2 Jan 2010 - Being part of nature.

It was almost therapeutic to spend the 2nd day of New Year at Leo Carillo State Beach, the #1 Beach in Southern California (because of the dramatic sea cliffs, powder sand, amazing tide pools and adventurous sea caves). I've always wanted to go there but never found time to. I'm glad I went! - It's really pretty!

My friends (from work) and I also checked out Point Mugu State Park - a mountain bordering the Pacific Ocean. I didn't expect the hike to be so steep.. and boy was I glad to make it to the top! - where the mesmerizing view of the Pacific Coast to my right and prairies to my left was a view to kill!

Byebye 2009, Hello 2010!

2009 has been a good year. And golden, if compared to 2008.

I have experienced much professional and personal growth in 2009- which is important, for growth is the only evidence of life. Growth energizes us (even when it's uncomfortable- and most growth is). It's not possible to discover new oceans unless one is willing to lose sight of the shore. And sometimes, that can be scary.

I like my tea strong, and my dreams large. I like days with colour, people with passion and conversations that call out the best within me. I want to live like there's no tomorrow. With 2010, I want to live an intense life. My sisters always complain that when they're with me, they're always "SNES"- "Still Not Enough Sleep". Come on, of course I sleep! I know fully that 休息是为了走更长的路！But Life is for Living, not sleeping. There are just too many important things to do, and I don't want to trade greatness for a snooze button.

Sure we need to enjoy the journey, tread lightly but do it all with intensity. Your days are your life in miniature. What gets scheduled, gets done. It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.

2010, New year, New decade. New day to put perspectives right and start leaving a legacy.

Let go, let flow- let's go to New York!

Just when I thought I've got the first part 0f 2010 well-planned and laid out in front of me, my track got derailed. No more CNY 2010 back home. I was asked to be part of an urgent project in The Big Apple starting end of next week. For how long? Don't know. At least a month, potentially more. Neat stuff. Good opportunity. For the rest of you reading this, know that you now have a place to call home in both Los Angeles and New York. :)

Many people seem envious. But for me, it is just what it is. I almost feel like I'm becoming more & more zen. There's nothing glamorous about New York, although I am quite excited about the place I'll be putting up at and the momentary change of life(style). I love change. Sometimes you just got to let go, and let flow!

Battle for the heart, not the wallet

Went to a dentist after procrastinating/ not having found time for the entire year! Decided I wasn't going to pay my dental insurance for nothing. And boy oh boy, what a treat I was up for!

• The clinic's dental assistant had called me up to remind me super politely about my appointment and gotten my insurance details;
  
• When I arrived, I was offered apple juice and grape juice ...
  
• Then I noticed that they had put up a welcome sign with my name printed on it
• The digital x-ray was immaculately done with precision and so much care and patience...
  
• ...and I got a "TV tour" of my mouth with this advanced magnifying video camera that could provide rolling shots & still photo of the 'possible cavities' n other stuff the assistant wanted to show me while we waited for the dentist
  
• There was a personal TV they switched on so that I wouldn't be bored (although I was too busy checking out all those cool equipment and gadgets)
• The dental assistant applied lip moisturizer for me while the cleaning was taking place
  
• But the cool part that really impressed me was when the dentist was honest. He did not try to scam me with fillings, wisdom tooth extractions, root canals and all that jazz that so many of my co-workers and friends have encountered.
  

Instead, he told me that my teeth was really "dense" and healthy, making it harder for cavities to form - that he wished more patients were like me and recommended that all I needed was basic deep cleaning.

How's that for building trust? He even discounted my deductibles and I ended up not having to pay a single cent out-of-pocket for anything! He handled my cleaning process tenderly and my gums never bled a single drop, my teeth felt super sparkly AND when I left, I was given a dental kit + a bottle of white wine as a holiday gift.

I was (still am) positively stunned!! Really taught me that the differentiation for businesses these days is not for a share of consumers' wallet, but for a share of their heart. I will readily return in a heartbeat and bring along many friends too! :)

On slowing down... & asking the Big Questions

Yesterday, YJ (my sis's bf) said something which made me ponder. While he was packing his luggage, he mentioned, "You know, we've never had a chance to really treat this house like a home. Like read, check emails, slow down and just enjoy spending time at home."

I thought that statement was profound. I thought about my past year here in the USA. I've moved house 4 times and with my bucketfuls of to dos, to studys, to meets, to visits and to hosts, I've not had time to really treat my house like a home.

So today, it's Boxing day - the 2nd best day of the year to shop in the USA (after Black Friday) but I've spent the entire day at home- cleaning, packing, reflecting on life and what matters, and setting aside time to ask the big questions.

I just realized I haven't posted photos of my (no-longer-new-place) at North Hollywood so here you go! :-) alongside photos when I caught up with Sworn and her boy for a smashing Boxing Day dinner. Time really flies...this is the 2nd consecutive year we are spending "Christmas" together in USA! 青春不留人啊。。。makes it even more important to ask the big questions in life.

