Yogi who loves to Eat

Travel Wish List

Might as well I come up with my travel wish list and work towards it. Here you go;

India
As a yogi, it is a must-go for me since I started my yoga journey back in 2010. Going to deepen my yoga & meditation practice, culture and scenary.
Rishikesh, Mysore, Ladakh and Goa

Sri Lanka
Heard and seen so much beautiful stuff about Sri Lanka; brilliant teas, apparently diving here is good, and of course clothes - the best clothes in the world are from here.

Italy
This has been no 1 in my list since I started work - the food, wine, carbs, florencely scenery and the whole European thing. I am not a big history smart - so I am gonna stick with food for my stomach and my eyes. I want to travel around Italy and taste all the good food from the local trattoria and of course the wine.
Rome, Florence, Cingue Terre, Napoli, Amalfi

France
Pâtissière, only one thing that attracts me to France. I love french pastries and cakes and sweets. I get the exposure mostly from my dear friend Kris. I even had a dream to study pattissiere in Le Cordon Blue in Paris. I want to travel the wine route and capture all the beautiful France.
Paris, Bordeaux, Dijon, Marseille

Norway
I want to be wowed by the natural landscape, the northen light, and the countryside.
Oslo

Morroco
culture and culture and morrocon mint tea of course

Japan
I want to live here if possible. The food, the culture, the language, the countryside, the hotspring, and lots of love.
Kyushu, Osaka, Hokkaido

Greece
A school time dream place that I want to visit - the blue and white architecture with blue sea and sunset. Romantic eh
Santorini, Zakynthos

Indonesia
my country and it is always be in me. I want to experience all the beautiful places in Indonesia and I can share with people around the world on its beauty. Of course the dive destination. I dream to retire in Bali, I do.
Yogjakarta, Bangka Belitung, Ambon

away to pursue my passion

It took me lots lots lots of courage to finally tell myself to quit the job that I was so comfortable with. There have been so much uncertainties I am dealing with at that moment: not able to be financially responsible for my parents, what if the life I really wanted is just that boring after all and what will happen after I quit my job?

I asked myself the other day, have I really done something for myself? I went to university in order to make my parents proud, I have been financially responsible for my parents since I started working and I am glad I did it. I do wonder sometimes, why can't I just like other kids of my age (the luckier ones)? I know it is just a really silly thought as I could not asked for more: I am blessed with family and friends that care about me.
Starting of year 2010 (still on going) is probably my lowest period of my life. I am exhausted both mentally and physically and knowing that I am going to hit 30 very soon and I sit down and really ask myself this question: "girl, you have done what you want to do for others, have you really done something for yourself?"

I took the courage to pursue my passion in yoga, finally. I will be going to stay in Bali for a month to deepen my yoga practice and hopefully at the end of it I am able to share the beauty of yoga to my friends and family. I am surprised and touched on how my friends and family are very supportive towards my intention to pursue this passion. At the moment, I am having a lot of mixed feeling: nervous, anxious, excitement and doubt. I know for sure that by going away for a month just be with myself, it will open up a lot of life questions and it could end up confusing myself more. On the other hand, it could be a happy ending if I am able clear up my clustered mind. We'll see how it goes.

My friends have been asking me these questions: why are you not working at the moment? you want to teach yoga? how are you going to survive without a job? will you be OK alone in Bali? don't you enjoy your previous job, you can get back to same industry and do yoga part time?
I really do not have answer to those questions, I know they are concern about my well-being and I am  as I am just doing what my heart is telling me to do at this moment of time. One of my friend told me: there is no good or bad decision in life, there is only decision that you think at that point of time is the right one for you.

be well my friends

xox,
kualibiru

 

Gone to be nurse, be back in 3 weeks!

I am leaving to China again this coming Monday to provide whatever support I can provide to both my mum and dad. I hope things will go well with my dad's treatment. I have good feeling that my dad is better now and he can enjoy his retirement age relaxing with the family and grandchildren.
I always pray for miracle to happen. I do.

