The Sudden Breeze

Here's a rundown of my weekend without the running of course :) On saturday I woke up at 8. I really wanted to stay in bed a little longer but Bali's sunshine is so bright I would need black shades and tape to block out the light. It's a great change from my dungeon in jakarta though. The sun definitely gives the boost of energy that I need. I decided to read some articles on my blackberry, and I ended up reading this article about invisible computing. Quite an interesting read. After too much information for a weekend, I opened all the curtains and shutters around the house. The skies were a bit cloudy but it was still very bright. The cool morning breeze was quite refreshing. I was going to turn on some music while I folded some clothes, but decided just to have silence, observing and listening to the sounds outside. There is an elementary school a few roads down so there were shouts and laughter of children playing, birds chirping, and occasional sounds of motorbike...

When we fast, not only do we abstain from eating and drinking reminding us of those less fortunate, we also practice self-control in our speech, thoughts and actions, filling ourselves with prayers, patience, charity and positive energies. It's a month meditation to rejuvenate the mind and body, beginning the year with a reawakened spirit. Our first day of fasting in Bali was quite nice. The day actually passed by quickly probably because we were having fun making "biji salak" one of my favorite Ramadan treats. The color turned out a bit green, because we used a japanese sweet potato, but it was still yummy :) there's a great recipe to follow from the blog last-bite . Today I also finally got the chance to watch the movie "Precious". A heart-wrenching, tear-jerking movie so prepare a box of tissues if you haven't seen it already. There's this quote from the character that really took a hold of me: "Some folks has a lot of things around th...

It's been exactly one month since I've moved to Bali. How has it been? At times I still have those occasional episodes of negativity and brooding, but I must admit it has been so much easier to become quickly aware and breathe in to the present moment. I've become more kinder to myself. Basically I feel at ease and renewed :) Not sure if it's the move or if I'm just at that stage. The atmosphere definitely plays a big role. Tomorrow fasting begins for the month of Ramadan, and for our last lunch today I decided to prepare a meal of falafels, hummus and some fresh salad. I tried a recipe that I found at  about.com turned out pretty tasty! Even my sister ended up eating the falafels with 2 servings of salad, and she's the type of person who doesn't eat greens. Why the sudden change of heart? Maybe because I grated a lot of cheese on top!! :D falafel hummus My first self-cooked meal in Bali :) A Ramadan poem from Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi O moo...

Throughout my life I've never really watched what I eat nor committed to a specific exercise routine. I would always get hyped up to the idea of a new activity or diet and slowly lose interest as my mind gets distracted to day-to-day events like looking at Robert Pattinson's wallpaper on my monitor :P But I believe now is the right time for me to break away from old habits, focusing in what nourishes my body and where it comes from. Our body is our vehicle to do good on this earth. From years and years of knowing this, only now do I really want to take the step in being more conscious about my body. Better late than never :) There is this scene in the movie 'City of Angels' when Seth asks Maggie to describe what a pear taste like: Seth : What's that like? What's it taste like? Describe it like Hemingway. Maggie Ric e : Well, it tastes like a pear. You don't know what a pear tastes like? Seth : I don't know what a pear tastes like to you. Maggie Rice : Sw...