Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life

 

Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that translates to "a reason for being" or "a reason to wake up in the morning." It is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, and living a fulfilling and joyful existence.

At its core, ikigai is about discovering what makes you happy, what you are passionate about, what you are good at, and what the world needs. It is the intersection of these four elements that creates a sense of purpose and meaning in life.

According to the Japanese, finding your ikigai is the key to living a long and happy life. This is because when you have a sense of purpose and meaning, you are more likely to be resilient in the face of challenges, to be motivated to pursue your goals, and to experience a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.

The concept of ikigai has its roots in the traditional Japanese culture and way of life. In Japan, people often find their ikigai through their work or through their involvement in community activities. They believe that a fulfilling life is one that is centered around contributing to society and making a positive impact on the world.

However, ikigai is not just limited to work or community activities. It can also be found in hobbies, personal relationships, and other areas of life. The key is to identify what brings you joy, what you are good at, and how you can use those strengths to make a positive impact on the world.

In order to discover your ikigai, it is important to take time for self-reflection and introspection. Ask yourself what you are passionate about, what you are good at, what the world needs, and how you can contribute to society in a meaningful way. Once you have identified these elements, look for ways to integrate them into your daily life.

In conclusion, the concept of ikigai is a powerful philosophy that can help us to live a long and happy life. By finding our purpose and meaning, we can experience a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, and contribute to society in a meaningful way.

Easy step to discover your ikigai 

Discovering your ikigai can be a process of self-discovery and introspection, but there are some easy steps you can take to help you identify your purpose and meaning in life. Here are a few steps to get started:

1. Reflect on what makes you happy: Make a list of the things that bring you joy and fulfillment, whether it's spending time with loved ones, pursuing a hobby, or learning new things. Reflect on what it is about these activities that makes you happy.

2. Identify your strengths and talents: Think about what you are good at and what comes naturally to you. Consider your skills, talents, and experiences, both personal and professional.

3. Consider what the world needs: Think about the problems or challenges in the world that you feel passionate about solving. Consider how you can use your skills and talents to make a positive impact.

4. Find the intersection of these elements: Look for the overlap between what makes you happy, what you are good at, and what the world needs. This is where you can find your ikigai.

5. Experiment and take action: Once you have identified your ikigai, start taking action towards it. Experiment with different ways to incorporate it into your daily life. Whether it's through your work, hobbies, or personal relationships, find ways to pursue your purpose and make a positive impact on the world.

Remember that discovering your ikigai is a journey, and it may take time to find the right balance. Be patient and stay committed to the process of self-discovery. With time and effort, you can find your reason for being and live a fulfilling, meaningful life.

How long does it take discover your ikigai?

Discovering your ikigai is a personal and introspective process that can vary in duration depending on your level of self-awareness, life experiences, and personal circumstances. For some, it may come naturally and quickly, while for others, it may take months or even years of exploration and experimentation.

The key to discovering your ikigai is to remain open-minded, patient, and committed to the process. It is not something that can be rushed, but rather something that requires a deep understanding of yourself, your passions, your strengths, and your values.

In some cases, it may be helpful to seek guidance from a mentor, coach, or therapist who can help you clarify your goals, identify your strengths and values, and explore different options for living a fulfilling life.

Ultimately, the time it takes to discover your ikigai is less important than the journey itself. By remaining committed to the process of self-discovery and exploration, you can create a fulfilling and meaningful life that aligns with your passions, strengths, and values.

Is it important to discover your ikigai?

Discovering your ikigai is important because it can help you to live a more fulfilling and satisfying life. When you have a clear sense of purpose and meaning, you are more likely to experience a sense of satisfaction and joy in your daily activities, and to feel more resilient in the face of challenges.

Here are some of the key benefits of discovering your ikigai:

1. Greater sense of purpose: When you have a clear sense of your purpose and meaning in life, you can approach your daily activities with greater focus and intention. This can help you to stay motivated, overcome obstacles, and achieve your goals.

2. Increased satisfaction and fulfillment: When you are doing work that aligns with your passions and strengths, you are more likely to feel satisfied and fulfilled in your daily activities. This can lead to greater happiness and overall life satisfaction.

