Having "Me" Time

Today I'd like to wish all my readers out there a very Happy Birthday! :) I'd like to Thank You each and everyone for your comments and for reading my blog! I wish you all lots of happiness, good health, and success in all your endeavors. Don't forget to have some fun and enjoy life! Some of you might wonder why I'm wishing you "Happy Birthday." The answer is simple: today is my birthday so I wanted to share the happiness one feels on this joyous day with everyone. It also happens to be the same date that the first test-tube baby was born. I wonder where he/she is now? Birthdays are always a time for self reflection for me: "I'm a year older now, am I any wiser? How have I changed?" In life there must be progress. I want to be a better person and have a happier life. Looking back on the past year, things have certainly changed for the better. Here are some of the highlights: 1) I am now much healthier. A year ago, I was 15kgs hea...

Looking through the photographs I took on my walking tour, there is one that evokes within me a somewhat sad and nostalgic feeling. It's a photograph of an ancient wooden house that must have been around for the past couple hundred years built roughly during the time of Rama III or Rama IV. A feeling of sadness swept over me, as I first spied the wooden house from the boat. It's a beautiful house that was wonderfully designed and built to be lived-in, yet now it stands empty. Its shutters are closed and the house seems abandoned. There is no sign of life. The family that must own it, does not live there now. There is perhaps a house keeper who lives towards the back of the house for I see that the empty garden is used to dry red chiles, and a little small window to the back has its shutters open. It's a guessing game. It's not a large villa or palace, but it has a feminine feel to it. The balcony and the windows have wooden carvings. Little curves decorate the roof. P...

Yesterday, while visiting Santa Cruz church not far from it was a Chinese Shrine of Guan Yin and a Thai Buddhist Temple. For hundreds of years, places of worship of different faiths and religions have stood next to each other in perfect harmony forming the diverse country we are today. All linked together by the Chaophraya river and the trade that florished along its banks. As I entered the Chinese Shrine of Guan Yin or the Goddess of Mercy, I felt a peaceful calm come over me. It was a small space, yet the 200 year old wooden structure built during the Reign of King Rama III by the Chinese Community had an aura of grandness. Encompassing the virtues of love, kindness, compassion and forgivness, the Goddess of mercy is apparently the patron saint of the sick and destitute as well as protector of sailors and fisherman. It's no wonder the Shrine was built along the Chaophraya river amongsts the ancient fishing village. The wooden beams with which the Shrine was built is surrounded b...

Walking around Bangkok today, I felt like a tourist. I was a visitor in my own city exploring the many sites we have to offer. There are so many things yet still to discover and see without having to go out of town. It's something Alex and I like to do when the weather isn't so hot and sunny. It's our little "adventure." Today's trip involved going to old Portugese settlement area around the Chaophraya river to find that traditional Portugese Cupcake that had been brought to Thailand since the 16th century. They are "Egg" cupcakes with raisins and frosted with sugar. We hopped on a boat crossing the Chaopraya river and got off at the Wat Kanlaya pier. Apparently the Portugese had been prevalent in Thaland since 1516 when they signed a treaty to supply arms and munitions to the Kingdom. In return, they were also given the right to reside, trade and practice their religion in Thailand. Granted land, the friars built the Santa Cruz church in 1770. Tuck...

It's a long weekend in Thailand and there is an unmistakedly feeling of lightness in the air as we head home for the weekend. We all look forward to it. It's a time when we get to rest and really have some "Me" time. As I listen to the news, it always makes me wonder about the different thoughts that must going on people's mind. In France, people are concentrating on the Tour de France as it returns to the small town of Salies de Bearn after 70 years. The Financial world is waiting for the much awaited Stress Test Results of 91 banks in Europe. In the Buddhist world, monks and devotees are preparing for Asarnha Bucha Day to commemorate the day Buddha gave his first sermon. Oil workers capping the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are rushing to beat Bonnie the Tropical Storm. The Governor of the Central Bank of Kosova just got arrested. India displays a prototype like the IPad for only $35. So many things are happening at the same time all over the worl...

