Maraming Salamat Lee Kuan Yew (Thank You Lee Kuan Yew)

Sunday, March 29, 2015.   While heavy rains poured, I was having my brunch of chinese mixed rice and hot kopi-c in a kopitiam in Lengkong Tiga, a community in the eastern part of Singapore. I purposely sat at the table facing the TV so I could watch Mediacorp's live broadcast of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's state funeral. 

The entire week has been sad for Singaporeans as they mourned the death of the founding father of the country more known as the little red dot.  Foreign workers like me could not help but mourn together with the locals.  I watched the live telecast together with my colleagues - Chinese, Indian and Malay - as his body was brought to the Parliament House on Wednesday morning.  Since then, I always checked out the long queues which I could see from the 15th level of the building I worked from.  I was amazed at how much Singaporeans loved and respected him. I didn't join the queue although I could.  I wanted to just give that chance to the locals.  This blog is my way of paying my last respects and showing my gratitude.

I am one of the Filipinos who has been given the privilege to live and work in Singapore.  It was year 2009 when I first landed in Changi Airport and I could still remember how fascinated I was looking at the HDB buildings while I was in the taxi.  Six years after and I have been used to the life here.  I have grown familiar with some of its customs and I don't wonder anymore why many people burn papers during August.  

Like many foreign workers, I feel indebted to Mr. Lee.   I am thankful to him because with the success that Singapore has achieved, with its thriving businesses and vibrant economy, I had the chance to work here.  I was given the privilege to earn more than what I could earn in my home country.  From my monthly pay, I could put some money aside for savings so that one day I could go back to my own country and live a more comfortable life.  Or migrate to another country perhaps.  But more than the money that I have earned, I am thankful to Singapore and to Lee Kuan Yew for the values that I have learned while living in Singapore.

So let me say thank you to Mr. Lee for teaching me these things:

Envision The Future

To look forward and ahead and beyond my present situation.  To see way into the future and imagine success even before they become a reality.   Thank you for teaching me to always envision how I would like to see my life 5 or 10 years from now.  What kind of future or family do I want to build.  What kind of environment do I want my children to grow up in.  Where do I want to grow old. 

And this is why I don't spend all my earnings to purchase the latest gadgets or appliances or latest branded bags and shoes.  Should I go for holidays, I try to spend a little as possible (Read: wait for seat sales and go for  cheap accommodations).   I try to live a frugal life even when I am on long holidays in the Philippines.  Whenever I go back to the Philippines, I don't spend enormous amount of money for presents.   Instead, I save, I invest. I look for opportunities to earn, always keeping in mind that I won't be working in Singapore forever. This is also why I didn't get married until I knew my then boyfriend and I were financially-ready.  And this is why we are carefully planning our family and envisioning where we would settle down after working in Singapore. 

  

Boat Quay looked very diffrent from what it is now to what it was like back  in 1970s. 
(Source: leekuanyew.straitstimes.com)

While Singapore was still a swamp, Mr. Lee saw in advance that Singapore will become a metropolis within 10 years.
(Source: challenge.gov.sg)

Be Disciplined

Thank you for showing me that apart from intellect and strength, discipline is what will propel a person or a country to success.  I have learned to obey those in authority.  To follow rules and regulations specially traffic rules.  To  always fall in line, to not cut queue.  To wait for those alighting before going into the train in MRT stations.  To avoid eating or drinking inside MRT stations, to avoid littering and dispose our trash properly.  I learned to exercise and take care of my health.  Thanks for setting up all the community centers with pools and courts that helped us to live more actively.  Today, I aspire to be as strong and vigorous as the aunties and uncles of Singapore.

Thank you for showing the importance of discipline particularly with time. It was here in Singapore that I have put aside what we Filipinos called the Filipino Time - a practice that exults those who arrive the latest as the most important person. And to respect an individual is to value their time.  Making a person wait is disrespecting that person.  And so I have changed my idea of  being on time from arriving on the dot to coming at least 15mins early instead.  

LKY believed that what a country needs to develop is discipline more than democracy.

Live with Integrity & Excellence

Thank you for teaching me that I could succeed without cheating or stepping on other people. That I could focus on staying true to myself and to my words.  To reconcile who I am in private and in public.  To love honesty and avoid claiming what is not mine.

