Setting free - what does it really really mean?

Truth, and not lies, can set you free -- can set your mind free. This is the biggest takeaway I had from watching the video below from Gangaji, an American spiritual and author.

If you are feeling a little stuck in the rut today, this may very well lift up your mood.

Here, she talks about being true to yourself and accepting the thought that "we are not enough". Feelings of inferiority, inadequacy, coincidentally is felt by almost every normal human being, so we drive ourselves to attain more and more. However, "enoughness" is almost non-existent. We can't possibly fill our brain with all the knowledge in the world, earn all the wealth in the world and etc. Hence, Gangaji expounds the need to be with ourselves and our state, whatever, wherever it is.

- May peace be with you -

May stillness be with you

There are times when we feel in a rut and no number of positive thoughts can lift our mood. That's fine and I think there's no need to force ourselves to be happy. However, what we can do ourselves really is just to be still, to stand on the grounds of neutrality. 

I tend to believe that our mood is on a linear scale where you can rate it from 0 to 10, with 10 being the happiest. Staying happy is not about being on number 10 all the time, but it's about not being from 0 to 4. Even lying on 5, the state of neutrality, can be a very nice feeling. 

Be still, and slowly happiness will come searching for you. 

Peace.

Best medicine in the world

They say that laughter is the best medicine in the world. Perhaps "Stillness" should be the one. You can't be laughing forever, but you can always be in control of the stillness in your mind.

What should I write about today?

My lazy mind is working at its worst today, if it's even working.

Most of us have days when we're totally uninspired but I believe this is not an excuse to not think. In fact, it should be the pertinent reason that we start to THINK!

I'll just let the words flow and flow till something meaningful comes out of it. Even if there's none, at least I'm trying and I applaud at the fact that the brain is buzzing a little more than when I first started on this entry. 

Anyways, as Def Leppard's Long Long Way to Go play on on my iTunes, my brain is mildly triggered. I suddenly am reminded of where I stand. Things may not be going well in life, but I tell myself that this life, this fearful life, is a journey and I must learn to walk on because the path is still a long one. 

If you're like me feeling like you're stuck in a rut, delight in the fact that it's not just you that's stuck in a rut. You may be stuck there for a period of time -- feel free, just don't stay there all your life, 'cos you should be walking on the firm ground of Life, not remain put at one spot. 

Cheers.

Espanol Expedition~

It's been a while since I went on an overseas vacation (business trips aren't conuted!) so I was really looking forward to the trip to Spain and Portugal planned a couple of months ago. And, boy, they didn't disappoint!

First, here's a quick introduction to the country: Spain, located at the Southwestern part of Europe, used to be one of the strongest nations in the world, making colonies out of several countries, such as the Philippines and Cuba. This puts them alongside powerhouses like the United Kingdom and France. However, today, Spain is one of the poorest countries in the European Union, incurring serious debts that threw its economuy into a crater and leaving many jobless.

To a tourist like me, it didn't matter that Spain is financially poor because it is incredibly rich in history, culture, history, architectually, gastronomically and what-nots to make the holiday a memorable one!

I shan't be going on about what most guide books will probably be sharing with you but here's some humble tips from me a first-time visitor:

1. If you are up for eating raw meat, try the fresh raw ham that is found at every corner of the streets.

2. If you don't speak Spanish, keep a translator ready as English is not frequently used. Otherwise, depend on gestures =P

3. Get your moolah ready for awesome and affordable shopping. In Barcelona, you can find near the La Ramblas a great shopping street with high street brands like Zara, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Mango (all Spanish brands), Shana, H&M and more. Buffer more time for payment as unattended cashier counters is a common occurence; it takes a while for staff to return to the counter.

4. If you're in Madrid and a factory outlet fan, be sure to visit Las Rozas Village for chic outlet shopping at more than 100 boutiques. It carries international brands like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Burberry, and even Spain's very own renowned Loewe.

5.Take the Eurostar train or domestic flights if you're travelling from city to city because journeys by car can be as long as 3 to 4 hours.

6. You needn't worry about toilets as they are readily available for free. What's better is that, more often than not, they are clean and comes with toilet paper.

7. Spanish food, especially fish, can be very salty. Include salad in your meals to balance out the sodium.

8. Fast food is, in my opinion, a tad steep in price so I suggest dining in their lil' chic cafes and try their local delights instead of the fried friends.

