Sometimes, there are days when things doesn't seem to be quite right. You wake up in the morning and instead of getting straight up, you'd sit at the edge of your bed looking out the window wondering what you'd be doing for the rest of the day, and nothing seem to come to mind. And you know there's so many to do. Maybe it come with age, as about a couple of years ago when I turned 40, things can be a bit slow and dragging you down more at times. Maybe it's my (in-)ability to think fast, to work fast, to get back on my spring fast enough, bounce back and face the world. Maybe, it's just one of those days ... On these kinda days, I'd love to strip down and soak myself in a warm long bath.

But then again, as bad as it sound, it's really not that bad. In the real world, it's the ups and downs and the excitements of everyday living. Very normal. In my world though, it's the extravagance and flamboyance of a happy life that more than not created that illusion that life is hectic and tiring and slow. Quite normal, too.

You may have your own ideas on how to deal with a day like this. You might go for a swing at the golf course. Put on your riding boots and get your horse flying on the field. Maybe grip your steering wheel tighter, floor the pedal and off you fly. Maybe ring a pizza and then glue yourself to your sofa in front of your TV (or battle the ultimate battle in your 3D games). Or go fishing - the calm water and then the tugging on the fishing lines can be relaxing, and exciting. Lying by the pool making love to the sun?

You might brave yourself and ignore the bustling chaos in a favourite cafe and concentrate, and take time, on your favourite pasta. Oblivious in your own world and the world of fabulous food. Or drinking warm thick macchiato at your favourite Italian cafe bar (I know where I can do this!). Yoga? Tai-chi? Meditating? The possibility is endless ... Or ... maybe, just maybe, go shopping!

I'd do all the above if I could. Maybe I would. Or maybe, I go back to that bath ... You'd read somewhere that having a milk bath is good. I always add skim milk in mine as cleanser and exfoliant for the skin. Well okay, also for that extra sensuality (umm ... why do I need this when I was the only one in the tub, you wonder!) and the petals for the extra luxury feeling about it (oh yes! A bit of luxury is, of course, needed and important!) You can add a few drops of Chanel No. 5 parfum (or in my case today it was Terre d'Hermès). Get your rubber ducks to join you and in you go.

Muse, Maroon 5, OneRepublic and Dayang Nurfaizah shuffled their tunes on my iPod to help me ease away those knots on my back and shoulders. I closed my eyes and smile (as smiling can help you relax). I found out that the best position to be in a bath tub is lying face down, but make sure your head is not underwater for a very long period of time if you do this! When Donna Summer's Let's Dance started pumping in the air, it was time to lift the legs and relax those hard working muscles. When J.Lo's On the Floor turn came up, it was time to get out of the tub and get dry, otherwise I would get myself excited and spoil the whole relaxing experience.

And it was relaxing. In between Maroon 5's Misery and Muse's Undisclosed Desire ... it was soothing. My skin felt nice to touch (as you know when the temperature is going low outside, the change is coming, and your body will be acting up). I felt nicer, lighter, relaxed ... Doing nice thing to yourself will only make you feel nice. And that was all what I needed ...

Entering the new year and about turning 40

FIRST, the new year started about a week ago. For me, like any other new year, it just came without so much of a celebration. I went to a barbeque though, and there was a bottle of champagne, but we were just having a small casual gathering with nothing much to do, didn't plan of doing anything much, but mainly just because there was nothing much to do ... hmmm that was a great way to start a new year, eh?

Anyway, it came. The beginning of a new decade ... I won't begin with the new year as yet. We'll save the best for last, shall we?

For me personally, it's the end of a decade of life which was very fulfilling. It started when I moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2000, the new millenia. Exchanging the beaches of Sabah to the skyscrapers of the metropolitan city of Kuala Lumpur. For ten years it was a life lived moving forward. It was exhilarating, euphoric, intoxicating. I was addicted to the living and that suit me just well. I was very happy, to say the least. But the nature of life is not always beautiful and sweet melody. The roller coaster of life, with all the excitement it brings, also promises some downward rides. I am just human after all ... That will make it a natural way of living a normal life, won't it?

Ten years! What has it come to looking back at it now? I didn't have a five-year plan. Never ask myself where or how or what I'd be in 10 years time. Then I turned 40 in December last year. And that was also the beginning of a new decade of my life. Done with the last decade, here come the exciting one! I've never thought that I'd say how exciting it was to turn 40. I remembered having a friend who was freaking out on his 40th birthday, just because he turned 40! I didn't see it that way then. I sympathized him for his agony. I was thinking that my time would come and I might face it exactly the same way. But there I was, in the freezing cold of fall in Paris late last year, celebrating my coming of age.

Above: The three ladies of The Lourve, the beautiful Venus de Milo and the graceful Nike, the Winged Victory of Samonthrace and Mona Lisa with her famous smile

So yes, I was in Paris. I walked along the River Seine, humming the melody of the song "La Vie En Rose". Viewed the spectacular night of Paris from the Eiffel Tower. Sipped champagne. Ate snails. Munched on the baguette. Tried to speak French ... I smiled at Mona Lisa. Took picture with Venus ... Yes I was in Paris. The beautiful city of light, love and great food ... Romantic city. Uber metropolitan. Filled with tourist. And cold and wet ... ahhhh, why December?

I was too busy being "in" Paris that I think I forgot to enjoy what I thought Paris would have to offer. The light, the love and the food. I saw Paris at night only in one of the nights, from the Eiffel Tower. There was a light show being performed on the tower, but what it was for, I didn't know. I forgot to walk the streets of Paris at night. Strolling along the cobbled streets under the yellow glow of the lights. Maybe stopping in one or two bars and taking in all the lively night life that might be roaring there, while sipping a glass of French wine.

I ate escargots, foie gras, lots of cheeses and wash them all down with glasses of champagne ... but somehow I felt that it was not just that.

Have you heard people say that there's no overweight French in France? Well, I don't remember seeing one anyway. They say they eat well. Love to eat. Like it's a feast, a celebration, enjoying the food, but leisurely. Taking time having their meals. Was I always rushing here and there trying to see and do everything so there's nothing left behind not being seen? Somehow I did.

And love? I will get to that in my next blog ...