Jaded July

July has mostly been.....  Well I don't really know how to put it.  A mixed bag of sorts...   I started the month by accompanying my staff from Batam for a fair in Jurong Point.  It's been ages since I last visited Jurong Point for sure.  It didn't really bring back memories since the new Jurong Point is an almost completely different maze from the one I remembered during my NTU days. 

A Remarkedly Different Jurong Point - Galaxy S23+

Another Arduous April

April's pace has been picking up again, it reminded me how last year I wrote about my wife being let go by her company, this year's April is just as arduous as last's.  

Stinking Work As Usual - Galaxy S23+

Shangri-La Staycation 2021

In mid-December, we went on a 3 days 2 nights staycation at Shangri-La Orchard.  It was an amazing staycation that brought about a much welcome break for everyone.  The kids had been cooped up in the house for most of their holidays while the missus and I had been buried at work for quite sometime, especially for myself as I was heavily involved in my previous company's e-Claims systems launch.  

Waiting For Our Room at The Lobby - RX100 Mk3

Happy Mid-Autumn 2021

Well, today's 中秋节.  Its mid-autumn already.  Hopefully everyone is enjoying their mini reunion with their beloved family members.   

Enjoy Your Mooncake Too - A7RM3 + FE1635mm F2.8G

Meandering March

This March has felt like an eternity.  I felt like I have done so much and yet I still can't see the finish line.  There were days when I woke up feeling just like the picture below.   

No Matter What I Felt Inside, I Had to Put On a Fake Smile

The picture above is a screenshot from my Instagram feed which I felt strongly related to this month... I didn't get the artist's name as it was reposted by another party, but... it really summed up my feelings very well at times.  

It has been a hectic month, studying, work, coaching Lincoln at home as he just couldn't get a grasp on his math.  To top that, I might have to go for a minor surgery in April which really bothers me...  This hasn't been a good month... There were times when I felt like I just didn't want to wake up.

Stationary September

In 2 hours' time, September will come to an end.  Another month will pass.  This month I turned 39.  Yay... happy birthday, you're a year older, bla.. bla... bla...  I've gotten numb to it somehow.  

Courtesy of Osia - Galaxy Note 9

Universal Studios Singapore Trip

Still in the month of June, on my wife's birthday, she asked for a family trip to the Universal Studios Singapore which I gladly obliged to as this would have been our first visit since the park started operations from October 2009.  It was a cloudy day with occasional drizzles which made for a pleasant visit as we escaped the hot sun for most of the day. The park was quite crowded with holiday makers, but not so packed. 

After a quick brekkie at McDonald's Sentosa, we quickly bought our tickets and checked into the park.  

Lindsay Enjoying Her Wrap - A7R2 + Batis 2/25

From the entrance we arrived at the Hollywood zone where shops lined the street leading to the intersection to Madagascar and New York zones. 

June Adventure Cove Waterpark Trip

Well, June is not all gloomy and sorrowful.  There are 2 birthdays to celebrate after all this month.  My wife and I gave Lincoln an early birthday present by bringing him to Adventure Cove Waterpark in Sentosa as he'd been asking to go there for quite some time now.

A Pose Before Venturing In - A7RM2 + FE 24-240mm F.35-6.3 OSS

Both Lincoln and Lindsay were definitely excited from the moment we arrived in Sentosa.  I, however, opted to remain dry as I was in no mood to get wet.  I only went along to take photos. 

Onboard Tour of The Training Sail Ship Nippon Maru

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to go on board a Japanese training sail ship called Nippon Maru.  Officially, she should be called Nippon Maru II as she's the second generation sail ship to bear that name.  The first Nippon Maru was originally commissioned all the way back in 1930.  And this sail ship should not be confused with the MOL luxury cruise ship either.  

Nippon Maru From 2nd Level of Singapore Cruise Centre - X-T2 + XF10-24mm F4R OIS

Jubilant January

And here's my first entry for 2019.  I had intended it to be my last entry for 2018, but my fingers couldn't dance any faster on the keyboard.  So yesteryear (which was just a few minutes ago), I ended the year with the usual visit to Lian Shan Shuang Lin (连山双林) Monastery to pray, expressing gratitude for a smooth sailing 2018 and hoping to a greater 2019.  Went with Lincoln too, he's going to start primary 3 on Wednesday, so I prayed that he will have a good start for the academic year as well.  We started praying at the 1st temple known as Cheng Huang Miao (城隍庙) before heading to the 2nd temple which is also known as the Mahavihara complex.  I like the Mahavihara complex best.  

Rainy Day...  - RX100 Mk3

Quiet Weeks to End November

It has been extremely quiet as of late.  I've been engrossed in my reading, had some visitors over and Batam.....  Its a wonder I have the time to sit down and write now.  And work...  still the same old, same old....  Thinking about the next working day almost makes me want to cry...  😔

After I finished the book about Salim Group I continued with another book about Lippo Group's founder.  It has been fascinating to know more about the different backgrounds of 2 of Indonesia's largest conglomerates' founders.  Hopefully finishing those 2 books will give me some inspiration I badly need right now.  I still have about 250 or so pages before I finish that 2nd book.  

Other than that, some of my father's staffs came from Batam to attend a Wonderful Indonesia event for which I visited them to check that they're doing OK and they have everything they need for the event. 

And finally just last Saturday I went to Marina Bay Sands for dinner with my parents and my visiting in-laws.  Took some nice photos inside too. 

Digital Light Canvas

Jalan Membina

About 2 weeks back I had planned to visit Gardens by The Bay to just "walk walk and see see" the lantern installations during mid-Autumn festival, unfortunately the place was jam packed and I had to abandon the plan.  It was a bad idea to visit 3 days before the exhibits were to be taken down.  The fact that it was a Saturday only made things worse.   

