Jakarta Chinese New Year Trip - Day 2

Day 2 was filled with fun and excitement for the kids, it was a Sunday and traffic was considerably light.  We started with breakfast at Mie Keriting Siantar 19 at the original Muara Karang market outlet.  It was a very tasty and satisfying breakfast.  

Mie Keriting Siantar 19 - A7RMk2 + Batis 2/25

After breakfast we went to nearby Bakpau A1 to get some snacks and then to Central Park in Tanjung Duren as my parents-in-law prepared to return to Purwokerto in the evening.  Lincoln and my wife had their haircut there while Lindsay and I just waited for them.  As Central Park was extremely crowded, we didn't go anywhere else and just waited at the hair salon. 

Jakarta Chinese New Year Trip - Day 1

As per usual practice in the last couple of years, we headed to Jakarta to celebrate Chinese New Year.  This time it was a 5 day trip.  We had the luxury of a longer trip courtesy of the weekend.  Flying by Garuda, we departed from Changi Airport's Terminal 3.  And this time, I had the opportunity to visit the Butterfly Garden with Lincoln prior to boarding the plane.  

Level 2 View of T3 Butterfly Garden @ Changi - A7RMk2 + Batis 2/25

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

Moving House

It's been 2 weeks since my last entry and I had been very busy.  After having stayed in Tiong Bahru for more than 5 years, we finally made a move to Redhill.

The Movers Working With Our Stuffs - RX100 Mk3

Moving house is not an easy task (then or now, all the same).  The packing and unpacking was very tiring.  Teething issues with the new house persists even till now which we still haven't resolved with the contractors.  This resulted in stalled unpacking activities.  Not only that, adjusting to a new environment takes a while too - which cabinet is suitable to store which stuffs, what items are still missing from these new furniture, how to organize the stuffs, figuring out why certain things are not working as they should, etc.... 

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

I Am Shotokan

After 24 years, I finally got my black belt earlier this month, finally a Shodan (初段).  I got the Dan Ranking in October, but the belt only arrived in early December…  Last Sunday was the first time I donned the black belt in training and man!!  That felt Freaking Awesome!!  

The long awaited Kuro-Obi From Tokaido - Samsung Galaxy A8+