my quaint world

Hey people, sorry for being so quiet lately. I have been overwhelmed by work. I've been to Milan this week and also have been in the office till 8pm each night. I know, its crazy. I've promised myself not to torture me like this but hell, the drive is there now and I can't stop myself.

I can't complain that its over torturous either, cause deeply I do enjoy my work a lot now. I work best under high pressure.

That a pressure cooker.

Don't worry, it will not explode as tomorrow I am off to Trets - the journey of finding me!

Eat Pray Love has been a great book to read just before Trets. Its not related to buddhist greatly but the gist of the book gives me lotsa self reflection and it preps me to high spirit, all ready soar at Trets.

There's many many phrases and thoughts that struck and relate me deeply. (Don't have time to share them now).

There's also many many funnies that made me chuckled out load to myself during my flight to Milan. Heck care if they think I am a bit crazy ;)

Well, the journey of finding oneself is extremely important and that thought strikes me hard. Finding the peace within oneself. Detachment of our happiness to an external factor. Controlling of thoughts, driving away the negative ones.

When one reaches this state, I believe in everything we do, will be at the max potential. Or should I say, one can bloom to his/ her max potential.

Therefore, I keep telling myself I don't have to tire myself working 12 hours a day (this week is exceptional because I enjoy it), stressing about problems at work, family, home etc. When one find that innate power, what is impossible?

Just need time and wisdom to do it.

I think human stresses too much also because we are too impatient to complete things. If nothing is impossible, why stress - just relax and complete things one by one...

Till I am back renew, take care and kisses...

Of late, I've been catching up with my readings. Here's couple which I'm done and found them rather interesting.

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
by Alexandra Fuller


A good write (of course, also a good read) about her African childhood, growing up as Bobo, the daughter of white tobacco farmer. It tells the tale about the family, the hardships, the quirkiness of her mom and on the other hand, the survivals, the strengths, all intensely moving in combination with a tang of humor behind the words.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka


Another good read, deceived by the heavy set title. In fact, funnily, if you have read the book, the title will give you the giggles along the way. It in facts shows the eccentricity of this book. Light-hearted, humourous but with tonnes of heavy unwritten meanings, where I grasped the meaning of 'how he acts is partially how he is made of'. Except the very eccentric Pappa, an Ukrainian imigrant who still hold a dream to save the souls of Ukraina. He, who is 84, announces to his daughters that he is in love and will marry a Ukraina, 36 with a marvelous pair of bosoms. There the story begins, and there the untold stories unfolded.

2 more that I read (or reading) - Perfume by Patrick Suskind (Inspired to read as the movie left me jaw-hunged! So watch the movie, if you may) and Antonia Fraser's Biography of Marie Antoinette (Still on it, trying as its a bloody thick book!).

Enjoy!

Life's little pleasure are moments like this.

A quiet Sunday noon with the backdrop of endless pelting tiny raindrops. I put on the burner, dripped in the rose essence. The one which I bought since my teen years, the one that my bedroom during my growing years smell off.

I snuggled in comfortably on my white sofa, cupped with a refreshing drink (pineapple juice + lychee... which I managed to tear apart the can very carefully with a swiss knife. I need to buy a can opener!) and on the other hand a very good book - Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Its a great read! I am just at chapter 27 (there's 108 very short chapters, structured the same way as a 'buddhist beads' which is always strung with 108 beads) and I've not been able to put the book down since I started.

Its about the journey of a woman in search for the meaning of her life. Right after a very tremulous time, a divorce, a break up and bouts of depressions, she had series of encounters which prompted her to plan the journey as she had made it.

I particularly liked (up to where I am reading now) the part where she exclaimed the coincidence of the 'I's. She was ready to go on a voyage of self-discovery, therefore, Liz was on her way explore the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of devotion in India and in Indonesia, the art of balancing the two. All 3 countries begins with an I which carved the journey for Liz to find herself! Voila!

Touchingly, I could relate myself very much to the thoughts and feelings captured in this book.

Alright, I shall not tell too much. My dear readers, especially all bellas, do try to get your hands on this read.

Never been able to quite understand the concept of podcast. I guess I am just laggin behind time - still stuck at struggling to load music into my ipod. Don't even know how paypal works.

