BAD DAY

Had a really bad day at work yesterday.
Having been in this line for nearly 7 years now, I thought that I have taken enough shit to become zen.

Apparently not.

Unreasonable and rude traders... that i can handle
Unreasonable and rude sales... that i can handle
Unreasonable and rude clients... that i can handle (because customers are always right!)

But apparently i cannot handle an unreasonable boss.

Lost my cool at my boss yesterday.

That's right.

Right in the middle of the trading floor.
And things got so bad that she dragged me into a meeting room to "talk it out".

Yup, there goes my promotion and there goes my pay rise and probably the end of my career here.
But you know what?

No regrets.

Because i stood up for what i believe in and i would not have done it any other way.


*************The Story behind if anyone is interested***************

So there was an issue at work where my team had to handle.
Where was the boss?
She was doing her disappearing act as usual and nowhere to be found.
( For the record, she is hardly at her desk and nobody knows where she is most of the time)

So my team handled it and i felt that what we did was correct.
(Sidenote: the root cause of the problem was not caused by my team)

But there is another stakeholder lets call him Mr Cocky (a Director Level Ang mo) who intervened and used very sarcastic tone throughout to insinuate that my team did not do our due diligence.

He said things like

" Pick up the phone and talk to each other guys, sending emails are just not the most efficient way of resolving issues"
(when we already did that)

" There's something called the mobile folks"

Yup there you go, that is the shit that i have to take everyday.
It's fine right, i have been in this line for so many years, i can take his sarcasm and his shit.
But when he is wrong, i feel i have to be firm and defend my team. (in the absence of a disappearing boss)

So basically i stood up against him for my team and stated very factually that what he expected was not part of our responsibilities. In the most non-sarcastic manner ever. I swear, it was only very factual.

And apparently Mr Cocky was unhappy with my reply and escalated this to my global big boss with this one liner email (without my knowledge at all)...

" ARE YOU SERIOUSLY KIDDING ME?"

Sidenote: Dear mr cocky, if you disagree with me, you should have the balls to come to talk to me directly.
(He is so hypocritical right? He sniped on me to my big boss and pretended nothing happened and requested for me to do stuff for him the next day. While i was ignorant about being backstabbed at. YOU GOTTA BE FUCKING KIDDING ME. No more favours for you Mr Cocky, and your requests will be on the lowest priority from now on, mark my words)

So my boss - the magician with the disappearing act- missed all the emails (even though she was copied in) was suddenly made to talk to Mr Cocky about this issue. So naturally, Mr Cocky complained about my attitude. And guess what, without finding out about what happened or checking with me or anyone else in the team, this ignorant boss of mine immediately jumped to the conclusion that I WAS IN THE WRONG and apologised to Mr Cocky. And the minute she came back to the desk, she said " You should not have sent that email to Mr cocky. Why did we not do xxx (the thing that mr cocky wanted us to do)? We should have done that. Blah blah blah. Is there anywhere that states that we are not supposed to do this?"

Imagine.
After one hard day at work (akin to fighting a war), your boss comes and reprimand you without finding out what went wrong.
I have had enough right?
Hello?
I do shit for you.
I handle all the tough questions for you.
I run the team for you.
I fight the war everyday.

What do you do?
You disappear
and you talk.

Thats all.

Fine if you don't help us to do our BAU right?
We don't need you, i can handle it, i can resolve things on my own.
But now - the least bit you can do, is to stand up for your own bloody team.

Alright so i exploded.
Right there and then.
I was still reasonable. I did not complain about her at all.
All i did was to argue on how this issue was handled, and reasoned why we should not and cannot do xxx.

Then, she read through the email chain of issues.
(P.S: Ya, she didnt even read first before apologising to Mr Cocky and saying that its my fault and coming back to reprimand me)

And then she dragged me into a room to talk things out.

And things got even more exciting.

In the room, she told me that she agrees with me and the problem was my tone in the email.
Because the recipient is Mr Cocky Full of Himself, so i cannot use such a harsh, sarcastic and negative tone to him. I should have been positive instead and throw the problem back at him in another manner.

**BREATHE**

Let me quote you some of the fantastic phrases she used

"He is Front Office. We are support, and the mentality is that WE ARE HERE TO SERVE"
"You cannot use this tone on him because like it or not, YOU ARE NOT HIS PEER. Me & Mr. abc (both VP Levels) can use this tone because we are his peers)
"You cannot draw a line so clearly like that because you are building walls"

**BREATHE**

Wow if it is so hierarchical then i might as well join the govt sector.
We are a huge global bank right?
What century are you living in please, are you still having the colonial mentality?

Please hor please, so what if he is a fucking ang mo director.
If i am right i will say as i deem fit ok.

and the best part is, i was not even sarcastic at all. My email was cordial and factual.

So the conclusion is

Mr Cocky Ang Mo Director cannot take it that a lowly associate asian girl draws the line clearly with him.
Because all these are to be taken up on a "higher level".

You are expected to work like a slave.
Long hours.
Do as you are told.
Higher management are always right.
Do not talk back.
Suck it up.

Isn't it a joke?

Separately, I escalated this to Mr abc - another of my global ang mo boss (not the one Mr Cocky complained to) and he actually replied me

" Totally agree with you. Let me know if Mr Cocky disagrees"

So i told my local boss. Even this global boss agrees with me. Why don't you forward this complain email to him to handle?

Guess what she said

" NO. I do not want to involve him. He will only incite Mr Cocky further. I want to close off this issue quietly."

There you go.

Because i have this asian chinese woman boss with a colonial mentality.

I will be made the scapegoat.
Even though i am right.

T.T

*************End of Story******************


So this incident got me thinking about foreigners here.
Specifically highly paid Ang Mo foreigners that are hired here.

How many of them actually bother to integrate into our culture?

Let me share with you some of the stuff i have encountered:

1. I know of one who refuses to eat chinese food.
Never eaten at lau pat sat, not even at chinese restaurants.
What a joke right? He declines to go for client dinners because - get this- he cannot eat chinese food.
Errr.. if you tell me you don't eat lamb or meat or veggie or spicy food, whatever, i understand.

But CHINESE FOOD on the whole?

