I Wear Yellow Shoes

I have a pair of yellow shoes.

It is a nice friendly yellow. I like it. I wear it with my black and whites, or sometimes all black. I like black alot. I wore a black evening gown at my wedding.

I like my yellow shoes. Everytime I wear it, I am reminded to be abit whimsical, a bit quirky, a bit strange, to have a tad of odditiy. I remind myself it's okay to be happy and abit crazy. I imagine my yellow shoes as my adventure, like the magical shoes Dorothy had in the Wizard of Oz. I hope to meet a scarecrow, a lion and a tin man. So I can encourage them with some wit, some courage and some heart...

Next I should try red lipstick. Just to remind myself that the world doesn't define me. :)

We're off for an adventure!

Living Curiously & Frivalously

I love it when December rolls around. I love it when you walk into a heavily Christmas-ed department store and they're playing those warm fireplace Christmas songs (the deep chocolately ones, not the chipmunky types) and instantly you drift away  ...

Christmas is always a good time to take stock of how the year has been, how good God has been and how much more you can look forward to in the next ...

My cousin (yes you, Amanda Tan) has recently been blogging about some dreamy stuff and it reminded me very much about my days of youth where I dreamt freely, wrote to express and let my insides dream their way out. It sparked a tingle in my heart to read her dreams and fantasies and was revived in someway myself. Be happy and frivalous. Thanks girl. Keep the VW Camper dream alive. :)

Anyhow, I realised too that this blog is really wordy. So here are some random pictures (not too random actually, it's mostly about food, my favourites yeahyeah) that might help you dream more about that winter holiday you are wishing, that cosy fireplace talk you want or just snuggling up and letting time drift away...

A tall cold glass of Iced Mocha that runs into your veins

with pom poms and cheerleads your entire system up!

LOVE salted egg crab.

Doesn't matter from where. This is from JB though.

A fat warm and cuddly neighbourhood mayor cat that

likes to rub past and nuzzle its head on your feet.

 Bangers & Mash and Beer on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Double fried Brie and Sundried tomato jam. LOVE.

Hello You!

I'm quite curious. I haven't been writing for awhile and my last post was quite a while ago, but how is it that there are still people visiting my blog? If you came by here and have been coming by periodically to check if I have been writing, thanks for the vote! Just glad to know this blog is hosting some kind of party.

I haven't been writing for a while because nothing much's piqued my interest lately. I've also been using my mind and energy for the wedding preps. There are so many things to do! We were initially quite relaxed and chilled but when November crawled in, there seemed to be this bombardment of details that I swear was waiting behind the door to fall on us and then laugh at us as we tried to make sense of it all.

But we're okay. We're okay ! Christmas is slowly coming up and I can't wait to smell it in the air. Love Christmas. I'm trusting that this Christmas I'll be having it white.

What are your Christmas holiday plans? :)

Give thanks with a grateful heart

There was recently a lengthy and revealing interview done by The New York Times on Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. I read the replicated copy in The Sunday Times and it left me quiet for awhile. He opened up with much depth in emotions, or maybe we haven't seen this side of him before.

MM or LKY has always been known to be the leader, the head, the Asian giant of politics. But rarely do we see him in the light of pain, stress or discomfort. In this interview, he still is the former and also the latter.

Every time LKY does an article that is not about changing the world but revealing something about his aging self to the people, it draws flak. "Ahh, he's doing it because GE is approching" or "He's playing the race card again". While I am not an expert on drawing votes during the GE, I can only imagine if these same people will keep quiet if the interview was done any other time of year. What would they say if he did it at a random time like say, Christmas? They'd still say, " Aahh, he's doing it cos he wants more presents from Santa". Crap.

It is valid for everyone to have an opinion, and therefore this is mine.

This man has given his LIFE for the country, having lead Singapore from third world status to first and giving all he's got in the early years to steer us in the right direction. I know nothing about politics or being scheming or gaining popularity. But I know one thing.

