Anti-Piracy Dog

First it was drugs, than weapon, next missing people in collapsed buildings rubbles. Now man best friend have bring their natural talent of smell to the next level; Pirated Disc.

Click here to read about the adventure of Lucky and Flo

Hmm... think about it, before this 2 US Trained dogs ever step onto the shore of Malaysia, its already well known fact on the street that there are pirated disc almost every where. A day trip to J.B is not without a handful purchase of pirated disc conviniently delievered to your address the next day (provided order above RM$20) thus lower the risk of running into the law. Funny hor.... now the Malaysia Government need 2 dogs to show them how to raid pirated disc syndicate. I'm sure if they whole heartly confront this syndicate, there won't nessecery be a need for K9 to be on the job? Sure human and a good government will suffice.

"The MPAA says Lucky and Flo's work in this Southeast Asian country is the first time authorities anywhere in the world have used dogs to detect contraband discs. Malaysian officials have said they will consider training their own canines to perform similar tasks." ~ World first? Please...Its an embaressment already that some other country have to give them dogs for the job that they could have done by themselves. Anyway, not matter how much effort goes in...when there is demand...there will be supplies even if they confiscate and burn 1billion disc this year. Piracy is here to stay, unfortunately.

Singapore is great, we don't need dogs for the job. :)

San Francisco California Pacific Route 1 Blog -- Part 3

After Miur Woods and Miur Beach, I headed down the Pacific Coast. Its already getting dark. This is Part 3 of my travel Journal...

7.20pm

I traveled the California Route 1 Pacific Coast Road, hopping to reach the Point Montara Light House Hostel before Sunset. Half way along the Journey, I spotted a long pier extending into the beautiful sunset pacific ocean. It is located along Beach Blvd, beach name is ‘Sharp Park Beach”. Although the houses located along the ocean is suppose to be a “East Coast” Valued location, it look pretty cheap on the outside.

Great View, Great location, Tsunami to worry about...

This is the pacific ocean, strong wave pounding the pier and the water break while angler gathered oblivious to the beauty of the ocean current, their eyes fixed to the rod, hopping to bring home a big catch tonight.

The sunset is beautiful and thank god the camera capture it really well. Its getting late, I better head to the Hostel at Point Montara Lighthouse before it gets too dark to drive. The pacific pier is really a nice spot to bring your “other one” to watch the Sunset.

9.35pm
I thought I will be able to catch some rest at the Youth Hostel located at Montara Lighthouse; The plan was to stay over night at the Hostel and head back on the road due south the next day morning. Its dark and it make no sense to waste the stamina and petrol driving along the pacific coast for you get to see nothing at al in the dark.

Alas, the rooms are all fully booked for the night and the next nearest Hostel along the southbound road is 27 miles away at Pigeon point Lighthouse. At less the staff at Montara was helpful enough to call and reserve a bed for me at the other side.

Absolutely no choice at all unless I want to stay at Montara and sleep in the car. I need a shower, brush my teeth and catch some quality sleep,

The drive south to Pigeon Point was absolutely boring, a sign board along the way ironically said this is a scenic route when the only thing I could see is the cat eyes along the road. Broing 27 miles south, wasting all that supposedly great ocean view and the sight of Half Moon Bay and its little airstrip. Lesson learn- Book your Hostel before hand.

10.35pm
So here I am right now, safe and sparkling clean in the Hostel. Tonight I am sharing a dorm room with a German Kid name “Yaohan” (drove here) and a US guy name Ryan (cycled here). Gonna knock off now….Zzzzz

Sleepy Lighthouse... Yawn...

San Francisco California Pacific Route 1 Blog -- Part 2

This is the Part 2 of my tour blog. You can call it Part 2 or the "after 10.40am 23rd Mar 2007" blog. Stay tune for Part 3 where I head South on the Pacific Coast Route 1... You can view my trip photo album and skip my talk cock and sing song at... http://s55.photobucket.com/albums/g140/cybourg/San%20Francisco%20Pacific%20Coast

10.40am 23 Mar 2007
I have to extend my check out time from the Hostel for an hour cause I am still exploring Fisherman’s Wharf. I must admit this whole stretch of shop, restaurant, culture and a couple of tourist trap is just too much to handle in just a morning. You probably need at less half a day if the plan is to pop in to every store and attraction along the way. For me? I only got 2 head scarf from a store.

