Family Reunion Moments

February 7, 2011 Leave a comment







Filed under Family, Life in Singapore

My Mr Cool

February 5, 2011 Leave a comment

(Photo Taken: Sentosa, Singapore – My Cool Boy, Frozen in Action!)

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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.

Filed under Family, Life in Singapore

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”.


Filed under Family, Life in Singapore

My 3rd Bunny Year

February 4, 2011 3 Comments

I never like to celebrate my own Chinese Zodiac Year. Sorry to say this but the Rabbit Year is never the best year for me. I underwent many major changes in my life during those 2 bunny years. In 1987 when I was only 12, I managed to convince my mum and “rebelled” against the MOE PSLE secondary school postings. It was a messy process. In the final minute, my late Ambassador uncle managed to pull some strings and get me a spot at Dunman Secondary – Fatefully (and thankfully), it was where I met Felicia (my future wife). And 12 years later in 1999, I reconciled my love with Felicia in Australia. We (Meijie and Junjie) survived a near-death car accident in Perth. After I came back from my trip, my beloved grandma’s health took a deep dive. She lost her memory and passed away painfully later that year.

Of course, I am not superstitious. I am just being extra cautious. The Bunny Year hadn’t been all kind to me. Age is catching up and my health isn’t as good as before. Family and work is getting more and more challenging for me. This is going to be a really tough year for me without Felicia and Elkan (they have left for a better education and family environment back in Singapore). Already, I am seeing “not-so-good” signs coming my way. Mainly small petty things (in work & my house) that get on to my nerves. I wish to pass this year without any major turbulence or bad surprises. Maybe I should visit the famous Bunny Goddess at the new Playboy Mansion in Macao. I certainly need a lot of good _uck! (“Luck”, I mean).

Filed under Jo's Thoughts

Rednaxela Terrace

January 31, 2011 Leave a comment

Supposed to name this road after its original estate owner “Alexander” – the clerk followed the traditional Chinese Right-to-Left writing sequence and misspelled the street name backward. Who knows, maybe the clerk did it in purpose. He must be upset that the westerners referred his family name as the “last name”. Gosh…imagine the same clerk went to work for the Registrar of Births! Poor 鬼佬 of the last century!

Filed under Cool Stuffs, Life in Hong Kong

Big Wave Bay

January 25, 2011 Leave a comment

While we were pondering where to go for our usual Sunday hike, Wenxu asked us about the surfing sites in Hong Kong. We did a quick check online and found out that there was a popular surfing site not far away from our home.  It was mentioned on a local surfing website that winter is the best season to go surfing in Hong Kong (when the sea is most wavy). We decided to take a cab to “Big Wave Bay” (at Shek O Beach) to check out the place.

Big Wave Bay is indeed stunning – fine beaches, shallow water and beautiful eroded cliffs. Despite the cold winter season, we saw many surfers at the sea. Wenxu couldn’t resist the waves and he went to the nearby surf shop to rent a bright yellow surf board. (It was pretty cold but he enjoyed it!) Danielle stayed on the beach watching her cool darling doing stunts out in the sea. The rest of us took a strenuous long walk up the notorious “Dragon’s Back”! We didn’t managed to complete our hike – The sun was setting and we could barely take another step up the hill. (Harshad and I were breathless at mid way!) We decided to turn back and headed back down to the beach to catch our sunny couple! (This is a great place and we will be back for sure!)

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Our Sunshine Girl is Back!

January 25, 2011 Leave a comment

Danielle and Wenxu are in town this week and they lit up our house with so much warmth and joy! It is so good to have them around – Our house is so full of noise, laughters and food! Late nights suppers, DVD movies, PS3 Move sports-games, midnight Kinect dancing plus plenty of shopping! Last Sunday, Danielle even cooked us our favorite Hainanese Chicken Rice! (And I managed to get Danielle to buy my lens on her last night in HK! That gives me an excuse to get a new lens!)

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Seasons in the Sun

January 17, 2011 Leave a comment





(Photo Taken: Seasonal Canvas Changeovers at The Center, Central Hong Kong – Finally, it is completed! It took me exactly one full year to complete this canvas collection. These photos were taken by my iPhone camera during my lunch breaks. It shows an annual rotation of seasons’ changeover of spring, summer, typhoon days, autumn and winter.)

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Peak Trail

January 17, 2011 Leave a comment

After a long 3-week absence, we resumed our weekend hike. Life is certainly quiet and lonely without Felicia and Elkan (and the Ho Family). Today, we hiked the Hong Kong Peak Trail (along Lugard Road). This is a very popular peak trail which offers one of the most exhilarating top views of Hong Kong. It was very cold and windy this afternoon. Despite the unbearable chilly winter wind, we saw a lot of hikers. Both of us managed to complete the 3.9km-loop in less than 1:30hr.


Filed under Life in Hong Kong

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