I Hate Goodbyes

Captivated by this altar in Mary's house, I can't help asking the question: "Why must things change when they're already going so well?"

There was a time when I'd skip off to work.  When a friend heard this, she found it hard to believe.  She said no one actually likes their work.   

For me, it was not like that at all. Once upon a time.

But I know all things happen for a reason, and setbacks are not there to discourage you, but to show you what you're capable of.

You meet new people, form new friendships.  Lynn Mazlina A. Majid and Taufik Salimin from a Malay daily were two new friends I made over the last year.  Lynn came to JB a year and a half ago.  She still remembered the day we first met.  It was at a Press conference at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre.  She came in and introduced herself.  At that time, I did not know she was the new "ketua biro of Kosmo".

(from left) Shella, Lynn, Mary, Me, Taufik

with Mary's Mom and sis, Anne, and that's Ibrahim Isa on the far right.

The little elf

Mary's Mom is a great cook.  For the gathering, she churned out fried mee, nuggets and wedges.  And Aunty also made rasem, which is one of my favourite soups.  I drank it from a glass like it was a hot beverage.  It was very soothing to the throat.

Meanwhile, Lynn's farewell speech went something like this.
  
"What I was most afraid of is saying goodbye... But ya....life moves so fast. Many thanks for being my friend,  not just when it was convenient, but at all times. Truthfully, there's nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. Again, many thanks for being present in my life, all the time... all the way. Thank you also for giving me beautiful memories that I'm going to cherish for a life time. I'm blessed to have friends like all of you.

And remember... Don't let anyone steal your joy. We'll see each other again..."

People come into your life for a reason. Cherish the friendships that you have now.  Every moment is a gift.

That's life... we are all here for a little while, and then we're whisk off to somewhere else to start anew. 

Lemon, oh Lemon

Today I tried another traditional homemade remedy for cough after a fellow blogger gave me this tip.

WestGirl says the simple remedy for dry heaty cough is drinking warm water with lemon juice.  She says I can add a teaspoon of Manuka honey if I like. 

And like the garlic with honey mixture which I tried yesterday, this one is also  dazzingly delicious. I'm going to have another glass after my dinner.

Here's a link to the benefits of drinking warm lemon water.

ENGLISH VERSION and MANDARIN VERSION of Lemon Tree

A Spoonful of Honey with Garlic

As cough syrup makes me feel drowsy, I decided to try something traditional.  It was my friend Mary who suggested trying the garlic with honey mixture to cure my cough.  This morning Nona Shella prepared it for me.

Shella pounded four cloves of garlic, before squeezing the juice out.

That's Mary at the centre of the pic flanked by Shella (left) and the crazy cougher yours truly.

It was "sedap gila" (yummilicious) --- the garlic honey mixture --- way better than cough syrup.  It warms the throat as the mixture goes down.  Hmm.

Garlic, a herb commonly used to season the cooking oil when frying or in soups, is known to treat a wide range of ailment.  Among them, bronchitis, hypertension, liver disorders, flatulence, colic and fever.  It is also used to prevent cancer.

Christmas Three

with Lynn Mazlina A. Majid and Mary Victoria Dass.

Many thanks to Mary, her mom and the rest of the wonderful Dass family for the kind hospitality in their home yesterday.  We were there with Taufik Salimin, and we all enjoyed the delicious meal prepared by Mary's Mom.

Need to rest now.  Selamat Malam.

The Vow of Kai and Mika

"...that all we can ask is that we leave it having loved, and being loved." 

from the novelization of "47 Ronin" by Joan D Vinge

I love the epic 47 Ronin.  It was sheer visual splendour.  I've always been fascinated with stories that have shape shifters, sorcerers and witches. The CGI effects was done just right, not over-the-top.

I don't totally disagree when people say Keanu Reeves's acting is "wooden", or that he and Kou Shibasaki who played his love interest in the movie, lacks chemistry.

In spite of that, I still enjoyed the film that depicts courage, loyalty and honour.  Such qualities are indeed rare.

