Monday, January 7, 2013

.::. Nepal 2012 .::.

We went to Nepal in February 2012.  I have been wanting to write about it, for it may be our most memorable trip together.  It was the only trip I kept a diary and wrote daily.  The only trip which was so much pain and a very great challenge.  But before I wrote anything, almost a year has past.

I've no clue what went over me.  I'm not that adventurous, especially physically.  Yet one fine day, while watching Discovery channel, I decided that I wanted to climb Mount Everest.  Obviously there's no way I could really do that, but I set my sights on trekking around that region.  It seemed doable, but I really never expected it to be this bad.

The lack of oxygen at high altitude brought us down.  Either that or the food.  I started vomiting and having diarrhea during the 2nd day of the trek.  It got so bad that water was coming out from my butt and it's no joke getting out of the warm bed again and again into the freezing wooden cubicle with a squatting toilet. After I got better, the husband came down worse.  He even puke into his food while eating and made a mess of the whole toilet.  I still remember the smell of our puke.

Anyway, we didn't make it to Gokyo Lake and only reached Namche.  The climb to Namche was the hardest, yet so satisfying.

It was a trip which changed something in me (more than other trips).  We trekked for 5-6 hours a day and rested in the afternoon.  I read when I was well, slept when I wasn't.  It was grueling getting up every morning, knowing that it'll be another uphill climb literally.

I still remember, the day we made it to Namche.  We were half dead, barely had any strength left and haven't had a bath for days.

The lodge we stayed at Namche had quotes, which really made an impact.  Dalai Lama makes so much sense.

NEVER GIVE UP
No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country
Is spent developing the mind
Instead of the heart
Be compassionate
Not just to your friends
But to everyone
Be compassionate
Work for peace
In your heart and in the world
Work for peace
And I say again
Never give up
No matter what is going on around you
Never give up.



THE PARADOX OF OUR AGE


We have bigger houses but smaller families;
more conveniences, but less time;
We have more degrees, but less sense;
more knowledge, but less judgement;
more experts, but more problems;
more medicines, but less healthiness;
We've been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet
the new neighbor.
We build more computers to hold more
information to produce more copies then ever,
but have less communication;
We have become long on quantity,
but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods
but slow digestion;
Tall men but short character;
Steep profits but shallow relationships.
It's a time when there is much in the window,
but nothing in the room.
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It was really an experience, but both of us have agreed that we're not going to do something like that again!  It was our first trip as a couple, and the worst state the husband has even been in his lifetime. These are memories we share, that nobody can take away and only we would remember these moments in the years to come.  That's why I hate tours - you never ever have nearly as much fun.

Totally looking forward to our next trip together!  

Thursday, January 3, 2013

.::. Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013 .::.


Looking back at 2012 resolutions…

Remove clutter – Partially done.  But there’s so much more de-cluttering to do.  It takes time.  A lot of time.  And energy.

Stay healthy and fit – The first half of the year was good, but I practically stopped exercising since switching to the new job, renovation and moving into our new place.  I was rushing to the new place right after work, overseeing renovation works, doing household chores and all.  I suppose that is some sort of exercise too?  Diet wise, it has become a habit to have fruits daily and avoid oily/fried unhealthy food.

Good skin – Haven’t been too diligent, though maintaining the basic. 

Clear 3 papers -  I only cleared one.  Renovation for our home has took up most of the time this year.

Worry less, enjoy more – I suppose it’s something I’ve made progress with.  I’m less worrisome, more laidback.  So much so that, it’s barely 3 weeks before the wedding and we’re barely prepared.  The supposedly most important event in my life.  Come what may.  We do whatever we can and whatever happens, happens.  No point worrying about not having a complete guest list or seating plan when it’s not exactly within my control.  And if the wedding turns out to be a disaster, well, at that will give us something to laugh about in the years to come.  No point start worrying about things I can’t control now right?

Be happy – I can’t be happier, although shit do happen.  But being happy is a conscious choice that requires constant effort.  So yes, I’m surrounding myself with things and people who makes me happy, doing things which make me happy.  Having a cozy place to call home helps. The other part of being happy is staying away from things and people who makes me unhappy, keeping them at arms’ length.

Be a better person – Always trying, but it’s not possible to please everyone and I’m not going to try.  Sometimes, things get worse when you try to please others against your own gut instincts.  