A lot of things happened to me lately - I will not make them be the showstopper of what I needed to do for my family and myself.

Passion

Is it the right time for me to pursue my passion?

questions asked recently

Are you happier in the sea?
Are you happy talking cock among people?
Are you happy just staring at the sea...by yourself? and the sea gives you a certain calmness and reassurance?

What if my answer to all questions above is a "Yes"?

Test post from email

I will be going to China soon - I couldn't access Vox there but I hope to
keep updating it whilst I am there. I wonder if doing email posting is
doable? I am thinking to create new blog with livejournal but we'll see

30th day without coffee

I have just achieved 30 days without coffee. When people asked me why do I want to give up coffee, honestly I do not know the answer.
I am not a coffee person and I have never grown up drinking coffee. I think it all started of from my uni days where all my friends are going gaga about Starbucks.
Over the past few years, drinking coffee has becoming one of my social activities. I always go for latte for my coffee fix.
I started to build the relationship with coffee, good coffee like grinders, Illy, Lavazza etc. etc. I frequent Spinelli and Pacific for coffee and often it's an excuse to have a slice of yummy sinful cheesecake and I feel their ambience is very relaxing as compare to Starbucks and Coffee Beans.
I started drinking black coffee in Japan last year and I am now a black coffee person. Yeah, my friends said it's disgusting but I found it amazing that how I can switch from milky and sweet coffee to sweet-less and milk-less coffee. My theory is, you just need to get used to it..it's that simple. Having black coffee means I feel less guilty when I have it with a slice of cake
I am not sure if it's psychological, but I do feel that I get really sleepy after lunch during working days.
When will I start drinking coffee again? I don't know, when I feel like it.
It's weird but I feel it's good to challenge yourself doing something that other people found it's not significant at all

xoxo,
kualibiru

tons of things to do

I will be super duper busy soon due the the recent decision I have made... I am overwhelmed and don't know where to start... 

another challenge

I brave myself to accept my friend's invitation to try out rock climbing on Thursday. I have been wanting to try rock climbing for ages but somehow it did not happen - probably there is not enough motivation and I don't know where to start. So, 10am sharp I was wondering around the entrance of the venue looking for direction to the walls.
I paid registration fee and they gave me the temporary card, harness and shoes. My friend which is an experienced climbers do not want to waste time further, she put the harness on me and teach me how to tighten the harness and explain the simple rule "just climb" and I was like "eh?" I did what she told me though, so the basic tools for rock climbing are: harness, shoes, chalk and the belay devices. I learned the 8 knots and how to do belaying - it's a crash course. I wouldn't take it as a proper lesson - it's my first time and I would definitely want learn the proper way

So, I did my 1st climb, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th... on the 5th climb I couldn't make it to the top as I have no more strength on my hands to hold on the the boulders. I took a long rest while observing how the others do. I then attempt the 6th climb and with quite an effort I manage to reach the top and I know that will be my last climb for the day. One of my friend that came along kindly show me how to do belaying and I did 2 belaying, I need to learn a proper way to do belaying as it involves other people's safety.

I think I had good day with my first try on climbing especially the feeling when you climb with the right momentum - it just feel great to be able to move along with the boulders to reach the top - I love the coming down part :) you just sit down relax and hands off and slowly walk down the wall until you touch the ground
Lesson learned from today:
1. do not rely too much on your hands - use more legs power... legs power...
2. look at where are your steps
3. keep a momentum to move along to the top - it's easier
4. take rest when you need it and relax

