18 Apr 2019 – CC & Library@HabourFront

Mon: day for printing invoice@MPlibrary and how frustrating, only 1 printer on Level3. Had to get help from groundLevel as printer was not functioning, thus going down-up twice to finally get a page of invoice costing 0.030c. Need to write in about having more printers or move the printer to the ground-Level. Banking&haircut went smoothly. Movie Guang/Malaysian movie – about two brothers. The older brother Guang is autistic and cannot focus or socialize with other people. A touching movie deserving 2awards@ChineseYouth Generation FilmForum in Wuhan/China.

Tue: tkx to Helen for dinner with take-out food from TekkaMarket/LittleIndia dining@Campers’Corner’s new location. Need to go across the road to get a better shot of the new location.

Like the bigger brighter open concept of space.

With new brands to try out on top of their extensive selection of Quality-Gears for your outdoor activities&adventures which is a a must for your enjoyment&safety.

We are open Good Friday from 12n, so plx do drop by earlier before the photo-sharing to check out this new lovely new location with new high-tech toilets too 🙂 Experienced&knowledgeable management&staff (including myself) will do our best to help you to find gears, etc most suitable for your needs.

Wed: sad, shock&speechless – prayers&thoughts to all the firefighters at this medieval cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Not that it is ever a good time for fires, but to happen on this most holy week, Easter for the Christians! Was last there 1997 – pix downloaded.

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/notre-dame-fire/index.html

Welcome back to SIN from Perth for the Easter break & appreciations for scrumptious vegetarian lunch@Elemen元素/HabourFront to Annie.

Enjoyed both the taste&presentation of the food here.

Perfect portion with a bit of this&that of everything for us to share&taste without getting stuffed. Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all it’s flavour ― William Cowper

The new library@habourfront (just above GV where Daiso used to be) and with views towards Sentosa like these – who would not like to be sitting here in the comforts of the AC reading all day?

Looks like grandnephew Andrew is now taller than his mother.

Since I was here, decided to catch a movie FriendZone – Thai flick about a relationship border-lining friends&lovers more for the younger generation but no harm to kill time when there are cute eye-candy young Thai guys to look at 🙂 The funny thing was that when I was getting the ticket, this young boy asked me if this is a good movie and all I could say was I would not know until I have seen it!! Then he continued telling me how boring&slow the other movie FiveFeet Apart was and I kinda agreed with him. Will probably not remember these 2movies by next week!!

Thu: have been overwhelmed by these new locations the past week (including Jewel), but do look forward to spending more time to explore them at a slower pace. Even at a slower pace@The National Library, did not have enough time to read the captions of these wonderful B/Wpix inside; unusual installation, PieceOfMind by Choo JenQuinn outside@The Plaza.

Appreciations to Gretchen Liu for her talk on SIN in B/W which was informative and interesting. Imagine if you carry this apparatus to take a pix – there will certainly not be pix here!! Great to catch up with Irene who also attended the talk.

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence ― Ansel Adams

Would have like to have attended this exhibition if I was in Rome – tkx to Egidio for the invite and all the best.

14 Apr 2019  – Happy 70Bday To Peggy Tan

Fri: a good weekend to all and I thought that yesterday was a busy day. Started today with celebrating Peggy’s 70Bday – tkx to Aileen&Jeremy for delicious lunch@Tavern/TanglinClub – been a while since I last met up with PT’s god-sis&her son.

ChickenRice À la TanglinClub!, Crème brûlée & a cappuccino for me.

Appreciations for an interesting visit to the Tan Kah Kee 陳嘉庚 Foundation /TKKF – PT’s grandfather.

A nice cozy set-up located@Ee Hoe Hean Club in Chinatown.

https://www.tkkfoundation.org.sg/

Really! has it been 10yrs ago I visited the TTK Museum, Xiamen/XMN 厦门 in China? Glad to have this blog posting to re-fresh the memory.

https://amylamsg.com/2009/10/29/chinafujian-hunan/

Five Feet Apart – Stella is every bit a 17yrs, attached to her laptop and loves her BFF. But unlike most teenagers, she is in a hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control until she meets Will’s who is against his ongoing medical treatment. Stella gradually inspires Will to live life to the fullest.

