Relax, Hold Back & Break Free....

AK896, the flight no. I’m taking to Thailand for my first bag packing destination, Chiang Mai. Not to forget the number RM125, the price I pay for my air ticket (inclusive taxes, fuel surcharges & travel insurance : )

This bag packing trip will ultimately last for a month or two the most as no return air ticket has been purchased. However, the thing about bag packing is that you can always expect the unexpected. Not to mention the rewarding experience you get from exploring the different cultures and the people you met along the journey. The mystery of getting to know one person from a different background and having an interesting repartee, it’s amazing!

As mister B once said, "Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." Sometimes, an unnoticeable thing, person or an experience can inspire you to think about your life, dreams or even make you a better person. Thus, I’m bringing my joy and an open mind to see what I can unravel during this trip.

Even though I've got a lot to do, packing my bag, back up my design work & planning my routes but nonetheless like the Thai will say “jai yen yen”, Relax, take it easy. The best way to travel in Thailand is to follow the Thai way. What more can I say or do? ;) Thus I shall Relax, Hold Back & Break Free....

For more updates on my magical Thai travelogue, do log on to another blog site I’ve dedicated for this coming bag packing trip at http://www.magicalthai.blogspot.com/

An inspirational speech by Anne Hathaway on Human Rights for the LGBT!

Fatulous!

Few weeks ago, I bumped into my ex-colleague whom is “stick” thin making a comment about my weight. The unanticipated sharp words, "Hey, you've been gaining weight" took me by surprise. After a few months not seeing each other and that's the first thing you can say about me. How about “how are you” to begin with? Then a strangest thing happen, never in my life have I been so comfortable to reply that I'm truly happy with how I look and my weight right now.

First of all, fat is not a sin. Gluttony is. In my life, I’ve always been struggling with 2 major issues. Fat & Love. When I was 13, I’m an abusive eater. I ate so much that my greatest gain is carrying over 110kg of fats in my 43 inches school pant. Not to mention, of course the school pant have to be especially tailor made according to my new found achievement. Once again, I’m humiliated with the fact that I’m fat.

After about 8 yrs of losing 35kg to the recent weight of 75kg (Beware: there might be a chance of gaining all those fats back) I realize perhaps the reason I’m still single is because I’m nevertheless fat. Am I too fat not to be loved? I remember watching the channel 8 drama series, it used to say that there is always someone out there meant for you but how come after years of losing weight, “wearing the right underwear” & reading all the self-help magazines about what’s love fails to get me attached. My friend even recommends drinking peach blossom green tea on the first day of Chinese New Year to increase my romances!! There are fat people who got attached. So why not me? I’m not even that portly.

Then I understand just like a piece of artwork. Everyone have his own ideal of perfect partner. It’s subjected to your preferences. Therefore, I don’t want to try hard to become that perfect eligible bachelor that the society or the magazine that you read deems so. The well-built 6-pacs torso with brown delicious tan living around the central business district! I’m not going to be the society victims. I don’t want to feel sorry for myself. We are all equal in the search for our own happiness, regardless of sizes and I mean the other kind of size as well. I just want to be myself and become the delicious apple of someone’s eyes. We would both share the sinful potato chips on a Saturday night naked on the sofa without been ashamed of my wobbly tummy declaring war against me. Till then, I’m not afraid of telling everyone that I’m single and fatulous!!

Hillarious Thai Ad!

Repeat Entry: Solitude is not loneliness!

Recently, a chum of mine, KC whom is ridiculously accuse by her cousin that it's fake to being single and indulge her solitude. Only a desperate and dependent needy girl will say such thing because she has never enlightened by the power of singlehood. For me, the difference between solitude and loneliness is that solitude is something you WANT and feel comfortable with, a peaceful, relaxing and inspirational space, and loneliness is an UNWANTED experience of being on your own.

I believe one of the greatest fears we have is the fear of loneliness, especially the loneliness that we feel when we are without a lover.

This fear traps many of us into unfulfilling or destructive relationships, or leads us into pursuing the wrong person just to AVOID being on our own. When The Hermit appears in your life, it may represent the loneliness you feel at the time. And remember, it is possible to feel more isolated and lonely in an unhappy relationship than when you are actually on your own!

Why do you feel lonely? What can you do to help turn unwanted loneliness into welcome solitude?

Do you believe you can transform your loneliness into solitude? I believe you can. Focus on contemplating positive opportunities and outcomes. Spend your time reflecting on past joys and accomplishments. Consider what you can do with your life to create more satisfaction and fulfillment.

Take your time and chill out, don’t make any hasty or impetuous decisions, THINK about the issues in your life carefully and from a more open-minded perspective and with a more positive attitude’

You should be patient, as it may take a little more time before the period of unwanted loneliness you are suffering will pass. Of course, it can also mean don’t let the fear of loneliness hold you back from making an important decision!

Don't rush any decisions, take time out to think about and contemplate your options carefully, and if you feel lonely consider how you can change the way you view your ‘loneliness’ to create a sense of solitude instead...

Amazing Illustrations!

OFFF NYC 07 Catalogue by VASAVA

Intriguing Typography!

The typography from Watafak is intriguing

What a chair!

Fredik Farg's Coat Chair

Can luxury save the world?

Luxury is a word that takes on different meaning according to your ever changing lifestyle. For instance, if you work non-stop for five days from 8 to “8” or sometime even longer like my chum KC, your definition of a treat is probably 2 hours full body massage, a good book to read or a nice dinner with your family. For busy mothers like my another chum, Mary, with a daily schedules that juggles home, work & family, her most precious hours must surely be that overused yet underachieved “me time”. When your life is full of late night parties and sexual escapades which I don’t happen to have a friend which encompasses that intriguing habit, you might long for a night in with a few close friends and a pizza together watching Sex and the City.

How about a single guy whom have been busy freelancing and volunteering for the past 2 months?

Well, a bag packing trip to Thailand & Laos shall do the trick. Not to exclude the research and the itinerary I’ve planned for the countries almost 3 months. That amount of time rationalizing the maps and transport system is opulence to me.

However, in these more eco-friendly times where channel 5 is showing horrifying images of a plastic toy boy bleeds from the sawing to encourage us to save the earth (Gaia), defining luxury has converted into a new found meaning. Suddenly, excessive consumption and impulsive shopping especially during GSS is unbearably passé. Stocking up the fridge with supermarket-bought air freighted goods at cheaper prices looks less like great value rather more like a cost for harming the planet. Similarly, covetable fashion merchandise in your wardrobe appears tawdry when you realize it’s been sewed by an exploited labor made in India.

True luxury, we’ve come to unravel must represent something that makes you feel good while not detrimental to those around you and the world. It’s a decision you make that will last not just for your own but the future generations. Thus, in my coming bag packing trip, rather than enjoying a 5* hotel treatment and sleeping on a 500 thread count Egyptian bed sheet cover. I’ll save the world a little by little by checking in to the guest house and perhaps, maybe & probably a cold shower...