Celebrating the simple things in life

This year for my birthday, I wanted to do something different. I told my husband that I didn't want to cut a cake. I just wanted to sit down and count my blessings. This year, my best birthday present is the baby I am carrying in my womb; I am eagerly anticipating for the arrival of my little angel - to make his/her special appearance into this world. 

I am thankful for the gift of life and for having all the wonderful people in my life. I am thankful for both my parents who gave me good health and sowed the seeds of good values within me; and to all my friends who have enriched my life. I am thankful for all the simple things in life. I am grateful to breathe in fresh air, to walk on this green earth, to admire the beauty of all God's creations, to be able to utter kind and loving words to everyone, to feel the warm embrace of my husband, to be tickled by my dogs' antics, to feel another life growing within me, to smell the roses and to be alive. Reflecting on these blessings in my life brings joy to me on my birthday - I feel contented. That's all I need to be happy today.

Roses and Lilies

Thanks, dear hubby for this gorgeous bouquet of fresh roses and lilies - it certainly brightened up my day! I couldn't stop admiring the beauty of these flowers arranged meticulously into a beautiful bouquet; and the floral scent is so uplifting to the soul.

Outing with Best buddies

We finally managed to meet up with Ai Lin during the Hari Raya holidays. It seemed like ages back since I last met up with her. It was good to see her - and the tiga sekawan met up and chit-chatted -  just like the good ol' days.

We had lunch in Sizzling Stone Grill in Jusco AEON. Had a great time bonding and catching up. It was the first time we are going out with Renee and Ai Lin as a couple - and we had a great time together. Renee especially seemed to know alot about pregnancy-related symptoms - I was impressed! He asked me questions about my pregnancy symptoms - I never knew a man would be interested to be equipped with such knowledge. He is definitely more than prepared to be a dad soon - HINT HINT to Ai Lin, hehe.

Tiga sekawan at the Sizzling Stone Grill restaurant

After lunch, we walked around the shopping complex and as a finale had some coffee and cake at Coffee Beans. I know with our busy schedules (except for me; hehe, I have been having just too much free time on my hand this year), it's hard to find a common time for all of us to meet up. So this outing was something to be tressured :)

The Power of Now: My guide to spiritual enlightenment

The past few months had been an awakening spiritual journey for me. First a book and then the meditation retreat. 

My spiritual quest started when I was 18 years old. That's when I attended the 7-day awareness program which thought me about positive thinking, the power of unconditional love, and guided meditation. Ever since that, I've practiced meditation on and off, attended courses on self-awareness, read books on spirituality and meditation, and tried different meditation techniques. I've always been searching for the right answer. And I finally found it from Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now. This book contains the ultimate truth - the simple truth; something that my soul resonated right away. I first read his book The New Earth sometime last year. However, that book didn't have the same transformative effect on me as the The Power of Now had. Probably I wasn't ready to accept the truth then. 

This year has been a tough journey for me emotionally. I felt depressed on some days; and then I'll pick myself up by doing whatever I enjoy doing; and then I'd feel empty again; and the cycle repeated. The fact that I'd left my job and felt lonely was aggravated by my pregnancy hormones. I felt lost and empty. I didn't realize what I was doing to myself and to my husband. Some days I will lie on bed the whole day not having mood to do anything; feeling sorry for myself. I found that it became increasingly difficult to control my negative thoughts - it was spiraling beyond my control; and I was constantly battling against my thoughts - it was mentally and emotionally draining. I felt that I've fallen into a dungeon and there's no one to help me to get out. My husband just didn't know how to help me. I blamed my husband for the way I felt - I didn't realize that my misery was contagious - and he's only human. There's limit to how much he could take - and I continued blaming him for not understanding my feelings. 

It was at this point in time during my emotional downturn that I picked up The Power of Now which has been sitting on the bookshelf for quite some time. Every word, every message in the book pierced straight into my heart - my heart knew that the message is true. Rather than playing the blaming game, I started embracing the way I felt; and that felt so liberating. I could immediately sense the deep-seated peace and joy within me - it's truly amazing. I learned to still my mind and be the silent observer of my thoughts and emotions. It's so powerful I started noticing change deep within me; I started understanding my actions and emotions; I started embracing everything around and within me with love. It's truly liberating, I suddenly felt so alive. And this wasn't the same kind of short-lived euphoria I felt when I read other self-help books. 

