2024

It's been a while since I lasted posted anything. The very last one was was to document an exasperated fall which Janielle sustained, one in which she broken a tooth. And even that was a good 8 years ago! Janielle is now 16, and Jemaine 15; they will be taking their "A"  and "O" level respectively next year.. talking about flying times!!

I came back to the blog as the wife is in Vietnam at the moment, and she asked about the last time we were at HCM, too long ago! That was in 2006.. then I began scrolling through my posts... so many memories.. ;) aiyo all the photos we looked like were just kids!

I'm at the moment at home, our 2nd place already. Moved into an EM 3 year ago as the kids are growing, and we have a lifestyle to upkeep (we have a lot of hobbies, hence equipments! hehe). Working from home became a norm after the Covid-19 pandemic, but situation has eased a lot but the practice of working from home stays in one form or the other. For me it is 3 days in office, and 2 days from home, and the company is rather flexble about it.

The family of 4 is still doing what we did as 2 pax years ago - living our lives, experiencing and exploring the world.. Was riding 2 nights ago with Janielle, and I asked  if she actually can remember the trips we have been to or not, the most recent ones being Yun Nan, New Zealand.. She prefers NZ; in her words, more relaxed (we rented a motorhome exploring the South Island, it was great.) before the pandemic we went Taiwan, Hokkaido and Korea.. all of which the memories she had were fading.. I initially intended to re-visit NZ this year under the pretext of Jemain taking Geog, but ended up she took Lit! haha... Jemaine was in dismay... but the kids are also so busy now. Janielle has 2 CCAs and Jemaine is passionate in dance, each of the activities has competitions and /or exams they need to be around for... aiya see how lah.

Regardless, me and yb started going on yearly travels where it will only be the 2 of us, kind of like our anniversary trip. Started with Germany in 2022 (ok we were joined by Di-An also, she's like our local guide haha), Japan in 2023... In Jul this year we are heading to Australia, a driving trip this time, travelling along the Great Ocean Road. Can't wait!

Latest family photo I can find in my phone album:

Hotpot dinner at Austin before we head home SG.

One-night trip to JB on Gd Friday:
We went in Thurs night (4-hr jam!!), back on Fri evening.

Janielle had a fall

Janielle had a fall 2 nights ago, by usual standard that wasn't a bad fall, the difference is that when it happened she was carrying Jemaine on her back and was trying to run to catch up to us. She fell face-first I believe, and broke her top right incisor.. Ouch.. Actually I was furious, not because she/they done anything wrong, but I was anguished that it was a preventable accident since I've warned them so many times specifically saying that they will lose their teeth should they fall. Needless to say, they got it bad from me, a long lecture, no physical punishment. I feel bad for Janielle especially that tooth was an permanent tooth, there will not be a replacement. I found 2 fragments on the ground and was hoping that the dentist would be able to salvage them. As we walk back to our car, I didn't talk, the kids did not cry. But when Yanbin carried Janielle into her arms, Janielle just poured into her shoulder, sobbing.. They fell asleep in the car. Later Janielle told us, that when she woke up from that nap, she tried to feel for her tooth, hoping that it was only a bad dream.

In the morning, my stirred emotions finally settled, and I was finally cooled down enough to feel very sorry for Janielle. She was up early chatting with Yanbin at the dining table. She's back to the jovial girl that we know. She is a strong girl indeed. I chatted with the kids, separately. Jemaine felt bad too, she said that she would not ask Janielle to carry her again if we turn back time. She also agreed that Jiejie is strong for she knows that when Jiejie was at the dentist she endured with the discomfort when she was receiving treatment (even the dentist said Janielle is good, usually adults couldn't get through the night without discomfort). I made her promise to keep on walking even if her legs are tired again next time. I can't really fault Janielle for wanting to carry Jemaine when her lil sis grumbles abt her tired legs too; she's only being the big sister that she is. When I chatted with her abt it, she said she will get sad again if I remind her abt it (Lol). The rest of the weekend went by normally after Janielle got her remnant tooth temporarily covered at the dentist. The 2 sisters were back to chattering, playing games at the backseat of the car, complaining abt each other when they got home. I was very glad that Janielle didn't blame Jemaine for what happened despite me scolding Jemaine abt her grumbles in front of Janielle. I'm amazed by her big heart.

