29 Aug 2020 – Marine Parade’s Hawkers

Wed: exciting news in the medical world for the first implant of the AngelMed Guardian device in Asia-Pacific by a leading Cardiologist LeslieLAM – so proud of my big brother. Hope that I may never need one of those even when being an admirer of angels, do like their logo – pix downloaded.

http://www.angel-med.com/frontpage/the-guardian/what-is-the-angelmed-guardian-system/

https://www.cathlabdigest.com/content/first-angelmed-guardianr-implants-asia-pacific

Many of us have had Oracle experiences, though we may not have called them that. Have you had the feeling there’s a guardian angel looking out for you? Or heard an inner voice that is not your own? Gotten a profound insight that you would not have otherwise considered? Had your prayers answered? Especially in an unexpected way? These are a few of the ways that the invisible world guides us.― Cristina Smith

Thu: tkx to Henry for lunch company@MarineT Hawkers and happy to find fresh figs in my local neighbourhood fruit stall. Made ClamChower&BourbonSalmon dinner for niece.

Fri:  TGIF – ChalkFarm, a cake-shop named after a stop on London’sNorthern TubeLine, opened its first outlet in Paragon in 2013 and its second outlet in Parkway Parade/PP in 2014, and I only noticed it today!! The cakes here looks good and will be interesting to taste some of this fusion local SIN kuays.

Mooncakes are now available in some shops and online. As usual, all kinds of fancy and expensive ones, you can even find Durian Mooncake! As much as I like durians, my preference has always& will always be the old-fashioned original filled with just plain lotus seed paste. Have tired many and will keep trying incase I do find one that I like better. Some of these boxes which the cakes are presented are amazingly beautifully made.

ColdStorage/PP to pick up some steaks and was in luck. The tenderloins were on discount, 2pieces~280gr for S$13.42. Dinner for Clem tomorrow night – steaks with CaramalisedOnions&MushroomStew (family’s favourites sides for their steaks) and dessert from FourLeaves.

Sat: today’s Hawker’s Food Centre, 84MarineParade – trying to list one hawker centre every week that I have tried.

4stalls, where I have tried and would recommend, not that the other stalls are no good, just do not have the time to try them all. Apollo Fresh Cockle FriedKwayTeow is the place if you like wet KwayTeow. DimSum&Popiah without prawns (S$1.80) are decent for their prices. Xin Long CookedFood (Chap Chye Png), get there before lunch hour if you are not prepared to stand in lines. Not sure why the ChickenRice stall (across from the popiah stall) is not open today, hope that the owners are OK as it is another stall I like.

https://sethlui.com/marine-parade-central-market-and-food-centre-food-guide-singapore/

The welcoming downpours stared at noon today – the sound&sight of rains need no words or pix to enjoy. Another link for more things to do and this one is for the outdoors. Keeping most of my activities to the weekdays so as not to get caught with any crowds. Enjoying the weekend in my 4-walls vegetating by the screen – a good weekend to all.

https://www.timeout.com/singapore/things-to-do/cross-country-treks-in-singapore

25 Aug 2020 – Seven Sisters Festival 七姐诞

Sat: am not sure what or why is it that I need this weekend to figure out what will be in the last quarter of 2020 before I turn 71. Coincidentally, there have been signs here&there for me to deal with, but have been sweeping them under the carpet. Time to lift up the carpet and check if it could fly – hahaha.

Sun: lovely wet&grey morning to start the day and was easily distracted by this image bringing back memories of spectacular views from my first 1967 visit with father. Norway is one of the few countries that has a never-ending places to see in my bucket-list and this is another one to add. Ways in to Lysebotn is by boat or by the spectacular Lysebotnvegen, 29Km, rises 900+metres, going through 27hairpin turns, including one hairpin turn inside a 1,103-metre tunnel that goes inside the mountain. The road was opened in 1984 and it is open only in the summer.

