Positive thoughts when I'm not well !

Stomach flu isn't fun. Can't really remember what really went wrong in my food intake last night but for sure I'm not going to sit and let my mind go blank! Something to think of, I'm already feeling better mentally! :)

Power of Yoga.

When I think of  the word "Yoga" , I could only visualize my MIND and BODY. Yoga is an ancient Indian art of well being derived from Yoga Sutra ( Patanjali ). Yoga is a form of mind, body and spiritual discipline. Many people tend to think that yoga is a form of meditation, yes, in my opinion I believe my body and mind need to meditate to combat daily stress and keep me focused.

The joy of yoga is undescribable. One should experience the positive side and feel the flow of oxygen in our blood streams. I just love the simple yoga stretches which helps to strengthen the entire body. After all , we certainly want to rejuvenate our body doing wanted and unwanted chores in our daily life meeting all sorts of people!

I had the chance of  re-starting my yoga routine after a couple of years of break in the US. I know I'm not good in managing my time back in US but I'm still going to try out how to manage my time and being well. I guess I'm lucky to talk to my yoga guru and I came to know about the yoga theraphy for cancer patients and survivors. The yoga theraphy also helps to stimulate the anti-cancer immune functions.

You can pass on the secrets of yoga theraphy to your loved ones and anyone who are called the warriors of life.

1. Alternative nostril breathing. Sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and be aware of  breath flowing through your nostrils. Place your right index and middle finger at the eyebrow centre. Close your right nostril with your thumb and inhale through your left nostril. Close your left nostril with your ring finger , release your thumb now and exhale through your right nostril Vice versa, repeat this upto 4 times on each side. Not only that this helps to prevent sinus congestions but this pranayama definitely helps to balance your mind and soothe anxiety.

2. Ardha chakrasana.This is called the half moon pose. This is done standing straight with feets slightly apart. Bend the body behind making it a perfect C - curve.

3. Pada Hastasana. Standing and bending forward knees.

4. Shashankasana. Shashank in itself is made up of two words, ‘shash’ meaning ‘hare’ and ‘ank’ meaning ‘lap’. The Shashankasana Pose is said to benefit the practitioner by helping in calming the nerves and providing a feeling of tranquility.

5. Ushtrasana. The camel pose - kneeling position where hands are taken on heels. One of the best asana for asthma patients.

6. Vajrasana. Sitting position with knees bent and palms on thighs , mainly the pranayama position.

Precaution

The people having stiff joints and whose movements have become difficult, should practice this Asana with a lot of care. Such persons should practice this Asana after getting the joints free and relaxed. If you have any doubts, consult your gp for clarity especially if you have low or high blood pressure, heart problems and asthma.

Ganesh Chathurthi Sep 19th, 2012

I got up so early , last night I slept off  when the clock  ticked off 3 am. I was exhausted after the shopping @ Little India. Speak about the crowd, I truly miss my childhood place , the people and the decent environment. Cissy helped me to carry the stuffs and by 10 pm we've reached home. Somehow I had the energy to clean up the altar and sort things out.

My second Ganesha

Today morning was quite challenging as cooking naivedhyams took all my time. By 10.35 am I started Ganesha and completed my 2nd Mangala Gauri vratham. I was just tired by noon.

The day's gonna be super hectic later as mom , boy , Sheg mams and myself  went to Masjid India :) Within half and hour boy dropped us off home and rushed for an interview By the time I came home, my first Ganesha wasn't in the right shape :(  No, I'm going to make another one. The white Ganesha , everyone at home just loved him as he looked more of  Bala Ganapathi.

Our head priest Ganesh on chariot, he missed Bee as he wanted Bee to sit on this chariot, Bee you've missed your golden chance! Hope we fulfill this another time soon.

My astonishingly beautiful Pillaiyar.

The evening scenario was - yes, he was offered job in Astro and then Neelacca came, I successfully gave the planned tamboolams and everyone including mom went to Ganesha temple.The final one, okay I am going to temple ( 9 ish then )....... I gave  Sarada's mom! Temple was so crowded and I received a cute yellow garland. Karpaga Pillayar looked astonishingly beautiful, grand. I cant stop admiring his beauty. Since the chariot left at 7.30 pm, I walked all by myself to meet mom at MGS school junction. To my surprise I met my schoolmate Kumoo family, Moorthy aunty and the whole bunch of known faces. We were too tired then. By 11.30 we came home and gosh...........I could feel my bones. End of the day, I'm happy that my vratham completed successfully....the joy of seeing Ganesha in KL, that's like after 5 years....the last chathurthi in 2006 , the day I stepped out of home recovering the viral fever, only to see Ganesha:)


The day is over, here I am writing up reminiscing good old memories of growing pains in Kuala Lumpur , the bitter sweet memories and the glorious days. I first danced at Pillaiyar temple when I was 5 ! We still have the right of first kids of  the temple! Bee just passed on a good news from Phoenix, Az.....:)) Well, lot more good things I'm awaiting for, the recent one is the farewell party of a green monster and yes, I will be bidding her a safe good bye! Thank you Pillaiyar, you've printed a bag of memories this year. Bless us for successful years ahead. Happy Birthday Ganapathi!!!