The tale is about a band of samurai warriors who lost their master, and became a ronin.  They vowed to avenge their master's death, even if it meant they would eventually have to die to achieve this. To garner such steadfast loyalty, Lord Asano must have been a leader who had earned the respect of his men.

But what stirred me even more was the vow made by Kai (played by Keanu Reeves) and Mika (Kou Shibasaki).

Kai said: "I will search for you through a thousand worlds, and 10,000 lifetimes until I find you."

"And I will wait for you in all of them..." was Mika's reply.

It may be mushy, but that scene just melts my heart.  What if.... they do come back, and in all the lifetimes, they came back in different forms with multiple character flaws?  For instance, Kai came back as handsome as his former self but he isn't the gallant warrior anymore.  He's a selfish bloke with pent-up angst and anger.  And he doesn't treat women with much respect.

And Mika was reincarnated not as her former virtuous nor ravishing self, but someone with tonnes of negative traits.  But because of the vow, they meet again.  Will true love prevail and stand the test of time?

I would love to think YES.  True love will conquer all, no?

Lil' Bits of Heaven

Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

Vietnamese beauties (from left) Lam Huyn Bich, Trang Truon Anh and Nguyen Thi Thuo Hien were busy shopping for Christmas hats and headbands at the Johor Baru City Square on Christmas eve for a big Malaysian Yultide celebration tomorrow.

Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

                                      
 Lam Huyn Bich and Nguyen Thi Thuo Hien are feeling the joy of Christmas.
                                                      

Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

Malaysian beauties Johor Baru City Square promotions executives Joyce Lee (left) and Elizabeth Koh on the 6th floor of the shopping mall in Johor Baru seen here with one of the 11 angel statues put up in the mall.

Lee said the mall spent RM250,000 on the Christmas decor themed "Lil' Bits of Heaven".

Well done!  It does feel like "Heaven is a place on Earth," in my humble opinion. 

Merry Christmas!!!

Celebrating Tang Yuan

A Family Gathering

The Chinese community celebrates the Tang Yuan festival today (Dec 22) where balls of various colours made from glutinous rice flour is boiled and eaten together to symbolise family unity.

Though this is a family gathering of the Yeow family, I'm glad they invited me to join them. 

with Ang Kee Kai, who is nearly two years old

These balls are round like Tang Yuan.  But Aunty has absolutely no idea whether we are playing pool, billiards or snooker.

 Let's ask Aunty Shella.  Ok, she says its billiards.

And now it is my turn to take a shot.  As I was holding the cue stick, I suddenly remembered an office outing that took place a long time ago.  I wonder if any of my former colleagues still remember that outing.  I also forgot all about that episode until tonight.  Memories...

After a game of billiards  --- billiards or billiard??? ---  I joined the Yeow sisters for a little karaoke session,

followed by a photo shoot with all 6 of the Yeow sisters.

The Yeow sisters with their mother.  Thank you.  I had so much fun tonight.

A Journey of Ingenuity and Discovery

I've often wondered what does the presidential suite of the Renaissance Johor Bahru in Permas Jaya look like.

The suite costs Malaysian Ringgit Five Thousand a night at Renaissance, the signature lifestyle brand of Marriott International.

Well, I got a glimpse of the suite during a familiarisation tour of the hotel on Friday (Dec 20).

The 345-room hotel also has the deluxe room, club room, junior suite and pool terrace.
I am more than happy that I got to stay in the junior suite located on the 16th floor, which costs about RM700 a night. My 24 hour stay seemed like a journey through a world of ingenuity and discovery. An awakening of the senses. After all, "Live Life To Discover", is the tagline of the Renaissance.

Upon arrival, I was invited to have lunch at the non-halal Wan Li Restaurant where the hotel's executive chef Foong Wai Loong churned out the

Mango Peking Duck

Pomelo Mango Sago

coffee chicken, watermelon durian  prawn, dancing durian puff, among others.  Chef Foong has clearly discovered the recipe for novelty as one can see from his creative menu and culinary presentation.   

After an invigorating hot shower,  it was meal time again at the Cafe BLD (Breakfast Lunch Dinner) where a sumptuous buffet spread awaits.  I found the Irish stew absolutely irresistible.