Today I read an interesting NY Times article called"Shoppers on a ‘Diet’ Tame the Urge to Buy." It's quite fascinating. Heidi Hackemer started a global project called "Six Items Or Less" where participants were to choose six pieces of clothing that they would wear over a period of one month. It was an experiment to see if the way you dressed really had an effect as well as having the added benefit of making you shop less. Interestingly, the article mentions that not many people realized you are wearing the same six pieces throughout the month. Not even her husband, (who does the laundry) noticed! Shopping, therefore, is really to fulfill yourself. If you don't notice, others won't. Six pieces is hard. However, if you're on a budget, I think the best way is to just go through your wardrobe and decide what clothes you really need or don't. If you are lacking something, you can get it, but don't use it as an excuse. However, if you alr...

A few years ago, I read "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." Something I learnt from that book was that your choice of words is important. Not just for communicating to other people, but more importantly to yourself. It is an important determinant of the person you are and the person you will become. An example the book uses is this: Instead of saying you "cannot" afford something, instead say "how can I afford this?" Both phrases indicate that, at present, the person saying it has limited budget. What differs is the effect it has on your mind. Saying you "cannot" afford something, closes you to opportunities, closes you to new ideas. You mentally stop yourself from getting that something throughout your lifetime because you simply "cannot" afford it. However, if you instead said, "How can I afford this?" You would start thinking of new ideas, and new possiblities. What activities, what can you do, to "afford" that which ...

At my usual driving range, there is a black dog that walks around greeting all the regulars. He sniffs your golf bag and if he recognizes the smell, starts wagging his tail. He's the driving range's Public Relations Officer. Some dogs are just good. He's one of them. I usually don't play with strange dogs I don't know in case it's aggressive and decides to taste a bit of my blood. This black dog is different. I call him the "black one." After a few visits there, he made a friendly approach. He walked right up to me with a big grin and a wagging tail. Not demanding anything, he just sat by my chair and at one point decided to just lie down next to my matt looking out towards the green driving range as I hit a few balls. He must be a happy dog. All day he has people coming around and greeting him. Not a bark nor a growl has been heard. (Not whilst I was there anyways) This evening I watched him walk from one matt to the other. Golfers would temporarily...

It's been raining cats and dogs in Bangkok for the past week and this morning was no exception. It's gotten me into a somewhat philosophical mood. Somehow the cool weather and cool airconditioning is good for just curling up on a couch with a good book or a good movie to watch. It's also very relaxing and peaceful. Bangkok sounds quiet. Somehow the rain drowns out all the sounds, or perhaps people just temporarily put their activities on hold. There is definitely no construction when its raining. Few people walk the roads. Few motorcycles rush by. All I hear is water swooshing around. My philosophical me got thinking about the word "Fear." Everyone experiences "fear" now and then. It just depends to what degree. When faced with a lion rushing towards us with it's mouth wide open, we undoubtedly feel a lot of "fear." We "fear" for our lives. We "fear" danger. Yet there is also another kind of "fear" ...

In our daily lives, we sometimes use the word "Perfect" to describe something that went well, or something that suits what we want. "That suit is perfect on you." "That idea is perfect." In life, we look for the "perfect" job, the "perfect" spouse, or the "perfect" house. What is really "perfection" though? To be perfect for you or perfect for me? That perfect house for you, with the big kitchen and the study room might be "perfect" for you if you enjoy cooking and have a preference for books and working in the study room. However, if you don't cook, buy ready-to-eat food and basically just use the microwave all the time, will that house with the big kitchen be perfect for you? You might prefer to have more space for a pool table. The study room isn't necessary, you'd rather have a swimming pool. In this case, one house is perfect for one person but not for the other. What is the per...

It's the weekend, the time when we get to rest our tired souls after a long and hectic work week. What best to write about than good places to eat? Oh the little joys we get from eating and sleeping. I love Japanese food, so a lot of my eating choices tend to be Japanese, with my latest discovery being the restaurant called "Kuu." Although "Kuu" means a moon goddess in Finnish, in Japanese it translates to " to eat," and what can be a more appropriate name for a restaurant where your main purpose is to eat? The restaurant is decorated in a modern style of grey and dark brown. Very hip. It easily feels like you are sitting in an expensive modern style restaurant, yet the pricing is reasonable. It costs the same as other Japanese chain restaurants, yet I find the ambiance and food of higher quality. The tables aren't too closely placed so you have your space without having to worry about being too close to your neighbour. The service is friendly an...

