E V E R Y D A Y . B E A U T I F U L . P U R P O S E F U L
July 25, 2011 Leave a comment
Back in Hong Kong – This evening, I invited Harshad and Tracy to be my first “Guinea Pigs” to try my “Ah Mah’s Mee” (vegetarian version). I thought I did well, it’s pretty yummy. So far, no complains from these 2 buddies. Let’s wait till tomorrow morning to see if there is any side-effects. p/s: Thanks Jaslyn for the box of Mee Swa.
July 24, 2011 Leave a comment
(Photo Taken: Beautiful “glory” (that is the name of the rainbow ring around the plane’s shadow) and mesmerizing “contrail“ (smoke trail from jets) – on my flight from Singapore to Hong Kong. Normally, I would draw down the window shade after the seat-belt sign is off (and watch the inflight movies). I am glad I left the shade up today. I was greeted by some very rare and up-close displays of glory and contrail in the clouds. Certainly a great way to fly!)
July 24, 2011 Leave a comment
It is never easy to leave my family behind to make a living thousands of miles away. Especially when goodbye is the hardest word to say.
Unlike my past Singapore trips, this trip I spent my last day at my own apartment – a nice cozy space which was designed by Felicia and I ten years ago. This morning, I woke in my old apartment with Elkan sleeping sandwiched between Felicia and I. It was a very strange feeling. The last we slept here was back in May 2006. Elkan was only 18-month old and he slept in his little baby cot. He is so tall now! My old folks were right – “children do grow up fast!”
I didn’t have the heart to wake my son today. He is always breaking my heart (or the other way). I left my home in a rush as I made a mistake in my flight timing. I left the apartment with Felicia waving behind me. (and later by the window when I boarded the cab). I looked up at my apartment and waved goodbye. Just like the old days except this time, I am taking a plane to work and I won’t be back for another 1 month. Felicia was a little disappointed not able to send me off at the airport.
It is a beautiful day today. Blue sky and a warm sunrise. The last few days have been more than great. Absence does make the hearts grow fonder. Only if we make time for the ones we love.
July 24, 2011 1 Comment
After 5 long years of closure, “Hotel 25” (my 3-decade-old flat at block 25) opens its door tonight for an exclusive Wahbiang Party. This is the first time I step into my old apartment since I left Singapore back in 2006. Thanks to my gentle and wonderful tenants, the apartment is very well-maintained. This place brings back lots of memories. From my early childhood in the early 80s to my marriage in 2000 and then fatherhood in 2004, I have been living here for more than 3 decades – first with my parents and now with my wife and son.
Since I left Singapore, we have been renting this place to expats and young couples. I didn’t have any chance to stop by and take a look at my apartment. I am lucky this time as my last tenants just moved out recently and we are still shortlisting new potential ones. The apartment will be vacant for 1-2 weeks. I decided to invite the Wahbiang gang over for a “nostalic gathering”. (Our last big gathering at Hotel 25 took place in 2004 – that was Elkan’s Baby Shower party!). Most of them miss this place too. What a great place to gather all of my buddies for a small party on my last night in Singapore.
We have a big turn-out tonight. 80% of the Wahbiang Clan were here. It was an extraordinary messy, crowded (and noisy) and hot gathering. The adults were suffering from the stuffy air. (Our main aircon broke down). The kids were running and screaming loudly, terrorizing the poor neighbors downstairs. After a few “knocking” warnings, my neighbors came up to my apartment and banged the door. Thinking it was my tenants who were making the noise, she yelled at my guests. I quickly walked to the door to apologize. It took her 2-3 seconds to recognize me. The moment she realized it was me, her “angry expression” disappeared instantly. She was embarrassed about her hostility. In an unexpected twist, my neighbors apologized and told us to continue with our party.
I would like to say a big thank you to those who turned up tonight. Thanks for your time and efforts…there were a lot of food and drinks (and please remember to spank your naughty kids for terrorizing the peace). We also welcome a new (young and pretty) member in our clan – JOEY – Meijie brought his new girlfriend to meet the clan members for the first time. I hope she enjoyed her first gathering with us (Yixi was pretty mean to her in the Q&A)…and hope to see her more often in our future gatherings! Thank you guys for making this place so full of life again! I guess it is one night that my neighbors will remember for a long long time.
July 23, 2011 5 Comments
“The best thing in life may not be the most expensive one. Like the animation “Ratatouille”, it is the reminiscing of one’s fondest memory that completes the perfect taste of that signature dish. It is not made up of the best and most expensive ingredients but it consists the “taste of pure love” which touches our hearts.”