Hello mr small minded pea brain, there are many kinds of chinese food ok. spicy non spicy etc.
You can only eat burgers and fries ah?

I have never heard of something called allergy to Chinese food. Is there even a scientific term for this?

2. They treat Singapore as a jumping stone, fly in here to manage ppl for one or 2 years and then go back to their own country with an even higher title. (I know countless people who are like that)

3. They do not know where the real Singapore heartlands are, and only hang out with their own kind.
Places they hangout include:
Bars and pubs along boat quay/ cbd areas
Stay at east coast / robertson walk
Restaurants at Duxton hill / Club Street

I tell them.. I live in Bishan. They give me a blank look. Wheres that? Which MRT line?

lolxxx

Hello!?!? One of the most popular heartland area in Singapore?

4. One has been here for almost a year already and doesn't know that the ESPLANADE is called the esplanade. "Oh, the building that has spikes?"

5. I know of this angmo director who obviously earns big bucks.. but donates coins in a charity drive.
I am not kidding. I saw it with my own eyes.

Yes i was aghast.

Believe me, if i compile all the ridiculous stories that i heard, i can publish a book already.

But thats the way the world is.

They are supposedly the "smarter better" leaders so they are paid big bucks to come here.
No one is going to stay here long term.
No one is going to make this place their home.
Some will apply for PRs but others will not even bother.

To them, its a mentality of " Suffer in Singapore" for a couple of years and go back as a hero.

lol but of course when they "suffer in singapore" they are actually leading the high life.

The life that most of us heartlanders cannot afford.

I have had a dinner with these people where they went to a fine dining restaurant, drank 3 bottles of red wine and ate steaks. Bill was like 1k+? For 6 ppl. Yup. and it was charged to the company, not a single cent from their own pocket.

Amazing right?
I wanted to scream at them, and say OMG IF YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY ON FOOD LIKE THAT, SHOULDN'T YOU PAY ME BETTER!??!

i havent had a pay rise in four fucking years.
and i have to buy my own stationery at work.

pathetic right?

But thats the way it is.

because they are superior leaders that i must never talk back to.

Sikkim 2012 Memories

Day 1 Yuksom to Tsokha

- crossed 3 bridges and some rockslides along the way

Rocky path

after lunch, passed one bridge and uphill all the way

bypassed Bakhim before reaching Tsokha

Tough hiking day, but i think i did pretty well going up hill.

Day 2 Tsokha to Dongzri

Uphill again

Passed by wooden planks on flat road leading into enchanted forest

Looked like paradise in the mist

Stopped by an area to rest where there was views of the mountains when it wasnt cloudy

Dongzri was cold huge camping ground

Another tough day uphill but it paid off. Stopping to enjoy the scenery makes hiking easier. 

Day 3 Stayed at Dongzri

Hiked to see the sunrise and stayed at dongzri to acclimatize

Locals came to camp and were singing throughout the night

Freeezing cold and very windy at the top while watching sunrise, it was crowded with Japanese team.

Did not manage to capture very good pictures because of the crowd

Day 4 Dongzri to Thangshing

Best hiking day, walked along the mountains saw beautiful views of the himalayas.

vast green land valleys crossed dried up riverbeds horses and yaks

went downhill in the forested area

reached kokchurng at the bottom

looked like an enchanted forest with a wooden hut

beautiful river stream with rapids

perfect for white water rafting

walked along the river valley surrounded by huge mountains and greenery.

did some miniature rock climbing to reach thangshing

Thangshing is an open big field, surrounded by mountains.

I still remember the sight when we walked back to the tent after dinner at night.

It was pitch dark, lit up by uncountable shiny twinkling stars in the dark sky, and glowing snow mountains in the back ground. It was a breathtaking sight. The mountains looked so magical, it was a pity we could not capture the sight on camera.

Day 5 Thangshing to Lamney

short walk, crossed several small streams that involved stepping on rocks to balance.

beautiful scenery as it was walking along the river valley again. getting nearer to Mt Kanchendongza

Start snowing at night

Beautiful winter wonderland experience, trudging back to camp in snow. Hearing the pitter patter of the snow falling on to our tents while drifting to sleep. Going to the toilet in the snow. :P

Day 6 Lamney to Thangshing

Woke up with thick snowfall on our tent, it was nearly drooping on both sides.

The brave souls went for a mountain sunrise climb, while i stayed back in the comfort of my sleeping bag.

Managed to catch the sunrise from our camp site, where the beautiful sun rays were cast on the mountains, turning them into shades of yellow. The magical mountains looked like they were glowing in the sunlight.

Went to samiti lake in the morning, short hike abt 30 mins away.

Trekked in the snow so experience was different.

Samiti lake didnt look that impressive from far.

But went down to take a nearer look and it was beautful.

Known as the holy lake.

Played by the lake with koala (snow man and snow ball fight)

Met up with shing and bob.

Trekked back to camp and headed for kokchurung.

Were told that kokchurung was full so we had to stay in thangshing for the night

We were freezing cold again..

Day 7 Thangshing to Tsokha

Long hiking day that involved packed lunch- yummy calzones.

Beautiful morning hike as we were walking back the same way along the valley again.

Started the forest trail from kokchurung.

Felt a bit like ophir.

Some parts of the trails were really muddy and we were trying to avoid getting dirty

everyone fell except for shing.

emerged from the forest to get to the lunch place where we had lunch on day 2.

reached tsokha shortly after lunch.

Bittersweet feeling at Tsokha because we knew that our trip was about to end.

On one hand i couldn't wait to enjoy a hot shower after so many days, and on the other hand, i didn't want to leave this magical place.

We had a wonderful sumptuous party with our entourage and had great fun.

Day 8 Tsokha to Yuksom / Darjeeling

Another long hiking day back to yuksom.

Stopped by one of the bridges to enjoy our packed lunch.

Finally reached back to yuksom where we hurriedly bought water, and rushed off to Darjeeling due to the time.

I am glad i embarked on this trip, even though you are focusing on the basic necessities of life most of the time:- aka the physical pain, not bathing, battling the cold, food cravings, it changes you inside and gives you a deeper appreciation for the things that we usually take for granted. 

I could sit there and gaze at that sight all day long.

