Exciting with new holiday plan

I had a small reunion with my ex-school mates from LR last night. One from Philipinnes together with his fiancee, they are now working and staying in Singapore, plan to get married next year back in Philipinnes. One is from Indonesia, but her hubby is working and staying in Singapore. She comes and goes from Indo to Sg at least once a month and has a plan to stay here long term. And another one is Singaporean friend who I meet more often down here. So for the rest two, I hadn't met up with them for almost ten years.
Veny doesn't change so much except looks more mature. Ann looks more professional and more like career woman, but all of us are still very young at hearts.. Hahaha... As for Victor, three of us were quite surprise to see his physical changes. He used to be chubby and plump guy, but now he is much slimmer and it made him look taller. According to him, he started to lose weight last December only. So in about 10 months time, he managed to cut his fats and also his smoking habit. Thanks to the bet he made with his current fiancee ;)

After posting our picture to fb, my Taiwanese friend wrote a comment asking when will we be there for reunion. Hehehehe... 2 days after that, I bought the tickets online. Just nice, my friend also wants to go there. Initially there was another friend who is interested to go, but since the time will be clashed with CNY reunion and she has to be there with her husband's family, she then can't make it. So it's just me and my friend. I plan to have a relaxing holiday there. Not really concentrate on sightseeing. More like eating, drinking, walk a bit, gathering, if possible have a bath in hot spring. Weather will be cool when I'm there. Yay!! So exciting!

The last time I went there was 21 years ago. Wow... How time flies.. Time to catch up with the current Taiwan. Also have intention to go to Doraemon store. Hope I can find one. Hiehehehehe.... :D

Everytime I passed by escalator and MRT at Chinatown, I always see the visit Taiwan advertisement. In months to come, I will go there and experience it myself!! Yihaaa!!!!

Hope everything goes on smoothly.. Wish me luck ok? Have a great week ahead!!!

Wow!! This morning my friend has finally come back from her 1 month unpaid leave. She went to Canada to meet her bf. It seems just like yesterday. When she appeared in front of me, it seems like a dream to me.

I thought she was going to extend her stay there and tender her resignation from there, but she didn't. But she is very sad the fact that she has to leave him. She kept crying on her way back to Singapore.

Long distance relationship. I should be very lucky that I don't have to encounter that anymore. I hope I don't have that anymore. Living together with loved ones, nothing can make me happier than that.

This morning I accidentaly erased all sms in my phone, including all outgoing and incoming one. Hahaha... But it reminds me of impermanent, that everything in life will disappear one day, it's just a matter of time. All those young faces, beautiful body, the good health, one day everything will disappear. Young becomes old. Beauty becomes not beauty anymore. Healthy may become inhealthy. But what remains are the beauty that is kept inside, which is inner beauty. Kindness, compassionate, honesty, etc. Well, it can change as well, but at least that can be reserved as long as people is willing to do so.

Anyway... Again.. Be happy with what you have. Be satisfy. That will be the ultimate goal of happiness. Rather than having a lot, but never feel satisfy.

Heard that Audit thing has passed with Effective result. I don't know what that means, but I just hope that was quite a good news as year end is coming. If we failed, we won't have that bonus in hand... Anyway... Anything can be gone just like that, only a matter of they like u or they don't. Kekeke...

Write 'til here. Have a great week ahead!!!

Cheers....!!!!

Pork Knuckle and Smoked Pork w/ Garlic Sausage for our dinner

Last Friday after work, I met up w/ school friends for dinner. We had our dinner at Brotzeit in Somerset 313, serving German food and beer. It's been many months ago since we met for the last time. Time really flies...

Aileen, Shelly and I

As for last Thursday, my aunt and uncles came to Singapore. They stopped by Singapore just for a night to have dinner at restaurant where I work. So coincidentally there is Heritage Promotion and they were able to try many different local dishes plus fresh durian. I didn't take their pictures during dinner, but we took some pictures with a view of Clarke Quay.

Suk Ahin, Kuchong, Kuku, Astro, Aryn and Koko

'Establish Right Thinking, Let the Heart Be Free' - last part of The Pursuit of Happiness

All present forms of life and circumstances are the results of Karma accumulated from our previous lives. Be they good or evil, our Karmas are all contaminated. The fruits corresponding to them are therefore subject to imperfections and suffering. One who can subdue the body and mind well to maintain tranquility of the psyche is a wise and worthy person. He who controls the body but not the mind, on the other hand, can never attain true freedom and transcendence.

Those who are not still inwardly tend to look outwards, making comparisons with others and even pursuing fame, profit and enjoyment blindly. Those who know nothing about introspection but are always engaged in outward pursuits will always live in emptiness and distress. A saying goes: 'Even a thatched hut stands well and vegetable roots smell good when the heart is calm.'

Confucians, too, maintain that "all things exist in well-being when viewed in calmness". Only when the heart calms down can there be fullness and meningfulness in life. Gather that outward-grasping mind together. Let it fall back on your original Mind and pristine nature. Your mind will naturally become calm and still this way.

In the process of learning and being confronted with various circumstances, how should we adjust our own mentality so as not to be affected by external forces? Your mind has to be in charge. Be mindful wherever you are. Stay focused whatever you do. Be in a state of conscious existence at all times. Mentally be where you are, whether you are working, chanting a sutra, meditating or doing something else. Be of one mind, not two.

As a working adult, manage your time properly. Plan your work appropriately. If you become obsessed with profit making and give yourself too much stress, you may throw yourself off-balance physically and mentally, making things harder for yourself as you lose more than what you gain.

So, regulate your body and mind from day to day. In particular, be sure that your mind is clear and in charge. If you can establish right thiking and let your heart be free, you will naturally be able to deal with affairs excellently. When your mind is balanced, the true Way shall be within your reach.

Be moderate in all you do. Never be too rash or passive. Neither should you be arrogant nor too servile. In speech, be neither flattering nor relentless. As a student, pay attention in class, take time to review what you have learnt, or you may find yourself having to burn the midnight oil at the last minute to deal with examinations - you can hardly get good results this way.

Four Attitudes Towards Handling Problems - source from the same Author

When things happen, especially when major problems arise, there are 4 attitudes or 4 levels to handle them.

First, is to face it.
Second, is to accept it.
Third, is to settle it.
And fourth, is to let it go.

When any problem - especially a serious problem - arises, avoiding it is useless. The best course of action is to face it. After facing it, you will have to accept it. The problem will still remain even if you do not accept it.

After accepting the problem, it is well and good if it can be settled. However, if can't, the mere act of facing it and accepting it is equivalent to having it settled. You may feel upset, distressed or aggrieved, thinking of the problem all the time. At this juncture, you are unable to continue walking down the path you are currently taking. However, another path appears, and you should take this opportunity to let go of the problem. After anything happens, you should let go of the problem after settling it.

If we cannot appreciate the accomplishments of others, we cannot be moved. Jealousy will thus arise. Those who speak dismissively of the accolade and honours received by others can never go far. It would be a good thing if one is able to appreciate and marvel at the accomplishments of others as well as be moved by the honours they receive. This is called thinking of being on par with the able and wise.

When praising others, we also hope to learn from them. While appreciating others, our actions stimulate others to appreciate these touching incidents or people. In terms of our living environment, this has a positive effect on us, the person involved as well as the people around us.