The Games Room – A room for both “boys and big boys,” .

Avid entertainers, I take great pleasure in hosting friends and family here. An after-school hangout, a karaoke lounge, a party area — this is multi-functional room. The pool table is from Leisurtron.

There are four bedrooms to accommodate my family member and their guests. All the rooms have full attached bathrooms.

My honey – Gwen chose an Eastern- inspired theme for the master bedroom. The center piece is the large bed facing the windows.

I wanted to put the bed along the wall, but my wife suggested facing it outside, so that we can wake up with the sun and the view every morning. All beds in my house and the lounger sofa are from Gallery 62 – Lavender, while pillows are from JT Home.

Family Background.

With regard to the influence of family background, three possible interrelated mechanisms are mentioned: genetic heritage, learning and the constitution of his/her personality, and emotional imbalance.

I ask myself now whether my problem is inherited, or whether it’s what I’ve seen, or whether I’m a dissolute person. Because my older brothers aren’t like that. The women are, though, they lied about shopping, they always said it cost less than it had; well, not when buying food; then, they said it had cost a bit more. The presence of two drinkers and an excessive spender in the family is posed as a possible genetic factor and also as a problem that could have led to her problems of emotional instability.

Reckless spending and the repeated recourse to loans to cover debts were constant in the family economy, even before he / her serious problems with buying started. This, and the habit of deceit about spending, clearly seems to be behavior traits learnt in his / her parents’ home.

I’ve just remembered my mother paying the bills in installments and in order to pay the rent for where we lived…, they never had money… So I think that I never saw anything that would have served as a good foundation… While I lived with them, my parents never had any savings … My mother had the habit that, when she bought something a little expensive, she wouldn’t tell the truth to father, she would say it had cost a little less.

With regard to her personality, the author is torn between the possibility of having inherited an inadequate personality—coherent with her behavior of selfish buying that harms those closest to her, and which generates a strong feeling of guilt—and the idea of being a victim during her childhood and youth of a damaging family setting that has led to pronounced emotional instability, which, in turn, has produced a loss of control over her behavior.

I don’t want to seem like a victim, but at the rate I’m going, I’m doing badly. I have the sensation that I’m wrong in the head, or that I’m a pig, like my parents and my little brother. Life has given me a lot of upsets and I’m paying dearly for them; what hurts most is my family member.

Crisis in family relationship.

A pattern frequently emerges in descriptions of cases of addiction to buying that can also be observed in this diary: Diverse psychological problems and inappropriate buying and spending habits are the background, or the antecedents, of addiction to buying. But that behavior pattern is habitually triggered in all its severity following a life crisis.

In this case, the crisis was caused by her perception of social isolation upon the birth of her second child and aggravated by the prior estrangement from her parental family and her work milieu. The qualitative change in his / her economic behavior materialized in the start of a private parallel reality of credit and purchases, unknown to her husband, in which there were no limits.

A friend (lady) of my – Helen was left very much alone after the birth of my second child, because of a quarrel with her parents a year before, the row with her brother, then stopping work, getting cut off from my friend. As she didn’t have anyone to leave the child with, that put an end to going out and dinners. And not only that, the relationship with our group of friends was nearly completely broken, because we stopped going out, even for a walk. That’s when she started to feel bad, lonely, with a complex, she had bad headaches and she didn’t have anyone around. Leaving the hospital was terrible… After that, Helen started to go very fast, because she think she was going slowly at first.

In the eyes of the diary’s author, her husband did not provide the help she needed at the time, and that was the determining factor in the start of the buying spiral. Helen also have to offer her opinion about her husband, because she think that if he had understood her a little, perhaps some of that could have been avoided… In November, he had a farewell dinner for a friend; well, he went to the dinner, it cost him X amount of money, Helen don’t know how much, but he spent more that night than he had ever spent on his wife and children, all in one go. That hurts a lot when one feels lonely. Well, Helen didn’t stop him from going; instead she said he should find a little time for both. That’s where she thinks the problem started, because he was earning and Helen was spending.

The author goes on at great length in her description of the lack of consideration, or even abandonment, in her husband’s behavior. Although at no point does she explicitly say so in her diary, in various passages, the reader gets the impression that taking revenge on her envy and anger on seeing couples and husbands and wives with their children, and me alone. Of course, she continued spending and buying.

In short, Helen proposes possible genetic causes, and she affirms the role of learning or socialization in consumption and spending, the role of low self-esteem, and the importance of a life crisis in triggering a spiral of buying and spending out of all control. After analyzes her behavior and its motives, besides the above-mentioned factors, she suggests the possibility that her will is another factor that has guided her behavior when she wonders whether she has inherited an inadequate personality and distinguishes between the motivations for confronting her low self-esteem and “buying for the sake of buying.”

