Poljot and Sturmanskie

"On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin made history by becoming the first cosmonaut who circled the Earth in a space shuttle called “Vostok” (East). This earmarked the success of the Soviet’s advanced development in space exploration, well ahead of its American counterpart.

It was a historical moment for 1st MWF as well with its “Sturmanskie” watch strapped around Gagarin’s arm throughout the space journey." This Russian watch factory has gone from being the first state watch factory in 1930 to the First Moscow Watch Factory in 1945 and then developing the trademark 'Poljot' (which means Flight) in 1964. While the watches were marketed under different brands or lines, the movements were produced by Poljot, notably the 3133 and 31681. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin, wore a Sturmanskie (Navigator) line watch, produced then only for military aviation and not available to the public. In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of space flight, Sturmanskie produced 999 pieces of a limited edition timepiece to commemorate this event. I have heard of Russian watches and the brand, but did not know much prior to this trip and the research of the watch. I was fortunate to have chanced upon a shop selling this line and the one that stood out was this beautiful piece. Not only did it have a good look, it was full of significance and a limited edition as well. After much consideration and haggling, the price was settled at 12500 roubles, about SGD 750.

CASE:	SOLID STAINLESS STEEL 39 mm
CRYSTAL:	MINERAL GLASS
CROWNS:	STEEL, ENLARGED FOR EASY WINDING
MOVEMENT:	POLJOT CHRONOGRAPH CAL. 31681 OF RUSSIAN ORIGIN/MANUAL WOUND
FUNCTIONS:	SECONDS, DATE CALENDAR, 24 HOURS DIAL, STOP WATCH WITH SUMMING UP ACTION
JEWELS:	25 BEARING RUBY JEWELS
STRAP:	GENUINE LEATHER
BUCKLE:	STAINLESS STEEL
BACKCASE:	STAINLESS STEEL-SECURED BY A SCREW-IN RING
DIAL:	BLACK, ARABIC NUMERALS
HANDS:	SWEEP-TYPE SECONDS HAND, LUMINOUS
ACCURACY:	-20 TO +40 SEC/DAY
WATER-RESISTANCE:	Up to 30 meters/100 ft or 3ATM

Holy Darkness

At long last, I have this song. This has been in my mind since I heard it during Mass on Holy Thursday. This was during the adoration of the Eucharist before it was taken away for Good Friday.

Just listen to it and the words. Tell me what you think.

Holy Darkness-John Michael Talbot

If you want the lyrics, let me know and I can leave it here.

Addition 9 Aug 07

Holy Darkness
by Dan Schutte

Holy darkness, blessed night,
heaven's answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,
we embrace your holy night.

1. I have tried you in fires of affliction;
I have taught your soul to grieve.
In the barren soil of your loneliness,
there I will plant my seed.

2. I have taught you the price of compassion;
you have stood before the grave.
Though my love can seem
like a raging storm,
this is the love that saves.

3. Were you there
when I raised up the mountains?
Can you guide the morning star?
Does the hawk take flight
when you give command?
Why do you doubt my pow'r?

4. In your deepest hour of darkness
I will give you wealth untold.
When the silence stills your spirit,
will my riches fill your soul.
5. As the watchman waits for morning,
and the bride awaits her groom,
so we wait to hear your footsteps
as we rest beneath your moon.

Optimash Prime

"Mr Potato Head"

"Potatoes in Disguise!"

"More than meets the fry."

Optimash Prime is the fearless leader of the Autotots, a faction of taters battling the evil Decepticons. Starchy situations call for a quick change - from truck to robot! No ordinary fries, these are potatoes in disguise.


This is so cute...... and during the season of the transformers movie too. The quotes above are not mine, but found on the box of the toy. Clever. It does really provide for a few laughs.

It also comes in various other iterations like a storm trooper or darth vader version as well.

Hmmm.... should I start a collection then?

Transformers

Just caught the moview Transformers on Monday. As a treat from the wife, she surprised me with a pair of Gold Class tickets at Vivocity. Just when I thought we would be watching the movie on one of those small cinema screens.

It was an experience. Almost like a performance. We left it till late before we went to the cinema. That proved to be a mistake because the interior was great! Big comfortable couches and sofas with a bar counter serving drinks and food. There was staff on hand to greet us and bring us to our seats.

I feel so 'sua ku' as I gushed over how large the cinema seats were. There was a control to lower the back and raise the foot rests. If you were feeling a little chilly, there was even a blanket. On the table in front of the seats was a green glowing button that would signal the staff to attend to you in the event that we wanted some drinks during the show. I snuggled under the blanket, kicked off my shoes and waited for the show to start.

The show, under these circumstances, was a scream. Childhood memories flashed through my mind as I saw the digitally rendered robots transform and battle each other on screen. There was a certain artistic liberty taken as some of the Autobots and Decepticons were depicted differently from the cartoon series. Nonetheless, that did not detract from the fact that the show was a fun, action packed movie.

Best were the familiar lines from the cartoon series:
Autobots, transform and roll out
More than meets the eye

What a movie!

6th Landy Improvement

What else could I possibly add to Missy Daisy, you would ask.

LIGHTS!

This has been on my list of things to add. And after a couple of night off-roading sessions, I was convinced that lights will be a definite help in my quest for a better experience. So once again, trooped down to Nam Seng to take a look.

So I made the following purchases:

1. Hella Ralleye 1000 x 4 pieces (mounted on the front of the Roof Rack)
2. Hella Comet 550 x 2 pieces (mounted on the rear of the rack)

Decided to go back to Specialists Audio at Bukit Merah for the installation as they were most familiar with Land Rover electrics, therefore least likely to mess up. Took about 4 hours for them to rig up the lights, connecting it to my 2nd battery, controlled by switches on the dash.

Now Ms Daisy looks like a fully equipped Land Rover.

I shall add photos soon

Only in God

11 weeks 6 Days

The title of the post is the title of the song as well. This, done by John Michael Talbot is in describable. Listen to it, meditate on the lyrics taken off Psalm 62 and let yourself be filled with the wonderful meaning in the message it is bringing across.