Me and my ku ku head scarf

Saw the Harbour Sea Lions at Pier 39 and pretty got a sneak preview of the area so the next time I could come back here and explore as back packer and with ample of time, to fully explore.

Lazy Harbor Sea Lions

There is a bicycle for rent right here thay you could ride across the golden gate bridge to Beautiful Sausalito City North of the bridgeand take a ferry back. US$8 dollars an hour US$28 for a day. I will seriously consider taking that bike ride across the bridge to catch the view of SFO Bay from the bridge area for if you drive across….you can’t just stop your car on the bridge and admire the views.

Bicycle...Bicycle...I want to ride my Bicycle... (Queen's Song)

Hmm...Man or Machine?

12.10pm

I just have lunch back at the Hostel with this very talented and wonderful kid name Tejas. He is so smart, he knew how to cook scrambled egg at the age of 7. I don’t remember myself cooking when I was 8. Its all toys, cartoon, video games and soccer. My mum never let me into the kitchen which I don’t get it. Is it that dangerous? No….seeing how Tejas cook, I think a little bit of guidance and safety instruction and you are set to go.

Tejas...good at cooking

Riccardo... Good at Eating...

The cooking happens in the Hostel Kitchen. Hostel kitchen is a great avenue to save on those “eat out” & “take away” cost which is substantially high in down town area. Its always cheaper to cook by yourself and the super market is right around the corner. Kitchen is fully equipped in most Hostel so the last thing you need to worry about is finding cooking Utensils.

Me, Tejas, Tejas’s mum and a Korean family are heading to Muir Woods in a while. Before that, I headed to Lombard Street...the Windest road in San Francisco... Driving down those hairpin remind me of the animation, Initial D. At each corner of the turn is actually someones house and indoor parking garage.

12.25pm

Northbound to Miur Forest through Golden Gate Bridge

5.25pm
After spending hours in Miur Woods where you see lots and lots of red wood trees, Stream but literally no sight of any wild life at all. No fish in the stream, no buzzing insects around, just couple of quiet spiders sitting on their webs. It’s a quiet and peaceful forest. So mellow I slept on a bench looking up the trees for an hour.

Miur Woods...the Red Wood Forest

We have a short stop at the Miur Beach and that’s when I decided to head straight for the Light House before sunset thus leaving my travel group to their own activity. A short and quick good bye to all of them. We exchanged E-mail and I give the Korean family my US number to call once they come to Dallas 2 weeks later. I promise to send Amita my Singapore number in case she visit next time.

Miur Beach....Sparkling Water...

San Francisco California Pacific Route 1 Blog -- Part 1

The following blog is actually handwritten on my travel Journal during my San Francisco and California Coast Route 1 tour. Painstaking reproduced in Digital format for your view pleasure. I wrote too much so I have to take some time to upload all the photos and blog....so this is just Part 1 of the many Part of Blog....

11.10pm 22/03/07
Finally got a gallon of water and a notebook to satisfy my thirst and my need to blog. Decided not to bath, brush and sleep right now for even if I do, thanks to time zone difference, it will be hard to fall asleep. So gonna keep myself active and see the Golden Gate Bridge at night.

Brought my food right here

12.00am 24/03/07
Been there, done that. I drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and the only thing I could see in the dark is the rectangular bridge support, 2 of em. Its dark, too dark to really appreciate the bridge at all. Some how I got this funny feeling it’s a bit too short and the drive over it was not as scenic as expected. Expecting lots of lighting here and there, but just see lots of cars buzzing pass me as I tried to capture whatever treat there is within my peripheral.

That was northbound through the bridge. I continue driving further north till I realize there just forest around me now. So I tunr back, back the same road I came, south bound through the bridge. Was surprised to see a toll tag booth and a huge US$5.00 sign to enter San Francisco. Oh well…have to dig those pocket of mine.

