Cheers to 20 years, Overcome Life!!! :)

Cheers!!! :)

Just realised now that this blog has been with me for 20 years now. Wow!!! Look how far I have grown and how much memories and moments I have made! It is incredible!!! It is really like a diary, that I can open anytime, to see what kind of event I went through, what mood I experienced, what songs I listened to, what lesson I learned, and so on. 

Life has been good for the past 20 years and of course it is without hiccups in between. Many things I want to forget, many things I still want to do too. I am still grateful for everything, especially for the good health (15 years of SLE and still going strong), only that I prefer a slow life these days with handful of people who are close to my heart. 

Could not believe how many countries I have been to for the past 20 years and that was the drive of living my life to the fullest while my legs still can walk.

I know one day I will be gone from this world. But as long as I live, I will still write what I want to write, express all what I feel. Just as when as I want, have feeling and have time. 

Time to sleep now. Once again, cheers to 20 years reeverking.blogspot. Thank you for being there for me always and all the readers (if you are still there to read my non sense post or just to see beautiful photos that I share).

Wish everyone be blessed with good health and happiness. Take care and smile always :) Hope there will be more decades to go in this blog journey. Cheers.... :)))

One year since I last worked

Be positive, be happy :) (Pic source: Google.com)

Yalama!!! Time flies mo? It's been a year since I was last being employed. Then onwards, I had gone through many places all over the world, be it meeting my siblings in Australia, Hong Kong, and Jakarta, and accompanying my dear parents for checking up at Malaysia. Went for holidays with dear Baobei also to Hong Kong and Jakarta.

I guess, that's all for now. I really want to travel on my own enjoyment to Bangkok right now or celebrate the upcoming Birthday somewhere with my dear friend, who understand me as a person, and willing to accompany me drinking as the clock ticks away.

Life is in your hands (Pic source: Google.com)

A year without working. It all seemed like a dream. No income obviously, but I've been living my life to the fullest. Even if I stayed at home, I'd spend my time doing things I loved doing, like cooking, meeting friends, reading, watching movies, and so on. The privileges that working people couldn't get. The free time. Monday to Sunday.

I've enjoyed all my time to the fullest. And I guess, it will soon be over. Need to get to workplace again, gain salary, saving parts of it for the necessities and next holiday plans, and so on. Nevertheless, I've been felling grateful for what life has brought me this far. I'm truly and indeed grateful. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

Whatever will be, will be (Pic source: Google.com)

Perhaps I'll spare another month? Let's see where my fate brings me into. This will be one of those posts I wrote about my feelings instead of what I usually wrote. No one knows what future will be. Many goes to fortune teller to give them clues what their lives would be in this year or next year to come. I choose to resign my fate to nature, let the fate brings me where I should go. Everyone's fate is different. This is for sure.

Cheers....!!! :)

No matter what, I choose to be positive all throughout my life journey. May Buddha bless everyone, every sentient beings, who are struggling in this Samsaric worlds. With this post, I wish everyone is blessed with good health, be happy, free from suffering, life full of peace and joy. Whatever will come, I'll have to face them bravely. Wish me luck!!! ;)

After 8 years of SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythemathosus)

Keep dreaming :)

I just reread my own blog post that I wrote 3 years ago. I guess, things haven't changed much since that day, except that I've fulfilled more destination dreams in my life, especially last year and this year. I've fulfilled my dreams to visit Reykjavik  (as the city name resembles my nick name - Rima Reyka - and produces Reyka vodka), and at the same time I was very lucky being able to watch the Aurora Borealis (northern light) - never thought that I'd ever seen it in my life.

I've visited many other places that I'd never visited before too, like Russia, Korea, Vietnam, etc. I've fulfilled my dreams to visit the beautiful and romantic place of Taj Mahal, and to where Dalai Lama resides (Dharamsala). Never expected that the younger days' dream to visit the Buddha pilgrimage sites such as: Lumbini in Nepal, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Tso Pema in India, China's Silk Road, etc., have also been accomplished!!! I've even traveled to more places in India like Kolkata, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and so on.