Equally inspirational is the biography of John Michael himself. You can read more about it at this website

Treat yourself to the music in the video below and let me know what you think.

Close Encounters of the 2nd Time

Age: 11 Weeks 0 Days

Today was our second check up and I had to admit we had our concerns. After all, the first trimester is fraught with danger for the unborn child and sometimes it is a wonder that anyone turns our normal at all.

It is therefore a huge relief to see his/her little heart pumping furiously away when the ultrasound came to pass over her (not that I am hoping only for a daughter, but for convenience sake let us just use the feminine convention). In turn, the head, then the little arm and then the little legs came into view. She was quiet and still... asleep?

Then she STRETCHED! She was moving here legs and kicking them around, and stretching her little arms. I could stare at the screen forever.

She has grown, bigger than expected and the age has been corrected from 10 W 4 D to 11 W 0 D. She will join us much sooner.She now stands at a height of 4.38 cm. I am such a proud dad so far.

So you all know how she looks now:

From Russia With Love

I am back from an amazing expedition to Russia. I left Singapore on 3 July and was back on the 17th. The trip consisted of 2 parts, the main aim was to go to the Caucasus to climb Mount Elbrus and the second part was the R&R in Moscow before coming back.

Mount Elbrus, standing at 5642m tall is one of the seven summits, highest on the continent of Europe. Having done Kilimanjaro last year, it was time to do another mountain and a snow peak. It was a good opportunity to see how I would fare on a snow peak this time, instead of a trekking peak. Coming here would also give me the chance to see Russia.

All in all, the peak was tough. My climbing partner and I summited on 10 July 2007 at 1330 hrs. We were part of a group of 10, of which only 5 summited. Conditions were much tougher than in Kilimanjaro with temperatures dipping to -10/-15 degrees celsius as well as being blasted by up to 40km/h winds. The wind was strong enough to send ice flying into your face and body. It was rather painful and inconvenient when it got into the wrong places. The wind was also strong enough to knock you over, if you were not expected the sudden gusts.

The second part of the trip was a 3 day trip to Moscow. It was a very exciting experience being in this great Russia cit, full of history and culture. It was all my previous childhood knowledge from books and pictures come alive! There was so much to see, hear and devour and the 3 days were all too short.

I shall be putting up the photos over the next few weeks as I edit them and put some detail into it. I shall also put up snippets of my own documentation of the many things done and the many thoughts that passed through my mind during those 2 weeks here as I go along....

Look out for it

Hair today, Bald Tomorrow

Age: 7 Weeks 5 Days

Tomorrow is the day I lose my hair. Am i worried or apprehensive. So far, even after thinking about it, I have not experienced the jitters yet...not yet at least. I think I will only feel the full impact of it only when I am there.

It is all for a good cause. The bald head will raise questions and it will get the the awareness level up for these children. Is it worth it? Definitely!

So 1 July, 1705 hrs at Velocity.

The Latest Addition to the Family

The latest addition to the family. Just 7 weeks 4 days old and 1.27cm tall. oh my, what a change in my life!

The Best 4x4xFar

Watching this video, I have got to agree with the title. I have owned Miss Daisy for 2 years now and I have enjoyed every drive with her.

The History of Land Rover Part 3

The History of the Land Rover Part 2

The History of Land Rover Part 1

A wonderful series on the history of the Land Rover and how it grew to become one of the most highly regarded off-road vehicles in the world. It has a certain nostalgia to it...and as you can see, I am crazy about Landies. Enjoy!

TM with SUVEC Group 24 June 2007

Pilgrimage France 27 May - 10 June

What a trip!

It was definitely not what we expected... it turned out to be so much more! It was am intense two weeks dash around the perimeter of France. A short summary of the itinerary:

D1: Singapore Airport
D2: Nevers - Paray la Monial
D3: Ars - Le Puy - St. Etienne
D4-5: La Salette
D6: Cotingac - Aix en Provence
D7-D9: Lourdes
D10: Le Mans
D11: Mont St Michel - Le Mans
D12: Chartres - Paris
D13-14: Paris

I have never attended Mass for more than 4 days in a row but there was Mass every day. Indeed, spiritually it was significant for both Frances and myself as we both explored our faith together and journeyed together. We travel together a lot and we've been through many things together but this was different. I cannot put a finger to it, but it was something good.

There were many highlights: the snow on La Salette, the lunch at Cotingac, the beautiful cathedrals and basilicas, the deeply moving sharing sessions, the Masses, the prayers. But the one that tops it for me has to be sitting at Lourdes, at the Massabielle in the night. We had 3 days there but it seemed all too short. I remember sitting together in the cold at 11+pm, watching the Mass and adoration, looking at the statue of our Lady looking down on the crowd, imagining what it was like some 150 years ago when She first appeared to St Bernadette. Alternating between observing the proceedings, meditation and saying a silent prayer ... time just passed so quickly.

Nothing can fully describe the richness of what I have seen and experienced, least of all a set of photos. I can only hope to give you an idea of what it was like to have been there ... if you want to hear more, drop me a comment or a line and we can talk about all of it...

See photos of the pilgrimage at:

France Pilgrimage

France Pilgrimage Part Deux

Off to France

I suppose this will be the post in about 2 weeks because Fran and I are off to France for a 15 day pilgrimage to the cathedrals and sacred places of this land.

It promises to be a time of many experiences: travel, devotion, fellowship.

Among the places visited will be Nevers, Le Puy, La Salette, Lourdes, Mont St Michel and of course Paris. It will probably feel a whole lot shorter than the 14 days.

I will share photos of the trip and definitely a description of it also when I get back.

Vive La France

Suicide is Painless

The theme song of one of the greatest movie and series in television history, M*A*S*H. Most people who have watched the series will know the tune but may not know that there is title and lyrics to the song. So here it is...

Suicide is Painless

Music - Johnny Mandel
Lyrics - Mike Altman
Released 1970

Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...

Refrain:
that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.


I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hatebut now I know that it's too late, and...


The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.


The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.


The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...


A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'


'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you please.

Hallelujah

You may have first heard this song in the cartoon Shrek, or more recently in the final episode of Season 1 of the OC and probably in a few more other television series or movies which I do not know about.

