This is Day 6

I woke up this morning to find NO green gunk! YES! I woke up despite only getting 4hours sleep or so... I was perspiring. This was indeed a good sign on the road to recovery!

Day went pretty smoothly. Had a few coughing spells in the middle of the day which didn't last too long.

And now? I am still coughing ... I believe it will clear off in due time. Looking forward to that day! To great days and seriously, less of this love-hate relationship and MORE SLEEP.

Sights, Sounds and Nomnoms of India! (2)

Sago with potatoes and spices.
I like this dish very much. Texture is rubbery yet fun to eat! Normally served with cold yoghurt.

Masala Dosa

The Train (Mumbai-Pune)

The aircon was really strong. Drama on the train ensued when a passenger on the Reserved list took a seat of a Confirmed passenger. Just like in the movies...except no fist-throwing or dancers coming out from the seats.

Care for a Shoe-Shine ?
People even shine their "leather sandals"

Breakfast on the floor

One of the many snack/food stalls at the train station.

Was so tempted to eat something but thought twice about it.

Platform 1 at Dadar CST Station

The porch of Karishma Hotel

Yes, it IS a hotel! 

The Deluxe, Centralized A/C room

Centralized A/C means a regular aircon in the walkway, blowing into the door-top vent of every room!

Definitely not the Centralized A/C we have in our offices!

This is Day 5

As I lay coughing my lungs out in bed the past few days, I felt the whole world collapsing. Each cough flashes a ring of light around my eyeballs. Like a halo. Each cough makes my body curl up so bad, I get cramps in my abdomen & stomach. Each cough, makes me tear and weary. My head hurts. My head, hurts.The throbbing gets worse as the day comes to an end. It is an effort to go to bed. Each night, I thank Him for what I have today especially the people around me.

This is Day 5.

As the nights pass, I think back on the great day I had. Well-spent with friends and most importantly, family. Sometimes I can't help but think, that I'm .... 

As my father's birthday creeps in slowly, I anticipate excitement and perhaps some element of fear. Our parents are getting older and requires more care and concern. Not just physical care but also the psychological part of it.  They've taken care of us for the whole 30 years that we're alive, and it is and always has been our responsibility to take care of them. 

My parents live a healthier life than any of us. They project vigour, strength and energy. I look up to them for inspiration, in hopes to always make them proud of us in anything we do. We cannot let them down. We cannot let ourselves down. Just get the tempo going and don't give up. Appreciate the love and care from the people around us and always give the benefit of the doubt.

Keep striving. Keep walking. Keep.at.it. Life's short. I hope the people around me are loving what they do. Keep the energy in the Universe flowing upwards. Spread the joy, spread the love. 

Live, love, and laugh. For you only live once.

This is Day 5, anticipating Day 6.

Blessed :) 

Sights, Sounds and Nomnoms of India!

The next few pictures show the crowd at Juhu Beach, Mumbai. 

Notice the waves, crowds and their swimming attire.

Naan, paneer and mushroom briyani,

Methi naan & paneer

100% PURE mango juice...more like puree!

Sula Seco Sparkling Wine
Produced in the Valley of Nashik, India

Armenian Beef Stew & Thai Green Curry Chicken
This was a bonus for having TWO meats in a meal! :)

Grilled Vegetable & masala

Highlights of the week! 051511

For the 2 Hen's WY & MP!

Scruffy, the leg humper

ABC aka Almond Banana Crumble/Cake/Chocolatey 

JT the ever young birthday boy with his Brontosaurus Steak Bone

@ MeatWorks, Solaris Mont Kiara

Would it change your life If...

...you found out your best friend is bi-polar/suffers from depression yet he/she is in denial?
...the "leading person" of your belief/religion of where you attend weekly, is having an affair?
...someone found out your deepest & darkest secret and is bound to diminish your work/efforts at the workplace?
...you realized your so-called "best-friend" true colours which he/she takes you for granted?
...you realise that he/she is not the one for you although it's "till death do us part"?
...your dreams about a premonition comes true?
...you just found out about a friend's suicide attempt/death?
...you know you have xxx amount of time left to live....?