Check out the oysters, prawns and mussels available at Cafe BLD

The all-day dining outlet was filled to capacity, as usual.

The tour included a visit to the gym, the pool, ballrooms and executive lounge, among others.  I was told the 5-star hotel will be opening a spa in the first quarter of 2014.

Is it a sin to have so much fun in one day? The thought crossed my mind as I drifted into sleep that night.

- to be continued -

My Christmas Wish

This post is for dog lovers.

I'm taking a short break to spoil and pamper myself tomorrow.

But before I go indulge myself, I wish the guardian of this Rottweiler, who keeps his pet chained up all the time, will become more compassionate.  Not only is the dog always in the same spot --- it's been like this since the family move into the house in Taman Perling, Johor Baru, 4 months ago --- it is also exposed to cold rain and hot sun.

I wish movies like

Freaky Friday

are not mere fiction. Let the guardian and dog swop places for seven days and see how he likes living without a shelter over his head.

Need to go pack now.  It's only a 2-Day-1-Night thing.  It's something I've been dreaming about.  Could this be the Law of Attraction at work?

Meanwhile, my wish for Christmas  --- for people to be kinder to animals, to other people, and to oneself.  May my wish come true.  Amen.

Stay & Play at Le Grandeur

An advertorial that appeared in the New Straits Times on Dec 18, 2013.

The Allamanda Course 

JOHOR is set to draw the tourist dollar from golfers next year as the nation welcomes tourists during Visit Malaysia Year 2014. One operator who is ready for the influx of visitors is Le Grandeur Palm Resort Golf & Country Club  in Senai, which expects a 10 to 20 per cent increase in bookings for its stay and play promotion

Its chief executive officer, George Loong said, the promotion attracted 338 bookings this year. Loong said the promotion had been well-received since its introduction several years ago. The weekend rate for an overnight stay in a deluxe room, which includes breakfast and one round of 18-hole golf, is RM440 (single) and RM640 (double), while the weekday rate is RM340 (single) and RM450 (double).

The resort recently launched another promotion called the "Break, Brick and Fun". For RM450+, guests can experience a two-day one-night stay in a deluxe room. The package comes with breakfast for two persons and Legoland entrance tickers for two adults, with a 20 per cent discount on food and beverages spent at the park in Nusajaya. The park is the first Legoland theme park in Asia. The entrance ticket to Legoland is RM110 nett per child (foreigner) and RM80 nett per child (Malaysian).

Guests can enjoy a 15 per cent discount when they visit Le Spa to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. There are foot baths, body, neck and shoulder massages as well as facials using natural ingredients and pure essences.

Guests with children can ask for an extra bed at RM70 nett with breakfast thrown in. However, there must be a maximum of two children in the room. The promotion runs from Jan 1 to June 30. The resort also has a new attraction, the "Nerf Gun Battle Zone", believed to be the first of its kind in Johor.

Loong said the new attraction was ideal for corporate team building and children as it provided an avenue for a battle of wits and energy.

"Remember those days when Nerf blasters were just toy guns and nothing more?

"Times have changed and toys have become more sophisticated as playing them requires strategy. Nerf guns are the craze now. The game is played with safety vests and masks, appealing to cubicle warriors and children," Loong said.

Players are required to position themselves at stragegic areas, set up ambushes and shoot out with enemies. The goal is to reach and possess the red flag without being shot.

The Melati Suite

Comprising a 330-room facility on one side and the Palm Resort Golf & Country Club on the other, the 324ha resort has so much to offer. The Indonesian-based brand aspires to provide luxurious accommodation with all rooms and suites having views of either the golf course, swimming pool or lush tropical gardens. Guests can also visit Hello Kitty Town and the Little Big Club (featuring Barney, Thomas & Friends, Pingu the Penguin) and shop at Johor Premium Outlets.

Thank You For This Blessed Life

I lighted an apple-scented green candle today and prayed.  The reason I chose green was because the colour symbolises life, well-being, balance, among other things.

I've been out of action for the past three days due to flu.  However, today's an eventful Sunday.

