Okay, last day of this awful year. GOODBYE and good riddance 2005. WELCOME 2006! I pray with the whole of my small goatie heart - may the coming year bring much more good health, love and $$ to my tested families, and much more peace and stability to the battered world.
To those whom I've not been able to spend more time with, sorry. Really.
To those whom I've upset with my stubborn-ness and strong words, sorry.
To those whom I've not been able to make happy or whom I've let down in any way, sorry.
In the coming doggie year, I will try to be a better and happier goatie.
Happy New Year to you, my dear.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
It's gone
The fish has left.
It has gone to join mama in the heavens...
Not that it wanted to, so early... But its owner starved it and snuffed out its life u see. It was a fighter, a survivor who had triumphed over big battles of whitespot, while its co-habitants easily succumbed.
Irony, for goldie to die at the hands of its ex-savior.
R.I.P (am truly sorry)
It has gone to join mama in the heavens...
Not that it wanted to, so early... But its owner starved it and snuffed out its life u see. It was a fighter, a survivor who had triumphed over big battles of whitespot, while its co-habitants easily succumbed.
Irony, for goldie to die at the hands of its ex-savior.
R.I.P (am truly sorry)
Monday, December 26, 2005
Fish
My goldfish... is dying.
And it is my fault... I didn't leave enough food for it when I left for KL. And its reserves are not enough to last it for 3.5 days.
It is now gasping for breath weakly, flipped upside down... I'm trying to save it. I'm so totally sorry goldie, to put you through this agony. I should really have known better.
The next few hours will be critical. Hopefully you'd pull through in your ICU.
Otherwise, I'd have to go through another round of mourning.
SOB.
And it is my fault... I didn't leave enough food for it when I left for KL. And its reserves are not enough to last it for 3.5 days.
It is now gasping for breath weakly, flipped upside down... I'm trying to save it. I'm so totally sorry goldie, to put you through this agony. I should really have known better.
The next few hours will be critical. Hopefully you'd pull through in your ICU.
Otherwise, I'd have to go through another round of mourning.
SOB.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
X'mas Eve
Came across this little twist of a song.
Rudolph the blue-nosed piggy,
Has a very pinkish coat.
Bouncy and gleeful noisy,
He is quietly down inside.
When you see him lumbering,
Give him little pat, wet smooch.
One day, he'd be gone ever,
Then you'd only miss him so!
There's no such thing as "the season" for love. Let there be love everyday.
One day when there's none left in my life, that day, I'd be gone.
p.s. Some kid sent me this personality color test:
http://web.tickle.com/invite?test=1108&type=t
Quite accurate lah, maybe you wanna try it out while waiting for your big festive meal to digest in those long intestines... I'm a GREEN!!
Rudolph the blue-nosed piggy,
Has a very pinkish coat.
Bouncy and gleeful noisy,
He is quietly down inside.
When you see him lumbering,
Give him little pat, wet smooch.
One day, he'd be gone ever,
Then you'd only miss him so!
There's no such thing as "the season" for love. Let there be love everyday.
One day when there's none left in my life, that day, I'd be gone.
p.s. Some kid sent me this personality color test:
http://web.tickle.com/invite?test=1108&type=t
Quite accurate lah, maybe you wanna try it out while waiting for your big festive meal to digest in those long intestines... I'm a GREEN!!
Friday, December 23, 2005
Hello Hello!
Sorry for the sudden disappearing act my dear pallies. Didn't have time to get my hands on keyboard at all for the past 5 days.
Cousin decided to get married this Tue and last min arrowed me to be his emcee, so earlier in the week was spent helping out with script and other last-min preparations. Then the very next day, me decided to abscond with dad to KL, so large part of day was spent chugging the roads along North-South highway. Once here (am still here), had to spend time pampering my tummy with the famous 'fried salted egg with crabs', 'stewed pork knuckles with mushrooms', 'steamed freshwater bak(3) sou(1) gong(1)'… It's only today that I found a computer to raid and write to you. Don't misunderstand, you are not one bit less important than the crab, pig, or fish. In fact, you are always on my mind, I swear!
Alrighty my dear pallies, today is 23rd Dec liao, tomorrow is Xmas eve, and then it's one last week of precious hols before institution reopens. I will have grad nite coming up next Fri - a coming-of-age event where kiddies dress up and transform into glamorous babes & hunks. Another crazed week having to deal with last minute prep for this expensive (in terms of cold cash, man-hours, brain power) event.