Well, all these consumation into the business world gave me no time and should turned me into an almost mechanical immaculate suit and heels chic but still far from that either... sigh.

I wish I have hidden artistic talents. Unfounded and waiting to discover.

But for time being, I'll let my lil sis steal the show. She is discovering her sides and is shinning them proudly into the world.

Look here - her own radio show!

Can't read the site as its in hebrew. Its the site of a radio station from Tel Aviv. But the picture tells enough. Can you recognise her in that slightly blurry picture?

Listen, listen, listen people! To HarpyListens.

A very meaningful day for two souls deeply in love.

It was simple and yet very lovely celebration with the closest ones.




(I was the self-assigned photographer of the day!)

June 4-7, 2007

Moscow! This vibrant and ever pulsating place gave me several insights during my visit there.

1. The most expensive city in the world. Yes, indeed and it did suprised me, this fact. I've always thought its London or New York or Tokyo. So wrong I am. (Also, highest rate of millionaires becoming)

2. Everything there is HUGE. Everything is built to depict grandiosity. Reminds me a lot about Beijing. Not in any terms where the architecture is similar but in the philopsophy behind the potrayal of power and greatness. Communism.

3. No smiles. People are closed up and potrays a fear to speak. Most people just have a blank facial expression. Only towards the evening, when all with a bottle in hand, they are laughing out aloud on the streets.

A very huge and elaborated pedestrian bridge, just in front of my hotel, Radisson SAS at Europe Square (Metro Station : Kievskaya)


Long deep elevators into the ground - Welcome to the Moscow Metro!



Very beautiful Metro Station walk-way.


A world's most busiest metro system, carrying 7mio passengers daily.

The classic looking metro.


In the metro. This picture gives me a very nostalgic feel.


My dreamy colleague in the metro.


A very popular tea-house in the city centre.


At the beginning of Arbat street. Another enormous building.


Vibrant and lively Arbat Street filled with street vendors, performance, singers, shops, cafes, restaurants and tourists.


Outside the Red Square.

At the northern of the Red Square, where I entered, stood the magnificent building of the State Historical Musuem.


A front view.


"Iberian Gate" - The Ressurection Gate and Chapel.


At the northeast corner of the Red Square stood the Kazan Cathedral.


I couldn't resist to take shot as I turned back for a moment. What a dramatic natural backdrop.


Breathtaking and cheery Saint Basil's Cathedral.


Moscow is also the most populous city in Europe with an official population of about 15 mio (and unofficially at about 20mio).

A short but very interesting trip!

Summer is almost here!

At the first sight of the sun, the singing of birds begun, greenery everywhere, people alive again, vibrant after months of hibernation.

People everywhere. People busily shopping in the city centre. People sitting at the terraces, a beer in hand and faces looking straight at the beam of the sun. Very often, you can see the endless streams of smoke from the bbq pits chimneying out from the gardens and the tantalizing smell, of course.

People flocking around the lakes. People cycling. People walking in their colours.

This also means the start of endless invitation to bbqs, outdoor cafes, cycling, running, sunning, beach, parties and festival.

Ah, life begins!

First bbq of summer 07 :)


Nicely set table - flowers, candles, nuts, chips, dips, crackers and champagne to begin the evening.


After hours of talking and sipping, finally the food is cooking :)

Well done marinated meat from the butchery, bbq-ed by the host while we still continue talking and sipping our endless wines. Once everything is ready, we all sat down and dinner commences.

Followed by desert. Then coffee or tea. Lastly, a shot or two of after-dinner Finnish liquer.

Food was damn yummy though! (Especially the mediterranean salad!)

I do miss the asian style of bbq - the hustle bustle, chicken wings, fishball, otak, hotdogs (plus taiwan version, mee hoon with curry chicken, hidden beneath the grill - corns and sweet potatoes... Mmm, perhaps this summer, I shall throw an Asian bbq.

Could someone write me the secret recipe to marinate the chicken wings please?

Woa guys, check this out - Noble House reviewed by our very own food blogger from Klang, Jackson.

My tummy didnt stop growling since I saw those pictures :)

I wanna go there next time I am home!!!