Sunday, November 18, 2007
This post is about a week late simply because I was not up to even talking about the event until I have calmed myself down. On hindsight, it was not as bad as we thought it was. True, there's a lot of of talking about how things are not always perfect & how at any event, even by national standards, hiccups are unavoidable. As much as we were prepared for any possible outcome, we were taken aback by problems that are beyond our control. But at the end of the day, our team performed well. We did what we had to do, completed our assigned tasks & hope that all our sincere work & effort will meet the main objective. And I believe we did. It was an eventful night to say the least, even managed to rope in Amirul to do his little bid for the mosque. It was very tiring all right. So tired that even after it was over and I was cleaned & washed up, my head is still playing-back the events in my head about how things could have been done differently, although I think I can hear my subconscious mind informing me how my frail body is screaming for time-out. But I'm sure glad its all over now. The months of planning had come to its climax & Alhamdulillah we did get favourable feedback from the management who did see that we did our very best & not even 1% less. Now I'm so looking forward to next week when I get my well-deserved break - me thinks :)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
I've discovered over the years that once you hit the big 3-0 birthdays require less & less fanfare to be truly enjoyed & reflected. My husband as usual would be bugging me with 'So what do you want to do' followed by 'So, what do you want me to buy for you..?' to 'So where do you want to go..?'for the past month & it was always answered with..'Hmmm...I REALLY don't know, you know...'. Honestly, when it comes to buying things there are 1001 things I could think of when I walk through the streets of Orchard or the rows of shops at Vivocity ALONE. Of course mostly those are things that I WANT and not necessarily need or as Sarah Jessica Parker would say 'Covet'. Usually for birthdays, if I ever ask him to buy something for me, I'd rather have things that I can bring with me everyday(not bags as I change them every other day, depending on what I wear..), nor shoes (errrmm...ditto reason as the bags..) or even diamond rings (I mean how many rings can you possible flash on one hand without looking over-zealous??). So up til yesterday I still do not know what I want to get although the big special one is definitely coming up in a few weeks time :)So I spent the day laidback & easy, just the way we like it. I woke up with greetings in a form of hand-made cards from Amirul & Amira. We had a hearty breakfast at the park with my muses, then off to Mustafa to just stroll & walk & gawk at the amount of things they have under one roof. I mean for the first time, I even managed to 'cover' all the floors and still left feeling amazed at what I can possibly find there. Then I get my much loved all-time favourite Big O Cheesescake from NYDC - all mine to indulge in after the kids & my family had their share that is. I end my day with a midnight ride through town (oh they've put up part of the Christmas lights already) and supper of Kebabs & baked potatoes in a jacket. A sweet day celebrated my way...the way I like it...
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
| Aida's Gemstone is Orange Saphire |
 Courageous, optimistic, and successful. Your confidence helps you handle the ups and downs of life. |
Friday, November 09, 2007
When we were little, we would always look forward to our monthly trip to Pasir Panjang Food Centre for our Satay-treat followed by the more anticipated visit to Haw Par Villa. We would all(last time it was just the 5 of us before my mei-mei was born) squeeze into my dad's turquoise beetle-like Fiat & he would drive us to Pasir Panjang where we would tuck into what was then a very lavish monthly treat of Satay & shelllfish. As it happened only once a month, it was a treat that we would look forward to faithfully. I would remember vividly our 'moral education' lesson as we walk through the gates of Haw Par Villa. I remembered being very terrified walking through the different gates of Hell looking at the liars & sinners being punished for their Sins on Earth. I remembered my mom reminding us "Tengok tu, kalau tak dengar cakap mak dengan bak, nanti jadi macam tu...' as I watched in horror little statues being prodded & their bodies being deformed as a result of their ordeal in 'hell'. It was a memory very vivid in my mind and this place have a very special place in my heart - a very special childhood memory for us.Last Saturday, we had our usual breakfast-out routine at West Coast & since both of my parents were with us, we decided, impromptu, to take a walk down memory-lane to Haw Par Villa. We thought it would be really nice to bring them to the place we so often frequent as kids and enjoy that moment once more, this time with our very own kids. So without my Casio digicam(which explains the less than perfect shots courtesy of my Nokia phone cam..) we drove to the Haw Par Villa to relive those good old days, a first for us in years & the very first for our kids....
Haw Par Villa definitely must have seen better days. In its heyday more than 40 years ago, Haw Par Villa could have been Singapore's first public attraction and definitely was a favourite picnic spot for many. In the 80s, even before it got its facelift and turned into a theme park, it was attracted about one-third of all visitors to Singapore.
You would be greeted by a 'Warden' who lets you know of the route & where to park, entrance is free but you have to pay $5 per car entrance.
Upon entering the main gates, you'll be greeted by statues and carvings depicting Chinese mythology. There's lots more as you walk on deeper into the Gardens - murals, pagodas, ponds, they are all here. But most, you'd discover depict scenes from the Hades, as according to Chinese beliefs. Statues of people being flogged, the "cow-head/horse face" guardians of Hell, sinking steam ships and other wreckages, Sun Wukong the Monkey God, the 12 zodiac animals, laughing Buddhas, a huge memorial for Mr & Mrs Aw Boon Haw erected on a slope, and even a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Hmmm, the last one really did look out of place among all the Chinesey stuff.
In the past, you might have dismissed Haw Par Villa as a boring, "unhappening" place, but despite it being rather run down and deserted, the Gardens is truly still worth a visit. Unconvinced, here are reasons why.
* Simply for the fact that it remains unchallenged as one of the most scenic sites in Singapore.
* To marvel at how someone so many years ago could be so rich to build a mansion for a brother, complete with an amusement park, and that was way before Michael Jackson.
* To give yourselves a scare looking at those haunting statues, although you don't believe in mythology. Try visiting alone and cover all corners of the gardens, including the cobweb-infested nooks and moss-covered/creeper-overgrown crannies.
* For the hill-top, picturesque view overlooking the sea.
* If you can't afford Disneyland, this is your best local alternative.
* Where else can you walk safely into the growling mouth of a giant dragon and exit through its tail?
* If you're a sadist who delights in scenes of blood, gore and chopped off body parts. You'll enjoy the exhibits at the 10 Courts of Hell.
* It's free admission. Being Singaporean too, we know you'd be happy to hear that.(Except for the $5 per car charge if you are driving in)
To congratulate its resilience to remain open and preserved till today. The fact that it has outlived the National Theatre, the Van Cleef Aquarium and even the Sentosa Ferry service, shows its importance in cultural and historical terms.