A warm hearted thank you :)

Yesterday after having our late lunch, my hubby accompanied my son to the swimming pool. He had agreed meeting up with few of his schoolmates. PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) had over since more than three weeks ago. All of them could rest and relax after going through tremendous pressure over one of the important exams in their life.

They were swimming at the neighborhood swimming pool. Not many people there as there were exams going on for the rest of the primary school students. They played with each other heartily with much laughter and chitchatting around. At about 2.45pm, all of them decided to come to our home to play.

There were five of them. Only one girl was joining. The rest were boys. They were all gamers and connecting each other through the online game – such as: Growtopia, Team Fortress 2, etc. – apart from being classmates and schoolmates at the same level.

As they entered my son’s room, it was suddenly filled with chlorine smell left from the swimming pool that absorbed into their hair and skin. They immediately occupied the room and played the computer games. But since there was only one computer, perhaps the rest got bored. They asked my permission if they could go to level 2, to play at the playground. I let them go. However, in less than 10 minutes, all was coming back home. It was starting to rain despite the sun was shining brightly.

They ended up playing the Xbox game. It’s kind of cute listening to their conversation. Btw, it was first time that my son brought back such quite number of friends home. Usually there was only one or two coming. You know, it wasn’t easy to get permission from their parents in such young age. As now the exam had over, they gained slightly much freedom.

Hmm… I was thinking how if I cooked some food for them. I mean, kids usually would love to have meal after tired playing. I was asking them if they would love to have some food afterward. All of them refused shyly. Perhaps they were still quite full from their afternoon lunch and didn’t want to trouble me. But I would love to prepare something for them.

I checked onto our fridge. There was minced pork inside the freezer. There was yellow and red pepper inside the fridge too, plus white onion at our dry store. Settled! I told Baobei that I’d be cooking Spaghetti Bolognaise with minced pork.

One of his friends was vegetarian and he refused to eat. I told him that I’d cook separately for him using the vegetable and pasta, plus egg maybe. However, he kept refusing and told me many reasons, such as: that he was on diet, that he didn’t like to eat Italian food, that he didn’t like spaghetti, and so on. Haha… such a determination in such young age!! Well done boy! Your parents would be very proud of you knowing this. It was very contrary with my son who would eat everything! Yes, you saw it right, he eats everything and never refuse anything!!! Hahaha… :D

So, while they were playing, I was busy preparing the food inside the kitchen. Usually I cooked only during weekend and when I had mood. It’s been quite some time since I cooked. Sometimes I was lazy and just wanted to eat outside. But yesterday I had this eagerness to cook for them as to make them happy.

At 6pm I started preparing their meals. The sizzling sound and the aromatic garlic smell with butter was coming out and attracted them. One by one came out from the room and in a while all of them gathered surrounding the dining table. I baked the toast with garlic, butter and some salt, making delicious and crispy garlic bread using the wholemeal bread. They were no longer refusing dinner but instead holding their saliva coming down from their mouth.

To distract them, Baobei was offering drink to them. I cooked two portions each at one time to get the more flavor taste. The portion was quite big for kid like them. But it’s better to offer them more than giving them too little, that’s what I thought. So everybody had quite a big portion, except the Vegetarian boy. He requested the bread, but it’s finished already. He ended up eating a packet of crackers. I think he got hungry too looking at the food in front of him as their friends started eating.

Baobei and his friends ^^

They were once again chit chatting while eating and once I finished cooking for my hubby and mother-in-law; one of the boys came to the kitchen with stacks of empty plates. Whoaa!!! That was fast!

According to my hubby, only the skinny girl didn’t finish the food but she took few slices of garlic bread. Looked like she loved it! My son asked him what to do with the leftover food left by the girl and my hubby told him to share it with the rest of the boys. He ended up sharing the leftover with another boy and they all finished the portion. Wow, didn’t expect that they all finished it despite the big portion that I scooped! So, don’t undermine the growing up boys’ appetite!!! :)

Once finished. They all got ready to go back home. I was concentrating with my meal at the living room. Suddenly, I heard one of the boys was saying, “Thank you for the treat.” I was puzzled and thinking to whom he was talking to. I lifted up my head to where the sound came and I saw him smiling at me.