I miss all of you, and some of you a little more than the rest, especially those whom I have been trying to contact for a drink since hols started. If you happen to be reading this, leave a note or give my hp a beep. I'd be back on our red hot island from this Mon morning onwards, and will contact you then!
Merry Xmas in advance my dearies.
Cousin decided to get married this Tue and last min arrowed me to be his emcee, so earlier in the week was spent helping out with script and other last-min preparations. Then the very next day, me decided to abscond with dad to KL, so large part of day was spent chugging the roads along North-South highway. Once here (am still here), had to spend time pampering my tummy with the famous 'fried salted egg with crabs', 'stewed pork knuckles with mushrooms', 'steamed freshwater bak(3) sou(1) gong(1)'… It's only today that I found a computer to raid and write to you. Don't misunderstand, you are not one bit less important than the crab, pig, or fish. In fact, you are always on my mind, I swear!
Alrighty my dear pallies, today is 23rd Dec liao, tomorrow is Xmas eve, and then it's one last week of precious hols before institution reopens. I will have grad nite coming up next Fri - a coming-of-age event where kiddies dress up and transform into glamorous babes & hunks. Another crazed week having to deal with last minute prep for this expensive (in terms of cold cash, man-hours, brain power) event.
I miss all of you, and some of you a little more than the rest, especially those whom I have been trying to contact for a drink since hols started. If you happen to be reading this, leave a note or give my hp a beep. I'd be back on our red hot island from this Mon morning onwards, and will contact you then!
Merry Xmas in advance my dearies.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Day 6 - Taipei
Today's Taiwan election! Efficient leh, morning vote, by night all states' results out liao - must remember Taiwan's 60 times larger than S'pore leh. And good news is - loud, brash Chen's party got beaten flat flat while charismatic, rational Ma's party vroomed their way to sweet victory. Hip Hip Hurray! There's hope yet for this eat-shop heaven.
As we ambled along from Tai Nan to Taipei today, found time to stop by this TouFu street where they sold all types of smelly toufu imaginable - fried, steamed, bbq, cold, spicy, soupy, steamboaty... everything! that smell that lingers... will either make you salivate or vomit. For me, i like the bbq + preserved veg type. The steamboat kind really powerful, its 'aroma' can awaken a fainted person, only to knock him/her out again. Very potent!
Stopped by the famous Fashion Street too - a wholesale place that sells all sorts of latest t-shirt/tight skirt/fur coats/flare skirts at low prices. Fans of Veeko or high class 'This Fashion' will name this place heaven (but no trying on of clothes one, just pick off rack and buy). For me, boring old lady, it's eye power only. Nothing bought. =P
Tonight's hotel is said to be the most luxurious throughout trip. Indeed. Many touches of (artificial) glam. I thought it way overdone. All rooms decked totally in black, dark brown and funny shades of gold. Each room's got king-sized beds, sofas, ceiling-to-floor mirrors that take up whole walls, many smaller mirrors and 2 doors! For me, it's too big. Too dark. Too much. I actually felt a bit scared.
As we ambled along from Tai Nan to Taipei today, found time to stop by this TouFu street where they sold all types of smelly toufu imaginable - fried, steamed, bbq, cold, spicy, soupy, steamboaty... everything! that smell that lingers... will either make you salivate or vomit. For me, i like the bbq + preserved veg type. The steamboat kind really powerful, its 'aroma' can awaken a fainted person, only to knock him/her out again. Very potent!
Stopped by the famous Fashion Street too - a wholesale place that sells all sorts of latest t-shirt/tight skirt/fur coats/flare skirts at low prices. Fans of Veeko or high class 'This Fashion' will name this place heaven (but no trying on of clothes one, just pick off rack and buy). For me, boring old lady, it's eye power only. Nothing bought. =P
Tonight's hotel is said to be the most luxurious throughout trip. Indeed. Many touches of (artificial) glam. I thought it way overdone. All rooms decked totally in black, dark brown and funny shades of gold. Each room's got king-sized beds, sofas, ceiling-to-floor mirrors that take up whole walls, many smaller mirrors and 2 doors! For me, it's too big. Too dark. Too much. I actually felt a bit scared.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Day 5 - Kao Shiong
*Digusting to reside in different parts of Taiwan every night* (ok ok, I'd quit the whining, but it really is awful lah, like some lunatic on a jailbreak... always on the go)
Today, one highlight is the Er Luan Bi gardens - such lush, well-kept gardens with rolling small hills framed by swaying woods... the only sensible thing to do is to lay on the soft grass and read a book under the blue sky-white clouds. Within this garden, there is also a small bazaar right on hilltop facing the ocean, selling windchimes. Can you imagine that? Such utter peace, I wouldn't mind being one of those old stall aunties, spending time with the wind and sun.
