Showing posts with label Singapore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Singapore. Show all posts

Friday, August 19, 2011

What we miss in Singapore...

Grandma took care of us over the two weeks while we were back home in Singapore. Here's the menu of a typical day:

Each day started with a blended concoction of fresh fruits. Cleansing, lots of vitamins and fibre, but the "extras" that Grandma introduced - garlic, onion, Chinese herbs - turned it into Monster Juice... Janelle and Andre used every excuse under the sun to try to get out of drinking!

We're supposed to be holiday, so we took our time getting up each morning and combined the first two meals of the day. Crabstick Omelette made frequent appearances, although in Grandma's version, a little heavier on the crabstick than usual.

With the help of Prima Taste, we also got some homemade local delicacies as well, like Prawn Noodles. I lost count of how many prawns I ate ;-)

Sometimes we got to be Grandma's guinea pigs while she tested some creative fusion ideas like Tuna Potato Salad with Chinese and Japanese seasonings, hmmm?

On weekends, Grandma works part time at a Sushi Deli outlet on Orchard Road. The leftovers became our supper. I usually passed, but Janelle and Andre seemed to enjoy the snack while they caught up with the shows they missed.

And we washed the supper down with soybean milk, all 3 - 5 litres of it depending on how much was left at the neighbouring kiosk operated by Grandma's co-workers.

Besides eating and visiting friends, another activity we did regularly - almost every other day - was visit the neighbourhood library. If I have to name one thing that Mommy misses most about Singapore that she has not found a replacement for in Thailand, is access to a library of English and Chinese books and magazines.

Everyone said Dad was silly for lugging empty luggage with him when he joined us a week later, but guess what? We filled every bit of space we had. In fact, we had to book a station wagon cab to send us to the airport, to make sure we got everyone and everything in one trip.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Homemade sushi




Everyone seemed to be at a party or another, so we made ourselves a sushi dinner this Christmas Eve. As always, Grandma was generous with the fillings for the hand rolls she made for us... care for some? ;-P Merry Christmas!

Friday, August 27, 2010

She ain't heavy, she's my daughter

Before our trip to Singapore, Mommy announced that she planned to stop breastfeeding me. She had heard from her friends that it would take a week or longer for me to adjust. She needed everyone to support her.
But despite her best laid plans, when I felt tired and cranky and started to cry for her, Mommy did not hesitate to pick me up and breastfeed me as she kept on walking...

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Adventures of the Nar Nar Sisterhood

I love the swing, but my legs aren't long enough, so my sisters take turns giving me rides.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

My Extended Family

We went to visit our God-siblings on Thursday. It rained briefly earlier in the day, so the air was clean and crisp. A few puffy clouds remained in the sky and provided some shelter from the blazing sun.
Nice view from the balcony,
Where you can see the national birds of Singapore:
The Construction Cranes
The busy teenagers were happy to leave me alone to explore every nook and corner
Like Andre, Keanu is at an awkward age;
He feels more comfortable interacting with machines than people.
Just us girls having a fabulous time in the playground.
If I were a koala, Carissa is my latest favourite Eucalyptus tree ;-)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

A leisurely stroll

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see...
Those lyrics hardly apply here,
because everywhere in Singapore is so well-lit ;-)
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
People have often commented about how sterile Singapore is, such a "fine" city. Coming from the chaos of Bangkok, it is refreshing to be able to walk - even at night - along a nice wide path for pedestrians. No bumps or holes to navigate, no fear of being jumped or accosted, just the pitter-patter of my parents' shoes and gentle rolling of my stroller wheels.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Delicious

Who would have thought: KFC mashed potatoes, a simple yet satisfying meal.
I couldn't wait to help myself and tuck in...
...was it so tasty? Or maybe I was really hungry?
There went the second bowl.
Maybe I should have ordered a large one...

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Happy Birthday

This is my country, this is my flag
This is my future, this is my life
This is my family, these are my friends
We are Singapore, Singaporeans
Happy 45th Birthday, Singapore!

Friday, January 1, 2010

Spectacular Sea View

Ever since they bought and renovated a 23rd-floor apartment in Marine Terrace, Singapore, our friends, Bob and Lyn Sayers, had extended an open invitation to visit them whenever we were in Singapore. We finally paid them a visit during our recent trip home.

When we got there, it had just stopped raining. Even though the last few dark clouds were taking their own sweet time to clear the skies, the view was impressive.

The windows seemed to have been designed specifically to showcase spectacular views like this; in fact, post installation, the company owner asked for permission to use the Sayers' apartment in a TV commercial for his products.

