Back to New York 2018

It was raining and snowing badly today, reminding me of the fact that a lot of my last days of my vacations in Vung Tau, it had been raining endlessly whole day. But I enjoyed the rains in my hometown when my mind is free and sometimes filled with nostalgia.

It was a different feeling when I visited NYC again for the first time after 10 years. Definitely it's a clear sign that I am getting older and better at appreciating things in life. I got the feeling of "coming home" somehow, a place that I really feel emotionally attached to. It's not easy to figure out why I got that feeling.

I did a skype interview with Tepper in my hotel room. I guessed it went well but I shouldn’t be too optimistic based on my past experience. Just forget it for now and continue with other tasks. I went to the office and continued bullshitting about myself. Now I need to make it clear that BS is not a negative word anymore but I am sure I am not proud of it.

I was not in a hurry to explore NYC like other places partly because I feel a little stressed about work and maybe I feel so special about NC not like a tourist anymore. I took a slow walk along the midtown, gazing at the skyscrapers and trying to recall if any place is familiar. My first stop is St Patrick Cathedral just near my office. Listening to the sacred songs helps to remove all junk thoughts in my mind.

I went to Central park with my coworker. We are totally different types of travellers. He just wanna tick the destinations but I prefer to walk slowly, enjoy the beauty of the park so that it can become my longterm memories. Near the lake, a woman sang opera beautifully. It is so European!









"The lion king" is the 3rd broadway show I've watched so far and it is the best one too. I wish Singapore would have more similar shows. I love the singing scenes in the sky full of stars, so romantic and beautiful!

In my last day, I came back to World Trade Center and visited the 9/11 museum. 10 years ago, this area was still under construction and there was just a temporary hall set up with pictures of the victims. The new museum is very modern and innovative compared to the other two I visited. 

I walked to Brooklyn bridge nearby. The snow, rain and wind were so strong that i felt pushed back and forth sometimes. I initially thought that I wouldn’t be able to capture lively sunny photos of the bridge but I met a professional photographer who told me that he was doing a project of capturing solitude moments of people in massive landscapes. Yeah it sounds exactly like me so I agreed to pose some pictures for him. It is said if the people are moody, the ambiance cannot be bubbly. I was not in the best carefree mood of myself and the dull, foggy and sad surroundings just seems to make it even worse. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was my last stop. I generally like the Classical antiquity of Renaissance architecture and the museum perfectly magnifies it. I just remembered that I haven’t finished The Fountainhead, the book is so thick and then font is too small but i know it’s just an excuse. It got a lot of messages and I quite like it so far. The best collection in this museum should be attributed to the Egypt and the pharaohs 

 

My travel ritual is trying beefsteak, my favourite western food especially NYC should be the best place for beefsteak. I just ordered traditional medium ribeye, a glass of red wine and some mushroom side dish at Del fisco. The steak was cooked to perfectly medium but it’s too salty for me. The portion is also too big 16o = 450 gr which is double singapore’s dish. The mushroom is so oily. I couldn’t finish both. Only the wine is very great and enough to make me quite tipsy. Table for one again is to cherish my solitude. I gazed at the buildings, the streets and people walking by through the floor to ceiling glass wall. I will miss this city very much

Checked in Marco Island Beach Resort

This morning I waked up at 4.30 am again. I don't bother to think whether it's because of jet lag or the disturbed mind. These past few days, I have slept immediately right after I got into bed around 10, 11 pm. I like waking up early in the morning, doing things slowly and still have plenty of time in a day but it's definitely not an easy task to change the habit. So even i only slept for 5, 6 hours a day, I still feel great.

I went for a run around the neighborhood. The weather is perfect for jogging. I love the water fountain in the middle of the serene lake surrounded by some big trees, ducks swimming peacefully. The scene reminds me of the good time I have in North Carolina. After the run, I took shower, making coffee, reading some news, catching up with some work. Sadly today I had to leave this peaceful place to Marco resort where the event is held.



4, 5 hours on the road is generally not a good experience especially I don't know what to do to kill time. I can't read or write to avoid motion sickness. But i did manage to take some pictures of the roads with beautiful blue sky and white clouds. Farms with lazy cows  lying on the fields on the road side remind me of my road trip in Wollongwong.

I visited Walmart and felt so excited at the beef and ice-scream sections. They are packaged in huge portions at amazingly cheap price. Sausages are great too.  If I lived in the US, I would have bigger size.

After checking in JW Marriott hotel, I took a leisure walk along the beach, catching the sunset. The view is absolutely romantic and beautiful.

I went for dinner and drinks with my coworkers. I got a chance to meet some people from London whom I have been talking on the phone and finally saw them in person. I ordered a glass of red wine. The Americans are so generous with their portions so I literally drank 2 glasses of red wine by Singapore standard and it's kind of exceeding my limit for work and networking events. I left the bar at 10+. As soon as i got back to my room, I dragged myself to the bed, falling into sleep in 1 second.

