Goodbye 2014

Once again it is that time of year where I spend some time reflecting and thinking of 2014 and what it has been for me. One thing I must stress is how quickly 365 days fly by after school days are over.

So how has 2014 been for me? Tumultuous is a word that comes to mind.

2014 started very well, peaked in the middle of the year, came crashing down in Q3 and is ending on a quiet note.

FRIENDS/RELATIONSHIP
I feel so blessed to re-connect with primary school friends who managed to find people via FB and other social media or friends. So we had a few gatherings with my primary school classmates (same class from P1 to P5) and even with our Primary 2 form teacher. How cool is that? We have our whatsapp group chat with our favorite teacher and a couple of other group chat without the teacher in it. That was in the beginning of 2014. Then just in end November or early December, there exists another bigger primary school group chat for the entire P6 level where we may not or never have been in the same class at all. And the organizer of that group chat is planning a reunion in a few days time in 2015. That will be so epic, seeing each other after leaving P6.

I watched the Times Square ball drop online and remembered my time in NYC the previous year. Watching it together in different countries with him. Yes, we started talking again and so it went, leading to the proposal in June and then my calling off the wedding (rather to postpone it as I felt it was too fast, too soon) and to an acrimonious end. BUT...just a couple of days ago, he messaged me after the Air Asia plane went missing. He was concerned. I replied. And that was it. I am not sure how it will be, if it will really be the end, or if we will start talking again. I am trying to move on, and I had went on a few dates (nothing to that) but I must confess it has been hard. Sometimes I do wonder if I made a mistake, but maybe it is better to trust my guts and start on a right footing than to rush into it and be filled with regrets.

I feel a bit wiser or at least I can understand why people do have less true friends as they get older. I am thankful to be still good pals with my BFF and other good friends even though we don't live in the same countries. Thank God for Skype, Facetime and all these free social media tools. I also "lost" other friends as we just drifted apart as we have grown in different directions. It is sad but it is also life. I do find it a chore to maintain friendships just for the sake of it, especially if we have barely exchange a few words throughout the years. Meeting once a year with a group of people you hardly talk or meeting/talking frequently with just a handful of people? I choose the latter. That said, I still welcome meeting up with old friends who disappeared for a while and came back again. I fully subscribe to the theory that people come into your life for a reason or season and leave when it is over (or lesson learnt or their mission accomplished). Nothing is permanent after all.


HEALTH
So I was plagued with the almost 100 days cough last year. What luck that I am ending the year with a cough (3 days and counting) and stuffy nose (just started this evening!). And before that I was dealing with a neck sprain, first time I experienced that...much better but still under chiropractor care. And just in November I had a cough which last for 3-4 weeks. So the last 2 months have not been kind to me health wise.

I saw a TCM for a sprained ankle (I tripped and face-planted a guy - I find that hilarious) and somehow it became a goal to reduce my blood pressure. It went down substantially in a week so that is a highlight. Apparently my lack of sleep can increase blood pressure. I am still trying to get my weight down, not very successfully though.


WORK
I am still chugging along at work. I feel like I am doing mostly admin stuff and while it can be a bit boring at times since the market is so quiet now, it gives me time to pursue my other interests. With the free time I have, I took up courses and completed them to be a certified massage therapist with skills in post natal massage and manual lymphatic drainage massage besides the usual Swedish massage. I like body works much better, especially lymphatic drainage as I am happy when people feel better from the treatments. I am not sure what I will do with those skills yet. Open my own spa which has been my dream for over a decade or just let it be?


I also found out an ex-boss of my from many years ago passed ago. She was only 51, much too young. Life is really fragile and illness can befall you with no warning. Live life like it is your last can be a very sound advice. Stop worrying and start living.


TRAVEL
I ticked off another item from my bucket list. Completing the Sydney Bridge Climb. I finally did it when I went to Sydney in November. Yes, I finally visited Australia again after 11 years. This time I spent more time in the smaller city as my friend lives near Wollongong. I also saw Sculpture by the Sea which was fabulous and cool. Visited Berry and fell in love with the quaint small town feel, plus the delicious hummingbird cake at The Berry Tea Shop. We went whale watching twice in Jervis Bay but still scored 0 in spotting any whales.

