My Mr Cool
February 5, 2011 Leave a comment
(Photo Taken: Sentosa, Singapore – My Cool Boy, Frozen in Action!)
Sentosa Flowers 2011 (圣淘沙春节花会)
February 5, 2011 1 Comment
Themed “Spring Wonderland” (奇幻花屿世界), the Sentosa Flowers 2011 Show features more than 200 types of flowers, trees and plants from all around the world. Opens from the 3rd Feb to 13th Feb, the show promises lots of spectacular displays. Do check out one of its most publicised attractions – the world’s tallest and largest topiary “Fortune Rabbit” (14m tall) rotating right outside Resorts World Casino.
Together with Tracy’s family (and my new photographer buddy – “Uncle Bay”), we went there on its 2nd opening day and it was crazily packed with thousands of people! It was worse than weekend shopping in Orchard Road. It was impossible to enjoy the flower displays at your own pace. The path was packed with moving people and you will be pushed along. Taking photos was another big challenge. Out of nowhere, you get “extra family members” in your shot. (While we were taking a photo for Tracy’s family, an Indian tourist squeezed himself right beside Tracy!) It is not advisable to come during the festive weekend, try the quieter week days.
Thanks to super 1 hour-long queue at the Sentosa Express (monorail), we decided to go to Sentosa by foot. We took a breezy and scenic travellator-walk across the very new Sentosa BoardWalk (which opened less than a week ago!). This 620m broadwalk offers a relaxing 2-way travellator, well sheltered by its wooden curvy canopy. When standing on the moving travellator, you get a good 180-degree view of the sea that separates the two islands (Singapore and Sentosa).
The Flowers Show is worth a visit but avoid the crowded weekends or festive holidays if you want a peaceful and quiet stroll with your loved ones in the park. Bring an umbrella too – the wet Singapore weather is just too unpredictable.
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Excursions
February 4, 2011 Leave a comment
This is going to be a home trip full of excursions with my kid and family. Our first stop – we went to the Singapore Science Center on the Eve of Chinese New Year (Thanks Gareth for the ride). There are a lot of multimedia displays (3D theater, multitouch-screen, projection screen) and very intriguing exhibits. I was very impressed with some of these showcases – especially the “Ames Room” – it is an optical illusion room which distorts sizes and distance. Elkan standing in left corner appears larger than Felicia who is standing (and shrinking) in the other right corner.
A rewarding visit indeed. It will be good if the management makes regular maintenance on the fixtures. Some of the popular exhibits looked very old, rugged and “used”.
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Day Number 1
January 5, 2011 Leave a comment
It is a very special day today. It is my son’s first day in school. I called him before school and after school. My boy took it pretty well, except some minor complaints about the incredibly heavy school bag (why can’t school fix this “heavy school back issue?”) and expensive school meals which he paid today. Elkan enjoyed his first day – I am impressed! It is good that the school allows the parents to tag along on the first day – so these kids will be more ease and confident (and more independent) the next day.
Instead, I was more worried for Elkan’s teachers cos’ my kid will certainly (and very soon) terrorize her with all his amazing stunts and pranks. Afterall, he is the son of an ex-school prime prankster. (My mum is my best witness – I was so popular back then in school that my mum was “summoned” numerous times back to school to play psychiatrist to those poor mentally-beaten teachers. Well, I am just differently talented – some of those teachers weren’t taught properly how to handle someone like me!)
I always remember my first day in school. I cried quietly after my mum waved goodbye to me by the louver-glass windows. And everything went blank for me after that. Of course, I remember my scary form teacher and all the strange punishments I used to get in school. I tried every forms of their tortures – from facing the blackboard (breathing in those dreadful chalk power), standing on the floor / chair / table / outside the classroom, ruler beating on the palm, private caning on the ass in the principal’s office, ear-pulling / twisting / ticking, pinching of the shoulders, writing 50 / 100 / 500 lines of the same boring sentence, hair-pulling, duck-walk around the classroom, slap on the face and masking-taping of mouth. My god, maybe I should start engaging my lawyer to start suing those retired teachers and get a lucrative cut from their big fat pensions. Of course, no teachers in school dare to exercise those “inhumane children tortures” today – thanks to more law-savvy parents, 3G Network, mobile phone cameras and facebook. These punishments were extinct.
Let’s hope Elkan be merciful on his poor teachers (and us) so that we need not suffer the same fate as my poor mum. Psychiatrist’s job is painful, especially when we need to go back to school to heal the teacher’s broken minds. And hope this doesn’t run in the family…Elkan’s 3 other cousins are also in school today!
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48 Hours Later…
December 21, 2010 Leave a comment
Life is slowly getting back to norm. Living alone – I am much independent, tidier and hardworking. Thanks to FaceTime, Felicia taught me how to operate the washing machine step by step. Harshad even helped me to hang out the laundry at the balcony. I began to enjoy the fun of daily chores and the quietness. It reminded me of my early life in Shanghai.
