会呼吸的痛

想念是会呼吸的痛
遗憾是会呼吸的痛

能重来那就好了。。。

Chi Chi Breakaway

It came about when we walked past the lounge of Regent Hotel during one of our lunches.
There sat tai-tais sipping their teas away, savouring every bit of the lovely sandwiches and delicate pastries in the most exquisite china.
Gazing through the window, we could only be envious and nothing else.
Almost instantly, we decided that we should have a chi chi experience of our own.
We got back to office, checked the soonest available date and applied for leave respectively.
The anticipation could almost drowned us (ok maybe just me) as we counted down to the arrival of our date.

Well, the afternoon didn't started out in the most desirable way as it began pouring ten minutes before we set off from office.
My new shoes were soaked through by the time we crossed over to Regent Hotel to get a cab and there was a queue.
However, it didn't manage to dampen our moods and after arriving at Ngee Ann City, whatever ongoing outside didn't quite bother us anymore.
After some quick and random shopping, we found ourselves at Royal Copenhagen!

It was my second visit to the place and it only got better.
Perhaps it was the weekday afternoon crowd that didn't turn me off as compared to the weekend crowd during my first visit.
The tea lounge was filled with Japanese and tai-tais, those with high and nicely blown hair kind, and they seemed to be so seasoned with such lifestyle.
We ordered a high tea set for two and an a la carte club sandwich and everything just tasted so good. Must be our mood.
Orchard Road looked exceptionally pretty too. Even on a wet day, even when the Christmas lighting weren't switched on (yet).

I wanna be a tai-tai too. That's my ambition.

More pictures and review here.

Communication

com·mu·ni·ca·tion (kə-myōō'nĭ-kā'shən)
n.
The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior.

The keyword is exchange.
When information is transmitted one way, that is conveying, not communication.
The receiver has to be the sharer at some point of time.
Otherwise, exchanges cannot take place and communication will break down.
It could well be my own logic and i couldn't help but to feel annoyed when my airtime has been disregarded.
Shouldn't it be two-way? I thought.
Swinging away immediately simply reflected disinterest and it was rude. I thought.
Responding with a "sure thanks" after my feedback made me figured that i've just uttered rubbish.
After countless repetition of such scenario, i realised i've had enough.

I could only be more thankful of the BFFs i have.
With real communication established.

Hong Kong v3

I attempted to get up earlier since I’ll be crossing the border.It wasn’t too much of a success but at least, I managed to have my breakfast just before noon.

Toastbox in HK was simply not comparable to ours at home. For a moment, i felt proud of that we have an authenticity of our own, which we could share to our neighbouring countries. George Quek has indeed done a great job.

Alright, i know what you are thinking but all i wanted was a quick bite before boarding the ferry.

The China Kowloon Ferry Terminal was a mere 15 minutes walk from my hotel although it wasn’t very visible. I had to follow the coastline before i arrived on the second level of a bank-like commercial building .
The ferries, operating at hourly interval, allowed me to board on one almost immediately and after a mere 70 minutes, I arrived at Macau. It was just past 2.00pm. Nice.
Braving through the numerous aggressive travel agents/chauffeuring service providers/trishaw riders, I hopped onto a cab to Le Senado Square.

Macau is a totally different story from HK. The only high-rise buildings they have, are the hotels but they look so much grander than those in big cities and i guess it's due to their casino-operated nature.

Otherwise, the town is like a big conservation of its own. The traces of the Portuguese history is well reflected on the architectures. I simply love them.

Cruising through the lanes at Le Senado Square, I took delight of the neatly lined-up short buildings and soaked myself in the rich culture of a different world.

Shortly after crossing a couple of lanes, i picked a stall (with the longest queue) and had my first taste of the legendary Zhu Pa Bao (pork chop bun).

Hmmmmm…not sure if it was the stall but I wasn’t very impressed, after hearing so much raves about the delicacy. The pork stench was a tad too strong even if they tried covering it with lots of pepper and it was too oily for my liking. The baguette was fine, just a lil too hard. I struggled to finish it.

I decided to make a stop at the St Paul Ruins and without much of a surprise, it was flooded with tones of tourists.
I snapped quickly, alked quickly, climbed quickly and left the ground quickly.

Just when I was about to depart from the Square, I chanced upon an uber retro store that sells Dun Seung Nai (steamed milk) which i recalled Roy telling me about it.

The steamed milk with red bean toppings was pretty authentic. For a non-milk person, it's not bad at all.