Aeon Bukit Indah in Johor Baru was crowded with shoppers scouting for  Christmas gifts.  One can just feel the Christmas cheer all around.  I, too, indulged myself in buying gifts as a way of saying "thank you" for a blessed life filled with caring friends and good health.

Health --- that is so important for one to have a quality life.  Please don't let the stress get to you.  I know it's not easy.  Definitely not easy --- with deadlines to meet, responsibilities, inner demons, personality clashes, blah blah blah. But it can be done.

The Buddha says: 'If a person foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my boundless love. The more evil that comes from him the more good will go from me. I will always give off only the fragrance of goodness."

I have my share of challenges and people who dislike me.  But then, don't we all?   It's a natural learning process.  Part and parcel of life.  

shake belly sashimi (left) and hotate sashimi

Anyway, while shopping, I suddenly craved for sashimi, so I strolled into the Kinsahi Japanese Restaurant.  The shake belly sashimi dipped with wasabi and soy sauce was pure pleasure for the taste bud.  Hmm... simply divine.

The meal came with a pot of ocha (Japanese green tea) which is said to have numerous health benefits.

The mind is the source of happiness and unhapiness.   Choose well.

A Good Read

I've found the answer and I'm now trying it out. 

I've always been quite skeptical about the Law of Attraction, but I love this book by Glenn Harrold. It's such an interesting and easy read filled with inspirational quotes.

I'm going to spend some time each day visualising the life that I want, and then I'm going to leave it to the universe to do the rest. Wish me all the best. Of course I also need to take action. Can't just visualise and do nothing to manifest my desires.  And my desires are ...

To be a good and happy mortal with immortal resilience.   

I'm still under flu medication.

Transience

Those Precious Memories

Penny for your thoughts

by Nona Shella

The recent downpour in Johor had brought back a tsunami of memories of my childhood days in Kampung Amarasi, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia.

My family was very poor.  I was the youngest among three siblings.  We lived in a small house with our parents along with four of my cousins.

Food was scarce.  One thing I like about the rain was that we would get to eat fish only when it rained, as the currents would bring the fishes to the lake that pass through our village.  But there were also times when I hated the rain because we didn't have umbrellas nor decent shoes.  

There was one time when my siblings and I were craving for "kuih" so my father baked some tapioca wrapped with "daun gewang" and topped with grated coconut.  My siblings and I were over the moon when we ate the "kuih" made by our father.  We didn't have the money to buy flour, and even a meal of rice with chicken was a rarity.

Though we were poor, my siblings and I were happy.   We never questioned why our lives were hard or why the other children who had more material things than us.

For the lack of material comfort, my parents made up for it by giving us plenty of hugs and words of encouragement.  They'd say: "It's ok.  We can't afford it now but we'll get it when we can."  My father is a good storyteller.  The stories he told always had life values in them.

This Christmas. Although I don't get to spend it with my parents and siblings, they will always be close to my heart.

Sometimes, "I Love You" can be said in a thousand ways.  A hug, a smile or a call to ask if you have already eaten or whether you have reached home safely or the act of braving the floods to get to a loved one are some of the ways of expressing your love for someone.

It certainly says more than merely uttering the words "I love you". You just need to listen with your heart.

Pamper Yourself At Pulai Desaru Beach Resort and Spa

Back scrubs to wash away stress

DESARU: IF you are in the mood to pamper yourself, drop into the Pulai Desaru Beach Resort and Spa for a back scrub.

Among the popular scrubs the spa offers are citrus salt, Balinese Boreh and Javanese Lulur.

Spa supervisor Noorshamila Mohd Nor, 29, said the Balinese Boreh soothes tired muscles and joints; and improves blood ciruculation, as well as aid the digestive system.

"The citrus salt scrub consists of an aromatic oil blend, citrus and sea salt, while the Balinese Boreh uses a mix of spices such as ginger, clove, cinnamon and ground rice," she said, adding that the spa has six therapists.

As for the Javanese Lulur, Noorshamila said the treatment uses a body paste made out of sandalwood, turmeric, and rice powder to exfoliate and 'polish' the skin.

Besides back scrubs, the spa also offers facials, foot spa, its signature Pulai massage and a therapeutic back massage.

