How Are You There, 90’s Musicians?

Tuesday, December 18, 2012 (just another very-very late post!)

I’m always thankful to be born in the era of 90’s decade JJ. Of all the reasons I can find out, music is only one of!. The bands, girl bands, boy bands, singers – how we’re really amused that time!.

Their songs more or less shaped the young-me.

Their musics imprinted on the grown-up-me after all.

Their albums indeed were my diary.

They can bring back the good memory of childhood each time I play them – especially with certain feeling.

Inspiration – is surely all about.. .

This always happens when people my age – who were born in 80’s, meet on a music channel or a discussion forum (let’s say YouTube). We’re never tired of comparing now and back then, putting a thousand words – whether it’s a compliment, an insult, or just an honest and fair opinion – all is as if we really were the experts JJ. The same old topic that leads to an endless war!. I suppose we are all connected with the same feeling of longing. Longing for an epic masterpiece the great musician will proudly present. Knowing this fact, I’m happy I’m not alone JJ

It’s not for a particular reason I came up with this topic tonight. If you look at my playlist, you will always find such names as:

Y BOYZONE. It’ll everlastingly be special talking about word “FIRST”. They say first thing never seems to last. First meet, first date, first impression, first love, first salary, first trip, first experience, and..... the boy band whom I knew first is the 5-Irish-men so-called Boyzone. For this reason, ergo – they’ll be forever irreplaceable.

I was once like you are now..
And I know that it's not easy..
To be calm..

When you've found something going on..
But take your time..

Think a lot..
Think of everything you've got..
For you will still be here tomorrow..

But your dreams may not..

Y WESTLIFE. Okay, no more words to say. Thanks Guys for the great songs, great albums, great videos, great performances and great stories *except the shocking confession of a man named Marcus Michael Patrick Feehily way back in 2005 which wasn’t great at all!! LL. Still, many thanks (again) for I can always find any of your songs that fits each period of my life. Since I was a teenager to me-turning-30 now. From Forever ‘till Home. I venture to say – yes, we grew old together. That’s why to me, you Guys are always more than something!. ‘Till I meet you again, lovely Marky! YY

So I say a little prayer..

And hope my dreams will take me there..

Where the skies are blue..

To see you once again my love..

Over seas from coast to coast..

To find the place I love the most..

Where the fields are green..

To see you once again..

My love..

Y THE CORRS. Aside from the fact that I always love listening to the Celtic instrumental music as it’s really comforting – to me – Andrea, Caroline, Sharon and Jim is a complete package of deep interest, strong skill and great talent of music. The result? -- is no joke. They are a ‘gift’ who got the ‘gift’.

In your eyes, faint as the singing of a lark..

That somehow this black night..

Feels warmer for the spark..

Warmer for the spark..

To hold us 'til the day..

When fear will lose its grip..

And heaven has its ways..

Heaven knows no frontiers..

And I've seen heaven in your eyes..

*It isn’t coincidence that my-3-most-favourite-musicians come from Ireland, is it? :P

Without lessening my respect, there are also – Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, All Saints, Blue, A1, M2M, t.A.T.u, B*Witched, Ultra, Steps, The Moffats, Atomic Kitten, A*Teens, ‘N Sync, Sugababes, 5ive, Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees, All-4-One, Code Red, Color Me Badd, No Mercy, No Doubt, Human Nature, Michael Learns To Rock, S Club 7, Sixpence None The Richer, Savage Garden, 911, Caught In The Act, C21, O-Town, 3T, B2K, LFO, BBMak, NKOTB, Hanson, Cold Play, Take That, Aqua, U2, Green Day, Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, Aerosmith, Oasis, Arkarna, Goo Goo Dolls, Limp Bizkit, Solid Harmonie, Ace of Base, TLC, Destiny’s Child, The Cranberries, The Cardigans, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Creed, Simple Plan, Linkin Park, Bond, Michael Jackson, Richard Marx, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Bryan Adams, Craig David, Joey McIntyre, Ricky Martin, Kavana, Enrique Iglesias, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Shania Twain, Dido, Sinead O’Conner, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore, Pink, Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Natalie Imbruglia, Alanis Morisette, Jennifer Page, Emilia, Tina Arena, Jennifer Lopez, Avril Lavigne – and may be some names I forgot to mention here.

