《海墘新路》

《海墘新路》這部電影，戲的主角 Sunny，其實就是導演自己的故事，但由演員來演。他用電影呈現出他的故事，我覺得很像心理劇。

如果你知道什麽是心理劇，你就知道它是有團體心理治療的效用。不僅主角本身得到最大的療效，輔角（演員）也應有他/她角色扮演的換位思考體悟，觀衆更有觀後思維成長或種種療愈的作用。

我看到的是，從主角在孩童時，家庭父母姑姑兄姐對他的成長影嚮，對母親偏愛哥哥的不能諒解，到最後主角與母親的對話，才感受到母親的愛而能整合。這就是很重要的心理療愈。

不過，還是有不少人認為舊事何必去談，過去就讓它過去，什麼心理治療，什麽輔導，放下吧。不是的！不是所有人都能很理論性的說放下，就能放下的！我有遇到很'正信'的佛教徒，他/她說佛教也有心理學，佛教是最究竟的，他/她對那些'旁門左道'的輔導或心理治療不以為然。

這天。啊不對，是這夜，半夜，我突然醒來，想起前幾天在檳城時，在朋友 GS 家看了這部電影，看後没時間整理思緒… 半夜醒來，不知怎麽就回想起以上的感想。

然後，我自己問自己，佛陀在世時，除了說理說法，他是否有用心理治療的技巧？

叮！

有呀！那個婦女的孩子死了，她求佛陀救活她的孩子，佛陀要她去找問一户沒死過人的家庭，向那家人要來一些米，才能救活她的孩子。她真的去問了多户人家… 最終自己才能接受孩子的死亡，了悟。這不就是讓案主去探索問題，尋找答案，解决困擾的技巧嗎？

所以，如你覺得没有任何過去的經驗遭遇對你有任何影嚮，也請不要質疑别人為何要把舊事提出來，輕視别人有心理治療的需要吧！

https://vimeo.com/215485982
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekSI2Z-4NKQ

Malaysia - Kulau Lumpur part 2

We went to KLCC mall. Of course, Steve needed roti canai for lunch.

I found these heart shaped hair brush and hair clip in the store there.

Then we started our exploration in KL city. Most places we just passed by and took pictures:

Guan Yin Buddhist Temple.

KL Eco-Forest Park with canopy walk.

KL Tower.

Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, built in 1909. 

"It is the first brick mosque in the city. It was constructed on the first Malay Burial Ground in Kuala Lumpur. One of Kuala Lumpur's most significant buildings of Moghul influence architecture and heritage, it features three Mohgul domes, a courtyard, minarets set at a symmetrical composition of the mosques and smaller chhatris surrounding it."

We missed the free tour times.

Old Sessions & Magistrates Court Building, built in 1910.

"This first cluster of colonial buildings is made up of three adjoining structures which host the offices of the Sessions Courts and Magistrates Courts. The grandeur and solemnity of these buildings features a long colonnade of lovely clover-shaped arches capped by dramatic black domes."

City Theatre, formerly known as Old City Hall, built in 1896. 

"A.B Hubback embellished the Old City Hall with different versions of Islamic arches and chhatris (dome-shaped pavilions) on the roofline. The black dome on the grand porte-cochere differentiates it from the rest of the surrounding buildings."

Former High Court Building, built in 1909.

"This two storey building has a Moorish exterior with four towers. The towers have projecting cornices and are capped with cupolas with numerous flying protruding structures from their bases."

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

"This building was used to house the 'Federated Malay States' administration in 1897, then the High Court and Supreme Court in 1972. It is now occupied by the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture. The first example of Moghul architecture in Malaysia, this elegant symmetrical brick structure features a 41-metre high clock tower, arched colonnades and copper domes."

"Government Office, formerly known as Old General Post Office, built in 1896. Situated next to the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, this building was initiated by British Resident W.E. Maxwell. It features leaf design roof tops and pediment, with polygonad corner stair towers."

"This three-storey symmetrical building with a protruding porch and arches on the ground level expresses Moghul architecture eloquently. Formerly the National History Museum (built in 1919), it exhibited unique historical development of the early days till present. All the exhibits that number to about a a=thousand, have been moved to the National Museum."

I love Malaysia. 

Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, formerly known as The Government Printing Office Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library, built in 1898.