PS: Recommended local tour agency for Geochala trek

Movie Reviews

Have watched a couple of movies over the past few months, thought it would be worthwhile to write my two cents worth for those movies here, or i will probably forget about them completely in the next few months.

First Up >>>  ARGO

Watched this argo movie at the perfect timing.

With my Sikkim India trip still fresh in my mind, where i could still remember the snow capped Himalaya Mountains vividly...
Just finished reading a book which touched on Afghanistan, Pakistan and Taliban...
(Side note: That was quite a good book, for more information, refer to goodreads.com >> http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77203.The_Kite_Runner)

So as you can guess, with my interest in Middle East already piqued, ARGO was the perfect movie from which i learnt about Iran's history in the most entertaining way ever. What i was deeply impressed about was the ingenuity of the entire storyline, and the best part?

It is a True Story. Kudos to the Mendez in real life for having the courage to carry out the mission.


Next >> CZ12

Oh gosh. I do not know where to begin with this one. A disclaimer first i suppose, that was not my choice of movie at all. So anyway, some people gave good reviews on this movie and it is supposed to be Jackie Chan's last action film.

Basically, a piece of advice - just watch it with low / no expectations.

Have to applaud Jackie for his multiple roles in this production, i think i read in 8 days that he actually got into the Guinness World Record for having the most credits in the movie. He was so involved that he even checked the food catered everyday, and made everyone label their cups/ bottles?

Back to the movie proper.

Kwon Sang Woo was a nice surprise. (I didn't read up on this movie beforehand)
Being such a K- Drama Fan Girl, that was of course a bonus point for me.
(The BF on the other hand was like.. whos that?  He's korean? What shows did he act in? *Fainted* Kwon Sang Woo okay??!?!)

Other than that, i was just basically laughing at how ridiculous the story was most of the time.

I can see the effort that Jackie put in, but sorry:- all i got from the movie was a laugh, nothing particularly memorable.


Last but not least >>  Rurouni Kenshin

Ever since i saw the trailer on this movie, i have been wanting to watch it.
Yes- because i read the manga series more than 10+ years ago (tho shall not even try to count the exact years)
I had to watch this movie because its part of my childhood and i wanted to revive my memories.
The timings for this movie were terrible, but i finally managed to catch the movie yesterday.

For people who did not read the manga series, chances are, they will not appreciate the movie as much as I do.

I found the girl who acted as Kaoru to be too young!
And not pretty enough in my opinion.
Kenshin was suave and dashing *swoon**
Sanosuke was a comical touch as usual. **heart**
Yosuke Eguchi's appearance was a wonderful surprise.

To all my fellow J-Drama fans of the 1990s, who would not know Yosuke Eguchi?
*Revived my wonderful memories of watching Jap doramas, Under One Roof, etc etc*

(Cue in the BF again.. Yosuke Eguchi? Whos that? What show did he act in? Famous? ...)

I am biased in this review and i cannot help it.

Loved the fighting scenes, go Kenshin go!!

I would say that the director did an excellent job in re-telling the story, even adding in a little comical touches in the movies reminiscent of the comical touches in the manga series too.

One of these days.. it may be time for me to re-read the whole manga series of <浪客劍心> again. ^^

Live each day like its the last

Have you ever thought about death? Do you wonder what it's like to die or what happens to you after you die? For the optimistic- there's the heaven theory. You die and live happily ever after in heaven, surrounded by angels, flowers and other celestial beings. For the Buddhists- there's the reincarnation theory. You will reincarnate into another being: whether you become an animal or a human will depend on your kind deeds that you have done in your previous life. The reap what you sow concept. Now for the tv serial drama addicts- you are likely to believe that your soul will leave your physical self and perhaps- enter another physical being/ roam around the human world/ wait around for some celestial beings to bring you away.

The sad truth is that it's nothing like that. The cold hard truth is that after you die, your consciousness will end and without that, you are nothing. I had this sudden realisation after experiencing firsthand of what it was like yesterday. So I was standing in a crowded train, and suddenly I felt weakness in my legs, and my vision blurred. I struggled to stay conscious but it was a tough fight. You vs your conscious- I'm telling you, there's no fight at all. So I literally felt my consciousness drift away and everything blackened in front of me. Don't worry, I'm fine- long story of what happened after that but let's just say I have a new found appreciation for the train service ambassadors.

What I wanted to say and share is: life's short. Live every day like its last. Because when you die, there's going to be no heaven waiting for you, no memories that you can cherish and nothing you can remember. It's a switch, I remember the moment so vividly, it's literally a shut down button like on your computer. As your consciousness drift away, it's like the processes shutting down one by one until the cold black screen appears.

I'm glad to have found a new appreciation of life after this episode.

Run in the rain.

Go Zumba dancing.

Climb mountains.

Take long walks.

Satisfy your cravings.

Watch sunrises.

Observe.

Learn a new language.

Read.

Smile to everyone.

Forget about petty arguments.

Buy Insurance for your loved ones.

Wear pretty clothes and shoes.

Explore new places.

Enjoy the sun.

Go kayaking.

Listen to music.

Dance in concerts like you are still in high school (BIGBANG!)

Inspire others and be inspired.

Paint your nails.

Colour your hair.

Be true to your feelings.

Live life.

Love life.

Mount Rinjani 2012

Prologue

Ended work early on 8th Aug 2012 Wed. I could smell freedom in the air as i stepped out of my office building. Finally i could take a respite from work- no more 12 hour work days and no more emails to reply. It was time to clear my mind of all work related thoughts and focus on my trip instead. Rinjani was going to be my first outdoor camping trip and i wanted to make sure that i was well prepared. First up - to drop by the doctor's near my office to get altitude sickness pills.

