I'mm Yours Truly...a day to remember

I didn't thought of writing a post on this event initially...but that fateful day turned out to be one of the most most memorable days for my good couple friends, Nic & Joanne...not forgetting the other 7 (my lucky number!) couples including DD and me...

This story shall evolve between Nic & Joanne.

Joanne absolutely has no idea what was going to happen...she was taking snapshots of DD and me...good ones indeed!

With Eric included too..who seemed to be a professional photographer...

and of course, i in turn, took pics of this matching couple (礼尚往来咯), who is going to be husband-and-wife very soon, as u shall see...= )

But wait, let's sidetrack a while...the guys' pic!! Derrick always makes his photo mates like "supporting roles 衬托 the main lead"...haha..

After all the crap above, here's the gist of the story!! what a lonnnggg introduction... This is the first step..the organiser has already arranged for this couple to be the last to go up on stage...

Actually, Joanne was still kept in the dark even on stage! and she looked sleepy, or bored??..haha..

Oh well, they got their goodie bag..and posed for the one and only pic with the stars...

Joanne (with question marks above her): what's happening??!! Still not knowing what happened!! and looking "blurrer"...Fann also looked blur, but at least with a smile on her face...heee...

Oops!! As the shocked Joanne covered her mouth and Nic holding the mike, the BIG question was anticipated! Nic: 我现在就要问你一个问题了!

The stars watched in envy and amusement..

First, the bouquet of flowers...

Then, the surprise and yet romantic moment and with the four magic words!!

And finally, happy ending!! Instead of echoing "现在问!现在问!", we wanted to help Nic by clapping our hands with "答应他!答应他!" But as u can see, it was redundant, as Joanne was too happy and quick to say "Yes, I do!!" Yeah, 幸福万岁! oops...

So there Joanne, this is ever the best proposal a loving guy would ever do to his loving girlfriend, who's going to be his loving wife, and such a happy ending shall end with the loving couple living happily and lovingly ever after!!

Reconnecting...

ya, it's been strictly speaking, one year since i have touched my blog post! and i realised i have incomplete posts as well...boo...laziness got the better of me...and perfection got the better of me too...cuz i felt that if i can't write a post beautifully, or completely, i would might as well not write..anyway, i think i have to finish them...so pardon me for those incomplete ones that were posted...give me some time to sort them out...hee...

ya, this is just a simple "reconnecting" message, for me to reconnect with Blogspot, to reconnect communicating about my lifestyle, my happenings, my feelings and emotions to myself and my beloved friends who are loyal readers...some of u...i know, who have been asking about my progress here...thank u... i though there was no more loyalty!! since i have slackened for a while...it was a "bottleneck" then...suddenly i was asking myself why i had to do this...no more motivation, no more purpose...haha...as i could also communicate the same to my friends directly in gatherings etc...and i realised i could not keep some of u here as either u r too busy to read, or totally forget about it...whatever the reasons are...

then i continued, because writing blogs are always different. i write better than i talk. i can use small "i" than big "I" which is analogous to a humble, simple me...i find that i have more expressions in words than on face...haha...

once in a while, i suddenly had the urge to write again...i could do sentence structuring in my mind when the urges came...i knew what to write immediately, but as always, the most difficult part is at the beginning...so i procrastinated. and i gave up, well almost, but not now, since i'm writing...

i hope i have u back again...stay tune!

Letter to a Special Dharma Friend on Mani Retreat 2008

Hi Kim,

I hope you are well!! and thanks alot for your well-wishes...was v v happy that we managed to hit and even exceeded target...all thanks to Dawa Lama especially for leading the recitations in a fast and rhythmatic manner. I think Drubwang Rinpoche was helping us...= )

I cried when the retreat kicked off...had worried that the retreat would not be held..and watching Drubwang Rinpoche's video clip then and Thritsab Rinpoche doing prostrations in front of Drubwang Rinpoche and Chenrezig, I cried in tears of joy...yes, we made it and now we need to recite doubly harder as the challenge was to hit the 100 million mantras in three days, which the period was shortened by less than half than previously.

The three days retreat was really a more intensive one, as compared to the past years. It, in one way, made us felt more concentrated/focussed in verbally reciting the mantra fast and clear.

You know, during the retreat, when I started to feel sleepy, and my thoughts drifted, I suddenly "woke up" and became more alert. I think Drubwang Rinpoche must have knocked me up with his Dharma wheel (as what you mentioned last year) and I'm sure he would have done the same thing to the rest, more so that we can successfully achieved the target!

I became nervous one hour before the very last recitation session ended. I saw volunteers walking fast around and making headcounts one last time and recording the no. of mantras recited by some retreatants. They counted our mantras till the very last one. We even skipped blessings, night teachings, shortened our meal breaks...

So when suddenly Yee Chin whispered to Ven. Chuan Yu (on the stage) then and I saw him smiling, I knew we had done it! I was confirmed when Dawa Lama smiled and he recited slowly...it was really a joyous moment...as the echos of the mantras were evolving in the big hall and beyond..

Our mantras were even 'discounted' by 5% for lost time, e.g. movement of retreatants, errors/incomplete mantras recited etc...

This is the best retreat I have so far, out of 5 times..cuz this is the one which I have worked hard enough and recited loudly enough...and I have made the best visualization during recitation. I was blinded by the rays of light emitted by all bodhisattvas!!

I'm sure the event will be held this year again!

May the Triple Gems be with us forever!!

hazel