Chinatown

This afternoon, I go to Chinatown for lunch.  It is a touristy place.  There is a little girl who complained very loudly that it is very hot.  Her father dismisses her complain telling her of course it is hot in Cantonese.    I think the traffic would have been higher if the temperature is cooler.  I pity all the people working there instead of inside the airconditioned malls. 

Walking past Lim Chee Guan, the famous Bak Kwa outlet, there is no queue at all.  Actually, the staff are "killing mosquitoes" aka "pak ban" in Hokkien.

Indian Visa

Indian visa can be applied online!  I went to Mustapha to get the visa and it is now online.  So I fill the form there and have to get passport size photo.  I shall go there again another day to apply.  It is quite tedious.  I do not know why the Government of India think that visitors like to go there to stay. I do not think they get much illegal immigrants.  India is exporting out their people. It is just a form of revenue from visitors.

Cool Morning

Although it was very hot in the afternoon, it is nice and cool before dawn.  The sky is a little cloudy, so only a few stars are visible.  I remember a trip in Malaysia where the stars are clearly visible.  It is in a small resort town and we went to place for dinner.  During dinner, my Japanese colleague went for a smoke.  I decided to keep him company.  He went of out of the artificial lights and the sky was clear at that time.  The sky is full of stars.  It was an amazing sight!  I have seen the sky this way since I was young when Singapore was still developing.

The sky is also very clear in Reno which is a desert city.  The sky is always clear.  The problem is the city lights make our eyes incapable to seeing the lower lights of stars.

Sutures Out!

My sutures are out today.  It will be another 4 months before I go back to the dentist again.  The wound is still healing.  I have to continue to apply antibiotics to the surgical site.  I can now start to eat on both sides.  It was uncomfortable to eat only on one side of the mouth.

I will glad to have new crowns so that I can eat properly again.

No Interest in Sports

I have zero interest in sports and prefers reading.  I think it may be in my DNA.  My gross motor skills are terrible and fine motor skills just passable.  I cannot hit a tennis ball or shuttle cock if my life depends on it.  Luckily, B1 is more co-ordinated and B2 is just like me - terrible in co-ordination.  B3 is a surprise.  He has been selected for track and field CCA in school.  He is training for jumps.  Apparently, he went for the test and has "talent" in jumps.  He is the only person in the team who has not been in sport team in Primary School. 

B3 seems quite happy to be in the track and field.  His muscles are aching due to training.  He never exercise when we asked him to.  Now he is getting UV light exposure which is good for his eyes and bones.  He is also exercising a lot.  We are happily surprised by the school selecting him for track and field.  It is a good thing for him.

Weight Gain

As I recovered from my implant, my weight starts to increase again as I eat well.  I need to cut down my food intake to stay healthy.  Good thing is I eat a lot of fruits.  I think I have swallowed some of my sutures as they have disappeared.

I am exercising regularly but I drink a lot more due to the weather.  I love sweet drinks which is keeps my weight up.  I wonder if I can go for hypnosis to reduce weight.  Hypnotist charges quite high and results are not guaranteed.  So it may be money down the drain.

Tambuah Mas

We were wondering where to go for lunch.  We need to make sure at least there are carpark available.  We were thinking of Westgate but it is far and also the tenants profile are quite similar to those in town.  As we go along PIE, mummy feels the tenants in Westgate Mall are the same as those in town and we diverted to Orchard Road instead.  We parked in Lucky Plaza as the carpark there will have space just before lunch. 

We checked out all the resturants at basement of Paragon and decided on Tambuah Mas.  Tambuah Mas is the ex-Sanur.  The brothers running Sanur had a dispute and they closed down Sanur.  One brother took over the Sanur space in Ngee Ann City.  Pepes closed and now it is Tambuah Mas.  The food is the same.  Signature dishes like tahu telor, beef rendang, satay and sayur lodeh.  The desserts are also the same - avocado shake with coffee syrup, chendol and jackfruit in coconut.

The lunch is quite reasonable in price at $58 for 5.  We did not order too much either.  I tried the pizza in Gastronomia as B1 had feedback from his friend that it was good.  But we thought it is just so-so.

I am happy that all my boys are together for both lunch and dinner.  We had good conversation and we are quite happy just talking to each other.  Yes, I am grateful for B1 not studying oversea.

