Playlist # 1: 5km Running Tracks

I have yet to run without any music buzzing in my ear. I don't think I am able to run just by hearing my own inner voice trying to motivate me to keep on running.. or assuring me that the pain is temporary..

I need more than that.. I need running tracks. A set of playlist that is supposed to help me run faster and longer. I posted this on fb because a friend asked me to share the playlist with them..

I consider myself a universal listener. I enjoy all sorts of music genre as long as it goes well with my mood.. (at any point in time)..Heh. 
 
So here it goes; my 5km playlist in this order - this list is compiled, tested and proven for making me feel all pumped up at the beginning, helped me find my comfortable pace, pushing me farther in the middle and motivated me to finish the run till the end.

1. Eminem - Lose Yourself
2. The Roots - How I Got Over
3. Wisin & Yandel - Irresistible
4. Papa Roach - To Be Loved.
5. The Roots - Here I Come
6. Gun N Roses - Paradise City
7. Stonesour - Sillyworld
8. Three Days Grace - Animal I Have Become
9. Chromeo - Fancy Footwork
10.Big Boi- ShutterBug
11. Swedish House Mafia - Don't Worry Child

 Photo: My first Solomon Trail 10km Trail Run

Note : Willing to try anything (well mostly anything).

A friend asked me what have I been up to lately. In response to her question,  I said, "Plenty".

Then she went on and asked me, "Anything of your own?"

I didn't quite catch the meaning of it, so I asked her what did she really mean.

She laughed and told me that usually whatever that I have going on is because of my boyfriend. I will take after whatever that he is currently into; hobbies and activities.

LOL.

Looking back at all the things I've done, it rings true for the most part of it.

I always ended up doing things that my boyfriend is doing. In my defense, it is normally because I support whatever that he wants to do and I don't mind learning and taking up the challenge even if it means that I have to do new things, things that is out of my comfort zone. Things that am not used to. (Hence the tagline of this blog).

That is where the fun lies, isn't it?
Usually the boyfriend would ask (politely most of the time), if I want to join him for *insert suggested activity here*..

Of course I would!!

I learned to surf and dive because of my ex and now am running, cycling and sketching because my current boyfriend, Mr Snots. He is a runner and very artsy fartsy kinda guy. We have been together for almost 5 years now and all I can say is that my knack of "stealing" his activities is working well. Haha.

But what people fail to see is that I don't have to try too hard to do all these new things. It usually comes naturally to me. I have always been active ever since I was in school. Even back then when I was in Uni, I enjoyed doing outdoorsy activities and I still play futsal now...occasionally. So taking up other sports or outdoorsy activities because of my boyfriend is no big deal. I can adapt easily.

Not many people know that I have always been drawing and doodling, but of course it was not to the point of what am doing now - going out sketching. I have always loved paintings in general, but to be presented with an opportunity of starting a small business of our own? No one is their right mind would want to pass that up.

I guess my relationship sparks new interests in me, or even brought out and heightened all the interesting stuff that lies underneath my mundane life. We bonded during these times and it is beyond fun that I have someone to do all these things together although I don't mind if doing it all alone either. With all that is going on right now, I am not complaining.


But really, don't you want a girlfriend that is more than willing to take up all the challenges thrown at her? You should feel loved .... or .. maybe a bit intimidated. :)

Scenes from all my cycling trips -some with Mr Snots, some I went cycling alone.

A sketch challenge from a friend.

When I uploaded my first ever sketch (after gazillion years of not drawing anything) on Facebook, a good friend; a good sport and also an annoying bugger most of the time; asked me whether I was be able to draw this photo that he took of his village. A picturesque mount of Gunung Ledang overlooking the paddy field. It is a gorgeous piece of photography indeed.

So I tried and failed. LOL.

Sketching

Sketching has been taking so much of my free time lately. I love the feeling of getting absorbed in the process of translating the image in front of my eyes on paper. Skills are pretty rusty, and I hope with a lot of practice, I will be able to gain back my steady hand.

I still feel a bit awkward and slightly embarrassed in doing sketches in public; with people looking over my shoulder and the heat.. oh my god the heat. Sometimes when the heat was just too much for me to handle, I took a picture of the place and sketched it at home.