3. Improved resilience: When you have a strong sense of purpose and meaning in life, you are better able to cope with challenges and setbacks. You can approach difficulties with greater optimism and resilience, and bounce back more quickly from setbacks.

4. Greater contribution to society: When you have identified your ikigai, you can use your skills and strengths to make a positive impact on the world. This can help you to feel more connected to your community and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

In conclusion, discovering your ikigai is important because it can help you to live a more fulfilling, satisfying, and purposeful life. By identifying your passions, strengths, and values, you can create a life that aligns with your deepest desires and contributes to the greater good.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey SUMMARY

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey SUMMARY

The Book in Three Sentences

• Success encompasses a balance of personal and professional effectiveness.
• Before you can adopt the seven habits, you need to change your perception and interpretation of how the world works (see: paradigm shift).
• Between what happens to you and your response to it is your freedom to choose that response.

The Five Big Ideas

• Proactive people work on the things they can do something about.
• Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
• A paradigm is a way to “see” the world.
• We see the world, not as it is, but as we are conditioned to “see” it.
• To make relatively minor changes in your life, focus on your attitudes and behaviors. To make significant, quantum change, work on your basic paradigms.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

• Be proactive
• Begin with the end in mind
• Put first things first
• Think win/win
• Seek first to understand then be understood
• Synergize
• Sharpen the saw

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Summary

• “Leadership is communicating others’ worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.”
• The Character Ethic teaches that there are basic principles of effective living and that people can only experience true success and enduring happiness as they learn and integrate these principles into their basic character.
• To focus on technique is like cramming your way through school.
• “What you are shouts so loudly in my ears I cannot hear what you say.”—Thomas Edison
• We have many maps in our heads and each can be divided into two main categories: maps of the way things are, or realities, and maps of the way things should be, or values.
• “We interpret everything we experience through these mental maps. We seldom question their accuracy; we’re usually even unaware that we have them. We simply assume that the way we see things is the way they really are or the way they should be.”
• “To try to change outward attitudes and behaviors do very little good in the long run if we fail to examine the basic paradigms from which those attitudes and behaviors flow.”
• “We see the world, not as it is, but as we are—or, as we are conditioned to see it.”
• “Our paradigms, correct or incorrect, are the sources of our attitudes and behaviors, and ultimately our relationships with others.”
• “If we want to make relatively minor changes in our lives, we can perhaps appropriately focus on our attitudes and behaviors. But if we want to make significant, quantum change, we need to work on our basic paradigms.”
• “Paradigms are inseparable from character. Being is seeing in the human dimension. And what we see is highly interrelated to what we are.”
• “Paradigms are powerful because they create the lens through which we see the world. The power of a paradigm shift is the essential power of quantum change, whether that shift is an instantaneous or a slow and deliberate process.”

• On practices vs. principles: “Practices are situationally specific. Principles are deep, fundamental truths that have universal application.”
• “Principles are the territory. Values are maps. When we value correct principles, we have the truth—a knowledge of things as they are.”
• “Admission of ignorance is often the first step in our education.”
• “The way we see the problem is the problem.”
• “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”—Albert Einstein
• “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”—Aristotle
• “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”
• Stephen defines a habit as the intersection of knowledge, skill, and desire. Knowledge is the theoretical paradigm, the what to do and the why. Skill is the how to do. And desire is the motivation, the want to do. To make something a habit in our lives, Stephen explains, we need to have all three.

“Private victories precede public victories.”

True effectiveness is a function of two things: what is produced (the golden eggs) and the producing asset or capacity to produce (the goose).
Effectiveness lies in the balance—what Stephen calls the P/PC Balance. P stands for production of desired results, the golden eggs. PC stands for production capability, the ability or asset that produces the golden eggs.
“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.”—Henry David Thoreau
“We are not our feelings. We are not our moods. We are not even our thoughts. The very fact that we can think about these things separates us from them and from the animal world.”
There are three social maps—three theories of determinism widely accepted, independently or in combination, to explain the nature of man:


Genetic determinism. This basically says your grandparents did it to you. That’s why you have such a temper.