On flight from Singapore to Orlando

I’m blogging when i am tipsy on the flight to Orlando, transit in Dubai. After the meal, i drank just a glass of red wine which is already enough to put me into hybernating mode.

What's my mind wandering? Unfortunately i still dwell about what happened over the past 2 weeks. This trip is a perfect time for me to reflect on myself. I am definitely a big fan of La La Land, dreaming to run away from the real life. I guess that it probably just takes another 1 or 2 weeks for me to forget and move on. Eventually it is just a spec of dust in my memories. The older i get, the more dust I am gonna get in my life and i need to learn how to brush it off quickly. If it’s over, it’s meant to be. 

During 2 hour transit in Dubai, i did window shopping. I couldn't resist the temptation so I bought a bar of Dark chocolate with Coffee, a brand named Heidi which I've never heard of. Chocolate is like cigarette to me, it simply just makes me feel happier :)

Remaining time to Orlando is about 1 hour. The 16 hour flight seems shorter than i imagined. I lied down and squeezed myself into 2 seats. The window seat was occupied by an Oman agreeable gentleman. I slept on and off throughout the whole flight. When i was awake, I continued reading long and boring book, hoping to get some key takeaways that i can apply for myself but the book just helped me fall into sleep again. I browsed through the movie collection but i guess Emirates need to top up their list soon. I finally watched “The Foreigner “ because of Jackie chan's cast  so it must be a good film. Indeed, it was and it also made 2 hr fly faster. 

I’m so excited for my trip because I haven’t been back to the US for 10 years and this is my first time to Canada ( yay one more country ticked). At the same time, i feel pressured about work. 2 weeks for me to perform and i need to prove that I’m up to the expectations 😭 

Lunar New Year 2018

This year, I’m not going home. Dad and mom kept calling me and sending pictures of our house's decoration to me. I know they are very sad and I am sad too. I haven’t come back home since my last birthday in Sep, the longest time ever i guess. On the first day of the new year, i woke up early again, the same problem for the past 2 weeks. When I was working in the office, mom called me as my nephew and his family paid a new year visit to our house. My nephew wore a yellow pullover and he looks super cute as usual. I miss him dearly. Now I remember I haven’t sent wishes to my parents. I literally didn’t have any feel of the lunar new year.



After work, my cute colleague Liz and I went to China town. We visited the temple in China town. It is packed with people and so quite difficult to find a quiet spot to meditate. As usual I pray for inner peace and wisdom to help me pull through all difficulties in life. I pray for good health for my family. That’s the most important thing in my life.

Liz was very clumsy in temple since she is a christian. She lighted at least 5 incense sticks while i already told her to take 1 or 3. If everyone were like her, the temple would be full of smoke. I bet she prayed her bf moved to singapore with her or she moved to London with him. Either way, right Liz?

After temple visit, we had dinner at Chinese seafood located at the intersection of walking streets in China town, facing the heritage center. That gave me the feel of being a tourist again, going to the crowded places, eating tourist price food, and people watching.





After the dinnner, i found out my wallet was gone. We took a cab to police station to lodge a report. On the cab, i had to call 5 banks to ask them to lock my cards. I was really stressed out and all over the place. Liz helped me to calm down and all cards were canceled very fast. My flight is the next day but luckily I got some USD cash and 1 credit card at home.

At the police station, we laughed like crazy. She was still puzzled how I dragged her to this place. Initially i thought if this was a sign of bad luck for this year but dad has been training me to look at the positive side in any life situation. Yeah money goes on be half of me. I would rather lose my wallet in Singapore than in my next trip in the US or Canada.

I took selfie at the police station, being snapped by Liz and she sent it to my boss. I generally regard him as my older brother but today he was like grandpa.

Boss: you need to take life and career seriously
Me: What do you mean?
Boss: that selfie pic, aren’t you worried?
Me:You want me to cry like a criminal?
Boss: I think I won't be as happy or taking it so chill . Anyway safe trip. Do well in pinnacle and Toronto. Enjoy
Me: Thank you, i will !

I have to admit i behaved quite weird and today is one of the example, i had to wait so long as there is only one police officer who was engaged in another case. I kept coming to him and asking how long i had to wait, when is my turn. I even thought to myself whether i should give feedback that they need to improve on waiting time.

I hugged Liz goodbye and thanked her for being by my side to go through all the troubles. Life is great not because you are always lucky but because you have companion whenever you are up or down. I ruined her holiday but i saw her laughing more at the police station than at the bars. Thank you for your company and friendship beb!

First entry of 2018

Dear blog,
When I'm writing to you, you know that I am in trouble. I'm trying to focus on my breathe, breathing in, breathing out. Listening to plum village songs at the same time, I feel I become calmer a little and my mind is purified, the junk thought is pushed away. It's not easy to remember the Buddha teachings at all.

