And YES! I am finally doing it. POLE DANCING!!! I remembered putting a few things on my list of must-do for 2011. And aside from trying to whip myself back into shape, pole dancing is one of them. I have always been intrigued by this dance, cos it looks so sexy and slinky, but I also know it is majorly difficult as it requires a lot of core strength, flexibility and endurance. And to me, pole dancing allows me to hit 2 birds with one stone: I get to do one of my favourite things in the world, dancing, as well as get toned and fit! Not that my hot yoga is not already killing me, but hey, nothing wrong with trying to get fitter and leaner right? Yay!!!

I have been so busy at work, and I am getting really restless. I get solace from my bi-weekly hot yoga sessions, but I feel that I need to do more!! So one of my friends from Australia is in town for 6 weeks, and she asked if I wanted to take up pole dancing, and I'm like, why not? So yes, I have signed up for a 6 weeks course for pole dance beginners level 1 with Groove Studio and I cannot wait to start. First lesson is next Friday,and I AM EXCITED!! Been a while since I took up dance classes, the last being my salsa in 2005, which is forever!!

And to continue on with my quest for that lean mean body which I used to have when I was in uni (oklah, I was't lean and mean, I was just thin and unfit. I never exercised before and I was so thin!! I swear, I hate the phrase 'metabolism slows down with age'. Damn it.), I have also signed up for 2 10-km runs in July. The Great Eastern run in early July and the Shape run at the end of July. I did both runs last year, and the timing improved the 2nd time I ran, so I am hoping for a better time. I am still running, about once a week, but short distances though, about 5km. Will have to start doing 1-hr runs to make sure I dont die during the runs in July.

Ok, enough with the fitness update. It's a long weekend, so I am just going to enjoy it. School is K-I-L-L-I-N-G me, and I am trying to get through 5 more weeks of school without killing anyone. Will update more about my pole dancing class!! So exciting!!!!!!!!!

I am barely keeping afloat at work. School has been just insane, and everyday has been a mad rush of so many things: meeting deadlines, doing up tests and exam papers, marking, meetings, planning, conducting workshops, going for workshops, preparing for the SYF competition, and of course, teaching and learning. Urgh...And that is just skimming the surface! But I refuse to let this be an entry of whining and griping cos well, there is really nothing much I can do about it. So instead, I am going to channel my inner Qi (whatever that means) and divert my thoughts to happier things....And what else can make me happier but....TRAVELLING!

Hahahahahaha, I know. You are probably rolling your eyes now, cos I am forever talking about it, and I am SORRY!! It is the one thing that keeps me sane, and as long as I am not on a plane, I will not be happy! And no, going to JB does not count as travelling to me. :P

So I just got back from Bangkok three weeks ago, and I am already looking forward to my next trip! 7 more weeks and Im off for 3 whole weeks again! Yay! And this time, I am not going to Australia, nor Europe. It's South Asia this time round! A 9 day trip to South India with my kids, and then I am off for a 10 day personal trip to.......Sri Lanka and Maldives!!! Yay!!

I cannot wait for June to come. I have always wanted to go to Sri Lanka. I think it is a very under rated country, and with all the bad hype it has been getting due to the Tamil Tigers conflict, people think it is a bomb infested place. I actually wanted to take my kids on a trip to Sri Lanka in 2006, but it never materialised cos my school thought it was far too dangerous. And then the plan was put on hold, and what do you know? I made a Sri Lankan friend when I was studying in Australia, so all the more reason to go! I will get to see Sri Lanka, and see Rushika, and at the same time, get a really local feel of Sri Lanka as Rush is Sri Lankan and she doesn't get more Sri Lankan than it comes. Can't wait!

And cos Sri Lanka is majorly near Maldives, I figured 'what the heck' right? So I convinced Rush to come along! I might as well hit Maldives as well, cos well...it's the Maldives. Just gorgeousness galore. I can't wait. Maldives is costing me an arm and a leg, but cos we are flying from Colombo, it is much cheaper. But the resort I am staying in with Rush is costly. And it is already one of the cheapest I could find ok! I cannot wait to see the pristine clear water, and just do nothing, swim, spa, eat, snorkel, tan (not that I need to get anymore tanned), and just enjoy being there.

So, since I am stressed, and I cannot wait for my trips to materialise, I decided to google the beautiful places I am going to visit. Just to make me happy. Lol!!! I am so sad, I swear....

Ooty, in South India

 Tea Plantations in India

 Hills Country in Sri Lanka

 Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Maldives, North Atoll. GORGEOUS!!!

Kurumba Maldives Resort, where I would be staying

Sigh.....Travelling is like a slice of heaven to me....I can't wait.....