Psychic determinism. This basically says your parents did it to you.


Environmental determinism. This basically says your boss is doing it to you—or your spouse, or that bratty teenager, or your economic situation, or national policies. Someone or something in your environment is responsible for your situation.


Between what happens to you, or the stimulus and your response to it is your freedom or power to choose that response.

“Between stimulus and response, man has the freedom to choose.”
“Proactive people can carry their own weather with them. Whether it rains or shines makes no difference to them. They are value-driven; and if their value is to produce good quality work, it isn’t a function of whether the weather is conducive to it or not.”


“The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of the proactive person. Reactive people are driven by feelings, by circumstances, by conditions, by their environment. Proactive people are driven by values—carefully thought about, selected and internalized values.”


“Proactive people are still influenced by external stimuli, whether physical, social, or psychological. But their response to the stimuli, conscious or unconscious, is a value-based choice or response.”


“It’s not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us.”

Victor Frankl suggests that there are three central values in life:

• The experiential, or that which happens to us
• The creative, or that which we bring into existence
• The attitudinal, or our response in difficult circumstances such as terminal illness.

“What matters most is how we respond to what we experience in life.”
“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about. The nature of their energy is positive, enlarging and magnifying, causing their Circle of Influence to increase.”

The problems we face fall in one of three areas:

• Direct control. Problems involving our own behavior
• Indirect control. Problems involving other people’s behavior
• No control. Problems we can do nothing about, such as our past or situational realities.

“‘Begin with the end in mind’ is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There’s a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation, to all things.”


“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.”


“The two additional unique human endowments that enable us to expand our proactivity and to exercise personal leadership in our lives are imagination and conscience.”


“Writing or reviewing a mission statement changes you because it forces you to think through your priorities deeply, carefully, and to align your behavior with your beliefs. As you do, other people begin to sense that you’re not being driven by everything that happens to you.


You have a sense of mission about what you’re trying to do and you are excited about.”


A good affirmation has five basic ingredients:
It’s personal
It’s positive
It’s present tense
It’s visual
It’s emotional.

An example of an affirmation: “It is deeply satisfying (emotional) that I (personal) respond (present tense) with wisdom, love, firmness, and self-control (positive) when my children misbehave.”
“The challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves.”
“You simply can’t think efficiency with people. You think effectiveness with people and efficiency with things.”
“Peace of mind comes when your life is in harmony with true principles and values and in no other way.”


Recommended Reading

If you like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, you may also enjoy the following books:

Awaken The Giant Within by Anthony Robbins
Eat That Frog! By Brian Tracy
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

Women in Real Estate Campaign - Interview with Pinclick

Women in Real Estate Campaign

1. How are developers in Bangalore reacting to the RERA coming into action soon?

The reactions from developers in Bangalore, both big and small, have been very positive. The sentiments from the developer community is one of optimismGENERAL

Women in Real Estate Series with Ms. Pearlene Rodrigues – Shriram Properties

May 30, 2017 - by Sandeep Khanna - Leave a Comment

? Women in Real Estate Series with Ms. Pearlene Rodrigues

Introduction

Women in Real Estate Series with Ms. Pearlene Rodrigues. With over 14 years of experience, Pearlene has worked in departments of Design, Business Development & Acquisitions and focuses on Marketing Strategy, Brand Management & Corporate Communications for Shriram Properties. We happened to speak to her on the recent developments in Real Estate and how developers are gearing up to continue growing amidst the challenges. Here’s what she has to say

How are developers in Bangalore reacting to the RERA coming into action soon?

The reactions from developers in Bangalore, both big and small, have been very positive. The sentiments from the developer community is one of optimism and hope, hinged on the belief that the government has taken a progressive step.

The perspective is that through the implementation of RERA, the industry would witness financial discipline, credibility, fair practices, delivery of Projects on time. There would be more transparency and it will help protect the interest of the buyer. It will also attract higher investment and PE funding for projects which is a big plus.

What’s the expected impact of GST on Real Estate?