For local musicians (not as many as international :P) – those names won’t be too much different from what I’d say:

Y Ebiet G. Ade and Chrisye – the legends whom Indonesia should proudly have!.

Y Reza Artamevia – Indonesians may overhype Krisdayanti :P, but for me no such diva as Reza inspite of life-disturbance she had to deal with at the top of her career.

Y Glenn Fredly, Kla Project, Dewa 19, Ada Band, Padi, Letto, Gigi, Warna, Stinky, Naff, Yovie-Nuno, Kahitna, Java Jive, AB-Three, RSD, Arwana, Lingua, Tofu – well, have I missed the other names?.

Time passes by and unfortunately, some of them aren’t in their original formations anymore while some others decided to go into a long hiatus or even broke up!. Now, I kind of wonder how they’re doing now. Will they reunite one day and bring all their hit songs back on the stage?. Oh, I wish soooooo!! JJ

Long live the 90’s!!! JJ

R.A.N.D.O.M: Part 1

– Timeless (2012) –

There is always a random post – a blogger has. So do I.

Well, it’s not that I’m following the mainstream – as for me, those facts (sometimes) are too simple and short to be written in special post :P

So, here are some random facts/thoughts of mine:

J   I’m in the middle of these 2-things – a bike or a tablet. No-no-no, don’t get it wrong!. It’s not that someone is asking me to choose one of both – hahahaha JJ what the hell am I thinking? *LOL*.

I mean – I want to (and will) buy both but indeed there’ll always be priority for limited resource so-called ‘money’ :P. A bike – to exercise and to make friend with nature J (Araya is the best place to do this sort of activity, I bet!) or a cheapest but decent tablet (sophisticated = a wad of money!). Hmm, I need both – first thing, of course for healthy and fun while second one *ehem the more I think, maybe it’s (actually) just for my self-esteem. Hahaha what’s the point of acting confused??? – well, wide screen amazes me, really!. This time, neither is affordable for me hahaha :P you can browse the catalogue and see how the price will kill you! *LOL*

J   Constantly bedazzled each time I read the word “Light-Year (ly)”! What kind of food is that? Click here!

J   The biggest project I want (and have) to start and finish soon is to write my experience when I:

~ Had a short trip to Europe on June ‘till August 2012, and

~ Am preparing application for Master Degree (ongoing year).

They are literally the main reasons why I created this blog! :P

J   A moment when I had a sightseeing at Royal ATK (the biggest stationery store in my city) – I couldn’t find Luna water color pencil with a picture of sailing boat and crescent on its cover package. I asked my little friends – Ditong and Nembot – they never heard the brand before. Hmm, people at my age might have known and used it – as it was phenomenal for its double function that time.

      (Update: Another night another day – I found that Luna still exists nowadays without losing its magical touch! J)

J   Life of Pi is the first movie I watched alone at the cinema and the second movie (after Titanic) I watched 2 times. I thought it also would be the first movie I watched in 3D version, but yes you’re right – that’s only in my dream! L

J   Despite the fact that I love donning casual outfits (jeans, t-shirt and jacket) and sometimes just trust to vintage clothes to radiate my feminine side *LOL* :P, I wanna say thanks to whoever invented the perfect couple -- boot and coat. Ya-ya, Indonesians don’t need these winter fashions but I’ve told myself to have at least one of each in my closet (someday) :D

J   My favorite person on the television right now is Vincent – a former bassist of retro band named Club 80’s. Look how he makes the prank calls at one of reality show on Trans 7. Oh mein.... X) X)

J   Don’t you Guys think that the most attractive widget in this page is the Flag Counter? hehehe :D :D. I mean, look at the collection of mini-sized-colorful-flags there! – so various, so beautiful JJ

     

J   Time Limit is the funniest Japanese comic I have ever read while for cartoon movie, I undoubtedly will pick Ice Age and Happy Feet series, also Monster Inc. :D :D

J   Notwithstanding the negative comments about his less-manliness, I still consider Joen Jin Ho (the main role of K-Drama “Personal Taste”) as the most romantic drama character so far *singing: Ada Band ~ Karena Wanita Ingin Dimengerti*. He understands Park Gae In better than she knows herself! *envious*. But to me, none of the characters is as appealing as stubborn, hot-headed leader of F4 – Dao Ming Si (Taiwanese)/ Tsukasa Doumyouji (Japanese)/Gu Jun Pyo (Korean). I think, he just doesn’t know how to act when he’s right after next to the girl he falls in love with – and thaaat – reminds me of me (a lot)! hahaha XD XD

