Since May 08...

wow! just realised that the last time i wrote a blog was in May 2008! gone have all those memories....at least in writings....but they will always be in my heart and mind....life in the last 9 mths have been dynamic...to say the least...i have done something a safe normal kid would do...leave a current life to do something totally way off course...by saying that i mean, i left my job, my friends...my life in Syd, Aus and just took off and lived in Taipei...the plan is to be with my love one...and to stay there in the long term no matter what....but after 4 mths being out of work, the worker in me wants to get back to the workforce...or i think it's the motivation and the money that drives me.....but i think my partner sums it best.....i need a platform to perform...:-)

i think every man does...he needs to have drive...purpose....something to look forward to..otherwise he will be a sitting duck..useless...which can be very harmful...to himself and to others near....

so..tat brings me back to where i am now...i am in singapore..no man's land for me...for work ..solely for work...in the hope of going back home....and i know where my home is....home is where my heart lies...and it now lies with my loved ones....

just thought i put a disclaimer...that my loved ones include my family...my dearest and only....ahh..i miss them so much...

and i can't wait to see them again soon...maybe during chinese new year....we'll see.....

anyway....i am at work now...and abt to leave home....til next time ya.....

i will upload my NY pics soon.....

back with a vengeance...

hi my blogger....
i am now back...since i last wrote maybe about 6 or so months ago...
it's been a long time coming....but today..now..i feel the urge to write again....not sure y..it just is..as all things shld be....no reasons needed for something to happen does it?
anyway...
life has been up and down since the last time i wrote...but i think it's fair to say that life has been stagnant...not really liking it but i always keep a positive mindframe..and just live day by day and figuring out what's tomorrow going to be.....otherwise...i'll go nuts thinking and hoping for something to happen.....which may or may not happen......the best i can do is to do the things that i need to do to achieve what i want to achieve tomorrow....that's all....i can't worry abt the future...i need to live in the NOW.......
and now is ....... i am attached to someone...someone lovely, someone really adorable....someone that i can see myself spending time with, i can take care of....and i can rely on.....
it's great to be in love....or shld i say it's great to have someone in ur life whom u can be with.....it's the best feeling....
but it's just a part of my life...there other things in my life that i need to address which i think i neglected for a bit coz of my love life...and that doesn't work as well.........
i see life is like a wheel, with it's spikes that pull it together...if one spike is missing or crooked...or even non-existent then the wheel will not function properly.......so....that's going to be my focus....to address ALL aspects of my life and give fair amt of time and effort in each.....i think in theory this is easy, but it is defintely one of the areas that i am struggling with.....always keep on learning from mistakes, from others and seek opinions from those experienced onees......

at the moment, i am in jakarta....my home.....or is it? i have now lived in Sydney, Australia for abt 9 years...can u believe that!?!!?! it's what i call my 'adopted' home......so when i arrived in jakarta, i feel so weird.....and i have stayed here for three weeks and still i have not adapted to it being my home.....where is my home.......a good friend of mine used to say...that home is where u make it...or where u build it....it's not defined by location, country or boundaries...or what people say...it all depends on u........so......it would be safe to say home is where my heart is.....and at the moment my heart is in Taiwan....and that's where my love is......there...i will build my life....love, career, family......my 'spikes' in life.........

i got so many things i want to write........i shld write something abt my activities rather my inner feelings here...but i will do that next time....

til then,

Russ is checking out.......

Another day

Ready for another exciting entry? It has been awhile now since I last wrote an entry here. BTW, for those of you who are interested in looking at the US pictures, I have downloaded them into my facebook a/c. My email is r_kartolo@hotmail.com. You can look for them in there.

So, what has been happening lately? Apart from studying for CIA exam, been doing lots of thinking and reading. Thinking abt life...reading novels....which makes me think abt life...:-) Have had many revelations but yet to experience breakthroughs...I have put my goals in check so it's now just putting actions into play and making things happen.

Started to read Davinci Code by Dan Brown. I found the first page on "Facts" cheeky in it's purpose to misconstrue the truth and create this background of misbelief. I will give you my review on the book a lil bit more later ok.

Til then,

I am off. Oh ya, my plan is to write everyday......so catch up with you tomorrow...

US of A.....continues to marvel...

I am in NYC...it has been more than a week now since I got into the United States of America...been to San Fran..then Chicago and now I am at my final leg of my journey before returning to Sydney...

