Dear Diary - Updates of Coronavirus Outbreak

Dear Diary...

Today is 30th May 2020. It is the 54th day of the Coronavirus Circuit Breaker in Singapore. The CCB is going to end soon and will be replaced by Phase 1 - Safe Re-opening starting June 2nd, 2020.

Fyi, there were 611 new Covid-19 cases yesterday taking the country's total number of infection to 33,860. Among 611, only 3 Singaporean and/or Permanent Resident were affected. The rest was mostly the foreign workers (mainly from India and Bangladesh with some Chinese), where the outbreak happened mostly in their dormitories. 

The daily figures are still extremely high and scary. However, most of them have been quarantined, tested, treated, and recovering. This will still take some time until it decreases. 

Phase 1 - Re-opening (Pic source: reach.gov.sg)

The above will be what the Phase 1 activities look like.

The Straits Times said, "More businesses allowed to resume on June 2 but most people to continue working from home.

And types of businesses that will open includes: manufacturing and production facilities in the semiconductor, medical technology and aerospace sectors, as well as wholesale trade and finance companies.

Retail shops and dining in are still not allowed.

Some limited consumer services can resume from June 2. For instance, hairdressers and barbers can offer all hairdressing services.

Motor vehicle servicing, air-con servicing and basic pet services are also on the list, among others.

School bookshops and retail shops selling school uniforms can also resume business in order to support the reopening of schools.

All other retail outlets must remain closed until further notice apart from those that have already been given approval to operate."

Phase 2 and 3 (Pics source: reach.gov.sg)

The above will be what phase 2 and 3 looks like. Phase 2 starting date will be announced somewhere in mid-June, after examining the situation of the Covid-19 cases in Singapore. 

Phase 1, 2, and 3 summary (Pic source: straitstimes.com)

The above picture will summarise the 3 phases altogether. 

Today it will be the last weekend of the CCB. Tbh, I prefer the quiet Singapore like today. And I also heard many others who commented the same. The quiet MRT, bus, road, and so on.

Simple happiness (Instagram: rimareyka.writes)

I also enjoy staying at home doing things I love doing, such as: ritual breakfast/ brunch (prepare whatever I love eating on the breakfast tray), quiet reading moments (no renovation hacking noises from neighbourhood), special home cooked dinner dish for the families (love to see their satisfaction faces and smiles), watching dramas or movies on TV, and so on.

But at the same time, I also miss meeting my friends: coffee times, Mala dinner with beer, home cooked dinner together at home, drinking and chatting at pub, and so on. The balance of both lives will be great!!! 

And after all this over, I will have to think to embark to new journey of life. Let see what life and fate will bring me to, but I am exciting and positive that it will happen for good. 

Be patient (Instagram: rimareyka.writes)

I hope all of you are in good health - both physical and mental, having positive minds towards what will come next (despite some of you may lose your current job due to Covid-19), and always believe that every thing happened for good reasons!!! 

Change your focus (Pic source: google.com)

When you are tired (especially your mind), remember this: learn to stop and rest. It is okay to rest sometimes. And after recharge yourself, change the focus of your energy. Instead of fighting the old, try to build the new. This way, you will not waste your energy over nothing. 

So Diary, let me stop here and 'til next time!!! Hope by then, situation improves and gets much better. Let's hope! :)

Virtual Vesak 2564th Buddha Poornima Celebration - 7 May 2020

Happy Vesak Day 2564th BE

Happy Vesak 2564th B.E. to everyone who celebrated!!! :)

Unlike previous years, this year's Vesak Day celebration was rather different due to the Covid-19 pandemic that spread all over the world.

This year many celebrated by watching the virtual celebration, listening to dharma talk, and even taking 3 refuges and 5 precepts online. I too, was no exception. Once got up, I received the forward message as follow:

Virtual Vesak Celebration organized by IBC (Pic source: International Buddhist Consideration)

"千载难逢！VESAK LIVE from Sacred Places

2020年5月7日上午9时（新加坡时间）开始：

菩提迦耶、蓝毗尼、鹿野苑、拘尸那罗等多个圣地直播卫塞节活动，以及线上瞻仰本师释迦摩尼佛陀舍利。尊胜的法王达赖喇嘛和众僧也将致词。

YouTube直播网址: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4L9AkYfs104qBylCrAaRBQ

Vesak Day, 7th May, 9am (Singapore Time)

International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) is organising Virtual Vesak- Buddha Poornima Celebration 2020 on May 7 by livestreaming ceremonies and prayers from: Bodhgaya, Lumbini, Sarnath, Kushinagar as well as Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar, Baudhanath, Swayambhunath and Namo Buddha Stupa in Nepal.

