Friday, December 31, 2010

The Best Notes of My 2010 Saga

The curtain of 2010 is closing before us... all that has past throughout the year will only live in our memories. Before it all got washed away by the tide of time, I want to jot down the great points of my 2010 journey...

1) Started my very first blog.
2) Hike the tallest mountain in Selangor, mount Nuang for 9 hours.
3) Bought the most expensive shoe (till date) in my life.
4) Endure severe insomnia for no apparent reason. 2 hours sleep per day.
5) Pick up 2 god sisters under my wings.
6) Had the longest (10 hours) bus ride from Puchong to Singapore.
7) Tear my calf muscle during badminton warm up session.
8) Got myself a cute maid and watching it is really destressing.
9) Have loads of fun snapping with my new Canon S90 camera.
10) Ramped my persona into a drain on the last day of the year 2010.

Friday, November 19, 2010

DID I MARRY THE RIGHT PERSON?

I got this message from a friend through FB. It was inspiring so I wanted post it here as a remembrance.

Those who are still single may learn something from here.
Those who are already married may take it as a guideline to improve your marriage...

During one of our seminars, a woman asked a common question. She said, "How do I know if I married the right person?"
I noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so I said, "It depends. Is that your husband?" In all seriousness, she answered "How do you know?"

Here's the answer.

EVERY relationship has a cycle. In the beginning, you fell in love with your spouse. You anticipated their call, wanted their touch, and liked their
idiosyncrasies. Falling in love with your spouse wasn't hard. In fact, it
was a completely natural and spontaneous experience. You didn't have to DO anything. That's why it's called "falling" in love... Because it's happening TO YOU.

People in love sometimes say, "I was swept off my feet." Think about the imagery of that expression. It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing, and then something came along and happened TO YOU.

Falling in love is easy. It's a passive and spontaneous experience.

But after a few years of marriage, the euphoria of love fades. It's the natural cycle of EVERY relationship. Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse's idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, could drive you nuts.

The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship, but if you think about your marriage, you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage.

At this point, you and/or your spouse might start asking, "Did I marry the right person?" And as you and your spouse reflect on the euphoria of the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with someone else. This is when marriages breakdown. People blame their spouse for their unhappiness and look outside their marriage for fulfillment.

Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes. Infidelity is the most obvious. But sometimes people turn to work,a hobby, a friendship, excessive TV, or abusive substances.

But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your marriage. It lies within it. I'm not saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else.
You could.

And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a few years later. Because (listen carefully to this):

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER just happen to you.
You can't "find" LASTING love. You have to "make" it day in and day out.
That's why we have the expression "the labor of love."

Because it takes time, effort, and energy. And most importantly, it takes WISDOM. You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your marriage work.
Make no mistake about it. Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific things you can do (with or without your spouse) to succeed with your marriage.

Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships. Just as the right diet and exercise program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your relationship WILL make your marriage stronger. It's a direct cause and effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable. .. you can "make" love.
Love in marriage is indeed a "decision"... Not just a feeling.

Remember this always:

"God determines who walks into your life. It is up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go."

So, spent your lifetime finding out the loveable things about your spouse so that you could LOVE your spouse everyday in every way in an EVERLASTING marriage. That is why granpa's love to your granma seems so PURE.
Remember, you are with the "RIGHT" person. If not, you wouldn't have wanted to marry your spouse in the first place.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

爱情以友情的边缘

上个星期看了Jeff 的你在等他?让我想起某时读过的一篇作文。人生变幻莫测。。。我们都经历过许许多多的疑问和遗憾。两个人可能相爱过,也可能喜欢着彼此。但是,为了什么原因他们没能在一起?

也许他为了朋友之间的义气,不能追你。
也许为了顾及家人的意见 ,你们没有在一起。
也许为了自己的前程,他没有要你等他。
也许你们相遇太早,还不懂得珍惜对方。
也许你们相遇太晚,你们身边已经有了另一个人。
也许你回头太迟,对方已不再等待。
也许你们彼此在捉摸对方的心,而迟迟无法跨出界线。

久而久之,即使你们没在一起,你们还是保持了朋友的关系。
但是你们心底清楚,对这个人,你比朋友还多了一份关心。
即使不能跟他名正言顺的牵着手逛街,你们还是可以做无所不谈的朋友。

他有喜欢的人,你口头上会帮他追,心里却不是很清楚你是不是真的希望他追到。
他遇到困难时,你会尽你所能的帮他,不会计较谁又欠了谁。
男女朋友吃醋了,你会安抚他们说你和他只是朋友,但你心中会有那么一丝的不确定。

每个人这辈子,心中都有过这幺一个特别的朋友,很矛盾的行为。
一开始你不甘心只做朋友的,但久了,突然发现这样最好。
你宁愿这样关心他,总好过你们在一起而有天会分手。
你宁愿做他的朋友,彼此不会吃醋,才可以真的无所不谈。
特别是这样,你还是知道,他永远会关心你的。
做不成男女朋友,当他那个特别的朋友,有什么不好呢?
你心中的这个特别的朋友……? 是谁呢?

