Therapeutic Moment

Macritchie Reservoir Trail

About two weekends ago, I was at Macritchie for a brief visit. I couldn't forget about the trail that I have always wanted to do. So this morning, I went there again with hubby to take a walk and followed the most basic trail. The trail was estimated to last about an hour but we took longer than that because we stopped frequently for photo-shootings and enjoying the serenity and sounds of water.

We saw quite a few monkeys 'monkeying' around the moment we stepped into the park. They seemed to be scrambling for food, like the one above. It was trying to bite open the base of the plastic bottle.

It had spent a while to open the cover of the litter bin and holding it in place. It didn't give up after initial tries. Finally managed to open the cover! Look!! It even managed to use one of its legs to hold the cover to prevent it from popping down again. Smart eh?

Students were there early in the morning for canoeing. I think some of them are learners.


The narrow path during our trail. Had to walk in single file because people come from both directions and most of them were running! We seemed to be in their way. So better 'siam' (stay clear) before they crashed into me.

Lots of tortoise in the water. Four was the max I could catch on film at one go. And I managed to see those fishes! Don't know what kind of fish but the circumference of their tails are orangey. Nice sight when they swim together and splash.


See? Does this look like a painting? We threw some bread into the water and the bread disappeared the moment they touched the water! How fast the fishes were.

Nice note to remind people to hush hush. We are there to enjoy the peace and relax.

Mmmm...essentially it is trying to convey this: If you don't want shit in your drinking water, don't dump shit in the water. Luckily the fishes finish our bread. Hehehe...

A good break from the greenies. Finally something purplish came in sight. Isn't this a beautiful flower against a nice background?

Look at the curvy trunks. Rare sight.

Enjoying the sight and sound. This is a good therapy session. It brings you to a relaxed mode. Cool!

Benches to rest the feet.

Here are the different trails people can go for. Am targeting to venture further next time. I had done the trail to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve many years ago and am looking forward to doing it again. Any takers?

I couldn't resist snapping the reflections. They are simply nice, especially with the water ripples. I will post a video clip with the effects later.

And the flora and fauna are the 'books and resources'.

So, don't dump your unwanted Luo Han fish, terrapins, hamsters, rabbits, monkeys. Remember, you dump shit, you get shit.

My Ideal Typical Day Planner

5.45am: Wake up
6.15am: Go for morning exercise
7.15am: Breakfast
8.00am: Shower
8.30am: Read the newspapers or online news
9.00am: Surf Net/Blogging
11.ooam: Free and Easy
12.00pm: Lunch
1.00pm: Get out of home time (can go shopping)
3.00pm: Nap
4.00pm: Surf Net/Blogging
6.00pm: Dinner
7.00pm: Take a walk
8.00pm: Watch TV/Catch up with family members on day's activities
10.00pm: Get ready for bedtime!

Of course, there will be flexibilities subject to daily needs and requirements.

Ahhh.....how nice my world will be if this can be realised. But for now, I will be happy enough to fantasize my plan. So, don't delete the above plan!

23 Sep 2008 (7.25pm)

My Visual Therapy

Took a picture of this piece of decorative item from a wedding banquet recently. Seems quite soothing to look at. It has become the latest wallpaper on my mobile.

The colour combi is nice to me, at least. But of course, when you see the actual thing with the kind of ambience with dim lighting, soft music, it's simply therapeutic.

Gosh, am I going nuts already?

The Value of Our Loved Ones

We have the tendency to take things for granted. And this includes people around us and even people we love. We take it for granted that the people around us will be around forever.

We delay or conveniently forget our obligations and promises until it is too late to fulfil or to make amends. Such incidents happen too many times and to many people. Have you ever heard people commenting that they had been too busy to visit their loved ones on their deathbed until it's too late? Or you hear people saying that they had been wanting to meet so and so, but kept postponing until one fine day, the so and so is gone forever and they regret it. These are all the late words.

I was pondering over the weekend how can we determine the value of people around us? One way, I thought, is to check how you would feel when the person in question is dead. This may not be easy for people who had not encountered loss of a loved one as you need to understand the agony and anguish.

So, after you have done the check and it tells you that you will feel absolutely miserable if this person is gone, then pal, it's time to do something NOW before it is too late.

Don't live to regret.

22 Sep 2008 (9.15pm)

The traits of a problem child

Are these the traits of a common child or an only child? Do they make any difference?

- Petty
- Temperamental
- Throwing tantrums
- Self-centred
- Lack of consideration for others
- Not being understanding, to the extent of being unreasonable

I seem to have them all lately...

21 Sep 2008 (8.40pm)

My New Blog

Yes, I have started a new blog. Quite ambitious yah?

I have been wanting to have another site for subject-specific posts. So decided to give it a shot and have chosen food as the main subject.

Do check it out at All About Food.

19 Sep 2008 (8.05pm)

Happy Birthday to Minister Mentor!

Today's MM Lee Kuan Yew's 85th birthday. MSN has a special section featuring MM's birthday with a series of pictures. Here are two pictures which I find particularly nice and heartwarming.