LKY has given his all to give me a safe haven to live in, a good education to benefit from, a flat when I am getting married and bragging rights to live in a 'First World oasis in a Third World region'. I have drinkable water at the turn of the tap, lights at a flick of a switch. I walk around in the middle of the night and not get robbed and justice duly metted out when it is due. I have a comfortable home and I speak English. I have an equal playing field with my peers and opportunities where I want it.

I think for all that's been given to me, I can only say thank you. And all you nay sayers, I pray that in the quiet of your heart you will someday give thanks. When you drink clean water from the tap, or leave the lights on when you don't need it, you will remember that there we have neighbours that get dysentry from drinking water from their taps and light candles in the middle of the night because electricity does not reach them.

Last week, Shihui found a bird's nest for me. I'll be using it for a very very special purpose. And if you notice the green ball in the background, that's my new pet - a Morimo moss ball. And the plastic bottle? I just like how it looks. :)

And this picture is a fake Lomo. I think its time to take out my Holga for some real Lomo shots.

The Best Hospital In The World

I have many quirks. I only buy books that have fonts I agree with, paper stock that I like. I love airplane food and how there is a little something for every task you take to feed yourself. I have to eat my french fries before I eat my burger and if I don't finish my fries before I start on my burger, I will not re-visit the fries. They'll cut my tongue 'cos they're dead fries. Yes, so before you go delete me off your Facebook list of friends, I have one more that will push you over to disown me forever.

I like visiting hospitals.

I like it when I can go and visit someone (not that I like my friends and family to be admitted) or receive outpatient treatment myself. Yes, I go to the hospital for outpatient treatment. I only visit GPs if I have a company card that doesn't require me to pay and my sickness is small enough that I feel well the moment I step out of the clinic. But when I get hit by large sicknesses like the recent flashmob of a gastric flu, I head to the hospital. A&E no less.

And my preferred hospital, which in my humble opinion is the best hospital in the world even after they have changed management? Alexandra Hospital.

The motley crue that ran management at Alexandra Hospital (AH) recently upsized their operations at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, a large building far flug in the corner of Yishun so JurongHealth took over AH and I must admit I was skeptical but I soon realise it was all unfounded. Before you run off thinking I have too much time on my hands, having an opinion about hospitals, read on.

AH has saved me once too many times for me not to pledge loyalty to them. Many a times when I get struck by the odd stomach flu, I run to them and like a mother hen with open arms, they take me in and nurse me back to health in a matter of 2 days. When a biker friend of mine had a metal chip so tiny we couldn't see fly and embed itself in his budding pilot's eye, AH banded around him and worked relentlessly till they got the chip safely out of his eye and waved him as he soared the skies in a great way to fly. So like I said, AH has saved me once too many times for me to trust another hospital. It's just not right.

I was first whisked to AH by my then boyfriend, now fiance when I was hit by a bad case of cough. I scowled when I had to pay $60 (then. it's $75 now) upfront. But as I went through the procedures I realised my mighty $60 gave me full access to all their technology. I was brought for a consultation with a doctor. Then he recommended an X-ray which was done 10 minutes later with results displayed 20 minutes where I was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. I was sent home with medicine that cost me $5 and an MC for 2 days. I was as fit as a fiddle within 2 days.

Just in case you think I'm sickly, frail and constantly diseased, I'm not. I'm just condensing my experiences, or at least the worse ones.

Another time I had a bad bout of gastric / stomach flu (I never know the difference). They brought me in, another $60. The doctor decided I needed to do a scope. A week later, I was lying on my side with a tube down my throat into my stomach (and gagging of course). In 30 mins, I was looking at images of my insides. If I ate a mentos mint 5 mins before the scope, it might be sitting there looking smug squeaking, I'm the king of the world! I framed up the picture. I kid you. My reddened stomach walls were proof that it was protesting and I had a bad bad case of gastric. But in a week, I was done. I was cleared of it and everything was back to normal, order was restored.

I ranted so much just to say this: AH may not look like its prettier Tan Tock Seng cousin, or the handsome Khoo Teck Puat NKOTB and though it sometimes look haunted and pre-war and like a 'small public hospital', but in my opinion, they are the best hospital in the world. bar none.

