Halloween Night

B3 is a lover of Halloween.  He does not do trick or treat as he is shy.  However, he keeps asking for pumpkin so that he can carve one out to make a lantern.  When he saw the price in Cold Storage, he changes his mind.  He is a mindful spender and no longer frivolous.  So he improvised whenever I am cutting out fruits.  First experiment was to carve the orange out of the skin.  It did not work too well as the orange is small.  Next he tried the pumelo skin which is better but not much.  The skin is all blackened and curls as the candle burns. 

Water melon was on special in Fairprice.  So when I was cutting it, he request for the end to be cut thicker.  He ate the watermelon with a spoon.  Then he carve the husk and made a hole on top to allow the heat to escape.  It worked fairly well.  B3 is very creative.

Getting Rich vs Having Peace of Mind

You know, Boh Tong recommended JJ Claypot Rice on Bedok Reservoir Road.  I have no idea where is it.  Armed with an address and google, we found it and it was a place I used to frequent during the NE Monsoon to fly gliders.  Right beside the carpark, was a condominium coming up.  My wife reminds me that she said she asked me to look at a unit with 5 bedrooms, the so-called dual key which is two units side-by-side for 3 generation living.  I was not keen as there were several suicides at Bedok Reservoir.  Today, the price has gone up.  Had we bought it, we would have made money.  A few hundred Ks at least. 

Thinking about it this morning, I had several missed opportunities when it come to real estate investment.  If and only if I had been daring and take risk, we would be comfortable today.  But no, I declined the opportunity for capital gains worrying about potential loss and carrying a mortgage.  So today, I am just the average Joe living the average life.  I do regret sometimes but this morning I feel compelled to pen down my thoughts.  I have a peaceful life.  Do I have to be fabulously rich?  I enjoys a regular life of bringing up my boys, have dinners at home and a vacations every two to three years.

The Chinese has a saying - When you are born, you brought nothing, when you dies, you cannot bring anything.  It is a reminder not to be too focus on material wealth.  I wish we do not need money to live.  Unfortunately, we all do.  Plus I loved working.  So I have a peaceful of mind earning and maintaining a comfortable and not luxurious life.  I have a rich life with my family.  We have dinner together almost every evening. 

Although I do wished I listened to my wife and bought one or two properties a few years ago once in a while, I do not dwell on missing out on the Singapore property boom.  As many mentioned before, a dying person never wished they spent more time at work but more time with his or her loved ones. 

So I have simple frugal life and spend as much time with my family.  This brought me peace of mind as I will not have regrets when my time has come.

Connecting

We ran out of fruits.  So after dinner, I made a trip to the supermarket nearby.  B2 decides to tag along.  Along the way, he starts telling me about what's happening in school.  He is in the mood to be chatty and talk about CCA(co-circular activities or non-academic work).  He is experiencing the usual team dynamic where the slackers come up with excuses not to attend the meeting to escape work needed to be done.  There are the politics and sarcasms during the meeting.  It reminds me of working in a large organisation!

This time I only tell him my concerns about him and how he has improved over the years in his abilities and learning the value of thrift.  I told him I am happy to have this conversation with him.  He thanked me for listening to him.  I must say his EQ is good to know that I was listening to him most of the time.  Father and son had a good connection last night.

Watermelon was on "special" at $3.50 each.  We chose the watermelon together.  He enjoys learning to tap on the melon to listen to the sound.  I taught him to look at the head where the fruit was attached to the plant.  The sound is different for different melon.  There were two that we feel was ripe.  We took them to the weighing machine and pick the heavier melon(must get value for our money!).  Then I noticed "black beauty" is at $3.50 too.  This time the size is a lot bigger than before.  So we pick a black beauty water melon.  It is the first time I bought this water melon.  I am looking forward to find out it taste like.

Healthy Diet

"A Dietitian" wrote to me to eat all the healthy food - no fried food, no sugar and no carbo.  I am trying to do this.  I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.  But I also love youtiao, fried poh piah(spring roll) and fried chicken.  I have cut down my carbo intake significantly.  My big weakness today is "teh-C".  I drink a cup every morning.  Some times I switched to coffee with condensed milk.  The drink is rich and unhealthy.

