Les Miserables, London

I think I have watched Les Miserable 3 times in London. One of my favourite past times in London is to hang around Leicester Square until late evening to shop and get half price ticket to Theater Shows. That is one of the reasons why I keep going back to London. The experience of watching actors on stage performing their role is very captivating. The stage designs are phenomenal, somewhat awestruck most of the time. You will understand why shows like this can run for 14 years with more than 200 performances in a year. Don't watch it, experience it, you will fall for the characters and plot. I love it!!

Charing Cross - books haven, London

Here, in the middle of Charing Cross, London, you will find big bookstores such as Foyles and across the street, Borders. Walk down the street, you will find rows and rows of bookshops offering all sorts of books. I usually will spend the whole day here. Walk down another road, turn the corner and you come to Soho and Leicester Square. But weather in London is very unpredictable. You see it is blue sky now, half an hour later, it drizzles. So, bringing umbrella with you wherever you go during winter is safest deal. Most times, felt so cold, my fingers numbed, so, there is another reason why I run into a bookshop - heater!!

Wandering in London

I like to wander in London downtown. Especially when you are looking for books, all sorts of books - go to Charing Cross. It is one way of going through good bargains for old, out of print books. Also, you will find to your delights, books at better bargains. I have been to London so many times and yet I keep on going back. Just walking on the streets feel like home. Is it because I was brought up reading Enid Blyton? Remember The Secret Seven meeting with tea and muffins, and the George's (Georgina's, she likes being a boy, so she likes to be called George) dog, what's its name? And I read Agatha Christie's so many writings, I immerse in its settings too.

Exciting Food Eatery, MaBoonKong, Bangkok

Now, one thing I really don't understand. What did our Malaysian govt do with our signature Malaysian foods? This food eatery in MBK shopping mall, Bangkok, featured so many countries' cuisine. They have Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian etc, and Singapore........wa-lau-eh, Singapore wok-mee???? I walked around trying to find Malaysian's satay, nyonya food or even our humble Penang laksa - NOT listed. Hmmmm........good, now it is my opportunity to introduce Malaysian foods to the world. Next time, you will see pictures of Bak Kut Teh, Sarawak laksa, Penang laksa and our very own food "fare". Lets get together to give the world what we have - great food-love affair!!

Lovely Italian dessert in Bangkok

Wow, didn't I tell you? Drooooling already - yeah? I loved the souffle at MBK shopping mall. They baked it as ordered, so it came hot, crispy and fragrant straight from the oven. And I chose to sit at the counter to eat rather than finding myself a table at the eatery. Beautiful and chic place, must go. Moreso, MBK has probably one of the cheapest goods you can find in Bangkok, moreover, it is air-conditioned, shop in the comfort. Go....!!

Sweet Souffle, Bangkok

I was in MBK (I think it is short for MaBoonKong) shopping mall, Bangkok. It was one of the most modern and sophisticated eating outlets I have been. As you walk in, there are 2 beautiful Thai girls handing you a "credit card" with 2,000 baht to spend. All the eatery counters here are very well lit and each has an LCD screen where your purchases are punched in and your "credit card" is credited with the food your ordered. After your makan, you walk out of the place where there are cashiers, then you pay what is on the computer screen when they insert your "credit card" into the slot. Cool-eh?? I am having souffle with Italian coffee, this is an Italian dessert joint.

Breathtaking Machu Picchu, Peru

This is Machu Picchu, Peru. A very breathtaking site. Firstly, air is thin, secondly, this has tropical climate, just like the mountains in Malaysia, even the vegetation here is montane forest, not like the dry and desert sand type the rest of Peru has. Strangely, this is the only place in Peru that I can wear bermuda pants and walk in sandals.

Lima, Peru

This is a shopping mall built on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Very modern design and sell all sorts of things from local art and craft. Beautiful cafes and eateries. In Peru, I learnt to eat Quinoa, an ancient grains that are full of protein. I get it now from KL and cook vegetable soup with it - lovely!!

