This is a really random post as I am in between periods in school and am having a 30 mins break before my next class. But I am inspired to jot down some thoughts so here goes.

I am actually super worried about 2013 work wise. So many new things and so many fears. And today, I was super stressed as I have 6 periods (Which is a lot) and I was worried that I would have no energy and my classes would be dull and ineffective and I would not be as engaging as I would like to be. I was stressing and was dragging my feet to school cos I hate being stressed about such things. But I am going on to my 6th period and I have had the best few hours! My classes are so great, and they are so funny, and they listened, and they were attentive and...ah.....it's just so nice to have fun when you are working. My 3As are the best, I laughed so hard that I had to hold on to my teachers desk! Unprofessional much. :)

Why I am blogging this down is to remind myself that sometimes, when you expect the worst of a situation, you actually get a very positive experience. I have been having so many thoughts in my head with regards to 2013, but so far, 2013 has been great. Of course, the work is still a lot, but I am managing and I still have time for myself. And my classes, though they are new, are responding well to me. It's funny how things pan out sometimes. When you expect the worst, something positive happens. I love days that turn out like this. Of course, I pray a lot to God to help me get through such days, and I am so happy and thankful. The power of positive thinking and embracing faith. :)

And the weekend is on its way and I go so many things to look forward to! A dinner date on Fri, brunch @ my favourite spot, Carpernter & Cook followed by flea market shopping with my darling Su Ann, then dinner with my girls, Maya and Fa. And hot yoga on Sun morning plus brunch with darling boys. Happy, happy, happy!

It's 2013! Again, I am late in posting for the new year, but hey, better late than never! It has been busy since I last blogged. School preparations, and now, school. But 2013 will be a good year. I can feel it. And it's starting off great. I usually get overworked and burnt out by the first week of Jan every year for the past 3 years. Think it's the crazy meetings and the stress of planning for school programmes that it makes me delirious and majorly sick. 2 years ago, it was a super high fever which left me immobile for 3 days. Last year, it was another super high fever of 40.5 deg, and slight bronchitis which saw me passing out and breaking down my bathroom door (cos I fainted, not cos I turned into the hulk or something). I was out for a week then! This year, so far, it has been great. I am healthy, I am eating, I am exercising, and I am happy!

As with all years, I always pen down my thoughts for the year. 2012 has been a year of ups and downs. It was a year where I struggled professionally as I put on so many hats and did well in some areas while sucked in other areas. It was a year where I almost lost myself in work and struggled to find that work life balance which I am really good at. It was also a year where I kind of gave up on any semblance of relationships due to many bad bad experiences.

But on the upside, 2012 was great because it was a good year for friendships.  I got together with so many of my Australian friends this year after so long. It started with my darlings Anri & Foize where we met once again in March, after 4 years apart since our studies in Australia. It was so great to be together again even if it is only for 4 short days but those 4 short days were probably the most memorable for 2012. I met up with Nad, and her adorable siblings, and Ryan in Melbourne and then met up Rushika and Mark in Perth during my June break. 2012 was also great cos I made a new friend. A really good friend, Su Ann. She is as crazy as me, if not crazier, she is kind, and genuine and sincere and I appreciate her so much cos she makes me so much happier and such a better person as well. And it was a year where I reconnected back with K after so long of being apart and it is so great to have her back in my life as she is one of the kindest and most non judgemental person I know.

 2012 saw me fulfilling one more dream that I had, to get my licence and a car. And it has been so fabulous to be free and be able to go wherever I want to and I never fail to appreciate how blessed I am for having that financial capacity to own a car.

Most importantly, 2012 is the best year ever because I rediscovered God. I have always been one who believes that you determine your own path in life, and God always took a back seat. Of course I believed in HIM but HE wasn't a priority. But due to the lows of 2012, I was so desparate that I had to find help. And help came in the form of HIM. And it has been so peaceful for me. I have never been at peace so much with myself, or as happy as I am now. I used to be so overwhelmed that I will break down and cry. But praying to God has made me calmer and more at peace. HE has helped me chart so many new paths in life, and overcome so many obstacles in my life with a positive spirit. And I know that I did not do this alone but with HIS help.

So yeah, I think 2012 started off shit but ended off with a bang. :)

For 2013, I hope to:
1. Achieve milestones in my career. I am more confident professionally, and after holding on to my portfolio for a year, I am not clearer of my work, and am keen to push myself and my team harder to make a difference this year.

2. Find that joy in teaching again. Ever since my darling batch graduated in 2010, I haven't found a group of students I have felt passionately about. I hope that I can re discover that purpose I used to have in coming to school and make sure that I do not lose sight of the purpose I became a teacher in the first place.

3. Be at peace with myself and not be affected by people who do not matter to me.

4. Continue to make time for people who matter in my life. My family and my friends, they will always take priority over anything else.

5. Be healthy by exercising right and eating right. I hope to continue to be as disciplined as I was in 2012. Thrice-weekly hot yoga sessions and weekly 5km runs. Minimally.