I'm very lucky too for visiting Bhutan 3 times in 4 years' time. Visited many places from west to east, to the south, that the Bhutanese themselves were amazed with the extent of the places I'd been too. It was all thanks to everyone who had been willing to invite me there, bring me around, let me stay at their houses, and cooked Bhutanese meals for me everyday. I've become more like a Bhutanese now :)

Usually I'd fly alone then meet up with friend/ friends there. But many times I travelled with my parents, sometimes with hubby or with son, also with siblings to create our memories together.

I've visited my sisters and stayed for some time too as to spend more time with them and their families - Australia for a month and Hong Kong for two weeks. Maybe soon I need to go home and stay longer with my parents :D

I'm very grateful that for the past 8 years my SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythemathosus) condition is quite stable. With my visit to Hong Kong this year end, it reminded me how it was all started. Read more about it here.

Yesterday (on Christmas day), I went hiking at Sai Kung Country Park - eastern part of New Territories. I'd heard about the place before and when my cousin, Jessica, invited us (my brother, my sister, their families, my son, and I) to hike there on Christmas day, I was so much excited!!!

Our hiking at Sai Kung Country Park, Hong Kong :)

She explained the territory to us beforehand. At first she said it would be around 11 km long and the trail would be up and down. So the expecting time to finish the trail would be around 4 hours. In the beginning I was hesitating if I could do it because on Christmas Eve we went out until late and walked a lot. My period was about to come too. Also, usually my morning walk in Singapore took me only around two hours time while the trail was quite easy to walk.

Despite all that, I told myself, "Rima, let's try!! Isn't it what you're looking for? Basking yourself in nature is what you're looking for right now. Since someone is willing to guide you, why miss the opportunity???" Therefore, I told my brother that I'd join them if my period had not started yet in the morning. So, I joined them and 4 of us went together :)

Beautiful mountains view at Sai Kung Country Park 

The terrain was really as what she mentioned. It was full of ups and downs. In between, we passed by 4 beautiful beaches (Sai Wan or West Beach, Tai Lang or Big Wave Beach, Sian Tian or Salty Field Beach, and Tung Wan or East Beach). We walked with total distance of 13.2 km for almost 4 hours time. We had lunch break in the middle (after passing the wooden bridge at Sian Tian Beach).

This hike showed me what life was really like. I started it with mixed feelings (mostly happy and exciting to see what lies next) and full of energy. I felt happy when the slope was going down (just like finishing one task successfully in life, e.g. finishing study), but prepared myself that it would be the beginning of another slope up (just like starting a new job). It required hard work, sweat, and determination to reach the top. But once you're there, you'd see the beautiful view from the top. That was when your hard work paid off - satisfaction. From there, things got easier again, then up again, until you reached your destination.

Live is short. Enjoy it to the fullest!!! :)

I felt great when finally accomplished the trails. I was just like the rest of the people who were in good health. Even the healthy ones were not necessary able to hike like that hehe...

So, let this year's Christmas hiking would be my celebration for surviving 8 years from SLE. My mind set is rather pessimistic though. I always tell everyone that I live my life as if I'll die tomorrow. They all immediately knocked the wood 3 times when I said "life is short, who knows I'll die tomorrow."

My wishing stones built at Ta Lang Beach - Sai Kung Country Park, Hong Kong 

It's reality though. Everyone will go there one day. It's just a matter of time, 'when?' I just want to fill my day with happiness. Forget the unhappiness. Let it go altogether with what causes it. And at the end, only peace will remain. Let's see how many more years I'll be able to continue living and celebrating more surviving years from SLE. For the rest of SLE owners, hope you are blessed with long life and stable condition. So you can reach for your dreams like I do, live your life to the fullest!!! You can do it!!! :)

Lonely 14th Wedding Anniversary

"Dear, take leave come here then we go back together lah :)" My hubby sent me this message on second day he reached my hometown together with both my parents. "You plan lah. Come few days then we go back together. I pay for your flight. I walk up and down the house alone. Very lonely. That's how your papa feel when mama not around," continued his message.

"Sorry, I cannot go. Month end closing. Very busy. Need to handover my job. Next time ok?" replied me and sent him my office schedule calendar. "See June calendar? Closing at first week," continued my message.

"Icic... nvm then," replied him sadly.