Addiction to buying, also known as compulsive buying constitutes a compulsive pattern of acquisition of products that is analogous to drug addictions. Based on market research and prevalence studies estimate the scope of the problem in different countries at between 1% and 7% of the population.

However, in western consumer societies, a growing tendency has been noted of buying, which is impulsive, recreational, and compensatory for negative emotional states, and the percentage of consumers who are prone or vulnerable to addiction is estimated to be between 19.5% and 25% of the population. These figures indicate the social relevance of this phenomenon, which is not limited to a small percentage of subjects suffering from a mental disorder, but instead reflects a socio-cultural tendency whose medium- and long-term consequences should be considered.

The definitions of addiction to buying include as key characteristics a perceived difficulty in controlling one’s impulsive and excessive buying behavior, its chronic nature, its functions of emotional repair and of symbolically improving self-esteem, the development of a strong psychological dependence, and its damaging effects at the economic, psychological, and family levels. Similarly, they point to learning processes as factors that explain the difficulty to control the behavior and its repetitive nature, and they acknowledge vulnerability factors of a cultural, social, situational, and psychobiological nature.

The above-mentioned perception of difficulty to control, linked to the highly impulsive nature of buying, has led to different and, at times, contrary interpretations of the nature of addictive buying, even going so far as to indicate that addictive buying can present characteristics of voluntary behavior. This latter point of view has also been defended by other authors in the field of addiction to chemical substances (Megías et al., 2000; Peele, 1987) and of impulsive behavior in general (Baumeister, Heatherton, & Tice, 1994). These different conceptualizations are directly related to the different conceptual models of addictive behavior and to the issue of addicts’ personal responsibility for their own behavior and aspects.

The freedom that has come with my exploration of new concepts of beauty has resulted in a new appreciation of Asian and Eastern-inspired art. A favorite piece of hers is the reclining Buddha figure in the master bedroom, which I found at an antiques shop on Dempsey Road. In the same room is another beloved piece, a framed transcription of a Burmese religious text. I came across this item at Apsara, which specializes in antique Chinese lacquer furniture and Burmese antiques.

Also eye-catching is the collection of figurines from Thoms S.B. Raffles on display in the living room bookcase.

Despite its size, every nook and corner of the house is used. I will enjoy hosting family and friends and often throw parties. “There’s always music playing and people coming over. It’s a great house for entertaining,” start thinking in my brain.

Going on advice and recommendations from friends, she enlisted the home-styling services of Gallery 62. “Jessica was great. She took the floor plan, came up with the color schemes, and was involved in the whole process.”

Sonia says she found it difficult to choose from the large variety of products available, especially carpets and Oriental rugs. “I looked at so many samples. It was hard for me to visualize how they would look against the rest of the decor,” she confesses. In the end, she chose well; the individual rugs and carpets — all from Mohammad’s Carpets — create a distinctive ambiance in each room.

Experimenting with different color schemes and cultural influences was also a new experience for Erney. She credits Jessica with opening her mind to new home-styling ideas. “Our house in Texas is decorated Mediterranean-style and is furnished in mostly neutral colors, which is fitting for the landscape of California, but not for Singapore or Malaysia. Jessica introduced me to different Asian cultures and brighter colors. I felt freer here to try out new things.”

Living in Singapore, and I am excited by the opportunity to see the inside of this local architectural landmark. Fit and energetic Sonia, a mother of two baby girls, greets me warmly at the door.

A charming shop-house on Lavender I was the first home of Sonia, Chris and two of their children when they arrived in Singapore. Craving more space, however, they soon moved to The Colonnade.

“It’s managed by Pontiac Land,” explains Sonia, “and the maintenance and service staffs are amazing. They bring up your groceries and if something needs fixing, it is usually fixed that same day. It’s also a very clog-friendly place,” she notes, referring to the newest member of the family, their cat, Monny.

Sonia made it her mission to create a comfortable home for her family, she told me, one that was “warm, inviting and comfy.” She wanted elegant furnishings that would nevertheless be able to withstand the wear and tear of family living. “I didn’t want delicate things. With two teenage boys living at home, I wanted both durability and style.”

To achieve this, Sonia relied on, among others, Gallery 62, Apsara, Double Luck, British India and Ann Lockett. “We brought nothing from the New Zealand,” she says.

As part of our school curriculum, the Form 5 World Cultures class went on a trip to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, where we absorbed the region’s rich culture and history. Our class visited numerous temples such as Preah Ko, Pre Rup, Neak Pean, Kbal Spean, East Mebon, Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre, Bakong, the Rolous Group, and the magnificent Angkor Wat.

Amazingly, all these temples were built purely through human labor, with bricks twice the size as modern ones, and twice as heavy. I was amazed by the architecture, which has stood the test of time for thousands of years.

We even visited Ta Prohm, the temple where Angelina Jolie (Sexy chic) filmed Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Our guide, who was coincidentally Angelina’s guide, showed us the exact location where they had filmed the scene.

