| ourtravelations.com |
[Dec. 7th, 2009|11:21 am] |
Just a quick note to say, for those of you who are interested, you can read about J and my travels at ourtravelations.com
It is a work in progress, so we welcome all your feedback. Thank you in advance!
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| Yoga re-introduction |
[Dec. 7th, 2009|09:23 am] |
First time to Yoga in about two weeks and I can't wait.
We are going for a Yin class to re-introduce ourselves to practice again.
I really can't wait to be a regular at the studio once more.
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| New chapter |
[Nov. 30th, 2009|02:49 pm] |
Today is officially the last day that we can legally enter our home :(
The apartment goes to a new owner tomorrow.
I will miss it so. It's our first home together. And from all the packing, selling, moving and more packing we've done over the past three to four days, we have made it home.
Well, guess we really shouldn't hold on to material things.
But for just one more evening, I shall clean my beloved flat one last time - for the handover.
I hope the new owner will have the very best memories there!
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| Polarize! |
[Oct. 31st, 2009|11:34 am] |
I may be addicted to the Polarize app haha!
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| Cookie decorating fun |
[Oct. 20th, 2009|10:02 am] |
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I had such an eye-opening and fun afternoon on Sunday, post-quickie cruise with the family.
At first, I thought I couldn't make the 3pm class at Mong's, but realised the day before that we dock at HarbourFront at noon - hurray!
Three of my creations (notice the clumsy spill?)
Together with ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) riendel , I learnt how to make, tint and thin royal icing, outline and fill (I mean flood! (in cookie speak) ) a cookie with the icing, work with fondant and using it to decorate a cookie.
It was so fun, especially when done with a friend!
The designs one can churn out are limitless and creativity reigns.
It was a nice break :)
( Two more pics... ) |
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| Green blooms |
[Oct. 18th, 2009|11:32 pm] |
This makes me happy, somehow.
(Taken at Pam's place in Tassie!)
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| Parcelled cod in the oven |
[Oct. 18th, 2009|10:47 pm] |
Baked an extremely simple Japanese-influenced cod in the oven today for dinner.
Just had to eat healthier after our junky-food-filled cruise with the family.
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| Yogathon? |
[Sep. 16th, 2009|10:43 pm] |
I have now Yoga-ed for three evenings straight.
I should really be running more. But my body craves the challenge and peace of a nice, consistent practice.
I wonder now if my body knows that I'm attempting a marathon, not a yogathon.
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| Home-cooked goodies |
[Sep. 14th, 2009|11:15 pm] |
I love it when I go home to visit and my mum plies me with home-cooked goodies.
Last evening, I received chicken rendang and sambal petai - cooked the day before and nicely frozen, ready to go home with me.
Now, I only need to make me some nice, fluffy rice and heat up the goodies!
Tomorrow maybe?
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| Library |
[Sep. 12th, 2009|01:18 pm] |
Lately I've rediscovered the library.
Or rather, the library's excellent reservation system.
I don't actually have to go and physically search for the books I want - just go online and reserve them for $1.50 each.
When it's time for pick-up, an SMS would be sent to me and I just drop by my specified branch to collect.
And now, the first renewal is free!
Fantastic!
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| Tolerance |
[Sep. 9th, 2009|12:41 am] |
Oh before I go, just wanted to share a thought.
This evening, while running like a hamster on the treadmill at my condo gym, I was struck by how grateful I am to be living in Singapore and in this largely, tolerant and moderate region.
As I looked out of the window in front of me, I saw a bunch of kids running by - likely engaged in one of their mock war scenarios.
(The kids in my condo are great. They come up with all these funny, imaginary games to amuse themselves all the time. One of them involves breaking up into groups and "fighting" each other.)
In this group, carrying toy guns no less, were an Ang Moh boy, an Indian girl and a Chinese lad. All were aged between six and 10.
I was struck by this visual example of racial tolerance and open-heartedness.
I was a very very happy and fortunate witness of this blessing tonight.
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| Mount K adventure (Part 1) |
[Sep. 8th, 2009|11:00 pm] |
Climbing a mountain is akin to running a marathon I suppose.
Not that I really know, but at least from what my marathoner-friends tell me, it is an addictive activity. Upon crossing the finish line, they usually swore the just-completed run would be the last marathon they ever did. Yet, when sign-up time comes again the next year, they gamely register again. All pain and suffering forgotten by then.
With climbing, it's the same thing.
While I was trekking, I was cursing and swearing inwardly that I would never do it again, but once I had gotten some rest (at Laban Rata, the three-quarter mark) and again at the end of the trip, I contemplated how I would tackle the route in the future. Perhaps tackle, I hasten to qualify. But hey, the idea is there.
