Remembering Toro

Remembering the times when you came into the household,
mischievous and naughty,
refusing to keep yourself confined in the kitchen by climbing over the fence each time

when you stole a whole piece of chicken chop right in front of me
sleeping on top of the laundry
barking at every reunion dinner, to ensure you get your fair share

biting off my bag strap when you were young and teething
shitting all over my bed and room when you were sick
climbing out of the windows 3-4 times, giving us a scare
and biting us whenever we try to cut your nails

Sorry
that you had to pass away at the clinic without us by your side
for the fracture leg when you were young because of me
for punishing you, sometimes excessively

Thank you Toro
for welcoming me home at the door each time without fail
even if I been away for 3-4 months a couple of times
for bringing so much laughter
and accompanying me in times of loneliness

Thank you for spending all your life with us
Thank you for all your love and attention
Thank you for all the memories

I will miss you.. I already do..

Love you.

Was looking at my blog the other day, when I realised I need to update my bucket list.
I actually done a couple more things in the past month, getting to Old Trafford to catch ManU live! And finally got to Ireland after seeing the beautiful place in PS I Love You.

Lucky enough to catch Giggs play his last competitive match too, before he retire =)

The One

http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/bill-murray-crashes-bachelor-party-gives-awesome-speec-1581953280


"If you have someone that you think is The One, don't just sort of think in your ordinary mind, 'Okay, let's pick a date. Let's plan this and make a party and get married,'" he said. "Take that person and travel around the world. Buy a plane ticket for the two of you to travel all around the world, and go to places that are hard to go to and hard to get out of. And if when you come back to JFK, when you land in JFK, and you're still in love with that person, get married at the airport."

Sometimes I feel like I am at a crossroad, one that I have been around for almost 2 years, without knowing where to go. If only decisions are easier to make, clearer to see, life would be so much simpler.

Was at the dentist the other day, lying on the bed with my mouth wide open, starring into space while the dentists was doing her job, when it dawns on me that, there's no way she would have grown up aspiring to be a dentist.

I guess that's the same for most of us too.


Just some random rambling..

Reads

A couple of good reads from the same writer:

http://markmanson.net/surviving-my-20s

http://markmanson.net/10-life-lessons-excel-30s

Im kinda of lost right now.

2 Weeks

It's been 10 long years, since I left the place. Spent the last 2 weeks back at the place, certain things have changed, certain things still remain the same. It's like a walk down memory lane, chatting with my fellow ppl, reminiscing the things that happened in the past, memories that ties us together. In our free time, we chatted about everything under the sun, even though we were complete strangers at the start of the 2 weeks.

At the end of it, I'm glad that it's ending too. The inactivity is causing my mind to switch off, brain cells that might deactivate permanently. On the other hand, it's a weird feeling to part from the company. 

It will be another year before I reacquaint with those people again.

Limitations vs Potential

Was at my unit nsmen day, where they showed this video of a motivational speaker by the name of Les Brown. I was probably one of the few watching the video attentively, and one of his words struck me.

We live in a world where we are always told of our limitations, but not of our potential. 

This is so true in many aspects. It was also a point brought out by my big boss when he was in town, that he was tired of people telling him what he cannot do. And he brought up another point:

SOS, Same Old Story

If you do the same things, you can almost expect the same results. If you want to see changes, you have got to make the changes yourself first. But most people will only moan and groan, moan and groan.

I do not want to fall into that category of people.

http://diane-writes.com/

Was reading this blog recently, I thought it's a well-written piece, a year in review by the author. 

http://diane-writes.com/2013/12/31/2013-what-a-difference/

Sometimes I wish I can write as well too, with well articulated thoughts being put into words that give it a deeper meaning. Some bloggers, like Diane, have the ability to write pieces that's thought provoking. At times, it feels they managed to put into words what you been feeling all these while. 

There's one particular quote she shared which meant alot in this facebook age: 

Steven Furtick once said,

“The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.”

New Year Resolutions

Been a tad late in everything, even in making new year resolutions.

Time have become such a precious commodity that, after resisting taking cabs for the longest time, I have been taking it pretty often these days.

Anyhow, this is going to be a different different year (which reminds me, I'm going back camp for the first time ever). It's pointless to make resolutions now. I'm gonna just do it.

Just do it!