That was more than three weeks ago. And when my mom asked him when he would fly back home, he was asking me whether to go back on 3rd or 6th June, but at the end, he chose another later date than both his dates offered above. Ckckck... 

I think he didn't remember on our Anniversary date. Haiz... And I would be very busy anyway... After working late last night, this morning I had to reach office before 8.30am (our usual working hour). And today was Saturday!!!

Sunrise from Jakarta on our Anniversary day :)

On my way to office, I received his message on my phone, "Morning my dear. Happy 14th wedding anniversary! I love u too! For you my dear :) Waiting for boat. At the jetty now." 

Clear bluish water perfect with coffee and cigarette!!!

He, my mom, and relatives were heading for a 2-day 1-night trip at one of thousands islands not far from my hometown. A small island with a beautiful view, good for diving and snorkeling.

My 'spy' mom took his photo while sunbathing :P

While he enjoyed sunbathing, nice lunch and tea break in the evening, my son too was enjoying great lunch and dinner with my brother and his families. And left me struggling in my office with reports and training new staff who would replace me when I'm gone.

Gratitude treat from Ms Millioneoil ^^

Luckily my dear colleague, Ms Millioneoil, treated me a big packet of delicious local dish, Nasi Lemak, together with a bowl of dessert (3-in-1 bean curd rice balls), bought from Mr Bean. She didn't know how much it meant for me and she felt shy as I kept thanking her for the simple yet meaningful treats for me.

Sunset from Pulau Seribu - Indonesia

I finally finished my work at 5.30pm. And on my way back home, I received another photo from hubby. This time, he sent me the sunset photo from the island ^^" And while I was having a bowl of instant noodle with egg alone at home, my brother sent me their photos (including my son's) having delicious Thai food at the restaurant near their house. 

Here I'm alone tonight, lying on my bed, enjoying a cool breeze seeping from my window panes, trying to jot down this special day with an extraordinary feelings that I have ^^ 

Be it alone or together, I just want to convey my gratitude for the chance, time and fate we all have since a very first time of our meeting in this life. Fourteen years have passed but our feelings remain the same, as loving as before. Here, let me put my feeling that I expressed before here on my blog, towards my other half. Dear, wherever you are, let me wish you Happy 14th Anniversary to you too... Hope many more years to come, to be spent and to grow old with you!!!

Love, me :)

Many happy days on 14th February 2016

Happy Valentine's and Happy Birthday! 14th February 2016

Many happy days? Yeah! First of all, Happy Valentine's Day for anyone who celebrated, especially those who were in love with their loved ones. It could be their boyfriend/ girlfriend, spouse, parents, best friends, friends, etc.

The best gift on earth - nature :)

It's a great earning's day for flower seller (especially roses) on that special day too as flower symbolised their love feeling towards their loved ones. Did I get any? Yeah, from nature surrounding me ;)

Second, it fell on 7th day of lunar calender, which for Chinese, it signified everyone's Birthday or they called it "Ren Ri" 人日. So, Happy Birthday everyone! ^^

Toss prosperity dish with besties :)

It's the day where we ate 7 types of vegetables and sometimes it's the day where we would toss the prosperity dishes called Yu Sheng 鱼生 or Lo Hei 捞起 in Cantonese. While tossing it, many good words (in Chinese) were shouted as it increased our confidence and believe that thing would follow accordingly, such as: 身体健康 (shen ti jian kang) wish for good health, 万事如意 (wan shi ru yi) wish for good luck, 年年有余 (nian nian you yu) abundance throughout the year, 天天秘密 (tian tian mi mi) sweet days everyday, and so on.

Our ritual CNY reunion dinner at home sweet home :)

Apart from the two happy days above, we also entered the 5th year staying at our house. Time indeed flew. Still remember the night when my hubby and I went and return for so many times to transfer our goods from the old house. It was such an exercise but we were happy and exciting for finally moving in. It's still a great place to stay, a simple and humble place where I could find my peace and serenity :)

Joy and tears altogether :D

And last but not least, it also marked our 1st month Anniversary working in this company (me and my colleague) ^^ It wasn't easy time to go through but we finally went over our first month end closing. From missing the bus to stay over  midnight. From messaging the wrong person to entering the wrong door. We had our laughter and tears in such a short month! The pain that we had to go through, it's worth it though. And it's not ended yet! Still more months to come!

