The pain

Joint pain (Pic source: Google.com)

I still remembered it was started on my first day. It had been so long I had not done any work and it was inevitable that the back of my right shoulder and the left side of my back were terribly pain for the whole night. The Japanese koyo (medicated plaster) that I bought from my trip recently was made in a very good use. Two patches were pasted on the different parts of my skin and it worked really effectively. The pain was gone the next morning, like a miracle!!!

Few days after I had no problem at all. It seemed that my body had adjusted to the rhythm and the movement. Even before my period came, my body seemed so energetic. I could do so much work in a day within short period of time, and nothing happened. I heard complains from every one else about how pain their knees were from the long standing. But they were all in their sixties and above, not young chap like me. So, inevitable right?

Until about two weeks later, I felt my left ankle swollen for no reason. Well, there might be a reason - standing up too long - but it would not make sense. I mean, I had no complain when walking a lot usually. But swollen ankle and I had to walk limping was quite a bad sign. Not only that. My back shoulder and near butt part were paining too!!! OMG!

That night my dear was kindheartedly rubbing the muscle pain reliever cream onto all affected parts of my body. Earlier, I too rubbed the Chinese medicated ointment that claimed able to reduce swollen into the ankle. Miraculously, those efforts done last night, plus love and hearts put onto it, able to make the pain disappeared!!! Wow!!! The next morning, I would be able to walk like nothing ever happened!!!

Enough sleep and rest helped the process of the recovery too!!!

Then, the week after that. The pain came almost every day in different parts of my body.

One day, it attacked the back part of my left foot. Another day, the pain attacked my whole neck area. The next day, it numbed my right hand - a bit swollen - looked like water retention, but soon reduced when afternoon came. The other day it attacked my left wrist. After that my upper part of right arms. Then left upper arms. It just came and went non-stop, testing my patience and endurance.

The past few days it attacked my left knees. When I squatted down, the pain was there and it made me wanting to cry. One time I felt like just staying at home and doing nothing but taking a rest. But the pain would go after it gave me enough pain, disappeared miraculously, just like that.

Another time, I had to take the painkiller to remove the pain.

I had the urine and blood check up. Just nice, the check-up time arrived. A week later, the doctor told me the result was fine. Nothing was there to worry about. She said, it was normal to feel the pain. If unbearable, take the painkiller. What an advise!!!

I was still considered young and not reaching retirement age yet. However, my body was worse than people in those ages. I was wondering if I did not have this SLE, would I still experience all these pain??? Or would I feel nothing and lived normally, as if nothing happened and sleep would remove my tiredness and that was it???

The pain could be unbearable sometimes. Like I could not even dry my back part of my body with towel when my upper arms were in pain. And it made me thinking, that one day, I might have to live with a support of other people's help - instead of independently taking care of my self. I could not imagine for that day to come. If I was lucky enough, I would have had enough money to put myself inside the nursing home, where there would be other people able to take care of me, even for doing such simple daily activity. Haizzz.... Of course, I did not want this to happen.

And I knew, no matter how much I did to prevent this to happen, it would still happen anyway. Because it was not under my control - where, when, how it would happen. I could only tell myself, that this pain was only temporary. It was there to rinse my bad karma away, to let me feeling the pain from all bad deeds I did from the past actions. Nothing lasted forever anyway and things would change all the time. So, just let it come, and let it go, everything would gonna be alright.

Books read for the second half of the year 2019

That is me :D

The second half of 2019 passed so fast. Life was hectic for me, and mostly from travelling.

My goal was actually to read 40 books in 2019, but after first half of the year I only managed reading total of 13 books. 

Until November I tried my best to spare some time to read and could only manage another 10 books. So in December, once all the travelling had over, with the support of cooling weather back home, I spent most of time reading in my bed. That was also how I gained weight so fast as what I did every day was eat, sleep, read and repeat.