Next up - The Venetian! Much anticipated.
When the cab turned into the main gate, I thought I’ve entered into a palace.
It was just so….OMG!
I couldn’t resist and did the most suaku looking up and swirled around thing, mouthing w.o.w under my breath.
B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L – was an understatement.
I was kind of prepared to waste the 6.30pm return ferry ticket so that I could spend a longer time here.
I L.O.V.E I.T – was another understatement.
The doll houses lookalike buildings, the romantic and serene canals and the fantasizing gondolas…gosh!!!
I wasn’t really bothered if everything were man-made, which in fact made it sound even more incredible. How could every detail be done to perfection?!
I lingered by the canal for quite a while, enjoying the surreal moments, pretending that it was part of my neighbourhood, before I decided to quench my thirst at the food court.
There, I met the first Singaporean, who ran a food stall selling Singapore cuisine. He could identify me as his fellow comrade almost instantly. Not about the Singlish hor!
After slurping dry my 4-dollars Ribena, it was time for me to make my way to the ferry terminal.
I reckoned the longer I stay, the more I didn’t want to leave.

On my way back from the ferry terminal to my hotel, i was delighted to spot a two-storey Esprit factory outlet.
The store is so huge and well-stocked that i spent a good two hours and got five garments and a pair of shoes. Very cheap!
Hence i didn't mind adding on two more bags, on top of the huge bag of local goodies i lugged back from Macau. Heh.

Before ending my day, I had a bowl of wonton noodles which the locals call it as Sai Yeung, at a little lane behind my hotel. Recommended by Pastor Sally.
For just HK$19 (appx S$3.50), they were the best and the biggest wontons I ever had.
One bite of wonton, one mouth of noodles and a spoonful of the flavoursome stock, almost in a systematic manner.
I must have been enjoying in my own world that i didn't realise the gaze of the smiling store aunty. I is pai seh loh.

The best way to end my day was none other than having good food. =)

~ I realized that I mumble whenever I speak Cantonese. No wonder the Hong Kongers insisted on speaking Mandarin with me. =p

Click here for more photos.

No more Goodbyes

I give thanks whenever i could get my Saturday morning - noon free as it meant that i could get the rest i need.
Got the air and bandwidth i need after a series of weddings and events madness, finally, i could walk at my pace.
Life of a busy bee is something that i loathe a lot and i always have a list of things-i-would-do-if-i-am-free, but whenever i have the time, i couldn't remember them.
However, a time of solitude at a secluded coffee joint would be enough of a blessing as well.
Yesterday after physio, i hopped down to Great World City and had a nice and refreshing time lunch at Coffee Bean, finishing the last chapter of "A Child Called It". After that, i merely stared blankly into space, blocking out all disturbance, albeit the busy shoppers lingering around. I could feel fresh oxygen filling every part of my lungs and i am alive again.
I wished this could last forever. Before i had enough, it was time to pack and get back to work. Oh well, the typical life of a cosmopolite.

My online chatting network was as quiet as the office on this rainy afternoon but i was just as pleased to have Jer around.
This poor guy received a full blow of my PMS temperaments two days ago and i was still feeling bad about it. Despite that he made me apologize and gave me a earful a day after the incident. I guessed i've gone overboard. =p
I think he will still love me nonetheless, since he gladly accepted the title of LBFF (L for lame).
He just needs my constant assurance before he went on with his comparison strategy of "if so-and-so and i fell into the water, who would you save?". He doesn't buy it when i say i can't swim! Sigh...

Strangely, i realised my closer friends are leaving me one by one. Singapore is just not a place they can stay, but why?
I tried recalling the time when Jer broke the news to me that he decided to stay on in Korea.
I don't think it was an emotional affair but partly it was because he was already there at the point of decision. There wasn't any deliberation period prior to that at all. I knew he had a Korean girlfriend and he desired to be with her but little did i thought that he meant it literally.
I was merely aware that he went on a visiting vacation in Korea and on the last day of his 30-days ticket, he just rang up to say that he had found a job and is not coming home.
I didn't have time to react i guess and i couldn't remember how long did i take to let the news sink in.
And then it was Gracie (or was she first?) who left with her missionary husband to Chiang Mai.
Four years later, i have to again, bid farewell to another one who is leaving in two months.
It seems a little difficult this time. Guess i've been too involved in his relocation plan.
Emotions got built up over the months and as the departure date draws closer, the more reluctant i feel.
I hate goodbyes.

As age catches up, i no longer desire the attention and presence of countless casual friends, not even mentioning developing new friendships.
But i treasure a handful of people and guard them with my life. Ok somewhat to that extend. You get it.
As much as i've been adjusting my mindset to work towards total independence for the rest of my life, i couldn't imagine living without these people. Yeah so much of a soloist.

Optimistically thinking, having friends all over the world is not a bad thing after all. At least it makes my travel plans easier. =)

God's Purpose

That day, i remembered that this was supposed to be my profession...
If i didn't walk out of that examination hall without completing the FSV test ten years ago.
Well, God has a purpose! =)