I let go of all accumulated material possessions to make room for a lifetime of contentment.
I am trying to pack 28 years of my life in Malaysia into two suitcases.
It is unbelievable how much junks I have collected all these years.
How many pairs of shoes I have.
How many dresses I have only worn once.
How I kept buying jeans in hope that one day I will find that one pair that makes me feel like a million dollars.
How many hair products and perfume bottles I needed to feel clean and complete.
As much as I want to let go of everything I ever own and start my life afresh abroad, I figured that I still can’t live (fine, at the risk sounding shallow – leave my house) without:
- my electric toothbrush
- Lady Speed Stick
- Gilette Venus razors (am still not ready to be au naturale. Should I decide to go to India for a year, I’ll save up to have permanent hair removal first, LOL!)
- M.A.C Mineralizer concealer, foundation, loose powder, blusher – to look like a woman human
- any mascara (washable all the way since I don’t want to care about eye make-up remover) for survival
(yes, I am seriously going to try and wash my face + hair + body with simply any soap. I figure I will still live, if not live happier 
. And I discovered something, all the Kiehl’s and L’Occitane don’t make me stand on my hands longer, do you?)
And that’s all I am bringing with me.
. . . . . .
Nevertheless (come on, be real!) to be accepted in a civilised community, I have to bring
- 5 pairs of Thai / Balinese fisherman pants (with heavy heart, I’m giving up engineered adidas Techfit tights) & 5 literally-no-frills spaghetti strap tops for teaching / practicing
- 3 (they are different colors to match the above articles!) Lululemon HOLY GRAIL sportsbras I discovered in Toronto and I am sooo looking forward to being able to not wear bras at all [when I'm not teaching a yoga class, that is] outside of Malaysia, like I have
for the past couple of weeks – so liberating! - my tennis & rockclimbing shoes
- 2 pairs of jeans (they don’t have to be washed every week time I wear them, right?), 2 sundresses, 3 pairs of sunglasses & 3 pairs of bikini (they weigh like nothing so bringing 3 each IS alright
) - 1 drawstring linen pants, 1 khaki hot pants, 1 stonewash denim mini skirt, 1 boyfriend (or motorcycle? I can’t decide) jacket, 1 hoodie sweater
- TWO flat pumps*, TWO pairs of high heels* (in case of Academy Awards invitation emergency), ONE flip flop* & ONE practical handbag*= * I’m sceptical I’d be able to bring only the underlined too but I promise my spine I will try my very best
- Complete 6 Seasons of Sex And The City (if I ever feel lonely – without my girlfriends, I mean!)
- laptop + charger, digital camera + charger, handphone + charger & international power transmitter for that matter
- Moleskine watercolor + Daler Bowney color palette + 3 crucial brushes
- The Kor’an & Kor’an’s translation in English
- Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, Anatomy of Hatha Yoga & The Language (A to Y) of Yoga
- Maha Sodhana Level II DVD with Dharma Mittra & Ashtanga Intermediate Series DVD with Kino MacGregor for daily practice
- 8 copies of SHAPE M’sia November ‘09 I still have (as yoga portfolio)
- Lululemon travel yoga mat in Bandhas yoga mat bag (they are both presents from my boyfriend
, can I just pack him in my suitcase too?)
and I’m leaving and should I reveal now, selling EVERYTHING ELSE behind.
You read me right – all my 3(0?) shoeracks of high heels, whole wardrobe of adidas by Stella McCartney & adidas Originals jackets, obscene array of yoga mats & adidas futsal shoes, half a library of books (that I thought would make me smarter), my treasured set of pots & pans , my bedroom set (matching queen bed + wardrobe + dressing table + queen mattress), my TV and they will all be available for The Banned Yoga Instructor’s Moving Out (Of The Country) Sale.
Unless they are my bedroom set, my pots & pans and 29′ TV, nothing else’s going to be over RM80 – I guarantee 
Stay tuned to this space for time & date especially if you are an XS / UK 6 / US 0 or 2 / shoe size 35 or 36.
hi Ninie,
I have been reading ehem* following ur blog for quite a while and this would be the 1st ever comment i have for u.
You are such an inspiration that i wish i would have the same courage , confidence and dream that i could just pack my bag and go.
A year away ? that would be long (and my list of worries especially moolah* would be long) and you my girl , you did and as a woman u are such an inspiration.
p/s : very much Malaysia version of Carrie i would say.
Just a question, how about BeYoga ? will it still be operating ?
oh and another one , a year away exploring abroad ?
Just promise you will keep on writing.
Take care and all the best !
Sha
7 Jul 10 at 4:49 PM
Shoe size is perfect. But I live in Indo
ephi
7 Jul 10 at 4:54 PM
Waahhh… All the best dear!
Was just about to get carried away with the Sale until I remebered that I’m you 3times sizzee!!! *sigh*
Kiwo tsukete tabi ni itterasshai!
Fieza
7 Jul 10 at 5:25 PM
Sha:
Did you just say I macam Carrie Bradshaw Malaysia? Nak free dress tak, he hee?
