Amputee Legend (Soul Surfer film review)

I'm glad that this movie title popped in my head because I've always wanted to watch this movie ever since the trailer came out back in 2010. I've watched it tonight and it was like one the best inspirational films I've ever seen! In case you're curious, Soul Surfer is a movie about a girl named Bethany Hamilton who has one arm bitten by a shark while surfing and she learns not to give up in surfing. With one arm, it looks impossible to surf in the waves of Hawaii but she is determined to use new techniques on how to balance her body on the waves as well as performing surfing moves.

The trailer can be watched here:

The protagonist is played by AnnaSophia Robb who is from The Carrie Diaries TV series, and I just love that she acts well in the movie. Another familiar actor I find is Dennis Quiad who plays Bethany's father. And also, Carrie Underwood plays Sarah Hill the church youth leader!

So I'm just gonna share what I like about the movie. The entire film is well directed and one of my favourite parts of the film is when Bethany goes on a mission trip to Phuket, Thailand with her church youth group. She takes a break after losing at the surfing regionals in the middle of the film and she has never seen so many desperate victims who have survived from the tsunami in Thailand. She meets a little girl who doesn't smile and is scared of going back to the ocean. There are a line of children sitting at the beach but doesn't dare to step one foot into the water. Bethany decides to convince the girl to try stepping into the water. This touches me the most; she borrows a Thai boy's surfboard, runs to the swash zone, and gestures her hand to ask the little girl to come. Despite the still-scared feeling of the girl who sits on the sand, Bethany runs back to the beach and helps her to stand up. She then helps the girl to lie on her belly on the surfboard and holds the board with her good arm on the water. Sarah and the Thai victims watch with awe as Bethany leads the girl on the shallow waters with joy. And then the kids just rush down to join them with their boards. I mean, this is just a miracle! They are no longer afraid of the water and they're swimming against the waves again!

Another favourite scene of mine is the nationals, and I know that the competition is nerve wrecking and I really have my fingers-crossed that Bethany should win. The antagonist, Malina Birch, pisses me off because she really takes the lead and she doesn't give any other contestants a chance to catch the biggest wave ever. Bethany and Malina are chasing after this huge rolling wave, and then she does something smart. She dives past Malina and dominates the wave with four perfect turns. In fact, she gets the highest score among the contestants! And then, she does an extraordinary thing. She paddles on the quiet waters even though there's no wave approaching. She has this feeling that the next wave is about to come. Even though the time of the clock is running short, she is still paddling hard. I am just surprised when she takes over the biggest wave ever and surfs through a gorgeous tunnel wave. She has this dream before that she passes through a tunnel of ocean water till she reaches out into the light. And it finally comes true; she is surfing through the tunnel and reaching out like a pro. In slow motion. That's just so cool!

The incident when Bethany got attacked by a tiger shark is really heart wrenching! I mean it just looks so real, especially the arm comes off and blood pours out.

Sarah, who is one of my favourite characters in the film, says that something good is going to happen when terrible things happen. It's a Christian value right?When something bad happens, you have to believe that God will grant you with something that will make you feel better. Tribulations happen because that's when people learn to be strong.

One theme that I treasure is inspiration, and Bethany is indeed an epitome of this. In this fan mail scene, Bethany doesn't know that she has inspired a lot of people even though she loses at regionals.

She has set an example to other people that anything is possible if you do something you want to do. She also shows inspiration when she leads the kids in Thailand how to surf as I mentioned earlier. So when it comes to being yourself and showing yourself to other people, you'll never know that you've inspired that person that is looking or knowing you.

This is a really good movie and it seems to be underrated, however, once you watch it, you'll get to learn something. And it's not just a film, it's based on Bethany Hamilton's true story! I wonder if I get to buy her book or something. I love inspirational stories and I think they're important in shaping a person's life. I have a couple more inspirational movies to watch this week: Dolphin Tale and We Bought A Zoo. Have you watched both of these movies? Because I do and I'll watch them for a second time. ;)

Speaking of Bethany Hamilton, I've heard that she will be participating in the next The Amazing Race season!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! She's probably be representing the first amputee to be in the show! I can't wait!!!!

Father's Stache (Fathers' Day 2014)

Stache? You mean like Father's Mustache? Well, I got this idea from my brother Manuel's Fathers' Day gift a few days ago. Too bad Dad's not here with us. He's still working overseas and he only comes by to visit the rest of the family once in a few months or so. My sisters and I went cray cray over the gift of honey-coated almonds. Well Dad, we're eating them for you. That counts, right?

