Halloween at the museum

My lovely husband surprised me with another museum visit last weekend! He brought me to Asian Civilization Museum (ACM) for the Halloween Fright night. There were a myraid of special activities organized by ACM. There were modern bomoh dances, story telling, face painting, scare trails, etc. Many museum goers were decked in their Halloween costumes for the occasion! Since this was a surprise date, I did not dress up as any special characters for the occasion. We had a great time just watching the kids got scared by various characters such as the werewolf, ghost rider, pontianak, etc.

Ghost Rider

Captain and Spidey

Werewolf

We headed for a walk along coller quay and clarke quay later that evening. Most restaurants and bars were decorated for the occasion with spider webs, fake blood stains, insects, dummy heads, etc. We did not revel with party-goers for the Halloween celebration, but headed home earlier and it was a blissful time spent together. I love Halloween! It also reminded me of the party that I organized for T a couple of years ago at Mike and Elena's place. All guests came dressed as a special character and some of our friends rented costumes for the occasion! I love dress up parties. Hopefully we'll have another one soon.

What is your love language?

Last Saturday, T planned a special date for us to visit Singapore National Museum (SNM) to view wedding dress exhibits from Albert Victoria museum. On display were gowns from 1800s and a few celebrity wedding gowns. To our disappointment, it was a pretty small collection and we finished viewing the exhbits within 30 mins. I love visiting museums! To appreciate artefacts/art pieces that are rich in culture and history. On the other hand, T would rather spend his time outdoors or cathing zombie movies. I feel blessed that he went the extra mile to plan the outing and accompany me to visit SNM though he has little interest in museums.

On Sunday, we both spent an afternoon with our own pals. He played soccer with his mates while I found time to catch up with an old friend. It rained throughout the afternoon and he waited for me to finish to give me a lift home. Last night, I casually mentioned that I love triple decker sandwiches and this morning, he woke up much earlier than I usually do (at 6am!) to prepare a triple decker for my breakfast!T's language of love is clearly 'acts of service'. Something which I am not accustomed to...yet. I express my love through words of affirmation.

Author Gary Chapman wrote a series of books about Love Languages. Personally, I can identify with the things which he wrote. Different people express their love and feel loved in different love languages. It is important to know the love language of our loved ones to be able to appreciate them and love them in a manner which they can understand. Perhaps it's time I plan and DO something special just for T.

C'est La Folie

I grew up watching Disney cartoons and my all-time favourite is Beauty and the Beast. It's amazing how cartoons can influence one's mind. That cartoon made me fall in love with France, even before I step foot in the country.

It has been my dream to visit France since I was a kid, but I never had the opportunity until 2 years ago when my boyfriend asked if I would like to join him to France to visit his family. I was completely blown away by the whole trip - taking in every morsel of the sights and sound when we were there. We visited Paris, Bretagne and Château de Chambord at the Loir-et-Cher region. When I came back, I even registered myself at Alliance Francaise for classes!

Recently, I was delighted when I chance upon Michael Wright's 'Cest La Folie' series, which is an honest biography of his life in a small French town, Jolibois in the Haute-Vienne region. Michael was from Surrey, UK before he decided to start a new life in Jolibois. I wish I could do what he did someday - to find my own ramshackle house and start a life of adventure! Here in SG, most people go through the pragmatic path of finishing our basic education, secure a job, probably start a family go on with life. There is an inner longing in me to strive for something more than a routine, a labour that I can be truly satisfied with. I'm praying that God can help me discover that and help me start my own c'est la folie story.

Insurance 101

Thought I should blog about insurance since I recently changed mine and I wish to remember this. Two years ago, I engaged a random  agent from GE to purchase a policy. It included the ususal protection coverage, accident and critical illness coverage as well as investment links. Though it seem pretty diversified, I came to realise (over time) that the coverage that I have (though diverse) was rather measly.

