Journey of the mind

When times get tough, I am often the most optimistic of the lot, at times seemingly brinking on being overly naive even as chided by my close friends.

What is the point in looking for darkness in the world of gloom? We are all surrounded by gloom. Or at least the human perception veers us towards the point of gloom whenever we are down. Why look for it when we feel burdened by it already?

Must we still rub salt in our own wounds?

It takes strength to look beyond what appears before us to envision what we hope to achieve. The more we hope for, the greater our risk of disappointment.

Therefore it takes more courage to dare to dream than to wallow in gloom.

No I am not being naive or superficial as I may seem. I dare to hope because I know what may be my cost of disappointment. I want to dream because that is how far I will go.

And it is because I have been into the valley of doom, that steers me clear from the path of self destruction. The human mind is a mighty machine. Tune it so that it steers you towards where you want to go. Master it so that your mind does not control your fears.

I so fear to drown, that I swim furiously to keep myself afloat. Look for the glimmer of hope that keeps the spirit alive. And have the courage to accept what we have been endowed with.

And in the midst of it all, remember that above all, there is Love. Which warms the heart and nourishes the soul, that we may rest to journey the rest of the way.

Old Airport Road Hawker Centre

The Old Airport Road Hawker Centre is back with a bang after relocation and refurbishment.

The last time I was here, hardly a quarter of the current stalls were tenanted and I recall missing the old stalls at the old site.

Made a trip here last night and lo and behold! What a lovely sight of crowds and fully tenanted stalls - some old some new. My eyes shifted quickly to look for familiar faces, while soaking in the sights of the new. Exciting!

3 of us managed CKT, HKM, bbq stingray, thai cuttlefish, porridge, satay, chicken wings and belgian chocolate waffles. And beer of course. I am planning already what I have to eat on my next visit...

Sitting on the fence

I sat on the line on this one for a long time. Wavered to and fro, relooking at the possibilities from all possible angles.

When I made my choice, it chewed me up, and spat me out. And I shifted my decision to the other side.

Whatever it might me, a choice was made and I'll have to move forward from here.

Some part of me is afraid, some part of me is excited. Right now, there is more fear than excitement.

Park Guell

This is Park Guell a huge park located in the city of Barcelona.

Mr Guell was a rich man who lived in Barcelona a long long time ago. As the city of barcelona grew and grew, crowding out the streets from La Rambla and the old city quarters, he realised that people were losing more and more of park spaces and their opportunity to interact with nature.

Mr Guell was a rich man for his time. He envisioned building a park in the city of Barcelona, to give to the people a place where there is much greenery to reside in.

He found a huge piece of land atop of a VERY steep hill just 10 minutes from the city (by 2008 metro). There are escalators built on these roads to help people get to the park. The downward journey is manual gear all the way though. Hope this picture means something to you about angles.

Mr Guell had a good friend Gaudi who was a famous artist. Very famous artist who had a soft spot for lizards and amphibians. You can see the trademark iguana in most of his works.

Gaudi agreed to design a park for Mr Guell who would in turn sell it to residents who can enjoy the park at leisure.

But for some reason the private housing project didnt quite take off and the hill top was converted into a public park instead for the enjoyment of all the residents in Barcelona.

Below I sat in the shade listening to some excellent sax performance from this guy while taking a break fm the 38 degree C heat.

What you see are the whimsical Gaudi designs created more than 100 years ago. I still stand back and look in awe and amazement at Gaudi's creativity and foresight 100 years later in 2008. Timeless and whimsical. His designs have transcended all barriers across time and space.

Isn't it amazing how much can be said without the need for words?

Art Music and Love. Some things that need so little to mean so much.

Isabella

Shanghai is a city of wonders and amazements.


We went to this wonderful little enclave of traditional non-discreet houses. Nestled amongst these little habitats of traditional shanghainese households is Trattoria Isabella. A warm cosy little italian restaurant tucked away in this row of houses.

