Eat, Play, Laugh at Auronzo, Province Of Belluno, Veneto,Italia.

The most happening dinner i ever had in Italy, with this guys chatting over wine and food.. and Italian  joke that i couldn't even catch, they are marvellous people.

If you could recall the Novel written by Elizabeth Gilbert, on EAT, PRAY,LOVE.. or the movie on Julia Robert last November 2010, about her journey to discovery, that is how exactly i would like to describe the life (la vita) in Auronzo,Province of Belluno. Well, of course, nonetheless working hard for a living has been in the blood of a pressured economy in Italy; but the pressured and hardwork, plus the "family & friends precious time" is what made the fulfilled life of Venetia.

The continuous barbeque of pork chop, lamb got the guys excited :)

I have the privilege to attend Roberto (a good friend of Marco and Sarah) house warming. Talking about house warming.. There goes the food, (panne, funghi, yes.. the salami ) and of course the wine (Vino) and whole lots of  barbequeue. The table were arranged bypass everyone to say "Ciao, me chiamo Melissa, piacerre".. and throw this Asian smile all the way.. (yes i like the feeling) but hey... at certain point of time i also escaped with Deborah to the quiet place of  montana ( mountain) where you see the whole stretch of pine trees just along your eyes. 

This is the kind of Pork chop i am talking about, solely porky, so you can imagine i come back with a tonnes of kilos gained :)

Sara, brings her passion anywhere she go, her kitchenette we set up in Roberto's house even ! 

Some private time with Deborah... Grazie Deb for this photo. 

The fiesta went all day long, through the lazy afternoon and night where, the man sleep after getting drunk and we too went back for a refreshing shower and rest after the play at the scenery river with clean clear water and funghi hunt ( mushroom hunt ) at the Brusco( jungle).

At that beautiful night, Maoro (our fellow musician) performed his passion, the typical Italian acoustic and family music; the night went on with laughter.

Till then, Dolce Far Niente. 

When the going gets tough; the tough gets going

The first ever Outward Bound I have joint, wasn't with a bunch of tough fellows , hunk or even super tough cookies ; but being a compulsory team building event by this unique organization i am in. I have no choice, nor anyway to escape this 2 days "mental & physical stimulus" challenge to conquer the fear in me. OBS Kinarut Papar,is an international eco- adventure park, and non-profit organization that does not only provide physical and mental challenge but also the human team spirit in an organization. 

The center is 25minutes drives from KKIA ( Kota Kinabalu International Airport), 30 minutes to the city of Kota Kinabalu, and  20 minutes to the largest army camp in the state.

Well, as usual pictures speaks a thousand words, photos below are expressions of  my colleagues being snapped by our  paparazzi in the house (Lawrie), Suzie, Roland and Joe ( They are unique Sabahan indigenous heritage buddies of mine with strong features and characters i will talk more about them one day if i have the chance) ... Suzie, one tough cookie- looking upon the challenges being assigned to them. Roland

( in black shirt) -deep thought on how to contribute his strength to the team, and Joe Bonaventure another Lundayeh boy from Tenom, which gives me a total different perspective of how a caliber nativity should be. :)   

Susi, Joe & Roland- accepting task assigned

Rijel & Willie@ Giant Ladder Challenge

Well, at this point of time. self courage and trust ... mind over matter; nor matter over mind.

This is as high as a 30 years old Acacia Tree- when you are up there
the green as far as the eye can see and a quiet that's pierce only by the whizzing of the wind, telling you
"You enjoyed that didn't you?" 

 Beside the giant ladder climb, that challenged the fear in us; we also had a day of arms out stretched raft.. the canoe and Bamboo rafting- This put the megawatt expression on
everyone :)

 

 

 This is the 2 hour canoe- and no joke i 've got hell of a muscle after the 2 hour intensive forward command by Suzie

There were Mr Crocs hiding while we were busy canoeing..  but he is tolerant enough to let us be.

"Kopeng" time.. where canoes are park side by side.. 

