My Miscellany: In the Company of Me

A stretch of National Road #31 with the mountains of Kampong Trach, Kampot province in the background.

Empty road, devoid of vehicles as far as the eye can see.

Posted in Litratista, Wordless Wednesday

Just a few weeks ago, I started taking yoga classes again at the Kundalini Yoga House in Boeungkengkang district. I have never done Kundalini yoga before and my previous yoga experience was awhile ago where I took Ashtanga yoga with my former officemate Tara. At that time, I wasn't so diligent about it. 

After years of being inactive and leading an almost sedentary life working behind the desk most of the times I've developed a chronic back problem. For years, I endured the pain and when I couldn't bear anymore that's when I finally decided to see a physiotherapist. I had a total of 15 expensive sessions with this French physio but there wasn't any slightest change at all. I felt I was shortchanged. 

My back never get back to 100% fitness. For the last 4 years or so I bore the excruciating pain without any intervention, well, except for a few massage sessions here and there and the back rubs from my husband. So when a friend of mine invited me to go with her to a yoga class, I had my doubts on its effectiveness in relieving my back pain. 

There is clearly a big difference between Ashtanga Yoga and Kundalini Yoga. The Ashtanga method involves synchronizing the breath with a series of intense postures. The Kundalini way, on the other hand, goes beyond the physical performance of poses because its emphasis is more on breathing, meditation, and chanting.  chanting. However, Kundalini poses can also be very intense, that I am finding out. Imagine pumping your stomach repeatedly while holding your breath, or performing a pose while breathing in a certain way. What I really, really love about Kundalini is that before the class ends, we lie down on our backs and listen to a song and let our mind wander (is this meditation? hahah). After this, Mindy, our teacher, plays a closing song which we listen to or, if we know the lyrics, sing along with. The singer's voice resonates around the room and I feel the energy from it coming to me that I happily sit there listening till its over.

I may be new to Kundalini but, so far, I can really say that it is very relaxing to the mind (how many times have I drifted off to sleep during relaxation exercises?) and very invigorating to the body. After only six classes, I already noticed a slight decrease in the intensity of my back pain. I plan to continue Kundalini and I am really hoping the pain will go away. After each class, I feel a calming sense, a sense of well-being. I wish I can say more but I am just beginning to discover Kundalini yoga. 


I am grateful to Josiet for bringing me back into yoga. Okorn charan.

Posted in Chatterbox, Do, Fitness and Health, Yoga

And here's another meme to complete the week.

Rules: We all are fans. Be it Star Trek or Twilight, you are a fan of something. Pick a subject, book, TV or movie series. Now tell us all about it!


1. The first character I fell in love with:

2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Professor Severus Snape

3. The character I would shag anytime: none at all!


4. The character I'd slap: Lieutenant Horatio Caine

5. Who are my 3 favorite characters. Wolverine, Captain Jack Sparrow, Cathy

6. What are my 3 favorite pairings: Edward Lewis-Vivian Ward (Pretty Woman), Mr and Mrs Smith, Mr and Mrs Incredible

7. Which character I'm most like. Cathy

8. The coolest thing about the canon: Errm, which canon is this, the one that takes pictures?


9. The lamest crappiest thing about the canon: See #8

10. My guiltiest pleasure in this fandom: Don't have one.

11. What story I wish I could read (or art I wish I could see) = the artworks found at the Louvre Museum and many others

12. What story I wish I had written/still want to write : The story of my life!

Posted in Sunday Stealing, The Meme-ista

Okay, another week of mutterings again. I was thinking of posting about the fun fair but this has to go first.

1. Hell :: inferno, Hades
2. Scott :: tissue paper
3. Dominion :: rule
4. Stunt :: action
5. Cougar :: Jennifer Aniston
6. Columbia :: Ivy League university
7. Gasp :: shock, surprise
8. Cancerous :: malignant
9. Bitty :: tiny
10. Quit :: resign

Posted in The Meme-ista, Unconscious Mutterings

I had forgotten to set this entry into auto-post as I got busy with a lot of things. I had fun answering this one so I hope you enjoyed reading it, too.

01. Real First Name: Zarah

02. Birthday: March 31

03. Where do you live: Currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

04: What are you studying/What are you working as: Used to work for a non-governmental organisation, now as a simple stay-at-home wife, am working on my home-making skills :D

05. What makes you happy: When everybody around me are happy that makes me happy.

06. What are you listening to now/have listened to last: Across the Universe movie soundtrack

07. What is particularly good/bad about your blog: I just started this blog so I can't tell yet... but my other blog tells about life as an expat in Cambodia. Now is that good or bad? You be the judge.

08. An interesting fact about you: I used to be a gymnast and a judoka :D

09. Are you in love/have a crush at the moment: Always in love and, of course, I have a crush on my favourite tennis player Rafael Nadal! I'm glad my husband understands this particular girlish streak!

10. Favorite place to be: home.

11. Favorite lyric: Okay, this is from a Des'ree song (Fire, duet with Babyface) that summed up how I felt for a boy a long, long time ago:

You had a hold on me right from the start
A grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart
My nerves all jumpin' actin' like a fool
Well my kisses might burn
But my heart stays cool

12. Best time of the year: Christmas

13. Weirdest food you like: Bok kapik

RECOMMEND

01. A film: Across the Universe

02. A book: The BFG and Matilda both by Roald Dahl, Harry Potter series (hihihi...you know, the saying..." don't let the child in you die...")

