An Unforgettable Invitation from Dubai

It's my first time to go to Dubai.  The country does not hold much interest to me because I was deathly afraid of a culture I do not understand.  But then, I got an invitation from Abdulla J M Kalban to attend the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. So, like any ordinary person, how can I say NO to a freebie like this.

I did not know what to expect as I boarded the Singapore Airlines going to Dubai.  But when I reached their immigration, I was dumbfounded as I saw for the first time the Arabs wearing their traditional dress.  I only saw them in my TinTin comics, and they always played the villain there, so I was afraid once again. But I cannot deny the fact that they have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.  Soulful eyes, simply breathtaking!  I just wondered what was beneath their white garb.

We were greeted by a hospitality girl assigned especially for us at the very doors of the aircraft.   She saw to it that we breezed through the immigration with minimal efforts.   We were then driven to our hotel, Al Qasr Hotel, which means "The Palace" and is the summer home of the Sheik.  It is one of the hotels in Madinat Jumeirah.

 http://www.jumeirah.com/hotels-and-resorts/Destinations/Dubai/Madinat-Jumeirah/Al-Qasr-Hotel/

The villa is so beautiful, very very spacious.  The hotel has its own boats to bring  you from one place to another, if that isn't spacious I don't know what is.  The hotel boasts of 44 restaurants and we are given an unlimited credit to the restaurants 24/7.

One of the restaurants I went to is Pierchic.  It is an award-winning restaurant that serves seafood with the beautiful view of the Gulf.  The restaurant is actually situated in the middle of the Gulf.  So there's a walkway they built from the beach to the restaurant.  Former President GMA dined in this same restaurant when she visited Dubai.  (The Filipino waiters shared me this news, else I was not interested with any news from GMA)

Pierchic

                                     So, how do they fare?  Hmmm....  if I were to give an award to this restaurant, I would give it top awards for location.  Aside from that, I don't see its difference with our own fancy dining places in Manila.

my breakfast table for 8 days

One of the joys is their breakfast.  It is nowhere near our lavish breakfast buffets here in Manila, but the selection is something to behold.  They have fresh blueberry smoothies, fresh raspberry juice, fresh strawberry juice, etc.  I truly enjoy fresh fruit juices and smoothies in the morning.  It makes a world of difference to me.  And having to eat breakfast beside the swimming pool is very relaxing for me.  Not much people opt for this restaurant for breakfast because the selections are fewer.  But for me, this would do.  This definitely would do.




But my most unforgettable food in this whole place was the humble cafe beside the beach.  It is because they served me such a great Caesar Salad.  See the Jumbo Shrimps with my Caesar Salad?  that was spontaneous.  When I ordered Caesar Salad, the waiter asked "do you want to order a main course to be served after your caesar salad?"  I answered, "No, I just want a light fare today."  And he said "well, if you aren't ordering anything else, maybe you want something to add to your caesar salad."  And I replied "Given the choice, I would choose Prawns to be added to my caesar salad, but you don't have to do that if it's any trouble."  And the waiter assured me it's no trouble at all.  The result was the picture below.  Awesome!  Simply Ultra Delicious! The sauce was very airy and light.  It did not dampen the crunchiness of the lettuce at all.  And the prawns were so fresh.  And fresh seafood is everything in a dish.  Their croutons were a bit larger than usual but it only highlighted the garlicky butter that was generously applied to it.

Filipinos are known for its hospitality.  But the Arabs re-defined it for me. Upon arriving the hotel, they welcome us with a beautiful gift of a pocket TV.   And every meeting I attended would mean another gift bag.   Hotel staff are always ready to assist me in any matter.  They don't just smile at me, they actually help me out till I solve my problem.  Once, I got lost in the hotel, and I was just asking a hotel staff passing by, if I should turn right or left, and she accompanied me all the way to my room.  And that was a long way from where I was, so I truly appreciated their sincere help.   Now, that is premium service!

I love their beach.   They see to your every comfort at every turn.  If it's too hot, they give you ice, offer you cold fresh juices, change the towels.  This is the first time I encountered a hotel staff that actually anticipate your every need.  And it's such a huge hotel.  It rankles my brain on how HR manage to instill in the hotel staff this kind of service.  

Burj al Arab Hotel, with Pierchic and the beach

Our hotel is located 5 minutes away from Burj al Arab, the 7 star hotel in Dubai.  We actually share the same beach as the guests of this hotel.  I wish I took the time out to visit this hotel, but I didn't.  I'm just not too interested to see a 7 star hotel.  I'd rather lie down in this beach and read a book while sipping my cold cold juice.

