January 30, 2008: What is our intent?

What is the quality of your intent? Certain people have a way of saying things that shake us at the core. Even when the words do not seem harsh or offensive, the impact is shattering. What we could be experiencing is the intent behind the words. When we intend to do good, we do. When we intend to do harm, it happens. What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through. We cannot sugarcoat the feelings in our heart of hearts. The emotion is the energy that motivates. We cannot ignore what we really want to create. We should be honest and do it the way we feel it. What we owe to ourselves and everyone around is to examine the reasons of our true intent. My intent will be evident in the results. -- Thurgood Marshall

January 28, 2008: The Best Thing to Give

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The best thing to give

to your enemy is forgiveness;

to an opponent, tolerance;

to a friend, your heart;

to your child, a good example;

to a father, deference;

to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you;

to yourself, respect;

to all men, charity.

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-- benjamin franklin --

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and all I am capable of giving you today my friends,

love and respect

from my heart

-- larra

January 27, 2008: Nights in White Satin

Good night my friends!

January 27, 2008: Change YOU can

Sonnet: Change You Can But…

Change you can your hair color, not your skin;
Change you can your smile and grin: not your eyes;
Change you can your sex partners, not your kin;
Change you can your sinful life: Be soul-wise!

Change you can your friends and foes, not parents;
Change you can your teacher/guide, not your brain;
Change you can your exam-marks, not talents;
Change you can your habits bad and be sane.

Change you can the environment, not the sun;
Change you can the landscape old, not the soil;
Change you can your temperament and not run;
Change you can your heart and mind: you must toil.

Change you can your ambitions but be brave;
Change you can your life-styles much but behave!

-- dr john celes

!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful weekend my friends!!

There is ONE thing I am very sure that I am going to CHANGE today!

January 26, 2008: Let's go to the beach!

Come over!

We are going to the beach today! Yippeeeee

Don't forget -

bring your straw hat, sunblock, flip-flops, your favorite sunglasses,

your sexy swimming costumes

-- err, just remember, can't be too sexy on Malaysian public beach --

Pareo is advisable while walking on the beach

I have colorful batik pareos for you to choose.

.

. ....

Oh, I am sorry ... this one is reserved for Herbie

Don't worry, lots of beach chairs waiting for yaaa!

January 24, 2008: Who You Are

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January 23, 2008: Scheherazade Goes West

" Both lovers then departed, looking for each other in opposite directions, a theme universal in its pathos, because we all spend our brief lives doing just that, even if we are physically share our beds with the same person every night for years. Always we carry an image in our head of a better partner, of an ideal person, which blurs our chances of finding happiness."

The above is an excerpt from the chapter of a book that I am currently reading " Scheherazade Goes West - Different Cultures, Different Harems" by Fatema Mernissi, a professor of sociology at the University of Mohamed V in Rabat, Morocco. Professor Mernissi presents a well-documented and researched comparison of two types of harem: the Islamic harem and the western harem, which is rarely recognized for what it is. Some of you might have heard of Scheherazade, the heroine of "The Thousand and One Nights" (or better known to many English readers as The Arabian Nights).

It's an entertaining book, which I have been reading - since end of December - in between of my other books on quality.

Here's one of the review about the book:

One of the of the most striking points that Professor Mernissi makes is that the Koran clearly states that women are the equals of men and that when Muslim men do lock their women up it is because of their deep fear of that fundamental equality. Western men began to subscribe to the opinions of Kant, who stated that women should never study mathematics history or geography as this knowledge would destroy their beauty. Historically, powerful Muslim men have enjoyed the company of educated and witty women, and considered this to be seductive, while Western men have followed an opposite path. Professor Mernissi's comparisons of the two cultures give a balanced view and are thought-provoking. Ever since Alexis de Tocqueville allowed Americans to view themselves in a different mirror, we have been fascinated with how others see us. Professor Mernissi holds up a mirror to the Western democracies that readers will find illuminating as well as entertaining.

(Sarah Reaves White )

To read more about this book, visit this page.

That's among other things that I have been doing today, besides reading the quality stuff . It's public holiday today as the Hindu devotees celebrating Thaipusam.

In Kuala Lumpur, the festival is celebrated on a mammoth scale at the Batu Caves temple on the outskirts of the city.

