Having "Me" Time

The flags on Dataran Merdeka Today it is Hari Merdeka Day in Malaysia or otherwise known as Independence Day.  It was on this day (31 August) in 1957 that Malaysian Independence from British rule was declared at Merdeka Stadium.  In the days running up to the national holiday, Malaysian flags fluttered all over the country and was seen on all the major buildings in Kuala Lumpur.  Everywhere I looked, I saw the Malaysian flag.  Such was the strength of national unity and you could tell the Malaysians were proud of their country. As a tourist, a sight you cannot miss in Kuala Lumpur is the " Dataran Merdeka " or Independence Square.  It was on this square that the British Union Flag was first lowered and replaced with the Malaysian Flag fifty-three years ago at midnight.  A historical moment in the history of Malaysia and one that signified the diminishing British colonial rule in Asia. It's incredible to think that this happen...

Back from my very brief vacation in Kuala Lumpur I must admit, I miss it already.  Flying out Friday morning and back on Sunday evening, it was indeed a very short trip but one that I'm glad I finally made.  I had been meaning to go for several years now upon the invitation of a wonderful friend there, but for one reason or another, I just never made it.  Now that I have, I wish I had done it sooner.  Being able to reunite with a long time friend was wonderful and I'd like to "Thank You" her and her family for giving me such a wonderful time there.  They were a wonderful host. There is much to see and do in Kuala Lumpur than first meets the eye.  Only a two-hour flight from Bangkok and accessible on the low-cost AirAsia it is a wonderful little getaway place to go if you are in need of an escape from everyday life whilst at the same time discovering a new culture and way of living. Unlike Thailand which is predominantly Buddhist (90percent),...

There is something about traveling that always makes me feel light and happy.    I love booking tickets for a trip, no matter how short the trip.  I love the anticipation of going away.  It makes me "happy" and I find myself in a deightful mood.  Sometimes it's good to just get out of your normal routine and venture out to the unknown and discover a new place.   It excites your brain and gives it new life. Yesterday, I ventured out to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  I hopped on the low cost Air Asia which was pleasantly ontime (despite rumours that it's always on delay).  I had pre-ordered food and booked my seat in advance so I had absolutely a great flight.  No one sat next to me and I was towards the front of the plane.  The food was not bad for airplane quality and their Nasi Lemak (Malaysian dish of coconut rice with chilly, fish, and peanuts) was quite delicious and tasty. I felt happy and satisfied.  I don't need much ...

It's important to listen to our bodies and know when to take a break and when to ignore it and keep on exercising.  Although it's wonderful if you are managing to keep a fit schedule of exercise three times a week and an active lifestyle, don't over push yourself when you are ill.  If you come down with a flu or get ill, don't be so hard on yourself.  Give your body a break. Give it a break when it needs it.  Not when the "mind" needs it. I know myself that I get lazy and tend to want to stop running or going to the gym, so I make myself go by telling myself  "No excuses."   I make myself get up and go.   It works wonders.  I go to the gymn and I exercise.   I feel wonderful. Sometimes though, I tell myself  "No excuses" even when I need to stop and just let my body rest.   I catch myself not yet fully recovered yet I want to go so that I am still on schedule.  It becomes a little obsession...

Everytime I get ill, I am told that having "soup" is good for me.  A nice big pot of home-brewed soup simmers away on the stove filled with all the goodness of vegetables, some chicken, or minced pork.  The aroma of fresh soup fills the air and before I know it, a large bowl of delicious and healthy soup stands before me. I am given nothing but a variety of soups to eat during my "flu" and it doesn't matter for how long it lasts.  Three times a day for as long as it takes, I am to have "soup."  I do admit though that "soup is good for the soul."  The warm soup, warms up the ill body and leaves it feeling good.  Steam from the soup helps clear up our congested nose, chest and throat.  Of course you could do it with just plain steam, but it's so much more satisfying with delicious soup! Don't you think? Not only that, all the goodness of vegetables which are nutrient packed with a bit of carbohydrates help give us much needed ene...

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for your patience..:)  It's been almost a week since I last wrote and I must say I miss writing my blog!   Yes, catching the seasonal  flu is absolutely no fun with its body aches, fever, headaches, stuffy nose, and sore throat.    Even though it's not as bad as the 2009 flu, it was bad enough for me.  I'm happy to be over it. It's been raining almost daily in Bangkok and the humid weather makes it perfect ground for the flu-virus to spread.   Everyday on facebook, I spot a friend either having caught the flu or getting a flu shot.  So my advice to everyone? Take care of your hygiene! 1. Wash your hands regularly after going to the bathroom, before meals, or whenever you have the chance. Make sure you use soap and give it a thorough wash through.  (Not one of those fast running-by-the-tap washes.) 2.  Carry a small portable anti-bacterial hand gel that you can ...