J   Something that unlikely happened in the past but yes – now I’m dreaming so bad about it – is to own my own castle (red: house) complete with its horse-drawn carriage (red: car)! XD XD. A house in which I can design, organize, clean-up and live comfortably in it – with a small-circular fishpond in the middle of the lounge bordered with a full-glass-partition. And I... always love the smart idea of putting some dim lights between the ornamental plants.

J   Being tempted to ‘roam” around the YouTube – looking for a dance-cover video of K-Pop groups, even brought me to meet one of korean dance groups named Black Queen. Just so you know, they dance much-much better than the artists themselves!. Oh ya, I found another one – named Waveya, but forgive me Girls – the way you dance looks so sloppy and messy while Black Queen moves more cleanly. That’s it!.

J   I’ve been itching to travel again!!. Lombok and all its beauty is my next target. This time I’m lucky to have little ability to read direction, an abundance of time, a healthy-muscular body *LOL*, tons of guts, but noooooo – the classical problem is...... . It’s all about the money, money, money.. I do need some money, money, money XD XD *singing: Jessie J. – Price Tag with little modification*.

 “Uang, Tenaga, Waktu”

(Money, Energy, Time)

Masa muda à Uang r ‖ Tenaga √ ‖ Waktu √

(Youth/Adolescent à Money r ‖ Energy √ ‖ Time √)

Masa dewasa à Uang √ ‖ Tenaga √ ‖ Waktu r

(Adult à Money √ ‖ Energy √ ‖ Time r)

Masa tua à Uang √ ‖ Tenaga r ‖ Waktu √

(Old à Money √ ‖ Energy r ‖ Time √)

Oh yes – it says I’m a teenager!. See? T-E-E-N-A-G-E-R with double “E”!!!. Errr, give me five! hahahahaha XD XD

J   It’s not the first time, still, can hardly believe there’s someone who’s so terribly in love with my handwriting. I swear I’m not being cocky, but the way she copies it :O :O wkwkwk she tries really hard!. Well Kid, better find your true identity soon, okay? :P

J   I need but hate to sleep during the daytime. Day-mare (how I call a bad dream happens during napping :D) is the only cause for I wake up with half-consciousness and half-mood!. There seems to be only 2 options to choose when I start to close my eyes – to have a day-mare OR to have no dreams at all. God, that’s so horrible! LL

Happy Birthmonth Of April!!

Monday, April 1, 2013

In truth, I find myself still having a hard time to fully come back to one of my tracks as a (dabbler) blogger who – puts out some random words or shares some stupid thoughts of mine. Yet, I feel brand new J everytime I meet the first day of April so I decided to visit my blog today (it rather surprised me knowing the last time I published a post), then to leave a tread of which I can leastwise say – “Hey, I’m still alive here!” – even if it will merely be another short post!.

Hell yeah, the more I try to write as many words as I can, the more I find that only this or two “welcome back” words I can make for tonight LL – hence, I will simply say:

 HAPPY APRIL!!

PIECES OF APRIL

(D. Loggins)
From the album “The Best of Three Dog Night”

April gave us springtime and the promise of the flowers
And the feeling that we both shared and the love that we called ours
We knew no time for sadness, that's a road we each had crossed
We were living a time meant for us, and even when it would rain
we would laugh it off

I've got pieces of April, I keep them in a memory bouquet
I've got pieces of April, it's a morning in May

We stood on the crest of summer, beneath an oak that blossomed green
Feeling as I did in April, not really knowing what it means
But it must be then that you stand beside me now to make me feel this way
Just as I did in April, but it's a morning in May

I've got pieces of April, I keep them in a memory bouquet
I've got pieces of April, but it's a morning in May

I've got pieces of April, I keep them in a memory bouquet
I've got pieces of April, but it's a morning in May

SNSD: I Got A Boy, Meotjin!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

I know I know...

The time I released this post, the time I would get hit by a bunch of questions such as – “Are you a sone?”, “Since when?”, “How come?”, bla-bla-bla....