12.38am 24/03
I could not sleep and it must be the time zone stuff screwing up my bio-logical clock. Chat with one of the Hostel staff and learn he have hiked and hitch hiked all the way from Pennsylvania to San Francisco, taking odd jobs along the way to fund his journey, job like a hostel staff right now.

Ok…. Now I must force myself to sleep so I could explore the Fisherman Wharfs area in the morning, by foot. Plan to check out at 11am and head off to Muir Woods, north of San Francisco with a group of like minded travelers from the Hostel.

7.30am 24/03
After much tossing and turning last night, I finally fell asleep and woke up to this beautiful morning of sunny sky, green trees and chirpy birds. Realise the hostel is located right inside a popular park. From my bedroom window, I see people jogging and cycling. I heard someone speaking Cantonese first, a sign that SFO have a huge Chinese community. Better get brushing and washing before breakfast.

My dog shed I have spend the night in

Hostel receptionist. Mostly part-time worker who are also backpacker themselves.

Hostel I spend my night in... Youth Hostel International.

8.30am 24/03
This area is called the Golden Gate NRA (National Recreation Area). Lots of people doing their morning jogging and cycling in this park in the morning.

Walk down this path...

...the wonderful view of San Francisco City...

...Beautiful Skyline...

Right behind where I stay is the “PIER”. All this building are suppose to be some kind of warehouse or facility for ship docking at the Pier but now its been wholly dedicated to Art, Dance, Literature and Music.





Lots of Seagull over here, domesticated and waiting to be hand fed. All the buildings are conserved by the local Government. Somehow it remind me of the Esplanade but at a more Humble tone. Hmm…notice there is military insignia on each of the buildings….maybe Fort Mason (as this area is called) use to be a Naval Base.

Quack Quack Quack!!!

8.55am 24/03
The Golden Gate Bridge stretching across the bay on my left, The “Rock” Alcatraz Prison solitary to my right and Angel Island far ahead. This is a nice place for some photo shooting but the bay area is covered with morning mist. I’ll come back again in the afternoon to get a better chance with the photos.

Golden Gate Bridge far far away.

"THE ROCK" Alcatraz Island Prison

9.00am
It must be really nice and lay back to stay in SFO right by the bay. With such calm and serenity and cool weather, its no wonders there is so much folks walking, jogging and cycling around the city. There is just this raw attraction that will make people like me come out every morning for a run along the bay. Most of the folks here are slim and fit and I bet so far I don’t see any local with a bicycle tire waist size yet.

9.20am
Nice stroll through the park. Saw couple of Ah Gong and Ah Ma practicing Tai Chi. The usual morning exercise crowd are still around.

This street perpendicular along Bay Street caught my attention. Just look at that slope! I bet its really fun to cycle down those slope, but first…. Got to get up there which must be challenging.

San Francisco City is all about slopes and hills

Right at the Intersection of Bay St and Franklin St is Fort Mason where I have spend the night in. Youth Hostel International is where I stay and I highly recommend staying right there for its walking distance to most attraction in San Francisco City, especially Fisherman’s Wharf. Renting a bicycle is one of the best way to get around here.

Fort Mason located at intersection of Franklin and Bay St


Entrance of Fort Mason where is Hostel is located

Back to Dallas, Back to work

9.00am, 25th March

I have just finish unpacking all my luggage and bag. I am tired but I am satisfied with my little adventure in California. It was just a short 2 days which was just too short to really experience the clean, green and breezing San Francisco City , the lay back serene California Coast, the small town of Santa Cruz and Silicon Valley of San Jose and saddest of all missing the Aquarium at Monterey Bay due to lack of time (kind of regret not going there after looking at the website now).

I am sure I will be revisiting San Francisco once again (as a backpacker and not a luggage hauler) and this time I will cycle pass the Golden Gate Bridge, I will fully explore the city which I did not have much time to and of course visit that Aquarium at Monterey Bay.