At the doctor's, I explained to him that i was going for a 3 day 2 night trek up to Mount Rinjani and wanted to get a prescription for altitude sickness pills. I had tried to buy the pills over the counter at the pharmacy earlier, but was rejected and the pharmacist needed the doctor's prescription. The doctor looked at me and asked more questions, like which mountain i was going, and how long i would be there for. I asked him more questions, like the side effects of the medicine, the quantity needed, etc. Alas, he looked at me blankly and turned around to google on his laptop. He found a wikipedia page explaining the information and read off the website. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_sickness I felt rather uncomfortable to have visited this doctor who did not know his stuff. On the other hand, i suppose it was forgivable since there was no mountain in Singapore so it was unlikely that he would have treated anyone for altitude sickness here. He gave me a prescription and wished me a safe trip. As expected, he did not stock up the altitude sickness pills in his clinic so i had to go back to the pharmacist to get it. I went back to the pharmacist who dispensed : Acetazolamide 250mg to me. Luckily, this pharmacist was much more knowledgeable. I was advised to consume 1/2 a tablet twice a day, after food. The tablet had to be taken one day before the start of my trek and to stop one day after i descend from the summit. The main takeaway i had for the side effects was that you would need to go toilet more often. I began to have doubts on whether i should take the medicine as the thought of having to pee in the wild wasn't too attractive to me.

Next, i headed home and started packing for my trip.

It was going to be a 3 days 2 night hike, so the clothings that i packed included:
3 sets of hiking clothes (lightweight dri-fit t-shirts and long pants)
1 set of sleepwear
a thick pullover
a waterproof windbreaker
a set of thermal wear
3 pairs of thick hiking socks (so that i had fresh socks everyday)
3 sets of undergarments
a pair of slippers
a pair of hiking shoes

To keep myself clean, i stocked up:
a bottle of waterless wash for my hair
Powder
lots of baby wipes and wet tissues
Avene rinseless facial cleanser
Towel

To protect myself against the sun, i brought:
LA ROCHE-POSAY Sunblock for my face (SPF 50)
LA ROCHE-POSAY Sunblock for my body (SPF 30)
Sunproof Arm Sleeves
Cap

Other hiking essentials included:
Snacks to munch - Energy bars, gummy bears, instant noodles and instant milo packets
Hiking Stick
Gloves
Poncho
Headlight
Waterbag
Insect Repellent
Medication
Sleeping bag cover
Light fleece blanket

Yeah i know, I brought way too much stuff. It is common practice for hikers to pack light but to me, all of these were considered as the basic essentials that i could not do without. I was determined to make this trip enjoyable. I was going glamping - (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/glamping?s=t), and certainly wasn't going to have to suffer by re-wearing dirty and smelly clothes / socks.

All of these were packed in ziplock bags and stuffed into my 40L huge outgear backpack.

Next, i had another problem to resolve. (Yes i know- i am a noob and a worrywart!!)

It was my first time checking in my backpack and i was worried that the straps of the backpack would get stuck in the conveyor belt or mishandled by the baggage handlers. Well, you couldn't blame me. During my last trip to Switzerland, the baggage handlers damaged the lock of my hardcase luggage so badly that the case couldn't close properly. With this in mind, i wanted to ensure that my backpack was safe and sound for my trek. What would i do if i arrived in Lombok with broken straps on my backpack?

After hunting around my house, i found a really huge duffel bag that could contain my backpack. I stuffed my backpack inside, locked up the duffel bag and was ready for my trip!

Day 1

We met at the Singapore Changi Airport at around 1 pm to check in our baggages. Our hiking sticks were considered as "dangerous items" and were not allowed to be brought as part of our carry-on luggage. Instead, they labelled the sticks as fragile items and checked them in together with the rest of our backpacks. 

We took the silkair flight bound for Lombok and departed at about 3+ pm in the afternoon.

Surprisingly, the flight was full and filled with Caucasians. I had no idea that Lombok was such a popular destination for them. Asians / Singaporeans were actually a minority on the flight, despite the fact that the flight departed from Singapore.

We landed at Lombok at ard 6+ pm in the evening. It was dusk when our plane touched down at the Lombok Airport and during our landing, we caught a magnificent view of Mt Rinjani among the clouds and the beautiful sunset. Alas, as I didn't take the window seat and also didn't have my camera on hand, I wasn't able to capture the beautiful sight. All i could do was to capture the beautiful sight visually and leave it ingrained in my memory. Point to note: Ask for the window seat on the left side of the plane on the way to lombok and the window seat on the right side of the plane if you are departing from Lombok.

The first fact that i learnt about Lombok was that the sky turned pitch dark really early. It didn't help that there wasn't much street lamps along the roads either. By the time we collected our luggages (my duffel bag and hiking stick arrived safe and sound luckily) and met up with our tour coordinator Mr Asmuni, the sky outside was already turning dark despite it being only 7+pm. Mr Asmuni informed us that the journey to Sembalun was going to take us about 2.5 hours. We were going to bunk at the Sembalun for the first night, before starting our 3 days 2 nights trek early next morning. We requested for him to drop us along the way to pick up some essentials, including water for the night and stocked up local snacks (e.g.: Chitato potato chips- tasted really good!). Next, it was a long 2.5 hours journey in the dark with the occasional street lamps. Being someone who suffers from night blindness, i was amazed that the locals could survive with minimal lighting. This really made me reflect on my life back in Singapore, where i consider lights to be a basic essential whereas the locals here could survive without it. Made a note in my head to reduce my usage of lights whenever possible when i go back to Singapore. All of us fell asleep on the bus, but woke up when the bus starting ascending. The road was really dangerous, it was pitch dark so the driver was relying on his headlights to maneuver up the slope. When i looked out of the window, I could literally see the cliff at the edge of the road. I knew that there was no point worrying, so i closed my eyes and went back to sleep, hoping that the driver was experienced enough to bring us there. The weather also started to turn chilly, i had no idea if it was the climate change outside, or it was just the air-con in the bus.

Finally, we reached our destination- Lembah Rinjani. We were greeted by the cold wind when we stepped out of the van. I felt so silly to be wearing my shorts and only had a windbreaker to protect myself from the cold. Quickly, we were brought to our allocated cottages where we were going to stay for the night. It was a really basic and simple hut, but to my dismay, there was no hot shower. How am i going to bathe in cold water when i am already freezing in this cold weather? We headed to the canteen for a quick dinner and was introduced to our guide - Abdul. We checked with him if there was any hot shower available, but unfortunately only the superior rooms had hot shower, not ours. Mental note: to book the superior rooms with hot shower next time. After our dinner, we returned to our respective cottages to rest for our hike tomorrow. Back in my room, i contemplated. Should I : 1. Not bathe at all, since i already bathed that morning, since the water is so cold. 2. Bathe in cold water- this was the next best "luxury" i could enjoy for the next few days, at least i could start my trek clean and refreshed. Yes, if you know me, it should be easy to guess which choice i picked. I clenched my teeth and took a quick bath. Throughout the cold experience, i only had 2 thoughts. First, was that i would appreciate my hot shower baths more when i go back to Singapore, next is that whatever doesn't kill me will make me stronger. Yes, i endured the cold shower bath and emerged stronger, cleaner, and with a new appreciation of having hot shower baths at home. 