Oh… those simple words had melted my heart. And the rest of the children, before they were going out through the gate, they were also saying ‘thank you’ repeatedly.  I was so touched! I felt that my hard work was paid off. They all knew about the gratitude feeling and I didn’t expect to hear it from kids like them. I kept replying them, “Your welcome, your welcome…”, as they left the house.

I just hoped that this would leave them with simple but good memory of being together creating small circle of friendship, before they were all separated into different Secondary school in two more months’ time. Good luck all of you and all the best!!! And thank you for coming! Please come again!!! :)

Wonderful day trip to Pulau Ubin :)

Bustling morning at the Changi Point Ferry Terminal

Pulau Ubin or Ubin Island is a small island situated at the northeast part of Singapore. To get there, we have to take a bumboat - about 10-minutes journey - from Changi Point Ferry Terminal, which is located near the Changi Village Hawker Center. It costs $2.50 per person per trip and the boat will depart once there are 12 pax at one time.

Welcome to Pulau Ubin! :)

It's my first time visiting it despite have been staying here more than a decade. I had heard about it many times and had always wanted to visit, but only today my dream had finally been realized :)

Few to be found in Singapore ^^

It's the last rural area in Singapore where village life still exists and only less than hundred of villagers living there now. The island is filled up with many flora and fauna with good road path for cyclist and few numbers of vans.

Bike rent

You can browse the island in few ways. The most common one is by cycling. Not to worry if you don't have a bike since once you reached the island, you can find many shops renting it. Prices are varied from $6 to $12 per day but you can bargain to get the good bike at $8.

Beautiful Lotus pond :)

You can also walk if your legs are strong, or otherwise hopping to a rented van to Chek Java at $2 per person. Other than cycling, you can camp there and do kayaking. All of us chose to rent a bike and have a great adventure around on cycling :)

Traditional Kampung House in Pulau Ubin

It's very hard to find this kind of house in Singapore. Everything is made of concrete and bricks, not wooden anymore. Such a spacious area of the house will cost millions in the heart of the city center.

Wild boar at Pulau Ubin

While cycling if you heard something on top of your head, it wasn't durian falling down from the tree, but it was the sound of the monkey who jumped and moved around the trees. There were group of wild boar crossed the road or roamed the area as well. Or perhaps squirrel or change-color lizard ran at the side of the road. Just loved the natural living of the animals there.

Picnic at House No 1, Pulau Ubin :)

In the afternoon we took a rest inside the House No 1, English Tudor style, built in the 1930s - the only house that had the fireplace  with a chimney in Singapore! This two-storey house has verandah overlooking the beautiful sea scenery. We had a picnic there with fruits, bread, tidbits and cold drinks that could be purchased from the vending machine.

Coastal broadwalk at Chek Jawa

After a break we continue walking at the nearby area, which was coastal broadwalk, making a big round walk overlooking the sea. The weather was extremely hot, however it didn't stop us from walking :)

Granite quarry at Pulau Ubin

As the name called Ubin Island, it means Granite Island. It used to produce granite in the past. However it had become quarry now.

Changi Village Nasi Lemak with Sugarcane

We cycled until almost 3pm then went back to Changi Village to taste the famous and delicious local dish called Nasi Lemak - rice cooked with coconut milk and pandan leaf, served with fried ikan bilis or anchovies, egg, chicken wing, cucumber, and sambal chilli plus a big cup and fresh sugarcane juice. Hmmm.... nyummy!!!

That would end our journey and hope you enjoy the views in the photos above. Hope all of you enjoy your weekend too and have a great day!!! :)

The Circle of Karma by Kunzang Choden

“The everyday reality of household life in rural area in Bhutan, which is very true earlier and even now.” – Flora Yang.

