Finally, We Went Through...

The Kuala Lumpur (KL) wedding pictures few months back.

We drove in on a Friday, had our dinner on Saturday evening, and then drove back home the next day Sunday.

It was really quite an experience for me. Yes more traditional. The excitment and noise, I actually had a headache very quickly..hehe

Of course it was quite a delight to see my relatives who have travelled from Ipoh, and Gui's relatives who travelled from other parts of Malaysia.

We also did the traditional Yum Seng, which we were probably trying to avoid, but hey I guess thats the way Chinese weddings are meant to be...

Oh ya thats the gold necklace during the tea ceremony. When Auntie took out the gold necklace, I instinctly thought it was for me, but no no its for the male! I had a silver one later. Doesn't matter, both are in the safe now under my safe-keeping hehe....

Its been a few months since, and so has Por Por who stayed with us for about a month. Tomorrow father and mum-in-law will be fetching her back to KL for about two months, after which she would return to Singapore in Jan 2010. She is a superb cook!! Can't help but feel that as a lady, its important to know how to cook a meal after all. I have been learning bits and pieces from her...errh really just bits and pieces, just watching and listening to her explanations..thats a start ;)

Mum-in-law gave me something to read from her Dharma class recently. Its about Three Types of Individual within the Buddhist Teachings. Although its only two pages, I have been taking quite a while, as I tried to categorize Gui and myself - whether we belong to the Small, Middle or Great Individual.

I believe we are Superior Small.

"One designates as the superior small individual those person who, (seeing) the present life does not last long and having obtained faith in the action-result of virtue and non-virtue, are apprehensive and anxious on account of the uncertainty of taking birth in the lower realm in future life. Thus they strive chiefly for a high condition, the state of a human or god, and for the purpose of this go to the jewels for refuge and strive principally for achieving virtue and avoiding vice."

"Therefore, the Superior Small individual even though anxious and apprehensive on seeing as objectionable the misery of the lower realms, without perceiving as objectional birth in a fortunate destiny which is contained in the round of existence, he perceives its virtues, and making this the foremost of objectives, he strives for this. Therefore, once he perceives one part of the round of existence as objectionable and another part as beneficial, he does not strive for deliverance, which free from the entire round of existence."

I know it sounds rather complex. I read the paragraphs many times before totally comprehending it. In fact, re-typing it out here, I got it!

So what is the Great Individual?

"Just as in the world good and kind parents cherish their own offspring and forsaking their own aims take of the responsibility of many hundreds of irksome tasks for the sake of their children, the great individual also forsake the peace and happiness of himself alone and makes the others much dearer than himself. The person who has the superior thought of assuming the responsibility of a mean for clearing away the ills and accomplishing the happiness of others is designated as the Great Individual."

The Parents

I was reading a chapter in Rich Bro Rich Sister. As community leaders their parents were often gone for days, focusing on government and medical services to fellow citizens. The four Kiyosaki children grew up in a family environment in which there was more than merely talk about community service and civic responsibility. They grew up with parents who said very little, but who acted a lot.

My in-laws often said little, but acted a lot putting Gui & my interest first. After six years or so, I think they reached a boiling point where they felt that they are the ones who are always giving, whereas we kids are always on the receiving end. So we had a chat last weekend. Very glad that things are resolved now, but basically, without the chat, we wouldn't have otherwise realised that their actions are mainly geared towards us as priorities.

Simple acts we didnt realise, for example,

They took a trip to China recently, and when they heard a particular mushroom is particularly good for pregnant ladies, they bought three packets home. Apparently, one packet costs $100. It is high in iron and minerals. I have been drinking the soup frequently, but of course not realising that they bought the costly mushrooms on purpose.

They have even thought about how the baby's room should be re-arranged, since there are currently two super-single beds in there. Father-in-law thinks the beds should be combined, whereas Mum-in-law thinks that they should be re-arranged L-shaped to make more space for a cot right in the middle of the room.

They also bought a property in London, and mum-in-law keeps saying who knows your child might study overseas next time -- okay this might be far fetched.

Truth is, Gui and I have taken all these acts for granted. We hardly spend time with them, we never buy food for them. We were living in our own world, in their house. They are already in the 60s, but frequently think about us. They got pretty fed up - they said "we would like to be travelling more frequently, but if we leave the house for you two to manage, are you able to?" I have to say "Sorry No". I didnt even know if heating a bowl of sauce in a microwave might cause an "explosion". So now, I am taking steps to learn, and reduce my reliance. Gui and I also ensure we put them as priority whenever they asked us for meals... no more fooling around after a rather strict warning... but we deserved it..

Curiosity!

Need to give special mention to this photo because Baby David was just too cute & curious.

At the same time, I wonder if I will be a good mummy in future. On the wedding day, when I went into their private room with a champagne glass in my hand, instinctly, I let Baby David sniff & smell the champagne.

