The Awakened Tree

As I sat at Lotus Restaurant, Damansara Jaya branch, this morning with a friend having breakfast I noticed the row of some 15 to 20 trees along the main road. It was around 8.00am and ALL the trees except for one were still 'asleep' with their leaves drooping downwards. At 8.00am one would expect the hustle and bustle of things and that even the trees were awake to a new morn.

What stood out most was that one tree that seemed to be awake with the branches reaching out and the green sparkling leaves with dew drops ready for the day. But why that just one tree, one would ask?

This tree happens to be sitting where a little shrine (La Tok Kong) has been erected. Many an evening I have seen people along that row of shophouses offering joss sticks and sometimes even flowers and fruits (maybe kena Magnum or Toto already). Does this come back to what energy works is all about? I suppose so.

Go take a look for yourself. All these are present in the midst of our lives and many a time we have all missed them out because we never took time to look around us.

Predictions - Is The World Coming To An End

Received this email today. Make a search on "Juseleeno" and you will find the full write up. This is only an excerpt.

Mr. Juseleeno, born in 1960 (reportedly still alive in 2008), is a Brazilian who has made many predictions, and MOST have come to pass, including Princess Diana's death by car accident (which is instigated by someone near her and will probably unfortunately be written off as a car accident), 911 and the 2004 Indonesian tsunami.

He sees the future in his dreams, and has an average of 3 to 9 such predictions per day. When he wakes up, he will write them down, and send warnings to those concerned. If it concerns only a normal individual, he will write a letter to warn him/her. If it is a famous person(celebrity, politician etc.), or matters concerning the public, he will not only send it to the individual himself/herself, but also related agencies, government, and media. He urged the media to publicise these predictions, but the reply always went along the lines of rejection for fear of arousing public panic.

Future predictions:

2008, July: There will be an earthquake in Japan, which will cause a tsunami of 30 plus metres high to occur as well.

2008, 18th September: An earthquake with magnitude of approximately 9.1 will rock China , simultaneously causing a tsunami of more than 30 metres to occur, resulting in the deaths of more than 1 million people. Although this huge earthquake will happen after the Olympics have ended, there will be a series of relatively smaller earthquakes occurring in China before the huge earthquake. The China government, which is more concerned with the success of the Olympics, will most likely neglect to employ appropriate cautionary measures, thus the high casualty rate. If the China government does not publicise the occurrence of these minor earthquakes and evacuate people, the number of deaths will be as predicted.

2008, 17th December: terrorist attack in America

2010: The temperatures in some countries of Africa could be as high as 58 degrees Celsius, and there will be a serious shortage of water.

2010, 15th June: The New York Stock Exchange market will fail, causing an international financial crisis.

2011: The research on the treatment of some cancers will be completed, but a new life-threatening virus will appear. People who are infected will die after only approx. 4 hours of coming into contact with the virus.

2013, 1st – 25th November: Research on treatment of cancers, except for brain tumors, will be completed. An earthquake, caused by volcanic eruptions, will happen on Bahama Island of the Canary Islands. A gigantic tsunami of roughly 150 metres will result. America mainlands, Brazil etc. will be affected, with the tsunami pushing into the land as far as 15 to 20 kilometres. Before the occurrence of this gigantic tsunami, the sea/ocean water levels will sink by about 6 metres, and large flocks of birds will start to migrate.

2014: A small planet that has been gradually closing in on Earth might eventually collide with Earth, and this collision, if come to pass, will affect the survival of humans as a whole.

2015: By the mid of November, the average temperature of Earth could be as high as 59 degrees Celsius. Many people will die from the overheat, and international confusion and terror ensues.

2016, April: A huge typhoon will invade China, causing massive damage. The 43rd USA president, George Walker Bush, will enter the hospital, and faces a life or death situation.

2026, July: A super earthquake will occur in Sans Francisco, and it will be named "The Big One". Huge damage to surrounding areas. Many volcanoes will re-activate, and the height of resulting tsunami will be more than 150 metres.

