The Rise of Rooftop Bars – Why I Can’t Get Enough of Sky-High Sips
insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, Memories captured, observing people, Personal Story, psychology of people w..., Reflections, Taking time out, writing community Sylvia Jimenez insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, Memories captured, observing people, Personal Story, psychology of people w..., Reflections, Taking time out, writing community Sylvia Jimenez

The Rise of Rooftop Bars – Why I Can’t Get Enough of Sky-High Sips

In the last week I visited two new rooftop bars. One because its birthday month and doing something different on your special day is definitely Joie de vivre and the second,well, we don’t need an excuse for a midweek beverage other than for a girlfriend catchup and connect. With the many bars on offer around this beautiful city, why does the prospect of sitting outside in the fresh air, above the commuters on the ground watching the sunset make me want to push everyone aside as I run for the elevator?

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Embrace the Ocean's Lessons for a Calmer Life
a lighter look, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, looking forward, Memories captured, Opinion, Personal Story, positive mindset, Reflections, The Beach Sylvia Jimenez a lighter look, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, looking forward, Memories captured, Opinion, Personal Story, positive mindset, Reflections, The Beach Sylvia Jimenez

Embrace the Ocean's Lessons for a Calmer Life

Come summer or winter, you know where to find me—at the beach.

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Embrace the naked, my experience at the Onsen.
just an opinion and ob..., Memories captured, Opinion, Personal Story, positive mindset, Postcard commentary, Reflections, Taking time out, travel, writing community Sylvia Jimenez just an opinion and ob..., Memories captured, Opinion, Personal Story, positive mindset, Postcard commentary, Reflections, Taking time out, travel, writing community Sylvia Jimenez

Embrace the naked, my experience at the Onsen.

Sitting naked in front of strangers was not on my bucket list or my yearly activity-to-do for 2024 leading into 2025. Still, the power of shedding layers, enveloped by water has a certain thrill when we jump out of our comfort zone. The ancient Egyptians did it, and so did the Greeks, Romans and Mesopotamians. Scandinavians do ‘Sauna.’ Folks from Türkiye have perfected it and the Japanese are still doing it. Nothing screams ‘Vulnerable’ like baring your breasts or making sure your Punani is perfectly coiffed for people who don’t care. Yes, that’s right, don’t care. When you bare all at a Japanese Onsen or an Ottoman Hamman experience no one cares what you look like, so why should you?

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The Cicada’s are louder this morning
insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, looking forward, On Writing, open letter, Opinion, Personal Story, positive mindset, Reflections, writing community Sylvia Jimenez insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, looking forward, On Writing, open letter, Opinion, Personal Story, positive mindset, Reflections, writing community Sylvia Jimenez

The Cicada’s are louder this morning

I welcome the first day of 2025 not by the sound of the alarm, or the coffee machine that has an auto cleaning mechanism that scares the bejeezus out of us in the middle of the night, but by the sound of the Cicadas, which according to the encyclopedia, varies between a: the weather (well it’s pretty effin hot in Sydney today) and b: their mating season ritual, so in fact, these delicate little creatures of the male kind have woken me due to their persistence to procreate. Did I mention they were extremely loud this morning? And no, I’m not nursing a post new year celebration hangover and my ears are not ringing, I feel completely awake and if I had to take a breathalyser, It would probably come up as having .000001% of alcohol in my system, but nothing to get worried about. And it’s too early to move out from under the freshly laundered sheets in my oh-so-comfy bed. So husband has delivered the prescribed second latte, the cat has been fed and the dog has curled up for yet another mid-morning snooze and I am awake, like really awake listening to the Cicadas.

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21 observations why you should go to Kyoto
Connecting with people, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, Memories captured, observing people, Postcard commentary, travel, wanderlust Sylvia Jimenez Connecting with people, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, Memories captured, observing people, Postcard commentary, travel, wanderlust Sylvia Jimenez

21 observations why you should go to Kyoto

In the spirit of Japan’s famously meticulous order, I figured the best way to share my Kyoto observations (the ones you won’t find in a tourist guide) is through a list. Here are the top 21 observations and recommendations.