Luckily, I have discipline to exercise everyday when I am not travelling.  If it rains, I will sneak out once it stopped even for a short while to make sure I at least exercise a wee bit.  Cycling is so gentle compared to running.  It is also very comfortable, no sweat! as the airflow around the body prevent sweating.

Dinner at home is two tablespoons of rice.  We eat the unpolished rice with low glycemic index commonly known as GI.  So I just need to consume less calories when I travel since I do not exercise.

Cravings

Right now I have a craving for peanuts butter!  I am still very full from dinner.  I had plenty of fruits as I want to reduce my weight.  However, although my stomach feels bloated and full, I crave for a peanut butter sandwich.  I feel deprived.  No wonder my weight can only go one way....UP!  It is crazy.  Women are a lot more discipline and resilience when come to dieting.  My wife is a great example.  I have ex-colleagues who can just stop eating.  Again they are females.

I need to reduce my weight significantly.  Yet, it is not working.  How do I simply stop my weakness for food?

Brunch At Imperial Treasure Crowne Plaza

My eldest sister invited us for brunch at Imperial Treasure.  My youngest sister and 2nd sister went as well.  It was a good get together.  The taste slightly different from Imperial Treasure in Ngee Ann City.  My two nieces belonging to my eldest sister are present and eldest boy from my baby sister is there too. 

My nephew is going to ORD next month.  Time flies.  I was a little surprised but they serve only 22 months nowadays.  He is going to Philippines next month and Europe April next year.  He is going to have fun before going to University.   My eldest niece had an operation and is on MC now.  She will need to rest and recuperate.  I am glad she looked fine. 

Crowne Plaza is quite deserted except for Imperial Treasure.  Maybe it is not the lobby.  I should explore the hotel a bit before coming home.

Tired of Books?

Recently, I have not been acquiring a lot of new books.  I am also not reading books as much as well.  When I fly, I read the newspapers and magazines.  They are easy reading.  Books unless it is fiction requires more brain power and focus.  When I take flights with zero entertainment options unlike SQ, I should bring Thrillers like David Baldacci or Jeffrey Archer.  I should also bring Ken Follet.  I was introduced to Ken Follet by Cheong Suk Wai.  She wrote on the pleasure of reading and one of the books she enjoyed a lot was Pillar of the Earth.  There are so many pages.  It takes a long time to read through.  Actually, I find the story very enjoyable.  However, it requires a huge block of time to go through the extremely thick book

I read less on Leadership and Management Science nowadays.  I am still using English books for reference.  My reading diet not only reduced, has also change to light reading.

JJ Claypot Rice

My friend, Boh Tong recommended JJ Claypot Rice on my blog when I reminisce about comfort food when I was growing up in Commonwealth Drive.  Today, I went looking for Blk 744 Bedok Reservoir Road.  When I finally located the place with the help of Google Map, it was actually right at Bedok Reservoir Park.  I used to go to the park during the slope season to learn to fly slope gliders.  Today, flying model planes is not allowed.  There is a sign by Mindef.  It is so sad as it is the only place in Singapore that you can do slope soaring.  Now you will have to go to Johore to fly.

We arrived early and ordered the claypot rice with blanched kailan in oyster sauce.  The rice were cooked from scratch.   Actually, taste quite good.  The rice at the bottom of the claypot is only slightly charred and not burnt like some other stalls.  The kailan tasted good.  However, I find it too hard.  So my next visit, I will request for slightly longer blanching to soften the vegetable. 

Since the food is quite good, I promised to return with my boys.  Although there is a sign self service, the old J (I did not get his name) brought the food to us.  He is a very nice gentleman.  I also let him know BT recommended that I come.  He is very happy to hear this.

Reading Old News

I am still catching up with the newspapers for the almost 3 weeks that I was gone.  There are interesting bits which I like.  It was big news that population growth slows.  Straits Times is like govt mouthpiece.  It is like big deal.  Population is still growing through foreigners.  Then the analysis warned that there will not be enough young to support the old.  I wonder if we did not open the doors wide will we have so many seniors to support?

I am working down the papers and now left with a couple days left. 

This evening I had a short chat with a friend.  She is a single mum with a boy and a girl now in their teens.  She is still looking for love but is very caught with the man must give her fixed allowance of two thousand every month.  I wonder which man will want to support this woman who is very capable and earns a lot.  I think any man will choose a younger model where his money will go a long way.

