MINT'S IMPERIOUS
Courtesy of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall kicks off a three-part series on favourite summer herbs - The Guardian, Saturday 23 May 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/may/23/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall
but in case they change sites:
This week I'm going mint-al with a little celebration of all things minty, part one of a three-part series celebrating the herbs of summer. And mint is deservedly first on to the chopping block.
It's hardly an exclusive passion - it would be entirely possible to draw a minty map that spans the globe, from our own, beloved mint sauce to the kofte of Turkey and the dolmades of Greece, to the teas and tagines of Morocco, the yogurty, minty sauces and tabboulehs of the Middle East, and the raitas and chutneys of India; from the pungent salads and dipping sauces of Thailand to the mint juleps of the American south. Mint is truly the herb sans frontières.
It's fitting that a herb that's used so prolifically and grows so promiscuously - rampaging over scrubby ground, pushing through cracks in paving and colonising spaces set aside for more rarefied and reticent plants - has humble origins. Its name comes from Minthe, the nymph who so captivated Pluto that his jealous wife, Proserpina, transformed her into lowly, humble mint, destined for ever to creep along the ground. Well, Pluto's loss was our gain, and ever since we've been enraptured by her fresh, fragrant, saucy charms.
Mint is the common name of most plants of the genus Mentha, and there are hundreds of varieties. They hybridise easily, friskily, so it's sometimes confusing, but for the cook they can be roughly divided into two categories. Spearmint is the one we call "garden mint" or "common mint", and it's also the most usual "cooking" mint, the one we scatter over peas and potatoes. Peppermint is more fiery, peppery and spicy, but it has a soothing, cooling quality, too. It has more menthol notes, the chemical compound that stimulates cold sensors on your tongue, tickling and tricking your brain into feeling a soothing chill.
Commercially, the only kind of mint that's widely available is common mint, but it's easy and rather exciting to grow your own, more unusual varieties. Mint grows wonderfully in pots - in fact, given the herb's invasive nature, it's often best grown this way. If you do want to plant it in the ground, sink it into the earth in a large, bottomless pot, to limit its growth. Plant different varieties away from each other, too, because they can lose their distinctive flavours if planted close together. Chop back regularly to encourage fresh growth - younger leaves are more tender and tasty - and harvest before flowering when its oils are at their most potent.
Ginger mint is good in salads, with tomatoes and melon; spicy Moroccan mint is great in tea, and in yogurt and cucumber salads; chocolate mint, with its beautiful, purple-veined leaves, is delicious with, well, chocolate and other puds; pineapple mint adds its sweet freshness to fruit salads and drinks (it's the ultimate Pimm's mint); and Corsican mint really does creep along the ground, as Proserpina intended - you're not really going to cook with this variety, but if you can encourage it to grout its way along the cracks in garden paving, every time you walk along the beds you'll be rewarded with a menthol rush rising up from your steps.
Of course, we have long loved mint in jellies and sauces to accompany meat, most particularly lamb (much to the amusement of the French, who think it a rather barbarous habit), but it's also a perfect companion to spring and early summer veg. Asparagus, broad beans, peas and, later, aubergines and courgettes taste wonderful with a buttery kiss of shredded mint.
It's good, too, to try mint in place of other herbs, to ring the changes. Try a gremolata with mint in place of the parsley, or toss it over roasted or sautéed potatoes, or sprinkle it over lamb or pork. Later in summer, try usurping basil and sticking mint - lots of it - in your tomato salads.
And then, after all of that feasting, try a cup of fresh mint tea, the best herbal infusion there is. It's delicious on a hot day, lightly sweetened, cooled and poured over ice. As the kids would say, "Mint."
Cider apple brandy mojitos
My West Country twist on the minty mojito, using Somerset cider apple brandy in place of rum. Serves one.
10 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 nice sprig to garnish
About 2 tsp caster sugar, or to taste
1/2 lime, cut into wedges
40ml cider apple brandy
Ice
100ml sparkling water or soda water
Angostura bitters
With the handle of a wooden spoon, muddle together the mint, sugar and lime in a glass, bashing them well to ensure the leaves are bruised and combined with the sugar and lime. Add the brandy, then fill the glass with ice, top up with the sparkling water and add a splash of bitters. Stir, garnish with the mint sprig and serve immediately.
Mint and mascarpone ice-cream
Cooling and creamy, this is the perfect ice-cream for a hot afternoon. It also makes a delicious "after dinner mint" with a slosh of chocolate sauce or a dense, dark little chocolate biscuit on the side. Serves six to eight.
1 very big bunch fresh garden
mint, about 100-120g
200g caster sugar
4 egg yolks
200ml whole milk
200ml double cream
1 vanilla pod, split
200g mascarpone
Strip the mint leaves from the stalks and reserve the stems - snip them with scissors if they're very long. Put the stems into a pan with 350ml water and 100g of the sugar, and bash them a bit with the back of a wooden spoon. Over a low heat, stir gently to dissolve the sugar, then bring to a boil and simmer for eight to 10 minutes until syrupy - watch it for the last couple of minutes, to ensure it doesn't reduce too much. Allow the syrup to cool, then strain out the stalks.
Bring another pan of water to a boil, drop in the mint leaves, blanch for a few seconds, drain and refresh in iced water. Drain, pat dry, then blitz with the cooled syrup until you have a very fine, green paste.
Whisk together the egg yolks and remaining sugar until light and creamy in colour - this takes about five minutes in a mixer, 10 by hand.
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, stir together the milk and cream, along with the split vanilla pod, and bring to just below boiling point, when a few bubbles appear at the edges of the pan. Scrape out the vanilla seeds and stir into the cream.
Slowly pour the warm cream over the egg yolks, stirring all the time, until well combined. Pour into a clean saucepan and cook gently over a low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Transfer to a bowl or plastic container, and cover the surface with baking parchment to prevent a skin from forming. Cool, then chill in the fridge.
Beat the mascarpone slightly, then whisk in the custard and mint paste until smooth. Churn in an ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions, then put into a plastic tub and freeze; defrost for 10 minutes before serving.
Lamb kofte with yogurt sauce
In many southern European and Middle Eastern dishes, dried mint is used in preference to fresh. Here we've used dried mint in the kofte and added an extra zing of fresh mint in the sauce. It's our version of double mint. Serves six to eight.
For the kofte
1 small onion, grated
1 garlic clove, minced
1 rounded tbsp dried mint, crumbled
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 good pinch ground allspice
1 good pinch cinnamon
650g lamb, coarsely minced
4 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
90g fresh breadcrumbs
3 tbsp olive oil, plus 1 tbsp for shaping the kofte
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Some long, mild green chillies - we used Carliston peppers (optional)
For the sauce
100ml plain yogurt
100g soft goat's cheese
12 or so mint leaves, chopped
1 good pinch sea salt
Pitta bread, for serving
Skewers (if using wooden ones, soak them in water for 30 minutes)
Using your hands, mix together the kofte ingredients, seasoned generously with salt and pepper, until well combined. Leave to rest for at least 30 minutes, then fry off a small piece of the mixture to test - adjust the seasoning as necessary. When you're satisfied with the taste, wet your hands first with water and then with the remaining tablespoon of oil, and shape the kofte into thin sausages about 7cm long. Now thread the kofte on to the skewers, along with the chillies (if you're using them), pressing firmly on the minced lamb so it's firmly attached. Put the skewers on an oiled grill over the hot coals of a barbecue or on a rack under a preheated grill, and cook for about eight minutes, turning once halfway through.
While they're cooking, make the sauce by stirring together the yogurt and cheese until fairly smooth. Mix in the chopped mint and salt.
Serve the kofte hot, with warmed pitta bread and the sauce.
• The River Cottage Handbook No 5: Edible Seashore, by John Wright, is out now at £14.99 (Bloomsbury). To order a copy for the special offer price of £8.99, go to rivercottage.net
May 23, 2009
May 8, 2009
Maya ~ Sankalpa ~ Sanyama
I'm reflecting.
my illusions ~ intention ~ my vow to break free
first, my blessings, my offerings, my prayers.
I am blessed with this awareness to claim centredness on my path. and blessed with so much positive energy around me from all i've crossed path with. with love through my parents, family, everyone who thinks good for me. for my enemies who are my lessons to detach to aversions, who becomes my best teachers. to my devoted guides, who imparts the wisdom.
My offering is always to Divine.
My vow is to achieve this through my sadhana and to remain focused, for this 2 months. The fruits will come and my practice will show in its form, and I will be able to be a fountain of knowledge to those who seek.
Namaste.
my illusions ~ intention ~ my vow to break free
first, my blessings, my offerings, my prayers.
I am blessed with this awareness to claim centredness on my path. and blessed with so much positive energy around me from all i've crossed path with. with love through my parents, family, everyone who thinks good for me. for my enemies who are my lessons to detach to aversions, who becomes my best teachers. to my devoted guides, who imparts the wisdom.
My offering is always to Divine.
My vow is to achieve this through my sadhana and to remain focused, for this 2 months. The fruits will come and my practice will show in its form, and I will be able to be a fountain of knowledge to those who seek.
Namaste.
May 7, 2009
My Poem ~ Wipe every single drop away
Haunting sounds chills the cold still night
When the wind flute hums a lull-laby
How it must feel for those with none on their side
with no divine friendship in light, no family in sight
In the streets, come day or night
Kinship a plenty, but trust is shifty
But O' Behold ... when you look closely,
For there is a sign ~ a hope in sight!
For every tear drop, is never forgotten
For every tear drop, is interdependent
Sometimes when a blessing is in disguise,
It is hard to recognize
But there will be,
A very special night
when the full moon shines,
when the energy arise!
Joy glows at high tide
Peace beckons upon reflection
The years of tears now caresses the shore
Perhaps a thirst quenching oasis’ for all
If Thy raindrops could wipe
every single drop of your tears away
Let her fall, let her fall,
let her fall ...
When the wind flute hums a lull-laby
How it must feel for those with none on their side
with no divine friendship in light, no family in sight
In the streets, come day or night
Kinship a plenty, but trust is shifty
But O' Behold ... when you look closely,
For there is a sign ~ a hope in sight!
For every tear drop, is never forgotten
For every tear drop, is interdependent
Sometimes when a blessing is in disguise,
It is hard to recognize
But there will be,
A very special night
when the full moon shines,
when the energy arise!
Joy glows at high tide
Peace beckons upon reflection
The years of tears now caresses the shore
Perhaps a thirst quenching oasis’ for all
If Thy raindrops could wipe
every single drop of your tears away
Let her fall, let her fall,
let her fall ...
Wise words
What you think is worth doing, is worth doing well.
The world does not care what you lack, they are interested only in what you can offer.
Leave some things to the imagination.
Don’t worry too much about life. Even an earthworm can find food to eat.
Do exactly what you would do if you felt most secure.
He who would be serene and pure needs but one thing, detachment.
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.
~ Meister Eckhart
Desire for truth removes all other desires;
then it dissolves and what remains is bliss.
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~ Gandhi
Live now, the past is gone, the future has yet to come.
Live this day as if it is your last, you will discover the true priorities of your life - The Buddha
"The aim of education is to help the child develop their intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, moral, spiritual being and communal life…"
~ Sri Aurobindo~
All God wants of man is a peaceful heart.
Every creature is a word of God.
You may call God love, you may call God goodness. But the best name for God is compassion.
General practice is needed. God has given us discriminatory powers. Through that, you have to think of yourself. If there's no feedback try finding you from presentations what is wrong. And then decide what is better ~ BKS Iyengar
The world does not care what you lack, they are interested only in what you can offer.
Leave some things to the imagination.
Don’t worry too much about life. Even an earthworm can find food to eat.
Do exactly what you would do if you felt most secure.
He who would be serene and pure needs but one thing, detachment.
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.
~ Meister Eckhart
Desire for truth removes all other desires;
then it dissolves and what remains is bliss.
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~ Gandhi
Live now, the past is gone, the future has yet to come.
Live this day as if it is your last, you will discover the true priorities of your life - The Buddha
"The aim of education is to help the child develop their intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, moral, spiritual being and communal life…"
~ Sri Aurobindo~
All God wants of man is a peaceful heart.
Every creature is a word of God.
You may call God love, you may call God goodness. But the best name for God is compassion.
General practice is needed. God has given us discriminatory powers. Through that, you have to think of yourself. If there's no feedback try finding you from presentations what is wrong. And then decide what is better ~ BKS Iyengar
Dec 26, 2008
Ask
My Passion which will continue as the year goes:
Spiritual ~ Mastery through discipline of awareness & mindfulness. Reverence.
WellBeing ~ Practice, deepen, master deep relaxation. therapy. Do more Art
Career ~ Start on Book Ideas & Improvements. Do more art, music, reading.
Family, friends ~ Empowering their life's through listening, sharing, support, empowerment
Spiritual ~ Mastery through discipline of awareness & mindfulness. Reverence.
WellBeing ~ Practice, deepen, master deep relaxation. therapy. Do more Art
Career ~ Start on Book Ideas & Improvements. Do more art, music, reading.
Family, friends ~ Empowering their life's through listening, sharing, support, empowerment
Nov 26, 2008
My homework
My HOMEWORK: and my affirmation
1. Make my yoga part of my morning ritual.
Get to bed 15 minutes earlier so my yoga practice does not cut into my sleep time.
2. To sit down with my weekly calendar and cross out activities that is not serving me anymore (be brutally honest).
3. Find support for my home practice - practice with a member of family or a friend.
Practice with a class, or video. Being held accountable by others can get you to the mat on the dreariest of days. I know once I get to the mat, the magic often takes over after a couple of minutes, and I'll find yourself vibrating with the music of yoga.
Ideally, to start early, sitting and gradually waking up, go into listening to my body on what to practice.
Asana practice, pranayama, and meditation would follow.
What a great way to start the day — centered, awake, internal, and listening.
Because taking that time for myself helps me be more present, grounded, patient and open to the little moments of joy.
inspired by rodney!
1. Make my yoga part of my morning ritual.
Get to bed 15 minutes earlier so my yoga practice does not cut into my sleep time.
2. To sit down with my weekly calendar and cross out activities that is not serving me anymore (be brutally honest).
3. Find support for my home practice - practice with a member of family or a friend.
Practice with a class, or video. Being held accountable by others can get you to the mat on the dreariest of days. I know once I get to the mat, the magic often takes over after a couple of minutes, and I'll find yourself vibrating with the music of yoga.
Ideally, to start early, sitting and gradually waking up, go into listening to my body on what to practice.
Asana practice, pranayama, and meditation would follow.
What a great way to start the day — centered, awake, internal, and listening.
Because taking that time for myself helps me be more present, grounded, patient and open to the little moments of joy.
inspired by rodney!
Bringing My Yoga Practice Home
Today i realised, I had nearly forgotten why I loved yoga so much.
Inspired by Rodney's words...
yes, now it is up to me to recreate and rediscover the magic that had been revealed. Many years of home practice is the answer, going into my own body and asking it to be my teacher. Listening is the practice of yoga. Nothing replaces the home practice. It is a time when I can find my own rhythm, my own breath, my own revelations. It is where the genuine knowledge arises.
"I was told early on that in science, when one invents something, everyone benefits and can utilize that invention; however, in spiritual practice you must discover the wheel on your own. Get on your mat. Colleen and I can inspire you, but you have to sweat your own prayers."
Namaste,
courtesy of Rodney, Cofounder of the Gaiam Yoga Club
Inspired by Rodney's words...
yes, now it is up to me to recreate and rediscover the magic that had been revealed. Many years of home practice is the answer, going into my own body and asking it to be my teacher. Listening is the practice of yoga. Nothing replaces the home practice. It is a time when I can find my own rhythm, my own breath, my own revelations. It is where the genuine knowledge arises.
"I was told early on that in science, when one invents something, everyone benefits and can utilize that invention; however, in spiritual practice you must discover the wheel on your own. Get on your mat. Colleen and I can inspire you, but you have to sweat your own prayers."
Namaste,
courtesy of Rodney, Cofounder of the Gaiam Yoga Club
Oct 5, 2008
When I Go
My life, may not have an answer to the beginning of life, till the ending of it.
But the full experience has just been truly amazing, such a blessing. This is why I remember to say my thanks with each meal. My favourite part about having a meal is appreciating the sharing of life - to give thanks to having sensory ability, physical limbs to eat with, meals that miraculously appear in front of me through such an amazing cycle of life and energy exchange from earth to life to the infinite sacrifice of life/s, just to feed this body of mine.