9. If you're in the vicinity of Seville, consider making a stopover at Portugal for a couple of nights.

Portugal is another beautiful country on its own, exuding with old-world charm and simplicity that will make you feel transported back in time, especially if you're from a modern, swanky city like Singapore, Tokyo or New York. You can't miss out Lisbon, of course. If you have the time, take a trip to Fatima and Coimbra too.

Below are some of the pictures I've snapped in Spain. Do enjoy! For more pictures (of both Spain and Portugal), please visit my facebook page, Life Toaster!

Is it a goal or desire?

Two days ago, I attended an enlightening talk which got me thinking till today.

We all have goals and dreams but why is it that some people can achieve them but some can't. This could very well be due to distractions that come into our minds, "polluting" our vision to look at our goals. For instance, I am c big snacker and many a time, my resolution to quit the chips and chocolates fell through cos of the urges that were put before me, be it gifts from friends, and thoughts like "I've only got one life, why not just enjoy?" And hence I pop another candy into my mouth.

The above analogy is of course a simple one. What I really mean to say is that we should learn to keep our vision deeply rooted in our minds if we badly want to achieve it. This brings us to the importance of decisions.

Hard work, as we were told since young, is crucial to success in life. Indeed it is, but more often than not, goals are achieved because of the decisions we make; working hard towards the wrong direction brings us to naught. Take for instance my snacking habit. With much discipline, I can stop buying snacks and painstakingly remind my family members again and again to not buy any too. Such factors can be well-controlled if I make the effort to do so. But there are so many other factors that are beyond my control. Say, on a bad day, a colleague who doesn't know my resolution kindly offers a piece of chocolate. I'll be very to take on the little perk-me-up and at that moment, my decision either makes or breaks my resolution. And if distracting thoughts like "go on, take it" took the better of me, it means that for that moment, I had forgone my vision for desire and made the wrong decision.

Keeping out desires is never easy. But if you put your mind to it, you definitely can achieve it, because the mind is controlled by you, and not the other way round. Hang in there! Meanwhile, I'll go dip into a bag of chips. Just kiddin' =P

Kit Kat galore

I think Kit Kat makes a very good snack because it comes in small servings and is able to satisfy cravings instantly without contributing significantly to your daily calorie count..plus, most of the time it's worth the calories.

The flavours of Kit Kat are really boundless and I must give it to Nestle in Japan for being to conjure all sorts of bizarre and interesting flavours.

Recently, I bought in Japan and tried 2 rather out-of-the-mind flavours, namely wasabi and chilli powder, and a not-so-special strawberry one.

The wasabi Kit Kat comes with the wafer biscuit wrapped in green cream and gives a mild pow to the gustatory senses when eaten. I must say I was quite surprised by how it tasted better than I thought. Those who don't fancy wasabi needn't be turned off by it 'cos the taste of this "Japanese mustard" is really light.

The chilli powder Kit Kat was no kick at all! Seriously, there's not the lightest hint of spice in it..until an after-taste comes along and tickles the buds a lil'. Nevertheless, it tasted pleasant -- wafer biscuit and cream bundled in what tasted like dark chocolate. Worth a try, definitely.

I also tried a more common flavour -- strawberry, but it's a special edition from the Tochigi prefecture. Compared to other strawberry Kit Kat that I've tried, I couldn't really tell what's distinctive about this one. Still, the white chocolate tasted fine with a fragrant strawberry scent.

If I have to rank them in order of preference, I'd say that the wasabi one is tops, followed by the chilli powder and, finally, the strawberry.

Kit Kat, love them or hate them, they'll always be part of our lives! 

For Kit Kat fans, you may like to check out this very interesting blog, Jen Ken's Kit Kat Blog,  that's alllll about these mini treats. Have fun savouring (visually, that is)!

Oh, and here's another fun fact: did you know that many Japanese students like to eat Kit Kat before exams? This is because the phrase sounds like "Kitto Katsu", which sort of means "sure to win", so it's believed to bring them good luck. 

Where is happiness?

Everyday, we all search for happiness, don't we?

To some, happiness is in a chocolate. To another, happiness is in receiving flowers.

Yet, chocolate may be poison to one, and pollen in flowers may trigger an allergy in a person. Hence, happiness is not found in the object itself, but in the feeling that it exudes in a person at the point of experience.

This feeling is in us. In every one of us.

Having said this, there's really no need to go searching for happiness 'cos it's right inside you and you just need to go feel it. By not letting external factors control your feeling of happiness is how we can sustain this feeling. This, understandably, is a tall order so that brings me to the topic of yoga.