Within a month's time, I managed reading 9 books which in overall year, the total books I read was 32 books. Not bad lah :D

Below let me share the list of the book I read for the second half of the year 2019:

July 2019

July 2019: 

1. Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One - Raphaelle Giordano

2. Thus I Heard - Ngawang Phuntsho

August 2019

Aug 2019: 

1. Kopi Thiam - James Suresh

2. Normal People - Sally Rooney

3. If, Then - Kate Hope Day

4. When Loss is Gain - Pavan K. Varma

September 2019

Sep 2019: 

1. 101 Stories for Foreigners to Understand Chinese People - Yi S. Ellis with Bryan D. Ellis

2. Girl A - My Story

3. Falling is Flying - Ajahn Brahm and Chan Master GuoJun

October 2019

Oct 2019: 

1. Awaken Every Day - Thubten Chodron

November 2019

Nov 2019: 

1. The Postcard - Zoe Folbigg

2. The Diary of Amos Lee (I Sit, I Write, I Flush) - Adeline Foo

December 2019

Dec 2019: 

1. In Love with the World - Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

2. Big Sky - Kate Atkinson

3. Sikkim Requiem for Himalayan Kingdom - Andrew Duff

4. Where the Crawdads Sing - Adelia Owens

5. Finding Chika - Mitch Albom

6. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler - Kelly Harms

7. Three Women - Lisa Taddeo

8. Once Upon a River - Diane Setterfield

9. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill - Abbi Waxman

Hope you still maintain your passion in reading as many others are doing. I am glad to find many passionate readers lately through Instagram where we can share which books are nice and worth spending our time reading. So, see you again in 6 month's time and enjoy reading!!! :)

Looking back at 2019

Myself being myself - Virginia Woolf

Wow!!! Another year had gone by!!! It passed like a lightning and yet, it added not only number to the age. 

Year 2019 was different from many other years I had been through. It was a year of realization, a maturity process (perhaps age and experience had also played a part in it), and it had brought many changes for the thinking and behaviours from inside me. 

There were not always changes for the better or worse, and right or wrong, but changes for what I deemed important to attain the empty space and inner peace.

It was no longer the more the merrier or the more the better. I had become more selective on who could be, what should be, and where to be - to be inside the part of my life journey, and to treasure those who chose to stay and treasure me back.

Needless to say, the circle had automatically gotten smaller and me too, became much quieter. Despite those, I never lost any piece of me. I still lived my life to the fullest, one day at a time, with people whom I loved and loved me; still being my own self, doing things I loved doing, ignoring the voices that judging me of what I should do or not do from their eyes. Who cares?

Thank you for another wonderful year 2019 (IG: rimareyka.writes)

2019 was another most travelling year for me too. At least once a month, and many times to many different places at one time and visited many new places I had never been before.

It was my first time arranging cruise plus free and easy trip for the family to faraway places (different countries with different languages, first time visit, etc.) It was challenging but rewarding when everything went as per planned (and we were all blessed with good health, safety, and smooth journey). Thanks to so many reviews from Google maps, websites, blogs, and so on! :)

I visited many new places in China too and made me wanting to travel there even more in the future. Even Indonesia! Many beautiful nature could be found there. There would be no longer repetitive places with no specific reasons to go. Life was too short not to travel to many of my dream places :D

And of course, health! Thank you for the good health we had in 2019 and yes I knew well, nothing stayed permanent. And thing had already changed with so much weight I had gained from all the good food I took and received from those travelling. Weather and my time spent on reading forced me to stay more inside house, resulting in lack of exercise. 

I was blessed with makan kaki too where I could have almost weekly Mala and Tsing Dao session from Chinatown!! Lol!! Blessing or just excuse for enjoying life? In any case, I love the food, the feeling, and the accompanies!!!

Get ready everyone!! No one says it will be easy, but it will be worth it!!! (IG: Rimareyka.writes)

Well, 2020 is like a blank paper in front of me now. Only one dash point I could see for now, while the rest I leave it still blank and let nature takes its course. But I predict that I would stay more on the ground, spend more time on readings, practise meditation (I hope), and be more aware of my doing. 

So, with the end of 2019, another chapter had closed and a new page is there, ready for us to fill up.  I have gotten my diary ready, and wish everything goes well to everyone, as well as to the world where we live in. 