Many guidebooks and tourist brochures proclaim Mount Kinabalu to be "an easy, two-day, one-night adventure".
To a certain extent, they are right, but the word "easy" is subjective.
( Read more... ) |
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| Bringing Home The Birkin |
[Sep. 7th, 2009|11:27 am] |
Of late, I have been frantically reading Michael Tonello's super-fascinating Bringing Home The Birkin.
I say frantic because I can't renew the book at the library after three weeks as there's a reservation queue for it plus the book's just simply too interesting to put down.
Tonello chronicles his adventures as an eBay guru reselling the much coveted Hermes Birkin (and other Hermes items). Laugh as he tells of his adventures driving across borders to get his goods, cringe as he decribes some of his difficult encounters and wonder in amazement at the insatiable appetite of some women for luxury goods.
And if you're an eBay fan or want some easy-to-read tips on doing business on eBay, Tonello isn't selfish about sharing. He does give a worthwhile tip or two.
If you love Birkins and Hermes in general, you must add this to your reading list. |
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| The Cove |
[Sep. 6th, 2009|10:47 pm] |
We watched The Cove today and I came away sad and confused.
This award-winning docu-film tells the story of the atrocities in a heavily-guarded, almost mysterious cove in Taiji, Japan. It is here that the fishermen of Taiji slaughter thousands of dolphins from September to March each year.
Ric O'Barry, the original dolphin trainer who made Flipper - and other cetaceans - popular as entertainers at theme parks in the 1960s, is on a mission to redeem himself. It is he who's the main protaganist in the film. Of course, he is helped by an Ocean's Eleven-like team of activists, including world record-breaking freedivers, who are all keen to expose the senseless slayings.
Primarily, the Japanese fishermen herd these dolphins into a bay and offer the first pick to dolphin trainers and "resellers". The latter can sell each one of these creatures for tens of thousands of dollars, mainly to marine parks and amusement centres.
The fate of those who don't make the cut is horrible - they are herded into the said Cove and massacred.
Now, I'm not a particular champion of dolphins, but the men in the film have an almost obsessive grudge against these creatures that I cannot fathom. There's no demand for their meat by the Japanese public, which by the way, has very high and unhealthy levels of mercury. And there is no demand from industry for any other part of a dead dolphin. Yet, these men are just spearing and spearing and spearing these helpless creatures. They don't spare a single one.
How they can sleep at night is beyond me. I know I will not forget how the greyish-blue waters of the Cove was dyed a bright and intense crimson after the men were done.
One of the reviews I read online said: "... this is the reason films are made..."
I agree.
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| Holiday find - KK Polo bun |
[Sep. 2nd, 2009|12:02 am] |
We've been back from our holiday for a week now and boy, has it been hectic!
I've just downloaded most of the photos from our trip to Perth, Tasmania and Sabah (Mount K, Mabul and Sipadan). Sounds spoiled I know, but hey, that's the beauty of great friends and hosts, really affordable budget airfares and some lucky breaks on deals.
And boy did we really need the two-week break! I'm back recharged, refocused and rebalanced.
More pictures to come but here's one of my favourites - J's shot of some piping hot, super fresh and fluffy Polo buns (Pineapple buns) we came across at a really old-skool kopitiam in KK (Kota Kinabalu). We bought some to try after lunch on our first day in KK, en-route to Kinabalu Park. They were great!
Believe me, we were all dreaming of the crumbly bun and its sweet, slightly thick, pineapple jam filling while walking the eight-hour Mesilau trail the next day. Of course we went back for more on our return trip via KK!
Aaah, the simple joys in life! |
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| My first individual tri! |
[Aug. 4th, 2009|12:04 am] |
On the bike at Osim 2009 (Sprint)
Erm, does anyone want to buy 4D?
I did it! :) I completed my first triathlon all on my own - the Osim Sprint over the weekend (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run).
Had loads of fun, (quite) a bit of pain, many lessons learnt and a lot of thoughts in my head. But most of all, somehow, I didn't use-up my "determination quota" on the race. Instead, I think I'm now even more determined - to beat my 2:00:01 timing of course!
Will write all my reflections down, but not tonight. I leave you with two more photos taken by my most enthusiastic supporter, Jeff. Thank you for being there; not only at Osim but during many of my trainings, especially the early Sunday-morning ones.
( Osim X2 ) |
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| Glassful of Roses update |
[Jul. 29th, 2009|06:25 pm] |
 Update 28 July 2009
Check out what some backstitching can do to a piece. Amazing! I'm looking forward to completing this soon hopefully! And starting on my big piece. Meanwhile, I'll be parking my stitching stuff and updates here. |
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