We also went up to Blue Mountains and I like the place too. Jenolan Cave was really cool and we did the Diamond Cave. The river inside the cave is so beautiful and makes you feel so small. That these natural minerals and caves and water have been around for thousands of years.

Some of the sculptures for sculpture by the sea

Bali pictures

I also went to Kota Kinabalu in March and it was a fun trip with beautiful clear waters around the islands. The food was not as good. It was back to Bali in April. A good but short trip with bbq seafood and the spa at Ayana Resort.


REGRETS
While I feel a bit disappointed that I am not in the US right now, I think it is probably right for me to remain in Singapore for now. For about 2-3 months, I felt torn and my mind scattered in so many directions on where to go and what to do. I decided to break it up into bite size pieces to handle and just let it be. So instead of flying over in September for 6 weeks and then to Australia and then back to NYC till CNY next year as planned, I am here in Singapore till who knows.

So while 2014 comes to an end, I count my blessings and look back on it with fondness and a tinge of bittersweet memory, of what if and what could be. We truly will never know how life pans out and you can plan all you want but it may derail and point you in a different direction. Or you may get exactly what you want, only to find out that it is not what you imagine it to be. C'est la vie.

Bring it on, 2015! It is time for my tradition - watching New Year's Eve on NYE.

Indomie green chili flavor

This is really good. It is not that spicy and has a green taste. By green I mean like vegetable - green onions, the green chili that comes with vadai or green capsicum. This is made in Malaysia. Apparently those made in Indonesia is greener. 

Brisket King, Food Republic at Shaw House

This is some serious good stuff. The broth is full of beefy goodness and so thick I feel like it's collagen rich. I like both the beef rice and beef noodle soup. One of my favorite stalls in this upscale food court. 

The Wedding (that never was)

Today would have been the biggest day in my life if I had not called it off. 

Teochew Fishball Noodles, Food Republic Shaw House

I am a fan of the Food Republic at Shaw House. It is huge, either the biggest or one of the biggest around, with many non local stalls. You can get salad, xiao long Bao, pho, Korean, Thai food besides the usual mee pok, Nasi Padang, fish soup or chicken rice. 

I love the Korean and Thai food here and will usually get that. But I decided to just venture out of my usual stuff and try the fish ball noodles. I had the signature noodle from the Toa Payoh Lorong 7 stall. It includes fish cake slices, fish balls and fish dumplings. The taste is old school with plenty of ketchup and chili sauce. The kick is the addition of lard pieces. Yum. 

There is a 10% discount if you watch a movie at Lido. Think the promotion is until end of October 2014. 

Tanuki Raw

I do like the twist Tanuki Raw in OrchardCentral  put on its sushi. It is probably more crowded in the evening with it's happy hour and promo prices on fresh oysters and salmon sashimi. 

My favorite sushi roll is the hamburger. It has minced beef in the rice roll which is then deep fried. Heaven  

They also do a weekday lunch special on its rice bowls. Prices start from $10 and includes a salad and miso soup. 

I had the salmon lover set for $13++. It includes salmon sashimi, salmon sushi and salmon nigri. Not a lot but ok for a light lunch. 

I love the lotus root chip on the salad. The miso soup has plenty of sliced onions making it one of the naturally sweetest soup around. 

Oriole

It has been a few years since I last visited Oriole. I finally dined there again, trying the set lunch menu. 

For $19++ you get a choice of starter, main and an iced coffee. Pretty good deal. The selection is not huge but they are sufficient and decent.

I decided on the seared beef with arugula  for my starter and it was excellent. The beef was tender and juicy. It went very well with the greens. 

The grilled chicken leg with sweet potato fries paled in comparison. The chicken was ok. The sweet potato fries were delicious. I could actually smell it when it was served. 

I know Oriole is known for its coffee but the iced version was not very good. Maybe the hot version will be better. 

Certified Massage Therapist

I have mentioned I am making some changes in my life. One of them is going back to what I really like - the wellness and healing sector.

