Oh, by the way, I forgot to share an achievement. =)
Last week, along with my aussie pal, I successfully completed an amazing feat (or at least it is amazing to me!). We checked out the new park connectors, which means - we cycled from East Coast Park to Changi Beach Park to Pasir Ris Park to Tampines Town Park to Bedok Reservoir and then back to East Coast Park! A total of about 25km, the signboards said.
Having last cycled about a year ago, it is a wonder my lower limbs did not fall off my main torso. My thighs, however, did burn for the next couple of hrs until I slathered on the Tiger Balm muscle relaxant. Admittedly, it wasn't a 'chiong-ster' ride, as in we did not race nor attempt to complete the ride in 1 or 2 or 3 hrs. We took about 4+hrs on the road, a leisure venture, on paved streets that took us along coastlines, catchment areas and playgrounds, through forests and housing clusters, and across 6-lane expressways on overhead bridges and underpasses.
It was quite an experience, and if I can do it, you can do it too. Go ahead, on a day when you wake up wanting to challenge yourself, go check out the PCN (which, by the way, stands for Park Connectors). Enjoy the ride!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Getting Old
And it is difficult not to admit that.
Previously, I could work through the whole night (and the most vivid memories were during my Honours year, when I ploughed through my dunno-how-many-inch-thick Hons thesis standing upright furiously typing away at the battered keyboard. More than 36hrs without sleep and I could still walk, think and joke straight). Then, I merely needed just a couple of hours of zzz in the morning to return back to bouncy old self.
Now... I had only pushed myself to clear paperwork till 3am, and the next day, I was halfway in zombie land and needed Chicken Essence to power boost. =P Time now is 1.19am. Perhaps I should experiment once more, and see if the results are replicated. Damn... so much tedious admin to wrap up and handover. Oh well... work it shall be! So that I can enjoy my upcoming holiday in Germany in guiltless peace.
Previously, I could work through the whole night (and the most vivid memories were during my Honours year, when I ploughed through my dunno-how-many-inch-thick Hons thesis standing upright furiously typing away at the battered keyboard. More than 36hrs without sleep and I could still walk, think and joke straight). Then, I merely needed just a couple of hours of zzz in the morning to return back to bouncy old self.
Now... I had only pushed myself to clear paperwork till 3am, and the next day, I was halfway in zombie land and needed Chicken Essence to power boost. =P Time now is 1.19am. Perhaps I should experiment once more, and see if the results are replicated. Damn... so much tedious admin to wrap up and handover. Oh well... work it shall be! So that I can enjoy my upcoming holiday in Germany in guiltless peace.
Monday, November 17, 2008
The BIG, MAD CROCs Sale
And I thought there would never come a day when my dainty feet will slip into a pair of Crocs.
I must admit, when Crocs first debuted, I nearly fainted at the sight of those holey plastics. So ugly!! Who would pay so very much for a pair of plasticky porous footware?! But... as time passes, the shoes evolve, and I must say that the newer editions of Mary Janes and slip-ons look passable, and even chic.. except for their sometimes outrageous colours like bright orange and luminous green. =P
Anyways, last Sat, me and dad were cruising around in the East when I suddenly remembered an advert in Straits Times that mentioned an 'Up to 80% Crocs Sale @ Expo', so we decided to be S'porean and swing by to take a look.
Dad almost immediately walked away at the sight of 500 metres long queue outside the hall. But we perservered (or should I say - I made him perservere), and we got into sale ground after a half hr wait. The next hr was actually rather enjoyable because although the crowd was big, noisy and occasionally overly aggressive, the sale is truly authentic! Real stuff going for a weeny fraction of store prices (e.g. ~$100 shoes going for ~$20)! Crocs fans almost went into shock. You should see their bulging bags of shoes, shirts, bags, caps etc. Like it's free! =P
Inside the hall I
Inside the hall II
Queuing up to pay
For us Crocs first-timers, it was a comparatively conservative couple of pairs of shoes plus some kiddo shirts for my toddler cousin. The worst part of it was at the end, when we had to make payment... If the queuing up to get into hall is described as a 2.4km run, the queuing up to make payment would be a full Ironman trialathon. Utterly utterly straining on my pair of strong legs. Imagine a 1.5hr wait, holding my shopping bag, standing and shuffling along with snaking lines of ppl.. worse than CNY bazzar! I should have brought a book to read. =P Lucky the hall was well-ventilated and one can eyeball what neighbouring 'queue-rs' have bought. But it was still quite a nightmare, and I think it'd be some time before I will participate in such Expo sales again. =P
Some of our purchases
Having said that, all tends to be forgotten when I look down at my own pair of outrageously-coloured, plasticky (but very comfy) Mary Janes. Till next time!
