kudos to Philippine independent cinema

In a true case of life being stranger than fiction, kudos to Philippine cinema and Filipino artists and creatives for these innovative films. 

Life on our islands have only gotten harsher and more bleak - caught between the rock that's such deep seated corruption in government and the hard place this virus and pandemic has put us all in. 

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a project of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. The all-digital film festival "aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers.”  

The festival runs from August 6 to September 5 - screening thirteen competing short films, Cinemalaya also presents the Premieres section - featuring four never before seen feature films by Filipino filmmakers. Available on on ktx.ph.

17th independent film festival

A poem of seasonal observances: The Chinese Solar Terms

One of our favourite books is Liza Dalby's The Tale of Murasaki, a historical novel about the life of the famous writer of the Tale of Genji. Before she becomes Murasaki Shikibu, the book imagines the character of Fuji, a quiet but fiercely intelligent poet with a keen sensitivity for seasons and nature.

The Tale of Murasaki, Penguin Random House, 2001

Koinobori - celebrating our children and future generations

On a visit to 188 Galerie last Sunday, wonder | wander | world fell in love with this collection of Koinobori. 

Lucky us got to take three of these lovely lucky charms back to our happy home. 

Koinobori are over sized carp in the shape of windsocks, streamers or banners that decorate the landscape of Japan from April through early May.