18 Mar 2019 – Happy 45th Birthday To My Beautiful First-Born

Fri: TGIF and what a beautiful day, on days like this when the weather&everything around is just perfect, is when Heaven is a place on Earth.

Tkx to Leah for delicious BTL sandwich, blueberry-cream-cheese scone (the best I have tasted)&strawberry muffin in the calm&serene atmosphere on the hill side of Manoa. Good to catch up, a very belated congratulations to her marriage and all the best to her&her hubby.

Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop: highly recommended and tkx to Leah for introducing such a charming&delightful place.

Appreciations to Maya Soetoro-Ng (Obama’s sister) for being such a spot to be photographed with us. Was informed by Leah that she was sitting next table to us and being an admirer of the Obamas, was an honour to talk to her.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/01/17/manoa-eatery-bake-shop-serves-up-breakfast-lunch-second-chances/

Sat: so very sad with these shootings in Christchurch/NZ – condolences, thoughts&prayers are out to all affected. Heard from cousin CHAN WK&family and that they are safe&well. What kind of demon could have been so evil to destroy and harm life like this? 😦

https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/new-zealand-christchurch-shooting-intl/index.html

The scenic route –  John Burns Freeway H3, on route to Kaneohe.

The guys were getting the oysters ready on the grill while Huang had to shuck 3 for me as I preferred them raw – even better eating them under the beautiful orchid by the Saraca-Sorrowless Tree! For dessert and the first I have tasted Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cream Pie and it was delicious. The Mochi ice-cream Huang brought were also yummy.

Thank you to Wilki&Pattie for a scrumptious homemade dinner of CornishHens, Ox tongue&tendons, home-grown cucumbers+other veggies, these were consumed in good company&conversations. Back to Manoa via the LikeLIke Highway just before midnight and crashed for 7hrs. Tkx to Huang for driving.

Sun: Happy Paddy’s Day Parade downtown starting@Ft DeRussey Pk. Some of these pix here are credits to Huang.

Not enough green on me, but better than nothing – only in HI will you see someone in a green Speedo trunks on Paddy’s Day!

Only one High School Marching Band+a few others not school bands.

Too many cars at this parade.

Fish&Chips@Waikiki Beach Walk – that was the nearest to Irish food that I felt like! No the green drink is not for me!

Dole Plantation with the best pineapple ice-cream for me.

Various pineapples+coco trees and the best are these Rainbow Eucalyptus with natural colourful artwork on their trunks. Somehow with the trees and the weather here at present makes me feel like I am in Paradise!

Mon: A mother will even give upon herself and her dreams, but not on you and your dreams.  Happy Birthday Linn, words do not justify how much I love&miss you – 2018/SC,USA and 45yrs ago in Dublin/Ireland. Now to repack for the Big Island of Hawai’i.

Random pix from ManoaValley with some of these trees going into the Amazing Trees blog posting. Will try to remember to get the names of the trees when I see Loon this week.

In Waikiki strolling pass a Sunday Mass Service when I said a silent prayer to those affected in the Christchurch/NZ shootings.

Thought of Yoshie too, who is always trying to invite me to her church services. Now that I have stumbled upon one, so she does not have to invite me anymore… hahaha

14 Mar 2019 – Ward Village – Manoa Valley

Mon: lunch@Merriman’s on the first floor of Kakaako’s Anaha luxury condo tower (751units) in WardVillage.

60-acre (24ha) developed by The Howard Hughes Corporation. Once completed, this beachfront development will have luxury residences, retail stores, entertainment venues, pedestrian friendly streets and public open space. According to Leah – walked here numerous times and never saw anyone swimming til now haha. Somehow I seem to be in the right places at the right time and there was even a single duck in the fountain – for real.

https://www.merrimanshawaii.com/honolulu/

Delicious lunch in wonderful company of Huang, Kim&Lisa, beautiful&fragrant flower Lei are much appreciated with dessert@Ben&Jerry’s across the street, cannot resist my favourite CoffeeCoffee! Thank you to these 3wonderful young ppl who crossed my path way over a decade ago when they visited SE Asia with the HCC students lead by David. Was so blessed to be able to accompany them for a few trips and got to know them and have keep in contact every since.