Anyway...I guess the reason why I wake up at 6am now is because I have come up with this random idea for a new post. I don't have a new inspiration for a new poem or story or arts & crafts project (BOOO, Mich what happen to you??? You're supposed to come out with a new creation, I mean you're creative, right?) but I'm just gonna post a couple of my previous pieces for Fathers' Day. I mean, hey, I may be a writer, artist, blogger, and photographer, but sometimes I can get so caught up with things I got creative block, okay? It's just that I'm thinking things through these two months, so just give me time to go through my emotions if you please.

This is a Fathers' Day poem I wrote a few years ago. I'm not sure whether I'm gonna edit it but I think this is a pretty decent piece even though it's a draft..
Behind The Muscles of My Father

Under the roof of my family,
A man supports us financially,
And care for us just the same as our mother does,
He is my father.

He always has his armour set aside,
To shield us away from upcoming danger,
He always reads me and my siblings,
 A heavy riot act to discipline us,
He also seasons us with drops of advice
So that we can be successful in the future.

He plants morale into us,
By encouraging us to join in all kinds of events & clubs,
He brags on and on about Chinese History,
Which send my brain to somewhere else,
But that is his interest,
When he is home, he sticks to the screen watching Chinese news or sports matches,
He even helps us with school work to erase the anxiety of our problems in academics.

I remembered the old times when he used to carry me
With his two muscular arms,
Or perhaps he gave me a piggyback ride,
He is still in his fit form until now,
Behind his muscles,
I can see his aura filled with kindness,
Followed by confidence, strength and courage,
To risk all his might to protect my family.

I always know he is there for me,
And he definitely cast out the whirlwind of faith to me,
Whenever I’m wrapped by fear, worry or sadness,
He has the dignity to chase them away,
All I would like to say is thank you,
For everything you’ve done for me,
And the answer is already there,
Behind these muscles of my father.

Another one is a memoir chapter I wrote for the Memoir Writing class last semester. I've included Dad as an important character of this chapter, including how he approach to religion. You can check it out here:

http://thetruemichelehii.blogspot.ca/2014/03/home-where-my-cross-is-last-memoir.html

Through my eyes from a child to a young adult, I see character development in my dad from being a Methodist, grumpy person into a God-loving, patient person. I might include more of Dad in my first memoir about his change of character. Speaking of memoir, I know that I've left my memoir blog hanging for weeks. So I won't be going through the chapters in order, I'm planning to write chapters that I'm thinking of sharing, something that I think it would be interesting to write like how I start writing or how I got bullied. 

http://towardsthesun-beneaththesnow.blogspot.ca/

It's just that I got distracted with my job hunt. But since I decided to push the job search away and try volunteering instead, I'm still worried about whether I deserve to be volunteering since I'm different from the rest of the world in terms of verbal communication. Call me a loser, I'm just having lack of confidence. But I'm gonna try anyway. 

Okay, why am I blabbering? Moving on! So these two writing pieces are about my father, but I have to be honest, ever since I'm here without Dad, I feel that my house isn't complete with Dad around. I mean he is still at the other side of the earth just to earn money for us but without him here, I can't exactly remember the advice and the memories he has given to me. The last thing I remember is when he assisted me in driving. I remember how patient he was in telling me the rights and wrongs in controlling the car on the roads. He's a way better instructor than my mom! Oh, you have no idea how Mom suddenly squawked like a panicking rooster when I nearly knock against the bumper of a freaking speeding vehicle. 

Now my mind is in a blurry, I can't think of any further memories about my dad. But if I do (hopefully before the end of the day), I'll post some here... so again to all dads, happy fathers' day and I'll see you in the next post! 

Poem inspired by my trip to Whistler, BC "360 Degrees View from Gondola"

I might change the title of the poem, I think it needs a little more exciting title...Anyway I just came back from a one night stay at Whistler, BC and it was awesome! Now this is what I call a vacation. Five-star hotel, great atmosphere of Whistler village, great food especially the crepes, spectacular view of the mountains from the Peak 2 Peak gondolas...speaking of gondolas, I've promised myself to write a new brief poem on my handmade notebook, and I'm glad I did.

360 Degrees View from Gondola

The blazing sun may arrive

but the mountain horn is still surrounded by mists of cold.

We are carried in this crystal bauble

that shields us from the sudden drop.

