What is $$$$$!!!!!?

"Money is not everything! Money cannot buy you happiness!"  

What say you? And, how does one measure wealth? Who should be termed RICH with MONEY?  

I feel, only THOSE, bitter with lack of monetary wealth, trying to console their poor dejected selves simultaneously seeking SUPPORT of the POOR or POORER MAJORITY to sing their depressing tunes, will scream and insist on the opening statements!! 

It is common to have a RICH being jeered at, with remarks such as..... 

"So what if he is rich. He has no family members around him!" Does it then deem to be DESERVING not to have relations if one is POOR? 

"So what if he is rich, he can't even get himself cured of his illness!" Does it mean the poor are free from incurable ailments? 

"So what if he is rich, he cannot buy eternal life!" Does the poor live on forever? 

"So what if he is rich, he cannot be buried with his wealth!" Here, I reserve comments, for the poor would have NOTHING to be buried with anyway! 

Come on! Given such instances, how does MONEY correlate?  

These situations strike both RICH and POOR, YET, merely the RICH or RICHER are scorned at while the POOR or POORER sympathized with!! 

I would gladly announce that HAPPINESS lies in one's own hands! One dictates how colorful a life one craves to lead!!  

WHO, in the world would not yearn for everything....Family, Wealth and Health? 

However, there are times when choices have to be made and sacrificed....  

To the AVARICIOUS me, I value the STRENGTH of MONEY!! As I had it documented on Facebook, quoted by Leena Wong "NO MONEY NO TALK, MONEY WALKS THE TALK!"  

Life with even little money spells misery! Without it, how then could I have afforded and enjoyed my pampering facial and massage sessions? vacations abroad? beautiful clothing and nice comfortable homes?

I'm not being arrogant or trying to disparage the poor or poorer. I only feel that the rich or richer should be spared criticism....    

Below, an exchange of recent conversations that spurred me into sharing my views on this blog. 

Only my comments and that of my Facebook friend's, in red, posted on her wall, copied and pasted for your diversion....   

I realise 1 thing.. doesnt mean when u have money living in a high class condo or driving luxury cars you are happy... I hv seen how lonely, self.centered and sad a person can be regardless how tough one behaves or happy on the surface. It is lonely at the end.... m very grateful for what I have.... 

Money cannot buy happiness but can poverty guarantee that? Not having money is definitely a misery! I would choose to hold fast to thinking that happiness is a state of mind.... 

Its good and nice to have money provided you know how to balance w companionship or family happiness.... w money if one think they can push ppl ard n pretend to be happy on surface... just a sad sight.. 

My dear, similarly the poor or poorer may project a superficial front of happiness....  

I've seen that too, Leena Wong. 

Hence, I conclude, happiness lies in our hands. We decide whether to stay positive and be happy or lean towards negativity and live in misery!  

Whatever, I doubt if ever there is one who has never experienced happiness or sadness at one time or other in one's path. That's life....of ups and downs.....  

But if you ask me, I'd rather cry in a Rolls Royce than laugh on a bicycle as quoted by the ex-wife of the Italian Gucci family!  

By the way, this phrase brought about repercussions from the majority of the poor in China when, during a Dating Talk Show, a contestant quoted it!! LOL!! 

Lol good one

Alzheimer's?

Bidding the receptionist with a brief hello, I dashed off in a hurry for my yoga session. 

Oh yes, I managed a "Been traveling....." to her "Long time no see!"

As I raced up the stairs, heading towards the elevator, it struck me that I could not recollect the country I had just visited barely 9 days ago!! 

When attempts to remember the destination failed, I switched to registering who I went with instead, hoping then that it would aid my memory.....

It even took me awhile to recall who I went with... Oh yes, with Tracy and her parents!! But, where to???? Where to????

Several minutes passed and it really bugged me.... Then, just before I stepped into the elevator, it hit me!....Hokkaido!!!!

Looking at my photos staring back at me, I do not wish to acknowledge that it may an early sign of dementia..... Can it really be???

Whatever....I'm pretty glad I've traded my business, lucrative though it had been, for my freedom to indulge in my long shelved passions!!

And, living everyday now like there's no tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come..... 