If you trawl the internet, there are also many covers of the original version written by Leonard Cohen. Jeff Bucklel, Rufus Wainwright, John Cale, KD Lang are among the more common versions you will come across. While you do not have to come to a conclusion on who has the best voice or brings across the emotion of the song best, it is good for you to take a look at the lyrics and make an attempt to see what it means to you.

For me, it never fails to bring up the same emotions listening to the haunting tune and lyrics. Hear it:

Hallelujah - John Cale

The version of the lyrics also differ with the original lyrics in 1984 reflected immediately below. The words convey a rich meaning with many biblical references. The song was released again in 1988 with significantly different lyrics, in my opinion, not having the same level and depth of religious significance. Most covers take a combination of both the versions. I have yet to find the original song.


Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen 1984 Various Positions

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

and here is a different version...

Hallelujah - 1988 Cohen Live

Baby, I've been here before.
I know this room, I've walked this floor.
I used to live alone before I knew you.

Yeah I've seen your flag on the marble arch,
But listen, love is not some kind of victory march,
No it's a cold and it's a very broken Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, (Hallelujah...)

There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below,
Ah but now you never show it to me, do you?

Yeah but I remember, yeah when I moved in you,
And the holy dove, she was moving too,
Yes every single breath that we drew was Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Maybe there's a God above,
As for me, all I've ever seemed to learn from love
Is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you.

Yeah but it's not a complaint that you hear tonight,
It's not the laughter of someone who claims to have seen the light
No it's a cold and it's a very lonely Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

I did my best, it wasn't much.
I couldn't feel, so I learned to touch.
I've told the truth, I didn't come all this way to fool you.

Yeah even tough it all went wrong
I'll stand right here before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my lips but Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Tashi

After much deliberation, I have settled on the name for my boat.

Tashi

Firstly, it is Tibetan in origin and the name translates roughly as " a blessing or good luck" As part of a longer phrase, Tashi Delak, it is used as a greeting to fellow persons around.

It is a unique name. Suitably female for the naming of a sea going vessel, conforming to the traditions of old. And applicable to any seafaring activity in a kayak, "a blessing" would mean a good and safe journey to anyone who takes this boat to sea and from another angle, it is a blessing to be able to use the craft to take us to where we so desire.

And so we have it.... my feathercraft..... Tashi

It Floats! The Kayak Test Run

Today is test kayak day! After its arrival last week, today we officially get the Wisper wet.

So Fran and I brought the boat to MacRitchie Reservoir after Mass. I figured that a controlled water environment and fresh water would be a better choice for the first run. We had some time from 1400 hours to dusk to do the boat tests. So here is how it went.

Setting up the boat in the afternoon heat is not a simple task. I was drenched in sweat by the time I got the boat ready for the water. It was a highly anticipated moment when I lowered the boat slowly and gently into the water. The silence was only broken by Fran's exclamation, " IT FLOATS!"

Me: ...

So after about 2 hours of paddling, I have one thing to say....SUPERB! The comments on the Feathercraft that I have read prior to the purchase were true. The boat felt comfortable even when sitting into it for the first time. The sponsoons offered great stability to the boat yet the boat was nimble enough for you to execute a mean edge. The boat sits quite high on the water but probably due to the fact it is unloaded at point in time. It was a fast boat, maintaining a reasonable speed with a minimal of effort. Tracking was good. This was a concern as the skins of the Feathercraft are hand-made and some variations occur between every piece of boat they ship out. I am fortunate that the boat tracks pretty well under mild conditions today.

The sea sock works well in preventing flooding of the boat during a capsize. Which I did, in the interest of testing every aspect of the boat's handling. The boat did take in some water, though minimal, but this was likely through a not so thorough securing of the bow hatch. A combination of the sea sock and the spray skirt did make paddling a little warm in our kind of weather.

The skin proved to be really watertight and water repellent. Water dripping off the paddle just beaded up on the deck and rolled off.

The other piece of equipment that was a real good buy was the paddle. The 4 piece carbon paddle from Aquabound was, in my opinion, a real performer. The Eagle Ray is designed for touring and for a low paddling angle. The feathering angle can be adjusted as desired. Entry of the blade into the water is effortless and silent. Turbulence is minimal and as you exert pressure on the blade in the water, the blade moves smoothly all the way until it exits the water. It does not have the little wobble that I so often feel in other paddles when you pull hard on the blade.

I brought the boat back strapped onto the roof rack. This was easily done with a couple of ratchet straps and another from the stern to the spare wheel. It would be a challenge to bring the boat around on my own, because I had the help of Fran today, and it took putting the boat onto the bonnet before I pulled it up onto the rack.

See the pictures at this Flickr set Kayak Test Paddle

Now.....I need a name for her.....

Hair for Hope 2007

I cam across this event in 2006 after it was over and I felt it was a wasted opportunity to be part of something this meaningful. So resolving not to miss it this year, I have stayed true my word and taken the step to register myself for the event.


The event consists of 2 parts, one is the chance to get a free haircut in the form of a shaven head and the fund raising portion. The shaven head, to me, is symbolic. It serves as as publicity to the entire fund raising event as well as brings the attention of the public to the plight of children cancer patients.

However, a more important effect, is to tell the kids that there are people out there who are trying to help and understand. The show of support and solidarity with them is immeasurable by this little act that is done.

So,, I ask for your to visit their website and see the work that is being done for the children. In addition, I sincerely ask that any of your who read this, to kindly support my fund raising effort for this event and pledge a little something through the online portal at this site here.

The event is on 1 July 2007 at Vivocity. To all my family and friends who will be keen to see me with a clean shaven egg head on that day, you are kindly welcomed to witness the event on the day.

The Summons

The Summons

1. Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

2. Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

3. Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

4. Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

5. Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

Above All

Above all powers above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth

Chorus:
Crucified, laid behind the stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a Rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all

Above all powers above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth


Crucified, laid behind the stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a Rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all


Like a rose trampled on the groud
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all

You have to hear this song to believe that the words can bring tears to your eyes. Read the lyrics and experience the richness of the meaning that they convey.