Also being arranged is first ever online exposition of Holy Buddha relics from Wasukaduwa Temple, Sri Lanka.

Video Addresses by most eminent and Supreme heads of Sangha from various countries and traditions will also be streamed as part of this virtual celebration of Vesak. We are expecting worldwide audiences joining this online celebration.

You are welcome to participate in this unique and blessed celebration of Buddha Poornima on May 7. This will be live streamed on Facebook Live, Instagram, YouTube, Zoom and also from Mandala app.

Video addresses by His Holiness Dalai Lama, H. E Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, H. E Gyankhang Rinpoche, H. E Yongzin Ling Rinpoche and many other masters from several countries.

Live online exposition of Holy Buddha Relics from Sri Lanka also part of the event."

I immediately clicked the link as time shown had already past 9am Singapore's time. And I kept watching the program until 2pm plus. 

The above video is the compilation of pictures taken from the online virtual celebration yesterday with the background of "Metta" chant, a melodious song sung by Imee Ooi - a Malaysian Buddhist composer - whose song was also featured on the virtual celebration yesterday. 

Ani Choying Drolma, a Nepalese Buddhist nun and musician, was also there singing and giving speech for all of us. Her songs, Siddharta Gautam and Tri Ratna, were played as parts of the virtual celebration. Her soothing voice was really nice to hear :)

It was such a great arrangements done by IBF by collaborating speakers mainly the Eminent Buddhist Masters from different countries and Buddhist sects, such as: H.H Khondung Ratna Vajra Sakya Rinpoche (42nd Sakya Trizin), Ajahn Brahm, 7th Sechen Rabjam Rinpoche (who is a grandson of Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche), and many more, included the Jetsunma Tenzin Pelmo (the author, teacher and founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in India) - one of the women featured in Dakini Power (the book I am currently reading featuring 12 women, both Asians and Westerners, who have been recognized as accomplished practitioners and brilliant teachers, a source of inspiration for all Buddhist women. 

They broadcasted many sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites from India (Bodhgaya, Sarnath), Nepal (sacred Lumbini Garden), Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura), Thailand, etc. I felt so much gratitude upon watching those places, familiar scenes as I have been blessed for visiting those places in this present life. 

If only they hold such celebration every year this way, it enables everyone from all around the world to celebrate even within their own place, and received prayers and blessings from every Eminent Masters located all around the world. Their messages, spirits, and encouragement could be felt. 

I am sure this was not the only portal for celebration. Many other temples, Buddhist organisations were also arranging dharma talks virtually and many had participated in it from their home. 

Super flower moon - from home sweet home

At night we were grateful to be able to end the auspicious day by watching the beautiful bright full moon high up in the sky, blessed by its shine and lovely weather.

Thank you SB for everything. Sabbe Satta Bhavantu Sukhitatta - May all sentient beings be healthy and happy, free from suffering and the cause of suffering, life full of peace and joy. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu. Svathi Hothu. Nammo Buddhaya :)

CCB Day 29

Hello May!!! :)

It is 5th May today. One of the beautiful pair of number in this year (05-05-2020). Some couple decided to give birth today (caesarean birth) so that the baby's birthday will be easily remembered and special. Most people, like me, today passes just like another day. Haha....

It is going to be a month tomorrow since the CCB (Coronavirus Circuit Breaker) started and so far it goes well in terms of our health and well being be it physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Every one is busy with their work (those who wfh or work from home) and study (those who are doing hbl or home based learning). And those who are not engaged in both activities, are busying themselves with many other activities (I fall under this category).