I have learned to deliver what I have promised. It is here that I learned to stop saying sorry just for the sake of saying.  Instead, I learned to show how sorry I am through my actions, by doing something to make amends to the one I have wronged.  I have learned  to show up to work and do my job with excellence .  Thanks for teaching not only to deliver but to over-deliver. To work for the company as if it were my own. 

Be Clean And Organized

Thank you for building a clean and green Singapore which makes me wish that the Philippines could one day become like this.  Thank you for teaching me that trash attracts trash.  That a clean environment encourages people to care for his surroundings and keep it tidy.  It was here that I learned to take care of the HDB flats I lived although I was just renting them.  It was here that I ditched chewing gums not only because of the terrible fine your government has imposed.  But because I realized that it was not fun to sit in kopitiams with chewing gums stuck on the tables and chairs. I also appreciate that I could drink clean water almost anywhere.

He led the Singapore in a campaign to create a clean Singapore.
(Source: channelnewsasia.com)

It has been the yearly tradition of Mr. Lee to plant a tree.
(Source: leekuanyew.straitstimes.com) 

Many Singaporeans have pledged to honor and celebrate the life of Lee Kuan Yew by upholding and living out the values that he has taught during his entire lifetime.  As for me, a Filipino working in Singapore, as a sign of gratitude, what I pledge to do is to continue to practice the values that I have learned.  

I hope to live my life in such a way that I could also influence other Filipinos to  dream for our nation, the Philippines. To care deeply about it.  To be concerned and active in its national affairs.  To imagine and work towards making the Philippines clean, safe and free from corruption. 

Mount Batur Sunrise Trek

I've done about four hikes in my lifetime and all of them were not very pleasant experiences. So I've developed this notion that hiking should never part of a holiday itinerary. But my perspective changed during our recent trip when we went up Mt. Batur, one of the many active volcanoes in Bali. I've started to see that it can actually be relaxing instead of stressful, empowering instead of energy-sapping.  

Let me share with you my experience and how different it was from my previous hiking adventures. 

I think I've started to fall in love with hiking after this.

I prepared myself physically.  

Weeks before our trip, I have started to engage more in physical activities.  Primarily so I could fit into the swimsuit I got from Koi swimwear. I went for swimming sessions on weekdays after work instead of just watching Korean dramas.  I also traded my precious sleeping hours for freakin-early swimming sessions on weekends.  I even started opting for the stairs instead of the escalator or the lift.  

I didn't loose much weight and I only got to wear my swimsuit in a villa where only Dennis could see (and adore) my fats! haha.  But I did develop strength around my legs and thighs.  It improved my endurance and flexibility as well. This was so helpful with the steep path going up the volcano.

We spent a relaxing day before the trek.

Although there is a need to do some physical activities as preparation, we didn't do a lot of walking the day before the trek.  I restrained myself from too much window-shopping. We just spent the afternoon lounging and reading in a café.  We also got ourselves  pampered with a traditional Balinese massage. We were sound asleep by 10pm and didn't have trouble waking up to our alarm clock when it went off at 1am. 

Before the hike, we had some banana pancakes at Pineh Colada Bali coffee plantation and organic farm.  This was part of the package we got.

I dressed for battle.

 

First few times I went for hiking, I always came wearing clothes and shoes that were meant for full-day mall-marathon-shirt and shorts partnered with sneakers. Back then, I was more concerned about looking good in photos.
 

This time, I had my hiking shoes on.  Aside from shorts, I wore stretch leggings also. I later realized it served as protection against insects and sharp grass blades and rocks.  We expected the weather to be cold at the peak so I also had an extra layer of shirt and jacket to keep me warm.   

  

I read up about the trek.

There were quite a number of bloggers sharing their experiences about Mt. Batur. Package tour websites also offered substantial information along with the packages they offered.   That's how I found out that it was 1717 meters and took about 2 hours to reach the peak.  I was aware that it was an active volcano and that it last erupted in 1968.  

I focused on seeing the beautiful sunrise.

It was my first time to do a sunrise trek.  It was quite scary just having a flashlight to lit up the path and I could only see the next few steps in front of me. But trekking during the night was also advantageous in the sense that I couldnt see how high or steep the path was.  

And the lovely part - aside from the multitude of stars in the sky, I could see the other trekkers walking ahead of us, all holding their flashlights. Against the dark terrain, they  seemed like moving fireflies. 