The cirque of a peak is frosted with cream,

but the earth below tests the height phobia of a mortal.

This floating mobile delivers us 

between the neighbouring mountlings. 

Peter Pan's soul sparks in me,

I've never felt like a soaring dreamer

while indulging in the

magnificent motion postcard. 

Glass bottom of the gondola, cool huh?

I'm glad that I go for this trip, and I wish I can stay in that Westin hotel for one more night! Oh! And I'm gonna save this photo for last just to make you savour for one. =P 

Michele's Arts Realm: Handmade bookmarks!

Hey, all! So before I get into this new craft post, I want to share a little bit about the volunteering interview session yesterday. Before this, I was very nervous as I practiced every night just to be prepared for the interview. It turned out that there were 30 people coming in the interview space and it was an one-hour orientation+interview with partners. We were not interviewed by the host. We were interviewed by the person sitting next to us...I was like...well I guess I shouldn't have wore my denim skirt and heels in the first place! This was not a professional setting but more like a casual kind of thing. And most of the participants were secondary school students. Moral of the story? Don't pressure too much on volunteering interviews...

Anyway, I've some cutouts from the cardboard box left and I've decided to use them to make bookmarks. Something like these:

It's simple and fun to make these personalized bookmarks. If you want to make these kinds of bookmarks, here's what you need:
- rectangular cutouts from cardboard paper/ cardboard box
- several A4 papers or old magazine to wrap the cardboard
- stapler/ duct tape/ glue
- colour materials: pens/ paints...

Instructions:
1. Wrap the cardboard rectangles with the papers or magazine pages.
2. Stick the sides of each paper to the cardboard with either a stapler or duct tape or glue.
3. Colour and decorate your bookmark (front and back)! You can also add a little inspirational quote to represent you.

What I did with the bookmarks is that I draw flowers on the front and back of the bookmark and then I add a quote or two at the center. I also add my name in three languages at the back (English, Mandarin, and Japanese). I think that's pretty cool. ;)

June 6 2014: I've made these two new ones and they have this little flap at one end.

This time, I cut the paper into two parts (one for the base and another one for the flap (top)). And then I stapled them around the cardboard cutout with the coloured strips to cover the middle gaps. To add a little more detail, I've written a verse and the chorus of my favourite hymn "God Hath Not Promised Skies Always Blue" on the pink cherry blossom bookmark's front and back. (If you want to find out more about this hymn, check out my post somewhere in my blog archive on the right.)

I've also written my name in three languages on the both sides of the flap, plus a little pop-up figure on top.

Same goes to the red rose bookmark. I've written one of my favourite quotes from Walt Disney on the front and a little poetry I wrote myself at the back...

So to insert these two bookmarks into the pages of a book, I would fold the flap onto the front of a page first and then the base at the back of the page. It sounds complicated but it's actually a fancy bookmark to put in.

Brief Beach Sight (first poem written in my handmade notebook)

Hey all! So my family and I celebrated the birth of June 2014 with a tiring bike trip from Canada Place down to Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC. Yes, it was a gorgeous warm sunny weather and I was supposed to enjoy riding the bike. First  of all, it was a Sunday and there were a lot of bikers on this narrow trail. The countless ringing of bells from the bikers behind me pissed me off, so I had to stop at the pedestrian trail nearby to let those freaking pro-bikers to show off their speed. But I was glad that I took breaks because I get to take pictures of the nice view of Canada Place and the bridge to North Vancouver. And then, we stopped by at this beach in Stanley Park. I settled down at the beach to take my mind off things and get inspiration for a new poem. It's a good thing that I brought one of my handmade notebooks with me in case I got my inspiration cap on. (If you want to find out more about my handmade notebooks, check out Michele's Arts Realm in the blog archive on the right.)

Bried Beach Sight
Saffron ribbons flashes against  my skin.
Summer breath exhaled by an invisible spirit caresses against my face.
Tanned sand crushes against my feet.
Sapphire waves rolls further from my sight,
miniscule glitters decorate the blue.
Disappointment crawls against my joy
that time runs short.
Second chances I shall wait
to see this gorgeous view once again. 

Speaking of inspiration, I've always wanted to write a poem about Japan. And that got my excited because I'm going home for vacation next month (July) and I'll be stopping by at Tokyo! Ahmagad! Tanoshii desu ne! I'm definitely gonna bring my notebooks to get some inspiration about Tokyo!