I must admit, when Crocs first debuted, I nearly fainted at the sight of those holey plastics. So ugly!! Who would pay so very much for a pair of plasticky porous footware?! But... as time passes, the shoes evolve, and I must say that the newer editions of Mary Janes and slip-ons look passable, and even chic.. except for their sometimes outrageous colours like bright orange and luminous green. =P
Anyways, last Sat, me and dad were cruising around in the East when I suddenly remembered an advert in Straits Times that mentioned an 'Up to 80% Crocs Sale @ Expo', so we decided to be S'porean and swing by to take a look.
Dad almost immediately walked away at the sight of 500 metres long queue outside the hall. But we perservered (or should I say - I made him perservere), and we got into sale ground after a half hr wait. The next hr was actually rather enjoyable because although the crowd was big, noisy and occasionally overly aggressive, the sale is truly authentic! Real stuff going for a weeny fraction of store prices (e.g. ~$100 shoes going for ~$20)! Crocs fans almost went into shock. You should see their bulging bags of shoes, shirts, bags, caps etc. Like it's free! =P
Inside the hall I
Inside the hall II
Queuing up to pay
For us Crocs first-timers, it was a comparatively conservative couple of pairs of shoes plus some kiddo shirts for my toddler cousin. The worst part of it was at the end, when we had to make payment... If the queuing up to get into hall is described as a 2.4km run, the queuing up to make payment would be a full Ironman trialathon. Utterly utterly straining on my pair of strong legs. Imagine a 1.5hr wait, holding my shopping bag, standing and shuffling along with snaking lines of ppl.. worse than CNY bazzar! I should have brought a book to read. =P Lucky the hall was well-ventilated and one can eyeball what neighbouring 'queue-rs' have bought. But it was still quite a nightmare, and I think it'd be some time before I will participate in such Expo sales again. =P
Some of our purchases
Having said that, all tends to be forgotten when I look down at my own pair of outrageously-coloured, plasticky (but very comfy) Mary Janes. Till next time!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
So long... farewell.
Burp. Sob.
I just had the first of my 'farewell' makans, lovingly sponsored by a group of my same-subject colleagues. Today, it was a high tea buffet at Marriot. The food was so-so but the company was good, with much laughter and photo-taking. (p.s. I'm suprised at the no. of locals who can afford to spend the time and money on hotel buffets on a weekday afternoon - the whole place was 85% full! Don't tell me everyone's there for farewells)
Next week, I will have another goodbye-and-good-luck treat. This time, by the 'power' group (aka management team). For me and another power member who's also leaving the nest.
And then, a final farewell meal, with my own kakis. No power, but high ability yet full of crap.
This will round up my 5.5yrs at the institution...
Goodbyes.
And I haven't even had the time to pack.
I just had the first of my 'farewell' makans, lovingly sponsored by a group of my same-subject colleagues. Today, it was a high tea buffet at Marriot. The food was so-so but the company was good, with much laughter and photo-taking. (p.s. I'm suprised at the no. of locals who can afford to spend the time and money on hotel buffets on a weekday afternoon - the whole place was 85% full! Don't tell me everyone's there for farewells)
Next week, I will have another goodbye-and-good-luck treat. This time, by the 'power' group (aka management team). For me and another power member who's also leaving the nest.
And then, a final farewell meal, with my own kakis. No power, but high ability yet full of crap.
This will round up my 5.5yrs at the institution...
Goodbyes.
And I haven't even had the time to pack.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
An Outing to the Concert Hall
Ever heard of the 'Beautiful Sunday' performances at the Esplanade? It is a series of free concerts by homegrown music groups that offers members of the public the opportunity to enjoy musical performances in the Esplanade Concert Hall, held once a month on a Sunday.
Last Sunday, a dear friend performed with her community band 'West Wings', playing pieces from 'Big Screen Hits' such as Out of Africa, The Incredibles and Jurassic Park, under the animated 'conductor-ship' of Mr Takehiro Oura.
People from all walks of life attended. Grandpas, grandmas, uncles, aunties, teens, children, babies. Locals, expats, mixed. Chic-ly dressed, casual jeans, very casual berms and sandals. It was full-house, packed all the way to behind the stage.