Enjoy...

Setting up the Wisper

The weekend was spent trying to set up the kayak and practising how to do it smoothly and with as little pain as possible.

I find no fault with the instructions or manual and the DVD included was just invaluable in making life a little easier. So blame it all on my ineptness, but my inaugural attempt in setting up the kayak took about an hour. I tried to be meticulous in making sure I do not do anything wrong that may damage the boat even before it hits the water.

On day 2 of practice, on my second try, the time taken to set the boat up was 37 min from the opening of the pack to completion. Dismantling took just slightly shorter at just about 30 mins. The bulk of time went to packing it properly into the pack.

Setting up the frame of the boat is easy, and planting the frame into the skin is also a relative;y easy. The most difficult areas are actually,
1. Making sure the frame is centred in the skin.
2. Tensioning the frame with the extension bars
3. And placing of the crossribs especially crossrib 2

But all in all, the kayak feels solid so far on dry land. The component pieces are well made and there was never a situation where the pieces did not fit one another. Design of the frame was well thought of with every piece having its role and doubling up in function sometimes.

Here are the photos of the kayak during the weekend.

My Boat is Here!!!

Today has been a long anticipated day. The order for my kayak made almost 2-3 weeks back has finally been delivered. See here for write up on the wisper and the order.

Brimming with excitement, I went together with Fran to collect the boat. It was also the first time I was meeting the guy who brought in the kayak for me, Huey. He has a rather colourful history with regard to kayaking and is now in the business of bringing in kayaking equipment, particularly folding kayaks. Check out the website: kayakasia

Now back to the boat. The backpack in which the foldable kayak was packed into was larger than I thought it would be. The other accessories were packed into the backpack with the foam blocks and buoyancy vest in a separate box. All in all, everything as in good order except for my neoprene spray skirt which was inadvertently left out in the order. This will have to be rectified in the coming weeks.

Therefore, this is my kayaking purchase and equipment thus far, my FIRST kayak plan.

1. Feathercraft Foldable Kayak: Wisper with front and rear hatches
2. Aquabound Eagleray Full-carbon 4 piece paddle
3. Feathercraft Klatwa 2 piece Greenland paddle (spare)
4. Astral Tempo 300 Personal Flotation Device
5. Feathercraft Neoprene spray skirt
6. Feathercraft Deckbag
7. NRS Bilge pump
8. NRS universal kayak blocks

Other pieces of good news include the approval from PUB to allow foldable kayaks into the reservoirs to paddle. Although the only open reservoirs so far are MacRitchie and Marina Bay, others in the pipeline include Lower and Upper Seletar Reservoirs. Once again, Huey has made arrangement for all foldable owners to have a tag to indicate registration with an organisation.
I have chose the number tag 7 for my boat.

All I have to do now is decide on a name and then will have to christian the boat during our first trip to the water. I cannot wait....

Hooked!

After a late mass, we popped over to Rail Mall for lunch, only to find our usual haunt E.A.T crowded. So as not to queue for so long, we went hunting for another place to eat. Soon we found ourselves outside a nicely decorated place touting a wide selection of fish dishes. We went in not knowing what to expect but I must say we were pleasantly surprised.

Ambience
The ambience was fine. The placed was predominantly washed in white, making it look clean and bright. There were coloured walls with interesting, appropriately themed 'sea' motifs. Most of the seating was indoors though the option to eat al fresco was there if so desired.

Service
The crowd was pretty thin this afternoon so the service was warm, prompt and courteous. One slight glitch that marred an otherwise perfect service was the omission of one of our orders. This was however promptly rectified when brought to the attention of the staff.

Food
Here comes the thoughts of the food, which is the most important isn't it? After some consideration, due to the menu having quite a large selection of different fish done in an equally mind boggling number of ways, I settled for a Poached Salmon while Fran had a BBQ Mackeral. This was preceded by a Wasabi prawns as an appetiser. We opted for the value set which included with the entree a glass of soft drink and the soup of the day for an additional SGD 3.60.

Poached Salmon SGD 12.90
The poached salmon was good. It was soft and juicy to the point of melting it melting in your mouth. There was no hint of dryness compared to others I have tried before and the portion was large enough to satisfy my kind of appetite. This was served with boiled carrots and broccoli and a generous amount of sauteed potato chunks.

BBQ Mackerel SGD 9.80
Fran's BBQ mackerel was also beyond expectations. The portion was large too and it was a crisp brown on the outside surrounding juicy, sweet white flesh on the inside. A thin coating of sambal ensured a fiery taste to the meat and if this was not enough, an additional bowl of sambal was at hand for your to spice it up to taste. This too came with sauteed potatoes.

Wasabi Prawns SGD 6.50
This dish was nice. Lightly fried prawns mingled with a fried potato salad, smothered with a light wasabi flavoured cream. the dish tasted good however the prawns were a little disappointing considering they were supposed to be the stars of the dish. It was not the taste but rather the size and texture of the prawns. They were a little too small and not quite succulent enough.

But all in all, a very good meal and much better than expectations. Coupled with the friendly service and great setting, I think we have a winner here. It begs a return visit to further explore the wide range of dishes they have to offer.

For a visit, go to

Hooked!
390, Upper Bukit Timah Road
The Rail Mall
Tel: 67655336

Back from the East Coast

After a short but intense 4 day drive up to Malaysia, we are back in the safe comfortable confines of home as of yesterday.

Covering a total of 1909.5km in this short 4 days, is really quite something. The journey took us across the main range to the town of Kuantan on the east coast. From there, it was northwards as far as Kuala Terengganu before the return leg home. Along the way, we soaked up the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of what the East Coast had to offer and I must say it was really quite an adventure.

With us, we are always covering a wide range of activity and this trip was no different. We stopped at a drop of a hat, at the slightest indication that a place was interesting and off-beat enough. We bought Lemang and Satar from road side stalls and consumed these in a picnic by the beach at Kemasik. We probed and came across a fishing jetty in Kemaman where fishing boats berthed to off load their catch of the day. There was also the eccentric old Malay gentlemen who showed us a conch shell with the animal still in it, this among drying starfish and shell sculptures.