Another interesting place we visited was a temple with a "counting" burn chamber. This one's very cool! The chamber's been designed such that air draughts would naturally suck in all the "paper money" placed at the entrance of chamber like our POSB/DBS/OCBC etc money counting machines - the very same flipping action and sound! Almost comical.
Tonight at Kao Shiong (the place with most HDB-like buildings), we gorged ourselves silly on hot steamy shabu-shabu. ~S$38 for four of us, ate till beng(1) san(1). Totally immobilized. The only saving grace is it's soupy gorging. No (or little) fats involved lah.
Today, one highlight is the Er Luan Bi gardens - such lush, well-kept gardens with rolling small hills framed by swaying woods... the only sensible thing to do is to lay on the soft grass and read a book under the blue sky-white clouds. Within this garden, there is also a small bazaar right on hilltop facing the ocean, selling windchimes. Can you imagine that? Such utter peace, I wouldn't mind being one of those old stall aunties, spending time with the wind and sun.
Another interesting place we visited was a temple with a "counting" burn chamber. This one's very cool! The chamber's been designed such that air draughts would naturally suck in all the "paper money" placed at the entrance of chamber like our POSB/DBS/OCBC etc money counting machines - the very same flipping action and sound! Almost comical.
Tonight at Kao Shiong (the place with most HDB-like buildings), we gorged ourselves silly on hot steamy shabu-shabu. ~S$38 for four of us, ate till beng(1) san(1). Totally immobilized. The only saving grace is it's soupy gorging. No (or little) fats involved lah.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Day 4 - Ken Ting
Today, we went from Tai Nan to Ken Ting. Along the way, I conquered mountains (the Salt Mountain) and seas (Mao Pi Tou)!
This Salt Mountain place is really a large mould of real salt, where you can climb right up to the top, abeit rock climbling without the safety harness, to get nice views of the countryside. If you do go there, remember to try the super super yummy salty ice-cream! Yes, salty ones! I especially lurve the almond flavor type, very unique! Perhaps I should import some and sell them here, it may just propel me into the "Fortune's Top 50 Women" list.
Mao Pi Tou is a wonderful place, a cape that runs alongside the Pacific Ocean. A very pretty, windy and quiet place to catch that perfect sunset. I absolutely love it.
Spent the night at Ken Ting, living just above a night bazaar that has stalls selling all sorts of quirky stuff, with seafood restaurants and dance bars dotting the kerbs, it's a little like the Bangkok's Khao San street. =)
This Salt Mountain place is really a large mould of real salt, where you can climb right up to the top, abeit rock climbling without the safety harness, to get nice views of the countryside. If you do go there, remember to try the super super yummy salty ice-cream! Yes, salty ones! I especially lurve the almond flavor type, very unique! Perhaps I should import some and sell them here, it may just propel me into the "Fortune's Top 50 Women" list.
Mao Pi Tou is a wonderful place, a cape that runs alongside the Pacific Ocean. A very pretty, windy and quiet place to catch that perfect sunset. I absolutely love it.
Spent the night at Ken Ting, living just above a night bazaar that has stalls selling all sorts of quirky stuff, with seafood restaurants and dance bars dotting the kerbs, it's a little like the Bangkok's Khao San street. =)
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Perhaps...
A digression back to the present.
Tonight, I watched the movie "Perhaps... Love". I ususally don't do chinese movies, but I'm glad I went for this one. It's beautifully filmed... a refreshing, thought-provoking take on the concept of love. A film within a film, three love stories intertwined. Jacky, Takeshi and Zhou Xun. Powerful vocals, brooding good looks and sincere acting respectively. Go ahead, hear about love.
