Sunday, September 27, 2015

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Quotes

In order to get myself prepared with what to expect in India, Kipchu introduced me - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (For the elderly and beautiful) - the 2012 released British comedy movie that features a group of British pensioners moving to a hotel retirement in Jaipur, India.

The story is based on the 2004 novel - These Foolish Things - written by Deborah Moggach. There is an element of adult romance too inside the story. There is even a sequel - The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - that was released in early this year.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Quote

Well, yes you are right. I'm on my way to Delhi. As you may have known, to visit Dharamsala and to meet Dalai Lama has been my dream since long time ago. And now, since I have lots of time and chance, I'll take a risk and do the change to make my dreams come true.

The only real failure is the failure to try

You know, at first, I planned my trip as initially there would be teaching as requested by the Taiwanese group in Dharamsala from 1st to 4th October. However, only few days ago, I received the news that the teaching was canceled. The first question appeared on my mind was, "Does Dalai Lama in good health?" and second, "Will he be there?" Both answers were "Yes!", and that was good enough!

It doesn't matter I could meet him or not now although I keep my hopes high. But there won't be attachment to it, because at least, I try, and take the risk.

Everything will be all right in the end :)

And just like the above quote saying, "Everything will be all right in the end. If it is not all right, then it's not yet the end." ;) So, we shall see the outcome. Keep my finger crossed and hope for the best! Your prayers and best wishes are appreciated! Welcome to India!!! ^^

P.S. All quotes were taken from Google.com

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Autumn's Love

Bus ride at Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China

This world is full of surprise.
Or perhaps, to be there at the right time.

Horses and cow at the Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China

Winding mountainous road at Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China

And yes, I was there,
to witness the magnificent view of autumn's love.

Colorful autumn leaves at Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China

It's my love, by the way, for the yellow, red, and green leaves that were holding into the branches of trees, including my favorite pine trees :)

Picturesque view of Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China

This place, Kanas, made me wonder how this beauty was made so naturally!
All through the way, it was all trees all around, and a stream of clear blue pearl water that melted from the snow mountain's above.

Reaching towards Fish Watching Pavilion at Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China

Pathway toward Fish Viewing Pavilion  at Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China

We climbed UP, UP, and UP!!!

Finally the last step into Fish Viewing Pavilion at Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China

1,068 steps
Yes there were,
and yes we did!!!

Panorama view of Kanas River - Xinjiang, China
I became closer with the sky and the mountains,
further from the ground and the grasses,
and yet, my heart was blooming wider in every step that I took.

View of Kanas River from Fish Viewing Pavilion - Xinjiang, China

I felt blessed by being there, at that particular moment.
I inhaled the fresh mountain air, filled my whole entire lungs with it only...

Beautiful view from the top at Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China

Hmmmmm........

I felt blessed!!! Thank you, thank you, and thank you beautiful nature!!! :)

Thank you...
Thank you for all this...
It had filled my heart with love,
my autumn's love...

Beautiful yellow autumn leaves :)

Love you autumn!

Enjoying fresh mutton satay before rejoicing in beautiful nature of Kanas National Reserve - Xinjiang, China :D

Source of inspiration: Kanas Nature Reserve - Xin Jiang, China
20th September 2015

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Ooohhhhhh....  how happy I'm that I finally finished reading a book - in such short period, in between my holiday break! Grabbed this book at "Just Returned" shelf in the library and only days later I started reading it (thanks to the haze that disallowed me to exercise outdoor!!!)

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell :)

Yup, "Attachments" was the title! Btw, it's a fiction, a novel, dear! It wasn't 'the root of suffering' - kind of 'attachment', the non-fiction book that you initially thought of! ^^ In fact, it's such an easy-to-read and digest kind of book.

Pic source: Pinterest.com

This book was about the year 1999 when the Internet was still a novelty, where people used to chat using email (messengers were blocked in many offices).
If you ever heard 'I knew I loved you - before I met you' song, this was how Lincoln, the shy IT guy, fell in love without knowing how the girl looked like, only based on the email exchanges written by the girl and her colleague cum best friend.

Quote from Attachments by Rainbow Rowell :)

It's such a too-good-to-be-true kind of story, that many women would wish to happen, kind of Cinderella happy ending story, and that's how I managed reading it in just few days with such an ease! The same writer who wrote Fangirl, and she wrote other books such as: Eleanor and Park, and Landline. So, if you would like to feel a dreamy love life meeting such a perfect guy, this book would be your next choice to read!!! ;)

Wednesday, September 09, 2015

Hazy time of the year - Singapore

Hazy cloud in Singapore - Sep 2015

Psi reading at 6pm north of Singapore for today: 105 - unhealthy range.

