Entrepreneurial musings and Imperial Treasure.

Today, I was inspired to think about what I could create if I were to start up a small business venture. Since arriving in Singapore I have been to numerous gyms island-wide for workouts and several interviews for possible employment, having nothing remotely appealing in terms of renumeration or personal development. Being an independent contractor back in Les MIlls NZ has given me contempt for the monstrous capitalist "health and well-being" enterprises sprawled throughout the country. To submit to employment by these agencies would be to agree to sell my soul for 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. Envisioning the prospect of actually signing with one of these clubs, heinous images of a recent visit to Singapore's Night Safari flashed through my mind - a cage is still a cage no matter how much flora you use to cover up the bars.

Be that as it may, Amber and I have been scouring the island for green 'breathing' spaces, where we can hang out to read, eat and drink, without breaking the bank. We found some!

Pasir Ris Park with our new deck chairs. In the background is a cafe that
we had previously discovered with very luxurious couches. However, the
menu was offensively overpriced and the refreshments un-refreshing. In
response, we purchased 2 deck chairs on sale at 30bucks apiece and
delicious cheap-as-chips drinks from the supermarket at $1.50 a bottle.
UP YOURS, pricey cafe! 

On another occasion, NICK had invited us out for dinner at a fancy chinese restaurant at the new Resort Casino at Marina Sands. VERY tasty, and what a spectacle it was from the upper levels of the casino to see the exquisite interior architecture and the razzle-dazzle of rows and rows of poker tables and jackpot machines. Too bad taking photographs were not permitted.

Authentic Chinese cuisine at Imperial Treasure with Nick and Karen.

The Marina Sands Bay area is for the wealthy. We parked for 2+ hours and it cost us $20! Also, the people are made of gold. Look!

I certainly ain't in Costa Rica anymore.

Nike 10km SIN vs KL run, 24th OCT 2010

Got my A into G physical-wise and started training for a 10km run coming up in 6 weeks. 8km in 50 minutes on the treadmill this morning and finished with reserves. I'm not a great runner and my target is to beat Amber's 49:04minutes in a 10km comp she did in NZ'09. My incentive? To get rid of a slowly protruding gut I've noticed since being in Singapore. Must be all those yummy green milk teas w/ BUBBLES. I ain't giving THAT up!

Although I'm training for that 10km, my primary fitness goals haven't changed. 

Monday - Gym, heavy

Tuesday - Treadmill distance KLvsSIN

Wednesday - Gym, spartan

Thursday - HDB Stair run

Friday - Gym, bodyweight resistance 

Saturday - East coast run KLvsSIN

Sunday - off.

God and spirituality from a Christian perspective, City Harvest Church style~!

Mum proposed we attend sunday service at the non-denominational City Harvest Church, so that's just what we did. It was held in Expo 8 and had a very young, vibrant ambience. Entering the Hall, I fondly reminisced the similarly experience of entering Christian 'place of worship' I had back in Los Angeles at the Agape Center.

The guest speaker was Phil Pringle from Australia and he used the story of Moses leading God's people out of bondage to convey his message of faith. Amber and I had a vaguely stimulating discussion after about what and how we felt about our thoughts of our experience at CHC.

I thought the sermon was mostly uninspiring,  and I was also disconcerted observing the masses being emotionally stirred up by the message of being faithful to an 'all powerful God,' based on unverifiable circumstances in history: in this case, Moses receiving instructions from a burning bush to lead his people out of Egypt and later on parting the Red Sea. Horrific images of present day radical Islamists and historical Christian crusades in the name of 'God' flashed through my mind. I found it difficult to simply accept what was said: "God's will" as blind faith. It would be near impossible for any scientific/inquiring mind to be persuaded by what was taught. It made me wonder about what the congregation did actually get. 

On the other hand, I thought that the event as a whole was beneficial and even imperative to sustaining the wellbeing of the human psyche, especially in a fast paced society so permeated with technology such as Singapore. After the sermon, Phil entreated people in the audience to come up and "receive God" by asking His forgiveness, which numerous people reciprocated. It was moving to feel the presence of God/love/.. so palpable, surely there was 'healing' taking place(?). 


Overall, it was an experience that got Amber and I talking about a fascinating topic: human nature, and therefore a sunday morning invaluably spent.


http://www.chc.org.sg/eng/index.php

Book Cafe at River Valley.

Tis a damp and cloudy day in Singapore. Amber and I are chilling out at Book Cafe by River Valley Road in Singapore. We've been on the lookout for relaxing and chilled out cafes/spots to read, blog and whatnot and so far we haven't been extremely successful. The best thing about Book Cafe is that there is no blaring music to distract me from reading. The seats are comfortable, its got wifi, and it looks like most of the other patrons are here for the same reasons. The only irritants I'm experiencing are the rather steep menu prices and the two people who are smoking despite the obvious 'No Smoking' signs.

I've finally gotten onto The Awakening of Intelligence, by J. Krishnamurti, which I'm thoroughly enjoying. The author is a world-renowned spiritual teacher and discusses valuable (in my opinion) issues such as the need to change, "religious" experience, man's struggle, and the search for truth. An area I'm finding particularly useful is on the topic of meditation, and how, as he explains, is "not as escape." In recent meditation (this morning and last night), I found my mind irritable and therefore not being unable to sit still and quietly even ending the sessions minutes before the hour is up. I ascertain that this is due to not "living wholesomely" these days just past. My conscience is affected and results in my not being able to practice properly. So I discover directly through my own experience why the precepts for vipassana are given and required: Meditation is not an escape from life and living; the spiritual life cannot be effectively practiced if the events of daily life  are not properly dealt with (5 precepts):

1. Refrain from intentionally harming or taking life
2. Refrain from taking things which are not given to me
3. Refrain from sexual misconduct
4. Refrain from false speech
5. Refrain from intoxicants that confuse the mind. (i.e. drugs & alcohol)

While they act as restraints, the Five Precepts are also intended to harmonise one’s behaviour so they can be expressed as positive qualities:

• Act with compassion and loving-kindness towards all sentient beings. 
• Be open-hearted and generous.
• Practice stillness, simplicity, contentment, and self-restraint.
• Speak with truth, clarity and peace.
• Live with mindfulness.

It has been almost 4 months since my last meditation retreat, and sometimes I wonder if this practice is doing "any good." I find reading about spirituality such as Krishnamurti's book essential and inspirational and I love how I am able to bounce ideas off Amber's eager ears. Even more, I am very pleased to find myself (ourselves) in the habit of meditating on a daily basis. I would definitely feel like something was missing if I were to stop today.

I am finally connected! After weeks of feeling aversion for Singaporeans having their faces constantly buried in their iphones (and I realize this is more due to modern city lifestyle than race), I have purchased a prepaid SIM card to use on a derelict NOKIA cell phone I found lying around the house.

Rickety cellphone doesn't even have a battery casing. Love it~!

Over and out!