Mr. Juseleeno made known his predictions in hopes that people will take heed of his warnings, so that these disasters may be avoided. He hopes there will be a major change in the thinking of people's mindsets in the time period 2007 – 2008. One factor will be the environmental issue of global warming, which is more serious than what some meteorologists assume

Month of Saka Dawa 3 June - 2 July 2008

Dear friends

I have been asked about continuing with the pledges to Avoid Killing, and I think that this is good to do again now.

We are now celebrating the Month of Saka Dawa (from June 3rd to July 2nd), a very special month to make the pledge, as the merit of virtuous activities during this month multiply by a million. Let's use this precious opportunity to accumulate merit, purifying our karma, and benefit so many sentient beings. This is also an easy way to do something for the long life of our Holy Gurus - His Holiness the Dalai Lama and your own gurus. It is also very beneficial for prolonging our own lives, by not contributing to killing.

I suggest that during the holy month of Saka Dawa(Buddhas Enlightenment and Paranirvana) you can take one of the following pledges:

* To become vegetarian for this whole life
* To become vegetarian for one year
* To become vegetarian for the month of Saka Dawa ( June 1 - June 30)
* Keep precepts for the whole month of Saka Dawa
* Keep precepts on all special days of Buddha and all precept days for the whole life
* Not to eat meat during all special days of Buddha (4 days in a year) for one year
* We can also promise not to get angry during this month of Saka Dawa.

It is most powerful to make this pledge on the day of Saka Dawa, whichis June 18th, 2008. Please use this the link to make the pledge: http://freeonlinesurveys.com%20/rendersurvey.asp?sid=lmdgf7f48

Once you have submitted the pledge, feel very strongly that you have made this promise in the presence of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and rejoice at the merit created. Your sincere motivation will make this pledge very powerful.

All the merit accumulated in this way, please dedicate extensively in the following way:
*to the long life of all your own gurus
* to increase the teachings of the Buddha in general and specially theMahayana teachings
* to remove all the problems in all countries experiencing war, famine,violence of any kind
* to increase peace in the world* to remove all obstacles to the return of HH to Tibet
* for complete peace between Tibet and ChinaI rejoice in your great merit and make prayers for the success of yourpractice.

with many prayers,
Lama Lhundrup

Welcome On Board, Daughter

My daughter returned from Muar this evening and as usual, mother and daughter had their usual chats. She told me that she brought home a kampong chicken from the kampong to boil porridge for baby Ryan. One chicken only. Period!!!

It was simply because she did not want to go to the market to order the lives of the chickens for her son. Hmmm, one may think that all the small Dharma talks I had with her would have fallen on deaf ears but certainly not. She has a heart of gold and I am proud to be her mum ):

A Sunday Mangosteen Afternoon

The mangosteens are back in season. It was a sunday afternoon mangosteen get-together with no mangosteen fruits. It was a sharing session attended by some 50 people sharing the goodness of the juice. It was supposedly to be a mandarin session but you could see a mix of malays, indians and chinese.

Testimonials for the juice were aplenty and you cannot be more convinced on the benefits of the juice after hearing them out. There was so much oomph from the participants ranging from around 15 to 82 years of age.

What a healthy and fruitful way to spend a sunday afternoon.

From A Babe To A Fine Lady

It was not her birthday but she gave no hoots about it. She blew off the candles with saliva and all. That must have been some 13 years or so and today is her 15 years of giving so much joy and love to her parents and to all around her.

I have watched the little one grow from mummy's rounded belly to the fine lady she is today. A perfectionist by kiasu instincts, a thoughtful and considerate babe by nature, a 'fighter' in her gentle ways and always generous in every way.

We celebrated Shawn's birthday at Pizza Uno. It had been years that we celebrated her birthday together. This again goes back to the 'stop and smell the roses'. It's all about finding time to do things with people you love and care about. I dont know how many more times I can do this with the children but if I can do it one more time each time, then its one more time to those times.

Happy Birthday Shawn!!!! You have allowed Kai Mah to add that one more time.