After a few water breaks and slips here and there, we finally reached the main site.
It was few minutes before six in the morning. 

It was very foggy. I had to wait for the perfect timing when the clouds parted to capture the glorious sun slowly coming out to greet  us a lovely morning.

 

 

The summit was another 30-minute trek.  With the foggy weather and slippery pathway, we decided to leave it to the more adventurous ones. 

This was the part of the volcano where you could make loud echoes. 

 

This was our local guide. He could barely speak English but it didn't seem to be a problem with Dennis. They conversed the entire time. And they seemed to have understood each other.

 

 

If you ever go to Bali, take a day off the shores of Kuta or Seminyak. Go and explore Bali's volcanoes instead. 

Do you have any tips to add? Share on comments section below!

Eat-Read-Sketch-Kind of Day in Bali

"We are the instruments of our own performance, and to be effective,

we need to recognize the importance of taking time regularly to sharpen the saw..."

- Stephen Covey 

After an exciting first day in Bali, I wanted to wake-up early and enjoy a morning jog along Seminyak beach.  But I hit the snooze button too many times until I just totally shut it off and I hid under the crisp white sheets for a few more hours.   When I woke up, the sun was fiercely shining. 

I got into a cab and asked the driver to take me to Jalan Kayu Cendana. where I wanted to have my brunch. Jalan means street in  Bahasa, the Indonesian Language. I remembered one friend who travelled to Indonesia and could only remember the word "Jalan" in the address of their host.  She later realized that almost every street in Indonesia started with "Jalan". Yeah she got lost but eventually found the correct jalan she was looking for.

A Leisurely Brunch

It was crowded by the time I got to Sisterfields Cafe. It was Sunday just before lunch time. I sat on the high-chairs facing the al fresco dining area.  Foodie blogger Lady Iron Chef  mentioned Sisterfield's was one of the best cafes in Bali.  

My fist time to try Eggs Benedict.

I took her recommendation and got myself  Eggs Benedict.  It came with either Bacon or Smoked Salmon.  Difficult decision. Salmon or Bacon? Bacon or Salmon? Healthy or Not? Chose Bacon. 

I had one of the most leisurely meals of my life. Stared at my food (and took a few photos) instead of straight-away devouring it.  Sliced it into into smaller portions. Savoured every tiny bit.  Allowed the tastes to linger in my mouth before swallowing it.  This was one of the things I enjoyed and truly appreciated thanks to my unscheduled day. If you were a busy working person like me, you would admit skipping several steps and going straight to the swallowing part most of the time.   Having the chance to eat at a leisurely slow pace was just heavenly :) 

Drawing What's On My Mind

I took out my sketchpad and colored pens and drew some nice purple flowers.  A maroon-colored dragonfly came and I quickly took photos of it, anticipating that it would quickly fly away. But it didn't. It lingered there and I later realized that it resembled the flowers I drew. 



When we are not limited by time, our creativity flows.

Discovering Some Artsy Places

To ease my guilt for eating  a generous helping of bacon, I went for jalan-jalan (stroll) afterwards.  Seminyak is a haven for artsy folks because there's just too many shops selling nice stuff.  Not too good for those within a tight-budget though as some can be a bit pricey.  Folkart Gallery is one of the shops I would suggest that you visit.  They sell different arts and artifacts.  Careful with the tag prices though as some could be in Indonesian Rupiah and some would be in USD which would make an enormous difference.

Various colored fabrics from different Asian countries.

Almost bought this Onyx necklace thinking that it was only 200.000 IDR.
Thank goodness that the owner informed me that it was 200 USD!

As I browsed through the items in the shop, the owner stood from her working desk and went over to chat with me. I got to know her as Linda, an American lady who was over 60.  She migrated to Bali several years ago and opened this shop  together with a friend.  



There's something very special about choosing the perfect card for a loved one.

She shared a little about her shop and the jewelries they create. She designed the cards she was selling and printed  them locally.  And I thought to myself that maybe I could do that with my sketches too.

She asked me where I was from. Singapore I said. And she asked how I find living in Singapore. "Oh, I love how everything is clean and organized and I could go out to the streets almost any time.  But life can be crazy. There's a lot of pressure," I explained.  