BE Yoga will still be here, stronger than ever without me – I hope!
ephi:
!
Next (life)time maybe
Fieza:
Errr, boleh je beli baju Ninie bagi anak kau yang comel giler mata bulat tu pakai, ha haa!
Ninie
7 Jul 10 at 6:15 PM
Kak ninie, u’re truly inspiring. Dah lama teringin sangat nak buat what u’re doing now (Just pack & go) but don’t have the guts (and money) to do it
Anyway, i’m size XS / UK 6 / US 0 or 2 / shoe size 35 or 36. Can’t wait for the sale!
~Reena~
7 Jul 10 at 6:39 PM
All the best in the next phase of your life. This country can be somewhat stifling for some of us.
Shame I can’t fit into any of those disgusting size clothes/shoes of yours.
Do let’s try to play scrabble on fb.
rodi
7 Jul 10 at 7:46 PM
OMG. I AM SO GOING FOR THE SALE.
Diyana
7 Jul 10 at 8:23 PM
dammit… I am definitely not a size XS / UK 6 / US 0 or 2 / shoe size 35 or 3. I would be an M/ UK 10 / US (def. not 0) and shoe size 39. Wahahahahaha…. have fun babe… and don’t forget about Cup C here… –> well have gone down to cup A but who the heck cares!)
Sarclover
7 Jul 10 at 8:57 PM
im assuming i get a vvvvvvip sneak preview for the sale
juliana
7 Jul 10 at 11:49 PM
Take care Ninie & best of luck! (“,)
p/s : size ko mmg tak secocok dgn aku la kannnn? Heh
Wahida
8 Jul 10 at 9:25 AM
I swear I was going to scream at the thought of SALE esp. shoes when I read this. But then you are 3 times smaller than I am. Not fair! Maybe I can aim for that 29″ TV or the bedroom set! Talk about a bargain to start of (my) married life.
And what you did there, pack your bag and leave Malaysia for a year is indeed inspirational. My fiance and I have talked about leaving Malaysia for good at one time (both of us studied oversea) but somehow never make any firm decision.
Anyway, good luck and don’t forget to blog about your adventure!
Moose
8 Jul 10 at 12:46 PM
i’m interested in adidas attire shirt/pants/shoes please keep in the the sale mailing list i’m your size! (feet aje lah
)
laydiefa
8 Jul 10 at 1:45 PM
Ninie, where’re you going after this?
Hmm anyway, wishing you all the best in whatever you do!
Hayley
8 Jul 10 at 3:31 PM
and me too..similarly with Julie???
Nellie
8 Jul 10 at 4:05 PM
I am a lover of your teaching style and was devastated when you announced you were going off. Yesterday was wondering about the day when you will be back again so that I could suffer the physical abuse you lavish on us week after week. I miss the burning quads and the sore arms only you could create. but i understand your reasons for leaving. please promise you’d come back one day again because my thighs aren’t the same without you
Godspeed and God blesss.
tolldoll
8 Jul 10 at 4:19 PM
wow sure wish i can pack and leave for a yr too. best of luck to u girl. eh we have the same show size but im in singapore. aiya..
nora@singapore
9 Jul 10 at 1:06 AM
makcik. i dont know how long / when it’ll be, but no goonies meetup for the last time before u leave? give us a buzz if ur game
iz
9 Jul 10 at 8:19 AM
ninie, where you inspired by eat pray love?
i loved that book and i think what you are doing is amazing. to just pack up your suitcases and go wherever you wish. i hope you continue to blog about your travels, i have been reading your blog from since you first joined nescafe kick start. good luck ninie! take care!
azreen
9 Jul 10 at 10:50 AM
ah, not to worry, Ninie.
Jealous that you are taking the leap, I am currently blessed with mini-retirements here and there, because the destinations I went to seems to have undependable wi-fi that I need.
Cheers for your new journey~!
ephi
10 Jul 10 at 5:11 PM
Hello Ninie,
My name is Roy See, I am from the New Straits Times and would like to speak to you regarding the Astro incident.
My email is attached with this comment/post, and would appreciate it if you could send a reply, or tell me how to contact you.
Thank you
Roy See
11 Jul 10 at 4:09 PM
good luck and all the best ninie..
kat msia ni semua sibuk nak haramkan yoga n benda yg remeh temeh, tp benda yg lebih serious takmau pun dibincangkan…(rasuah, sumbang marham, zina, n etc)
spread ur wings and write more on ur adventure!!
anon
15 Jul 10 at 12:32 AM
yeah, a sad case for u. i was like what is the fuss about astro and now i finally know why. it is time to pack for everyone. a healthy sports becomes a religion issue but it is good to see someone who is as open minded as u. keep up the good work!!
Thimmy
17 Jul 10 at 11:50 PM
darl…when is the sale?? cant wait…shoe size is purrrrfect and owh am size xs as well….gotta have the adidas mccartney tops ….
ann
19 Jul 10 at 3:58 PM