Looking Forward to Tomorrow

The reception from the ENT clinic called me this morning and asked how I am.  I told her it is uncomfortable.  I have to wake up a few times in the middle of the night to split out the blood clot in my throat.  So she suggested I come in to see the doctor tomorrow morning instead of Saturday.  I want to go today but she says it is better to delay so that the outcome is better when the doctor suck out the mucous and blood clot.  She says it will make me feel more comfortable.  It is really difficult to breathe to the mouth.  And several times while I drink water, I choke as water gets into my lungs.

Hopefully, my condition improve after the visit to clear my sinsus.

Recovery

My nose is still bleeding and completely obstructed.  Luckily, the right side is clear mucous but the blood is still flowing on the left side.  I did a little cycling and swimming.  Swimming seem to help.  I can see air flowing out of my nostrils.  So it is not completely blocked when I breathe out through the nose.  However, once out of the water, I have to breathe in and out through my mouth.  I am taking the pills religiously to aid my recovery.  The operation is no fun and next week I am travelling and giving training.  My voice is quite hoarse now as if I have a sore throat coupled with congested nose.

I hope I recover in time.

Nose Job!

I had sleep apnea and snoring issues for years.  Always thought I should get my nose fixed to stop allegic reactions to mites and household dust.  Finally, had a turbinoplasty and a septoplasty done yesterday.  The flesh inside my nose is being burned off.   Right now it is clogged up with blood that I have to breathe uncomfortably through my mouth.  Blood and mucous dripping off my nose.  I have to wear a cotton guaze which is like a giant mustache.  I have a pretty sharp nose.  So no need to do asethetic.  Just to solve breathing problem.

Kowloon Dim Sum at AMK Ave 5

Right beside the Soi 19 Wanton Mee is the Kowloon Dim Sum.  It did not seem to be as popular as the wanton mee, so we decided to try.  Today is the wrong day to go.  We went there at 11am and the place was packed.  We ordered takeaway and was told that it will take 20 mins to half an hour.  So we went to buy roast duck before coming back to pick up the dim sum we ordered.  Wanton mee was super long queue as well.

The standard of Kowloon dim sum is nowhere compared to Raffles Hotel but it is reasonable in price.  Our dim sum cost only $42.  We could not finished the food either.  This is also because B2 did not eat as he was in school doing his project.  We did not eat the roast duck until dinner time.  The duck still taste good, actually very good.  We made soup with duck bones and B3 loved the soup very much.  He keep praising it and had additional rice to go with the soup.

Our dinner was very good this time as the whole family was just talking and very engaged.  It is nice to have all our boys together during dinner.

Dim Sum at Raffles Hotel

B1 heard from his JC classmates that dim sum in Raffles Hotel is good.  Mummy and daddy tried before but a China captain was trying to get fresh with daddy and the resturant was written off.  We have not been there since.  So when B1 suggested, mummy told him the story.  Then when I reached home I begin to tell him the story as well.  As I finished each sentence, he said mummy said that.  Anyway, he told mummy to be objective.  So mummy gave in and asked him to book a table.  We were on waitlist.  Yes, there is such a thing in resturants.  Sound like taking flight. 

Anyway, he called again and was given a table.  So we had our dim sum lunch there.  The food was good. The waitress recommended pipa duck.  I was reluctant as the meat tends to be dry.  But she says it is not and it is on "special" at $26 for half a duck.  This is not bad as a complete roast duck from AMK coffeeshop is $40.  So we tried and it was indeed excellent.  B2 complained the roast pork is cold although still tasty.  B1 loved his "hum swee kok" or deep fried dumpling with prawn.  I like it too.  The soup dumpling was not as nice as Imperial Treasure, I thought but B3 like it.  He is a "soup boy" as he loved soups and broth.  The salted egg custard bun was average. 

I quite like the food.  Overall the price is about 50% more expensive than Imperial Treasure.

Wonderful Meal with My Nieces

We had a great time with our nieces tonight.  Lots of funny stories they shared with us.  They like the green chilli sambal batang and red chilli sambal sotong cooked by our maid.  We have the soup but the abalone is quite rubbery.  We also have braised mushrooms and they enjoyed the meal very much.  I like the deep fried spring rolls and samosa.  They are crispy and nice.  Best of all, our boys also enjoys the meal and stay around while their cousins are talking to us.  We enjoys their company and the laughter.  It is so interesting to hear their stories.