Have a blessed Monkey year ahead! :)

I wish things will go smoothly this year. Wish everyone's dreams and hopes will come true. And people will live in peace and harmony, blessed with abundance of love and happiness! Wish all of you have a wonderful journey! All the best! ^^

Happy 11th Anniversary Overcome Life!!! Share with you beautiful sunset from Punggol! :)

Happy 11th Anniversary Overcome Life! :)

Oh dear, time goes by so quickly! And today, it marks the 11th year of my blog - Overcome Life :)

A slice of Red Velvet cake to celebrate the special day! :)

As I put on my post before, "Without readers, writer is no value." Therefore, here, I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to everyone who have been following my blog all this while, reading the blog post/s of mine, leaving your beautiful and supporting comment/s, gaining the travel information on where to visit, what to eat, and so on. I hope somehow it might bring any help, inspiration, lasting moments into your life journey. Also thank you for the friendships that you offered and hope it will last forever. Thank you, thank you, and thank you everyone!!! :)

And on this special day, we were blessed with such a perfect weather. As I cycled this evening nearby the area where I stay, I managed to catch the beauty of sunset and nature, a great Almighty's creation. Let me share what I captured with you below (all was with no filter - original color taken from my mobile phone), and I hope it would expand your loves towards the nature surrounded you as well; let us be grateful with their existence in this world and not to take them for granted. Enjoy!!! :)

Sunset with beautiful flowers and trees at Punggol :) 

Sunset near Punggol Marina :)

Punggol beach view taken from Punggol Jetty :)

The Singapore - Malaysia sea border - Northeast part of Singapore - Punggol :)

Returning back to catch that beautiful sunset! Punggol :)

Ohh... its beauty melted my heart!!! Sunset at Punggol :)

Its fullness before it slowly disappeared behind the clouds - Sunset at Punggol :)

Magnificent sunset view at Punggol :)

I stood there and watched it til the end - Such a beautiful view! Felt blessed!!! :)

Before leaving the area, the marvelous view after sunset at Punggol :) 

It isn't goodbye

The sun sets so that it can rise again tomorrow

With the departure of the sun

It welcome the arrival of moon and stars

Therefore, be hopeful and grateful always

For today that we manage to overcome

And for tomorrow that we still manage to live

Wish you all well, be happy and life filled full of love always!

Take care and stay safe!  

~ Overcome Life ~

18th November 2015 

With my warmest regards and lots of love - Writer of Overcome Life :)

Happy 60th Birth Anniversary Fourth Druk Gyalpo - HM Jigme Singye Wangchuck :)

Birthday wishes for Forth Druk Gyalpo :)

Today let me join and convey my heartfelt wishes for His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck who is the Fourth Druk Gyalpo (forth King of Bhutan) 60th Birth Anniversary - 11th November 2015.

Faraway from Singapore I could feel the happiness and this joyful occasion celebrated by Bhutanese all over the world, and it started from the home ground, of course.

Thimphu city celebrating 60th Birthday of Forth Bhutan King (Photo courtesy: Ugyen Lhendup)

Thimphu city was decorated beautifully with colorful Bhutan flags, King's photos, and many other auspicious decorations giving a joyful atmosphere and happiness to its citizens. Other activities and performances were held to public too at the Clock Tower. Lightings at night beautified the already beautiful city!

60th Birthday of Fourth Druk Gyalpo Celebration from Samcholing MSS (Photo courtesy: Rupa Gurung)

A three-day holiday is spent well with celebration and many activities in and outside the city. Schools are not exception. Reading year was also a tribute in conjunction with King's Birthday this year.

Everyone, includes villagers, they are all celebrating this special day by reciting long live prayer, singing, dancing, etc.

