28 Jan 2007 — This is just a frivolous blog that I’ve wanted to put together for a while now, cause I’m absolutely, just absolutely blown away by the variety of fruits we get here at the resort. It’s definitely better than Sydney, and I’d say it almost supercedes Singapore save for a few items. So come come, let me show you the colourful world of fruits here at Hilton Maldives.

So first of all, very straightfoward, there’s the array from the breakfast buffet — and just in case you can’t quite make them out, let me start listing them for you: passionfruit, guava, papaya, honeydew, watermelon, rambutan, snakeskin fruit(?!?), pears, peaches… and on the other side, apricots, nectarines, oranges, red apples…

There are also longans, yep, fresh ones.

With a closer look, starfruit, kiwis and dragonfruit can also be detected. Yeah! Dragonfruit!??

At the breakfast buffet, there’s also the cheeseplatter.

Yes, Billie, you know how much of a sucker I am for this. But strangely now that I have ready access to it, it has lost its appeal. The only time I’ve had some was at Carsten’s X’mas party. So anyway, here we find strawberries, green grapes and red globes…

This would be my regular breakfast, though in most cases, it would be either the yoghurt or the rye bread with peanut butter and jam, not both together. And yes, this is a whole mish-mash fresh fruit salad…
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26 Jan 2007 — So funny, just the other day was talking to Shihui, who’s trying to visit for her birthday, and she said, “Eh, remember to update your blog.” Haha! Of course I’m very flattered that some of you are such devout readers, but people, I am living on an island you know… An island which takes only 20 minutes to circle on foot! Like, there really isn’t that much to do or talk about. You guys who live on substantial land masses should be the ones blogging so that people like me have something to occupy ourselves with! But okai… I’ll try to come up with something… hey, and speaking of which, it was GREAT to chat to someone from “home”. Thanks for calling Shihui! And I’m sorry I couldn’t get you the rooms. Man… I was SO SURE we had a few in hiding that we could definitely squeeze out, but geez, apparently we are COMPLETELY booked out till March. You know what that means, us staff will be kept on our toes till then. In a way it’s good, time passes a lot quicker.

So what’s been happening here in Rangali? Well, just last Saturday, we had our annual Team Party. Cause as expected, some staff had to work on New Year’s Day and hence couldn’t partake in the celebrations, to make up for that, the company actually organises a separate party at a later date, so that at least everyone gets a turn to par-teh! As it turns out, most of us staff agree this Team Party is waaay more fun than the NYE one anyway, so no big loss to those guys really.
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26 Jan 2007 — Happy Australia Day! This was Elli, my Aussie roommate’s attempt at celebrating her culture. This and vegemite.

13 Jan 2007 — Was looking through my notes yesterday, and came across this poem given to us on graduation day. Kind of explains why I’m here in the Maldives…

13 Jan 2007 — Yup, my last off day did come and go, and no, I didn’t blog about it. It might not sound like a good thing, but I have been swamped at work, and am actually enjoying it. The work that I’m doing here as opposed to Chiva Som has been much more creative, analytical, varied, engaging and rewarding, and I’m also learning many management type skills along the way. I must say that initially I had my hesitations with regards to my supervisory role. Needless to say, being the “new kid on the block” and having been instructed by my managers to be firm with the therapists and receptionists, I found it pretty challenging to carry out the tall order. Met with a lot of resistance, and for a few days there, I even felt like “public enemy number 1”. Not a great feeling I can tell you. Hard enough trying to fit into the new environment without all the unnecessary hostility. And frankly, this whole “having to supervise people” thing is sooo not me. I felt so misunderstood. Felt like telling the girls, “Actually I very nice one, I really am!”

Come to think of it, hee hee, other than perhaps Billie, I’ve never had to boss anyone around. And in fact, I’ve always been more inclined to work independently. Yep, see the thing is, where it comes to work, I set very high standards, and often do not trust others to follow through on them. So very often, I’d rather just do whatever the task is at hand on my own, so that in my own mind at least, it’s perfect. Well, coming here has taught me that sometimes, you have no choice but to delegate, to free the reins so to speak, and in the act of which, relinquish trust unto someone else. Scary… Hmm… sounds like I have “trust” issues. But nah, another week has passed since, and I think the girls are slowly but surely warming up to me. So yep, on the workfront – all’s good.