"Kuala Lumpur City Library, built in 1989. This new building serves as a public library with an auditorium, conference area and a multipurpose hall." 

Merdeka Square.

Royal Selangor Club - "This Tudor-style building with its signature British colonial black and white half-timber was founded in 1884. Up to this very day the Long Bar only admits men."

"Victorian Fountain (over hundred years old) was bought in from England and assembled in Kuala Lumpur. It features some lovely Art Nouveau tile work."

National Textile Museum, built in 1905.

"This building is distinguishable by its design of alternating red bricks and white plaster bands and an Islamic style facade with raised onion-shaped domes derived from Moghul architectures. Smaller white domes top the octagonal towers on each corner."

We saw an Indian group celebrating the harvest festival (Pongal) while we were walking down a street in Little India.

Evening, after dinner with Teng Keong & Siau Wui, they drove us to Putrajaya. 

 Very beautiful night views there.  This is the prime minister's office.

Continued our exploration in KL on the next day. 
We walked past the National Museum up to the National Planetarium. 

That is a lot of walking and stairs from KL Sentral.

We bought tickets to watch a "Solar Storm" 20 mins show.  We were sleepy, the chairs were comfortable, and the air conditioning felt nice.

Then we headed back to KL Sentral mall, so that Steve could get roti canai and curry puffs. I like curry puffs too, and there's a very good little shop in KL Sentral near the entrance. 

Also, Steve found his favorite coffee chain in the mall ~ Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, which we don't have in St. Louis.

Since we had time, we went to Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque again. We thought to join a free tour inside the mosque, but they had already closed when we arrived there.

So we walked to the National Textile Museum, as it is free admission.

Evening, we moved to Teng Keong's house for 2 nights. He is a collector of teapots, teas, crystals, meteorites, old porcelain pieces..

During his lunch break, he drove us to lunch together as well.  Once again, Steve had his roti canai.  This place served it with 3 types of sauce - (left to right) chicken curry, dhal (chickpea) curry, and sambal.

After his work, he drove us to Putrajaya again, we can see clearly the beautiful architecture of the buildings there. Putrajaya is Malaysia's government center, and each of the various ministry buildings are unique.

Putrajaya Mosque, just outside the prime minister's offices.

The offices of the Prime Minister.

A wonderful meal of bak-kut-teh with friends to end the day.

昨晚，看到榴槤，Siau Wui 說她也喜歡吃榴槤，我還是忍不住要 Teng Keong 駕車轉回去。好味的猫山王(RM48/kg)。
不過再好味，進了肚子已換成其它味咯… 哈哈。

Durian!  Just as Steve needs his daily roti canai when in Malaysia, I need my durian.

At least, I shared my durian with Siau Wui, I hope it wouldn't cause higher blood pressure. 
Anyway, I don't care for now. That durian already in my stomach was changed.. and I don't have blood pressure measurement equipment in hand.

Waiting for our flight from KL to Narita, we had time to enjoy a light snack of roti bakar and coffee.

我飛來時，在St Louis機場很巧遇到美中佛教會的空岩法師。飛回時，在KL機埸很巧遇到美中佛教會的繼如法師。

Our flight got cancelled in Houston, so we got a free room in Park Inn and meals paid for by United. We had dinner in the restaurant of Park Inn and breakfast from Starbucks the next morning in the airport. 

Finally we made it back to St. Louis. The ice still hadn't melted yet.

回到冷冷的天氣，河及湖還結着冰。
時差14小時，不該是睡覺的時間，但眼睛一直要關、頭很重.. 身體很想要躺下…

Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur part 1

還記得這航空轟動一時…對保安強拖人下機的事…
有些人會說不要或不敢再用這航空。
我從不會這麼說，因我很cheap，我找最便宜價的機票。
願航機及所有乘客安全抵達目的。

I was traveling to Malaysia from Nov 28, 2017 - Jan 18, 2018. The cheapest airline I found return flights STL - KUL was United airline. 

I tried using their in-flight wifi, it's working.  Our cell phone plan allows 1 hour of free wifi on domestic flights on some airlines.

The flight transits in Narita, Tokyo. There was a free Samurai costume make up near my gate.

BK was nice and came to pick me up at KL airport, and stayed 2 nights in his apartment. 

He took me out for meals.

小猫的山王 Little Musang King durian RM35/kg.