The other day I got this fascinating Forward from a friend about decision making. It tells the story of a group of children playing on railroad tracks. One child is playing alone on the unused railroad track, while five children are playing on the active rail. Suddenly, a rain is spotted on the tracks heading straight towards the five children. You have to decide what to do. 1) Do you divert the train onto the unused track to save five children while sacrificing the lone child on the other track? or 2) Would you let the train continue on its path towards the group of five children? What would you do? Most people would in an instant answer that they would sacrifice the lone child to save the group of five children. Sacrifice one in the name of saving many. It's the rational and logical solution. It's for the better "good" of society. One death is better than five. However, there is more. There is a dilemma. The great critic Leo Velski Julian (do you know ...

Today was the day for my yearly health check up at the office. I've been looking forward to it to see what improvements I've made during the last year with my workout. Employees lined up in front of various stations to get our weight and height, blood samples, EKG heart exams, and a Chest xray. The lines were long and the aircondition was cold, but it was time to take care of our health. Everyone wanted to see how they were doing. Although these exams aren't as comprehensive as the ones in hospitals where you can get the full checkup with ultrasounds and fitness tests, the basic preliminary tests are a great indicator. It's time for everyone to face the truth. Although we won't get results until next month, what results I know have been quite encouraging. My blood pressure is lower, and so is my heart beat. Since I can remember, my pulse has always been around 72. Today, my pulse was lower at 68. I was happily surprised. That means my heart beats 68 times per minut...

Here's just a light story about my horse riding trip last weekend by the mountains outside of Bangkok. When we got there, we were each assigned different horses according to our horse riding experience. Usually, I'd opt for the old mare that was 12 years old and extremely calm. Being this age, I don't particularly want to fall off and break any bones. It'll take awhile for my bones to repair. This time I was to ride the notorious "Beckham" which is a stallion (a male horse over 4 years that has not been castrated). I've seen this horse at work before and he can be a stubborn one. Energetic and ready to canter at a moment's notice. Beckham's character came out the minute I set hands on him. Getting ready to hop onto the saddle, I suddenly saw his leg rise up and move towards me. His hoof almost to my legs. He was trying to stop me from getting on the saddle! He certainly knew what he wanted, and didn't want. He knew how to intimidate. That was...

Today I celebrate my 100th blog post. I look at the number and I do feel somewhat amazed, pretty much like how when I lost weight. I suppose a lot in things in life require you to "Just Do It." Do it without worrying too much about the outcome, do the best you can, but do it. I used to hear the Nike slogan "Just do it" all the time, but I the true meaning of the slogan never really hit me. Of course you can "just do it," and then what?? Sports stars filled the adverts with their success. Products everywhere... to me, it was just another advertisment, and advertisements are everywhere. Overpowering your senses. Having been on this path to a healthier me for about a year now I comprehend the slogan more as I find myself saying the phrase "Just do it" more and more often. It requires a lot of self motivation to be healthy and maintain the healthy lifestyle. The lazy side always wants to give in. When I run on the treadmill and a battle e...

Happy Friday! Five friends of mine were born on this day according to my FB contact list. This must be a record for a single day. :) I don't know about you, but for the past few years, my birthday month has always been the month I start getting myself on the path to being fit. I guess its something about getting old that makes me want to be fit for once in my life. Usually my goals will end up resulting in a couple months of yoga classes and a few trips to the fitness. Perhaps I'll get a few weeks where I manage to hit the fitness 3 times a week. By the time I hit Thanksgiving and Christmas, all my intentions somehow fade away. Lost in oblivion. Lost amongst all the celebrations. This year is different, I've actually reached my goal since last year and have been able to maintain my weight without fluctuation for the past half year. Let's continue to keep it going this well even a few years from now. To help those who want to be healthier and fit, today I thought I'd...