There is something magical about fireworks that I just love.  During the Queen's Birthday celebrations last week, each night ended with a beautiful display of fireworks.   Fireworks which I could see from my balcony.  Each day's display differing slightly from the other.  I'd stop whatever I was doing and just look out the window with a grin on my face, like a child eyeing candy at a store. I don't know what it is, but it could be the sound of fireworks sizzling up into the air before a little "bang" sends streams of sparkling light down all around you that touches my inner child.  It brings me back to the time when I first really witnessed fireworks and felt how extraordinarily wonderful they were.  I remember, I was in Luxembourg during the Grand Duke's Birthday Celebrations. Every year it is celebrated on the 23rd June when the leaves are green and the air is fresh.  Summer is just around the corner and everyone is ...

Opening up my email just now, I got this forward from a dear old friend of mine whom I've known since I was six.  (Yes, I've known her almost throughout my entire existence! )  Thank you for the forward. You know who you are :)  It's something I really like and would like to share it with everyone. The forward is a message supposedly by Mother Teresa and it conveys a message that I think is important.  It reminds us that life is what WE make of it. Sometimes, the world may seem like a horrible place to live in.  There are people who are self-centered, uncaring and may accuse you of things you didn't do.  There are people you cannot trust, people who will trick and take away all that you have built with your bare hands.   (Like Chuck Bass's hotel was taken away from him by his Uncle Jack in Gossip Girl).  There are those who will lie to get whatever they want from you.  Even if you didn't do anything, simply being happy may make ...

There is this somewhat annoying thing that I keep doing and I think a lot of people do: Thinking too much. For every decision we make we want to go through all the options, see all the information, get all the itsy bitsy details, discuss with a thousand people, and in the end, we end up deciding on what we thought we'd decide on initially. Why then go through all these time-consuming activities? Of course, there are certain very important decisions in work and in life that we must be decided on with a lot of a care and thought put through it, but life can be made a lot simpler if we just decide on simple things with this thought in mind: "If it doesn't work out the way you want it, or it's not what you thought it'd be, you can just find a way to solve the problem and get out of it. Nothing's impossible." Decisions can never be perfect. You decide on the available information at that time. Use your judgement and past experiences to formulate the decisi...

There are special occasions when we go to eat at beautifully decorated restaurants with wonderful ambiance and excellent service. There are also times when you just want something casual and delicious to satisfy you. You go for the food. One such restaurant that I was recommended a few years ago and one that has remained one of my favorites is the Shia-lan-pao restaurant called "Nam Tao Hoo Yong Her." (Yong Her Soya Drink) From the name, I am guessing that this Taiwanese owned restaurant started from selling soya drinks and eventually expanded. What they are absolutely great at making is the "Shia lan pao." It's those steamed dumplings filled with pork or vegetables, and soup inside. I absolutely love this dish. I first had it in the US in New York's chinatown and have since fallen in love with it. Now I go try them wherever I go. The dumplings at the restaurant are made fresh upon ordering so you don't get the hard texture of pre-frozen dumplings. The ...

The day of our Beloved Queen's Birthday today, it is also Mother's Day in Thailand. Everyone is out and about town taking mothers out to have a fabulous day and a good meal. With the long weekend here, many also take the opportunity to go out of town. This morning, the roads out of Bangkok were jammed pack with cars heading out of town, but since the afternoon the roads around my place have turned peacefully quiet. It takes me only 30 minutes to travel roughly 20 km. Paradise. It's a good day this mother's day. It's a good day not only because there's no traffic, but also because it's a day full of good feelings. It's a day when children all over Thailand take the time to tell their mothers how much they really love them. It's a day when mothers wake up smiling and go to bed with a warm heart. Days like these help remind us of what's important in life. Sometimes, as we grow older, have more responsibilities and move on with our lives, ...

Everyone is looking forward to the approaching long weekend. With only one working day left, the air is light and the mood at the office is filled with joy. Sounds of laughter and happiness fill the air as some unexpectedly find out we also get Friday off. It's a long weekend that seems to kick off the year end season of festivities. Our Beloved Queen's Birthday is also Mother's Day in Thailand. It's a time when families reunite and say "thank you" to their mother for all she has done and sacrificed over the years. Without our mothers, none of us would be where we are today. Another occasion to celebrate! In my family, we always enjoy a little dimsum for lunch and special occassions. One of our favorites is at the Lin Fa Restaurant at the Siam City Hotel. It's an old restaurant that has been around for decades and famous for it's chinese food. I've been there so many times and each time never fails to delight me. I went again a few months ago af...