6. Most importantly, to continue to be close to God and not let myself be swayed in many other directions cos at the end of the day HE paves the right way for me.

And with that, have a good 2013 everyone!

I know, I know. It has been forever since I last blogged. 4 months, that's a record first for me. At most I let the blog go unattended for a month at most, but Term 4 of school has been completely insane and I was just so caught up with a gazillion things that I had no time to blog. But hey, I am baaaacccckkk!!!

I actually just came back from my half yearly trips. This year, because of my hefty investment I made in my car, I decided not to go to Europe. Europe usually makes me a pauper by the end of the trip, cos well, air tickets are generally costly, the damn currency is crazy strong, things are expensive there and I have a weakness for designer bags and I usually leave Europe with 2 or 3 of those damned bags. So I told myself this year,' Girl, you've got to tone it down this year. No crazy shopping trips.' So I thought long and hard and decided...JAPAN! And when I was booking my air tickets, my flight transited in HK so I decided, might as well do a pop over to HK too! And that was that!

And my God, I really underestimated Asia. I have always thought Asia was more of a chill out travel destination. Places I have been to are really mostly for shopping (case in point: KL, Bangkok) or chill out (case in point: Bali, Bintan, Krabi) or are really under developed (case in point: Sri Lanka, Cambodia) or I just hated them (case in point: Taiwan, India). So I really went to Japan with not really knowing what to expect. And I loved loved loved it.

We started off with Kyoto, where I spent 4 nights, then Kawaguchi of the Mt Fuji area, a night there, then Tokyo for 2 nights before ending off my trip in HK where I spent 3 nights.

Kyoto was beautiful beautiful beautiful. It was really cold the few days we were there. So we ate a lot. I swear, I have never eaten so much on a trip before. We visited two temples, one castle, went to Gion and Higashiyama, and we also dressed up in kimonos, or the Furisode to be accurate. Kimonos for all the single ladies! (Cue music).

First meal in Kyoto. Mixed Tempura with rice. I was starving! Cathay Pac had the shiitiest food ever.

The room in the Ryokan we stayed in Kyoto. Very homely.

Our first day in Kyoto: First up on the agenda- Kimono wearing session! I loved being dressed in the kimono. Felt so demure.... This kimono Im wearing costs as much as a small car in Japan. Crazy!

 From the kimono-wearing session, we went on to walk around Gion, the Geisha quarters. Saw some geishas but was raining and couldn't snap a picture of them. And very scared they might scream at us!

 A fountain where you get beauty. I splashed my face with the water so many times!

Night illumination at Kidoji Temple

The facade of the Ryokan we stayed in Kyoto

The Golden Pavilion, Kinkakuji Temple.

Took a break, and had a match ice cream, which cost me $5 SGD. Did I mention Japan is crazy expensive?

 I know. So touristy, taking pictures at a train station. I don't care! I am a tourist! I love their train system. Efficient and organised. The way I like my things done.

 Walk to Hikone Jo, the castle.

 The castle grounds were filled with these gorgeous hued keaves so we went a bit bonkers taking pictures of the leaves.... Not the castle...

The castle

 Gardens of the castle.

 We were trying to be America's Next Top Models here. Failed!

 Higashiyama. Great shopping for knick knacks. Bought so many random things!

From Kyoto, we took a 4 hr trip down to Kawaguchi at the Mt Fuji area. Ok, this is my favourite place in Japan. It was so magical. Everything there. We stayed in a $1200 SGD per night room, which is insanely beautiful, with our own private onsen, and dinner served in our room, with breakfast provided and the view of the glorious Mt Fuji. Money well spent.



 This was at the doorstep of our inn.

Our private onsen.

After a soak in the onsen. I actually tried both the public and private onsen. I was a bit traumatised by the public onsen. Everyone is STARK NAKED. I mean, STARK NAKED. I saw bits and pieces which were...erm...disturbing so after half hr in the onsen, I ran back to the room to use my own onsen. Heaven.....2 deg cold, and you are freezing your ass off, and then you jump into the hot onsen, with the cold against your face and that crazy gorgeous view...Sigh...I loved it.

The very elaborate dinner which was served in our room. We had sashimi, abalone, mushrooms, lobster leg, oyster, scallop, prawns, miso, rice, noodles, strawberrries and mochi....Heaven...

This was what we get from our room. I woke up in the morning, saw Mt Fuji in its full glory, stripped and jumped straight into the onsen! lol!

 Then we headed to Tokyo where we went to Shinjuku, Shibuya & Harajuku. Hustle and bustle. Lots of shopping here.

From Tokyo, I went to Hong Kong. I was a bit fatigued by then, so didn't really do much in HK except for to sleep in, shop and eat. I ate a lot. A lot. A lot. Damn it. This was at the mosque which had halal dim sum. Near Causeway Bay.

The crazy streets of Hong Kong

Lego displays at Lane Crawford.

So yes, that was my year end holiday trip. I toned down on the travelling this year and I am missing it already! 2013 will see me travelling more hopefully! And I promise not to abandon my blog for too long!!!!!