It preserved the external facade of traditional houses while the interior had been completely revamped to mark the homely feel of an italian eatery.

This is the bread basket, had my fav starter of tomatoes and mozzarella, beef rolls with warm melted cheese, and some fantastic very al dente pasta.

I must have been famished that afternoon for I'd clean forgotten to take a shot of the starter and mains! OMG!


This Italian beer topped off the meal, followed by some wonderfully home brewed espresso.



What more could I say?

Except of course that dinner was about 3 hours away. Burp!

In transit - Madrid

Backdated post


In transit - Madrid

Couldn’t take a side trip out of Madrid airport as the city is an hour away. With only 4.5 hours transit time, I couldn’t afford to take the risk. 2 hours spent travelling, leaves me only 1.5 hours max in the city for exploration. I decided to just try to get some rest in the airport.

So here I am pounding these entries. No way to get any rest. Too tired to read, yet too uncomfortable to sleep.

I am also thinking if I should get something to eat. I am still very full from all that german stuff I ate earlier, no point trying to stuff myself. Yet I am worried should I get hungry tonight… Oh what to do? Think I’ll just sleep hungry if need be. Maybe at La Coruna later I might just get something to store just in case.

I just dread the periods of malnutrition I get when travelling alone. Too dehydrated most of the time. And irregular meal times.

I sure hope breakfast is provided. And that the hotel is decent too.

It’s 8pm and the sun is still shining so brightly. Looks like 4pm, just cooler. I wonder what time’s sunset nowadays. The weather gets a little chilly towards the evening. It was fiery hot when I arrived at 4 this afternoon.

Looks like this is what I can expect for the next couple of weeks. La coruna is much cooler, so look out for freezing toes and fingers.

I wonder what the people here do with such long summer days. What activities are carried out in summer and are the malls open till late? What time does the sun set and what time is dinner?

I highly suspect lunch is 2-4 and dinner is sometime 8-9pm. Well I’ll sure find out soon enough.

I hope the I find the driver at La Coruna easily enough…. Tired already. And here’s to an early 845am pick up tomorrow.

German Canine Residents

Backdated Post


German canine residents

The city council of Frankfurt makes an effort to incorporate its canine citizens / residents into its town planning. See the traffic light buzzer? These are prevalent throughout the city, and it’s got a picture of adults, children and dogs! So cute!





And I saw residents bringing their canine companion going to the bakery to get their morning breakfast. And a beagle taking the train in the city. It was going sniff sniff here there everywhere at the plat form. No one batted an eyelid. It was as though the beagle had its perfect right to be part of the city. The dog has a resident status, so he should be entitled to public transport don’t you think?

At the train platform I encountered my first gypsy on the trip. Asking for alms with her daughter. Me is easy target so no choice la. She pointed to her daughter, and to an empty milk bottle. After I gave her some money she looked at my weiner and asked to have some. Woa! So I pointed to my tummy and said no. Fortunately she walked away.


At the airport, I saw this poodle at the check in counter. I wonder how he was travelling. Business or economy? As he trotted around the departure hall, no one batted an eyelid either. Canines have earned their resident status in the city of Frankfurt. And I credit their owners for making it possible, and the city’s residents for according such status to the canine community. This is truly an integrated tolerant culture within a beautiful city.

When will Singapore ever achieve this status as a livable city?

Untitled

The journey of life is a long and winding path. At times we tire and need to rest. At times we quicken our pace and chase after last rays of the setting sun.

There is always a time and place for everything. Let's enjoy the moment when we have arrived; taking time to take in the sights and sounds of our destination, for we may never cross this path again.

Sit with me as we journey this path together with you. Walk with me as we uncover new destinations. Drink with me as we celebrate the miracle of love, life and happiness.

Cheers, yum seng, kanpai, tah!

Zen

Had a conversation with my very good old friend. Like vintage wine. We spoke about men and money.

