Rhythmic Love

On my way home in the Circle Line, I received an sms from Bernice:

Love at First ... Brunch, Crunch, Glance, Hunch, Junk, Krunch, Lunch, Munch, Punch.
Dearie went for lunch, saw these in a bunch, without thot or 2nd glance, bought some for my aung to munch.
A little game will be fun. Guess which of the above dearie bought for aung?

Haha... Dearie testing aung. Umm... Is it Love at First Crunch? :)

It's no fun !! :-{
X-(

Oh, well...

Munch! Munch! Munch!
Aung loves dearie that is fun!
Later go out eat wan fun (dinner in Chinese)
After that let's go jalan-jalan (for a walk in Malay)
Aung buy flowers so dearie will dance!

:)

Yeah!

Korea Holiday

Just came back from our 8-day Korea holiday trip last night at 10pm. It's a wonderful break from our work and we hope to update our readers soon, after we organise our photos, so stay tune...

Kamsa hamnida!

Bernice in...

Krungthepmahanakhon Amornrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharat Ratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwet-mahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukam-prasit, or in short, Bangkok! For her company's annual business trip April 17-20. I was at Changi Airport Terminal 2 last night at 10pm when her plane touched down.

And as usual, she'll buy back some goodies - from the land of a thousand smile...



but this time round she brought back something extra... a box of fresh orchids! She saw these while staying in the Peninsula Hotel, situated just beside the Chao Phraya River, and requested the hotel manager to get her a box to bring home.

 

How much does it cost? 500 baht. And she has problem finding vases to put up all the stalks, so some were kept in the fridge and will probably be given away to friends...



Bernice has always love flowers (the real ones) because she feels that they makes a home well, more homely. Couldn't have agreed more with her...

Ps: Notice the date on the receipt? The year is 2555 instead of 2012! That's because The Thai solar calendar, Suriyakhati was adopted by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in AD 1888 as the Siamese version of the Gregorian calendar.

Take Note!

Coming back home from church I noticed the flask with a note pasted on it, placed on the dining table. Bernice was out with a friend to celebrate her birthday, so what better way to convey her words than notes...?

and more notes...

and more notes...!!!

Oh well, at least she bothered to leave me a message or two, and that's important to take note of, right?

Bernice's Birthday

This morning I received a call from mum, telling me to go over her house to collect a flask of bird nest soup which she prepared for us. She also passed me a red packet to give to Bernice, saying it's her birthday today. Yup, it sure is...

which is why I've booked a car a week in advanced just for this special occasion...
to chauffeur her to the place of her choice - Riders Cafe @ Bukit Timah - for a birthday brunch celebration!

Bernice ordered the smoked salmon set with moccha while I opted for 'The Usual' brunch set with my favourite cappuccino...

After brunch, we walked around the vicinity of the Saddle Club. An instructor was giving one of the horses its morning run inside the ring, and seeing it was a white horsie, Bernice decided to have a photo taken.

Since we still had some time before returning the car, I drove to the West Coast Park for a leisure walk. Bernice was intrigued by the fruits of this odd looking tree with beautiful flowers. Later I found out that its name is Couroupita guianensis, commonly known as Cannonball tree because its fruits look just like cannonballs...

Back home, I asked Bernice if she enjoyed the birthday outing to which she concurred, saying it was something different from the usual place. Unknown to her, I had another surprise in stored for her, which took me three weeks to prepare...

Imagine Bernice's delight when I handed her the birthday gift in the later part of the afternoon. She couldn't guess what it was but when she remove the wrapping, she couldn't believe her eyes - a Samsung Galaxy S2 smart phone running the latest Android Ice-Cream Sandwich OS, configured and loaded with bible apps and 25 albums from her audio CD collections!

"I saw my colleague carrying one and thought it would be a nice phone to have," she remarked, "but I couldn't believe you actually bought one for my birthday... You've made this a memorable day for me, darling!" Bernice was so touched, and that really made all my efforts worthwhile.

Dearie Notes

Haha... Bernice's at it again! Right after a cold shower, I was about to brush my teeth when I saw this note pasted on top of the toothbrush holder cover:

Ahhhh... Angry birds, my favourite! Cleaning can become a chore once monotony sets in, but thanks to Bernice, she sure knows how to make a household chore fun! So after cleaning, I wrote below her words:

Clean as a whistle now! Not in the legal sense, but literally after brushing my teeth, of course! Wink...! :)

Labrador Park

Bernice has never been to Labrador Park, so this Sat we booked a car and drove over to take a morning educational walk.