Best Pizzas, Cusco, Peru

This was in Cusco, Peru. I had the best pizzas, soups and the best-in-the-world guacamole. On the table are maze (huge big kernel, as big as my thumb), asparagus soup and guacamole - big chunks of onion, one big thick splatter of avocados, a generous squeeze of lemon juice, then eat it with huge pieces of tachos. And enjoy it with great friends, Debra and Teri.

Arles, Southern France - Vincent Van Gogh

This is a place in Southern France called Arles. Vincent Van Gogh was here for a short time during his sojorn, away from the maddening crowd. He drew the Night Cafe when he was here. His short stay here had created a history where people flock to Arles to visit the dormitory he was in. For Peter and I, we loved to eat so much, everywhere we went, we wanted to enjoy the food under the beautiful winter sun. Here we were at one of the outdoor cafes. I had frog legs and Peter had beef with pilaf rice. We had too much wines at Bordeaux, so we opted for a glass of water instead. It was lunch anyway, not wine all the time, we are still Malaysians.

Dinner in Lyon, France

This was in Lyon, France. Another wonderful dinner time. I ordered L'escargot and duck in duck fat. I think Peter had frai groa, I don't how it was spelt, but it was goose liver patte. We had wine for dinner, as usual, in France. Dinner costs about RM150 for 2 persons. Almost all the dinners cost about that much. Some even as much at RM200 per person. A set dinner for RM150 for 2 persons had starter, main course, dessert and a glass of wine. Very good price. To have such dinner for 10 days already cost RM1,500.00. Excellent foods and wonderful times!!! Yummy France!!

Group trekking in Peru

A group photo with the local villagers while trekking up to an ancient site in Peru - Oct 2005

Peru - a trekking sight to behold

Peru, trekking to one of the ancient sites - Oct 2005

Toastmasters Club - the highway to my lifestyle makeover

Joining Toastmasters Club was a decision I made 10 years ago because I wanted to tell stories to a ready audience. I learnt so much thereafter that I launched my career in training and events management. I am also now a much sought after corporate Master-of-Ceremonies.

I was only in employment for 5 years. In that 5 years of employment, I worked with 5 different companies. After that I started my interior design company and successfully managed it for 11 years. So, I have never attended a company's annual dinner, let alone knowing how corporate comapnies work.

But Toastmasters open up lots of opportunities for me to get a taste of corporate lives. Working with so many fun and loving corporate people was inspiring. I was KL2002 District 51 Toastmaters Annual Convention Chairman. The convention was held for the very 1st time in Kuala Lumpur after District 51 been in existence for 9 years. The convention attracted about 1,000 Toastmasters members from 15 different countries. In the process of organising the event, I learnt the most important lessons in loving people and leading a group of corporate highfliers to work harmoniously together.

It was a tediuos and a time-consuming 3-year planning process. We had about 20 main committee members comprising of MBA qualifiers, General Managers, Entrepreneurs, Doctor, Corporate Trainers and many more corporate highfliers. We broke into groups led by various Events Directors, such as Sponsorship Director, Workshop Director, Venue Director, Program Director and so on, for each event throughout the 3 day event. We had, at the end of the day, about 100 sub-committee members.

The end result was spell-binding, inspiring, life-changing for most of us, an event even other organisers talk about until today. To me, the learning experience catapulted me to discover my inner potential. The realisation of my innate talents was so strong, it eventually led me to give up my 11 years of Interior Design business.

From that day on, there was no looking back. I went on to take up challenges I knew I had but did not put them to good use. These 10 years in Toastmasters, I had so much fun playing exciting roles and building a reputation through them, eventually, I am paid handsomely in terms of professional fees. What roles did I pursue?