The spa, located near Bandar Penawar, opens from 9am to 8pm from Sundays to Thursdays. On Fridays and Saturdays, the spa operates from 9am to 10pm.

For details, call 07-822 2222.

Venerable Master Hsing Yun

There's much to be thankful for

By Chuah Bee Kim

sourced from Johor Streets

03 December 2013

IN my previous commentary, I was motivated to talk about respect when I heard lovely Christmas songs playing inside a shopping mall in Johor Baru.

I guess I was inspired by the thought that the world would be a better place if people knew how to respect one another in spite of their differences.

Today, I want to focus on gratitude, and my inspiration for this came after a visit to the One Stroke Calligraphy exhibition at Sutera Mall in Johor Baru.

The exhibition was originally supposed to have been held for two weeks, but due to encouraging public response, the event has been extended to Dec 15.

The show features works by the Venerable Hsing Yun, who was born into a poor family and became a Buddhist monk at the age of 12.

When he was about 17, he was down with a serious illness, his teacher sent someone to deliver half a bowl of pickled vegetables to him. The person tasked to deliver the food had to travel a long distance to get to the young monk.

As he tearfully ate the bowl of pickled vegetables, he made a vow to always remember his teacher's kindness.

Now 86, the Venerable Hsing Yun is still giving motivational talks to Buddhist devotees around the world.

I don't know if this kind of grateful attitude is still practised by today's young people. I did notice many people giving thanks on Facebook during Thanksgiving on Nov 28. Yes, it is so important to give thanks.

But in today's world, what is more common is when you do a hundred good things for someone, but that someone will only remember the one bad thing you did to him or her.  Has that happened to you before?

Anyway, the Ven Hsing Yun was so adamant in expressing his gratitude to his teacher that he started The Water Drop teahouses, which can now be found in various parts of the world.

In Johor Baru, one can find The Water Drop teahouse on the fourth floor of the Sutera Mall, which is next to the newly-opened My Library.

The teahouse derives its name from the gratitude expressed in the old saying, "a drop of water's worth of kindness repaid with a gushing spring".

Hopefully, those who dine here often will remember to repay the drop of kindness from their parents, their teachers, and their country with a gushing spring. Only a grateful life can be a rich life.

And since My Library is just located next to The Water Drop teahouse, I can't help but also mention a little bit about this establishment.

According to a My Library officer, Ginny Lim, nearly 300 people and corporate bodies have joined as members of the library, which receives an average of 5,532 visitors daily since it opened on Nov 18.

Besides an assortment of magazines, books and audio materials, the library also has facilities for rental. These include rooms for discussions, seminars and kids' activities.

One can also order coffee or tea from The Water Drop teahouse while reading at the library.

This library is a corporate social responsibility programme of Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd, the property developer that manages the Sutera Mall.

The management, which has been nurturing the local community with education and culture, has been organising programmes like the One-Stroke Calligraphy exhibition annually since it started operations in 2008.

The theme is different each year, but it is always of a cultural nature and with educational values.

The library also is becoming a favourite haunt for both children and adults. At the library, I saw some children flipping through the pages of the books with great care.

However, there were also some who were running around making a lot of noise. It is very important to maintain silence in a library as people are there to read.

The idea of setting up a library in a shopping mall is a novel one. For that, I am grateful to Tanah Sutera, for having the foresight and the drive to mix retail with education and culture.

Heart and Mind

I did an electrocardiography (ECG) for the first time.  I was then referred by the clinic to go for a stress test at a specialist hospital.  I went for ECG after experiencing discomfort in the chest for three consecutive nights.

So I spent the entire day at the hospital today.  First, it was the urine and blood test, then X-Ray, followed by the treadmill test.  

The treadmill test was the most fun.  The friendly nurse placed electrodes on my body, namely around the chest area.  The sticky patches were attached to an ECG monitor that showed the electrical activity of my heart rate as the treadmill's speed and incline changes every 3 minutes or so.

It started out slow, then got faster.  But I am happy to say that I completed the 10-minute test without much of a problem.