Celebration and warm wishes from Bhutanese in Melbourne (Photo courtesy: Flora Yang)

No matter how far it is from home country, Bhutanese are proud of their King, who had contributed a lot for the development of their country, especially measured by GNH (Gross National Happiness) rather than the measure of GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

Students celebrating the joyous occasion from outside Bhutan (Photo courtesy: Kipchu)

Bhutanese students were celebrating this joyous occasion too organised within themselves, like the one posted above, combined with the Diwali (festival of lights) celebration that falls on the same day. They cooked delicious curry, sang Bhutanese songs, danced, and finally cut the Birthday cake reaching midnight.

Many of them will gather at the Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi today. Not just those studying in New Delhi, but also from outside.

How I wish there is Bhutan Embassy in Singapore too and if I could join the festivity with many other Bhutanese who live here in Singapore! ^^

Nevertheless, I'm happy here and here my humble and gratitude post to Forth Druk Gyalpo for becoming such an inspiration to your citizens and many other people like me worldwide :) Wish you be healthy and happy always Your Majesty! Long live to you! :)

Happy 12th Wedding Anniversary! :)

I still remember twelve years ago, we were holding our wedding banquet dinner at the local Chinese restaurant serving Cantonese food, called Fatty Weng, which was located nearby Singapore Badminton Hall. It was a very decent and modest place. Even the location brought many question marks on why we held it there.

We were both very young in early twenties, didn’t earn much and had low expectation on how to celebrate the grandest day of our life. My hubby followed much on his cousin’s advice who got married earlier than him by a year. He respected him very much and found his opinions and suggestions practical and so much realistic.

Our wedding photo wearing Chinese wedding attire :)

His cousin, AK, said, “How often you open your wedding photo album and have a look? Therefore, you don’t have to spend so much on it. Better use the money for other necessity required after getting married.”

We really didn’t spend much luxury on both compared with what other couple spent on their weddings.

Nowadays, people took their wedding photo overseas, not Johor Bahru in Malaysia, but anywhere around the globe such as: Europe, USA, Taiwan, Australia, etc. They held their wedding dinner at the five-star hotel ballroom, in which one table for 10 on average could cost S$1288++ during weekend.

Fyi, there was a case where a Singaporean couple spent S$110,000 on their wedding and they ended up having a very heavy debt to settle. It’s said that their bridal cost S$12,000 consisting 999 fresh tulips from Holland and a wedding banquet of 45 tables at the Marina Bay area (six-star hotel), which cost S$1,688++ per table.

We rented our wedding clothes and took our wedding photo at the same bridal shop that his cousin took, and we also hired the same restaurant as him, inviting our families, relatives, dear friends and colleagues, sharing and witnessing our happiness for being together by serving them a humble dinner. The food was very nice though, only that the place itself was a very typical Chinese restaurant, decorated in red and white with stage in front, and not so fancy for a young couple like us, much more traditional way though he-he...

My family members from both parents’ side were there. Most of them flew purposely from overseas to attend my wedding, including my late grandmother. My hubby’s families and relatives, buddies and their families, also attended it. Not forgetting some of my college’s mates who were in Singapore, my then Bosses and colleagues, and especially my dear buddies (including Celipu and her hubby plus Aileen), they were all there sharing my happiness together. Thank you everyone for coming and giving your support! Especially to my parents who had been supporting me with every single thing! I appreciated it very much! Since, you know, I was a foreigner living in a foreign land. So, your presence meant a lot for me. Thank you, thank you, and thank you everyone!!!

This restaurant had been there for many years since 1967. I didn’t know much about it as I didn’t grow up in Singapore. However, it seemed that many couple had celebrated their wedding dinner there. It’s just so sad that we couldn’t find it anymore. It’s been closed down. Saw it online that they have moved to Smith Street in Chinatown.

Therefore, tonight, instead of having our ritual Anniversary celebration at Jack’s Place Restaurant, I requested my hubby to have dinner at the shifted Fatty Weng Restaurant in Chinatown. We couldn’t feel nostalgic though since the place was completely different. But no matter what, I still could recall what happened that night. That was the happiest and the prettiest day of my life :)

Anniversary dinner at Fatty Weng Restaurant :)

Happy Anniversary dear! Thank you for your endless love that you gave to me. Hope to celebrate many more years together and grow old with you. You are and always be my true love!!! ^^

OCBC Cycling 2014

OCBC 2014

It's my fifth attempt joining the OCBC Cycling with my fellow colleagues and besties this year :)

OCBC 2010 to 2014

I'm very happy and grateful that most of us managed to finish our journey safely. Read here about what other people experienced and that's why I felt very grateful that we were all safely returned from our ride despite some complained about the delay.

