Shanxi & Mongolia Trip

Waited months for the trip and alas, it came and gone!

It was a fun, interesting and lifetime kind of experience, but at the same time tiring and kind of unpleasant and uncomfortable at times. The scenery was beautiful and magnificent, culture rich and interesting, journey tiring and long, weather cold and scorching.

The weather of the places we went to the first few days was cool, the wind chilling. As we moved on to the grassland and desert, the heat was menacing, so we got to make sure we drank lots of water so as not to get a heatstroke.

We went horse riding and we thought how fun it would be to ride in the vast grassland! We settled for a 4-hour ride. That was a bad, bad decision! It was torturous as my left knee and butt hurt a lot! We were just riding and riding and could not even see the destination! It was by sheer determination that we completed the entire journey. I could finally understand why warriors in the ancient days yearned to be home, cos wandering (even with an aim) in the desert can be demoralising when you cannot see anything beyond the horizon. Thinking home is near, just after going over that slope, only to be disappointed that home is not in sight after riding over it. You will feel extremely weary, hot, thristy (for an iced coke!) and wishing you were sitting in a couch and not on the hard saddle. Cannot even pause for a while but to finish the entire journey. Real torture.... but, a never-before experience.

I guess the main part of the trip was the history of the places we had been to. Imagining the people and their way of life at the same place, spot where we were walking....Awesome. Look at the vast land in the grassland and desert! You'll realise how tiny you are!

Xuan Kong Si (Literal translation - Suspended in the Air Temple)
Can you see the wooden poles that support the entire temple? It was built about 1500 years ago. Holes were dug in the mountain and poles struck into them. The temple was built upon platforms that were supported by these poles. Amazing that it can still stand till this day, eh? I negotiated my fear of height to climb and walk thru' its grounds. On hindsight, it was very dangerous as the wooden poles that have been exposed to sun and rain may collapse any time, isn't it?

Miss Family Togetherness

Lunch time now.... Yup, blog-reading time too.

Andy, you learnt from Jas's blog that you missed Zyon's birthday.... I also learnt that from your blog! Sigh, ever since I've grown up (from Ah 9 onwards) I don't make a point to remember birth dates anymore. Why is that so? Lazy? Don't bother?

Come to think of it... Zyon just turned eight. I remember the time when I visited Jaslene and Baby Zyon when he was born. He was so adorable! Small, tiny mouth and always sleeping...hee.

Perhaps we must make it a point to celebrate all the kids' birthday every year and that will also ensure that we meet at least 3 times a year. Miss the times we had together when we were kids.....

Bring-Ur-Pet-Out Day

What's that, you might ask. Erm, or perhaps not. As you know, pets are mainly domesticated animals that we keep at home, namely, hamsters, dogs, cats, terrapins, etc. No, no...I'm not referring to these kinds of pets. Ah, now is the time to ask "what's that, then?" Apparently, (so I heard) that recently, a lot of people are into bringing their small, tiny, toy whenever they go out. Eg: your soft toys. Take a look at the picture of desserts on the right.... can you spot a little bear in the picture, looking at the desserts? That's what I mean.... Oh, don't be mistaken. I'm not part of the bring-your-pet-out community....(yet?) The teddy happened to be on a keychain, that's all. But, come to think of it. Why would people want to bring their soft toy out? Small enough kind to be brought out in their bag... Don't believe me? Just last Friday when I was out at n.y.d.c, sitting at the next table was a couple, with Stitch in his personal tiny bag, sitting atop the pepper/salt bottles, looking at them eating! Hahaha...

Well, Darling, do you mind having Teddy going wherever we go next time??? Pls.... ;p

Dutiful Wife....

Last week I had the "privilege" to cook for my Darling again. My parents-in-law went for a holiday for about 5 days and I cooked dinner almost every day! I enjoy preparing meals for my hubby and watching him finish up everything I cooked :) I would like to think that I've good standard in cooking (am I right, Darling). Tho' I still have not acquired the ability to gauge how much to cook. The first night, I cooked rice enough for 3 or even 4 persons! Hahaha, poor Darling had to finish most of it. The spread I cooked can truly feed more than the two of us.... I have to practise more often.

But, it can be pretty stressful having to think of different dishes to cook every day! It really takes a lot of planning as you have to make sure you've got the stuff at home or that you've bought all ingredients you need for the next few days. Wow, not an easy task! Admire mothers who have to cook every day... Thank You, mummy.... Thank You, mom-in-law.....

Now it's my turn to enjoy dinner again now that they're home ;p

Japanese Seafood Curry Rice + Miso Soup

MacRitchie Tree Top Walk

Last Thursday was Labour May.... Darling and I organised a hike to Tree Top Walk @ MAcRitchie Reservoir. There were about 12 of us, including two children. We gathered early in the morning, 8am. I was surprised to see a big crowd at the reservoir when we reached! The entire park was pretty packed. Secondary sch students were there to kayak or jog. There was quite a huge number of senior citizens too! I was excited as we waited for the rest to turn up. It would be the most "exercised" week of my life, ever since school days!! Hahaha! :D Last week I started my kickboxing lesson, remember?

The whole journey went smoothly.... even the kids enjoyed themselves and did not grumble even a wee bit! They were waiting to catch sight of monkeys! We eventually did... when we were walking along a path after our break and the kids were still trying to finish their bread. Well, the monkeys smelt from far the fragrance of the hotdog bun and all scrambled up to us! The parents panicked and quickly kept the buns. That was quite an experience! ;)

If you were to look carefully around you as you walk thru' the jungle, you can actually spot many residents of the reserve! I even picked up a rubber seed.










It was simply amazing and interesting. Tho, I can't say the same about some of the people we met along the way. The runners simply rushed thru' the path. Tho some were polite to thank us for giving way, some shouted "excuse me" in such a manner as if we were taking up their space! So infuriating!! Perhaps there should be a running route reserved for jogging only, so that those who visit the reserve mainly for the purpose of admiring the nature can do so in peace and at a leisure pace.

At the end of the hike, we went for a good meal at Swensen's (another lousy experience @ Swensen's for me..again :( Well, but it was an enjoyable day for me :)

Colourful Lollipop that Darling bought for me at the end of the hike