In Hawaii, we have something called ‘Ho’oponopono’, where people come together to resolve crises and restore peace and balance – Duane Chapman

Lovely walk around the AlaMoana RegionalPark – panoramic shot credits to Huang.

Watching surfer-dudes and life go by.

In good company of magnificent trees and the soothing sound of the waves as they crashed on the rocks.

Tue: woke up to this absolutely stunning rainbow in ManoaValley, had to just rushed out of the house in my PJ to capture this shot before the colours fade. It is no wonder that HI is known as the RainbowState – later in the day without the rainbow…

Whether a visitor or ‘kama’aina’ (resident), the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands inspires the heart and mind…

A walk down to Safeway in rain&sunshine within that short 15mins walk. 1st time seeing a Poinsettia this size and it is not even near Christmas! The Bird of Paradise seem at home here. Appreciations to Yvette for taking time to meet and glad to be able to catch up before she heads to the mainland for spring-break.

Nature is where it all begins for the Hawaiians – they call themselves ‘keiki o ka aina’=children of the land’ – MJ Harden.

Wed: tkx to auntieWinnie for meeting up to lunch – delicious ChickenAlfredo crêpe. Appreciations to Huang for picking me up and for the ride back to David’s.

And for the drive up to PuuUalakaa StatePark and panorama pix credits to him.

Seemed to have some memories being up here with May, Linn&Jeff+Katy when we were celebrating Thanksgiving in 2002.

Thu: tkx to Wilki&Pattie for a productive shopping day@Ala Moana Center, pink Tshirt from Uniqio, US$10/S$13.50, The LEGO Store US$19/S$26

Our usual US$1.50/S$2 lunch@Costco. Tkx you for the scarf&nuts from Wilki&Pattie.

Was introduced to another shop, DonQuijote – good for getting gifts, US$55/S$75 spent there. Noho me ka hau’oli=Be happy.

Could not believe it, another stunning double rainbow – definitely a full stop to get out of the car for another shot. Somehow rainbows put me in good moods as #6&I used to enjoy our time in his younger years with The Rainbow Connection.

7 Mar 2019 – It Takes All Kinds 

Sun: The Necessary Stage’s Theatre presented It Takes All Kinds performed by Theatre For Seniors. What is your recipe for a successful family – a good performance with beneficial messages to anyone who dares to look&question into themselves!

Nice to be able to attend this performance in the neighbourhhood’s theatre and to say hi to Haresh. Short walk with Clement for a bite of durian (227KatongDurian) and cendo (Glory) on EC Rd.

Mon: on bus16 and was amazed to be able to connect to WhatsApp on this particular bus. Had to msg Sue just to check out that it really worked and it did! Tkx for curry lunch with Boon@TanglinClub to Hong. Nice to catch up and hear about his recent travel-adventures on the roads&the seas in N&S America. How coincidence to bump into Andrew as we were trying to catch up too, but as it turned out he is busy with Swiss guests the next few days.

Appreciations to Calvin@Campers’Corner for sponsoring these gears for the Hawai’i (BigIsland), HI trek. Sure am going in style as I age! CC BambooTrekkingPole, Cocoon TravelSilk-Sheet&Pillow, Nemo SwtichbackFoam&UltralightSleepingPad, Helinox ChairZero and to top it all, got to borrow this palm-size air-pump. All these gears are not only good for trekking, but perfect to have if you are stuck anywhere (especially airports!) and need to lie or sit down in comfort – multi purposes is the way to go.

Tkx to Tony for explaining&helping me to change my power supply from SPgroup to Switch. Hope that starting from 15Mar (2yrs contract), the power bill will be cheaper and that the perks like one free AC service, free AIA PersonalAccidentalProtection are true to their words.

