Arudra Darshan 2012

This year I'm just going to make it no matter what ! Woke up by 3 am and was in Sri Ramalingeshwara temple, Bangsar by 4.30 am.


We're truly blessed to watch Arudra darshan ( Arudra means Tiruvathirai nakshatra = a star in tamil ). This is where Lord Nataraja ( Shiva ) performed his cosmic dance in fire. So, we watched Nataraja swamy abisheka and read Tiruvempa verses. It was almost 2 pm we returned home after having lunch in the temple. My only disappointment was Bee's not around.

Beautiful decoration.

Bangsar , early morning!

Nevertheless, I thank god, I've completed this task for 2012.

Merry Christmas !!

Merry Christmas dear readers !! Feliz Navidad!

I truly  miss the European and American's White Christmas ! But that's alright because next year I'm going to have double the fun! (Positive, positive!). Merry Christmas to all of  you ! Here's a good news from my side.


Well................after a real long  wait, Malaysian are now free to visit Israel. Yay! The new rule enacted from 25th December 2012 for all Malaysians.

We have no more restrictions on our passports! Truly a Christmas gift for christians by the government. Just wanna share this. My French teacher is a jew and she's an awesome lady. Learnt a bit of this and that about Israel from her. Thank you Mrs.Wanda.

Seriously..........cant wait to make a trip!

TUMMY!

We all have issues with the way we look. Ladies are willing to spend a bomb wasting $$$ to get the best look they want.

We cant blame them but sometimes I keep wondering that it's true that looking good improves on your self esteem. I've been chubby all my life :) and yes I was one of the bully victims at school. However, I learnt that a great health is best wealth of all times ! You dont want to look like Angelina Jolie or Aishwarya Rai and suffer illness. Mom keep giving me ideas and motivate me to lose the fat (most of my fats are accummulated at unwanted place!).

I think I can speak for most women when I say stomach fat is the HARDEST to get rid of! I’m constantly looking for ways to lose fat anywhere, but if I can get rid of  belly jelly, I am 100% in!
I'm truly a  Dr. Oz fanatic! I just love him !!! He's an amazing , cute dad , husband and most of all , a wonderful person!

Sooo are you ready to know the magic drink that Dr. Oz swears that White Tea literally melts away belly fat It helps metabolize your fat and also helps keep you from storing fat from foods! It’s ability to burn fat is actually so strong that it has been rated one of the most powerful drinks to lose weight! Drinking two cups per day is really all you need and the affects are incredible! Tea Party anyone? I am so trying this NOW!

Another mass shooting in Connecticut

This happened again, after the Homestead, California ( just a mile away from my home ) and the recent Colorado mass shooting in summer.

I'm restless, not able to sleep right now. Not another one! The recent news is on the brutal mass shooting in Sandy Brook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.  20 children among the 26 dead during a horrific massacre after a gunmen shot his mother and turned the gun on himself.

Whilst America is still mourning the past killings, mostly on the South side, this news broke most of us to tears. 20 innocent children, I can feel the pain of their parents who have not even imagined that they would never see their son/daughter's face again. When the entire nation is busy on Christmas fun at least for the kids, this is just another threat to the entire society.

Blame it on the laws, it's high time America wake up!

Managing Stress : My last vacation !

Vacation ? Sounds like Greek to me ! I cant remember the last time I took a real vacation. I'm not speaking about visiting parents or go see friends for a weekend, but a real proper check-out from the world !

Vacation should be really happy days out where you need not compromise with someone to have lunch or dinner in the same restaurant ! Well, we've had not so nice experience joining another couple to Utah and Las Vegas. Holidays are best with couples alone or the group should be consisting of  like minded people. Anyway it was good enough to see Utah :)

When I was little , it seems that my parents took me out for trips most of the time especially during the school holidays! But these days, especially after getting married.....................hmmmm NOT so much !! Blame it on Bee's IT job or the US economy, or just plain words, technically working on honeymoon is no fun at all ! Of course, like many people, one reason I’m not always flying the coop to some faraway islands is finances. Money’s been tight these past few years (I know I’m not alone there), and until recently I didn’t have the security of a steady income. Bee on the other side might be fearing of the angry bosses ! ha ha !

Yes, we have been talking about managing stress ( for years ) but rejuvenating the honeymoon trip is a weak spot I guess ! Stress, stress , stress, do yoga, go walking , meditate, find a new hobby, I wish there was a magical cure for stress ! So many things to do with so little time in our hands right now.

I miss the good old days where we would just walk in the park holding hands. The work pattern changed where when he's free , I'm busy and vice versa. This is never going to end if we dont set our priorities up. Bee listen up , "I'm taking a real-vacation" is going to be my NEW YEAR RESOLUTION ! 2013 , wait for me, I'm hoping you will be the best year of  all !!

Adding my wishlist + attitude = Happy Me !

I can call myself  as a big fan of  gratitude exercise. Yes, I still remember the gifts from my uncles and friends as a kid. I remember people who've been there during my toughest times. I spend a decent amount of time thinking about what I’m grateful for; I do it almost every day. There are countless documented benefits of such practices, from reducing depression and anxiety to lowering blood pressure and improving your social bonds,  according to brand new research. Also, it just feels good.

I do miss the good old days where things were just as it is. Good enough to be called best days. At times, I feel having wishes will only upset me when I dont get them or things done in the way I wanted it to be! What I'm grateful for right this moment..........?