Since I was already carrying my X-T2 around, when I almost got home I thought why not go all the way up to 30th floor of my apartment block and see what the view is like from up there.  It was the blue hour anyway.  I had stayed in this block for more than 5 years and never went up at all to see what's it like.  My curiosity was very well rewarded.  

Overlooking Bukit Ho Swee, all the way to Orchard - X-T2 + XF16mmF1.4RWR

Mexican Dinner @ Super Loco Robertson Quay

Last month my wife and I dropped by Super Loco Robertson Quay to satisfy our Mexican food cravings.  It is rather unfortunate that Coyote Tex-Mex at Phoenix Park has been closed for quite some time and replaced with some generic steak house.  So when we knew about Super Loco, we thought that we should give it a try.  

Super Loco is located in swanky Robertson Quay's The Quayside, seated right next to the river for that romantic evening dinner, or a cool relaxing brunch/lunch.  

Inside Super Loco - Sony RX100 Mk3

More Bits and Pieces of Tiong Bahru

So here's where I post other photos of Tiong Bahru that I took during the outing.  Too good to keep to myself!  

First, there must be the iconic murals in the neighbourhood.  

Bird Singing Mural - A7RMk2 + Batis 2/25

This mural is the easiest to find in Seng Poh Lane car park which is just opposite Tiong Bahru market, and directly across Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh - their pork trotter here is a favourite. 

And to Tiong Bahru Bakery After Tiann's

Well, I couldn't possibly miss visiting Tiong Bahru Bakery when I'm at the market right?  Even if we couldn't get a table there, we could always buy some croissant and kouign amann back home.  

So after we were done at Tiann's, we just walked over to Eng Hoon Street for a quick look and see at Tiong Bahru Bakery.   

And here we are at the "Paris of the Yeast" 56 Eng Hoon Street - A7R2 + Batis 2/25

Tiann's (甜) at Tiong Bahru

On National Day afternoon after we came back from Zam Zam, we went to Tiann's at Tiong Bahru, 71 Seng Poh road to be exact.  Not immediately of course, but sometime in mid-afternoon.  I had to visit some cafes there to get materials for my company's newsletter.  I'm a very dedicated person eh...  This time around I brought along my A7RMk2 and Batis 2/25.  I thought having Full Frame DOF would be quite appropriate for this "assignment". 

Tiann's Exterior - A7RMk2 + Batis 2/25

Finally Went to Gardens by The Bay Again

After a long hiatus from Gardens by The Bay entries, I finally have the chance to write another one.  On National Day holiday last Thursday, we went to Gardens by The Bay so that the kids can enjoy some outdoor activities.  It was an enjoyable outing.

A nice cloudy day for a stroll - A7RMk2 + Batis 2/25

Geylang Serai Bazaar 2018

Yesterday I made my first trip to Geylang Serai in like almost 20 years.  It was really amazing to see a different kind of bazaar/carnival (as compared to the ones in Chinatown and Gardens by The Bay).  My main purpose for the trip was actually to snap a cover photo for my company's newsletter, the secondary purpose would be to satisfy my curiosity on Hari Raya Aidil Fitri lighting.  Lastly, to try the hipster bazaar delicacies.

So I went with Lincoln to Paya Lebar MRT station where we met my wife and together, we took a 7 minute walk to the bazaar area near Tanjong Katong Complex.

Some food stalls were still closed and would re-open nearer to break fast time at approximately 7 pm local time.  Other stalls were already open possibly as they need some time for preparation and also to serve the non-Muslim crowds who are there to experience the fun.

So while waiting for the blue hour, we went around playing some games and trying the food.  Before we chomped down on any of the food, we tried our luck playing some carnival games.

Shoot some pokemon and win a prize - A7R2 + Batis 2/25

Notice the cleared row on the left next to the bad piggy?  I cleared that row first and passed the toy gun back to Lincoln for him to just have some fun shooting.  We got a small prize from this game.

Jurong Bird Park Trip

On Vesak Day holiday, I brought the kids to Jurong Bird Park.  It's a kind of reward for Lincoln.  I had promised him that for each subject in which he scores at least 80%, I'd take him to an attraction of his choice.  Well.... He managed to get 90% for his math, but 72% for English & 69% for Mandarin.  Although he still has a lot of work to do for both English and Mandarin, he did fulfill his end of the bargain for math, so he chose to go to Jurong Bird Park, all the way in the West.

It was a beautiful day, just after a dawn rain, so the weather was not so hot although it was still very humid.  Both Lincoln & Lindsay couldn't contain their excitement from the moment we stepped out of the car and walked towards the entrance which was beautifully styled as a garden.

Vegetation arches at the entrance - A7R2 + Batis 2/25

A Mundane May

So far May has been very boring except for some excitements back in my hometown - some idiot crazy terrorists bombings.... that was very sad really....

On the work front, things are picking up although those are quite easy stuffs, nothing like what I used to have back in my old department.  I've been struggling to keep myself awake in office as I'm just too bored at the stuffs I do.  Now, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of things to do.  Over the span of 4 months that I've been in this position, I have crossed out 50 items out of 57 in my tasks list (that is still growing).  But the difficulty level is just not challenging.

At home, I finally got a chance to visit an ice cream cafe I've been longing to try for quite some time: Creamier @ Tiong Bahru.  To be more precise it's located at 78 Yong Siak Street, near Cheng's 27 and Forty Hands.  It's amazing how they've been there for so long and it took me only last Thursday to visit.  I sure am a late comer.

Hello there Creamier!