my quaint world

Try the test! Its funny.

I failed miserably though. I know I know, I am asian but but but...

I can tell from the accents though :)

AllLookSame?

Just as I was feeling a wee bit low down, I had the most interesting flight ever.

Well, going out here is taking a slight toll on me due the barrier of the languages. For I am no longer the chirpy person who makes being silly, laughin the loudest laughter, makin funny faces and constantly trying to create entertainment yet forming bonds between human.

Here, I felt I am just an invisible soul. Lost in the languages, I let myself drift away under the sunshine, dreaming of land where there is only beauty and perfection.

Well, I felt a bit lost in the web of friendship, or so-called friends or friends because we hang out quite a bit or in my own correctness, friends that I can't connect. Front that I can't be the real Jaymy because of the barrier of communication. Language!

And I started to doubt myself. Well, have I grown inwards? Have I become passive? Have I turned into a boredom? Or am I just a smiling manequin? A chinese one, for say.

Just a painting of a face on the shell of an egg. (You know, we use to paint faces on egg shell, but does it represent what is in the egg?)

Nevertheless, just as the saying goes, winter never fail to turn into spring.

On my way to Lisbon today, 3 whole hours flight, where 2 hours was spent debating within myself to challenge myself to prove that I do not have a communication defiency. That I am normal. That I can talk to people. That I communicate. That I still connects.

Well, after 2 whole hours, and with a very interesting and curious musing girl beside me, I couldn't resist but to offer a piece of chocolate. That started a smile.

30 minutes later, I popped the usual 'standard' question, "Are you going for a holiday?" She answered. Then it was non-stop machine gun questionin, words, expressions, sharing, smiles, laughter and twinkles in the eyes. Yes, she has beautiful eyes. They talk silent words. She's a sorta theatre actress cum independent producer, passion for living, driven to bring smiles to people on the street, to strike them out of normadom. A person with a big 'YES' for life. A girl who is constantly writing her dossier, no matter where.

Then a book in the hands of another caught my eye. Titled "Buddha". Out of real curiousity, pathed the way through my doubts, my fears, my twisted tongue, I asked, "Why do you read this?". And again, it sparked off a connection that I can't explain. A bonding. A relation.

Beautiful person she is. Young, vibrant, happy with strong jest of life! And a looker. She was Miss Belgium 2005. In all the truest form, I think she represents very well the title. Apart from being almost a Julia Roberts with african/ india blood, its a full package she is. At least, that is one very good first impression I had.

And that's where I was. Inspired again. Ready to take the world. To spread the smile. To bring happiness wherever I am.

Also, I realised, that is the basis of me. That is the cause I proclaim. Happiness.

"Happiness is the joy in others!"

And no, no barrier there is for me. Only of a mind limitin the self. Be it for even with body language, I will speak out to the world.

Err, yes, we ate a horse steak on Friday night.

I had a colleague from Singapore who was in town. He asked to be brought to a real Belgium restaurant. Being a nice belgian, Mr D brought us all to a restaurant - Horse House Restaurant.

Apparently, this restaurant in Vilvoorde (small town where I live), specializes in lean, sweet horse steaks and has been popular for 4 decades. Have to queue to eat!

Its not the typical kind of horses - special breed called 'Belgium Draught Horse'. They are use in the fields normally. Very strong and hardworkers.

It was pretty good but err... I am not sure if I will eat it again.

Its all in the mind though.

As she drove herself with the unfamiliar vehicle all over at wrong sides of the roads, her heart was beating with pure anticipation. To meet with strangers whom yet she knows of those familiar warm hearts and glowing faces.

A drive so short, felt like miles away.

The joy felt on the rythm of the chanting, those voices which speaks words she do not yet understand are those same voices which she hears the unison of the hearts.

When I arrived, I was pretty nervous. Ain't sure where to park my big mama car. Managed to squeeze myself in a little corner, just enough not to block the garage of another. Took a peep thru my door just to see if I did give the car behind a bump. Lucky no. But a funny guy was laughing at my antics.

Then we found ourselves knocking on the same door.

I said, "Hello, am here for the meeting". He laughed even louder. In fact he was estatic. "Its our first meeting. You are standing here - our very first new member. How wonderful!"

And he didnt stop chuckling. Throughout the meeting. A buddha he is, bubbling, glowing, warm and happy. As everyone else there. Even little sweet Emily.

Well, indeed a great start to my journey for sake of kosenrufu in Europe.

Finally, this Saturday morning, I managed to get up earlier than usual, did the usual grocery shopping at the morning market and then rushed to the kaikan, near Midi Station in Brussels.

And there, it was the right Saturday because coincidentally they were having just the monthly Youth Meeting (every 2nd Sat of the month, 9am-12noon). I met the YWD Chief, Joelle and Vice Chief, Kazuko.

Also, got the contact for the district in Vilvoorde. My 1st discussion meeting will be this Wed. And its just 10 mins walk from my place :) Yay!

Also, also, the Vilvoorde district was just formed 2 weeks ago, consist of only 4 people. I will be the 5th... small he... but something always starts from nothing.

That's what I call the right timing!!!

I am excited! Also very much looking forward as one of my goals is to do kosenrufu in Europe!