Tue: a life-moose living the good life in Oslo/Norway! #6 is all excited&happy to see this real animal in his neighbourhood, I too would be if a moose visits my neck of the woods! The stuffed ElgEgil/MooseEgil from school had been accompanying him home for a week in Sep since he started school in 2017, but nothing like the real thing!!

https://www.aftenposten.no/osloby/i/vm4A1X/Elgku-lever-det-gode-liv-i-Tasen-Hageby

https://amylamsg.com/2017/09/04/a-first-grader/

World Fastest Internet Speed – #1 SIN, my birth-country (60.39 MBps) – SIN is one of three surviving city-states in the world, including Monaco and the Vatican. #4 Norway, my other home (40.12MBsp) – Norway is suspected to have the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, estimated to be worth $1 trillion by 2020. No complains about the speed of internet here in SIN or when in Norway.

https://nordic.businessinsider.com/the-23-countries-in-the-world-with-the-fastest-internet-speeds–

Happy Bday Gel and tkx to Leonard for fixing whatever problems this PC has been thru’ and also tkx for dinner@I12 TimHoWan.

Wed: very early 70Bday (Jun) gift to KK as our paths will probably not cross on that day. Also something he needs for his age!&travels since the disappearance of his last one during our 2018visit to Italy – lol. Age is certainly no reason for us trying to plan our next trip, hahaha.

Happy Bday and condolences to LAcousin LindaPuiChung for the passing of her mom, auntieKeng (106). Oct2013 was the last time I saw her during a visit in CA.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/10/17/new-laptop/

Was also just informed by Hong of RichardLEE’s mom (100+), known to us younger generation as 大家姐 passed on Jun2018, belated condolences to Richard&family. Saw her last in Sep2017 – may she too RIP. These aunties have had good life and it should be celebrations to their life, including porpor (99). Prayers are with auntieAnna&cousinKaren who is now on her way to KCH as uncleKunn is kept on a ventilator.

Thu: getting things in place&shape before leaving the comforts of my 4-walls! Some words of wisdom to live by –

2 Mar 2019 – Hello Spring

Wed: looks like the construction of SingHealth is completed. Walk-In (ie no appointment)@NDC due to a minor complication after last month’s extractions. Was impressed with a young female dentist who went out of her way to handle my queries&anxieties posted to her. Thank you to Dr WL Tan who took care of me Wed 27Feb 1400-1500hrs Level 2/Room 4.

A Dog’s Way Home – A dog travels 400 miles in search of her owner, beautiful scenery. They say dogs are man’s best friend and this movie shows it. A recent survey also demonstrated that dogs are much more intuitive, Sick, sad, or hurt and all they want to do is make you feel better.

Hachi, another movie about a dog based on a true-story and you will see what unconditional love is about. Some think that I do not like dogs and that is not the case, just do not like dogs not well-disciplined or trained!

Thu: early breakfast@airport with Clement. On EC Rd checking out this new eatery on route for a popiah lunch@Glory before heading to GV@I12 for Mary Queen of Scots – Mary Stuart’s attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England, finds her condemned to years of imprisonment before facing execution. Too much political intrigue&manipulation for me!

Fri: 1st Fri on the 1stMar, TGIF and a good weekend to all. Tkx to my Irish (Carmel)&Norwegian (Kirsten&Mette) for their share with pix of blāveis/BlueAnemone,  snøklokker/SnowBells and daffodils. The anticipation of Spring after a cold dark winter with such fond&touching memories of a sweet Irish student (Balbriggan, who would bring me her first daffodil blooms from her backyard.

Happy Bday Hannah, who is on her Bicycle-Honeymoon with Heiko somewhere in Georgia. They started their journey from Germany in Oct2018 and plans to be in SIN early 2020. Safe journeys to them and tkx for sharing their honeymoon+pix. https://hh2sg.com/

A long day started with shopping in Chinatown (all that for less than S$50), tea with Jeffery@Barcook/Clarke Quay Central. known for its bread and quite decent Chinese egg-tarts. Was hoping to find the candy store, Sticky but it is no longer there.