A light and heartwarming moment. Really love this picture!

Happy Birthday, Sir!

16 Sep 2008 (9.02pm)

Enjoying the Comfort

I love to see Xiaohei lying the the box. She seems so safe and comfortable. Good thing she allowed me to snap a pic of her without jumping out of the box the moment I open the door, which she normally does. I guess that's because we had fed her already!

Got another shot of her when she dozed off. Must be the weather. Cooling and breezy.

14 Sep 2008 (9.15am)

My Brief Visit to MacRitchie Reservoir

It was a fine day, after a morning shower. The sky was clear and I was dying to get out of home and go somewhere. And so MacRitchie Reservoir it is.

I went there just for a casual walk and to see how the place has changed since the last time I went (I cannot even remember when was my last visit there). I have been wanting to go for the trail walk one of these days, so today's brief visit is just a sneak preview.


The weather was really good and the breeze was very cooling. It wasn't as crowded as I imagined it to be, surprisingly. Sometimes, a few trekkers or joggers will whiz past you or a few visitors sitting at the stone bench under the shelter. Other times, you may not even see anyone which can get a little scary.

The serenity really calmed one's mind and nerves. It was very peaceful and as you walked, you could hear the birds chirping, the sound of water brushing at the side or fish splashing, and occasionally sounds of monkeys fighting or playing. Maybe it wouldn't be the same had the place become overly crowded.

Took this picture because I was somehow puzzled by the two colours in the water - green and yellow. The yellow could be of the muddy water at the edge.

You can even do fishing at the reservoir but only artificial baits can be used. No live baits. The notice has also mentioned something about releasing fish that is not big enough.

This is a good reminder to users of the nature reserve of the good etiquette but wonder how many will heed the reminder. Already while reading this notice, one youngster was throwing bread into the water to feed the fish, causing to splash and worse still, throwing an empty soft drink bottle into the trees at one of the monkeys. Sigh... Such are our kind of breed!

I must do one of the trails soon!! I guess I will enjoy though my legs will try to protest along the way.

Can you find the monkeys? Small ones. I think there were 3 or 4 of them scratching each others' backs. Very funny. I dared not walked too close to them since I was alone and that I didn't know how barbaric they could get.

Not that I like tortoise but that's the only creature I could get this close. I wish I could snap the monkeys this close. Anyway, I realise tortoise aren't as slow as we perceive them to be. When scared, they literally run back into the water as I had witnessed!

Er, just trying to capture the partially hidden sun above this tree. I had enjoyed today's little walk and exploration. I will definitely want to explore further and deeper when I do the hiking trail, which I hope...soon!

13 Sep 2008 (10.11pm)

Where are the animal farms in Singapore?

I have heard about animal farms in Singapore and have been dying to go visit them, but where on earth are they? It seems they are mostly located at places hard to reach, the road names themselves suggest some 'ulu' locations.

Does anyone know any farms that is reachable by public transport?

Can't wait to find one to go a visiting.

13 Sep 2008 (12.52pm)

Big-Mouthed Xiaohei

Can you see her big mouth! I didn't know she was yawning just as I clicked the button to snap a picture of her. So funny to see this later on!!

5 Sep 2008 (10pm)

Mooncake Festival is Coming

The mooncake festival is coming in a week. Something different this year for me is that I have bought some mooncakes from the famous Da Zhong Guo. My mum used to queue for mooncakes from this store every year without fail when she was around. But of course, the original store is at Chinatown. So basically, I grew up eating Da Zhong Guo Mooncakes.

There so happen to be an outlet an Alexandra so I 'psychoed' my colleagues into having lunch there today so that I can try to get mooncakes from this old store. I bought 2 boxes of Lotus Paste with 2 yolks for my mum in law and one of my bro-in-law, on behalf of my father.

As for myself, I bought 2 pieces just for my own consumption plus two little piglets. Today is basically a nostalgic day. But I was happy to be able to eat Da Zhong Guo mooncakes after so long.


The traditional paper carrier which I don't quite like because the string makes your hand very painful from carrying it, especially when it is very heavy.

Here are MY two pieces of of 2 yolker and the two piglets. Dying to have a bite to see if it can bring back some fond memories.

Thanks Crystal and Angeline for agreeing to go with me for lunch at Alexandra!

5 Sep 2008 (9.55pm)

How long will blogs last?

I wonder if we will be able to blog forever and ever because it is scary to know that almost nothing lasts these days.

What happens if Blogger decides to shut down, blogging sites are no longer available, won't our efforts be wasted? It's just like saving all your documents in a CD, and the CD is damaged or lost. Everything is gone.

Will our own blogs become a part of our legacy? Will the number of visitors jump when I am dead? Will people close to me start reading my blog when I am no longer in this world and start realising things they would have known before I am gone if they had taken the time to read? Will they regret that they have not spent the time to understand me more by reading my blog?

People regret they don't do this and that until it's too late. Sometimes the answers are all laid out in the open if one has taken to time to find.

Thinking, thinking, thinking......

3 Sep 2008 (9.18pm)