The answer? Hmm, can be! – 3-single posts so far – which even beat my favorite boyband ever – Westlife (I realize for not having released any post of this Irish boy/man-band to be ‘inherited’ L). Now, I wonder myself for being disloyal to the guys whom I adore all my life. Well, no!. Big NO-NO!. Their existence indeed won’t be lightly replaced by the 9-South-Korean-Goddesses – so called GG, though how really entertaining the girls are. You’re everlastingly irreplaceable, Marky! Y

Well, it’s a new year – means new hope, doesn’t it?. So, I won’t put a lazy-ballad song as the first entry on my playlist at these early days of the year. Though I tend to be a more ‘mindful’ person each time I listen to a mellow song but at least, I need a kinda warming song to boost my mood up. And the moment is just perfect. SME preferred a unique date -01.01.2013- to release the GG’s fourth album.

The girls offer a hip-hop tune¹ this time – and again – colorful hair and costume (now, I extremely get confused with their ‘true’ identity!). Gee, Genie, Oh!, Run Devil Run, The Boys, then I Got A Boy?. Listen to the rhythm – it’s so random, right?. Sounds like 5 genres which then are edited and mixed into one song².. .

Anyway – this time you are (still) safe, Girls!. At least, the part of “I got a boy meotjin! I got a boy chakhan!” catches my ears easily. In addition, another crab-dance (after The Boys) embellishes the overall choreography (you know how much I love seeing people dancing eventhough I don’t dance! JJ).

I conclude “I Got A Boy” to be a catchy song, but “All My Love Is For You” with its pretty drum line still is a must-song of which I will play over and over again for the next couple of weeks JJ

P.S: ¹) I kind of think that an uptempo song really helps to distribute the girls’ voices. We can see the role of these 4 girls – Yoona, Yuri, Soo Young, and Hyo Yeon whom we don’t oft hear the voices – here in this song. Ballads will only give the chance for Tae Yeon (the best singer of GG – to me :P) to pulverize the rest member. Lucky you Guys, to have a good ability in dancing which can stop people from paying too much attention to your vocal weaknesses JJ

²) I’m just expressing my opinion. I’m sorry in advance if I put some words not in their right terms. I’m not an expert in this area. Nicole is.. J

But since she’s been busy finishing her annual review and listing 50 best songs over the last year (2012), you will hardly find her post reviewing GG’s new album this time (ATTENTION: I lose to her! She just posted it!).

Race Against Time: Happy New Year, Everyone!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013 *must get used to the last digit of the year!

2013 – awwww, unbelievable!!

That makes my stomach feel burning everytime I think about me turning 27 this year hahahaha :P :P *OMG-OLD-OMG-OLD*

But still, I feel so thankful to Allah – alhamdulillah alhamdulillah alhamdulillahirabbilalamiin Ya Allah... I need Your Blessing and Guidance, Ya Rabb JJ

Still many dreams to pursue..

Many plans to execute..

Many places to visit..

And –

Many things to learn..
Now the more I think that the quote “Tomorrow Is Better Than Today” kind of quips me *LOL* (shall I compare? :D)

Well, it’s still in a festive moment and I’m not gonna trap you into such a heavy reading – so I’m telling you Guys, this will be the shortest post I have released to date JJ

2013 – RACE AGAINST TIME!

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim..

Crazy In Love With Richard Parker!

Thursday, December 6, 2012 ç it’s finally posted! :P

All my life, one of the decision chains I will never – ever forget and regret -is- going to the cinema (alone), buying the ticket only a few minutes before the entrance is closed (again – alone), finding the best seat over the best row – the one I can (do 3C) – colonize and feel comfy plus close enough to the screen, just so I can trick myself into thinking that I’m watching the real 3D-version! (still – all alone) and.... being a part of the small parts of civilization who yearn for such a breathtaking movie (of course – still alone! J).

Huh, I hate the fact that people – teenies, I mean :P – are (still) patiently standing in a long queue for the sake of Breaking Dawn Part 2 – waiting for a miracle to come, I guess!. Okay, I’m not being hypocrite. I watched the movie also, but once is enough!. You Guys made my Richard Parker out of theaters earlier LL

Sorry but this time is for Y LIFE OF PI Y

  

I know I know – I am more than too-too late!!
Forgive me Richard Parker! (-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩___-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩-̩̩̩) *feeling guilty*
The book was first time released in 2001 – whaaaaaattttttt???!!
It was on the best-selling book lists and fortunate people who had met Richard Parker – might have been waiting for more than a decade to let their unrequited longing go! (sometimes I feel so thankful not to die in boredom waiting! JJ)

In consequence, I redeemed my ‘sin’ by watching the movie again!!