The only uncomfortable thing is the strange sounds I have been hearing lately. The house is so quiet that I can hear the fan of the refrigerator, the ticking hands of the wall clock, the wind howling outside my balcony, the creaking sound of the wooden floor and even the elevator door outside my apartment. Sure miss the noise of my little prankster. At least, he drown all these ghostly sounds at night.
It was indeed a gloomy dreadful farewell last Wednesday. The temperature dropped to 7 that week. Thankfully and through God’s blessings, my good friends and family from Singapore, Shanghai, Malaysia and Hong Kong kept me going with their love and warmth. More than just coincidence, I also strongly believe my Wahbiang buddies’ presences in Hong Kong were divinely designed to help me through these lonely moments. Meijie (14-16th), Tracy, Harshad, Yifu & Family (14th-19th) and Uncle Bay (19th-20th) were here with me back to back – there wasn’t a lonely moment for me.
So many of you called (Echo, Doreen, Christin, Eric, Hovman) to cheer me up. I received tons of messages from my colleagues (Alice, Dorothy, Vince, Loretta), friends (Pei Ling, Agnes Lee, Josephine Hoon, Natalie, Randy, Hongfei, Felix, Diane, Yiyi, Aimei, Jas, Hong Ai, Amelia, Danielle Fong, Daniella Ong, Raghu), family (Amy, Chester, Asty, Yei) and my Wahbiang Clan (Joanne, Karen, Juliana, Kalinda).
A big THANK YOU to all of you who came up to us with tears, hugs, encouragement and “love letters/sms/emails/calls”. I am really deeply touched by all your attention and love. (Not forgetting Steve Jobs who made FaceTime so user-friendly and simple to use. See our happier FaceTime Moments above.)
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Goodbye on a Rainy Day
December 16, 2010 2 Comments
I have lost count how many times we have said goodbye to one another. (Perth, Shanghai, Singapore and now here in Hong Kong). And I thought I am so used to saying goodbye to both of them. I thought to myself that this was only a short 6-month separation and it won’t be as bad as the one in 2006. I was so wrong about my thoughts. Goodbyes are painful – no matter how many times we have been through.
Thankfully, my Singapore buddies (Yifu, Meijie and Lilian) were in town to lend their support. Harshad and Tracy (and dad) also came to send them off. It was a big happy (and noisy) farewell. I thought their company will help to ease (and distract) the sadness. It was pretty okay from our house to the airport. Elkan was very happy today, he was looking forward to go home to meet his granny and cousins. Normally, he was the one crying at the departure gate and Felicia and me had to comfort him. It was the adults who were in tears and he comforting both of us.
Elkan was acting pretty different (very sensible and mature) today. He knew he was leaving Hong Kong for good and he said many nice things to cheer me up. He is always a happy kid. When I asked him if he will missed me, he said I will miss him more. He said he will behave well so he fly back soon to play video games with me. He also left me with a lot of written “I love you, daddy” notes. Minutes before the departure, Elkan and me went to the loo. My mind was so occupied with my work and their departure that I left my pouch in the loo. I left the loo first. Elkan saw the cleaner picked up my pouch. He instinctively guessed it was my pouch and took it from the cleaner. He passed the pouch to me and said “Is that yours? I saw a uncle holding it and I told him it is yours. Daddy, please be careful, can?”
At the departure gate when we bid farewell to them, the smile on Elkan’s face slowly diminished. He dropped his backpack and started whining for me “I want daddy, I want daddy”. It was an unbearable moment. Holding back the tears, I gave him a tight hug and told him I will be back very soon. Do well, my son and take care, I said. I looked at Felicia, her eyes were wet. So were Tracy (and Harshad). It was an emotional moment for all of us. After all, we have been through so many good happy days in Hong Kong. For me, it was goodbye to my son and wife – Elkan is starting school in 2 weeks’ time – they had been on the road with me for 3 years. For Tracy and Harshad, it was goodbye to their favorite buddy. Some one who they doted so much during their stay in Hong Kong.
Meijie came to give me a hug while Felicia and Elkan went through the gate. They say big men don’t cry. I can’t help it. It breaks my heart to see my son and wife so sad. Harshad kept patting on my back, comforting me. Tracy’s dad tried to calm the situation with a good joke. “Hey, those weren’t tears of sadness. It’s tears of joys. You are a free man now!” Yes, today is my Independent Day!
I hate goodbyes. Especially on a rainy day when Christmas is just around the corner.
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(Thank you all who came for the farewell office lunch and wrote us all those encouraging notes on Facebook and sms. We are really touched and blessed to have you guys around. It is moment like this that teaches us to cherish and appreciate each other more. And thanks Harshad, Meijie, Tracy, Yifu, Lilian for popping by our house today. Our Pink Christmas Tree is completed now – with all the farewell Polaroids!)