What makes it even better is I watched this with a treasured friend. This pal, we used to be really, really close until sometime earlier this year, when there was just this gradual, mysterious silent decomposition of buddyship... Tonight actually marks the first time the two of us hanged out together again (a spontaneous decision) after more than half a yr, and I'm glad to say that the comfy feeling of closeness is magically still around. Hope she feels the same too, for I guess beneath all the differences, there are really some treasured similarities.
(off to take a call...)
And the time now is 1.48am. My frankenfish buddy just hung up after a 45min overseas chat (another spontaneous event) with me. I cannot thank Buddha enough. There are many times in my life where special people just walk in and take super care of me, when I need them bad. I thank you, each one of you - frankenfish, marly, TAG, tweeny, kae, MLL, elf, wolf, SJ, pinksmurffy, and even... jx, and everyone else who has left his/her footprints in my life. Without you (and family), I am very likely nothing.
Tonight, I watched the movie "Perhaps... Love". I ususally don't do chinese movies, but I'm glad I went for this one. It's beautifully filmed... a refreshing, thought-provoking take on the concept of love. A film within a film, three love stories intertwined. Jacky, Takeshi and Zhou Xun. Powerful vocals, brooding good looks and sincere acting respectively. Go ahead, hear about love.
What makes it even better is I watched this with a treasured friend. This pal, we used to be really, really close until sometime earlier this year, when there was just this gradual, mysterious silent decomposition of buddyship... Tonight actually marks the first time the two of us hanged out together again (a spontaneous decision) after more than half a yr, and I'm glad to say that the comfy feeling of closeness is magically still around. Hope she feels the same too, for I guess beneath all the differences, there are really some treasured similarities.
(off to take a call...)
And the time now is 1.48am. My frankenfish buddy just hung up after a 45min overseas chat (another spontaneous event) with me. I cannot thank Buddha enough. There are many times in my life where special people just walk in and take super care of me, when I need them bad. I thank you, each one of you - frankenfish, marly, TAG, tweeny, kae, MLL, elf, wolf, SJ, pinksmurffy, and even... jx, and everyone else who has left his/her footprints in my life. Without you (and family), I am very likely nothing.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Day 3 -Tai Nan
Highlight of the day - hot and cold spring dipping at a mountainside resort!! My virgin dip leh, got indoor and outdoor, muddy and clear springs, as well as 'with swimsuit and without' types! I definitely loved the hot and muddy (AND skinny dippy) ones, super rejuvenating! When surrounding temp's around 15deg, you go dip into pools of ~42deg, the only word is SHIOK. but then, the cold spring.... *tremble tremble*... is super scary. So freaking cold you can feel your heart freeze... I am definitely hot-blooded.
Rest of the day, we visited the 921 earthquake museum. Pretty educational, and definitely clever to build a memorial-educational site around the actual ruins. You can really see the half-destroyed buildings slanting precariously...
Also went to the famous Sun Moon Lake, a very tranquil place where even the most un-poetic would feel inspired to draft a few lines. Would be super romantic to watch the sun set with your loved ones there. Too bad, no peach in blossom there.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Day 2 - Tai Chung
Sad to say, I think one of the most memorable things for day 2 were the short but frequent bus trips as we crossed from Central Taipei -> Northen-most Taiwan -> North-western Taiwan -> Tai Chung. 99% of the time, I fell asleep, lullled by the soothing voice of tour guide Paul, as he droned on Everest of historical facts and his own take on the cross-straits issue. Believe me, I really did try very hard to stay awake. It's just that those nerves between the brain and eyes chose to be disconnected then.
Cat-naps aside, there were some stopovers worth mentioning e.g. Yang Ming Shan sulphur vent regions - where we smelt and saw small bubbling mineral puddles in a super cold, hilly, foggy mountaineous region. It's the place where toes in open sandals get frozen, I should know.
Ye Liu - where amazingly beautiful, natural rock formations the shape of bee hives, ginger, carp etc stood, the products of years of intense sea waves erosion.
Jiu(3) Fen(4) (literally 9 portions) - a fabulous market tucked within long winding alley ways, hidden within a mountainside town. Upslope, downslope, you get to burn off some calories as you explore this authentic, unusual market. Just nice too, if you wish to sample those BBQ giant clams, BBQ abalone mushrooms, fried glutinous red meat, ginger soup with yam and pumpkin cubes, mixed pork and fishballs soup...