I am no expert in this field, but I learnt that the first "rule of thumb" for a student/young employee is to have a basic life protection insurance coverage first, before investing in other areas. Reason being, it is important to protect ourselves and our families in case of emergency or unforseen circumstances, given that it is quite likely that we have little savings as a student or when we just started out working. And how much should we fork out monthly? An approximately  guide will be 10% of our monthly income. It is also good to start a plan at a young age because the insurance premiums will be much cheaper.

I wish my parents could advise me better on financial matters at times, but I guess they would prefer otherwise. However, I am thankful that God always lead and guide me in the decisions that I make. Be it for my career, school, marriage or daily life. Even for something as trivial as insurance :)

"For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end." ~ Psalm 48:14

Birthdays

There is a growing trend of celebrating birthdays lavishly, with special programs, souvenirs and activities for guests to enjoy. I had never celebrated my birthday with such fan-fare, sans my 21st birthday, when one of my best friends organized a 'Lo-Hei' at vivo city for me. Thus, I am still very intrigued by the elaborate celebrations that people organize for their birthdays year after year.

I spent mid-autumn at a friend's kid's 1st birthday party. T did balloon twisting and I did face & hand painting for the children. It was our first 'gig' together as a couple. The party was a big family affair and we both had fun interacting with the guests. I realized that I've grown rather fond of face & hand painting, apart from painting on canvases. Perhaps we should consider converting one of our rooms into an art studio/worshop where we can practice our skills with minimum disturbance.

$600, 2-tier chocolate hazlenut cake

Honeymoon 2012

Khaolak wasn't the first place that came to mind when thinking about our honeymoon trip. We would very much prefer to visit the sunny coasts in Brisbane in the company of our good old friends, but we couldn't be away for too long and settled for a nearby location instead, and it was far from disappointing!

We took a flight to Phuket followed by an hour's drive to Khaolak, located at the Phang Nga region of Thailand. Upon arrival, we were greeted with clear skies and balmy weather. We headed to a local Bang Niang market immediately after checking-in as it only opens on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Though the market was small (by local standards) the myraid of shops and stalls were sufficient for the neighbourhood. There were local produce, fresh seafood, familiar Thai snacks, amongst other things.

Evenings in Khaolak were lovely, with dramatic sunsets and the Andaman sea coloured orange-ochre everyday. We spent most of our time gazing into the horizon from our sun-deck and soaking in the pools overlooking the sea. It has been awhile since I had a quiet holiday. We spent the rest of the week visiting the local market and twisting balloon for the kids and talking to the locals. T and I plan to return to Khaolak again to volunteer at one of the schools. Khaolak was badly afftected by the Tsunami in 2004 and the devastating disaster still leaves lingering trails everywhere we go.

We spent another 4 days in Bangkok before flying back to Singapore. We occupied most of our time shopping and exploring new places within the city.

A Different National Day

I'm hitched!

T and I got married on National Day. The date was chosen not because of patriotic reasons but for ease of remembrance. The morning begun at 5am when the makeup artiste, Norah came to my place and help my bridesmaids, my mom and I doll up. It was followed by a traditional gatecrash session led by Val and her team. The groom and his bestmen had to undergo the taste of grusome gastronomical mixes, daunting tasks and embarassing performances as a declaration of his love for me. Tea ceremony followed suit, before we solemnize our vows in the chapel with our families and friends present. It was an emotional ceremony for everyone - especially our parents and close friends. Many of whom were tearing with joy. We ended the celebration with a traditional wedding banquet at Peach Garden Restaurant, with a sumptuous spread and enternating performances.

As I recall the snippets of my 'Big Day', I must affirm that the most important thing about a wedding is not the grandeur nor extravegance. To me, the most significant aspects are the celebration of the union, the joy of having our loved ones with us, and the honouring of our friends and family members who have made a big difference in our lives and supported us through our growing up years. These give me the greatest joy on the biggest day of my life.

