Special Forces

Yes, that is the movie title. Not the most creative nor intriguing, but I had taken a special interest in warring states and conflicts of the like very recently, so I sort of watched this in a different light, like how Pakistan being a safe haven for Taliban (Taleban?) makes it difficult for ISAF soldiers and ANA to bring about permanent peace and security to Afghanistan, especially at the borders where trigger-happy Pakistani tribesmen at their observation posts threaten the lives of soldiers as much as the insurgents themselves.

Like how the most dangerous mission can simply be moving from one point to another in the dusty and mountainous regions of these two countries, where people live under the cruel sharia law and lives are lost at the blink of the eye. The Taliban rules with an iron fist and kills mercilessly. And I walked away thinking whether it was worth it. *SPOILER* Four lives in exchange for one French journalist? It's a bit like Saving Private Ryan in this sense. Except with more deaths and tragedy.

Occasional shouts of 'Welcome to Lenas!' that rang out in the restaurant sounded like 'Welcome to Venus!' to me; the server was pretty cool and fluent, the place was neat. The assemblage ordered grilled chicken pasta, bacon and mushroom baked rice, and smoked duck baked rice. Pretty alright, nothing spectacular; maybe because I wasn't ravenous! Normal prices. Water costs 30 cents.

Met with friends whom I haven't met for quite a while, hope to see them more often. Handsome Kevin lost weight, Beautiful Tanya was her usual petite self, and Indian Sarvesh was as hairy as ever. (: