After working for eight weeks, it was great to go on holidays again. This time, hubby and myself booked budget air tickets to go to North Vietnam.
It was indeed a relaxing holiday after that eight weeks of hard work. We spent a total of eight full days not including the night we arrived and the morning we left for the air port.
We were completely satisfied with the hotel, which though small was clean and comfortable.Taking tours from the hotel was not advised by those seasoned travellers on the Internet. However, it turned out to be the right decision as we were satisfied with the tours to Halong Bay and Sapa.
There was ample chance to meet up with fellow travellers to exchange our experiences with one another. Particularly, it was interesting to befriend a French couple from Lyon,an English couple from England besides more acquaintances from other countries such as Australia, Germany and America.
The view at Halong Bay was exhilarating, especially the wonderful staclactites and staglamites at Surprise Cave and the calming effect of the Bay in the light drizzle.
We did a lot of walking at Sapa but the view of the highlands and terraces were inspiring.The overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai or old street was a memorable experience.The return journey seemed less smooth as the train felt as though its carriages were about to disintegrate completely!Memorable too was the happiness expressed by the Canadian sixty- two year old man who had come to Vietnam to meet his sweet heart whom he intended to marry soon. May the Lord bless their marriage.
The trip had been most educational too as we learnt more about the Vietnamese people who were ruled first by the Chinese then by the French.To gain her independence the country had gone through the long Vietnamese war.
Vietnam is still in the process of modernisation. Her people have to work very hard to survive and tourism is one avenue for the people to get out of the poverty cycle.
The water puppet at Hanoi was entertaining and the Vietnamese cuisine was comparable to the food that we eat at home.
The Vietnamese hotel staff pandering to the Westerners seemed disgusting at first till we put ourselves in their shoe and understand their reason for doing so. Once we adjusted our thinking, we were less judgemental and more loving towards these gentle Vietnamese who seek to delight their customers.
All in all, it has been a most wonderful holiday. The Hmong guide at Sapa is one of those whom I will not forget for her perseverance to learn English and enterprisingly looking forward to a better life for herself and her family. She is filled with hope for the future and I know that she will be successful with her perseverance and hard work.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Spiritual growth in the age of anxiety- Scott Peck
How can we live a rich and fulfilling life in a world fraught with stress and anxiety?
The greatest challenge is to learn how to deal with life's conflicts, problem and paradoxes to find true simplicity on the other side of complexity.
we need to be more aware both within ourselves and within society.
It is crucial that we learn to think with integrity, know the difference between good and evil and overcome narcissism to love and be loved as well as to live with paradox and accept consequences of our action and come to terms with dying and death.
We continue to learn and grow with the ultimate goal of perfecting our soul. It is only through the death of old ways that we make room for the birth of new ones.We see learning as an adventure and the stages of dying as important to the process of unlearning and new learning.
The greatest challenge is to learn how to deal with life's conflicts, problem and paradoxes to find true simplicity on the other side of complexity.
we need to be more aware both within ourselves and within society.
It is crucial that we learn to think with integrity, know the difference between good and evil and overcome narcissism to love and be loved as well as to live with paradox and accept consequences of our action and come to terms with dying and death.
We continue to learn and grow with the ultimate goal of perfecting our soul. It is only through the death of old ways that we make room for the birth of new ones.We see learning as an adventure and the stages of dying as important to the process of unlearning and new learning.
The redemption of Odysseus-Patrick Fitzhugh
The writer recalled how his father tried to read the story of Odysseus to him and his brothers.
Just as Odysseus, he was fighting against the unfair odds the world threw at him and doing his best to emerge with honour and family in tact. At that point of time however,the writer thought that Odysseus' weakness was his great ego and therefore he dismissed everything as hyperbole.His own trip to Italy brought him face to face with what the Mediterranean really is and not the picturesque calmness portrayed in travel books or as seen from above.
He realised what his father was trying to do in sharing the story of Odysseus.His father was trying to prepare him and his brother for the trials and hardships they would face one day. In his first-hand experience with the Mediterranean seen at close quarters, Odysseus had been redeemed and he understood what Odysseus and his own father had gone through in search for respite from their daily battle with life.
Just as Odysseus, he was fighting against the unfair odds the world threw at him and doing his best to emerge with honour and family in tact. At that point of time however,the writer thought that Odysseus' weakness was his great ego and therefore he dismissed everything as hyperbole.His own trip to Italy brought him face to face with what the Mediterranean really is and not the picturesque calmness portrayed in travel books or as seen from above.