An evidence of increasing art-ilization of little red dot? Or a display of 'If free, I want' mentality? Or maybe, like me and my dad (as classical-musically illiterate as we are), the rest are there to support their performer-friends/family.
The next one coming up is for Chinese Orchestra lovers, on 14 Dec. Go be at the Concert Hall at least half an hr in advance if you want a decent seat for the 60mins, no intermission, free performance. Enjoy.
Last Sunday, a dear friend performed with her community band 'West Wings', playing pieces from 'Big Screen Hits' such as Out of Africa, The Incredibles and Jurassic Park, under the animated 'conductor-ship' of Mr Takehiro Oura.
People from all walks of life attended. Grandpas, grandmas, uncles, aunties, teens, children, babies. Locals, expats, mixed. Chic-ly dressed, casual jeans, very casual berms and sandals. It was full-house, packed all the way to behind the stage.
An evidence of increasing art-ilization of little red dot? Or a display of 'If free, I want' mentality? Or maybe, like me and my dad (as classical-musically illiterate as we are), the rest are there to support their performer-friends/family.
The next one coming up is for Chinese Orchestra lovers, on 14 Dec. Go be at the Concert Hall at least half an hr in advance if you want a decent seat for the 60mins, no intermission, free performance. Enjoy.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Nostalgia... As promised.
And now, for my 2nd pc after the 'For My Stomach, For Your Eyes' entry.
Ah well... where and how do I even start?
I guess, it took a big dose of nostalgia before I decide to write in here again. I didn't want to just blog about and post pictures after pictures of drool-inducing gastronomic food, entries after entries. Neither do I want to simply lament openly about the rising costs of living ever too often. For sure, I would have liked to write about things that happened which significantly touched/hurt/angered/upset/excited/scared/stirred up some kind of strong emotion from within me... but as the ever well-behaved civil servant, I practice self-censorship when it comes to airing work laundry. Coz I believe that the blogosphere somehow has this freaky streak of punishing the innocent and letting the evil-doers go scot-free. Anyways... I digress. Back to here.
Ah well... for those who are yet aware, I am into the last 2 mths with my current institution. Not that I am leaving the system though, I am still going to serve the Ministry, just in a different location and providing other aspects of service that deals less directly with kiddos and more directly with the adults. So, wish me luck!
And just to allow myself to remember how my cubicle used to look like, and for those of you who do not have a chance to visit to sneak a peek at it, here's introducing... my admitedly spacious and *ahem* neat cubicle. =)
And today, the 2nd wave of nostalgia. A shortage of manpower saw me bringing kiddos to NTU for some activity, and as I wandered further into the grounds of NIE, sighz.. many many poignant memories came flooding back.
Seated on a stone bench outside Block 5, next to a water cooler and watching groups of trainees stroll by chatting and laughing, the flashback to the past was immediate. Just 6 yrs ago, I was them. (Actually, clad in my yellow Giordano stretch tee, Levis jeans and lugging my big brown bag with my stylish short crop and olive green framed lens now, I would like to think that I can still pass off as one of them. =P) Anyways, I digress again.
It's like homecoming today. So many wonderful memories of those enviable days where one gets paid while studying. =) The recollection brought back a strong sense of longing, fondness, pain and sadness all at once. How our gang used to rush assignments and dig up journals while sucking sweets in the library, how we used to stone at the high-ceiling-ed canteen, sipping the refreshing apple-cucumber juice after downing a bowl of infamous bak chor mee/yong tau hu, how we used to pop into the cosy bookshop just before heading for another prim lecture..
Argh, how I miss those days! Such carefree times with nary a worry nor responsibility. Just study and play, much like the University days, except you get reimbursed for your efforts on a monthly basis.
When one can be a nobody to everyone, yet a somebody to loved ones.
If only I can turn back time.
Homeground
Never-ending staircases
Breezy walkways
Ah well... where and how do I even start?
I guess, it took a big dose of nostalgia before I decide to write in here again. I didn't want to just blog about and post pictures after pictures of drool-inducing gastronomic food, entries after entries. Neither do I want to simply lament openly about the rising costs of living ever too often. For sure, I would have liked to write about things that happened which significantly touched/hurt/angered/upset/excited/scared/stirred up some kind of strong emotion from within me... but as the ever well-behaved civil servant, I practice self-censorship when it comes to airing work laundry. Coz I believe that the blogosphere somehow has this freaky streak of punishing the innocent and letting the evil-doers go scot-free. Anyways... I digress. Back to here.