Got to catch up on some sleep and rest those tired body of mind. After taking too much Pacific Ocean breeze, I think my throat 发盐了, got a bit of sore throat. Will be writing a chronological blog of my tour experience in this few days. In the mean time, I leave you guys with a nice picture of the Pacific Ocean Sunset...

Reached San Francisco

Right now, I am logged onto the Free WiFi network at the Hostel International right here at San Francisco. The Hostel is located right in the center of the popular Fisherman's Wharf and its very cheap for a night stay, just US$25. However, just like any Hostel...I have to stay in a room shared with 7 other guys. I am the eighth guy.

Things went smoothly since landing at the airport. Thanks to tourist friendly signs, I have no problem finding the SkyTrain (Mono-rail) which I took to find my way to the car rental center. Paid for my reservation and pick up a red Ford Focus, my horse for this 2 days in San Francisco.

I guess I will focus more of my tour right now and will not be updating this blog till I return to my home away from home in Dallas on Sunday morning. Will be doing a photo blog thingy in the mean time. Heres my plan, take photo and write my thoughts in a notebook because thoughts comes at an instance and goes away in an instance. So instead of accumulating my thoughts till the end of the day to blog like what I did in the past, I will write it down with each pictures I take. This way, I don't have to search my brain to find the words or sentence that never eluded me in that moment .

Got to go now. See you guys back in Dallas.

Transiting in Hong Kong

My flight could not have been less exciting as I thought. First the plane met with a very strong turbulence during flight, much shaky compared to my flight on a Chinook. At one point of the time, I could literally feel the aircraft been push down by 1000 ft within a second, you know the feeling you got when the roller coaster take a dip.... could feel the pee coming out.

Next thing my In-Flight entertainment headphone did not work at all and it happen at a time when I needed it most after getting really tired reading a novel titled "Prey" and it happen at a very busy steward and stewardess time during flight, dinner time. Even the "call for help" button did not help at all as their hands are full.

I got my headphone and my dinner. Half way through the movie, "Stranger Than Fiction", an argument was heard few seats behind me. Apparently this Ah Pek was very "Buey Song" or piss off with the way the Auntie in front of him reclined her seats. I thought I heard a bit of cursing or swearing in Cantonese and little shoving of the seat in front of him. The auntie was calm as cucumber or like a pussy cat sitting at a ledge .... while the Ah Pek was furious. What a waste of customer service this Ah Pek created, his action summon so many flight steward and stewardess to resolve the situation. What the fuck....this is economy class, if he want more leg room, pay more...go to first class lah!

While I was kay-pohing looking at that little drama unfold and finally came to a conclusion (Ah Pek) calm down, I accidentally press the stop button of the in-flight entertainment system controller. Shit.... I was 1 hr through the movie, now I have to fast forward from the beginning..... DAMN!!!!! The fast forward button is spoilted!!! %&*$@%$^%$!&^#%%$%@^&#%

I hope there is no turbulence on the next leg of my flight to San Francisco from HK, turbulence might have cause all this chaos on board.

Heading back to US soon

Hmm... what is home? So should I say I am heading back to US or heading to US? For the start, I was heading to US last year's May. Why did I always tell my friend I am heading back to US when actually my home was Singapore? The "Back" word should be use for home -- Heading back home-- Heading back to Singapore -- Back to base. You see, I am just a foreign alien in United States and my experience tells me I am still know nuts about America and American, its as though I have not explore much of the place yet. All I could tell my friends about my life there was Shopping, Movie, Fishing and Food. I already sound kinda boring to myself each time they ask hows my life in United States. 10 months of cultural immersion have not really make the difference at all. Back here, I dress, talk, walk and eat like any Singaporean.

Somehow I don't like the way some people treat me just because I came back from USA. First, they assume I am rich just because I got a sports car, a laptop, my own apartment (shared with another housemate). Lets clarify right here, I got less than 5 figures in my bank account, that makes me ordinary, I have US$3800 car loan payment, that makes me in Debt (not a serious one), my apartment is paid by tax payer 's money, that makes me accountable.