Sometimes you just never see what is coming up along your journey in life. When I was asked what I will want to do when I grow up after graduation, I always feel that I just want to meet and help people. Sometimes I jokingly said "a receptionist" as I will get to meet and help people. I never really know what is meant to be in my life. I have always just coasted along, do whatever that comes up, believing that whatever happens always happened for a reason. Be it to gain the experience or to meet people in the companies or whatever.

So I have always been intrigued by spa and massages when living in Canada. However I have never tried any massage then. I was too shy to disrobe in front of strangers and uncertain of what would happen. So it was always just a thoughtless daydream when I saw spa brochures.

My first experience with massage was in 1999 when I was in Bali. It was a in-room massage and I was so nervous and shy about having someone massaged me then. My godma and her daughter were also getting a massage in the room, so it was not like I was all alone. I was not particularly impressed with the massage. Maybe I did not feel the need for massage and Balinese massage was not the soothing relaxing type anyway.

My next encounter with massage was in Kuala Lumpur in 2000 at Zen Spa inside The Mines. The massage was ok, but what blew me away was the spa facilities. The fact there was no clock anywhere so you could not watch the time. A room with movie showing and comfortable reclining lazy-boy chairs. A lounge where food can be ordered from the ala carte buffet menu. Plus the jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. This was all included in the spa treatment price. What an amazing concept.

And in 2001 or 2002 I signed up for a spa package in Singapore and that really started my journey in the holistic wellness area. I dreamed of opening my own spa, similar to Zen Spa. A place where you can really get a massage and stay there to relax and rejuvenate. You will not be "chase off" after your treatment.

I did my research and found out it would not be cheap to open something like what I have in mind. I have grandiose plans and I know what I do not want. No package. No hard selling. No treating customers like cattle or operate a revolving door policy.

I am blessed to meet really kind and generous and helpful people along my journey. I was taught basic holistic massage with a bit of pressure points. I quit my job and started my own home spa massage service in 2004. That was also the period spa and massages were getting more mainstream and accepted. I learnt about my own strength and weakness when managing the business. I realized I could craft the most wonderful marketing materials and content for my website and flyers etc. BUT I just could not sell myself. I was not thick skinned enough to really get myself out there. Quite an irony since I am a Public Relations Practitioner with contacts/friends in the media.

I did push myself to join association, meet more people and I expanded my social network. I also found out people were only interested in what can you do for them. Everyone has their own agenda at the end of the day. I did not regret my stint on my own. It taught me many lessons. It also afforded me time to do my own things. Things I enjoyed.

I read up on healing and massages and any kind of complementary bodyworks. I attended festivals and fairs. I have learned all kinds of dance, starting from Hip-Hop to Jazz to adult ballet and finally finding my natural home in belly dancing. It happened that belly dance actually uses many of the natural element from the Earth. The undulation of the body not only comes from the core but also from the music and the vibration. I was told I had potential to go further but I guessed I was too lazy and I felt I could not memorize any choreography. I dance best to what I was feeling then. So I did not really go far into the belly dance field.

Then I discovered Bikram Yoga. Finally a yoga which actually engaged me instead of making me wish the time would just fly. I never found the Yoga I first learned when in Canada back in 1997. I loved that. I felt one with nature. The yoga classes in Singapore were too focused on the movements and not on the overall being, at least those I tried. So Bikram was quite a good match for me. Unfortunately it was too expensive to continue so I let it lapse.

I dabbled with tarot and angel cards. I was told I had the intuition to read. Again I did not take it seriously. Although I am interested, part of me feel it is just to be taken with a pinch of salt.

And I discovered chiropractic in 2007 and that started me on another journey in believing the body can heal itself. When I was having regular chiropractic treatment, I stopped going for massages. When I start going for massages again, it was for a relaxing experience. No longer was it meant for removing knots and suffering in pain.

This year I decided to go back to massage again and to learn new skills. I started on post-natal massage and somehow went on to get my CIBTAC diploma (UK) and manual lymphatic drainage massage. I found my calling in lymphatic drainage massage. When I first learned massage in 2003, I was concerned I will not have the stamina or skills. I was told then I have the touch and I was good. And the reason I continued with giving massage was that it actually soothed my soul when I was massaging others. I was being relaxed too.