The Tibetan Buddhism tradition says, there's 3 ways to go.
1) when we've exhausted our life span through accumulation of good altrustic deeds
2) when we've exhausted our physical body's life span
3) when we meet with accidents - unprepared, unexpected
So, I guess, we never really know when I will be gone, will we? they say, high practitioners do. ; )
It would be realistic to say that, you would surely be a part of all the infinite thoughts I will flash before my eyes, mind or heart, and if i never had the chance to say this to you, today i will do that.
I guess it never seems like a right time to say this when we are alive and well, usually going about like tomorrow will not end.
Well, in those chaotic life journey moments, there has been at least one really special moment, that I was really present with you, saw you from inside out, i could feel through you. the real quiet honest you.
This moments and presence when I was with you, I may not have been happy, smiling or nice. It could've been when I was being quiet. Or observing, or listening, or sharing, or seemingly aloof, or totally attentive.
it was a moment. and in this moment, I was really with you. when we crossed path.
i could close my eyes, and have a full sense of you, all over again. i guess i may not look like i care. but the depth cannot be described in words, cannot be manipulated in expressions. it may be felt in the quietness in your heart, perhaps. or perhaps when u're sitting with one single link to a whole completion of all thats around u.
yes there.
some say, we love and care not always for altruistic reasons. well, i feel that i care because its basic human nature to reach out and extend, expand. embrace.
what I know for sure is, i would only wish you peace. love. joy. because we are an entity in unity.
you shall have all that life's blessings has to offer ~ it is with you.
you shall have the highest respect in divine love and friendship ~ from me to u.
I would deeply thank you for everything you've shared and taught me, through your expansion, through you.
may peace always be with you.
namaste.
But the full experience has just been truly amazing, such a blessing. This is why I remember to say my thanks with each meal. My favourite part about having a meal is appreciating the sharing of life - to give thanks to having sensory ability, physical limbs to eat with, meals that miraculously appear in front of me through such an amazing cycle of life and energy exchange from earth to life to the infinite sacrifice of life/s, just to feed this body of mine.
The Tibetan Buddhism tradition says, there's 3 ways to go.
1) when we've exhausted our life span through accumulation of good altrustic deeds
2) when we've exhausted our physical body's life span
3) when we meet with accidents - unprepared, unexpected
So, I guess, we never really know when I will be gone, will we? they say, high practitioners do. ; )
It would be realistic to say that, you would surely be a part of all the infinite thoughts I will flash before my eyes, mind or heart, and if i never had the chance to say this to you, today i will do that.
I guess it never seems like a right time to say this when we are alive and well, usually going about like tomorrow will not end.
Well, in those chaotic life journey moments, there has been at least one really special moment, that I was really present with you, saw you from inside out, i could feel through you. the real quiet honest you.
This moments and presence when I was with you, I may not have been happy, smiling or nice. It could've been when I was being quiet. Or observing, or listening, or sharing, or seemingly aloof, or totally attentive.
it was a moment. and in this moment, I was really with you. when we crossed path.
i could close my eyes, and have a full sense of you, all over again. i guess i may not look like i care. but the depth cannot be described in words, cannot be manipulated in expressions. it may be felt in the quietness in your heart, perhaps. or perhaps when u're sitting with one single link to a whole completion of all thats around u.
yes there.
some say, we love and care not always for altruistic reasons. well, i feel that i care because its basic human nature to reach out and extend, expand. embrace.
what I know for sure is, i would only wish you peace. love. joy. because we are an entity in unity.
you shall have all that life's blessings has to offer ~ it is with you.
you shall have the highest respect in divine love and friendship ~ from me to u.
I would deeply thank you for everything you've shared and taught me, through your expansion, through you.
may peace always be with you.
namaste.
Oct 1, 2008
Yoga Facts
* Yoga is over 3,000 years old
* Yoga builds strength, flexibility and coordination
* Yoga creates cardiovascular health
* Yoga relieves stress and helps keep you healthy
* Yoga creates mental clarity, focus and emotional balance
* Yoga is safe for all ages and body types (choose a right teacher with depth)
* Yoga facilitates healing from injuries
* Yoga is not a religion
courtesy of Purna Yoga: purnayoga.com
The most open, gentle and loving teacher i've learned from: Aadil Palhivala, Purna Yoga. Very safe. Full of light and flow of love. Awesome space.
* Yoga builds strength, flexibility and coordination
* Yoga creates cardiovascular health
* Yoga relieves stress and helps keep you healthy
* Yoga creates mental clarity, focus and emotional balance
* Yoga is safe for all ages and body types (choose a right teacher with depth)
* Yoga facilitates healing from injuries
* Yoga is not a religion
courtesy of Purna Yoga: purnayoga.com
The most open, gentle and loving teacher i've learned from: Aadil Palhivala, Purna Yoga. Very safe. Full of light and flow of love. Awesome space.
Sep 16, 2008
The Secret Affirmation
An affirmation for the rest of your life.
In the new picture of the coming years, "I see my life growing and expanding in everything: in health, youth and unlimited energy at all times and in all circumstances. I see myself in complete freedom. I see unlimited growth in my personal capacity, mental power and intellectual brilliancy. I see constant improvement in all the elements of my personality and my body. I see daily growth in my wisdom, understanding. insight and realization.I see myself in peace, harmony, love and joy, and I see my character expanding to stronger and more beautiful.I see the never ending betterment of friends associations and environments.I see myself in everlasting joy and infinite bliss."
courtesy of The Secret - http://www.thesecret.tv/
In the new picture of the coming years, "I see my life growing and expanding in everything: in health, youth and unlimited energy at all times and in all circumstances. I see myself in complete freedom. I see unlimited growth in my personal capacity, mental power and intellectual brilliancy. I see constant improvement in all the elements of my personality and my body. I see daily growth in my wisdom, understanding. insight and realization.I see myself in peace, harmony, love and joy, and I see my character expanding to stronger and more beautiful.I see the never ending betterment of friends associations and environments.I see myself in everlasting joy and infinite bliss."
courtesy of The Secret - http://www.thesecret.tv/
Sep 14, 2008
Marriage Commandments
hilarious!
COMMANDMENT 1
Marriages are made in heaven.
But so are thunder and lightning.
COMMANDMENT 2
If you want your wife to listen and pay strict attention to every
word you say, talk in your sleep.
COMMANDMENT 3
Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least 100 grand!
COMMANDMENT 4
Married life is very frustrating.
In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.
COMMANDMENT 5
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: Either the car is new or the wife is.
COMMANDMENT 6
Marriage is when a man and woman become as one;
The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
COMMANDMENT 7
Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about
something you say. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish.
COMMANDMENT 8
Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical,and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife.
COMMANDMENT 9
Marriage and love are purely matter of chemistry.
That is why wife treats husband like toxic waste.
COMMANDMENT 10
A man is incomplete until he is married.
After that, he is finished..
BONUS COMMANDMENT STORY
A long married couple came upon a wishing well.
The husband leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny.
The wife decided to make a wish too.
But she leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned.
The husband was stunned for a moment but then smiled and said,
Hey! This thing really works!
courtesy of some anonymous being...
COMMANDMENT 1
Marriages are made in heaven.
But so are thunder and lightning.
COMMANDMENT 2
If you want your wife to listen and pay strict attention to every
word you say, talk in your sleep.
COMMANDMENT 3
Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least 100 grand!
COMMANDMENT 4
Married life is very frustrating.
In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.
COMMANDMENT 5
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: Either the car is new or the wife is.
COMMANDMENT 6
Marriage is when a man and woman become as one;
The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
COMMANDMENT 7
Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about
something you say. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish.
COMMANDMENT 8
Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical,and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife.
COMMANDMENT 9
Marriage and love are purely matter of chemistry.
That is why wife treats husband like toxic waste.
COMMANDMENT 10
A man is incomplete until he is married.
After that, he is finished..
BONUS COMMANDMENT STORY
A long married couple came upon a wishing well.
The husband leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny.
The wife decided to make a wish too.
But she leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned.
The husband was stunned for a moment but then smiled and said,
Hey! This thing really works!
courtesy of some anonymous being...
Laws of Cat Physics ; )
Law of Cat Inertia
A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some
outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying
mouse.
Law of Cat Motion
A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good
reason to change direction.
Law of Cat Magnetism
All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct
proportion to the darkness of the fabric.
Law of Cat Thermodynamics
Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat,
in which case all heat flows to the cat.
Law of Cat Stretching
A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap
just taken.
Law of Cat Sleeping
All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as
uncomfortable for the people involved as is possible for the cat.
Law of Cat Elongation
A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top
that has anything remotely interesting on it.
Law of Cat Acceleration
A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready
to stop.
Law of Dinner Table Attendance
Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served.
Law of Rug Configuration
No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long.
Law of Obedience Resistance
A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to
do something.
First Law of Energy Conservation
Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will,
therefore, use as little energy as possible.
Second Law of Energy Conservation
Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping.
Law of Refrigerator Observation
If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along
and take out something good to eat.
Law of Electric Blanket Attraction
Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed
of light.
Law of Random Comfort Seeking
A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable
spot in any given room.
Law of Bag / Box Occupancy
All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the
earliest possible nanosecond.
Law of Cat Embarrassment
A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment
times the amount of human laughter.
Law of Milk Consumption
A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can.
Law of Furniture Replacement
A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the
cost of the furniture.
Law of Cat Landing
A cat will always land in the softest place possible.
Law of Fluid Displacement
A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount
of milk consumed.
Law of Cat Disinterest
A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of
effort a human expends in trying to interest him.
Law of Pill Rejection
Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape
velocity.
Law of Cat Composition
A cat is composed of "Matter" plus "Anti-Matter" plus "It Doesn't
Matter".
courtesy of some anonymous being...
A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some
outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying
mouse.
Law of Cat Motion
A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good
reason to change direction.
Law of Cat Magnetism
All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct
proportion to the darkness of the fabric.
Law of Cat Thermodynamics
Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat,
in which case all heat flows to the cat.
Law of Cat Stretching
A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap
just taken.
Law of Cat Sleeping
All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as
uncomfortable for the people involved as is possible for the cat.
Law of Cat Elongation
A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top
that has anything remotely interesting on it.
Law of Cat Acceleration
A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready
to stop.
Law of Dinner Table Attendance
Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served.
Law of Rug Configuration
No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long.
Law of Obedience Resistance
A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to
do something.
First Law of Energy Conservation
Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will,
therefore, use as little energy as possible.
Second Law of Energy Conservation
Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping.
Law of Refrigerator Observation
If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along
and take out something good to eat.
Law of Electric Blanket Attraction
Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed
of light.
Law of Random Comfort Seeking
A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable
spot in any given room.
Law of Bag / Box Occupancy
All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the
earliest possible nanosecond.
Law of Cat Embarrassment
A cat's irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment
times the amount of human laughter.
Law of Milk Consumption
A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can.
Law of Furniture Replacement
A cat's desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the
cost of the furniture.
Law of Cat Landing
A cat will always land in the softest place possible.
Law of Fluid Displacement
A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount
of milk consumed.
Law of Cat Disinterest
A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of
effort a human expends in trying to interest him.
Law of Pill Rejection
Any pill given to a cat has the potential energy to reach escape
velocity.
Law of Cat Composition
A cat is composed of "Matter" plus "Anti-Matter" plus "It Doesn't
Matter".
courtesy of some anonymous being...
Sep 13, 2008
Siem Reap - beautiful Cambodian smiles melt my heart
When I returned from my trip, I could not stop glowing in grins. These were due to memories of how I fell in love with the beautiful Khmer cambodian smiles from the heart which did melt my heart.
They were graceful, humble, sincere, caring, forgiving, happy, compassionate, so full of love and devotional. That's what i felt, hear, and saw.
Angkor Wat facts:
81 hectares, comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Places we went :)
- Ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th).
- South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure
- Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King
- Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara)
- Ta Prohm Temple of similar design to the Jayavarman VII temples. A quiet sprawling monastic complex partially cleared of jungle overgrowth. Intentionally left partially unrestored, massive fig and silk cotton trees grow from the towers and corridors.
- Watch sunset at Bakheng Mountain.
Sep 12, 2008
Why Not?
We need men who can dream of things that never were, and ask why not.
George Bernard Shaw
In an indian movie I saw recently, a villager leaves home for the first time to travel to the city of Bombay. When he returns, his family and friends crowd around him, asking what it was like in the big city. His laconic reply sums up our era: "Such tall buildlings ... and such small people."
If we were asked to give an accounting of our society's achievements, we could claim many great technological developments and scientific discoveries, plenty of skycrappers, and the amasement of huge sums of money, but few truly secure, truly wise, truly great men and women. It is not for lack of ability of energy, though; it is because we lack a noble goal.
To grow to our full height, we need to be challenged with tasks that draw out our deeper resources, the talents and capacities we did not know we had. We need to be faced with obstacles that cannot be surmounted unless we summon up our daring and creativity. This kind of challenge is familiar to any great athlete or scientist or artist. No worthwhile accomplishment comes easily.
Taken from A Daily Guide to Leading an Exceptional Life, Words to Live By by Eknath Easwaran
George Bernard Shaw
In an indian movie I saw recently, a villager leaves home for the first time to travel to the city of Bombay. When he returns, his family and friends crowd around him, asking what it was like in the big city. His laconic reply sums up our era: "Such tall buildlings ... and such small people."
If we were asked to give an accounting of our society's achievements, we could claim many great technological developments and scientific discoveries, plenty of skycrappers, and the amasement of huge sums of money, but few truly secure, truly wise, truly great men and women. It is not for lack of ability of energy, though; it is because we lack a noble goal.
To grow to our full height, we need to be challenged with tasks that draw out our deeper resources, the talents and capacities we did not know we had. We need to be faced with obstacles that cannot be surmounted unless we summon up our daring and creativity. This kind of challenge is familiar to any great athlete or scientist or artist. No worthwhile accomplishment comes easily.
Taken from A Daily Guide to Leading an Exceptional Life, Words to Live By by Eknath Easwaran
If not now, when?
If I am not for me, who will be?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when?
~ Rabbi Hillel
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when?