During our stay in Cherating, we had the chance to visit a turtle hatchery and hold one of those small creatures in between our thumb and index fingers, while it squirmed to escape. There we came face to face with the Green Turtle in all its majesty. How anyone can harm these majestic creatures is beyond us.

Our second stop in Rantau Abang saw us putting up at a quaint little place called Awang's. It was clean and had basic amenities but the most important of all, it was a step away from the beach. The beach there stretched both north and south as far as the eye could see. Waves crashing on the sand created a fine mist that blanketed the coast. The sand, though not fine and powdery, was coated with arches of sea shells. Due to the unique gradient of the beach, incoming waves from the South China sea broke and dumped on the steeply sloping beach. The undertow was severe and one could very easily get swept away if one was not careful.

But it is precisely this gradient that made Rantau Abang one of the hottest spots for the annual egg-laying by the sea turtles. Through drastically reduced in number and having fewer pristine spots for laying eggs, the turtles have still be known to come back and if one is lucky, have the opportunity to witness this magical event. Unfortunately, the sky did not smile on us and dumped about 4-5 hours worth of rain come evening. This effectively ended any plans on our end to scour the beaches and chance upon an egg laying turtle.
The return journey was an adventure by itself with us wanting to take a different route from the one we travelled up from. This entailed going further north to within 50km of Kota Bharu before coming down through highways 4 and 8, passing through Gua Musang and Kuala Lipis before finally joining the NS highway at Bentong, near KL.

The return journey took us longer longer than expected at about 14 hours of driving, including a couple of rest and dinner stops. This exciting journey home saw us coming into contact with logging trucks hauling enormous sawn tree trunks along narrow, wet and undulating precipitous routes through the mountains. It was a continual drive with one's heart in the mouth as drivers jostled to overtake these slow moving behemoths. The highlight had to be the time when Fran exclaimed "Elephant!!" True enough, by the highway in a clearing of Taman Negara, a male elephant was taking a dip in a mud pool just a couple of hundred metres from the main road. It was a beautiful sight and warranted a U-turn and an unplanned stop of about 10-15 minutes to admire this amazing creature in the dimming light.

We arrived at the ungodly hour of 0300 hrs on 1 May 2007, having left in the evening of 27 April. It was a good trip and will remain in our memories for time to come. This is almost the anniversary of our last mega-trip to Ao Nang, end April 2006.

See here for a photographic account of our trip. Enjoy it as we did.

My Knee Hurts

I had a 5km run this morning.

Tried to run about 10km later in the evening. Ended up walking after the 5km mark.

My knee hurts on the postero-lateral aspect especially on flexion of the knee. I think its my iliotibial band being really sore. Sigh. Looks like I got to lay off the running a little.

The Serengeti

There is a place on Earth where it is still the morning of life and the great herds still run free

This line echoed round the hall while images of the great African plain appeared in front of our eyes. I rubbed my eyes.... and confirmed what I saw, or was I there?

Fran and I dropped by the Omnimax Theatre at the Singapore Science Centre after a long hiatus. The last show we watched there was Journey of Man by Cirque du Soleil.

What did we catch? The IMAX movie: The Serengeti caught our eye with an ad in the newspapers. This is the official synopsis

James Earl Jones narrates this stunning, award-winning IMAX film that explores the natural beauty and timeless cycles of Africa's Serengeti plains. The highlight is a spectacle that few humans have witnessed--the great migration--during which 2 million wildebeests, zebras and antelope travel over 500 miles across the plains.

With the promise of such a spectacle, how can we miss such a show? This was also a good opportunity for us to relive our trip to Kenya and Tanzania in 2005/2006. We had a short 3 day Safari after our climb to Mount Kilimanjaro. The Serengeti plains, Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge were just some of the places we visited and was also mentioned in the movie.



Director: George Casey

Writers: George Casey
Mose Richards

Release: 1994

Runtime: 40 min

Try it....you will be stunned and awed at the spectacle of life.

Ancient Words

There are songs which have a pleasant tune and may even be catchy enough for you to hum along to. And then there are those that entice you to look at the words that accompany the tune. These words mean so much and each time you meditate on the words, you gain so much...

I first heard this this during my Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) class during the presentation of the Bible to the inquirers. Take some time to mull over what it says.

Enjoy

Ancient Words

Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world,
They resound with god's own heart
Oh, let the ancient words impart.

Words of life, words of hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e'er we roam
Ancient words will guide us home.

Chorus:
Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age.
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh heed the faithful words of christ.

Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world.
They resound with god's own heart
Oh let the ancient words impart.

Chorus x4

We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

C to C Roll

I started off my rolls with this particular version. The C-C action made me feel it was easier to get myself up. However, I personally found that I was using a little too much force to get myself righted up in the kayak.

However, this is relatively easy to grasp and learn as someone starting out to learn your rolls.

the lonely planet story

This is a good to read book if you are one of the faithful Lonely Planet users in your travels. If you use t he others like Fodors or A Rough Guide, then you may be less inclined to do so.

This is The story as told by the founders of the Lonely Planet about how a newly married couple, adventurously backpacked across Asia to land in Australia with 27 cents between them. With such a financial situation, most would have thrown in the towel to settle on a more stable lifestyle.

The following description on how they had to live almost hand to mouth, scrimp and save to ensure some semblance of financial security yet having the dream to put their love for travelling and adventure to good use and put effort into an idea, yet untested.

The second half then goes on to detail the role of the travel writers and the relations between the work produced and the company as it grew from a small set up into a global office and a force to be reckoned with in the travel publishing business.

the lonely planet story
Tony and Maureen Wheeler
Published 2005
Periplus Editions
ISBN-13: 978-0-7946-0478-3

An Overview of the Kayak Roll

I stumbled upon a few very instructive videos with regards to the kayak roll or 'Eskimo' roll as most people would know it by.

In my opinion here, the explanation is lucid and demonstration effective. The theory presented is sound and it makes you feel the need to jump into a pool to try what has just been presented.

For those who are into paddle sports... just a teaser for you all. Enjoy!