Mon: tonight, if clear, try look up the sky and spot the two brightest stars against the Milky Way. On the 6th-night of the 7th-lunar month, the stars, Vega&Altair or more visibly Jupiter&Saturn, will come close together, with the Milky Way looking like a bridge. Tomorrow, on the 7th-day of the 7th-lunar month, a colourful Chinese Festival, Seven Sisters Festival/七姐诞, a festival imported to SIN from China by the Cantonese migrants based on a legend of the Weaver Girl&the Cowherd/牛郎织女. Like this beautiful digitally painted by YC YIP (well-known for his SIN mural paintings) and a downloaded painting from the collections of the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia

http://www.nlb.gov.sg/biblioasia/2018/07/04/in-search-of-the-seven-sisters-festival/

Tue: vague memories of this festival and somehow thought that Seven Sisters Festival and the Cowherd&Weaver Girl were 2different festivals. Now knowing better and learning more does bring back memories from childhood days growing up with 3grandmothers in the same house. With GhostMonth/19Aug 7Sisters/25Aug and soon MoonCakes/1Oct so close to each other with every one of them marked by the grandmothers, happy to remember bits&pieces.

Legends don’t have to make sense. They just have to be beautiful. Or at least interesting – Terry Pratchett

Busy day starting with grocery shopping, appointment@SGH. VitD supplement added and more urine&blood test in Oct to decide if surgery is the next step! Errands in Chinatown, did not see much signs to mark the 7Sisters Festival, but then was not really looking. At CC to talk with Calvin about the SINc2c charity walk and he will provide me with what I need – have to make a list to figure that out soon.

S’porean Makes Travel Bucket List For Our Little Red Dot Since We Can’t Fly Anywhere

A good link with many locations suggested, especially now that we are unable to fly anywhere. Have plans to check out these where I have not been. All pix downloaded in this posting.

21 Aug 2020 – Hungry Ghost Month

Mon: OMG#1 is off to college today! Has it been that long ago I drove her mom to UF/1993! And then a visit to welcome her in OK/2002. Wishing my precious KTbug all the best to a new chapter in her life@UofSC.

Just goes to show how much I like playing with food, even just for a single serving when alone! And no, I do not do this for every meal, only when the ingredients&the mood are there – pix from a collection over time. When preparing for myself, will use bare-hands, but will use disposable gloves when preparing for company. 

Makes it fun to prepare the meals (ie if you have time on your hands) and more appetizing, even if it is only a snack. 

Tue: early morning breakfast&grocery at local wet-market&Giant@MarineT. Appreciations to Gel for brunch co and to SPgroup for electricity meter maintenance who were here before 12n and done within 5mins.

Wed: today starts the HungryGhostMonth until 16Sep. Those who know me know how I feel about all these rituals – whatever your beliefs, enjoy but do NOT harm or intrude on others and the surroundings! The never-ending of beliefs, faith and hopes triumph over logic and reality again – Our humanness makes us vulnerable and we all seek solace in different ways. I suppose it depends on the devils that haunt one from life’s experiences that determine what manner of solace we choose.

https://amylamsg.com/2011/08/22/if-religion-is-a-thing/

This is what is so annoying when ppl do not clear&clean up after their mess – not only it is unhygienic, but also an eye-sore, even to the spirited-world, unless they are blind! Hope that those who have caused this kind of mess will get all kinds of signs&messages from the other side telling them to clear up.

Besides notes from the Bank of Hell, nowadays it is even possible to buy paper meals! thus no need to leave real food out attracting the creepy crawly!! But of course there is still the issue of pollution when all these paper stuff are burnt!!! Surely there can be a solution in our modern high-tech to project or beam all these, paper goods, etc without having to burn or put out real foods!!!!

Thu: local post office@MarineParade moved to the basement@PatkwayParade making this the 2nd move since living in this neighbourhood. If the lines are long now, can at least be in the AC-mall instead of having to stay outside when there were lines at the previous 2locations! International postage (SPF with B/W VWbug. my last car) has gone up again (S$1.40) while local postage (Goldfish&Durian) seems to have gone down (0.30c)??

Fri: TGIF – this morning’s conversation with a couple sharing the table are from Woodlands and have come all the way to my neighbourhood to eat. Good idea to start getting recommendations from others to visit different hawkers around the island. Some pix of the hawker stalls I have tried and would recommend@MarineTerrace, less than 5mins walk from me. 