That was what I wrote back in 2008 (See blog) after a CNY lunch at my old auntie’s house. Over the past 5 years, I travelled a lot and been to many great restuarants. But nothing come close to the taste in my heart. I miss those home-cooked dishes that my late granny and mother used to serve at home. There are 2 particular dishes which I have so much craving – my granny’s“Mee Swa Kor” (Ah Mah Mee) and my mum’s “Mushroom Yam Rice”. This trip, I specially came back home to learn these 2 dishes from my mum. (I tried my best to remember the steps – mum was super fast in the kitchen!) These are not the expensive dishes you find in the restaurants but there are something in the taste that brings back the fond memories of my good old family days in Singapore.
July 22, 2011 1 Comment
The last train left on 30th June 2011 – This week, I managed to find time to fly back to Singapore to take my first & last heritage railway walk before the 38km-track is removed by the end of the year. Currently known as the “Green Corridor” of Singapore, this stretch of railway was owned by Malaysia. Singapore finally won back this stretch of land after many years of shaky negotiations. Already, many portions of the old Singapore-Malaysia railway track have been barricaded and dismantled.
This afternoon, we hopped on a cab and told the taxi-driver to drive us to the railway track. The driver gave me a blank look and said all tracks are barricaded. We decided to try our luck at the 79-year-old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station – hopefully to find a way to “sneak inside”. When our cab arrived at the station, there was clearly no way we can sneak into the station. I started to search on Google for recent blogs and news. Unfortunately, many of the links didn’t reveal “access point” to the tracks. Out of desperation, I scanned the Google Map to trace the railway track – and I managed to recall an access point at Rifle Range Road. And I was right.
It was Friday afternoon and we were surprise to see a lot of people at the track. We saw 2 big groups of students and many young couples strolling along the track. It was pretty hot today but the dense vegetation shaded us from the baking sun. It was quite a cooling walk. Like us, many were here to experience their first and last railway walk. Some even marked their names on the 100-year-old bridge.
We saw many “casualties” on the track. Not road-kills but discarded soles from famous sport brands. Guess the graveled-track proved too strenuous/deadly for the common sports shoes. The rocky path was indeed difficult to walk. But it is worth preserving the “Green Corridor” for our next generation as it is part of our heritage. Along the track, I spotted many species of butterflies, bugs and wild fungus. It was an extraordinary hike for both of us. We covered only 2km (50mins) and exit at Bukit Timah Reserve.
July 22, 2011 Leave a comment
A man-made sandy beach pool at Sentosa’s HardRock Hotel, this is possibly Singapore’s cleanest, whitest beach. Fine sand bed and crystal-clear water, this is one great beach to swim and relax!
July 22, 2011 Leave a comment
(Photo Taken: Shadow of my flight on SQ from Jakarta to Singapore – It looks like a giant fish in the ocean…a giant bird over the forest.)
July 14, 2011 5 Comments
While searching for Lord of the Rings replicas on Amazon, I came upon a cool gadget from “The Da Vinci Code”. In the novel, a “Cryptex” is a solid cylindrical metal vault used to hide the secret messages of the Holy Grail. The invented name “Cryptex” comes from a combination of 2 words “cryptology” and “codex”.
This evening, I received my “Cryptex” and it came in a very beautiful wooden box (just like the one in the movie). Made of brass metal, the capsule is surprising heavy and it feels solid good in the hand. With 5 rings, each contains 26 alphabet letters, it takes more than 10-million combinations to crack the code. Once you dial the right code, the “Cryptex” springs open. (Finally, I found the right gadget to store all my darkest secrets!) Here is the riddle of the default code: “In London lies a knight A Pope interred. His labor’s fruit a Holy wrath incurred. You seek the orb that ought be on his tomb. It speaks of Rosy flesh and seeded womb.” – (Clue: “The Forbidden Fruit”)
July 14, 2011 Leave a comment
The actual spell is called “Lumos”. It illuminates the end of a magic wand to light up like a flashlight. Last week, I received my belated birthday gift from my house-mate – a Harry Potter Replicate “Illuminating Motion-Activated” Wand by Noble House. Swing the wand and the light turns on. Pretty useful in a dark room when you need a small light to read a book. Or a romantic candle-light dinner when you run out of candles. Perfect light-stick for concerts and National Day Parade. And a good light-painting tool! I was so intrigued by the bright magic light that I bought a new wand for my little wizard back home! Now, I can “Expelliarmus” him on Face Time this weekend.
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