*Alexandra Hospital is located at 378 Alexandra Road, next to Queensway Shopping Centre where you can go for laksa after getting your MC. I recommend the A&E for the 'best hospital in the world' treatments. No complimentary tea provided. Help yourself to an apple at the registration counter though. 

Book Review: Giants of Asia - Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew

I haven't been writing for a while (obviously) and the last I did, I promised to do a book review on the Giants of Asia - Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew piece when I was done reading it. Truth be told, I had finished it sometime back and have passed the copy on to be borrowed. But since National Day had just passed, this moment might be most appropriate.

I was greatly inspired by the book having felt like I was given a secret seat by the fireplace with the Grandfather of Singapore. Unlike the other biographies or books on him, this book differs in tone and heart. It might be the author who was daring enough to add humour into a written piece about grandfather Lee. It could be the paper stock they used to print it on, giving it a slightly classy yet fun feel. It could be the font (I am a fontist) among other reasons. But I came to a conclusion that it was simply LKY opening himself up unbashedly to Tom Plate, who freely wrote and represented the grandfather in an almost caricature way (therefore the cover).

The main thread that ran through the entire book was a heat pad. Yes, a heat pad that LKY was fiddling with and had placed on his knee throughout each interview held over 2 days. Shifting it, adjusting it, making it give him comfort. He was in some pain, but what sort we are not told. The heatpad, the star of the book doesn't divulge us as well. The only thing it suggests is that LKY is not as robust as he used to be in his 1965 days where he valiantly lead the country into independance. But yet though his physical being is weakened but the heart that fiercely ploughed Singapore through third-world status to first still burns with pride.

I am a patriot and I and passionately proud of being a Singaporean. I know of lots of people from different generations that are skeptical about LKY and everything he does and young Singaporeans make up this majority. We have not gone through the Japanese Occupation or when Singapore proudly turned independant. We were not there during early nation building days when water had to be rationed or uncertainties wrought the land. And therefore, their excuses for being skeptical is that LKY rules with an iron fist, he is an Asian Hitler, he runs Singapore like his family business. But we speak with ignorance that we do not know we should be embarassed of.

LKY is deeply respected by great leaders around the world. Deng Xiaoping looked to him on how to wake the Chinese sleeping giant, of which LKY was somewhat responsible for the opening up of China today. LKY gave America advice on the Vietnam war and Henry Kissinger wise insight on the affairs of America (if you must know, they came to him, not him to them). LKY was late for his 2nd day interview because the Vice President of Indonesia was visiting to get some TLC from Grandpa Lee because he was facing problems with his President.

When we do not know the heart of a man, we doubt his actions. But if you will make a trip down to the Library and borrow a book (I forget the name) that has bound page to page quotes from LKY, you will know that his heart since 1959 was to make Singapore good for the people. When Singapore first became independant, he was quoted as saying, "This has to work. I am not responsible for just myself and my family. I am responsible for the many citizens and their families that trust their lives with me". That is the responsibility he carried and I must say he has done damn well.

I find it hard to do a review on the book without gushing in admiration for the person but I must say that if you found his previous (LKY, not Tom Plate) books boring and dry, you should give this a shot. It is refreshing  and humourous and like I said, once you know a man's heart, you will trust his actions.

I Wished I Was Born In The Exciting 60's!

Benji and I love visiting the National Museum. It is such a curious place with insightful exhibitions! Last weekend, we trot on over excitedly to check out the Singapore 1960's gig and here's a walk down, well I couldn't say it was memory lane but, history's lane for us.

  

Chaa... CHAMBO!

Zubir Said's piano which he wrote our National Anthem on.

That's Benji's finger striking a B key. We got told not to touch the '100 yr old' piano as it is 'fragile'.

Despite that, Benji was happy he was in tune with Zubir Said.

This IS the defining moment for Singapore. MM Lee, then Mr. Lee,

swearing in as Prime Minister of Singapore.

See! The National Museum now is actually the Assembly House then.

A fact I relished with joy!

A display of jade from the 1960's. Actually I don't know what this display was about.

I'm posting it up because I think it's a well taken shot. Frivalous, I know.

What really intrigued me about the exhibition were the newspaper display from the 60's.