Thank you Tshering Cheki for gifting me this book all the way from Bhutan! Because of you, I managed to read a beautiful story written by Aum Kunzang Choden. And I just realized that I had actually had another book written by her, titled “Membar Tsho - the Flaming Lake”, gifted by Ngawang Phuntsho, the author of Then I Saw Her Face. 

 My blogger friend, Sherab Tenzin, has reviewed the book beautifully. You can read it here and so does Leoparsica in here. I won’t repeat the line story of the book as many did :)

The Circle of Karma by Kunzang Choden

From the title and the cover of the book itself, you would have an impression that it’s gonna be a story swarmed with many Buddhist teaching, perhaps full of Buddhist theory inside that would make you bored (especially if you are a non-Buddhist). Well, don’t judge too fast buddy! In fact, they wouldn’t tell you what karma is, how it works, in a theoretically way. It’s really a novel with a nice flow of story from one phase to another.

The story was about the Bhutanese life in rural area that was common to be found. The book itself was published in 2005 but somehow, the reality might still apply in current time (applied mostly to rural area). As Sherab mentioned in his review, the protagonist of the book, Tsomo, accepted herself as ‘a woman, a person who should live less ambitious and more subdued’. She said that since she wasn’t allowed and no access to be taught the religious practice by her own father, who chose his sons to pursue it instead. Woman was trained to do the household chores like cooking, weaving, etc. or otherwise helped out in the field works.

Thanks to the initiative of many young Bhutanese who introduced and delivered donated books to rural area so that many Bhutanese children (both boys and girls) were getting more access to gain the literacy. The school had also been opened to both boys and girls where many teachers put a lot of emphasize on the importance of reading, which enforced "Reading week" as an integral part of the education system, and so on.

Other than the school for the monks, there was also school for Buddhist nun, which was called Nunnery. Here, women would receive education and high leverage if empowerment, which could help in improving their living conditions and economic vitality of rural villages. So, more women like Tsomo would get a help and guidance in pursuing their goals to get the spiritual education.

There were issues brought inside the book too regarding the marriage, betrayal, separation, poverty, and so on. It highlighted many issues that real happening in and around Bhutan. It’s a very beautiful insight brought up in this story. And this too highlighted that every single thing in our lives happened for a reason. No matter how tough life would be, it would lead us to another way, if we put enough effort towards reaching our goals.

From the whole book, below are the sentences that I love most, which was taken from conversation by Tsomo’s brother, a Gomchen or a Buddhist monk, after hearing Tsomo’s painful experiences:

“I am glad you have told me everything that there is to know. Burden gets lighter when shared. Whatever had to happen has already happened. It’s all our karma. Our lives are like that lamp on the altar. We are born and we live for a while like the lamp. We can either shine brightly or flicker, but we all must die. Life is transient. We are just passing by. Think of yourself as a pilgrim on earth and in your own body because that too you must surrender. But take heart in this, a pilgrim has a definite purpose even if it is only for the duration of the pilgrimage. A pilgrim wants to accumulate merit and pray for all sentient beings. We can all choose to be pilgrims.” 

Such an awakening words!!! It won’t ask you to become a nun or monk after reading this. It’s just realization about life, what and how we pursue it, which would depend a lot on our karma.

“Many of those dying flowers will leave behind fruit buds. Just think of all the seeds we can sow. Unlike human beings, trees give forth everything they have. They never hold back anything and plan what to give and what to hold back.” 

So, remember! What you do today will mirror your future. What you are experiencing right now is what karma wants you to experience based on your past deed. In other words, “What goes around comes around”. Therefore my friends, “Be good, Do good!”