3D Printer

Since the printer was brought home, the 3D printer has not work yet.  It is not easy to get it to work.  B2 is helping by setting up his computer.  So far the print head cannot heat up.  We tried all the commands.  It is still not obeying.  It is not easy with open source.  There are lots to learn on the set up.  Hopefully, it will work.

Today, I bought some electric clips so that I can make a set of jumper wires for my hybrid car.  The last time, the battery went dead and we did not have the use of our car for almost a week.  With the jumper cable, I can start up the car when necessary.

Happy

I am feeling happy today.  The last two days of writing down my gratitude helps improves my mood.  Also I have a new customer from Hong Kong.  I am very happy to get new customer.

The other good news is B3 who has been asking everyday on his 3D printer finally get his printer this evening.  We went to the maker of the Portable B and get the printer instead of waiting for it to be delivered.  Luckily for him, mummy keep chasing Portable B for the status and make them promised to deliver one of the first unit to B3.  They are not so organised and so we just go down to get it instead.  B3 is now trying to get the 3D printer to work.  A happy boy makes a happy father!

Heat Exhaustion?

I am feeling lethargic this afternoon after lunch.  It may be too much food.  I had noodles in Bagus, a halal yong tau foo shop in Changi Road near Eunos.  It may be the heat as it was scorchingly hot.  I could hardly keep my eyes open as I drive back.  Luckily, I recovered after a short nap. 

I fry the leftover rice with eggs, bak kwa strips and diced cabbage.  My boys like it.  We also added Kentucky Fried Chicken for meat.  Dinner is good.  I am grateful my boys appreciate my cooking.  I am also grateful it is a good day and everyone is well.

Gratitude

I am grateful for today.  Good home cooked food, boys studying hard at least B1 and B2.  B3 is a little slack today.  Had good exercise.  All in all a good day.  Recording all the good things that happened to make me happier. 

I am also grateful for the chance to make tomorrow's food for my boys' breakfast.  I made mashed potatoes and have to get the recipe from B3.  He is the king of making mashed potatoes. 

Ya, I am glad to count my blessings.

Quest for Happiness

10 people strike Toto $10million draw.  Each gets more than a million.  I bought a ticket too but did not get any numbers at all.  I wonder how happy the winners are.  I was hoping to be one too.  It was fun to have hope for a day or two.  We can only buy only just before the draw.  No advance purchase is allowed in Toto.  Only for the coming draw.  I invested quite a lot of money to buy 5 numbers ticket instead of my usual 6 numbers which cost a single dollar.  What the heck, it is only once a year you get the Hong Bao draw.  Although I did not get my wish of $10million or even a single dollar and actually losing $20 to Singapore Pools, I was disappointed but not unhappy.  I had purchase hope for a couple of days.  It was exciting thrill and fun to be in the game.

According to Professor Daniel Gilbert, a year after winning lottery and a year after losing a limb or two, people have the same level of happiness as before the life changing event.  You can see his talk in TED. 

So chasing for more money does not make a person happier.  I have started to follow this research finding and began to seek more fulfillment by making food for my boys to bring to school.  I feel like an artist when I assemble my sandwich this morning.  I love making healthy and tasty food for my boys to bring to school.

Drying Up

Botanic Garden is drying up and NParks is sending watering vehicles to water the plants.  The water level in the pond is low too, B1 reported as he has to walk past Botanic Garden to go to school.  The plants beside the reservoir on the PCN are drying up too.  When will the rain come?  With no fresh influsion of rainwater, the water in the reservoir smells of rotting stuff.  I am not sure if it is plant material or sewerage.

This evening, I cycle at about 7pm.  The PCN is crowded with many roller-bladers.  It can be dangerous as they do not follow the rules.  I have to brake suddenly several times to avoid them.  So I shall not cycle at 7pm anymore.

Shopping for Winter Clothing

My in-laws are going to Nanjing.  It is cold up north.  They need to get winter coats and thermal underwear.  My wife brought them to Uniqlo.  It is fashionable and the price is reasonable.  My father-in-law is a quick shopper.  He decides quickly.  But MIL is like daughter, has plenty of consideration.  So I go with FIL to sit somewhere and we walk along B4 Food Hall in ION and stop at the dessert stall.  FIL is a vegetarian and therefore has limited choice.

