To Move or Not? Now That's Really the Question.

I have an offer from Oxford. But it will require me to relocate to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong.....

Can I live in Hong Kong?

Things You Do Not Want to Find on Facebook

Technology is a two-edged sword. You have all the information of the world at your fingertips, including information you probably would have preferred not to know. I realized why we have been what the big hooha over Timeline was about.

Because Ms Carol Lee’s facebook was migrated to timeline recently, I suddenly have access to all her pictures, even though I wasn’t her friend on FB. All the pictures of her with Mark and his parents in Bali, China, Yogja, Sri Lanka, Phuket – all his trips where he told me he went with his sister.

7 years! This is a bigger lie than Daniel. How I could have been so blind sighted for so long? I am so stupid and naïve! This hurts.

Holidays should not end in melancholy, but mine just did.

Incredible Savings or Slaughtering?

The 6 hours of hell was wll worth it. Cochin to Munnar via private car - 24,000 rupees; Cochin to Munnar via public bus - 81 rupess; the savings - a HELLUVA LOT!!!

Unbelievable Tranquility in India

After 6 hours of hell-ride on an Indian public bus from Cochin to Munnar, I finally made it to this hideout along the hills of Munnar - Kaivalyam Retreat. What a gem? It's quiet, blissful and peaceful (this is pretty amazing, considering I am in India). The air is cool and fresh. I could probably stay here for a week and do absolutely nothing.

There is daily yoga and the organic vegetarian food they serve taste awesome. What a great way for post CNY detox.

A Decade Gone By

If a year passed by in a wink these days, I feel like the past decade has gone by in barely two blinks. After more than 10 years in children book publishing, I am seriously thinking it’s time for a change. The question the begets an answer now is… change to what?

Burglared & Flooded

Barely 2 months after moving in, my apartment was broken into on the afternoon of November 24. The burglars broken in by prying open my kitchen window grill and in the process, snapped the kitchen tap. My entire apartment was flooded. They even broke in kitchen tile in the process.

It was heart-breaking. After all the renovations.....

The burglars took my Vaio-P and my brand new iPad. That was it! The total cost of thos 2 items was far less that the damage the caused me. 

The neighbours to my left and right were also burglared. However, I was the unluckiest of the lot, with the water damage.

Everything but the floor has been repaired now and the cost can be claimed from my insurance. But the floor cannot be repaired yet. That will be another headache - to remove all the furniture to regrind and repolish the flood. Sigh....

French Connection

By some strange arrangement in the stars, I have 3 french lover now. Guess I can't complain.

Puppies

I don’t know why my life is full of begging men.

- Soo Hoo who moved to Nebraska .
- Desmond who laid out in the snow.
- Andrew who could out take No for an answer.
- And now Steve.

All puppies hoping to tug on my heartstrings.

All finally accusing me of being cold.

Truly Finally Moved!

After dragging my feet through renovations for over a year, I have finally moved over to my new place in Bangsar. And boy, am I loving it here. Bird chirping on my balcony every morning and crickets singing throughout the day. I get cool fresh air coming through from the hills behind and I have this spectacular view every day and night.

Getting to work is now a breeze, a mere 6km.

Goodbye Max

You are missed dearly.

My Dear Friend, Maxine

I still can’t believe that Max is gone… forever. I just spoke to her 2 days ago. We were supposed to have lunch tomorrow.

I saw pictures of the freak accident this morning. It was heart-wrenching. She lost control of the car. It was raining. Her car ramped onto the divider and was then thrown off back to the shoulder of the road. The damaged was all on the driver side. She was trapped in her seat. The reports said she sustained severe injury to the head and died on the spot.

Gosh, I miss her so much. She was such a wonderful soul. Why does fate play out this way? Despite all my grouses, she is such a precious friend, always caring, always kind, always reaching out to help. I hate myself for ignoring her when I was busy with work. I hate myself for not meeting up with her more often.

I kept going back to the photos and thought how it was for her in those final moments. The fear… the shock… the pain… I don’t know. I am still wondering from time to time if this is real. It’s just senseless. She has never been a reckless driver.

My eyes are swollen from all the crying. It feels almost the same like when Dad died. There are so many things left unsaid. Yet, I open my mouth and I have no words; I only have tears that could not stop flowing and a heart that could not stop aching.

Missing the Impossible

I really miss Gael. Yes, yes, I know. It's not possible. It’s so true that you always miss what you can't have.

Lessons from Sri Lanka

1. Never ever travel with a non-reader. Max just can’t sit still with a book. She tried to read because I refused to be drawn away from my book, but after just a couple of pages, she will inevitably put down the book and starts talking again. Either that or she would be talking aloud to herself as she reads, criticizing the author’s opinion etc. I almost slapped Max when she loudly claim that she finds people to be stupid for going all the way to the beach only to bury themselves behind a book. Sigh… 2. Never ever travel with someone who has not grown up, acts like a child and who keeps saying, "Don't be bother by me, I just like to do silly things". 3. Never ever travel with someone who has no opinion and whose only response is “as you like.” 4. Never ever travel with some who is ignorant, hypocritical, discriminatory and culturally insensitive. 5. Always prepare small change to tuk tuk drivers, who will claim they don't have change, in hope that you'll let them 'keep the change'. Agree on a price, make him give you the change before you get into the tuk tuk. 5. French men are great lovers not just because they know how to treat a woman, but they are damn good in bed. 6. I should take up French again.