29 Things I did when I was 29

I'm a little late this time. A month late actually,  just cant seem to find the time to sit down n think.  There's just too many things going on, and whatever little time I have is spent on working on that little project of mine.

I started doing this a couple of years back, partly because I was inspired by a blog that I followed,  www.kennysia.com, and also it provided me with a recap of my past years. So here goes

1. Getting stung by a hornet, twice within the past year. The first one came as a early Christmas gift, giving me a swollen foot, losing $100 in e process n getting a jab in my butt. The second one hitting me on my inner thigh (I think im lucky on this one though, few cm higher and...)

It seemed the hardworking hornets just ain't happy about me slacking at home.

2. I went on a month-long trip to TW in January.

It's also one of the toughest trip, because public transport there is not exactly convenient there, but we still managed to get around. Thankful for knowing the little hokkien I have in my head too haa.. 

Sometimes I'm amazed at myself in finding directions.

3. Given the cycling culture of TW, I just had to do it. And so I spent a day cycling the southern tip of TW, around Hengchun to the east coast, down to Kenting, and back to Hengchun. Almost got blown off the bike from the strong winds from Pacific Ocean in the process. 

4. Ride a scooter in Taiwan, do what they do haa..  Ride an electric one in Kenting, and a motor one on Green Island.

5. Met some really nice people in Taiwan
- The hosts at Hengchun who made us really feel at home
- The park uncle at Taroko who made laminates of maple leafs and gave it to visitors
- The hosts at Hualien who brought us to buy medicine

6. Watched sunrise at Henghuangshan, and sunset at Alisan.

Sunset at Alisan

7. One of the perks of not working, is being able to spend a lot more time with my parents. I think I probably talk more to them in the past year than in the 5 years before. And I do miss the times at home now that I'm working. 

8. Went on a short trip to Penang with my parents. 

Another perk of not working, you can go overseas on short notice. My mum been wanting to go there since young, and I'm glad I am able to bring them there, and drive them around Penang. 

9. Went on several short trips with different group of friends. To KL twice, BKK twice and another time to Sibu Island. 

10. Having the time to finally work on the personal project. Hopefully I can double the numbers this coming year =)

11. Took Toro out a lot more often. There comes a point where you realise your best friend is not going to be around forever.

So cute! 

12. Went island-hopping in Singapore! Stepped foot for the first time ever, to Kusu island, Lazarus island, and St John Island. 

Found it amazing that Singapore still have such clear waters around.

13. Run my 3rd marathon, at Sundown. Disappointing timing though, but still an achievement to complete it.

14. Be a tourist in my own country. Visited Gardens by the Bay, RWS aquarium, River Safari, all during off peak hours when everybody else is working haa..

15. Watched the Hossan Leong show, after a year break. It's gonna be a yearly thing.

16. Yes I'm one of those who queued for it!! 

Add caption

17. Got back to work. Same old place, but the old gang is no longer around. Miss those people at work.

18. Went on Business trip to Shanghai, during my birthday. And worse still, got sick, and spent half the day resting in hotel on my birthday. -_-..

19.On another note, met up with a lot of friends there too =)

21. Went to Japan to spend Christmas and New Year. Didn't realise it's golden week there until after booking, but our fears about the crowds of closure were unfounded.
I guess nowhere is really crowded once you been to China before.

22. Nothing beats having Ippudo at it's source

Pure indulgence

23. Went on a trek between Magome and Tsumago.

Old Towns of Japan

24. Saw killer whales at the aquarium in Nagoya.
Amazing.. though it's still sad to see them in tanks.

25. Went to Universal Studios on a day before New Year eve, and totally regret. Who would have thought you would see waiting times like the below?? Seriously.. the worst buck spent ever, to go in there.

Crazy timings

26. Ate at a yadai stall in Fukuoka.

And made a fool of myself, trying to ask whether it's chicken meat, while mimicking the chicken with my elbows -_-...

27. Went back to the lengendary takoyaki stall after 6 years! 

28.  Made a trip to Nagasaki, one of the 2 cities devastated by the atomic bomb. 

War is one of those things you do not want to see in your lifetime.

29. Enjoyed one of the best onsen experience ever. 

If you are ever in Kyushu area, you have to go to Beppu. My previous onsen experience was in a small tub, but this place have much more. Indoor pool,  outdoor pool, waterfall, sauna, amd even a sand bath.