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Unexpected Joys: Human Connection in Japan
Connecting with people, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Memories captured, observing people, open letter, Opinion, Personal Story, positive, Postcard commentary, psychology of people w..., Reflections, travel, wanderlust, writing community Sylvia Jimenez Connecting with people, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Memories captured, observing people, open letter, Opinion, Personal Story, positive, Postcard commentary, psychology of people w..., Reflections, travel, wanderlust, writing community Sylvia Jimenez

Unexpected Joys: Human Connection in Japan

The trip to Japan was memorable not for its famous sights but for the warmth of human connections. A simple interaction with a kind store assistant named Koji highlighted the profound nature of kindness in daily life. Small gestures, like his assistance with laundry supplies, left a lasting impression, showcasing Japan's culture of respect.

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Everyday observations: The joys of teaching a teenager to drive
insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, observing people, Opinion, Personal Story, psychology of people w..., Reflections Sylvia Jimenez insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, observing people, Opinion, Personal Story, psychology of people w..., Reflections Sylvia Jimenez

Everyday observations: The joys of teaching a teenager to drive

The humid, hot day felt even more stifling in the back seat of the car. Jamiroquai played, doing little to ease my nerves. I watched as my teenage son took the wheel, his father in the passenger seat directing him on which lane to stay in. As I observed the other drivers on the road, overtaking, braking without warning and giving the finger, I had to ask, “How have people gotten their driving licenses?” The standards have seriously dropped, either that, or society is on the downward spiral of inconsiderateness, or that driver was just an [insert derogative adjective here].

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Beachside morning and a shared moment
insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, Memories captured, observing people, Personal Story, Postcard commentary, psychology of people w..., Reflections, The Beach, writing community Sylvia Jimenez insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, Memories captured, observing people, Personal Story, Postcard commentary, psychology of people w..., Reflections, The Beach, writing community Sylvia Jimenez

Beachside morning and a shared moment

Today the beachside wasn’t just a shared destination, it was a reminder to appreciate the moment, the sound of the waves, the warmth of the 9am sun and a testament to how easily strangers sit close, upholding social decorum to not invade personal space and like a Mills and Boon novel, everyone was dreamy, and the atmosphere was euphoric.

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2023 rules according to me
#keepinghealthy, communications, Connecting with people, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., looking forward, open letter, Opinion, Personal Story, positive, Reflections, Uncategorized, writing community Sylvia Jimenez #keepinghealthy, communications, Connecting with people, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., looking forward, open letter, Opinion, Personal Story, positive, Reflections, Uncategorized, writing community Sylvia Jimenez

2023 rules according to me

The ball dropped, the gong went off, the clock struck midnight. 2023 was born under a sky of crackers, hugs, kisses, smooches and well-wishers (those who were awake at least) who welcomed the new year with (I hope) the anticipation of better things to come. My very own FB post read a summerised version of the below.

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Where have all the love songs gone?
80s flashback, a lighter look, Connecting with people, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Memories captured, Personal Story, Reflections Sylvia Jimenez 80s flashback, a lighter look, Connecting with people, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Memories captured, Personal Story, Reflections Sylvia Jimenez

Where have all the love songs gone?

I wouldn’t say I’m stuck in a time warp, but my teenage years in the 80s have had a profound psychological impact on my memory. The other day, the clever little elves at Spotify suggested a ‘recommended playlist.’ It was titled ’80 Love Songs,’ which I found confusing as I had not listened to anything remotely close (to pick up on the algorithm), but it got me thinking, ‘Where have all the love songs gone?’