Especially the ads! Check out this travel agent ad.

Things were much simpler before, no brightly colored ads screaming FREE LUGGAGE! Travel for $50!

Aahh, something familiar you say?

Dude, it was a REAL power station. Like the electricity kind.

Ads the Health Ministry now wished wasn't so rampant before.

Whoelsome underwear ads with no jiggly boobs and models

 strutting in the air brushed bodies.

The terrorists of yesteryears: The Communists.

 I am glad MM was bent on chasing them out. Hail ! Hail !

Ah ! Proud moment - Weightlifter Tang How Liang and the

first Olympic medal for Singapore!

How much we, and our waistlines, have progressed.

They had ads to encourage people to PUT on weight. Now?

Even those that need to PUT on weight are bent on shedding those precious kilos.

Hey! This is so cool ! These are marriage ads!

The headline read: Four Married Over The Weekend!

When 8,000 was a large number. We have progressed.

Hey!

TIGER beer when the tiger neither had its paw in or out.

Spot the mistake?

This skyscraper took FOUR years to build.

Now we build an IR in 1.5 years... or less.

Well, I won't show everything here and rob you of the joy of discovering the exhibition for yourself.

Check out the exhibition which is on at The National Museum, Exhibition Gallery 1 till 22 Aug. Free Admission. Have fun!

How Much Further... or Farther?

How many of you, like myself, can never get it if we should use 'further' or 'farther' in a sentence? Conveniently, I always dismissed it as being U.S and U.K English. You know, to-mah-toes and to-may-toes.


However I was determine to understand the two words in a bid to strengthen my English so I gathered all my detective skills and Google (but of course) and it turns out that these two words 'further' and 'farther' do mean something on their own and are not just a product of years of English customisation. (po-tay-toes, po-tah-toes)

According to www.lessontutor.com,

FARTHER denotes physical advancement in distance.
For example: It is farther down the street (for distance physically travelled)
It's not that much farther to the gas station

FURTHER denotes advancement to a greater degree, like time.
For example: Do you have any further plans for your education?

Try it!

How much _______ farther do we have to walk to get to the ice cream parlour?
How much _______ do you intend to take this legal matter?
Do you intend to _______ your career with management courses?
How much ____________ do I have to read in the text?
The ________ I walk, the _______ I am in my schedule!

Now, aren't we happy the mystery is solved? :) So how much further will you take your English?

Live Curiously at thepebbletrail.blogspot.com

Benjamin, or Benji as he is known is a curious fella. He reads voraciously and is interested in every nary detail that exists in the world. He is your details man. In thepebbletrail.blogspot.com, he breaks down the thorough scores of information that soars through his head everyday and lays it out for us, the short attention span generation, to enjoy.

He presents curious facts and interesting happenings in bite sized blog entries - things you knew but never really know, facts you didn’t know and is glad you now know and things that will make you sound a lot smarter when stuck in a boring social gathering.


Live curiously and read up these intriguing thoughts on thepebbletrail.blogspot.com

You’d be glad you read it.

How To Build A Nation - Start By Reading

I am currently reading this candid and honest book by Tom Plate on his conversations with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. Surprisingly it is refreshing and mildly irreverant which is a good take on the father of our nation. When I'm done with it, I'll write up on it here - keep a look out, or pick one up and enjoy it yourself !

I hope you're having a energetic countdown to the weekend ! Wwheee !

How My Heart Soared

Every morning, I see this man at the bus stop. He is striking not because he is handsome or have an aura that attracts. In fact, it is the opposite. Every morning I see him, he is hogging the front of the line regardless or not the approaching bus is his. And when his bus approaches, he has no qualms about rushing forward and being the first on the bus even though his bus ride is but 10mins. It irks me. Every morning it irks me because to me and to some degree, men are supposed to be gentlemanly.



This morning, I met him again. And this time, there were 2 of them. Rushing, pushing, hogging, taking the first breath of bus-air the moment the door opens. Regardless of women, children or the elderly, they are the firstest, mostest, fastest. In sad regard, I asked myself, ‘Is chivalry dead?’ I’m not asking for door opening, or laying down your jacket as a carpet. I’m asking for just a morsel of gentlemanliness.