Wisper

Sounds like an advertisement for women's sanitary napkins. Rest assured, this is not about it!

I have decided on my kayak. After making tentative inquiries with dealers and evaluating both the features of the kayak as well as the depth of my pocket. I have finally come to a conclusion.

Having said that, it was by no means easy coming to the decision. The main difficulties were with the kayak itself. A host of questions had to be answered: hard shell vs foldable; length; model/brand were all considerations. The one which caught my eye the most were the Feathercraft boats, due to their portability and consistent reviews of seaworthiness. Fears of tracking and speed compared to their hard shell counterparts were slowly but surely dispelled by the many favourable reports for the foldables. After all, the physics was sound. The oft cited weakness in the foldable structure may actually act to absorb more of the wave energy thrown at the boat, allowing it to cope better with choppy sea states.

Feathercraft has a few models available. Earlier one, I had my eye on the Khatsalano, a greenland styled kayak. However, the price made the boat quite out of reach and if you noticed, it has been a while since I've revisited the issue of owning my own boat.

Here is where the Wisper comes in. It is a cross between the Khat and one of their other models. It maintains the Greenland style characteristics but in a slightly shorter package with a wider beam.

The most important thing...is the freedom the craft will allow. Paddling anytime, anywhere and being to camp out to explore the remote reaches of our island home. The possibilities are endless. I just cannot wait. Await the next post when I announce its arrival. Now I need a name for her....suggestions?

Dinner tonight

I had a nice home cooked meal tonight. The spread was good and the smell coming from the kitchen after my run was enough to make my stomach rumble in anticipation.

Soup:
Cream of Mushroom

Main:
Grilled Ribeye Steak

Sides:
Baked potato
Steamed corn with butter
Steamed carrot
Sauteed mushroom

and topped of with COKE!!!

The steak was tender and just rightly medium rare... the baked potato was nice with the bacon bits and sour cream but the one that really takes the cake was the steamed carrots. Amazingly soft and sweet, just the way I like it.

My fascination with soft carrots started when I first tasted carrots in New Zealand. We signed up for a traditional Hangi during our stay in Rotorua. A Hangi is the traditional meal of the Maori with food cooked in the traditional style of shoving food in a hole in the ground heated by hot coals.

Now I have a Singaporean version... Thanks Fran

What is this For?

Just what is this thing for?



I have finally found it ...rather Fran found it for me.

This is the little brush used to apply shaving cream to the face before a shave. The last time we saw this was in a pharmacy in Paris and it was priced at about 20 euros. This one was bought at the very affordable price of SGD 2

Why the obsession with this brush? Because I think it is very quaint to use a piece of equipment like this and since I have little facial hair, I do not have to use it during my shaving. Therefore, it is going to be used to clean and dust my photographic and electronic equipment. The bristles are stiff enough to get at dust in odd corners yet soft enough not to scratch or damage delicate equipment.

What a find.....

Mountain Feet

My new boots are here!

I have just test run my mountaineering boots which arrived in Singapore last Saturday. After much deliberation, I decided on a pair of Koflach Arctis Expe plastic mountaineering boots.

Due to my upcoming trip to Elbrus, Russia ... I started thinking about getting my own pair of plastic boots after having a not so pleasant experience with renting boots from the agency.. However, the price was definitely a prohibitive factor coupled with the fact that I will not climb more than 1-2 times a year on snow and ice. After speaking to more people, I finally made the decision to do so to ensure the best possible experience and also as an investment for my interest in mountaineering.

So why a Koflach? Simply because it is plastic and this particular model is rated for the lowest temperature by any manufacturer. Also, the bright yellow colour of the boot is irresistible.

Here is a write up on the boots and the specifications:

The warmest boot made. We designed the Arctis Expe to conquer serious expeditions outside the lower 48.

It's also a great choice for technical ice climbing and general mountaineering.

Through Y-Technology, the lower part of the shell provides rock-solid stability with step-in crampons, while the upper part of the shell flexes nicely for hiking.

Expedition: Excellent
Vertical Ice: Excellent
Hiking: Very Good

Size: U.S. 5.5-13
Weight: 2,490g (U.S. size 9)
Hinge: Vario
Sole: Vibram
Lacing: Steel Ball
Shell: Y-Technology (dual density)

I bought the boot from REI and costs SGD 524.90

After a session of stair climbing to test run the boots, the review of the boots is a resounding GREAT! My initial fears that the size will not accurate were unfounded as the US 8 fitted snugly with a thin inner sock and wool outer sock. Though stiff, the dual density plastic offered flexibility and a greater degree of ankle movement without causing too much discomfort.

I can't wait to test it out in the snow and I think it will go very well with a pair of crampons....sigh more money.

Happy 1st Month Joelle

My niece celebrated her 1st month amongst many friends and family yesterday, 8 April 07.

This is what we got our dear niece



This was from a very nice UK company which sells really cute and educational stuff. Check out their range of stuff.

Check elc out

Check out photos of her ... here

5th Landy Improvement

The latest in the line of Miss Daisy improvements...

A spanking new Safety Devices Land Rover Roofrack installed on 4 April 2007.

This was a day after I got a call from Nam Seng informing me that the roof rack had reached our shores. Therefore, after mulling about it for a day or tow, decided to take a look at it and finally make a decision. One of the most difficult things to resolve was the fact that after installation, Miss Daisy may not fit into our own multi-storey carpark.

The rack was big, black and a beauty...even in the box. It was sleek and it was the original Land Rover G4 roof rack. The lower, sleeker profile boasts minimal addition to the overall height of the vehicle. RIchard assured us that after adding the roof rack, 2.15m carparks should pose no difficulty.

Installation was a breeze, the rack fitting easily onto the rain gutter and clamping it down to the vehicle with rubber clamps. All in all, it too about 30-45 minutes to fit and secure the rack to Miss Daisy. The weight was surprisingly light and it could not have weighed more than 20kg.

The only drawback was the price which was quite hefty at $2400. Considering that the rack would have cost about 600 pounds and taking into account conversion rates and shipping charges, I felt it was a fair price albeit a little steep.