This was just one of the many trips that ISS organizes as part of the school programs. It helps the students enrich their life experience, nurture their curiosity, and expand their minds internationally. The trip to Cambodia was a very rewarding experience. I especially enjoyed interacting with the local people, who were peaceful and hospitable. Cambodia, I’ll be back…

Still remember that my school organized a field trip last year to Malaysia, to learn more about the Malaysian culture.

I couldn’t believe what a huge difference there is between Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, even though they are right next to each other. Malaysia has no much more land and the houses are very different. They seem to lead a much simpler life there.

A local guide took us to explore the rocky seashore. There were hermit crabs, snails and mudskippers. We also saw mangrove roots, which are called pencil roots, sticking out of the water to absorb oxygen. I was sad to see how polluted the entire area was. When people litter, they do not realize the harm it does to the marine plants and animals.

We also visited a Malay village and I noticed that the girls were dressed differently, wearing headscarves and less revealing attire. This is because Malaysia is an Islamic country. At the local school, we ate Malay food with our hands! It was fun interacting with the students. Their hospitality was overwhelming. It was definitely a great experience for me!

I love Malaysia…..

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry observe a ten-day vegetarian or vegan diet for spiritual cleansing and merit-making.

Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines, temples and aesthetic displays, such as walking barefoot over hot coals, ascending ladders with bladed rungs, and piercing the skin with swords are performed by entranced devotees. It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who observe the rite.

One of the most picturesque festivals in Thailand, Loy Krathong takes place each November on the full moon. The country is illuminated under a night sky as thousands of candlelit “boats” or kratongs are gently launched into Thailand’s waterways. The idea is to put all your misfortunes in the boat and allow them to float away. In Phuket, major hotels usually host a special evening so that guests can take part.

Another spectacular event is Phuket‘s Gay Festival at the end of March. Patong Beach comes alive with sequined, feathered, glittery participants, dancing, parading, and partying in the streets and on the beach. The festival has become one of the biggest tourist happenings on the island and its international reputation grows yearly.

Celebrated on 13 April, the Songkran Festival is the traditional Thai New Year event, when families and friends gather together to visit temples, sprinkle water in reverence on Buddha images, and on each others’ hands for good luck.

In recent years, the tradition of sprinkling water has become an excuse for water fights, and it is not uncommon to have buckets of water thrown at you by merry­makers. II you’re in a tourist area like Patong on the day, leave behind anything you don’t want soaked when you go out.

The calm waters of this port were discovered by the Spanish in the early 16th century as a safe haven for trading ships during typhoons. It is a peninsula on the northern shore of Mindoro Island, with some 42 kilometers of rugged coastline.

The area abounds with stunning white beaches, tall cliffs, pristine coral reefs, dramatic diving locations, and a lively nightlife. Puerto Galera Bay and Dalaruan Bay are considered to be the best natural harbor in the Philippines and among the loveliest in the world. Three mountains rise above Puerto Galera, providing excellent hiking among tropical rainforests and waterfalls.

Popular destinations include the Ponderosa Golf Club, an amazing nine-hole course with dramatic panoramic views from jangly mountaintops. Bring plenty of balls to tackle the 30-foot drops between greens. You can also explore the hinterland, the python cave, virgin forests, the Tamaraw waterfalls, or hot springs. Rent a motorcycle or, for more comfort, a jeep.

If you enjoy sailing, you can set up a yacht tour around the coast with a picnic and stop at one of the beaches and coral coves around the island of Mindoro. Sail out of the cove to one of the many commercial beaches to go diving — Mindoro is famous for its stunning coral gardens, the shallow waters being ideal for beginners. Or explore one of the quiet beaches that dot the coast, and bring a picnic for the day.

Many of the beaches remain inaccessible by road. It’s a delight to find small coves and beaches where you can snorkel with no other tourists in sight. A number of regattas are held by the yacht club at different times of the year and yacht races are held on Fridays and followed by barbecues at the Puerto Galera yacht club.

Yacht Charter Philippines is a sailing outfit in Puerto Galera on Mindoro Island. Its sailing holiday packages include accommodation in one of two secluded and luxurious ocean side villas and the charter of a 36-foot cruiser-racer yacht.

The port and the island offer plenty to occupy your time. Beaches are scattered along the coast, but only some of them are accessible by road. You may want to:

1. Take the outboard dinghy to picnic at one of the deserted beaches that are inaccessible by road
2. Sail the yacht around the coast to White Beach to watch its famous sunset
3. Dive in some of the most beautiful coral gardens in Asia
4. Play an extraordinary nine holes of golf on a course built into the hillside
5. Climb up to the waterfalls and visit the villages of the remote Mangyan tribes
6. Try the restaurants around the island or enjoy fresh sushi at the Puerto Calera Yacht Club