To my surprise, my answer came in the same morning, an hour later. I boarded the shuttle bus that brings me into my workplace, a 5mins drive from the main road. The bus that came was unusually crowded with only 3 seats for 5 of us who boarded. 2 people didn't get to sit, a lady and a guy. It was a 5 min ride, nary would anyone think of giving up a seat.

To my surprise, a gentleman stood up and offered his seat to the lady who was standing. She wasn’t old, pregnant or handicapped! Oh, how my heart soared! It was only a 5minute ride, but he graciously gave up his seat to her. In that instant, the answer to my question in the morning rose in my heart. Chivalry is not dead. The guy who gave up his seat was not dashing or particularly well dressed, but at that moment, there was something regal about him.

Women are not asking to be waited on hand and foot, definitely not in these days where independence is so as much shouted about. But sometimes, when men know to be men, women will become the ladies they want them to be.

Your Past, Our Future

Dear Dr. Goh,

Thank you for showing me that it's okay sometimes to be a 'jack of all trades'. Thank you for showing me that you don't have to be trained in something to be great and all it takes is a doggedness to want to do it. Thank you for a life lived as an alluring beacon of guidance. I'm sorry that you have been honored more in death than in life. In heaven, may you look down & know that your life, your choices, your decisions, your hunger to make life good for Singapore and Singaporeans has built us deep and will keep building us up. I hope you are proud of your life. We are proud and blessed to have you.

Have fun in heaven!

When The Desert Sand is Gray...

Am facing some serious writer's block man. Taking a micro-pause, stay tuned!

Getting Inspired

I've been feeling totally uninspired lately (& I suspect it's the lack of sleep) and it's not helping the design work I need to do.

How do you get inspired? Oh please do share...

*apologies for missing out some bits, things are getting lost in translation.

I had the most interesting experience on Sunday night.

We boarded TIBS 980 that plys from Beach Road (I have no idea where it goes before that),> Bugis > opposite Tekka Market > KK Hospital > Novena > Thomson > Ang Mo Kio.

Usually when we board the bus at the stop before Bugis Junction, the bus is sparse, dotted mostly with Singaporeans (Chinese mainly) and a few foreign workers (Bangladeshi & mainland Chinese). The locals usually enjoy being the majority.

However, Sunday night was a peculiar experience. When we boarded, we noticed something different about the mix. There was 60% mainlanders, 30% Bangladeshis (I assume they are Bangladeshis, they could be from Delhi, Bangalore, Kerala or Serangoon, I have no idea) and 10% Singaporeans. We were the minority.

Then the bus hit the Fu Lu Shou Complex bus stop and the 30% Bangladeshis ballooned to 60% and mainlanders 40% (but they sounded like 110% because they were speaking SO LOUD) and us locals became a negligible statistic. I started to grow scared.

THEN….

The bus approached the bus stop opposite Tekka Market. It was a Sunday night at 10pm. Stores were closing, workers had to return to their worksite dorms. Imagine with me.

The bus crawled in to the traffic light (with trepidation and fear I am quite sure, or perhaps it was just me) just 10m before the bus stop. We could see foreign workers (ALL Bangladeshis) causing a heavy water balloon swell at the bus stop. Some of them tried to run to the bus waiting at the traffic light to get a headstart but to no avail. They were jostling and nudging each other like at the start of a very important race.

As the lights turned green, I was quite sure this happened in slow motion. The bus approaching the stop … the workers nudging and pushing, saliva flying… arms flailing … bags wobbling … and you could see that gleam and drive in their eye … ‘I must… I willlll… get onn that … bussss!’

When the bus hit the stop and opened its doors, I swear that was a dead pause in my head and what happened after that was something I had never seen before. Everything just came rushing like a tidal wave!