First stop was this famous landmark, Dragon Teeth's Gate situated at the entrance of Keppel harbour. One tourist used his knuckles to knock on the structure and from the sound it emitted, remarked that it's not rock at all. Later we found out that the actual landmark was blown up back in 1848 to widen the channel for modern ships to sail through.
Across the waterfront towers the majestic Keppel Bay Condominiums, dwarfing the old coloniel House 30 and Keppel Club below. The Bukit Chermin Boardwalk can be seen winding along the coastlines.

I bumped into a former church friend (Nathanael) doing his morning cycling. He suggested we go take a look at the marina @ Keppel. so we decided to make a detour to explore...

Bernice was fascinated by this Sea Grape tree with its reddish-orangie and green mixed leaves.

While walking along the stretch of Bukit Chermin boardwalk, we heard some commotions among the strollers and turned to the direction of their attention. There it was - the behemoth SuperStar class cruiser Virgo making its entrance into the harbour, dwarfing everything around it!

As we near the waterfront residence, we're amazed at the array of yachts parked alongside the docks. One of the bigger yacht which caught our eyes has the name Braveheart.

Among the strollers were children who accompanied their parents. We spotted a cute little two-year-old girl who wore headgears riding a kick scooter and decided to let Bernice take a photo with her at the resting area.

Back on the trail in Labrador Park, KT positioned for a short at the Red Beacon exhibit. Along the way there are murals of colorful tiles depicting different kinds of sea creatures.

While resting on a park bench listening to the waves beating the shore, we saw a Caucasian man with his daughter and wife (not in picture). A little boy pulling his trolley cart happened to pass by with his mom and an interesting East-meets-West ensued...

We had wanted to walk to the edge of the jetty but unfortunately it was closed and inaccessible, so we could only look at it from a distance...

The secondary forest is full of interesting fauna, one of which is this perculiar mangrove tree with its exposed roots above ground that's taller than a human...

There's still much to explore in Labrador Park and we hope to come back again, perhaps for an evening walk just for a change.

Letters to My Nephews (Part 2)

Jun Tat

It’s always a pleasure to talk and interact with you, though now as a grown up teenager, you’ll have your own focus and priorities, not to mention what you may have make out life to be (as well as your place and identity in your family and among your peers).

Still, I’m happy that at a young age you have already become quite familiar (or acquainted, perhaps?) with the Christian faith and gospel message. It’s a reminder of my younger days too when my own secondary school teacher introduced me to Jesus Christ, and told me of my fallen condition and need for a Saviour.

Those were exciting days of discoveries as well as difficulties, being a first generation Christian facing parental objections and limited spiritual resources to equip me in my understanding of what I’ve believed in. But God is faithful, and through the trials and triumphs of life I have come to stand firm in His Word, and thankfully to share in His work in the lives of people I know.

God has given you, among other things, the ability to study and excel in your academics. I’m sure He has in store for you something far greater too. And since you started well from a young age, I urge you to continue to know His purpose in your life, so that the gift that He has bestowed upon you will not be in vain.

My prayer is that you will come to know the full knowledge of Jesus Christ, and in so doing, align your life to Him as the Center of all that is perfect and glorious. For He is our peace and stay in every stormy circumstances of life, and I am confident that He who had begun the good work in you, will bring it to perfection in that day.

Have a blessed year!

ah Ku

Enlisted

Don't be mistaken. I've already fulfilled my NS obligations and is now on the reserved inactive list.

I'm talking about my eldest nephew, Jun Herng, who has just gotten enlisted for his national service in Tekong this Thur (March 8). But unlike our times, his parents and grandparents were allowed to accompany him all the way across the sea way to the camp (the army even provided aircon coaches to ferry them), took a tour of the bunk, and treated to a nice lunch meal. Then there was this welcome speech by the Orientation Officer (OO) and a time of Q&A for the parents too.

Seems to me things have improved a great deal in the army in terms of soldier's welfare and logistic controls. I'm sure my nephew should adjust well to his new role. Hopefully the army will still be as effective in making a man out of him as it did old-timers like us...

Letters to My Nephews (Part 1)

Jun Herng

How time flies! It seems like yesterday when you were just a little toddler at your granny’s home, living and playing with us. But now you’ve grown up, completed junior college and awaiting enlistment into the army.

In the process of growth and change, from a child to adolescent, from a teenager to a young man, there are inevitable ups and downs that you’ve experienced, and will continue to. Such experiences are not only important but necessary to shape your character and personality into what you are today.

As your maternal uncle, I’ve watched you grow, struggle and learn in each phase of your life. It’s not easy to stay passive and let you pick yourself up each time you stumble, gathering bits and pieces of what goes on in your life from your siblings, your mom and granny.

All I can say is I’m proud of you being my first nephew, not just because of the joy you brought to many in our household, but also for what you can possibly be if you set your heart to do what is right and contribute to the things that really matters and make a difference in the lives of people around you.