Contemplating

I headed to another café suggested by Lady Iron Chef, Living Stone Cafe and Bakery along Jalan Petitenget. Like how it was described in the review, It's the kind of place where you could spend an entire afternoon reading.

Tall glass windows, high ceilings, comfy sofas, soothing music.

I've had Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly-Effective People" for several months but I still haven't gone past Habit 3.  I hoped to finish it during that trip.It's very timely that the 7th habit shared in the Book was about renewal, about taking some time-off to refresh yourself spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically. It re-assured me that I was doing the right thing by taking some rest in order to sharpen the saw.  I underlined those sentences that truly spoke to me. Pausing and pondering what it truly meant and how I could apply it in my life specially after the trip.   

I will leave you with an excerpt from the book.  Ponder on it and feel free to share with me what comes to your mind.

Suppose you were to come upon someone in the woods working feverishly to saw down a tree.

"What are you doing?"  you ask.

"Can't you see?" comes the impatient reply.  "I'm sawing down this tree."

"You look exhausted!" you exclaim. "How long have you been at it?"

"Over five hours," he returns," and I'm beat! This is hard work."

"Well, why don't you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen the saw?" you inquire. "I'm sure it would go a lot faster."

"I don't have the time to sharpen the saw," the man says emphatically. "I'm too busy sawing!"

Travelling Alone in Bali - First Day of Adventure

February 14th, Valentine's Day, I found myself walking out of Denpasar Airport in Bali, alone. After exiting the immigration, I was trying to remember every single tip I read online while walking over to to the taxi stand.  From tips on travelling to Bali to Bali the unbeaten path to Bali for solo female travellers. Don't forget the mosquito repellent.  1SGD is about 10.000 IDR.  Haggle, haggle, haggle.   I was nervous.  But at the same time excited. I was thrilled. I was ecstatic. 

Being an introvert (yes, I am!), I have always enjoyed having lots of personal time. And travelling solo was my ultimate dream. It's definitely one of the most empowering and liberating things that a woman could do.  Being recently married, I knew that I couldn't simply go places solo.  And my hubby, Dennis, well, he could be a bit over-protective.  He thinks I'm too clumsy and careless to travel alone. 

We were supposed to celebrate Valentine's Day in Bali. I have booked everything back in January, from our flights to accommodations  However, Dennis had to stay back for a couple of days to finish some important work matters.  We tried to fix his schedule but in the end he just couldn't leave earlier.  We had no choice but for me to go few days earlier.  My disappointment almost instantly turned into utter happiness! I had to remind myself to keep the excitement from showing.  

I saw a group of taxi drivers eager to get passengers.  I kept reminding myself to negotiate for 100.000 IDR only from Airport to Seminyak.  I turned down the pick-up offered by the hotel as I found it too expensive.  After haggling with a few drivers, I finally got into one of the cabs, after agreeing to pay 135.000 IDR (13 SGD).  

It was drizzling by the time I got into the car.  Just the perfect weather for me.  We reached Seminyak after a 30 min-drive but spent 15 mins of getting lost. The driver was murmuring things in Bahasa.  He was probably cursing me.  I scolded myself for forgetting to print the map.  After driving round and round and several times of asking for directions, we finally found our hotel, Summerhome, a boutique hotel located in a quiet private village in Seminyak, Bali.  I chose to book smaller hotels and villas for this trip instead of staying in bigger hotels.  I don't like to take elevators during vacations. Reminds me of going to the office to work!

The lady at the front desk, Nanik, smiled at me and asked me "you alone?" I answered "Yes".  I would be solo for 3 days. And I felt thrilled with the very thought of having 3 full days of freedom!

I had this room to myself for 3 days! How nice is that?!

I was all smiles as I walked out of my hotel. It felt like my walk to freedom.  I had the whole afternoon to spend and I had no agenda.  I didn't have any meeting with anyone.  I almost wanted to leave my watch at the hotel because I knew that I wouldn't be using it much.

They say that time is the true french luxury. Oh how I wish that I was French. 

Travelling solo means taking selfies. Or restroom portraits. 

I spent the afternoon of my first day in Bali walking along the streets of Seminyak. Seminyak won over the more popular Kuta because it was less touristy and more quiet and laid-back. I've started to dislike crowded places these past years.  The streets of Seminyak were filled with quaint shops, selling everything from clothes to accessories and home decors made by both local and international designers. There were also many restaurants and cafes serving different cuisines.  You could easily pop into any cafe and enjoy a cold margarita to quench your thirst under the hot Bali weather. 