Well done Aum Kunzang Choden for writing this book. It may look simple but there were lots of hidden meaning in its story. It introduced many aspects of Bhutanese lives to the outer world too! Hope to read more of your book in the future! Tashi Delek! :)

100 Doraemon Secret Gadgets EXPO in Johor Bahru City Square, Malaysia

Yesterday I finally went to the above place!!! It's located just across the Singapore border, right after the Malaysia Immigration Checkpoint. We took bus there. This was the second time where the Expo held in Malaysia. The first one was held in Kuala Lumpur.

Initially we would like to visit it earlier this year. However, due to our busy schedules, we never made it. So, when we knew that it'd be held at the nearer place from Singapore, we decided to buy the ticket without hesitating!!! It costs RM25 each for Adult and this will go on until 4th January 2015 :)

Here we are!!! 100 Doraemon Secret Gadgets EXPO at Johor Bahru :)

It's a fate that brought all of us together. Doraemon has always been my favorite cartoon since my younger time. He always amazed me with his gadgets, brought me to the secret wonderland that could fulfill whatever wishes that I wanted. Of course, this was only existing in my deepest imagination. In real life, we all had to work hard to get what we wanted ^^

I used to spend my pocket money to buy the comics. I would slowly read it during my free time. Every Sunday morning, I would sit in front of my TV at 8am just to watch the cartoon. There were three short episodes in each series and that was enough to brighten up my day :)

Below are the pictures taken yesterday, for your viewing pleasures :)

Anywhere Door or Pintu Ajaib - Open it to whatever place that you want to go!!!

This was the first thing that I would have wanted to borrow from him!!! With this, I could go to any places, saving lots of my time and of course, money. I didn't have to raise Visa, queue through the immigration, and so on. Hehehe.. What a wonderful dream oh? ;)

Hopter or Baling Baling Bambuuuu.... - Use this to fly within city :)

This was another gadget that I could use in short distance, like to work, to my brother's place, meeting friends at Cafe, and so on. I could save taxi, bus and MRT fare with this. But not suitable for those who were afraid of height. Ahem.. ahem... :P

Pass Loop or Pass Through Hoop - To link to another place

It was almost similar, but it connected from one room to another. Still remember when Nobita built his own apartment room and using this loop to get inside. Hm..... Nice to have own room and own time, wasn't it? :)

Torch Light Minimizer - Everything will become smaller when it is lit (Just like the picture above!) :D

Hahaha.... Yes, just like the picture above!!! Everything you lit with this torch would become smaller in size!!! ;)

Memory Bread - The ever wanted gadget for those who is having exam soon!!! ;)

When it came to exam, we often had difficulty in memorizing the formula, wordings, and so on. This memory bread would come in handy and would be great for those who loved eating (just like my son!!!)

Time Machine or Mesin Waktu - Where do you want to go? Who do you want to see?

Ponder it for a while. If you were given a chance to ride onto the time machine, where would you want to go and who do you want to see? Hehehe.. Perhaps many of you would like to go to the future to see on what you'd have become in 20 years time. If you got married with your current girlfriend, had children, or stayed single forever. If you were rich or poor, successful or an asshole. Then you would want to go back to the past to change it all for the better future... Yayaya.. only if.....

Parallela Umbrella - Very useful gadget to make the beautiful girl beside you to become your wife :D

Hahaha.... Yes yes... Open this umbrella, stand beside her for five minutes, and she would be yours... That's your dream too, wasn't it? That's how my hubby tricked me into marriage!!! Lolx!!! Kidding :P

Cupid's Arrow - Let the potion worked to both of you!!!

If the above umbrella wasn't powerful enough, let the cupid played its role. Let him shoot the arrow to your partner and make her yours! This photo reminded me of my hubby's courting time. We were sitting on the roof just like the scene above during Chinese New Year at my home sweet home. It was flooding - no where to go - and lots of mosquitoes at home. The rooftop became the perfect place to chill and unwind below the moon and the stars. Perhaps that was when my son from his previous life shot the cupid's arrow to both of us :D

Well, there were more things there actually, which I couldn't show it one by one. If you loved it, go and see it for yourself. Enjoy your time there with all the exhibitions there and have lots of great fun like what we did.