Yet, wishing the clock may come to a standstill for a little while longer this period of time for me to reap the pleasure once robbed of me....of looking and feeling real good!!!

Konichiwa!

Mt Kurodake

Hokkaido, another interesting destination not to be missed with it's spectacular views from the snow mountain, Mt Kurodake to Jigokudani Hell Valley, to sumptuous food and hot spring baths!! 

For me, many first experiences too.....

Mt Kurodake

A first fun thrilling experience sliding on a plastic toboggan sledge, down a short snow hill stretch, with all squealing like kiddies in excitement!! 

Jigokudani Hell Valley 

Jigokudani Hell Valley

Witnessing for the first time a valley which displays hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity.

First attempt on SASHIMI! Yes! I've gone prepared for the cuisine, a dish which both Ca-Ryn and Al-Wyn failed to entice me into trying despite their concerted efforts to tempt me back home then! 


Anyway, without the WASABI, I doubt if I could have gulped the raw seafood which many find delicious! 

Conclusion? Not something I would crave for or feel I had missed out all these years while patronizing our local Japanese restaurants! I would still stay to my comfort zone of preferred prawn tempura and teriyaki chicken!!

First taste of king crabs and hairy crabs at the eat all you can buffet..... Crabs, my favorite! Mmmmmm....yummy yummy!










First public nudie hot spring bath! Once stripped of robes, we hastily covered ourselves with the skimpy towel provided and dashed to immerse into the pool! 

Frankly, everyone was too conscious of oneself to size up the other!! However, with my shy experience overcome, I found myself parading confidently in the days that followed at different hot spring venues.....  

Sorry, couldn't entertain you with photo illustrations though.....

Below, Mt Showa Shinza and the Bear Ranch....

While one is being fed, the other poor thing kept hammering at the door, crying out to be released and fed too!!

Follow me on Facebook for more photos viewing....

Till then, Sayonara!

A price to pay from a seasoned traveller!

Was I sacrificing vanity for comfort when settling for my pair of Snowfly wedge heel boots which eventually killed me?

Honestly, no. The cold weather had been the deciding influence on my choice of footwear! I least expect this pair of shoes which had kept my feet warm and served me well during my Scandinavian trip to prove otherwise!

But then again, it wouldn't be fair blaming the shoes, considering the amazing distance in city coverage of Rome yesterday and Florence today with my much abused feet......

Shopping around for TEMPORARY substitutes, I brushed aside Ca-Ryn's suggestion on sneakers! I do not wish to add further to my possession of Timberland, Reebok and Fila walking/hiking shoes, a pair of which I may have brought along if not for weight constraint since we decided to travel light!

Whatever, I finally decided on a €59.99 (Rm252) pair of flat soled boots to move on with my journey ....

Had awakened 4.15am local time, 11.15am Malaysian Time. Ciao from Florence!

Have money, can travel....

With that mindset, Ca-Ryn had, on 6/2, impulsively booked us on a flight to Rome 12/2 and a return from Paris 26/2 without casting much of a thought about the climate, accommodation, visits to places of interests and means of point-to-point transportation!

Planning the fortnight's itinerary, anxiety set in when she encountered the odd hours of arrival and departure from one country to another. Incidentally, we have included Portugal and Spain in our exploration as well....

Had I not cautioned her repeatedly about the time difference, we may have, metaphorically speaking, ended up sleeping on the street in Florence!!

Massive warnings about pickpockets from concerned friends and relatives vide FB PM, SMS and Whatsapp, kindled a sense of fear in me!

Most were astounded when learnt that we are traveling on our own! My nephew-in-law, Eric, even suggested we looked our worst to distract attention with several echoing his sentiment! Gracious! Can it really be that bad?

Discussing it out with Ca-Ryn, I soon realized, I am not paranoid being a victim of the pickpockets....more so if we were confronted and asked to relieve of all possessions.....

Since such confrontations were least likely as confirmed by some other friends, my worries just vanished into thin air......

By the way, except from some sucky actions of the cab drivers, our eventful day one passed by pretty excitingly....with all the sightseeing and shopping!!

Check out on this page again when I upload our photos on our return home....

Had awakened at 4am local time, which is 11am Malaysian time! With love from Rome.......