January 22, 2008: if everything happens that can't be done

if everything happens that can't be done
(and anything's righter
than books
could plan)
the stupidest teacher will almost guess
(with a run
skip
around we go yes)
there's nothing as something as one

one hasn't a why or because or although
(and buds know better
than books
don't grow)
one's anything old being everything new
(with a what
which
around we go who)
one's everyanything so

so world is a leaf is a tree is a bough
(and birds sing sweeter
than books
tell how)
so here is away and so your is a my
(with a down
up
around again fly)
forever was never till now

now i love you and you love me
(and books are shutter
than books
can be)
and deep in the high that does nothing but fall
(with a shout
each
around we go all)
there's somebody calling who's we

we're everything brighter than even the sun
(we're everything greater
than books
might mean)
we're everyanything more than believe
(with a spin
leap
alive we're alive)
we're wonderful one times one

-- E. E. Cummings

January 20, 2008: Another Cup of Green tea?

Yesterday, I went out shopping - among other things, I shopped for green tea. I dropped by at one of the Chinese tea shop in Petaling Jaya and end up buying 2 sets tea pot and also the most expensive green tea I ever bought in my life . After testing 2 types of green tea suggested by the owner of tea shop, I end up buying Mao Jian Green Tea.

The Mao Jian tea after being brewed:

When I got home, I googled for more infor about Mao Jian green tea:

Organic Mao Jian is an outstanding organic green tea. It is picked on remote peaks in Zhejiang Province, where for over 1000 years China's foremost green teas have grown. The tea is hand selected directly from producers, maintaining traditional knowledge and expertise.

The Mao Jian has attractive long green curled leaves with silvery tips. Only the most tender tea shoots are picked. This tea is famous for its delicate subtle sweet taste and fragrant aroma. Its flavor is full and crisp. Longer infusion may result in too strong a taste.
Due to its high quality, the tea may be infused 2-3 times. It is rich in antioxidants and can help to protect the body from harmful free-radicals.

Care to join me?

Basic Green Tea brewing instruction as shared with me by the owner of the Chinese tea shop:

1. Measure the desired amount of tea leaves and place into a teapot or teacup. Use 2 - 3 tsp or 2.3g of green tea for every 8oz (1 cup) of water.
2. Add enough to submerse the tea leaves and let it sit for a few seconds before pouring out the water. Warming the tea leaves and teaware allow for a better brew.
3. Add hot water and let the tea leaves steep for 2 to 3 minutes

However the instructions are only general guidelines. For your ultimate enjoyment you have to experiment with the steeping time, water temperature, and the amount of tea leaves.

January 19, 2008: the moon tonight

the moon tonight

i hear his voice calling

birds that sing this night

.

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note: picture of the moon tonight taken from my balcony - of course with new camera!

January 19, 2008: Thank you for being my friend!

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January 18, 2008: Surviving Day 1!

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hot bath

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lavender

.

green tea

.

massage

.

hungry

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blankie!!!!

.

.

.

.

.

January 16, 2008: Single .... and unemployed

.

Yup, that's me!

My day started at 7.30 am instead of my usual time 5.30 am!

Then webcam chat with Herb till his bedtime.

10.30 am - had late breakfast at the newly opened cafe near my apartment.

11.30 am - 1 hour body massage at the salon.

I went home after the massage, wandering around on 360 before taking nap.

Woke up, feeling hungry ..... where's my cook?

Oh, I just remember that I don't have one!

AND here I am, cooked myself pasta and writing this blog.

Today I have the liberty of being unemployed .... and single

for ONE day!

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note: picture of Ain Balqis with grandaunty Larra

January 14, 2008: YOU

When I let go of what I am,

I become what I might be.

-- Lao Tzu --

January 11, 2008: My New Toy

Yes, the above is my new toy!

Santa suppose to bring it during Christmas, but somehow Santa lost his way

while cycling from Stockport to Kuala Lumpur.

Anyway, to shortern the story today I got my long awaited new toy!

Model: Olympus SP-560UZ (Ultra Zoom)

Main features:

The Olympus SP-560 UZ is an elegant, compact digital camera—ideal for intermediate

and advanced digital photography fans who crave power and versatility.

The Olympus SP-560 UZ is an elegant, compact digital camera—ideal for intermediate and advanced digital photography fans who crave power and versatility.