Day 2

Early next morning, we gathered at the canteen for breakfast before embarking on our hike. I filled up my waterbag with 1.5 litres worth of water and passed my heavy backpack to the porter. We had 10 porters in total for the 6 of us. They helped to carry our heavy backpacks, food, cooking equipment, tents, sleeping bags, toilet tent, water supplies, etc. The guide and the tour coordinator were both happy that we hired 3 additional porters, as it was a form of job creation for them. The porters only earned about SGD $20 a day and the cost of the 3 additional porters were fully affordable when we divided the cost among the 6 of us. I did not fully appreciate the porters until much later during my trip when i experienced the care they provided.

After a quick stop at the office to register, we began our 3 day 2 night hiking adventure proper. The hike began with a leisure stroll up and gentle slopes and we were able to see Mt Rinjani from a distance. The mountain didn't look that daunting to me. It was surrounded by acres of green fields and provided plenty of phototaking opportunities for us. We passed a herd of cows who swarmed past us. The cows were roaming free on the mountains, grazing on grass and of course, poo-ing along the route. We had to watch our steps to avoid stepping on the poos. It was a surreal experience with the cows - definitely something that you won't experience in SG! I was amazed that none of them attacked us and just avoided us while making their way past us.

After hiking for sometime we were getting hot and sweaty because of the sun (it was late morning by then).

There was a resting post in sight and our guide suggested for us to take a break. We were glad for the short respite against the blazing sun. Amazingly, one of our porters took out a watermelon from his backpack, cut it up and shared it with all of us. Eating that watermelon was a real treat. It quenched my thirst and also provided cool relief from the sun at the same time. I was really amazed and grateful to our porter who was so thoughtful to provide such treats for us. This was the first of the many treats that we had along the way.

After our quick break, refreshed from the watermelon treat, we carried on with our hike. Along the way we saw many different groups of hikers, there was a group of middle aged koreans, all decked out in branded and professional hiking gear. We were impressed at how fit they were, compared to our parents who were probably too unfit to even climb Bukit Timah Hill back in SG. There was also many groups of Caucasians, some of them were decked like they were going for a run. In fact, throughout my climb i think i met more Caucasians than Asians.

Before long, we reached a bridge where there were some hikers sitting on director's chairs.They looked really comfortable while enjoying their cooked lunch that their porters made. Their tour package must be considered as the high-end ones, we thought to ourselves. Mental note to self: check if field chairs are provided for our next hiking adventure. Our guide led us to an open space for lunch where a picnic mat was already laid out for us. Our lunch was ready to be served by the time we got there as the porter made their way there earlier for preparation. We heard that 2 of our porters had already made their way to the base camp at the crater rim in order to get a good spot for us to setup camp tonight. Lunch was simple but we were starved so everything tasted good.

After lunch, our endurance was tested as there were 7 hills to be conquered in order to reach the crater rim. Some hills were easy, some were tough and the route seemed to be never- ending. Gradually, we could feel the change in the atmosphere around us. Soon we were surrounded by mist and it felt a bit chilly. Sometimes we felt droplets of water- condensation from the mist, our guide explained, and not raindrops. With frequent small breaks in between, we managed to conquer the 7 hills together. Eventually, we were rewarded with an awesome view of the top of Mt Rinjani and the surroundings. We have reached our campsite for the night and it was time to rest, unpack and take plenty of pictures.

Watching the sunset from the crater rim campsite was another surreal experience. We were so busy trying to pose and capture the dusk scenery and before long, the sky turned dark really quickly. Without the sunlight, coupled with huge gusts of wind, we were all freezing cold and had to wear our thick pullovers to keep warm. Our very thoughtful porters setup a campfire by our dinner mat for us to keep warm. Sitting by the campfire to have my dinner, listening to the music that the guide played from his cellphone (we requested for him to sing but he was too shy) and just enjoying the warmth from the campfire was really satisfying. It has been a long time since i enjoyed a real campfire. We just lacked marshmallows to roast over the fire. As we had to wake up in the wee hours for a night climb to the summit the next day, we turned in really early.

Day 3

Our guide woke us up at 1.30am in the early morning the next day to get us ready for the hike up. Our dear porters have already woken up and prepared hot Cocoa and toasted bread with jam for us as breakfast. I have heard stories from all my friends about how daunting the summit was- stories about how they would slid back down after making their way up, how one friend did not manage to make it to the summit before the sunrise, and of how another friend (a fitter hiker than me) did not make it to the summit altogether. Honestly, I did not harbour much hopes in reaching the summit. However, i knew that i had to at least attempt the trek for myself to experience firsthand the "toughness" that everyone described. As it was pitch dark, We had to rely on our headlights to make our way up. We were one of the first teams to start off, as it was my first time climbing in the dark, i was feeling very nervous. The first part of the hike was still fine, until we hit the slopes with very loose fine stones and sand. It was like climbing a slope with sand! I had to rely on my hiking stick and arm strength to pull myself up and got tired really quickly. When i turned back, i saw hundreds of headlights in a straight line behind me. It felt like all of us were going for a pilgrimage. I felt bad as my progress was really slow and it seemed like i was hampering the progress of the others. As we were going higher up in altitude, i could feel the air thinning, making it harder to breathe normally with every step. Eventually i stopped for a break and allowed others to go past. The speed of the other hikers were amazing. I saw the bunch of professional Koreans swarm past me, as if it was so easy, i saw another group of Caucasians who were empty-handed and were dressed in really thin clothing. I could feel my morale level decreasing. After several rounds of climbing and resting, my guide decided to give me a hand (literally). Holding hands, we starting "running" up the slope together. It was so much easier to go up with his help. There was momentum by running up the slope, and his tight grip on my hand prevented me from slipping backwards. Quickly and easily, i managed to complete that 1/3 of the summit with his help. At that point, i was really grateful for the help that my guide provided. He was much smaller in size than me, but yet he was strong enough to pull me up and get me up the cliff.

