Flight to Vientiane, Lao PDR

Yesterday morning, I took my 6th trip to Vientiane, Laos for my consultancy services.

Laos is officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

It is a mountainous and landlocked country and one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia.

This is my second flight to Vientiane by Air Asia.

I choose to fly by Air Asia as the direct flight takes only 2 hours 30 minutes.

It is the only airline that flies to Vientiane from Kuala Lumpur.

My employer had in the past always flew me by Thai Airways to Vientiane via Bangkok.

The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok is about 2 hours 45 minutes, with a 5 hour transit time in Bangkok to Vientiane.

The flight to Vientiane from Bangkok takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

All in, the journey from Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane by Thai Airways takes 9 hours, compared to Air Asia's 2 hours 30 minutes.

By the time I arrive in Vientiane by Thai Airways, its already 10 pm.

By Air Asia's 7.35 am flight, I can arrive in Vientiane by 9.10 am and I can go to the office after a rest and lunch.

The Thai Airways flight is also more costly.

Finally, I convinced my employer to fly me by Air Asia.

For me, transits in airports while waiting for the next connecting flight are always the most boring time.
I used to spent time drinking coffee from one cafe to the next, and toying with my computer.

Vientiane is a popular tourist and business destination for Malaysians.

The Air Asia flight I took yesterday was full.

I shall post some of the interesting places and food in Laos.

Landing in Vientiane

Wattay International Airport, Vientiane

The Winter of My Life

Sometimes I received emails with very interesting contents.
This particular poem was sent to me by a friend, who like me are in our twilight years.
It reminds us of how we have lived our lives.

The poem is by an unknown author.

"The Winter of My Life"

You know .....Time has a way of moving quickly

And catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday I was young.

Just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.

And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,

And I wonder where all the years went.

I know that I lived them all ..............

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams .....

But, here it is ... The winter of my life and it catches my by surprise ....

How did I get here so fast?

Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well .....

Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those

Older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off

That I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like ....

But, here it is ...

My friends are retired and getting grey ...

They move slower and I see an older person now.

Some are better and some worse shape than me .....

But, I see the great change .....

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant ....

But, like me, their age is begining to show and we are now those

Older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!

And taking a nap is not a treat anymore ... it's mandatory!

'Cause if I don't on my own free will .. I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into a new season of my life unprepared

For all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability

To go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come,

And I'm not sure how long it will last ....

This I know, that when it's over ... It's over

Yes, I have regrets.

There are things I wish I hadn't done ....

Things that I should have done, but indeed,

There are many things I'm happy to have done.

It's all in a lifetime ...

So, if you've not in the winter yet ....

Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.

Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!

Don't put things off too long!

Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today,

As you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life ....

So, live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember ....

And hope they appreciate and love you for all the things

You have done for them in all the years past!

Life is a gift to you

 The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.

Make it a fantastic one.

~ And, Remember ~

"It is health that is real wealth

And not pieces of gold or silver."

"May You always have Love to Share, Health to Spare and Friends that Care!"

Creative Baking

Vacationing in Taiwan in 2010, I came across a cake shop in Taipei with some very decorative and creative cakes. Some pieces appear beautiful, but others? They look too good to be eaten. Maybe they are just decorative pieces. Some bakery shops in Malaysia are selling such decorative cakes.

Cigarette Ash Tray

Piggy

Big Bad Wolf?

Kitty

Puppy?

Tea Set, with Peanuts

Barbie Doll

Froggy

Oh Dear, Wild Imagination to Be Creative!

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.