Those serving@MP Coffee&Drinks (husband&wife team+a helper) know me well enough that no words are needed from me to get my order, probably the only white-hair senior who would order an ice-coffee even at 0500hrs – hahaha. Enjoy your weekend.

One of my favourite humourous ghost quotes that I have been using for the last 3decades! True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen – Francois de La Rochefoucauld

16 Aug 2020 – Infant Jesus Homes&Children Centres/IJHCC

Wed:  A Happy Hump Day to all – 7yrs have gone by quickly and 7yrs ago, completed 16days thru’hike 309km-UKc2c. Today, hopes&plans to do a 2-3days thru’walk 36km-SINc2c sometime before 2021.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/08/11/day-16-ukc2c/

Being not familiar with this area, and do not even remember when was the last time here. Today’s lunch appointment – way too early when the bus stop @CoronationPlaza/BukitTimahRd, decided to remain on the bus67 to see how far this joy-ride could take me? After 10more stops, got off@KingAlbertParkMRT, crossing the overhead bridge to the bus-stop to backtrack and lo&behold what do I see@this bus-stop!! – a sign for the SINc2cTrail, coincidence or what??

Delightful staircase with over-grown green foliage creeping on to the stairs. Crossing the overhead bridge remembering how this canal often flooded during heavy rains and causing traffic stand-still on BkTimahRd in the 1950s-60s.

Somehow, this is meant to be and signs do pop up in various ways if we take time to be aware of them. Will need some help to plan SINc2c walk as a charity walk for InfantJesusHomes&ChildrenCentres/IJHCC – nothing to do with religion for me, but in memory&dedication to the nuns who have crossed paths with me during my convent school&teaching days.

SIN/StTheresaConvent (1957-1961)&CHIJ (1962-65). Pix of now&then downloaded.

https://amylamsg.com/2019/06/19/st-theresas-convent/

Ireland/BalbriggenLoretoConvent (1972-74). Pix of now&then downloaded.

https://amylamsg.com/2012/07/04/26961/

Usually am not in SIN this time of the year and also this is the first time to be asked by StTheresaConvent1950s&CHIJ1960s class-mates to join their annual Bday lunch for Maria who is now Sister Maria ( the only one of my classmates who is a nun). Do remember vaguely crossing paths with her&sisterD 20yrs ago when taking care of the IrishGrads/IGAS functions.

Was waiting at another Thai eatery in the plaza, which looked interesting, but was not the same as Thai Noodle House which was not in the plaza, but across the road from it where we were supposed to meet – Better late than never.

Thu: the welcoming early morning down-pour helped to cool things down, lets hope that this will continue to be a cool day – has been hot hot hot the past week and even had the AC on to sleep the past few nights – usually the fan does the job. Today is a stay-in day for me. Urine has to be collected for 24hrs to be tested for Hyperparathyroidism/overactive glands in the thyroid. Hoping&praying that surgery is not needed.

Fri: another morning with downpour today on the bus196, changing to 75 and then the shuttle (all under shelter except for getting on and off the buses) into SGH to deliver the urine and blood tested, all done within an hour excluding transport time! Like the Wall of Hope on the way by foot to OutramMRT station walking underground to Chinatown to pick up some food, continuing on by bus to Clement to pick up more food that he had purchased for me from IKEA.

Sat: 0545hrs to catch first bus16 to DakotaMRT, changing@Bishan to Kranji. Arr there 0715hrs enough time for a coffee&sandwich while waiting for Alyssa, Fabrizio & Grace. Kranji War Memorial to discover that it was closed to public as there was some private event – forgot all about today being 75th Anniversary Ceremony of Japanese surrender bringing WWII to an end.

My late maternal journalist 8thUncle, EddieTSENG (1915-1988), was one of a handful of reporters aboard who witnessed the signing and was THE very first to report the news to the world.

https://www.scmp.com/article/433673/frontlines?fbclid=IwAR1FzzCpXn0X-efIXRr4_I4Ku3TAMPM-vhdeDMPwPLtmpJpNCDp2xqClTVI

Lovely big trees surround the grounds where the tombs of BenjaminSheares and YusofIshak are located just outside the War Memorial.