I’m not sure if there were a hundred of them but I’m quite sure it was close! They pushed… not just PUSHED but PUSSSSHED their way up the bus and moved very quickly to the rear so everyone can get up (one virtue we should learn from them). Very quickly, the bus was filled and they were still pushing their way in. Like pack, pack pack! If there were handle bars on the side of the bus, I was quite sure they will happily hitch a ride on the outside.
I have seen and been on packed buses, but none as packed at this. It was a omg-what-is-going-on-help-help-help kind of packed! In the open handicap area where it usually stands about 8-10 people, now stood about 30 and the crowd was at least 4 people thick. They were back-to-back, front-to-front, back to front, side by side. Every possible inch was used. It was the kind of packed that forced you to strategize on your exit.



But a wonderful thing about having these friends on board is that because the bus is so packed, it cannot stop anymore and so it cut down our travelling time by half! Hurrah!


As we sat tightly packed like rice in the bus, taking in the fragrance of Tekka Market, we began to look around & observe and started to wonder about them. What were their lives like? What journey had they taken? Howdo they feel being so far away and fending for themselves... A lot of them looked young and I am sure they are – those that had found work must be lucky to be able to earn their keep and send money back. And maybe all that pushing and shoving was for good reason - to get back and keeping going at the mill.

Life must not be easy.

Well, the 'packedness' of the bus did not ease at our stop so we had to wiggle our way out and when we eventually fell out into the empty bus stop, we looked back and waved, quietly wishing them all the best. May their lives  prosper and continue to improve here after.

Shalom! What an experience!

Imagine this turned inside out and

you can kinda imagine what our experience was like.

What Do You Dream Of?

Have you ever thought about what your dream job will be like?


I have.

For as long as I can remember, I have been believing that dream jobs are possible. A dream job is anything that you have always dreamt of doing when you were young, or developed an interest along the way. It could be being a TV show host, teacher of autistic kids, or a dancer on a world stage, or not being in a desk bound job (I hear this very often).


I’ve had my opportunities with my dream job. I used to be in TV Production and I enjoyed it because it is not desk bound (yayhoo!), I get to meet a lot of people and visit very interesting places that I wouldn’t get a chance to on any given day (Tan Tock Seng’s grave? Entering a n abandoned house with historical value on Pulau Ubin?)


I have since given that up because life has evolved and I have moved on from my boundless energy that sprang forth from curiousity of my post teen, pre young adult years. For a good 2-3 years after I stepped away from the TV scene, I struggled with keeping on my journey of a dream job. I am stubborn so that did not help. I struggled and kept struggling. I will, I want, I must have!


My search for a dream job left my partner and I frustrated and most of the times, poor (all my dream jobs usually under underpay).

Then I had an epiphany.

A dream job doesn’t necessarily have to be a job of your dreams. It doesn’t have to be a high flying doctor, lawyer, Indian chief or whatever you dream of (clown, TV star, tai-tai, pilot, a mascot). I know there is saying that digs ‘Work in a job you like and you will never have to work a day of your life’. That is true, but let’s loosen up a bit.


A dream job doesn’t have to be a job of your dreams.

It can also be a job that HELPS fulfill your dreams. It is a job that gives you time and freedom to pursue your interest or pays you well enough to take that month long holiday that you have been dreaming of. It might even equip you with skills to do what you like and feel satisfied with life and bless you with finances to be a blessing to others. That’s the real joy of life, no?

Since the epiphany, I have set my mind and channeled my energy to doing well in my job (albeit not dream but fun and very comfortable) and using it to springboard and finance my interests. And I realize that it still works out for my good.

As they say, all things work for good.

So, what are you dreaming of today?

Have You Taken Your Walk Today?

Hello there, apologies for not updating this space recently. Just got started on a new work journey and getting settled in while having a niggle at the back of my head about how I am not doing updates here as often as I like.


My new work place involves me getting a good 15 min walk through a large and lush garden. The cool morning breeze gently sweeps as I take in a breath of fresh crisp air. As I walk further, I hear insects warming their voices as birds hurry around their morning chores.

It is hard to ignore the majesty of nature as you walk through the park that are lined with hunky giant trees with roots that awkwardly place out almost like an overgrown child with folded limbs. It is also very lovely as you notice the way trees spread their canopy to shade from the beating sun.