Secondly, some expect my English to be really powerful now. Judging from my blog, people should think otherwise. I mix with Singaporean most of the time and work with Singaporean almost all the time. We speak the Singapore way, Singlish and sometime in Chinese (I feel its not professional to speak in Chinese during work because we got our Singaporean Indian and Ang Mo around us). When I speak to the American in my base, I think I have funny accent. So when I came back to Singapore, they thought I am gonna have an American accent. I don't think its cool to speak in American accent cause I have dry mouth and twisted tongues doing so. I have been condition for 25 years speaking the Singapore way, 10 months is not gonna make any difference.

Short update here. Our Peace Prairie Detachment Soccer team have a new website...

http://www.freewebs.com/fcsinusa/index.htm

Reflection... I need to travel the Earth

Less than 10 days before I head back to US. I seriously can't wait to leave Singapore. Not that I don't like my country, I just miss USA, its weather and my dog shed. What a self contradicting person I was, first I miss Singapore, Now I miss USA. Guess the saying goes true, "THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE". Coming back makes me realize I have not really make good use of my last 10 months stay in the United States. As far as exploration and traveling is concern, I could count the places with one hand. Coming back to Singapore for more than 2 weeks is just too long not forgetting that I might be back in Singapore for good after my tour of duty in USA ends. If not for my family, I guess I should be flying off this weekend. Told myself, got to plan more tour and traveling once I get back to States. First will be San Francisco tour with a 2 days drive down the west coast of USA by Cabrillo Highway , also know as ROUTE 1. Known to be one of the most Scenic Highway in USA (I need a convertible for that!!!)

Pacific Highway Route 1 ....Drooling.....

Next YellowStone National Park and finally a driving tour of the East coast of United States from Miami to New York. Thats just a plan... better to have plan than nothing right? :)

Meeting with my Ex-Teacher. The Library is not a study place

Today, I met up with my Secondary school teacher and my post secondary school mentor Mr Lawrence Chu for Lunch and coffee over chat. Its been a long time since I last saw him and he is not longer a school teacher anymore, just doing a lot of private tuition at the moment. We have a short phone conversation when I was still in Texas and recently he called my US number again not realizing I am already back here in Singapore for Holiday. Still looking chubby and cheerful like Pikachu (thats what his ex-student called him) except he don't live in a ball but a HDB flat and he does not have a Master name Ash. He was not just a good teacher academic wise but also a good life mentor. Not your typical kind of teacher who have trouble handling the Ah Beng or Ah Lian, more like GTO - GREAT TEACHER ONIZUKA. Thanks to his life teaching, I guess he change the life of many students who went under his guidance who could have easily ended up on the street, in boys home or jail. His way of controlling the classroom is unconventional. When a teacher handle a student in a predictable way (scolding, lecturing and giving punishment), expect predictable delinquent respond... but when a teacher handle a student in an unconventional and unpredictable way...they suddenly have a lost of words and action and thats when teacher can manipulate them for the better like melted ice or butter.

Sometime you got to be fierce,
sometime you got to be cute.
All the time, you got to be unconventional

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I am at the Woodland Regional Library right now and nothing have change after 10 months. This place sound more like a kindergarten or market than a Library. The hand phone ringing, loud chatting, noisy foot step of people walking and kids running around. Finally the numerous radio announcement by the library staff instructing people to "Shut the F*** up" adds on to the noise pollution. After 10 months, this place is still swarming with homeless Singapore students who have no home to do their studies, got chase away by fast food restaurant and basically enjoy studying their notes and text book in a noise polluted environment. I thought the library is a place for the citizen to come, pick a book and sit down for some quiet personal reading time but finding an unoccupied table is already a challenge that should only occur during the peak hour Kopitiam crowd. Nowadays "chopping" (Singaporean lingo for reserving seats) is not just a pack of tissue paper on the Kopi Tiam seats, its a litter of text book, a stack of Math notes an a pencil case or water bottle on the library table and seats.

