Thank you 2010

(Photo taken in Wamlung, Tibet)

The merry making and merriment is still very much in the air as evidenced by the traffic jams in and around the shopping malls. I have had my fair share of going to the shopping malls, trying to get last minute gifts and catching up with friends to seal up the year.



2010 seemed to be a not so good year for many because of some challenges to nature but as we all know, after the rain we shall see the sun and in some instances, a beautiful rainbow. For the more fortunate ones, like you and me, do not forget the less fortunate creed. Lend a hand whenever you are able to. If we are given a chance to offer a smile or do a good deed, do not lose that moment or that opportunity to help because it is not everyday that we are given that chance.


I would like to wrap up 2010 with lots of hugs and laughter to all and shall greet 2011 with more hugs and laughter, joys, good health and load of abundance. Have a great 2011.

I shall be blogging less in Inner Journey except for some musings. Do visit Cherish Wellness for more goodies.

The journey

I was fascinated with divination on my return from a week long Reiki Mastership in the 1990s. From flower reading to table tipping, tea leaves reading, tarot, crystal ball scrying, the list runs. This fascination mooted the idea of starting a new age/metaphysical shop. With cold feet and no experience I signed a two year contract with a shopping center and with that I flew over to Australia to pick up knick knacks of new age flavour at RETAIL prices. Within a month The Psychic Corner made its presence as one of the few, if not the only new age shop in the Klang Valley.

As I reminisce on the good days of The Psychic Corner- Tara Touch (a healing and new age workshop center) and Inner Journey (new age magazine publisher), I can sit back and truly say that, that decade had been a great milestone of my life. I’ve had many wonderful opportunities to meet many incredible people and teachers who shared their knowledge and friendship unreservedly. From customers, acquaintances, people who seeked healing became friends who leave footprints on my path. In that quaint little corner of about 126 sq ft of space, we had daily lunch time and every Thursday night from 7.00pm to midnight free healing sessions.  We were totally nonchalant about not charging for all healing sessions. We were happy, contented, fulfilled souls.

In year 2004 we expanded the healing center, Tara Touch, to a 1100 sq ft shoplot in addition to The Psychic Corner.  It was a place where friends gathered for a cup of tea or a heart to heart talk, or just simply chat about any and every other thing. Healing sessions were by appointment. Weekends were reserved for courses and workshops – pranic healing, crystals, reiki, fengshui, tarot, angel, making bath salts, ear candling, tuina ….

Year 2006, Inner Journey New Age magazine premium issue made a hit at all major bookstores in Malaysia. It was a dream realised for me as I had wanted to come out with a new age magazine since 1997. My gratitude to the Inner Journey Team (Brenda, Ronnie, Linda, Tek Ming, Lai and myself)

Feb 2008 I called it a Day. I’ve had my share – the great and not too bad days. Now is the time where I shall dedicate the time to myself. A journey that I need to accomplish before my days are done. A journey that no one can walk for me.

Rediscovering magick

Being in grand-parenthood itself is magickal. Watching Ryan gaining knowledge in life sets me back to my own days as a child as well as to my days as a young mummy.

When we were children the world was a magickal place where things just happened. We rarely worried about where the food came from, we cried and it arrived. We did not fear failure. When we learned how to walk we fell, crawled, got up, staggered, tried again until we were successful. Then we ran. We did not doubt that we were loved – we just knew we were. We lived in the magickal now and trusted that life would provide all our needs.

As we grew older we lost that trust and the belief in ourselves and became unsure, as we became aware that our beliefs included things like fear, what others thought about us, failure, “I am not good enough,” “I will never be able to,” “I should,” and “I can’t.” We became stuck with them not knowing how to change them, let alone cope with them

We are happiest when we are comfortable. Life goes along nicely, just as we planned, everything has a place and is in “it’s place” and it fits in wiith how we believe the world ’should be’. Unfortunately this rarely happens. Life is constantly changing and it would be nice if change came slowly, that we had time to prepare. But there again life has a habit of thrusting change upon us.