We started late today as there was a serious accident at the first turn, during the second wave of the Challenge (40 km ride), which required the organizer to deploy an ambulance on the route. It caused the 30-minutes delay on the Community Ride (27 km) participants. We supposed to start at 7 am.

And due to this delay, many cyclists couldn't continue riding as the road had to be opened (missed the cut-off timing). Fyi, they closed the main road that usually opened for vehicles for this event. However, there was a cut-off timing. See the picture below for your info.

Note on cut-off time

At one point, few of my colleagues had to discontinue their cycling. They had no choice but to send their bicycles on top of the truck. They boarded on the bus provided. They waited somewhere until the truck reached. Then, they waited for quite some time until their bicycles unloaded and collected it back. After that, they continued riding until the finish line.

Mr Sunny said hello when we were about to start :)

I started my ride at 7.35 am, just nice the sun had just risen into the sky. It was round and beautiful in orange. Good that the sky was clear and no haze around.

Waiting for our turn to start

This time there were more participants too. See the photo above. We were all patiently waiting while the Starting line was still far in front of us.

The journey this time was 3 km longer than the previous one. There were few slopes up and down during the journey, which made my both legs pain enough hahaha... :D There were numbers of accidents seen along the way that I had to keep reminding myself and praying that all of us to be safe until reaching the destination.

After 1 hour and 35 minutes, I finally reached the finish line. Thank Buddha that nothing bad happened to all of us, except for the delay. I was enjoying the ride during the whole journey. It was the only time where I could feel free riding alone on such a wide road and highway, especially when the bike was riding down the slope. I shouted sometimes to release the tension hahaha...

There were many people wearing funny clothes spotted during this event. Enjoy the pictures below and hope all of you had a wonderful weekend too!!! :)

Fun times at F1 Pit - OCBC Cycling 2014

Happy 45th Anniversary my dear Pa and Ma

On their wedding day - The happiest day of their lives :)

Today it signifies the years they have been together. Both of them have gone through lots of ups and downs these past 45 years. Wow, almost half century!!!

My handsome Pa and beautiful Ma were born at different islands in Indonesia as all my grandparents settled at different places from mainland China many years ago. They both came from quite a big family. They met each other in the capital city, Jakarta, a place where I was born and grew up. The houses that they both stayed were located not far from each other. Called it fate? Or destiny?

On their wedding dinner :)

My father was 22 years old while my Mom was only 18 when they both got married. My brother and I followed our parents’ step of getting married early (although not as early as our Mum), as we would love to remain young by the time our children had grown up hehe… Not long after they got married, my Mom got pregnant and my eldest sis was born.

Traveling is their ways of enjoying life :)

Just like any other Chinese family, my parents hoped for having more sons in the family and they finally had my brother as a third child. But it wasn’t enough. My mom kept trying and until the last one came out, which was me, who was another baby girl. Only then they decided to stop. By that time, I was the fifth in the family.

Their romantic behavior envied us all the time

My Mom has spent most of her time as a full-time housewife. She took care of a shop before but Pa preferred her to take care of us instead. What a right step and sacrifice that my Mom took, and all because of us, the family.

Only two of them understand their jokes and Pa always makes her smile :)

Pa moved out to the capital since he was still a teenager. He had to work out and help out to develop my grandpa’s shop in the island where he was born. He had other ten siblings in the family. Although he wasn’t the eldest, he held a very big responsibility to take care of the family.

He would always bring my Mom exploring the world :)

I am very proud of him. In my eyes, he is the wisest, the most responsible father and brother, the most generous person, and the most loyal I’ve ever known. His love for my Mom is never ending. Since the day he fell for her until now.

After 45 years two of them multiplied to 19 of us :)

They both have gone through the thick and thin together, with us among their colorful life journey. We are so proud of both of you, Pa and Ma! Happy 45th Anniversary once again. Wish you both blessed with a very good health, life full of joy, love and happiness!!! Love you both always!!!