[Review] Homeland

Since hearing and reading about Homeland's win in the recent Golden Globes - and seeing some of my friends in facebook rave about it - I decided the other night to download the series. The whole of season 1. Episodes 1-12.

And to tell you honestly, I watched 8 episodes straight! Each episode averages about 53 minutes (inclusive of the recaps, intros, etc). It's so engaging and riveting. It's like getting mind-fucked. I have to correct myself though for saying that it's something similar to 24, because it's not. 24 did not captivate me as much as Homeland did. And 24 is mostly action and suspense. Homeland is more drama-thriller-suspense.

The premise of the story (no spoilers here) is when Carrie (Claire Danes) hears a tip from an informant about to be executed in Iraq. The message was simply "An American POW has been burned." And that sets off the series. I'm usually pretty good with predicting the outcome of series or at least the direction where it is generally headed, but after episode 8 - WOW. There's been a lot of "I didn't see that coming!" reaction from me. Or maybe I'm just generalizing the "good with predicting the outcome" based on Filipino series. Haha.

But seriously, you're in for a fun ride by watching this. I couldn't stand to wait for office hours to get over so I can finish the remaining four episodes - so I decided to, uhm, read the episode recaps for the remaining episodes.

Although, I can't say for sure that they're entirely deserving of the awards they got last Golden Globes - as I've not seen the other nominees, for sure, you won't be disappointed with Homeland. It's the same reaction I got from watching True Blood. The first time I watched True Blood Season 1 - I watched the whole first season straight - nevermind I had work the following day. Go watch it!

CH56: Bad Luck

Despite being a non-believer (prior to 2012) of predictions, horoscopes and whatnot, it seems I might be turning over a new leaf to someone who does.

Last Saturday, during a company sponsored Amazing-race-like-event, there were banners on the different Chinese Zodiacs and their predictions for 2012. I was born '86, thus a tiger.

The prediction goes: "This may not be the best year for you, but as a tiger, you have the courage and ability to fight off all the challenges. It could also be a good time to exercise self-control to plot your course more wisely. Take the chance to slow down and relax yourself in the process. The tranquility and peace will benefit you in due course."

For some reason, well it hit the mark for me. I've been losing sleep since coming back from New Zealand last January 3 - aside from jetlag (and 9gag) - due to obsessive thinking on what step to take next pertaining to my career.

Yesterday, I took another MC. Last week I took an MC because of problems in the nether region harhar. But yesterday, well, I had headaches and was nauseous. The doctor questioned me and I eventually fessed up that I've been losing sleep stressing over not getting stressed enough in work. Not getting stressed as well as not getting as much learning as I had hoped to. I should be happy, as some people told me, that the work is not at all stressful - that I should just wait for the work to start pouring in. And that I should enjoy the relative calm and focus on other things. But my gut feel is telling me that it's time to bail and look for better opportunities to leverage on my youth and maximize the experience. But, I digress.

CH55-2: Bungy Video

Sharing the bungy video I edited.
Like I mentioned in a previous post, I had to wait a minute or two to wait for some boats to pass by the harbour bridge before I could jump again. Hahaha, I felt like I look scared shit in those parts so I edited them out to prevent any ridicule.

[Review] Amy Winehouse

Like before, I posted on Adele. I think it is only appropriate that I post something for Amy Winehouse.

This one is from her posthumous album. I've been listening to it since getting it from Itunes new zealand (used GCs I got). The more I listen to it, the more I feel affected with the lost in talent. Her death may have put an end to any Amy Winehouse jazz-soul sound, but it did establish her as an institution (well, for me it did).

The reason I started listening to Amy Winehouse, before she even won her grammies was a review I heard/read somewhere that there wasnt any auto tuning or whatever technology that was applied to her record. What you hear on her album is unedited and raw. I'm not 100% sure that the information I heard was accurate, but, it did get me listening to her.

I highly recommend getting her posthumous album. If you're already over Adele's album, this is a great replacement. Although Adele's album is still I go back to from time to time.

CH56: 2011 + 1

When I initiated a photo challenge with my close friends through FB, there was this particular challenge to have your photo with 13 things. I thought it was such a give away to pick out 13 random things and have my photo taken with them, so instead, I decided to create a list of 13 things that I was able to accomplish for my 25th year living in this world.