Snoring

I went to see ENT specialist to see if I can solve the problem of snoring.  He says my septum is enlarge and now there is a new technology using radio frequency to reduce the tissue.  It is like melting the tissue but unlike cautery, it does not burn it.  It shrinks the tissue make the passage large so that it is much easier to breathe.

I will go for it next Tuesday.  Hoping I can breathe better.

Durian Season

We went to Yishun for lunch and durians durians everywhere.  Price is still high.  We bought some home.  The Cat Mountain or mao shan wang durian is quite good but pretty pricey.  One small durian of 1.7kg cost $25.  It is very fattening but good to enjoy the king of fruit in season.  Mangosteen is in season as well.  However, it is more work to eat mangosteen even though it is reputed to have high antioxidant.  I like Yishun or rather Chong Pang market.  It is bustling and price is quite reasonable compared to Ang Mo Kio.

Future Focus

The book I borrowed from the library in Nex is pretty interesting.  It is about Peter Drucker's philosophy and teachings.  Peter Drucker believe strongly in making the future.  The actions we do and non-actions all affects our future.  We must dropped all the non-value work and change our manner, habits for the future.  Makes a lot of sense to me.  But we are creatures of habit.  So it is quite difficult to change.  But we must adapt as we go about living our life.  This way we are always getting ready for future in everything we do.

Library at NEX

There is a public library in NEX.  My first time there as my wife found some books that is only available in this library.  I borrowed a couple of books as well.  NEX has a number of interesting resturants.  Ayam Penyet and Vietnamese.  I did not try as I was not hungry.  But we did eat at Din Tai Fung for lunch.  I ate only the vinegared mix aka xiao chye and kao fu or braised gluten.  It is nice to have little bites.

The library is pretty small but it is very accessible and on the roof top of the shopping mall.  It makes sense to have library on a shopping mall.  It makes it so much accessible for patrons.  The selection of books is pretty decent although not as many as say Queenstown or Toa Payoh branch library.

Broken Wire

My solar system is down.  I changde the battery which cost $95, it did not work.  So I change the solar controller first $30 piece and latest from a different brand for $23.  Still the system is not working.  I remember reading in the Q and A in the internet someone measures the voltage.  So I tried and found that the voltage on the battery terminals is the same as the solar panel.  When I measured the battery, the voltage is much lower.  So finally, I decided to measure the resistance of the wires.  I found one wire open!  I could not believe this.  I keep changing different component of the system which cost a lot of money and I did not check the wires.  Wires are passive and therefore I am caught in a paradigm that it will not fail.  How wrong was I.  Once I change the wires, my system work like a charm:)

I am not good at troubleshooting anymore.  I just pay a lot of money to fix something when it should cost me next to nothing.  Luckily, I did not throw away what I thought was bad components like the battery and the solar controller.

Sore Throat

I am coughing for two weeks now.  My throat is painful when I swallow today.  Am I getting from bad to worse?  I took Vitamin B aka Berroca.  So I wonder if the vit B cause my throat to feel sore or is it the durian that my father-in-law gave us.  It is a wonderful durian, I ate only two seeds and now my throat hurts.

This afternoon, we tried a new Vietnamese (new for us) resturant called Wraps and Rolls in Ion basement 3.  The food is pretty good.  B3 likes the bbq pork.  I like it too.  We had wraps and deep fried spring rolls.  The food is enjoyable.

Soi Thai Wanton Mee

I am still having jetlag and is up at 5am this morning.  So I went to the wet market to get my dose of home.  I had tea.  The wet market makes me feel at home.  This is why I like Victoria Market in Melbourne - the feel of home.  Melbourne has great food and plenty of Asian resturants and supermarkets.  In the suburbs, it is also a cultural mix and reminds me of living in Canada.  So I think it should be fine to live there.

I enjoys teh halia in Fu Lu Shou hawker center while waiting for B3 to finish his tuition.  Since I had breakfast, I thought we should try the Thai wanton mee.  B1 took a bus to meet us there.  We were faster than him and pick him up along AMK Ave 5.  The queue was super long and moving very slowly.  So we try the Shanghai food as the resturant is quite empty.  The food was really good.  But we also know why it is not well patronised.  It is more than $20 per head and we just ordered their signature dishes.  B3 liked the food and says we should go there again.  After knowing the price B3 may have second thoughts. 

We have to try the Wanton mee another time.