After a long walk over a not-so-big space, we were quite tired and having a break at the Doraemon Cafe that was located at the 4th floor of the mall.

Doraemon Cafe at Johor Bahru City Square

We had tasted the real Memory Bread and Dorayaki (Doraemon's favorite snack), accompanied with a cup of hot chocolate (topped with Doraemon's face figure). My two besties joined us in the afternoon and we had really enjoyed our time together!

So, hope you enjoy looking at the pictures and if you can watch Doraemon series at your contry, go and watch it or otherwise find it online. Soak yourself into the dream land once in a while and be happy!!! :)

Rest in Peace...

Pic source: firstcovers.com

The above was one of her favorite quotes that she wrote on her Facebook. As the owner of the travel agent cum tour leader, traveling was definitely her passion in life. She had visited many places in this earth, as cold as Alaska, as dangerous as Afghanistan, as dry as Ethiopia, as tropical as Caribbean.

A cheerful lady who was blessed with a great and loving husband and gave birth to a cute little daughter. Both had beautified and colored her life.

She was my schoolmate back in Senior High School, but we didn't know each other as we were never in the same class before. In fact, I knew about her only few years ago, that's also from my Mom, who often enrolled her tour from her company.

Truthfully, I never met her in person, but I contacted her before through message on phone and Facebook. Once, she messaged me and asked me if I was free on certain dates as she had free ticket to Seoul to depart from Singapore. I was surprised for her remembrance. She knew I loved to travel, moreover independently. That's why she offered me that. Too bad I couldn't get away on the dates that she offered. But I was grateful that she thought of me.

Now she's gone. Three days ago I heard from my bestie that she was flown by chartered flight and admitted emergency to one of the hospital here. She had tumors on her brain and lung. Previously she survived from the cancer. She had been coma for 9 days and awoke on the day my bestie told me about her. I even asked my bestie if we should visit her since she was admitted here in Singapore. My bestie told me that we should have waited until the condition got better.

Just hours ago I saw message pouring in her Facebook. Many her friends sent condolences message for her departure.

Life, short as it is...

We'll never know when our time will come

Today I can look smiley and cheerful

In a moment I may be gone and leave this world forever

So, before that time comes...

Make sure that at every second, every minutes...

Do what you love doing...

Go to the place you have always wanted to go...

Meet, call, or message that someone...

Tell your feeling that you want them to know

If it's love, thank you, and even sorry...

Never wait until tomorrow, as it may never come

Forgive everyone everything

As we are all just a human being who often make mistakes in life

In the end, always live your life to the fullest...

That's what I always tell to you... 

Hope you will never get bored but it's just a reminder on how fragile our live is

So my dear friend, although we've never met each other before, I'd heard a lot about you. All was saying that you'd been a down to earth, good and caring person. May God bless you wherever you go and rest in peace. I will remember you always...

Awaken

"The process of creation is the same for all things, whether you want to bring something to you or remove something negative from your life. 

If you have a habit you wish to break; or anything negative you wish to remove from your life, you must focus on what you want. That means you visualize and imagine yourself in the negative-free state right now. Imagine yourself in as many scenes as you possibly can where the negative situation is completely absent. Imagine yourself happy and free. Eliminate any picture from your mind of you with the negative situation. Just imagine yourself in the state you want to be in, and feel that you are that, right now." 

- Rhonda Byrne - 

Daily Teaching day 170

The above quotes awoke me from my nightmare. The long resting day plus the realization have helped me to break my dreamy world. Like a hammer bang onto my head, made a loud sound to knock my soul that I’d left asleep for a longer time.

I found the root of my problem and realized that I didn’t actually need it. I thought I should have it, to make my life complete. I thought I should control it and make it become mine. The terror of living in the falsehood, treachery, hidden truth, made me startled and honesty abused.