Sketching of a picture googled for Cinque Terre, Italy.
My ultimate travel plan. I wish I will someday get to go there and sketch the the coast live.
One can always dream..

Sunny Poppies.

Behind Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Last weekend, we decided that we were just too tired of shopping malls - we have always hated the malls but we always go there to eat and it is the closest to home. So we decided to take it outside and go to the places that we think we can just sit down for few hours and let our mind absorb all the surroundings - and after much deliberation we ended up in Medan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur. That day was a very hot day  but we managed to find a spot under this massive tree and spent an hour or so sketching.

Planning to go out sketching more.

 

Paying our respect and its expectations.

In Asian's community, Filial Peity is a tradition or a virtue of paying respect to our old folks or ancestors.To be specific, our parents. It is a known tradition where as grown up, we are supposed to take care of our parents in any way that we can; to be there helping them out physically, financially and last but not least, emotionally.

Growing up, I was brought up with an expectation that I should study hard so that I could make enough money and take care of my parents. Although it was not laid out to be that blatant, but psychologically, we have this thinking that we want to be able to make enough money so that we can repay our parents back for all their hard work and all the hardships that they went through raising us up.

This concept is entrenched in our brain and we can't escape it.

As much as I am against the idea of putting such burden and expectations to a child, this is a norm in our community. The sense of pride and achievement one can get when they are able to provide for their parents is beyond explanation.

As for me, I help as much as I can. My parents are not expecting anything much but at their age, the simplest sentiment that I have for them is that they should no longer have to worry about paying the bills. Financially, my parents are doing ok because between me and my brothers, we have our own area of responsibilities. Although my dad has enough pension money for his use, my brothers and I also have collective allowance that we set aside every month for them. Whatever that could ease their mind, we will take care of it.

Unfortunately, being able to provide them with financial support, isn't always the ideal case. Since they are getting old by the day, we are also worried about their health and whether someone is close enough  if something bad happen. I think I am lucky that my aunties and uncles are closed by but at the back of my head, I always worry about these small things - the unforeseen circumstances and the what-ifs. The best that I can do it is to call them up and ask about their day and their well being.

When I go back to visit them, I will help my mom clean her house, get things organised and buy household items that could last them until my next visit. But of course, surrounded by other shallow minded and stupid people, those people tend to highlight our (my brothers and I) weaknesses.

- how we only managed to go back few months once.
- they instill fear and guilt about if anything were to happen to my parents, we won't be able to be there on time.
- how their kids are always there for them, live with them and take care of them.

You know,  am sure if  my mom or my dad hear about this on a daily basis, they will tend to "feel" the same way.  I know I will.

This is when the internal conflicts start pouring in.

- We were asked to study hard, get a nice job and be "somebody". Now we  are being compared to someone who is not doing so well in life (as in job),  still stay with their parents of which automatically makes it convenient for them to take care of their parents (or maybe the parents are taking care of them..who knows)

- I love my parents, don't get me wrong, but I don't think I can live with them under one roof. We are all grown ups now and we tend to bicker on so many things. We have different views on how things or life should be. It is quite unimaginable to see myself living with them anymore. We will miss each other more if we haven't seen each other in a while and when we are far apart. I want to keep it that way in order to make the relationship / closeness / arrangement work.

- I love the sentiment of taking care of our parents, I do want to take care of them. But, they had the chance to live their lives well back then and I think it is quite unfair if we are now expected to just drop everything and dedicate our life for their need. There should be some balance. I want to be able to be there for them and at the same time, I want to do things for myself.

These are only my thoughts. My opinions. I don't actually talk about these issues with my parents because I know they never really have any complaints and most importantly, I don't want to hurt their feelings. I know for the fact that even my dad wouldn't want me to stay with them. But you know, we think about stuff people say every now and then.
 
It's okay for people to think that I might not be an ideal child for my parents. All I need is for my parents to feel that I am an OK daughter for them because I love them with all my heart and I would do anything for them. Just at times, expectations can really kill the symbiosis that we have going on.

My dad and his Monster Beats Headphone by Dre. :)