Finally.... 2010 is over.

A new year, a new decade has dawned. 2011. I was 27. I am going to be 37 this year.

Wow, what a journey the last 10 years have been.

Last year, in particular was a rough one.
1. A horrible episode with Andrew.
2. Got pregnant, got an abortion.
3. The Maggie episode
4. The Anushia episode
5. The Mark episode
6. The Mei Kee episode
7. Moving warehouse
8. Endless late night hours.

If there was a time I don’t reminisce the year that was, this was it.

I guess you can’t run away from fate. Last year was the year of the Tiger. The Chinese masters say that it clashed with “tai tsui”. Not sure what it means except that it was a bad year for Tigers. Ell, all I can say it that nothing it further from that prediction.

It was one of the most challenging and emotionally draining year for me. I definitely look forward to better year.

What a beautiful morning!

It rained last night. Woke up this morning to crisp cool air and the melodious choir of birds from the garden.

I wonder if my new place in Bangsar has birds.

How, oh how, can I move away from this place?

Jogja

October 7 - 10, 2010. Spent 3 days there with Uncle James, Aunt Junie & mom. Place was OK, but it was the company that mattered most. It was great to be able to devoted a few days to Unc & Aunt. Mom didn't appreciate the historical aspect of the place, but Uncle James had a good time.

Just Friends

Last week, I stumbled upon some interesting things at Mark’s place - condoms and “morning afters”(which of course were not meant for us since we hardly have any sex these days), dresses and a pair of heels. I have known him for 5 years, I don’t have so much as a toothbrush. I used to have one when he was at Sentral, but that toothbrush is long gone.

I always knew he was not seeing me exclusively. After all, I am an advocate of polyamory, ain’t I? But I wished I had not seen them. Then I can continue to live in my little fantasy of denial. Now, the facts are simple and clear – there’s someone else in his life who is more special to him, more than special than me.

I know I should have just locked away what I saw in a corner of my mind and let it be forgotten there. But I am a woman with insecurities after all, and I could not control myself. I ask him to define our “undefined-ship”. I asked him “what” we were.

His answer: Friend…. Yes, just friends. Not special friend, not a companion, not friends who fuck; just friends.

That one word, one syllable cut into my heart like an arrow. I cannot tell you how much will it took for me to hold back my tears and retain some dignity. I managed to… but only until I was out of his sight. Nothing could hold back the ocean of pain after that…

Love

In love, we win very rarely, but when love is true, even if you lose, you still win just for having the tingle of loving someone more than you love yourself.

There comes a time when we stop loving someone, not because that person has stopped loving us but because we have found out that, they'd be happier if we let go..

Why do we close our eyes when we sleep? When we cry? When we imagine? When we kiss?

This is because THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD ARE UNSEEN.

There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind, but keep in mind that letting go isn't the end of the world. It's the beginning of a new life. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried. For only they can appreciate the importance of the people who have touched our lives.

A great love? It's when you shed tears and still you care for them, it's when they ignore you and still you long for them. It's when they begin to love another and yet you smile and say, "I'm happy for you." If love fails, set yourself free, let your heart spread its wings and fly again. Remember you may find love and lose it, but when love dies, you never have to die with it.

The strongest people are not those who always win but those who stand back up when they fall. Somehow, along the course of life, you learn about yourself and realize that there should never be regrets, only a lifelong appreciation of the choices you've made.

Loving is not how you forget but how you forgive, not how you listen but how you understand, not what you see but how you feel, and not how you let go but how you hold on.

It's more dangerous to weep inwardly rather than outwardly. Outward tears can be wiped away while secret tears scar forever.

It's best to wait for the one you want than settle for one that's available. It's best to wait for the right one because life is too short to waste on just someone.

Never Tell A Man You Love Him

Never! Ever!! It only gets you into trouble.

I old Andrew I loved him and he got all emo on me.

I told Mark I loved him and he froze halfway during sex.

Never ever!!!

Hallelujah!!!! Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!

I have been singing praises in my head all week. Rudy has moved back to Mom’s, and is going to pursue a divorce eventually.

Mom is so happy; she has not stopped smiling the last 2 weeks. 5 years of prayers answered! She is short of putting out a whole fanfare to thank the powers up there. And she wants to kiss Vincent all over.

I am glad my brother finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Through the few conversations we have had in the last few weeks, I am also heartened to know that my brother has not been so “thick” and ignorant in the things that have been happening around the family in the last few years. He did observe, but just quietly.

Now, I have to honor my end of the bargain to pay for his divorce lawyer.