How To Make Strawberry Honey Facial Scrub

Ingredients:
1. 3 large fresh strawberries
2. 2 tablespoon honey

Method:
1. Mash strawberries in small mixing bowl
2. Add honey and continue mashing until well blended
3. Apply mixture to face by rubbing in circular motions
with pads of fingertips
4. Rub entire face then rinse with warm water. Pat skin dry

Tips:
* Can be kept in refrigerator for about 2 days but it's best if made fresh before each application
* Strawberry juce is an astringent, cleanser and conditioner all at once. The fruit is also rich in skin-nourishing vitamin C and potassium. And while the juice is performing all those duties, the tiny strawberry seeds are busy lifting and removing dead cells from the skin's surface, allowing the juice to penetrate even further.
* Adding a touch of honey to the fruit adds extra conditioning, moisturising and softening action to this facial scrub

Ignite Your Romance In Northern France

Ryan will be turning a year old in a couple of months from now and mummy is already having holiday plans in the pipeline. A trip to the zoo, a run to the highlands and possibly a trip to Europe.

An idyllic vacation for a family of a young couple with little Ryan and grandma, Northern France holds the prospect of a great adventure. In Calvados, with its beach escapades and forests punctuated with rivers and lakes as perfect romantic hideouts for the young couple, Ryan and I can thrill ourselves in the sun-drenched vineyards and apple orchards. Calvados, famous for its apple brandy, also boasts itself of fantastically varied landscape with steep cliffs, green fields, fruit trees and not forgetting the local specialty of Camembert cheese.

You can find lots of cheap holiday rentals in Calvados, ranging from apartments, cottages, farmhouses and villas. There are also family friendly holiday gites in Normandy and private chateaux to rent in Nievre.

Imagine a trip where every bend in the road reveals yet another stunning scenery! Where every step of the way leads to something refreshing! Where every moment is full of anticipation of what the next moment will bring!

You Can See Angels

You know that angels are near when ...

* You FEEL the angels' presence. Perhaps you feel a warm brush across your face, shoulders, hands or arms. You might feel their hug, or the brush of a wing across your skin. The air pressure changes when angels enter a room. It is as if a big white cloud has just rolled in to shield you from the heat. The room temperature may seem to shift, or you might catch a whiff of a beautiful lifting fragrance that you can't quite identify. When the angels hug you, you feel a deep warmth flow through your chest and your heart expands with unearthly love.

* You SEE the angels' presence. The calling cards of angels are visible. A sparkle of white light out of the corner of your eyes signals that an angel is near. A glowing shadow moving so fast that you wonder if its your imagination is another signal. A dream visitation, and the beautiful angels you see in a darkened room, or standing beside a beloved friend, confirm that the angelic kingdom visits you.

* You HEAR the angels' presence. A loving whisper in your ear that urges you to improve your life. Or an unmistakable shout warning you to "Watch out!" A voice inside your mind counseling you to reach for the stars, and the sweet strains of music coming from out of nowhere, these are the sounds that angels make.

* You KNOW the angels' presence. When you suddenly get an idea that dramatically transforms your life, an angel has just delivered a message and tucked it safely within your heart. When you have an unmistakable knowingness that angels are near to you, trust that it is so.

* You EXPERIENCE the angels' presence. When they miraculously avert a near-tragedy, or an opportune door "coincidentally" opens for you at just the right moment, you know that angels are helping you in the background. When you walk through nature and feel free and joy-filled, you can be sure that angels walk beside you along the way

How To Make Citrus Spritz/Spray/

Ingredients :
1) 1 dried orange peel
2) 1 dried lemon peel
3) 1 dried lime peel
4) 1/2 cup vodka
5) 1/2 cup water

Method :
1) Bring water to boil
2) Place orange, lemon and lime peel in heat resistant bowl
3) Pour boiling water over citrus peels
4) Steep until citrus water has cooled
5) Add vodka
6) Pour into glass jar with air tight lid. Leave in a cool, dark place.
Allow to sit for at least 7-10 days or up to 2 weeks for stronger
fragrance.
7) Strain mixture to remove all bits of peel
8) Store in squirt bottle

Tips :
* Shake well before use
* Lemons keep air smelling fresh

Another Holiday Affair

The time of the year has come around for me to plan my annual get-away. For years I have been captivated by the untamed beauty of India and the amazing beauty of dramatic landscapes, rugged snow-capped mountains and age-old monasteries of Nepal. And this year's travel still brings me back to the enchanted kingdom of Nepal.