Let us recapture the magick of our childhood. Bring back the Magick into your life. Be that child again

Festivities and travels

Golden Temple in Amritsar ( Picture taken by Lhamo La/Paldon La)

Christmas is fast approaching and then the new year will come around. Before long it will be Chinese Losar in February. From now till then it will be shopping for Christmas, for Chinese Losar and also for the Tibetan Losar in March. It adds a little colour to an otherwise mundane life.

I cant even remember when was the last time I took a holiday with my daughter. It must have been at least 5 years or even more. This Christmas we will be spending it out of town on a 3 day - 2 night holiday with a treasure hunt thrown in.

I will be heading down south for the Chinese Losar to celebrate with my siblings. It will be for about 5 to 7 days. That means I will be back in town on or about 10 February. That leaves me only 3 days to do my packing to India.

To let you into a secret ...... I am almost done with my packing to India whilst my other two trips remain at zero.

In all my travels to India I have never been to Amritsar. Will like to spend a few days in Amritsar this coming trip. And look out for the pictures of the Golden Temple. Promise you loads of pictures.

For now I have to take care of the cough that has bugged me since my return from Yushu in August.

2010 has only 4 weeks left!

I have never given time any serious thought until I received an email from a friend - 2010 has only 4 weeks left. Time has again zipped us by. Again the same question at every year end. What have I done for this year?

What does December 2010 means:

· 4 more working Mondays

· 1 more salary cheque

· 1 more working month

· 4 weeks to plan where you will be, coming New Year

· 4 more weekends

. And time to plan for another trip :)

I am ready to welcome 2011 with love and joy.
Love, Light & Laughter to all!

Inner Journey will stay

Inner Journey will be maintained for personal musings and updates on Minam Rinpoche

Shhhh. ....... The child in me

When I was young, I used to sit in the backyard of our home. Beyond that backyard was a small guava plantation. I listened to the chirping sounds of birds, the humming of the crickets as the wind blew through the drapery of leaves, always munching on a guava plucked directly from a tree above. I spent many sad moments of lonesomeness as well as great times of pure joy in search of fairies and gnomes in that sanctuary. Little did I realise then that the search for these elementals and the belief in “Alice In Wonderland” will lead me to this path of mystic and magic.

I did not have many friends as I lived within a community where the British Navy set up homes. Lily was my only companion. During the weekends we played masak-masak in the morning, giggled through the afternoon, took evening walks in the evening and shared teen secrets in the din of the night. But the secret of fairies and gnomes and angels remained a secret. I would spend hours on end sitting by the longkang, when Lily had to do her 3 hourly daily chore of frying “chi-yau-char”, waiting for the fairies or garden gnomes to appear, often times peering into the holes in the garden and half expecting a gnome carrying a water can, as in “Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs”, to appear.

Our home was not near any ocean nor a mountain or a hill. There was nothing to escape the inevitable monotony of the routine buzzling and honking of cars, screeching tyes on the roads, the adverts of Coca-Cola, Milo, etc; cartoon shows of Flintstone, Popeye coming from the tube, always tuned up too loud.

I come from a family who enjoys music. Every other evening my mum would have sing-a-long sessions with me ….”Jack & Jill a riding, riding riding. Jack & Jill a riding. Humpty Dumpty Dish….” Please don’t ask me how this song goes. At that time it was our most well loved song but now it sounds a little incoherent to me. Every evening just before dinner, our home will be filled with melodious music, songs. I listened, appreciated the enchantment of the music. I immersed and absored myself to the sensations and vibrations of the sound. I allowed the melodies to drown out the sound of a car pulling out of the garage across the street, the honking of a car few doors away and even the rain pelting on the window sill. It was the most natural thing for me at that time. I did not know the big word “meditation”. I did not know music heals and I certainly did not know that Nature is my Teacher.

I have come this far. From a child who believed in angels, into the corporate world. A condition of constant anxiety – rush hour traffic, relationship baggage, job security, credit card debts ..People have no time to sit and listen to the wind. They no longer have the luxury of allowing things to unfold naturally. It is no longer possible to do one thing at a time. It’s all about multi-tasking. And the end result of all this is spiritual fragmentation.

That was some good 17 years ago. From the corporate world to being an energy worker. Today I stand at the crossroad and ask “WHAT NOW?”

I shall let the wind blow in my face. Let it circle around me as I live my day. But deep in my heart I know I have the power to choose the road I want to travel.