T and I had our honeymoon soon after at Khaolak, Thailand. It's a beautiful place with pristine and quiet beaches. Every evening begins with a spectacular sunset in the horizon and soft whispers of the waves. It's hard to imagine that 8 years ago, the whole place was a scene of devastation. We visited the Tsunami Memorial site to have a glimpse of the impact of the Tsumani that took place 8 years ago. Being an avid balloon twister, T also went to the local market to make balloon sculptures for the children. The 2nd half of our honeymoon was spent in BKK, shopping and enjoying the local cuisine. We visited different places and tried various cuisine which we had not had. It was a restful and enjoyable holiday.

Hen's night (2nd)

By the grace of God, I am very blessed with many girls pals who love and care for me! This post is written to help me remember the special moments that we shared, growing up and being there for each other at different chapters of our lives. Had another hen's party on 19 Jun 2012 with my high school pals. We had a celebration at Gallery Hotel and the theme of the party was 'Pirates'. Every attendee dressed up as a pirate. One of my besties even drew a moustache on her upper lip to look like a crew member on the pirate ship. The night entails heart-warming sharing, games, well-wishes, food and lovely desserts. It was just like a high school all-girls reunion :) It's about a month and a half to my wedding. When I walk down the aisle, I'll be overjoyed, knowing that my bunch of sisters will continue to pray and support me, with all their blessings and love. Truly, a friend loves at all times.

Polaroids from the party

Hen's afternoon

Had my first Hen's gathering on Sunday with Clare. We had brunch at Marmalade Pantry. The ambience was chic, with neat rows of black-white tables adorned with a single stalk of japanese chrysanthemum. We had pine nut crab linguine & banana berry pancakes. It was restful to have Sunday brunch, sipping tea and enjoy the idleness of the weekend.

We spent the afternoon exploring the National Museum. Master paintings from Musee d'Orsay were on display. Seeing real paintings by Renoir, Monet and VanGogh was mind-blowing! We enjoyed the quaint afternoon, appreciating the exquisite paintings and the stories of the paintes' inspirations and history. Each painting has a unique story behind it. I particularly like Carolus Duran's painting of his wife. He captured her beauty with refined and delicate strokes of the brush. It captures the tenderness of his love towards his wife.
The afternoon reminded me of my last visit to Lourve. Glad that we made the visit right after brunch. Before 2pm, a queue had already snaked from the basement to the entrance.

Vincent van Gogh - Starry Night

Claude Monet - Branch of the Seine

Henri Fantin Latour - The Dubourg Family

Carolus Duran - The Lady with the glove

Mission Ramly 3

Over the national day weekend, T and I went to Tioman island again! This place has a special significance to the both of us. On Day 1, we boarded a luxurious coach from Galleria DFS. The journey to Tanjong Gemok was very comfortable with the wide leg-room, comfy chairs and adjustable air conditioning. We stayed at Berjaya Tioman. The accommodation is comfy, each in a little wooden house, equipped with comfy beds, washroom, air conditioning and a veranda to rest or dry your clothes. The first afternoon was spent kayaking at the beach front at Berjaya. I was somewhat afraid of capsizing initially. Afterwhich, we went for a dip at the hotel pool before a sumptious dinner of pizza and grilled almond chicken at the poolside cafe.

On the 2nd Day, we woke up early to have breakfast. The spread was delightful, with a good mix of Western and Asian cuisine and WAFFLES :) My fav! We went snokelling till 2pm before we went around the resort premises to take photos in the ethnic Indian costume. I spent 2 hours doing my makeup - it was no easy feat, especially trying to stick on the fake eyelashes! It was an interesting experience taking our own photos and being admired/gawked at by other tourists and resort staff in our bizarre outfits. A group of tourist took a picture of the both of us because they liked the costumes. At sunset, while we were taking photos at the jetty, T surprised me by going on his knees and proposed! I was overjoyed and almost tearful! Perhaps this is often described as the 'happiest moment of a girl's life?' Haha! T picked a curved ring shaped like a gentle wave with a solitaire diamond in the centre. Each time I look at it, it reminds me of the special and private moment that we shared and how our love story began on Tioman island amidst the waves and sunsets. I thank God for bringing us together and for the great weather which He had provided each time we are there. In the evening, we strolled out of the hotel premises to a 'Zee Char' store for dinner. We had black pepper crayfish, stir fried ''colly-flower'', tomyam and crab sauce tofu. It was beautiful watching the fading lights of the day in the horizon, sharing a cosy dinner with my fiance :)

