Have you ever really loved a woman?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7rDQEF9Rc

Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
To really love a woman
To understand her

You gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought

See every dream
And give her wings when she wants to fly
Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman

When you love a woman you tell her
that she's really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one
She needs somebody to tell her
that it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really
really really ever loved a woman?

To really love a woman
Let her hold you
till you know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her - really taste her
Till you can feel her in your blood
And when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
Ya know you really love a woman

When you love a woman
you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one
She needs somebody to tell her
that you'll always be together
So tell me have you ever really
really really ever loved a woman?

You got to give her some faith - hold her tight
A little tenderness - gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
You really gotta love your woman...

According to Bryan Adams.

I really, really, REALLY like this song. As a matter of fact, I posted it in my Facebook profile. In the hope that a particular someone might read it, or at least have a glance at it...

I just think that a special someone has got to have an important role in someone's life... A special place in that someone's heart, a special 'treatment'... And then because that particular someone is so special in a person's heart, he or she should be the first person who should know of the other one's doings in particular... Well, I could be wrong. But that's basically what I have in mind.

And I guess I deserve that special treatment too...

I ran!

And finished half marathon 21km...


THRICE!!! :) Hehe

1) 22 November 2009, Sandakan Sepilok Nature Half Marathon Run 2009 - 3 hours and 6 minutes

2) 2 May 2010, Borneo International Marathon 2010 - 2 hours and 56 minutes (Pic 2, yellow vest)

3) 27 June 2010, Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2010 - 2 hours and 46 minutes (Pic 1, with my handsome fiance)

I'm happy with my uphill achievements :)

I plan to do better though...

Next, Penang Bridge!

Tiger & Tompong

Meet Tiger and Tompong... :) Tiger is a 10 years old male orangutan and Tompong is a 8-year-old female. If you look at the drawing, they are both doing their favourite pastime; mating attempts, as they both are still juveniles and are quite young to engage in such a subadult/adulthood activity. Male orangutans, in average, reach puberty in the age of 13-15 years old, while the females are sexually active when they reach 11-13 years of age, in average; much earlier than the males... Almost similar to humans I must say. Another interesting fact is, they mate the whole year round (just as humans do), and the gestation period or pregnancy takes in approximate eight and a half months.

Ok, I'll share more about the orangutans bit by bit in my upcoming posts. About this painting, I started doing it way earlier in September 2009, but I was so occupied with other things and could not find 'the mood' to finish it then. I continued doing it again on 10th March 2010 as I wanted to give it as a token of appreciation to the director of my department. I finished it on the morning of the same day and handed it to him and thank God he liked it! His only comment was, "What is his hand doing there?" haha! Just look at the painting and you will understand what he meant...

Yes, I love this painting :) Size 2' x 4'. I call it "Juveniles". By the way, "Tiger" is also the name of Sepilok's favourite beer :) And, "Tompong" is the name of our Sabahan local alcoholic drink... Isn't it ironic? Don't you think?

Catholic Engaged Encounter, Penang

March 5-7, 2010

I and my fiance were all the time anticipating the moment when we would finally attend to this pre-wedding course; 'the weekend' as they called it.

We did not know what to expect. What seemed to be important to us was only the certificate to fulfill one of the criteria for us to be able to get married in the Catholic Church.

The first day was already so overwhelming. We were greeted by lovely people (presenting couples and also the team in charge). In the icebreaking session, we were asked to introduce ourselves by telling others the most attractive thing about our partners :). I did not know what to say, as to me my fiance was attractive all over! So I said the most attractive part of him is that he is very loving... he sure is. He said I'm most attractive because I'm kind... That touched the inner side of me.

There were sharing by presenting couples on their experiences in living their married lives. They touched on many topics, most of which we did not talk about during our courtship. We were asked to spend time together and discuss on important aspects that are considered vital in our future married life. We also planned for our future together; money, children, sexual relationship, priorities etc.

The sessions were all very interesting indeed and most of them brought tears to my eyes, they made me realize how important 'togetherness' is and how love plays the vital role in our couple relationship, in particular our married life. How important it is to live the romance, think more of 'US' rather than 'ME' and to accept each other's flaws and still be in love.

We learned that to love is a decision, not just mere euphoria. It is a decision to love our partner. It is life-giving. We learn to say things out to each other, not to be afraid to tell it to each other's face, and forgive each other. I particularly like one of the rules of argument, which is 'hold hands while arguing'. Boy, that sounded so new to me... Can we do that next time? I don't know... but I sure hope so!

But above all, we learned that God must always be the hearth of our relationship. There must be no third person, the only third 'person' allowed and must be there all the time is God. Marriage is a Sacrament, a life-long vow and is really SACRED.

We also had prayer session where we had our first couple prayer together. It was so surreal. We wrote our betrothal pledge to each other, and I received the best love letter ever from my loving fiance... a letter that I will keep and cherish for a lifetime...

CEE teaches us to love more and give more everyday to our relationship. It ended with lots of smiles and the air was so filled with Love... I knew at once that my love for my fiance becomes stronger now and I know that we are now"US".

To my fiance, you are God's gift to me, the answer to my prayers. My burning bush, thank you for choosing to love me despite my flaws and temperaments... I choose to love you too... May God help and bless "US".

Will you remember me?

We took a group photo yesterday morning, how nice of them to arrange it before I leave.

I am so going to miss them. The orangutans, the staff, the calm, green and untouched scenery of a 43 squared kilometre Virgin Jungle Reserve... The hornbill calls and the male orangutan 1km loud mating call at 6am every morning... They are so dear to my heart.

The volunteers' chatters and laughs, the orangutans' gruntings and squealings... I am going to miss them all!

Newbie

I'm a blogger now. There, I said it. Had the intention of setting up a blog for so long, but never actually had the guts to start... until this very moment. The beginning is the most important part of everything, so here goes... my story of the day:-

Okay, so I'm leaving the job I really love... being a vet at the most established orangutan rehab centre in the world. Is this a right choice, I do not know. But, I do believe it is going to be a fresh new start at the new place... new animals... hmmm. Help me God.

It's been truly a marvelous experience working there, I shall cherish every moment of it. Am actually proud of what I have done so far... some people wait a lifetime to taste even a moment of the experience I have had. But really, when it's time to go, IT'S TIME to go... and let go. Cool.

But you know what? Wildlife is in my blood and that's why I will be back some day... For the wild animals in Sabah, I'm your VET and we shall meet again one day :)

Take a look at photos above & links below, I will miss the orangutan... but only for a while, because I'll make a comeback someday, somehow. You'll see.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20091208183233/Article/index_html

http://star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/8/tvnradio/5232997&sec=tvnradio

http://books.google.com/books?id=n47eDtsiLsIC&pg=PA160&lpg=PA160&dq=dr.+cecilia+boklin&source=bl&ots=8TZXRoX2PM&sig=0-4uo8Bm0IlHTnQ03WIdcP1tRp4&hl=en&ei=NkiNS_HbFYa5rAf-95mWAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CCgQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=dr.%20cecilia%20boklin&f=false

http://assets.wwfmalaysia.inga.bluegecko.net/downloads/greenheart_sept08.pdf (page 3)

http://www.asianewsnet.net/epaper/pdf/AsiaNews%20Dec%2018-24%202009%20PDF.pdf (page 32 & 33)