Although we should not deny a place for our country future Scholar to study but we should not deny a place for others to read library books. At less the National Library is prohibiting people from bringing notes and textbook into the library, which is a good measure to free up precious reading spaces. Ahhh.... which is more important? Citizen reading Library books or sacrificing the space for our future generation to score more distinction and straight A s while genuine readers have to make do with reading on carpet floor and chairs without tables.

There are ample study areas in Poly, University as far as I know. How about Secondary school and JC? Why do kids wanna head to Library and Burger Kings? Scratch head...

There is a serious problem we have to solve in our Library, loud mouth kids and auntie.... I think we should have a reality show right here where we take video of this people, Interview them like Ali G, and telecast it on Youtube or lagi best, the National TV. This will make people so "Malu" and the next time others will learn to speak softly in the Library.
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Whats Customer service? San Francisco tour! My friend design website.

Duck Noodle with my favourite roast chicken backside. Yum yum

Great customer service today is all about knowing your customer well even after 11^t months of absent and serving him a bowl of duck noodles with chicken backside. Some how the stall auntie still remember me after such a long time and knew right away I like chicken backside with my duck noodle without even asking me. I was thoroughly surprised when my bowl of noodle was serve by her stall assistant who is a faggot.

Have decided end my stay in Singapore earlier and thus moving forward my flight back to United States from 25th March to 22nd March. Will be planning to stay and tour around San Francisco from the 22nd of March Thursday to 25th of March where I will be catching an American Airline flight back to Dallas exactly at mid night. Got to plan my car rental and accommodation on a budget so my plan is to rent a cheap compact car to drive around San Francisco and sleep in a Motel for my 2 days stay right there. Just check out the weather, it look pretty good with day time temperature at 18 degree Celsius and night at 10, pretty cooling spring time weather. I was initially worried about the weather because I have only brought summer time clothes in my luggage back to Singapore and this will be exactly the same attire I will be bringing back to United States. Thank god its not freezing winter and for 10 degrees and above, my body is still pretty comfortable with it.

Two of the places I have in mind right now is the famous Golden Gate Bridges, the Alcatraz Island maximum security prison a.k.a "THE ROCK" and ending my short two day tour driving 72 miles around Lake Tahoe probably on Saturday before heading back to San Francisco International Airport to catch the mid-night flight back to Dallas. Hmm...the more I read about San Francisco from the different website, the more I feel two days might be too short. Hmm, maybe I should go back to US on Monday instead of Thursday! This way I will have a full 4 days of exploration!!! Well just a thought only, on a tight budget budget so not gonna splurge too much on this Holiday trip at the moment. Gonna safe up $$$$ for my YellowStone Park and Petrified Forest road trip July this year.

Like to introduce you guys to my secondary school friend, Boon Siong... he is a freelance designer who was also my Digital Media Design course mate back in 1998 at NYP. He made it through the course and is right now a very successful freelance web designer while I fortunately got my PhD during the course (Poly Halfyear Dropout) and ended up taking an Engineering course and signing on to the "Iron Rice Bowl Inc" call RSAF. Like to introduce you guys to his website, it look really cool and telling you frankly.... it have went through evolution of time and got so much better today. Probably thanks to his numerous backpacking trip around Asia that expanded his design style and creativity...

http://www.isensemedia.com/2006_portfolio/

Women in relationship

Sometimes, I just can’t understand women in a relationship. They are mistreated and disrespected, cheated and not cherish by their man but they just keep on clinging on to this empty relationship as though there won’t be any further suffering. I guess, in their mind there is this expectation that things will improve or get better as times goes by. If its all soreness and conflict before marriage, what will it be like after?

打死不走. Maybe that could easily describe her mentality. Her boyfriend lied to her about his whereabouts; he went for “Extra Curricular Activity”, he was very aggressive to her and when she initiated a breakup yesterday (with much courage), he just breakdown and go begging her not to leave. What the hell… first you do all the shit to turn her off and now you are going on all 4 to have her back again, again to your hell hole? Utter disrespect man. She somehow back down this time and got back to the relationship. Relationship should be build on trust and I don’t see the case here.