Reading the Power of Now felt like going straight to the core of my Being; my being became instantaneously connected with the author's message; the message rang so true to my soul. Probably it's because I was in intense emotional pain; the suffering catapulted me to a new level of consciousness upon reading this book. Rather than dwelling in pain, I became aware/conscious of my pain and began to embrace it unconditionally. And I felt FREE. It also helped me to understand my relationship with my husband better.

However, as Eckhart Tolle pointed out, not all readers might feel the same transformative effects after reading the book. Sometimes, the message from the book will act as the seed of enlightenment/consciousness sometime later in a person's life. After reading the book, I realized that all the spiritual teachers in my life have pointed to the same message (only the way of imparting the message was different) - and I begin to appreciate the unison of message in all the religions and spiritual practices in the world - the message/lesson imparted points to the SAME SOURCE.

I accept that some days are good and there are some not-so-good days. Rather than brooding over the not-so-good days, I've learnt to accept it as it is and it feels liberating. As with all conditioned thought processes and mental habits, change is about taking one step at a time. Whenever I find myself dwelling in the past or anxious about the future, I remind myself to come back to the present moment; the here and now - that's the secret of being.

Naan Mahaan Alla

I have been hanging out with Mages for the past week or so. It was a good change for me - rather than being cooped up in the house alone, it was fun venturing out to new vegetarian eating places with Mages. Mages introduced me to 2 organic vegetarian restaurants; one in Damansara Utama and the other one in Bangsar. Both have excellent and a tantalizing variety of vegetarian fare. I appreciated her company a lot especially since I spend most of the days alone at home while my husband is away at work. During times like these, when I am out with Mages trying out new vegetarian places to dine in, I value the amount of free time that we both have. And having a good company is certainly an icing on the cake. I have to thank Mages for being such a wonderful company and for feeding me delicious vegetarian dishes :)

One of the days after having a delectable vegetarian cuisine for lunch, we decided to catch a matinee show in PJ. We decided to watch the latest movie showing at that time which was Naan Mahaan Alla. Our mistake was that we didn't know the storyline nor did we read the review of the movie. The movie turned out to be very VIOLENT and I was traumatized by some of the scenes so much so that everytime I think about the movie, I'd rather not talk about it. My rating: 0/5!

1st Year Wedding Anniversary

7/7/10 - it has been a year since we tied the knot - legally. We went to Alexis at Bangsar Shopping Centre to celebrate our 1st year wedding anniversary. Last year it was the two us, now we have a baby on board - it was a double celebration for us. 

Some people say marriage is hard work. To a certain extent I think it's true. We had our fair shares of ups and downs for the past 1 year as husband and wife. I would call it the year of adjustment. Now when I look back, I realize that we understand each other better now and our love grew deeper with each passing day. To my beloved husband: Here's a toast to a wonderful journey together.

Nicoise salad - Alfred loved it!

Hubby

Us on our 1st year wedding anniversary

@ Mages's House

A day at Mages's condo in Shah Alam with the kids during their school break - the kids are her family friend's children. Though it was chaotic - Mages having to manage 3 kids - it was a fun-filled day.

A long day

My mom and sister arrived safely from India last night. Alfred picked them up from the airport and by the time they reached home it was past midnight. Had a good night rest - there's a long list of things to do the next day.

- In the morning, Alfred went to the workshop to change the tyres - took a long time. He was back almost lunch time.
- After lunch, went to Nilai to have the night-curtain sewn.
- Then, drove to Kota Damansara to Anwar's place to have a feel of the neighbourhood there - hunting for a nice house to rent since we'll have to move out soon.
- Went to Ikea to buy some furnishings for the condo - cushion cover (since the tenant didn't like the red sofa cover that we have now), linen and towel, wall lighting, cutleries, and blinds for the bathrooms.

Moving out

Today I was lamenting to Alfred on how I wish we could find a nice landed house with a nice cute garden. Although staying right smack in the middle of the city centre has its advantages, I never liked being cooped up in a condominium. It was not in our original plan to stay at the Idaman Residence condo unit; Alfred purchased the condo unit mainly for investment purpose - either sell it when there's a good price for it or rent it out.