On the 3rd day, I spend the morning swimming and walking along the beach after breakfast. Tim simply stayed in the room to rest and watch TV. We checked out by 11.30 and headed to the jetty for the return ride. This is the 3rd Mission Ramly, we got engaged, but we still haven't had our Ramly burger...

Bangkok - Land of Smiles

I went on a 5 days trip to Bangkok with T and his mom over last weekend. It has been close to 10 years since I visited the last time and there were quite afew significant changes to the cityscape and road conditions. Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport, we were greeted by friendly Thais. Our first meal in Thailand was bought from 7-11. Yes, that's right, a foot long sausage and a pre-packed bun. Since we took a budget flight, meals were not provided on board the flight. Soon after, we took a taxi to our hotel. The driver was visibly amused by our broken Thai and mis-pronunciations of some words. Though there were some language barriers, he was able to share with us some 'must-go' destinations in Bangkok. This was our itinerary in BKK:

Day 1 (thurs)
We visit a tailor (Grand Fashion International, Bangkok) which was located beside Siam City hotel. Initially, we were apprehensive about tailoring anything from the shop as I did not have the shop's address nor pictures of clothes which they had tailored previously. However, the exterior of the shop won us over with it's professional set-up and service. The sales person was able to communicate fluently in English and all the tailors were Thais. We had no issues communicating what we wanted and spend quite some time picking the fabrics though the selection was not great. They took several measurements for us before requesting for a 2nd fitting the following day.

Grand Fashion International

Outside Platinum Mall

When the evening sets in, we headed to the wholesale Platinum mall to shop and have dinner.

Day 2 (friday)
Woke up early in the morning to head to Chinatown. We love the cultural influences in Chinatown, Sampeng market! T's mom was very excited walking through the narrow lanes, buying things and speaking languages that are familiar to her. We left in the afternoon after much shopping and headed back to the hotel for a short rest. The late afternoon was spent at the tailor for a 2nd fitting and for T to collect his shirt. We loved the the workmanship so much that T made a 2nd shirt. After the transaction, we headed to MBK for a hearty steamboat dinner and shopping. We bought some bags and souvenirs from Naraya for friends and family. Shopping at Naraya is crazy. Few people leave the shop without any purchases. I must admit, this 5 days are just dedicated for shopping! Shopping is such probably the favourite passtime of an average Singaporean!

 Sampeng Market

Herb & Flower tea

Wholesale bag shop

Day 3 (saturday)
Morning was spent at Chatuchak weekend market. It was my first visit. Maneuvering through the narrow lanes of shops and buying clothes/shoes/crafts/food from friendly shopkeepers was certainly an interesting cultural experience. I concluded that Thais are generally superstituous. It is important for them to be able to close the first deal with their first customer as they believe that it brings good luck for their business. It was an advantage to go in the morning as they were more than willing to sell their things at a good price to 'seal the first deal'. I bought some work clothes and swimwear while T got some bags. His mom didn't like the place very much as she felt that the things were not suitable for her. Lunch was taken at a cosy family cafe which served local Thai fare. I had Phad-Thai which was priced at S$1.20! That, coupled with a nice frizzy coke for the hot weather.

 Hawker fare at Chatuchak

 Optimus Prime at Chatuchak!

My fav paper shop

The evening was relatively exciting for me and T as we headed back to the tailor for the final (3rd fitting) for the dress. I loved it! Some alterations had to be made so they sent it to our hotel at the end of the day. T's 2nd shirt was gorgeous. It was a pretty good deal for him I suppose, at S$50/shirt! In the evening, we head to 7-11 for Magnum and snacks.