In the end of the day, these will fade off. Nothing is more important than what you are doing in your own life. As long as you are happy doing what you love, no one can touch you.

Life's too short to live in regret. It waits for no man... Sometimes it's just best to stop asking why, but instead how can I make it better? Be the change in the world, Gandhi said. Change is not easy, but it is possible.

Blessed to be Madam G. :)

Just a week!

Fried bread and dhal

The mountains at Paud

And my best friend, Mr Sien-Looking-Smelly-Fart aka The Buffalo 

Wedding Vows (W&K)

"First, it was ordained for the increase of mankind according to the will of God and that children might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord and to the praise of his holy name.

Secondly, it was ordained in order that the natural instincts and affections implanted by God should be hallowed and directed to right that those who are called of God to this holy estate should continue therein in pureness of living.

Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help and comfort that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity."

The Cake...

And, the cake topper...

Hungry! Food time!! :)

More highlights of the week....

Pulau Sapi. Just love the weather :)

Awesome buttermilk buns on the left at a coffeeshop in KK with the initials "KWH"

Coconut cake & chocolate brownie from Delicious, 1U.

Lamb Ragout Spaghetti @ Tanzini, G-Tower

Pan Baked Omega3 Fishthingimajg @ Tanzini, G-Tower

Tiramisu, Butter Cake & Carrot Cake @ Haute Cafe, Plaza Damas

Highlights of the week!

Pulau Sapi, Sabah

Finishers Medal & Shirt

@ Borneo International Marathon 2011 (Kota Kinabalu)

Coconut Cake & Choc Brownie

@ Delicious 1U

Highlights of the week!

Red Velvet from The Daily Grind, Bangsar Village I

"Fight Gone Bad" Charity Dinner

Kenyir Lake International Triathlon 2011

Randomness dictated my participation in this event. Interestingly enough since I've been down with multiple injuries.

Kenyir Lake International Triathlon 2011
April 10,2011 (Sunday)

The view of the Kenyir Lake. Raining.

Why?

• Just because I felt like it!
• It was the first triathlon in the year that I could go for.
• My bike felt lonely.
  

With no prior training of swimming, biking or running, I took on the hilly route which I had not trained for. This year's bike & run route was different from the past year's and it was challenging. Let me go into details... well, maybe a little elaboration.

THE SWIM (1.5km)

Time: 39:40

Out of 400 swimmers, I think I was preeeety slow! Breast-stroked all the way... did my best to avoid the splishy-splashy swimmers who could almost kick my head off my neck.. 

It was 2 loops in clear water, hence lesser buoyancy and more effort needed to swim my way through. Occasionally I was stuck behind "same-paced" swimmers that I had to speed up and overtake just to ensure I don't get kicked or paddled upon. The feeling of someone caressing the soles of your feet is just SO-NOT-PLEASANT!

Had kept time in check so that I didn't pass 45mins. I was SO glad to be out of the water after the swim! 

THE BIKE (40km)

Time: 1:55:22

Once I got to the transition area, I quickly put on my necessities, sucked on a gel and started to push off. Little did I know what was in store for me....

Started off with a hill...and a few more hills in the middle.... I'm referring to slow climbs of at least 1km long that never seem to end. - y'know, like one of those "Where is the peak???" sorta hills! So yeah slo-o-o-o-o-o-w climbs they were. With occasional flats till the U-turn point! Now, the flats were good to catch up with the pack... 

Why catch up? Because... I fell - TWICE. Both climbing uphill when I changed  I couldn't catch the cadence quick enough, and couldn't uncleat in time! SMASH! My chain derailed - THRICE. Spent at least half an hour trying to get the chain in position. By the time I fixed it back, at least 5 people from my category overtook me. (Or more people...  I tried my best to catch up with them...) Felt like a cat-and-mouse game that morning. 

Thanks to a few peeps who checked in on me when I was down. And sorry if I overtook you on the bike/run route! But the feeling of catching up was just...exhilarating...I had it in me! YEAH! That extra ooomph of energy and power felt good!