The way gentlemen act

Was invited to Happy Hour with PGH today. We spoke about life, relationships, and the art of being a gentleman. He was a gentleman true and blue. I've never had a guy stand up while a lady leaves and joins a table (say, if she heads to the washroom). Then of course there's the door opening, the car door handling, the standing on the outside of the road, the gentle/attentive seat pulling/pushing.

He spoke about the gentlemen conduct when we were discussing domestic violence. He said, "Lifting a fist was not part of it." I was curious about what other things were common knowledge and decided to google it. (interesting weblink)

He also said the sooner men learn to be gentlemen, the more they stand to gain out of it. "Especially when younger men aren't as "chivalrous" compared to older men", I quote. If a younger fella in his twenties does something like standing up when a lady leaves the table, he clearly makes himself stands out. (that was what happened when his son landed a job over dinner with a whole table of bright young men interviewing for the same position) I thought about my own experience with guys and agreed in a heartbeat that the first guy in my life I had some butterflies for still remains quite special up to this day because he was a gentlemen, true and blue. And that was when we were 16 .

I think there's just a certain charm that comes with age. But not just charm; I think a lot also has to do with wisdom. PGH is soon set to retire, and I think he just wants to mentor as many people as he can - to make an impact in the lives of others.

On an aside note, he also discussed the fragility of relationships and how he had messed up in his younger days. He shared a lesson and the takeaway was that when you mess something up, there is a possibility you can still be friends. But when that happens, things will not be the same. Very true. I can get over stuff, but the offender will not be appreciated in the same light again.

Reflections in Life

Returned from Peru last week and been swamped with all sorts of work and trips with younger sister visiting. Today, I received a sobering email from my mom abt one of our relatives passing on. He had collapsed at the corridor of his HDB flat.

It is at times like this that the fragility of life comes in at full force as a stark reminder that someday, the dance will stop. It is just one of those inevitable laws of nature that once we are born, we have to die. Many times I think that's unfair - but that's because honestly, I'm scared of dying. I don't want to be subjected to the fury of the fumes nor have creepy crawlies eat me inside out. Yes, I know I'll be dead, and probably not feel anything. But can anyone ever know?

Then there are the people we leave behind. The dreams and regrets that will forever hold their peace. I don't know what to feel about these. Except it is just what it is. I will not be the first to go through it. And probably won't be the last.

I was lying in bed asking myself, "What makes a good life?" I found the answer right there, in my very own room:

1. The Fan said... "Chill out, stay cool"
2. The Roof said..."Aim high"
3. The Window said..."See the world"
4. The Clock said..." Every minute is precious"
5. The Mirror said..."Reflect before you act"
6. The Calendar said..."Schedule time for who & what matters"
7. The Door said..."Push hard for your goals"
8. The Bolster said..."Give hugs and receive them"
9. The Heater said..."Be warm-hearted and find the warmth in life"
10. The Cellphone said..."Seize the opportunity to tell people how much you love them. Communicate, communicate, communicate."

Even the tiny mosquito buzzing in the corner reminds me that the smallest thing can make a difference. And to top it off, I think it's most important to live a purpose-driven life.

** Nearly *** pickpocketed!

Am in Lima now - the most dangerous city in Peru and omg, sis n bf were both nearly pickpocketed! We were in a shop and both were at different ends of it.

At my sis´s end: she was comparing the size of a dress in front of the mirror...then 2 women came in front and behind her to look at their tops...in actuality, they were using the tops to block the view of my sister and then opening her camera bag...

In the meantime....

At YJ´s end: another guy was opening one of the zips of his backpack.

So the 3 were in cahoots.

At the end? - 4 zips and a secure clip were opened in less than 1 minute! These people are really PRO mann... Thankfully, my camera which was normally in those places was in my pocket at that point in time. Phew! The thing that irked us the most was they actually felt their bags being pushed around but they thought it was the jostling of people around them that was knocking their stuff accidentally. Just imagine if we had lost something and we could pin-point it to exactly when it happened, but only much later. I think we would have driven ourselves mad.

Lesson learned: Never be trusting. Never let your guard down, esp. with time - Familiarity breeds complacency!

hOla from Lima!

Just arrived in Lima and had dinner (super fresh cerviche!) at this really atas restaurant perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Miraflores. :) Life feels good! We also got ourselves super nice accommodation in a Lima republican style mansion that is...beyond words. After 5 days of ¨cha4 cha4¨ food, weather and accommodation in Cuzco, it is really nice to be able to pamper ourselves. :) More to come lateR! :)

Thought of the day: Have a happy spirit - you only live once. - Fidel, taxi driver in Cuzco

Hola from Peru!

Holaaaaa!! I´m now in Peru- the internet connectivity isn´t fantastic but the people more than makes up for it. My sister, YJ and I started off in Lima and went to Cuzco, Ollaytaytambo and Machu Picchu (rightly deserving a spot as one of the seven wonders of the world) in Agua Calientes. More to come when I get back to Los Angeles. :)