Day 4 (sunday)
Sunday morning was spent at MBK and Siam Discovery area as we needed to change more $. We had lunch at the infamous Fuji Japanese restaurant which served delectable Japanese cuisine. We ordered 3 set meals and paid about S$40 in total. We headed to Chinatown in the late afternoon as T's mom wanted to buy more things from Sampeng market. This time, we chanced upon a wet-market street and bought things like dumpling and dried raddish. We managed to find the shops that T's mom wanted to visit again, and tasted some local fare like Wanton mee (from HongKong noodles), coconut pancake (yum!) and local chee-kueh (didn't enjoy this very much) Soon after, we headed back to our hotel where we rested and went to visit Big-C supermarket to shop and for dinner and visited a night market before we retired for the day.

Day 5 (monday)
Being warned by the unpredictable nature of the traffic conditions in Thailand, we left relatively early in the morning after breakfast to the airport. T's mom got to eat her favourite mango glutinous rice again from one of the shops in the airport. T and I just settled for a subway sandwich. We took a 2pm flight back to SG.


My holiday in Bangkok was interesting. Though peppered with frustrating moments at times - when we got lost or get use to each others' antics. I am thankful for this trip and it is also my prayer that God will use this trip to build our relationship. My prayers goes to the nation as well. Duirng the trip, we were bombarded with news about the norweigian killings in Oslo and were sadden by the atrocities of the act.

Exceedingly Well

I read a post from Hillsong's update that God is capable of doing exceedingly and remarkably beyond our imagination. God has been telling me that all week. I was reminded of this again when reading Judges 7 about Gideon's triumph over the Midianites by God's power and humour (if I may say). Tim just had the 2nd interview with the company and I feel anxious-excited. I feel like I am one of little faith. I have difficulty believing that things can have a 'fairy-tale' ending. Is my skepticism caused by the pragmatics of our society or is it an innate fear of disappointment? Perhaps it is caused by both. I am fearful should God ask me to walk the invisible bridge like Indiana Jones. I am fearful if God ask me to scale the highest mountain, to walk into the Red sea...
Reflecting about this makes me want to cry in shame at how shallow I can be...At the same time, I marvel at how graceful God has been to me. A little 'mouse'. Will God continue to let me witness His grace and greatness in the years to come? God, I am truly excited about the journey that you had laid before me!

Questions

T went for an interview today. I was nervous and excited as I awaited his reply on how it went. Turns out that it was good and there is a possibility of a 2nd interview sometime in July. The nature of the job involves frequent travelling and intense knowledge of the specialty engineering. I am thankful that God had brought Tim thus far. I am praying that God will continue to guide T in all his ways.

While surfing, I chanced upon this website which really broke my heart.
"Stories that need to be told"

How can such evil and peril exist with few trying to make a difference in these people's lives? I've been thinking about how I can help them. Hab may be a start of a humanitarian career which I so desire. Not because I want to feel good but because of a conscience that God has given me, to not leave His people living in such conditions!

Getting Hitched

Yesterday T and I went to the venue where we would like to hold our wedding banquet. We made reservations and placed deposits. I am excited about planning the wedding with him! Though I never did have a dream wedding, it is amazing how 2 people come together to plan a massive event once in their lifetime! I am thankful for being blessed with the ability and resources to do so. It actually feels strange to think that we are getting hitched! It's a surreal feeling. National Day will never be the same again!

Orchid Country Club, Peach Garden Restaurant

Life as a Singaporean

As silly as this may sound, life as a Singaporean may seem boring. A clean- safe environment, a regular job, little concerns, etc. At the announcement of GE, emotions and thoughts that were once suppressed began to unravel. Netizens shared resentment or view about how things are run in the country. It's historical to witness so much upheavel amongst the citizens who were onced regarded as docile and nonchalant. Singaporeans may seem nonchalant at times but I believe we all love our little island nation and are proud to be Singaporeans, despite the incessant complaints...May the best candidates win this Saturday. It's about time that we embrace a new identity and make a difference!