Train Driver who Blogs Fabulously Now Retrenched!!!!

Gintai the blogger who was in the news and had a meeting with Law Minister, Mr. Shanmamugan suddenly stopped blogging a year ago.  His blog was doing well.  This mean readership was high and plenty of attention all the way up to the Cabinet.  Why did he stop suddenly?  Plenty of speculations now that he is retrenched a year later.  He is a SMRT driver for 18 years.   He is a gentleman and while rantings did not paint a negative picture of his employer except and I quote "You know they are big powerful organization and I am just a nobody.... I’m just like a small fly where they can just kill me for their sport!"

I guess from his blog he does have misgivings and is afraid to divulge details for fear of repercussions.  Giving good 18 years of his life and discarded.  SMRT is a government-link company even though it claims to be private and listed in the stock exchange.  Isn't this incredible?  Looks like the "cheng hoo" is leading the way to displace Singapore workers.  Granted this is highly speculative given that no details were divulge.  Is there no other job for the driver within such a vast organisation?  There must be plenty of jobs that he qualify for even if his health conditions does not permit him to drive.

Is Singapore Success Story over?  A few months ago, Sumiko Tan wrote on her column after visiting Punggol PCN that Singapore is in its Golden Age.  I guess there is no where to go but down once we reach the top.

I distinctly remember in the news a year or two ago, Manpower Minister, Tan Chuan Jin says that the PMET who became jobless is actual very small percentage of the total jobless workforce, they are very vocal and this gives the perception that there are a lot more of them than actual fact.  Relying on hard numbers which depend on a lot of variables can be misleading.  Also where is the heart for all the PMETs who have families to feed and support.

Alan Tang now has all the time in the world to enjoys his "retirement" meanwhile ex-Prime Lee says we should all work past the retirement age.  What irony!

A Week in Melbourne

My neighbour is raving about her trip to Melbourne where she spent a week there.  It is PSLE marking week and she brought her kids there.  She love the place!  Especially her size is only Medium whereas here it is Extra Large.  The food is so cheap.  She love to eat and good at comparing prices.  She felt the price in resturants is expensive.   She also brought candies over for my boys.  She is really enthusiatic about Australia although she is only in one city. 

I also think Melbourne is nice even though I stay only one night there.  I wrote about my opinion changed and now think Melbourne is better than Sydney during my trip to Australia three weeks ago.  I like the historical feel of the place especially with the trams.  Singapore is a lot more advanced and has more stuff to offer that is branded goods or electronics.  However, Melbourne has a more homely feel.  The pace of change make me feel left behind.  My neighbourhood is changing rapidly.  The roads are widen and expanded.  The realignment of old road confuses me.  Jalan Kayu is totally changed.

So I like Melbourne being the same every time I visit especially since I did not go there very often.  The familiar feel is very shiok and I feel I know the city.  I love Melbourne.

Experienced vs Newbies Cabin Crews

On the theme of Cabin Crews, I like to articulate my opinion on experienced crews vs young good looking even sensual stewardess.  I loved good looking girls.  As Straits Times columnist Richard Lim puts it, beauty is a pleasure to be experienced.  However, for cabin service my preference is always the more mature experienced crews.  The balding IFS in his 50's always made my flight comfortable by introducing himself and making sure I know he is in-charge and will make my flight comfortable.  I also find that leading stewardess - green kebaya and chief stewadess - the red kebaya are usually very service orientated and set good examples.  Red kebaya are usually bigger size and past their prime in terms of looks or figure.  They make it up for great customer care and maturity. 

I usually find male Chiefs and in-flight supervisors very well versed in keeping passengers comfortable.  Of course if there is a good mix with "eye candy" it will be the "service other airlines talk about!".  By the way, although I have not personally experience Emirates service, I heard they are good.  I also like Cathay Pacific inflight service as well.

Budget airlines is like travelling in the past.  My first flight in 1984 was Air India to New Delhi.  No inflight entertainment at all.  I was on business class and there is simply nothing to do except sleep.  I learn to bring books to read after my first flight.