Acting in Astro's TV series

One of the expression I like was extending my acting and theatrical talents. I love theatrical plays and arty-movies for years. Whenever I am in London, which I was there for about more than 6 times now, I had never missed going to the musical and other broadway plays. So, when I saw the advertisement on Astro looking for new talents for their cantonese TV series, I jumped at the opportunity. I went for the audition where I had to memorise a script and acted it out. Then, they wanted me to talk to the camera for more than 5 minutes - no script, no preparation, no topic. The moment the director said go, I began talking. This was where my Toastmasters training came into play. Just like Table Topics Session in a Toastmaters regular meeting. I was so well rehearsed with Table Topics Session that when I was asked to speak to a camera, it just went off natually.

Finally, I got myself a profile with a production house which produces TV series for Astro. I got into playing many roles thereafter. I had played Doctors, Marketing Manager, Cusotmer etc. I really enjoyed acting in front of a camera. The best thing, I was paid for it.

Naturally, when we were planning an impersonation for a Toastmaters outing at Port Dickson last year, my team and I came up with a fun and daring idea. We chose to impersonate The Three Degrees gyrating to their tune "When Will I See You Again". The performance was so funny, I laughed throughout the rehearsal period. I laughed so much, I can't even move.

Oh yes, the bra was real (what cup-ah? I don't know, but it fits), the high heel shoes were real, the skirt was real. The best thing was, I had so much fun. And everyone did, they told me they laughed until their bellies hurt.

Master of Ceremonies for corporate funtions

These 10 years in Toastmaters, I had raised my hand to volunteer for many functions and events in Toastmasters Clubs up to the District level that I improved my MC abilities. I am so experienced and I learnt so much from my MC engagement that I had been conducting workshops to teach everyone how to excel as an MC.

I began emcee-ing in Toastmasters for free. Most of the functions and events in my club and at District level, I sometimes head the team, or I was one of the trainers, or I was the MC. Imagine that I had spoken in front of so many audiences, and because I am so good and so experienced, naturally there will be a General Manager or a CEO or a Talent Search Expert in the audience. That was how I was "picked up". Initial years I had been doing it for free for organisations such as Malaysian Nature Society, Toastmasters Clubs etc. As I grew to be a professional, I was being paid starting at only RM200.00. Then, companies began to offer me more. So, I began to know my "worth" and my "market value". Now I am offered RM1,000 for each engagement. Some launching events only required me to be on stage from 10am - 12noon, I am paid the same.

And I thank you all for the offers, I am so fortunate be able to serve you all.

I did not, in my slightest test of my will, expected to take up MC professionally. Thanks to Toastmasters, I am now a full fletch professional MC and a much sought after one.

My advice to all, find out more and go join Toastmasters, you will unveil your inner talents - and networking is fun and great in Toastmasters too!!

As Corporate Trainer

I never, in my waking hours, had the inclination to be a Trainer. The funny thing was, I asked my friend, who is a Consultant (Trainer) what he does actually. Then he went on to explain what a Trainer and a Consultant do, then I just left it as it is.

Now I am one. Thanks to Toastmasters.

It is a natural progress when I began giving presentations to so many people and organisations. Initially, it all started for free. Then, when I took one year sabbatical, corporations began to call me and offer me training contracts. So, like MC job, I started off by accepting offers that paid me only RM700.00. But there was so much joy and satisfaction.

Eventually, it built up to be a profession I can also work at. I had, in the past 5 years, since going pro, trained personnels from these corporations - MIMOS, AMI Insurance, Barber International, SBB Mutual, Extra Excel International etc.

I am now leading an exceptional life, thanks to Toastmasters.

An Exceptional Life, indeed!

This is the way I live my life now. My full-time business in freeze dried fruits & vegetables is running very well. I am able to exercise my talents fully. I don't know what I am going to do next, but it will be an explosion, no doubt!!

Cest la vie and seize the day!!