When you look directly down, you can see that it is a short walk across to the beach and the amenities along it. That is where we headed for lunch.

I was not as impressed by the view as I was attracted to the little wood-carved bear in the corner. The adults were puzzled why I was so fascinated and kept kissing the bear. Well, that is for me to know and for you to find out...

 

Sunday, December 27, 2009

This one goes out to the ones I love...

This one goes out to the ones I'll leave behind, when we return to Bangkok...
 
God-granny, who is constantly worried I will bump into something and always trying to teach me new things...

Grandpa Choo, who likes to test my intelligence and patience with his nifty sleight of hand tricks...

Granny Gan, who stuffs me with food, fruits and all kinds of goodies...

Monday, December 21, 2009

Simmering in Singapore

We got our first hint of the change in climate, as we landed in Changi International Airport: the ground was wet after yet another thunder shower. When the glass doors slid open and we ventured into the taxi area, the air was so heavy we could almost taste it. After so many dry weeks in Bangkok, the hot and humid weather in Singapore is indeed a change.


It took a while for me to get used to this place, which seemed even noisier and more crowded than Bangkok. I had a lot of excitement seeing unfamiliar friendly faces the last few days: family friends, cousins, god-siblings, church fellows. The loud music and jostling crowds at the arcade were a bit intimidating at times, but it was fun watching people dancing, shooting balls, hitting drums and pulling little sticks. Little wonder that I have had to take naps twice a day to keep myself refresh and recharged, when I usually take only a nap of one to two hours back home in Bangkok.


Last night, Janelle asked for a special pre-birthday treat: to go singing at a Karaoke with Andre, god-sister Carissa and god-brother Keanu. The adults were somewhat concerned and triple-checked everything at the K Box near Ang Mo Kio Central, where we were staying. While they sang the night away, we went for dinner at the nearby food centre, where I slurped lots of Hokkien Mee. Mommy and Po Po (Carissa and Keanu's granny) kept yakking away, so Daddy and I played catch. When he got tired, he relented and let me have my first ride on a battery powered car. Well, it was not quite the same free bird experience as the other kids, since Daddy was the real "driver" using the remote controls.

Here's the "happy" bunch after a night of torturing one another with their fabulous Susan Boyle impressions...

I am far more aware of and enjoying this festive season with my family and friends in Singapore. Christmas is arriving in a few days, and our visit schedule is packed with lunch and dinner dates. We hope to see as many people as we can, before we fly home next Monday. Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


Friday, November 20, 2009

Anticipation


We are going home next month for the year end break. We hope to spend more time with family and friends than we did in July, as most people can take time off and children are on vacation. This time we will stay for 11 days and celebrate Christmas in Singapore. We will be back in time to ring in the New Year in the city of angels.

Snowy and Ringo will stay in a pet hotel. Daddy and Mommy have done some research on the Internet and asked around, but an ideal pet hotel is a rare commodity in this town. A dog's life in Bangkok is harder than in Phuket. This may explain why there are so many products for dressing up dogs and giving them little treats: dog owners here are more affluent than in other parts of Thailand, but they have neither the time (stuck in traffic jams!) nor the space to let their best friends run free (dogs are officially not allowed just about anywhere - including all the beautiful and spacious parks - even though diseased and flea-infested soi dogs are everywhere).

We will be taking low cost carriers for the trip to Singapore, so I am not allowed to bring too much stuff with me; we need the luggage space for other goodies. But I will get to bring my favourite book and soft toy for night time. The book is easy, but the soft toy... Monkey Wim? Yuriko Bear? Baa baa Black Sheep? Hello Kitty? Or my trusty kitty bolster?

 

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

My first visit home

Sorry, this blog has not been updated these past few days, since we got back to Singapore. We have been busy going out: shopping, visit family and friends, sightseeing.

My first time in Singapore. My first nap in a sarong cradle. My first ride on the MRT. My first stroll along Orchard Road; we visited some old family favourites: Centrepoint, Takashimaya and Wisma Atria.

It is all so strange and exciting. Lots of people, noise, tall buildings. Nobody speaks Thai, but everyone speaks the same language as Daddy, Mommy, Janelle and Andre. So many strangers smiling at me, wanting to hold me. It is quite scary at times.

Today, we went to visit our house. Another family lives there now, but some time in the future, we will come back here. Many of the neighbors that Daddy and Mommy knew have moved away, but a few close friends have stayed behind. I don't know many of the people here, but I would not have a problem making new friends... just smile and say "Sawasdee ka!"