My Retirement - In Retrospect

After working for 35 years in the government service, I took my mandatory retirement in August 2001 at a relative "young age" of 55. From October 2011, the retirement age was extended to 56, then to 58 and now it is 60. 

While I did not really plan for my retirement, however, going back to work for a few more years wherever my experience and expertise are needed was a tempting option. I thought that I would like to continue working for just a few more years to keep myself active and then enjoy my full retirement to "smell the roses". However, one thing lead to another and I worked for another 10 years. So if we want, government retirees can still enjoy gainful employment for an additional income to their monthly pension.

Came this January 2012, I decided that I should really quite full-time employment and just work as a free lance consultant. And its working out well!

Upon retiring from government service I joined a private company to experience how the private sector works. I learned that it was all about making quick money and with odd and often unreasonable hours. That definitely was not what I opted for as a "post-retirement career". I took my leave after 10 months.

A golden opportunity came along when I was offered a position in an International organisation, a position that matches well with my experience and expertise. I stayed on with it for slightly more than 9 years until this January 2012, when the sparkle begin to dim and I realised its time "to smell the roses!".

During this period of 10 years, I also had the opportunity of serving as an International Consultant with some organisations within the United Nations and other international donor agencies. There were opportunities of working in foreign countries, with totally different cultures. Lots of traveling and visiting beautiful and exotic places. Serving as an International Consultant is a very enriching experience, interacting with consultants of various nationalities and people of different cultures and mindsets which often are totally different from our own. Each of these consultancy missions was for a period of at least a month. This is a good time period to really appreciate the countries and interact with the people, unlike being a tourist when you go, see and leave. The period would also not make you feel too homesick! I treat consultancy missions as working vacations!

In retrospect, my post-retirement 10 years had been eventful, productive and a blessed journey. And I could not have asked for more considering I am "officially retired".

I had the opportunity of working in and visiting a number of countries. Most memorable trips are to Fiji (2002), Dhaka in Bangladesh (3 times in 2003), Rome in Italy (2003), Manila in Philippines (2003), Phnom Penh in Cambodia (2003), Bangkok in Thailand (2004), Surabaya in Indonesia (2004), Syria (4 trips in 2005-2008, its a pity this beautiful country is in great turmoil now), Guangzhou in China (a couple of trips during 2006 - 2011), Northern Mindanao in Philippines (2007), Bhutan (2007), Bogor in Indonesia (2008), Paris in France (2008), Bandung in Indonesia (2011), Lagos in Nigeria (2011), Younde in Cameroon (2011) and Laos (3 times in 2009, 2 times in 2012, with one coming soon).

There were also many happy and memorable vacation tours with my family during the last 10 years.

And now I am still engaged with consultancy services on a short term assignment basis, both locally and overseas. I am now making full use of my little SOHO (Small Office, Home Office), a pleasant space renovated for my retirement retreat, equipped with Wifi and sound system!
True to Ernie J. Zelinski's book "How To Retire Happy, Wild, and Free".
I should continue with this retirement joy for as long as I can!

Nadi, Capital of Fiji

Dhaka, City of Trishaws

Taking a trishaw ride to town in Dhaka

Statue of Saladin, Damascus, Syria

Damascus, Capital city of Syria

Beijing Ru, Guangzhou, China

With my Filipino friends in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Visiting a rural school in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Dzong (Buddhist Temple), Bhutan

Morning Market, Thimphu, Bhutan

Thimphu, Capital City of Bhutan

Tat Luang (The Golden Stupa) in Vientiane, Laos

Patuxay (Victory Gate), Vientiane, Laos

Buddhist Monks receiving alms, Luang Prabang, Laos

Younde, Capital City of Cameroon, Africa

Bogor, Indonesia

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Keeping Fit in Retirement

Since my retirement from full-time employment in January this year, I still wake up at 6.00 in the morning.
Instead of driving to work, trying to beat the traffic jams to and back from work, I have been enjoying my morning pleasures of walking in the nearby park. Or just go cycling around the residential garden.
Its so refreshing seeing so many people, the young and elderly, taking their morning exercises in the Park.
This is an activity I seldom have the opportunity of enjoying on a regular basis.
Now I am able to to maintain my "Keep Fit" programme at least 3 to 4 times a week.

Time, however, is an elusive commodity.
I seem to feel that time just passes by so quickly each day.
An hour or two of morning "Keep Fit" programme, followed by breakfast and catching up with the news on my iPad, its already almost mid-day and ready for lunch.
How time can easily pass by.

In keeping myself active and occupied, I still do some 'free-lance" consultancies.
Without proper planning for the day, I could easily be distracted by other activities.
Anyway, with organised discipline, each day has been well-spent!