Note 3 Ringtones

Since having the Samsung Note 3, I have not been picking up my calls.  The ringtone is soft and hard to identify.  So I keep missing my calls unless I have the phone in my hand.  Then I can feel the vibration as well.  The screen is beautiful and easy to read.  But the size of the phone makes it uncomfortable to squat down when the phone is in the pocket.

Today, I tried to use the Google map for directions.  But Google map response was so slow that I found the place before it can map out.  It may be due to my settings.  The high definition screen is a big plus.  Colour is vibrant and watching movies is far better than iPhone.

Everywhere, people are using Samsung even aunties in the hawker centers!  There are less and less Apple.

Single Mum Stewardess

Her son is 18 months.  She became a English teacher but the income was poor.  So it is back to flying again so that she can earn more to support her son.  Her husband left her two weeks after their son was born.  He is a cabin crew as well.  He is now living with another cabin crew.  So the interesting stories that Boh Tong writes are true. 

When you are a cabin crew, you start living like the rich and famous.  I like the story of the stewardess who married an Indonesia tycoon and when they divorce, she gets $100,000 monthly allowance to maintain her lifestyle.  It become a legend.  In a Straits Times interviews, many cabin crews know this story and hoping to be the next girl to strike it rich.  It is winning the lottery everyday!! 

For every success story, there must be many who failed.  So it is living a dream.  Working as a cabin crew bring advantage of meeting rich men and women frequently.  So this increase the odds of striking lottery.

Back to the single mum, I think she is holding up well and doing a good job.  She is young and will recover from this setback.  She should be able to get a new man who will love and take good care of her son.

Hari Raya

I am confused.  A public holiday on a Tuesday and I keep feeling and thinking it is Sunday!  The PCN is very busy in the afternoon with the sun shining bright - full of joggers, family taking walks, roller bladers, skateboarders and cyclists like myself. 

Our morning start with thunderstorm as I have conference call at 7am.  I saw the lightning strikes on a block of flats and immediately I hear the electrical crackles on my phone.  The thunder claps deafeningly.  It was a little scary.

It is uneventful day with B1 and B3 at home all day and B2 going to Punggol billard in the afternoon.  The evening ends with chicken and abalone congee.  Dessert is Bird's nest soup.

It is a good day for everyone.  Happy Hari Raya.

Getting the New Samsung Note 3 is like Learning a New Language

It take getting used to my new Samsung Note 3.  Even opening calculator mode is different and more complicated than iPhone.  It is a simple press on the icon in Apple but I have to go to Samsung icon and then calculator.  So I have to search to figure out where Calculator mode is hidden.  Transferring audio files is different as well.  If I copied a disk that is not in the database, I have no idea how to name the Album.  In Apple, it is easy to make a Playlist using Recently Added function.  In Android, I have yet to learn how to efficiently make name my latest copied CD.  So it is learning all over again.  My wife do have a point.  In Apple, it is very simple to use.  Only issue I have with Apple is no flexibility.

I am trying a function which is not available in Apple.  One apps to track walking and cycling.  Including the meals, it becomes a health tracker.  So it is useful in trying to reduce weight.  I am falling in love slowly...

Happiness is...

Ordinary Day!  according to Sumiko Tan.  I agree with her.  An uneventful day with no drama is a happy day.  Sumiko is reaching 50 and well into her middle age.  She has learn to not to strive for better job, better pay, better holiday, better basically anything and everything.  I told my wife about this article and she agrees.  To her Happiness is being contented.  Contented with what you have.

That is material contentment.  I wonder about relationhips, emotions and other unmeasurable aspects of life.  They are the REAL JOY of living when everything is good and stable.  It is will be difficult to strive better wife or husband, better kids, better parents, better temperment, better love or better enjoyment.

We can work to become better parent, husband/wife or kids.  There are also relativity in soft aspects.  What is better say wife?  One who does everything for the husband? Or produces and look after kids well?

Happiness is contentment with our life, both material and emotional aspects.  So I am happy most time and unhappy sometimes.

Back to Hometown

We were on our way to lunch this morning but the jam on CTE was right up to AMK Ave 1.  So I decided to get off at Braddell Road to avoid the heavy traffic.  As we drive along, I was still deciding on the venue for lunch.  We decided to go to my hometown Commonwealth Cresent market and hawker center for lunch.  The dessert stall there is very good and is still run by the auntie when I was still a very young boy.