For now I can only hope that she gets her tooth build up soon and that the treatment is easy on her, she's too small to be going through all these.. I'm proud to have such a strong girl..

tired

longing for a real break, a break, away from EVERYTHING...

that tad bit of soreness which wont go away..

I've been working myself silly, very hard these few months.. I'm trying to make my effort be seen.. and hopefully be acknowledged.

For 2 occasions I felt that I've been neglected at work. First was that 2 of my immediate colleagues were nominated for, and received the "Exceptional Science Award".. It's not that they were undeserving, but I felt that I contributed significantly to a particular work of one which i think landed her the award. I was the one that got that stroke of brilliance and suggested to her to take a different interpretation of that data.. That presentation made everything made sense.. I dun think she purposely discredited me, and I dun even think she gave any thought abt what did she actually do which got her nominated, i guess she presented that data, and people are happy with it.. Well to be fair, she did all the work, all I did was suggest.

The second was that a pay adjustment move didn't include me, the rest of my team were. 

these feelings were there a couple of months back, i've since convinced myself that my time will come, and that i am blessed to be able to learn much at this job, and to study while i work too.. im also blessed in more ways than one, i've got a life (ok some life, not so much now), close friends, good personal relationship with most colleagues, good opportunity at work, have a lovely wife and 2 adorable daughters..

but i hope, my time will come, soon.

Disturbed

The CO planned some events, out of the ordinary, for this year's in-camp.. Some activities which I do really find worth joining.. A half day tour has been organized in the name of National Education and a Family day was planned to let our families, wives and kids know what their men of the house really do during their in-camp training.. The CO mentioned making arrangement for rides in some of the army vehicles, face painting for kids, as well as combat rations foodtasting for families..

However so far from wad I've gathered from ppl ard me, most ppl aren't interested at all, and thinks that it is a waste of time.. I was expecting one of my storeman to bring his young boy for this family day event, where his wife and kids can see the battalion in action during an actual exercise.. His response was "outfield leh!".. Fine, maybe it can be a bit dusty and hot.. The thing is that he didn't even asked if his family is interested in the 1st place!

It's tough making ur family proud of ur national contribution, without the serviceman being proud of wad he's doing in the 1st place...

Lab rat

Slowly, but surely, I know that I'm walking I to the routines of a common Singaporean, or a family man if u shld say..

I need to get out of this, at least occasionally.. Get out of the daily cycle of waking, sending wife and kids to mother-in-laws', heading to work, lunch at desk/foodcourt, work, head home, get car fetch wife/kids, dinner, back home, put the kids to bed, surf net, slp..

Argh!

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Annapurna Base Camp trek (part 2)

Back in Singapore.. After half a day of unpacking, washing of dirty laundry and cleaning up of the house, I've finally beginning to pick up my life from where I've left it. Fetch the kids, paid my bills and parking fines, sent the car for maintenance servicing.. Now we're on our way back home on the mrt...
I've actually been blogging along the way as I was traveling thru Nepal.. But those entries really sound more like documenting the trip than the actual blogging of my personal thoughts.. I'll considering posting those again k?

Lying on the opposite sides of the Himalayas, Nepal is to India like Tibet to China. We've got an impression that that Nepali does not get along well with the Indians.. From Lonely Planets saying they want to distinguish themselves from Delhi with a mere 15min in timezone difference, from the expression I get from a porter when I mentioned Nepali music sound Indian (oh come on Indian music is the nearest I've come across in Singapore mah)..

