DIE!!

No, I'm not referring to the Mayan apocalypse! It bothers me not, if the world ends today or tomorrow!

My only concern is that I have tipped the scale at 53.6 kg and I'll tell you why....  

I had lost consistently, almost a kilo each month as of 07/03/11 from 71.9 kg to 58.4 kg on 16/04/12, the day before I set off for my vacation in Turkey, shedding a total of 13.5kg over a period of 13.5 months!! Quite an achievement, eh?!  

I had parted with Noraini, my Turkey tour mate, striking a pact to each lose about 4 plus-minus kilos to our targeted weight of 54 kg by end August 2012!!  

Somehow, my weight kept see-sawing between 55kg and 58 kg since then!! I failed to achieve my goal and my consolation was that Noraini DIDN'T make it either! Yay!!! My jubilance, uncalled for, right? Sorry! Noraini!  

I guess my inability to continuously shed the monthly loss of a kilo is explainable. Hahaha, the blame game begins now..... 

I suppose it was largely due to savoring food from my Scandinavia, Vietnam and Cambodia vacations in July and August!! Yes, I have a tendency to pile extra kilos while traveling except during my recent trip to India which saw to my weight loss of 1 kilo over a period of 5 days!!  

Satisfying my cravings for durians that season, with excessive partaking of the fruits, was another contributory factor as I simply couldn't resist fighting for more share of the fleshy, creamy bitter-sweet tasted ones!! 

Dining out daily with Ca-Ryn when she was back from Beijing, during that period of time should also be seen as another possible reason to be excused!!  

Whatever, I have since successfully achieved my targeted weight! 

Instead, what worries me now is how to ensure it remained at 54 kg as plummeting any further will result in me looking every inch, a harassed housewife!! 

Doesn't it then spell doomsday for someone, vain as I am now??? haizzzz.....           

Credibility of online reviews through Travel Guides.....

I had just submitted a review of my Ayurvedic experience in India entitled 'An Exhilarating Experience' to TripAdvisor upon persistent requests, which read as follows: 

Strongly recommended for health conscious, leisure holiday makers who relish full body massages and great yoga workouts!  

For those striving to shed extra pounds or kilos, look no further, for, at Chamundi Hill Palace Ayurvedic Resort, you'll realize your DREAMS effortlessly!! 

Best experienced with loved ones and friends in big groups! 

Those who have read my earlier posts may find my comment slightly exaggerated and contradictory but do allow me to enlighten you...it is not. It carries every ounce of truth! 

Firstly, it is indeed exhilarating albeit an embarrassing experience for me to have to BARE IT ALL for the Ayurvedic sessions under the scrutiny of two strangers!  

Secondly, I got to indulge in the pampering massage sessions and yoga workouts not just once but TWICE daily! 

And, about weight loss, I shed 1 kilo within the five days as I couldn't adapt to ingesting the blandly, for heatth reasons, prepared vegetarian meals! It is good to know though that all the table dishes from cabbage to pumpkin to bitter gourd to bananas to......come from within the resort ground!   

Lastly, as most time is spent within the resort with pretty much no entertainment saved for free wifi internet connection, our passing moments greatly depends on the company we mingle with!! It would be an opportunity to make up for loss time sharing what we had always wanted to but never did because of work commitment or another. 

Frankly, my initial reservation about the resort was replaced with enthusiasm as days went by, largely due to the cordiality of the service staff and the group I went with!!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297634-d729986-r147443197-Chamundi_Hill_Palace_Ayurvedic_Resort-Kottayam_Kerala.html

Can you write in English?......

This was asked of me by the Yoga Guru in Kerala! "Why?...." I had questioned, puzzled.... Guess there might be some who speak but do not write English???

"Oh, so you want an evaluation of your sessions? Then you gotta prepare yourself for constructive criticisms, ya?" I complied with, jestingly!  

But why me? I wondered..... Gosh, what am I gonna do? Only anyone who dares seek honest truth about himself may come to me for MY OPINION, otherwise, NO, for I'd REALLY give it all...GOOD or BAD!! 

I would expect the same from whosoever, when seeking assessment of myself, not that I ever did though! The least I would welcome, is to be flattered to my face and be stabbed behind my back!!!

My ever so kind, sister-in-law Siew Hian, afraid, that I may be too outspoken about my sentiments, cautioned me about being too harsh, for after all, he is just, but, an aged man seeking to keep his job...... 

Shouldn't this be enough reason for me to be honest so that he would realize his shortcomings and take corrective measures to cater to the demands and expectations of his students??

Incidentally, this Guru is a temporary replacement for the previous experienced instructor who chose to work abroad, away from home in India!! 

Whatever, within half an hour, I had my response read as follows....... 

Mr Santhos 

Comments expressed herewith may not necessarily represent my fellow mates' opinions..... 

I had expected more physical yoga exercises and therefore was pretty disappointed to find myself attending lectures instead. 

I personally feel that my stay here is too brief for in-depth teachings. 

Emphasis on the breathing techniques which you have covered, and benefits of the various yoga poses as we move along with the exercises are what I had expected to learn. 

However, setting aside my demand of the more vigorous workout, I'm pretty glad that, for the first time in my 5 months' exposure to yoga, I learnt how to perform the sun salutation and warming up exercises on my own!! 

Thank you too, for imparting knowledge on the do's and don'ts exercises for ladies. 

A general comment from all is that they have difficulty grasping your sharing because of your accent and low voice which is hardly audible to those seated further away from you. 

All the same, we truly appreciate the time you shared with us and wish you all the best! 

Cheerio! Leena Wong 

Unlike the evaluation I had passed on services of the crew members of the houseboat, which won the unanimous support of all the travel mates, this was received with mixed reactions! 

To the few not agreeable, I suggested they put in their own commendations!! 

As far as I'm concerned, my ever deeply ingrained frankness prioritized truthfulness whatever the situation!