The nurse told me that I can also go for an electrocardiogram if I want as that would be even more accurate than the treadmill test.

After all the test results were out, the consultant cardiologist and physician Dr Yap Sau Peng looked at them and said my heart is ok.  The discomfort is probably due to other things. 

It could be my inability to not sweat the small stuff.  When I broke the news to my housemate that I had been referred for a stress test, I thought she'd be sympathetic.  She was angry instead.  After hearing her out, I think she has a point.  

I need to practise detachment. I need to think: "It's none of my business." And not take things personally.  I need to laugh more.

"'How people treat you is their karma, how you react to it is yours".  - Wayne Dyer.

Let me end this post by saying Thank You to each and everyone who cared enough to send their kind thoughts and wishes.  

Thank you so much. 

And the entire tests and consultation costs Ringgit Malaysia RM675. Peace of mind. Good night.

The Gratitude for a Drop of Water

Repaid With a Gushing Spring 

 

The Water Drop teahouse, found on the 4th floor of the Sutera Mall in Johor Baru is a story born from Venerable Master Hsing Yun's gratitude  Master Hsing Yun was born in Chiangtu, Chiangsu province, China, in 1927. 

The teahouse derives its name from the gratitude expressed in the old saying "a drop of water's worth of kindness repaid with a gushing spring."  We must all repay the drop of kindness from our parents, our teachers, and our country with a gushing spring .  Only a grateful life can be a rich life.

Master Hsing Yun was struck with serious illness at age 17 or 18.  His master sent someone to travel a long way to deliver half a bowl of salted vegetables to him.  To people today, this may not be much but at that time it was a rare delicacy.  Master Hsing Yun was overcome with gratitude as he tearfully ate the pickled vegetables and made a vow to spread the Dharma for the benefit of living beings.

I read this from the book "Buddha Land in the Human World" written by Pan Xuan together with Master Hsing Yun.  This book was given to me by Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd general manager Steven Shum today. The book is tagged RM40 but to me, it is a priceless gift.  It is gift of the Dharma.

Steven also shared with me that the society is the best place for a person to cultivate spiritual development.  The removal of greed, hatred and ignorance is not easy but it can be done, says Steven.

"Meditation, chanting, volunteering, reading Dharma books, doing good ...these are all cultivation," he adds.

The Sutera Mall, managed by Tanah Sutera Development, is extending the duration of the "One Stroke Calligraphy exhibition, which was initially scheduled from Nov 18 to Dec 1. It is now extended to Dec 15.

Don't miss the One Stroke Calligraphy exhibition which tells the inspiring journey of the Master's life and his work. The event is jointly organised by Tanah Sutera and Fo Guang Shan Malaysia, Johor.

"Don't Look At My Writing, Please Look At My Heart".

Make a trip to the Sutera Mall before the exhibition wraps up.  It will be worth your while.

The Sutera Mall, which started operations on Aug 2008 and receives an average of 600,000 shoppers monthly, is organising events such as this to nurture the community with culture and edcuation.

Meanwhile, over at the newly-opened My Library,



Ginny Lim, 23, a library officer at My Library, said a total of 278 people and corporate bodies had joined as members.  The library receives an average of  5,532 visitors daily since it opened on Nov 18.

The Wall Street Journal is found at My Library

Besides an assortment of magazines, books and audio materials, the library also has facilities for rental, namely, rooms for discussions, seminars and kids' activities.  One can also order coffee or tea from the Water Drop teahouse while you indulge in reading at the library.

Party of 11

Yes, I included the cat in the headcount.

I had a bad day at the office.  Though that is quite normal, I allowed myself to be affected by it..However, the day was not entirely bad, thanks to my dearest friends here who threw a surprise belated birthday bash for me at the Stulang Walk, Johor Baru.

 

Surprise!

 My cake

And here's the guest of honour again.  Sorry, I took so many photos I hope the flash didn't hurt the cat's eyes.

with Lynn Mazlina A Majid and Redzuan Muharam 

A big thank you to everyone from the bottom of my heart. Muah!

Meanwhile, please read  "A Plea For The Wetlands" which appeared in the New Straits Times today.