Fengjia Night market - a big eating and shopping district, where you get to cross roads and junctions, unlike the Xi Men Ding where everything's centralised. This time round, braised chicken innards and duck wings, fried 5-spiced pumpkin strips and fried chive pancake were on the menu.
It's only the 2nd day, and I want to become no Lydia Sum. Wish me resolve.
Cat-naps aside, there were some stopovers worth mentioning e.g. Yang Ming Shan sulphur vent regions - where we smelt and saw small bubbling mineral puddles in a super cold, hilly, foggy mountaineous region. It's the place where toes in open sandals get frozen, I should know.
Ye Liu - where amazingly beautiful, natural rock formations the shape of bee hives, ginger, carp etc stood, the products of years of intense sea waves erosion.
Jiu(3) Fen(4) (literally 9 portions) - a fabulous market tucked within long winding alley ways, hidden within a mountainside town. Upslope, downslope, you get to burn off some calories as you explore this authentic, unusual market. Just nice too, if you wish to sample those BBQ giant clams, BBQ abalone mushrooms, fried glutinous red meat, ginger soup with yam and pumpkin cubes, mixed pork and fishballs soup...
Fengjia Night market - a big eating and shopping district, where you get to cross roads and junctions, unlike the Xi Men Ding where everything's centralised. This time round, braised chicken innards and duck wings, fried 5-spiced pumpkin strips and fried chive pancake were on the menu.
It's only the 2nd day, and I want to become no Lydia Sum. Wish me resolve.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Day 1 - Taipei
Tour grp size of 34. Lots of papas and mamas with young kiddos (luckily still rather well-behaved ones, no mad screaming nor non-stop police-catch-thief). But our s'pore tour leader's a bit blur leh, at Changi already made the first boo-boo, told us wrong gate to board plane! Fortunately SQ decided to wait...
Taiwan tour guide is a native hong konger who looks like some sauve triad boss actor, think he must have been some charming lady killer when younger. =)
Today visited the Chiang Kai Shek memorial hall. A very beautiful, tranquil park with awe-inspiring buildings. Nice historical place.
Next, to Xi Men Ding night market. Very happening! Actually saw those mobile food stalls scrambling away when police cars drove by, only to return in less than a minute's time. Human signboards everywhere too, a creative and attention-grabbing way of advertising indeed.
Was like some prisoner let loose... Taiwan's a pure foodie's heaven. It's just the first night, but I've already sampled many novelties - fried pumpkin balls, 'soupy' oyster omelette, intestine vermicelli, sugared skewered tomato-prune, veggie salad crepe, beancurd with red bean... *burp*
Traveling with 2 aunts and 1 teenage cousin, I must remind myself not to be too naggy nor domineering. Wish me patience.
Taiwan tour guide is a native hong konger who looks like some sauve triad boss actor, think he must have been some charming lady killer when younger. =)
Today visited the Chiang Kai Shek memorial hall. A very beautiful, tranquil park with awe-inspiring buildings. Nice historical place.
Next, to Xi Men Ding night market. Very happening! Actually saw those mobile food stalls scrambling away when police cars drove by, only to return in less than a minute's time. Human signboards everywhere too, a creative and attention-grabbing way of advertising indeed.
Was like some prisoner let loose... Taiwan's a pure foodie's heaven. It's just the first night, but I've already sampled many novelties - fried pumpkin balls, 'soupy' oyster omelette, intestine vermicelli, sugared skewered tomato-prune, veggie salad crepe, beancurd with red bean... *burp*
Traveling with 2 aunts and 1 teenage cousin, I must remind myself not to be too naggy nor domineering. Wish me patience.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Missin' Me?
Yalo handsome boys and pretty girls, I'm back! =)
Man... I will not go for another guided tour ever... and definitely not one that attempts to traverse half of Taiwan in 8 days... from Taipei to Tainan and back again. Whirlwind Madness. Like Ms Incredible, fly here fly there. I wonder what came over me when I decided to plonk that thousand over precious dollars and coins at that travel counter. =P. Maybe its the thought of xiao long baos... and smelly dou fu... Oh well.
Anyways, will be filling you in on short daily snippets, together with pretty pics from next entry onwards, once I manage to un-crash my photo uploading device. over 300 photos again. I'm so thankful to the person who invented digital camera, I think I might just marry him (or her). =)
Alrightys, hang in there for tomorrow's entry!
Big hugs. From Ms Incredible.
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