I PREFER NATURE

That was in Wulong - "Fairyland" if I remember correctly. It was one of the most relaxing moments of the trip - fresh air and strolling in the greens. M, Gui and I are kept walking on. The temperature was also very cool @ 15°C. There was no crowd, just lots of desirable space that urban dwellers would love. At that point, we wondered if we were in New Zealand. There were also horses strolling around.

Thats me. I am seldom photographed since I am usually the one behind the camera. Talking about photographs, this weekend I had to seek my girlfriends' opinions on wedding photography. Oh ya coz I am among one of the latest to have a customary wedding dinner now! I now know why I have been putting these preparations off until my in-laws pointed a gun at our brains. Don't ask me why, but I am just not very interested in wedding preparations. I am not sure why. I feel that Gui and I have already progressed on in our relationships - but anyways... I have to do some preparations.

This week has also been busy! We are considering relocating Bobby to London - a difficult & costly decision but we believe it is the best for him. Sumini's contract is ending in April, and my mum-in-law is thinking of getting a part-time one only, until Gui and I return from our holiday in May. I am quite worried about the housework bit - I am not going to deny it!!

Ahhh, isn't looking at this just beautiful? My girlfriends also ask me why I am so thrifty with money? What am I saving them for? I bet they wanted to use the word miser hahaha... but ya I don't throw my $ around looking for brands (only very occasionally) - the only other area I am willing to spend on are my holidays... can't do without in order to keep my sanity =)

This is Wulong crack. We had to climb many steps down to get to the bottom. Tough trip, but staring upwards make it all worthwhile =)))

A Rainbow! Seems that Gui and I tend to see a rainbow whenever we travel. I remember a really beautiful and lengthy one we saw in Chiangmai during breakfast.

As I write this, I know I am tired. Its been a bit of dashing, coordination and lunching. A very well spent weekend. But I am really sleepy. Will hit the sack at 10pm tonight!

Where is my Clarity?...

Two months ago, I was up in a mountain. I wanted a rural experience, and was introduced to a mountain village. Up in the mountain, the children looked really carefree. Although a dilapidated home, they had a lot of room and yards to run about. They looked kinda dirty too, but at the same time happy.


I thought that rural experience would have taught me to be grateful and contended. Back in the city, and I have been feeling this way on & off for a while now, I can't help but continue to feel I need something more. How about an inspiration? I just went to Borders to look for one... temporary high... Wait a minute! Is this what people call a mid-life crisis? Am I a ticking clock?...

Oh Crap!

Am I at a fork? Have been thinking about this since the two weeks vacation too. Should I change to a new area of work (bearing in mind that learning something new would also create more stress); just try to keep my current job stable; plan for a baby & introduce a new meaning in life; start cooking; take on more serious photography and travel the world; get serious with Dharma learning? I'm freaking out...where is my inspiration?


Does any girl out there feel my way? Is there anyone out there experiencing a fork of decisions, or just always contended and happy with everyday life? Should I push ahead or learn contentment? I need inspiration...

ChongQing, The Wet Market

ChongQing's weekly market, Oct 2008.

Spice - an important ingredient to complete every dish in ChongQing. No matter where you go, or what dish you have, it's cooked with spices. At some point, I felt that every dish on the same table tasted almost the same. The food is often greasy, but due to the cold weather and laborious nature of the economy, you hardly see fat people around.

Whats up with the economy??

The economy, at its most basic form, is defined as the realized social system of production, exchange, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of a country or other area (wikipedia).

Right now, it is sick. First it was the banks, and now Detroit automakers are in line seeking emergency aid. Individual consumers like you and me, are probably limiting purchases as the labour market no longer offers the stability or security it used to. Falling property and stock values are probably hurting some household's wealth - or it could become a good opportunity for some ;)

In November, another half a million has joined the unemployment toll. Sigh, where are the happier news these days?

Still on ChongQing: Looking for Simplicity



Not so long ago I had a first taste of a rural experience. It was my first rough travel. Couldn't find McDonalds, coke nor coffee but had to deal with multiple home-cooked meals. What made meal times more challenging was the "love" at the table. No common spoons for the dishes. Everyone dips their chopsticks into the soup/ gravy - including the stranger bus-driver...hmm....

