As I listen to "Al Otro Lado del Rio" by Jorges Drexler from the soundtrack of "The Motorcycle Diaries", an overwhelming sense of bittersweet feelings invade my senses. The melody of the song somehow makes me feel like I have come to a crossroad in life, an important one, and a bitter sacrifice has to be made. It feels like I am about to lose a friend (although this is not happening currently) and never to see that person again. Like attending a tearful farewell of an old friend. The song makes me think of how short my life is and death will come knocking on the door anytime soon, maybe tomorrow, next week or 50 years from now. We are all passengers riding on a bus with only one destination, each of us different ones. Its a long journey from the beginning till the end. And once we reach there, there is no turning back, its the end of the road and where you are then depends on how much you have spent on that "bus ticket".

This particular song (which means "To the Other Side of the River") evokes a numerous amount of memories in me, most of which has an emotional connection with me. This movie itself is based on the true story of two friends, Ernesto "Che" Guevara and Alberto Granada, who hop on the back of a beat-up motorcycle for a road-trip across Latin America. Yes, it is the great Che Guevara, before he became the revolutionary leader of Cuba. The story is an amazing way of telling us to open our hearts and eyes to the world. Our stereotype perception of the world is a bad way of generalizing things, there's more to it than what you see. The hardship the Latinos experienced these two people saw, changed the way they see things.

Emotionally more balanced now, its time to call it a day....

Well... Got myself a copy of The Da Vinci Code book today after spending sometime going around looking for it from KLCC Kinokuniya to Mid Valley MPH with a bunch of my Sri Garden classmates, Kian Fatt, Kien Weng and Najib. I had to settle on the thicker paperback version of the book (the one with the light-pastel-colored cover), although I really wanted to get the illustrated version with the Mona Lisa's eyes on the cover but alas, its out of stock in the two places I visited.

Managed to read the prologue and the 1st chapter before purchasing it, the book already got me a little over the excitement point, which is a good thing since most books, no matter how wonderfully great they are, will make me lose interest. And that's when I started to read for the sake of reading and not actually get the story in my head. Nope, this won't happen for this particular book, expecially after hearing so many good reviews from friends.

That's all for now, just a simple entry. And a greeting for all those who read this posting,

....Out of order, I'll show you out of order! You don't know what out of order is Mr. Trask! I'd show you but I'm too old, I'm too tired, and I'm too fuckin' blind. If I were the man I was five years ago I'd take a flame-thrower to this place. Out of order, who the hell do you think you're talking to? I've been around you know? There was a time I could see. And I have seen, boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there isn't nothin' like the sight of an amputated spirit, there is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sending this splendid foot-soldier back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs but I say that you are executing his soul. And why? Because he's not a Baird man. Baird men, you hurt this boy, you're going to be Baird Bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, fuck you too.....

....I can tell ya this, he won't sell anybody out to buy his FUTURE, and that, my friends, is called integrity - that's called courage- now that's the stuff leaders SHOULD be made of.....

....Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the crossroads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey. You hold this boy's future in your hands committee. It's a valuable future. Believe me. Don't destroy it. Protect it. Embrace it. It's gonna make ya proud one day, I promise you.....

Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman. Powerful, striking and bold words. Just came back from college with a dampen spirit and hoo ha! What do you know? Scent of a Woman was on Cinemax. I managed to catch it when it was at its climax ( I think), when Pacino was in the school hall with Chris O'Donnell by his side in a something that looks like a court proceeding. And out go these words when Pacino stood up for O'Donnell. It was explosive, it gave me strength and spirit, just when I needed it. I love this movie and to anyone out there reading this, WATCH IT. And if you happen to have a DVD for this movie, just drop me a message, I'd like to... you know, borrow it if can. I'd say its one of Al Pacino's best performance on the silver screen. It makes you wanna watch it over and over again.

*Quotes from the movie were taken from :http://velvet_peach.tripod.com/fpacscentofawoman.html