My first stop was at a salon for a mani-pedi. Aside from massages, these things were ridiculously cheap in Bali.   Manicure started at 65.000 or just 6 SGD. Wow! I could never find that in Singapore! While having my nails done, I noticed this elderly couple.  Bali is a favorite destination among couples, specially those on honeymoons or anniversaries. The wife was having her nails painted and her hubby was fanning them to dry quicker. Such a gentleman right? She shared that it was their anniversary that day. Twenty-seven years ago, she married him on Valentine's Day.  Awww... And I suddenly missed Dennis.  We were going to celebrate our first anniversary the week after that trip.

While waiting for my nails to dry, I asked Ari (the lady who was doing my nails) what time the matahari (sunset) was.  She replied "6pm, you could catch it if you walk to the beach after we're done."   I followed her instructions and after a few wrong turns and asking some local folks where the beach was,  I finally found my way to La Lucciola, an Italian restaurant by the beach front.  It was the perfect place to experience that glorious Bali sunset. 

I was greeted by male waiters who had calachuchi flowers tucked behind their ears.  I was asked again whether I got company to which I replied "No".  The staff removed the extra plate set on the table and politely placed the table napkin on my lap.  I took a few minutes deciding what to order but ended choosing some seafood linguine pasta.  I read some raving reviews about the food they serve.  I was not disappointed when my order came.  It looked delish and boy it was truly delish when I tasted it!  

I wanted to check-in on facebook or send an MMS to Dennis but realized that they had no wifi.  Loved the place even more because of that. So I just savoured my food while the skies changed colors. 

I looked around and realized that most customers were couples and families.  The couple next to me just ordered a bottle of wine.  Must be celebrating some special occasion.  A mother was playing with her little girl on the stretch of bermuda grass in front of the resto. I wondered to myself if I would be ready to become a mother by this year. I've given myself one year to enjoy being just a wife.  And this year, I'm supposed to become a mother.   Supposed to. But am I ready?  



Had an early dinner in Bali @ La Lucciola.

Tourists enjoy late afternoon drinks or early dinner while gazing at the sunset.

You should stay back for about 5-10 minutes after the sun goes down. 
Then you can see the sky slowly getting painted with pink and orange and yellow. 
Truly glorious! 

After watching the sunset, I walked to the main road and easily caught a cab. (Taxis were everywhere and were very cheap starting at 7.000 IDR or only 70 cents SGD.)  I was back at the hotel before 8 in the evening.  I had to be a good girl so that that Dennis won't get worried.  Had received 2 calls from him earlier that day. I kept assuring him that I was ok and I was safe and I wasn't going too far from the hotel.  I wasn't talking to strangers except those in the stores and cafes.  I got a call from him shortly after I had a shower and I shared with him what I've discovered in Bali so far.

I spent the rest of the evening watching the movie "Argo" while chatting with my mom and sister. Spent time catching up with a close friend too.  When the movie ended past 11 in the evening, I still couldn't sleep.  I got up and grabbed my sketch pad and wrote what I have done for the day.  

I've recently started to write journals again. And do some sketches. 

Then I meditated while listening to Jesus Culture New York  Album and had a wonderful moment with my first love :)  I talked to God and thanked him for that wonderful personal time.  I have been extremely exhausted these past years with many things.  Being a choleric and being used to accomplishing things fast, I have worn myself out, caused stress to the people around me including my husband.  I felt frustrated with myself and with my situation.  It seemed that slowing down and waiting on God was so un-attractive to me. Until God clearly told me to rest.  And I obeyed. But at times, I doubt whether I heard God correctly.  I still feel guilty and uncomfortable at times.  But as I took this much-needed alone time, God just re-assured me that it's ok for me to rest.  Rest is God's gift and it is one of the things that he gives to those He dearly loves. We shouldn't resist invitations to rest thinking that it will make us unproductive.  Slowing down or stopping what we are doing makes us assess our walk, our goals, our motives.  Rest re-aligns our souls with our purpose.  And with a renewed purpose, we gain the joy and motivation which becomes our strength to run the race again.  

How about you? Do you long for some "me-time" also? Or is God trying to get you alone so that he can speak to you and you can hear him?