He realised what his father was trying to do in sharing the story of Odysseus.His father was trying to prepare him and his brother for the trials and hardships they would face one day. In his first-hand experience with the Mediterranean seen at close quarters, Odysseus had been redeemed and he understood what Odysseus and his own father had gone through in search for respite from their daily battle with life.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Simple steps-10 things to create an exceptional life
Choose the right attitude
Tap your inner momentum
Transform your life with kindness
Welcome stillness in your life
Settle with the past and move on
Banish prejudice from your life
Take risk to a brighter future
Connect with a higher power
Put discipline on your side
Heed the call to leadership
Quotes:
Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound- Goethe
He that does good to another does good also to himself- Seneca
Never stop thanking
Put other people first
Pass grace along
Be your own person-get in touch with yourself and with God
Do good for no good reason
Tap your inner momentum
Transform your life with kindness
Welcome stillness in your life
Settle with the past and move on
Banish prejudice from your life
Take risk to a brighter future
Connect with a higher power
Put discipline on your side
Heed the call to leadership
Quotes:
Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound- Goethe
He that does good to another does good also to himself- Seneca
Never stop thanking
Put other people first
Pass grace along
Be your own person-get in touch with yourself and with God
Do good for no good reason
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Your bridge to a better future
Progress in life is not measured by security but by growth. Growth means taking risks as we will never get anywhere interesting by always doing the safe thing.
"You can't stay in the harbour and discover new worlds at the same time."
Life is a journey, a process. Everyday, we must deliberately make the effort to take a few steps, learn, grow and become better than we are today. The secret of our future is hidden in our daily routine.
There are three choices that we can make with things that bother us.
We can deal with it, get over it or learn to live with it.
When making choices, we must never lose sight of the big picture.If we can't see the forest for the trees, we will almost certain to get lost.
Some notable quotes:
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.- Marie Curie
The best medicine is to stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about other people.- Frederic Loomis
I must lose myself in action lest I wither in despair.- Alfred Lord Tennyson
I had the blues because I had no shoes, until upon the street I met a man who had no feet.- Harold Abbot
Talk to a man about himself and he will listen for hours- Benjamin Disaeli
When good men die, their goodness does not perish but lives though they are gone- Euripides
"You can't stay in the harbour and discover new worlds at the same time."
Life is a journey, a process. Everyday, we must deliberately make the effort to take a few steps, learn, grow and become better than we are today. The secret of our future is hidden in our daily routine.
There are three choices that we can make with things that bother us.
We can deal with it, get over it or learn to live with it.
When making choices, we must never lose sight of the big picture.If we can't see the forest for the trees, we will almost certain to get lost.
Some notable quotes:
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.- Marie Curie
The best medicine is to stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about other people.- Frederic Loomis
I must lose myself in action lest I wither in despair.- Alfred Lord Tennyson
I had the blues because I had no shoes, until upon the street I met a man who had no feet.- Harold Abbot
Talk to a man about himself and he will listen for hours- Benjamin Disaeli
When good men die, their goodness does not perish but lives though they are gone- Euripides
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Year End Reflections
As the year draws near to a close, it is time to ponder and reflect.It was only 365 days ago that I reflected on 2007 and made my New Year resolutions for 2008.
2008 has been a year of much happenings in terms of financial tsunamis, terrorist attacks and all the other unhappy events that made life difficult for many.
However, it is through difficult times that we sobre down and take account of our lives to seive out what is important and what is not.
I am fortunate to be comfortable in my financial circumstances, thanks be to God who watches over me.
It has been a year of commitments as well as constant reflections.Part time job takes up quite a large chunk of my time everyday but it is a matter of time as measured against remuneration.
Physically, I have time for qigong, swim, brisk walks and folk-dancing.Mentally, I have time to stimulate my brains with Sudoku, reading and writing.
Spiritually, I have my Daily Bread and teaching from His Word, as well as Bible Study Fellowship.
Emotionally, I have my family and friends to sustain me.
I have got to travel too to see the beautiful mountains, lakes, valleys created by the Almighty.
I have learnt to welcome stillness, enjoying everything that life has to offer.I delight in the simple joys of food, music, books and companionship, as well the moments of being alone. God has taught me to live in the present and appreciate all things around me.
His Word has so much wisdom in it that I wish all can gain from the lessons that He has so patiently set down to teach us.
Visiting church members, the elderly at home and in hospital has taught me the importance of patience and forbearance.God has given me the time and love to share the love that He has for us.
Soon it will be 2009.It will be another year of learning. God never fails if we only wait with patience and humility. May the new year give me the hunger for His Word and the wisdom to do His work and share His love and blessings with others.
2008 has been a year of much happenings in terms of financial tsunamis, terrorist attacks and all the other unhappy events that made life difficult for many.
However, it is through difficult times that we sobre down and take account of our lives to seive out what is important and what is not.
I am fortunate to be comfortable in my financial circumstances, thanks be to God who watches over me.
It has been a year of commitments as well as constant reflections.Part time job takes up quite a large chunk of my time everyday but it is a matter of time as measured against remuneration.