~ Rabbi Hillel
Aug 14, 2008
Declutter Your Finances! tips
Step 1. Envision the Life You Want
Step 2: Look at the True Cost of Your Debt
Step 3: Explore Your Limits
Step 4: Assess Your Spending Habits
Step 5: Discuss Necessities vs. Luxuries
Step 6: Consider Your Happiness Quotient
Step 7: Create Space for What Really Matters
Step 8: Make It Real
courtesy of oprah.com - peter walsh
http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahandfriends/pwalsh/20081010_oaf_pwalsh_101
Step 2: Look at the True Cost of Your Debt
Step 3: Explore Your Limits
Step 4: Assess Your Spending Habits
Step 5: Discuss Necessities vs. Luxuries
Step 6: Consider Your Happiness Quotient
Step 7: Create Space for What Really Matters
Step 8: Make It Real
courtesy of oprah.com - peter walsh
http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahandfriends/pwalsh/20081010_oaf_pwalsh_101
Jun 22, 2008
Celebrating Silence with HHSSS
~ compilation of talks by His Holiness Sri Sri Shankar
Celebrate while you are alone and celebrate when you are with people. Celebrate silence and celebrate noise. Celebrate life and celebrate death ~ New Delhi, March 13 1997
SENSES - HABITS - VICES
The senses are like fire. Your life is like fire. Some fires pollute and others purify. The same fire that supports life in winter also destroys. If your senses are engaged in goodness, you will create light and fragrance. It is samyama that transforms the quality of fire in you. ~ Montreal Ashram, July 24, 1995
Life wants to be fre and when a soul does not know how to be free, it wanders through lifetimes desiring freedom. The way to break habits is through vows. Rise above habits through samyama. All those habits that bother you, that bring you pain – bind them in vows, in samyama. A vow should be time bound, and the time and place for making the vow should be considered. ~ Brookfield, Connecticut, July 30, 1995
Your inability to break a habit causes a pinch and when you are deeply pained by something, the pain will rid you of that habit. If you are pained by your shortcomings, then you are a sadhak - a seeker. Pain takes you out of addiction. ~ LA, Jan 30, 1997
If you cannot eliminate vices, magnify them. Give them a bigger dimension and a different direction. Be averse to aversions. Attach yourself to the guru. Get intoxicated with the Divine. ~ Rishikesh, April 3 1997
DESIRES
Desires for sensory pleasures are electric in nature and these desires get neutralized as they move towards the object of your senses. They are nothing but energy and you are the source of it - the pure electricity. Dedication and devotion maintain the purity of your electricity, moving you upward. Once you realize that you are pleasure or electricity, your craving subsides and serenity dawns. ~ Milano, Italy, Jan 7, 1998
Desire kills joy yet the goal of all desires is joy. Yet all that we desire is happiness. The conclusion "My desires have killed my happiness." ~ Bangalore, April 26, 2000
Have you thought about the nature of desire? It simply means tomorrow, and not now. But joy is never tomorrow, it is always now. That is why desire is maya - illusion. ~ Banagalore, March 6, 1996
A desire arises with the memory of a pleasant experience or with past impression. It might also arise through listening. Desire can be triggered through association with people and places. Someone else's desire may manifest in you as your own. When someone is hungry, you might have a desire to feed them. Desnity, may trigger a desire but you will not be aware of the reason for your actions. ~ Dharamshala, April 6, 2000
Desire arise on their own. When they come, if you say that you do not want any desires, then that want becomes another desire. On the journey of life, you have to keep submitting your desires and not hold onto them. As you keep submitting your desires, fewer desires arise. Unfortunate are those who keep on desiring yet their desires are not fulfilled. A little more fortunate are those whose desires get fulfilled over a long period of time. More fortunate are those whose desires get fulfilled as soon as they arise. The most fortunate are those who have no desires because there is fulfillment even before the desire arises. ~ Swargashram, Rishikesh, March 20, 1996
Buddha said that desire is the cause of all misery. If desire does not get fulfilled, it leads to frustration. If it does, it leaves you empty. Vasishta says desire is the cause of pleasure. You get pleasure from an object or a person only when you desire them. Whatever gives you pleasure binds you and bondage is misery. WHEN YOU DESIRE TRUTH, all other desires drop off. Desire for truth removes all other desires; then it dissolves and what remains is bliss. ~ Denpasar, Bali, May 11, 2000
Your desires and sankalpas - or intentions - separate you from God. Offer all your desires and all your sankalpas to the Divine. Then you are divine. You are God. You are free - lacking nothing. ~ Bangalore, Oct 16, 1996
Pleasure and pain are intense sensations in this body. All your misery surrounds the 'I, I, I...'. Just let go. Remember - the sun rises and sets, the moon shines and I am here forever. ~ Bad Antogast, Germany, May 14, 1997
ATTACHMENTS
Often people fail to see the spirit behind the attraction, and merely hold onto the outer shell. And the moment you try to possess the shell, you will be left with an empty shell in your hands and tears in your eyes. Krishna means the most attractive. He is the divinity, the energy that attracts everything to it. The mind moves towards beauty, joy and truth. Krishna tells Arjuna, "I am the beauty in the Beautiful, the strength in the Strong, the wisdom in the Wise." In this way he arrests the mind from moving away from him. ~ Rotterdam, Netherlands, Aug 16,195
Attachments cause feverish breath. Feverish breath takes away your peace of mind. Rid it through surrender and sadhana - spiritual practices. When you are drowning in the ocean of attachments, surrender is a life jacket. Without fighting attachments, observe your feverish breath and go to the cool place of silence within. our first step in this direction is directing your attachment to knowledge, to the Divine. Your non-attachment to the mundane is your charm. Your attachment to the Divine is your beauty. ~ Sydney, April 3, 1996
CONFUSION
Decision comes only when there is confusion. When there is no confusion, there is no decision. If there is a piece of wood and a biscuit on your desk, do you decide which one to eat?
A decision is always about choice and choice is confusing. So, all decision makers are confused. Are you confused, decided or happy? When you are confused there is no freedom.
Action is spontaneous when there is no actor. In you, there is an actor and there is a witness. An actor is either confused or decisive, but the witness smiles and realized that the action is spontenous.
The more decisions you make, the more confused you are, and as a result you swing between pain and pleasure. The more the witness grows in you, the more playful and untouched you are. Trust, faith, love and joy all manifest in and around you. ~ Hamburg, April 29, 1998.
DOUBT
Doubt cannot come when there is a sense of closeness. Doubt needs distance to appear. You never doubt something that is dear to you, close to you. The moment you doubt something, it is no longer dear to you, a distance has come. You may doubt yourself, but you do not doubt that which is yours. Self-doubt is a lack of closeness to oneself. Belonging, closeness and intimacy are all antidotes for doubt.
~ Rishikesh, March 11, 1999
Doubt is a gray area. Gray is neither black or white. Doubt means you want to get rid of something. It is a temporary state. It is neither up nor down and that is where tension arises.
So how do you eliminate doubt? An event, knowledge or conventional wisdom cannot help. What can help"? Accept what you doubt as either black or white. Make it black and accept it or make it white and accept that, regardless of wheter is it black or white or something in between. See the gray as just a shade of black or white. Either way, you accept it. Honest or dishonest - accept it. Then the mind is quiet and you are no longer in the gray area. ~ Montreal, July 20, 1995
Celebrate while you are alone and celebrate when you are with people. Celebrate silence and celebrate noise. Celebrate life and celebrate death ~ New Delhi, March 13 1997
SENSES - HABITS - VICES
The senses are like fire. Your life is like fire. Some fires pollute and others purify. The same fire that supports life in winter also destroys. If your senses are engaged in goodness, you will create light and fragrance. It is samyama that transforms the quality of fire in you. ~ Montreal Ashram, July 24, 1995
Life wants to be fre and when a soul does not know how to be free, it wanders through lifetimes desiring freedom. The way to break habits is through vows. Rise above habits through samyama. All those habits that bother you, that bring you pain – bind them in vows, in samyama. A vow should be time bound, and the time and place for making the vow should be considered. ~ Brookfield, Connecticut, July 30, 1995
Your inability to break a habit causes a pinch and when you are deeply pained by something, the pain will rid you of that habit. If you are pained by your shortcomings, then you are a sadhak - a seeker. Pain takes you out of addiction. ~ LA, Jan 30, 1997
If you cannot eliminate vices, magnify them. Give them a bigger dimension and a different direction. Be averse to aversions. Attach yourself to the guru. Get intoxicated with the Divine. ~ Rishikesh, April 3 1997
DESIRES
Desires for sensory pleasures are electric in nature and these desires get neutralized as they move towards the object of your senses. They are nothing but energy and you are the source of it - the pure electricity. Dedication and devotion maintain the purity of your electricity, moving you upward. Once you realize that you are pleasure or electricity, your craving subsides and serenity dawns. ~ Milano, Italy, Jan 7, 1998
Desire kills joy yet the goal of all desires is joy. Yet all that we desire is happiness. The conclusion "My desires have killed my happiness." ~ Bangalore, April 26, 2000
Have you thought about the nature of desire? It simply means tomorrow, and not now. But joy is never tomorrow, it is always now. That is why desire is maya - illusion. ~ Banagalore, March 6, 1996
A desire arises with the memory of a pleasant experience or with past impression. It might also arise through listening. Desire can be triggered through association with people and places. Someone else's desire may manifest in you as your own. When someone is hungry, you might have a desire to feed them. Desnity, may trigger a desire but you will not be aware of the reason for your actions. ~ Dharamshala, April 6, 2000
Desire arise on their own. When they come, if you say that you do not want any desires, then that want becomes another desire. On the journey of life, you have to keep submitting your desires and not hold onto them. As you keep submitting your desires, fewer desires arise. Unfortunate are those who keep on desiring yet their desires are not fulfilled. A little more fortunate are those whose desires get fulfilled over a long period of time. More fortunate are those whose desires get fulfilled as soon as they arise. The most fortunate are those who have no desires because there is fulfillment even before the desire arises. ~ Swargashram, Rishikesh, March 20, 1996
Buddha said that desire is the cause of all misery. If desire does not get fulfilled, it leads to frustration. If it does, it leaves you empty. Vasishta says desire is the cause of pleasure. You get pleasure from an object or a person only when you desire them. Whatever gives you pleasure binds you and bondage is misery. WHEN YOU DESIRE TRUTH, all other desires drop off. Desire for truth removes all other desires; then it dissolves and what remains is bliss. ~ Denpasar, Bali, May 11, 2000
Your desires and sankalpas - or intentions - separate you from God. Offer all your desires and all your sankalpas to the Divine. Then you are divine. You are God. You are free - lacking nothing. ~ Bangalore, Oct 16, 1996
Pleasure and pain are intense sensations in this body. All your misery surrounds the 'I, I, I...'. Just let go. Remember - the sun rises and sets, the moon shines and I am here forever. ~ Bad Antogast, Germany, May 14, 1997
ATTACHMENTS
Often people fail to see the spirit behind the attraction, and merely hold onto the outer shell. And the moment you try to possess the shell, you will be left with an empty shell in your hands and tears in your eyes. Krishna means the most attractive. He is the divinity, the energy that attracts everything to it. The mind moves towards beauty, joy and truth. Krishna tells Arjuna, "I am the beauty in the Beautiful, the strength in the Strong, the wisdom in the Wise." In this way he arrests the mind from moving away from him. ~ Rotterdam, Netherlands, Aug 16,195
Attachments cause feverish breath. Feverish breath takes away your peace of mind. Rid it through surrender and sadhana - spiritual practices. When you are drowning in the ocean of attachments, surrender is a life jacket. Without fighting attachments, observe your feverish breath and go to the cool place of silence within. our first step in this direction is directing your attachment to knowledge, to the Divine. Your non-attachment to the mundane is your charm. Your attachment to the Divine is your beauty. ~ Sydney, April 3, 1996
CONFUSION
Decision comes only when there is confusion. When there is no confusion, there is no decision. If there is a piece of wood and a biscuit on your desk, do you decide which one to eat?
A decision is always about choice and choice is confusing. So, all decision makers are confused. Are you confused, decided or happy? When you are confused there is no freedom.
Action is spontaneous when there is no actor. In you, there is an actor and there is a witness. An actor is either confused or decisive, but the witness smiles and realized that the action is spontenous.
The more decisions you make, the more confused you are, and as a result you swing between pain and pleasure. The more the witness grows in you, the more playful and untouched you are. Trust, faith, love and joy all manifest in and around you. ~ Hamburg, April 29, 1998.
DOUBT
Doubt cannot come when there is a sense of closeness. Doubt needs distance to appear. You never doubt something that is dear to you, close to you. The moment you doubt something, it is no longer dear to you, a distance has come. You may doubt yourself, but you do not doubt that which is yours. Self-doubt is a lack of closeness to oneself. Belonging, closeness and intimacy are all antidotes for doubt.
~ Rishikesh, March 11, 1999
Doubt is a gray area. Gray is neither black or white. Doubt means you want to get rid of something. It is a temporary state. It is neither up nor down and that is where tension arises.
So how do you eliminate doubt? An event, knowledge or conventional wisdom cannot help. What can help"? Accept what you doubt as either black or white. Make it black and accept it or make it white and accept that, regardless of wheter is it black or white or something in between. See the gray as just a shade of black or white. Either way, you accept it. Honest or dishonest - accept it. Then the mind is quiet and you are no longer in the gray area. ~ Montreal, July 20, 1995
Sep 24, 2007
My poem ~ to Spirit of Yoga's beautiful music
Intoxicating beauty to the heart and soul,
it creeps like mist in a field of snow.
The haunting ethereal sounds,
strums like a river
like tears in my heart
in joy,
in peace,
and in sorrow.
A deep sense of a familiar homeland,
A depth so deep, a million lives that lived.
All this is, but resonance of Everything in all.
Oh how blissful when she strums and she sings.
Oh, how beautiful it is, when she dances with us.
Oh how beautiful it is when we weep with her.
and hereforth we share this everlasting essence of our earth.
The everflowing, the essence of peace. Recharged, renew, revisited
once more.
it creeps like mist in a field of snow.
The haunting ethereal sounds,
strums like a river
like tears in my heart
in joy,
in peace,
and in sorrow.
A deep sense of a familiar homeland,
A depth so deep, a million lives that lived.
All this is, but resonance of Everything in all.
Oh how blissful when she strums and she sings.
Oh, how beautiful it is, when she dances with us.
Oh how beautiful it is when we weep with her.
and hereforth we share this everlasting essence of our earth.
The everflowing, the essence of peace. Recharged, renew, revisited
once more.
Jul 17, 2007
The famous 10 Actors Studio's Questions
1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
4. What turns you off?
5. What is your favorite curse word?
6. What sound or noise do you love?
7. What sound or noise do you hate?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
here's my list ;) whats yours?
1. love
2. kill
3. divine love & nature (grace, reverence, selflessness, compassion etc) & sensitive observers
4. whiners
5. HOLY 'anything'
6. total deep silence
7. mental noise
8. philanthropist with entrepreneur skills
9. the one who orders to kill
10. love has arrived.
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
4. What turns you off?
5. What is your favorite curse word?
6. What sound or noise do you love?
7. What sound or noise do you hate?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
here's my list ;) whats yours?
1. love
2. kill
3. divine love & nature (grace, reverence, selflessness, compassion etc) & sensitive observers
4. whiners
5. HOLY 'anything'
6. total deep silence
7. mental noise
8. philanthropist with entrepreneur skills
9. the one who orders to kill
10. love has arrived.
Jul 12, 2007
little things in life...
...makes a big difference
magnetic smiles
lovely memories
kind gestures
hot coffee & tea
animated conversations
a friend who listens and shares
someone who truly cheers me up
magnetic smiles
lovely memories
kind gestures
hot coffee & tea
animated conversations
a friend who listens and shares
someone who truly cheers me up
Jul 1, 2007
Loosing myself
"Why are we so full of restraint? Why do we not give in all directions?
Is it fear of losing ourselves? Until we do lose ourselves there is no
hope of finding ourselves." -- Henry Miller
"The impulses that make a fool or worse of us in certain circumstances
may be necessary for our happiness." -- Gertrude Atherton
We were born to shine! Andrea Bocelli!
"Let me arise and open the gate, To breathe the wild warm air...." --
Violet Fane
Is it fear of losing ourselves? Until we do lose ourselves there is no
hope of finding ourselves." -- Henry Miller
"The impulses that make a fool or worse of us in certain circumstances
may be necessary for our happiness." -- Gertrude Atherton
We were born to shine! Andrea Bocelli!
"Let me arise and open the gate, To breathe the wild warm air...." --
Violet Fane
Jun 26, 2007
My Poem - Symphony in the Sky
Last night at Fort Canning Hill,
I lay on someones sarong throw.
Over the prickly grass,
stretching feet wide,
hands by my side.
My ears perks wistfully,
To melancholy tunes,
Unplugged, with vocalists in duets,
audiences abreast.
I lay face up watching the sky
And this is what I see ...
A wonderful glimpse it was,
Of a yearned craving met,
of a merged oneness,
with the night sky above.
Darkness has fallen but
Sky looks daylight blue,
Stars’ abundant,
winking back at me.
Air high high above,
Fresh, clear and crisp.
White Clouds floating by,
in different shapes and sizes,
In very slow motion,
waving and chuckling at me.
In different layers,
sequenced unplanned,
unfazed by each other's
type of dance.
Floating by like a symphony,
orchestrated beautifully
in this very musical night.
Yet in this sequence,
There is a special quietness
A stillness in his gaze.
A stillnes in her gestures.
In this stillness
Lies a peaceful grace,
In this thoughtless moment,
lies complete silence.
O’ Blue Sky, O’ White Clouds, O’ Starry Night,
My symphony in the sky.
In this stillness, in this silence,
How I fell in love with thee.
I lay on someones sarong throw.
Over the prickly grass,
stretching feet wide,
hands by my side.
My ears perks wistfully,
To melancholy tunes,
Unplugged, with vocalists in duets,
audiences abreast.
I lay face up watching the sky
And this is what I see ...
A wonderful glimpse it was,
Of a yearned craving met,
of a merged oneness,
with the night sky above.
Darkness has fallen but
Sky looks daylight blue,
Stars’ abundant,
winking back at me.
Air high high above,
Fresh, clear and crisp.