Having said that, I find it necessary to remind you (if I’ve not done so before) that the true value of life lies not in the temporal present, but in the eternal future, which each one of us must inevitably face one day. For it is written in the Bible, “As your days, so will your strength be in measure.” (Deuteronomy 33:25)

It’s good sometime to reflect upon life’s existence and purposes (what it’s really all about). For God has destined us for something far greater than just what this temporary world with all its beggerly elements has to offer. To the one who seeks, he shall find it (Matthew 7:7)

ah Ku

3rd Wedding Anniversary

Tis a bright and sunny morning on the 3rd anniversary of our wedding. Bernice and I had taken leave today.

While easing myself in the bathroom, I happened to look up and noticed the towels had been changed. Later Bernice confessed that she bought these at Aussino last December. Hmm... pretty sneaky of her!

When I went to the kitchen to have a drink of water, I saw a note pasted on my cup. Opening the fridge, I saw another note. Haha... will save the lemonade for noon. I'm beginning to enjoy our anniversary day...

I had a booking at ICA to collect my renewed passport at 9.30am. When I came home, Bernice was already out for her appointment for the rest of the afternoon. Which means I have plenty of time to work something out before she comes back...

First, while going out to buy lunch I stopped by Clementi Mall to shop for a secret anniversary gift. Next stop, the florist shop to pick up a bouquet of roses.

After lunch, my creative juice starts to get active, so I decided to draw a poster of Spongbob Squarepants. I stuck the poster to the mirror of Bernice's dressing table and concealed it with a towel.

Next, I placed the bouquet inside the fridge and stuck a note beside it. Too can play the game... :)

Bernice came back near dinner time. As planned, we recited the marriage vows to each other again to remind ourselves of our commitment. I saw a pot of artificial flowers which Bernice placed as deco and remarked, "I thot you like the real thing?" "Ya, but you didn't buy me any roses," she replied. "Who said I didn't?" I winked. "You did...!? Where is it?" Bernice become excited. "Where else?" It took Bernice no time to find the bouquet, and boy, was she happy!
It was almost 7.15pm. We decided to have dinner at the Min Jiang Restaurant in Rochester Park.

We opted for indoor dining as the ambience was nice. The xiao long bao tasted pretty good, and are much bigger (and certainly more ex...)

We ordered a few dishes, including their famous Peking duck (one half) followed by durian pudding for dessert. Yum-yum...

It was quite a hearty meal (cost us $124 but with credit card promo, $113), so we decided to take a stroll to Buona Vista MRT. Along the way, we checked out the newly opened Rochester Mall...

Back home, after washing up, Bernice was about to sleep when I made my move. "Are you satified with the anniversary?" I asked. "Uh-huh!" "But a 3rd wedding anniversary wouldn't be complete if there's nothing to remind us of the marriage milestone, isn't it?" I cued. Bernice looked at me a little puzzle.

That's when I pulled out a navy blue box from under my pillow and handed to Bernice. Imagine her delight when she opened the surprise gift and see the glittering pink crystal heart-shaped pendant, with her name and the date of our anniversary laser imprinted behind...

Needless to say, it was heels-over-head for Bernice once again on such a memorable day as this. And I'm glad to have spent it with the woman that makes my life complete... :)

Is and Isn't

Bernice has a habit of tagging notes to objects to remind herself (and myself sometimes) what needs to get done.

Today I came home from church after teaching Sunday School, I noticed this note while closing the door:

"OK, I'll do something about it later..." I mused. A couple of hours later Bernice went out for an appointment, and that's when I decided it's time to give the door a good cleaning.

Half an hour later it was done, and then an idea struck me. I added a few strokes to Bernice's notes and left it where she stuck it.

It'll be fun watching Bernice's reaction when she gets home... :)

Dearie Waffles

Bernice woke up pretty early this morning and after doing her usual devotional, busied herself in the kitchen to prepare breakfast. By the time I washed up and sit at the dining table, a plate of perculiar looking waffles were laid with a bottle of pure maple syrup and a cup of Vietnamese coffee to spice up the day.

Bernice sat beside me, waiting for me to give thanks. "How come the waffles seem different than the usual? Looks like cardboard..." I asked. "You eat and guess," she replied. "Father, please reveal the ingredients to me," I prayed and took a couple of small bites.

"Oats?" I looked at Bernice for affirmation. "Uh-huh. And something else..." she coaxed. I took another bite. "Cashew?" I couldn't believe my taste buds. "Wah, God really answered your prayer and revealed the ingredients I used!" Bernice was impressed. Hallelujah, indeed!

What Price a Rose?