Other than Old Pokhara, and the stretch of Kathmandu outside Thamel tat we walked on our last day in Nepal, the places where we stayed is very much like any other tourist-overpopulated street.. Like Kuta beach in Bali, that backpacker area in HCMC, Chatuchak in BKK, the marketplace in Siem Reap... So I did rather enjoy the walk in Old Pokhara and outside Thamel.. Lets me see the real Nepal.. Nepali engaged in simple trades, at least tats from wad I saw.. Selling meat, peddling vege and fruits, goldsmiths, selling flowers, spices, dentists, selling household items.. The Nepali were in the midst of their 4-day Dewali (Deepavali) celebration, great chance to catch a glimpse of their activities..

The trek.
In summary, I enjoyed the trek very much.. It's similar to Mt. K trek, in the sense of altitude, thin air and the cold.. It's like the G.Tahan trek in terms of the length.. But this is better of the both.. Very nice scenery, very good pace.. We didn't have to start damn early and end damn late, didn't have to trek in the dark other than the 2 sunrise treks.. G.Tahan was horrible such that we stop only to eat and sleep.. In Nepal, we usually reach our destination by 3pm in the afternoon, plenty of time to change into cleaner warmer clothes and settle down, have some hot drinks, even a few games of bridge... We had plenty of rest, usually asleep by 8pm even though each day breakfast was at 630am.. 10 hrs of sleep each night!! Mt. K was tough such that we ascend so much in 2 days.. And on day 2, trek starts at bloody 2am, 4hrs to sunrise, and then ends only when u're out.. That's abt 15hrs of climbing and descending on the 2nd day!! In the ABC trek, we trekked for 4 hrs before lunch and 2-3hr after.. That's it! Even for sunrise treks we only start at 430am.. 2hrs to sunrise.. The only grouse I haf was my stamina in the cold and in thin air.. I had the same problem the 2 times I was in Mt. K.. Think when I do go for the Everest Base Camp trek I really do need to train really hard...

View from Ghandruk, our teahouse on Day 1 of the trek, Excellent View Guesthouse

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Annapurna Base Camp trek

7 days in Nepal, 5 days in the trek.. At points along the trek I really feel like giving up.. I guess mayb because our 'ultimate' objective: Annapurna Base Camp, was attained on the 5th morning, of 10 days into the trek.. And a big part was from my intolerance of the cold and thin air.. And also possibly that this portion of the trek is basically a retracing of our steps to our lodge at day 2. The 'mountain sickness' wasn't as bad as the 2 times I was at Mt K. But this trek is definitely longer, comparable to G.Tahan?

We were talking abt all the things we missed from home today! KFC, butter crab, prawn paste chicken.. Quite sick of the menu from at lodges. Let's hope the scenery for the next few days can keep us going!!

Machhapuchhre, taken from Annapurna Base Camp

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passing

ocaasionally when we make out way back home from dinner at my mother-in-law's, we'll bump into this old couple at our void deck, talking strolls or juz sitting around.. not too old, the auntie prob in her early-mid 60s, uncle late 70s mayb? She looked healthy, dark haired, bearing dark shades at times, we thought mayb she had some surgery done in her eyes, we don't know.. He's holding a crutch, some red patches on his face, seems a bit senile (im not being mean, just couldn't find the write words) seems like he got lots of difficulty walking.. but well she got him, and he got her... we do stop by for occasional short chats and Janielle will call them "uncle and auntie".. auntie also noted Jemaine's presence in yb's tummy then.. Jemaine did also say her hi's after she's born...

it was a while ago since we bumped into them again...
yesterday evening we saw the uncle again, but this time round instead of the auntie, there were 3 younger men with him, walking towards our block.. and on the shoulders of the 3 men each bears a small black square cloth, signifying that someone in the family has passed on...

yb was shocked for words... there was a wake going on, and yb went ahead and verified that the auntie was really that lady in the picture.... =\

later last evening, we saw that uncle again.. this time sitting at a spot where we used to see the couple sitting around.. however this time with a young man.. probably his youngest son or an older grandson.. we walked by and nodded in gesture... i asked yb what did she think he's thinking abt.. she said probably reminising the times when he was sitting there with the wife...

i think we'll drop by pay our last respect some time these 2 days... see if we can bring Janielle along...