White Clouds floating by,
in different shapes and sizes,
In very slow motion,
waving and chuckling at me.
In different layers,
sequenced unplanned,
unfazed by each other's
type of dance.
Floating by like a symphony,
orchestrated beautifully
in this very musical night.
Yet in this sequence,
There is a special quietness
A stillness in his gaze.
A stillnes in her gestures.
In this stillness
Lies a peaceful grace,
In this thoughtless moment,
lies complete silence.
O’ Blue Sky, O’ White Clouds, O’ Starry Night,
My symphony in the sky.
In this stillness, in this silence,
How I fell in love with thee.
Jun 19, 2007
Maya Angelou
Sharing another inspiration to me..
Maya Angelou, shares some thoughts about the important virtue of courage, growing into the seventies and defining our principles.
Oprah and Maya AngelouListen in on Oprah's one-on-one conversation with Maya Angelou in link below.
She is hailed as a remarkable Renaissance woman, a beloved poet and best-selling author and an actress. She has moved generations with her talent and passion for social change and is recognized around the world as a leading civil rights activist.
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/200012/omag_200012_maya.jhtml
Maya Angelou, shares some thoughts about the important virtue of courage, growing into the seventies and defining our principles.
Oprah and Maya AngelouListen in on Oprah's one-on-one conversation with Maya Angelou in link below.
She is hailed as a remarkable Renaissance woman, a beloved poet and best-selling author and an actress. She has moved generations with her talent and passion for social change and is recognized around the world as a leading civil rights activist.
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/200012/omag_200012_maya.jhtml
Awesome Songs/Artists
MICHAEL JACKSON - Earth Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rch7ey-v7ks
What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain.. .
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
The That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?
What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son...
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores
Aaaaaaaaaaah
I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far
INDIA.ARIE
Hear: I am not my Hair Remix Feat. Akon, Little Things, God is Real
http://www.indiaarie.com/ (under Media)
Lyrics: http://www.treehouse.cz/india/lyrics/
Julia Fordham
Hear: Love moves in mysterious ways
http://www.juliafordham.com/looklistenbuy.php
MY other favs:
Ben Leinbach - The Spirit of Yoga
Sting
Seal
Andrea Bocelli
Queen
Movies in my books:
Splash
Phenomenon
Always
Big Blue
I dreamed of Africa
Motorcylce Diaries
5th Element
Girl on the Bridge (Fille sur le pont, La)
Powder
Shawshank Redemption
Million Dollar Baby
Elephant Man
My Left Foot
Le Papillon
Braveheeart
Schindlers List
A Beautiful Mind
Lord of the Rings
Wedding CRashes **
THe Pianist
The World's Fastest Indian
Ocean's 11/12
City of Joy
The Last Samurai
The Untouchables
The Notebook
Shine
Letters from Iwo Jima
Too Hot to Handle
Forest Gump
Babel
Once Upon a Time in CHina series
Hero
etc etc etc
and all others with Richard Gere of course
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rch7ey-v7ks
What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain.. .
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
The That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?
What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son...
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores
Aaaaaaaaaaah
I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far
INDIA.ARIE
Hear: I am not my Hair Remix Feat. Akon, Little Things, God is Real
http://www.indiaarie.com/ (under Media)
Lyrics: http://www.treehouse.cz/india/lyrics/
Julia Fordham
Hear: Love moves in mysterious ways
http://www.juliafordham.com/looklistenbuy.php
MY other favs:
Ben Leinbach - The Spirit of Yoga
Sting
Seal
Andrea Bocelli
Queen
Movies in my books:
Splash
Phenomenon
Always
Big Blue
I dreamed of Africa
Motorcylce Diaries
5th Element
Girl on the Bridge (Fille sur le pont, La)
Powder
Shawshank Redemption
Million Dollar Baby
Elephant Man
My Left Foot
Le Papillon
Braveheeart
Schindlers List
A Beautiful Mind
Lord of the Rings
Wedding CRashes **
THe Pianist
The World's Fastest Indian
Ocean's 11/12
City of Joy
The Last Samurai
The Untouchables
The Notebook
Shine
Letters from Iwo Jima
Too Hot to Handle
Forest Gump
Babel
Once Upon a Time in CHina series
Hero
etc etc etc
and all others with Richard Gere of course
Remembering Your Spirit
The Nurture of Nature
"My spirit is honored when I think of my connectedness to the Universe."
Sidney Poitier
When Sidney Poitier remembers his spirit, his mind wanders back to the Bahamas where he grew up..
"The sounds that came to me as a boy were sounds of the environment, the sounds of insects, the sounds of water against the shore," Sidney says of walking the beach for hours by himself. "There was a purity. There was a closeness to nature. I know that it was a most powerful influence on the rest of my life."
Sidney honors his spirit when he thinks of the core values his parents instilled in him as he grew up. "My father didn't define himself by material things. He loved us. And he cared for us. And he talked to us. And he nurtured us. My mother's spirit is always around me. Always there, guiding me almost. I first felt that sense on Cat Island. I never lost that."
The virtues of simplicity and the values he learned from his parents have kept him connected to the powerful inner spirit that continues to guide him.
"I feel that I am a part of everything. I am a part of nature."
"My spirit is honored when I think of my connectedness to the Universe."
Sidney Poitier
When Sidney Poitier remembers his spirit, his mind wanders back to the Bahamas where he grew up..
"The sounds that came to me as a boy were sounds of the environment, the sounds of insects, the sounds of water against the shore," Sidney says of walking the beach for hours by himself. "There was a purity. There was a closeness to nature. I know that it was a most powerful influence on the rest of my life."
Sidney honors his spirit when he thinks of the core values his parents instilled in him as he grew up. "My father didn't define himself by material things. He loved us. And he cared for us. And he talked to us. And he nurtured us. My mother's spirit is always around me. Always there, guiding me almost. I first felt that sense on Cat Island. I never lost that."
The virtues of simplicity and the values he learned from his parents have kept him connected to the powerful inner spirit that continues to guide him.
"I feel that I am a part of everything. I am a part of nature."
Jun 9, 2007
AUM
Aum (also Om, Devanagari, Chinese: 唵) is a mystical or sacred syllable in the Dharmic religions. It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a sacred exclamation to be uttered at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas or previously to any prayer or mantra. The Mandukya Upanishad is entirely devoted to the explanation of the syllable.
Origin, name and written symbols
With preceding a or ā, the o of om in Sanskrit grammar in sandhi (Sanskrit: संधि, "joining") does not form vriddhi (au) but guna (o) per Pāṇini 6.1.95.
The Sanskrit name for the syllable is praṇava, from a root nu "to shout, sound, praise", verbal pra-nu- being attested as "to make a humming or droning sound" in the Brahmanas, and taking the specific meaning of "to utter the syllable om" in the Chandogya Upanishad and the Shrauta Sutras. More rarely used terms are akṣara or ekākṣara, and in later times omkāra becomes prevalent.
The Aum symbol is a ligature of Devanagari ओ+ँ (oṃ, encoded in Unicode at U+0950 ॐ, the Tibetan script variant ༀ at U+0F00, and the Chinese 唵 at U+5535 or 吽 at U+543D) it is said to represent the vibration of the universe.
In Hinduism
is first described as all-encompassing mystical entity in the Upanishads. Today, in all Hindu art and all over India and Nepal, 'Aum' can be seen virtually everywhere, a standard sign[citation needed] for Hinduism and its philosophy and mythology.
Upanishads and Sutra literature
Further information: Mandukya Upanishad
The syllable is mentioned in all the Upanishads, specially elaborated upon in the Taittiriya, Chandogya and Mundaka Upanishads. set forth as the object of profound religious meditation, the highest spiritual efficacy being attributed not only to the whole word but also to the three sounds a (a-kāra), u (u-kāra), m (ma-kāra), of which it consists.
The Katha Upanishad has:
"The goal, which all Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which humans desire when they live a life of continence, I will tell you briefly it is Aum"
"The one syllable [evākṣara, viz. Aum] is indeed Brahma. This one syllable is the highest. Whosoever knows this one syllable obtains all that he desires.
"This is the best support; this is the highest support. Whosoever knows this support is adored in the world of Brahma." (1.2.15-17)[1]
The Chandogya Upanishad (1.1.1-1) states:
om ity etad akṣaram udgītham upāsīta / om iti hy udgāyati / tasyopavyākhyānam
"The udgitha ["the chanting", that is, the syllable om] is the best of all essences, the highest, deserving the highest place, the eighth."
The Bhagavad Gita (8.13) has:
Uttering the monosyllable Aum, the eternal world of Brahman, One who departs leaving the body (at death), he attains the superior goal.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali states in verse (1:27):
"tasya vacakah pranavah" which translates as, "God's voice is Aum."
In the following sutra it emphasizes, "The repetition of Om should be made with an understanding of its meaning".
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum
Om Mani Padme Hum
"Hail the Jewel in the Lotus"
Here's His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's definition
"It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast... The first, Om [...] symbolize the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; they also symbolize the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[...]"
"The path is indicated by the next four syllables. Mani, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factors of method-the altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love.[...]"
"The two syllables, padme, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom[...]"
"Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable hum, which indicates indivisibility[...]"
"Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[...]"
-- H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, "Om Mani Padme Hum"
Jun 3, 2007
Symphony in the sky
Last night as i lay down on sarong on the grass, strecthing out my feet, with my hands on my side, to enjoy the unplugged performances of some vocal artists, i found a peaceful thoughtless moment, high up above.
Just a glimpse of this: it's like a merge of oneness with the night blue sky above me. Although darkness has fallen, Sky almost looks daylight blue, so clear and clean the air above. Momentarily covering it is White Clouds. In many shapes and sizes, of many types and formations, White Clouds float by in very slow motion. They are waving, smiling. They are playing and laughing.
They are enjoying, happy.
Everything was Still. Although White Clouds floating by. Still in his gaze. Still in her gestures.
In different layers, sequenced unplanned, yet remaining unfazed by each other's type of dance. They float by like a symphony orchestrated in a beautiful starry night.
How i fell in love with thee.
O' Blue Sky, O' White Clouds, O' Starry Lights,
How I fell in love with thee.
Just a glimpse of this: it's like a merge of oneness with the night blue sky above me. Although darkness has fallen, Sky almost looks daylight blue, so clear and clean the air above. Momentarily covering it is White Clouds. In many shapes and sizes, of many types and formations, White Clouds float by in very slow motion. They are waving, smiling. They are playing and laughing.
They are enjoying, happy.
Everything was Still. Although White Clouds floating by. Still in his gaze. Still in her gestures.
In different layers, sequenced unplanned, yet remaining unfazed by each other's type of dance. They float by like a symphony orchestrated in a beautiful starry night.
How i fell in love with thee.
O' Blue Sky, O' White Clouds, O' Starry Lights,
How I fell in love with thee.
Apr 20, 2007
Eknath Easwaran
I was given a book Words To Live By from my doted bro in 2007.
Eknath Easwaran (1910-1999) is known as a spiritual teacher and the author of books on meditation and how to lead a fulfilling life, as well as a translator and interpreter of Indian literature.
In 1961 Easwaran founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation ( http://www.easwaran.org/ ), Passage Meditation and Nilgiri Press, based in northern California. Nilgiri Press publishes over two dozen books he authored. The centre is represented by a simple beautiful logo, and located at what it seems - beautiful california, hopefully one day i get to visit!
Words to Live By has a quote & sharing. Below, two excerpts by Easwaran:
Life consists in what a man is thinking of all day.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Joy of attaining perfect concentration and attention
To give full attention to whatever we are doing isn't easy when we have a job we dislike, or must work with people who are difficult. Then our attention wanders like a child's - looking at this glass for a moment, then at this table, then out the window. If we could attend a little more to the work, even when we dislike it, it would become quite interesting. When we can give it our full attention, anything becomes interesting. And anything, when we do not give it our full attention, becomes uninteresting.
We need men who can dream of things that never were, and ask why not.
George Bernard Shaw
In an indian movie I saw recently, a villager leaves home for the first time to travel to the city of Bombay. When he returns, his family and friends crowd around him, asking what it was like in the big city. His laconic reply sums up our era: "Such tall buildlings ... and such small people."
If we were asked to give an accounting of our society's achievements, we could claim many great technological developments and scientific discoveries, plenty of skycrappers, and the amasement of huge sums of money, but few truly secure, truly wise, truly great men and women. It is not for lack of ability of energy, though; it is because we lack a noble goal.
To grow to our full height, we need to be challenged with tasks that draw out our deeper resources, the talents and capacities we did not know we had. We need to be faced with obstacles that cannot be surmounted unless we summon up our daring and creativity. This kind of challenge is familiar to any great athlete or scientist or artist. No worthwhile accomplishment comes easily.
-------
“By virtue of being human, each of us has the capacity to choose, to change, to grow.”
EKNATH EASWARAN
Eknath Easwaran (1910-1999) is known as a spiritual teacher and the author of books on meditation and how to lead a fulfilling life, as well as a translator and interpreter of Indian literature.
In 1961 Easwaran founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation ( http://www.easwaran.org/ ), Passage Meditation and Nilgiri Press, based in northern California. Nilgiri Press publishes over two dozen books he authored. The centre is represented by a simple beautiful logo, and located at what it seems - beautiful california, hopefully one day i get to visit!
Words to Live By has a quote & sharing. Below, two excerpts by Easwaran:
Life consists in what a man is thinking of all day.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Joy of attaining perfect concentration and attention
To give full attention to whatever we are doing isn't easy when we have a job we dislike, or must work with people who are difficult. Then our attention wanders like a child's - looking at this glass for a moment, then at this table, then out the window. If we could attend a little more to the work, even when we dislike it, it would become quite interesting. When we can give it our full attention, anything becomes interesting. And anything, when we do not give it our full attention, becomes uninteresting.
We need men who can dream of things that never were, and ask why not.
George Bernard Shaw
In an indian movie I saw recently, a villager leaves home for the first time to travel to the city of Bombay. When he returns, his family and friends crowd around him, asking what it was like in the big city. His laconic reply sums up our era: "Such tall buildlings ... and such small people."
If we were asked to give an accounting of our society's achievements, we could claim many great technological developments and scientific discoveries, plenty of skycrappers, and the amasement of huge sums of money, but few truly secure, truly wise, truly great men and women. It is not for lack of ability of energy, though; it is because we lack a noble goal.
To grow to our full height, we need to be challenged with tasks that draw out our deeper resources, the talents and capacities we did not know we had. We need to be faced with obstacles that cannot be surmounted unless we summon up our daring and creativity. This kind of challenge is familiar to any great athlete or scientist or artist. No worthwhile accomplishment comes easily.
-------
“By virtue of being human, each of us has the capacity to choose, to change, to grow.”
EKNATH EASWARAN
Oct 8, 2006
The quiet side of HKong
Quiet, serene, beautiful, breathtaking, i'm so so so so blessed to have experienced a wonderful enlightening and inspiring and energizing experience so far.
our 3 day himalayan meditative yoga practices were so so so still, timeless, peaceful, and beautiful. I think its just amazing that this subtle effect can be yet so powerful and sweet, something we can't see but just experience, absorb and allow it to be shared. the 3 teachers who shared about their stories, experience, and self realisations were charismatic and wise and glowed. i especially loved Ashutosh (Hatha Yoga teacher of Himalayan tradiation) and Dr Stoma (from Michigan) and Dr Adrish (quirky Aryuveda expert). Wonderful teachers. They carried this awesome essence of surrender and grace with every gesture, speech and thought. it was hard to break the silence we all had created in the small space.
i thought I experienced the kundalini energy whilst meditating(If it WAS really, I was told its not anything to worry about, just a good sign that I'm getting more aware bout my inner energy.) but it seems it was a similar energy felt by others during meditation practice on the full moon day - Autumn Festive night.
i'm also so blessed that i had met wonderful similar energy friend, Myriam who shared her space and family with me. Her husband, Terry is amazingly wise and intuitive. I never thought i would meet someone i feel similar in things and thoughts. So amazing. A couple of 10 years thats still so spontaneous, colorful, carefree, open and true. how wonderful to be around such joy.
Myriam and Terry's home / balcony overlooks a lake called Yellow Stone that comes in from the Sea. And there are many beautiful hazy mountains a far. We are situated at Sai Kung Peninsula, Tai Tan, near the Long Harbour. Sai Kung is famed for its national parks and water scapes. Tomorrow I get to explore the way back to HKong Central going thru all these scenic places.