This past evening, I went to a Wine and Cheese event at a newly opened hotel in Bangkok, the Renaissance hotel. The event was organized to promote all the imported wines and cheeses of France and there were plenty of goods for you to try and buy. The organizers did a lovely job of creating a "French" atmosphere. There were enlarged paintings of Montmarte, the Eiffel Tower and even a human statue standing around. Kiosks selling French souvenirs stood by the entrance and one could even get their picture sketched. Nevertheless, being dinner time, the guestlist which numbered hundreds quickly filled the room. Everyone rushing to the stalls to fill their empty stomachs with a selection of the finest foods: foie gras, pate, salami, various types of cheese and chocolate, oysters, mussels, and salmon were all available. Wine lovers gathered in front of the wine stalls, filling up their empty glasses with various kinds of red and white wine. Free flow for all. If you particularly lik...

Eversince I've been back in Thailand, I keep getting comments on how I don't look "Thai." My parents are both Thai, so how can I not look Thai? Alex is also commented to not look "Thai" either. Some of my friends who have lived abroad most of their lives, also get the same comment. When people look at my friends and I who spent a lot of time abroad and were not born and raised entirely in Thailand, they can tell almost right away even without having had a conversation. I've been thinking about this for years now and together with my observations of friends' facial features, I've come up with a theory of my own: People's facial features, depending upon where they grew up, form differently as a result of different muscle usage. Why? People in the US and Europe use different kind of facial expressions from those in Asia. Upon observation, I think that my friends who grew up in the US with both Thai parents seem to have somewhat bigger jaw muscl...

I've been watching "Gossip Girls" and the series is really quite fascinating. Okay, so its a teenage series about high school students who go through different experiences together, good and bad, but in the end they all grow up. There's something to be learnt from the series. The characters vary from the spoiled "Queen" who goes around getting everything done the way she wants, playing games and tricks on people, and is an overal horrible girl to be on the wrong side with. There is the light, less uptight best friend who is just so natural and lively she shines wherever she goes. There are the "wannabes" who want to fit in and will do just about anything to get some attention. There are those who "tried" and discovered that being the "it" girl isn't all that good. There's the down-to-earth family who has strong moral values and believe life isn't all about just 'money' and 'glamour.' There are the con...

Most often, as we get older and go through life working, we forget what it is to be the "child" inside. Responsibilities make us serious, work harder and sometimes we just forget to play. We grab and hold onto certain ideals and thoughts because they make us feel "safe." We feel "safe" because we know the outcome. We are afraid to make decisions that are out of our "comfort zone" and involves the unknown. The adventurous person inside of us disappears. (Of course not everyone is like this, some remain adventurous no matter how old they are. Lucky them!) We start defining our preferences. I like plain water without ice, I don't like cream on cakes, I prefer dark chocolate, I like my steak medium rare, I like my pasta al dente, I like orange colored light, I like quiet surroundings, I like nature... I like... I like... We also start defining what we dont like. I don't like loud noises, I don't like people who change lanes w...

Some events touch your heart so much that you become lost for words. When people tell you how much all you've done for them means and how much it matters, it feels wonderful. In this day and age, when people care so much about themselves, what they have, what they don't have, what other people have, what the neighbours have, what others will say, what others will think...the focus becomes so much on "me", "I" and "myself." Sometimes we focus on "me" so much, we end up having an entire conversation about ourselves. It makes us forget to take care of the little things that really matter. Little things like offering people a bit of water when they are thirsty, giving them an umbrella to hide from the sorching sun, or just making sure they aren't feeling left out. Noticing how people are feeling or reacting. Are they ill? are they in need of help? Little things like saying "Thank you" and showing appreciation for the th...

A few weeks ago a relative told me a very sweet story about a little bird nesting high up in the trees in her backyard. There is something about hopes of a new life that bring with it so much joy to whoever witnesses it. Faces smile and positive energy radiate out. Gone were all the worries and concerns we usually carry with us from work. For a brief moment in time, energy focused on the the little nest, the birds nesting in it, and the little eggs. Bird behaviour becomes a new focus of fascination. We end up sitting quietly by watching the mother (or father) fly back and forth and then spending time nesting over the eggs. The little eggs become a part of our life and bring with it 'hope.' "Hope" which comes with the birth of new baby bird. "Hope" that life will continue. "Hope" that all will turn out well and be as we wish for it to be. Sometimes though, life lets us down. A few days ago, I was told the sad news that the little birds would no long...