The second part of the summit hike was a long treacherous road, subjecting you to very harsh conditions. I was walking on a narrow path, where both sides were cliffs that i could fall to my death. I had to take small steps carefully. On top of the thin air, there were huge gusts of wind that was blowing. I was freezing cold, chattering, and could literally feel myself being blown away while walking. My lips were dry and exposed to the cold wind as i had forgotten to put on lip balm to protect them before setting off. Two of my teammates were far ahead of me. I was impressed by their endurance. I took frequent breaks behind the rocks in order to hide from the wind and to keep warm. Despite wearing thermal wear, pullover, long sleeve shirt and a windbreaker, i was still freezing cold. My toes felt like stones and i remember fearing that i had frostbites and that my toes would drop off. I took a really long time to walk along the cliff, and i knew that there was no way i could reach the summit. The third part of the summit was supposedly the hardest and i knew that i could not make it up before daybreak. As dawn approached, our guide led us to an area with several huge rocks to rest and watch the sunrise. Over there, a few more hikers joined us at the hideout, including 2 fellow Singaporeans. Despite not being at the summit, watching the sunrise from my hideout was equally satisfying. Indeed, not making it up to the summit will remain as a regret for me, but i can proudly say that i did try my best. Seeing the sun rise against the beautiful twilight sky, the white clouds beneath, the shadow of Mt Rinjani that was cast, the Mt Agung and Gili Islands faraway and the beautiful lake, I forgot about the hard time i had getting to that point. It made everything worthwhile and I would endure the harsh climb all over again. I guess that was the beauty of mountain climbing and why i love it. The process may be tough, but when you are at the summit (or near the summit this time), the rewards that you get - the view, the sense of accomplishments, all these are incredible. Mountain climbing is indeed an addiction.

Our guide proposed that we made our way down before the crowd came along from the summit. I agreed, as i knew that my speed would be slow and did not want to block the way of the crowd that would be coming along soon. With proper sunlight, I could see my way clearly and could walk much faster this time round. The cliff road did not seem to be as dangerous as i perceived in the dark, and i could complete it pretty quickly. Then, i got back to the slope where my guide gave me a hand. Going down the slope felt like i was skiing. Alas, i have a terrible sense of balance and fell several times, despite having a hiking stick to stabilize myself. I saw many Caucasians running down the slope, surpassing me while i was inching forward precariously, step by step. Are they born risk takers? I wondered to myself. It seemed that none of them were worried about falling or slipping. They managed to balance themselves perfectly while sliding down the sandy slopes, just like graceful skiers. Comparatively, I was worrying about each step i took, ensuring that i had a stable and firm step before moving forward. Once again, despite having a headstart on the descend, i took a long time to finally reach back to the campsite. 

We had a long time to rest and pack at the campsite, as one of my teammate took a long time to return from the summit. Kudos to him, as it was indeed a test of your endurance which he rose up to. Despite not being able to reach the summit before daybreak, he still inched forward step by step which explained why he took such a long time. When he finally got back, we had lunch and thereafter, set off for our next campsite for the day which would be at the lake. We were all looking forward to the hot springs by the lake, where we could freshen up after being covered with 2 days worth of sweat, grime, dust and dirt. The hike towards the lake was much easier compared to what we endured in the morning. We were going downhill, and just had to watch our steps while balancing on the rocks. Enroute, we saw several climbers on their way up, and they panting and covered in sweat. We were glad that we were going down instead of up as their climb would require much more arm strength. The porters were amazing. They were balancing huge baskets with a bamboo pole on their shoulders, and with their slippers-clad feet, they could walk faster than us in both directions, either climbing up the rocks or going down. Impressive!

We finally reached the beautiful lake just before sunset, and quickly headed to the hot springs to freshen up before the sky turned dark.The 5 min walk to the hot spring turned to be at 15 min short climb and we were totally unprepared as we had already changed to our slippers instead of our hiking shoes. I guess the guide had yet to gauge our speed against the usual speed of other groups. (this was something that we constantly reminded him of over the next day). The Hot Springs had huge rocks covered in algae that was really slippery. As i soaked myself, i could feel my muscles relaxing from the hot water. It felt really good to feel clean again. Unfortunately, we could not enjoy ourselves much as the sky was turning dark quickly and we had to make our way back. We were not quick enough and the sky had turned pitch dark again. Luckily, some of us brought headlights so we tried to make our way back slowly. Very fortunately, one of the porters came along to fetch us with his strong headlight. I was really touched by how thoughtful he was. He knew that we would have a hard time getting back so he came to look for us and to provide the lighting needed. With his help, we made our way back as a group slowly, and managed to get back to the campsite safely.

This was yet another example of how thoughtful the porters are.

We had a quick dinner and turned in early again, being worn out from the early morning summit hike.

Day 4

Today would be the last day of our hike. The plan was to get to the crater rim, and go back down to Senaru from there. We explored the lake a little after breakfast before setting off. There were 2 other groups of Singaporeans camping near us and we took a group photo together. Team Singapore! One of them gave our guide a Singapore flag which he stuck on his head throughout the rest of the day. It made it really easy for us to recognize him from afar. We hiked around the lake and captured beautiful views. It was then time to make our way up by rock climbing. Although it was a tough climb hard where you had to rely on your arms to pull yourself up, you could see the beautiful volcano and lake each time u turned around. The beautiful view kept us motivated and we were also distracted by taking and posing for many photos. As we went up higher, the view turned even better. It made all the hard work worth it. The scenery was so breathtaking and everything felt peaceful and calm. Gone was all the stress and worries. I wanted to remember the moment - where i could hear my own breathing and apart from that, there was nothing. Nothing in my mind, total peace and it was just me, tiny little me, standing among the rocks, looking out to the fiery volcano in the middle of the sea-green lake with the mountain backdrop, together with the blue sky, white clouds and tall trees. The picture perfect moment of nature at its best, simply loving the calmness of it all. Interestingly, this very moment that i took in and remembered, served to help me later on. I was back at work a few days later, embroiled in stress, piles of work and tons of email to clear. One angry BM came up to me and started ranting rudely to me about how he didn't like the way things were done, and how he has escalated things to my bosses and that i need to be in control of how this and that gets done. I stared at him, nodding my head, pretending to be understanding, but in my mind, i was totally zen and back at my moment of calm. All i could think of was how big the world was, and how beautiful the world was outside. In face of this huge beautiful world, no matter how important this silly guy thinks of himself, we are really all equally tiny. His size and words didn't scare me anymore. I guess this moment of calm can also pretty much be applied for everything else in life. When face with failures, sadness, disappointments, etc., just think of how beautiful and huge the world is, and how insignificant those feelings are. Those negative feelings will pass and be forgotten as long as you focus on the positive. There is a huge world out there, that is just brimming with opportunities for us to pick ourselves up and try again.