Aiyo… the forest is so so big, got Rambutan tree, Durian tree, strawberry bush, Apple tree, orange tree, peach tree blar blar blar, why is she giving up the whole forest just for a tree of poisonous fruits? 为了一颗树而放弃整个树林, 天啊！！！

You know, the thing about life is “Either you are in control or you are not”. I sure don’t want any one totally controlling mine. Yes, sometimes we got to give and take in friendship or relationship but got to strike a balance. Can’t be giving it all you have and getting no reciprocate affection or help in return right? It’s the Yin & Yang of human relationship, just like nature everything got to have a balance else its just chaos and instability all the time.

Thank god the whole island is rigged with WiFi Internet network, that means less of a handicap for me...I thought. I head to the National Library today to use the free WiFi services so that I can check my e-mail, my utility bills in US and also to track down any good deals on Spoofee.com. Happily walk into the library trying to poke a 2 pin US plug into a 3 pin Singapore power-outlet.... Damn, I forgotten to bring my traveller power adapter. My laptop is a total foreign creature right here. So I have to walk around the whole of Bugis Junction area to buy the adapter and the weather right here is no joking matter. Within a few walking distance, I am sweating like a call...eventually have to go all the way to Sim Lim Square to get it and walk all the way back to the National Library. Woah...some kind of exercise for me. Hope I don't smell of sweat later on when I meet with my friend for dinner. Warm and humid....haiz...not my kind of weather.

TV is dead, my first Singapore cooking

Today is Wednesday.

Today is my third day in Singapore.

Today I went back to Sembawang Air Base, back to CHRT section to pass some documents to my Singapore counterparts. Met Encik Teng, my former section head at the AeF office. He have adapted to the Singapore way of life since coming back here last year November. Encik Koh J.B, another of our former WOs was at the office too. He seems to have slim down a lot, probably from the heavier workload of heading the Apache section. Have a short chat with both of them before heading to SHMS hanger to meet up with the rest of the guys. Encik Foo C.Y was right there, chubby and cheerful looking as usual and so is Master Chen L.W who is now 2WO Chen L.W thus got to address him as Encik from now on. William Tey, Ting Fui and a new guy Seah was over there too, busy removing a rotor blade for repair. It’s a pretty busy day seeing all the Super Puma, Apache and Fennec flying here and there. Compare to PP Det, it seems like the tempo is higher right here.

Headed home in the afternoon and got a call from the Samsung TV technician. The appointment to repair my home 43” projection TV was suppose to be on Thursday, must be some miscommunication somewhere when I got a call from him saying he will be at my place in 15 mins time. Pretty professional 53 years old technician for he knew the source of the problem right away just by switching on TV and looking at the “Blue Screen Of Death” . Coolant leaking from the picture tube means an expensive S$1500++ repair cost to consider. Back in 1998 when my dad brought this TV set, it was S$5000++, now a projection TV is selling for less than S$1300. It make money sense not to commit such repair and to dispose of the TV set or convert it into something useful which I have no idea at the moment. In the end, still got to pay S$80 for the service request but this amount is actually half the price of what I should have paid the TV technician, he gave me a 50% off and I wonder how is he gonna tell the boss.

REST IN PEACE, 1998 -- 2007

I have just finish preparing dinner for my family tonight. I have always wanted to cook for mum and dad since I started cooking in United States. Tonight dinner is rice, black sauce chicken, Pan fried Japanese Omelets and stir fried broccolis. After a long break from cooking back in the States, I hope the food I have just cooked taste at less acceptable, not horrible. Somehow, I realize its just so much more convenient to makan at the coffeeshop in our neighborhood. Might be cheaper, confirm more convenient and surely time saving to makan out.

Simple dinner for a simple family

Thumbs Up! Our son finally learn how to cook!

Gonna setup the master bedroom dvd and sound system after dinner. Just brought a brand new Philip DVD player for my mum and dad bedroom and got to set it up before I head back to US.

I suddenly have this kinda feeling like I have seen the whole of Singapore just within my 3 days right here. Hmm, have plans to go Bintan or Phuket next week, hopefully the air tickets (or ferry ticket) is cheap. Doing some research right now. Need to head to the sunny beach and blue waters for some peace and quiet....