P.S. I am a member of D'Utama Advanced Toastmasters Club, check our activities

Nepal - knowing that all is good

I had been travelling to so many places alone. All I went without knowing what my itineraries were. And they turned out to be the best days of my life. Now I know that I cannot not know what I want - only when I truly allow, then I will be given. Just like the mystical journeys I had when I was backpacking in India.

I was taking a 24-hour train ride from the border of Pakistan, after taking a bus down from Dharamsala (Dalai Lama's place in exile) to Gorakhpur, the border town into Nepal. While on the train, I was in their 3rd class seat. As you know, it is tough to get on a 3rd class coach in India and you hardly can get a seat, let alone a place to lie flat. But I was lucky, I had the "luxury" of laying down my tired body on a bench, I did not know why so few were occupying the seats that day. I was so tired, I could hardly think, so I slept. When I awoke in the middle of the night, I found a magazine laying there by my side. More strange is to find an English magazine on a 3rd class coach. I flipped through it anyway and read about Lumbini - Buddha's birthplace. Now, I had to tell you that I did not know that Lumbini was Buddha's birthplace when I stepped into New Delhi airport. In fact, I hardly knew India then. As usual, when I travel, I only know where the plane is going to land, then the rest I leave it all to .......hmmm.....God? Universe? So, there I was, reading about Lumbini and discovering that it is a historical site. I changed my course when I crossed the border, instead of taking an 8-hour bus to Kathmandu, I went straight to Lumbini, which is about 1-hour bus ride away. But I was literally taken for a ride. When I got on the bus at 5am, I was told that the bus will go into Lumbini, but when I reach the junction to turn into Lumbini at 6am, I was asked to get down, the bus conductor pointed to a small road and indicated to me in broken English that the bus was going to Kathmandu and I had to get down there to walk in to Lumbini which was about 3 km away. And mind you........it was winter, temperature felt like 10 celsius, it was 6am, dawn just broke. I can't argue in a foreign country (I tried that in Vietnam, I still couldn't get through to Cambodia and I got turned back to Ho Chi Minh........well, that was another adventure...), so I flung my 75liter Karrimor backpack to my back and strapped my smaller carry-on in front of my chest, I stuffed my hands in it to keep them warm and walked head-on into the unknown. The road was narrow and the visibility was only about 10 feet. The entire place was shrouded in mist. I looked to my left and to my right, it was a mangrove swamp with mangrove trees shredding their leaves leaving them bare to look like arms reaching out to pluck my eyes right out of their sockets. But such scene did not disturb me, I clutched on tighter to my rucksack, not because of fear but of the cold. I walked on. After nearly 30 minutes, I still saw no one, the quietness was peaceful, sort of ringing in the ears. I did not know why, I felt safe. I continued to walk and it was getting slightly brighter. I saw a silhouette figure of a man after a bridge but I wasn't sure, he was not moving at all. When I got nearer, he began to move ahead, I was so relieved, I finally found someone to ask for direction. He told me he was going there too - to open his shop, he sold food to passers-by. We walked for quite a distance, he showed me where his shop, he was kind to cook me some food and after paying him, I asked for permission to leave my big backpack at this shop while I walked around the place.

There was hardly anyone awake yet, except a group of Tibetan novice monks doing their cleaning in silence. I walked pass them, smiled and went on my way. I sat on a bench marvelling at the pond where Maha Maya (Prince Siddharta's mother) took a bath before giving birth to baby Siddharta. It was still misty, and so early, only at a distance, I heard the clinging sound of a bicycle chain rolling out a hardworking soul, that was all. The place was quiet, not a sound - just for me!? I listened, then I felt it, it was a sense of returning and capturing the essence that a great divine person was born here 3,000 years ago. I wept. Uncontrollably, tears kept washing down my cheeks. I let them.

The experience was more of spirit than of body. I could not explain why that I had turn up at a place where I did not know it existed. I did not even know that Lumbini was Prnce Siddharta's (Gautama Buddha) birthplace...........but then, without having prepared for it, I was led there. I just say Thank You!