We've been trying to find for a tenant for quite some time now. But I have to admit we were not actively looking to rent our place out since day-by-day we grew comfortable in the place and we've made it our home. It took us lots of effort and time in getting the condo unit furnished - from lighting and other fixtures, to the other soft furnishings to make the place a comfy home. But we both knew that we've always wanted to live in a landed home with a garden.

So, I was telling Alfred on the phone today that it's high time that we seriously look to rent out the place and move into a nice-cozy-home-with-a-garden and keep a dog. But, I didn't expect things to fall in place this quickly! Soon after the conversation today, Alfred made few calls to real estate agents and found an expat looking for a place to stay near KLCC area. The guy was immediately free to come and have a look at our place and he liked our place - and they negotiated the rental - and before I knew it, both parties agreed on the terms and conditions. The tenant was keen to grab the opportunity to rent the place since we offered a much lower rental rate compared to the going market rate for a fully furnished unit. We decided not to be greedy and to be realistic instead. The rental agreement is for 1-year. And the tenant wants to move in immediately. Wow, it's all happening too fast. We requested for a week to pack up our belongings and agreed to hand over the keys next Wednesday evening, 9th June.

Although, initially we both experienced a separation-syndrome after realizing that we will be moving out soon, -all the oh-i-am-gonna-miss-this-and-that- but we know that this is what we wanted and now it's time to act on it when the opportunity presents itself.

A Great Weekend

Alfred came down to Melaka for the weekend and we had a great time together. We went for long walks together and realized how therapeutic it is - to be walking hand-in-hand and sharing a serene moment together with nature. I love walking - whenever we want to have breakfast or dinner, I prefer walking rather than driving a short distance. I especially love walking early in the morning and in the evenings - those are the most beautiful parts of the day to be wasted sitting indoors.

This weekend stays fresh in my mind because of all the walking we did - it makes a difference - it gives quality to the moments spent with each other. We both are nature-loving person and it's truly wonderful that we both love walking. The beautiful moments seem to last longer when we take things a little slower and go for a long walk together.

Send-Off

My mom and sister, Suhashini left to India today at 2.30 p.m. for 12 days. Before leaving to the airport, we had a scrumptious vegetarian lunch near a Buddhist temple nearby our place. This is my sister's first time flying and neither of them were looking forward for the trip. The main reason they are going there is for my sister's medication and treatment. They will be staying at my cousin Kumar's place in Coimbatore. Have a safe trip! We'll be missing you; the dogs especially.

Family Gathering - the eve of Manggai's wedding

Tomorrow is my cousin, Manggai's wedding and my mom and sister will be coming to KL today. We picked my mom, Suhashini and Pravin from the Bukit Jalil bus station and headed to my uncle Muthu's condo in Seri Kembangan for a small gathering on the eve of his daughter's wedding. We had a great time there and was entertained by the greatest ever humorist, my cousin, Mr. Nantha Kumar. He is the best! Hahaha.

From left: My sisters, aunt, mom, Nanthakumar, and us

After that, we went over to Alfred's parents' house and had a great Chinese dinner with them. Both grandparents-to-be are so excited over the tiny little angle growing inside me. It was a great day shared with the people we love. Looking forward for more gatherings to come.

Random Pics

Some random pictures taken after shaving my head bald a couple of months ago.

Making banana pancake

Pilot for a Day

In my blog entry sometime November last year, A surprise for Alfred, I wrote about the surprise gift voucher - Pilot for a Day - that I presented to my dear husband for his birthday. Sometime this year February, he activated the voucher and had a blast experiencing the pilot-for-a-day adventure. It was his dream come true - as he once mentioned to me that he would love to sit at the cockpit area and experience the entire thrill of flying. I was so happy that he truly enjoyed this experience. The contented and excited smile on his face was priceless!

@ Delicious Cafe

Some random shots taken while dining at Delicious cafe @ Mark's Residence. I prefer to dine at Delicious, Bangsar though. I find the food prepared there is tastier compared to the Delicious cafe at Mark's Residence, KLCC. I especially love their tomato spaghetti and their warm-and-melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cake - heavenly!

The Nestlings

This was an amazing and educational experience for us. First, we watched a pair of birds build its nest on one of the potted plants situated at the corner of our porch in Melaka - they laboriously collected twigs, tissue papers, and recycled other materials found nearby the compound of our house and carefully built a cosy nest for its nestlings. After a week or so, we found 2 eggs in the nest; and after a couple of weeks we spied into the nest while the parents were away to find food and saw two cute little hatchlings halfway out from the egg-shell. 