 Scenic View of the Lake 

 Its a pleasure to enjoy the morning freshness

The young and the old enjoying a good workout

 Taking time to watch the pigeons

Such great pleasure to just watch these beautiful birds

 Some running, some walking and others having quality time strolling with their chidlren

 Its a pleasure to be with nature

Becoming Grandparents

On the 2nd of October 2012, my wife and I took a trip to Singapore.
We have been to Singapore quite often to visit our eldest daughter who is working and married there.
This trip was not like all the others.
Of course the other memorable trip was last year when we went for our daughter's wedding.
This trip was going to be the most memorable and important one for both of us.
We are going to be first time grandparents.
Our daughter was going to deliver her first child!

We boarded our bus at 8.00 am for the journey to Singapore.
Our daughter was admitted at 6.30 am to the National University Hospital (NUH), Kent Ridge, Singapore.
Can just imagine how anxious, nervous and at the same time excited the two old folks were during the bus journey which was going to take 5 hours or more.
We were both praying silently for the well-being of both our daughter and her child.

At 9.30 am, we received the good news from our son-in-law that he is the proud father of a healthy boy.
We became grand parents on 2nd October 2012.
Our first grandson! We kept looking and admiring the photos of our first grandson which were sent to my iPhone.
Both mother and child are fine and in the good care of a professor from NUH.
Our feelings were so great and relieved that every moment for our daughter and her son went well.
We thanked the Almighty for his blessings.

We just could not wait to be there to see our grandson.
The journey continued on as if too slowly.
We finally arrived safely on time.
We checked into our hotel and immediately took a cab to NUH.
We were emotionally overwhelmed to see for the first time our oh-so-cute grandson.
And our daughter and son-in-law were brimming with happiness to be first-time parents!
Later when our daughter's in-laws and family came, we were congratulating each other as it is also their first grandson (though they are already blessed with two grand-daughters).

We stayed on in Singapore for four nights, with daily visits to see our daughter and her son until they were discharged on the fourth day.
We are receiving photos of our grandson almost daily.

Oh-so-Cute

 Proud Parents

 Proud Grand Parents

Retirement

Just finished reading this book by Ernie J. Zelinski.
I was introduced to this book by this BLOGGER who posted it in her Face Book.

What I like most about this book is this paragraph:
"...you would have attained true freedom in this world when you can get up in the morning when you want to get up; go to sleep when you want to go to sleep; and in the interval, work and play at the things you want to work and play at --- all at your pace. The great news is that retirement allows you the opportunity to attain this freedom."

How very true!
I am now in my second retirement (more on that later).
And now I can spend my time at my own pace!

I also learn that "retirement is not the time to sleep, but a time to awaken to the beauty of the world around you. .........You actually retire from your job but not from life!"

And in retirement, what do you call yourself or what title do you give to yourself or introduce yourself to others?
While working, you would probably proudly give away your status or job title.
Ernie has suggested a title which I like very much.
You can tell people that you are now a "Connoisseur of Life." 
Yes, as a Connoisseur of Life, you can tell people that "you only work when you want to, and only on projects that make an important difference in this world. I do work on special and interesting projects, but only at my leisure."
That's exactly what I am doing right now in my retirment.
That made me change my blog title to "Connoisseur of Life."

We Must Strive To Be Like The Moon

I just read "A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

In one of the passages, he mentioned the explanation given by his grandmother why "We Must Strive to be Like the Moon".

She explained that the adage served to remind people to always be on their best behaviour and to do good to others.

She said that people complain when there is too much sun and it gets unbearably hot,

and also when it rains too much or when it is cold.

But, she said, no one grumbles when the moon shines.

Everyone becomes happy and appreciates the moon in their own special way.

Children watch their shadows and play in its light.

People gather at the square to tell stories and dance through the night.

A lot of happy things happen when the moon shines.

These are some of the reasons why we should want to be like the moon.

Time To Go Home

Its been one month now since I have been here in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Came here on 11 March.
Now the bags are packed and its Home Sweet Home tomorrow.
Will be back soon!

Farewell Vientiane, Cheers

Returning to My Blog

It has been 2 years since I last post anything in my blog.

Just cannot find any excuses for not doing so.

Not that I do not have any "Sweet Moments" to reflect on.

Sweet Moments there are plenty of them.

Each day just pass me by.

Procrastination is my biggest enemy.

There is always tomorrow ......

Now why did I decide tonight to just post something here?

I have the same feelings I had 2 and half years ago, to be exact on 2 Oct 2009.

That was night when I posted my leaving Vientiane, Laos after spending slightly more than a month here.