Oprah Winfrey quote (Source: Google.com)

It took me some time, a step by step effort, to reduce the intensity, to go back to where I was, and slowly into where I am now. I looked around and realized that the treasures had always been with me all the time, even more than what I requested. Only that, I always looked for what I didn’t have in life instead of focusing on what I had.

Indeed, it took time to realize but I’m thankful that the day has finally come. I know what I want and I already have it with me. It is even more than what I've imagined.

In order to find it, I need a non-stop effort, a never-give-up approach, and most importantly to love myself, wanting to let the wound heal and go away completely from my life, even the memories itself.

Thank you SB for the courage to push my inner heart, to do what I ought to do. Thank you for making me grateful on what I have and treasure it while it’s still around. I'm indeed grateful as I am now having what many others don't even have in their lives - honesty, respect, two-way and open communication, to love and be loved. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again for having me awaken from this Maya :)

The All You Can Dream Buffet by Barbara O'Neal

"If you can dream it, you can do it!"

Below is the synopsis written behind the book:

"Popular blogger and foodie queen Lavender Wills reigns over Lavender Honey Farms,  a serene slice of organic heaven nestled in Oregon wine country. Lavender is determined to keep her legacy from falling into the profit-driven hands of uncaring relatives, and she wants an heir to sustain get life's work after she's gone. So she invites her three closest online friends - fellow food bloggers, women of varied ages and background - out to her farm. She hopes to choose one of them to inherit it - but who? 

There's Ginny, the freckle-faced Kansas cake baker whose online writing is about to lead her out of a broken marriage and into a world of sensual delights. And Ruby, young, pregnant, devoted to the organic movement, who's looking for roots - and the perfect recipe to heal a shattered heart. Finally, Val, smart and sophisticated, a wine enthusiast who needs a fresh start for her teenage daughter after tragedy has rocked their lives. Coming together will change the Foodie Four in ways they could never have imagined, uniting them in love and a common purpose. As they realize that life doesn't always offer a perfect recipe for happiness, they also discover that the moments worth savoring are flavored with some tears, a few surprises, and generous helpings of joy."

First word that caught my attention was 'blogger'. Second, 'foodie'. I immediately picked the book from the library shelf and brought it home with sheer happiness :)

Within days I finished reading it. It described a lot about the Lavender farm, where the four women met, which reminded me of my visit to a Lavender farm in Tasmania just few months ago. I could imagine easily on how it looked like in the story.

It talked about friendship and relationship too! Women and their troubles in life! One way or another all of us face problems in life, which is very realistic kind of story. And with support and encouragement from dear friends, it makes us becoming a stronger human being and eventually we can find out what we really want in our life.

Hhmmmm.... For me, the title really fitted the feeling that I had while reading it. It made me daydreaming a lot when it talked about the trailer journey. Again, it brought my mind back to the Tasmania, where we saw many people driving it.

My dream holiday! ^^

In my imagination, you can use it as a place to sleep, to cook, to take a bath, etc. You can even blog from there too! It's mobile and can transport you wherever you want to go. You can stop somewhere with a view overlooking a beautiful and peaceful lake, for example, then build a camp and campfire nearby, picnic, fishing, etc. Or you can stop by at the roadside to indulge yourself with mountainous view or to see sunset right in front of you. How does it sound? ;)

Imagine that you can open the window that locates just above your bed where you can gaze at the dark sky filled with bright moon and billion stars! You can whip up delicious salad, pasta, even dessert from that small kitchen inside with fresh ingredients purchased from the nearby local farm. Huh! It made me wanting to try or experience it once in my lifetime! OMG!!!