Path less beaten

Lunch with some friends today.. Chatted.. Abt my plans in the coming future, among other stuffs.. One suggested looking for collaboration between possibly SMART and GSK (can't rem if she said NUS too), does sound like a feasibly good idea, until she mention that it offers stability too..

Not that it became a bad idea, but it just caught me.. Yes having a family of my own, one of the desirable goal I should haf, is indeed being stable.. But in fact it was one of the things which I purposely put at the back of my mind.. For I know that if stability is to be a primary concern, I'll not be able to take big steps.. Selfish? Perhaps, but I've got a supportive wife.. And 2 kids who're right now too young to grumble.. It's really now or NEVER..

For someone who decided to join ODAC after 8 years of badminton / band / table-tennis... One who chose to be the pioneer bio student in NTU over NUS to study life science.. One who went to take BioSciences in the Uni without an 'A'-level in Biology.. One who went into the unknown territory of doing fyp in a commercial lab while everyone else stayed with the academia.. One who applied for an apartment while he was still spending his parents' money in his education.. One who's going to abandoned his kids to go for a 2-weeks trekking expedition in Nepal with his wife.... Mayb stability is really one of the last thing in his mind....

I think I'll still like to take a shot.

Janielle is such a brilliant poseur for the camera now!! But beware she's actually a monster disguised as a cute little angel...!!

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May/June

Didn't haf the best of times in the recent weeks.. Lots of things.. Happenings and impt decisions to be made..

Firstly, friends at work are leaving, 1 haf left.. These are my closer bunch at work.. And I'll be the only one left!! So no more morning coffee, afternoon tea, lunch will not be as comfortable as it was, with friends whom I no need to purposely put up a topic with.. No more chit chats walks to mrt station.. No more evening runs, no more weekend blades with them... Anyway I think I'll survive la.. Am already channeling my time and thoughts to work more diligently..

One left for another job, another 2 leaving for PhD.. Further study has always been an option for me, however nv put in place, procrastinated, until recently which was unfortunately a bit late.. Timing was lousy.. Ppl leaving means that I will haf more difficulty doing part time MSc... But i haf a supportive boss and I'm grateful for that.. I'm currently gathering doc for application..

Another option came by, tat's to do my study overseas.. This option has NEVER cross my mind.. Being a down to earth Singaporean, taking MSc locally was the only option I considered.. It came by when the wife said she don't mind if we were to go overseas or a couple of yrs either for wok or for studies (it sparked much enthusiasm in the fren who's heading for PhD in Getmany!!).. With the kids still very small now, it's easier to uproot the family for a few years, and be back for the kids' pri sch education.. Anyway, I'm looking...

Next, having started a family early. Seriously lugging 2 kids ard is not for whims.. Not juz talking abt bringing them out, but having ur life planned and revolving ard them.. It's juz so difficult to haf a life with kids.. Esp with 2.. It's juz impossible to simply say "ok!!" when ppl asked u out even for a couple hrs for dinner or drinks.. We gotta say "sorry couldn't go" when friends planned for a night out for the 1st match of the World Cup.. So diff when we can't juz, by default, leave the children at home with the grandparents..

Tat said, NOTHIN comes close to the interaction I get with my kids! Jus ytd, I was sitting by the desk surfing ard for courses to take, when Janielle came in with a toy spoon and a bowl..

"daddy wan?"
"wads that?"
"fish"
"I dun wan"
"want huh?"
"fine, ok I wan.."
She went on the "feed" me..

Then suddenly she passed the spoon and bowl to me..

"自己吃 ok? Jan Jan go Mm Mm"
(eat it urself ok? Jan Jan go shit)

And she ran out... To her potty...


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ICT

Looking fwd to my next in-camp!!

(Image from google)

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Turning 30

Nope I still got a couple of years before I hit the big 3 number.. Juz a thought I had earlier today as I was commuting to work.. Wad might be going on in the mind of someone in his/her thirties...?

Any input? Anyone....?



Hello........?


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unhappiness

nth went really wrong today..

but i find myself finding fault in ppl today.. i thought i was more amiable than this...

was it juz me?
need to do some soul-searching then....

on another note, i wish i could go home early, and take a nap.. before my evening routine of fetching my family starts at 7pm...

tired...