During the day, birds sit on the windowsill and take a breather before fluttering off to their next adventure; butterflies flirt and chase each other as the sun hangs lazily in the sky.

It is hard ignore the details of nature. When I end my day, I try to take a walk through the gardens again and it is the evening breeze that pats me on the back for a job well done. Trees with fluttering leaves do a wave as if saying good-bye and see you tomorrow! Baby plants dance in the wind and fallen leaves float away to say adieu.

Go on, take a walk and enjoy the silence and realize the world is more intricate than you think.

Enjoy!

Little Winks In The Mundane

I saw an owl fly above my head from across the street, a bird's nest perched high upon a barren tree along the PIE and the moon light brazenly streaming in through my kitchen window like it was the sun. 

The moon last night gave a sleeping construction crane a pensive silhouette and me some thoughts for the night.

What's there not to like about Singapore I wondered?

So What's Your Sign?

Some months ago (and they might've added up to become a year), Benji and I signed up for a Sign Language course with the SIngapore Association for the Deaf at Mountbatten Road.

Initially, we approached it with trepidation because we didn't know if communication was going to be difficult. But it turned out that they approached their would-be students with the same amount of caution as we did them. Learning sign language is like learning any other languages except that you have to work harder at it and be alot more expressive than usual.

Before you get signed up for any real course, you have to go through an introductory lesson. This is compulsory. It is not the acredit your aptitude for sign language but for you to understand the deaf community before you learn their language, and rightly so.

It is a common misconception that people think that the deaf are also mute. That is untrue. Their vocal chords are all working well but because they do not hear well, therefore they are unable to replicate the words through speech. It is also believed that deaf people cannot hear anything but vibrations and thumps. That is also untrue.

There are varying degress to how much the deaf can hear. At the same distance, some of our friends can hear speech at a close distance (so don't go talking bad about them), or loud music, or if their listening ability is heavily imparied, only the decibels of construction pounding. In fact, if they are not totally deaf, they would like to be referred to as hard of hearing. Because this is true. They can hear, just not as well as you and I. One of our instructors was even a contestant on Singapore Idol. How awesome is that?

As we began Beginner Course 1 (BS1), we realised that it was tougher than we imagined. Beside having to learn the signs for the alphabets, we learnt various baby words like 'I', 'you', 'we', 'them'. 

My own Sign Language textbook.

Just so you don't think I was bragging and ripped info off the web and take it as mine. 

Those were easy. The exam was easy. The teacher will sign out a phrase and we had to write it down. We passed that with flying colors. Then came Beginner Course 2.

BS2 was fun. We learnt how to sign in sentences like 'I am going to the grocer to get vegetables, salt and butter. What would you like me to get for you?". If I were to sign in Singlish, I'll ask "I'm going to buy things, what you want?"

The easy part of the lesson - the alphabets

I remember once, Benji and I wanted to practice our signing. We were at a fast food restaurant waiting for a friend. So we gave ourselves a rule. No talking until our friend came. We had to sign everything we wanted to say. So we had our food and signed for about 20mins.

During that 20mins, there was a family seated beside us that keep glancing over and kept giving us the Oh you so poor thing, cannot talk look. We knew they were looking at us so we kept signing until we saw our friend and did a very big wave & shout, "DAVID! HERE!". The look on the guy's face was priceless! It was mixed with a WTF and a WTH all together. Also then, we learnt one advantage of learning sign language, people cannot evesdrop. 

The deaf community is a very vibrant and fun community. During the course of our study, we were invited to a fund raising dinner. It was held at The Legends at Fort Canning. We were afraid to attend initially because we didn't know anyone and after all we were beginners. We can't possibly hold a conversation all night with, "So have you been to the grocer lately"?

But surprise surprise! We had so much fun! We were at a table that had a mix of students and people from the deaf community and it was really a challenge and great fun trying to get to know them, speaking their language. I grew in respect for them.

Even with their disability, they never see it as so. It is a different form of communication. They are still going out and doing their thing, living life as fulfilled as us. 

93% hor.

But Benji was top student, with 97%. 