Land Rover Defender Expedition Roof Rack
LR 004101
SGD 2400

PS: I still park in my own carpark

See how Miss Daisy looks with the rack.














This was how she looked without the rack.......



See My Flickr for more photos.

Dive Pulau Aur 30 Mar - 1 Apr 2007

Just came back from a weekend of underwater adventure. It is almost an annual pilgrimage to the underwater realm since my last dive was last in April 06 in Thailand. I was fortunate to be invited for this trip by David and gang, otherwise I would not have found the time or energy to plan a trip for myself.

It has been an interval of 8 years since last dived at the Aur region. The last time was in 1999 when I did my Open water certification. That trip, we stayed on Pulau Dayang, just a channel width away.

So our merry gang of 5: Myself, David, Teck Hwee, Kian Tak and Ruifang assembled at The Riverwalk Building on 30 March at 1900 hrs. The dive company this occasion was Friendly Waters Seasports. It was a PADI certified dive centre. There were a few groups gathered that night, some recreational while others were on a rescue diver course.

After some brief administrative details, we were on our way north once again. We arrived at the jetty at Tanjong Leman at about 2330 hrs. We boarded the Samudera Quest for the painfully slow ride to Aur. Arrival at Divers’ Lodge was at 0430 hrs. The boat moored at a floating platform that doubled up at a charging station and a sampan ferry service was required to get to Lodge.

Accomodation was comfortable with Teck Hwee, David and I sharing a room. There was a double decker bed which proved adequate for the three of us. The condition of the room was clean but bare. Small gaps in the wooden floorboard enabled us to see through below. Tak and Ruifang took the adjacent room. Each chalet had 2 rooms and the chalets were scattered on the face of the slope that rose steeply from the water’s edge. Wooden paths and staircases connected the different chalets from the dining area and dive centre.

In all, we had a total of 5 dives. 3 on 31st and 2 on 1st April morning. On the first day, the weather took a turn for the worse during the surface interval after the 3rd dive. Being lazy and not wanting to brave the cold and wetness, we opted to skip the night dive in exchange for a nice warm bath and clean dry clothes. The next morning’s dawn dive was at the unearthly hour of 0700 hrs. The skies too opened after the morning dive and the 2nd dive of the day started off with a whole boat of half clothed divers, huddling and shivering on the boat enroute to the dive site.

Overall, the food was good with a BBQ dinner on the first night. It was a pity the rain came and dampened the festive mood and all of us had to rush to get our food out of the wet rain. Food and drink was always available between dives and always much appreciated, especially the piping hot maggi noodles on day 1.

The difference between this and the other trips I’ve been on? I got myself an underwater housing for the digital camera and therefore, you will be able to at least share in the view of the world underwater.

See here for dive photos.

In all, a satisfying and good trip. as discussed, a dive every 4-6 months will be a good interval for us who are not fanatics, but still wish to keep in touch with a sport that opens a whole new world to us. Till the next dive!

My Mum's Cuisine

Dinner tonight was at My Mum's Cuisine. This was chanced upon while scouting around the basement of Paragon for a suitable dinner spot.

What struck was the Peranakan type decor with oldne mosaic tiles lining the outlet. Another thing that caught my eye was the three chicken hanging in the display. Suddenly, pangs of hunger struck. I grabbed the wife and whisked her into the restaurant.

While humble and olden looking, the prices of the dishes was anything but humble. Though not exorbitant, it was not quite the price one would expect to pay for the fare offered. The menus showed semblances of a Peranakan menu but closer inspection revealed otherwise. There was quite a wide selection of food but I settled for a Fried Seafood Tang Hoon($8) while Fran picked the Fried Bee Hoon with Soft Shell Crab ($15). We actually wanted the Sayur Lodeh but it was unavailable so we settle for a sambal kang kong ($6) and a bowl of double boiled watercress soup ($5).

The portions served was not generous but adequate and surprisingly filling. Taste was good and therefore made the price of the meal a lot more palatable. One would be inclined to come back again but having more people would allow us to order more of the a la carte dishes.

If you are keen, here is the locale

Paragon Orchard
#B1 - 42/43
+65 6734 5990

Malaysian Number Plates

I have always been amazed at the multitude of letters on the number plates of Malaysian vehicles. Never knew why or how to identify where the vehicles are from. If you ever had the same problem, this post is for you.

Malaysian license plates have one or more letters followed by 4 numerical digits. The general colour scheme of the plates are white lettering on a black background. I said general because this does not apply to all groups of people for example the diplomats.

These license plates are issued by the Malaysian Road Transport Department however vehicles are registered by state and each bear the state’s unique identifying letters, thus the multitude of letter combinations.

I have the letters listed below for your reference:

Kuala Lumpur W
Selangor B
Perak A
Penang P
Kedah K
Perlis R
Kelantan D
Trenggannu T
Pahang C
Johor J
Melaka M
Negeri Sembilan N
Sarawak Q
Sabah S

Other special groups:

Diplomat DC
Military Z

I hope this allows you to figure out where the %^&((*& guy, who just overtook you at 160km/h, is from!

Fourth Landy Improvement

Today marked another landy improvement project, the 4th in the series so far. I have long eyed a change in shock absorbers. There was an earlier plan last year to bring in some shocks from the UK but the plan fell through. So once again the hunt for new shocks led to Nam Seng, who carried a pretty good stock of Koni Shock absorbers.

After much consideration, I took the plunge at got in installed today. See below specifications of the ones I installed.


KONI Heavy Track™ SPX Performance Shocks

Tested in the rough deserts of Morocco, Heavy Track SPX Performance shock absorbers ensure greater stability and greater stamina for both drivers and vehicles off-road. On the road, you can count on greater comfort, a higher level of safety, more stability and better road holding. In short, Heavy Track SPX Performance shock absorbers are perfect 'all road' shock absorbers, regardless of driving conditions.

KONI Heavy Track™ SPX Performance Shocks Offer Additional Features:

Compress-to-adjust design allows adjustable dampening for on or off-road conditions.
Twin-tube design improves ride quality and durability.
Steel stone guard for maximum protection of piston rod and seal.
Damper characteristics specially tuned for off-road use.
Specially set bottom valve for 4x4 use.
Larger reservoir with more oil for improved heat transfer.