Continuing in hot humid weathers thru’ industrial area on hard concrete pavements (not my favourite kind of walk) towards Kranji Reservoir&Dam which I never knew of its existence! Learn something new!!

Hardly anyone here at the reservoir with the over-grown greenery around the lonely bench. Crossing the dam where fishermen (this camera is not the best to get the dragon-fly on zoom!) were enjoying their Sat on this dam with hazy views to our neighbouring country, Johore/Malaysia where it seems like a mirage against the contrast from the side of SIN green-wetlands. 

Crossing the dam and the rest of the way to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve/SBWR was narrow and on some sections with no walking paths, making it rather dangerous when the bigger vehicles past by. 

The first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in SIN(2002), and its global importance as a stop-over point for migratory birds was recognised by the inclusion of the reserve into the East Asian Australasian Shorebird Site Network. The reserve, with an area of 130 hectares, was listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003. And I have not been here since the opening in 2002 – the section where we entered is new.

Do like the design of these new structures+look-out points&boardwalks on the new 31-hectare extension.

Abundance of wide life sighted today including 2horn-bills. Am sure glad that the snake is up the tree away from the path –  after seeing that, slipped&fell (nothing broken or bruises) and lost my group – for real. HornBills&snake pix credits to Fabrizio.

Can never get enough of these mangroves. What a pleasant surprise to cross path with SengHock who is an excellent photographer. After chatting with him for a few mins, happy to reunite with the group, was about to give up on them.

Lucky to get a cab for a revisit to PoisonIvy@Bollywood (must be over a decade since my first visit) for lunch. Without reservations, the wait was 1+hr, the group went on to KanjiMarshes and I stayed to chat with Ivy on the phone. This place has really extended since my first visit when Ivy’s house by the pond was new&the only building then, open to just empty grounds.

Today the house is fenced in with all kinds of beautiful flowers, trees&vegetation grown on the grounds.

Nice relaxing lunch (had the fish of the day) and did some shopping. Could never resist the TorchGinger flower for my salads. The cookies were delicious and such a good idea with these newspaper re-cycled bags. Shuttle S$1Seniors, $3 for others to the KranjiMRT was packed in the pouring rains.

Left my 4-walls at 0530hrs this morning and back 12hrs later to clean up&crash after app12km walk today.

Sun: need a quiet day to rest, do laundry, gather my thoughts&clear the mess within the 4-walls after such a busy week.

11 Aug 2020 – A Long Weekend

Sat: DIY Popiah++lunch with Sue, Clement, Daisy&Darryl+Leonard. Do recommend this fun&tasty foods from Fortune Foods/FF who conveniently prepares&delivers all the ingredients. Just have to display or leave them in the plastic containers they come in. Good that all the basic ingredients are there, but I bought extra prawns&crab-meat which really add to the taste, making it a Luxury Popiah.

Sun: Happy 55th Bday SIN, my birth-country that is 15yrs younger than I am!! To Grace&her group, enjoy&cycle safe on these crowded paths, which are way beyond my limits today, but it would have been another story 15yrs ago with the AT Thru’Hike. Good memories and decided to be a trail angel with donuts this morning for this group of young ppl who will be cycling 50-60km.

EC Pk main paths were crowded, but knowing the area so well, could always find some quiet side or back paths.

Feeling patriotic while watching the ND-parade on TV happening at various part in SIN. All pix taken from the TV-screen

Not knowing how much food to expect, first time ordering from FF, ended up with way too much yesterday – left-overs for ppl to dogging-bag and items that can be be frozen went to the freezer. Called them this morning to cancel some items for tonight’s dinner at Les&Ivy’s. Since everything is freshly-made and the order was not until tonight, they were good enough&service minded to accommodate the cancellation. 