Ah well... for those who are yet aware, I am into the last 2 mths with my current institution. Not that I am leaving the system though, I am still going to serve the Ministry, just in a different location and providing other aspects of service that deals less directly with kiddos and more directly with the adults. So, wish me luck!
And just to allow myself to remember how my cubicle used to look like, and for those of you who do not have a chance to visit to sneak a peek at it, here's introducing... my admitedly spacious and *ahem* neat cubicle. =)
And today, the 2nd wave of nostalgia. A shortage of manpower saw me bringing kiddos to NTU for some activity, and as I wandered further into the grounds of NIE, sighz.. many many poignant memories came flooding back.
Seated on a stone bench outside Block 5, next to a water cooler and watching groups of trainees stroll by chatting and laughing, the flashback to the past was immediate. Just 6 yrs ago, I was them. (Actually, clad in my yellow Giordano stretch tee, Levis jeans and lugging my big brown bag with my stylish short crop and olive green framed lens now, I would like to think that I can still pass off as one of them. =P) Anyways, I digress again.
It's like homecoming today. So many wonderful memories of those enviable days where one gets paid while studying. =) The recollection brought back a strong sense of longing, fondness, pain and sadness all at once. How our gang used to rush assignments and dig up journals while sucking sweets in the library, how we used to stone at the high-ceiling-ed canteen, sipping the refreshing apple-cucumber juice after downing a bowl of infamous bak chor mee/yong tau hu, how we used to pop into the cosy bookshop just before heading for another prim lecture..
Argh, how I miss those days! Such carefree times with nary a worry nor responsibility. Just study and play, much like the University days, except you get reimbursed for your efforts on a monthly basis.
When one can be a nobody to everyone, yet a somebody to loved ones.
If only I can turn back time.
Homeground
Never-ending staircases
Breezy walkways
For My Stomach, For Your Eyes
Almost a mth since I last doodled in here. So, I guess it's time for a massive update of pictures and words, for those faithfuls (any..?) who are still keeping tab on this small, little hideaway blog. =)
First, 2 Saturdays ago, I brought dad to this casual French eatery which has been around for the past 7yrs, tucked along a small corner of Serangoon Road, near the forever bustling Mustafa Centre. An absolutely no-frills, non-high-brow place that serves French food that is patronized by French and locals alike, togged in suits and berms. Introducing... *drum roll*... The French Stall.
Along Serangoon Road
The eatery's interior
Escargots and Pumpkin Soup
Pork Chop - french style
Mustard Roasted Chicken
Giant Profiterole!
And then, a week ago, the pretty, sparkly Xmas tree came up on the rooftop of Vivo:
And last Sunday, went with relatives to check out this neighbourhood western food stall in Jalan Membina called 'Delight & Delicious' (or is it the other way around? =P). There are some very scrumptious offerings indeed (they serve brownies and tiramisu too) and the service is personal and excellent!
We had
Good ole Fish & Chips
New creation - Paprika Chicken
Tomato-based Seafood Pasta
Sirloin Steak (if you can look past the streaks of mustard that my uncle has smeared across the poor steak)
Ok, lest you suffer from indigestion after looking at all these pictures, I shall stop. My next entry shall focus on the theme of 'Nostalgia'... See u there.
First, 2 Saturdays ago, I brought dad to this casual French eatery which has been around for the past 7yrs, tucked along a small corner of Serangoon Road, near the forever bustling Mustafa Centre. An absolutely no-frills, non-high-brow place that serves French food that is patronized by French and locals alike, togged in suits and berms. Introducing... *drum roll*... The French Stall.
Along Serangoon Road
The eatery's interior
Escargots and Pumpkin Soup
Pork Chop - french style
Mustard Roasted Chicken
Giant Profiterole!
And then, a week ago, the pretty, sparkly Xmas tree came up on the rooftop of Vivo:
And last Sunday, went with relatives to check out this neighbourhood western food stall in Jalan Membina called 'Delight & Delicious' (or is it the other way around? =P). There are some very scrumptious offerings indeed (they serve brownies and tiramisu too) and the service is personal and excellent!
We had
Good ole Fish & Chips
New creation - Paprika Chicken
Tomato-based Seafood Pasta
Sirloin Steak (if you can look past the streaks of mustard that my uncle has smeared across the poor steak)
Ok, lest you suffer from indigestion after looking at all these pictures, I shall stop. My next entry shall focus on the theme of 'Nostalgia'... See u there.
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