With lymphatic drainage massage, I found it was even more healing for me and also for the people I massaged. The fact that I could actually see swellings go down and people feeling better and radiant made me glad that I was able to help. That went back to my sole motive. To heal and to help.

I tried Reiki again. This time I could actually feel the heat and coolness of people's energy. The energy flow. Maybe I am finally opening myself up to feel. Usually I do not feel anything at all. But with lymphatic drainage massage, you need to let yourself feel the flow of the lymph and to re-direct it to be filtered and drained.

I do not know how my journey will end, but I hope, and do want to be working in the complementary healing area. MLD massage with energy work and prayers? It is all about believing that "you can heal yourself". That is a great book by Louise Hay.

So yes, it seemed like all that I experienced for the last many years were setting me up to be more attuned with nature and the universe and to do healing works.

How does it tie to my belief? In 2000 or 2001 during the Anaconda Rally, I was given the gift of tongue by the Holy Spirit. It was unspeakable joy and tears and speaking of tongue. I was also told during a healing room session in 2012 that I have the gift still and to continue to speak in tongue. To me, these are all the same. I know I still pray for healing even when I am doing the works. God uses us to do His work and I choose to believe this is His gift for me. To heal others through massage, or at least make them feel better and alleviate any stress or pain they have then. Amen.

And who can resist a massage, right? ;)

Plonk

What a name! Plonk. Then I found out it's Aussie slang for wine or cheap wine. I happened by this place on a Friday night when most places are closed in Serangoon Garden.

I like the open concept with no walls or doors to break the flow from the inside to the walkway. It is airy, spacious and quite cozy. It serves proper food, bar snacks, tapas and pizza. It also has a good selection of drinks including sangria. 

As we just wanted drinks and something to munch on, we ordered a jug of mojito and pizza. The mojito tasted weak though it was refreshing. The alcohol still got to me by my second glass. 

The wood fired pizza was of the thin crust variety, similar to Skinny Pizza but slightly thicker. We chose the one with iberico ham and mushroom and that was good. 

The washrooms are on the second level and look even cozier with couches and tables by the window. 

I will return to try the other dishes. Halloumi is on the special menu for those in love with that. 

The Assembly Ground

I have decided to try blogging again now that I've installed the app again. One reason I stopped blogging is because it was a hassle to transfer photos from phone to computer and work from there. Maybe after much refinements to the app this may be better and easier. 

A new challenge I'm giving myself is to try to go to as many of the new cafés which keep sporting up, like mushrooms or weeds. 

The Assembly Cafe, at level one of The Cathay, serves coffee and food. The main thing is coffee though. Pretty nice place to hang out with friends. Chairs are wire mesh style, so you will definitely get the pattern imprints on your upper thighs if you're wearing shorts or shorter skirts. 

Interior of the place. It is much more spacious than this pic. There are bicycles on the wall further in. 

Roast beef with Caramelized onions and cheddar gravy, Parmesan cheese and token salad. Fries are good. Sandwich can be better. Too little meat that it is all bread. 

Flat white is good. Sugar is from Mauritius and unrefined cane sugar. 

It is still not that busy on week day lunch time. So this is quite a good place to pop by if you're free on weekdays and want to work or chill. It is much bigger than other cafés with just a few tables.

Loaf cakes and regular cakes are available. Would like to try the earl grey and Thai milk tea loaf cakes in future. 

Oh there is no additional charges. Service is friendly and prompt. Place your order at the counter when ready. Free iced water at the small counter together with conditions. Reminds me of Maison Ikkoku set up. 

Changes in the Air

I am thinking there must be something in the air or planetary movements as so many people I know are making changes in their lives, including me.

Besides colleagues (several) who have resigned and left to pursue other interests and industries, I know of many others who are also doing something to change their lives or jobs.

So after being in the financial industry for about 4 to 5 years now (where have the time gone to), I have decided to revisit my other passion which was uncovered 10 years ago. So back to school again, but it is not really to academia, but something else.

I am also planning other aspects of my life, to just let go and try. I did that before 10 years ago and it is time to try again. There is no guarantee in anything, but at least I went for it. To just breathe and leave the worries and fears behind.