Read this some where, but do not remember where, when or who wrote it and that is not unusual for me nowadays 🙂

At some point, you have to realize that some ppl can stay in your heart but not in your life…

Sat: Katong Square Lifestyle & Vintage Market April Edition – no harm to browse and look around. Have no intentions to buy and did not buy.

Great to catch up with Martin to introduce him for a bowl of KatongLaksa, nice to hear that he has adapted well after 6months stay and that he is expecting his parents to visit from Germany today.

Sun: this morning I had the pleasure to have coffee with AudreyW who has the most well-behaved&disciplined dog/Choya, (besides Johnny’s LokLok, may he RIP) I have so far met. She would sit quietly where she is supposed to without bothering&disturbing anyone until her owner returns after shopping.

Am soo impressed that I even offered to dog-sit for this lucky dog who lives with this view. Anyone who knows me also know that I very seldom offer to baby or dog-sit!!

SIN public housing/HDB and its surroundings here in Marine Terrace&Crescent – for my overseas friends who might not be aware that 80+% of SIN live in public-housing, including myself.

The local&wet-market in my neighbourhood where I do enjoy eating&shopping at.

How coincident to meet Choya today. Got me looking back at a posting a year ago to realize that LokLok went to Dog-Heaven exactly a year ago. RIP LokLok, the only dog I know of who had better table-manners than many humans, the best behaved-dog I liked being with in HKG – pix fr 2011-15.

Tkx for Sunday’s home-cook dinner@Jo’s

Was at this world’s most dangerous airport, Lukla/Nepal 2yrs ago with Calvin, Sam&Lum and discovered last year that the only runway with the number 24 is something to do with the angel for aviation – https://amylamsg.com/2017/04/23/nepal2/ 

Condolences, prayers&thoughts to those involved in the crash today.

https://www.todayonline.com/world/nepal-plane-hits-parked-helicopter-while-taking-killing-three

11 Apr 2019 – National Siblings Day

Tue: tkx for yummy home-made dinner at Jo’s. Watched Arctic – a man stranded in the Arctic after an airplane crash must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his makeshift camp or to embark on a deadly trek through the unknown in hopes of making it out alive. It was already cold in this small cinema but felt so much colder screening this!

Wed: been informed by Linn&May (pix credits to Linn who is visiting May&their half-siblings/Norway)&Dika (pix credits to Richard of Minos&Dike in 1980s/UK) that it is National Siblings Day in the US. Posted the 1955B/W FBpix (none of my siblings here in FB), sharing with the Orange Generation who are mostly in FB – 1.Lawrence – father to John&Larry, 2.Kiong (1935-2000) – father to JenMun, Jenleng, JenWee&Steve 3.Jo – mother to Pat&Sue, 4.Steven – father to Vincent, Judy, Daisy&Clement, 5.Joyce – mother to Lee Wang&Yasmine, 6 Leslie – father to Patricia&Kat and 7.Me – mother to Linn&May.

Still going thru’ old pix and it is quite a job but interesting, thus taking much of my time. Also found some postcards from 1957&60 from Lawrence&Les of their safety&whereabouts then&there in London&Dublin where Nelson Pillar still existed then, now The Spire/Needle of Dublin.

Am trying to keep the tradition by sending postcards to the grandchildren, but doubt that they keep them – its the thought that counts.

Thu: just cannot get enough of these wet cool days – relaxing to be indoors organizing old pix and reading old mail from the 1950s-60s. Walking under the shelter-walkway to catch the bus to the airport was a breeze, no umbrella needed as the bus gets in the basements of all the 3Terminals. From T3, these link bridges via translators or walk connect you to this new SIN National Pride, Jewel. The shortest walk will be from T1.

