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 :)