I could hear rivers running passed us under the bridge as we drove in at night. And we went through much winding and low and high roads. night is embraced with mistyfying cool air. We are in a sorta like a remote remote place, half or mostly jungle like. I cannot wait to see how it all looks in the morning after.
I feel like i am in heaven once again. The last time i felt this happy was when i was in NZealand, when i felt like i was in paradise and that i felt at home in timelessness. My heart tears continuously with such beauty and peace and love, first, in the workshop with likeness in these beautiful souls and now, here i am surrounded by singing trees in nature.
Its amazing that I never planned to visit HKong and what a beautiful surprise I'm given. I just really want to be present to be in one with everything and be ready to receive all that I am to receive here and enjoy...
~ Hari Om Tat Sat ~
our 3 day himalayan meditative yoga practices were so so so still, timeless, peaceful, and beautiful. I think its just amazing that this subtle effect can be yet so powerful and sweet, something we can't see but just experience, absorb and allow it to be shared. the 3 teachers who shared about their stories, experience, and self realisations were charismatic and wise and glowed. i especially loved Ashutosh (Hatha Yoga teacher of Himalayan tradiation) and Dr Stoma (from Michigan) and Dr Adrish (quirky Aryuveda expert). Wonderful teachers. They carried this awesome essence of surrender and grace with every gesture, speech and thought. it was hard to break the silence we all had created in the small space.
i thought I experienced the kundalini energy whilst meditating(If it WAS really, I was told its not anything to worry about, just a good sign that I'm getting more aware bout my inner energy.) but it seems it was a similar energy felt by others during meditation practice on the full moon day - Autumn Festive night.
i'm also so blessed that i had met wonderful similar energy friend, Myriam who shared her space and family with me. Her husband, Terry is amazingly wise and intuitive. I never thought i would meet someone i feel similar in things and thoughts. So amazing. A couple of 10 years thats still so spontaneous, colorful, carefree, open and true. how wonderful to be around such joy.
Myriam and Terry's home / balcony overlooks a lake called Yellow Stone that comes in from the Sea. And there are many beautiful hazy mountains a far. We are situated at Sai Kung Peninsula, Tai Tan, near the Long Harbour. Sai Kung is famed for its national parks and water scapes. Tomorrow I get to explore the way back to HKong Central going thru all these scenic places.
I could hear rivers running passed us under the bridge as we drove in at night. And we went through much winding and low and high roads. night is embraced with mistyfying cool air. We are in a sorta like a remote remote place, half or mostly jungle like. I cannot wait to see how it all looks in the morning after.
I feel like i am in heaven once again. The last time i felt this happy was when i was in NZealand, when i felt like i was in paradise and that i felt at home in timelessness. My heart tears continuously with such beauty and peace and love, first, in the workshop with likeness in these beautiful souls and now, here i am surrounded by singing trees in nature.
Its amazing that I never planned to visit HKong and what a beautiful surprise I'm given. I just really want to be present to be in one with everything and be ready to receive all that I am to receive here and enjoy...
~ Hari Om Tat Sat ~
Sep 6, 2006
OCD
After watching some programs and books on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, i realised that i carry mild symptoms of it. 'No wonder my dad thinks i'm anal about cleanliness,' was my first reaction, because, i am.
No wonder i love to shower more than 5 times a day, the more the better and still looking fwd to more.
Here are some OCD compulsions i found listed on an org site for kids. The first 2 are the ones I can totally relate to.
* lots of hand washing or showering (doing this way more than usual or having a hard time stopping)
* arranging things in a very particular or neat way
* counting (like having to count 25 white cars before going into school)
* touching (like touching every single fence post between home and the bus stop)
* checking things over and over (such as doors, locks, or stoves)
* doing things a certain number of times (like having to try on five dresses before leaving your room)
* asking the same question over and over
* tying and retying shoes over and over until they feel just right
I recall I used to like touching everything i see, especially buttons...till adulthood BUT how ironic, i like touching it but yet i dont like it being dirty.
Now, the main habits i still carry is being eeky about door knobs, any doors, anything with finger print marks thats not mine nor my boyfriends, toilet seats, even monitor or TV screen where i can see finger prints, keybooard, any public transport support handles and walls/ windows (i worry about oily hair stains at the back of my seat too.) one last thing, I'm fussy about my food too.
When i realise all this, i now could understand why I have such a terrible time fitting in to 9 to 5 corporate style. No showering till i get home! Eating out always! using public toilet seats! Yucks. Oh no, i may have a harder time than expected changing my lifestyle into the working corporate hours again. oh dear oh dear.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/ocd.html
No wonder i love to shower more than 5 times a day, the more the better and still looking fwd to more.
Here are some OCD compulsions i found listed on an org site for kids. The first 2 are the ones I can totally relate to.
* lots of hand washing or showering (doing this way more than usual or having a hard time stopping)
* arranging things in a very particular or neat way
* counting (like having to count 25 white cars before going into school)
* touching (like touching every single fence post between home and the bus stop)
* checking things over and over (such as doors, locks, or stoves)
* doing things a certain number of times (like having to try on five dresses before leaving your room)
* asking the same question over and over
* tying and retying shoes over and over until they feel just right
I recall I used to like touching everything i see, especially buttons...till adulthood BUT how ironic, i like touching it but yet i dont like it being dirty.
Now, the main habits i still carry is being eeky about door knobs, any doors, anything with finger print marks thats not mine nor my boyfriends, toilet seats, even monitor or TV screen where i can see finger prints, keybooard, any public transport support handles and walls/ windows (i worry about oily hair stains at the back of my seat too.) one last thing, I'm fussy about my food too.
When i realise all this, i now could understand why I have such a terrible time fitting in to 9 to 5 corporate style. No showering till i get home! Eating out always! using public toilet seats! Yucks. Oh no, i may have a harder time than expected changing my lifestyle into the working corporate hours again. oh dear oh dear.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/ocd.html
Aug 13, 2006
My Poems ~ friends
Ode to Kelvin
The quiet yet loud
The devoted yet defiant
The simple, yet not quite
The smart, yet questionable
Perhaps its some sort of balance!
Ode to Su
Su Su, she’ll play peek-a-boo with you
Su Su, jogs so fast alike running from poo
Su Su, she‘s cool, cos she does more than moo!
Su Su, she works hard, but plays harder too!
Su Su, she ain’t no fool! bioscience & events, everything also can do!
Su Su, she rules over voodoo!
For Su,
No matter what others say,
this is what i know for sure...
SuAnn
A fun blossoming woman on the outside
who is sometimes wise beyond her corny jokes
An easy-going gal on the outside
who has taught me to see beyond her jokes' chokes
Her true colours glows from inside
from her big heart, a million times of an artichoke's
Gracious, thankful and forgiving from inside,
Its no wonder friends are willingly doped!
Thank you for this shining beauty within you.
ROY
A boy who sees joy,
is a boy who makes toys
out of small or big rolls royce
A boy who spreads joy
is a boy who's name is Roy.
The quiet yet loud
The devoted yet defiant
The simple, yet not quite
The smart, yet questionable
Perhaps its some sort of balance!
Ode to Su
Su Su, she’ll play peek-a-boo with you
Su Su, jogs so fast alike running from poo
Su Su, she‘s cool, cos she does more than moo!
Su Su, she works hard, but plays harder too!
Su Su, she ain’t no fool! bioscience & events, everything also can do!
Su Su, she rules over voodoo!
For Su,
No matter what others say,
this is what i know for sure...
SuAnn
A fun blossoming woman on the outside
who is sometimes wise beyond her corny jokes
An easy-going gal on the outside
who has taught me to see beyond her jokes' chokes
Her true colours glows from inside
from her big heart, a million times of an artichoke's
Gracious, thankful and forgiving from inside,
Its no wonder friends are willingly doped!
Thank you for this shining beauty within you.
ROY
A boy who sees joy,
is a boy who makes toys
out of small or big rolls royce
A boy who spreads joy
is a boy who's name is Roy.
Jul 27, 2006
Elvis Style Song!
All my life I've searched for love this true
At last I think I've found it in u
Now that my sky is no longer blue
There's just a little sth i'm gonna sing
I'm gonna love u in the morning
I'm gonna love u in the evening too
I'm gonna love u, no matter rain or shine
I'm gonna love u, because you're mine oh mine,
I'm gonna love u, love u, love u, (love, love, love)
yeah
I'm gonna please u in the morning
I'm gonna please u in the evening too
I'm gonna please u, come rain or shine
I'm gonna please, because you're mine oh mine
I'm gonna love u, love u, love u, (love, love, love)
yeah
I'm gonna kiss u in the morning
I'm gonna kiss u in the evening too
I'm gonna kiss u, come rain or shine
I'm gonna kiss, because you're mine oh mine
I'm gonna love u, love u, love u, (in the morning and in the evening)
yeah
At last I think I've found it in u
Now that my sky is no longer blue
There's just a little sth i'm gonna sing
I'm gonna love u in the morning
I'm gonna love u in the evening too
I'm gonna love u, no matter rain or shine
I'm gonna love u, because you're mine oh mine,
I'm gonna love u, love u, love u, (love, love, love)
yeah
I'm gonna please u in the morning
I'm gonna please u in the evening too
I'm gonna please u, come rain or shine
I'm gonna please, because you're mine oh mine
I'm gonna love u, love u, love u, (love, love, love)
yeah
I'm gonna kiss u in the morning
I'm gonna kiss u in the evening too
I'm gonna kiss u, come rain or shine
I'm gonna kiss, because you're mine oh mine
I'm gonna love u, love u, love u, (in the morning and in the evening)
yeah
Jul 4, 2006
Books on sustainability
Books on Sustainability:
Cradle to Cradle,
William McDonough and Michael Braungart
Natural Capitalism,
Paul Hawken
Hidden Connections,
Fritjof Capra
Cradle to Cradle,
William McDonough and Michael Braungart
Natural Capitalism,
Paul Hawken
Hidden Connections,
Fritjof Capra
May 25, 2006
7 Days of experiencing humble Bali
How I felt about Bali....well, what you're about to read, is from my lenses. Everybody experiences what they see differently. What I saw, is probably what I chose to see. But hope you enjoy seeing through my lenses! ; )
Here's my experience of humble Bali..
The Balinese didin't seem to prioriotise anything above the importance of devotion, to their spiritual practise, prayers and offerings. They ritually carry the thought of simple grace, sharing their manifestation and blessings amidst a days hard work to their tight knit commmunity. This was what I felt of their being. The happiness or serenity on some of their faces did come from within.
Although adorned with intricate colors in architecture, clothing, music, art, craftwork and ongoing feasts of festivals to celebrate the gift of life, I valued the other contrasting quiet side just the same, if not more. After the gongs have struck and made their peace, the serenity from its garden pools trickling with water elements combined with earth, the endless mountain ranges and temples, the powerful waterfalls, terraced paddy fields and mystical water palaces shines through and brings a renewed breath of life from within.
I am very blessed to have experienced the art of living in surrendering mode throughout my time there. This is a summary of my experience, in my presence, crossing the path of a beautiful legendary island with a mystical past and her present joy, combining the peaceful balance of nature in life. With the fear of bombings put behind me, I'm glad I made a trip to Bali. Her mystical air and unique beauty is totally worth it.
First things first
• Conversion rate is approximately USD 1 = SGD2 = 10,000 rupiah (rp)
• Tax & Service Charge in restaurants are 21%. Tipping is not compulsory but common due to tourist.
• In each family, the children are named according to a fix naming structure — Wayan (1st child) Made (2nd child), Nyoman (3rd child) & Ketut (4th child) & repeat if there's more kids.
Day 1 — 25th May, Thursday
Depart Singapore at 4.40pm, arrival at Denpasar airport at 7pm. Caught adventure movie Eight Below on a nice and clean SIA boeing. A must see movie for dog lovers. Stewards/ess are pleasant and well organized. I like SIA, perhaps due to my love for top standard hygiene!
Driven straight to our guest house accomodation at Sindhu Merta. Its situated in Jalan Danau Poso, in south of Sanur town, a very nice cosy clean and lovely guest house @ US30 p/night (275,000 rp/night) with a lovely small pool and garden side.
Its too late to plan anything, so we just explored the vicinity and found a K mart (alike 7-eleven there). Water is not safe to drink from tap. Bought 8 bottles of mineral water (2,500rp per) and 2 yummy Classic Walls ice-cream (7,000 rp) to tantalize our tastebud before we hit the sack.
Day 2 — Friday at Sanur
Breakfast at the pool side garden with simple toast/pancake and tea. Did some reading and planning, head out for early lunch at a cheap 24hrs nasi padang warung called Sari Bundo II — a steal at 12,000 rupiah for 2.
Just before that, signed in for our dive equipments prep. Then, spent all afternoon exploring north of Sanur by foot. Entered a couple of nice Balinese hotels with awesome traditional Balinese architecture and garden pools and did some comparison on the room rates for the fun of it, all this whilst going on my citrus fruit hunt! Hallelujah that we finally found some oranges and lime — as its the best remedy for my tummy cleansing ritual. ; ) Walked back via Sanur beach front. Although baron, they were really nice hotels or restaurants with beach front and swimming pools. Quite a few lady masseurs hounding us with their services along this stretch.
Dined at Abian Boga Bar & Restaurant, a decorated place with some Balinese ambience which came with 4 in 1 Legong dance performances. (comprises of Panyembrama Dance to welcome guests, Manuk Rawa Dance, a story representing 2 birds bathing, Baris Dance, a war dance to glorify the manhood of the triumphant Balinese warrior and lastly Oleg Tamulilingan, a dance depicting a flirtation act between a male and female bumblee bee.
The funniest thing happen here — Our menu was Pineapple Juice (12,000rp) Tomato Juice (13,000rp), Grilled Squid with water spinach (33,000rp), Ikan Pepes with local vegetable (29,000rp) and rice & Tom Ayam Siap Base (26,000rp) and kangkong (7,000rp). We asked to replace the rice with more vegetables. AND when all the dishes came, ALL the vegetables turned out to be kangkong, and not just that, they were ALL cooked in the SAME STYLE. So hilarious!
So beware of the local vegetables' being the same type. Although we gave a feedback so this mistake can be corrected on the menu but possibly most restaurants aren't aware of this. I've heard kangkong given the name 'Morning Glory' too in other places/countries.
Day 3 — First Dive Day, Saturday
All ready and prepared at 7.30am! Just a piece of pancake and tea, minimal breakfast to prepare for my tummy for it! Met everyone at Bali Scuba Dive operator just across the road. ; )
Took my seasick pill when I was in the van to the beach front. Hopped on a jet boat to head to Manta Point at Nusa Penida. We had 13 people on this new orange jet boat. Oh, and didn't feel too well already. Barfed out my pancake before the jet boat even took off for the 40 minute ride!!
Vomitted again at Manta Point before i put on my wet suit. Was offered another pill but dumb as I was, I insisted I took one already. There were 4 in our group, and 6 more in another group. Sanut and Tom was our dive master with 2 boat keepers. I had Tom all to myself cause I'm a novice unlike the rest for precaution reasons. ; )
Bonz was unlucky, her underwater camera box loaded up with water due to a leak. God bless her $900 Olympus camera!! Well, because of that, they came back up and went down with me and Tom.
Everyone following Sanut saw 2 Manta from a distance. And the rest of us — Bonz, Nan and I didn't. So so so so sad. ; (((
I barfed more water when I was underwater, and at the surface when we went back up again.
Dive was 30 minute only at 20 metre.
Everyone had lunch on board, I skipped my meal cause I was feeling too ill already. The food was good though (Indonesian vegetarian — tempeh, awesome spicy sambal, some fried stuff and hard boiled egg.) I had this the next day on land ; )
I still didn't feel so well, so I decided to skip the other 2 dives and had nice short naps ( I should've ate another pil darn itl!!)
The other divers saw colorful corals and fishes at Toyapakeh and experienced medium to strong surge dive at Ped Temple on the 3rd dive. They also experienced sudden cold and warm change in temperature. When the divers came afloat, I awoke from my dreamless state and couldnt wait to get off our rocking float. Barfed one more time!!