Riccardo first two days in Singapore

Thank god I was working the night shift last week and got enough sleep on the aircraft on my way back to Singapore else I will be totally jet lagged for the first few days back in Singapore. I AM DOING FINE right here if any of you guys back in US is asking. Landed at exactly 12 noon on Sunday and my mum, dad and sis is already right there at the arrival gate waving at me while I took my time at the DFS pondering what liquor to get back home. Great to see that my sis is doing very well in her dual career in bank and network marketing. A brand new Mitsubishi Lancer GLX is a prove of her status right now. Boy....10 months and she have achieved so much, proud of her.

Did not went straight home on Sunday but headed to Waterloo street , to the Guan Yin temple to make my first Singapore prayer session . The usual line but with sincerity, thanking Guan Yin for her protection for my stay and work in US and for my family back in Singapore when I was not around. Gratefulness especially in preventing my from "buanging" (road accident) one day before I head back to Singapore. Nearly become a mince meat when I nearly collide to the rear end of an 18 wheeler on my way back home on the last day of work....nearly become the last day of my life man but somehow, something autopiloted my hand to "siam" the truck in front of me.

Talking about driving, it is suddenly so so so so multiply by 10 much challenging to drive here in Singapore. The lane are so narrow, there is so much cars, there is so many people jay walking especially at Waterloo Street and driver behind seems to always have their hands on the horn. And it looks like the size of a single parking lot is like those back in United States conveniently cut to 3/4 width, can't even open the car door fully without hitting the Hyundai on my left and the Honda on my right. Finding parking lot is a challenge, I wonder if I was slow or its just my incorrect positioning of the car that gave the wrong signal, the parking lot I aim for always got snatch up and it happen 3 time on one occasion at the frustration of my sis and dad, no joke. Anyway, good thing I did not turn into the wrong lane when driving but it sure is a damn stressful driving experience.

Well enough of negativity here and there. You know what I like about coming back here? All the green trees and green grass neatly planted all over our island nation. Enough of winter hibernation Bald trees of Dallas, this greenery relaxes my mood admit all the hustle and bustle of our city life. I hope Singaporean really appreciate what we all got here in our little country, a Garden City where every corner you turn, there got to be trees or flower or the less, green green grass of home. We are literally living in a Garden, a reminder to those who are taking it for granted or worse destroying it.

FOOD. Thats one of the many objective for my home trip. After 10 months of deprivation, my parents were shocked about my ferocious appetite. On the night I was back, we have Chilli Crab for dinner, 1 crab all for myself and 1 for my mum, dad and sis. On Monday, I head down to my Uncle "Yong Tau Foo" store at Aljunied for a one of a kind, black mince meat sauce Yong Tau Foo, absolutely fantastic. Never seen this kind of Yong Tau Foo in Singapore, probably not that common. Business was really good for them thus I drop by the stall after the usual lunch time crowd was gone. My Uncle a.k.a Ah Gu a.k.a my mother younger brother make me a SUPER SIZE plate of Yong Tau Foo and two bowl of noodle (one black sauce and one laksa gravy) that supposely is a 2 pax serving. Refused to take my money for it, feel so paiseh... I think my stomach have expanded thanks to 10 months of binge eating in the US, could finish everything up and still got ample space for a cup of kopi-oh.

This is my uncle Yong Tau Foo stall, that is my auntie busy with cooking...

This is my Ah Gu (Uncle) and Ah Kim (Auntie). Business was really look, thats why their face look a bit tired but beaming with smile. Stall name losely translated = "Big Sucess, Self Made, Yong Tau Foo"

And this? Black Mince Meat Sauce Yong Tau Foo... Mmm. Making me hungry again.

Headed to my sis company to look look see see in the afternoon. She is working in a Health Care company as her side line. Company name is call "Long Far". Brought dad there to do a health examination and result shows that he is still mighty fit and healthy at 50 years old. Way to go old man!

GOING VIVOCITY NOW!!! BYE BYE!!!