Why are people obsessed with making money or getting anxious over how more others made? Or seemingly make.

Why are people concerned over leaving their men alone for some time? Do all men stray? Why do some people kick up a fuss over an affair, while others choose escapism, while a further subset choose to accept the fact that all men will have their flings and mistresses.

Do we forgive our partners for a one time fling? For an affair that lasted over a period of time? Or for keeping a mistress? Is there a difference - in affairs that are brief or long lasting? Do we handle them differently?

Can we really forgive and accept affairs our partners have had / may have ? Do we accept affairs that our friends may have? Do our views change depending on the geographical location we are in and the social norms?

有谁人是一张白纸 － 只有将来没有过去？

My friend stressed over money and lamented that people are owning more properties, getting more well to do. This had been an on going topic we have been msn-ing over.

And finally she commented that I am like a monk. Very zen.

I guess I am, after all we are all transient on earth. Our time on earth will come to an end one day. When I leave, I will go with no regrets, at peace, in tranquility. And each day I am alive, I endeavour to make this happen.

Wealth is a relative term. We are all wealthy in our own ways. God provides for all. Lets not compare or be envious. For each richer person there is, there will be one that is poorer than oneself.

Let's be grateful for all that we have been endowed with, and not be envious of what we do not have.

Frankfurt

Backdated Post written while in Frankfurt in July


Frankfurt

I’ve been travelling non stop for the past 25 hours non stop. 12 hours from Singapore to Frankfurt. Transit of 8 hours. 2.5 hours from Frankfurt to Madrid. Transit 4.5 hrs. 1 hour flight from Madrid to La Coruna.

Have not slept or eaten well in the past 25 hours. Dehydrated as the flight attendants were slack in handing out water. Could not really sleep either. The Lufthansa plane’s quite an antique to be flying. For business travelling, SQ is definitely needed.

So far I’ve been rushing to wait, and waiting to rush. I left Singapore at 2300hrs on Sat night. It is now Monday morning 0030hrs and I am still waiting in transit.

Fortunately I made a city tour at Frankfurt. It was only a 15 min train ride away from the airport. The city’s excellent to tour by foot.

I discovered the little and large churches, the museums, the opera theatres, the shopping districts. And I also saw how the city apartments are so well integrated into the entire city scape. Age old gothic buildings, majestic churches and modern museums share the land scape with uber chic apartments and quaint eateries.

And the best bit, a nice river runs past the city with many locals enjoying a Sunday jog as I was there. All this I managed to soak in the 3 hours I was there.

The train station was majestic, old preserved exterior yet ultra efficient modern interior. So german!

I especially like the apartments by the river. So scenic and yet just 5 min away from the city centre. I can understand why they say Frankfurt is among the top cities in the world to live in.

There are lots of public squares, large and small. Somewhat I could feel how centuries ago people would gather in these squares and interact much like they still do now. Except of course in the very touristed square where all I saw were touristy kick knacks. The open air cafes were aplenty and welcoming.

Had a very german pretzel.

Then my starbucks coffee. Then went in search of my elusive german weiner. Along the way I stumbled on many quaint pubs, Paulaner Am Bon was one of them. Small cosy pub tucked away alongside an old church sharing a small public square, located just in front of the city river.

As I made my way to the river several swans swam up to me in search of food I guess.

Unfortunately I had given all the crumbs to the horde of fat pigeons in another square as I sat and ate my german pretzel. Wow didn’t realise these swans and pigeons are BIG!

Walked past Kakadu a true blue aussie institution (pub) as I walked back to the train station. Took a photo in honour of my aussie friend.

Back at the station, I found the elusive german weiner. Though I wasn’t hungry from that huge pretzel I ate an hour ago, I knew I just had to try. They looked big long and juicy….. So I made my order. Lo and behold the counter staff too up a 4” roll and started to slice ot open. Wait a minute! My weiner is something like 20” long ok? How does this work out??!