Tkx to Theresa&ChengJun for this scrumptious dinner. The size of these abalones are quite something; have not had the duck gizzards since mother was alive. Like mother, Theresa is from HKG and she gets some of these foods from HKG; the lobster noodles were to die for. With Ivy&Les’s champagne&wine, I was in F&B-paradise. Was ready for dreamland by the time I got off the bus@ECoast 2300hrs – 12hrs away from my shelter is not my usual day but it is also not usual I get to taste Salon 2004 Champagne.

Sat: a day to relax and sort out things before another busy week ahead, also to pack for the hike in Hawai’i (BigIsland)/HI, USA. Only once a year promotion@Suntec for supplements, headed there around dinner time hoping for no lines and was in luck. S$248 for 4boxes+2free here at this Health-Show. Amazed that I managed to get in&out within 45mins on different buses; 196 to NichollHway and 36 from TemasekB total fares 88cents. Even if I took 196 within 45mins, would still have to pay another 88cents, that’s how it works!

Mar family&friends special days

26 Feb 2019 – Humanist Society

Fri: Expo 博览 எக்ஸ்போ MRT station – looking like a space age architecture with the platform to be columns-free giving a sense of spaciousness, designed by Sir Norman Foster. To see the full design or ride the circular elevator (must be the slowest elevator, even beats KK’s!), you need to walk to the end of the station.

After you get downstairs, the shaded pathway will lead you to Hall5 (only entrance for this show). Campers’Corner is located up front across from the only clothing stall in this whole travel exhibition! CC is the only stall for hiking&outdoor adventure here. The Taiwan rep AhHua 蔡坤樺 is here to provide info on Taiwan hikes&treks. Tkx to Calvin for dinner@EC LagoonFoodVillage. Pix credits of me checking the set-up to Calvin.

Sat: ticket (S$10) for this talk was purchased way before and could not help out at Expo today. Tkx to CheeHoew from the SIN Humanist Society for their Darwin Day 2019 talk. And what a treat – pizza&drinks during break!

The irony of the world’s largest&most foul-smelling bloom Rafflesia arnoldii is discovered by Raffles!!!

Took some time to explore around this interesting location Goh Loo Club 吾盧俱樂部 72 Club St and if not for the heat and the headache, would have taken a more time to explore this side of Chinatown.

Condolences to AnneWONG-Holloway for the passing of her husband. May he RIP.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/sphs-first-chief-executive-lyn-holloway-dies-at-90

Sun: last day for the NATAS Travel Fair@Expo where we can help you to get off the beaten path, far away from the maddening crowd. Hope to see as many of you there to celebrate life and to celebrate Calvin’s Bday. Appreciations to Yusoff for dropping by with yummy pies. Tkx for dinner@BedokMarketPlace, have not been here since over a decade ago with G for durians!

What I like about doing these shows is that one can meet a diverse group of ppl with various interest to share. The issues nowadays is that being on the feet for too many hours can take a toll on an overweight&older body!!

Condolences to Anne for the passing of her husband Lyn Holloway. Prayers&thoughts are with her&family and may he RIP.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-press-holdings-first-ceo-lyn-holloway-dies-at-90

Mon: appreciations to Eve for getting a bunch of old CHIJ Girls to say hi to Lynne before she heads back to the UK – safe journeys to her. Eve, Mary, Lynne, Sylvia, Angela, Peggy, me, Susan, Shirley&Pat – except for Susan&Mary, have known and was in the same class with the rest of the gang from 1962-1965.

We all had some issues finding this location, not knowing that MooiChin Hananese Restaurant is located inside the VillageHotelBugis/3floor@GoldenLandmark (1988) and I even pass by this building often!

Tue: finally a day to clear&store all the CNY deco and to get the laundry done&put away after overnight guest.

https://mothership.sg/2019/02/haw-par-villa-reopen-wedding/

Which of the 10 Courts of Hell should the weddings be held??????????