Mookambiga Temple @ Midvalley

This is another awesome, divine temple of  Ambaa Mookambiga. I've always wanted to take Bee to this temple and today is the day after 5 years of  wait. It was a last minute decision to just visit the temple and do some shopping in Carrefour.

I could only remember the day I made abishegam for ambaal on October 31 , 2003 and the day I spent at Kollur Mookambiga temple. The land of Adi Shankaracharya and the power felt within, I still get goosebumps!

Pradosham and the long wait!

It's Pradosham today, as usual we're just busy with the local stuff  here and to my surprise finally......................received a reply from Neil Phillips, oh thank you God, I was eagerly looking forward his e-mail :) Almost 5 ish when I checked my mail. Bee and I went to Ramalingeshwara temple in Bangsar, guess what........... after 9 years I met MK in the temple. Just brought back the funny memories of  dancing as a kid. As usual , it started to rain and we're caught in temple and forced to complete the artha jama pooja and we came back with lots of vilvams and garlands. Okay then...what about dinner ???

Bangsar ! The parking was horrible and my Bee made me wait 15 mins before he circumbulated the Bangsar village. Oh...my what a day! We ended up having good dinner at Devi's corner. That was like having a dinner @ Devi's after a decade..... fond memories of  Boris and Jessica. Those were the days!

Merdeka Square and KLCC revisited!!!!

Fun night out, Bee was totally stunned by KL City's beauty as he thinks living in KL is like living abroad in western countries. I know exactly how I used to feel a decade ago, right now we no longer have the great feeling as we see a lot........thousands of new faces in the KL City. Of course, the country requires foreign work force and labourers as part of the human resources but with this has also contributed towards social illness and threats in our country. I truly hope that Malaysia remained as how it was 20 years ago. Oh....what fun ! Childhood memories playing near Dayabumi, the happiness we had going to McDonalds just to purchase the toys :)) The good ol' days!

I just remembered how much I used to think of  working in the Sultan Abdul Samad building   (former center of colonial administration -  High Court of Malaysia) The passion I had towards practising law.......! I have never imagined that I would be married and living in the United States. Today I cannot believe that once upon a time my favourite place in KL is no longer the place of justice. Putrajaya stole the entire KL beauty, memories and the rest are history!



Petronas Twin Towers

Driving up to KLCC where a decade ago the hang out place was so popular for us. My besties and I used to sit in Dome and by the lake....:) I still remember the day Bee bought me a delicious waffle cuppa Haagen Dazs back in 2007. Kuala Lumpur holds a lot of  bitter sweet memories......something I would cherish and share it with my kids! Can you imagine the happiness you tell your kids "this is where momma studied" :)))

We ended up having good dinner at the Sri Lakshmi Narayana Bhavan, Leboh Ampang before proceeding to KLCC. We had quite a bit of fun snapping pics around and it started raining at 11pm. Time to drive back home and the challenge was not knowing the way back, somehow I managed driving around the Bukit Bintang and Maharajalela Road. Phewwwww.........what a night to remember !!

Amma to THONEH

Driving to PJ, snapped this when boy drove us to the hospital.

The current KL Sentral, totally new look in my eyes....the crowd I mean!

It's been a long time we've postponed the eye check up for Amma. This time because Bee pushed, we decided to get her checked asap. The cab is freaking costly in the traffic jam. We had fun returning home in the LRT as we got down in the KL Sentral and had lunch at Gopala's - with my gaura tau foo.Fingers crossed, hope all's well!

Batu Caves !!!!

 

Batu Caves revisited after a decade.It was an amazing experience to see how things have changed over the last 10 years. I remembered how we used to keep awake and walk along the chariot procession and the pain of the heat in February. The new temples and the golden Murugan statue is a total brilliant idea on enhancing the beauty of the caves and the divine temple.

We had a great walking trip as the KTM komuter costed only RM1 to go to Batu Caves from KL Sentral and another RM2 to return back home. Bee was amazed looking at the trains in Malaysia and the super clean seats. Of course , I enjoyed my McD's sundae cup on our way to the temple.

We first saw the Hanuman statue. Figured this way that way out to get photographed :P , the Venkatachalapathi temple was BEAUTIFULLY built and the weather was just kind enough to let us walk around without disturbances.

Seeing Murugan on tophill is no easy task as we had to climb the stairs and encounter little monkeys who were super human friendly. We minute I completed the stairs on tophill , I was speechless to see Murugan again. It was my dream of 5 years to show Bee the magical temple.

We had good darshan and kind blessings from the priest. We returned back home by 10pm. Zzzz....totally got strained but the happiness - PRICELESS!