So tired I could juz fall asleep ANYWHERE!

Didn't sleep well.. Dreamt that I was preparing to go for a trip on my own.. So much to prep; book tic, pack bag, make arrangement for my way there etc.. It didn't help it got broken up to 2 parts by janielle's whines at 2am...

Currently in the midst of making plans for 2 trips...

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Kuching day 6.. Last day...

Last day in Kuching today, nth planned other than walking the neighbouring streets and buying some local products for the families and some friends.. Woke up late today! 0830.. Sun was up.. Actually I like it better early.. Less heat, less people.. U see ppl coming in and opening their stalls for business.. The younger ones juz heading home to slp on the public holiday..

Took a walk along the Main Bazaar.. First time we walk here thou we were actually juz staying a street back.. Mayb coz it's Good Friday in a majority Christian country, there's quite a crowd.. There's this stretch that sells souveniors and local produces aimed at tourists.. Things are more or less the same.. We ventured further across the street and we noticed more locals doing their daily morning shopping.. Ppl buying bags and bags of ikan bilis, spice powder.. Butter/magarine comes in big tins and ppl buy by the weight.. Cooking oil sold in packets.. Theres also an alley that sells food, mainly malay, macam pasar malam back at home, but in the day.. Quite a nice atmosphere la..

Kuching is like many of the towns in the west Malaysia we've visited many years back as students and very young working adults.. Those tat we juz wan a short short weekend getaway, somewhere where we could juz slp over, and spend the day exploing the streets and eating the local food.. It's easy to get ard, u could walk, take a bus, or u could flag down a cab easily.. Ppl are nice and very seldom pushy..

I think I may come back here..

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Kuching day 5!

Finally things went on as planned an we managed to find 3 other travellers to make 5 of us to share that ferry to Bako National Park HQ, even before we board the bus! Weather wa great, a little bit too good in fact.. Some 30% of the trails were exposed and we were practically baked under the sun.. Other than the super duper hot weather and very long trails, and lousy timing and location for lunch (there's only 1 canteen located at the HQ in the whole park, and lunch is ready only at 1130), Bako is quite worth going.. We planned to completed 2 trails but turned back when we were 300m from the end of the 2nd one due to intolerance to the heat, our tiredness and potential shortage of water (and time too, since we've already prearranged with our boatman the pick up timing to bring us back) We spotted a couple of proboscis monkeys too! The 1st we saw in fact literally dropped in on us.. I think it was checking us out when I think it lose footing or sth, came crashing onto the ground 5m from us with a big palm leave.. Loud entrance!

Anyway now I'm really burnt.. Turning in soon.. I've been feeling very slpy since we had our dinner at a local seafood place.. Nice and cheap! Only RM65 for fish, prawn, bamboo clams, a vege and drinks!

View of our intended destination!! Before we turned back...

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Kuching Day 4

Guess what.. We missed the shuttle bus again!! Actually not very sure la, the schedule written there says 720am, it was 730 when we were there.. I asked the owner of the lodge that sells tic for the shuttle, he said the earliest is 915am.. So we took the kolo mee we dabao to the waterfront and slowly enjoyed our breakfast, while time and ppl passed by...

Met a fellow traveller on that same shuttle, he was actually on his way to G.Santubong, the mountain that forms the backdrop of Sarawak Culture Village.. At the ht of 800+m, it towers over the village and steepess of close to 95deg at the steepest point! ( bearing in mind he started close to sea level and its gonna be juz a daytrip.. And the figures I estimated one la) anyway he's gonna haf his 2nd attempt at conquering the summit after falling out 120m from the summit 2yrs ago.. He said he was exhausted.. He gonna take shorter albeit steeper route this time round... So he hopped off the minivan when we were halfway there and bid us good luck.. I think he needs more luck than us!

