Pluviophile

Pluviophile

I reached the station ten minutes before 9am. As I ascended the escalator from the underground MRT station, I could see the sky had turned dark and the wind blew chillingly touching my skin. 

"Wow!!! Looks like rain is coming!!!" I talked to myself. "Lucky both ways to the office building had the underpass so that I would not get wet in the event of rain," my mind was speaking again. 

Upon reaching the office door, I could see the office had turned dark, unlike many other mornings when the sun rays pierced through the both side windows, illuminating my working table and chair. 

"Wow!!! I like this!!!" exclaimed my own self. It was dark but feeling cozy instead of depressing.

I turned on the office light and walked towards my seat. I put down my bags, turned on the PC and office mobile, and set myself down into the chair. 

The morning would not be complete without coffee. I was supposed to cut the caffeine down, but the office would not be complete without coffee smell, especially in a weather like this!!! Hahaha... *my usual excuse :P

I opened the fridge and took the bottle of water out. I filled the kettle half and turned it on. As I looked up, rain had started heavily. 

"Wah, lucky I have reached here without getting wet!!!"

The sound of water boiling soothed me. I turned the Youtube on from the computer. I loved quietness when working, but sometimes, I would love to listen to some music too, especially on raining day like this. 

I typed 'raining day song' and many choices appeared. I clicked on a playlist and let it run themselves.

I cut the top part of the coffee sachet, filled it inside my rooster cup and poured the hot boiling water inside. I stirred it and brought it to my desk. Hmmmmm..... just loved the smell :) The taste was good too. I sipped it slowly and checked out my office email.

I opened the yesterday 'to do list' note and completed it one by one.

Raining day... 

Loved it because of the mood it brought, the ambience, the cozy dark feelings, the chill, the coffee smell, the me-alone time, but mostly because my Boss would usually come late, sometimes did not even come to office.

So, that was why.... I am pluviophile, one who loves rain; one who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days and everything else I mentioned above :D

Fleeting moment

"Your life is fleeting" by Justin Young

Life is but a fleeting moment.

For every step we take,

every choice we make,

every place we go, 

everyone we meet. 

For accepting changes,

all circumstances we face.

Be it for better or worse,

it is all fleeting all away.

Why we take it too hard???

Take it easy, take it easy...

With this realisation, 

that nothing stays put, 

that things change all the time,

things going up and down,

just take it easy, 

and let your heart be at ease.

Soon or later,

everything vanishes,

be forgotten,

and will not matter anymore. 

Just treasure what you have,

love everyone closest to you,

and be happy in simple way,

for whatever things that make you feel grateful, 

for being able to be alive,

now, 

at present moment.

"Life is but a fleeting moment.

Take it easy and enjoy the ride."

- Rimareyka.writes 

We are on our own time

Que sera sera...

"Someone graduated at the age of 22, but waited five years before securing a good job.

Someone became a CEO at 25, and died at 50, while another became a CEO at 50, and lived to 90 years.

Someone is still single while someone from his school group has become grandfather.

Obama retired at 55, and Trump started at 70.

Everyone in this world works based on their time zone.

People around you might seem ahead of you and some might seem to be behind you. But everyone is running their own race in their own time. 

Do not envy them. 

They are in their time zone, and you are in yours. 

So relax. 

You are not late. 

You are not early.

You are very much on time."

You might have seen or heard the above before. And this is what exactly I feel too! As age increases, I have seen more of what is going on at people surrounded me - some whom I know, and some whom I do not know in person. 

Be it about school, work, career, marriage, having a child, and even when it relates to travel, retire, and so on. 

I thought myself that I retired early in my late 30s, spent years of travelling and spending more time meeting my family members and friends every where around the world, while I still could, had the energy and blessed with good health.

I thought I had given up all my accounting knowledge and administrative skills that I acquired from my working experience and study before. I had even thrown most of the study material related to it because I had no intention of going back, and thought that who would even interested to hire me, who had so called 'retire' for many years. 

I did work during Covid time, that was because travel was impossible at that point of time and the job that I did was related to kitchen and F&B service operation, which both were not related to admin and account at all, and just to pass time. 

So, who ever thought, that one day, someone I knew from two decades ago, contacted me and asked me to work with her again, just because she found me reliable and could be trusted?

I trusted my gut feeling inside me that this was what I had been looking for since long time ago. My hubby said to his friend that I was kinda find my dream job. And he was right!

In the sense that I could work in a small office with one Boss to work with (and few others that were at the other part of the world); the location of the place was superb - in the shopping's belt of Singapore, nearby library, etc.; work in a peaceful environment (most days my Boss came at later hours); and many more, but most importantly, I was lucky to find a nice and understanding Boss. 

Oh, I could wear casual attires to work too!!! Jeans and sport shoes, hoodie for cold AC room, no problem!!! That was important for me! :)

What about travelling? Well, it can wait. As the above saying, "We are on our own time." And I always believed in "What is yours is yours. What is not yours, forget it." 

And I believed in fate very much when it comes to traveling - such as the destinations, people whom I travel with, seasons, weather, and so on. I know we all get older each day, but many things will come naturally when it is time. Just believe that everything will come at the right time :) 

Que sera sera....

