Good deed for the week

I had 2 movie vouchers that were expiring in February but my busy week ensured that I won't have time to use them before their time was up.

So what did I do?

I passed them on to someone who needed it more than I do.

"Here, take this. Go ask *someone* out for a movie. Don't say I never contribute to your future happiness."

*looks at watch*

I think the pair are on their way to catch a movie sometime soon. Hee.

Simple Pleasures in Life: Reprieve

My squeeky clean jogging shoes. I um, take good care of them.

It rained at 6.05pm today.

I was deliriously happy (although I really shouldn't admit to being happy, nor should I have skipped around the office as much as I did).

Because I've made an appointment with my colleagues to go de-fatting by jogging. And somehow I woke up with lots of aches around my shoulders and neck, so I really wasn't too keen on getting more aches on the lower half of my body. Now, I have the perfect excuse.

"It's raining!"

*does the lil rain dance*

"Chap Goh Meh"

21 Feb 2008 the 15th day of Chinese New Year, and at this time of posting, CNY 08 is officially over. Work and life can go on as per normal now.

In keeping with the Chinese tradition, we gathered at my grandmother's place for a veritable feast. Let your eyes feast on the spread; I promise you it tastes better than it looks here:


My grandma is the best cook, ever =) She's also got incredibly green fingers. I had a whale of a time photographing her potted plants. Alas, I don't do her plants justice. View the full photo set here.

Fate

He was a boyish looking, honest young man with a generous heart and a goofy grin.

She was a pretty girl with a warm smile and a helpful, friendly nature.

He didn't know how to write in Mandarin, and needed to apply for a visa for his mother so that he could bring her for a much needed holiday.

She was Chinese educated, spoke the language fluently and was working as a clerk in the Immigration Office.

He asked her for help, she helped. Their paths crossed but nothing happened and they went on their separate ways. All in a day's work.

She went down to The Capitol Building after work to check out the movie timings. She was supposed to meet a friend to watch the latest block-buster in town, but alas, it was sold out. She called her friend to explain the situation, her friend didn't want to watch any other movie, so it became a non-event. Shrugging it off, she left the ticketing area.

He was in town settling some errands. Afterall, he'd just quit his job in Singapore and was relocating back to Malaysia. He felt like catching a movie, maybe some of his friends will be free. The nearest public phone was... at The Capitol Building. He walked there briskly.

As fate would have it, none of his friends were free. Looks like he'll have to catch the movie alone. Walking to the ticketing area, he saw a familiar face and was greeted with the same friendly smile that made an impression on him earlier that day.

"Would you like to join me for a drink?"
"Ok."

=)

And that was how the Malaysian boy met the Singaporean girl, fell in love, got married within 1 year. 1 year after that, I was born. 3 years after me, my brother was born.

As I grilled my parents about what made them do the whole long-distance relationship thing, here are some soundbytes from them:

"When I first met your dad he looked like a silly boy. *grin* But we talked like long time friends, like we've known each other for a long time. So like that lor."

"Your mum ah... who see also will like one. I was a good boy and wanted to bring my mother for a holiday... I ended up getting a wife. *grin* "

*****
Lesson Du Jour:
Guys, take a risk and ask that sweet girl out for a drink.
Gals, take a risk and accept that date from the honest looking guy. (hmm maybe that's not really risky behaviour afterall ;) )

Happy Valentine's Day =)
*****

In The Still Of The Night

It was 12 midnight.

*rustle rustle*

What was that sound?

*rustle rustle rustle*

Hmm, it's coming from outside the window, from downstairs.

Curious, my mum went to the window to take a look, and saw 2 middle aged men, 1 middle aged woman and a tree waving in the still of the night. What could possibly be going on?

The answer: Mango Theives.

Modus Operandi: Bring plastic bags, bamboo poles and wear long pants. 1 (the one wearing long pants, so as to prevent tell-tale scratches and insect bites) to climb up the tree and shake it vigorously (hence the rustling), 2 to run around and collect the mangoes strewn all over the place. And note the timing: 12 midnight on a Tuesday, when most folks are presumably fast asleep. These are experienced folks indeed =)

My mum and I stared as they continued robbing the state of the fruits of the land. The lady caught us staring and kept looking at us as she continued her scouting for fallen mangoes, but well, we just continued looking on in amusement and amazement.

I wish they would share the fruits of their labour. I love mangoes.

In My Father's House

Going back to a sleepy small town that has not changed in the 15years that I've not visited, I came to understand the person who is my father more.

It is the town of Parit, an hour's drive away from Ipoh and 7-9hours drive away from Singapore, depending on whether you have pit stops for meals along the way. In that town, there are no cinemas, shopping malls, internet cafes and supermarkets. The neighbours all know one another, the houses and cars hardly ever change, the next generation grows up and leaves but always comes back to visit and childhood friends meet up there like they've never left.

When I was younger (read: 20years ago. good gosh.), visiting the small town of Parit was an annual affair that I didn't look forward to. It was partly due to the long arduous drive back: 7hours from KL, going by the Old Road. Now, with the North-South Highway, the time is halved and the journey is much smoother. We used to have to replace a tire each time we drive back due to the various brick and bracks on the uneven roads. The place is old and not very entertaining for a child, except for little chicks to terrorize and good food. We used to stay for 2 days, maybe 3, and be pampered and doted upon by the relatives throughout. Of course as a child used to indulgences, I took these for granted and never gave it a second thought.