Sweaty and Smelly

For a week and a half, I was so comfortable.  No sweat!  Literally!  Living in cool winter, it is very nice to walk about and not break a sweat at all.  I need to live in a temperate country.  Now that I am back, I am all sweaty and smelly after cycling.  It is not strenous exercise but still makes me uncomfortably sticky all over.  Walking for half an hour produce the same effect.  So this is the advantage of living in a cold country.  Maybe I should go back to Canada and retire there.  Only problem is minus 20 is not fun either.

Weather in Australia is good, very good.  However, I sense living there may not be that easy either.

Seeing What Others Don't

This book has stories of insights.  It explore from news worthy sources where insights produce Nobel prize, save lives, saving one's own skin and catching a car thief.  The first story is the one I remember best.  A police car come to a stop at red light.  Beside it was a brand new BMW.  The driver was smoking.  He then casually drop the cigarette ashes onto the seat.  The police saw and look away.  Then a sudden thought came his mind.  Which owner of a new BMW would do this?  If the car was lend to a friend which friend will casually dropped cigarette ashes on the sea?  Something incongruous.  So they stopped the BMW and found it was just stolen.  I like this story.

Lamb Ribs

Looking for ribs in the internet is a hit and miss.  I went to the Survey resturant.  Unfortunately, it has only Lamb ribs on the menu.  The lamb is quite good but I was looking for pork or baby back ribs.  It is quite tender and the crust is crispy.  The chef use kicap manis with olive oil.  Overall, the taste is very good except for the strong smell of lamb.  There are only 3 ribs as I ordered a small portion.  So do not feel bloated after my meal.

Not bad but wish it is the repeat of Hurricane.

Downtown Brisbane

It pays to ask!  I usually walk around the hotel.  I stay in this hotel before when it was Holiday Inn.  Now it is known as Trader's.  I have more time as well.  I arrived when there is daylight.  I walked to Queen's Mall.  It is nice walk as temp is still cool.  I tried Southbank.  It is very cultural, performing arts, museum, library and theatres.  It is interesting to walk but my right foot is recovering and not in a strong state yet.  So I did not spend much time there.

I could not find my bbq ribs, so I have a smoked pull pork sandwich instead.  I think I should be able to do better than what I had.  So I may do my own smoked pork next time.

Hurricane

My host asked what I like for lunch as I was starving.  I do not have breakfast.  So I requested for bbq ribs lunch.  He says there is a chain called Hurricane.  I like the ribs.  Hurricane has only side ribs.  The portions is huge.  I ordered half a rack with baked potatoes.  The ribs is well done, tender and has smoky flavor.  The sauce is well caramelised.  It is really good.  Just messy to eat as bones are long.  Beside our table, 8 couples plus one female.  So they may be on a tour.  I was trying to figure where they come from and thought they may be from Guangzhou.  They speaks Cantonese and Mandarin.  I should have known as the Mandarin did not have the mainland accent.  They are from Malaysia.  The group is warm and friendly.  I did not talk to them until we are leaving as I do not want to be rude to my host.

I am glad to have ribs as they are good in Oz.

Almost Every Meal in Australia, Singaporeans

Melbourne is a big city and when I go for meals I met Singaporeans.  The first meal was dinner in Spicy Fish was Singaporean family with a kindergarden age girl.  Then at Mekong River for Vietnamese Pho, mother and 12 years old daughter.  Mother asked daughter to eat more "tau gay".  Her accent and words are clearly from my hometown. 

Last night arriving Sidney Coogee Beach and starving, I check out all the resturants.  I like the ribs but the resturant Brazil Churros has only buffet and I did not want to stuff myself up.  So I pick an Italian resturant. What I asked about what type of apple juice they serve to the waitress, another man came to explain to me.  Then he asked if I am from Singapore.  This time it is the owner nephew.  It is probably a coincident but incredible for this trip.  3 encounters with people from the tiny red dot.

Right Foot Hurts!

Yesterday, I must have injured my right foot when I took the long walk to Victoria market to look for my BBQ meat.  As I was walking back after dinner, my right foot cannot handle pressure.  The sole feels off and sharp pain radiates every step.  I thought I could sleep it off but this morning the pain did not go away.  I thought I could "crack" my bone and put it back in place but so far it has not work.

