Pearl of the East

I thought I wouldn't like Hong Kong.
I thought I'd find it too noisy. Too crowded. Too messy.
I thought I'd struggle communicating with the locals.

Well, I thought wrong.

I surprised myself, actually.The discussions in Cantonese, the local din as I savour my meals, the 'cha chan teng' I found myself drawn to....I seem to blend right in.

And in a strange way, the country reminds me alot of my beloved Penang, albeit on a much, much larger scale. Come to think of it, it is like a hybrid of Penang and Singapore. Maybe that's why I fitted in so well.

Today, a close friend asked me the million dollar question:
Would I choose to live in Hong Kong or in Taiwan?

Without batting an eyelash, I answered "Hong Kong!". Just because it is more vibrant, it is more happening, it offers more career opportunities, it is just so much more exciting.

Then I sat down to think about it. Hard.
And I realised I changed my mind.

After spending a night thinking, I changed my answer due to below reasons.

• Better quality of life in Taiwan (less stressful)
• More civilized people in Taiwan (there are just way too many immigrants from mainland China in Hong Kong). People in Taiwan are warmer and friendlier. More willing to stop whatever they are doing to help you out. In Hong Kong, it's more a dog-eat-dog's world.
• Better air quality in Taiwan. I have yet to see clear skies in my one week in Hong Kong. Everyday is hazy like there is a perpetual open fire burning somewhere. Strange thing is, there is no smell. Just low visibility.

Of course there are other areas that Hong Kong rated higher than Taiwan in my books but I guess it's all about a balancing act. Which are more important, which are just nice-to-haves.

I will end this post with this breath-taking picture of the city's nightline.



On bended knees

It feels great that I am working for the folks who invented the device that changed my mom's life last year.

For someone who is very active and a social butterfly, TKR totally turned her life around.

However, it is easy for folks below the age of 50 to take their knees for granted. I often hear folks saying "Aiyah, I'm still young. No need to worry about knee problems yet!"

WRONG.
Other than old age, there are many ways we can abuse/overuse our knees. Therefore, it is crucial for us to take good care of our knees. After all, they will serve us for many decades to come.

Below is a video of some simple steps we can take to give some TLC to our knees.

Let's start taking good care of them so that they can take good care of us for years to come.

Heavenly World

Confession:

There are many things I love about this new world I am in, but there is one thing that I love the most. It's the simple fact that I get to meet this new world with a naked face everyday.

No un-natural stuff piled on my face. No judgemental glares from anyone. Just a bunch of folks who are comfortable being themselves offering the best of themselves.

I think I am in Heaven.

:)

Stryking it

From one world to another, my hemispheric move has been most interesting. Frankly, I didn't realise I still have the resilience to embrace such drastic changes. Plus the challenges thrown in from unexpected quarters. You know what they say - "What doesn't break us will just make us stronger." And stronger is definitely how I feel now.

Those who started throwing accusations without taking the effort to understand why I said and did what I did, I feel sorry for you. Really I do. I have made my decision. I have moved on. I have decided to be happy and free.

Live with it.
I'm living it and loving it.

Deal with it.
I'm enjoying the best deal of my life. At this point in my life.

Accept it.
That I will be happy wherever I am with whoever there is in my life.

That's a choice I made. That's a choice I will live with.
That's a choice you have to learn to accept if you want to be part of my life.

Direction & goal

With just 15 days on the clock, the big man sat me down and had a good heart-to-heart talk with me today.

In slightly more than an hour, we talked about nothing and everything. About no one and everyone. About him and about me. About us as a whole. And as usual, he had a lot to say. This time, I was determined to have my lot to say too. And said a lot, I did. Heh.

Above all that was said between us today, one thing stood out for me. And for that, I will be eternally grateful to him. Not so much the opportunity for us to talk so openly, but more so the opportunity to dig deep into my being. To remind me of my strengths, never to lose the passion, never to fear the unknown and strangely but truly, to know my goal.

I generally know which direction I want to be moving towards and what my goal is. I keep singing the same tune : "I want to be happy"

But.

How do I intend to stay happy?
Will what make me happy today be able to make me happy 5 years down the road? 10 years?
Will I still have the same level of passion to drive what I am driving today?
How do I maintain the passion?

Admittedly, these are questions I have never asked myself before.
Until now.


I guess it's time to start planning for the next beautiful chapter. I have been joy riding for too long now.

:)

Speed of me

From the minute I open my eyes in the mornings,
Till the time I close my eyes at nights,
It is go go go go go!

It's alright if you need to ponder,
To calculate risks,
To measure probabilities,
Any kind of steps just to be extra careful,
Be more sure of your decision.

But.

Please do not expect me to wait for you.
Please do not expect me to slow down just for you.
Please do not expect me to live any less of life.

I will not do that for you or for anyone else.
So, please keep up! Or get out of my way!

Wind of Change

Am I sure?
No.

Am I scared?
Yes.

Am I worried?
A little.

Am I confident?
I have to be.

Am I regretful?
Never.

Am I excited?
A little, but I am sure it will pick up as the days go by.

So, here we go again. Riding the wind of change.

Never looking back, feeling the wind in my hair, the sun on my face, the freedom in my heart and soul. Most of all, the joy of the moment.

Carpe Diem.