And I’m off yet again. So very excited.

In a dilemma … yet again.

I really have not been blogging much lately. Oh well …

First off, the diving trip I went on two weeks back was fun. Granted, my underwater housing flooded … again. I guess either I’m not meant to take photos underwater, or I just have not gotten the hang of the maintenance yet. I know I’ve never been very good at such mundane stuff either. Did a total of 11 dives, which is quite a number. I didn’t manage to see any big stuff during this trip, except for that school of 12 or so Napolean Wrasse and a lone Bumphead Parrotfish. We did visit a site with some cleaner shrimps too. I tried placing my hand on top of that rock where the shrimps are. For some reason, only a shrimp or two ventured onto my hand. Only a prick later they just floated off. Maybe my hand was just too clean for them? Hmm …

Just 5 days after I returned from diving at Pulau Perhentian, I few off for another trip yet again; this time, to Delhi for business. Things do not really change at all. Yes, there have been changes in terms of infrastructure, but apart from that, everything else appeared the same to me. The traffic is as terrible as can be. It’s supposed to be the monsoon season, but through out the 5 days that I was there, I think it only rained twice. It was the second time which really wrecked havoc for me.

The thunderstorm was heavy no doubt about it, but it lasted for only half an hour or so. I didn’t think it mattered that much, but it does apparently. Many flights were delayed, the air crew were late (or so they said), people crowded around the boarding gates and aero bridges were locked. As a result, flights were delayed because a few of the outgoing flights had to be loaded via buses, mine included. In the end, it was delayed by almost two hours. It was simply chaotic.

Just today, I was considering taking my bicycle out for a spin. It’s been eons since I last did so, and I was starting to feel a little nostalgic. Just a few weeks ago, I summed up the courage to lift it off the stand and cleaned it up a little. My, after so many months of neglect, the dust can really settle. What surprised me more was the little creep which decided to make a home inside the horn. It decided to pop-out when I burped it a few times. It looked rather dead to me; I guess it got stuck on the way in. The diaphragm is probably a little rusted or so, for the only sound which came out was a high-pitched whine, not a shock-inducing blast. Hopefully it might get a little better after some real usage.

The Vespa couldn’t start today, for some unknown reason. I had brought it to the workshop for routine servicing just 2 days prior, and right after it was still working fine. So, for some reason, after riding for not even half an hour, it just stalled on the side of the expressway. I could neither kick-start it nor I push-start it.

Thank goodness a good friend of mine had a pick-up. Gave him call, and thankfully he didn’t have anything on. When he arrived, both of us strong-armed the bike onto the back of the pickup! LOL. If it was any other bike, it might not have been possible.

The bike’s now at the workshop. Hopefully they’ll be able to diagnose the problem and get it fixed tomorrow.

It’s a difficult decision that I have, whether to blog about certain issues or to keep silent. Perhaps even a private post would be good, for archiving purposes, and when I want to reflect back on the history.

I’ve not been very consistant with blogging too, with the one lone post every other week at best. I guess I’ve lost the touch / interest? Or perhaps my life is not exciting enough? Right now, it’s almost as good as me living out my existance. There has been a change, one which not many know about, for reasons which might be better kept to myself. I know the reason and I think I’ll want to keep it that way for the time being. Perhaps in the near future when the time is ripe.

I still believe that everything happens for a reason. I just don’t know it yet. I only hope that at the end of the day, I’ll come out of this having learnt valuable lessons, which will no doubt aid me in the future. Decisions were made before, and well things led to other things. There was no regret per se, but still, perhaps it could have been better handled, as always.

No point looking back and wishing for the sky to fall. Might as well look forward and wait for the sun rise.

Yes, the signs of neglect are showing. My first update in as many months; not good at all. Restarting this is not gonna be easy; just like how difficult it was for me when I restarted climbing a couple of years ago. Tough and not very rewarding at first.

Just two days back, I had a very enjoyable gathering. No surprises for guessing – one of the members is departing for an extended period. The food was not very spectacular – nothing to brag about. It was at a restaurant serving Thai cuisine. It was nice, except that the dishes were a little too spicy for my liking. As usual, these gatherings were for us to get updated on the ongoings of each other. About time too, since apparently one of us appears to be on his way to getting hitched! Interestingly, the “interrogation” session did not last very long. Good thing for him too. Anyway, I guess when our good friend feels comfortable introducing his partner, he’ll do so. In the meantime, we just have to wait and see.

The post dinner was good too, since a coffee joint was conveniently located just beside the restaurant. It was nice, just spending time with the gang.

Tomorrow marks the end of my travelling stint for 2008. I will definitely not be heading overseas during the long weekends. It would be nice that’s for sure. However, with less than 6 months validity left in my passport, that’s not going to happen. I intend to make a new passport, but it’ll also depend on how long that will take. It’s supposed to be pretty quick though.

Yeah, after tomorrow, I don’t see myself travelling on any business trips until 2009. It’s still not firm if I’ll be required to head back to Sydney, but from what I’ve been hearing, that’s highly likely. Only tricky issue will be the timing. I’ve already got several events which I’ll want to attend all listed out. How it will all pan out remains to be seen.

It’s been an amazing year for me. All in all, I’ve spent a total of 257 days out of the country! It didn’t seem that much at first, but after counting, I’m amazed by the numbers. It’s a quick and dirty count, starting from the day I fly until the day I touch down in Changi Airport, but it’s a good enough count for me anyway.

The shortest trip was 5 days, and the longest time spent abroad, 90 days. If this is what 2008 has thrown at me, I’m interested at what’s in store for me in 2009. If all goes well, time spent overseas is not the only thing I’m aiming to improve upon. There’s one more, and well, I think it’s something better to be left until the time is right.

Oh, and apparently I do not have to pay any tax, since I’ve been out of the country for as long as I have! That’s a double bonus in itself! Yeah!

Sometimes, I wonder if I’m cut-out for whatever that I’m doing right now. It seems to me more like a management sort of work, but as the days go by, I get that sinking that I’m just not up to it.

I’m not the kind of person to apply pressure onto others just to get something done, but that is something which is required of me.

Perhaps I’m just too nice?

Finally, I’m back in singapore … for now that is. A short break for be to reclaim my sanity before I jump with both feet forward back into the hot pot. I had a good excuse, which was to get a new Indian visa. It’s true, although it should be able to get it done at the singapore embassy in India, but why do it there when you can return and escape the intensity and madness of it all?

Should be here for a week or so, at least until I book my return flight back to New Delhi. Looking at the 16th of June for now.

… heard this year:

“… finally you changed your phone!”

Yeah, it’s been a really long time. And I’m not the only one keeping track.