We hit shore at 4.30pm, docking outside the sea coastal area and saw a herd of fishermans fishing lined up in a big curve, standing at waist depth. Some were wearing motorbike helmets! From here, we were transfered to shallow waters via a smaller boat (we are spoiled!) and thereafter walked over seagrass over the very vast beach on low tide. Thomas and the gals saw a tiny jelly fish and puffer baby in the puddles here. ; )
Finally, off the salty beach, we decided to soak in the pool.
i was in quite a upset state because I thought I had no choice but to skip my next day dive since I'm feeling phobic toward seasickness. There was a strong resistance to do it all over again.
And I was in a space caught up over 2 things — that perhaps I'm not meant to dive at all, ever and felt bad because I broke my agreement with myself to do 2 full day dives. (Although now, i think its a silly thing.)
Night came and we treated ourselves to a lovely power nap whilst we waited for the gals to finish their 2 hour (which turned out to be 4) Nitrox class and exam. Dined at Warung Blanjong, 10 minutes from hotel. Menu was Nasi Campur Set, Chicken baked in Spices with rice, Mie Goreng & Bee Hoon Goreng. Chicken & Nasi Campur was better than Abian Boga. They give cooking lessons here! We were the only diners out of aproximately 10 tables.
Day 4 — 2nd Dive Day, Sunday
The rest left for the dive.
I stayed at the hotel. Had a full breakfast, did more reading on Lonely Planets version of Bali. And also borrowed Bonz book, 360Degrees Leaders.
At 4.30pm divers finally returned with stories of Manta at Manta Point and Mola-Mola at Crystal Bay!!!!
We promptly set out for a drive down south to catch the spectacular cliff-top temple at Pura Ulu Watu for its sunset view.
Monkeys here are wild and vicious! If tourists are not carefully hanging tight to their things, it'd be snatched. Tourists bags, necklace, spectacles and probably even cameras are all good targets! The local gate keepers help get it back at a nominal fee.
We head back up to Jimbaran beach for a very scrumptious seafood meal at Mersati. Here we see a long line of contrasting busy and quiet restaurants. The rich frequent the bigger restaurants and the medium sizes seems to have a harder time surviving during this lull period. Our restaurant was a few metres from where bali bombing happened at Four Seasons Beach front. Bombing really changed the tourism scene apparently.
The Mersati adrenalin junkie shop owner shared some of his own experiences and recommended Menjangan Wall dive as a must see. Menjangan is a Reserved Marine Park as it sits under the National Park vicinity in West Bali forests. We noticed that bali also offers white water rafting and bunjee jumping. I respect some of these entrepreneur spirit in the locals. They make the effort to improve their English language with the awareness that language is the gateway to the outside world. The bustling tourism industry plays a crucial role in its economy growth.
Time to unwind after a good meal and channel surf back at Sindhu. Amidst the dramatic TV shows and advert, managed to find Lord of the Rings on the local channel and did a crash reading to finish up my book till 4am. ; ) Tonight, news reported 3000 over victims on the Jogjakarta earth quake. God Bless their souls.
Day 5 — Central Mountains, Monday
The gals have 3 more dive days and Thomas and I begin our land trips.
9am, we start our 2 hour drive up through Ubud to see rice paddy field slopes, whizzing by the arts and crafts area by car. We were aiming to skip all shopping and go straight up to Gunung Batur (1717m) to see the volcanic cones, a double caldera and a crater lake called Lake Danau Batur. Further to its right, Gunung Agung sits on a whopping 3142m.
We lunched at the best view restuarant overseeing the Gunung Batur. Surprisingly, food was not so good for the buffet spread charged at 60,000 rp p/pax. The very hard-sell locals managed to pursuade me to buy a chopstick set with nice box carving at SGD11. I think they were really good at using a sympathetic begging tactic and I totally bought into it! Oh well, some giving never hurts.
We finally reach The Pura Tirta Empul at Tampaksiring, the holy beautiful water temple. It keeps a fresh flow of water pools and makes a sacred place where locals still visit to cleanse their mind, body and spirit. Entry fee was 6000 rp. (This is my favourite temple in this trip).
Pura Bratan was an interesting temple. To enter, we have to rent a sarong and scarf for Thomas. I brought my own. Savoured the peace and serene annd sweet air for awhile. I especially like how they tie a scarf around the tree they believe to be sacred. Bought 2 pieces of painting here and a sandal wood fan at SGD2. My driver said I should never buy at these touristy places and should've stopped at Ubud instead or I'll get ripped off.
Dozed off on our way back. Decided t o try a Spa Treatment package at US40 p/pax which we found the ginger tea far better than the massage! Thomas and I realised we are definitely not the soak and spa kind but we are the quick and hard acupressure type!
Day 6 Central Mountains — Danau Bratan (1860m to 2276m), Tuesday
We visited Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a Hindhu-Buddhist temple dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters. Pilgrimage and ceremonies are held here to ensure there is a supply of water for farmers all over Bali. This is a very memorable view. The perky Balinese holy rooftop compliments the salem high country fir trees in the backdrop of the wide and quiet lake. We did some macro shots on flowers where the well kept Botanical Garden decorates the landscape at the entrance of the Pura.
After that, it was a short ride up further north to Gitgit Waterfalls where we walked only 200m to reach. Entrance was 3000 rp/pax and we also decided to contribute to the tour guide with a 20,000++ fee and tip. I had a nice meditation session at the falls for 30 min plus.
Coming back down, met a German chap on a bike. I decided to to support the quiet shops and purchased some vanilla pod, 2 artwork with frame (20,000rp) and Bali Tea (10,000rp). We saw coffee fruit trees and some spice trees on the way to the falls around the foresty ravines. Bali exports spices and coffee. We had a young friendly waterfall guide, not that we needed one. Kinda feeling sorry for them during the lull period.
Short drive back to Sanur at Sindhu!! Ordered the cheapest nasi goreng (9000rp for 2).
We strolled out for night walk to see lovely stars at the south beach area in the deafening night. As we passed by a few perched up windmills sitting on high bamboo sticks, the noise began. We saw a three piece giant wind flute which made a sort of eerie melody standing tall at the beachside as well.
Day 7 Kuta's famed sunset, Wednesday
Changed plans from snorkelling at Nusa Dua to spending the afternoon visiting Museum Le Mayeur at north of Sanur instead.
The Museum is actually a house which Adrien Jean Le Mayeur, a painter, trained as an architect decorated with antique stone and wood carvings collected from across Bali. He painted mainly Ni Polok, a young and beautiful Legong dancer who he later married. He at 55 years and she at 15 years old. In his painting were pictures of lovely women dancing or bathing in the rustic ambience of Balinese artchitecture house or garden pools. Medium used were oil on matt grass, canvas and charcoal. He had a unique way of painting oil with pastel shades as well. Lovely lovely works. Entrance was 2000rp per pax.
Walked a long way back to our hotel and took a dip at the pool whilst waiting for gals to get ready for a night drive south and west, to Kuta for its famed sunset and to the Warung with a courtyard at Seminyak for dinner. My Thai salad was pretty good. The rest, Indonesian Flat noodles and Glass noodles were so-so. Burger and tea was good — Halia tea, Normal tea, Ice Lemon Tea. The courtyard was surrounded by other shops like Periplus (the only book shop i've seen so far) and other fashion brands. Interesting touristy crowd too.
Arriving back to Sindhu, everybody made a pact to catch sunrise the next day!! Yippee.
Day 8 Ubud & good massage, Thursday
Crash read to finish a book till 3am. but 4.30 I'm up! So, tried going back to bed till 5am. It was probably the tea which kept me up. We're all set at 5.15 for our morning walk out to the beach! It finally came at about 6am. Hidden behind the clouds, sunrise was pretty subtle as it was cloudy. It became windy later.
Breakfast first and then we head of to Ubud for a drive around. Walked around Ubud's Monkey Forest Rd to look for Jane's Place and picked out 1 yoga bag (2500rp) and 1 sling bag (3000rp), handsewn with Ikat material.
Found a must visit massage place called Ubud Bodyworks Centre. Traditional Balinese massage (90,000rp), Therapy Massage (100,000rp) was to die for!! The garden courtyard was heavenly and rooms were simple yet cosy and breezy. We all loved it. Ginger tea was great too. See www.ubudbodyworkscentre.com. Snapped quite a few pictures here.
Left for Kuta to find accomodation at the not so new Cottages. Settled in quickly so we could visit Fajar Restaurant for a nice cheap dinner. Fried tauhu, Asam Soup, Beef stir fry, Fuyung Hai, Vege, 1 coke, 1 pineapple juice, 2 Beers, all for just 80,000rp for 4!!!
Walked around in Kuta to soak in the night life at its main streets and had 1 hr of internet (200rp p/min) for pretty slow speed to end the day.
Day 9 Surfing morning in Kuta!
A new exciting day as we struck some morning luck with a surf shop called PALU!! After savouring our last Indonesian breakfast of fried noodles, we dressed up for our first dive crash course lesson.
Did some physical prep on sand first to familiarise how to position ourselves and then 1.5 hrs soaking in the morning sun and getting wet and trashed with waves. It was pretty wow! I realised I was pretty bad at coordinating my head turn and pedalling. I hope doing more sports will help with that!
We all had a very good lessonn. USD20 p/pax for surfing lessons. He was a good teacher.
Thomas and I rush back to catch our taxi to the airport. Bought an expensive keropok packet (USD3.50) for his mum to fry (which she handed to me to do!) and had a good lunch on board our non-pack SIA flight!
The End!
Here's my experience of humble Bali..
The Balinese didin't seem to prioriotise anything above the importance of devotion, to their spiritual practise, prayers and offerings. They ritually carry the thought of simple grace, sharing their manifestation and blessings amidst a days hard work to their tight knit commmunity. This was what I felt of their being. The happiness or serenity on some of their faces did come from within.
Although adorned with intricate colors in architecture, clothing, music, art, craftwork and ongoing feasts of festivals to celebrate the gift of life, I valued the other contrasting quiet side just the same, if not more. After the gongs have struck and made their peace, the serenity from its garden pools trickling with water elements combined with earth, the endless mountain ranges and temples, the powerful waterfalls, terraced paddy fields and mystical water palaces shines through and brings a renewed breath of life from within.
I am very blessed to have experienced the art of living in surrendering mode throughout my time there. This is a summary of my experience, in my presence, crossing the path of a beautiful legendary island with a mystical past and her present joy, combining the peaceful balance of nature in life. With the fear of bombings put behind me, I'm glad I made a trip to Bali. Her mystical air and unique beauty is totally worth it.
First things first
• Conversion rate is approximately USD 1 = SGD2 = 10,000 rupiah (rp)
• Tax & Service Charge in restaurants are 21%. Tipping is not compulsory but common due to tourist.
• In each family, the children are named according to a fix naming structure — Wayan (1st child) Made (2nd child), Nyoman (3rd child) & Ketut (4th child) & repeat if there's more kids.
Day 1 — 25th May, Thursday
Depart Singapore at 4.40pm, arrival at Denpasar airport at 7pm. Caught adventure movie Eight Below on a nice and clean SIA boeing. A must see movie for dog lovers. Stewards/ess are pleasant and well organized. I like SIA, perhaps due to my love for top standard hygiene!
Driven straight to our guest house accomodation at Sindhu Merta. Its situated in Jalan Danau Poso, in south of Sanur town, a very nice cosy clean and lovely guest house @ US30 p/night (275,000 rp/night) with a lovely small pool and garden side.
Its too late to plan anything, so we just explored the vicinity and found a K mart (alike 7-eleven there). Water is not safe to drink from tap. Bought 8 bottles of mineral water (2,500rp per) and 2 yummy Classic Walls ice-cream (7,000 rp) to tantalize our tastebud before we hit the sack.
Day 2 — Friday at Sanur
Breakfast at the pool side garden with simple toast/pancake and tea. Did some reading and planning, head out for early lunch at a cheap 24hrs nasi padang warung called Sari Bundo II — a steal at 12,000 rupiah for 2.
Just before that, signed in for our dive equipments prep. Then, spent all afternoon exploring north of Sanur by foot. Entered a couple of nice Balinese hotels with awesome traditional Balinese architecture and garden pools and did some comparison on the room rates for the fun of it, all this whilst going on my citrus fruit hunt! Hallelujah that we finally found some oranges and lime — as its the best remedy for my tummy cleansing ritual. ; ) Walked back via Sanur beach front. Although baron, they were really nice hotels or restaurants with beach front and swimming pools. Quite a few lady masseurs hounding us with their services along this stretch.
Dined at Abian Boga Bar & Restaurant, a decorated place with some Balinese ambience which came with 4 in 1 Legong dance performances. (comprises of Panyembrama Dance to welcome guests, Manuk Rawa Dance, a story representing 2 birds bathing, Baris Dance, a war dance to glorify the manhood of the triumphant Balinese warrior and lastly Oleg Tamulilingan, a dance depicting a flirtation act between a male and female bumblee bee.
The funniest thing happen here — Our menu was Pineapple Juice (12,000rp) Tomato Juice (13,000rp), Grilled Squid with water spinach (33,000rp), Ikan Pepes with local vegetable (29,000rp) and rice & Tom Ayam Siap Base (26,000rp) and kangkong (7,000rp). We asked to replace the rice with more vegetables. AND when all the dishes came, ALL the vegetables turned out to be kangkong, and not just that, they were ALL cooked in the SAME STYLE. So hilarious!
So beware of the local vegetables' being the same type. Although we gave a feedback so this mistake can be corrected on the menu but possibly most restaurants aren't aware of this. I've heard kangkong given the name 'Morning Glory' too in other places/countries.
Day 3 — First Dive Day, Saturday
All ready and prepared at 7.30am! Just a piece of pancake and tea, minimal breakfast to prepare for my tummy for it! Met everyone at Bali Scuba Dive operator just across the road. ; )
Took my seasick pill when I was in the van to the beach front. Hopped on a jet boat to head to Manta Point at Nusa Penida. We had 13 people on this new orange jet boat. Oh, and didn't feel too well already. Barfed out my pancake before the jet boat even took off for the 40 minute ride!!
Vomitted again at Manta Point before i put on my wet suit. Was offered another pill but dumb as I was, I insisted I took one already. There were 4 in our group, and 6 more in another group. Sanut and Tom was our dive master with 2 boat keepers. I had Tom all to myself cause I'm a novice unlike the rest for precaution reasons. ; )
Bonz was unlucky, her underwater camera box loaded up with water due to a leak. God bless her $900 Olympus camera!! Well, because of that, they came back up and went down with me and Tom.
Everyone following Sanut saw 2 Manta from a distance. And the rest of us — Bonz, Nan and I didn't. So so so so sad. ; (((
I barfed more water when I was underwater, and at the surface when we went back up again.
Dive was 30 minute only at 20 metre.
Everyone had lunch on board, I skipped my meal cause I was feeling too ill already. The food was good though (Indonesian vegetarian — tempeh, awesome spicy sambal, some fried stuff and hard boiled egg.) I had this the next day on land ; )
I still didn't feel so well, so I decided to skip the other 2 dives and had nice short naps ( I should've ate another pil darn itl!!)
The other divers saw colorful corals and fishes at Toyapakeh and experienced medium to strong surge dive at Ped Temple on the 3rd dive. They also experienced sudden cold and warm change in temperature. When the divers came afloat, I awoke from my dreamless state and couldnt wait to get off our rocking float. Barfed one more time!!
We hit shore at 4.30pm, docking outside the sea coastal area and saw a herd of fishermans fishing lined up in a big curve, standing at waist depth. Some were wearing motorbike helmets! From here, we were transfered to shallow waters via a smaller boat (we are spoiled!) and thereafter walked over seagrass over the very vast beach on low tide. Thomas and the gals saw a tiny jelly fish and puffer baby in the puddles here. ; )
Finally, off the salty beach, we decided to soak in the pool.
i was in quite a upset state because I thought I had no choice but to skip my next day dive since I'm feeling phobic toward seasickness. There was a strong resistance to do it all over again.
And I was in a space caught up over 2 things — that perhaps I'm not meant to dive at all, ever and felt bad because I broke my agreement with myself to do 2 full day dives. (Although now, i think its a silly thing.)