That depends on when you buy the rose, if you ask me. And buying one on Valentine's Day will certainly burn a hole in a guy's wallet for sure. That's what I found out this evening when I stopped by the florist shop after work, surprised to see a large crowd busily choosing stalks and bouquets of roses. I overheard the cashier telling one indian guy holding a stalk of nicely wrapped red rose that it costs $20. Twenty bucks! Bernice wouldn't agree to me splurging on such an occasion, though I'd suspect she'll be delighted no less.

After buying dinner for takeaway at a coffee shop, I went over to the wet market's flower shop to take a look. To my delight, I found a good bargain and quickly got home to set the stage for a Valentine surprise before Bernice's return...

Oddly, Bernice didn't bring up the subject of roses during dinner, so I recounted what I heard at the florist shop to lure her into the mood. "Ya, don't waste money on roses just because it's Valentine's Day," Bernice commented. Just as I thot.

"But Valentine's Day wouldn't be the same without roses, right?" I said, looking at Bernice from the corner of my eyes. "Sure, but they'll chop your carrot if you buy it today. Buy tomorrow much cheaper lah!"

"Actually I bought you flowers already..." I mused. Bernice's eyes brightened up at that moment. "Remember the remote control fan I bought when we shopped at the neighbourhood Courts last night? It's got flower design, you noticed?" The sparkle in Bernice's eyes faded. "Yeah. Well, that's a nice fan. Good enough for a Valentine rose replacement..."

The pieces were falling into place just as I planned. As we walked into the kitchen, I placed my arm around Bernice and sheepishly asked, "You wouldn't think I'll let your Valentine go without flowers, do you?" Then turning her to face the fridge, I opened the door to reveal the rose with white and pink baby-breaths. Bernice's couldn't hide her delight as she held the little bouquet in her hands.

How much did it cost me? Bernice didn't ask. It's just not her style. But I'll give my readers a hint: It's single digit and a favourite number with the Chinese. Got it?

The Fifteenth Day

Also known as Yuan Xiao Jie, the fifteenth day of CNY is the last day of celebration, where families may come together for reunion dinner just like the eve of CNY. It is regarded as the oriental version of Valentine's Day too.

Though it's a work day, Bernice and I decided to invite her mom and brother's family to the Nan Xiang dumpling house at Plaza Singapura for dinner. See how eager and expectant little Meagan (second from left) was?

Surprisingly, Vera who isn't keen on meat, seemed to take a liking for the fresh pork filling steam buns. She finished two of the six sets and was craving for more, so I ordered another set just for her.

And here they are, sitting contentedly after finishing a hearty meal of steam buns and Shang Hai fried rice.

We're sure they'll be looking forward to more of such dine out in a restaurant with us, just as we'll love to spend meaningful time in their growing up years.

A Moving Masterpiece

Bernice isn't a person who takes interest in history, especially China. But after hearing some positive feedbacks from her friends about the current exhibition of the animated famous Ching Ming Shang He Tu at the Singapore Expo, she decided it's worth taking a look.

As it is still CNY, we saw a couple of lion dances at some of the exhibition halls, this one particularly at the furniture exhibition caught our attention...

And just outside the glass corridors were these weird yucca-rostrata like plant sculptures...

We passed by a cart stall selling muah chee dessert with the name Ah Ma (that's how Bernice address her mom)...

The exhibition is at Hall No. 3 which is quite a walk from where we alighted at the Expo MRT station.

Bernice arranged to have both of us wear the Qing emperor and empress T-shirts for this occasion, though the Qing Ming Shang He Tu has nothing to do with the Qing but the Song dynasty. Nice thot, though!

Each visitor is provided with a portable audio headset device that narrates the history of the Song dynasty and the painting in greater detail. There's also static figurines where you can put your face in for a photo shot...

Try me. OK! Hmm... this wooden danzi's quite heavy! We saw some lady visitors having problem lifting up the load without assistance.

The Qing Ming Shang He Tu painting is a depiction of the prosperous and stable period of the Song dynasty (and we learnt that there's actually the Northern and Southern Song dynasties!).

And here are some facts about the artist...

You can tell why the Qing Ming Shang He Tu is considered a masterpiece when you witness a reproduced copy of the original here - it's more than five metres in length and about a foot wide. Talk about a long scroll in pictures!

Here's a small section of description (top left) and a portion of the actual painting (top right) in contrast to the animated color version (bottom left and right, depicting day and night scenes.)

Expand that art piece to exhibition scale and you have a panoramic moving masterpiece measuring 128m by 6.5m, requiring 12 top-end cinematic quality projectors to stitch the animated digital painting together!

Even the moving river below the painting is itself an ingenious display of modern technological artwork, to say the least!

Space does not allow for too elaborate description and explanation of this painting here, so I'd just included a couple of snapshots...

After almost three hours in the exhibition, we opted for some dim sum at the Yummy Chopsticks outside where we rested our tired feet.

It was a wonderful and educational Saturday outing (and it was our marriage time too!)