my quaint world

I am back!

See this picture? This is the view out from Marseille train station. And this is the view which caught me mesmerised and made me missed my train home!!! Unbelievable! I myself couldn't believe that had happened. I had to buy another VERY expensive ticket to go home. Sob sob sob.

I was so stupid. It was a hard lesson learnt!


Let's forget about that pinch!

It was a very awakening great 5 days at the buddha-land, Trets. Ha, I call it the buddha-land as during my time there, all on my mind was only to seek to fill the thirst of faith and knowledge. No phone calls, no emails, no talking about work, no worrying about problems. Only lotsa chanting. Studying. And all smiles.

It was a very rejuvenating trip. Brings me back to all the basics of faith. Sometimes, filling up my mind with too much knowledge gained from reading has sort of put me in the "i-know-how-it-all-works" mode which is not so good, because I tend to use a lot of mind reasonings than to let the heart rule. So this is a good "cleansing" trip!

Use the strategy of the lotus sutra!

Wisdom wells from within, as the heart rules, thus faith is pure.

nam is faith/ devotion/ believe.
myho renge kyo is the manifestation of buddhahood/ brings the effects into our lives (buddha wisdom wells from within).

The trip was essential to prepare me for the news that awaits to befall on my ears when I am back. Its a very very worrisome news. I will share it later. Surely, we will fight for victory!

I was in the photography group. This is my best shot. I love the air of joy and warmth expressed.


The group picture - all from SGI-Belgium!


More later. Good night.

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!!!

Did I tell you yet about my new best friend? Nope, no diamond in sight. It a Mio 510E.

Its a good bargain for all the benefits that comes with it - low price, compact design, easy to operate, accurate, speed camera warning, speed warning and most important of all, it brings me to wherever I want to go!

Though I must say a very smart device needs a smart user also. There was many moments of my fumbling around this device (too lazy to read the manual) that lead me elsewhere, but thank goodness, with a good instinct of mine with Mio's fast recalculate capability, I managed to get back on track!

Yesterday was day in Brussels for myself. With the guidance of Mio, I managed to go to Aspria for the much needed Dermalogica facial. Then I discovered the parts of Brussels that I am ever confused with - Avenue Louise, Avenue de la Toison d'Or and the Madou area.

I ate lunch, did a bit of shopping and found the highly recommended Japanese noddle bar (and its opening hours) ... Alas, it was closed when I was there.

Twas suppose to be a kayaking day but due to unpredictable belgian weather, it was called off. But we only discovered that it was cancelled AFTER we met up at Rond Point Schuman.

(I successfully maneuvered myself there with my ever realiable Mio. 30 mins from home, missing a few turns here and there. Another new spot in Brussels learnt!)

And we decided instead to try to go kayaking ourselves. Someone heard about Kayak Blues in Dinant. So, off we went to Dinant - a very picturesque town!

(An hour from Brussels. And I was the driver. Bravo!)


Dinant is a Belgian municipality located on the River Meuse in the province of Namur. Its historical with origins dated back to about the 10th century. It survived battles during the late middle ages, detructions from the old regimes (French, Austrians) and then World War I with invasion of German troops.

Dinant is also the hometown of Mr. Sax. Yes, the inventor of saxaphone.

Upon arrival, we first sat ourselves in a quaint little patisserie. With each a hot cup of cafe in hand, we got acquainted with each other. The conversations kept on flowing. From the stories of how we each landed in Belgium, to interesting tales of living in belgium experiences, relationships, childhoods, family history, cultures etc etc...

Then we moved on to a restaurant for lunch. Yes, moving from one table to another. We continued to chat hobbies. books. religions. politics. tony blair. while we fed ourselves. I had Tagliatelle Cabonara (with a raw egg!) Yum!

Finally, we are ready to discover Dinant (like a real tourist!)


La Merveilleuse - is considered to be one of the most beautiful grottoes in Belgium. One can find many white, fine stalactites, stalagmites and magnificent 'waterfalls' - as captured in picture below. (6 euro to enter + guided tour)


Thereafter, we decided to brave the 420 steps which leads up to the Citadel, perched 100m above the city. The Citadel was first built in the 11th century to control the Meuse valley, destroyed by the French in 1703 and rebuild in 1821 by the Dutch. It played an important role in fighting the invading Germans troops in 1914.

The view from up there was breathtaking. As you can see, the town depicts a rather medieval setting.


The city's landmark is the Collegiate (Church) of Notre-Dame, rebuilt in Gothic style on its old foundations after apparently falling rocks from an adjacent cliff partially destroyed the former Romanesque church in 1227.


Mmm, that explains why I felt the onion dome didnt really fit the more elaborated base.


And while we were there, we kidded around the children playground, swinging ourselves silly.