Beautiful flower sculptures along the Petal Garden

The Discovery Slides will not be opened until June, but looks fun.

Best to visit late afternoon-early evening to see the water features both in daylight and night when the light&sound show takes center-stage. Definitely worth the trip to see the world’s tallest indoor waterfall/40m Rain Vortex for a sneak-peek. Costing S$1.7billion with 300 retail&dining facilities, 1hotel+1cinema over 134,000sqm from B1-Level5 will need more time to check it out.

Took the escalators up –  a happy selfie 🙂 and a slow walk down the stairs to enjoy the center-waterfall at all levels and also the other soothing water features to soften the stone-walls.

Need a whole day to explore especially with a Shaw cinema there (still the best price for Seniors S$4)+the 1st Norwegian fast casual dining Pink Fish, 1st non-Japan Pokemon Centre (for #6). Above 3pix downloaded

PowSing Restaurant using Mozart listening fresh organic chicken for their ChickenRice, die die must try here another day! Lines were too long today, so were most places, including the A&W.

Dinner@ShangSocial, on the pricey side, but few places without a line then. Food OK, nothing to write home about and there will not be a second visit.

Panorama shot credits to Clement. To hopefully return after Jun when there are less crowds and when all the other attractions like the Bouncing&Walking Nets, Hedge&Mirror Mazes, Discovery Slides, Canopy Bridge, etc are completed. To be updated here with pix!!

Jewel has certainly put airports to another level – a level that makes airport visits for whatever reason a more enjoyable one, not just to leave or return on planes or to welcome or say goodbyes, but now to shop, dine, watch a movie, a walk in the park with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall with playgrounds for children.

Edited – 17Apr 2019:

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/amp/jewel-changi-airport-singapore-guide/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0ydf1LuGHl2HqUNCpJyTeeEa8uRMglwOIztbIDd614lqdlgDibyGvS68k

8 Apr 2019 – Eat, Drink & Be Merry

Sat: appreciations for a short delightful concert How Can I Keep From Singing with the pastor Alexander Colstrup playing the drums!

Comment from Carmel who is in Ireland now and unable to attend: Oh how nice !! Thats the good looking pastor at the Norwegian Church. Remembering back to blog posting: 20 Nov 2018 – Christmas Bazaar and the sight of a young new eye-candy pastor; blame it on Carmel who commented that the churches in Ireland would be packed with young ladies if he was preaching there! My answer: not blind yet, so do enjoy your sight fully while you still have it…

Thank you for coffee&waffles over a beautiful sunset@The Norwegian Seamen’s Church. Also a place where I can get my Norwegian cheeses. Living a simple life to the fullest, just enjoying these moments without any questions or thoughts.

If you see the sunset, does it have to mean something? If you hear the birds singing does it have to have a message? Robert Wilson

Sun: condolences to AuntieAnna Chan&cousinKaren Lim for UncleJohn LIM RuKhoon (1934-2019) who passed away last night – may he RIP. B/W+obituary pix credits to Karen. Bro Lawrence&I last visited him in Jan2019@EderlyCareCentre in KCH where he certainly showed weak signs of recognition to Lawrence.

Tkx to Clement finally got to finally taste this HokkienMee@EC Rd and it is as good as his brother’s@Lorong29. We were there before 1800hrs to avoid crowds&lines and that we did, but we could see many packages of take-away ready to be collected. Thrilled that both my favourtie HokkienMee&PrawnMee are within walking distance from my 4-walls.

Continued to Parkway with intentions of grocery shopping, but decided against it. Tried their signature drink RedCane@FunToast – first time here and trying this drink which is too pink&sweet for me. Seems like there is a new route from the bus-stop to Parkway all the time due to the MRT-TEL-line constructions. The days have been too hot to be out but the evenings and the dawns are quite lovely with the breeze.

