The Kite Runner

Finally (after too many interruptions), I finished the reading materials Lina lent to me last summer. I scanned the travel magazines first and then read the two books. First was Mao's Last Dancer then this one. The Kite Runner is an international bestseller by Khaled Hosseini. Amir narrates his personal struggles during his childhood days in Afghanistan until he moved to the US. It's a moving story about family, friendship, betrayal, and redemption. For you, a thousand times over.

Amyel's Macro Pics

Amyel took these photos at the Summit.

An Afternoon with Amyel

Amyel was home today and she requested a ride elsewhere just to relax, I guess. So off we rode to Tagaytay via Amadeo. We passed by Bonifacio Shrine in Limbon. I wanted to take a photo of the shrine but it was showering and there was no good parking area along the curved road so we just proceeded. It was indeed relaxing passing by the farms and looking at the greenery along the way. We reached the newly-opened Summit Ridge and Promenade in Tagaytay City which is owned by Robinsons Land Corporation. Amyel took some shots of the area, after which we had our snacks. Bobby and I chose Razon's halo-halo while Amyel had her Ted's La Paz batchoy. From Tagaytay we drove back to Indang via Mendez. More Amyel?

Personality Tests

Now that I'm out of school, I have been interested in taking tests particularly those about personality. I took the Tree Test and What Tropical Fruit Are You?.

You Are Kind and Sensitive

You relate to others easily. You have many friends, and you love making their lives better. You are genuinely warm and radiant. People feel comforted by your presence. Becoming a better person is something you think about every day. You want to be interesting, insightful, and special. You need love more than most people in the world. You're willing to love those who don't love you in return.

The Tree Test

You Are a Papaya

You are a calm, balanced, and mild mannered person. While you're peaceful and together, you're also quite complex. You are authentic and honest. There are some very distinct elements to your personality. You are exotic and original, but you don't flaunt it. You allow others to discover your subtle complexities.

What Tropical Fruit Are You?

Mao's Last Dancer

I have just finished reading Mao's Last Dancer which is an autobiography of Li Cunxin. The book is truly inspirational because it tells about Li's determination to achieve his dreams against all odds. Li wrote about his childhood days with his family. He clearly described the living conditions in the commune. Bobby could relate very well to what he went through. I was also reminded of the similarity with some portions in the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Despite poverty and the harsh realities of life, the love of his family, most especially from his loving and hardworking mother, fired him to excel when he was chosen to be a scholar at Madame Mao's Beijing Dance Academy and later became an excellent ballet dancer in the US. I like the way the book was written. Simple but Li wrote from his heart. There were times I was moved to tears by the way he described the situations he was in. His life's journey is full of lessons of love, passion, and determination.