03. A song: Fire by Des'ree and Babyface

04: A band: No-name band :D

PLUS

01. One thing you like about a blogger that you have not met: blog earnings *ka-ching!*

02. Two things you like about yourself: I can cross my eyes and roll my tongue. I am funny and carefree most of the times but can be depended on when the need arises.

03. Name three things that you need in a lover: patience, humour, and has to know what I want and how to get it (*lol*)

Posted in Sunday Stealing, The Meme-ista

1. Drug :: medication
2. Questions :: doubts
3. Active :: sprightly
4. Facts :: reality, situation
5. Amount :: quantity
6. Supervise :: manage
7. Ingredients :: recipe
8. Dentist :: pain
9. Meal :: chow
10. Packaging :: recycled

Posted in The Meme-ista, Unconscious Mutterings

This is my first entry to Wordless Wednesday.

Posted in The Meme-ista, Wordless Wednesday

I found this interesting meme from blogger-friend Lui of Just My Ragbag and I instantly liked it. There are only a few memes that I find interesting and fun, and Sunday Stealing is definitely one of them. Memes, to me, are like chain-letters but are certainly better because it doesn't promise of something horrible happening to you if you don't follow the directions as instructed. So I am joining the Sunday Stealing bandwagon for the first time and these are my answers:

1. Never in my life have I been: to see a doctor alone. I'm scared of doctors. Someone has to accompany me or else, I wouldn't go. It's a phobia that started when I was young.

2. The one person who can drive me nuts is: me.

3. High school was: not as memorable as when I was in university. My university days were the best years of my life. My classmates (and schoolmates and roommates as well) were from the different provinces of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions of the Philippines. We entered the university as gawky teenagers of different economic backgrounds with different personalities, full of questions, hope and idealism, enthusiasm and energy for learning, for life and for the future. We left the university after 4 years (5 years for some) filled with lessons learned and bittersweet memories - fun experiences, hard work, heartaches, frustrations, successes big and small - enough to last us a lifetime.

4. When I’m nervous I: bite my nails.

5. The last song I listened to was: Embraceable You

6. If I were to get married right now my best man/maid of honor: My very dear friend Macelia.

7. My hair is: shoulder-length, black, and dangerously straight (according to the packaging of the conditioner that I'm currently using).

8. When I was 5: I was given the role of an angel in our school's nativity play.

9. Last Christmas: was celebrated quietly just like we used to. Had a nice dinner with my husband and capped the night with drinks in our favorite bar.

10. I should be..: saving money for our cycling adventure.

11. When I look down I see: my hairy legs! Just kidding. *lol*

12. The happiest recent event was: my birthday lunch with friends and the lovely weekend I had with my husband

13. If I were a character on 'Friend' I would be: no one. I can't relate myself to any of the characters in that show.

14. By this time next year: I should be on a cycling trip with my husband.

15. My current gripe is: my weight-loss plan is always at a stand-still. I always find reasons to put off dieting and exercise.

16. I have a hard time understanding: numbers, numbers, numbers! I am hopeless.

17. There’s this girl I know that: stays up all night just to watch her favorite tennis player's matches on television or via internet streaming. Who could it be?

18. If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: my husband, of course :D

19. Take my advice: Live and let live.

20. The thing I want to buy: DSLR cam, bicycle (Giant brand) and accessories

21. If you visited the place I was born: you'll be treated to fresh seafoods - milkfish, variety of shells, oysters, prawns, crabs, shrimps, etc. - as much as you want. You will also hear stories of supernatural beings.

22. I plan to visit: Bhutan and Tibet. Hopefully soon.

23. If you spent the night at my house: I will make samlor kari saramann and rice or nompang for dinner, have beer with my husband, chit-chatting or watching a movie, with my two rascals - Max and Joe.

24. I’d stop my wedding if: someone appears from nowhere screaming she is carrying my fiance's baby.

25. The world could do without: corruption, hatred, greed, pollution, poverty.

26. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: hold a snake.

27. Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: crochet yarns! how dorky is that?

28. Most recent thing someone else bought me: perfume and antique jewelry (on my birthday!)

29. My favorite blonde is: Betty Cooper

30. My favorite brunette is: Penelope Cruz

31. My favorite red head is: Archie Andrews

32. My middle name is: my father's last name.

33. In the morning I: do some stretching, brush my teeth and take the dogs for a walk.

34. The animals I would like to see flying besides birds are: butterflies, of course!

35. Once, at a bar: I downed 3 shots of B-52 and went home drunk, falling on the ground a few times much to the amusement of my friends. It happened in Boracay :/

36. Last night I was: able to successfully activate my new domain :D

37. There’s this guy I know who: I dated long time ago but never really gave him a serious thought. Now, he's a big-time producer for an international news organisation. Drat.

38. If I was an animal I’d be: a tiger. ROARRRRR. Wait, I'm born in the year of the tiger :D

39. A better name for me would be: I wouldn't ask for any other name, I think ZARAH suits me well.

40. Tomorrow I am: going to meet friends for coffee.

41. Tonight I am: going to bed early.

42. My birthday is: March 31

Posted in Sunday Stealing, The Meme-ista

Posted in Chatterbox

Posted in Chatterbox