Back to the climb, so we made our way up to the crater rim after an intense morning of rock climbing. It was noon by the time we reached and the sun was burning above our heads. Our guide dished out little treats again such as local chocolate snacks called Beng Beng and a cheese biscuits. Those snacks tasted heavenly, and i enjoyed them tremendously. I knew that given the same snacks back home, i would probably have not enjoyed them at all. During the hike, simple food fare tasted so good, and it did make me more appreciative of food. Isn't it hilarious that these simple food can provide the same amount of gratification as Michelin Star fine cuisine that cost so much more? Indeed, if you look at this from another perspective, it is all about your expectations, your environment and your feelings when you eat. I never thought much about food, being someone who eats to live instead of live to eat. I did make a mental note to be more appreciative of food when i get back home.

From the crater rim, we made our way down amidst the hot blazing sun to the next resting post for lunch. Despite wanting to move along faster in order to enjoy the shade, it was difficult as the terrain was a sandy, rocky and slippery slope, so it was impossible to walk fast. My guide suggested us to run, as he said running would make it easier. One of my teammates was game and starting running alongside him. I was amazed once again. There was no way i could run like them. Was i because i was too afraid of falling? Was it because I was too risk averse? Interestingly, i am a very slow and cautious climber, and my friend (that guy who ran alongside the guide) did tell me before, that i should have more faith in my trekking shoes. I was wearing an expensive pair of trekking shoes with proper grooves, but somehow, i was still too afraid. Maybe this is a reflection of me in real life. I am someone who is ultra risk-averse. I am always scared and always worrying. I do wonder when i can move on from being this worrisome self, perhaps engaging myself in more mountain trekking will help.

Lunch was gado gado with pineapple at a resting post. There were several greedy monkeys nearby and the Caucasians were fascinated by them. They were feeding them, and playing with the monkeys. We on the other hand, were just focusing on resting and eating to replenish our energy. Our guide assured us that the last part of the trek downwards would be easy, which turned out to be true. From post 3 onwards, it was a gentle descend back to Senaru through the forest and there were plenty of forest roots that served as steps. I came down with mixed feelings. On one hand, I was looking forward to having a nice clean bath at the beach resort we have booked, as well as a scrumptious seafood dinner, on the other hand, I felt sad to leave the wonderful peaceful mountain to go back to my stressful city life. As the sky was turning dark again, we walked very much faster than our usual pace, hoping to get back to the base as soon as possible. At one of the pitstops, our guide rewarded us with cans of coke. That coke felt so refreshing and gave us the energy to move on. It was such a simple treat - a coke, but it made all of us happy and satisfied. One of my teammates gave his can of coke to the porter instead, and the porter looked so happy. He didn't drink it, but kept the coke in his bag. He must be saving the coke for later. Life should be as simple as this, one can of coke - that's all it should take for us to be happy. Why doesn't it work in the real city life? That's another takeaway from my trip that i will ponder on.

As we were nearing the base, i fell and twisted my ankle. Luckily, i could still stand up and continue walking. I thought i was fine as it didn't hurt but when i went back to the hotel, i found that my entire ankle was swollen. At least I had a reason to take medical leave the next day. When we got back to the base, we gave the porters tips. We gave only about SGD$12 to each porter, but all of them were really happy. We were also glad that our small token of appreciation could make them happy. Indeed, these porters made a huge difference to our hiking experience, and i will always remember how they built a campfire for us while we were cold, came to guide us and provide light when we were trapped in the dark, and the many treats they dished out along the way. Even though they couldn't speak much English, we could feel their genuine care and concern for us through their actions and smiles.

Overall my Mt Rinjani trip was awesome. Even though i came back with a swollen ankle, swollen lips (from the sun and cold wind), sunburnt and peeling arms, it was still a trip that was well worth it, and definitely an experience that i will remember for a long time to come.

Till the next mountain or adventure.

:)

PS: Recommended tour agency for Rinjani

后青春期的诗

《那些年我们一起追的女孩》 最近超红的.

我一直在想-究竟谁是这个九把刀, 为什么他会这么受欢迎呢?

电影虽然多半都是围绕着低流的打手抢, 但还是莫名的感动了我.

这些两句经典对白让我留下了深刻的印象:

成長，最殘酷的部份就是，女孩永遠比同年齡的男孩成熟，

而女孩的成熟，沒有一個男孩招架的住。

人生本來很多事都是徒勞無功的

How True.

之前去了台北旅行， 在诚品书局里买了本九把刀的《后青春期的诗》。

我承认当时是因为看到五月天有为这本书专文推荐， 再加上只是喜欢书名而买的。

很久没有读中文书了。

但奇怪的是， 我只用了一个星期的时间就把书读完了。

读后，比看《那些年我们一起追的女孩》还莫名的感动。因为同感深受。

青春啊

曾经多么的想快点长大可今天却拼命的涂防老霜

曾经多么怨恨的读书考试变成了可能回不去的遥远愿望

曾经的许多幼稚举动可变成了今天的甜美回忆

曾经的我狂疯自大，总以为世界只为自己打转

最后才发现自己只不过是一个数字

曾经的暗恋初恋和暧昧对象

早已个个结婚生子离开了青春时期

而当年的承诺誓言也跟着挥洒落空

曾经我们都拥有那无懈可击的活力和精力

在海边看了无数的日落和日出

骑着脚踏车吵吵闹闹飚了无数的夜晚

跌倒了无数次也可以再爬起

伤口再痛可愈合的也快

彻夜在网上打电玩与朋友聊天都不觉得累

可如今体力精力大都不如前

想当年，变了我们最常用的话

九把刀说了我的心底话。

我的青春时期太棒了，所以我还想青春下去。

即时到了三十岁，我要潇洒的说声 so what.