Where now, in retrospect, I figure, they might as well be resolutions attained for 2011:

Below is the list I was able to make:

1. Be intellectual! - Read >5000 pages c/o George Martin in more or less a month
2. Be soulful! - LOL. Went on a vacation to Rayleigh Krabi TH by myself
3. Be selfless! - Gave my nephew, brother and sister in law an iPad
4. Be independent! - Learned to live by myself here in SG
5. Be responsible! - Learned to do laundry and iron my clothes
6. Be driven! - (Let the career speak for itself hahaha joke-halfmeant)
7. Be adventurous! - Swam in an open ocean with my close friends. I have a fear of swimming in waters where I can't see too far. My heart thumps expecting a shark to come out of nowhere.
8. Be emotionally strong! - (Anong homesick homesick?! That's not my cup of tea!)
9. Be fearless! - Climbed muddy and slippery rocks to get a good view on top of a limestone "mountain" in Rayleigh Krabi TH
10. Be wiser! - Learned to negotiate contracts hehehe
11. Be brave and overcome a trauma! - Yes, I was traumatized being denied a visa to the US because I was in IT and a fresh grad. NZ visa is my deliverance!
12. Be flexible! - Or at least be a bit more flexible - thank you yoga.
last but not least
13. Be healthy! - LOL!!! Lost 9-10 kgs in ~3 months

And of course, overcoming a fear of heights and doing a bungy jump will be added to the list.

I'm still thinking through with regards to what resolutions I could make up to accomplish for 2012, but so far the only ones I've thought of are:

1. Travel more

2. Earn more

2012 - in my opinion should be more than what 2011 is in all aspects. That's what I think resolutions are ultimately about. Becoming more than what we are the past year. I've never bothered in the past years to make a detailed list of what I want to and need to accomplish. I've come to figure out that as long as I continue to live (consciously) to better myself, then the resolutions should follow along.

Sadly, one of my ultimate goals for 2011 which is to skydive, has not yet been accomplished. During the days before and following my scheduled skydive date, the sky was pretty much overcast. The weather was too dangerous for a jump. So now, seeing that the weather forecast for today and tomorrow is clear, I hope to be able to book a jump. I can't get rid of the feeling of disappointment since my dive was cancelled last 29th of December. 

I should also be posting some guides to NZ travel soon after all the dust has settled (when I return to Singapore). 

CH55: Bungyyyy

Slowly but surely, I'm on my way to overcoming my acute fear of heights!
Today, I jumped off a bridge for a 40m drop down to an ocean!

Here are some pics from the experience! :)

Super cool experience! I missed the first countdown to jumping. I had a fright attack when the countdown struck 0. SOO...I had to wait a little longer to jump because there was a boat coming through and we had to wait for it to pass. So, after everything was okay, they counted down from 5-0 and I manged to sort of leap off! It was so surreal and time went by so fast after the jump I couldnt remember if I jumped off or if I was pushed off. BUT the video outtake showed that I did manage to jump off myself. Well, not sort of leap off like how other people did, but hahaha, a hesitant leap thats why my knees are bent still after leaping off haha. Super worth it experience! Now, I can go to any site of AJ Hackett and jump off for a huge discount if I have my certificate to show. :)

I highly recommend the experience when you visit Auckland!

OH, let's not forget a realization.
Sometimes, you just have to take a leap off faith to know what you're truly capable of. :)
Or in Filipino, "Kung gusto may paraan, kung ayaw may dahilan." I think I was only able to really jump because I wanted to experience the jump and to some extent overcome my fear of heights :)

[Random] Stargazing

Cold hands, cold feet
I walk through the empty beach
The wind whistling a lonely tune
But I'm fine, dandy and content

I haven't had a night like this
Where I come from
The lights and sounds are everywhere
Drowning out the eyes that stare

Inconspicuous to the glare
The beauty is drowned out
Time paces faster and faster
Morning and Night come and go

But tonight time slows to a crawl
The wind whistling a lonely tune
I look up to gaze in the dark
Countless eyes reveal themselves

They wink at you, they twinkle
I sit to comprehend what they say
I lie down and contemplate
Stargazing

CH54: New Zealand!

I've been in New Zealand since the 16th of December.
It's true what they say, if you have a family then New Zealand is a good option aside from Canada/Australia to migrate to.

It's very different compared to Singapore. The public transportation is not as established as it is in Singapore. So, noticeably, more people need to rely on cars and the development of the place(s) I have been to, is with that mind set in consideration.

Also, as progressive as New Zealand is, it's not as tech savvy I should say compared to Singapore. The wi-fi hotspots do not abound as much as you'd see like lets say for Manila or even Singapore. I've not bothered to turn on my 3G for fear of the roaming cost, plus, it's a way to get disconnected and enjoy the slower pace of life. So, I only get to surf and access the internet when I'm at home.

I've already taken more than 200 photos from my Iphone! I find it weird that for most of the pictures I've shot, there's no need to saturate the colors, because they are as how you see them, which I like!

Tomorrow, we visit the Auckland CBD, so I guess, it should provide me a better assessment of what it truly is like to be here in NZ. Suburban living and the small town feel is not yet for me.

CH53: We were young

I just saw the 8th episode of glee from the 3rd season. To comment on the episode and the series - well, I think that there're a lot of good things ahead to see in glee after this episode. The performance for sectionals sans Rachel Berry was great. Every member had equal exposure to highlight their talents. I especially liked the spin they did on the Michael Jackson hit Man in the Mirror.