Mon: a public holiday here. Got quite excited upon reading this from Irene – if you’re interested in being a guinea pig, especially if you’re in the older age group as I am, here’s how to let them know. Those interested in taking part in the trial can contact the SingHealth Investigational Medicine Unit at imu@singhealth.com.sg or call 6323-7544/8318-0685. Then I got down to the part where it states that Subjects must be healthy, with no underlying medical conditions – there goes the idea to be a guinea pig!

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/first-vaccinations-next-week-for-clinical-trial-in-singapore?xtor=CS3-18&utm_source=STiPhone&utm_medium=share&utm_term=2020-08-10+8%3A08%3A29

Tue: A Letter To The Municipal Of Troms/Norway by Morten Hald – my ex-bro-in-law, L&M’s Norwegian uncle, Professor in the Department of Geology, Dean at Faculty of Science and Technology in the University of Tromsø. In this letter he explains why they should NOT build this Arctic Center Resort which will destroy much of the natural reserve and wild life in that area, an area which also means much to me too, and I agree with him 100%.

https://www.itromso.no/meninger/2020/08/10/Et-%C3%A5pent-brev-til-kommunen-om-Arctic-Center-22446583.ece

Once destroyed, Nature’s beauty cannot be repurchased at any price – Ansel Adams

7 Aug 2020 – Marine&Parkway Parade

Wed: saddened by the news with 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate were detonated in massive blast in Beirut/Lebanon. It was reported that this was an accident due to negligence which has cost the life of 137 and injuries to 5,000+ and not to mention the pain to families&friends effected on top of the COVID-19. Condolences with prayers&thoughts are to all affected, no words can express this helplessness feeling again. 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/lebanon-orders-house-arrest-officials-beirut-blast-live-200805230752876.html

Thu: shopping around for curtain hooks/S$14 and found them@Spotlight/PlazaSIN. Bought a serving plate/S$6.65 &storage container/S$14.25 on sale and knew that they will come in useful – prefer the glass or metal containers than plastic.

Back to MP/PP to check where AngKuKuet/AKK (RedTurtleCake) &SoonKuet/SK (TurnipDumplings) can be bought in this area. Tkx to Desiree@Lens Man, found SK@JianBoTiongBahruSK in MP FoodCentre, both AKK&SK@BengawanSolo/PP, but SK not available there on Sun&public holidays. Will have to get them in both places on Sun – red&white colours are the perfect local foods to represent the SIN flag.

Was not planning on lunch but it is such a seldom time that I can get both Winged-Bean&LaLaClams on the same day from the same stall – XingLong Food/MP. A productive day – did not realize how tired I was until the 1800hrs news came on, and thinking that I was with it until the eyes opened and it was 1900hrs! A whole hour of napping, hope that it will not interfere with tonight’s sleep!!

Fri: TGIF –  had a decent night sleep! Good long NationalDay weekend to all. Getting the flags (all complimentary from different packages over time) up since they have been in storage over the years. Also adding some colours to the common corridor, especially this year when we really need some cheering up!

Has it really been 7yrs ago hiking UKc2c 27Jul-11Aug2013: England UKc2c 309km/192mi thru’hike in 16days. That also mean that 7yrs ago when hair-colouring stopped – vivid memories from that day when hiking thru’ Richmond.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/08/06/day-10-ukc2c/

Planning to do a solo-walk, SINc2c 36km over 2-3days sometime before the year is over. Prefer walking&hiking paths with no back-tracking (unless lost and have to back-track to not get more lost!). Also doing it on weekdays and hopefully not so many ppl as it was during the last couple of weekend walks with Grace. This sign@MacRitchie NatureTrail walk on Wed29Jul recently got me thinking about the SINc2c

2020 has so far been a tough one for many but we just have to do our best to help each other to move forward. Humour with letters&words all brilliantly scrabbled from a post over a decade ago. Even as we age and the eyesight+many other parts may deteriorate, humour does not need to. THE EYES – THEY SEE

https://amylamsg.com/2009/09/08/awesome-anagrams/

The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter – often an unconscious but still a faithful interpreter – in the eye ― Charlotte Brontë

4 Aug 2020 – Bukit Timah Hill/163.36m

Sat: hello Aug, the month to get patriotic and ready for SIN 55th National Day – how patriotic?? considering that the one&only NDP attended was in 2014 and have no intentions of ever going to another, hahaha!  https://amylamsg.com/2014/08/10/ndp-2014/

You’ll never have a quiet world till you knock the patriotism out of the human race ― George Bernard Shaw

Grace’s walking pace is too fast for me, will be injured if I try do keep up, trying to do some sections with her and then improvise to suit my own pace&ways in these humid hot tropical weathers. Grateful to her for including me, getting me started and keeping me updated. 