The Real estate industry across the country is at the cusp of experiencing a revolution, with the implementation of two most significant regulations – RERA & GST. While RERA aims to bring a regulated system, catalysing the sector’s growth; GST aims at simplification of the overall business, thereby benefiting both the developer as well as the consumer.

GST will simplify tax compliance and minimise the scope for double taxation, so, there is clear reason for home buyers to be optimistic. This will also help real estate growth in the long term.

Will the current job uncertainty rumours especially in technology world having a negative impact on Real Estate in cities like Bangalore, Pune?

I think one should not be disturbed by the prevailing turbulence within the technology world. Especially across the tech corridors of Bangalore and Pune. Its  just a temporary phase within the industry and our country’s current economic condition is robust enough to weather the tide.

Also, increased consolidation as well as transparency and launching of REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts).

What all are developers doing to keep up with the pace of real estate growth ?

Currently most developers are offering attractive plans/schemes to cater to the growing demand from the end-users and investors. The developers are also focusing  on affordable housing to take advantage of tax benefits and other incentives offered by government in the latest budget.

Developers continue to offer subsidized payment plans and price guarantees, as they feel that prospective buyers should not delay their buying decision.

The reputed builders, who offer homes in good locations, with superior amenities and facilities are most sought after by these buyers. Looking at capital appreciation as well as potential rental income.

The views expressed here  -” Women in Real Estate Series with Ms. Pearlene Rodrigues” – are solely those of the person interviewed in her private capacity. Is not in any way represent the views of the brands/organizations she is or has been associated with.  and hope, hinged on the belief that the government has taken a progressive step.  

Technology and New Age Teaching Methodology

Why is Technology the future for Education?

Technology is the viable new vision of the future Teaching and Learning methods. It is also a preferable method given the destination towards which we are currently headed, where the main focus is innovation.

Over a cup of coffee with Prof Anand Rao (name changed), a lecturer from one of the B Schools, we discussed the common problems faced by institutes. Two prominent issues that overshadowed the rest were the shortage of trained teachers and the need for teachers to constantly improve on their teaching methods.

So, how does one go about tackling these issues?

A primary concern for teachers today is ensuring that their students are well equipped with extensive knowledge and that they are industry ready. Teachers constantly endeavor to impart the following to students before they exit college/ university;

a)         Keeping students up-to-date on information

b)         Helping students develop the ability to incorporate ideas and information gained from theory into practical situations of where, when and how it is most appropriately used

c)         Teaching students to use their critical thinking and be less likely to be taken in by assumptions, assertions & unsupported statements

d)         Developing the student's ability to test ideas and facts & develop the spirit of reasoning

e)         Facilitate the personal development of students by giving them use case scenarios

f)          And ultimately encourage students to be responsible for and in control of their own learning. Also to make the change from learning a science (i.e. a subject or discipline) to becoming a problem-solver, independent of their teacher's attitudes, beliefs and methodologies

According to Dada JP Vaswani, (a philosopher, educator, acclaimed writer, powerful orator and non - sectarian spiritual leader) the current education system has failed very badly. A new approach to education is needed, an education which should be related to real life, which would help students become a worthy participant in the adventure of life.

As the number of colleges and universities multiply and the number of graduates and doctorate holders’ increase there is a corresponding rise in expectations within the corporate offices and industries. To meet these expectations, it is imperative that every institution has the best teachers and that they keep up with technology. In other words, institutes today need to be both Hi Tech and Hi Touch (a combination of Technology & Teacher).

With the advances in information technology, content is freely accessible on the internet; information dissemination has become much less expensive. Today, it is both easy and cost friendly to integrate technology with teaching.  Technology also aids in the integration of open learning. 

Imagine if you could have lesson plans, lecture notes and assignments posted on the Net. Or even if you were absent you could have access to lectures anytime, anywhere at a later date. What if you could improve your retention by reviewing content at your own pace or you could have access to recorded lectures for reference?

 I would have definitely loved it as a student.  We all would have loved it. 

Students could definitely benefit from a combination of technology and teaching, because apart from text book learning, they will be also be able to have a lot more access to education related content material. There can be more variety in the learning lives of students than there is at present. Students can also spend more time in independent learning using materials on the Internet and could also enjoy the well-known benefits of open learning. "Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune" -Jim Rohn

Assessments can be done online, students can join community chat rooms post their assignment on the bulletin boards to get collective feedback and gain from a common knowledge repository.

