Countdown To A New Chapter

The new chapter in my work life sorta had a false start with this conference I attended in Aptos, California with the folks from the new job. It was a fantastic 3 days, meeting everyone, hearing interesting issues and challenges surfaced by various speakers, learning about the inside politics of who likes whom and who doesn't. And also I am no longer a S'more virgin, having toasted marshmallows over a real roaring open bonfire, squashing a fat one with a Hersey chocolate between 2 graham crackers and then going back for more marshmallows the whole night on the beach.

It got me all geared up ready to go, except for the fact that I was going nowhere for the next 7.5 weeks. Now that was frustrating. But seeing as it is now officially 4 weeks to go, I can start the countdown without it being like a dot of light at the end of a long tunnel.

New work life (not just a career), bring it on!

Penang - A Whirlwind Trip

G had almost exclusive possession of the camera on our recent whirlwind trip to Penang. My old camera had died on me some time back and we have been using his, while he's been talking about buying a wide-angle camera for the longest time but has yet to make that investment. So on the occasions when I had control of the camera, I snapped these pictures.

I like the rustic ambience of this little hole-in-the-wall cafe which was situated next to the Cheah clan house. We had a chat with the owners and they said they finally decided to take the plunge and open up the cafe. But having not very much money, the young couple decided to make-do and this was the results of it. Very nicely done and we wish them all the very best and hope their business survive and do well indeed.

We had gone off into the boondocks with my cousin and her husband the morning before we left for the airport. They normally like to take visitors on a round Penang island drive. But with the short amount of time we had, we had to pick and choose some spots to hit on the drive. This almost postcard-like photo was taken in front of the Eunuch Cheng Ho temple which is situated in a fishing village.

I could sum up the 3 main features that figured quite significantly on the trip - food, scenery and temples/clan houses. This was from one of the temples we had visited and the fuschia of the praying stools for devotees to kneel on, with the red lotus motifs contrasting with the green floor, just jumped out at me. We visited numerous temples, from the Kuan Yin Temple to the Snake Temple to the Kek Lok Si Temple up on the hill with the turtle pond and the giant statue of the Goddess of Mercy now and also clan houses with their amazing architecture and colours. The buildings were simply dazzling and a treat for the eyes.

Undoubtedly, there will be a repeat trip soon!