Compilation of my other activities includes:

1. Watching Korean dramas.

The latest popular Korean drama - The World of the Married (Pic source: dramacool)

Since mid March I have managed to watch 6 drama series, which are: Crash Landing On You, Memories of Alhambra, Tell Me What You Saw, When the Weather Is Fine, Itaewon Class, and the latest one, which also my favourite one among the rest, is The World of the Married.

Each series consist of 16 episodes. There are still 4 more episodes left for the World of the Married, as it is an ongoing one. You do not have to get married in order to watch or like the show. The story plot is just so cleverly made that I enjoyed it so much. How the main lady character tried solving each problem that she faced tactfully and the intention was not to hurt. After all, she just wanted to have some justice. I cannot wait for the rest of episodes to come!!!

2. Watching movies online.

Movies online (Pic source: Google.com)

Since mid February till now I have watched more than 30 movies. Be it Chinese, Hong Kong, American, French, Thailand, Korean, many are latest ones and picked randomly.

3. Trying new recipes.

Many of you may have already known that Mala Hotpot is one of my favourite dishes. Before CCB time, I could go down to Chinatown at least once in every 2 weeks with my Mala partners (even named the group of those friends whom I have it with, Mala Partners, in our what's app group chat).

There is a famous stall that serves the best and affordable Mala Hotpot in Chinatown. And it is perfectly eaten together with fresh chilled Tsing Dao beers (a very famous beer from China). It is perfect to have it with great companions, where we could chill, relax, chit chat, and enjoy. It is a bliss!!!

Home cooked Mala Hotpot

With so many ingredients available from the fridge, I decided to cook the above this using the Haidilao spicy sauce and it turned out to taste good and with love put in cooking it, the textures of each ingredients were cooked in perfection.

Initially I thought 5 of us would not be able to finish the whole big pot. But I was wrong. Within an hour, the pot turned empty. Hahaha...

Indonesian Soto Ayam

Some other day I whipped the Indonesian dish called Soto Ayam. It was spiced chicken soup served with vermicelli noodle, shredded cabbage, shredded chicken, boiled egg, spring onion, celery, fried onion, and completed with fried emping (belinjo crackers) and kecap manis or Indonesian sweet soya sauce.

In the past I used to cook this when studying overseas using the instant spices that sold in supermarket. But with so many ingredients to prepare, I had not cooked it for long time. The chicken bone made the soup tasted marvellous. I myself did not expect that the soup would end up tasting that wonderful.

Indonesian potato ball or perkedel

And only yesterday I tried cooking the above dish after watching the video from YouTube. This has been my favourite dish since I was very young. I remember that I always ordered this onto my rice pack whenever Mom buying from the stall. It was made from potato and other ingredients (cornet beef was one of the delicious ingredients).

But since my mother-in-law does not eat beef at home, I wanted to find out what other ingredients could be used without using any beef. I finally found the video and since I had potato at home, I decided to make it. The process and ingredients looked simple, however, it took me 1.5 hours to prepare and wash. Hahaha...

I think next time if I want to eat, I will just go to Malay rice stall and buy it there. The effort taken is not worth. The final products could be consumed in less than 15 minutes. Hahaha....

4. Reading books

Fate with books quote (IG: rimareyka.writes)

I spent my time reading books at home too. So far, I have read quite number of books since CCB started. Just as when my mood was ready to.

5. Updating blogs

Well, I cannot post as often as last time but I am still writing. Looking back at previous posts made me wanting to write more. And if you look at the blog list on the right side of this blog page, you can see that more people updating their blogs more frequent these days.

My blog list - www.reeverking.blogspot.com

I am very happy as I am not alone and blog trends are not dying yet. People still make efforts to write and tell stories (be it from their personal life or others). There was time when blogging seemed dying. People was no more updating and some even deleted their blog). So my blogging friends, hope you keep writing and updating your blog page. Do not let your passion in writing die with laziness and despair :)

Well, I am sure that there are many more activities going on during this CCB time in Singapore. For now, I will end this post. Government said the CCB may end early if the number of cases in community has become zero or in single digit number. Although I prefer this quietness to end longer, I also miss Mala time with my mala partners in Chinatown. Whatever may come, let it come then. Wish you all good days!!! Cya again! :)