Unfortunately though, ‘cos my workdays are so long, and I’m actually (surprise, surprise) having to use my brain, it doesn’t leave me with the energy at day’s end to do much more than have dinner, bathe, maybe watch some telly, chat to Billie, stone for a bit, and geez, issit just me, or does every other girl out there wish somehow when we hit the bed, our makeup instantaneously disappears from our face, leaving fresh, clean, toned and moisturized skin?!! This whole skincare routine shit just takes up waaay too much of our lives!
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2 Jan 2007 — Received a really lovely email from my laoba for new year’s. Very jialat, because I was in the office, almost burst out crying when I read it, especially the last bit about Milou, our cat, that passed away on 27 September at 7.45pm after succumbing to kidney failure. I’m sure he’s in a happy place now. Heh heh and of course, laoba being laoba, can’t help sending a few fatherly words of advice along with all his well-wishes.

Hi girl,

Mum, dad, Seannie and Bubble. ( we miss Meeloo at this time )

1 Jan 2007!!! — Don’t get me wrong, I think the resort’s done a fabulous job of setting the mood — a whole lamb on the roast, live bands, dance performances from several departments including one with all the managers, a deejay spinning tunes for the rest of the night, free alcoholic drinks for all staff members, crackers, sparklers, balloons, party hats, two boats, one with lights that spelt out “2006″, which was sailing away, another with the whole shebang — lights spelling out “2007″, fake dolphins splashing in and out of the sea, a gushing fountain, which was sailing in towards the shore — I mean seriously, they couldn’t have done a more brilliant job. But see, that’s exactly it, it was all too busy for me. So whilst I was sociable enought to go to the countdown, I wasn’t sufficiently convival to hang around much longer than that. Loud music, dancing, getting drunk and possibly molested wasn’t quite what I was after, so much like a child who has discovered a more interesting game elsewhere, I quietly snuck away, far from the maddening crowd.

Instead, I headed to one of my favourite spots on the island, on the opposite end, where with each step that I took, the deafening music faded more and more away. I had arrived. Once again, I was facing the immense ocean. A quick glance around to confirm that no one else was about. Great, I’m now alone with just the ocean and my thoughts. And the only thing I can hear is the wind in my hair, and the waves breaking on the shore. Otherwise all is peaceful, quiet and calm. Above the stars peeked out from behind the clouds, the moon high in the sky. It was lovely, and just how I wanted it to be this dawn of a new year.

And far from feeling lonely, I felt embraced. I have travelled a fair bit, but never have I been so moved by nature as when I first laid eyes on the waters of Maldives, and as I do now, facing the ocean. I can’t quite describe it, except to say I feel completely understood, forgiven and enveloped by it. It has been my dearest friend these last two weeks, someone I could always turn to at the end of a day. And unlike with people, there was no need for words, we communicated just by being in each other’s presence, and I am healed just by listening. I am blessed to be in this magical place. Here too I feel God’s omnipresence. I thank her for sending me here. I know she has plans for me, and in the days to come, I shall travel far and wide, but I also know that Maldives will always be special.

I am not alone. On this night, I also feel my Billie so close to me. I know I am constantly in his thoughts as he is mine. I also know that my parents are thinking of me, and friends from all around the world are sending me love and well-wishes even though sometimes they are too busy to communicate it aloud or in writing. God has been very good to me, and to Billie. For the new year, I ask that he grants me the patience and wisdom to see the positive aspect in every situation and person. And for you my dear friends and family, I wish you well. May the year ahead be the one where all your wildest dreams come true! Have a good one!

p/s: By the way, if anyone comes across my 2006, do let me know. Somehow it’s gone missing. My 2005 too for that matter…