This year, my dad is free during the CNY period for the first time in donkey years and my family managed to take leave from our various commitments to head down after being absent for an embarrassingly long time. We packed books, mp3 players, a sense of impending boredom and drove 7-9hours there. I didn't know what to expect: will we feel out of place, city folks in a small town? will I be bored out of my mind with no internet? will there be anything to talk about?

After a long, winding drive and several pitstops, we finally pulled up into the dark driveway of a dilapidated house that did not change one bit in all the years we've not visited, and my aunty opened the door and welcomed us like VIPs with an affection and sincerity that made us feel so at home. And it was like that for the rest of the days. My aunties and uncles cooked dishes that they've not cooked for years just so that we can have a taste of it. Cousins we've met at most two or three times in our lives treated us like we're long lost siblings. They brought us all over the area and kept urging us to visit more often. By the end of the trip, my family was sad to leave and it was a tearful and emotional parting at the driveway.

I got reacquainted with the habit of driving at least 1 hour to find good food. The 2nd day we were there, my dad's childhood friend brought us to a seafood joint that was 50km away from where we stayed. 50km! It is like travelling the whole length of Singapore, and that's just one way. It was like that for the rest of the meals we had there: 40min is a short drive, 1hour is standard, 2hours is slightly long.

I began to realise that our royal treatment wasn't so much due to the fact that they hardly see us nor because I am so incredibly lovable (which I am, honest. at times. I hope.), but because my dad is incredibly loved in his home, and they love us so much because of him. Kind of reminds me of how God accepts us thoroughly because of Jesus =)

Going back to my dad's hometown and family, I began to understand how he is the person he is--a simple man with simple, solid values of filial piety and being kind and giving to others, because his brothers and sister-in-laws are as such. I understood better why he doesn't enjoy Singapore's landscape when his childhood was spent in a town with a river running by his backdoor and mountain ranges surrounding it for miles on end. I also began to see why he sometimes find the Singaporean society abrasive for his sensitive nature: small town folks are a close knitted community and are incredibly hospitable. Relationships are held in extremely high regards and people appraoch one another without hidden agendas.

In my father's house, the furniture did not change in decades and the toilet apparently is the same since his childhood, making it at least half a century old. The people in there have gone through phases in life, some heart-wrenching, some quietly joyful. The abundant love there reserved always for my father makes it his home no matter his age and his whereabouts.

(Photos of my Ipoh trip are uploaded into my flickr account. Feel free to browse.)

Updates and Snippets

1. Switchfoot Concert
I love 'em, love 'em, love 'em! Even though I felt like an aunty in the moshpit with the bulk of the concert goers being 10years younger than me (school bags on the floor... students in school uniform.. what gives?!), I had no regrets going for this concert =) Their stage presence is fantastic and they sound better LIVE than in the CD. Love the way they transit between the songs, love their pauses and perfectly synchronised timings, love everything about them. I want to marry the lead singer's brother.

Intuition didn't enjoy the concert as much as I did though :P wonder why... :P haha.. okay I'd better not push my luck here ; )

2. Eating in Ipoh
My family will be driving up to Ipoh this CNY to spend time with my dad's side of the family. 8-9hour car rides ain't no fun. Am currently frantically updating my mp3 player's playlist. 1000songs and counting. I do wonder how I'm going to manage for 5 whole days without internet access at my beck and call, so I'm bringing some books and a nice notebook to entertain myself. Am also looking forward to some quiet and slow living, as well as a tonne of good food. Ipoh is food paradise. Some things on my eat-list: Ipoh coffee (duh!), Ipoh horfun, Ipoh fried noodles, paos, dimsum, seafood etc.

Hope to get some good pictures too, with my lil powershot =) Will be back on Thursday, so hopefully I'll get some time to post something about my visit back there =)

3. Movies
27 Dresses: Great chick flick =) Some found it rather slow but I really enjoyed it! The hunk is totally delicious and droolworthy, but that's quite besides the point.

Sweeney Todd: Gore, blood, gore, blood, gore. Spent half the time covering my eyes and then peeping at the cinema screen then closing my eyes, especially when the shiny, glinting, smooth razor blade hovers over pale, soft, vulnerable necks. I hate the sight of gushing / spurting / squirting blood. Completely dark and fantastic art direction, as always, Mr Tim Burton. I love your works, but this is a bit hard for me to stomach. Especially the meat pies. Ugh.

Ah Long Pte Ltd: I WANNA WATCH! MUST WATCH! Love Mark Lee's Malaysian accent =)

4. Food
Found a fantastic place to eat great Korean food at fairly reasonable prices near Tanjong Pagar. I had the best bi bim bab I've had in Singapore *smacks lips* and really authentic Korean ginseng chicken. Must go back and take some pictures as well as post the address. Rabbitsense, if you're reading this, it's worth going down to during lunch =) Pretty generous portions too.

Found a disgusting place to NOT eat at. The cafe should do us all a favour and not serve food... please stick with the too-sweet-drinks and dry-cardboard desserts. Your food should not be even called food. Soggy microwaved fries that tastes of stale oil and cold, overcooked pasta are the stuff of my nightmare. Galilee Cafe at Bedok Library, I'm looking at you.

Have a great Chinese New Year and eat some pineapple tarts on my behalf! If there are any golfball pineapple tarts available, save some for me =) Gracias!