We didn't manage to complete the Beginner Course because there wasn't enough students to make up a class, but we will be back! Plus it's always fun learning a new language and discovering a new world.

If you are interested in picking up sign language, visit www.sadeaf.org.sg and click on the Sign Language tab to find out more.

Have fun!

Hurray !

CONGRATULATIONS!

to Wild Rice and The Importance Of Being Ernest for bagging the Production Of The Year Award, Best Supporting Actor (Chua Enlai) and Best Costume Design (Frederick Lee) at the Life! Theatre Awards! 

I was glad to read that The Importance Of Being Ernest bagged so many awards solely because having caught it, I always thought it was a play very cleverly put together. Despite having been given a "16 years and above" advisory by the MDA because of it's all-male cast and therefore losing out on the Tote Board's Art Grant that subsidises 60% of student priced tickets, The Importance Of Being Ernest still ran to a sell out crowd during it's 2 week run at the Drama Centre. I love it when local plays get the support they deserve!

With live music by the T'ang Quartet and beautiful beautiful suits by Frederick Lee, the whole play was like being in a dream. Never mind Enlai playing a Gwendolyn or Ivan Heng playing Gwendolyn's mother or never mind that this all might've been a shout out to the government to repeal Section 377A, for art's sake - the play was good. 

Congratulations once again! You did well ! 

Chickity Chicky The Chinese Chicken!

What's a Singaporean to do with time on their hands? EAT!

Well, a large part of our weekends are always spent eating. We love our food! And being creatures of habit, we always visit the same places till we get sick of them.

For Chinese food, we love Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Marina Square. This might be confused with Crystal Jade Kitchen, but they are very much different entities. Though competitors, Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao was actually set up by the same person that brought us Crystal Jade Kitchen. Crystal Jade Kitchen was started in Singapore in 1991 and Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao sprouted later. 

We've had some bad experiences with this branch but we've given them many a chance, gone back and they have improved tremendously so we're stayers! Because of the bad experiences, the manager knows us and although that doesn't give us any benefit, but it's just nice to know that after all the nasty experiences, we all can be friends. 

These are our favourite dishes:

Li Bai Drunken Chicken ($7)

Steamed chicken sitting in a pool of Hua Tiao Wine. 

This may look mild, but it is really well done. The chicken is nice and cold and the potency of the wine is perfect. Not enough to get you tipsy, so don't bet on it.

 Chicken is tender and falls off the bone very nicely. 

Pork & Veggie Wanton Soup ($4.50)

This usually comes with garnish, but we always do without it because the smell puts me off. The soup is very full bodied and the wantons are fat with stuffings. Eats like a meal.

Ma Po Beancurd ($9.80)

We've had a similar version in Hong Kong and various other restaurants, but none eats as well as this. There is a very homely taste to the somewhat basil-ish tasting sauce. Although it's Ma Po, but the spice level is just right. The toufu cubes are soft and the generous servings of minced meat and shredded mushrooms puts the Mmmm! into the experience. 

La Mian with Meat & Mushroom or Zha Jiang Mian ($7.50)

Minced meat and mushroom in a spicy (very spicy) sauce over noodles. 

I'm not sure how it tastes but never dared to try a whole bowl myself because it IS really spicy. This is what Benji usually has. He always ends up pespiring all over (which is an indication of how spicy it is, kinda like the number of chillis on a menu). But I presume it's good cos' he always has it. Benji - any thoughts?

La Mian with Stewed Beef ($7.50)

I like this dish alot because the beef is not tough at all - I hate it when it's tough and it sticks in your teeth with every bite. This is very melt-in-your-mouth soft with a nice layer of fat on it. That's chilli on it, not blood don't worry. The noodles are al dente and the soup a pat-on-your-back kind of nice. 

*One dish you have got to try that I don't have a picture of here is the Shanghai Rice Cake Soup, it is absolutely comforting and delicious. Add a drop of vinegar or 2 and you are set for gastronomy heaven!

The overall experience dining here is very pleasant. The front of the restaurant is has an open concept so it gives a great sense of space and you can always wave to a wandering friend or two. 

Check Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Marina Square (#02-138J). Last order is at 9.30pm.