PSI Value       PSI Descriptor               
0 - 50Good
51 - 100Moderate
101 - 200Unhealthy
201 - 300Very unhealthy
Above 300Hazardous
 (Chart source: NEA website)

I walked out to my home's balcony, stretched my neck left and right, then up high in the sky. All showed the same view - no sun and thin layers of white smoke. I inhaled and felt the slight smoky smell. "Haiz.... another hazy day today. No more cycling today," mumbled me and walked back into the house.

This morning we had to postpone our morning walk to MacRitchie Reservoir Park, also due to the haze :( I was completely immobile against any outdoor activities these past few days. It had only given me a choice to go back to my room and lay down on my comfy bed. I took out the library book that I borrowed few days ago from my bag and started flipping the page - Attachments by Rainbow Rowell.

Book read - Attachments by Rainbow Rowell 

I was almost determined to finish the book in few hours time. However, soon after, my hubby came in and he was too tired from the painting and cleaning of the Buddha's altar at our living room. He located himself directly next to me, took his sleeping position and there he went to his dreamy world.

The sky had turned darker and I didn't want to disturb his sleep with the bedside lamp's brightness and I decided to join him to the dreamy world - since I had no where to go anyway. To my nightmare, I only woke up at 11.30 pm!!!

Relieving advice by Dalai Lama - "Sleep is the Best Meditation" ^^

Knowing that I woke up, he came to the room. "Good morning dear!" saluted him and he asked me if I wanted to join him for the supper. He would like to try the new 24-hour coffee shop located just opposite of our house block. Again, since I had nothing to do, I changed my clothes and walked together with him in the middle of the night. But too bad it was closed. So he ended up cycling to the nearby coffee shop and bought take-away bowls of noodles and we had it at home.

Hazy sky at neighbourhood area

How haze affected our lifestyle; it was indeed affected our mood as well. We were not rich enough to stay at the condominium, where the swimming pool was just within walking distance, where there was indoor billiard room, where there was tennis court, indoor table tennis room, indoor gym or even indoor karaoke room where at least we could spend our day with activities. So I could only spend my day inside the house reading, eating, and sleeping - and all this would contribute in gaining weight. He-he... 

Pic source: Google.com 

Few more days... Yeahhh... in few more days to come, I'd get out from this hazy country and would be back to busy activities again. Expecting for whole day adventure - starting early and finishing late; eating more fruits and vegetables, walking up and down - even climbing up thousand steps staircase, and so on.

This would be usually the time where we had to get out from this country, if we were lucky enough, and get out from the hazy world, which sometimes would haze our sober mind and clear conscience ;)

Happiness is goodbye haze... :)

For now, let me continue reading the Attachments. Not sure what time I would sleep again. The sleeping hours have turned topsy-turvy now. Hope it will be over soon... Haze oh haze, please go away....

Friday, September 04, 2015

No more HOPE!

Good Bye Hope...

It's final and I was defeated
No point arguing,
no point dreaming.
Just accept and move on.

It's not the first time,
but it'll be the last time I brought the matter up,
as it's impossible to do this alone,
the more impossible to do this with others.

It is fine.
It is OK.
We can't always have what we want.

Forget about any possibility then,
even when I'm able to.
No more hope,
no more thinking.
It's over.
Time to move on to life...
Life that I want to have...
Without it.

Wednesday, September 02, 2015

September to the fullest :)

Hello September! ^^

It's been 2.5 months since the last time I quit my job. That too, the period of time that I've taken in order to treat myself with a very long break after 6 years continuously working :)

Love yourself and follow your dreams :)

As we all know, we all live temporary life in this world that one day, it will end. So, while living it, it'd be wise to live it fully by loving ourselves (treating ourselves better) and following whatever dreams that we have. For my case, it is to spend great and memorable time with family and friends, while I'm still blessed with good health to move around :)

Enjoy every moment in life :)

One-month trip in Bhutan and 12-days trip in Indonesia have already passed. So two down, and two more to go, before I'm getting myself back to the working life. In the meantime I'll take a good rest and do things what I ought to do.

Live Love Laugh

September is here now. The favourite month for many people all over the world. I too, will enjoy autumn soon - not just hot and rain of Singapore - and I'm expecting to visit more new places that I've never been before, as advised by the person that I've been dreaming to meet up with, and perhaps will have a chance to meet him :)

Dream it, wish it, do it! 

Hope this time my dream will be realized! Wish me luck and need to pray hard lah!!! ^^ I hope all of you will have incredible and beautiful September month too! Have a great time! ;)