Mon: wines from Les’s cellar to compliment food and here is where I am in food&wine Paradise. 5*FineDinning@Paradise Teochew/ScottsSq – tkx to Les&Ivy&their friends. Above 3 pix: Braised Sliced Irish-Fat-Duck with Tofu, Steamed Pomfret, Sautéed Fresh-Lily-Bulbs, GingoNuts&OrganicBroccolini

Happy SJI Reunion to those who are back in SIN to celebrate their reunion. Pleasure to meet Carol&Tibor from the US. Small world – Madeline is the sis of Rebecca, my CHIJ classmate and now neighbour here@MarineCres. To Madeline&Kwan, welcome back to SIN from the US who are also visiting their mothers ages 106&90s.

Excellent with this fresh water fish Braised&Fried SoonHock/MarbleGoby (Oxyeleotris marmorata) with 2007 Cloudy-bay-te-koko

This absolutely tasty young Roasted&SucklingPiglet is one of the best I have tasted – the crispness of the skin was just right and the meat lean&moist with 2008 Domaine de Chevalier.

SautéedJapanese BeefCubeWRoastedGarlicSlices – tender beef done to perfection with roasted garlic. 2002 Château Lafite-Rothschild. And here is a very seldom wine which I am soo blessed to get to taste only when I am with Les&Ivy. 

Today ST and another article 2015-article from LifeHacker – The Secret To Living Longer: Chocolate, Wine And Sex. Not that I wish for a long life, but yes, a healthy one and a balance of all kinds of good food&wines might help 🙂

One of my favourite dark chocolates is from HI and tkx to Huang who works for Dole, managed to get a few packages for me to bring back here.

So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work… Ecclesiastes 8:15

5 Apr 2019 – Welcome George LAM JingZhi (2019)

Tue: getting to be more human after another goodnight sleep! Laundry, more or less cleaned and washed, just airing and drying properly before putting them away.

Appreciations to cousin Calvin for the invite to nephew George’s 1month dinner. No matter how tired, needed to be there to update the family tree. Here with Amy (George’s mom/cousin ChengChwab’s widow), 11Auntie, 16Auntie, 17Uncle&Auntie, 18Uncle&Auntie and cousins Calvin (Brisbane/Australia)&Sara. Sorry to miss cousin ChengEn (Shanghai/China) when he was in SIN and I in HI.

Bus to the BotanicGardens Station to connect to a free shuttle to The Grandstand (Old Turf-Club) with good memories from the heydays of the 1950s – could not find any decent pix but this one with my oldest friend Peggy&I standing on one of the stairways and looking down onto the race-ground. Did not have the heart to take pix of the interior, now looking&feeling like a deteriorated run-down GhostTown.

https://stateofbuildings.sg/places/the-grandstand-old-turf-club

8-courses scrumptious dinner@AhYat Seafood Restaurant here –

no prizes for guessing these dishes and the last 2courses+dessert 🙂

Wed: sounded and looked like it was a wet night last night – no complains and woke to another new cool day – April showers bring May flowers. Time consuming to gather some old B/W pix from the 1940s-50s to share, the house where I was born and lived for 15yrs.

And the views&surroundings from #5Temenggong Rd. Will edit one of the TemenggongRd postings with more pix and captions when I am more organized.

Thu: craving for a bowl of prawn-mee and thank goodness my favourite one, Beach Road PrawnNoodle 美芝律大虾面 the branch@EastCoast is just down a block of TelokKurau Rd. Prices are up from S$10 to $12!! Tkx to Gel for lunch company and also for taking this folding bicycle off my hands. Am sure that it will be of better&more use to her than me. Got it in 2013 and have only used it a couple of times.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/01/25/folding-bicycles/

You are likely to fall when you stop paddling your bicycle. Such is life. As long as you don’t give up, you will never end up failing ― Israelmore Ayivor

Fri: TGIF and still not fully re-energized. But at this stage I suppose it is as good as it can be and hopefully better as the days go by – one tiny step ahead for now 🙂

Another interesting talk tonight@ACM.

It was a beautiful night by the SIN River with some lovely live music from the FullertonHotel for the NewGeneration who are enjoying their skinny dip in the river.