We sat there and waited until mother-in-law is done.  Women are queen shoppers.  They don't buy much but take enormous long time to decide on a simple purchase.  After winter clothing is done, we tried to go to Imperial Treasure for lunch but it is impossible.  We settle for Crystal Jade and it work out well indeed.

Big Replenishment of Fishes

All the goldfishes I bought are gone.  Must have gone to the wrong side and all eaten up by the arowana.  The arowana is now trained to stay at his side of the pond.  I had to move the divider up for a while to add a netting to prevent the small fishes from venturing into the "live seafood" zone.  This way I hope some of the goldfishes can grow to large size.  My arowana is huge now and no longer silver in color.  It is gold and grey.  Must be the food and the sunlight.  The color from all the goldfishes in its diet.  It actually look beautiful except in the pond it is difficult to see.

Hot Day Cool Night

During the day, the thermometer is up.  Luckily, it is cool and breezy at night.  I can feel the breeze with my fan on.  It is only Feburary and our daytime temperature may be reaching new highs. I wish I can harness the solar energy.  I would love to have solar water heating.  My brother-in-law did a small solar water pump for his fish. It is working well.  Look like maintenance-free and keep his fishes alive. 

I just checked my pond and out of 100 goldfishes I bought before Chinese New Year, only one left.  The rest disappeared!  My arowana had a good feast!  I do not understand.  The soon hock which came as a baby fish we caught from the reservoir and grow to about 3 inches long died and I fed it to the arowana.  The arowana has a huge mouth!  It can swallow the soon hock whole!!!  My fishes are gone but water lilies are growing well.  Is this the lifecycle of a pond?

As I am typing out this blog, the wind is blowing strong.  So it is nice and cool.  I hope the weather can be cool all the time. 

Chinese New Year is officially over.  Many couples must have celebrated their twin Valentine Day.  We had family dinner at home and did not do anything special.

Dry and Hazy

It is dry and hazy.  My roof garden's grass patch has turned brown.  I hope the rains come.  The water along the beginning of PCN beside Buangkok Kampung is black and smelly.  The fishes are struggling.  They are all at the surface.

The unusual weather is becoming the new norm and this may be the new weather pattern of extreme weather conditions.  Are we affecting the climate?

My jaw is quite sore.  I think the bones are healing and hopefully holding the implants well.

Girls will be Girls

My wife had lunch with her friend and her eldest daughter.  The daughter is studying in Adelaide and will be leaving next Thursday.  The family visit us every Spring Festival.  This time eldest girl was busy and did not come.  So my wife decided to treat her to lunch at Din Tai Fung.  During lunch two days ago, plenty of girl's talk.  My wife's friend said she has a niece in 2nd year law school and is very pretty but no boyfriend.  So she asked her daughter to visit her cousin in school and introduce her to my B1.  B1 was not informed by his mummy about this arrangement.  Actually, mummy thought is just general gossip and did not think much about it. 

This afternoon, B1 did meet our friend's daughter and she was with two other girls.  When B1 said hi to our friend's eldest girl, her friends looked and smile at B1 in a "weird way" as B1 puts it.  Only when he is back home and mummy was making jokes about her friend telling the daughter to introduce her cousin to B1 that he realise why the funny smiles the girls gave him.

Boys talk non-stop about girls.  Now I know, girls probably talk non-stop about boys.

Recovering From Dental Surgery

This morning I woke up with my throat full of clotted blood instead of phlegm.  I spit out black bloody mucous which looked horrible.  I applied antibiotics and took oral antibiotics as well.  My right cheek was sore and swollen.  Today, it has improved.  The soreness is receding.  Only the swelling left.  According to my dentist, I should be able to get my top teeth in about 3 to 4 months.  So hopefully, it worked out well. 

The weather is getting hot and dry.  Most of the grass patches are brown and the soil caked hard.  I hope the rain returns.  Some trees have turned brown too.  There are less people on the PCN too when the weather gets too uncomfortable.

The monsoon drain from AMK Ave 5 to Seletar Springs has a foul smell and water is black.  It smells like sewerage has leaked out to the reservoir.  I hope the water is not processed for use.

Dental Implants

I decided to go for dental implants when my molar that supported the bridge deteriorated.  I have to have two implants.  The whole process took more than two hours.  First the dentist cut off my remaining crown.  Then he opens up the gum. He drilled two holes into my jaws and took an x-ray.  After that he drill farther in.  Then he put in the implant from Germany.  He says it is top quality.  I have no idea.  But trust him.  But it is a dental, so probably a supplier that gives the lowest price.  The procedure is not to painful with the local anesthesia.  But it is onerous.