He loved it, and couldn't stop grabbing my glass. Even as we were taking a group picture, he had both hands grabbing the top of the glass. His papa managed to hold one hand back as the camera snapped, so Baby David didn't look too greedy (too cute, too curious) in the picture. Baby David is strong. Just like his Daddy, he is probably going to love drinking as he grows! So thats Auntie Eimi introducing champagne at a tender age of four months (oops).

Rich Brother Rich Sister. After the preface, there is an introductory chapter on Robert Kiyosaki. The background information on Robert was interesting, which was probably going to be important in understanding the development of the rest of the book. An extract I found more thought-provoking is reproduced as below:

Success does not always mean we become what we were born to be. Graduating from college does not necessarily mean we have become who we are born to become. Just because someone is professionally successful - as an attorney or doctor - does not mean they are doing what they were born to do. The same is true for money. Just because you are rich does not mean you have succeeded in becoming who you were born to become.

And just because my sister had become a nun, it didn't necessary mean she had become who she was born to be. Becoming who you were born to become goes beyong success and attainment. Becoming who you were born to be is rediscovering your path and getting back on the path.

It is about life's journey, not life's destination.

Right now, I am discovering a new path indeed...

Moving into Three

I thought I will share a bit more of the Wedding pictures, well also because I have not been snapping and have no new collection to share. These photos here didnt quite make it to our selected hard copy album, but I think they are still nice in certain ways.

So it was about two months ago. Today its a day prior to my 30 birthday. Well its just 29+1 isn't it? But no no, it does Sound different. Even my mum-in-law kinda made fun of me.. "So this year you are three?" Yessh...

Oh well, my first birthday gift happens to be from my mum-in-law. A book entitled "Rich Brother Rich Sister" with two Godiva bar chocolates. I am trying to cut down on sugar actually, but hey who can resist the 72% dark Godiva chocolate?

I was a little surprised with the book title. Is she perhaps hinting I should be making more money? But okay, the book cover picture had a Lama, so I presume it must have something to do with spirtuality which would be more in line with what she would give. On the book cover, it also says "Two different paths to God, Money and Happiness"...okay so there is something related to $. I'm curious, and can't wait to start the book and find out exactly what it is about!

SOME GOOD MEMORIES & Experiences

Its been more than a month since the wedding party. Some moments & special touches were especially memorable. One of which was a Oriental wedding card I received from a couple. Before I move onto the content of the card, here are some moments from the wedding party.

Thats my man, whom at that point probably had many glasses of champagne already. Thats my sister giving me a generous red packet with a card. Her angbao money was derived from a rather complex formula and she said "how come you can't guess it?!" hmm accountants. Thats of course me, the bride, grinning from ear to ear. Thats brother and sister after receiving the tea ceremony red packets from us.

The card, yes one of the cards that was the most meaningful was written by Auntie Pema and Uncle Sam. In it, there were summarised writings and teachings of the Six Paramitas, namely, Generosity, Discipline, Patience, Joyful Endeavour, Meditative Concentration and Prajna.

I got curious and researched more on the Internet. Here's more on Generosity (summarised):

The practice of generosity is to give what is helpful and good and to give without selfishness. The teachings on generosity, explain proper and improper charity. It is necessary to abandon improper giving and to know what is proper to give.

One’s motivation is very important when one is charitable. It is also important to reflect the recipient of one’s generosity. It certainly is not beneficial to pamper those persons crazed with desire and filled with greed. Proper generosity is giving whatever one possibly can and doing so with a pure motivation and enthusiasm.

me in mosaic pictures...


1. Wedding Shot @ Boat Quay, 2. Bobby Heng, 3. Home Party, 4. Wedding Shot by the sea, 5. Smilezzz, 6. Bobby Heng, 7. Wedding shot by the sea + plane, 8. Chocolate Muffins made with love, 9. Relaxing Manhattan, 10. Wedding Shot @ Boat Quay Lane, 11. DrangonFly @ Yokohama, 12. Wedding Shot @ Bella Pizza

hmm, just wanted to experiment with the Mosaic Maker.

Gui's seating arrangement plan

Here's the hand-drawn seating plan during our wedding party at Mezza9. Mr Gui decided to do up his own sketch as Mezza9's computerised seating plan was beautiful, but it was inflexible as we wanted to shift around some of the table arrangements to suit the groupings of our friends. They were probably impressed and we used this hand-drawn plan for our meetings & discussions henceforth.

It was fun, but hey every since the wedding party, Gui and I seldom have time together. He is just sooo busy, rushing a project at the moment. Yesterday was National Day, a public holiday, but he had to work till wee hours (ok I have to admit I have no idea what time he got home), he's just sooo busy and he told me, "please include me in your prayers!"

Indeed when I chanted yesterday, I said, "I dedicate the merits of these mantra to all sentient beings, including Mr Gui." I hope this works. In Buddhism, it is belived that the most powerful prayers are those that are made to benefit others. So always chant your mantras to benefit others; say your prayers to benefit others. This is the source of greatest happiness.