But, the video I posted above has got to be the one that struck me most. The message highlighted in Quin's story arc about enjoying the now - the youth - is what I would guess the performance was trying to put a closure to. It brought a closure to Quin's road to self-destruction by obsessing about the future by worrying about it now. Given that Quin was pretty much obsessed with trying to get her baby back just so she could find a purpose to her life after highschool.

The video above, I've been playing for about 20 times now :). It sounds upbeat and happy, but the message is quite sad the moment I heard it. If you're interested in the lyrics, here's the link. I had to read through the lyrics to fully understand why the song struck me so strongly.

Simply put, it talks about realizing your youth and enjoying it to the fullest before the night ends. It talks about getting wasted and high in alcohol or however you wish to interpret the lyrics and to spend the night without any worry after - as you have friends you can rely on to bring you safely home.

I guess, one aspect of the song that made me sad is the fact that I no longer consider myself young. I could relate to Quin about wishing to grow-up faster. But, I can't say that I regret anything with the choices I've made. I wouldn't be where I am now had I not studied well or chose my career over regular weekend parties and living through my pre-25 yo without any regard to being responsible. I was raised differently. I had expectations to live up to 0-25 yo.

So, it's not about regretting the choices and actions I did in the past exactly. The song, I should say, has brought the deadly and depressing "What if?" It's the question you will never find an answer to. It just raises more questions. 

Well, as depressed as I am feeling now while listening to the song, I just realized, that perhaps instead of shifting the attention solely on whatever I did during my youth, then I should think of the now as the song sings through. You don't have to be young in order to enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Instead of looking back, look at the now and live it. Live it to the fullest. Live it free.

Tonight
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter 
than the sun

PS: I just read through the lyrics again while listening to the original, and the message is very different from what glee struck me with. It has a break-up tune to the message. Anyway, here's the original video from FUN. It's got to be one of the most poetic (IMO) songs I've heard in a long while.

CH52: Trance

When I was still in college, while I was searching for new artists to add into my playlist, I happened upon Tiesto. I didn't understand it. I didnt like the feel. I didn't know how I can appreciate it without any lyrics.

Come Zoukout 2011.

Dancing for hours on non-stop. Not knowing the lyrics - as most of the tracks played didnt have any. Just the beat and its accompaniments that define what trance/house/electronic music is about.

Zoukout 2011 is one for the books of the best parties I've been to. It has got to be the first dance music festival I've gone to - I would categorize the usual February UP Fair as just a music festival. They have some reggae acts, but nothing like Zoukout.

Zoukout has also got to be the first "actual" (i.e. organized) beach party I've been to.

To tell you honestly, I think the movie Drive along with David Guetta set-off this cascading effect. I thoroughly liked the OST of Drive with its retro electro-pop tracks. From realizing my fondness of electro-pop tracks, I discovered Ladytron. David Guetta introduced me to what house music is all about. Although David's proginy Nothing But The Beat is a cross between House and R&B, he has some tracks that provided me an introductory course to what trance is about. In particular his tracks Lunar and Sunshine I would say are what got me into liking trance.

I've been pondering exactly what I enjoy about trance music - since you could say that I'm a newbie to this genre - and I realized that trance, as opposed to most of the other mainstream genres makes use of rhythms that focus more on getting your body moving.

Given that there are no lyrics to sing-along to, the rhythms force your body to move according to what feels natural for you, no more wondering if you got the lyrics right or if you are singing it correctly. It's not like the R&B, disco or whatever, where the dance/body movements feel and look better with choreography.

As the definition for trance music also states, the rhythms produced aim to have a hypnotic effect. Something like the Matrix, where the trance goers plug themselves into a different world. Or maybe another analogy is to have the trance goers link themselves as if with strings to the DJ to puppeteer them.

I started to appreciate trance more since it was enjoyable to dance to the beats without the influence of alcohol. It brought me a high - I can only imagine experienced by drug users. If it was anything, it was ecstasy. The feeling of getting high in music. Sweating hard with the crowd all around you. Losing your mind in the sound and actually forgetting about woes that you otherwise think of idly.

It's just too bad that I am only discovering it now. But then again, the trance music is still somehow underground in the Philippines. If I remember correctly, you will only be able to get your fix in the club in A-Venue? I'm not sure. I don't fully (as in 100% enjoy) the clubbing experience in the Philippines because I drive - and I sometimes drive my friends home. Nagging parents and effective ad campaigns can instill that in you. Be a responsible driver - not only for yourself - but for the people riding along. And it's not exactly enjoyable to go to the clubs using public transpo - even taxis. They're not as safe in the PH as in SG.

Which is why - I've added to my milestones before turning 30 "Go to Ibiza and experience trance in the trance capital!"