I immediately shared the book to my besties whom I traveled with to Tasmania and asked them perhaps we could try taking trailer for our trip next year, when time and fate permit. Hehe.. I even told my hubby that one day, three of us - he, our dear Baobei, and I - should have tried it out in Australia. All you can dream buffet huh? ;)

Well, I don't know what you will feel after reading it but it gives me dream to look forward, which I have no idea if I ever have a chance to fulfill, and the sense of familiarity with the figures in the story (as we are woman, blogger, and given with problem in life too). I think this story will fit more to women and I hope you enjoy reading it as I did! :)

Finally! A relaxing night at home sweet home :)

It's been a very long week for me. Since Monday I had been busy with my mundane monthly tasks up to this evening. So when the clock ticks to 6.15pm, I left my working place almost immediately.

Reached home slightly late after meeting up with besties for dinner. Although windy, I still longed for having a nice hot water shower with a nice perfumed smell bath gel. Hmmmm...... It released all my tiredness and I was telling myself that I should have it tonight! A chilling time with some drink and snacks, tidbits, whatsoever,  with relaxing music in background and not forgotten the yellow dimmed light on my dining room. Uppsss... plus accompany of my dear hubby! ^^

I searched high and low for the right drink-to-be. No soft drink nor juices inside my fridge. I had a leftover red wine. Not wanting to open a new bottle of Vodka (since only two of us), I decided to open another new bottle of red wine.

Russian Bar Choco Liquor

I started it with the leftover red wine plus the Russian Bar choco liquor that I bought in Moscow. I tasted two of the flavors - Cahors wine and cognac-soaked ashberry. The liquor weren't as strong as I was expected, but the choco taste was not bad.

Once the first glass had finished, I opened a new bottle and took the second glass. I felt a bit hungry ha-ha... I took a look inside the fridge and decided to make toast for supper :D *hownottogetfat!!!

I put small size cut of bacon on top of the pan. It sizzled noisily and I left it for a while. I reheat the oven and prepared the aluminum foil, topped it with four slices of wholemeal bread. I scooped the tomato paste onto the bacon once it got brownish and added some black pepper coarse and garlic to it. When boiled, I poured it on top of the bread and sprinkled with shredded Mozzarella cheese then put it inside the hot oven. After 10 minutes, Voila!!! The toasts were ready and it's time to eat.

Great home cooked supper ^^

Hmmmm..... a great accompany with my red wine. The slow music was still playing on the background. The warm food, tasty flavor wine made me a little sleepy now. Hope you enjoy your weekend everyone! Those who live in Singapore, have a great long weekend! :)

A gift from Bhutanese blogger ;)

It's a very hectic day today in the office. Since morning until evening time I kept concentrating myself on the month-end closing. I didn't even go for a walk this afternoon like what I used to do after the meal.

I purposely rushed finishing my work so that I could go out from my office on time. I had an appointment to meet up with Tenzin who came to Singapore to attend the training. He brought a gift from someone you may know, a Bhutanese blogger who currently studies in CST, Phuentsholing, none other than Tshering Cheki :)

I knew her purely from her blog about a year ago. She loves to write poems and interesting short story. And this time, since Tenzin, her friend's fiance had a chance to come to Singapore, she took this great chance to pass me one of the well-known Bhutanese novels, The Circle of Karma, written by Kunzang Choden. Wow! It's a great addition to my Bhutanese book collection! Thank you so much la Cheki! :)

Too bad both Tenzin and I were both in hurry of doing other things or otherwise I would love to buy him tea or dinner before he and his friend left. But luckily they managed to visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple before my arrival so at least they could go there to convey their pray and message to the Buddha. I don't know about him. But for me, being able to look at the Buddha statue abroad made me feeling like home. It felt so close to heart. So familiar and warm :)

Thank you Tenzin for your time and effort in passing the gift to both of us. It's very kind of you to do that for us. I appreciate your help very very much la!

The Circle of Karma by Kunzang Choden

And thank you Cheki for your beautiful belated Birthday gift! I will try to read it soon and let you know how the story is.

I am glad that through blog, we've created a beautiful friendship here. As we share the same passion on reading and writing, gifting the book has been the best choice to make :)