很多的感情,都因为一厢情愿,最后连朋友都当不成了。
常常觉得惋惜,可惜一些本来很好的友情,最后却因为对方的一句喜欢你。。。
如果你没有反应,这一段友情似乎也难以维持下去了。。。

这也难怪有些人会因此不肯踏出这一步。
因为这就像是一场赌注,表白了之后不是成了男女朋友,要不就连朋友都当不成了。
有些事不是你能预料的,或许对方不在意,你们还可以是朋友,但却已经不如从前的。。。

其实,对于爱情,越单纯越幸福!一生只谈一次恋爱是最好的(就像Jeff 那样)。经历的太多了,会麻木,分离多了,会习惯,换恋人多了,会比较,到最后你会不再相信爱情,你会自暴自弃,你会毫无生气,你会行尸走肉,你会与一个你不爱的人结婚,就这样过一辈子。。。

所以牵好的手就不要轻易放开,说过的话就不要轻易收回,承诺过的人就不要轻易忘记。。。有些人,有些事,既然发生了。。。就注定是你一生的回忆。。。

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Langkawi Getaway Day3

I was awaken from my slumber by the noises in the room. The sun is already seeping through the slits of the curtains. It is already late morning. The whole room is bustling with chatters and laughters which is not uncommon when FaiTh and Casie collide. I quickly got up from the mattress to wash up and prepare to go for breakfast before any hungry souls loose their temper.

We step out into the deserted street with our eyes keeping alert of any makan shops. There is a small hut just opposite the road serving food. Our steps has been lure towards it and we are completely powerless to resist. We are already sitting at one of the table by the time I regain my perception. No point fighting now so we ordered our brunch.

I looked around us and everyone is moving like zombies (super slow motion). Some are probably having a hang over while the rest might be due to the fasting month that they want to preserve energy. The food and drinks are served after a century long. It was tasteless... completely diluted. We swallow as much as we could cause we need the energy to endure the day.

I called for the bill but were told to the counter to settle it... The lady behind the counter gaze at me with a little curl on her lip. Before I could make any sense out of that stare, she has slaughtered me alive with the bill. Although I was prepared for that attack, I sustained a huge damage of almost RM70... Soaking wet in blood I quickly hide my wound and signal my squad to flee the place.

Annie suggested to go to the orchard to pluck some wild fruits for our supply during the journey. However, it was not a blooming season for fruits at this time of the year. We thought it was not worth to pay the gatekeeper to enter so we deflect to conquer Mount Raya, the other highest peak of Langkawi (since we didn't make it up Mount Cincang). Our vehicle is running low on gas and we have to look for a nearest station to fill up..... it was pouring cats and dogs by the time we are ready to scale up Mount Raya.

With wipers sweeping at full speed, but I could only barely see a kilometre ahead. The sounds of howling winds and cracking thunders just outside our hood makes maneuvering along the narrow winding road even more challenging. I don't want to lose thrust and keep pressing on through the thick rain... straining my eyes and coordination muscles.

The sky cleared up to welcome us when we were reaching the submit. Dark clouds rolled away in the glistering sun ray. It was a blessing in disguise that we have to travel 20+ KM to refill gas earlier... else it will still be raining heavily when we arrive at the submit..... The stone watch tower stand tall in front of us as we approach the inn gate.

The narrow winding road uphill

The Watch Tower
We were greeted by the innkeeper upon stepping foot on the terrace. He is well dressed and suspiciously urges us to take a peek upstairs the watch tower... Later we learnt that they are serving potion of coffee or tea up there but we have to pay up RM10 for it plus the view from the top. We have came this far so we took the bait even though we know the potion would be a propaganda.... Its the view that impede this from being a complete waste of time.

View of the lounge on the watch tower

Potion served

Corridor of the inn

View of the mangrove from the tower

Above clouds
We linger around the small area of the tower for abit and started to realize we are late for our check-out from our inn back at Pantai Cenang. We hurried down the tower, jump into our sedan and sped off. The trail was all misty with steam raising from the surface of the road... We saw cows grazing at the grasses by the road side and wonder how they got up here. It is a desolated mountain road and there are nobody to claim owner of these cows. They are lucky I don't take beef.

After claiming all our inventories and cram everything into our vehicle, we set off to wonder around the island. We set foot on the forlorn hot spring village half an hour later. It was early afternoon but the sky is gloomy. The whole village is lifeless and flat. We spend 10 minutes there and I really felt it is a little too long as the place is lack of maintenance.