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Water Therapy
just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, Memories captured, observing people, Personal Story, positive, Postcard commentary, psychology of people w..., Reflections, travel Sylvia Jimenez just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, Memories captured, observing people, Personal Story, positive, Postcard commentary, psychology of people w..., Reflections, travel Sylvia Jimenez

Water Therapy

The locals laughed and scoffed about my thermal bath mania. Warning, if you don’t want to be confronted with the myriad of rubens-esque physiques, then my suggestion is to omit the customary soak in the mineral-laden waters of Budapest. But if you are like me, and believe all female figures are interesting and extraordinary, then dive straight in, well, no diving, but immerse yourself in the 38-degree water and let the stress of the day simply melt away [pun]. What I loved most, apart from the medicinal aspects, was that regardless of one’s form, all inhibitions were left at the door. Granted I attended on Tuesday Ladies only day, but it was the one few places where being at ease with one’s body was the norm.

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A missed connection reflection
a lighter look, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, observing people, Personal Story, Postcard commentary, psychology of people w..., travel Sylvia Jimenez a lighter look, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Looking around, observing people, Personal Story, Postcard commentary, psychology of people w..., travel Sylvia Jimenez

A missed connection reflection

One’s true personality tends to reveal itself under due stress. As you read this, I am on a flight from Dubai to Europe. I should have been there yesterday. However, our scheduled flight from Sydney was delayed by one hour. I only found out the reason behind the delay from one very vocal and distressed passenger. I was both intrigued and amused, and as I and most of the others were going nowhere fast, I thought and sat back and enjoyed the ‘entertainment’, a private joke between husband and me.

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A lucky moment - how hard is it?
a lighter look, Focus on the funny, humour, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Opinion, Personal Story, Reflections, writing community Sylvia Jimenez a lighter look, Focus on the funny, humour, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Opinion, Personal Story, Reflections, writing community Sylvia Jimenez

A lucky moment - how hard is it?

I’ve been dappling with the whole idea of luck. Just what is it? Scientifically speaking, luck is a chance encounter, but what about those who appear to have a chance encounter that leads to good fortune? That’s not luck; that’s called persistence and hard work and recognising the core of what luck represents. If luck is a chance encounter, you’re not going to encounter anyone sitting at home doing nothing right? And if I read about how ‘lucky’ someone is, I think I’m going to scream. If you’ve had a fortunate outcome, that’s not luck, honey; that’s payback for the countless hours dedicated to the task.

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Praise for the list.
a lighter look, Authors work, communications, humour, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., On Writing, Opinion, Personal Story, Reflections Sylvia Jimenez a lighter look, Authors work, communications, humour, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., On Writing, Opinion, Personal Story, Reflections Sylvia Jimenez

Praise for the list.

I love writing lists. Seems like so many others do as well. There are Pinterest boards dedicated to correct list writing. Youtube videos demonstrating the ‘write’ way to write a list. Some would say that it’s too rigid, while others claim that life without a list would be chaos.

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What's the reality of a reality show?
a lighter look, Focus on the funny, funny, humour, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., observing people, Opinion, Personal Story, psychology of people w... Sylvia Jimenez a lighter look, Focus on the funny, funny, humour, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., observing people, Opinion, Personal Story, psychology of people w... Sylvia Jimenez

What's the reality of a reality show?

I admit it, there’s nothing more I like than to tune into a reality show to make me laugh out loud. And by that, I mean, I can convince myself I’m the normal one in the comfort of my inner voice (ah, but what constitutes ‘normal’ one would say, ok, I confess I would say that). What I find funny is whose reality are we talking about here? Is it those whose socio-economic wealth-o-metre is more than the debt of a third world nation or those who consider orange spray tan and a ‘bedazzled jewelled gown’ haute couture? Or that you’ll find ‘true love’ on an island, or that botched plastic surgery can be magically repaired by another surgeons knife? And while I cannot subscribe to every reality show, the few that I watch religiously never fail to entertain me at all.

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To have a 'beautiful mind' is not what you see reflected in the mirror.
communications, getting creative, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Opinion, Personal Story, writing community Sylvia Jimenez communications, getting creative, insight observations, just an opinion and ob..., Opinion, Personal Story, writing community Sylvia Jimenez

To have a 'beautiful mind' is not what you see reflected in the mirror.

“Most people can be reasonable and competent, well at what they do but at the same time be rather dull. New ideas are rare because we have been taught analysis and judgement but never creativity.” Edward De Bono.

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