When I was in primary school or secondary school, the school marched us off to watch a Little Prince play by Act 3. I remember finding it boring because I did not understand a single scene. Henceforth, I avoided reading this book, like I avoid all other things which I do not understand or am not good at.

However, a beautifully written set of song lyrics inspired by Le Petit Prince recently intrigued me enough to pick up this book and give it a second shot.

More than six months ago, I found a big picture book version in Chinese in the library, but did not have enough time to finish it. I promised myself that I would after coming back from HK, and so yesterday I returned to the library to fulfill that vow. I did not manage to find the same book, but got an English version instead.

The Little Prince is supposed to be a children's book, and the idea that I am reading it at the age of 22 may seem laughable. But I do not regret picking up this gem at a later age. For it is exceedingly complex (like, I realised, many children's tales can be). It is simply written, but the complex ideas and concepts behind many of the brief sentences are rather abstract. Perhaps children would understand them better, after all. But as an adult, I am bound to have a different take on these things. And it is nice to be reminded of the clean slate that used to be your brain when you were an innocent child.

It's true what they say. The Little Prince is a magical story that touched the hearts of many. It feels like a very sad story to me though. There are 3 scenes that nearly drove me to tears, in this book of less than a hundred pages.

I especially love the scene with the fox, and the ending part about the stars and how the narrator will look upon them from then on, depending on his perspective.


無邊的寂寞

Source: http://data1.blog.de/blog/s/spidouz/img/PetitPrince01.jpg

"Please, tame me!" said the fox.

Source: http://fsinfo.cs.uni-sb.de/~lynx/images/pfox.jpg

The original illustrations are, of course, by the author himself, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Do give this little book a read when you feel disillusioned with the world, or need a fresh perspective on love, friendship and other things in life.

———- Young love rekindled after 85 years ———–

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A 93-year-old Illinois man says
he is marrying his third-grade sweetheart after 85 years
apart. Roland “Mac” McKitrick, 93, of Arlington Heights,
proposed to Lorraine Beatty, 92, of Georgia, Tuesday,
about three years after they reconnected following an 85-
year interruption in their friendship, the Arlington
Heights Daily Herald reported. “She was my third-grade
sweetheart back in 1921,” McKitrick said. “We knew each
other for about one year. Then, for all practical purposes,
we lost contact for 85 years.” But McKitrick said both he
and Beatty had brothers living in Connecticut who became
friends, and the two reunited through their brothers. “I
still picture her as my third-grade sweetheart. I’ve
carried that in the back of my mind since that time,”
McKitrick said. He said he still has a photograph of him-
self with Beatty taken when they were children. “That
snapshot stayed in my memory,” he said, “and her face
stayed in my memory.”

Source: http://bizarrenews.gophercentral.com/

Something hilarious for Potter fans:

I personally think charging around with the broom between your legs is too much...from what I can see in the trailer, the broom serves no purpose at all except to hinder you and make it LOOK more like, well, Quidditch. But it really just looks ridiculous.

In other news, two friends of mine just set up a blog selling clothes from Korea. I love everything in the guy's section (as usual), and have made my virgin online clothes purchase - one of the tops from the female section. So check it out if you got time and an itch for some cheap retail therapy ;) .

http://grandallure.livejournal.com/2169.html

Dear friends, I have a confession to make.

During my 5 months on exchange in Hong Kong, there was a lot to adapt to and deal with. Laundry to do, meals to settle, people to socialise with, room to clean, roommate to communicate with, a whole new language to decode...the list goes on.

So, naturally, I needed an outlet for the stress. And to keep myself warm in the 12-degree weather.

I offer my sincerest apologies. I know that most of you thought I would know better, and vested your hopes in my seemingly immovable integrity. But I am very, very sorry. I have let you all down. If it is any comfort, it was a moment of extreme weakness that forced me to succumb.

The following pictures bear testament to that moment, and the series of events that followed. (Credits: Sara-Jean for uploading them, and Sheryl for taking them) I am putting them here because it is true what they say. Once you start, you can't stop. And so I hope that coming out of the closet will help.

Once again, know that I am sorry. *deep bow*

It all began with this little guy. Believe me, they are dirt cheap in HK compared to here. I know this is not an excuse, but it certainly didn't help.

The moment of my shameful betrayal - to my own body, my friends, my very beliefs.

I tried to decrease my guilt by getting Sara-Jean to speed up her mortality with me. She refused.

But only at first.



Ohh believe me, we knew we were doing something wrong. But after the first, it was impossible to stop.

With one vice comes another. Very soon, I found myself upping the stakes and "showing hand" with my Doraemon Monopoly money.




You can guess who was on the losing side.

Losing money at gambling and smoking is a vicious cycle. Which, incidentally, leads to a third vice. Desperation knows no bounds.

Having already taken up 2 other vices because of her losing streak, she finally became serious about her game. It's time to turn the tide, her expression clearly says.

Easier said than done, pal, my expression (strangely reminiscent of Stephen Chow) quickly retorted.

At the end of the day, we were all losers, with 3 vices each under our belts.

I stand before you, ashamed and remorseful. Will you forgive me?

Labels: egomaniac, Memoires of Dimsumland