In 2022...

Whew can you believe we're on the last day of the year, again! It feels like yesterday when I was writing my last post for 2021. Yet here I am now. How has 2022 been for everyone? I'm not sure what to think and feel about this year. It was... A year. Not in a bad or good way.

No really, I don't have much to talk about this year haha. You see as the years go by, I feel like I don't want to label my year anymore. I just feel thankful for everything. For another year, for making it this far, for the lessons and for everything else! Whatever I have went through and learned in this year will definitely be carried with me into the new year. And every year, I'll (hopefully) become a wiser person.

I recently got reunited with the song "Seasons of Love" from the musical Rent. And I think the song asks a wonderful question: How do you measure a year in the life? And it got me thinking throughout the last few days of the year. How do I measure it? Is it by the number of achievements I made, the memories I made and so on? And I think I've found what I want to measure it with.

I'd like to measure mine with gratitude. I hope that at the end of every year, I want my heart to be brimming with gratitude. For the journey I've embarked, and also the chance to embark on more journeys in the future. And like the Buddha said, gratitude is the greatest wealth. I want to "own" as much of it as possible in my lifetime. That would ensure that I'll never feel lacking of anything.

On another note, if 2021 feels like things are falling apart, 2022 is a manifestation of the quote: "When things are falling apart, sometimes they're falling into place". I feel like this year things are slowly falling into place. And now we're just continuing the job, and making sure that we're moving upwards (and onwards). It's like as if stones and sands are falling into a foundation block of a house. And now we just have to continue building the house up. It's challenging but definitely rewarding in the end.

Alright I guess that's all for this year. As usual I don't want to promise you with anything for this blog in the coming new year heh. But I still aim to write my 2000th post next year, where I'll be blogging for 15 years! But see how it goes hah. Okay I hope 2022 has treated you well. May 2023 be a brighter and kinder year for all of us. Stay safe, take care and happy new year!

Christmas Lights

The giant Christmas tree at Taka

It's Christmas eve now, and I thought it'll be a fitting time to write about this. 

So back in Singapore recently, I am glad that I managed to experience the Christmas festivities in Orchard once again. In fact, after 10 years! I think the last time I'm in Orchard during Christmas was in 2012, since I went back home in 2013. I did return to Singapore in November once (in 2014 I think) but I think I didn't touch Orchard at all heh. Also I think it was still early November so yeah.

Christmas always gives me a bittersweet feeling. Because it reminds me that the year is coming to an end, and a new one is dawning upon us. I'd think of all the trials and tribulations of the year. The sweetness, the bitterness and everything in between. I'd go into contemplative mode on the last 6 days of the year haha, and Christmas is that day that kicks everything into motion heh.

The Christmas lights in Orchard not only tells me this, but it also tells me that I am going back home. Back in Primary/Secondary school, I would go back around mid November. And I would go to Orchard to do my shop for stuff to bring back home. In fact I have a ritual. I would go to POSB at Taka (since they're open on Saturdays) where I would deposit the money that I saved. Then I'd start my shopping. I'll also buy things for myself as a reward. Although I stopped doing this in Secondary school heh.

I would do this with my sister. But I think as I grow older we would split our tasks. Sometimes I buy one thing and she buy another. Or we'll do it together. Those were the good old days!

There is one vivid memory that I have about this whole Christmas shopping. When I was in primary school, I can't remember which year, there was a time when my sis and I were doing our usual shopping at Centrepoint. And I can clearly still remember that Carpenter's "Yesterday Once More" was playing through the speaker. From then on, this song will always remind me of Christmas hah.

So it was rather fitting how earlier this month, I was actually listening to that song while walking along Orchard road at night. A wave of nostalgia just hits me. I feel rather sad when I think back about the good old days back then. Life was simpler, I was still a child and I feel like my worries are so far behind (or ahead hah). And now I'm back, 10, 15, 20 years later. Whew, it's emotional.

Anyway, as the song goes:

"Looking back, on how it was in years gone by. And the good times that I had. 
Makes today seem rather sad, so much has changed."

So much has changed indeed. But, some things remained the same.

Merry Christmas everyone.

20 Years Ago

Life

After having dinner with Adeline at Clementi last Monday, as cheesy as this may sound, I decided to take the long way back to Orchard by taking 7 from the bus interchange. I went to the top deck and choped the front seas - so that I can enjoy the Christmas lights hah.

I passed by Pei Tong, Pandan Valley, Holland V. 

All the familiar sights that I once find redundant and ordinary ten years ago.

It feels rather crazy to think that 20 years ago, I received the news that I got accepted into Pei Tong Primary School. Although I have to step one level down cause I failed my Chinese entrance exam. That's the reason why I'm older by a year than my peers.

I never knew how much that day would change my life. How the next 11 years will be something I will never trade with anything. I used to wonder how I'll feel about these 11 years in the future.

Well I guess now I got the answer.

SG Trip December 22

Hello! Right so here's more details about my recent trip back to Singapore. It was truly a short trip, but nevertheless it's definitely a meaningful one. Glad to be reunited with everyone.

So this time round, I actually arrived in Singapore on Sunday. It's not my usual weekend trip (Friday - Sunday) but Sunday - Tuesday instead! Cause Neal's back in town also on Sunday till Friday. So that leaves me with either Monday - Wednesday or Tuesday - Thursday. But I have work to do on weekdays so preferrably, I'll leave on one weekend. That leaves me with Sunday! :P

I arrived in rainy Singapore at 11 AM. I forgot how efficient Singapore immigration is, and I arrived at the hotel at like 12 PM haha. I requested for early check in at 1 but well, too early. So I ended up walking around Orchard and buying stuff to bring back. I walked around Orchard Gateway and Plaz Sing. 