2012 went by in a flash.  It probably holds the record for the year which flew by the quickest in my life.  The year started with choosing our flats in January, going to Nepal in March, collecting keys in April, starting renovation in June, finally ending renovation in September, moving in October, getting settled in before celebrating our 8th anniversary in December.  There goes 2012.  It’s been an eventful year, so much to be thankful for, so much to learn from.

It’s been a happy year in all, despite some less-than-pleasant experiences.  There’s so many firsts in this year as we step into another stage of our lives.

2012 summarized:
Amazing
Eventful
Intense
Pivotal

2013 resolutions

Stay healthy and fit – Without health, nothing matters.  I must be more disciplined to keep up with my weekly regime and start strength/stamina training again.  I miss feeling really agile and enjoying my kickboxing sessions. The last time I went, I was panting like a dog and had bad aches after that. I really don’t care much about how people tell me that I should be slimmer or lose some weight (apart from being annoyed and classifying them as rude and inconsiderate), but I find myself falling sick more often when I do not exercise regularly.  So, back to the gym I go.

Be happy – To cherish every moment and enjoy all that I have now, and stay away from unhappy things/people, not let unimportant people make any impact on me.  Nobody can make you unhappy unless you let them.

Follow my heart – Life is too short, and shit always happens when I do not follow my heart. Many important decisions to make.

Keep our home a happy and cozy place – It takes effort to keep our home clean and neat, and filled with beautiful things.  Part of me am worried that it’ll be as cluttered as my parents’ home, which is honestly a nightmare to me.  I hope the genes isn’t that strong and I do not stop keeping the home neat and clean.  The husband helps with the chores, but only when he’s ‘free’ and feels like it.  I complain about it, but whoever who couldn’t take the pile of dirty laundry or sticky floor first will just have to do it.

Finish ACCA – 4 more papers.  A tall order.  Time to sacrifice free time and hide at home to study during weekends.

Here's to a better year ahead.  More happiness, more memories, more goals accomplished, more to be thankful for.

Bring it on 2013.  =)

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

.::. Christmas 2012 .::.


Christmas is always a time filled with joy, a time to reflect on the year just before it ends, a time to be thankful for the good and to let go of the bad before starting a new year afresh.

This Christmas has been a hectic one, I didn’t even get to do my Christmas shopping at Orchard Road!  We only dropped by Tangs to grab a present before leaving Orchard Road for home as it’s too crowded on the last weekend before Christmas.  Most of the presents were bought online or at heartland malls.  I love Christmas shopping (not just before Christmas though).  I love it that the malls are all nicely decorated and playing Christmas songs.  Most of all, I love taking my time to choose gifts, trying to find the right one for everyone.  It’s the whole process of buying your loved one a gift that he/she likes that is meaningful.

I’ve hosted 3 Christmas/housewarming parties in our new home, and it has been really tiring to cook for 20 people in a row.  There’s so much food, so much preparation, so much cleaning!  We had parties on Friday dinner for his boss and colleagues, Saturday lunch with the neighbors, Saturday wedding dinner, Sunday lunch for his nephew’s birthday, Monday dinner for my friends, Tuesday lunch for his family and dinner at the lovely home of our contractor Mr K’s customers (and Mr K with family) whom we’ve got to know as friends. 

My favorite Christmas present this year is my new DSLR from the husband – great for capturing more beautiful memories together.  It's the 3rd camera he has got for me.  My new 60D makes my 4-year-old 450D look like a toy.  I love how much sharper the images are and the swivel screen!  His sister also got us a Nespresso machine.  Although I’ve been eyeing the Illy’s machine for the longest time but haven’t got the budget to get it, I’m still happy for a Nespresso.  I love Italian coffee, but Nespresso will do for now.  And we now have 4 vacuums at home and lots of NTUC vouchers.

Haven’t took as many pictures as I would have liked this Christmas.  Haven’t had enough time for Christmas shopping and getting down to writing cards to people I care about.  Simply haven’t been doing enough for everyone (including myself) these days.

I'm most thankful for building a cosy home from scratch with the husband and having so many great people around us this year.  Life has been kind.

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Friends.  For the past 10 years. =O

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Luke, the really cute 17-month-old.

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.::. The Hobbit .::.

It's been quite some time since I watched a movie which keeps me fully captivated.



I love this song, especially when sung in the song.  I loved and the scenery and storyline too.

I must be one of the few who have never watched Lord of the Rings (where the hell have I been?).  The husband said that it's the only movie that he may buy to collect.  I guess it's time to read/watch all of them.

New Zealand has went up on my to-visit list.  =)