Quote #105

"The art of happiness is to find 'utopian' peace in a 'dystopian' world." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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English Visual Dictionary – Book Review

Image source: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41jJBOg3V2L.jpg

English Visual Dictionary

by Collins Dictionaries

Are you planning to continue your education in the UK? Have you recently gotten a job which requires you to relocate to Darren Naish's homeland? If so, this wonderful visual dictionary is just what the doctor ordered!

English Visual Dictionary by Collins Dictionaries is an extremely comprehensive dictionary that teaches you English vocabulary that you need in order to survive in the UK by virtue of clear, relevant pictures. The book is divided into 10 theme-based chapters, ranging from "The Essentials" to "Leisure" to "Special Days", ensuring that everything you need is covered. Even though it is a visual dictionary, it also presents common expressions without accompanying images which you might need in order to communicate successfully in the UK. One of my favorite features in this book is the YOU SHOULD KNOW... sections, which give readers useful information about local customs. For example, do you know what double yellow lines on the road means? You'll find the answer to such questions in this dictionary!

Note that the vocabulary contents of this book are British English, which means that some of them may not be suitable to use in American English.

In summary, English Visual Dictionary will be of such great help, communication-wise, to those would love to explore the UK.

Have you read English Visual Dictionary? If so, share what you think in the comment section below!

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Quote #104

"Not caring for someone not caring for you is caring for yourself." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Quote #103

"There is a fundamental difference between purposefully offending someone and purely and simply telling them the truth." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Colorful Meadow

The horizon is marching towards the wanderer

Swooped over by a smirking wave of doom and gloom

You instantaneously fall down to your knees

Crying your eyes out, deluging the terra firma

The sea of tears engulfs your whole body, there seeming to be no hands to grip and hold onto

This arena can be downright cruel

There is no denying

Look around and take in everything

When the force acts capriciously

Slouch and embrace the fate handed to you

Life is a conglomeration of multitudinous experiences

To be present is to be an emperor

Gaze the firmament and launch into your crafted heaven

Drink in the rainbow spectacle and share the joy with me

Bliss only matters when we feel it

Nonchalantly sauntering in the colorful meadow

I savor every note passing through my ears

The aromatic floral scent

The melodic avian song

I am ready for this tireless journey

The creation of this poem was inspired by Dao Xiang (稻香) by Jay Chou.

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Quote #102

"Life is too short to fret about the uncontrollable." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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My Life Now and Then

I'm writing this article at Quiznos Menteng, Jakarta, a superbly cozy eatery which I would recommend to anyone seeking a perfect place for delectable food and great relaxation. Sated after gulping down an eight-piece pizza, I am sitting by myself in the spacious restaurant, contemplating my life at present and in the past.

Pardon my narcissism. 😋

When people hear the word "Chindo", they probably picture a well-off person whose parents own a successful business. They don't need to think about how to keep their head above water, being immune from financial suffering or agony. I believe there are a great many people of my ilk who match the above description, hence the stereostype; however, I'm not one of them. Although my childhood wasn't completely abominable, I wasn't born with a silver (or bronze) spoon in my mouth. There were times of adversity, which any sane human being would not want to be in.

Nomadicity was a pesky thing in my childhood – my family had to move from one abode to another several times. There was a time when five of us (I have two older brothers) had to live in a relatively tiny room in a boarding house. As a result, there were probably two disastrous events where diseases spread in the family, affecting at least some of us and knocking the humans into gross health inconveniences. I'd say it was probably almost a borderline inhuman way of living.

My dad didn't have a permanent job and my mom was a housewife, so my family wasn't financially stable. I can't help but lament the fact that my mom had to work really hard, making and selling soy milk in order to bring home the bacon. Eating pizza was a luxury for us, simply because money was a rarity for us. My mom's blood, sweat, and tears is something I cannot possibly forget and will always be deeply thankful for.

Now things have changed quite a lot. Of course I'm not as wealthy as my music idol, the Taiwanese maestro Jay Chou, but at least, thanks to my lovely livelihood, I can devour a Subway sandwich without thinking much about the price. Now I have my own library comprised of multiple books which are right up my alley (take a look at my bibliotheca here) – thank heaven I have reached one of my dreams! My younger self wasn't as "lucky" as my present self (even my college education had to be financially supported by my aunts), but it was no problem, really. We can't choose what family we are born into etc. (it's a Stoic revelation), but we can choose to change the course of our lives. What will my future be like? No one knows. Until then I will do my best to pave the way for my life aspirations. 😉

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