SPCA

Recently Tim and I went to SPCA to find out more about adoption procedures. It was my first time visiting SPCA. We noted that the premise was rather old and is in need of a new furnishing. Thankfully, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) went to SPCA to volunteer last weekend. They paintedthe premises and walked the dogs. In my opinion, I think it is wonderful to see civil servants doing their part to help local charities and shelters.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs volunteered at SPCA

Sleeping Kitty who refuses to wake up

A mischievous cat disturbing another one in a separate cage

A dog up for adoption

A golden retriever up for adoption

Cages where the dogs are kept

Bustling Bali

To celebrate my birthday, my husband surprised me with a trip to Bali in the month of February!

We travelled via Qatar Airways. The return flight tickets cost SGD265, which was a steal! The duration of the flight was approximately 2 hours 30 mins. The aircraft (Boeing 777-300ER) was equipped with comfy seats, adequate leg room, in-flight entertainment (individual TV screens) and passengers were served with delectable warm meals and great service.

Accommodation

We resided at Uma Karan in Seminyak in the 5 days when we were there. The room rates were about USD62/night. There were only 10 guest rooms in the resort and we enjoyed the pristine and quiet environment. Daily breakfast was served to our rooms - choice of American or Indonesian cuisine. We went with American breakfast on most days - scrambled eggs or omelet, with toast and sausages, accompanied with hot coffee/tea & orange juice and a platter of fresh fruits. The resort was tucked off a small road in Seminyak. It takes about 5-10 minutes to walk to the main road where Sunset point is located, and a 10 minutes drive to Seminyak square or the infamous Ku De Ta.

Reception at Uma Karan

Outside our room

Lap pool outside our room

Bathroom

Veranda

Land Tours Agency

During the stay, we engaged Bali Land Tours to bring us around. For a package which included 2 full-day tours, 1 half-day tour and 2-way airport transfer, it cost approximately SGD300+ for 2 pax. The itinerary of the tours can be customized according to your preferences and the service rendered was pleasant.

Day 2

We visited Ubud and Mt. Batur. The view of Mt Batur was gorgeous and we had a buffet lunch in one of the restaurants situated on a hill where we could see the volcano and the lake beside it. Our driver informed us that all the restaurants in the vicinity served the same types of food. I wouldn't recommend dining in that area as it is rather touristy. In Ubud, we visited an organic farm that cultivates coffee, fruits and other local produce. Luwak coffee is very popular in Bali.

View of Mt Batur from the restaurant

Selection of organically grown coffee and tea

Day 3

We spent the day at Tanah Lot and did horse riding. The dominant religion in Bali is Hinduisim. Many areas in Bali are littered with sacred temples, some of which are constructed in the 16th Centry. You could read the history of Tanah Lot here.

T and I enjoyed the horse riding experience very much. We rode through a small village with pictureques view of family temples, rice plantations, old brick houses and local shops. The horse I rode on was named Jet. He was a black 10 years old local equine. Throughout the ride, Jet would often bend down to grab a mouthful of fresh grass or leaves from a tree. My guide, Agung, shared with me that Jet was one of the greediest horses in the stable. He also taught me how to hold the reins and lead the horse. Many of the guides from the stable were former jockeys who retired from the sport due to injuries. My husband rode on a mixed-breed horse which has a bigger stature and strength. After which, our guide brought us to a local warung for Crispy duck in the evening. 

Crispy duck warung

Rice field at the warung

Rice field at the warung

Day 4

The afternoon was spent strolling along the beach at Seminyak and chilling at Chandi. Of special mention, Chandi serves exquisite asian-fusion cusine. The interior was rustic and regal. I was absolutely bowl over by every single dish that was served. Each item on the menu was carefully crafted and prepared with great precision and charm by Chef Agung Nugroho and his Wife Kirsten Weymar. The cost of drinks, one 3-course meal and a main was approximately SGD40. The meal was worth every cent.

Seminyak Beach

Bar at Chandi

Soft shell crab wrap

Grilled Lobster tail starter

Coconut ice cream

Black Red Seafood Fried Rice

In the evening, we went to renowed Naughty Nuri's for grilled ribs and sausages. The atmosphere at Nuri was fun. Every waiter or waitress jolts to a shaking dance when someone orders a cocktail/martini. We enjoyed the food very much. 

Famous Nuri grilled ribs (IDR 85,000)

Spiced grilled corn

Grilled Brustwerk sausages

Day 5

On our final day in Bali, we visited Uluwatu, did a spa and had seafood dinner at Jimbaran. We enjoyed watching the azure waves splashing against the cliff at Uluwatu. The view was breathtaking.

Overall, we did have a relaxing time in Bali but I suppose we may enjoy neighbouring Lombok better. Till then.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year will be celebrated in 2 weeks' time by most chinese communities around the world! This will be my first CNY as a married woman. Tradition dictates that married couples bless singles/elderly with red packets filled with money, together with a pair of mandarin oranges. The act supposedly symbolise blessings and abundance for the new year. According to tradition, married woman will have their reunion dinner with their spouse's family. I hope my parents will still enjoy CNY with my extended family members, without my presence. When I was a kid, I enjoyed donning new clothes and spending countless hours playing with my cousins. As an only child, things get pretty bored at home, thus, time spent with my cousins were priceless! I look forward to experience a different CNY this year, and to spend more time getting to know T's extended family members.