So my plan to buy try the smoked ribs went up in smoke!  It is too far to walk.  20 mins uphill.  So I am in my room blogging.  The cold weather and now my sprained right foot prevent me from exploring the city more.  The food is pretty good.  I like my pad Thai and fried spring rolls finishing with 4 colours chendol for dinner last night.  I am interested in the Peking Duck but will have to save this for next time.  I would have love to buy the meats for bbq.  They are so fresh and tempting.  Must see if my new company will have a job here so that I can relocate here for a year or two.

My boys was surprised that I am gone for the weekend.  It is usual for ANZ unless I focus on one country, A or NZ.  The good thing about internet is phone calls are free.  So it is like I am at home except no meals together.

Downtown Melbourne

It is enjoyable just to walk about town.  The only problem is the cold weather.  It is deep winter now.  So the rain comes and go very often.  I tried to look for bbq meat featured in the magazine.  I reached the place and found it is not open for food.  I was there at 5pm and it is open for drinks only and will have food only at 6pm.  So I was disappointed.

I walked to Chinatown and have Thai food for dinner instead.  I have a great time not doing much.  I just need to read more instead of working and surfing the net.  Melbourne is a University Town.  University of Melbourne, RMIT and University of Victoria are the 3 universities I see while walking.  This morning, I had brunch in Vietnamese pho.  Sitting on the next table is mother and daughter.  Mother speaks Singlish, so I asked the daughter if they are from Singapore.  She points to her mum and says she is.  We chat a little.  She misses the char kuay teow, tao suan and all the hawker favorites.  She did not like the cold.  I share a little with my background and why I was in Melbourne, when I am leaving etc.  I asked what do you do for the weekend.  She says she is going to Victoria market.  I asked what is it.  It is like a flea market.  She says they can walk but will take the tram instead.

Since I have some time to spend, I decided to walk there to find out.  Victoria market is Farmer's market and a flea market.  The fresh meat cuts, the wide range of cheeses and fish fillets.  This is a section for organic vegetables beside the regular vegetables.  Then the flea market has clothing and souvenirs.  I like this place.  I can do my weekly groceries here.  The meat looked very fresh.  Prices are very reasonable.  Only thing is there will not be enough to do our Singapore style cooking like laksa or char kuay teow.  It will be nice to live in Melbourne for a year or two.

Emirates Airlines

My colleague booked the A380 flight and asked me to book the same flight.  I did but my fare was higher.  So I asked him to check and he found the flight no longer exist like me.  The seats are all gone in Qantas.  So I book throught Emirates website and go a business class seat instead. 

Taking the flight reminds me of Singapore Airlines in the past.  The food at the lounge is high quality.  SQ lounge in Singapore is same standard but low standard in other airports.  The stewards and stewardesses are warm and welcoming.  They keep saying how much they appreciate our business, show us how to operate the seat and gadgets.  There is a mini bar on every seat.  Singapore Airline can no longer be hold a candle to Emirates.  The cost cutting in the last 10 years made SQ service level just like other airlines instead of "other airlines talk about". 

It is my first time in Emirates after many years as I do not go to Europe for more than 10 years.  I will take Emirates in future if there is a direct flight.

Downtown Melbourne

Work is over.  Weekend is here.  I did not write earlier because I refused to pay for internet.  Now internet is free.  So here I am.  Weather warms up slightly.  So it is comfortable to walk. So happy to be in Chinatow and have access to Asian food. I had Chinese dinner.  Interestingly, I sat beside a family with a young daughter.  The little girl has no appetite.  She was quietly waiting for her parents to eat their dinner.   All the sudden, she put out a signal that she needs to throw out.  She vomit out all her food.  Her parents seems not so experience and could not handle the situation as well as they could.  Anyway, they are glad that I help out.  Then they asked where I am from. After finding out that I am Singapore, they told me they are from Singapore as well.  The father is working in Melbourne and they had PR years ago but expired.  So when the company offered him a job here.  He told them his PR expired and the government gave him a new PR!

I didn't have a chance to talk too much as they are in a hurry to bring their girl home.

Auckland Public Library

Auckland Library is very friendly to its customers.  There are people on standby waiting to answer any queries.  Many tables and benches have power outlets for patrons to plug in.  Many do so.  The place is very popular with laptops and tablets being used.  The library also reminds me of old times.  Plenty of microfiche and microfilms.  Also bound volumes of magazines and Parliamentary debates in 1900s.  There is a section on Maori history and a museum of World I and II.  So I would say the library seem better than Singapore as they retained some of the old technology.