I am considering of making a change for my future travels. How about Central America? In Nicaragua there are booming beaches with dazzling natural attractions, volcano hikings (something different from the Himalayan trekking), surfing, snorkelling and many islands for you to just simply laze around and enjoy the cool crisp air. And of course you will have the perfect beach hotel, Nicaragua Hotel or the San Juan del Sur Hotel to play to your tune. You can choose to sizzle your days with volcano hikings or beach affairs and chill out in the evenings on the terrace of any of the San Juan del Sur Hotels.

Born Again Driver

After having not driven for more than one and a half decade I wanted to take the car for a spin this afternoon. First thing first, unlock the car and open up all the doors to allow the heat to escape. Start the engine and on the air con. Wow! I could still remember these basics. After a minute or two, I got into the driver's seat, adjusted the seat and mirrors and .... and .... was in the process of engaging the gear when i looked right and left at the side mirrors. Oh NO!!! I dont think I can get out of the tight spot. Sigh! I slowly got out of the car smiling to myself. I am going to sms my daughter to tell her of my achievement for the day and to request that she reparks the car tonight with the front of the car facing out at the porch and not by the side of the garden so that I dont have to reverse and at the same time looking at side mirrors and .... too many things to concentrate on for a 'born again' driver.

So here I am at my computer since my driving spin is aborted.

A Tribute To All Mums & Grand Mums

This year we celebrated Mothers Day with two mums in the house. It never really got into my head that I am not the only mum in the house this year. I only realised this when my 3 god children came over on Mothers Day eve with presents for me and my once little daughter. My daughter is also a mum now so that makes me a grand mum. Why do kids have to call their granny 'grandma'?Huh!

Eve's dinner was in Paris (aiyoh not in France lah - this one in SS2 only lah) and this evening we will be going to Pantai Seafood. If you have not made a reservation at this restaurant, dont even bother to try your luck unless you are prepared to have a late dinner. The reservation was made a week ago and they even called up this morning to reconfirm if the reservation is still on.

Grand mum is getting off her comp to get ready for this evening's do.

Happy Mother's Day To All

A mum is a rose whose petals are soft ...
A mum is a lily whose stem is tall and strong ....
A mum is a person who is never wrong .... (sometimes maybe)
A mum is a person you should love forever ....
Trust her, believe her and never doubt her ....

Make Your Own Lip Balm

Give your lips a treat. Stay away from commercial lip gloss. This recipe takes less than 15 minutes of your time and you will have enough lip balm to last you a month.

Ingredients :
1) 1 teaspoon beeswax
2) 1 teaspoon cocoa butter
3) 1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
4) 1 teaspoon wheatgerm oil
5) 3 drops pure lavender essential oil (optional)

(Items 1-4 can be purchased from Multifilla in Balakong)
(Item 5 lavender oil - if you are unable to get pure essential oil, then leave this out)

Method :
1) Put items 1-4 into a small glass bowl
2) Double boil (put bowl over a pan of shallow simmering water)
on low fire
3) Stir until beeswax and cocoa butter have melted
4) Remove from heat
5) Let it cool before adding in lavender essential oil (heat destroys the oil)
6) Pour contents into wide mouth air tight container before it hardens
(wide mouth so that its easy for your fingers to reach)

Beeswax (a little pricey) and cocoa butter are rich emollients. Wheatgerm is rich in Vitamin E content

Atlantis & Lemuria

The two sunken continents of Atlantis and Lemuria or Mu have always aroused great interest in me. Atlantis, as the name denotes, existed in the Atlantic Ocean while Lemuria in the Pacific Ocean. Lemuria was Atlantis spiritual opposite. While Atlantis was a highly evolved civilization that was more sophisticated in technology than anything people today could ever dream of, Lemuria on the other hand placed more emphasis on healing, art, music and spirituality. They believed that materialism was not an end itself.

According to the Mayan (another lost civilization) calendar, the world is prophesised to end on 22 December 2012. But alongside this prophesy is Edgar Cayce's prediction of the rising of the sunken continents of Atlantis and Lemuria. This is largely due to the polar tilting that occurs every 12,000 to 15,00 years. This shifting of the magnetic pole gives rise to widescale disruption.