The cultural village was indeed rather touristy, but I didn't find that it's a waste of time.. I particularly enjoyed going into the constructed traditional Rumah Malayu and Rumah Cina.. I actually felt very at home in the fake Chinese house.. Perhaps it's my subconscious doing it's magic? ( I did stayed in a house and conditions like this before.. Before my parents moved into a HDB, before I turned 3..)

Damai beach was a little bit of a disappointment.. It's really quite pretty, big waves, fine sand, clear horizon and all.. But dun think it fit swimming in la.. A little too rough for dipping.. Took a few snaps and off I ran to catch the shuttle!

Back at Kuching, we took a short ferry and ventured to the other side of the river where there is a community of Malay kumpungs.. Real kumpungs, real ppl staying there, not made for show one... But the fact tat they're there attracts kits of tourists from the other side of the river la.. So they're quite used to having tourist walking by their houses all the time.. We had our dinner there.. Sarawak laksa.. Erm.. Requires getting used to.. Ayam Penyet, same, but with diff sides and gravy..

Carebear! Stare!

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Kuching Day 3

We made our way back to Kuching in the cab that we arranged the day before.. Decided to drop by a Orang Utan Rehab centre ( no they dun do drugs) but we were informed that there's nth to see coz it's passed their feeding time.. Very practical hor? So we juz return to Kuching la..

The rest of the day was spent deciding where to go the next day.. Damai? Or Bako? We let the weather forecast decide.. It's been raining almost everyday we're here! Journey to Bako involves a ferry ride which according to the guides, choppy... We checked the weather forecast, both days raining.. But thurs having a lower probability of precipitation.. So Damai tmrw!!

Of course we didn't really sit down the hike day deciding that la.. We walked the town, combed the street for local food! Had super big Pau, sio bee (siewmai), belacan beehoon (in prawn paste), coconut in sugarcane juice, chendol.. Yb found a shopping mall and needless to say, we made our way there.. Bought some clothings for jemaine and some accessories for janielle.. Ended the day with dinner in the rain at the "open air" market.. Beef noodles and fried carrot cake..

The view thru my 10x30cm "window" in my attic room...

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Kuching Day 2

8:08am
Kolo mee was good.. Conveniently located juz outside the guesthouse! Intended to catch STC bus 6 to get to Kota Pedawan, after which we need to get a minivan in to the longhouse area.. Dang! Missed the bus by 15min! Need to take a cab instead..(the bus leaves at 720am if u're taking it next time!) Ok it was cheaper than wad was quoted on the website.. On the cab now.. =)

*buRp*

8:00pm
Dinner was sumptuous.. I think the serving could easily serve 4.. Well it was afterall after a long day.. Trekked a total of 4hrs up and down.. Spent abt 2hrs at the waterfall and lunch was prepared by the guide too! Chicken cooked in bamboo, served with bamboo rice and some canned sardines.. I think the bamboo chicken is juz some tourist gimmicks.. The guide brought a cooking pot to serve the chicken anyway! Wonder if it's juz the same rainy period we're having in SG, or it's really the weather of the tropical rainforest.. It juz kept raining and raining.. I did enjoy walking in the rain thou, other then my ankle being cut by the rubber mould-injected shoes they provided.. Every step was a pain, oh and my knee too, pain in each downward step I made, really old liao.. We were juz reminising tat descend I made with Yb at Mt. K, we were super fast.. When was the very last time I hiked in a heavy rain.. Maybe Aggung? With thunder and lightning all ard and trying to fetch rainwater with our opened bottled... And the last I was bitten by a leech? G.Tahan?

We got an introduction to the longhouse by this lady who was helping out in the running of the homestay, it's actually a little bit touristy to be honest.. There's actually a "showhouse" and a sugarcane crusher and a "head" house" (they were one of the headhunter tribes) that is kept there as historical artefacts.. But at least the ppl there dun put up a show la.. The Bidayuhs are already very modernized, zinc roofs, watching satellite channels, the younger ones clad in spaghetti tops and denim shorts.. But they do preserve their way of life still la.. Planting padi in the mountain, some vege.. Kept some domestic animals still.. Overall, not a bad experience staying there..

Annah Rais Longhouse (Bidayuh)

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