Whatever will be, will be....

Live Your Beautiful Life

Keep going - Find your happiness in you :) (Pic source: Google.com)

Dear Readers, 

How are you? Hope you are doing good, both physically and mentally!!! The weather has been so cruel lately - damn hot during day time, rain in evening time with so much humidity in the air - make people falling sick so easily, plus Covid that is still rampant in the community. 

It has been a while since the last time I wrote here. I just lost interest in writing and shared what I felt. 4 months has gone like a snip of finger. Could not say that I was too busy with life (apart from travelling and visitations) because many times I was busy doing nothing.

Sometimes I feel I was not productive enough living this precious life. But deep inside I feel very grateful for the opportunity of many days doing nothing.

Below is the quotes I took from someone's post:

"You work 8 hours to live 4.

You work 6 days to enjoy 1.

You work 8 hours to eat in 15 minutes. 

You work 8 hours to sleep 5.

You work all year just to take a week or two vacation. 

You work all your life to retire in old age. 

And contemplate only in your last breaths

Eventually you realise that life is nothing but a parody of yourself

practicing for your own oblivion.

We have become so accustomed to material and social slavery

that we no longer see the chains.

Life is a short journey. 

Live it!

Collect memories, 

Not material things!"

It is never too late to realise the truth from the above words and sentences. You can always stop what you always do, and prioritise yourself to do something you love doing for the rest of your life. There is never be enough money and material possession that you would acquire. Instead, collect memories with your loved ones because on the day you die, you can never bring all your material possessions with you into your grave, nor burn it so it could exist in your next life. But instead, what people deeply feel about you, of what you have done to them or changed their lives and thought, will be the precious gifts for them and yourself. 

Script by Robin Sharma (From the book - The Everyday Hero Manifesto)

As Robin Sharma wrote, you yourself are more than enough. Be happy with whatever you have, in simple way of life. 

And I heard a nice song recently that I want to share the lyrics with you (you can search in Google the song and listen to it).

Live Your Beautiful Life
Song by Lights Follow

Tell me what it takes to get you feeling alive
Tell me how to show you it's a beautiful life
I'll do anything to pull you into the light
Cause everything will change when you open your eyes
Yeah

So don't you let the sunlight go by without you
Don't you realize how lucky we are
Open up your heart, baby, let it all go tonight

Live your life like it was running out
Be alive
We gotta scream it out
Be it then
And feel the rush again
You're not lost
No matter where you've been

You've been trying hard just to make it along
But I can help you baby let me carry it along

I'll do anything to make you see what it's like
Cause everything is different when you open your eyes
Yeah

So don't you let the sunlight go by without you
Don't you realize how lucky we are
Open up your heart, baby, let it all go, tonight

Live your life like it was running out
Be alive
We gotta scream it out
Be it then
And feel the rush again
You're not lost
No matter where you've been

*All your life you've been chasing a ghost
You gotta change your mind if you're gonna let go
No matter how you feel nothing's holding you up
Nobody's holding you back 
Find a light that you are

Repeat *

Live your life like it was running out
Be alive
We gotta scream it out
Be it then
And feel the rush again
You're not lost
No matter where you've been

10-Day Silent Vipassana Meditation Retreat in Bali

Vipassana introduction (Source: dhamma.org)

Few months ago I stumbled upon a website for the 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat registration. It had been 5 years since my first time attendance in such meditation program.

I thought, maybe it was time to go for it again. And this time, the place was in Bali.  It would be great since it had been 7 years  since the last time I went there and I would have no problem and difficulties in the language. Therefore, without much thinking, I pressed the 'registration' button and applied for it. 

A day after I received the acceptance email from the registration team, and I started to look around for the flight ticket, think of how many days I need to go for the overall trip, where else to go, and so on. I decided to reach Bali 1 day before the meditation started and stay 3 more days after the meditation over. 

I had no idea what the meditation was about, who the teacher was, what the teaching would be like, and so on. Basically, I did not read in detail regarding it and let my self just went there to find it out myself what it would be like. That was why, I often felt lost when the teaching had begun. 

Vipassana introduction (Source: dhamma.org)

In this post, let me share some basic info regarding the place and the program. 

The building was called Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali, located at Jalan Aspal, Penglumbaran Susut, Bangli Regency, Bali.

Dining hall building (women left, men right) - Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali

Upon email acceptance, you would receive important and necessary information regarding the retreat such as what you need (valid passport and visa, local contact number in case of emergency), that your cell phone would be handed in to the management for safe keeping during your 10 days there, when to arrive, when course ending, course finance (it was run solely on donation basis and only submit after the course ended), what to bring (loose-fitting clothes covering shoulders and knees, no tight and revealing clothes, jumper/ shawl/ socks for cold weather, towel, toiletteries, laundry soap/ detergent, water bottle, mosquitoes repellant - thank God mosquitoes did not attack inside the meditation hall!), no laundry service provided - could only hand wash, what not to bring (books, religious objects, writing materials, mp3 players and other electronic devices, food), and so on. 