Thanks for the fun group who let me had a try on rock climbing and also took care of me very well :) I am looking forward for the next one

xoxo

thursday morning

As I was walking our the door and walk towards the lift I was greeted by my next door neighbor granny. She wears this Grey color with flower pattern, a typical Chinese pajamas. She asked if I am going to work and I just smile back. I walk down the stair and go into the ancient lift - as I waited for the lift bring my down to 1st floor - I thought of what motivates me to go to work. I serious has no idea. The lift door open and I am then welcomed by the loud noise from the construction work for new lift. I walk pass a lottery shop and a pawn shop and saw couple of elderly hangs out and probably waiting for those two shops to open, what a dilemma. I am wondering how much have their spent in their entire life gambling. I waited at the traffic light to cross the road and I saw the uncle from my favorite noodle shop. He he wears black short and sport jersey and it reminds me that he once had a heated argument with the lady who help in his store. He does look like a bad-tempered man and probably has been living all his life selling noodle. I continue to walk with my shoes that is too big for me but I have not find a good pair of shoes that I would love to wear everyday. I walk passed a bus stop where the aren't as many people if I have walk pass there 1 hour earlier.

I continue to walk across another traffic light and walk into a shopping center which is also a bus interchange and connects to the train station. I walk passed about 30 people and I take the long escalator down and keep on walking and take another long escalator up and and I look at the train schedule. It says I have 1 min until my train arrives so naturally I walk faster and eventually try to run up the escalator and only to find that I have missed the train. I say to myself, If my shoes is more fitting and if I run faster, I would have sit in that train. I sit down at the bench listening to my iPod randomly and cool down my body which is already partially cover with sweat. I saw the train approaching, I stand up and waited at the door and once the train door open I walk in as there is nobody coming out of the train.

I sit myself in the center seat of the right side of the train. Sitting in front of me is a guy who works for TS video shop - I know that from the shirt he is wearing. Next to me, two students playing with their iPhone, it's the latest trend in town. On the left side I saw a well dressed man standing near the gate looking pretty miserable. I am thinking to myself, he probably thinking how to meet his sales target this month. Sitting on the left side from me is a guy wearing a light green color long sleeved shirt and carrying a document bag. He has a "mandarin pocket guide" book with him, I wonder which country is he from. I am pretty sure on the train car I was at, 80% are not singapore citizen. Still listening to my ipod and paying attention also on the train announcement, finally at the 6th stop I align at the train station. I walk down the escalator just outside the train door as I am running late to work and I notice some other people are in rush too. I saw students holding notebook on their hand and wearing pretty casual entering the train station - they are probably going to school.

I tap my card on the exit gate and I walk a little bit faster and I walk passed a man in his 60s sitting on the ground looking quite sad and I sigh. In front of me a small tanned skin old man with very little hair wearing a hawaiian bermuda pushing a trolley filled with used newspaper. I guess he is what the local called "karang guni" man. It is common to see "karang guni" men go around to collect unwanted stuff like clothes and newspaper and later sell them for very little money. I walk passed the karang guni man and cross the traffic light illegally as there is no traffic going on in sighting.

I am still listening to my iPod and the song "Way back in to love" is now playing, I look back and I look to the front, nobody nearby me, so I turn up the volume and sign along loudly while walking along the trees towards my work place, which is still another 500m away. I feel suddenly that my body produces the happy hormones and I feel happier. I stand on the main road, I look to the left and I look the right and do the final illegal crossing before I get to the other side of the road. I saw the temple that has always been there since I step my foot in this area for the first time more than 3 years ago. I have finally arrived at the main gate and I still need to walk further towards the right block of the industrial building. I walk up the short flight of stairs and went into the lift that will take me to the 2nd floor and I walk towards the office door and there is two lady from the next door neighbour and I am guessing they are from China and in their early 20s having their morning tea.

Forty-five minutes since I step out of my apartment door, finally I get to the front of my office door. I key in the 4 digits pin carefully and waited for the green light so I can push the glass door open. I walk towards my cubicle and sit myself on the not so comfortable chair and breathing the poorly ventilated air. I take out my laptop from the drawer, take a sip of leftover water of my blue Camelbak bottle which I bought in Japan. I plug the power, lan cable and mouse cable and finally press the power button of my T61.