Fond&scary memories from HawParVilla with first-born Linn from 1979; with mother+guest 1959.

https://amylamsg.com/2015/08/11/haw-par-villa/

Ppl think I am joking when I tell them that the Norwegian word gift=married or poison – for real. Marriage is a fine institution, but I’m not ready for an institution ― Mae West

21 Feb 2019 – With 33 Installations

Tue: today, 15CNYday known as ChapGohMei is also Chinese♥Day and the start of Spring.  Appreciations to Ivy&Les for scrumptious dinner ending this 2019CNY celebrations. Amazing how misleading the size of this lobster claw is, the meat was only a bite!

Short walk to say goodnight to all in the presence of this beautiful super-full moon. Safe journeys to Kat who will be joining her USfamily for couple of days in FL to Disney before returning to NYC.

Wed: welcome back to SIN Lynne from UK – tkx for finding time for a cuppa before a FOC appointment to test my hearing, tkx to The HearingSolution. Anyone after age 50 should go and get the ears checked and yes with age (be realistic), it is inevitable that the sensory parts also age.  With a small washing machine, the laundry will have to spread them over a few days after overnight guest.

Wed&Thu: a nap before checking out iLights being the last weekend. With 33-installations+BicentennialCelebrations will need to space into 2nights. 33. CrysatllisationOfThoughts/LivingSpirits (Thailand)

What a better place to start than@Raffles Terrace/FortCanning – this body&soul is not as it was to climb nearly 100steps up from HighSt, had to stop a couple of times to catch my breath!! 32.ReflectingHolons/MartensM&VisserJ (Netherlands); 31.KeysOfLight/MrBeam (Netherlands) – this was neat, as I played the piano and the lighthouse lid up with different lights&designs, but unfortunately I could not take the pix and play at the same time! 30.LandPassBird/HuangCF (Taiwan).

28.RunBeyond/BonelloA (Italy); 29.ConstructiveInterference/SIN-U-Tech&Design (SIN).

Was trying to figure out 27.GoodFortune; 26.WhatAView/SIN-Design (SIN); bright lights bright logo!

25.BridgesOfTime/ACTLD (Belgium) – these lights&water show every hour and my pix do not do justification to the real presentations.

24.Where Do Stories Begin/Where Do Stories End/LeeM&Perception (SIN). 22.Time Rhythm/Bové&Onionlab (Spain). My pix here does not tell the same tale even though it is the same story! as Athene’s (a professional skilled photographer). Appreciations to her for allowing me to share.

23.Cenotaph For A Stone/Cadag, Loo, ZBMZ NUS (SIN); 21.Halo/DavisM (UK); 20-Time Frame /DONIS (Netherlands);

19. Oriflammes/LefevreS (France);

18.The CatInTheGarden/LoomProd (France), the Merlion is transformed to showcase scenes and nature of SIN, like the Tiger to suit my AT-name TigerLil – hahaha

Goodnight Moon
Goodnight SIN-Flyer
Goodnight Esplanade Concert Hall
Goodnight Merlion spitting at the Moon
Goodnight Everyone

Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars ― JRR Tolkien/The Lord of the Rings

17.FlowerClock (China); 16.TimeTraveller/PrawotoE (Indonesia); 15.Dune/RoosegaardeD (Netherlands); 14.LesFootballeurs/BrunR (France) and this is the only one I could not get a proper shot of the blue lights with a footballer kicking the ball and a goalie – moving too fast for this idiot-proof camera!

12.Squiggle/MuirA (NZ); 13.City GazingSIN/VOUW (Netherlands)

11.Cosmic Web/LaSalle (SIN); 10.Shades Of Temporality/Sweatshoppe (USA); 9.Sails Aloft/ Biangle Studios (Estonia);

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails’ – WA Ward

8.Shadow Exposed/Suh-VisualFeeder (USA); 7.The Floating Lighhouse/Prvacki, Zaini, Casteeld (SIN); 6.Prospegtive Prespective/Kng,Low,Teng NUS (SIN); 5.Facey Thing/UjiStudios (NZ);

4.Why Green/AP-Architects&Lighting (SIN); 3.The Rainbow Connection/Yun (SIN); 2.Lighthouse Of Time/RoseD (France); 1.The Time Vortex/Vendal&deWolf (Netherlands).