delayed reaction

I was finally able to watch Michael Jackson's "This is It" video on the plane to Bangkok. I was never really interested in MJ as I hear mostly negative stories about him - the alleged child molestation, the physical changes that made him look like the living dead, the eccentricities...

But while watching the video, I saw a person who was entirely different from his public persona. I dont know if they just cut out videos of him bitching around, or if there are even any. In the video, he was so patient with his team, never raised his voice even if the crew made mistakes, he was approachable, and he definitely knew what he was doing.

He was a talented person who loved his craft. And he didnt look down on other people who were less talented.

I dont know how true the portrayal was, but I found myself crying at the end of the video. If that was really the kind of person MJ was, then the world had truly lost a treasure when he died.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPij9F_CObo

be careful what you wish for

When i first went to europe last year, i was kinda disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing snow for real. As my plane landed in Frankfurt, I was eagerly looking out the window, waiting for my first glimpse of snow, like a kid waiting for her favorite lollipop.

The old German couple who happened to be my seatmates noticed it and asked what I was looking for. I said "snow", with a huge grin. They looked at each other and told me that I most probably wouldnt see snow in Germany, unless I was planning to go to the higher areas, which I wasnt.

True enough, I spent 4 days in Cologne and didnt see a drop of snow. Just blasts of cold miserable air, which wasnt any fun at all. People kept telling me I should be glad because snow makes it harder for people to move around, that's it's slippery, wet, and uncomfortable.

But I thought - it's easy for them to say that, because they get to see snow every year.

I come from a tropical country, which has typhoons and floods hitting it almost every other month. And I wasnt sure if I would get to return to Europe after that trip, so I was desperate to see snow.

In the 14 days I spent in europe last year, all i got was a faint snowfall in Paris which lasted for about 2 minutes. It stopped before I even got a chance to go out and touch the falling snow. And I left Europe feeling a bit incomplete.

This year, before I left for the trip again, people were telling me to pack really thick clothes, that this year is getting to be the coldest winter in Europe for several years. But I didnt get my hopes up anymore. That's what they told me last year too.

This time, however, when my plane landed in Frankfurt, I saw snow on the ground! I was so excited to go out of the airport and touch my first snow. So when I stepped out of the train in Cologne, I was hurrying out of the station and into the open grounds.

I got my wish all right, but it didn't turn out as fun as I envisioned it to be. I was wet and cold already after only a few meters, and my feet were soon sloshing in my porous sandals and socks.

I almost slipped twice and was only stopped from falling flat on my butt the second time because I was lucky enough to have been walking with some locals who caught my arm just as I was about to fall.

Still, it was my first real snow experience, and I loved it. This is only the start of my trip, but I feel like it’s complete already. I just wish I had been better prepared :D