Apparently also, (after more reading up since I was back), the Leffe beer, one of Belgium's most popular special beers has been brewed by monds since 1240 in Dinant. The abbey of Leffe is the building across the river, on the right edge. You've gotta try Leffe Blonde!


Oh yea, I did say we will TRY to go kayaking but naturally, no one pushed too hard for it. Also, we took the cable car instead of tumbling down the 420 steps :)

It was a lazy Sunday. And a lovely one.

Speaking about Trets, it the annual buddhist camp organised by SGI Belgium. It will be held from June 30 - July 4 @ European Cultural Centre which is in Trets, near Marseille (I've booked my Thalys tickets!!!)

I've just looked at the collection of pictures from the 2007 Trets Course of Holland and I love this particular picture. It gives me a sense of serenity.


I wanna take many pictures of this sort but I do not have a telescopic lens so I guess I have to creep up close to take these kind of picture. I hope I will not scare anyone off hehehe.

The other thing is, I have to accelerate my learning of French or Flemish as that will be the official language used during the camp. I just realised French will be much easier to pick for the much similarity of vocabularies to English. I will listen to Michel Thomas diligently, daily.

I really look forward to Trets!

I bought a Canon 350D 1.5 years ago. Been shooting with it leisurely and occasionally ><

Here's one of my leisure composition - 'Man in the Sun' :)

I had a dream. I wanted to be a photographer that could take pictures which could touch ones' heart. Pictures that tell stories. Pictures that hold still time.

Anyway, I had been lazy. As usual.

NOW I have a great opportunity now. In the upcoming SGIB Tret's course, I have been assigned to be a part of the photography team. We will be capturing the moments during the buddhist course to preserve the memories and also, we will be making a souvinir to be presented to Sensei.

So, finally, I moved my butt and completed my first online course. Its a short and easy intro to DSLR from Canon. Check it out if you are also interested!

I figured out. I shall not make it too complicating.

So, this is it. Simple and nice. Small bits of colourful here and there to spice things up.

Though I am just missing photoshop program in my pc to edit the lovely pictures to show to you people ;)

Sometimes, its just too difficult to share it all here. On one hand, I know many of my dear friends out there are reading me. On the other, I always pride myself (try my best to...) to be a honest and honest kind of person. Just to say my thoughts without first filtering and rearranging the thoughts strategically for sake of everything else.

I try. I try. I try.

Open communication is the very start of forging a strong base for common understanding among us people. Thus, this can bring us peace and happiness in our lives. In our world.

Though sometimes, I think my T4s and TSHs (thyroid hormones) is acting too much on me and turning my world round and round till I am feeling a little schizophrenic. I do take my pills at bedtime, like a good ol girl.

Just need to find that drive.

What do you do when you have a circuit board, which you fixed up on your own from the first resistors till that complicated damn thing which is not working?

What do I do?

1. Do I chug it away and buy a new DIY pack?
2. Do I try to trace the entire circuitry from very beginning to detect resistor or capacitor or transistor which is inverted?
3. Do I tear it apart and start putting it together from scratch?
4. Do I just leave it like that on the shelf, hoping one day magic will happen?

Though there is no more anxiety, fear or any kind of those. Just wanna fix that damn thing.

Feel like adding colours to my life!

I am half way done but I gotta run now so I hope it won't be too strong for your eyes! :)

Got these at 3 pots for 2 bucks. Lovely ain't they!

My mind has been constantly about Japanese cuisine lately! I couldn't get my hands on good sushi (at reasonable price) so today I decided to take it in my own hands.

Yep, I made California Sushi and Tofu Mushroom Miso Soup.

But I couldn't find my sushi mat so I had to improvise and rolled it on silver paper. They were all out of shape!


Miso Soup (portion for 1)

- 3 cups of water
- 1/2 pack of Shimaya Bonito Dashi
- a handful of wakame
- 30 1cm cubes tofu
- many many mushrooms
- 2 tablespoon Shiro Miso paste

I guess I can be quite domineering at times. In the sense of trying to impose my ideas. Which generally is, that everyone think their ideas are the best.

Nevertheless, I try to constantly remind myself that, I am not the 'rightest'. Nor the most correct. For I do not stand in the show of others to perceive things the way it is really perceived.

But us, as human beings, we can't see ourselves, can we? What we only have is the illussion of our physical self thru the reflection in the mirror. Then we can only see that we have a smudge on our face, if there is.

Domineering I may seems to be, but please trust that I only have the best intentions for you. For others. For all. To tell the truth seen with my eyes and heart.

It may not be all correct. But take a minute to breathe it in, ponder and let it go if I was wrong.

As simple as that. But it is also the most difficult to do.

Do the same to me, as I would do to you. With love, of course.

This sight was rather ridiculous but I found it amusing as well. Only in Brussels, right at the doorstep of my office ;)