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Time to go Home
December 12, 2010 5 Comments
In less than 72 hours, Felicia and Elkan are leaving for Singapore. Over the last 2 days, we have been packing and shipping our stuffs back home. Reality starts biting into my heart. I tried telling myself that this won’t be a long separation and everything will be okay. It is really quite difficult for me to handle their absence. Especially Elkan, he is the life of the house. His voices, his laughter and all his pranks – I am going to miss all of these. At the same time, I am happy that he will in the arms of many loved ones back home. Family comes first for me.
4 years… that is how fast time flew by. Felicia and Elkan have been on the move with me – from Shanghai to Hong Kong. So fast, my little baby is already 6 and he will be attending Primary One in less than 2 weeks. While it is a short-term separation for us in Hong Kong, they will be reunite with the family and friends back this Christmas. Unlike my previous re-locations, Elkan is the main reason why we are moving back to Singapore. (For his education and the reunion with the old folks.) Hopefully, he will get used to his new life back home. Indeed, this will be a new chapter for everyone – not just for Elkan but more for Felicia and me. Life will be very different again. And honestly, I have no idea how things will turn out in the next 3-6 months. Many of my friends have moved back to Singapore and most of them regretted the move.
I am not the only one who will be missing their presence. Elkan’s teacher Jas, his Korean & Hong Kong school mates and his weekend buddy, Harshad will miss him a lot. Last week, Felicia organised a mini farewell party for the children. His teacher, Jas came by specially last Wednesday and spent the afternoon playing with Elkan at the amusement center. Nursing a fractured shoulder, Harshad came by this afternoon and played PS3 with his favorite “Rock-Star” buddy the entire evening. Before he left, he gave Elkan a farewell gift – a very nice “Wolverine” headphone.
Elkan knows that he is leaving Hong Kong and he is looking forward for his new life in Singapore. Over the past few weeks, he has been telling everyone about his new school in Singapore. Since last week, my boy has been tugging in our bed, spending his last Hong Kong nights, snoring beside me. (And he will be tickling me every morning to wake me up!) Yes, I am going to miss all his pranks. 2 months ago, they weren’t around for only 1 week and the house was so empty and different.
This is not our first separation but my heart tells me that it will be another painful one for me. Just like our first. It won’t be a long one, I am sure.
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Shape of my Life
December 4, 2010 Leave a comment
Felicia asked me today “What kind of environment do you want Elkan to grow up in?” I looked at Elkan, he gave me the same cheeky and happy expression. Like many kids today, Elkan is living in a digital era. Computers, iPAD, digital camera, PS3, Cable TV and iPhone aren’t foreign objects to him. Really, I have no answer. Perhaps, a happy environment where my son can explore new things and grow his talents.
Looking back, I wasn’t born gifted. In fact, I must thank my dad and mum for sending me to a private art school when I was only 7. It was quite an investment for them back in those days. We weren’t rich, just average class – but my dad continued to support me in the art classes till I was 12. (And I have also did them proud by bringing back those art trophies). My parents have certainly molded my life.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t just the art classes that made me “creative” today. It was the non-luxury depriving lifestyle that spurred me to be resourceful and creative. My parents were thrifty and they didn’t spoil me with a mountain of toys. LEGO was the best toy Dad got for me. I had limitless imagination and I started building little “make-believe” worlds for my characters. Later, I expanded these “worlds” by modifying discarded styrofoam and corrugated boxes. One of my most memorable and favorite “worlds” was the “ice island” I built. I found a big TV styrofoam box and I created tunnels and caves by burning through the foam. To create the snow effect, I emptied a bottle of body powder into the box. I built modern vehicles with LEGO and parked them inside these “secret tunnels”. There were also trap doors and secret passages for my characters.
My structures started to get bigger. Dad was a wood trader and he brought back a lot of scrap woods from his factory. (Auntie Amy also gave me a lot of tiled teak woods). During my school holidays, I went to Dad’s factory and picked up some basic carpentry skills from his co-colleagues. (In fact, I spent most of my school holidays in the factory with my dad – till the day it closed for good.) Armed with nails, wood glue and scrap materials, I came home and spent numerous days building my next toy world. One of my works caught the eyes of my Secondary School 2 form teacher. She commissioned me to build a multi-stories carpark for her son’s toy cars. I spent 1 week on that project and I managed to complete it before Christmas. It was a massive structure, 100% teak wood and it was good for at least 50 cars. My reward? She gave me an expensive dictionary which I keep till today.
One thing led to another. I soon found myself excelling in art and design. (And of course, I was never keen in those algebra, chemicals and equations) Eventually, I pursued my diploma, degree and careers in creative. It has been a good 22 years since the day my dad enrolled me in the art school. And it was this unique childhood that shaped my life today.
Strangely, my parents have never tell me what they want me to be. They gave me a strong foundation and let me explore my talents on my own.
Maybe with all my gadgets and high-tech Apple toys, I really hope Elkan is the next “Steve Jobs” in the making. (That means, I just found the excuse to buy more gadgets!)
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Days Away from Home
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