One umbrella per room per person - Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali 

It was raining season when I was there. However, umbrella was available, hung outside our room (one for each person), which you could use during your stay there. Flashlight was also provided - hung next to the umbrella so you did not have to bring. 

Towel rack/ dryer was given one outside the room for each person. There were 2 big clothes hanger available for women to share to dry their clothes. Or otherwise, just hung it at that towel rack.

Fyi, the weather there was quite humid with so many rain. Also the weather changed really fast. Like when you saw it sunny, just a while later, suddenly heavy rain poured down. So be alert when you hung your clothes to dry in open space!

View of Meditation Hall - Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali 

There would be transport arrangement available from and to airport, Ubud and Canggu at a fee. There was ride share info as well but it did not work out when I tried to get it. The transport from Ngurah Rai international airport would cost IDR400,000, while from Ubud was IDR100,000. 

I decided to spend a night before and after meditation retreat in Ubud since the transport facility was available. Plus, I never stayed there before (I passed by the area last time and felt that it was such a nice place to stay). 

It was not big - reachable on foot to nearby area, Grab/ local taxi/ Grab motor service available, you could also rent bike and bicycle to go around; many good and affordable massage service available in the area; Cafe/ pub/ restaurant were everywhere; shops selling local products and daily necessities like Guardian, Alfamart, etc. were accessible easily as well. 

Me and other 4 passengers took the transport from Ubud. Our meeting place was at Delta Dewata Supermarket at 3pm. It reached the Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali in around 45 minutes to one hour.

We went in to the dining room hall for registration and after that we would hand in our mobile phone, wallet/ money, books, journal, religious objects etc. to the management.

Small, simple, yet clean :) - Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali room

Soonafter, we were given our room number and could start going there to put our luggage in and unpacking stuffs. We could take bath too to refresh ourselves before the long journey began :)

Bathroom cum toilet on the separate building - Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali

 

There were 5 bathroom cum toilet for 22 of us to share (22 rooms available for each women and men - made a total of 44 pax allowed in each retreat).

It was enough as not everyone would take a bath at the same time. We could take bath at any of our rest time (morning, afternoon, and evening) and usually everyone had their own preference time to take bath. So, you did not have to worry about queuing and stuff. 

At 5pm we were gathered inside the dining hall for the introduction, and then had dinner.

Eating utensils

We were given one set of eating utensils with label of our name on the table - where our seat was located.

We used the same utensils until the rest of our stay. We washed it right after using it each and every time. 

View inside the dining hall (men side) - Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali 

The food was buffet style. You could take a many as you wanted, but make sure you could finish them (and not waste it). But as you took your food, please be considerate of people who were queuing behind because they were hungry and not all food was available for topping up. 

They served vegetarian food throughout our stay. The menu was changed every day and they ensured we had enough nutrition for our half-day meal (we took only breakfast and lunch). At 5pm, for new students, we were given 2 types of fruits (banana/ salak/ orange), one piece each. For old students, they were given liquid drink.

Extra cushions and other stuffs available - Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali 

Basically they did not really allow us to bring our own personal cushion inside the meditation hall. You did not have to worry though because many extra cushions (medium and small sizes), wooden chairs, wooden leaning chairs, and shawls were available inside the meditation hall for us to use. 

Soon after our first introduction and briefing, the silent mode was started. We had to keep silent (no gestures towards each other and no body language) throughout the 10 days there as to ensure not to break the sila and not to affect our meditation process.

If you had any enquiry regarding the meditation, there were interview session with teacher available after lunch (11.45am to 1 pm), and also from 9 to 9.30pm at the meditation hall. Make sure you make full use of this session when you felt in doubt regarding your meditation learning. 

Following was the schedule that more or less we had for the 10 days there. 

Dhamma Geha Vipassana Bali Daily Schedule

There would be 1 teacher who would guide our meditation session. There would be audio guide recording by S.N. Goenka in English, followed with Russia translation (as majority of attendance were Russian). 

Some of us were lent the personal ipod with many different language translations based on each person's native language. Like for example, even though I was fluent in English, my native language was Indonesian. Therefore, I was given the Indonesian translation in case I wanted to understand it better in my own language. It was indeed helpful for me.

There were about 45 language translations so far, so you would not have to worry if you were not fluent or good in understanding English.

Do not worry. As long you made your mind into it, you would be able to go through it all. It was a step-by-step learning approach. 

We definitely had to work hard and treasure the opportunities of having such conditions and environment, because in real world, we were not given such privileges - quiet place, provision of healthy meal, teacher's guidance, fresh air, natural environment, and so on. 

After 10 days, we could talk again on the tenth day, and leave the place on the eleventh morning. 

We were advised to practise the meditation into our daily life (recommended twice a day - one in the morning and one in the evening), so that you could feel the benefits of it. 

You would find out its benefits after you experienced it yourself. Definitely, it gave you good benefits into your life.

Fyi, there were many meditation centers all over the world that organised such 10-day meditation courses. You could check it out here. They gave us the apps as well (dhamma.org) and log in access once we became the old student. We could use it for our meditation practise beach home. 

So, I hope this post would help you and give you a picture what you would encounter if you decided you go for it, and if you had any question, you could leave your comment below :)