The rest of the days were filled up with interesting activities such as horse racing at Al Meydan Race Course, that included a sumptuous dinner buffet, with champagne, a desert safari adventure in a 4X4 with dinner in a Bedouin-style camp that has a very enticing belly dancer showing us her talents, and an Arabian-themed evening at Dolphin Bay (Atlantis The Palm) with a bevy of belly dancers and an Arabian buffet dinner.  I didn't even bother to check the buffet before getting my choice of food.  It was just too many.  My feet would get swollen before I finish making my rounds.  So I just picked up a plate, and get what I found interesting.  To complete the Arabian-themed dinner, they provided all of us with an Arabian dress to put us all in the mood for an Arabian night.   Camels were abound and belly dancers were everywhere to entertain us.  My seatmates who hailed from Hong Kong and are respected suppliers of coal, turned into silly schoolboys upon meeting the half-dressed belly dancers.

Look what I found in the desert?  

Dubai is an eye-sore for car lovers.  Beautiful sexy women that you only see in James Bond movies are found here on a daily basis.  Standing at the lobby, I felt like Im in the middle of a Hollywood movie.  Surely, I would wake up soon enough.

I'm very thankful for the hospitality that our Arab friends have shown us.  It was surely beyond any of our expectations.  But what touched my heart the most was when I talked to our fellow compatriots in this country and I learned that their Arab employers shoulder their children's tuition fees, provided them a decent house and a generous salary with a good pension plan.  Now, that's what I call "world-class".

10 Common Mistakes of Wives

1.  Stop treating your husband like your kids.
   
    Your husbands are your partners, not your children.  You met them as adults with their own set of behavior and way of thinking.  It’s a common mistake for wives trying to mold their husbands to persons they aspire for.  When a wife becomes a mother, it is easy to fall into the role of a mother to everyone.  Have the conscious effort to accept the individual traits of your husband and stop yourself from teaching him good manners and attitude all the time.   This can be very irritating if done all the time.


2.   Refrain from testing your husband's fidelity.


      One Valentine’s Day, a friend invited me to go to Rockwell.  And over lunch, she excitedly relate to me how she sent flowers to her husband’s office bearing an anonymous note.  (she has never been introduced to the office staff of her husband)  I didn’t share her enthusiasm.  It smelled trouble for me.  True enough, the husband called and in an irritated voice said “What’s your big idea of sending me flowers here anonymously?!  What are you trying to prove?! “  It broke my heart to see my friend’s face with such pain.  No one wanted to be tested.  And if you really have to do this, try to be more creative than sending flowers anonymously to your husband’s office.  


3.  Don't shame your husband in public.


     If you have issues , please keep them inside the four corners of your bedroom.  A wife who washes the dirty linen in public shames a husband because it shows how the husband fails to control the temper and behavior of his wife. The Philippines is a matriarchal society.  However in formal functions, the husband is still the head of the family and he needs to be able to keep everyone in line, at least in front of everyone else.   Can you imagine if the boss sees you reprimanding your husband?  It would undermine his respect and doubt his management abilities.  How can he be trusted in managing a team if he cannot even control his wife?


4.  Control your expectations for grand gestures.


    We know how husbands are during courtship.  Anniversaries would mean a bouquet of roses, a trip out of town and a beautiful gift.  Now, if you have a husband who is able to continue such gestures, congratulations to you.  But the rest of them are merely human.  It’s hard to keep having grand gestures to every holiday in the calendar, while managing a successful career and being father to your kids.  I have a friend who has the habit of placing all the out of town trips and gifts and romantic dinners of her husband for their monthsaries (anniversaries done every month).  Most of our girlfriends look at their pictures with such envy.  When I told my sister about this, she said “That’s the first couple to go on their separate ways.  It’s very hard to keep up the expectations of such a girl.” True enough, after two years, their marriage is heading towards splitsville


5.  Be prudent with his money.


    A woman who knows how to manage her husband’s money is truly a treasure to behold.  Most men court women who are beautiful and sexy.  They bring you to the altar when you are a bitch in bed.  But only a wise man would make sure the woman is good in handling money before making her the mother of his kids.  Since men possess two heads, they sometimes forget that getting a wife is like getting a business partner.  But money is an integral part of managing family.  You need to do budgets and still ensure that kids are sent to school and are eating right.  Credit card bills must be a reasonable percentage with the salary of your husband.  Everyone cannot marry an accountant (more‘s the pity), but a bit of prudence on the woman’s part will go a long way in the hearts of your men.  It shows you care enough to control your urges to shop for a new bag when you have dozens in your closet.  However, if the man is as rich as Croesus, then you can skip this part of the list.  


