Spongy Banana

I wonder which body part is the sponge used on?

An account of a day or two

Woke up at 6.30 this morning. Thought it was 8am. But it’s not. The sky is already 8am bright according to my autumn brightness scale. Hit the loo for some toxic dump. Is it appropriate to blog about toilet habit? Ah, who cares? I love going to the toilet in the morning, especially just after waking up and before having my breakkie and shower. That’s a very nice feeling that I have so that there’s no need to look for a public toilet for the rest of the day in the case of an emergency.

I guess it’s my holiday mode has been turned on. I remember every time I was at home for holiday – I slept very early. Just like yesterday, after reading a few pages of Angel and Demon I gave in to the sleep demon at 11pm. Thanks for that – I woke up to a very beautiful morning. I haven’t actually had a good look at the starting of a day for quite some time already.

It’s always very nice to look out of the window from my room. Just green. Green is good for your eyes, there goes my parents. There is this tree that is growing purple flowers. Nice. Birds are looking for worms? Do they actually still do that? Probably not. Coz they don’t look like using their beaks to break the ground and look for worms. Instead they are taking morning walks! Just like my Grandma when she always go out in the morning for a walk and an exercise.

Interestingly I am not a morning person to go out for physical activities in the morning. Morning has usually been spent with reading, music and TV.

Had my haircut yesterday. The hair-dresser was Emi. She didn’t sound like an Ozzie so I asked her if she’s not local. She’s from Austria. What did we start to talk about that led us to true love? Oh that. We talked about German. I complaint how hard the language is – with the sex we have to remember for each object and when to use die, der and das. She went on to talk about her boyfriend. That’s what started true love.

She came travelling to Australia 5 years ago and Chris (her bf) went to Austria ½ a year a go. They met in Austria. It was love at first sight. And now she is in Australia, planning to get married to Chris in a year or two. That is really a big step to take and it’s because of true love, according to her. At this moment in time, I do not think that I could do it. Is it because I am not in love, and even if I am, I am not brave enough to take a leap? Most of the great things happened because someone took a leap. Be it a scientific break through or a love epic.

She went on to compare the view on love between women in Austria and Australia. In the Austrian culture, they do not really care about getting married. People just don’t care. But some women here can give up a relationship if the relationship is not going to take a next big step into the church. So we questioned what actually true love was. Is true love blinding? Is true love pure energy that will lift you to a place where nothing else can do so?

Even so, can true love die? Is there an expiry date on true love? One step back, probably there is more than one definition of true love. So can I say that instead of looking for true love, we might want to look for the other half that has same definition? I read before that being in love is an addiction. Do we really love the person or just loving the feelings because one thinks that one is in love?

Emi also asked me why my view on love would be relatively negative compared to hers. She questioned if I had any bad experience. I think the answer is yes and no as I don’t really wanna classify as major events of my life. She asked me to wait. She mentioned that great things are always worth waiting for. When the moment comes, that’s it. I could only nod.

Prime

Watched the movie "Prime" tonight with Brad. It's been a while since I watched some nice romantic comedy. I have found that they don't normally live up to my expectation hence I do not really dig them.

But this, I loved. It was fun, sexy and of course romantic and hot. The chemistry between Rafi and Dave was totally believable. And the intimate details about penis and not using a condom... It's more real than any romantic comedy that I've seen.

I mean the story line is exciting itself. A woman is dating the son of her therapist who is 14 years old younger than she is. And the mother wants her daughter-in-law to be be jewish and doesn't want her son to be a painter!

The mother says this in the end,"You love, you leave and you learn". How strikingly true that is. I also read something similar in someone's blog not so long ago and have wanted to share with you - being in love is about 2 people coming together with loads of baggage and complications and history and getting through those.

Me and the Inner/Outer me

You fit in with: Humanism Your ideals mostly resemble that of a Humanist. Although you do not have a lot of faith, you are devoted to making this world better, in the short time that you have to live. Humanists do not generally believe in an afterlife, and therefore, are committed to making the world a better place for themselves and future generations. 20% spiritual. 40% reason-oriented.