So I do appreciate my dentist giving me a good price.  It is still quite costly at $4900 for two implants.  So take good care of your teeth.

B2's Birthday

B2 is nineteen today.  We went several Prima Deli outlets to get the mango cake.  Finally, found it in Compass Point.  B2 requested for mango cake as he know I only eat the mango cake.  I usually skip all other cakes.  B1 bought a Parker pen for him. 

B2 is quite happy to get all the attention.  He went to Changi Airport to study with his friends.  He will be sitting for his exams next week. 

Today, we went to Jurong Fishery Port Road to buy King's Soup.  They are going at $10 for two packs.  Regular price is $26 for two packs.  We bought other frozen seafood including red snapper fillets, cod fish fillet, crab meat and abalone.  They are going at a good or rather distressed price.  I guess people are not buying like previously and the seller is stuck with unsold inventory which he will have to get rid off before they expires.

Sony Sound Bar

The down firing sound system of our flat screen TV is quite noisy.  Whenever my boys watch tv they will turn up the volume as the sound lacks clarity.  This will become noise when it travel up to where I am.  So finally I decided to get a sound bar which will project the sound from the tv forward to the living room instead of downward and reflected upward to level 3.  We checked around for different brands.  Yamaha has a deal for a model usually price at $799 to $699.  Sony has a $449 system with wireless woofer and a $749 model extra slim model with wired woofer.  The $749 model sounds better than the $449 model.  The disadvantage is the sub-woofer needed to be connected by wire.  This is a severe limitation as we do not have anymore space in the TV console.  So we opt for the $449 model which sounds pretty good.  We asked for a better deal and the final price is $399.  So we close the deal feeling pretty good.

Now it is not so noisy when the tv is on.  I can hear the conversations or songs.  This is so much better.  I wished I got the sound bar earlier.

Mei Ling Street Loh Mee

I went to Mei Ling Street hawker center for lunch today.  I tried the loh mee, the black gooey soup noodle.  The ingredients are mostly deep fried which I love.  There are deep fried pork chops in battered and in thin slices.  Fried fish fillets in batter as well.  Add deep fried meat ball and sliced fish cakes and voila!  It is wonderfully delicious bowl.  This is not for my Cantonese wife who sincerely believed in steamed fresh seafood or double boiled soup.

I like the loh mee.  The old lady is very good.  She knows that I am not from the area.  She is observant and knows all her customers well.  It seems like Mei Chin street hawker center is a place for regulars.  I also bought the loh ah aka braised duck.  No signboard braised duck is pretty famous.  Braised duck is for dinner.  Yummy!

Random Observations of Hong Kong

1.  Extreme crowd everywhere 
2.  Ubiquitous luxury brands and jewellery shops
3.  All the ground floor noodles shops in Tsim Sha Tsui are gone
4.  It is a shopping haven but I find the prices seems high relative to home
5.  Plenty of nice resturants around but not on ground level
6.  Taxi are easily available
7.  Supermarkets are small and usually in basement
8.  More chocolates and coffee speciality brands than Singapore
9.  Cost of living must be high
10. People here seems shorter and smaller size.  I have not seen any plus size yet
11. Hong Kongers seems much nicer today than in the 1980s.  More courteous.
12. English and Mandarin are more widely spoken than before.

Ngo Chap aka Braised Beef Innards

Most of the noodle shops in Tsim Sha Tsui are gone.  Luckily, there is still one near my hotel.  I had ngo chap for dinner.  Very authentic and delicious.  Cantonese ngo chap is heavenly.  With the nai char or teh si, it is a very filling dinner for me.  I am happy to eat a simple but enjoyable meal.  Tomorrow is going back home.  I am happy my Prius is fixed.  It just needed a new battery.

Packed like Sardines

It seems like the flow of people never stops.  There are simply too many people out and about at all time of the day.  I took the MTR and taxi to go about town.  It is so crowded that there are a lot of accidental body contact.  I have to pay attention when I walk.  Even then it is difficult to avoid people coming from all directions or stopped talking in small group.  I think there are more people than before.  The infrastructure is still working well.  Far better than Singapore.  Highly paid leadership does not seems to equate great competency or well oiled machinery.  Maybe it is the policies that are not working.  Hong Kong seems laissez faire and is in fact laissez faire.  It worked like a well-oiled machinery.  Every train is crowded but everyone gets on.  Unlike my boys who have to wait for sometimes 3 trains to get on during peak hours. 