Physically, I have time for qigong, swim, brisk walks and folk-dancing.Mentally, I have time to stimulate my brains with Sudoku, reading and writing.
Spiritually, I have my Daily Bread and teaching from His Word, as well as Bible Study Fellowship.
Emotionally, I have my family and friends to sustain me.
I have got to travel too to see the beautiful mountains, lakes, valleys created by the Almighty.
I have learnt to welcome stillness, enjoying everything that life has to offer.I delight in the simple joys of food, music, books and companionship, as well the moments of being alone. God has taught me to live in the present and appreciate all things around me.
His Word has so much wisdom in it that I wish all can gain from the lessons that He has so patiently set down to teach us.
Visiting church members, the elderly at home and in hospital has taught me the importance of patience and forbearance.God has given me the time and love to share the love that He has for us.
Soon it will be 2009.It will be another year of learning. God never fails if we only wait with patience and humility. May the new year give me the hunger for His Word and the wisdom to do His work and share His love and blessings with others.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
How to make the rest of your life the best of your life- Henry Legler
To make the rest of our life the best of our life, we are advised to cultivate a positive fundamental attitude.
'We must so plan our pattern of life that the golden period lies ahead'- a quote from Lin Yutang .
According to the writer, retirement is not a bed of roses, in fact, it is hell on earth often beset with boredom, disillusionment, frustration and often a devastating blow to our ego. Therefore it is critical that monumental preparations be made to make the rest of our life the best of our life.
Most essential is that we have our financial considerations taken care of. We should be mentally prepared to let go and psychologically prepared to start life all over.
Most people envisage retirement life one of bliss and leisure with time to do absolutely nothing but we are reminded to keep active by the followiing quotes:
'Thank God when you get up in the morning that you have something to do'- James Russell Lowell.
'Action may not always bring happiness but there is no happiness without action'- Benjamin Disrael.
The question to ask is " Am I content to drift along from day to day without any real purpose to life?"
"Am I making a sincere effort to keep busy doing something I really like to do?"
" Do I wake up in the morning eagerly anticipating some tasks or activities that I have planned for the day?" "Is tomorrow just another day?"
Voltaire says, " Shun idleness, It is a rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals."
The writer advises that it is important to being enthusiatic and that the cure for worries and anxieties lies in the power of prayers, the logic of rationalisation and the habit of postive thinking.
Dean William R. Inge advises that we must adapt ourselves to changing circumstance and to keep busy, interested and alert.
Dale Carnegie remarks that the world is filled with interesting things to do. We can take up full time or part time job, start a small business, engage in hobbies, community service, travel, research,study, reading, games and sports.
W. Benam Wolfe advises us that to find happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves.
Victor Hugo shares that he has winter on his head but spring in his heart.
Retirement needs not be hell on earth if only we have a positive attitude and do things that will benefit ourselves and others. Life is exciting if we continue without fears and anxieties as life after retirement is an adventure that we all take in another phase of our exciting life.
'We must so plan our pattern of life that the golden period lies ahead'- a quote from Lin Yutang .
According to the writer, retirement is not a bed of roses, in fact, it is hell on earth often beset with boredom, disillusionment, frustration and often a devastating blow to our ego. Therefore it is critical that monumental preparations be made to make the rest of our life the best of our life.
Most essential is that we have our financial considerations taken care of. We should be mentally prepared to let go and psychologically prepared to start life all over.
Most people envisage retirement life one of bliss and leisure with time to do absolutely nothing but we are reminded to keep active by the followiing quotes:
'Thank God when you get up in the morning that you have something to do'- James Russell Lowell.
'Action may not always bring happiness but there is no happiness without action'- Benjamin Disrael.
The question to ask is " Am I content to drift along from day to day without any real purpose to life?"
"Am I making a sincere effort to keep busy doing something I really like to do?"
" Do I wake up in the morning eagerly anticipating some tasks or activities that I have planned for the day?" "Is tomorrow just another day?"
Voltaire says, " Shun idleness, It is a rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals."
The writer advises that it is important to being enthusiatic and that the cure for worries and anxieties lies in the power of prayers, the logic of rationalisation and the habit of postive thinking.
Dean William R. Inge advises that we must adapt ourselves to changing circumstance and to keep busy, interested and alert.
Dale Carnegie remarks that the world is filled with interesting things to do. We can take up full time or part time job, start a small business, engage in hobbies, community service, travel, research,study, reading, games and sports.
W. Benam Wolfe advises us that to find happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves.
Victor Hugo shares that he has winter on his head but spring in his heart.
Retirement needs not be hell on earth if only we have a positive attitude and do things that will benefit ourselves and others. Life is exciting if we continue without fears and anxieties as life after retirement is an adventure that we all take in another phase of our exciting life.
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