I rather be doing something I like than to be crunching numbers for the rest of my life. Word is still my love and forte.

Spring time!

Well technically there is no Spring in Singapore. February is gone, we are left with 10 months for 2014.

Chinese New Year is over, and so is my birthday month.

I am pretty amazed at how much I actually spent, just because it was my birthday month (February) and there were various discounts on my VIP or member cards.

Damages - just because I like to see what I have spent on. It is also a form of marketing analysis to see what works. So I tell myself :p

February 2014 Birthday Month Discount/Promotion
$110 - 20% off at Japanese Sun with Moon Dining (average cost per person over 3 visits)
$9.90 - $10 voucher at Kikki.K (bought a pen)
$15.20 - top from Dorothy Perkins (20% off)
$84.80 - dress from Wallis (20% off)
$60.00 - Melissa sandals from Tangs (20% off)
$20.00 - shower gels from Sephora (birthday gift + double points)
$42.00 - gifts for others from Crabtree & Evelyn (30% off)
$26.85 - eyedrop + saline from Watsons (5x bonus points)
$40.50 - Laura Mercier product from Tangs (10% off)
$50.50 - shower gel + gift from Philosophy at Tangs (30% off)
$60.00 - Biotherm products at Tangs (free samples and coupon for special price on products)
Free - skincare samples from L'Occitane at Tangs
Free - tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier at Tangs
$18 - dinner at Island Cafe at Tangs (20% off)
$19 - massage at The Ultimate (NTUC Income)
20% off at Strip

Total spent: around $557.

I must admit Tangs gives better birthday treats this year compared to previously where I hardly use it. And I believe this is the first time they give discount on beauty products and Island Cafe.

Other cards which I have but did not utilize the birthday benefits:
- Salvatore Ferragamo
- Andersen's ice cream
- G2000
- Fox
- Charles & Keith
- H2O+
- Starhub
- rest of NTUC Income partners
- Sony?

Andersen's Ice Cream changed its benefit - instead of a free double scoop ice cream and your friends get 20% off, it is now a buy 1 and get 1 free tub of ice cream. Logistic wise, it is not friendly as you cannot possibly carry the tubs of ice cream all around town. You will want something you can consume immediately.

Companies which partnered other companies for the discounts are a pain to redeem those benefits as the companies want to make copies of your ID as proof of your birthday month. Hello?! Identity theft, anyone? Plus, why bother having such promotion when you do not trust your front line staff to do the verification.

Places I will usually go to whenever my birthday rolls around will be Japanese Sun with Moon Dining as it is fuss free. Just show your ID and the discount will be given. The discount can also be used on top of any promotional priced food items.

I still go to Crabtree to pick up anything which I did not get in November when it has the VIP preview promotion.

The brands under Wing Tai (F3 & Elite cards) are more of a "I'll get something if I happen to see it". 20% is not a very attractive discount.

Hmmm...I just realized there are no birthday benefits for Mango or Club 21 cardmembers. Or maybe I just never really notice it.

Ipad Mini!

So I bought the ipad mini with retina from the Apple online store last week when there was a promotion. I got it yesterday and went about setting it up today. New nano-sim card and case, so I am pretty much set. *Happy dance*. I just need to figure out how to transfer books from the ipad to the mini. Somehow only half the books were transferred from iTunes. I shall leave that for the weekend.

The new year has really brought out people whom I have not talked to or seen in a (long) while.

Besides a few people who started contacting me again, I have also re-connected with my primary school friends and even a teacher! Yes, my primary two form teacher. She is much loved and well liked by almost everyone in school. I met her 2 years ago at my cousin's wedding. Apparently he kept in touch with her and invited her to his wedding. I passed her contact to a primary school friend who contacted me last year and we were supposed to meet but somehow it did not happen. And just a few days ago somehow more people were contacted and connected and so a group of us are going to meet this weekend. It is truly amazing. We first met 30 years ago.

And it is also the 20 years anniversary of when I first moved to Canada. So there may be another sort of gathering for friends I met there.

And 10 years ago was the time I had my best birthday. I wonder if this year will top it.

Happy 2014 - New air conditioner installed

Yay! I finally got a new air conditioner. I am a happy camper now.