I like the bound volumes.  I remember doing research and looking for projects in the old magazines.  Nowadays, it is just internet.  Nobody leave through old dusty tomes anymore.

Cold and Windy in Auckland

It was a mad rush yesterday to book my flights and hotel for this trip. I feel rushing about is not the best way.  However, it is my last trip for now to hand over the business to my colleagues in Oz. The colleague was on leave and only returned yesterday.  He is a very nice person but with this kind of attitude and work ethics, competition will be having a good time.

I was not well during the flight.  It may be due to the food in the lounge.  I had a headache and cold sweat in the middle of the night.  Luckily, I took two panadols and it worked!  Just before landing, I took two more.  Now I am feeling a little sleepy since it is hard to have good rest on the aircraft.

The library looked interesting.  I may check it out.  I used to go to the library in the cities I visited and had nothing to do.  I stopped doing this for many years as my habits change and now with internet, everything is at the finger tips.

Ichiban Sushi AMK Hub

B1 is meeting his friends in AMK Hub.  So we decided to have brunch there.  We were there about 10:40am.  All the resturants are not open yet.  We actually want Fish & Co but it only opens at 11:30am, pretty long wait.  Ichiban just close by opens at 11am.  B1 wanted to try since it is always a long queue.  We decided to check it out.  The sushi are not bad.  Price seems reasonable but we ate $96 for 4.  B1 tried a couple of sushi and then left to meet his friends. 

We had chicken katsu don, cha soba, mixed tempura with a total of 20 plus plates of sushi.  The sushi is not as good as the one in Far East Plaza.  Overall it is passable.  However, compared to Fukuoka, it will be poor.

Long Holidays for French

My neighbour is going for holiday.  He and his family will go to Dubai for three weeks and then to France.  After that to Spain and other places.  They will be gone for 2 months.  He is taking his annual home leave.  What an amazing way to live.  Long holidays and paid to go home to Europe.  He has a good job and did well in his job as well.  So he deserves it.

But Singaporeans do not take such long holidays.  We always think it is impossible to be out from work for so long.  For Europeans, this is normal.  They are entitled to long vacation.  My estate has a new French family.  So now we have a total of 3 French families.  The French school nearby attracts French to come to my estate to live.

Taiwan Lychees

This morning I was at the wet market to buy groceries.  Taiwan lychees were on display.  I was not keen at first since they look small.  However, the vendor says try it and I did.  It is amazingly sweet.  The seeds are tiny.  So I bought one kg.  It cost only $5.50/kg.  Cold Storage has two boxes of 500g each for $9.90.  Huge price difference.  Of course there is aircond comfort and brand image when shopping on Cold Storage.

We had the lychees for dessert after dinner.  All my boys ate them.  I am happy as B2 is not a fruit eater.

Fighting Fishes

The fish vendor always tells me that female fighting fish are not aggressive and will not fight with each other.  I bought 10 females a few weeks ago.  Now there are only 5 left.  I had a male that was separate.  So I thought I will put one male with 5 females.  Guess what!  My beautiful wonderfully red with awesome fins was attacked and it fins has become ragged.  I separated it again but its injuries was too severe and it died this morning.  I gave it to my arowana.

Females fighting fish gang up and attacked the male.  So I was wrong and thought the male will be happy with more females.  Instead it was killed.  The male cost so much more too.

Keeping a Journal

B2 started to keep a journal and writes every day.  He has completed one book and on with his second.  B1 bought two journals when we were in Fukuoka and started writing too.  Only B3 is stuck with his videos and computer games on the phone.

I am glad that two boys have the habit of writing.  I need to encourage B3 but he is fairly resistant.  He need to write in Chinese as well but will not do unless he has to submit as a homework.

So even though B1 and B2 no longer update their blogs, they are writing.  I am glad.

Finding Your Element

Ken Robinson is a funny speaker.  His talks in TED are were received i.e. lots and lots of views.  I was listening to the book Finding Your Element by him.  As I listened to him talking about finding my element, I feel more and more depressed.  I do not have passion for anything.  I like to fly model planes but did not really fly them well.  I am too worried about breaking them.  I like scientific toys but do not build them myself.  Rather, I assemble them from kits.  Ken gave out examples of people finding their passion and achieving world renown reputation.  Now I feel like a failure.  Just an average Joe.  I wonder if I will ever "find" my element.