Sun: being Sun, would not have be in time to walk with Grace if bus&MRT are my mode of getting there, tkx to Calvin&Sam for picking me up 0630hrs to head to BukitTimah NatureReserve VisitorCentre, not even sure when the last time here? We were supposedly to meet at 0715hrs, but then with more than 5 in Grace’s group, we (Calvin, Sam, Sofia & I), decided to go ahead. And as it was they were still waiting for more ppl…

CC owns all 6vending machines here, but good to be guided around by the boss! – not that we needed anything!!

Steep walk for me up to the summit – after meeting with Grace&her group here, headed down towards DairyFarm. From Paul  – I think the tree is poking its tongue out at all of us: “see what a big mess you have gotten yourselves into? We’ll be here for millions more years after you guys are long gone. Goodbye and thanks for nothing! And I totally agree – nature does not need ppl, but ppl need nature.

Tree falls the way it leans. Be careful which way you lean – Dr Seuss/The Lorax

Lost count of how many steps down, but kept hearing someone behind saying 1,000more steps – trying to concentrate on the steps&breathing so as not to fall was my priority! 

Nice on the green soft trails except that being a long weekend, there were many ppl in addition to that, we pedestrians have to share part of the paths with mountain bikers, and some of the riders are really into speed!

Thought this place BukitPanjang CommunityGarden looks familiar – was here to visit TingTing’s UrbanFarm&Barn with cousin Yun from Toronto during her Nov2016’s visit and have not been back in this area since. TingTing has now moved out of this location back to her parents’ farm, looking forward to visiting.  https://amylamsg.com/2016/11/12/welcome-29/

Caught up with Grace&one of her groups@Chestnut ObservationTower – decided to go our separate ways. Headed to a different loop to get a Grab on BangkitRd by ChestervaleCondos back to the car parked across the road from BukitTimah VisitorCentre. The driver nearly drove off when the car-door was still open and I was not even properly seated in the car, thank goodness no bruises or broken bones. And ppl wonder why I prefer the bus&MRT!

Today’s distance ~7+Km/3+hrs took a long time to walk up BukitTimah Hill, connecting with other trails to  Zenghua NaturePk, Chestnut&BukitPanjangPC – overall a good break from the concrete jungle&the hustle and bustle that is SIN.

Wonton roast-pork noddles+an ice-coffee hit the spot for brunch.

Appreciations to Calvin&Sam for getting me to this seafood wholesaler (EvergreenSeafood, 94E JalanSenang S-418442) in the middle of the most unexpected residential neighbourhood where I could get real-proper crabmeat/frozen for the DIY popiah small gathering over the NationalDay weekend.

Mon: the thigh muscles definitely feel that they have been doing stairs – ouch, just goes to show my unfit condition&shape. Discovered this roasted beets and it is absolutely delicious (ie if you like beets). Had it with a roast-beef salad and for me no salad dressing was necessary here as the beets tasted good with the salad.

Tue: nice cool wet morning to start the day with my weekly grocery shopping. Takes a whole day to do this when Giant&IKEA are where I choose to shop at today. 2hrs with public transportation+waiting time to&fro, including the free shuttle from Bedok – today it was exactly on time! Then to clean, cook and freeze food for the week. 

1Aug – Happy Bday  CHENG HongTong
4Aug– Happy Bday Candice TAY
9Aug – 55th SIN National Day
10Aug – Happy Bday LAM JenWee&Alvin NG
21Aug – Happy Bday LIM SiewChin
26Aug – Happy Bday Cindy LAM
29Aug – Happy Bday Sean KENNEDY
30Aug – Happy Bday Michelle ANG