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.