Next I checked in and rested for a while as I didn't sleep the night before! Took a 2 hour nap and then I was off to meet Chris at Chinatown! I went earlier as I wanted to look for some stuff to buy back too. Well we're kind of unlucky cause we had a few options for dinner and all of them are (somehow) closed on Sunday?! Hahaha. But we ended up eating tacos, they have Impossible tacos and also we ordered a mushroom one. they're so good! (thanks Chris for eating vegan with me!).

Great to meet Chris again!

It was a great dinner and catch up with Christ after... 3 years? We ended up talking about a lot of things, growing-up things haha. Like housings etc. It feels like yesterday when we're having Macs after band in poly :') Anyway it's nice seeing you again Chris! Hopefully we can meet again in Jakarta :D

That's all for Day One. I think I have to agree with Chris, it feels like I'm a jompo (old folks) now hahaha. After dinner I went straight back to the hotel and just rest hahaha.

Finally reunited after 4 years, with baby Leanne!

Day 2 was nice and simple. I started the morning doing shopping again cause I still have some stuff to buy back. And then in the afternoon I went over to Jes' house to visit her and baby Leanne! And Neal is coming over too. Gosh the 3 of us are finally in the same time zone after 4 years hahaha. We had lots of catching up to do and as usual, we're also talking about adult stuff! :P Anyway thanks Jes for the durian too! MSW is so amazing. I hope we won't have to wait for 4 years for the next meetup!

Next I went over to LTY's place to pass him some stuff. We're supposed to meet for a meal but due to some scheduling conflict it's just a short meetup at his house hah. But anyway I hope you enjoy the stuff I got you! And enjoy the candle too. And next I went over to Clementi to meet Adeline for dinner! 

I specifically chose Clementi cause I haven't been there in ages haha. But sadly it was raining quite heavily in the evening so... I ended up walking around Clementi mall (sorry for the anti climax). But wow this place change a lot. Nevertheless, there's a lot of memories rushing back in my head!

Thank you Ade for the dinner and catch-up :D

Ade and I had dinner at C.Jade Hongkong kitchen. It was a lovely meal and catch up and reminiscing with her. Crazy to think that 13 years ago we're still in Tanglin walking around Clementi, and here we are now as working adults (and me a tourist haha). When those days felt like yesterday! Thank you Adeline for the dinner and it was lovely seeing you again! Have a good break in the year end <3

Okay not trying to be cheesy but after this... I purposely went back to my hotel (at Dhoby Ghaut) by taking 7 from Clementi. I went over to the upper deck to the front seat, cause... I want to see the Orchard Christmas lights HAHAHA. But it's so worth the bus ride! Full of reminiscent. From passing by Pei Tong, Pandan Valley, Holland V and of course the Christmas lights. Gosh, it was a nice and mellow bus trip to Orchard. But okay, another post for this!

Ah Paragon...

After that I went to Kinokuniya to get some books but perhaps I was unlucky cause all of the books I was searching for are out of stock haha. I decided to walk all the way from Taka to Dhoby to enjoy and soak in all the Christmas lights. Sigh, I feel old and sad. Christmas is always a bittersweet feeling for me. A sign that the year is ending, and I just think of the year that I went through and about the year that's dawning upon us. But nevertheless, it's a great feeling to be back!

Chili Krab burger. 9/10, so good!

My last day was a really short one. I took an afternoon flight, but I decided to squeeze one last meal before flying back haha. So I went all the way to Eunos to have... Veganburg. I've been wanting to eat here but cause it's so far (and I usually stay in the central area), I don't have the time for it haha. So this time round since I got some free time, I decided to go there. It was delicious!

I went back to my hotel, picked up my bags, and left for the airport. That's it for my trip!

This was a trip that reminds me so many things have changed, and yet so many things stayed the same too. I'm thankful for the (more than a) decade of friendship with my the lovely people I met in this trip. I hope we can all keep in touch and we'll meet up more in the future. Stay safe and take care everyone! I wish you a wonderful ending to 2022.

Back

Hello hello, I just got back form my Singapore trip 2 days ago! It was a lovely, short but meaningful trip! I wanted to actually blog in Singapore but... trip happens and I just didn't HAHAHA. 

Anyway there was a drama on the day I got back here. So I returned back on Tuesday. When I arrived in Jakarta, I received Whatsapp from my mum that there's a bridge that collapsed, and it is a bridge that links my hometown, and that the car fetching me will be late. I was like okay maybe late a bit. But it ended up being 3 hours late! Haha. Well nevertheless the most important thing is there's no causalities.

We ended up taking another route back but it's okay, slightly longer but we arrived safely hah.

Alright I will blog about the trip soon. Right now I'm just finishing some work!  

December

I can't believe we're in the last month of the year once again! Well not gonna lie 2022 was... Okay saving this for the reflection of the year post haha. But yes, man, time flies doesn't it. 11 months just flew by like that. I guess this is just part and parcel of growing up. Time seems to fly faster.

Anyway I'm pretty excited for the last month of the year. It's the month of reminiscent. And the month of reflection. And this time round it's gonna be a month of reunion! Yup I'll actually be going back to Singapore next week hah. To be reunited with Neal and Jes again! Man after 4 years we're finally together again haha. Since he's back in Singapore, I decided to go back too! Also Jes is now a mum :') Great chance for a reunion and to also visit baby Leanne! Yay :D

Sometimes I can't believe that we've been keeping in touch for 17 years. It's so crazy to think that Jes is a mum now, and Neal is also married. It feels like yesterday when we're still in secondary school!

Alright I guess that's all from me now. I will keep you updated once I returned from the trip!