The economy must be doing well.  Plenty of jewellery shops and plenty of customers.  It is a huge consumer society.  Lots of branded consumer's goods.  I wonder why people must be "high quality" leather bag to show off.  It is killing our Mother Earth.

No Jacket

It is cold and I did not bring a jacket.  I thought high of 20 celcius is fine.  Well, I am very wrong.  I am cold.  Luckily, I do not need to stay outside for long time time.  I will need to wear two thermal tomorrow.  I hope the weather warms up.

I do not know what is in my head when I did not pack a jacket.  I should have known better.  Plus it is winter.  I expect 10 degree celcius.  So was happy with 20 degree thinking it is ok but now I am miserable to be able to walk outside comfortably.  So I have to eat in the hotel.  The buffet dinner was excellent but I ate too much.

Family Friends Visited

My wife's good friend and her family visited.  Unfortunately, their two daughters are busy and cannot come.  So only their baby boy who is now in Sec 2 came.  They have a daughter back from Adelaide studying dentistry.  The other daughter is studying Business and Economics in SMU.  So both kids are doing well.  We are quite happy that they took the time to visit. 

B1 said at the table totally engaged in our conversation.  B2 was tired and fell asleep on the sofa.  But he did not disappear.  B3 play his tablet and only stopped when reminded of his curfew time.  We are glad to have visitors.  They brought tidbits and curry puffs.  We offered beef rendang shephard's pie.  We had a good time learning about each other's kids progress.

Borneo Motors Still Closed

My beloved Prius has not been working since Day 1 of CNY.  Borneo Motors is closed until 5th.  So we did not have the use of a car for almost a week.  It is critical period and right smack on the Chinese New Year.  We have to take public transport.  The buses were alright during Chinese New Year.  Today, taking the bus reminds me of growing up.  The bus is jerky and crowded.  So it is quite uncomfortable.  The trains were crowded as well.  I can feel the empathy of all the commentaries in the internet about our public transport system.  It is simply creaking under the weight of over-population.
I hope the car can be repaired quickly.  I did smell something and it may be the electronic components short circuited.  I hope this is not the case.  Borneo Motors is like a Chinese company closed for so long during Chinese New Year.

Lots of Visitors

We had lots of visitors today.  B1 had a friend over in the morning.  Then B2 had 3 friends over and enjoy the popiah.  Then come the cousin from my wife's side.  They have not seen us for 20 years.  They have a boy in Sec 4 and 3 girls, Sec 1, P6 and P3.  The boy's English is weak.  So has 2 tution teachers.  We recommended he go to SOT for English.

Then my baby sister-in-law came for dinner.  My wife is always has a soft spot for her sisters.  She prepared a sumptious dinner even though it is short notice.

All in all we had 11 visitors.  1 in the morning and the rest in the afternoon.  It is just an amazing day.  We are exhausted.

24 hrs Coffee Shop

We are quite lucky to have a 24 hours coffeeshop and a 24 hours mini-supermart.  So for the sleepless in my neighbourhood, it is just a walk away to Fernvale Point.  I was up at 5am and took a walk there.  Not many customers.  Fairprice has 3 packers arranging merchandise and a cashier.  The kopitiam drink stall which also sell deep fried snacks has one.  Maybe four or five customers.  There is also a 7-eleven.  I wonder how the 7-eleven survive beside a 24 hours supermart.  The offering is limited and price a lot higher.  The only thing I could think of the instant noodle with hot water provided.

It is also very quiet as everything has stopped for Chinese New Year.  Most time, it is busy whether public holidays or Sundays.  Hawkers will take a few more days of holiday.  So cooked food will be a challenge for next week.  I guess the foodcourts will be opened as their costs are high and they cannot afford to close for a few days.

It is closed to 7am and the sky is still dark.  It is amazing the time change did to us.  We used to be half an hour backward.  That is 7am now was 6:30am.  So the sky turn at about this time.  Today, daybreak is half an hour later.  So I think school should start half an hour later too but it did not.  So our school going kids are going into sleep debt.  This is not good for society.  We are stressed by insufficient sleep.