Likewise, for the trekking to a remote place in Nepal. I just sat there because the price to pay for a week-long trek to Annapurna range was expensive. So, I did not know what else to do, I just sat there under a tree and wonder....... one young man approached me and told me that there was a prettier trek somewhere else which is 3 hours bus ride away from Pokkhara. He said he will take me there for a small fee and I had to hike for at least 2 days to reach the place. I believed him. It turned out that he took me to his house on top of a mountain which is 7,000 feet above sea level. We trekked a lot, staying at teahouses along the way. Strangely, it became the best and most enjoyable part of my trip in Nepal. If I hadn't sat there and waited for the universe (God) to arrange for me, I would have planned it with my physical mind and would have missed all the goodness of the trip. Look at the photos above, weren't they breathtaking?

The best part of my life was not planned with my physical mind, I invited God in and allowed the whole universe to conspire to make all good things happen to me - and I venture into life with love as my guide, light as my path - and so it is, Amen!!

Top pic : I was on the roof of the bus taking picture of people on the roof of another bus. It was a funny sight. It was even funnier when I need to scramble down the roof because in front was police check-point. Then, the bus passed the check-point, all the Nepalese will climb on top again, then all helped each other to get up including giving me a hand and pulled me up again.

Middle pic : I was on my way huffing and puffing for a 2-day climb to the guide's home at 7,000 feet above sea level. It was exhilirating yet so breathtaking.

Bottom pic : Met 2 beautiful villagers asking me in Nepalese where I come from, I got it interpreted and the old lady smiled. The sun shone onto the plains and got her face, so peaceful!

Lifestyle - Trekking up Mount Sinai, Eqypt

I was in Eqypt backpacking in the year 1999. That was the time I took 1 year sabbatical. So, I thought I will want to cover as many of the 7 wonders of the world as possible. The pyramids of Giza happens to be one of the 7 wonders.

For the past 18 years, I have enjoyed myself at the foot of some of the world's greatest sites, (there are many more, in the meantime, this is the list) :

• The Great Wall of China
• Angkor Wat in Cambodia
• Taj Mahal in India
• Eiffel Tower in Paris
• Niagara Falls in America
• Grand Canyon in America
• Stonehenge in England
• Machu Picchu in Peru
• Nasca Lines in Peru
• Mount Fuji in Japan
• The Red City in Jordan
• The Blue Mosque of Turkey
• The Parthenon in Greece
• Fatima, Portugal
• Lourdes, France
• Cape of Good Hope in South Africa
• The Serengeti wilderness in Kenya
• Prince Siddharta's birth place, Lumbhini, Nepal
• Rocky Mountain, Canada
• Sydney Opera House, Australia
• Mount Cook & Milford Sound, New Zealand
• Picasso-Sammlung, Der Stadt, Luzern, Switzerland
• The original Picasso paintings in Madrid, Spain
• The hanging graves in Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Sun Moon Lake, Tai-Chung, Taiwan
• Cheju Island, Korea

I happen to browse through some of my photo collection and found 2 pictures of my trek up Mount Sinai (or Mount Moses, as some would call it.) Apparently, the massif rock face of Mount Sinai looked like the place where Moses parted the Red Sea, crossed it and received the 10 commandments.

As usual, I don't know there exist a Mount Sinai in Eqypt. It was the first trip oversea that I bought the Lonely Planet. I bought the book about travelling in Eqypt because I wanted to read about the Temples and the Palaces to get a better understanding of its structures and its history. So, I read about Mount Sinai when I was in a renowned seaside resort town, Hurghada. This is a place where the Europeans will spend their summer vacation or to escape from the cold of the winter months. You will get to see many European tourists flying directly into Hurghada for sea sport, the attraction here is of course, diving in the Red Sea. The Red Sea has one of the richest marine sites in the world, that makes it one of the best diving spot too.When I was in Hurghada, I have 2 ways to go to Mount Sinai. One is to go back to Cairo, by bus, it will take me a whole day. Or cross the Red Sea into Shal-al-Sheikh, a little town hitch at the bottom of the Sinai peninsula. And to cross the Red Sea, I can either take a fast catamaran or a slow 4 engine (or was it less??) fishing boat. Of course, I chose the cheaper version - the fishing boat. I think it cost me less that USD10.

