Old Times

Having lunch in school, and yes, blog-reading time too.

Read Jas's, DNA's and Juliet's blogs. By the time I finished reading them, I don't know why but I started to tear. As I read DNA's blog, I miss times with my brother (he went for hols with my mum & daisie!); and I know how Joy and Juliet felt after a family gathering.

Each time when I'm feeling down, I'd miss home. Well, don't mistaken the word "home". Where I am staying now is my home. But the "home" I'm talking about is "home" where my own family used to be...when Dad was still around. I miss having my family with me, all the time. I miss Papa.

When I was in China, I passed by the men's department and saw polo tees. The thought of getting a few for Papa just came naturally....before I caught hold of it and reminded myself that he's no longer around. It hurts, my heart aches. I dreamt of Papa several times these recent weeks. Maybe it's because Father's Day was just over, maybe it's because it's going to be a year soon... . And, this time last year, we were preparing to go UK, isn't it? Time flies so quickly.

I must learn to treasure what I have now and not keep looking to the past.

Mama, I love you. Didi, I love you too.

蓝天白云...好辽阔的大地喔!

The Mongolian "house" (蒙古包) that we stayed in for a night. A very simple room with two single beds and an attached toilet. Not bad for accommodation in the middle of nowhere!

The heat in the desert (响沙弯) was scorching and almost unbearable. We rode on a huge vehicle across the desert and on camels too. It was magnificent to be in the desert (not just to watch it on TV). We wanted to go sand boarding but were really exhausted (by the heat) after an hour or so in the sun. So we rested at a "teahouse" instead. Had ice cold beer and watermelon to beat the heat!

The camels were all so obedient! Unlike the horses we rode the day before....

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