The broken world

While the next few weeks or even months may be filled with joyous anticipation of something fun, a holiday or even something simple like the premier of a movie, there's someone out there struggling to make ends meet. Someone who may be exploited by selfish human nature, someone who is oppressed for the gain of others...it's everywhere!

At times, you may witness a feeble old gentlemen clearing the mess we make at food centres, and it makes you ponder if they have their own families, do they have any financial support? Or how they feel about working at the supposed 'retirement' age? Even when you pick up a magazine with pictures of scantily clad women, isn't that a form of exploitation as well?

Are we guilty sometimes of 'exploiting' someone? Are we guilty of devaluing man? Even for a wretched fellow, or just a passing acquaintance, a yelling kid at the playground, a beggar making ends meet...all man are created in the image of God. But do you see the value of man as much as God does? I am guilty of not loving His creation as much as He intended. May the Lord convict me to love my neighbour as myself. Not in a superficial manner but with sincere and genuine hearts. Caring for people like how Christ will tend and love His flock.

Milestone

My 2 weeks of break seem to pass very quickly. Most of my time is occupied by completing assignments and meetings. Next week, I will be starting my tenure! It blows my mind that I have the slightest idea of what to expect. At the same time, T and I will be picking a unit for our future home. I do feel taxed, thinking about our finances for our house, my studies and our wedding. Nevertheless, this is a GREAT milestone in my life! :D With great anticipation for the future, I look forward to how things will unfold in due time!

Relaxed Saturday

Began the day with T over breakfast before I headed to Alliance Francaise for lessons. As always, I enjoy time in school but it has been increasingly challenging to pick up the specifics of French. The day was rather hazy, probably because of our neighbouring forest fires. Ironically, we went for a BBQ with T's uni pals in the evening. I enjoyed the small chats over food and drinks. It has been years since I visited East Coast. (around 5 years?) As I sat with the group and chat about life, it seems most Singaporeans strive all their lives for a bachelor's, get stuck with a 9-5 job and life goes on with the usual struggles and reality. Life in a tiny city lacks spark and lustre...but the company that we mix with makes a whole lot of difference. I thank God for all the friends and family members that He placed in my life.

My kind of fairytale

Finally! It's my last day in HML. Never had I thought my tenure with them will be so short. Perhaps it's God's timing? I believe the people whom I meet or the things that I learnt here is God's plan for me.

This is a special week. Ser had a sleepover at my place, Tim's family will be here and it's also Timmy's and my anniversary. Although our lifestyle and work is hectic, I am grateful for every little moment that I can spend with him. When I was much younger, I had childish definition of a girl's 'prince charming'. Alas! God knows best...He knows what's best for me - a man who loves me just the way I am, someone whom I can deal with the realities of life with. At the same time, the pessimistic part of my mind ponders about 'God giving and taking away...' I don't know when God will take away some of the things in my life, but I pray He will enable me to always praise Him.

Viola!

Tomorrow will be my last day at HML. I could finally heave a sigh of relief! It's great that I don't feel a sense of attachment, nevertheless, I am just happy to move on and begin a career in the humanitarian field.

The weekend was a great one. As always, I enjoy French lessons very much (At Alliance Francaise). T prepared and treated me to a 6-course Japanese lunch for me which includes chawanmushi, bellied pork, cha soba, etc. :D In the afternoon, we headed to Chong Pang for some durians and I had a small accident on our way back to his place. While carrying the bag of durians, I crashed into the wall with the durians...needless to say, my left knee was covered with poke marks from the thorns...T unsympaththetically said we should document this because he feels more amused than sorry for me. Haha! Some things never change. I will always be clumsy.

This morning, apart from reading updates about Japan, I read about Knut's passing too. Kunt is the polar bear cub that was abandoned by his mother and reared by a keeper. The cause of his death is unknown. Although I enjoy watching the animals in the zoo, I think its best to let them go free in their natural habitat.