That turned out to be my worst boat trip ever - it almost went down with the wave!!!

It was blue skies and expectedly, everything nice. No clouds in sight. Yes, it was a true blue yonder. I di not rain for months, so having blue skies is normal. So, that being true, I hopped on the boat and went a sailing. Never have I imagined that the sea can be so rough under a deep blue sky.

The waves slapped the boat so hard, it rocked the boat to cut the sea upwards, then slid back like being sucked into the ocean but because of its bouyancy, bounced back strongly to repeat the pendulum swing. I could not even balance myself. So, I lied down on the bench, closed my eyes. All the acids in my stomach was already churning out the gas, so strong it pushed pass my gallbladder to reach my throat. I shivered in its pungent regurgitation, the feeling reached the tip of my tongue. But nothing was thrown out, instead I swallowed back the air that almost escaped my tightly clenched teeth. I was in a state of twirling nauseaness, I could not open my eyes to see. I thought if anything happen to the boat, I will sink into Napolean's cuddle.

I laid in that position unmoved, suffering from acute stomach discomfort and distorted mental condition. I thought this will be my last trip. I stayed there feeling like forever. When was it going to reach the shore of Sharm-al-Sheikh. I think the boat swung in the Red Sea for more than 4 hours. Until to my relieave, I heard screams of seafarers calling for the dock. I still kept my eyes closed, worrying that if I opened them, my stomach will pour out from my mouth in one gulp-full.

Finally, I passed through a check point, got my rugsack. I took a van to a place called St Katherine in the middle of a (what would you expect?) desert. It was a small little place, probably only a few hundred people lived here. There were bunkers built of clay and mud but with uneven plastered white wall.

I entered. There were no beds but a row of mattresses on an elongated concrete slab. It was dusty. People there were mostly locals who are staying a night, then move on in their journey.

It was quite an early morning, so I thought I will leave my backpack there while I look around, have my breakfast and try to find out where Mount Sinai is situated. While I was having breakfast, I checked the location and found out that I can go up and come down and back to town, all in a day. Great, I thought. I might as well carry all my things with me, since it is going to be so easy, I will come back before dusk and take the next ride out of this small village to a more decent dorm eslewhere.

I swing my rucksack on my shoulder and started to walk towards the direction to Mount Sinai.

There are only 2 ways to go up to the summit, one is : take a ride on a camel,  or two : Walk. I chose to walk. I am a very experience trekker anyway. It took about 3 hours - all the way up. There were no trees, not a single plant, only some little shoots that found their growing place in the huge massif fiery rocks. So, don't expect to look at greens, there are none. All the way, I see only brown and earth-red tone. Some treks are slippery, not because there is water, there are lots of loose stones and rocks, so when my legs were weary and wobbly, once I stepped on them, I lose my balance. To be careful with my 10kg rucksack, I walked slowly and took rest as and when I wanted to. I have all the time in the world anyway.

It was an exhilarating trek. Many times, awe-inspiring. The massif face really looked like the place where the lightning strikes and chiseled out the Ten Commandments, I could imagine Moses, with its unwavering robe flapping with the strong wind, reached out and collected God's words. The more I looked, the more I felt the great power beyond any human condition that made all these possible. Using John Lloyd Stephens words : "among all the stupendous workds of nature, not a place can be selected more fitting for the exhibition of Almighty power".

On the way up to the summit, I came to a depression, while I stand in-between the depression, I could see what is called Elijah's hollow. Here is where Elijah heard God's voice. The little chapel is about 30 feet below where I stood, so it looked like a valley.