Today I read a NYtimes article called "But will it make you happy?" As is the trend now in this economic recession, people seem to be cutting down their spending and living minimally. Especially in the US and Europe which were hit hardest by the recent financial crisis, consumers behaviour have been changing. The article tells the story about how a couple working in the corporate world with everything they wanted, but no happiness, decided to live "simply" and downsized their belongings to no more than 100 items. Out went the extra dishes, the tv, clothing and things that weren't needed. Three years later, they are debt free, living sparsely and as happy as can be. Living with 100 items is a bit extreme pretty much like wearing only six pieces of clothing for a month, but the article intriques me. Happiness they say is really more of the "memories" than the "objects" you own. After owning something for awhile, one eventually gets used...

"Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted." I came across this quote a few years ago and it's one I've always liked. It's supposedly said by Albert Einstein, a great scientist with the signature bushy moustache and disheveled hairdo. It's a quote that can be somewhat confusing with it's play on words. What it is really saying though is that of all the things in this world that you can"count" doesn't always mean it's important or "counts." At the same time, things that really matter or "count" cannot always be quantified. For example, material objects like the number of cars you have, or the number of watches you own doesn't always mean that they are the only important things in life. There exists things such as "love," "hope," "kindness," and "compassion," which are things that cannot be counted nor quantified. Yet these things a...

Happy Friday! It's a strange day this "Friday." When we're young, its the day we all look forward to. Friday night was a time to go out and have fun, party time! No way would I stay home on a FRIDAY night. Are you crazy? Now I am totally crazy. I love staying home on a Friday night and saving my energy for the weekend. It comes with "age" my colleagues tell me. Tonight's blog photograph is one that does me totally no good. I must say it's definitely not one of my better portraits, but hey, that's life right? We have days when we feel and look good, and miserable days when we just want to hide away from everyone. (I can't believe I'm actually posting this for the public to see. I must indeed be crazy.) This photo was one I took of myself during my recent visit to Siriraj Hospital. After having had a flu a few months ago, my throat had not healed. For the past two months, I've had a sore throat and ears that made me feel like I'm f...

Yesterday, I went to Siriraj hospital for the first time. The oldest hospital in Thailand, it dates back to the time of King Rama V and was established in 1888, shortly after a worldwide outbreak of Cholera. The first medical school in Thailand opened shortly after in 1890, and to this day, we regard doctors at Siriraj hospital to one of the best in Thailand. Located by the Chaophraya river, it is a mixture of old Bangkok and modern-day Bangkok. There is the old original building by the river which stands like a relic to the past. It now houses, a medical museum for forensic medicine. ( I must say, it's one museum I am reluctant to visit. I will one day perhaps, but not now. ) Behind the museum, are buildings that are currently in use and must have been built over 50 years ago. Newer and state-of-the art ones are being constructed close by next to the river. Upon completion, it would be a sight to see. The building I visited was one of the older buildings that must have...

If you ask me where I got the following phrase from, I have to admit I don't remember. I might have read it somewhere, heard it on the television, or overheard it somewhere. Anyways, wherever I heard it from, it has been stuck running around my head for quite sometime now and it won't stop until I write about. What is it? It is a definition that I think truly defines the word "discipline." It goes like this: "Discipline is doing something you hate like you love it." Think about it. It reminded me of a comment a friend made to me quite some time ago. She said, "Unlike you, I don't like running." Let me get this clear. I assure you, I do NOT like running. I run because I know it's good for me. I run because it's good for my health. I run because it keeps my weight in check. I run because it makes my brain feel clear and refreshed. I run because it lowers my stress level. I run because it makes me feel happier. I run because it makes my sk...

Last year, I used to be so proud of my healthy cereal breakfast. Every morning, I would wake up to a big bowl of cereal and dried fruits which would keep me feeling full until noon. I loved the crunchy kind with lots of different fruits. I was happy. A bowl of cereal was full of fiber and healthy vitamins. What did I have to worry about? I ate it everyday. It was my great healthy breakfast. However, when I first starting running I wondered why my weight wouldn't go down. I was eating healthy, exercising, something must be wrong. Alex told me to check the nutrition label again. Last time I checked, I didn't really notice much. This time, I got a BIG surprise. My very "healthy" breakfast was rich in calories. In fact, a serving of 100g was almost 500 calories! My thirty minutes of running like crazy burned at most 200 calories. 500 calories would take me over an hour! :S Then I spotted the sugar content. My cereal was also high in sugar! Sugar th...

This evening I watched the animation "How to train your dragon." Not expecting much, I discovered that I really enjoyed it. It's about a viking village that has to fight and the kill dragons that steal their food in order to survive. However, a young boy named "Hiccup" stood out from all the dragon-killing vikings and opened the entire village's perspective to a new way of life. What had been done since times past wasn't necessarily always the right thing to do. He managed to capture a dragon but wouldn't kill it. Instead a relationship formed between him and the dragon that was totally unexpected. It formed because he saw past the daunting exterior of the dragon beast and saw instead what lay within. A dragon that was just as scared as him. The beast of the dragon, too had a heart and a soul like him. Like every animal on earth, when in danger it too had to fight to survive. However, if one came peacefully, it too acted in good faith. It t...