6.  Stop the nags.


    The next time you open your mouth, think first.  Process it through your brain if it’s really necessary to comment on his long overdued promotion, or his choice of friends or his choice of tie, day in and day out.   Second, would it really make any difference if you keep harping the same issues on a regular basis ,or are you doing this merely out of habit ?    Always remember that you are two very different individuals with different lives before you married each other.  He has those set of friends before he met you.  You think he is not bringing home enough bacon for the family?  Well, nobody  feels that more than him.   And the next time you want to play dress-up, just buy a fucking doll. 


7.  Treat your husband like you would treat your bestfriend.


     Husbands are not merely there to carry the big luggage, to change the bulbs, or to provide the cash when you shop.  It is so easy to fall into a pattern when you live with a person.  But we have to remind ourselves that they are people too who have feelings and they need to feel wanted, cared for and appreciated.  Treat them like your best girlfriend.  Love them without trying to control their lives.  Be open to them about what you think but deliver them nicely.   


8.  Stop digging up the past.


     My sister-in-law and her husband have migrated to the U.S. in the 90’s.  One time, my sister-in-law came to the Philippines for a visit that lasted for months.  When she came back, the husband greeted her with the news that he got another girl pregnant.  That is very painful. The husband was very very sorry of his momentary weakness but declared that his one true love is my sister-in-law.  They have kissed and made up.  But my sister-in-law never forgot his only lapse of infidelity.  For ten years, she would always bring up this old issue.  Finally, the husband got fed up and left the house.  He said he just can’t live another ten years with this old issue.   


9.  Get a grip on your jealous streaks.


    Women are often jealous creatures.  How our tempers rise with just an inkling of an affair.  But sometimes, things get out of hand.  And a simple friendly gesture becomes a flirtatious move?  And too much of jealous outbursts can be frustrating to your husband.   Just remember this, if your husband is having an affair, a real one, you would know.  And you cannot stop it because he will find ways to do it.  They are not mindless creatures.  They would do what they want to do.  Unless you are willing to divorce him on this issue or keep him in Rapunzel’s tower. 


10.  Don't try to account for all your husband's time.


      A friend demands that her husband comes home at precisely 5:30pm.  The husband works as an executive assistant to the president of a local bank.  When the husband gets home later than 5:30pm , my friend would deliver a verbal bashing that would shame Annabel Rama.  During weekends, the husband is fond of going for a round of basketball with friends.  So one day, my friend decided to just cut his jersey in bits of pieces.  This is a   perfect recipe for driving your husband in the arms of another woman.  He is not a robot who exists merely to deliver the cash, play father to your kids and anticipate your every need.  He is  a man who has diverse interests, who needs his own quality time and who is answerable to his demanding boss. 

Research in Motion (RIMM): A Speculative Stock for the Speculative Trader

After weeks of waiting for my E*trade account to be activated, I finally got the go-signal to trade last friday.  And nothing , absolutely nothing, can take me away from my laptop and do a trade.  

My first trade was the blackberry-maker, Research in Motion (RIMM).  Because it was my first time to use the E*Trade platform, it took me some time before I got the hang of buying stocks there.  So it was around past 10PM Manila time when I finally bid for RIMM at $14.05.  

I knew from the start that this is a speculative trade.   They have a shrinking market share,  lower than expected low earnings, significant inventory write-downs , and the list goes on.  In the midst of the mass resignation of the top brass in that company, they got a new CEO, Thorsten Heins,  who promises to make strategic decisions over the course of the year to respond to the company's continued decline in sales, and one of those options is selling the company or part of it to another company.   RIMM attracted many suitors.  And why not?  The company has 75 million users and garners 17% of the market share.  Its Blackberry is still considered a premium product among the corporate market.  I mean, no less than the US President is using it.   And this is an attractive stock at this point, having a P/E ratio of around 4 , when industry average is around 26.  This stock is trading almost at the low end of their 52-week range.   But what set this stock price to soar up last Friday was the rumor of a buyout.  

As for me, I continue to be in the dark.  The market appreciated that the new CEO is addressing the company's problems head-on but what is glaring to me is the lack of specific strategic plans in his announcement.  He merely discussed their desire to do a review and make strategic decisions but in what direction....  that is anyone's guess.   It's as if his pronouncement opened a can of worms.  And when the public realizes their lack of specific answers to real problems , the future does look bleak for this company.   So, if I were Heins, I think it is time he comes up with real solutions to their problems and minimize the uncertainty of the future of this firm, before the public wizens up.  

BAC: Are They Going to Issue Secondary Offering?

There were two times I saw Bank of America hit the $10 level.  And as the world waits in abated breath to the biggest gainer of Dow Jones this year to double their stock price last night, BAC stock dips down contrary to the direction of the S&P.