The Japanese food stall that was featured in the newspaper is closed today.  So we tried one of the coffee shop that we have not eaten before.  We had wanton noodles and fishball noodles.  We also had signature deep fried pig trotter from the zhi char stall.  No regrets!  Just having a meal in the place I grew up is quite nostalgic.  My boys do not have any attachment to this place.  It is good they know the "ancestral" home although it is only 45 years old.

Setting Up my Note 3

My wife pointed out rightly after I get the Samsung Note 3.  You have to set up everything again.  If it is iPhone 5, just plug into your computer.  No transition issue.  I was worried that it is going to take a lot of work to transfer data across especially since I do not have right to install programs into my computer.  I thought it will be difficult and take up too much time.  Actually, it is a breeze!!

All I have to do is to google my questions and the first two or three search will give me the answers.  For example, how to transfer contacts from iPhone to Samsung.  Or how to transfer my music from iPhone to Samsung.  It is so easy.  Then Viber, WhatsApp and other chat apps are available on both operating system.  The email accounts are easy to set up as well.  I had a little trouble with my office account because my eyesight is not good enough to read the small characters properly.  So a magnifying glass helps.

B3 has fun using the voice recognition software.  He says play "love story" and in a few seconds the music came on.  It is quite amazing.  He is trying out all the cool features.  Whereas for me, I just make sure my music and emails work.  I am glad I can set up accounts easily. 

By the way, the camera is very sharp and it is easy to take pictures.  The good thing about Samsung is if I ran out of memory, I can easily increase by up to 64 gigabytes.  With my Apple, I always have to clean out my audio files to put in new audiobooks.  I may get lucky and be able to video any unusual sights(UFOs?) in the sky.

I have to look for a bike holder as I worry my current phone holder may not be good enough.

Bewildering Choice of Phones

There are so many phones on the market. It is time for me to change phone and I thought I want to try HTC.  I used HTC a couple of minutes when a Taiwan lend his phone to me to check something on the internet.  I was really impressed!

To make it easy for decision, I narrow my choice between Samsung Note 3 and HTC Butterfly S.  The HTC Butterfly S has solid sound system.  The earphones are also from Beads.  After spending so much time evaluating it, it is not available in Singtel outlets.  So I go Courts.  Unfortunately, it is EOL.  EOL is end of life!  So there is no more choice for me.  I have to settle for Note 3.  Then I found out my voucher is missing.  So in the end, no new phone.  I have to look for my voucher before going back to get my phone.

Note 3 is quite impressive.  The screen is bigger, brighter and clearer.  It is like a mini TV.  So shoik as it makes reading easy.  Plenty of functions and many megapixels camera.  So it look like an amazing gadget!  I have to look for my voucher and go back to the store!

No MSG in Taipei

The first thing we noticed about eating at home is how thirsty we feel after our meals at the hawker centers.  We never feel thirsty eating all the different types of food in Taipei.  Not only do we use msg or rather the hawkers are taking shortcuts.  We used them so much that we always feel thirsty after our meal.

I wonder why the very popular food scenes in Taipei need not use any flavor enhancers and they have roaring business.  So our hawkers must be poor cooks that need to use artificial means to make their food taste better.

Random Thoughts on Taipei

Taipei does not have supermarkets.  Plenty of 7-eleven, Family Mart and other convenience store like Tokyo.  Specialised food shops that offer braised food items or youtiao and dou zhiang(soya bean drink).  The walking cum cycling path is wide and it is safe and easy to walk about.  Motorcyle is a common, very common which many women also use.  The helmets they used seem to be flimy.  I am not sure if they offer much protection.  However, I don't see lots of motorbikes on the highway either.  So there must be less deadly accidents unlike Singapore.  A lot of the residential buildings looked old and rundown.  This is where Singapore does a good job by requiring the facade of all residential building to be painted every five years.  The tables and chairs are very low and meals are served along the five feet way outside the shops. 

The terrain is hilly and plenty of building on the side of the hills.  Must be stable.  I wonder about the plumbing and toilet.  How can they be done without costly infrastructure.  The food culture is strong and the women do not seem to be as pretty as those in South Korea.  So plastic surgery is not popular with the folks here. 