Same world, same time, but many different things are happening. Wish for the best to come and wish everyone a wonderful year ahead!!! :)

Waiting for the rain to subside

QOTD - On raining day :)

I just filled my stomach with hot yong dou fu soup at the coffee shop inside the shopping mall nearby my house. Dated my hubby who worked at the same building, and we had coffee to warm and energize our bodies in such cooling weather.

I left my house without the pocket umbrella that I usually brought in every occasion (be it hot and rain). It was cloudy when I glanced upon the balcony window, but I did not step outside to check whether it was raining or not. The cold weather enveloped Singapore these past few days and I took it for granted that it was not due to rain. Only after I came out from the lift at the first floor, then I realized that the sky had already drizzled.

"It is just little rain," I told myself as I was too lazy to go up and take the umbrella from home. I continued walking and passing by the mail box to drop a letter before reaching the mall.

Since I woke up quite late today, I did not have my breakfast at home and directly had heavy lunch. So now, my stomach was still full from it.

I walked around inside the shopping mall after separated with hubby, to catch at least 5,000 steps counted by the watch on my wrist. The goal was 10,000 steps a day. And I had zero for the last 2 days as I was engulfed in my reading and hid myself below the blanket enjoying the cold weather. "So today, let me get at least half for now." 

Christmas tree on raining day ^^

The watch vibrated when it reached 5,000 steps and I wanted to go home. But alas, it was raining outside, even heavier than when I came. "Haiz..... Where should I go, what should I do????"

My lip wanted to taste another cup of black coffee or even the hot milk tea. The image of me dipping the kaya toast and slurping the half boiled eggs filling my mind. As when I passed by the shops, I too imagined munching the deep fried you tiao and the fluffy meat bun. However, my full stomach alarmed me and said no to all my imaginary scenes. "Hahaha.... It is not that I do not have money to buy those. But this stomach puts the 'no' sign voluntarily. "

The air condition blew harshly and made the place much cooler. It made me running away from it. Luckily this mall was built with some outdoor seats with roof on top. I walked down to the basement and found a quiet nice wooden seat, then rested my butt in it. This rain had given me a reason to write about this situation and romanticize everything that I faced.

It was still raining by the time I finished writing this. It rained heavier and the sky had become much darker. "I should have just stayed at home just now. Haiz.... it is too late now."

Luckily I had fully charged my phone battery before coming out. I browsed around Goodreads to find out what nice book to read. I searched such interesting book at the National Library apps and checked whether they had the online book available. "Yesssss!!! I got one. 'Life will be the death of me' - by Chelsea Handler."

My next read - 'Life will be the death of me' by Chelsea Handler

I downloaded it immediately and it was time to read now as I clicked the 'publish' button from this site. After all, I only needed a book, good weather, and quiet place to do what I like doing.

Visiting Jeju Island during Typhoon Mitag - Day 2

Our first stop - Jeju coastal road view - Jeju Island

Thank Buddha, the next morning, the weather seemed good. I mean, we expected rain to happen, but there was no strong wind that we were worrying about earlier. Mr Won too (our driver for the day), messaged me early in the morning, to confirm about the car rental arrangement and the trip. And yes, we went on with our journey to browse the Jeju island instead of staying inside the room and doing nothing :)

Second stop - One of the 300 fishing villages view in Jeju Island :)

While planning for our trip to Jeju, we never thought of typhoon into the possibility of happening in our itinerary. Therefore, my sister planned to browse around east side of Jeju to see the beautiful nature that Jeju could offer. And it was where I went last time on my first trip to Jeju - towards the east, to visit Manjanggul Cave, Seongsan Ilchulbong, Seongeup Folk Village, Sangumburi Crater, Mysterious Road, and so on.

But I told my sisters that those were mostly nature and outdoor activities. We could not possibly climbing the Seongsan Ilchulbong in such rain and cold wind weather. The women diver might not want to dive in such weather as well. Therefore, we changed our plan and route. We traveled to the west and south of Jeju Island, and visited places that I had never been to before.

Morning coffee stop at Aewol Monsant Cafe owed by G-Dragon - Jeju Island

Actually that was my wishes to visit the other parts of Jeju Island. And the typhoon Mitag made my wishes came true. It was also my sister's wish to visit Aewol Monsant Cafe owed by her favorite singer - G Dragon and K-Pop Play Museum. So I guessed, both our wishes came true and thanks to the typhoon to make it possible :D

What is this??? Some kind of decoration?? Lol!!!