Some would say its technicals; the stock simply hit their resistance level last night.  But the rumor that BAC will issue a secondary offering continue to persist around the four corners of wall street.  (Does wall street have four corners?  unlikely.  But then again, this is my blog and it has a nice ring to it. )  Going back, like any other investors, I'm beginning to have a seed of doubt regarding this latest rumor.  A rumor that has been bouncing around for many days can affect one's faith in a stock.  So my mind wanders back to its main man, Brian Moynihan.  If I remember it right, last year, when Bank of America has seen its very worst, rumors also abound that it will sell stocks to beef up their capital.  But Brian Moynihan said "no, it won't happen".  So he went back to his desk and worked on his numbers, trying to devise ways to satisfy the Feds while meeting their mortgage obligations.  And he delivered.  Bank of America sold off more than $30 billion of assets last year. He unloaded private equity, credit cards and insurance company assets.  And his divestiture strategy continues this year with Apollo Capital buying the Irish credit card.  They also got an expensive deal with Warren Buffet for a $5 billion preferred shares.

So , it seems that Bank of america will not solve its problems by stock dilution.   Not now when they are enjoying excess capital of a little bit more than $1 per share over Tier 1 ratio and they continue to have a line up of non-core assets to sell.  The continued denial of Brian Moynihan of issuing secondary offering is enough for me.  For now.   

Another Look at the U.S. Banks' Stress-Test

Wall Street has been rejoicing with the results of the stress tests performed by the Feds on major U.S. banks.   The stress test was supposed to test the capital health of the banks and to ensure its resilience in another economic crisis.  Such is a great step for the Feds to ensure that banks are well-capitalized and indirectly , restore confidence in the market.   Only four banks failed the stress test out of 19 and Citigroup is embarrassingly included in this list.

However, I find it odd and dangerous that Wall Street find the passing of the Fed's stress test a reason for many U.S. bank stocks to rally.  The stronger banks are increasing their dividend payouts and buying back their shares in a large scale.

Results of the Stress Test:

1.  JPMorgan -dividend payout to 25 cents a share every quarter and buyback stock worth $15 billion

2.  BB&T  - dividend payout of 16 cents a share 

3.  State Street  - dividend payout of 18 cents a share and buyback share worth of $675 million shares

4.  US Bancorp  -  dividend payout of 50 cents a share and buyback share of 50 million shares

5.  Wells Fargo  - dividend payout of 12 cents and buyback of 200 million shares

6.  American Express and Goldman Sachs - buyback stocks

7.  Morgan Stanley, Capital One -  maintain dividend payout

8. Other banks have no specific plans as of the moment.

Like a parent who molds their child by punishment and reward system, the Feds are pushing banks to turn their backs on consumer lending, exercise much much prudence in commercial lending, avoid real estate and stack up on government securities.  We understand where the Feds are coming from.  They don't want a repeat of the recent economic crisis that caused White House many sleepless nights.  However, there is also such a thing as extreme caution and in this case, extreme regulation.  Banks financials are now swamped with cash and government securities,  loans as percentage of asset is very low and equity over asset is high.   This is not good.  Yes, safe, but not good at all.  Banks are in the business of making money.  And they make money from lending.

No wonder Bank of America remained quiet in the wake of the stress test results.  Among all banks, this is the bank that actually has a reason for rejoicing.  Bank of America stock is the biggest gainer in Dow this year.  But Brian Moynihan knows he has looming problems ahead of him. He has been busy selling several assets, mostly international,  to concentrate on its core businesses and build capital to deal with the massive mortgage losses that continue to hound the bank.   There is also serious issue of how to create profit in the near future.

So what makes this news worse than it already is?  The Feds, acting on the financial regulatory reform bill passed by Congress, would make this stress test an annual thing , in addition to other battery of stress tests that the Feds are preparing for the biggest lenders as we speak.

What Makes a Woman Wild in Bed

Romance and seduction do not start in the bedroom.   It begins on the first moment of contact.  So how do we proceed to finally make our women wild in bed?

Whether the reason of the seduction is love, lust or friendship, we still strive to make our women go crazy in lust for us when we are in bed with them.  We want to show them a good time, and that we can still make sparks fly in the bedroom.   And why should we do that?  because when a woman is happy and satisfied, they do return the favor tenfold.  And you might just have the most unforgettable night of your life.

1.  Bring a small token on your date.  It does not have to be something expensive.  Giving gifts is so old-fashion but the gallantry is not lost on many women.  It still melts a woman's heart to receive a small thoughtful gift that is sincere.  It can be flowers, chocolates, a book, fruits or a teddy bear.   These small gifts tell your date that "you consider this date an important one for you."   The most thoughtful gift a man gave me on a date was a basket of mangoes he brought with him from Cebu.  He looked so silly and so sweet carrying that big basket of mangoes.  But you see, he took time out to know that mango is my favorite fruit.  And it melted my heart, right on the spot.