Open learning can serve different purposes at different stages of a course. It can be used to support and challenge documents. Students can integrate the learning from the modules that they have chosen and reflect on the relevance of what they have learned to further their own professional aspirations. This goes towards contributing to their continuous professional development.

Technology in education is not just limited to benefitting the student but extends to improving teacher performance as well.

So how would teaching with Technology be of advantage to Academic Staff/ lecturers?

The availability of content from the internet gives teachers access to a much greater knowledge repository, they could incorporate content that would be useful to the student’s growth apart from text book learning and the research teachers do will benefit their own existing knowledge. Through technology, prior or during class, the teacher can upload education related content material adding to the existing knowledge and also further simulate student interest. 

Teachers can never be replaced. The use of technology will only facilitate them to do what they do with better results.  

The current reality for many lecturers is one of rising levels of students. More student numbers gives rise to the paradox of more class contact time. This leads to reduced time available for themselves or for those teachers who are on scholarships and research. It also translates into fewer opportunities for meaningful interaction with students.

Education institutes are also facing a decline in resources. Academic staff to student ratios is severely tilted towards the latter.

As academic staff become relatively scarce it seems important that they should be doing the things in which they have a greater advantage, like focus more in those areas where it is the least easy (e.g. to achieve those qualities mentioned above where direct human interaction is essential) thereby moulding & shaping the future of the individual where its most needed.

The other concern for Universities is how to reach out to students who are in remote locations, especially with a lack in experienced staff. With technology, institutes can have their best teachers teaching students who are located in remote areas from a central location using video and the internet. Thus ensuring the best education possible to remote area students while saving time and costs of travel.  

In essence, technology could optimize a teachers time and that time could be better spent on research and in the creation of a knowledge repository which could be passed on to students. Further valuable teacher time could be saved by the ability to conduct and correct internal tests and do assessments online, negating the need to waste valuable hours on correcting paper based assignments.

Technology offers a solution for raising the quality of education that students experience, a Hi Tech & Hi Touch combination of teacher & technology. It is a solution that offers both improved quality of work life for the academic staff and improved quality of academic life for the students. 

Signing Off… Cheers

                                

My Evening at Toit

TOIT

Nice place... Beer… Can’t complain.

Pretty girls in short skirts around and the normal buzz with some good music.

Was having a chilled out evening with friends, one, a Creative Director, the other a Media person and the third, a Digital specialist.

Deep in their beers and me in my Cocktail we chatter on… Work, Movies, the new 3G advt by idea.

Then I get a call from a friend who, I very graciously invite. He apparently doesn’t drink, smoke or eat any outside food to keep himself trim. I often find such people weird & hard to believe, but sometimes you need to just accept people for who they are... And me, I’m just nice...

But these guys, believe me, have many vices. No offence meant to anyone.

I introduce him to my buddies and the evening goes well lots of laughter, fun… and then we notice him staring at the two women standing at the other corner, not very great looking, early 20's. He, a tall, good looking guy, model material, mid 30's. We were pretty much surprised at his choice... Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

That was weird, he did nothing but stare. An occasional eye contact in-between is fine I guess, but this was awful. Every one on the floor next to us noticed it too because it became so very obvious. My buddies were embarrassed. I was super embarrassed. We tried to cover the embarrassment by getting his attention, but too late… his eyes were set. It was a little too sidelined.

In seconds before we could do anything, the next thing we saw, was him making conversation with the girls. Well, he had his eye set on one, but to get the one, he needed to make conversation with both. I guess that’s the approach guys use... to get to the one they want, they also befriend their friend. Oops sorry about that comment :)))

Okay... We let him be. He’s old enough to know what he's doing.

The next thing we know, they exchange numbers, wow that was quick… 10 minutes with a stranger and there you go exchanging numbers. A gentleman will offer to buy the lady a drink, but that didn't  happen either :)

He then comes back to us, says, "Hey that was easy. My works done" . We then jokingly tell him, he could find someone better, they’re just kids... but all he says is  "Who cares? I’m not looking for a relationship"  winks & before we could react, says, "I’ll see you guys around” and happily walks away.