她很好學，其實，我也是。
她告訴我，她會參加4天的原始點醫學講座，既然回來，我也報名參加咯。
她熱誠的讓我住進她租的小房間，我們俩一起去講座，6天5夜的親密相處，從她很多小小動作，我深深感受到她對我的關懷，真是很棒的朋友。

Karen and I attended a workshop Dec 1-4, 2017. We passed by Chinatown (Petaling Street) and had meals during the workshop.

Selangor Grocer's Guild built in 1927.

Central Market. 

我們都是在1997年義工輔導課程認識。她們俩位各已搬住在KL十多年，各忙各的，沒有聯系。
而我有與她們保持在FB，很高與大家聚一聚。

Met our friend and shared life a little to each other. We had a short wonderful time.

我們述說着兒時的記憶..

我之所以從小約十歲左右就接觸佛教，是她告訴我關於三慧講堂週日學校。

我們兒年少時的交往並不長久，搬遷後也沒聯系。至到前幾年我有機會在聯系上她。就這樣幾十年後再見面，我們已是中年，我當面感恩，因為她，我有因緣進入佛教。

Met my old neighbor, who I last saw when I was 10 year old. She moved and is staying in KL.

 

I found the local coffee and kuih at KL Sentral while I was waiting for the express train at 11:30 a.m. on Dec 5, 2017 to Penang. 

I went back to KL Sentral and checked in the 5-star Le Meridien hotel on Jan 11. Steve's flight was delayed, so he couldn't take the express train from the airport and had to wait for the bus.  He finally got to the hotel around 3:30 a.m. 

We stayed 2 nights, too bad we didn't go to their beautiful pool, but just took the picture.

We had our brunch in the KL Sentral shopping mall. Steve's traditional first meal in Malaysia: Roti canai, roti bakar, and coffee tarik.

Then we went to visit Chinatown. 

"Guan Di (God of War) Temple is one of the oldest temples with the finest traditional architectural features, built in 1888..."

"Sri Mahamariamman Temple built in 1873, the building was originally constructed by Thamboosamy Pillai as a private shrine. Opened to the public in the 1920s, it is one of the most elaborate Hindu temples with intriguing designs and intricate carvings of Hindu deities..."

We didn't go inside the temple as visitors needed to take off shoes and the floor was wet by rain.

"A clan house, Chan See Shue Yuen looks deceptively like a Chinese temple, built in 1906..."  

"This temple, dedicated to Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, built in 1880..."

We booked a 2 days 1 night homestay package with Sky Mirror.

The homestay family are fishermen, they built the guest rooms from shipping containers.

First, we went out to see the birds by boat.

Then back to change into "Phua Chu Kang" boots and walked to a muddy mangrove forest. 

The baby mangrove tree needed to be planted. 

That area has many kinds of little animals. This is a slug. 

Then after we went back to relax a little while, we went cycling to a beach. 

Unfortunately, the beach is covered with cow poop.... 

There are many palm oil trees. 

A fishermen's temple along the path.

Then back to have dinner, these dishes were all mine, Steve had rice and the buns. 

The dog looked sad that I was not sharing my food.

We were the only two guests at the homestay and were tired, so we skipped making seashell wind chimes that evening.

The next morning, a few groups of people came to join the half day boat trip to Sky Mirror. 

Basically, it's a place like an island,barely above the water, during low tide, so there are reflections. It's called Sky Mirror because the thin layer of water acts like reflecting pools. Low tides only happen for 3 days before the full moon and new moon.
Action photographs ...

It was a cloudy day, so the reflections were not so clear.

After that, the boat took us to Swan Island where there are a lot oysters growing under the dock.  The guides provided hammers and chisels, and showed people how to harvest the oysters for lunch.

Besides oysters, many others shells are growing too.

Along the way back we saw some people gathering the cockles from the mud. 

Steve said he is glad that no tourist groups come to watch him at work.

We couldn't take a taxi/Uber back from that rural area, so we took a local bus to Klang town. Then we took a taxi to our friend's house, he is so kind to let us homestay.

Later we had dinner, of course, Steve liked roti canai. 

I tried the durian crepe, not that great. 

They encouraged me to have real durian.
我說很多人都說血壓高不可吃榴槤，但相公還是'鼓勵'我吃，不然回美國就沒得吃榴槤啊!