2.  Be respectful at all times.  Be a gentleman.  You need to remind the woman that she is indeed a woman that deserves all your respect.  Don't treat her like a whore.   Nothing dampens the mood more than a jerk.  A woman would always prefer a respectful average guy than an egotistical model with good looks.  That's one of the secrets of Robin Padilla.  He is rumored to treat women like queens that's why he is successful in getting the pretty women in show business.

3.  Kiss.   Kissing is one of the real pleasures for women.  It tells her how much you adore her.  And kissing is the first intimate contact you share, which gives her the signal of your intention to bed her.   Kiss her gently at first to show her how much you savor that moment and then proceed to kiss her passionately showing how you can't get enough of her sweet lips and how you can't wait to devour her with your mouth.

4.  Use your hands wisely.  Use your hands to feel her skin all over.  Show her how much you want to know every inch of her.  IT makes a woman crazy to feel your rough large hands circling her breasts, pressing her buttocks towards your pelvic bone. caressing her legs up.  And finally, those fingers can do wonders in slowly feeling her clitoris.  Build her anticipation.

5.  Eat her.  Savor the smell of her womanhood.  And take your time in relishing the sweetness of her being.  The body of a woman is like a temple and men come to worship. Try to find her G-spot.   That can usually be found on the roof of the vagina.  Kiss your way through it.  Be gentle until she gets used to your attention.  If you can't find her G-spot, don't be shy asking her about it.

6.   Play with her ears.  A woman's neck is very sensitive and if you kiss  or breath to the areas below her ears to her neck, she will tingle all over.  And if you hear her breathing heavily then you know you are doing things right.  Whisper sweet nothings in her ear.  


7.  Suck her nipple.    Do not forget to pay tribute to her two glorious globes.  It gets hard and sit up like a proud statue when stimulated by your tongue.  The sides of the breasts near the armpit are also quite sensitive to the girl.

8.  The Aftermath.  When a woman reaches orgasm, it is very crucial that you hold her, embrace her to share her explosive experience with you.  It is such a downer when the man , after making the woman reach her orgasm, turns his body on the other side of the bed or worse, leaves her on the bed alone.   The woman is in her most vulnerable , right after she reaches orgasm.  So you want to be there, when that happens and not leave her cold.

9.  Make the woman feel she is beautiful.  A woman would always have some form of insecurity about her looks.  That is inevitable when society always judges the woman by the way she looks. How many times do we say "what a lovely child". Just like a man is judged by  how much he earns, a woman is judged by how pretty she is.   Make a woman feel she is beautiful and you have a confident woman who cannot wait to show you her   Please do not state the obvious like "you are very beautiful" when you don't think so.  Giving her your attention, treating her well, touching her all the time ..... these are all signs that you find her very attractive and quite irresistible.

10.  Offer her a meal after the deed and offer to bring her home.  Please don't treat her like yesterday's trash after the deed has been done.  Show her that you are interested in her as a person and offer to share a meal with her and bring her home. " Wham, Bam, Thank you Ma'am"  can hardly give you a second chance with the Ma'am.

Top 10 Signs that She is just Not Into You

I have a number of guy friends who seem to have no idea that their girlfriends are not into them anymore.  Their excuses range from "she had a bad day.", "she is not in the mood.".  It is sad when one needs to point out the reality that the girl merely changed her heart and does not like you the way she used to.   So this list is for them.  Read on.

1.  For every 10 texts, you only get one text.   She is delaying her response to you.  She doesn't want to deal with you now.  Maybe during the day, when she gets bored, she will get around to doing the polite thing and send you a response.

2.  She does not make the effort to look nice.  When the two of you are dating, she wears her baggy clothes and hardly wears any make up.  The stiletto shoes are kept in the closet.  You will also notice that her body is not physically close to you, seemingly screaming to everyone "Im not his date.  We are not romantically together. "

3.  She hardly makes any eye contact.  A girl who is interested in you will want to look into your eyes to feel your moods.   She spends a lot of time gazing into you and making contact.  Looking into each other's eyes is a way of making that special connection.

4.  Women are basically very verbal.  So if her text messages to you are always short, chances are she is merely connecting with you in the most minimal way.  But a woman who is into you , would not want to miss out the chance of flirting with you and letting you know you are "special" to her.  Compare these two texts.

Boy:  "How are you today?"
Girl:  " Fine"

Boy:  'How are you today?"
Girl:  "Im fine.  Thanks for asking. I really had a great time last night. See you soon!"