From here I continued to walk, I took a much longer time because I was enjoying every minute of it. So, after almost 7 years, I could still recall the details.

I reached the summit after nearly 3 hours of walking. At the peak, there stood a small chapel. It was locked. There were just a handful of tourists who came up by taking the camel-ride. There was a small little zinc-roof make-shift shop selling mineral water and chocolate bars, manned by a small boy who also slept there.

After a few hours, dusk sets in. I didn't have the intention of going down to the village to stay the night, so looking at the sky, which is miles and miles of blue sky without a single cloud, I decided to sleep at the summit - all alone!!

I walked down a little from the chapel, took a turn at a rock face and came to an opening that overlook the ravine that roll down to the base which is more than 1,000m below where I stood. As I looked down, it was dark and far. The wind that swept up from the base into the ravine swoosh and push up a gush that turns into a strong breeze that I could feel playing with my hair. I chose a protruding rock face that was reliably flat, but I know if I roll over, I will fall over too. But that was the best spot to spend the night. The setting sun over the massive rock face, in its crimson bright glow, was too beautiful and enchanting that it oveshadowed all these possible fears.

I did not have anything to eat except some bars of chocolate because I was not prepared to sleep at the summit. I only had my sleeping bag, good for tropical jungle. I was lucky I packed my jumper along. So, I stretched out my sleeping bag, put on my track bottom, cover myself as cosy as possible to keep myself warm..........then, the most amazing scene unfold right in front of me............I looked up and saw the moon illuminated the sky. It came on immediately after the sun set. Because there was not a single cloud in sight, it was shining so brilliantly bright, I could see everything, I don't even need to turn on my torch. That was the most thrilling scene I have ever experienced in my trekking life. And I need to cover my eyes with my eye-mask to sleep, imagine how bright the moon was. Mount Sinai was just amazing!!! Never mind the empty stomach, never mind no shower, never mind no toilet, all these experiences were enough to cleanse the physical body and raise the illuminated soul.

That was an experience I cherished, what a way to live, wasn't it?

And if you happen to be there, do go into St Catherine Monastery, which is at the base of the mountain. You will see the Moses's Burning Bush, Moses's Well, and many artifacts of this church which dates back to 337AD.

My life is so blessed, all the time, all day long. In grace and gratitude, I say "Thank You".

Lets do more.................I am ready and I receive!!

Lifestyle - watching sunrise on Mt Kinabalu

"My profession is always to be alert, to find God in nature, to know God's lurking places, to attend all the oratorios and the operas in nature." Henry David Thoreau

I was an avid trekker for many years. We trekked to many densed forests in Malaysia photographing lots of beautiful sceneries and waterfalls. We trekked almost every weekend, so it was like trekking 40 times in a year. There are only 7 mountains in Peninsular Malaysia that are 7,000 ft about sea level. They are :

1. Gunung Tahan 7,174 ft
2. Gunung Korbu 7,162 ft
3. Gunung Yong Belar 7,156 ft
4. Gunung Gayong 7,129 ft
5. Gunung Chamah 7,121 ft
6. Gunung Yong Yap 7,110 ft
7. Gunung Ulu Sepat 7,089 ft

I had trekked them all.

And since I had traversed the Peninsular, I will also do East Malaysia. So, I had covered many parts of Sabah and Sarawak, including the interiors and the beautiful seafront villages. The ultimate destination is of course Mount Kinabalu (13,455 ft). I had gone up 3 times to its summit. I had also trekked up the 2nd highest mountain in Sabah, ie Gunung Trusmadi (7,795ft).

My aim of going up mountains is not to reach the summit, touching the summit is incidental. My major satisfaction derived from camping and trekking in the wilderness is the feeling of Oneness with nature - I AM nautre, I AM light, I AM.