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Springy tunes in Winterish November

1. Let it will be - Madonna
2. Sorry - Madonna
3. Forbidden Love - Madonna
4. Hung up - Madonna
5. Get together - Madonna
6. You're beautiful - James Blunt
7. Because of you - Kelly Clarkson
8. Catch my disease - Ben Lee
9. All I want for Christmas - Mariah Carey
10. A different kind of love song - Cher
11. The sun ain't gonna shine anymore - Cher
12. You get what you give - New Radicals

Friends with Oprah

Two DVD box sets that I'll get very soon. Oprah 20-year and Friends 10-season collections.

I am on the Top (15) of the World

Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou is a very modern city, yet it is called "the City of Flowers," as grand green spaces and flowerbeds surround each of its spectacular skyscrapers. Although it only has four structures at over 200 meters tall, there are plenty of other high-rises, each displaying a design that stands out in its own respect. This includes the 391 meters, 80-floor, CITIC Plaza which appears transparent against the (usually) clear blue sky!

Metro/Urban Population: 4.1 million


Dubai, United Arab, Emirates
Is this a mirage in the Middle East? Seemingly out of nowhere emerges a city in the middle of a desert. This is Dubai, a city that produces only the best modern architecture in the world. Already home of the world's tallest all-hotel building and the tallest all-residential building in the world, AND currently proposed to build the world's tallest building, this skyline might just leap to the number 1 spot in the near future. While the skyline is not so dense, each building is a marvel all on its own. As a skyline it probably can't compete with the larger cities, however the individual buildings in this city are by far the greatest examples of modern architectural accomplishments. All seven structures in this city at over 200 meters tall were built in 1999 or later - that's how new this city is.

Metro/Urban Population: 1.6 million


Frankfurt, Germany
Certainly one of Europe's most interesting cities in terms of skylines, Frankfurt is home to five structures that are over 200 meters tall. These modern skyscrapers are marvels compared to those other, mostly non-existent ones scattered across European cities. The contrast here is interesting: The city combines low-rise, high-density traditional European architecture (some of which is over 1,000 years old), with modern towers that stick out like sore thumbs, but are impressive nonetheless.

Metro/Urban Population: 4.1 million


Sydney, Australia
Australia's showcase city, Sydney has one of the most recognizable skylines due to its world-famous harbour, often referred to as the most beautiful natural harbour in the world. The Sydney Harbour has many bays, inlets and secondary harbours. It is spanned by the monumental Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House decorates the shoreline like a white flower. The Sydney skyline is world-class with hundreds of skyscrapers in the central business district and many more high-rise buildings in the outlying neighbourhoods. Sydney has 8 buildings over 200 meters tall.

Metro/Urban Population: 4.2 million


Sao Paolo, Brazil
"What building did you say they lived in?" Finding it in the largest mass of condensed apartment buildings anywhere would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Sao Paolo has a population of over 18 million people! While the buildings are not super tall (with only a single structure at over 200 meters tall) this skyline is nevertheless stacked. Sao Paolo has a fleet of over 500 helicopters, the second largest helicopter fleet in the world.

Metro/Urban Population: 18.3 million

Seoul, South Korea
This city's skyscrapers are divided into many clusters, spread amongst the main businesses and residential districts. Most of the recent growth in Seoul's skyline, however, has been of residential towers over 60 storeys high that are shooting up like blades of grass! There are 10 buildings in Seoul over 200 meters tall and much of the mid-rise to high-rise structures are lined up in a linear fashion, creating a "wall" of buildings like no other. Seoul is where the ancient Eastern world meets the modern West.

Metro/Urban Population: 20.8 million

Shenzhen, China
What was a tiny fishing village on the border of Hong Kong in 1970 is now a buzzing metropolis of over four million people. With 13 buildings at over 200 meters tall, including the Shun Hing Square (the 8th tallest building in the world), Shenzen is a marvel of lights after sunset. You can't help but ask yourself if you are in a video game or in a real city.

Metro/Urban Population: 4.2 million

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This is probably the most impressive city worldwide that has less than 2 million residents. Marvelous modern buildings reach the sky here, and while the skyline is not too dense, it does allow buildings to soar and stand out. Kuala Lumpur has three of the 25 tallest buildings worldwide, including the tallest twin buildings, the Pretonos Towers (which are arguably the second and third tallest overall in the world) as well as the 420 meters Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower.