The old boat

Some 13 years ago I remember going on a “Cruise To Nowhere” around the Malaysian waters with a good friend, Mama Khoo. We had just returned from a 7 day power-packed Reiki Master Course/Energy Works in Melbourne. During the course I had observed that there were a mix of people. People who had been angry, frustrated, burnt-out, disappointed; all of those things that we experience on our path from time to time.

As we took out to the sea I saw many old boats at the harbour. Some had magnificent tall masts but some were just bare of anything. The sails of these old boats were torn, some covered with bird droppings but if you took a careful look you could see that these old boats had once been splendid.

I somehow relate our life to that of the boats. What is our role, our purpose or involvement in life. Our role is like that of a great ship – to get out on the sea and sail. To sail in dangerous waters as well as calm seas. To learn how to interact with the violence of the storms and not stay in the harbour.

How do we sail and move amongst people of the world? How do we grow and enrich ourselves and keep our purpose clear? How do we swim amongst the sharks and not get eaten? How do we stay happy in the midst of so much sufferings, grief and set backs?

Let me now clean up that old boat, put up the sails and take it out to sea and learn to sail – sail that journey of life. And may all Good Forces be with me

I am migrating

I have found a new home in Cherish Wellness. It has 3 rooms (3 authors) and a huge garden with an array of beautiful blooms and flowers. Come on over to pick your bouquet

Only in India

With the new airport in operation we thought our ride from Indira Ghandi International Airport to the city will be a breeze, possibly with all the ring roads in place. After years of visiting India, I still have a story to tell.
As we notoriously weave through the roads in and around Delhi the mind numbing sounds of horns, grime and filth enveloped us. Unlike most cities in the world, the comedic road scenes in India fill many a traveler’s heart with memories that last a life time. Only in India can one witness buses, cars, auto-rickshaws, bicycles, motor bikes, tractors, horse drawn carts, ox carts towed by people, buffalo carts, elephants, cows, pigs, goats, dogs, pedestrians, camels and what have you, all on the same road. Hilarously you will see crowds of traffic dodging the cows while they arrogantly make their way across the street to the nearest garbage pile or standing in the middle of the road chewing on some yesterday’s papers.

Can you see the goat at the back of the car?

Only in India will you see the entrepreneur skill of man. It intrigued me when I saw a row of entrepreneurs along an overhead bridge near Manju Tilla (Majnu-ka-tilla), each with a bathroom weighing scale. Two of my friends stood on the scales and the charges for the two of them were 3 Indian Rupees (RM0.20). The ear cleaner, shoe polisher, barber, the street girls and boys, etc make up the rest of these entrepreneurs.

On our way down from Dehra Dun to Delhi our driver pulled by the side of the road and showed a sign which I took it that he wanted to make a phone call (showing his little finger with the thumb slightly protruding). The first thing that came to my mind was “Oh no, not again.” I thought he was pulling by the side of the road to call his friends for direction to Manju Tilla. I was cracking at the sides when my Tibetan friend told me that he wanted to have a pee. The next day at the airport I asked a security officer where can I find the washroom and seeing his confused look I decided to show him the little finger sign. He immediately lit up and pointed me to the “Ladies” sign. Only in India!

All said and done, I had another memorable stay. See you again India.

With gratitude

For the past one year, life was on a little merry go round.  You know, those horses that go on a light bounce, going in circles, meant for little children.  Yes, I was on that merry go round. 

From time to time, we all feel a little disappointed with our lives and perhaps the people in them. We start questioning our daily routines; a sense of loneliness touches our hearts, and we wonder what life is really all about. When you reach this point in your life, take a moment and forget about what has gone wrong before …. and start believing in what you really want today. It is by redirecting our lives that we can keep ourselves headed in the right direction, and it is by standing still that we allow time to just pass us by. It is looking at a sunrise or a sunset and appreciating its beauty that enables us to understand some of life’s mysteries. No two people see the world the same way, nor do they think or feel or even experience things around them with the same exact perception. Dont try to mold yourself or your life into a design that isn’t you; rather, paint your days with all the colours you so desire and enjoy the artwork that you alone can create.