Last week, I couldn't sleep well. I wake up in the middle of the nights, and could not sleep again for 2 hours. I thought about my favourite Jane Austen's novel " Sense and Sensibility" and I feel that i am now at the end spectrum of impulsiveness. Now I need to not let things affect my life and adjust my focus on my priorities this year.

The thing I am scared most is losing myself in any situation. I have to keep reminding myself, whether things work out or not, they are meant to be. I am not young anymore but I still make some mistakes. Instead of hating myself, learn from the mistakes and move on!

This Lunar new year, I am sad because i will not be going home. Yes there is always a trade-off. Now i have to prepare for my US-Canada work trip. So many things to do and a little stressed :(. Focus and do my best L, I will be alright.

Beijing Nov 2017

The 2 week trip in China is my annual year end vacation. No different from previous years, it is still last minute, ill planned since I had to move it 1 month earlier to accommodate my team’s leave schedule. I always thought that no matter how ill-prepared my vacations are, i can find ways to go through in any situation but China is no joke. Due to the government’s restrictions on many things especially no access to google, I am literally half disabled 😭

The first hiccup happened just after I got out of Beijing airport and rushed into the subway to the city. Of all the countries I have been to, China is the only country so far which requires belonging screenings in all subway stations. And my knife- the protection weapon was confiscated. I was upset not much because I didn’t have any protection but because it was a new knife i just bought recently to chop meats. The next problem was no access to Goggle so i had a hard time navigating around. Language barrier is for sure one of the biggest obstacles.

My first spot is a park called X near my hotel. It was a old style serene and greenery park where the locals do many activities. Old folks gather in pavilions dancing and singing patriot songs, Kids play recreational games, Couples do padde boats in the lakes. There is one thing which i find extremely amused and surprisingly people do that in all places where there are yellow leaves. They throwed yellow leaves to the air and took pictures. I just think it is so cheesy and dirty. The leaves were not clean at all. Anyway, i love the park for its serenity and tranquility. Kenen Ng’s instrumental music was played in the background. I sat on a bench, gazing at the xxx lake and practising mindful breathing, a perfect way to relax after the long flight.

The 2nd day, I moved to a new hotel which is near the center and the staff can speak some decent English. After checkin, i started exploring Being. I stayed in Bejing for 7 days so it was no rush. Public bicycles are so popular here so I took Mobike exploring around. I visited Temple of Heaven ( Tiantan park) and the Peal Market nearby. 

3rd day, I took a tour to the most worthy visited attraction of China- the Great world. The tour’s style is very similar to the Vietnam’s. They brought me to some markets and hard sold me. I quite like the tour in Melbourne that only took me to important attractions to save people’s time and energy. I visited the Great world from Mutianyu gate where i took a cable car to the top. It was so magnificent that I couldn’t find a word to describe how I was amazed gazing at 360 degree view. The weather was windy and sunny, making my hair disheveled. I spent 2 hours there walking to different gates, including some short breaks just sitting down and enjoying the breathtaking view. I took toboggan ride down and it was so fun, the chinese are so creative inventing this simple vehicle, cheap but interesting for tourists. After the Great world, the tourguide brought me to some traditional medicine center for 20 minute foot massage. I didn't enjoy it at all because they hurt my ears by telling me that I have blood clot issue and trying to sell medicine to me ?!?

Next day, I roamed around Tiennanmen square. I kept asking myself where the people are from, so crowded. I wanted to visit the Forbidden city but i got lost. I asked other foreign tourists and they told me they were lost too. Later I found out that president Trump was here so they closed this place ?! No announcement was made at all or maybe it was in mandrin. 

I returned to the Forbidden city the following morning and was very excited to get inside. It is a city in a city literally. It reminds me of all the scenes in the ancient chinese movies i have watched before. 

Update Oct 2018

I spent my Saturday night at the victoria concert hall to listen to Rachmaninov piano concerto. Going to the concert is one of my favorite activities for weekends. Sitting in a concert hall is sometimes like sitting in a meditation hall. I need to be quiet, observing my breaths, clearing my mind and simply focusing on the present.



There are several things on my plate now but I do enjoy the process. Just go with the flow and do my best. What will be will be.

Last weekend, I visited sis Lan and her new born baby Emma. Until when she was 3 months were I able to arrange time to visit them ( so bad I am). Emma was crying every time I held her. We haven't caught up for more than a year so we had a lot of things to talk about. She was pumping milk and we chatted nonstop.

Tram Anh travelled to Singapore and we only managed to go for 1 dinner. She reminded me of my adolescent years, too young and too impulsive.Luckily that I didn't do anything so crazy that I have to regret later.  Memories of the my wild youth flew back!