Damage: Body: Knee, elbow, palm : De-skinned, bruised and bloody. (Now it's itchy...recovering!) And a bruised somewhereelseyoudontneedtoknow.

                 Bike: Scratched brake horns & saddle.

The best part of the route, we ended with a hill. Start & end with a hill. Nice right? Could never be better than steamed bread + kaya.

At this point, I was SO RELIEVED. SO OMFG icantbelieveit RELIEVED. Relieved because I didn't need to worry about another derailment! 

Got into transition. SAFE.

THE RUN(10km)

Time: 56:02

Just before exiting the transition area, Dave said to me, "You're gonna LOVE this route!!!!" And it WAS the BEST route ever! I was like "What? Are you serious or kidding me?!"

Took off nice and comfortably at a good pace...to encounter a hill at the start! Then it was rather flat for a bit before the hill came back at the end.

This run was just AWESOME. We ran about 2km over the Kenyir Lake Dam area where it was forbidden for public access. And today, we ran over that stretch .... such a beautiful scenery that I wished I had my camera with me so I could share the breathtaking view with my readers. You know that on top of the world feeling that you're untouchable, jumping sky high like you're a million gold bars? I felt just like that THERE! It was such a nice, fuzzy feeling....tralallaa..... Sigh....Niceness  :)

Then after that was a small slow climb to head back to the Finish Line...say about 3km plus? Started to speed up till the end... 

Approaching the finish line, I sped up and hit the tape! YEAH!

FINISH.

I felt overwhelmed. I finished the race. I didn't train. I wasn't prepared. But yet, I did it. I bloody completed the race! YEAHHHH!!! ECSTATIC!!! WHOooooooooooo! :D 

Total time: 3:31:04 (Position: 14th)

Acknowledgement goes out to Meng, Dave, Denis, CC, LW, Deb, Bee, Lesley and a few new friends who were there that trip to advise and support. I wish you guys the best in your future events! 

For now, I'm just gonna be random... so if you do see me at any races, do say HELLO! :D

Oh btw, did you know it was raining during the WHOLE race? Yes, we swam, biked & ran in the rain! Hence, our shivering expression super small eyes in the 2nd photo below...

My finisher's medal! 

The girls!

L-R: Me, LW, MC, J, Lesley
(Thanks CC for the pic!)

Random Chalet toilet pic - wanna WOD anyone?

~~~~~~

“God makes three requests of his children: Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have, now”

~African-American Proverb

Awesomeness!

"It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment." - Naomi Williams

To the one that made me feel extremely blessed and grateful yesterday, I thank you with all my heart for understanding and words of wisdom. You always know what to say to me! :)

Love you guys to bits! *hugs*

A Year Wiser and a Wish for You

My Wish by Rascal Flatts.

I hope that days come easy and moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

More then anything, more then anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it,
To your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more then you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more then you take.

Oh More then anything, Yeah, and more then anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it,
To your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more then you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

------

Love you all to bits!

xoxo

Skins!

Got this after Friday's attempt at the Crossfit Games 2011 Qualifier WOD #1.

Ain't it beautiful? :)

March!

February has been a great month! Only 28 days yet fruitful in travels and business ventures. Most importantly, I caught up with my relatives whom I've not seen in a year...since last Chinese New Year to be exact. The kids are growing up ... fast... Definitely way too fast for my liking!

Besides that, I've embarked on Project 500. I need to consume AT LEAST 500ml of water a day. So far it's been going well and I'm topping at least 600ml... Thanks to KJ and LC who have been supporting me all the way. I know one day, I'll reach 1L by the end of this year! Not an impossible feat but maybe just takes a while longer than expected...

I also made a trip to Mumbai & Pune to visit the awesomest person ever over a span of 36 hours. The journey was memorable. Jeep & car rides of 7 hours...highway stop food...biscuits...pavs...polluted air... non-understandable English...lovely Juhu Beach...Crossfit Mumbai ... chai... coffee... MMM...yummy! Also played some funny Swiss card game with Krista... "MERANTAU"... Am blessed that I made the trip! Short  and sweet but fruitful! What would I do without her!

Ok well, that's about it for now! Stay tuned for more updates :)

Love ya peeps!