Edited – QingMing (5Apr) is an observance for paying respect and the remembrance of one’s ancestors, that is celebrated mainly by those of Chinese ancestry. Also known Tomb Sweeping Day. Tkx to nephews Raymond&Jay for these old pix to share of my paternal grandfather’s 1950 funeral from #5TemenggongRd to then PeckSanTheng 碧山亭 – now Bishan.

It took me only recently to be able to go thru’ these pix from my mother’s funeral when I was 15 then – she too died in #5TemenggongRd and was buried@PeckSanTheng. All my paternal grandparents’ remains are@Kwong Wai Siew PeckSanTheng 廣惠肇碧山亭 while my parents’ remains are@Mandai Crematorium.

1 Apr 2019 – NO April’s Fool

Sat: arr PVG 1+hr behind schedule safe&sound after 12hrs uneventful flight, probably encountered more head wind! And I who thought it was 9hrs flight, but that was the flight was from PVG-HNL, lost count of the movies watched on flight! Checked into the pre-booked room US$81 S$109@Dazhong-Airport-Hotel. Worth a good night sleep on a bed in a clean basic room+shower&toilet, perfect location between T1&T2 for an over-tired traveler.

Sun: after 8hrs of sleep, took a walk for a cup of coffee@0530hrs and looking at these lines for cars into the airport (view from hotel-window) and for the Metro into town – am glad that the check-out time was not until 12n, thus time for a snooze before flight from PVG-SIN.

Another hour delayed for flight to SIN, but got to try a fast food meal before checking in which was decent for the price of S$6.

Sun: arr SIN app 2100hrs and decided to head for a bowl of BakKutTeh@T3Kopitiam before catching the bus/0.87cents from the airport to my 4-walls. Back to my favourtie airport (agreeing with 13+millions voters), an airport where I do not mind be delayed or stranded in. SIN airport pix downloaded.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/changi-airport-bags-skytrax-best-airport-title-for-7th-straight-year

Air travel reminds us who we are. It’s the means by which we recognize ourselves as modern. The process removes us from the world and sets us apart from each other. We wander in the ambient noise, checking one more time for the flight coupon, the boarding pass, the visa. The process convinces us that at any moment we may have to submit to the force that is implied in all this, the unknown authority behind it, behind the categories, the languages we don’t understand. This vast terminal has been erected to examine souls ― Don DeLillo

Mon: feeling still tired after 10hrs sleep (vaguely heard the rains) but that is no surprise considering that I have been on antiB&under the weather. No April’s Fool but certainly feeling at this stage of life that the reality of both body&mind are finally in sync with min complains&regrets – hahaha. Glad to be back where just across the road, I can get a veggie meal for S$2.90 and 3days of fruits/S$7 – affordable energy boosters for unpacking and laundry time.

Apr Bdays –

2 Apr – Happy Bday MarianneH
4 Apr – Happy Bday RichardY
8 Apr – Happy Bday TorillW
12 Apr – Happy Bday PeggyT
15 Apr – Happy Bdays LynneO & AileenK
17 Apr – Happy Bdays AnneS, SharonK & Sarah
22 Apr – Happy Bday Ike
29 Apr – Happy Bday Stanley
30 Apr – Happy Bday JohnC

29 Mar 2019 – ParrotFish/Uhu

Sat: serene to be back@WoodValley to take it easy – resting and admiring the work that Loon had put into these grounds over the decades! Learnt more about coffee and other plants.

Lemon tree, very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat…

Sun: Ka’u Coffee Mill just a couple of mins down the road was all I could handle today but worth the visit

3murals here are interesting, just unable to get better shots, so these cropped ones will have to tell their stories of time.

What is it in life that the more I learn, the less I feel I know???

And finally a drive down my favourite nuts – Macadamia and this is the first experience to see&touch the real-life trees, blossoms&nuts.