It was tough, but right now I am itching to do another rough travel again. Let it be Bhutan, Nepal or even India. No longer interested in comfy cities tours. I know my mum would sigh "always itching for challenges"...


These days at work, its all about avoiding the retrenchment axe. It becomes real when I see individuals disappearing. It becomes more real when a friend asked if my Dad's firm might be recruiting since his friend was axed.

Trading activities have also diminished. I finish my work earlier than usual and reach home earlier than before. Hmm, I guess I should just be contented to have a job now, but returning home early is really not my cup of tea. In fact, I finished my work @ 630pm just now (first time!)... took a train to Orchard - walked a detour, went into a CD shop to listen to free music, and then walked home.

Mr Gui is in Tokyo now. He is on a business trip. He went to a Jazz bar last evening, and today he has to go to DisneySea. Whoa, why won't I want his job?

Still in the Village!

Below are different compounds of the house. Looks interesting? It is really different to see and experience with your own eyes! Especially the toilet!

Of course, I couldn't or wouldn't even stop to take a picture of it. You basically go in, pinch your nose & run out quickly!

Before this trip, I was thinking between Paris, New Zealand or Maldives. The decision? I prefer a rough travel while still young, while Mr Gui prefers a relaxing by-the-pool trip. In the end, we decided on ChongQing which would be rough, and then round it up in Beijing which should be more relaxing. So scroll down for the rough part of the trip first.


So, today Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation's first black president! I remember we were stuck on CNN in Beijing, watching the Final debate in the room instead of heading straight to the Forbidden City as planned.

OK so this is the kitchen - but in a shophouse apartment. Not all homes look like this, this place just got renovated - I think my friend probably had to sponsor his in-laws in ChongQing.

And all these ladies cook a mean SzeChuan meal!

KJ's Grandmother Room - this is really In the Village


Classic! I just went whoaaaaa when I saw the room.

A Old & Healthy Couple

Out of the village photo collection, this was my favourite. Almost like a picture you will only see on TV probably back in the 70's.

Dining Room - with Cool Decoration


Just concrete - & some decorative infomative wallpaper stuck on the wall - not even aligned properly, but turns out to be a rather artistic corner.

Coal Powered Kitchen

Again another room where I couldnt believe my eyes. Check out the wok too.

A rare experience!

how about a simple life?

No lack of mahjong pals in the village.

Lets enjoy some nuts.

Lets get together and crack some nuts - again...

Fresh nuts grown from your own farm.

sometimes you have to think basic and simple. Life in the rural is so. Nut-cracking in ChongQing village seems like a national pastime to me. Delicious... as I cracked open each nut, although I was enjoying the moment - the cool air, staring into greens, I wonder how time can tick so slowly. I could almost notice the minutes that went by. At a workplace, you hardly have time to notice or appreciate how the hour flew by.

You know what? People in the rural look happy. They truely do. Never mind their clothings were not fanciful; nor the fact they look kinda dirty. They look worry-free, they dont care whether its going to be Obama or McCain, they have sufficient to eat just based on the vegetation and farm animals they have reared. My friend M gave S$50 to his father-in-law living in the village. His wife asked why so little. I thought M made a good point - "There's no need to be more since he will only spend it on beer and cigarettes." I mean - there isn't any other real wants that they needed.

Of course, life and pressure in the city is different. Anyway I have just learned about three other Wealth Buddhas.

Lakshmi - The Hindu Goddess of Prosperity.

Ganapati - widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles, patron of arts and sciences, and of intellect and wisdom.

Saraswati - Hindu Goddess of knowledge, music and all the creative arts. She is the mother of Manjurshri (Wisdom). Shifu says wisdom is very important. With wisdom, it brings about understanding.

Buddhism is based on the impermanence doctrine. Similarly, the economic prosperity is not permanent. Especially not permanent because F.I. comes up with innovative financial products that taps on people wanting more than they can afford to. I believe there are more damages to be witnessed...