Experimenting with Indian Cusisine

My husband has been experimenting in the kitchen again! This time, he took 2 weekends to make naan (oven baked flat bread) and thosai (aka dosa). Thosai is usually served with 3 different condiments - sumbhar, fresh coconut chutney & dhal curry. T made a healthier version by adding flax seed meal to the thosai batter, and serving it with yoghurt curry. The thosai was made with a crepe pan that we bought from Indonesia. Hopefully we will be able to make wheatmeal crepes the next time round.

Role Models

Some of us probably grew up with favourite celebrities, bands or role models whom we want to be like... Beatles? Spice Girls? Mother Teresa? Bruce Wayne? Nelson Mandela? Have you ever dressed or acted like your childhood role models? I certainly have! My husband constantly picks up a can of Orangina because he saw footballer, Quah Kim Song drinking it. Even in my twenties, I have role models whom I look up to.

In the last few weeks of December, I received an unexpected note from a teacher who had taught me during my Diploma studies. She was (and still is) my inspiration and role model. My teacher was confident, diligent and poised. She achieved very much in her life - was a high ranking army officer, completed her Masters and is currently pursuing a PhD and single-handly brought up 3 children and sent them all throuh university. She was a single mom. Despite all that, and with God's grace, she went against the odds and live a responsible and inspiring life.

Now that I am married and am taking up more responsibilities in the family, I'm constantly thinking about  how I should live and manage the milestones & challenges in my life. It is also a time that I think about what adulthood really means and how to live life to the fullest. Looking at my teacher, I see the person whom I want to be - a woman who is courageous and strong, one who is not afraid to face up to life's challenges and enjoy the milestones in life. She is my role model.

Do you have a role model too?

Patong Beach

After our volunteering stint in Baan Namkem, we headed to Patong Beach for a short getaway and to spend some time together before the new year begins. Both of us had not been to Patong prior to this trip. Most travel guides descrive Patong as a place where revellers party day and night. True enough, there was little that we like about the place except the beaches at nearby islands. It would have been a better choice should we return to Khao Lak, where we had our honeymoon.

Bangla road

Overcrowed Patong beach

Pristine beaches

Street food

Happy New Year

I woke up on 1 Jan 2013 with some apprehension. It will be a year filled with exciting new challenges! Which includes 2 practicums, probably getting the keys to our new house & doing renovations, the possibility of taking honours, another christmas at CDC and the list goes on...

God has been very faithful in providing for my needs. This year, my work schedule is more flexible. I'll be taking 2 mornings every week to do my practicum and my work hours are back to 9am to 6pm. What a relief! It was a big struggle for me last year because I had to work 8am to 7pm just to make up for the Fridays dedicated to school commitments.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying that God will give me strength to enjoy and experience the challenges ahead.

A meaningful Christmas

Chritmas is a time of celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ - a season to give thanks for our messiah. With rampant advertising campaigns, Christmas has become a commercialized season of 'giving' and shopping and feasting. It is easy to take on that mentality when you're surrounded by publications  and advertisments of sales, delectable feasts, etc.

This Christmas is the first one that I spend overseas. For a special cause. T and I decided to volunteer with New Light Foundation based in Baan Nam Kem, Thailand. It was a fruitful experience as we learnt how the organization sustains itself and provide meals and education to the local community.

Day 1 - Took a 2 hours drive from Phuket International Airport to Baan Namkem. Spent the evening learning Christmas carols in Thai 

Day 2 - The team went carolling at a police station, the mayor's office, town council and an electrical shop in the morning. We visited about 100 families to carol at their houses and pray a prayer of blessing with each family.

Town Council

Police Station

Volunteers preparing to carol

Day 3 and Day 4 - Teach English lessons at Takuapa Bang Sai village (predominantly burmese) and prepare for the Christmas carnival

The Burmese children waiting for the lesson to begin

Preparation for Christmas carnival

Tuk-tuk that ferries the children to and fro school and home

Day 5 - Christmas carnival was in full blast! With the help of volunteers, we made hundreds of ballon sculptures and prepared food in the late evening for the villagers. The Christmas message was shared with the adults and children in 2 separate parties :)

All hands were busy sculpting balloons

Balloon Arch made by T

Outdoor Thai-style "Char Kway Teow"

Piles of presents at the entrance

BBQ meat skewers

Christmas concert

Day 6 - We went to catch clams for dinner! It was my first attempt catching my own food! We also visited a small fish farm which helps sustains operations at CDC. We spent the evening at Khao Lak and went back to Baan Namkem to count down to Christmas by the beach.

We caught approximately 10 kg of clams!!!!

A Rapunzel moment

Playing with fireworks for the first time!

Turtles

There are 2 red eared slider turtles in my house. My Mil bought it when her grandchildren came to visit us a few months back. Since then, they live in various types of 'accommodation'. The very first one we had was a plastic tank that measures approximately 20x10cm. Then we placed them a 2 litres plastic container after they started fighting. (After reading in a blog that animals kept in small areas have a greater tendency to be stressed and aggressive.) Thereafter, we purchased an Ikea storage box for them, and they had ample space to move around. However, without a proper filter system, we have to change the water on a daily basis.

Last weekend, T and I visited an aquarium and decided to purchase a complete tank system. For $83, we got a glass tank, an electric filter system as well as a lamp - which will be useful for the turtles to "sunbath". Now, our turtles enjoy a cleaner home and have more space to swim and rest. Hopefully, they wouldn't grow in size too soon. Else, we'll have to source for suitable accommodation again.