5.  She erases all your text messages.  If she is into you, she would want to read and re-read your sweet messages to her.  So unless yours is a secret affair or her memory is full, there is no reason why she would always want to erase your text messages, especially if she carries an Iphone.

6.  She hardly smiles and she seems distracted.   When a girl meets the man she loves, the very thought of it would put a beautiful smile on her face.   And when you two are together, the world collapses and her thoughts are yours alone.  So if you notice that every time you meet, she is frowning, distracted and always in the bad mood, well, that's your sign that she isn't in to you anymore, and is wishing she is somewhere else, any place but with you.

7.  She is easily irritated with your mannerisms, behavior or opinions.  Suddenly, you cannot seem to do anything right by her.  You eat too loud, or you drive too fast.  Whereas before, she considers this "cute" and delights in your adventures.

8.  She is always busy.  When you asks her out, she always seems to be busy.  When you call her up, you can't even get hold of her for more than 5 minutes and she needs to do something else. A woman who is in love will always find the time to be with you.  She would work non-stop just to free up that special day for you.  

9.  She is not interested in your stories.  When you talk about your day, she only listens half-heartedly and responds when necessary.  A woman is usually opinionated and would have response to every story on earth.  So if she is suddenly impatient with your story and does not encourage you to talk further on the topic, she is most likely not into you.  A woman has a nurturing spirit.  She wants to know very much what is going on with her man.   So if she is not interested, that is quite going against her nature or she is just not into you.

10.  She disrespects you.  She is almost always annoyed with you.  I've seen countless of women who treat their boyfriends so shabbily.  And the boys have no idea that their girlfriends are just not into them anymore.  They have no respect for their beaus. The boyfriends become like a driver, electrician, plumber and delivery boys all rolled into one. She does not care if you don't like Burrito , you are still going to that mexican restaurant.  She puts you down in front of her friends.  

You are the Apple of my Eye [那些年，我們一起追的女孩]

It's been a long time that I was impressed with a movie. But this movie definitely tops my list for the year 2011.  I know the title leaves little to be desired.  "You are the apple of my eye" is hardly unique, too cliche actually.  But let's be a bit forgiving for this Taiwanese film, whose title probably got lost in translation.

The film is set in a typical Taiwanese high school in year 1994.   The story opens with the mischievous but kind-hearted student, Ko Ching-teng forming an unlikely friendship with the pretty hardworking student, Shen Chia-yi when he lends his English book so the girl can escape punishment from the teacher.   Since then, Chia-yi tries her best to help Ching-teng with his school work to improve his grades.  Although Ching-teng grudgingly accepts the help, he found himself following the demands of Chia-yi to study hard by staying after school.  Soon, they find themselves consoling each other in times of trouble and celebrating their joys together.  After graduating from high school, the two attended different universities in different cities, but Ching-teng continues to call Chia-yi every night in college.  Unable to express his growing love for Chia-yi, Ching-teng organized a wrestling match to show Chia-yi how strong he is so she can love him in return.  But this plan backfired when Chia-yi got upset leading to their break-up.  They didn't have contact for two years, until the 921 earthquake, Ching-teng called up Chia-yi to make sure she was alright.  In year 2004, Ching-teng received a call from Chia-yi informing him that she will get married.  Ching-teng, along with all their high school friends, attended the wedding.  He expected to feel pain seeing the love of his life getting married to someone else, but he soon found out that immense love can transcend pain and lead to a more meaningful friendship and acceptance.

This movie is a semi-auto biography of the director and writer, Giddens Ko and this movie marks as his directorial debut.  The beautiful lyrics of the movie's song, 那些年 "Those Years" , is also written by Giddens Ko and was nominated as the Best Original Film Song of the year.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWzlwGVQ6_Q

So if there are days that you want to take another trip down the road of our adolescent years, watch this movie,  I assure you it won't be a complete waste of your time.   

Top 10 Signs of Infidelity

We all fear of infidelity from our partners.  This still remains the top reason for the breakup between couples.  But before that happens, there are signs that your spouse or partner is dipping into the restricted honeypot.  Let's face those signs and act on it, instead of lulling ourselves to a fantasy that will shatter soon.

1.  Your partner will put extra effort in being more attractive.  This may come in the form of losing weight or the extra zeal to go to the gym, going for botox or slimming procedure.  A woman who suddenly would go for the very painful procedure of brazilian wax, after your trip,  is probably having an affair.

2.  In this cellphone-crazed country, the sign of infidelity is even more glaring.  Your partner will texts more often and when the phone rings, there is this guarded look on his/her face for a second and she/he will find an excuse to go somewhere else of not hearing distance.  Some even take too long in the bathroom because that's where they texts or talk to their mistresses.