So what if the sausage sticks out 4 times the length of the roll? There you see, my german weiner. Yum! Was a little oily for my liking but overall good. Not the best but good.

And I finally understood why the roll could not be of the same length as the weiner. German breads are crusty on the outside and fluffy dense on the inside. Ie these little buns pack a big punch.

No wonder that pretzel filled me up. No wonder I struggled to finish the little 4” roll. The bread was wonderful, the crust outside was well, warm and crusty. The inside of the roll had a bit of chewiness, slightly denser than Japanese bread or any of those stuff from Breadtalk.

And so ended my sojourne to the city of Frankfurt. It was a little scary at first as I went to the train station. Everything was in German! I had no idea which station to disembark, no map no nothing. Am I glad I went out to explore. It’s an easy city to navigate. Even I can navigate, so can anyone else for that matter!

I started my city walk about 8am in the morning as the sleepy city remained, well, closed. It was Sunday. What did I expect? A friendly old man on a bike waved and said hello. OK so I was the only Asian walking down the city street at 8am on a Sunday morning. He looked as though he’s out to get his morning paper.

Some streets later, another man in a car with open windows drove past and waved too. That’s kinda strange I thought. Are Frankfurters (!!) famed for their friendliness to tourists?? I dunno.

Later the owner of a grill also called and waved to me even though I was on the opposite side of the road.

Was it me or was it because it’s a lonely Sunday morning in Frankfurt they needed someone to wave to, or is it because I am a lone tourist or were they curious to see if asian tourists were as shy/rude/kiasu as everyone has made them to be? I’m curious to know too.

The only signs of life on a Sunday morning were party dwellers still thumping to the music of an underground club early in the morning. There were bouncers guarding the flight of stairs leading to the basement entry. And a long line of taxis waiting in the crisp morning air to take these party goers home.

Just 500 m away, several church bells toll as a different crowd of Sunday worshippers make their way into the chapel.

I love the contrast, the integration, the harmony of the place. Oh I also saw a public park with the wonderful smells of bitter orange and some other plants opposite the opera theatre. In between them are tram lines criss crossing the city. All this some 10 minute walk away from the church and the club.

Maybe the city reminds me of Melbourne. So quaint yet so modern, with a river running by the city. In fact I think Frankfurt is a lot like Melbourne. Maybe that’s why I like it.

Trooper's adventures

Backdated post written in transit from KL to Frankfurt


Trooper’s adventures

Went to fetch Trooper back from camp when I was back from KL. Camp had ended as the campmaster had taken ill and was unable to take care of Trooper.

So I had to find alternative arrangements for poor Trooper due to my erratic travelling schedule these few weeks.

My sis agreed to take him as long as he could fit in and doesn’t cause any problems. So we brought Trooper to her place and could see that he is better behaved than the first time. Trooper had become more socialised, and didn’t snarl and bite like he used to.

He got along swell with Samson and Sassy, and was soon trooping all over the garden with them. He also helped himself to the water bowl of course. We then road tested him to see if he’d dash out once the front gate opened. He passed. After a couple of hours, we all felt safe that Trooper could stay.

As I left the front gate Trooper tried to run after me. Aiyo, this little one is quite a character.

Then my sis called to say that she couldn’t keep Trooper cos he barked all night. I think very likely cos he’s never stayed outdoors before. He’s been an apartment dog all his life and this being his first day outdoor, and also unused to his various campting trips, he got all uptight. Having fussy neighbours I completely understood her situation.

But she was very kind to say that Trooper could stay over in the day time (since he doesn’t bark) and just need to pick him up after work so he doesn’t stay overnight and make noise.

I thought it was a brilliant arrangement. He could run around all day with Samson and Sassy to tire himself out, and then go home to zzzz all night. Man, this is looking at a puppy day care arrangement!

Haha anyhow this starts tomorrow, we’ll see how. Let’s hope Bruno and Murray won’t be jealous that Trooper’s been trooping all over the island.