8 megapixels: The SP-560 UZ captures photo-quality, 300dpi images up to 8.2” x 10.9”, and good-quality 200dpi images up to 12.2” x 16.3”. You’ll have extra room to crop photos or enlarge your favorite parts of the image.

Amazing zoom: Optical zoom magnifies subjects without sacrificing resolution. This amazing 18x optical zoom goes from an ultra-wide angle that lets you capture crowds to a super telephoto view that brings distant objects right up to you (35mm equivalent: 27mm-486m). The 5.6x digital zoom picks up where optical zoom leaves off, stretching pixels to make the image look bigger.

2.5” LCD screen: The high-resolution LCD lets you easily compose shots or share them with friends and family.

Optical/digital image stabilizers: Sensor-Shift (optical) automatically detects and compensates for hand vibration, steadying and sharpening the image. High ISO sensitivity (digital) means that the image sensor can handle short exposures to light, allowing fast shutter speeds that prevent blur due to camera shake or subject movement.

Face detection: This camera tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant photos.

Shadow adjustment: Capture scenes exactly as you see them—even in difficult lighting situations. You’ll be able to shoot in backlit situations or outside in bright sun when dark shadows are prevalent.

Advanced image preview: Before you take the shot, let Perfect Shot Preview display the effects of various settings including zoom, exposure, white balance and metering—right on the LCD. You can even view them all at once on a multi-frame window.

High-speed shooting: Shoot fast-action sequences like a pro. At the click of a button, you can take up to 15 shots per second to capture split-second action.

On-camera editing: Remove red-eye, resize, rotate, adjust brightness—and more—right there on the camera.

Scene modes: Choose your mode, and this camera automatically adjusts settings such as shutter speed, flash and focus to adapt to the situation. This camera features 33 scene modes, including portrait, landscape, night scene, sport and more.

Movie mode: When a snapshot just isn't enough, you can record 640 x 480 movies, with audio, at 30 frames per second.

Memory: This digital camera comes with 47MB of internal memory. Get the most out of your camera by adding a 512MB or larger xD™ memory card. How much memory do you need?

Of course I love my new toy! THANK YOU Darling! Anything from you,

even a jar of gherkins or a box of cheese biscuits is always substantial to me!

I am so excited to try out my new toy. The minute I got home, I took off

my coat and went straight to the balcony. Luckily the red rose is ready

to be modelled!

So, where is the outcome?

Errrrr , let me upload the Olympus Master software to my notebook first.

Then I'll have to read the manual on how to transfer the photos from

the camera to my notebook, before I can upload it to Flickr.

Until then, just admire the camera, will you!

January 09, 2008: those who do not dance

Painting: Dancing Daffodils

A crippled child
Said, “How shall I dance?”
Let your heart dance
We said.

Then the invalid said:
“How shall I sing?”
Let your heart sing
We said

Then spoke the poor dead thistle,
But I, how shall I dance?”
Let your heart fly to the wind
We said.

Then God spoke from above
“How shall I descend from the blue?”
Come dance for us here in the light
We said.

All the valley is dancing
Together under the sun,
And the heart of him who joins us not
Is turned to dust, to dust.

-- gabriela mistral

January 06, 2008: O tea ...

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.

The first cup moistens my lips and throat.

The second cup breaks my loneliness.

The third cup searches my barren entrail

but to find therein some thousand volumes of odd ideographs.

The fourth cup raises a slight perspiration

- all the wrongs of life pass out through my pores.

At the fifth cup I am purified.

The sixth cup calls me to the realms of the immortals.

The seventh cup - ah, but I could take no more!

I only feel the breath of the cool wind that raises in my sleeves.

Where is Elysium?

Let me ride on this sweet breeze and waft away thither.

~Lu Tung, "Tea-Drinking"

January 05, 2008: The fifth day of 2008

Hi everyone,

How's the new year so far?

My 2008 is good so far and the coughing is getting better.

I went to my brother's house last night - of course to meet the new born Ain Balqis! She was asleep when I arrived.

And testing her vocal once a while

Here Ain Balqis with her sister Ain Batrisya

I went back to my apartment in the morning because the handyman is coming to fix the ceiling. After morning webcam chat with Herb and while waiting for the handyman I took a nap on the sofa . But my morning nap was later disturbed by a familiar sound

by who else other than my frequent visitor .... which later flew over to nerium oleander (the red flowers) on my balcony

How's your day?

Love - Larra