Mon: slept most of the day until time to head to the Hilo airport, app 55m/88km 1+hr drive. A thousand thanks to Loon for the video&everything here on this BigIsland and for his time driving, showing and sharing his knowledge – sooo blessed with friends like him. Smooth&on schedule flight back to HNL, tkx Huang for meeting me.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMABjWKZrsqXW5i7FaL6NPsvtORGoV-1qJieufd5hzxM7Bxa5as_X0d1k5coYdSiw/photo/AF1QipOK9j8wM7XD-KaGE1aPJxslN-74zATjFgi-YDz7?key=Mml0akFrRzRIT2RVYzJYRU5QajJOWnpHTjN3c1d3

Tue: laundry done on this beautiful public holiday and dinner from Safeway.

Wed: appreciations to Huang that ingredients for a Guinness Irish Stew dinner could be found in the Monoa Safeway neighbourhood.

Cannot get enough of this view from here where no one seems to even bat an eye by while I am completely taken in with every breath.

Appreciations to a very special group of young ppl who crossed my path nearly 2decades ago when they were doing their SEAsia Study program traveling thru’ The Silk Route. Husband&fatherhood becomes Adrian, glad to have him&Taylor into Lisa’s life where the of 3 of them make such a lovely family together.

Tkx to Kim for a scrumptious dinner at her uncle’s restaurant – Golden Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown. Kim had pre-ordered enough food to feed an army!

Excellent tofu soup&dishes, oysters,

Chicken, PorkWithYam, BitterGourd,

ParrotFish/Uhu, fresh&done to perfection and 1st time tasting this interesting yummy coral fish which digest the edible portions from the coral and excrete it as sand, helping create small islands and the sandy beaches. A beautiful&popular fish to eat here in HI.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hawaii-beaches-parrotfish-poop_n_5052935

Thu: day of packing&cooking – making a belated St Patrick’s Day dinner for the cousins before flying off. Tkx to Cynthia&Ted for their presence – good that they get to meet the family too.

Fri: TGIF and a good weekend to all – Oh think twice, cause it’s another day for you and me in paradise – Phil Collins. A thousand Mahalo to HI family&friends – auntie Winnie, cousins DavidW, Wilki&Pattie, Yvette, exHCC-students Huang, Kim, Leah, Lise&family, AT-Hiker Loon – appreciations for his gracious hospitality on the BigIsland. Apologies for not getting the chance to catch up with cousins DavidL&Maria on Kauai, nieces&nephews Christopher, Danielle&their families. Laine&Sheville, looking forward for a next time round and tkx for keeping in touch.

Flight from HNL-PVG, delayed 1hr due to late arrival from PVG –

a chance to explore the airport which has a delightful Japanese Garden and with tempts like today, the open concept is absolutely enchanting.

We do not understand that life is paradise, for it suffices only to wish to understand it, and at once paradise will appear in front of us in its beauty –  Dostoevsky

24 Mar 2019 – From Hilo To Kona

Tue: tkx to Huang to the airport bright&early for a smooth&on schedule less than an hour flight from HNL-ITO, the Big Island. Appreciations to Loon for meeting me@the airport and for breakfast@Ken’s House of Pancakes – omelette&hush-browns are as usual enough to doggie-bag for lunch!

The famous BanyanDrive –  is a tree-lined street at the shoreline here, also known as the Hilo Walk of Fame for the banyan trees planted by celebrities. These trees have withstood several tsunamis that have devastated this town.

Carlsmith Beach Park where the inviting cool clean spring water meets the lava-rocks and the ocean and where human and turtle can swim in peace – not brave enough to be in the cold water! Reflection of a Monkey-Pod on this pond does make look like the pix is upside down!

Coffee stop@Maureen’sB&B to learn that business has not been good for her recently. Quite a place to upkeep and hope that business will pick up for her.

Farmer’s Market across the street on a public park with lovely Banyan Tree, but sadly some homeless hogging up the pavilion around these public areas which should otherwise be an attractive site.