It has been refreshing, fun, eye-opening, memorable experience to visit the country that I've grown up with...It's like I have been here all my life...I am used to the fast food culture and magnificent streets and architecture....the brands...the people....

I got so many things to write but I will start with my encounter with culture in NYC. The first day I was in NYC, I was introduced to one of the world's famous Museum that is located in NYC, the Museum of Modern Art, a.k.a the MoMa. It's mind blowing - not only the arts that are housed in it, but also it's own architecture. I will post some pictures to keep this writing a bit more bearable...:P...but u've got to keep on reading this page I guess...:-)

Then went shopping...of course....but in between...I sneaked my way out of the fifth avenue jungle of marvellous shopping and mountains of steel and glass to visit the theathre section of the city....and saw for the first time....a musical...Les' Miserables......

BREATH-TAKING, EMOTIONAL and MEANINGFUL.......I like the way faith is being demonstrated and how faith prevails....It's a story about a thief that was forgiven and as a result, forgives and gives for the good of others...it was set during the 1800's French Revolution...Altho there are not many emphasis on the revolution itself, but it potrays LOVE, FAITH and HOPE that were found all around during the period...

The characters and story line alike are diverse and sometimes lack coherence, but the performances of the actors are mind-blowing, with beautiful singing and heart-felt potrayal of their respective roles...The comedy in between the sorrowness during the revolution was refreshing and well-portioned.... Overall, I love it...It is definitely the best musicals in the world, yet...well, at least for me that is...:-)

Okay..til next time....keep looking for this page...

Touch Down in San Francisco

U must be wondering, why the heck am I online on the first day I got to San Francisco? Well, I can't wait or more appropriately, I can't risk losing any memory on my first few moments in the US of A. SF is a city of its own - full of great architecture, friendly people and class.

The airport I must say isn't impressive and welcoming though along with the numerous highways spanning across the airport, as if guarding it from low-flying airplanes. It resembles a fotress of grey-white steel. It got better as we entered the bay area tho, with beautiful buildings, well preseved, and well-designed. The light-painted brick and wooden planked houses were just like what I expected of SF - and it then dawned on me, I am actually in SF..in the US of A. I am all smiles.

Got to the hotel...very impressed with it...it's a budget hotel (Park Hotel) but clean room, no funny smell, I am happy. And the location is just perfect - 5 minutes walk from Union Square..one of the posh area of SF.

Anyways, I better not stay ol too long...Reserved a dinner for one at a French Bistro - Cafe Claude nearby...french cuisine with int'l wine list PLUS jazz music...think tonite, there will be a Lori Carsillo singing.....btw...the chef's name is something Salazar...reminding me of a character in the HP series..it all seems to work out.....looking forward to tonite.....

I will keep the stories fresh and detailed when i get back...

til laters,

Russ

War-cry Sydney

Sydney today is beginning to look like a war-cry city...with civilians walking with uniformed police officers side by side, with blue-checkered white police cars on each sides of the major streets in Sydney CBD....it's indeed an eerie feeling...one definitely needs to get used to it...especially for people who lived in the peaceful years of Sydney..and never have been exposed to the outside world...

I am beginning to think that this week will be a major chaos...i am not planning to go to the city this week...not even for the long weekend...the plan is to maybe have dinner or game nites...and do lots of reading....got a few great books from the library....

ooh ooh...just bought an array of board games....twister, monopoly, pictionary and UNO to name a few...anyone interested in joining me for a friday nite games...or mon...tues...wed...:-)....if u do..u know who to call......

Anyway i hope u all have a great week ahead...it shld be fun...whatever u do....jst get out of the city....

Can't swallow the volatility of the share market?

Man! Share market madness, that's how I would describe what has been happening in the last week or so. Up and then down....As I was saying before, the market is experiencing major shifts..from riding from sentiments to what it is called "efficient market theory"..market movement is parrallel to that movement of a yoyo! But I still stand on my prev theory on picking stocks.....So, in the mean time, just hang in there....

Oh yea...just an input..don't think it's a good idea to buy stocks that have high debt/equity or just plainly..high debts in it's balance sheet and if the co has any ...any at all....big or small..connection with the US mortgage market...just sell it for now...and don't even bother buying it, if u are not ready to go for the roller coaster ride....

Til later, Russ is checking out...