Learning New Stuff.... :)

Recently, as my 32nd birthday resolution, I have decided to start learning new things and explore new adventures! I wanted to finally take time out and spend a bit of money to do the things that I have always thought of doing but never thought I had the time to...

All I can say is that I am so glad to have finally start putting those plans into action..

The first on the list was scuba diving and I am glad to share that I have finally completed my basic Open Water Divers Course! For once, I did not 2nd guess my decision or to try and rationalize.

Sure, I always loved the water and anything to do with it. I loved beaches but I have never immensed myself in salt water for more than a little bit of dipping and splashing for fear of jellyfish or worse -- SHARKS! so silly of me isn't it? I have not even snorkelled in my whole life. Imagine that? My underwater experience was limited to the chlorine purified swimming pool.

So on faithful June 16th, I finally flew to Kota Bharu and found myself ferried to Bubbles Dive Resort at Perhentian Island. I did not know what to expect but it was very different to the kind of urban holidays which I was so used to. Shopping, room service, concierge, white linen covered beds and fluffy pillows were nowhere to be found... You would think what a shock that wud be!!

Surprisingly, the scene to which we arrived to was very welcoming despite a modest one. Libby the lovely host, welcomed us with a big smile and gave us a quick rundown on what to expect as well as the house rules.

We were showed to humble yet comfortable rooms and Hazel was "excited" to see that the shower had no roof :P We also found that there was no mobile phone reception in our rooms which caused serious withdrawal syndromes for all of us as we were so used to being contactable at all times.

Before we know it, we have headed down to the dive shop and taught all the ins and outs of scuba diving... All the equipment and putting it together.. and I never wud have thought there is so much learning required to qualify for some open water diving.

I thought it wud just involve a quick brief on the safety requirements and then off we go into the water floating gently with all the equipment.. swimming with nemo for hours! How wrong I was! With all our inexperience, we were using up the oxygen in less than 30mins.

The four days training was pretty intense -- it involved a textbook, videos and lots of skills learning and practise for 3 full days. We had no time to miss our phone and was crazy happy lugging kilos of equipment and weights. Of course, I was so light :P (not!) that I need to have almost 9 kgs of weight strapped to me before I wud sink properly.

Poor Shrimpy (our instructor) -- he had his hands full trying to grab all of us. 8 legs to two hands -- that is quite a challenge! Never thought just staying still in the water would be so difficult without flipping around helplessly and kicking someone wif our fin unwittingly. The most challenging remain trying to 'hover' without shooting right up to the surface of the water - which turns to be possibly quite deadly to your human body if you were deep in the open waters.

Anyways, to cut a long story short -- we were having such a good time that we reluctant to return to civilization.

My 2nd new experience is belly dancing! For about three months now, I have been attending weekly belly dance classes at 'The Dance Space' in Plaza Damas. This was another activity I underestimated -- I went into the class all confident that I would pick up everything within a few hours. After all, you just need to shake your butt and make your belly jiggle right? I have plenty of belly to jiggle for SURE!

My goodness -- I must tell you I have never sweat so much in my life (besides the first time I attempted yoga). I never thought the activity was strenuous but after the class ever single muscle ached and I still look like a fool doing the moves while my instructor, Karen looks so sensual and beautiful doing the same moves. But GUESS WHAT? I totally enjoy it and can't wait to attend the next. Somehow the beats of the lebanese tunes and all the techniques required from every inch of your body to make the dance look beautiful has a hypnotic effect on me and I am hooked!!!

In conclusion, the saying is true 'You are never too old to learn new things' and though not everything you learn may have a clear practical use for it but it enriches our lives, making us a much more healthier and happier person. Also, I noticed both of the new experiences teaches me to slow down and that sometimes moving quickly is not always the way to go.

Cheers -- Age 32! :)

Trip down Memory Lane - Perth

In a blink of an eye... The trip to Perth has ended..

Didn't know what to expect before I went and so I guess it makes sense
that my feelings when leaving was just as unexpected!!
What started out to be a trip to savour all the good food I remembered
and just to get away fromthe hectic schedules of regular life...
Also turned into an unexpected trip down memory lane.
Seeing all the places that used to be my regular hangouts or outlets
and people who have been such an integral part of my life
- how their lives have changed and yet so much remains unchanged..
The bond, jokes, feeling at ease immediately.. That still remains!
Though many a times I feel myself at loss for words, so much to
catch up on but so little time and not knowing where to start.
I thought it was too short a trip and that there was so much more
to do...
I thought if I had just a bit more time -- I would be satisfied.
But i realize now it was never about the length of the trip..
There will never be enough time for everything, to re-live
the memories..That was never the point. 
But rather it is a good place for me to see where I come from,
how far I have gone and that I was blessed with those carefree days..
Good friends.. Great memories!
These are the things that life was made of..
Now I feel refreshed and ready to take on greater challenges.
Life is good and I feel much stronger to continue on the
unexpected adventures :)

Favourite Things !

Today, I am just reminded of that song -- frm "The Sound of Music".

It goes something like this --

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things"

What are your favourite things? I bet none of them are really expensive. Most of it were simple stuff that you cud get from anywhere but for some reasons they just give you a fuzzy feeling inside. Come to think of it -- most of it is probably FREE!!