3.  Your partner will become emotionally distant.  You can't really pinpoint circumstances but you will definitely feel that your once sweet and caring partner would not talk to you about his work, his friends or his hobbies. If you reach out to him, the more he will move away.

4.  Prolonged office hours, late night work, business trips would be more frequent than the usual.  And when you start questioning it, instead of explaining it properly and patiently, your partner would be angry and defensive.

5.  Your partner would exhibit an emotional roller coaster worse than your teenage daughters.  One day, he/she will be so happy that nothing can faze his world.  And another day, he would be angry and dejected , problematic and distant. He won't confide in you, and you are left confused.  Thing is, most relationships go through the cycle of romantic love, misunderstandings and arguments, fights and passion.  And all these are heightened at the start of a romantic relationship.

6.  He/She spends more time in the computer , hooked up in the internet, chatting the night away.   And you cannot seem to pull him/her away from the computer.  If you insist, then a fight will ensue.

7.  He/She is not there during the holidays.  The list of reason can be quite long, depending on the creativity of the unfaithful person.  But bottom-line is He/She Is Not There for the holidays, of if he/she is there, it is cut short or suddenly he/she needs to run an errand somewhere, meet an important person some place.

8.  There will be days when he/she would bolt out of the door in an unscheduled time.  Unless he is a network engineer , or an OB-GYNE, if you know his profession does not demand unscheduled time outs, most likely he is out to meet his other girl on a secret rendezvous.  Thing is an affair, although exciting , will also have its moments of insecurities, unreasonable demands due to the nature of the relationship.  If you are the other woman, and you know that your man is with his family, you would sit on your house , biting your nails, wondering if he is making love with his wife.  The fear is eating you alive, and the insecurity grows.  So the other woman calls the man and demands to see him "to test his love for her" or to just hug her tight to remind her how much he loves her.  The man, trying to control the situation, would try to get out of the house and meet her.

9.  When your partner comes home looking fresh and newly showered, chances are he just took a quick shower from the motel or hotel with his mistress.  When you come from the offices, the normal behavior is to go home and take the shower in your home.    If you want to confirm this, give him a BJ if you are a girl and give her a cunnilingus if you are boy.  If he/she refuses you vehemently, sad to say that is a strong sign that she/he just came from a rowdy sex.

10.   When he takes more leaves (sick leave or vacation leave) from the office or a series of prolonged lunches, without telling you , and he is obviously not home, then he is likely to be meeting another girl on the side.  If there are a lot of unaccounted time away, then this is a sign that your partner is probabaly having an affair.  

My Bucket List

Ever since the movie The Bucket List was shown in 2007, almost everyone who has watched it left the theater thinking "what is my own bucket list".

Nothing like a reminder of our mortality would give us a strong sense of purpose to do what we want to do in this life time.

I am no different.  Im hitting 40 soon and my recent blood tests reveal my own physical limitations.  Maybe, that's putting it mildly.  I have serious health issues that I need to address soon.  But before we go into panic, I can't help but think what else do I need to do.  What is my bucket list?

1.  Scotland's Highlands

    Scotland has always been my second home.  Even before I reached that place, I know all about it from the multitudes of books I have read regarding its history, culture and places.  Visiting Scotland is merely a confirmation of what is already in my mind.  And in this aspect, I learned that my imagination falls short of the beauty of Scotland.

    The first time I set foot on Scotland was in Edinburgh.  I reached Edinburgh from London via a train ride that lasted for the whole day and which cost around 120 pounds.  What is nice about Scotland, and maybe the rest of Europe is that, their parks, restaurants and houses were standing for more than 100 years, 200 years.   Take for example the restaurant RULES which was frequented by Charles Dickens... or the Hyde Park, which was the place to be when you want to ride around London with your horse 100 years ago.    And it wasn't uncommon to occupy the same room as Jane Austen when she was writing Pride and Prejudice.  That kind of cultural high cannot be replicated easily.

   The first time I was in Scotland , I can't help but gushed "My goodness, God must have favored the Scottish people more than anyone, for the beauty of this land is truly amazing and heavenly. "

   But I wasn't able to go up the highlands that time.  So this time around, I want to go up till Isle of Skye.  I want to see Cawdor Castle, where inspiration for Macbeth of Shakespeare came from.  I want to stay for a night beside their lochs and I want to eat their strawberries with cream while on top of the mountain.

                                      http://www.secret-scotland.com/

2.   Canadian Rockies

I have to admit I don't know much about the Canadian Rockies, but all those snow and mountain make me want to go on an adventure.  Snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes and a ride on a glacier would surely be a feast to the eyes. And to make it extra special, I want to go and tour the place riding a nice comfortable train with glass rooftops and windows.  