Damn, that’s not right... Its not how its meant to be.

Most of the guys I know or who I’ve met are a decent lot, but this kind of behavior from a certain few is not really acceptable... Opinions may differ...

Or... Is it that we women who are the ones to be blamed… picked up at bars... share numbers with strangers who you just randomly approach you

I don’t mean to be critical.
Its just another story, just an experience I'd like to share... but I guess its also food for thought.

Signing off... Cheers!!

My Experience at the Singapore Metro

We had gone to Singapore on a holiday.....

I had never been on a Metro before and wanted to experience what it feels like to be in one especially in a foreign country.. The tube excited me, but the fear of being lost in an unknown country terrified me and hence prevented me from getting into one earlier

A few days went by and we did some sightseeing and I wanted to do some shopping so my friend dropped me off at the Takashimaya Mall, Singapore. At the Mall while shopping I realized there was a Metro running thru on the Basement. Oh, I'm happy now..always wanted to get into one... I mustered some courage and decided to go on a ride. (I had time & it was a just a momentary decision taken).... cos I know even if I get lost, I can still find my way back… It’s a famous Mall and one cannot get lost...

At the Metro Station, the lady at the help desk suggested I go up-to Marina Bay to get a feel of the tube.. She also suggested I buy a one way ticket, so in case I decide to take a stroll, I could do so and when I’m ready to get back, buy the return ticket back.. umm good suggestion.

My experience in the train was very strange, it was around 2.30pm, the tube was quite empty .. ….I recollected scenes from all the horror movies I’d seen and  various scenes were playing through my head.....everyone in the train looked alien to me. But that’s my imagination….To make it worse I got off at the wrong station…Raffles Station...

I am a chicken when it comes to travelling alone....At the Station, I couldn’t think for a minute.. Should I get back on the next train and go to Marina bay… Or should I just buy a ticket from Raffles back to Takashimaya mall.  I tried to get help finding the Help Desk, but I guess everyone was so busy with their time and schedule that no one offered to help.

I looked around, found an escalator and went upstairs, it was quite dimly lit and not a soul... I further went up another floor and saw the Help Desk
There, I explained my situation and said I wanted to buy a Ticket to get back to my entry point,Takashimaya Mall... The lady at the help desk very confidently told me that its alright if I didn't buy a ticket... She said I could just board the train and get back and her counterpart will let me in once I'm there. I stood there dumbstruck for a minute.... And then after the words had got digested,  my  question to her was "You don’t even know my name". She just looked at me, smiled and said "I will tell my colleague a beautiful Lady would pass and She will let you in" and immediately attended to the next customer.

Oh my God, she still didn’t ask me for my name…I just stood there again, I did not want to go disturb her for the 3^rd time…. Again thoughts flowing “There are so many beautiful women around.. Singapore has a lot of pretty faces… I am just one in the million…. How will her colleague know that I am the one"….. if you get caught in a foreign city without a ticket, you will go to jail.

Now what? I called my friend, but couldn’t get through…probably bad network...

So now, I just decided I’ll just get back…. As I reached the Station, I went to one of the security passes, my heart beating fast… Everyone’s using their card and lines are moving fast, and then, the security gate doesn’t permit me inside…..I notice people, one by one, they start  moving from behind me and going to other lines… oh my God “ I’m Scared….’… I can’t think.

And then.....

Comes the Lady with a big smile on her face, swipes her card and lets me in….

I'm amazed…. Singapore… Wow….That was really nice.. I"m impressed..... Very happy!!


I’ve been curious though… These questions have been playing on my mind....

1)      How did her colleague recognize me amongst the millions of pretty faces around…(She didn't have my name or Id Proof).  I was dressed casually… Jeans & a regular Top

2)      Does one trust someone at random at a foreign country just like I did… Are we supposed to just go with our Instincts which could be wrong at times

3)      If you don’t trust them, then aren’t  you going to be putting yourself through a difficult situation

Signing off.... Cheers!!