Everyday I look around me and see people who have problems far greater than mine. Yet they confront life with a courageous and honest determination within themselves. It makes me stop and realise how small my worries are in comparison and how I should try much harder to be happy, tolerant, understanding and caring towards others. It encourages me to believe in my own abilities but most of all to be thankful for all I have every day of my life.

Diwali In India

5 November 2010

Today is Diwali. For lunch I cooked “lap cheong” (sausage) rice and the old time favourite, ABC soup. Our Tibetan friends came with Buff Momo (buffalo meat). Our lunch table crowd has grown from 5 in 2009 to 7 this year, with the addition of 2 new staff at the library. Most of the monks will have their lunch outdoor taking advantage of and basking in the warm sunlight on a cool afternoon.

The sweets (desserts) I bought from Kumar Sweet Shop was nothing short of being delicious. It kind of tastes the same but then again each piece tastes a tad different. I like the little green round ones the best. Not too sweet and not too milky too.

At Kulhan, the whole night, starting from around 7.00pm to way past midnight, was filled with colourful lights and thunderous sound from the fireworks and crackers. From my room looking towards hilltop Mussoorie, this honeymoon resort came alive with most abodes lighted up and fireworks displaying various colours in their outbursts.

Though I did not get into the bazaar I am sure it must have been filled with much gaiety and abundance as they welcome Lakshimi to bless their homes

My days in Kulhan

This year my cooking utensils, electric stove have changed. I have a new rice cooker, new bowls and new mugs (with compliments from our Tibetan friends) minus ladles and a real classic gas stove. Using this stove was fun. I had to squat down to do the cooking and it made me laugh so much. This egg has a big load of great laughter and happy energies. The only "set back" is when you squat down to cook, it gives you the feel of wanting go to the toilet hahahaha.

The stove actually sits on top of the gas tank and it comes in one piece. Very convenient. Filling in gas for this tank costs only Rupees 150 (RM10.00).

Hello from India

Arrived Delhi on 30 October. The new airport is up and running and it gives India a fresh outlook. But once you get out of the airport, you get back into "India" again. Despite of the recent Commonwealth Games, nothing has really changed in India.

Stayed the night at MT. Next day caught the train to Kulhan. Holiness will be away till May next year and that leaves some kind of a vacuum at Songtsen.

Diwali is on Friday (5 October) and we may be going to town to join in the celebrations which will last whole night long. And by then I hope to be able to upload some pictures (the internet connection at Songtsen has improved greatly so uploading of pictures should pose no problem now).

Till next update - cheers!!

Norling Library is still standing

Norling was suppose to be demolished some weeks back but the latest news from Rinpoche is that the library has yet to come down. It is because of the thousands of library books that need to be brought down from the second floor of Norling and the storage space involved. Until then Norling still exists.

ISETAN sales versus METROJAYA - I felt RIPPED

(Colour may seem different because of photography but they are exactly the same colour, same cut, same size, same brand)

I feel RIPPED.

I bought a three quarter length pants at Isetan yesterday (23 October) at the Midvalley outlet. I thought it was a good buy as they were offering 50% discount off RM83.00 (RM41.50). WOW! good deal, right?

Not until I went shopping at The Curve today (24 October) and consistently I picked up a pair of three quarter pants. I paid RM24.90 for it. There was no big hoo-hah, no sales price. Just simply RM24.90.

When I got home I took out both the purchases and what shocked me was I have bought EXACTLY the same pants that I bought at Isetan yesterday. SOUTH CHINA SEA

ISETAN RM83.00 less 50% = RM41.50

Metrojaya RM24.90 nett

Know why I feel ripped now. Never again will I shop at Isetan!!!

India - pre departure (Grandma & grandson)

Ryan's comfort zone - a cardboard box

This morning as I was going downstairs with my “food bag” to India, Ryan came out from his room after his shower, and asked to be walked down the stairs. Grandma and grandson had a classic conversation as we held hands and walked down the stairs

Ryan : Popo, just now where were you?
Grandma : Downstairs loh
Ryan : What you doing downstairs?
Grandma : Popo doing packing
Ryan : Go where?
Grandma : India loh
Ryan : AGAIN! (with a drag in his voice)

Minutes later …..