And after a week, the first hatchling flew off from its nest - it was so heartwarming to watch. But the other hatchling had trouble flying and ended up hoping on the floor. Fearing that it might be harmed by our dogs or the crows, my mom had to be the little birdie's 'parent' - by placing it back on its nest everytime it drops on the ground; much to the dismay of the the hatchling's real parents. They were always flying around the hatchling when it's on the ground; and it seemed as though they were teaching it to fly. It is so heart-warming to watch them protect and guard the hatchling from any potential danger; and feeding it as the little fellow hops on the ground. They even tried to attack my mother when she picked the little fellow up to place it in the safety of its nest. Eventually, the little fellow managed to fly :) The whole experience of watching the parent and the hatchlings was very special for us :)

The hatchling that had trouble flying - such a cutie pie

Fulfilling Vow ~Thaipusam 2010~

I made a vow last year to shave my head bald for Thaipusam this year. We went to Batu Caves to fulfill our vow before the actual Thaipusam day, which falls on the 30th of January. On January 20th, we fulfilled our vow and felt grateful for the gift of health and blessings that God has granted us.

Herewith is the before and after pictures:

Before:

 

After:

Reminiscing my last day at MMU: January 2010

January 22 was my last day at MMU. I decided to tender my resignation from MMU on October 2009 (a 3-month notice) after much deliberation. Although I was so comfortable teaching in MMU and enjoyed the flexible work hours, I decided that I was no longer up to the idea of travelling from Melaka to KL on a weekly basis. I am so done living a so-called nomadic life. I just wanted to take a break and settle down. Before marriage, Alfred and I have been on a long distance relationship for several years ever since he was working in Africa. After our marriage, I felt that this is the time for me to spend more time with my husband – to enjoy our personal time together – and cherish every moment. 

After 5 years in FBL, it was a tough decision for me – I know I’d be missing my wonderful colleagues and the wonderful times we had together – all the chattering and the potlucks parties that we organized. I realize that a significant part of my life will be missing once I stop working. But I felt it was the right thing to do and I went ahead. I am the kind of person who does whatever that feels right at the moment and I have no regrets. On the hindsight it feels great to take a break from working! Though I enjoy lecturing, I dread all the paper works and the administrative duties – and I am so glad to be free from it. 

On January 10^th, I went to clear out everything from my office. There were just too many books and stuffs. My mom and sister helped me out – great helping hands. The next day, I went to the office again to get the clearance from the library, finance, research management centre and HR. Finally, all the paperwork was completed and I checked my office room once again before handing over the room keys. Finally, it was time for me to leave. Adios MMU...

I AM BACK!

It's been exactly 2 months since I last updated my blog. I've really missed blogging - missed sharing values and lessons I learn everyday, the everyday experiences I encounter no matter how trivial it is, and all my cooking and baking adventures (it has always been my pleasure in sharing recipes and tips). 

Some of my dear friends who read my blog regularly messaged me asking if everything is okay. I am grateful for having wonderful friends who truly care. I take delight in knowing that my friends enjoy reading my everyday posts on the blog. The blog has been my avenue to channel my thoughts and experiences. It also gives me a purpose to live out everyday to its fullest and this always pushes me to try out new things - the incentive being that at the end of the day, I get to sit down and record all my experiences - which means alot to me - I strive to treasure everyday by jotting down all the miracles and experiences in my daily life. 

A lot of things have been happening lately which I will update in due course. Some days I really don't have the mood to blog but a more valid reason for not updating the blog is that I was internet-less for some time. Some back-dated entries soon! Cheers!

Farewell to cousin Kumar and family

My cousin, Kumar and his wife, Padma akka, children, Anirudh and Adhithi left to India today at 2 p.m. My father-in-law and I sent them off at the airport with a heavy heart. We had great time with them and we are going to miss them dearly. I especially grew very close to Padma akka as we had similar stories to share. She and her husband are very caring people and I adore them very much. We are definitely looking forward to visiting them in India soon.

After the airport, as soon as I came back home, I saw a lady standing at the guard house holding a bouquet of roses. And the moment she saw me, she asked "Are you Geeta? This is for you". I was surprised and knew instantly it was from my dear husband. What a pleasant surprise - the roses brought a smile on my face and made my day :) Thank you, love!