Metro/Urban Population: 1.5 million


Toronto, Canada
Toronto is a meeting place, a crossroads of many cultures and ethnicities. Toronto is downtown Canada, the biggest city in the country with a skyline to match. Toronto has 7 structures in its skyline that stand at over 200 metres, including the astonishingly tall 553 metres, CN Tower, which is often referred to as the tallest freestanding structure in the world. While mostly untrue (because there are taller TV masts in the world), the CN Tower possesses the world's highest observation deck, making this city's skyline one of the most immediately identifiable.

Metro/Urban Population: 5.1 million


Singapore
One of the best (urban) planned and cleanliest metropolitan cities in the world, Singapore looks like an architectural model city come to life. The buildings cannot be higher than 280 meters due to air traffic control restrictions, but that has added a tall (but not too tall) and consistent building height and space pattern that makes this skyline unique: Three buildings are exactly 280 meters tall and 5 others (8 total) stand at just over 200 metres. The buildings are mostly light-coloured and there is a large expanse of greenery dotted around the city core. This South-Eastern city is definitely in a league of its own.

Metro/Urban Population: 3.8 million

Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is the world's most populated city. Its skyline has a number of unique characteristics that set it apart from other big city skylines, among them 15 structures at over 200 meters tall (including the Tokyo Tower which changes colors every night). But because of the density and vast size of the city, every corner appears to have its own skyline. With the height restrictions and the required red lights that flash atop all mid to tall-sized buildings make the city look spectacular at night. Tokyo is filled with neon lighting and unique, contemporary architecture, and like New York City is also often portrayed in movies for its aesthetic and eye-catching cityscapes. Interesting fact: Tokyo houses the world's largest fleet of helicopters to get around town if traffic gets too crazy.

Metro/Urban Population: 32.0 million

New York City, USA
New York City has one of the densest and most diverse skylines, with a huge collection of buildings and building styles. Thanks to Hollywood's obsession with the city, it is also the most easily recognizable skyline in the world. New York City has an amazing 44 buildings over 200 meters - the most in the world! Home of the famous, now destroyed World Trade Center Towers, the Empire State building, the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations, New York City is the financial capital of the western world. Upon the completion of the new "Freedom Tower" (built on the old site of the World Trade Centers), it may rank higher in this list (depending on how good it looks of course).

Metro/Urban Population: 21.0 million

Shanghai, China
Not to be mistaken for a space station, Shanghai is a real city! China's biggest and most advanced city, Shanghai was said to be the most cosmopolitan city in the beginning of the 20th century, but lost its glory during the "Mao era". It is now quickly regaining its position as one of the biggest economic powerhouses in the world as well as a showcase of modern architecture. In Shanghai you'll find 18 structures that are over 200 meters tall, one of which is the insanely tall, the 468m downtown Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

Metro/Urban Population: 13.1 million

Chicago, USA
Chicago is the birthplace of the modern skyscraper. When Chicago built its first steel high-rise in 1885, it was not the tallest structure in the world but the first example of a new form of engineering that would change nearly every city on earth. Chicago has 17 buildings over 200 meters tall (three of which are among the top 20 tallest buildings in the world, including the tallest in North America). Chicago has some of the finest mid-century architecture and examples of modern skyscrapers.

Metro/Urban Population: 8.5 million

Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong is number one on my list for many reasons: Hong Kong has whopping 39 buildings over 200 meters tall. It also boasts four of the 15 tallest buildings in the world... that's all in one city! Hong Kong's skyline shows a large selection of distinct sky-reaching towers, with beautiful night lighting and reflection. This city exemplifies the post-modern skyscraper and skyline. Finally, the mountain backdrop makes this skyline (as you can clearly see) the greatest on the planet!

Metro/Urban Population: 6.8 million

Did Someone Say That I Had A Twin Out There?

Happy Birthday Swee-san and Pey-jung

Like you have seen it before eh?

So were they designed by the same artiste? Running out of idea? Looks like the Titanic's steered up to the Brokeback Mountain.

Is there the Supreme singing on the mountain or the ship that sunk afterall?

Ain't no mountain high, ain't no valley low, ain't no river wide enough baby? So after crossing the Atlantic (was it?), they are now trying to climb every mountain (The Sound of Music, anyone?).