Land of Smiles (again) and Giggles

(clearing my draft folder, Thailand weekend getaway was in later part of 2008)

I went back to the land of smiles with my co-ASEAN team (whatever!) and it was fun! Yeah, it would be lovelier the second time around.

The first time I went there was in September just thinking for a nice weekend getaway and I was missing my Jie jie. Voila, I got to hectic sked to fit my two days visit then....my Jie jie's effort was worth it. But my satiety was far from the brim and I wanted more, more more!!! Good thing the gang planned a quick one and set everything smoothly, thanks to our Brazilian guy boss....

Tree Top Walk....the second time around

Reposting, second time around happended in 2009 for PSG team building actity, clearing my draft folders.happy reading

I did it again, I have made my second Tree Top Walk. For some it could be as normal as doing its weekly jog routine but not for me as I am a self-confessed acrophobic.

Just to give some insights on on the Tree Top walkway, its a free-standing suspension bridge spanning Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang, the two highest points in MacRitchie. Its very close to nature as long-tailed macaques (monkeys) are so carefree to mingle with people. You breathe with nature and you need to breathe fast, I am speaking for myself. 

Zumba.... latest fitness craze!!

I am so into Zumba :) That makes my Tuesday extra-special as I look forward for our weekly session. The fast rhtyhm, the exhilarating footworks, the sweat and the calories rolled into one.

Ever wonder how Zumba started? Well it started in mid 90s when a fitness instructor Beto Perez, a native Columbia, was teaching an aerobics class but forgot his normal music, so instead improvised with his own personal tapes he had in his bags. This was the music he had grown up with of salsa and meringue.

Beto moved to the United States and started teaching Zumba classes in Miami Florida. The students loved it and these classes soon became extremely popular with news of the Zumba classes spreading quickly via word of mouth. Soon after via a students mother Beto met her son Alberto Perlman and his fellow entrepreneur Alberto Aghion.The three Albertos agreed to work together to establish the Zumba Fitness company, registering the trademark for the word Zumba® and putting in place a plan to establish it as a global brand. There you go - that started that craze that's rocking folks around the globe.

But is it just for dancers? I don't think so. Being a cardio exercise will not require a seamless pairs of dancing feet, so long as you are able to identify right and left then it should be just fine. You have to move the groove as if no one is watching so you can take full advantage of the cardio and enjoy the fun!!

A significant ex

Is there such thing as significant ex? The ex defined itself as past so it should not play a major role in my current life. Duh! Better said than done, I have tried this a hundred times but there still a part of me longing to connect to my past. I know I must face someone as life is short to waste it on wishful thinking.

 The conversation should be about work – reminiscin’ on how we are passionate of keeping our audit working papers neat and presentable to our seniors, without even thinking the tons of To Dos as substance over form matters during review; how our bonus changed our pagers to Ericsson mobile phones and keeping a close track of taxi and OT claims for a hope to upgrade to a Nokia model; and most of all what’s ahead of our careers. For xx years of not keeping in touch, we have so much things to share.

We can chat about health, how’s the grade of his eyes or any plan of Lasik, or is he more health conscious and indulging to organic. I can share I can run 10km and more, in fact signed up for a half-marathon this November.

Of course, our kids should be the star of the discussion – with eyes beaming with pride I can see him sharing how smart her kid is, well I am damn proud of my fab 4.

Maybe share a little about our spouses, errr just not to make the situation awkward - about their respective jobs maybe.

Most of all, its about friendship - which means we can just talk anything under the sun. What made him special and indeed significant was once he was a very trusted and reliable friend. As someone who understood my unspoken words and accepted the real me behind the facade. That made him remarkable in my life – he was my bestfriend before anything else. I am not sure how far I can go to keep that friendship, but I wish him happiness and peace of mind even without me.

There you go my wishful thinking. 

Work Life Balance

For corporate slave mentioning work life balance concept is a taboo, how much to yearn for it. It's may Usually work really is on a primitive concept, you stop only when you are done and that includes lavishing on your desk on midnights and working on weekend.

But being a working mom is a constant juggle between working hard and at the same time having your life back. A comment from my youngest son struck me that he was happy I was working from home on weekend, happy that I were around on weekend even if I were working. I was so insensitive that I was blatantly working on few weekends. That brought the idea that his mom was on like 7/11 except I could bring merchandise back home.

I started with my stringent rules of no pc from 6-9pm weeekday and whole day on weekend unless its necessary and not due to some itch of opening my outlook and read few emails. I may start to worry and ruin my precious weekend with my family.

And my manager's strategy is damn right - start your week by planning what you want to accomplish on the next 5 days and what are the key deliverables. Stop jumping to your mails and shoot them back as if I was on a race, literally. Also the recent workshop that asked us to identify high to low value did make a lot of sense. Monday mood can just bring me into circles on sorting out low value activities, what a waste.

Indeed work life balance is such a heaven's term for me but sinking into it is a challenge.

Maundy Thursday at work

Spending holy week away from home makes me reminisce how I was raised in a closely-knit Christian community, as I may say lucky to humbly re-live the holy week. It begins with the weather where its very humid and mostly folks will respond 'kasi mahal na araw na', its more of spending holy week during Summer so it gaves sun the license to spread those scorching heat generously to everyone. It is followed by what sacrifice one needs to offer, the Creator offered his son, a meal or two is nothing.

Let me end this blog saying Maundy Thursday remindes us to love with humility by serving one another and to remember his sacrifice :)

happy 2012

Glad to grab a chance to blog something and it's happy 2012 :) celebrated just infront of Marina Bay with half of the population of the red dot ..... It's amazing for my entire family, fireworks were just surreal. I am not sure if having kids made my heart forever young that I can spell that as a h-a-p-p-i-n-e-s-s :))