Walking around Singapore!

Room with a View- Singapore Oct 1st 2013

 

What could you possibly discover if you are in Singapore for a day?  Lots, I assure you. I have visited the city twice but this time it was different - probably because I am different!!   I flew Singapore Airlines and was struck by the warmth, care and attention the crew extended to every passenger. There was a a sense of calmness in the air that was starkly different to the chaos I am used to .....

As I sat in the taxi from the airport to the hotel, my driver got talking about the weather, the food that I should try, and the casinos I could visit. I got thinking about language and the power it holds. We usually communicate to find common ground, we start with safe things and then graduate onto the more complex once we have a shared language. And once we work out where we are aligned and where we are different!

 I have to confess here that I am NOT a foodie and that shopping is not my cup of tea.  I checked in, then  convinced myself that this will be fun... destination Orchard Road!  Navigating the floors of Ion Orchard then walking through Wisma Atria, Takashimaya mall only made me dizzy. I gave shopping the miss and decided to explore the beautiful surroundings of Fullerton Hotel

Walking around Singapore, I was amazed by the architecture around me

The Marina Sands Hotel, three linked towers with a deck running across all three at the top, the ArtScience museum shaped like a tulip, the giant steel trees in the Gardens by the Bay. I just wondered how I did not see them the same way when I was here in 2011. Each building spectacular in isolation but the real value comes from the wider vista.

The rest of the evening was spent chilling out with friends -priceless! I also experienced superb seafood dining at the vibrant Boat Quay. Food was awesome.. and I promised I would come again soon to enjoy the city, its calmness and its charm with Samah,

Sightless in Hyderabad..I experience Dialogues in the Dark!

Last Tuesday, I was given a once in a lifetime experience in which my sense of sight was taken away from me, leaving me with only 4 senses, my instincts and my feelings. Throughout the 2 hours of complete darkness, I had these senses to depend on.

 
Everyone, in our group of 8, was given a cane to help us get around on our journey through darkness. We also had a wonderful tour guide and I found myself clinging to his voice as my anchor in the sea of darkness.    

As I stumbled my way through the exhibit we went into a park, crossed over a bridge with a waterfall, played cricket, went out to sea in a boat and we also ordered drinks at a cafe. All very simple things to do with vision but incredibly difficult without.

We then had dinner – an entire meal experience in the dark. Because you cannot see your food, any 
judgments you make about the look of it are irrelevant – you are reliant on taste and texture only. I instantly thought of the food I may have refused in the past simply because of how it looked!

We finally walked back into the light, which was quite disorienting. This experience made me reflect about a lot of things. All they did was strip my sight and I felt fear! We probably rely too much on our eyes; we neglect other senses and thus missing out on the minute of things. It's not fun being blind but it’s not the end of the world either. (I learnt that from my guide who was visually impaired.)

I'm still trying to process everything I encountered and learned but overall it was an incredible experience. If you wish to experience it yourself, there’s one in Hyderabad in InOrbit Mall. (http://www.dialogue-in-the-dark.com/venues-worldwide/india-hyderabad)

Have you Found Your Googliness???

I am happy to report that life is great.  (Don't get me wrong - there are continually things that I struggle with.  There are times when I see the world through "my"eyes and then have to flip the perspective! And times when I am happy being in a safe and comfort zone but need a wake up call to challenge myself.)


I had a super successful trip to Bahrain - happy client,  new training location, and satisfied me. And to celebrate I took a detour to Abu Dhabi and spend a couple of days with my sister in her exciting world of work.
 
On my return flight home last week I decided to watch the movie "The Internship" If you haven't seen it, expect an uplifting storyline and lots of laughter as Vaughn and Wilson rekindle their  chemistry after "Wedding Crashers".   Throughout their internship at Google, they attempt to motivate generation Y!

I must confess that there are times I feel like a dinosaur in the midst of Gen Y. So what I need is googliness - its what makes me unique!! A good place to be in really.  Hope to meet you there.

Dare To Dream!

Prison in Robben Island

 

I have been inspired by many leaders and Nelson Mandela is one of the leaders I admire the most. He is 94 years old but in a critical condition. While I pray for him, I am overwhelmed by his life and his achievements.  It reminds me of his courage and commitment even while in prison. This picture speaks volumes! It is taken in his cell which was home to him for so long. 

I have not yet read his autobiography, “Long walk to Freedom” which is a must buy. However this interview by Oprah Winfrey is a must read. (http://www.oprah.com/world/Oprah-Interviews-Nelson-Mandela/1)

Today I am reminded of a poem/extract by Marianne Williamson that touched me when I was growing up.  It was  powerful then and even now.  Yes, I believe that you can be whatever you want to be and nobody can change it!

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. 

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

6 Things I Have Learned while Traveling in Europe this summer

1. Design your own trip. 
 I was planning a summer break for 45 days in Europe with a base in London. (I am very fortunate to have a wonderful family.) It was tempting to take an all-inclusive 12 day trip with Cosmos Tours to a few countries in Europe. The convenience of escorted travel and security appealed to me. However, I changed my mind in the very last minute and set out to create our own tour! Although a lot of planning went into making our own Lonely Planet, I wouldn’t do it any other way. 

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea - 2013

 2. Plan, but not too much.  
 When you are traveling, it is nice to have peace of mind knowing that you will have a place to spend that night. I am a prep-aholic so I explored various options for hotels in Paris, B&B in Amsterdam and Brussels. Loved our b&b in Amsterdam http://www.park9.nl/en/guesthouse-garden It was easy to plan our train journeys on Eurostar/Thalys. 

On the other hand, spontaneity is the most exciting. Samah & I decided to spend time doing things we really wanted to do.  We made some pleasant discoveries, got lost along the way, saw Paris through the eyes of a Parisian - everyday was a new adventure.

Arundel Castle, Sussex, England 2013

 

3. Don’t be afraid. 
 This is what prevents most people from traveling in the first place. For me, life is like Adidas & Nike. “Nothing is impossible” so “Just do it” So that was a good starting point for this vacation.

As our trip got closer, everyone at home was anxious that we were too fearless and looked very naïve and we would make the perfect targets for pickpockets! So we learnt the art of outsmarting and avoiding this on our time alone in Europe. These fears are not baseless as we interacted with many on the trip who had some bitter experience to share. I had a very close shave in the Paris metro – would have returned minus my ipad and other valuables. Plain lucky! 

Our timing in Amsterdam couldn’t have been better. We were there for the coronation of their King and ended up partying with the whole city of Amsterdam.

4. Take photos, but ….  
 There were so many unique things that we saw during our trip. We wanted to capture many memories but soon realized that it is important to soak in the experience and truly “enjoy” the time, rather than document every second. Some things are better enjoyed without your camera. (And if your camera decides to vibrate, then you have no choice!!!)

 
5. Go with your teenager!  
 Although people say the best way to travel is to go alone, I discovered a completely different experience with Samah. Never did I imagine my daughter to be such an amazing travel partner & guide who made vacationing a lot more fun.   She blew me away with her flexibility, her sense of direction and above all her caring nature. We grew incredibly closer after the trip and have created long lasting memories together! It will be hard to travel without her.  No tips and tricks on choosing your travel companion. 

Hampton Court Castle Gardens.. 2013

6. The world is a big place. 
 Although I have done a fair share of traveling when I was in the airline industry and presently with my training, I realize that I have barely seen anything at all. This trip has been significantly unique. And it has changed me in subtle ways –my thinking, the way I view the world, and a fresh perspective to life. I am viewing the world with different colored lens. I am pretty sure Samah is touched by this trip in many ways as well.

Drive through Stowe School - Buckingham