Yoga in modern society is perceived as some form of physical exercise--to stay fit and healthy. What is lesser known is that yoga, originally, is a way of life. It helped yogis to attain sustained happiness, or rather, peace of mind as that's how happiness can be exuded. Hence, yoga is really not just about postures, but also meditation, cleansing, etc -- all of which brings one closer to calm and happiness.

I'll be sharing more on yoga in my future posts!

Meanwhile, stay happy =)

Sunsets

I love sunsets, there's something very serene about them and to see the golden ball slowly sinking into the horizon is like dipping a lovely Oreo into milk -- a very fortunate experience. I'm just kidding! On a serious note, sunsets are incredibly lovely and how they set the world aglow is indeed very magical. Recently, I can't help feeling so happy that I caught 2 very lovely sunsets:

This one was taken at a roadside in Tokyo, near the Tokyo Skytree. I really love the colour gradation and the way the tree leaves creates a textured silhouette.

This was taken recently from the floating platform at Marina Bay. I thought the sky looks crayoned and the fact that it occurred during the Chinese New Year period, which signifies wealth and prosperity for the year ahead, makes the colour all the more symbolic. Ahh...Marina Bay, it never fails to bring a visual feast to visitors of this place.

Awesome Japanese ice cream..in winter

Ice cream is an inextricable part of my life so whenever I go overseas, I never fail to find opportunities to get a taste of the wonderful cold desserts that the country offers.

I was on a trip to Tokyo recently and got to try 4 fabulous-tasting ice cream. Despite being the winter season, I had one ice cream almost everyday! In fact, I think eating ice cream in winter makes the experience more enriching. What's more, the gooey yummies don't melt so fast!

My favourite during the trip is the matcha (green tea) ice cream by food giant Morinaga which I bought from a 7-11 convenience store. It is incredibly rich in the green tea flavour and the centre itself is soft and fragrant, reminding me of a good ol' cup of matcha latte. Definitely a must-try for green tea fans.

Next in line is the strawberry soft cream at Haneda airport! When served, it was so inviting that I forgot to take a photo of it before eating..so what you see is just half of the actual height. Haha!

The soft cream is indeed soft and not overwhelmingly sweet, which is the case for most softees. The taste of strawberry lingers nicely in the palate after each mouthful.

It was delightful to see that the crazily-popular gourmet chocolate brand, Royce, also has ice cream offerings. Without a doubt, I grabbed a piece of it when I saw it in a 7-11 convenience store. 

Maybe I had expected more from Royce, but this wasn't as good as I thought/it looks from the packaging.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it as the chocolate chunk in the middle, when blended with the chocolate cream, doubles up the chocolatey taste well.

Red bean, or azuki, is almost synonymous with Japanese cuisine so how could I not try one that's in this flavour. Muraya's red bean ice lolly was refreshing but it wasn't rich enough for me in terms of flavour. That said, it is worth a try once if you're a red bean fan.

Hail to ice cream! May you find as much joy as I did in eating them.

Save on dental fees!

In my last post, I promised to share more about oral health 'cos I'm pretty peeved that I had spent so much moolah on drilling away my cavities and then filling them up in the past month. Not only did it burn a hole in my pocket but the pain and discomfort was just too much agony! Ugh.

Anyways, here's a recommendation to keep cavities at bay: use fluoride mouth rinse. Fluoride is really crucial for healthy teeth cos almost everything we eat contains some kind of acid that can cause harm to our pearly whites (or yellows for some people). This is because acid erodes the enamel, a layer of mineral-like stuff on our teeth, resulting in tooth decay. Read more at WebMD.

Upon the recommendation of the dentist, I bought this bottle of fluoride from Watsons: Pearlie White Fluorinze (2 for $2, 100ml each. It also comes in bigger sizes).

Note that you shouldn't be getting 'mouth wash' for this purpose; the key ingredient is fluoride. I didn't opt for Listerine or Colgate as the ingredient list didn't state anything about fluoride so I reckon that they didn't contain this mineral?

I've been using this for more than a month now and it's been really awesome. What's more, it's made in Singapore..somehow, local products make me feel assured! The compact size also makes it suitable for carrying on board airplanes, keeping your breath fresh and your teeth healthy!

This is definitely a worthy investment on top of your make-up, cleanser and other vanity (or some may call 'basic') necessities =)

Better gum health?

I caught this at a shop at 112 Katong mall. Roca chocolate candy improves your gum health. LOL!

More on oral health next week~

Just a thought

A war could be going on around you but if you can remain calm, you're truly divine.