The 

"Adrenaline Rush" - to die or to win faces :)

 

The "Crying Leader" - me being snapshot at my utmost shout ! 

The "Lost" expression .. ahh , i cant remember or he was just too exhausted ! 

Nevertheless, be in winning or losing " The satisfying Expression"  

keep us warm from the cooling rain water. 

 Just as i was saying- The Expression of LOVE

This camp- its not about winning or losing, fit or unfit ; but it is about the development of teamwork, 

the importance of our surrounding, and the significance of communication in our life. 

This 2 days 1 night camp- has enable many of us to conquer our fear, from the giant within. 

KUDOS !

Love understand all languages

I live my life based on LOVE. I love my parents, family, relatives, friends,my partner,my job and not least my pets...

If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong; If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give up all I possess and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; it does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will pass away; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a woman, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.

- I Corinthians, chapter 13

My side of Story About Bali- Indonesia.

Bali-Perhaps a common holiday or honeymoon destination for anyone around but this island has rather changed my life.. and relatively meant a lot to me.

Bali has made me fumble and fell in love again.This guy ... i ve met 2 years back, was my friend, my business partner, workmate and now i would say, the one i ador... Have it mentioned and you'll be surprise.. Yes.. he is Emi.. the one you know from KK, Sabah. ( i m sorry but i cant help to express this to share my joy with you with my simplest,direct sentence i can think of)

Before my journey, I pray to god to indicate me a direction or at least a hint on my decision to move on with this guy. And... without due deligence, he is a total sweetheart despite being a father of 3,a boss for 64 employees and once a responsible husband before.


In Bali, we stayed with a lovely old couple Richard & Vaile,whom are the second parents for him in Nusa Dua,Karang Putih. With much surprise, i was told we are going to spend a week with them and i was shock, feeling sligt inferior and nervous.. with butterfly in my stomach.I have to admit, he has been a naturally caring, gentleman and plan ahead .. Although i was having difficulty in catching up with the Australian slang of Richard and Vaile's conversation, i was actually impressed by his way of presenting me to them. Nonetheless, anyone would appreciate it for more.


Now here is our 4 days travelling scehdule, it was a tiry one but a total eye opener for me. The hinduism citizens of Bali are generally artisitic, friendly and well verse in english..


Day 1 : Riding on our Yamaha Neo Scooter and headed Downtown.. Uluwatu for the surfers zone,Denpasar and Jembarom for Seafood Bakar. Rush Back at 4pm, and prepare for dinner with Richard, Vaile and some guests.


Day 2 : 3 hours drive to Negara, North west of Bali- to view the man made Statue custom ordered by him.. and yes.. it was absolutely tiry ...

Day 3 : Another tiry day.. 2 hours drive to Kintamani ( the active volcano),Ubud ( the little craving town and sand stone craving),on the way back, we manage to stop by the monkey garden...


Day 4 : Statue hunting for mama.. manage to get a 1/4 m tall God of Mercy for mama, gorgeous and very well defined.

Finally, preparing to return to Sabah, via Jakarta.. and thats where i felt totally uneasy and started to get annoyed with the tears that kept droping from my eyes... its Conjunctivitist!

I know, feeling and falling in love is way too easy then building and maintaining a love. Mom is going to be very dissapointed as i chose a man whom is not her league. Dad will be happy as ever that finally her little girl is in love again. However, it is too hard to make everyone happy.. i always think that everyone deserve a second chance to be their best and fall in love again.

" People are often unreasonable,illogical and self-centered;forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.

If you are succesful, you will win some false friends and some enemies;suceed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,people may cheat you;be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;be happy anyway.

The good you do today,people will often forget tomorrow;Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;give the world the best you've

got anyway."Kent .M

The final analysis, is still between us and God... only when we are tested that we discover who we can be. The other side of the world still exist... with hardwork, faith and belief, and beyond heartache and fear of what lies ahead...

with that, i wish everyone had a sweet valentine day, be it with you family, friends and even love ones...