Tonight I have the same nostalgic feelings like that night.

I am leaving Vientiane in a day's time.

I have been here for one month.

This is my 4th trip here, working on an International Consultancy.

I just wanted to record my "Sweet Moments" here on my blog.

I had made some new good friends here and renewed fond friendship with the people I worked with in 2009.

Maybe from now on, I shall post more regularly.

For now, its a great feeling to return to my blog.

A Beautiful Thought by Buddha

I am sharing this beautiful message from a friend......   

Once, Buddha was walking from one town to another town with a few of his followers. This was in the initial days.   While they were traveling, they happened to pass a lake.  They stopped there and Buddha told one of his disciples, "I am thirsty. Do get me some water from that lake there."  The disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy, very turbid. The disciple thought, "How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink!"   So he came back and told Buddha, "The water in there is very muddy. I don't think it is fit to drink."  After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink.  The disciple obediently went back to the lake. This time too he found that the lake was muddy. He returned and informed Buddha about the same.  After sometime, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back. The disciple reached the lake to find the lake absolutely clean and clear with pure water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.    

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, "See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be.... and the mud settled down on its own - and you got clear water. Your mind is also like that! When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don't have to put in any effort to calm it down.

It will happen. It is effortless.    

Having "peace of mind" is NOT a strenuous job;

It is an EFFORTLESS process!

   

As China Celebrates her 60th National Anniversary

I Remember China ............................................
                                                       

The People's Republic of China celebrates its 60th National Day on 1st October. The celebration coincide with the Mid-Autumn Festival (full moon of the 8th Lunar Calendar). A week long holiday was declared by the government. It was estimated that more than 20 million people traveled back to their home towns and villages to be reunited with their loved ones. Televisions reported on the chaotic jams in major airports, train stations and bus terminals with people rushing home to be reunited with their families. Brings back memories of stories of China told to us by our parents and relatives when we were kids. That's more than 50 years ago! Life then was in the villages, not the skyscrapers I saw when I visited Quilin (2004), Beijing (2005), Guangzhou (2006), and Kunming (2006). Maybe it is time, I visit my parents' villages which they left behind as teenagers, with no opportunity of returning. Soon ................

If you did not climb the Great Wall, then you have not been to China!!

The famous Tiananman Square, Beijing

The Forbidden City in Beijing where the Emperors Rejoiced!

City of Guangzhou (formerly Canton)

Beijing Ru is the budget shoppers' paradise in Guangzhou

The mountains and rivers of Quilin

The colourful limestone caves of Quilin

In Kunming, you will be welcomed by the "Emperor" himself!

In Lijiang, visit the awesome Stone Forest

(Pinnacle Karst - UNESCO Heritage)

Leaving Vientiane, Laos

Cheers to Vientiane .....................................

Writing this in Vientiane on the night (or is it already early morning!) before leaving for home.

Home Sweet Home. This has been quite a long stay. Been here since 23 August 2009.

This being my third trip to this lovely city of peace, with all the friendly people.

My first trip was in January 2009, followed by a second trip of of one month in May/June 2009.

But these few days, the city has suddenly sprouced up, all along the road fronting the enchanting Mekong River.

Make-shift stalls are up with all the fun fare games and BBQ chicken and fish.

The roads are all jammed up with traffic and people. Wonder where all the people suddenly came from.

There are a lot of festivities going on.

Vientiane is getting ready for the "Wat Chanh Boat Racing Festival 2009" on 4 - 5 October.

Traditional boats will compete for the 1 kg silver bowl trophy and six million KIPS (about USD700!!).

The traditional floating of candle-lit banana leaf boats and candlelight processions around temples will also take place on the night of 4 October. When darkness falls, Vientiane will sparkle with processions of people carrying banana leaves folded to resemble traditional longboats (heua fai khok) and decorated with flowers, candles, incense and balls of sticky rice (khao niew - my friend's favourite!).

These boats are shaped to have a figurehead resembling a naga dragon.

The appearance of these boats signals the end of Buddhist Lent (Ork Phana).

Vientiane residents craft these model boats to show their respect for the naga, said to live in the river, and to Buddha. (ha but I am going to miss all this!!).

Laos is also getting ready to host the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane from 9 - 18 December 2009.

The Lao people take great pride for being given the trust to host the games for the first time.

You will be warmly greeted with the traditional welcome "Sa Bai Di" everywhere you go!.

Going to miss Beerlao too!! Cheers to all my Lao friends!! I will be back again!!!

The ever-popular Beerlao is brewed from "sticky rice - khao niew"

Cheers and "Kop Jai" to all my Lao Friends!!!

From this to this below

Its Carnival Time in Vientiane!