Little things that pick you up when you are down and instantly makes you feel better about yourself.

For me.. There are so MANY!!! Some my favourite things are things like....

First, wud be Squirrel running down the stairs to greet me when I open the door to my house. In fact, I cheer up instantly the minute I hear the bell on his collar jiggling because I know that he probably heard me before I have even gotten to the door.

I love the smell of bread and coffee as I pass by a cafe.... or walking past a florist with beautiful fresh flowers outside the shop. Sometimes, I can't stop myself but to walk in and buy a bunch of fresh flowers for no reason at all. I love buying flowers even if it is not for myself or there is no real reason to do so.

The sight of even just a bunch of daffodils or daisies will just cheer me up no end. I can't imagine what will happen if I ever see a field of those ha ha. I think I will run through it like how they do it in the bollywood movies albeit a lot less gracefully.

I love to see the smile of a friend as I walked into the office or a loved one before I leave for work -- even if it was on a blue Monday morning :)

Listening to music and dancing around in my room -- there is no rhythm or choreography. It probably looks scarily funny but it just makes me feel so good even if I am doing mundane housework ha ha

Driving along the highway while singing in coherently to some random song esp BoyZ II Men or some mushy love ballad from Babyface or RnB crooners :P

Hugging a packet of hot fish and chips on a winter evening or wholesome korean food. ARRRrrRRRR!!

The smell of a new book with a lazy chair and bag of salt & vinegar chips.

The list could go on and on......

These are just some of the things I love :) What about you???

Resolution not to whine :P

08May - I know I know.. I promised not to whine on my blog but hey -- sometimes our will is just not as strong as our resolution. So forgive me for today because I need a place to release and whine ha ha

Lately, I am really starting to understand the concept of the less you do the less you can do wrong.. Sometimes we keep thinking that if we try hard enough, we can do better and that eventually we might get it right. Now, I am coming to understand more and more that trying to do so is counter-productive as actually there is no chance that the person you think will eventually be pleased will ever be satisfied.

So... I am thinking to myself -- what do you do in situation like this? Does anyone have a solution?

Do we:
A) Just start prioritizing and doing the things that we want to do and not do anything that we do not want to. All for the sake that we will never again in placed in a position where we put our heart and soul into making others happy and only repaid with comments that it is just not good enough or that you are being a smarty pants?
Does all this stop you and change you from what naturally you will do for others?
B) Continue to forge on and stay true to your nature -- with the simple determination to stick to your principles? Be determined to follow what is right.

I mean when is it that you should be patient and when is it that you are considered a doormat?

When should you stand up for yourself and when should you just let it slide..

Arrggghhhhhh -- so confusing ha ha... Well I think that's enough whining..  Cest La Vie!!

My 2009 Winter Solstice Dinner

22DEC2009 - Winter Solstice or also known as Tung Chee Festival!

This year it is just only my brother and I celebrating together in KL so seeing we can't think of what we wud like to eat so.. what better way than to eat a nice home cooked meal.

Just a few simple dishes with a main theme -- MORE MEAT!! (special request frm Kevin Lau ha ha) So I tried to incorporate as much meat dishes as possible ha ha

Of course, we had to have dumpling which I bought ready made and frozen. For a change, I decided to use soya bean milk as a soup base. I must say it turn out quite refreshing after being chilled. It was a long time since I last cooked.. so I must say it turned out alright after all :P

All in all it is a cozy meal :) That's what the festival is all about right?

Meet Squirrel -- My Master, The Chihuahua

Meet Squirrel, my beloved best pet Chihuahua!

He is black and tan little boy! Not that small anymore I guess, he is 7 yrs or more in human years and 1 1/2 yrs old in dog years.

It was love at first sight when I saw him at the pet safari in Ikano. Once I picked him up, I just had to take him home. The lady at the store, said "Chihuahua are quite timid so you shud keep him in the cage at least for a few days, otherwise it may be to traumatic for them in a new environment" Not my squirrel.. within minutes in our home -- he was galloping around following me! He never had any problems getting used to us.

So here he is .. still hyperactive, dare devil and he secretly thinks he is a rottweiler :)

If you have ever been around a chi hua hua, you will know he is not like any average dog. They don't do tricks, they don't follow rules and they don't take no for an answer ha ha! They are excellent people reader btw....he knows exactly how to worm how to behave around each individual to get their way. Sneaky little things!

But.. all I can say, a pet makes so much difference to your life.. suddenly you have a higher purpose and someone who is waiting for you to come home.. Be really excited everyday to see you! :)

Blogss...

Hi there..
Yes, I am about to join the fray of bloggers and I have no idea how to start or what to say but I reckon blogging gives you the freedom to say whatever you want right?

Well, you might ask -- why now?! Hmmmm.. to be honest, I think it is just because I wud like to have a space to share the happier things in life. Too many times.. we spend our day complaining (myself a guilty party as well) that we seem to miss the lovely things in life...

Most of the time there's plenty of blogs about what is wrong with the world, about food but I do love blogs which are "much ado about nothing" ha ha.. just some interesting things you see around the world and little details which makes life all worthwhile.. hope I can keep it up!