If you've got the money to splurge, go with tauck on this tour.  They are the best travel tour company I have ever joined, and this is coming from someone who has been touring for 23 years.

      http://www.tauck.com/tours/canada-tours/western-canada-tours.aspx

3.  Kathmandu - Everest Base Camp Trekking

     Trekking the highest mountain in the Himalayas is one of the most incredible experience of a lifetime.    This adventure is definitely not for the faint-hearted.  And I bet one also needs to be physically fit to attempt this tour.  Lots of work, lots of heart go with the decision to travel to Kathmandu and climb the Mt. Everest.  But the rewards should be magnificent.  How can it not be?  The attempts to conquer this mountain have been legendary.  I even heard that an HBO (Human Behavior Organization) class in Harvard would make their class go trek the mountain to learn about human nature, leadership and organization.  

                        http://www.nepalhikingteam.com/everest-base-camp-trekking.php

4.  Play the Cello

     Music has always been the balm to our soul.   And somehow , I have always been fascinated with learning how to play the cello.  Maybe it's because I'm a large woman, and I want an equally large musical instrument.   I have attempted many times to search for a cello class but all of them require me to have my own cello.  And cellos are expensive.  They cost 100,000 at the very least if you want a decent cello.   In my search, I have come to know a cello maker from StringWorks who is willing to sell me a cello in installment basis.  But having three kids in their toddler years, one is hesitant to shell out such an amount purely for indulgence.  But one day .... one day, I shall have my own cello and I will learn to play it. 

                                          http://www.stringworks.com/

5.  Be Part of the Theater

      

       I love the theater!  When Im inside the theater, I can immersed myself completely to the play for the full 3 hours.  Since age 14, I have tried to overcome my shyness and cowardice in attempting to audition for a part.  But I never did it.  That is one of my deepest regret.  While we are young, we should have tried everything without much hesitance.  The world is at our feet and it is the right time to experiment.  

6.  Bring All My Kids to Disney Cruise

    Just being in Disneyland is enough to leave behind all your problems at home.  Hongkong Disneyland may be the smallest Disneyland in the world but my kids can spend 3 whole days in it and every single time , they are excited.  Imagine, if they will be on a Disney Cruise Line visiting Castaway Cay, which is the private port-of-call of Disney.  Aside from the crystal blue beaches with palm trees, the cruise liner would be entertaining its guests with its signature Disney hospitality that includes live shows, 3D movie and activities tailor fitted for the kids with Disney characters to boot.  I can't wait to see the faces of my children as they spend 7 days in a lavish cruise line with their favorite Disney characters.  Problem is I have to cough up $5000 for our whole family to go, not including the airplane tickets going to the port of departure which will be around $5000 too.  Steep! 

                                           http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/

7.   Go Back to the Academe

     In my semi-retirement age, I would want to go back to teaching and molding the young ones.  If it's possible, I would wish to do this in both private and public schools.   But if a choice has to be made, I'd like to be a faculty in public schools.  I want to give the poor children of this country hope that they can do better than their family.  I want them to find purpose in their lives and to mold them to be strong principled children.  I am forever saddened by the media depicting half naked women gyrating to sensual music in prime time TV.  Children are supposed to be sharpening their minds in sciences and mathematics, not raping their innocent minds with blatant display of sexuality. 

8.   Bake Breads and Sell them Commercially

      Since I was 20 years old, I always wanted to bake breads.  Even before Bread Talk arrived in town, I had this idea of opening a bakeshop showcasing the different breads of the world.  But I got an earful from my mom who dissuaded me from pursuing that dream.   It is so fulfilling to bake your own breads and get a whiff of that heavenly smell of butter and eggs.   And see complete strangers savoring the sweet taste of your bread.  That would be quite a lovely sight!

9.  Go on an Adventure in Africa Safari

     Africa represents a country that is most unknown to us.  It's a combination of mystery, adventure and wildlife.  When you go to an african safari, you humbly give in to nature.  In Africa, the mighty beasts (the Big Five) are the king of that country, while you are a mere spectator, witnessing their greatness, their strength and glory. 
     I truly want to go to an African Safari before I die. And I want to live in a tent, eating simple meals and sleeping under the stars.  I want to see the beasties in their most natural environment.  I just wish that I won't be eaten alive.. now that's no fun at all!
    And I would like to do this by joining Asia to African Safaris.  They are a group of investment bankers who left their jobs to pursue their dream of customizing great safari adventures to people in Asia.   I heard really good reviews on this tour group.  So if you are going to Africa, go to Asia to Africa Safari.  They interview people who want to go to safari.  They ask you your budget, the kind of adventure you want, how many days  you can spare.  Their philosophy is that Africa safari is different for all types of people.  So this should be great for us!

                                          http://www.atoasafaris.com