Kids Like Me

A friend sent this to me 

 

First, we survived with mothers who had no maids

They cooked and cleaned while taking care of us at the same time

We took aspirin, candy floss, fizzy drinks, shaved ice with syrup and diabetes was rare.

Salt added to Pepsi or Coke was remedy for fever

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets

As children, we would ride with our parents on bicycles/ motorcycles for 2 or 3

Richer ones in cars with no seat belts or air bags

Riding in the back of a private taxi was a special treat

We drank water from the tap and NOT from a bottles

We would spend hours on the fields under bright sunlight flying our kites, without worrying about UV rays which never seem to affect us

We go into the jungle to catch spiders without worries of Aedes mosquitoes

With mere 5 pebbles (stones) would be a endless game

With a ball (tennis ball best) we boys would ran like crazy for hours

We caught guppy in drains / canals and when it rained we swam there

We shared one soft drink with four friends from one bottle and NO ONE actually worry about being unhygenic

We ate salty, very sweet & oily food, candies,bread and real butter and drank very sweet soft drinks, sweet coffee/ tea, ice kachang, but we weren't overweight because......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, till streetlights came on

No one was able to reach us all day

And we were O.K

We would spend hours repairing our old bicycles and wooden scooters out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes

After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, multiple channels on cable TV, DVD movies, no surround sound, no phones, no personal computers, no Internet

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and we still continued the stunts

We never had birthday parties

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and just yelled for them!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of

They actually sided with the law!

Yet this generation has produced some of the best risk-takers,

problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 40 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility,

and we learned

HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

And YOU are one of them!

CONGRATULATIONS!

To those who who like me have had the luck to grow up as kids,

before the government regulated our lives for our own good.

Travel to Lao PDR

19 days in Vientiane from 4 - 22 January 2009                 

French Wine Barrel, Vientiane

Woh, this can drown you

Restaurants along Mekong River, Vientiane

The Grand Stupa (That Luang), Vientiane

The most important national and religious monument of Laos,
a symbol of the Laotian nation, which is represented in the arms of the country.
It was built by King Setthathirah in 1566.
The monument is built on the location of an older Stupa which is believed to contain a relic of the Buddha.

Patouxay or Victory Monument (Patouxay), Vientiane

The monument is devoted to victims of pre-Revolutionary wars - Laotian soldiers.

It was built in 1969 and reminds one of the Parisian Arc de Triomphe

Visit to Luang Prabang,

the ancient capital city of the Lanoxang Kingdom,

is the UNESCO Heritage city

and famed for classic Lao temple architecture.

Procession of Monks receiving alms in the early hours in Luang Prabang

A Bitter Reality

I once heard a Buddhist monk said, "In the olden days houses are very small and cramped with many family members living together. It is a HOME of their own. Now people worked very hard to buy big houses and start paying monthly mortgage loans. But there are very few family members living in these big houses!!" The children have flown from the nest. Why worked so hard to live in a big house filled with emptiness!!.

This reminds me of the following anecdote:

Every person who are far away from their parents seeking for jobs should read this heart touching story!!! 

ONE BEDROOM FLAT...

WRITTEN BY AN INDIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER
A BITTER REALITY

As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineering and joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had come true.

Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.

My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.

I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight.

Was jubilant and was actually enjoying shopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.

In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA.

My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India so increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing.

After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.

Every year I decided to go to India. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rites the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.

After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA.

My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years.

Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA. I decided that I had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent 2 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.

Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.

Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this?

My father, even after staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.

I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing.

This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.

Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them.

But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?'
I am still searching for an answer.................!!!
START THINKING
IS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM???
LIFE IS BEYOND THIS …..
DON'T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE ……..
START LIVING IT …….
LIVE IT AS YOU WANT IT TO BE …….

Be A Winner

Something I read today in "Business Today" (February 2008 issue)              

People who see themselves as winners in life use different language to those who always seem to be one step behind
A winner will say, “Life is good to me” whereas a loser will say, “Nothing ever goes my way.”
A winner will say, “I’ll find time to do it,” whereas a loser says, “how do you expect me to find time to do it.”
A winner says, “We seem to have different views on this,” whereas a loser will say, “I’m not going to change my mind.”
A winner will say, “There must be a better way of doing things,” whereas a loser will say, “we’ve always done it that way.”
Life is self-fulfilling prophecy.
The more you talk and act like a winner the more winner-oriented you become.

To be a winner, I decided on the following:

• Don't obsess about the little tasks that need to get done. They will be finished in their own time.  
• Think more about how you want to use your time. What would you like to accomplish?  
• You might want to set goals, and bring your desires into line with your daily reality