 2 weeks at fairfield primary again. not handling the remedial kids though, so starting work at 7am - morning assembly.

beijing was a pretty nice place. my dad and i were just revisiting some places of interest that we went before for maybe a second pilgrimage. forbidden city, summer palace, great wall, hutong, etc and loads of shiny pekking duck dinners. the first 2 places had some major parts renovated and some touching-up, thus it was barricaded. many other tourists (also those from other parts of china) were indignant that they have to pay the same amount to sightsee the place, making it a rather big issue in the news while i was there.

while i was in the forbidden city and summer palace, i had a slight time transportation. probably my imagination, or too many oriental chinese drama shows, or maybe the last book i read which was called Empress Orchird. as i walked through the massive buildings, crossing over many wooden red-paint peeling entrances, stepping on chinese grey cobblestones, peering into large furnished palaces, admiring the giant marble dragon carvings and intricate painting designs on the beams, i could imagine how the lowly maids and eunuchs had to scurry around tending to the royalties' calls and wants. with long pale make-shift dresses, head bowed and with that air of submission. the royalties - be it empress, prince, cousin or great great distant uncle would carry that air of superiority, walk in large strides and arrogance. and eat a 99-course meal every time. it was a different feeling i had the last time i stepped on qian long's grounds.



how'd be like to grow up in a place like this? one would probably be so sheltered that he/she does not see the poverty-stricken citizens living along the roads just outside those high walls. it wouldnt even really be his/her fault for being ignorant since theyve been in that exclusive living, planned many years ago. amidst the mothballs and musky ancient scent the place emitted, it was a place that held many scandals, conspiracies, starcrossed love. isolation, torture, greed, jealousy, power, pain, hurt, blood, responsibility, restraint, control, corruption within the grand fortress - can ooze out from the cracks on the well-trodden walkways, in between the door hinges, behind all the magnificent tapestry and silk. it was a place that seem to carry so much, be it governance or internal mishaps. a place i'd like to visit, but not one i'd wish to live in.

all this sudden sentimental downpour was made concrete after watching The Banquet (Zhang Ziyi, Ge You, Daniel Wu) a few weeks back. it was a wonderfully directed movie, the cinematography was splendid and the costumes, props and details were amazingly apt and appropriately befitting to the story and production. it was said to be loosely depicted from Shakespeare's Hamlet but many times in the show, many parts were poignant and strong in Shakespeare's style yet it held strong Asian essence. I could not help thinking of the numerous themes, hidden meanings and subtle symbols that shouted out significance. It was a relatively dark movie, that touched greatly on the conspiracies, inner turmoil and twists & turns of the monarch. sure some people might hate the ending but i think much of due credit should be given to the makers of the movie. it fused culture, history and emotions, intertwining Asian and Western literature.



alright, enough of my rants. have a good weekend ahead. oh oh oh as they say, we have a child in all of us - to all, any smallthings and of cos to those who work with them too, happy children's day :)

Labels: pictures, reviews

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