• The good morning wake up - whenever Bee's next to me, I'm half asleep , he would wake me up and at times checks my forehead to see I'm fine or not. I know that can be soooo annoying but I'm grateful that my hubby checks me out first thing in the morning. What a beautiful way to start my day. Just like Bee, my mom checks on time to time on how I am and what I do. Done with lunch/dinner etc.
• The yoga asana - thought me to appreciate my body, mind and soul. Each movement thought me on my inner self, realizing what I'm made of, the vedic way of  seeing the body beyond the outer self.
• Food - I know I grab the quick junkfood, the cup cake when I'm down but hey, pampering myself once a while is a good way satisfying hunger cravings. Moderation is the key!
• My prayers - I take a good amount of time reading the vedic slokas ( 20 mins ) at least on special days , I'm grateful for that. My ability to connect god in my mind and heart gives me the strength to overcome the toughest hurdle which at times is my weakest point too.
• My body - at times I'm super light that I could run around doing things but there are days I feel so bloated and dull. Aging ? Err.... it's time to start back my gym once I'm back to the US. Right now, I appreciate my mood which let me write this down!

2013 , I'm going to change my approach. Instead of pointing out things that I like, I'm going to  focus on what I'd like to have in my life. Now or later !

12.12.12

After all the big hoohaas about the world coming to an end (the Mayan calendar), well, we're still surviving with lots of  things happening in our interesting, unpredictable life !


The 12.12.12 made really interesting news on our national newspapers about weddings and registration of marriage ( R.o.M ). Yes, one of my cousin sister got registered to her beau. The Home Ministry's Dept @ Jalan Duta was too crowded, and guess what.......... after a span of 6 years met one of good friend who was there for his brother's 12.12.12. R.o.M.

The crowd!!

Sweet roses.

The couple is supposed to be registered @ 2pm but due to the crowd, the ceremony got extended to 4.20pm ! Well, I totally miss Bee for not being able to attend!

 

5 pm and we had our lunch-a din @ Naga's Brickfields. Overall, a day to remember !

Shirdi Baba temple @ Brickfields.

Baba's blessing is all you want during the good and bad times. For your eyes only , took this picture at Sai Baba temple, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. Snapped this pic few weeks ago and it's a must to share!

Sri Lingeshwara @ Pandan Jaya.

Never knew the beautiful Lord Shiva temple in Pandan Jaya. It was such a blessing to carry the paal kudam i.e. milk pot. Strangely, it was a freaking hot day. Thank god boy drove us to Cheras. We first stopped at Durga temple and then proceeded walking up to Sri Lingeshwara. We missed Bee so much that I cried out inside cos I missed you like <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<( *^* )>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. Felt happy that mom, Pma and I was given the 108 shanku tray for abishegam. Sad, I couldnt take pics , my arms were shaking up in pain, it was a heavy tray. Anything for Prabhakaralingam !

Great hearts behind Operation Hope.

One of the most greatest thing being a human being is understanding hearts, appreciating and counting on our blessings and returning the thanks in some other form. I have always thought how the world is still surviving in the midst of  evil doings. Evil, no I'm not speaking about the departed souls but the living evil doers. Perhaps, the existence of good people is still balancing out the bad. Do you guys follow the Operation Hope ?? There's something I really want to share.

Operation HOPE is the private banker for the working poor, the underclass and the struggling middle class.HOPE is America's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to financial literacy and economic empowerment.

I'm going to share the story about a boy called Okkhoy.This is the story of a boy who not only survived, but is now the key witness in a trial that has forced Bangladesh to confront the cruel but overlooked practice of forced begging.It is also the story of strangers, half a world away, who set out to show the boy that good exists in equal measure as evil -- and who set off a chain reaction of kindness to make him whole again.

Mutilated by gang who set out  to maim him so he'd earn more as a beggar. The story of  this 7 year old boy is too common in Bangladesh and India.

Four men had surrounded the 7-year-old boy, bound his hands and feet and cracked open his head with a brick. They held him down and took a switchblade to his throat. They sliced his chest and belly in an upside down cross and in a final brutal act, they hacked him sideways, chopping off his penis and his right testicle.

I had tears watching this boy talking in CNN's Operation Hope. It's a sad fact that no amount of humanitarian aid will prevent this type of  crime from happening. It will take an extended and massive "police action" by military forces. Eradicate hunger campaigns and the like, are all warm and fuzzy but have proven to be very inefficient and ineffective. All we can do is pray for victims like this boy faraway and I truly wish that I could contribute something direct or indirectly for a worthy cause, drawing a smile on someone's face. I can feel their hearts. By the way, the accused (scums that cannot even be compared to animals! ) are set free on bail by the Bangladeshi judicial system.
In midst of this absolute horror and evil from one human towards another there is the equally gripping warmth and compassion of the total opposite. Maybe all is not lost when the the actions of the heartless can be mended by those who ask for nothing in return. I believe that the world is  surviving with the help of  god in the form of  human beings. Thank you to the doctors who've treated this boy with great hearts! I smiled when this boy said he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up so that he could treat poor people like him! I pray the almighty god gives strength and speedy recovery for this little child.

Kala Ashtami 2012

I can't believe I made it to Ramalingeshwara temple today for Kala Ashtami. Had good darshan and gave our lil L too :) Well, well............... missing someone you love is very painful. People say love is beautiful, love is torture cos you end up losing your mind and heart thinking of someone faraway. I love you, come home soon. I was always judged by all, loved by two. :)