Ryan : Popo, what is this?
Grandma : Ikan bilis (anchovies)
Ryan : For what?
Grandma : Make soup loh
Ryan : Popo, India got no cups and spoon. You better bring your own, (what gave him the idea that India is so backward)

He ran to the kitchen to tell and ask his mummy to get Popo a cup and spoon. Mummy hinted that soup should be taken from a bowl but he insisted it’s from a cup. We adjourned back to the living hall where Ryan sat down and posed me this question

Ryan : Popo, you go to India to sit like this ah ? (in a meditative pose)

How on earth does a 3 year old boy know that his grandma goes to India to sit like this? I thought mummy must have told him that in answer to his many questions but mummy vouched she had never made any mention before.

I await more questions from Ryan from now to my departure.

I Was Upset

A rare thing happened today. I felt upset, really, truly upset! I am still human after all. After talking to a close friend about my “upsetness” and laughing over it, I am back to being me again.

Live A Life That Matters

I do not know exactly who are the people who came up with the script as well as the powerpoint creation. I enjoy it so much and would like to share with all of you.

Credits to Author: Michael Josephson and Nidokidos

Summer Whisper

When you are in the mood for shopping you will have a thousand and one reasons for buying what you least need. Included in my shopping list today was Summer Whisper. The reason I gave myself, to justify owning Summer Whisper is that it will come into need when I do my travelling. But who was I trying to kid? No other than myself. I definitely do not need it on any of my travels. My trips to India will see me there during the winter months and during summer when I visit Tibet I still need to bring my Long Johns.

Summer Whisper is a little fan, half the size of my palm. Don’t be deceived by the size. It works wonderfully. This neat little gadget runs on 2-AAA batteries. You can be sure it will be in my bag wherever I go to justify this purchase.

Norling Library Will Be Demolished

Norling Library 100% damaged

The pre-fab houses

The demolition authorities have reached Norling Library area. Norling is going to come down. Rinpoche went back into Yushu a couple of days ago to attend to the moving down of the 50,000 over library books. The rebuilding of the library remains uncertain. The books will be temporary stored in the 6 pre-fab houses which Rinpoche built just before I arrived Yushu in July.

Though the library is gone, the mission and vision of Rinpoche live on. Your contributions will go a long way towards Rinpoche’s projects. Apart from cash contributions, you can also shop at Himalaya Hearts (click on link) “Charity Fund Raise”. 100% of profits or proceeds from this category goes towards Rinpoche’s projects.

Retreat Center In Xining

Something is brewing, something is in the grapevine. Apart from the good news that Wamlung Monastery is under construction, Rinpoche informed that a retreat center in Xining is also planned for completion by July 2011.

This place is about half an hour from Xining, away from the hustle and bustle of life but yet near enough to amenities. Since the winter months are just round the corner, this project will only begin in spring next year. It will consist of retreat rooms for lay people as well as for monks. It has not been decided whether these rooms will be in single units or built in a row. Rinpoche favours the former as it allows privacy and quietude versus the latter which may not be suitable for those who are on solitude retreat. This greatly depends on the fundings available.

When I was in Yushu, Rinpoche tried to arrange for a place for me to go in for a week but faced the challenges of amenities, safety measures, basic “creature comforts” etc. In Xining he thought it can be made possible. We went to a monastery in Kumbum and we faced the same tune. I know of many friends in Malaysia who has the want of doing a retreat but such places are few and far between.

This area is sprawled over many acres of land with a stream running in between the high and the low plains. Cool in summer and cool in winter as well. This makes it a splendid place the whole year round.

If anyone of you wish to play a part in getting this up, please drop me a note. I do not have the cost projection of this set up but it will cost approximately RM15,000 to RM20,000 for a single unit room (it will be cheaper if they are built in rows). You can either sponsor a unit or just simply make a contribution towards the building of the retreat center. Will update on progress once available.

With gratitude

Unusual Durians

The durian fruits grow at the foot and on the trunks of the plant. They belong to the Orang Asli and are not grown commercially. Wonder how they taste? Can the taste match their 'urban friends" - "red prawn" (hung har) or the "mountain cat king" (mau sarn wong).

Ryan's Birthday At Genting Highlands