Yes!!! Today I made it for second time hohoho!! (the way of Karma, I suppose! :P)

I’m sure there would be third and forth time if they had the 3D-version here – in my lovely city (з´⌣`ε)

Sounds exaggerating? Yes – but in fact, the movie seems to give me the hard feeling of letting go (a feeling like – don’t want to finish the journey soon) and demands me to have the second meet after the first, the third after the second, and............ there I was today – at another movie theater – dedicated myself to snap the best pose of Richard Parker!!

Frankly speaking, I was almost at the final decision to watch LOP for third time – yet I didn’t want to end up myself having kinda feeling of getting bored for the movie eventhough I believe I wouldn’t – nooooooooo, never for my Richard Parker! JJ

So, what is so special about it (until) I have to use the ‘sacred’ words – forget and regret, also to act like a suburban having her first time experience watching movie at the cinema? *LOL*

I have mentioned the first reason above, haven’t I? J

The story is certainly what Andrea Hirata (my favorite Indonesian author) wrote on the back cover of one of his books “Edensor”:

— ... ... I wished to rove, finding my direction through reading the stars of constellations. I wanted to cross fields and deserts, to be burned by the sun until I blistered, to be shook by assaulting wind, and shrink from being gripped by cold. I wanted a life that was thrilling, filled with conquest. I wanted to live! To feel the essence of being! —

Oh, I so much believe – only certain people God had chosen to make this sort of ‘once in a lifetime experience’ happen – which will lead them to get the wisdom of life!.

It is indeed astounding story as the Japanese company concluded on the report, “Mr. Patel's is an astounding story, courage and endurance unparalleled in the history of ship-wrecks. Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long, and none in the company of an adult Bengal tiger.”

As if I watched another version of Cast Away movie – the bad weather causing a plane crash, the Pacific Ocean, being marooned, the desert island, a ‘lovely’ volleyball named Wilson as the only companion, a life survival, about never to lose hope, finding a way back home and.... the unceremonious farewell. Everything is the same but the part that Pi spent most of his journey in the mighty ocean of Pacific and had to share the small boat with an adult tiger, deeply enchants me! (з´⌣`ε)

(Dear Mr. Lee and Team, would you please take The Alchemist and Edensor into your consideration for the next project? JJ)

All is just incredibly awesome and makes me in turmoil of emotions!

16 years old boy – Piscine Molitor Patel – along with people, things and circumstances within his life circle!

— Appa, Amma, Ravi, Mamaji, Anandi, Pondicherry, the zoo, the botanical garden, all animals but the hyena (Orange Juice – hiks LL), Munnar, Tsimtsum, the mighty Pacific Ocean, the carnivore island, the mangroves, the meerkats, the lifeboat with its half-opened tarpauline, the raft, the paddle, the journal, the pencil, the jellyfishes, the sharks, the whales, the flying fishes, the giant fish, the bioluminescent water, the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, the wind, the rain, the storm, the thunder, the meets and goodbyes, the courage and hope, the smile, the tear, and all of emotions – love, care, hate, anger, fear, desperateness, what else.... Oh, I may forget mentioning others but never for the cutest adult Bengal tiger ever!!

Y Richard Parker Y

Y Richard Parker Y

Y Richard Parker Y

Y Richard Parker Y

Y Richard Parker Y

Y Richard Parker Y

Y Richard Parker Y

Y Richard Parker Y

Y Richard Parker Y

Y Richard Parker Y

 

First time I saw you (the cage scene), like I had thought to other animals – I thought you’re just a ‘cameo’ which would appear merely in single-scene or maybe two at most!. As I never heard anything about you, indeed it turned out to be totally wrong – you’re more than just animal JJ hehehe I’m sorry, Cutie!. Second meet – the time when Pi and Anandi were dating in the zoo, you were proudly showing-off your perfect figure. “Kyaaaaa, here he is – The King of Jungle!!!”, I said to myself JJ. I have 7 of your ‘descendants’ here at my house of which one – named Bona – really looks like you, so there was no way I could abandon you, Richard Parker!.

