Life

Back in October 2007 when I was visiting New York, I joined two Australian ladies on a ferry ride to a treat of the Statue of Liberty - a symbol seen many times in movies. Although I did not get off the ferry to explore the island further, it was memorable to witness the monumental work of sculpture.

In the design stage, it was originally supposed to be a lantern and a headdress, which was later refashioned and proposed to be a torch and crown of rays respectively ("Liberty Enlightening the World").

It is not just a statue - liberty comes at a cost as we all know.

On Saturday, I joined my bank's Volunteer Group event to the zoo. We brought about 80 kids to the zoo. I am not sure why they were categorized as requiring volunteer care although they had Care teachers. When I asked the Care teachers why, it was because they generally come from complex family backgrounds and the lower academic strata in Sg - i.e. perhaps on the brim or line of swinging both ways - be good - or turn bad (and join triads perhaps??!)



My family - funny weekend I say - Dad flew off for work. Bro took off for New Zealand, Sis flew off to Dubai for work - oops and Mum is all alone at home.. well I guess it is also a good time for her to do the things she really wants to..









Sunday morning was brilliant. Started off with coffee and toast at the pool; a swim; and lazing around at the pool. In the afternoon a colleague and I brought a Hong Kong visitor for dim sum. We headed to St Regis for coffee after that. Excellent excellent ambience... but the coffee quality was - to my standard disappointing! Hee and we ended the evening with a foot and back massage together...haha teaching the girl to pamper herself since she works sooo hard during the weekdays.


So here I am back home, preparing to start a new week of challenge. I must admit I have not really done my prayers or read religiously this week. I have also ..sigh.. been naughty this weekend... too much texting...oops dangerous maybe?!

The Forbidden Phase...

Its 1130pm...
Seating here by myself in front of the laptop that accompanied me faithfully throughout my one year stint in Tokyo.
Not funny, Mr Gui is not home yet at this hour!
Not a rare moment at this timing...

I had a very interesting lunch with one of the traders this afternoon. So far coffee chats and a meal have really taught me a thing or two. Of significance:

".. Don't be jealous, you are only limited by your imagination!" (although this was related to a travel conversation rather than work)

@ today's lunch, A was telling me how he was recruited and had to fly to London for an interview. He turned down Goldman's attractive offer which many in the industry thought he was mad. If he went to GM, he would have been offered a higher designation and would be heading a team. I thought it was a ridiculous offer at his age. But he says "nothing is ridiculous in this world, just look at Facebook which is now valued at a whopping $15 billion". In my bank, he wasn't offer that but he decided it wouldnt be GM. Still... at a tender age of 3X, I would label him as extremely successful. He repeatedly said, "at the end of the day, its about knowing what you want".

It is not always the man who struggles hardest who gets on in the world. It is the direction as well as the energy of struggle that counts in making progress. To get ahead -- you must swim with the tide. Men prosper and succeed who work in accord with natural forces. A given amount of effort with these forces carries a man faster and farther than much more effort used against the current. Those who work blindly, regardless of these forces, make life diffcult for themselves and rarely prosper. -- Robert Collier

I now know better the formula for career...but who is going to give me some proper guidance on managing a relationship?

Before Nov 15 @ Brooklyn Bridge walk + Times Square....and Now after Nov 15...

Ok, I have been lazy. These are pictures during my vacation in 2007 which I have not posted, and I guess I will not write more about the trip since pictures are supposed to say a thousand words...

Why Nov 15? Well, its the date I got engaged. Thinking back, I had to stroll romantic Brooklyn Bridge alone - well I enjoyed it - but still I was alone. After Nov 15's engagement right now.. I am still alone. If I had more energy I would have written a post "The Frustrations of Loving an Entrepreneur".. well I believe anyone who is dating an entrepreneur now would agree with me on the challenges and compromises required. Its bloody tough.. but what to do... he will say "I am working so hard now because I want to provide for you."... What can you or anyone do about that?!! Ok don't want to spoil the mood of the pictures below. Hopefully calmer by the time I reach the end of the post...

I did read an extract last night - although relating to understanding of the Dharma, I find it applicable to daily life.

Outward Distraction

A distracted mind will not be able to concentrate. To improve our practice, it would be better to minimize activities that may cause us to lose our focus, such as partying, "nightclubbing" and gossiping, as it is very easy for our minds to become attached to objects that attract our six sense of six consciousness, which are our eyes, nose, tongue, ears, touch and mind.

The eye consciousness is attracted to form, which could be objects or the human body. Many of us appreciate the sight of a beautiful man or woman. Appreciation by itself is fine. But when desire and attachment accompany appreciation, this might lead to complications such as martial or relationship problems. Usually, the desire to possess is something due to the eye consciousness. When we see something that we like, it is desire that drives us to possess it. Hence, this makes us work hard for our beautiful houses and cars. However, having worked to hard to acquire the object, once it has been possessed, our euphoria is brief, and the suffering we have in the form of the big loan repayment is long.

So, being easily distracted by objects of the six senses may cause us to act rashly and irrationally.

So we must learn to be less attached to objects, and learn to control our minds.

~ from a Precious Gift by 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche

I'm trying to be good, you know?


Thats Bergdorf Goodman (BG) on Fifth Avenue. The window displays are all an art by itself. Sorry I don't have a more ideal picture. It is simply a place for sophisticated shopping.. and time to keep your camera in your bag!

I remember walking through the uncluttered displays, organized departments and helpful staff, whilst soaking in the air of sophistication.

Today I received a gift from BG. A gift delicately wrapped up in a silver BG box, and elegantly contrasted with a lilac BG ribbon.

Strangely enough, I felt a little sad/ depressed when I reach home. I am beginning to feel a bit confused about all these. What is the intention? Kind as it is, sweet as it is, caring as it is...shouldn't there be a line? Someone is going to get hurt in the end isn't it?

Another reason that I felt a bit down was because my favourite team-mate wasn't around today..ah i am starting to sound childish... no one to really chat with, no one to say cheers to...

Last week's MR training was really tough too. This paragraph which I also shared with my team-mate brightened me up a little (last week).

A good student must learn to extract the essence of his teacher's teachings like bees extract nectar from the flower. At the same time, the good student must remember to water and look after the flower, as the bee still needs to make honey. - 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche

I feel uneasy.