Taipei 101 is a brilliant idea and engineering marvel.  It is an easy landmark to look for when walking about town.  The Eslite bookstore not sells books but have design and lifestyle products.  I am not a collector of junk other than books.  So I enjoys window shopping to see all the beautifully designed products and not spending any money.  Plenty of expensive brands and labels in Taipei 101.  So there must be lots of rich and wealthy people in Taiwan willing to spend on boutique stuff.

Also there is I am not sure if it is a protest but everyday there is a group who will be meditating and an old man on loudhailer yelling out something I do not understand.  It does not seem to be a political protest.  I like the Barista Cafe.  It is warm and cozy. 

Overall, Taipei is a nice city to visit.  However, I never even consider a long tern not to say a place to retire unlike Sydney or even Auckland.

The Famous Night Market

The night market is the hot tourist spot in Taipei.  It sells mainly tourist junks.  All the cheap trinkets and stuffed plush toys plush are likely to be made-in-China.  Walking about the night market reminds me of Bugis Street.  Plenty of street food on a stick.  Even quail eggs can be cook and stick through.  Mee Sua and Large Fried Chicken Cutlet are available back home.  Interesting to see them sold in makeshift carts.  The sausages are gigantic.  Fried oysters is soft unlike back home.  They give plenty of oysters which is more value.  I also tried the stinky tofu and they tasted like normal tofu.  Plenty of milk tea carts. Beef steaks seems more popular than pork chops.  There is jelly shape like lollypops, preserved fruits like plum, mango and lemon.  Also interesting but I did not try is Da Bing Pow Xiao Bing meaning a small biscuit inside a big biscult.  No one is trying it, so it is not popular.  There are bbq big squids which seems popular.  I like the fried steam buns but since it is full of dough, I did not eat it. 

George Quek come to Taiwan and go home to start up the resturants and make it to big time.  So anything is possible if you have abilities.

Hurray! Weather is Clearing. Walking Possible,

Looks like typhoon has passed.  Light rain today.  I may be able to walk to my appointment as it is only half an hour by walking.  It will be nice easy stroll to explore the city.  Our pair of legs is our 2nd heart according to a book written by a cardiologist.  Walking improves our cardiac function.  Better than cycling.  It is the gentle form of exercise.

Boh Tong, The Popular Blogger

Boh Tong writes stories about cabin crews.  He writes on their colourful love lives.  He is good at collecting gossips and turning them into engaging stories.  Sometimes there are stories about encounters with passengers especially recognisable names.  Since he retired early, he writes blogs to collect advertising revenue.  He also sell consulting service to help crew wannabes to get hired.  Plus he has a pet transport service. 

In short, he has several streams of income to support himself and his beautiful Japanese wife.  I am glad when he occasionally leaves comments on my leave letting me know that he is a regular visitor.  As for me, I write an open diary.  I am not a famous guy, so no one really care about what I do or eat or whatever...  Someday maybe my grandchildren or even great grandchildren may want to find out more about what their fathers did as they are growing up may be able to find bit and pieces in this blog.  I am sure my boys with tell their kids stories of how they grow up.  This will be a database of some of the things we do as a family like having dinner together everyday, going for holidays in Europe, cycling with me in PCN, even catching fish at the reservoir.

My blog does not earn much in advertisements since the readership is pathetic.  However, I enjoys the process and discipline of writing.  It is a fun way to occupy myself in the hotel room.  I also write to sharpen my English skills.  So my reward for blogging is numerous.  Since it is not a bestseller, I hope it improves over time.

By the way, Boh Tong's blog is BohTong Please enjoy.

Wet Wet Wet

Typhoon bypass us but it simply rained all day long.  Tomorrow is forecast to rain as well.  So I am stuck.  Hopefully, I can go home as scheduled.  There are two typhoon on the weather report.  After this one, another one will be coming.  I am feeling bored watching movie The Day Earth Stood Still.  As usual, when the alien request to meet UN, the US Secretary of Defense says meeting her is enough.  This movie represent the typical US attitude.

Although I am stuck here, I enjoyed the Taiwanese hospitality and I love the fact I can speak the same language.  It is like going to my ancestral home town.