How I enjoyed every moment you growled, moaned, roared, showed-off, stayed low with your two-ears flatted to the sides (so cuteeeee!! (з´⌣`ε) ), swam closer to the boat at the night when the Tsimtsum sunk (Pi’s expression – *LOL*) and again – on a bright sunny day you caught the fish, then turned your body towards Pi *LOL-LOL*. The scene when you swam around looking for a pedestal then got failed as you found nothing there to get back to the boat and could only hang on to the rope – oh, I really wanted to save by hugging and telling you that everything’s gonna be alright! JJ. 

Also I love when you fought the hyena, hide beneath and came up under the tarpauline, ate greedily and (often) had to wait for the fresh-fish Pi would throw at you. Then the moment you enjoyed playing in the island with meerkats as though you had found your new kingdom and went back to the boat at twilight, quickly ran over the hill after your buddy called out your name – wanted to sail back together and finish the journey, or when Pi asked you not to hide and just defy the storm (that’s so funny though the rest irritated me!).

Ew!! Illegal Shoot Came Good :P

Among those moments – to me, the best one is when you were sitting on the bridge – staring at the starry night sky which then made Pi wondered and asked what were you looking at and what were you thinking of. The reflection.. the vision... . You Guys had the same fate, story, moment, and feeling to share each other!. How I wish I was Pi – sailing the ocean all 227-days long with you! LL *envious-envious-envious*

Another Lousy Pic :P

What are you looking at?
What are you thinking of, Richard Parker? *hug*

Y Richard Parker Y

You’re way too cute – the best creature ever – oh, I can’t stop adoring you!! (з´⌣`ε)

*LOL* absurd but it’s true – at the end of the show, I caught myself had been crazy in love with Richard Parker. I dare using the L-word (not merely been smitten, nor been infatuated). I beg your pardon, Piscine!. I know you are the central figure I should fall in love with. I give you all my thumbs, but I give my soleYheart to Richard Parker (blame him for stealing it! JJ)

Only thing I hate, why did you leave Pi that way????? LL
There should be at least – one last glance, one last growl. Hiks, I don’t want that farewell scene as the last remembrance of you I have to bear for the rest of my life.

But that moment – at the edge of the jungle, you did-recollect all memories you had with Pi, didn’t you Richard Parker? LL

‘Till we meet again – I love you Richard Parker! YY

P.S:    “GOD GIVES WHAT YOU WANT AND NOT WHAT YOU NEED”. Pi wanted his family but God gave him Richard Parker as a companion to find his way back home. Could we find any better word to describe their solid bond rather than these?.

        

— I never thought a small piece of shade could bring me so much happiness, that a pile of tools - a bucket, a knife, a pencil - might become my greatest treasures. Or that Richard Parker was here might ever bring me peace. In times like these, I remember that he has as little experience of the real world as I do. We were both raised in a zoo by the same master —

— Now we've been orphaned, left to face our ultimate master together. Without Richard Parker I would have died by now. My fear of him keeps me alert. Tending to his needs gives my life purpose —

Life of Pi (The Movie), 2012

— I wept like a child. It was not because I was overcome at having survived my ordeal, though I was. Nor was it the presence of my brothers and sisters, though that too was very moving. I was weeping because Richard Parker had left me so unceremoniously.

... ... ...

It’s important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse. That bungled goodbye hurts me to this day. I wish so much that I’d had one last look at him in the lifeboat, that I’d provoked him a little, so that I was on his mind. I wish I had said to him then–yes, I know, to a tiger, but still–I wish I had said, “Richard Parker, it’s over. We have survived. Can you believe it? I owe you more gratitude than I can express. I couldn’t have done it without you. I would like to say it formally: Richard Parker, thank you. Thank you for saving my life. And now go where you must. You have known the confined freedom of a zoo most of your life; now you will know the free confinement of a jungle. I wish you all the best with it. Watch out for Man. He is not your friend. But I hope you will remember me as a friend. I will never forget you, that is certain. You will always be with me, in my heart. What is that hiss? Ah, our boat has touched sand. So farewell, Richard Parker, farewell. God be with you.” —

Life of Pi (Yann Martel), 2001