In my humble opinion, there was nothing special at the Aewol Monsant Cafe. The chandelier was not there (it was being damaged by his fans), puddled of water was found just in front of the cashier (and you worried your shoes would get wet while ordering your coffee and cake?), round hole as per shown in above picture, and the cost of coffee and food were exorbitant. Their signature drink - Dolce Vita - tasted nothing special and not worth for paying KRW 7,500 per cup. Only the expensive carrot cake (KRW 8,000 per slice) could at least taste good. If it was not belonged to G Dragon, I don't think people would still come and spend their money plus time there (I hope by posting this, the fans won't attack me with their comments :P)

Hallabong oranges roadside seller - Jeju Island

We continued our journey. Since the rain was there and wind was blown quite heavily, it was perfect for us to visit more indoor area. And our next destination was to visit the Osulloc Tea Museum. Find out more about the place information here. 

Osulloc Tea Museum - Jeju Island

We stayed indoor at this place. There were few photo spots completed with props featuring their tea products, a very good way to have a free advertisement done by the public (including me here :P).

Victims of expensive tea products :P - Osulloc Tea Museum

There was shop selling the tea and tea products inside. They even provided cups of tea sample so that you could taste before buying it. The prices of all products were very expensive. Check the price out here. But since it was the only tea shop that was available in the island, tourists were still willing to spend their money on the local products. The packaging of the tea was made very nice and that was actually where your money went to mostly :D

Tasted the tea and tea products - Osulloc Tea Museum in Jeju Island

There was cafe selling tea products too where customers could buy. We shared few items together, just to find out what it tasted like. Loved the green tea ice cream (KRW 6,000) and the Hallabong O Fredo (KRW 7,500), but not the green tea roll cake (KRW 5,000). The taste of the green tea on the cake was not strong enough. 

Jeju Osung Seafood Restaurant - Highly recommended by me!!! Must eat if you visit South part of Jeju Island!!!

By the time we finished tasting the tea desserts, it was lunch time and my stomach was hungry for warm food. Mr Won brought us to a traditional local restaurant nearby called Jeju Osung Restaurant. He recommended us to order the grilled Mackerel and seafood stew.

Wonderful seafood lunch at Jeju Osung Traditional Restaurant - Jeju Island

Oh man, I had hard time to find out the name of this restaurant!!! You have to try it yourself to find out how delicious their food is!!! The Jeju Osung traditional restaurant had been operated since 1973. And no, I did not get any sponsor in recommending you this place. Everything I wrote on my blog was based on my personal humble opinion, be it good or bad. And I loved the food they served here!!!

We ordered the seafood set for two (KRW 90,000) that included seafood doenjang jjigae or seafood stew (in long rectangular cooking pot that you see at the above picture - filled with 4 pieces of live abalone (sorry for boiling you alive...), a piece of medium size octopus, two giant clams, and very fresh hairtail fish), abalone dolsot stone pot rice (the one on right top), uni miyeok guk (Korean seaweed soup with sea urchin - the one with greenish things inside the bowl), breaded fried pork, and one stick of assorted skewer, with additional order of grilled Mackerel, and sea urchin bibimbap. We added those because we thought the portion for two would be very less. It was really more than our expectation!!! And the varieties and taste of the banchan (side dishes) was superb!!!! I had no words to explain :) Just go down and try! Total spend was KRW 121,000 for all.

Free two Americano too!!! :)

After payment, we were entitled to get two free cups of Americano (hot or cold) from the cafe located below the restaurant. Wasn't it a great perks to have after meal??? :)

Jungmun Saekdal Beach - Jeju Island

After lunch, Mr Won brought us to see the Jungmun Saekdal Beach. And lucky us, the rain was only started once we finished taking our photos. You could see from the photos how big the wind was. The waves had all turned white due to the heavy wind that blown from the sea. Fyi, touching the stomach of the Dol Hareubang (Grandfather rock) was believed to give a good wealth luck, and yes, we did that!!! Hahahaha.... :P

Play K-Pop Museum - Jeju Island

Stomach was full, and wind outside was still heavy blown. It was time for some indoor activity!!! Indoor activity?? Not as what you think Sherab!!! (In case you read this, lol!!! :P) Next, we went to the Play K-Pop Museum. I heard about the place last time, but that was all. Did not know what was inside. Mr Won was rushing us to faster enter the place as the show had just been started. What show? We found out only after reaching inside.