Friday night, had a lovely dinner at 'Kuala Lumpur', a Malaysian restaurant in Antwerp with a group of Singaporean girls. We found each other thru the expat site. Sound desperate me? Hehe. But they are cool girls and in fact we had a great conversation going on that night.

Ms Monica - Freelance TV producer
Ms Jenna - Au pair for 4 terrors ;)
Ms Jai - new mommy n aspiring nurse

And grreeat food! So yummy especially the satay with peanut sauce :)

Well, well, this is what I have to do - building a new social circle. I made the decision to come living here, so I will not sulk around at home, complaining of boredom.

Happiness in oneself is everyone's own responsibility.

Ciao, enjoy ya sunny weekend!

I think living in Singapore for the past 10 years had turned me into quite a city girl. Or was I always one? :)

My little garden was in a mess, so I started picking out the weeds. With rubber gloves. *blush*

I can't help. In my imagination, there are bugs, worms, leeches, spiders all ready to jump on me!

But I only got stung by the "stingin nettle". And its a plant. *grin*

Anyway, here are my growing "xmas" trees (not sure what are they really called). I wanna grow some lavenders between them next summer.

Mmm, a new hobby?

4 Sept 2006 - Madonna's Confessions Tour.

I remember listening to her ever since, childhood, teens and till now, she till rocks. And she rocked Amsterdam Arena that Monday!

Woa, the lady was in command of her stage, turned the entire stadium into a discotheque-dance-club. It was a Powerful. Vibrant. Energetic. A gggrrreat show.

And she's still a hot hot hot babe at 48!

Whats in Amsterdam? Canals. Chinatown. Tulips. Prostitution. Drug.
Concert in Amsterdam? Bars. Drinks. Beers. Hotdogs. Ciggs.

No kiddin, one can drink and smoke! And bars are at every corners. Cool eh!

The evening started with DJ Tiesto spinning. People were migling, dancing, anticipating her arrival... And there she was, emerging from within a huge disco ball!

In fact, tickets for the standing area would be fantastic (which is more costly). Just feel like being at a super huge dance floor of a club! I got tickets with fixed seating cause I expected a chaos. 60,000 people maa!!!

But I was nicely suprised - No fuss, no rush, no pushing. Everyone was cool and happy. Dancing, drinking and smoking away. Hehe.

The lady was in good mood. She was smiley, chirpy and relax.

She said, "I've been smelling a lot of funny smoke around here *smiling* It's bad for my throat!"

Everyone screamed. 60,000

She chanted, "We are one, we are one, no more war, we want peace, no more blood, we want love, we want love, we want love, we are love...."

Everyone chanted. 60,000

She said, "Do you know that there are 34 wars going on in a world right now, and if I could stop only 1 I would do anything but I know that's not possible but I want to show them that it is possible to be all together, no matter what country you are from or what religion you are under the one roof like we are now in one big harmony!" And she asked everyone to hug the person next to us.

Everyone hugged. 60,000

She stucked her ass to the camera and then stucked her middle finger in between.

Everyone went wild. 60,000

Unforgettable!

I am bored. Can't find some interesting blogs to read. The ones I like are either updating too infrequent, or having holidays or not writing anymore.

I have been reading her blog, Girl. She writes very well, witty, funny and yet sexy. Recently, she even published her very first book. Then, her identity was spit out by the nosy paparazzi. Well, I guess it was a hardtime she had to go thru so she stopped writing for a while. I hope she'll be back soon!

Any other blogs to recommend to me?

Btw, Kenny's comments about Merdeka Day is hilarious - especially the part about our dear King and the funny pinch about flowers at the end.

Its still cloudy here but I can already see the shy sun peeping thru the big grey puffy clouds. I think he should be brave enough to shine for this weekend. He better be!

Its a long weekend for me - 2 house parties on Saturday. SGI-Belgium Monthly Meeting on Sunday. Hop, wiggle and dance in Madonna's concert on Monday @ Amsterdam. Yay!

Bon weekend!

Well, ma first attempt and it was a success! Of course, its cooking with assistance - a faraway phone call to my ma + Julia :)

Long Bean Rice

Ingredients
4 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
1 large onion (finely chopped)
1 bowl of haebee (dried small shrimps)
1 bag of long beans (cut into pieces of 1 inch)
7 dried mushrooms (finely sliced)
1 piece of chicken breast meat (diced)
10 pieces of medium peeled shrimps (cut into small pieces)
3 cups of uncooked rice
Salt, Sugar, Pepper, Light Soya Sauce, Dark Soya Sauce

Instructions

1. Heat up wok with adequate amount of olive oil (healthier!)
2. Fry garlic, onion till light brown
3. Add the haebee and fry till fragrance
4. Add long beans and dried mushrooms. Add chicken meat and shrimps
5. Add salt, sugar, pepper, soya sauce and taste
6. Add uncooked rice + 1 cup of water
7. Add dark soya sauce to get preferred color :)
8. After this, put everything into rice cooker and add water and cook as per normal

Serving

This portion served 3 of us + 2 lunchbox for lunch at work next day :)

So yummy till I forgot to take a commemorative picture!!!