FaiTh cautiuosly testing the pond water... its cold.
Without much ado, we set off to our next destination. The waterfall plan was scraped due to the cloudy sky and we do not want to be caught in a muddy and drench situation. So we continue our exploration further along the road. My stomach is drumming but food is rare out here... The group is still stuffed and I do not want to slow down the pack with hunting for food.

Soon we arrived at the bird park. Casie and mum is not interested so they stayed outside and hang around while we go for the safari. Toll for the entrance is RM12 per head when we flash our Mykad and double if you don't have one. It is a real big park with real big birds. I am hungry so I decided not to buy any food to feed those birds... let us all puasa together... The whole tour took around an hour.

Entrance guard in white armour


Flammingo or crane?

Kancil in a bird park... pity lil fella.

Afternoon nap

Check out my crown

Peacock trying his luck on pigeon
 
Brahminy Kite
We complete our ramble in the park by dusk. Headed straight to Kuah town bazaar Ramadhan to get some ayam percik... a kind of barbecued chicken. Pack a variety of dinner and some last minute shopping for friends (who place orders via phone). Here comes the difficult part... where and how to eat? There are no proper table nor proper cutleries.

An elder in the tribe is a treasure to the tribe... Casie's mum kept some fork and spoon from the McD at LCCT before we fly here. You may not understand why until you need them badly... how thoughtful of her. We settle down at a stone table by the Cenang beach to feast on our dinner while watching the sun set slowly into the horizon.

Evening sunset at Cenang beach
After sharing one of our ayam percik to a foreign couple and stuffing up everything else, its time to leave for airport. On the way to the airstrip, we stopby another beach just to ease our heavy heart to part with the beach... our escapade is coming to an end.

 We return the rented car with much difficulty because there was nobody at the counter. Luckily we are there early and managed to call them in before our flight. FaiTh and Casie also managed to fulfill their main objective of this trip... to get their perfumes.

The whole getaway ended perfectly with a speedy ride back from LCCT in an F1 car. I would like to thank everyone in the group for this awesome retreat we share together... I'll cherish these momories forever. Thank you all so much!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Mail With Undelivered Message

A mail written with devotion,
A mail written from the heart,
Writing it with full emotion,
But sending it is so hard.

Remember we enjoyed the good,
Remember we endure the bad,
Together we were mostly cheerful,
But sometimes sour and sad.

Some wanted to cling on to love,
Some wanted to leave and go,
All thats left is a barren turf,
Cold and frozen with snow.

Life can be very rigid,
Life can even be painful,
But life is what I make it,
So I must make it beautiful.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

虾米粥 Dried Shrimp Congee

想不想一煲搞定一餐?要免洗盘洗碟的麻烦?那就来煲粥吧。。。
Looking for "one pot" solution for a meal? Lazy to wash pans and plates? Lets make a pot of congee...

材料:
半杯虾米 (洗净)
一杯米 (洗净)
八杯水
芥兰花 (随意,可免)
调味料:
一茶匙麻油(每碗份)
胡椒粉
生抽
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dried shrimp (wash thoroughly)
1 cup rice (wash thoroughly)
8 cups water
a lil of brocoli (optional)
Taste enhancer:
1 tea spoon sesame oil (per serving)
white pepper powder (to taste)
light soya sauce (to taste)

煮法:
1。把全部材料放进电饭煲里
2。选粥煮45-60分钟
3。上碗加调味料
4。小心烫哦。。。
Steps:
1. Put all ingredients into an automatic rice cooker
2. Select porridge and cook for 45-60 minutes
3. Serve in bowl and add enhancer to taste
4. Becareful its hot...

 注:可以煲久一点如果要粥更细。
Note: Can cook a little longer if you like it finer.

Monday, October 4, 2010

轻风作浪

晚饭后跟大嫂闲聊。谈着,谈着她突然问我是不是和E小姐复合了。。。最近看起来较有朝气。隐藏着惊讶,我淡定的回答“没有啊。为什么会这样问?”大嫂说中秋节那天有收到她的短讯祝语所以想多了。我静了下来。。。

我以为我已放下可是当她的名字再次被提起,心依然会酸。原本静如止水的心突然再次的刮起浪花。慢慢淡掉剩发型的脸孔好像给我戴上眼镜般的清晰起来。。。我可以骗完全世界却骗不了自己,我依然想念着她。

为什么要给大嫂发短讯?她是否在暗示给我修补的机会?为什么不发给我?我应该再主动联络她吗?她也在想我吗?是我自作多情吗?种种疑问迎着我来。那压逼感使人透不过气!

她的生日就快到了,去年没来得及送的礼物还锁在衣柜抽屉里。我们也有一年没见面了。虽然如此,我还是没办法把她的东西扔掉。为什么内心深处还是留着一线希望?真是自己拿来受。。。