Night came and we treated ourselves to a lovely power nap whilst we waited for the gals to finish their 2 hour (which turned out to be 4) Nitrox class and exam. Dined at Warung Blanjong, 10 minutes from hotel. Menu was Nasi Campur Set, Chicken baked in Spices with rice, Mie Goreng & Bee Hoon Goreng. Chicken & Nasi Campur was better than Abian Boga. They give cooking lessons here! We were the only diners out of aproximately 10 tables.
Day 4 — 2nd Dive Day, Sunday
The rest left for the dive.
I stayed at the hotel. Had a full breakfast, did more reading on Lonely Planets version of Bali. And also borrowed Bonz book, 360Degrees Leaders.
At 4.30pm divers finally returned with stories of Manta at Manta Point and Mola-Mola at Crystal Bay!!!!
We promptly set out for a drive down south to catch the spectacular cliff-top temple at Pura Ulu Watu for its sunset view.
Monkeys here are wild and vicious! If tourists are not carefully hanging tight to their things, it'd be snatched. Tourists bags, necklace, spectacles and probably even cameras are all good targets! The local gate keepers help get it back at a nominal fee.
We head back up to Jimbaran beach for a very scrumptious seafood meal at Mersati. Here we see a long line of contrasting busy and quiet restaurants. The rich frequent the bigger restaurants and the medium sizes seems to have a harder time surviving during this lull period. Our restaurant was a few metres from where bali bombing happened at Four Seasons Beach front. Bombing really changed the tourism scene apparently.
The Mersati adrenalin junkie shop owner shared some of his own experiences and recommended Menjangan Wall dive as a must see. Menjangan is a Reserved Marine Park as it sits under the National Park vicinity in West Bali forests. We noticed that bali also offers white water rafting and bunjee jumping. I respect some of these entrepreneur spirit in the locals. They make the effort to improve their English language with the awareness that language is the gateway to the outside world. The bustling tourism industry plays a crucial role in its economy growth.
Time to unwind after a good meal and channel surf back at Sindhu. Amidst the dramatic TV shows and advert, managed to find Lord of the Rings on the local channel and did a crash reading to finish up my book till 4am. ; ) Tonight, news reported 3000 over victims on the Jogjakarta earth quake. God Bless their souls.
Day 5 — Central Mountains, Monday
The gals have 3 more dive days and Thomas and I begin our land trips.
9am, we start our 2 hour drive up through Ubud to see rice paddy field slopes, whizzing by the arts and crafts area by car. We were aiming to skip all shopping and go straight up to Gunung Batur (1717m) to see the volcanic cones, a double caldera and a crater lake called Lake Danau Batur. Further to its right, Gunung Agung sits on a whopping 3142m.
We lunched at the best view restuarant overseeing the Gunung Batur. Surprisingly, food was not so good for the buffet spread charged at 60,000 rp p/pax. The very hard-sell locals managed to pursuade me to buy a chopstick set with nice box carving at SGD11. I think they were really good at using a sympathetic begging tactic and I totally bought into it! Oh well, some giving never hurts.
We finally reach The Pura Tirta Empul at Tampaksiring, the holy beautiful water temple. It keeps a fresh flow of water pools and makes a sacred place where locals still visit to cleanse their mind, body and spirit. Entry fee was 6000 rp. (This is my favourite temple in this trip).
Pura Bratan was an interesting temple. To enter, we have to rent a sarong and scarf for Thomas. I brought my own. Savoured the peace and serene annd sweet air for awhile. I especially like how they tie a scarf around the tree they believe to be sacred. Bought 2 pieces of painting here and a sandal wood fan at SGD2. My driver said I should never buy at these touristy places and should've stopped at Ubud instead or I'll get ripped off.
Dozed off on our way back. Decided t o try a Spa Treatment package at US40 p/pax which we found the ginger tea far better than the massage! Thomas and I realised we are definitely not the soak and spa kind but we are the quick and hard acupressure type!
Day 6 Central Mountains — Danau Bratan (1860m to 2276m), Tuesday
We visited Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a Hindhu-Buddhist temple dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters. Pilgrimage and ceremonies are held here to ensure there is a supply of water for farmers all over Bali. This is a very memorable view. The perky Balinese holy rooftop compliments the salem high country fir trees in the backdrop of the wide and quiet lake. We did some macro shots on flowers where the well kept Botanical Garden decorates the landscape at the entrance of the Pura.
After that, it was a short ride up further north to Gitgit Waterfalls where we walked only 200m to reach. Entrance was 3000 rp/pax and we also decided to contribute to the tour guide with a 20,000++ fee and tip. I had a nice meditation session at the falls for 30 min plus.
Coming back down, met a German chap on a bike. I decided to to support the quiet shops and purchased some vanilla pod, 2 artwork with frame (20,000rp) and Bali Tea (10,000rp). We saw coffee fruit trees and some spice trees on the way to the falls around the foresty ravines. Bali exports spices and coffee. We had a young friendly waterfall guide, not that we needed one. Kinda feeling sorry for them during the lull period.
Short drive back to Sanur at Sindhu!! Ordered the cheapest nasi goreng (9000rp for 2).
We strolled out for night walk to see lovely stars at the south beach area in the deafening night. As we passed by a few perched up windmills sitting on high bamboo sticks, the noise began. We saw a three piece giant wind flute which made a sort of eerie melody standing tall at the beachside as well.
Day 7 Kuta's famed sunset, Wednesday
Changed plans from snorkelling at Nusa Dua to spending the afternoon visiting Museum Le Mayeur at north of Sanur instead.
The Museum is actually a house which Adrien Jean Le Mayeur, a painter, trained as an architect decorated with antique stone and wood carvings collected from across Bali. He painted mainly Ni Polok, a young and beautiful Legong dancer who he later married. He at 55 years and she at 15 years old. In his painting were pictures of lovely women dancing or bathing in the rustic ambience of Balinese artchitecture house or garden pools. Medium used were oil on matt grass, canvas and charcoal. He had a unique way of painting oil with pastel shades as well. Lovely lovely works. Entrance was 2000rp per pax.
Walked a long way back to our hotel and took a dip at the pool whilst waiting for gals to get ready for a night drive south and west, to Kuta for its famed sunset and to the Warung with a courtyard at Seminyak for dinner. My Thai salad was pretty good. The rest, Indonesian Flat noodles and Glass noodles were so-so. Burger and tea was good — Halia tea, Normal tea, Ice Lemon Tea. The courtyard was surrounded by other shops like Periplus (the only book shop i've seen so far) and other fashion brands. Interesting touristy crowd too.
Arriving back to Sindhu, everybody made a pact to catch sunrise the next day!! Yippee.
Day 8 Ubud & good massage, Thursday
Crash read to finish a book till 3am. but 4.30 I'm up! So, tried going back to bed till 5am. It was probably the tea which kept me up. We're all set at 5.15 for our morning walk out to the beach! It finally came at about 6am. Hidden behind the clouds, sunrise was pretty subtle as it was cloudy. It became windy later.
Breakfast first and then we head of to Ubud for a drive around. Walked around Ubud's Monkey Forest Rd to look for Jane's Place and picked out 1 yoga bag (2500rp) and 1 sling bag (3000rp), handsewn with Ikat material.
Found a must visit massage place called Ubud Bodyworks Centre. Traditional Balinese massage (90,000rp), Therapy Massage (100,000rp) was to die for!! The garden courtyard was heavenly and rooms were simple yet cosy and breezy. We all loved it. Ginger tea was great too. See www.ubudbodyworkscentre.com. Snapped quite a few pictures here.
Left for Kuta to find accomodation at the not so new Cottages. Settled in quickly so we could visit Fajar Restaurant for a nice cheap dinner. Fried tauhu, Asam Soup, Beef stir fry, Fuyung Hai, Vege, 1 coke, 1 pineapple juice, 2 Beers, all for just 80,000rp for 4!!!
Walked around in Kuta to soak in the night life at its main streets and had 1 hr of internet (200rp p/min) for pretty slow speed to end the day.
Day 9 Surfing morning in Kuta!
A new exciting day as we struck some morning luck with a surf shop called PALU!! After savouring our last Indonesian breakfast of fried noodles, we dressed up for our first dive crash course lesson.
Did some physical prep on sand first to familiarise how to position ourselves and then 1.5 hrs soaking in the morning sun and getting wet and trashed with waves. It was pretty wow! I realised I was pretty bad at coordinating my head turn and pedalling. I hope doing more sports will help with that!
We all had a very good lessonn. USD20 p/pax for surfing lessons. He was a good teacher.
Thomas and I rush back to catch our taxi to the airport. Bought an expensive keropok packet (USD3.50) for his mum to fry (which she handed to me to do!) and had a good lunch on board our non-pack SIA flight!
The End!
May 22, 2006
Recommended Books for me to read...
1. Believing Cassandra — Alan Atkisson
2. Tipping Point
3. Lmits to Growth
4. The Gaia Hypothesis — James Lovelock
5. Science, & The Search for God — Gary Kowalski
6. In Praise of Idleness — Bertrand Russell
7. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek -- by Annie Dillard
8. Teaching a Stone to Talk : Expeditions and Encounters -- by Annie Dillard
9. For the Time Being (Vintage) -- by Annie Dillard; Paperback
Buddha of Compassion — Jinhua Mountain Anhui Province China
Maitreya Buddha — Bodh Gaya, Bihar State India
2. Tipping Point
3. Lmits to Growth
4. The Gaia Hypothesis — James Lovelock
5. Science, & The Search for God — Gary Kowalski
6. In Praise of Idleness — Bertrand Russell
7. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek -- by Annie Dillard
8. Teaching a Stone to Talk : Expeditions and Encounters -- by Annie Dillard
9. For the Time Being (Vintage) -- by Annie Dillard; Paperback
Buddha of Compassion — Jinhua Mountain Anhui Province China
Maitreya Buddha — Bodh Gaya, Bihar State India
May 21, 2006
Dipa Ma
I was passed this simple lovely book titled DiPa Ma, the life and legacy of a Buddhist Master, and when I started reading it, i couldnt put it down. In here, was a compiled story and experiences of people of this very loving enlightened being who had touched the lives of countless souls and apparently still doing so.
I was happy to have some affirmations aligned too when I read of this simple buddhist lady on not entertaining social events, visits and other gatherings that are not necessary. Its true for me that to find the peace that I seek, nothing else is needed, hence I don't enjoy it and don't want it. I used to think perhaps being non-socialble was a sign of selfishness, now i know more. Those of us who do a lot of self-work do need silent retreats and hence I question this no more.
Another lesson I learned this weekend was about Great Compassion. I tend to get myself in a frustrated situation because I hold people around me big enough to handle life and life's infinite powers. And, when people don't see it, I kept wanting to believe its because they are selling themselves short. Although I feel that by getting them to see the values of owning this infinite knowledge, that they could be a light itself for others, this could be a winwin, I still questioned whether I should or if it is my job at all. frustration sometimes occur for me when they choose not to see it and I knew feeling like this was amiss.
In an excerpt from the book, Dipa Ma said, anger is never justified. And the question i had hovering above me these few days about allowing myself to be frustrated due to my high expectation of others for their good, was answered. No matter what, I must unceasingly act out of compassion and loving kindness. Even if I know better. For everyone has their journey and takes their time to reach a certain level. I could hence embrace them when they are ready and bless them with prayers and blessings while awaiting them to arrive.
I learned so many things from her already. I have found my 3rd guru. She pierced right through my soul. What an awesome day I had. ; D
I was happy to have some affirmations aligned too when I read of this simple buddhist lady on not entertaining social events, visits and other gatherings that are not necessary. Its true for me that to find the peace that I seek, nothing else is needed, hence I don't enjoy it and don't want it. I used to think perhaps being non-socialble was a sign of selfishness, now i know more. Those of us who do a lot of self-work do need silent retreats and hence I question this no more.
Another lesson I learned this weekend was about Great Compassion. I tend to get myself in a frustrated situation because I hold people around me big enough to handle life and life's infinite powers. And, when people don't see it, I kept wanting to believe its because they are selling themselves short. Although I feel that by getting them to see the values of owning this infinite knowledge, that they could be a light itself for others, this could be a winwin, I still questioned whether I should or if it is my job at all. frustration sometimes occur for me when they choose not to see it and I knew feeling like this was amiss.
In an excerpt from the book, Dipa Ma said, anger is never justified. And the question i had hovering above me these few days about allowing myself to be frustrated due to my high expectation of others for their good, was answered. No matter what, I must unceasingly act out of compassion and loving kindness. Even if I know better. For everyone has their journey and takes their time to reach a certain level. I could hence embrace them when they are ready and bless them with prayers and blessings while awaiting them to arrive.
I learned so many things from her already. I have found my 3rd guru. She pierced right through my soul. What an awesome day I had. ; D
Mar 1, 2006
expert's advice on pre-marriage guidlines
Here's what my dad sent to me today!!
After 3-6 months friendship and when time to develope intimaticy is insight, must discuss and settle the following:
(1) Financial management of each other's money after marriage : amount to spend, to save, to spend on residence, including the extend of each other's say on family inherited/existing asset
(2) Each other's spending habit and amount to spend on what area. The amount each can spend his/her income and the limites
(3) Each other's duties and responsibilities running the family and house and share of work
(4) Managing and utilisation of each other's free time/days. Discuss and come to a compromise
(5) Each other's religion and extend of involvement
(6) Relatives influence on relationship and family and kids. Too much suggestions may spoil and influence relationship of husband and wife., esp on child care.
(7) Relationship between in-laws, their roles and ability to be in one big family actively and happily.
(8) Assume married, discuss on no. of kids, types of education and medium, the duty of care and each other's role on house chores each has to do.
(9) If one has bad habit, to what extend the other can tolerate. Do not hope to change him/her.
(10)Personal interest and hobby. If not same, what extend each can comprise to take part in each other's interest/hobby. Do not hope to change him, but try to involve or participate occasionally.
(11) Evaluate each other's social life and friends. If they have negative impact on the the relationship, do what extend one can give up the bad ones. If one willing to give up some days and activities, the other must replace his loss with something more meaningful that two can do together.
(12) Discuss on how each express love and care and how often, eg, sms, email, writing, actions, body contact and love making
(13) Ask on opinion over adultery and study his/her view and with that, plan what to do to prevent.
(14) Discuss on self-development programmes after marriage and plans on kids, money and place of stay and job etc
(15) open discussion on important aspects that could affect relationship, eg. in-law's plan to stay together, sickness, alergy and personal problems.
After 3-6 months friendship and when time to develope intimaticy is insight, must discuss and settle the following:
(1) Financial management of each other's money after marriage : amount to spend, to save, to spend on residence, including the extend of each other's say on family inherited/existing asset
(2) Each other's spending habit and amount to spend on what area. The amount each can spend his/her income and the limites
(3) Each other's duties and responsibilities running the family and house and share of work
(4) Managing and utilisation of each other's free time/days. Discuss and come to a compromise
(5) Each other's religion and extend of involvement
(6) Relatives influence on relationship and family and kids. Too much suggestions may spoil and influence relationship of husband and wife., esp on child care.
(7) Relationship between in-laws, their roles and ability to be in one big family actively and happily.
(8) Assume married, discuss on no. of kids, types of education and medium, the duty of care and each other's role on house chores each has to do.
(9) If one has bad habit, to what extend the other can tolerate. Do not hope to change him/her.
(10)Personal interest and hobby. If not same, what extend each can comprise to take part in each other's interest/hobby. Do not hope to change him, but try to involve or participate occasionally.
(11) Evaluate each other's social life and friends. If they have negative impact on the the relationship, do what extend one can give up the bad ones. If one willing to give up some days and activities, the other must replace his loss with something more meaningful that two can do together.
(12) Discuss on how each express love and care and how often, eg, sms, email, writing, actions, body contact and love making
(13) Ask on opinion over adultery and study his/her view and with that, plan what to do to prevent.
(14) Discuss on self-development programmes after marriage and plans on kids, money and place of stay and job etc
(15) open discussion on important aspects that could affect relationship, eg. in-law's plan to stay together, sickness, alergy and personal problems.
Feb 27, 2006
Guideline: ACTION BEFORE SUCCESS Bel Air
Socrates once said:
" Life without planning has no experience value. "
When you make your move, please feel your heart's deepest desire and let it mould the target of your goal.
