Counting my blessings

I have not been keeping up with the news telecast for a long while. I was apalled by the natural disasters and man-made accidents happening in some of the poorest parts of the world!

The broadcast on TV was really heart-wrenching- from the earthquake in China to the flood in Myanmar, and a huge explosion caused by the oil pipes in Nigeria! The tragedy is not so much in the destruction itself. Gross human negligence of some self-conceited beings are often responsible for the deepened impact of the destruction. On the other hand, apathy from the key persons who have the power to make a difference is unforgivable.

I really gotta count my blessings for being able to sit comfortably on my couch, against the ear-soothing backdrop of music in my living area, while there are a lot more people out there battling with the physical and emotional aftermath of these disasters.

" ‘Dear little Swallow,’ said the Prince, ‘you tell me of marvellous things, but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men and of women. There is no Mystery so great as Misery..."
(Oscar Wilde- Happy Prince)

I'm using the last bits of my again, short weekend, to pamper myself, hopefully with a good read again before bed. While waiting for my nuggets and potato wedges to bake in the oven, I'm just trying to post more, fond photo memories from my last trip.

Enjoy!


I love the works of Ming! Didn't regret at all to engage him for the photography services! =)


Check out the junior suite at my sister hotel in Penang! I love the space! I should have taken some pictures of the other suite in the Singapore property. It's got a very stylish black and white theme!

I missed the great food in Malaysia and Singapore- really enjoyed each and every meals! Only pity is that there's a limit to how much I can stomach for each meal! Hmmp! I'm salivating, just by looking at these pictures!


First wedding celebration in Penang!


On the other hand, shopping was a blast! The shopping experience in Penang has improved a great deal, with lotsa lovely boutiques emerging and the new mega Queensbay Mall. Came back with a load of nice jackets and shoes!


Cigars from Penang Duty-Free!

I've regretted not buying the Coach and Bally items that caught my eye at the Duty-Free in Penang. Though not all are the latest designs, they were all priced reasonably! And there was the Chloe boutique at T3 in Singapore I have missed. They were selling one of the newer Paddington for SGD 1700++ ! Regretted again, for not getting my hands on one of them! =( But well, hopefully I can get some good buys in Hong Kong later this year!



 

My loot from the Bvlgari boutique at T3- shopping really was quite an experience there! SL picked up a leather Mont Blanc briefcase himself.

The Experience

Abandon the city landscape of cluttered skyscrapers and noisy traffic behind the stark white walls of the Raffles Hotel. In this unique piece of space, I'm all prepared to be lost in the lush greenery and the colonial inspiration of everything- from the jacquered arm-chair in the reception area, to ceiling fans at the restaurants or facade of a old-fashioned counter as the front desk. 

Named after the founder of modern Singapore, Raffles Hotel is not only the most prestigious hospitality icon in this country, but also regarded as a national monument. The hotel is an acclaimation of pure luxury.

Upon arrival, the well-groomed front desk staff greeted us and walked us to our suite. The personalised check-in is completed as we sign off the last bits on the guest registration card. From this moment on, I took time to inspect the fine details in the room- the deliberate furnishings, generous toiletries supplied by Amrita Spa, hand-written card from the management, sweet dose of praline chocolates.

Under the camouflage of luxury, what impressed me most was the diligent maintenance at the hotel. Despite the overwhelming mid-day heat, gardeners toiled hard in their beautiful, but stiff-looking and seemingly uncomfortable uniforms, to preserve the tidiness of the greens. On the other hand, painters busied themselves with dusting coats of purity white on spots that needed attention. Other housekeeping staff were frequently spotted along the corridors with their loaded trolleys to service guest rooms. 

Looking at the industrious workers reminds me that there are people out there who have much
tougher waves in life to endure. Life is never meant to be easy.

I'm somehow glad that beautiful things do happen once in a while in my life =) It's the rainbows I wanna remember, not the dark clouds that command rain!



 

Just back from walking in the cold, I'm enjoying the warmth in my villa, and stuffing out my hunger with leftover corn chips. I'm being totally honest- this is the best time I had in the week! 

Compared to the ever more demands from my job, being able to fufil the 
most basic needs
of a human has never felt better! I shouldn't be thinking too much about 
the mountain-high workload that is in store for me in the next 1.5 weeks. 

Time to relax a few work-stressed muscles and enjoy a good read for this weekend!

I'm trying to get hold of Oscar Wilde's Happy Prince.

‘When I was alive and had a human heart,’ answered the statue, ‘I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the palace of Sans-Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot choose but weep.’

As the sound tracks from Paul Cardall’s album resonates through my busy routine in the office today, I can’t help but wonder how much I find those melodies so sorrowful, and yet beautiful at the same time. Or perhaps it’s just me who is constantly looking at the world with a sad, pathetic perspective.

I have been drowned with much thoughts recently. Of all, I am amazed by the shit we human can put up with at work, just to have a roof over our heads, and warm meals to enjoy. It all boils down to our basic instinct to survive isn’t it?

Apart from those gloomy thoughts, I have really missed out a fair bit when I was last in Singapore. Time is never enough! I missed the extraordinary treat at the Raffles Hotel. It felt as though the wedding celebration has blown over so quickly without having enough time bask in what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. That’s the price to pay for being too caught up with the hustle and bustle of life! Or is it because, as humans, we are always preoccupied with thinking how much things could be better?

I feel kinda sad looking back at those pictures! To be exact, I have always felt this tinge of sadness when the time to bid goodbye to the land where my life has taken roots in.

It’s time for me to knuckle down and save up enough for another trip in late August. This time, it will not only be a physical journey to take, but also a journey for me to connect with my inner self!

Pictures for Melbourne, Malaysia and Singapore trip will be up soon (I hope!)