.. ours again!

Being so close to home come with a price. While we officially live abroad, home is just one or two hours plane ride. This, translate to steady flock of visitors from home, both friends and relatives. Be it for a shopping holiday, transit, or medical reason (the fact that Singapore offer one of the best medical service in the world does not help). A quiet weekend becoming a luxury and something that we are looking forward for.

The recent batch of relatives came with a warning (from a trusted source), hyperactive kids, not one but three of them. Having no children of our own, our house is obviously not childproofed. Wires everywhere (being geeks does not help), a Voodoo dolls with super sharp knives stuck on it in the kitchen top, Gundams that screaming for attention in my study room and not to mention an x-rated apron (my B'day gift from our neighbour). Definitely not a place for toddlers (or toddlers parents) :)..

After spending a day to do our best in childproofing our place, we nervously waiting for their arrival. To my surprise they act like angels! Quietly playing with my Xbox and (surprisingly) my washing machine, politely ask for things that they want to play with, and their parents clean the house too! One of them fell sick on the journey, which may explain why the whole gang were not in their peak performance. Other theory was that they scared this Panda will cook them for dinner if they are not in his good book.Now that they have left, we have our place for our own again (at least until the next batches come in two weeks time). While it is nice to be alone for a change, I found myself missing the occasional whining, crying and fighting among the three of them. Oh well, the best thing of playing with other people kids is to know that you can "return" them when things are getting out of hand :)!

Panda Flu :) ...

Who said there's only bird-flu ...

Durian is NOT like a box of chocolate ..

My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." - Forest Gump 1994

Well I could tell you that the above does not applied when one buying Durian in Singapore!

When I first move as student to the tiny island of Singapore, buying "per-KG Durian" is simply not an option for me. Buying $20-for-3 in Geylang is a treat and buying $25-for-3-packs in Bedok NTUC is a splurge. And to be honest, I did love and praise their quality at that time.

People say the wealthier you are the higher your expectation. Not to say that I am filthy rich now, but my expectation do change, at least in the Durian's department. From the $20-for-3-try-your-head-one I gradually move to $7-per-KG-can-try-one, to $10-per-KG-sure-can-try-one, and to $13-per-KG-of-course-can-try-one. While the $13-per-KG is kind of my current best value now, the most expensive one that I had was the $17-per-KG-money-back-guarantee-one.

Spoilt by my standard ever since he moved to Singapore, my neighbor decided to try and test the "el-cheapo" Durian. Well not really the $2-for-1 but to the $20-for-3. The verdict? I gladfully realize that the $13-per-KG is not just a marketing gimmick. You get what you pay for. The Durian is sweet, but soggy. Still much better than the one that I use to get back in Indonesia, but way less nicer than what we usually get.

Oh well, call me a spoilt-brat but I rather go with the $13-per-KG for now on.

Mood: Waiting for the next Durian outting ...

Run Panda run ...

"... run Forest run ... and the amazing journey of the young Forest Gump began"

This morning it was my turn. Deciding against our original plan to conquer the mountain, my neighbour and I started our Sunday morning by jogging in Bishan Park.

"Sunday morning?? Are you NUTS!?!" I believe most of you will say. The answer is, "I really think we are!" It was tough since beginning. Waking up blur-blur from last night match, I have to push myself out of the comfort of my bed to get ready for my little adventure. As suspected it was not getting better during the jog :( .. My jog's partner happily told me about two stages of running. The first is when it feels like hell (as your body scream for help unable to cope with the workout), and the other when you reach a point where your body adjusted and everything feels like a walk in the park. Oh well, I guess mine went straight to hell and not moving. It was end up to be a mix training for both of us, running-and-idling for my jog's partner and walking-and-walking for me :)!

Overall it was a fun morning. This was the first time that I get to explore the park since we moved in, and now I realize that we really take it for granted. It offers everything from Spa to Inline skating, a huge field enough for everyone, dog playing ground, and a picture perfect ponds and gardens. Along the way I manage to see few chaps fishing in the pond, uncle practising his swordmanship, few exotic birds, a squirell and not-so-polite guy who tried to pee in the pond (which I originally thought as my jogging partner). Those who jog for the hunks and chicks should avoid these park. Other than two of us, most people that we met are bunch of polite uncles and aunties that gracefully gave way to this panting overweight Panda.

There is nothing fun about the after effect. Although I was spending most of the time walking instead of running, my body now ache all over the place like I had complete a marathon :( ..

Anyone want to join us next week??