Wet Dreary Sunday

Luckily, the typhoon passed Taipei but it is just pouring and pouring.  So it is in the room to watch movies and surf the net.  I hope the rain will thin down so that I can walk and pass time around the malls, my favorite activity while travelling.

The food here is good but the variety is not as much as in Singapore or Malaysia.  Our many different ethnic groups make our food so varied.  It is quite enjoyable to go to the night market which is like our hawker centers.  After a while like our hawkers' fishball noodles, braised duck or congee are repeating like a mantra, the fried oyster, stinky tofu, beef steak and fried chicken pieces.  I have not tried the mee sua or the stinky tofu yet.  Stinky tofu smells terrible.  So likely I am not going to try.  I like the braised food and beef noodle. 

The Eslite mega book store is a good place for me to pass time although it is mostly Chinese books and English books are quite limited.  Starbucks does not seems to have as many outlets as other cities.  Tea culture is still very strong here.

Wet Season in Taipei

It is raining everyday since I arrived in Taipei on Thursday.  I am indoor most of the day but not so nice to walk about with the rain.  Luckily, it is a drizzle most time rather than shower.  Temperature is nice and warm and is quite comfortable.  Din Tai Fung offers the same taste.  There are plenty of street food, mostly fried buns.  I have to go to the night market and experience the plethora of street food.  It is like our hawker centers.  The stink tofu smells horrible like a pungent toilet.  I have not brought myself to try it.  Then when I think of foreigners' attitude toward our favorite king of fruits, the delectable durian, they also have the same reactions to the smell.

My low back is not good for standing all day.  I need to do more core muscle strengthening when I go back home. 

Mrs Higgins Cookies

Soon to start my travel home.  11 hours of flying!  Longest for non-stop travel within Asia.  I am looking forward to buying cookies home.  It is really nice when warm -crusty outside and soft and juicy inside.  Yes! Juicy!  I think it is the half melted sugar.  Very sinful but really good.

I will be getting white chunk macadamia and a host of other types to for the family to try.  Mmmm a nice sweet treat.

Newmarket

I heard Newmarket is the most expensive area in Auckland.  So I get the directions from the hotel and do my regular walk.  I am glad I asked for directions instead of wandering aimlessly.  I would not have walked so far if not for knowing destination and a map in my hand.  I am glad I am more adventurous.  The shops were all closed by 6pm before I reach Newmarket.  Hence the place is more or less empty.  I feel good that I really exercise instead of window shopping.

Newmarket is quite nice, a mini Orchard Road.  The "expensive" brands are there but nothing like KL, Singapore or Hong Kong.  It takes an hour by walking from my hotel. As it was getting dark, I hurry back so that I am on familiar ground for dinner.  I like hot noodle soup when the weather is cold.  So I had Vietnamese beef noodles with fried spring rolls.  Eating by myself is not so fun with no wifi to entertain me while waiting for the food to arrive.  So I spent my time reading the menu and pictures on the wall.  It is the end of a long trip and tomorrow it is going home.  I learn a lot about the customers and their purchasing behaviour.  This is a great learning trip for me. 

I only get to sleep for the night before leaving home again the following morning to Taipei.

Money isn't Everything

I was reading Dr. Chee Soon Juan's article on a place for money in society in TRE.  Conceptually, I agree with the notion that money isn't everything.  We should have compassion and fun in living.  A balanced lifestyle.  Money buys almost everything in our current society.  And the phenomenon of high real estate price is in Australia and New Zealand.  The average worker is unable to afford a home.  At least for them, they can still afford a car so in a way better than a average Singaporean.  I am thinking maybe the reason why the real estate prices are so high may be due the printing of money.  US may be the root cause of making real estate price beyond the reach of average worker.  QEI, QE2 and now QE3 cause the real estate prices around the world to rise.

Medical costs have risen exponentially as well.  Doctors wants and need a good living.  As doctors, they want to afford the nice houses.  So the idealistic doctor who heals without expecting to earn his reasonable returns for his skills is newsworthy. 

So I wish that money isn't everything.  Unfortunately for Singaporeans, we are living in a city-state and there is no kampong or farm we can go to lower the cost of living.  Therefore our government has to do something to reduce the suffferings of the people in the low income levels.