Hologram concert by G-Dragon - Kpop Play Museum in Jeju Island

It was the Hologram concert by G-Dragon, my sister's favorite singer. The sound speaker and quality of the hologram made it as if we were attending the real concert!!! Impressive!!!

Felt like attending the real concert!!! Hologram concert by G-Dragon - Kpop Play Museum in Jeju Island

They played quite few songs and my eldest sister was enjoying herself very much, dancing all the way from the beginning 'til the end. 

My eldest sister was performing in concert with G-Dragon at K-Pop Play Museum, Jeju Island

It got the staff's attention and she was participating in the concert, dancing together with G-Dragon :D She was indirectly famous for the day too!!! :D :D :D Sorry for my loud out laugh on the video. Was too exciting that my sister got called on the stage hahahahaha.... :D

Other activities inside the K-Pop Play Museum - Jeju Island

After that we were all heading to the second floor where many interactive activities with Korean famous singers were available. Taking photo with them was one of the thing you could do. 

Bring your memories back home with this USB drive :D - K-Pop Play in Jeju Island

They would save all the files using the barcode of your ticket, which at the end of your visit, you could purchase the photo in paper at KRW 4,000 each page, or the cute recorder 16 GB USB drive containing all the photos you took earlier at KRW 15,000 each.

Live 360 3D show by PSY Man - K-Pop Play in Jeju Island

And before leaving the place, we managed to watch the fife-minute Live 360 3D show by PSY Man by wearing the 3D glasses provided. Quite cute but the ending was not that good.

Time spent at Teseum (Teddy Bear Museum) - Teddy Bear Safari - Jeju Island

Posing with various bears at Teseum - Jeju Island

Last place to visit before we went back to Jeju town, we stopped at the Teseum (Teddy Bear Museum) - Teddy Bear Safari. Well, it was a place where you could take photo with so many bears. If I was much younger, I might find this place amusing. Hehehe... But I felt just so so now lah... :D

Cute flower bears at Teseum - Jeju Island

Teddy Bear wearing different countries clothes - Teseum in Jeju Island

The wind blew heavier and rain was strong too by the time we went out from this place. Mr Won was worrying that we would get stuck somewhere due to this. However it was only lasting for a while. As our journey back continued, the weather had changed and we could leave our worry away. In fact, he could not believe that we had a very good day (as in, we were able to avoid any strong wind and heavy rain caused by the typhoon Mitag). SB really blessed our journey, thank you once again!!!

Chicken dinner at Mom's Touch - Jungang underground shopping center - Jeju Island

This time he brought us to the Jungang underground shopping center - the one located at old Jeju town - to have our dinner. Since we were still quite full from our delicious lunch, we chose to have fried chicken over heavy meals like rice or noodle. We asked Mr Won to have dinner with us too and had a chit chat over life in South Korea.

Final pose with Mr Won and his huge van - our driver for Jeju Island trip!!! :)

After dinner, we were allowed some free time to digest our food by walking around the underground shopping center and then were sent back to hotel to take a rest. 

Fyi, I knew Mr Won since five years ago when I was going for my first trip to Jeju island. Initially I thought of hiring him but since it was only two of us (and he was taking jumbo taxi that time), he referred us to his friend instead. And this time, since it was five of us, we finally had fate to travel together. 

He was such a positive, optimistic, and energetic guy in his sixties. He kept encouraging himself since the tour started and kept giving us information about Jeju Island and places that we visited. If you want to visit Jeju and want to get his van service, you can message me on the comment below and leave your email address so I can send his number to you.

So, that was about it!! The info about places we could go during typhoon Mitag. Hope it can help you when you visit Jeju Island next time :)