The Pacific Tsunami Museum – dedicated to the history of 1946 Pacific tsunami, also has a mission to educate people in general about tsunamis. Well worth to catch the 23min video in the old vault, yes this museum is the old bank. US$7 S$9.5 for Seniors.

http://www.tsunami.org/index/index.html

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center – bring the place to the people and spur greater public awareness of the region and ocean conservation issues. Was following a video attached on a seal@the kiddies corner and interesting to see that the favourite food for this seal seem to be the octopus or maybe a big squid – no words spoken or written.

https://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/education/center.html

Ice cream for snack up the road hit the spot. A stop@theSallyShop to pick up some flat-sheets to cover furniture with.

Will be placing my sleeping bag on a nice big bed in an idyllic house in Pahoa surrounded by these beautiful wild orchids and other flowers tonight. With this kind of ambiance, it is nearly impossible to image what was happening just down another road nearly a year ago…

Wed: lava from KilaueaVolcano has destroyed about 600-700homes since May 2018.

Speechless with these pix and parts still smoking. My heart goes out to ppl who lost life and their homes even when&with the newest&youngest land now in formation!

Thu: decent brunch@the local grocery store with a quick restroom stop@Pahao Neighbourhood Facility with and impressive mural. One cannot be too careful with restroom stops where the homeless are about, thank goodness Loon has figured out which are decent to use.

The trees here are quite a feast to the eyes = Paulownia/yellow flowers. Monkey Pod and some pink flowering tree.

Scenic drive along Onomea Bay –  (red flowering trees are Chinese Orchid Trees) with a snack stop.

Short trek around Akaka Falls in its beautiful lush vegetation&GoldenBamboo.

Uncle Robert Keli’iho’omalu is the legendary and beloved patriarch of the old Kalapana village, and the market takes place at his family compound, located near the New Kaimu Black Sand Beach. And here is Loon with the Moon with some fire-dancing in the background.

Fri: TGIF – heading towards Kona stopping at this orchid garden for a quick restroom call. Would you pay US$20,000 for this orchid??? Was just lucky to catch it in bloom, running late for Vernon’s lunch to take time for this garden.

Another charming location@WoodValley/Pahala with coffee, lemons, mandarin oranges, Macadamia nuts, mango, beautiful bamboos on the grounds.

Punaluʻu Beach (also called Black Sand Beach) on this lovely late morning with 4Green Turtles or Honu enjoying the heat and one seemed to have had enough sun and heading back to sea. Felt like one of them in my movements today, with little energy and short of breath…

Keylime pie@Ka Lae – southern most point of the 50USA states and driving thru’ the short 12mile street here, I seemed to remember counting at least 4churches and 1temple!

BigJake’s and here he is with his pet John-John. Their combo BBQ and even sharing this was more than I can handle.

Saying hi to ppl at a time-share…

Loon felt better to had me seen by a doctor – his regular Dr Traub was not available, Dr Crispo took care of me and he was cautious to suggest trying the herbal overnight, and if not better the next day to go for antibiotics and if still no better to be admitted to the ER! A good doctor should cover all grounds and he is worth US$180 S$244 to ensure Loon&I that this too shall pass…

A dip@Kona Pier for Loon, also the spot where King Kamehameha swam in and the start and finish of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.

Was not feeling up to driving all the way to WoodValley and glad we overnight@Manago Hotel US$91 S$123 – named after the family who founded it and endures as a piece of old Hawai‘i attracting visitors from around the world. With simple clean, no-frills rooms that are accessed by a simple key, where it offers a step back in time. Located in Captain CookTown on the slopes of MaunaLoa at an elevation of 1,350′. It overlooks the beautiful KealakekuaBay and the ancient Hawaiian Place of Refuge in Honaunau.

https://keolamagazine.com/home/time-stands-still-manago-hotel/

Has been a long day, did not sleep well and felt nausea all night. Time to stop the herbal stuff and go on to the antibiotics which I was hoping to avoid. Maybe the ghosts here are trying to tell me to slow down – lol

Conscience is no more than the dead speaking to us ― Jim Carroll

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.