Please complete this after discussion with your upline:
1. Write down your specific goals.
2. Find out the benefits you can enjoy in the process of attaining your goals.
3. Analyse your own situation.
4. Find out the risks you may have to encounter in order to achieve your goals.
5. Find out the possible obstacles and list them according to their priority.
6. Find out the sacrifices and things that you may need to forego in order to achieve your goals.
7. Find out what additional knowledge you need to acquire to accomplish your goals.
8. Find out what assistance you may need.
9. Generate an action plan.
(Set a deadline, according to priority, of your achievements and the number of people you have visited. )
10. Designate a deadline for your main goals.
11. Specify the rewards.
3. Product Background
a. Best of the best.
b. French National Standard product.
c. Multiple features and purposes in a single product.
d. The only product with a combination of health, elegance and aesthetics.
e. Product which is highly recyclable.
f. Users are from all walks of life, with no sectoral or market limits.
4. Education Background
The Lecturers' Group will design Leadership Programs which are suitable for people at different levels, with emphasis on practical education and training.
If we were to start our own business, would we have these conditions and standards?
If we were looking for a job, would we bypass a company with such a superior background and reputation?
If your answers are “no”, then Bel'Air is your RIGHT and ONLY choice.
" Life without planning has no experience value. "
When you make your move, please feel your heart's deepest desire and let it mould the target of your goal.
Please complete this after discussion with your upline:
1. Write down your specific goals.
2. Find out the benefits you can enjoy in the process of attaining your goals.
3. Analyse your own situation.
4. Find out the risks you may have to encounter in order to achieve your goals.
5. Find out the possible obstacles and list them according to their priority.
6. Find out the sacrifices and things that you may need to forego in order to achieve your goals.
7. Find out what additional knowledge you need to acquire to accomplish your goals.
8. Find out what assistance you may need.
9. Generate an action plan.
(Set a deadline, according to priority, of your achievements and the number of people you have visited. )
10. Designate a deadline for your main goals.
11. Specify the rewards.
3. Product Background
a. Best of the best.
b. French National Standard product.
c. Multiple features and purposes in a single product.
d. The only product with a combination of health, elegance and aesthetics.
e. Product which is highly recyclable.
f. Users are from all walks of life, with no sectoral or market limits.
4. Education Background
The Lecturers' Group will design Leadership Programs which are suitable for people at different levels, with emphasis on practical education and training.
If we were to start our own business, would we have these conditions and standards?
If we were looking for a job, would we bypass a company with such a superior background and reputation?
If your answers are “no”, then Bel'Air is your RIGHT and ONLY choice.
AsiaWorks
Besides giving the best gift and investment to myself on how to be a leader for my own life, what did I learn?
Basic (Trainer: Ken Ito)
• To be aware of my choices, actions, judgments - which I've set up all of my life
• How I’ve been playing in my life and the lenses I put in front of me
• What and how it means to choose to take ownership of my life
• To truly forgive and accept me and others
• My hope for humanity came back because I could forgive. I learned that everyone is like me, not perfect and also hurt inside and sometimes they try although they don't succeed, and my courage to choose to open my heart again truly liberated me.
• That I self-criticize and I’m my only and biggest, critic
• Breaking my belief that I’m nobody
• Habitual words I feed my mind - like have to rather than choose to - self-empowerment
• knowing that I'm alright
Staffers: Miau Im Chng
Advanced (Trainer: Douglas Quah)
• if I don't like what I see, I have the power, tools and ability to change that, so ASK what do I really want. if i'm not clear - keep asking.
• to be courageous to step out, allow my true colors to shine thru like a beautiful rainbow
• to fly and fly and just glow in the love I have to dance in, to show and share
• my contract - I am a beautiful, powerful, passionate, and courageous woman
• knowing, believing, doing, keeping at it - are different phases, require different commitments
• my best gift i can give to others is just to be me
Leadership
• my Trust issues — that which can hold me back in many things in my life
• Allowing people to be in my space - is a form of allowing and giving them love
• Results don't always speak of worth and value. Result is a number from how far the goal is yet to reach, but not a resolution. The intention is what matters.
• Breaking my beliefs of “impossible” — it's only a limitation I set in my mind.
• Teamwork and never giving up on my team
• The power of enrollment - the power of enrolling people into my dreams and vision is what makes one successful - i still lack interest and determination in this area.
• I'm not perfect and will still have my nerdiness - to celebrate that that's me too.
• There's a time to work, play and have balance - Spiritual, Health, Finance, Career, Relationship, Community - we can balance three simultaneously and make it a win-win.
• As a leader - a pyramid does not equate until we include something we can give back
• BE, DO, HAVE technique
• The Four Crucial Leadership Characteristics - Compelling Desire, Solid Belief, Effective Action, Iron Will
• Distinctions of the Leadership Program
100% is possible 100% of the time!
If it's to be it's up to me!
Life is an enrollment game!
Teamwork, team players being committed to a common vision!
My vision/ commitments/ promises dictate my action, not my feelings, assessments or evaluation!
I honor my words with my actions.
Power of Intimacy
• That I’ve been working like a broken recorder — I keep thinking I’m needing to be fixed.. probably lack of inner faith in oneself or lack perseverance and determination.
• reclaimed my power back - don't need acknowledgment from anyone cos I’m already being what I’m supposed to be. Be in one with my Self. The inner power.
• my purpose here - to share hope, love & beauty, also thru my art
• I really deeply appreciate everyone who gives their love and strength to me
• Don’t let others feedback get to me — it's just an opinion which i can choose to take or leave
~~~~~~~~~~
"The term Mastery descends from the Sanskrit word "Root Mah", meaning "greater" but a variation of the word evolved in medieval French "Maitre", meaning someone who was exceptionally proficient and skilled - a master of a craft.
Mastery, as we use the word today, reflects "Maitre". It means the capacity not only to produce results but also to master the principles underlying the way you produce results. If someone can produce great work only with constant struggle, we wouldn't call him or her successful. In Mastery, there is a sense of effortlessness and joyousness. It stems from your ability and willingness to understand and work with the forces around you.
Finally, personal mastery teaches us to choose. Choosing is a courageous act: picking the results and actions which you will make into your destiny."
Mastery
Creating at ease with 5 tools
• Communicating such that others get it
• Experience the experience
• Every moment is a new moment
• Willingness to be responsible
• What is the one thing that is important to me? - love, wellbeing.
Asia works: http://asiaworkstraining.com/
Staffing Basic with trainer: Gareth McIlroy
Basic (Trainer: Ken Ito)
• To be aware of my choices, actions, judgments - which I've set up all of my life
• How I’ve been playing in my life and the lenses I put in front of me
• What and how it means to choose to take ownership of my life
• To truly forgive and accept me and others
• My hope for humanity came back because I could forgive. I learned that everyone is like me, not perfect and also hurt inside and sometimes they try although they don't succeed, and my courage to choose to open my heart again truly liberated me.
• That I self-criticize and I’m my only and biggest, critic
• Breaking my belief that I’m nobody
• Habitual words I feed my mind - like have to rather than choose to - self-empowerment
• knowing that I'm alright
Staffers: Miau Im Chng
Advanced (Trainer: Douglas Quah)
• if I don't like what I see, I have the power, tools and ability to change that, so ASK what do I really want. if i'm not clear - keep asking.
• to be courageous to step out, allow my true colors to shine thru like a beautiful rainbow
• to fly and fly and just glow in the love I have to dance in, to show and share
• my contract - I am a beautiful, powerful, passionate, and courageous woman
• knowing, believing, doing, keeping at it - are different phases, require different commitments
• my best gift i can give to others is just to be me
Leadership
• my Trust issues — that which can hold me back in many things in my life
• Allowing people to be in my space - is a form of allowing and giving them love
• Results don't always speak of worth and value. Result is a number from how far the goal is yet to reach, but not a resolution. The intention is what matters.
• Breaking my beliefs of “impossible” — it's only a limitation I set in my mind.
• Teamwork and never giving up on my team
• The power of enrollment - the power of enrolling people into my dreams and vision is what makes one successful - i still lack interest and determination in this area.
• I'm not perfect and will still have my nerdiness - to celebrate that that's me too.
• There's a time to work, play and have balance - Spiritual, Health, Finance, Career, Relationship, Community - we can balance three simultaneously and make it a win-win.
• As a leader - a pyramid does not equate until we include something we can give back
• BE, DO, HAVE technique
• The Four Crucial Leadership Characteristics - Compelling Desire, Solid Belief, Effective Action, Iron Will
• Distinctions of the Leadership Program
100% is possible 100% of the time!
If it's to be it's up to me!
Life is an enrollment game!
Teamwork, team players being committed to a common vision!
My vision/ commitments/ promises dictate my action, not my feelings, assessments or evaluation!
I honor my words with my actions.
Power of Intimacy
• That I’ve been working like a broken recorder — I keep thinking I’m needing to be fixed.. probably lack of inner faith in oneself or lack perseverance and determination.
• reclaimed my power back - don't need acknowledgment from anyone cos I’m already being what I’m supposed to be. Be in one with my Self. The inner power.
• my purpose here - to share hope, love & beauty, also thru my art
• I really deeply appreciate everyone who gives their love and strength to me
• Don’t let others feedback get to me — it's just an opinion which i can choose to take or leave
~~~~~~~~~~
"The term Mastery descends from the Sanskrit word "Root Mah", meaning "greater" but a variation of the word evolved in medieval French "Maitre", meaning someone who was exceptionally proficient and skilled - a master of a craft.
Mastery, as we use the word today, reflects "Maitre". It means the capacity not only to produce results but also to master the principles underlying the way you produce results. If someone can produce great work only with constant struggle, we wouldn't call him or her successful. In Mastery, there is a sense of effortlessness and joyousness. It stems from your ability and willingness to understand and work with the forces around you.
Finally, personal mastery teaches us to choose. Choosing is a courageous act: picking the results and actions which you will make into your destiny."
Mastery
Creating at ease with 5 tools
• Communicating such that others get it
• Experience the experience
• Every moment is a new moment
• Willingness to be responsible
• What is the one thing that is important to me? - love, wellbeing.
Asia works: http://asiaworkstraining.com/
Staffing Basic with trainer: Gareth McIlroy
Feb 10, 2006
Intro to Yoga
The main purpose of yoga ultimately is to be in union with the Light within you where you can find infinite source of complete joy, peace, pure love, and bliss. They call this God, the healing light, and its within you.
Yoga practice is internal very much like Buddha and his moral teachings in his wisdoms. So, yoga is not a religion or religious (unlike religions which does rituals externally and calls God's name in vain).
Yogi's do not pray to a icon God or person or request us to beg from God. Its a way of living where we are aware and we choose constantly to walk with the beauty of God and in devotion to this awareness.
My story of why i go and how i found i found yoga:
Walking through life without being at peace due to my own imbalance of emotions or thoughts, its not easy to be happy. All tangible materials that are all around us do not last forever hence I wanted to find a true source continuos peace and happiness if they was any.
There are 4 main parts of The Paths of Yoga they say to bring you to this ultimate Union and source of infinite peace. And below is a breakdown of that,
and under the 4th path, the Raja Yoga, i've elaborated with what most good complete and balance yoga courses will teach.
Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga
Karma — the yoga of action, the the path for outgoing nature. It purifies the heart by teaching you to act selflessly, without gain or rewards. By detaching yrself from fruits of yr actions and offereing them to God, you learn to sublimate the ego.
Bhakti — is path of devotion, good for those emotional in nature. Motivated chiefly by the power of love and sees of as the embodiment of love. Thru prayer, he surrenders himself to being a channel to God to transmute his emotions into unconditional love or devotion.
Jnana Yoga— yoga of knowledge, wisdom, requires tremendous strength of will and intellect. Before practise of Jnana, lessons of other paths are integrated. Otherwise the search for self realization thru the mind can become mere idle speculation.
Raja Yoga — the path of physical and mental control. Comprehensive method for controlling waves of thought by turning our mental and phsycial energy into spiritual energy.
Compiled by The sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras Bible, the Eight limbs of Raja Yoga are a progressive series of steps or disciplines which purify the body and mind, leading the yogi to enlightnment. They are
1. Yama (Restrain) — divided into 5 moral injunctions aimed to clear the lower nature: non-violence, trusthfulness in word, thought and deed, non-stealing, meoderation inall things and non possessiveness.
2. Niyama (Observances) — divided into 5 qualities are purity, contentment, austerity (study of sacred text), and constantly living with an awareness of the Divine Presence.
3. Asanas — postures
4. Pranayama — regulation of breath, restraint of breath
5. Pratyahara — drawing the senses inwards inorder to still the mind in preparation of the next step:
6. Dharana — the act of concentration, act of holding, keeping the mind collected
7. Dhyana — meditation, contemplation, reflection, attention
8. Samadhi — englightnment or superconsciousness
Yoga practice is internal very much like Buddha and his moral teachings in his wisdoms. So, yoga is not a religion or religious (unlike religions which does rituals externally and calls God's name in vain).
Yogi's do not pray to a icon God or person or request us to beg from God. Its a way of living where we are aware and we choose constantly to walk with the beauty of God and in devotion to this awareness.
My story of why i go and how i found i found yoga:
Walking through life without being at peace due to my own imbalance of emotions or thoughts, its not easy to be happy. All tangible materials that are all around us do not last forever hence I wanted to find a true source continuos peace and happiness if they was any.
There are 4 main parts of The Paths of Yoga they say to bring you to this ultimate Union and source of infinite peace. And below is a breakdown of that,
and under the 4th path, the Raja Yoga, i've elaborated with what most good complete and balance yoga courses will teach.
Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga
Karma — the yoga of action, the the path for outgoing nature. It purifies the heart by teaching you to act selflessly, without gain or rewards. By detaching yrself from fruits of yr actions and offereing them to God, you learn to sublimate the ego.
Bhakti — is path of devotion, good for those emotional in nature. Motivated chiefly by the power of love and sees of as the embodiment of love. Thru prayer, he surrenders himself to being a channel to God to transmute his emotions into unconditional love or devotion.
Jnana Yoga— yoga of knowledge, wisdom, requires tremendous strength of will and intellect. Before practise of Jnana, lessons of other paths are integrated. Otherwise the search for self realization thru the mind can become mere idle speculation.
Raja Yoga — the path of physical and mental control. Comprehensive method for controlling waves of thought by turning our mental and phsycial energy into spiritual energy.
Compiled by The sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras Bible, the Eight limbs of Raja Yoga are a progressive series of steps or disciplines which purify the body and mind, leading the yogi to enlightnment. They are
1. Yama (Restrain) — divided into 5 moral injunctions aimed to clear the lower nature: non-violence, trusthfulness in word, thought and deed, non-stealing, meoderation inall things and non possessiveness.
2. Niyama (Observances) — divided into 5 qualities are purity, contentment, austerity (study of sacred text), and constantly living with an awareness of the Divine Presence.
3. Asanas — postures
4. Pranayama — regulation of breath, restraint of breath
5. Pratyahara — drawing the senses inwards inorder to still the mind in preparation of the next step:
6. Dharana — the act of concentration, act of holding, keeping the mind collected
7. Dhyana — meditation, contemplation, reflection, attention
8. Samadhi — englightnment or superconsciousness
Jan 11, 2006
My Poem ~ Innocence
This is a symbollic poem about purity and beauty of innocence.
It naturally coincided with the beauty of the lady portrayed in the life of Memoirs of a geisha too.
O how beautiful she dances.
She caresses what envelopes her,
conditions her, shapes her.
Innocence within her,
in her touch, smell, taste.
Purity, within her heart.
Beauty mirrored from calm water.
Reflections of a clear sky,
White in purity, blue in its essence.
Innocence, ignorance, impermenance
Flowing from seasons of joyful tears.
A touch, a scent, a thought of her beauty
an unceasing desire.
Her innocence untouched.
A delicate cheery blossom bud.
O' its like a drop of tear
that stands still forever.
It naturally coincided with the beauty of the lady portrayed in the life of Memoirs of a geisha too.
O how beautiful she dances.
She caresses what envelopes her,
conditions her, shapes her.
Innocence within her,
in her touch, smell, taste.
Purity, within her heart.
Beauty mirrored from calm water.
Reflections of a clear sky,
White in purity, blue in its essence.
Innocence, ignorance, impermenance
Flowing from seasons of joyful tears.
A touch, a scent, a thought of her beauty
an unceasing desire.
Her innocence untouched.
A delicate cheery blossom bud.
O' its like a drop of tear
that stands still forever.
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