How could I describe looking at myself in every dew drop on a hanging bunch of montane growth? How could I explain how I feel when clouds passed through my body and leave me a stench of its rain? Or how could I explain camping and sleeping on a sheet in a 150 million-year-old forest infested with leeches yet survived the bite - with a smile? How could I even let you listen to the wind which carries messages from thousands of miles in the wake of dawn? These feelings are feelings of a child. How could an adult understand them? So, friends often asked me what I do when I trek in the wilderness for 10 days? or won't I get mucked? (by what? who?) or what do I do when the forest is dark at night?

Oh....... I am tired, not of trekking, but of answering such adult questions. I just know that I am here to play, to feel, to thank and just to BE -- I am not here to do.

I had, for 15 adventurous years of my life, enjoyed my connection with nature at its purest, simplest and funniest!

Shanghai - Lifestyle is working joyfully and peacefully

"Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results." James Allen, As A Man Thinketh


I started my business in Interior Design. I worked at it for 11 years, we did very well. I had the time and I was financially sound to realise my dream - to travel around the world. But yet something stirred inside me that I felt like an oaktree used only to make chopsticks. That was a real waste.
I was potentially underused. Although I was very good in sales and having really good PR closing many contracts, I still felt there was something wrong. That feeling was more intense when I started to wake up at 8am then dragged myself to work at 10.30am. The feeling of such negativity actually had to do with debt collection. It hindered my creativity, and I wasn't myself, I felt trapped, not free. I got to get out, lest I will die in my youth. I knew I have another 40 or perhaps 60 more years to live and I didn't want to live a single day without zest. I called it quits after 11 years. I took one year sabbatical. I had so much time to myself I travelled to Eqypt and the USA, I polished up my culinary skills, I exercised more and I did a lot of work as the Area Governor for Toastmasters Clubs. That was my most profound discovery of myself. Amazing as it turned out, I found that I was given more opportunities to express my inner potential. That was when I found a business in a product which is truly universal - the Science of Nutritional Immunology. As I progress these 5 years, I begin to know that doing a successful business can be Rich and Free, best of all I learnt about being healthy. As I soared in great success, I realised that I can even share this success with my other Rich Partners. These photos were taken in Shanghai where my Rich Partners enjoyed the trip with me - Vivian, Pat, Mui Seng and Cyndy. We had a really great time savoring Shanghai delicacies and ultimately shopping stole the limelight. Life now is incredibly satisfying and truly FREE!!

South Africa - Lifestyle is camping at Krueger National Park

"Wherever you live is your temple, if you treat it like one." Buddha

I started my overseas travel when I was 20 years old. I had joined local tour agencies and most of my travel, I did them all alone - backpacking. I have the time to be in a country sometime as long as one month. After joining a tour to Kenya, I just could not get enough of the wilderness - the Serengeti plains kept whispering in my ears, ringing tones of serenity and the sounds of vast emptiness. Sitting alone watching the sun sets over the arcacia trees, with silence whispering into my soul and sensing the Lion's yawn amidst the bushes, the experience was spellbound. Holding on to these memories, just 2 weeks before Chinese New Year in the year 1999, I boldly booked a flight ticket to Johannesburg, South Africa. I did not have any details at all about the country and I didn't have an itinerary (as usual). I just knew that when I arrived, I will find my way. My lifestyle is purely based on faith and trust. Having faith that everything will be taken care of and having trust that whatever happens, it's for my own good. So, there I was camping in Krueger National Park, having met wonderful buddies - 2 girls from Australia and 1 from England. The guy seated next to me was our South Afircan driver and guide. We camped along the way. I had a great time sleeping under the stars and waking up to see elephants playing in the water and hippos, as always, submerged in the lake with only their tiny eyes and little nostrils on the surface of the water. ( Top picture - giraffe crossing the road, so we got to stop to take a picture. Bottom picture - we were having dinner, our guide cooked us the meals too.)

At an ancient castle at Hampi, met with some teachers with cute and playful students.