接下来我还是要继续-

享受我的自由

追求我的梦想

游赏这个世界的美妙

在每天的生活里抱着希望和期望

我想这就是我想追求的幸福。

现在的我已经明白了。

即使在这世界的眼里我只是一个数字，但对我而言，世界还是在为我打转的。

:)

TOP 5 MUST-DO THINGS IN TAIWAN

TOP 5 BEST EXPERIENCE I HAD IN TAIWAN

1. Star gazing and sunrise watching @ 清境/ 合欢山

2. Cycling @ 花莲 to 七星潭

3. Eat 冰火菠萝包 / 牛排 / Drink 覆盆子 @ 师大夜市

4. Visit 太鲁阁 and follow the mountain trails. I did the short 石门山 ascent, the view was breathtaking!

5. Eat马辣hotpot@忠孝.

For 499 NTD (approximately 22 SGD) you get to enjoy the steamboat buffet with 2 soup bases, main food selection includes angus beef/australian beef/ crabs/ prawns/ very fresh vegetables etc.

Free flow of drinks: coke, green tea, lemon tea, coffee, flower tea, even taiwan beer

Free flow of Haagen Daz and Movenpick ice cream!!!! (i only managed to eat 6 scoops, my fren had 14!!!!!)

Free flow of dessert and fruits which include NY cheesecake, blueberry cheesecake, boston cake, tiramisu cake.

BEST BUFFET EVER. You have been warned to go with an empty stomach.

FYI:

http://mala-1.jtmall.com.tw/jt-hotel/front/bin/ptlist.phtml?Category=103545

My happiness project

Inspired by this read: http://www.happiness-project.com/

This is my very own happiness project that i embarked on:

1. Cleaning up my room

Over the years i have collected so much "junk", all stashed around my room. These are "junk" that i did not bear to throw because they represent memories of the different stages of life that i have gone through. With resolve, i went through the stash, dumped magazines that i collected, throwing out textbooks and notes used decades ago, re-packed the "collectibles" into ikea boxes and re-stashed them in the storage room. Now my room looks half empty, but at least i know that i still have my memories stored away nicely in my house.

Helpful Tip: Put everything into storage that has not been used for the past month.

2. Revamping my room

Now, this part of my project brought great joy to me. Over the years i have done little change to my bedroom, contented to live in mess and clutter. I finally dumped the huge table that i have been using for decades, and bought a smaller functional table in replacement. In additional to the load of "collectibles" that i stashed into the storage room, a huge space was created in my bedroom. Now my room looks much cleaner, brighter and bigger. This change lifts my mood- everyday when i get home from work, it feels great to be greeted by this huge empty space.

3. Emptying my wardrobe

This is probably still in the "work in progress" stage. I, very much like any other girls, have a bursting wardrobe. The situation is so bad that my mum refuses to open it. She leaves clothes that are washed/ironed on my bed to make me hang them up myself because its kinda tricky to close my wardrobe. (because its bursting) With a stroke of luck, my younger sister rented a flea market booth to sell her clothes recently. I packed all my clothes which i have not worn for the past year for her to sell. This was a painful process for me. There were clothes that were BRAND NEW that i loved but had never had the opportunity to wear. But i knew that in situations like that you have to close your eyes and be harsh. You have no idea how much my heart sinks whenever my sis texted me to say oh i sold your skirt/top/jacket for x (because it is a flea so my clothes were sold for a tiny fraction of the price i bought them at) But as she rationalized with me, these were clothes that you will never wear anyway. How true How true!!!

So, with huge resolve, this is how i will change my life

THOU SHALL ONLY BUY CLOTHES THAT I WILL WEAR!!!

4. Recognizing my Addiction

Now, anyone who knows me will know what i am addicted to:- watching drama serials, especially korean dramas. I have been spending way too much time indulging in this "hobby", as much as i find joy in this, there is really no constructive improvement that it makes to my life. (In fact it may very well be destructive since korean dramas make people unrealistic).

I know that this is an addiction, but i don't want to stop it because i simply enjoy watching dramas too much. Instead, i am going to practise self- restraint. Instead of watching dramas whenever i am free, i am going to allocate one hour a day for it. So that is like watching one episode a day. This works, because it makes me look forward to that one hour a day and also i get other things done as well. Time that used to be spent on watching the serials are now used for reading, etc.

5. Thinking positive thoughts

OK this is very tricky for me. For the past years I have been moping about my life, griping about how sad my life is, etc. So i am determined to start thinking happy thoughts.

1. Thy shall resolve to STOP SWEARING

This is really tough for me. I mean, personally to me, swearing doesn't mean a thing, it is just an avenue for me to release for frustration. So i use the "F" word very frequently, so much so that it comes as a reflex action. When i spill water all over my desk, "F" is the first word that comes out of my mouth. When someone bumps into me or steps on my feet, "F" is the first word that comes out of my mouth. Now frankly speaking, in these scenarios when i use the "F" word, it is really purely a reflex action and not that i really mean it. There was this small incident when an uncle bumped into me during lunch and caused me to drop my food on the floor. Yes with my very foul mouth the F word came out immediately. He was taken aback and extremely apologetic about bumping into me. The truth was, yes i was annoyed at that moment, but as soon as the word came out of my mouth, i felt sorry and wished i didnt say it. It was purely a reflex word and i honestly did not mean to swear at him. :( :(

It's gonna be tough to change this habit, but yes i will try my best to do it.

Also inspired by a korean drama that i watched recently, whenever you are down/depressed, think of happy words. Say them out loud and you will be surprised at how fast your mood can change.

Here are some happy words thou shall keep in mind:

1. Happy

2. Fantastic

3. Great

4. Brilliant

5. Beautiful

6. Good

7. Wonderful

8. Excellent

9. Superb

10. Awesome

My happiness project changed my life, shall encourage you guys to start one of your own too! :)