The bright red shocks look quite good

Verdict so far: money well spent! the ride is smoother and soaks up most of the minor irregularities on the road. The car is slightly higher than before, giving the Landy a good ride height. Actually, it did not raise the truck just rather bringing it back closer to original.

Now I wonder when and what will be the 5th landy improvement.

My Baby Niece

My Niece

I have a new niece. My sister delivered yesterday at Thomson medical centre to a healthy baby girl.

Joelle Wong Jyn Ern
2.74 kg
47 cm
@ TMC, 1747 hrs

Photos at Baby Joelle

Oympus Mju 725 SW

I have finally bitten the bullet and done it; gone ahead to buy an underwater camera system. This was an issue long considered both whether there was a need and also which system to get.

To shorten a long story, a digital system was decided on even though there was an initial temptation to get a dedicated underwater film camera. It was to expensive to get a professional housing to fit my digital SLRs. It was a futile attempt to get the canon underwater housing for my ancient powershot S30.. There was little choice but to get a newer camera together with the housing.

Though I have never considered thr Olympus line of cameras, closer research revealed quite a gem for my purposes and lifestyle. Intro the olympus mju ( prnounced mew). It is a compact point and shoot camera with 3x optical zoom and reasonable control of all functions. Most attractive is its built in ability to withstand shocks and water up to 5m in depth. Now I can take the camera out in the rain, spalsh it with mud, jump into a pool with it and even go kayaking with it, all without using the housing.

So now I proudly own a Olympus mju 725SW. With the underwater housing PT-033, the operational depth is extended to 40m.

Model: Olympus Mju 725SW
2 original Olympus Li-ion batteries
PT-033 underwater housing
1 GB and 512 MB xD cards

10 March 2007 Surprise!

This marked the part 2 of this year's birthday celebrations. This involved a rather sneaky but ingenious plan hatched by fran to make this a surprising but memorable occasion.

It all started when my friend, Farhan, messaged and asked me out for coffee on Saturday at 5pm. This was rather odd as we have never met for coffee before dinner. I was not keen initially but he was surprisingly persistent. So since he claimed to have a dinner appointment, I agreed as we would have to split before dinner. So we met at TCC at Velocity.

Farhan needed to wait for his wife to turn up so we sat around till about 7pm when she turned up. He then asked if he could come to my place to see a couple of textbooks. Strange request so it sparked a suspicion that something was brewing at home. I tried not to think too much about it otherwise I might spoil my own surprise. Ha.

When we came up on the lift to the 19th floor, there was a catered dinner outside the lift landing. There was no one around and my home door was closed. However, there was a stray slipper belonging to our neighbour outside our house. So there must be others in our house.

When the door opened, I was surprised! Not so much that there were people in the house waiting for me to get back but rather the number and breadth of my friends who where invited. It was rather overwhelming as they were friends who I have gone through significant activities together but due to work commmitments, have not met for quite some time.

There was a birthday sign hanging from the foyer beams and 4-5 streamers of stars at the door entrance. There was a cake with 3 candles with the number 30 made from wax at the top. There were so many people to speak but so little time.

The Lims
Yiyong and Jasmine (minus lucky)
Felix and Alicia
Andrew and Wan Ling
Fred and Lay Fang
Laurine
Karen and John
Vernon and Jocelyn
Desmond and Julie
Graeme and Shanren
Farhan and Haslina
Dehui
Ivan (minus Juan)
My family
Fran's family

It was a very good gathering. I did not have enough time to speak to everyone as much as I wanted to. The atmosphere was good and time all too short as soon friends had to go.

I have to thank my wife, Fran, for working so hard to make this all happen. To organise the dinner, getting my friend's contacts and arranging for them all to be here. Most difficult was to orchestrate my departure from home and making sure I got back when needed.

I do not have photos of my own but here are those taken for me...

My Big 30

Here is just a shot of me.

9th March 2007 Gordon Grill

It was a long day waiting for the time when Fran was going to celebrate my special day with me. When the time came, we met at the Goodwood Park hotel car park where she had made arrangements for dinner.

I have heard of Gordon Grill before but did not suspect that she might be bringing me here to dinner. The ambience was good but the place was not large. It was rather empty when we got there with only a table of japanese diners. It was a different setting from Morton's. The place was famous for its steaks and the Wagyu beef served. This was an opportunity to try the wagyu that has so often been raved about.

I had the lobster bisque soup and we shared a platter of oysters. Main course was a nicely done wagyu beef cheek with a slab of foie gras. The beef cheek was good and aged well but I could not feel the marbling that the wagyu is famous for. It was very tender nonetheless. What really stood out was the foie gras. It was oily and putting a piece of it in the mouth, it just melted away. It was magnificent.

What was distinctive was the meat trolley that went around if diners decided to order the steak. Slabs of wagyu prime rib and angus filet mignon lay wrapped in the wooden trolley. Prices were high with a 10gm of wagyu steak costing $4.50. An average steak of 250gm would have cost $135. We hesitated to do the prime rib thing but after dinner, it was clear that we would be back to dinner here once again.

Dinner was washed down with glasses of cafe lattes and a birthday cake to commemorate the occasion.

So for if you have something special, this place would be a good place to try out

Gordon Grill
Goodwood Park Hotel
67301744 for reservations
dinner hours from 7-1030 pm

It was a very good and pleasant birthday dinner.

Ramunia

Four days of kayaking, eating and sleeping. Priority was in the same order too. The title of the post tells of the location of the most exciting kayaking course attended so far. From the 18-21 Jan, the 4 star kayaking training course was conducted by Outward Bound Singapore and Changi Sea Sports Club.

Weather was initially disappointing. Seeing how it was storming the past 2 weeks before we arrived, I thought that the rain and wind would make the sea a little more challenging. But it worked out pretty well as the wind did pick up over the next few days and the waves did get bigger. By the end of the course, I was humbled by the raw power that mother nature can harness and hurl at us.

So we spent the few days, soaking wet, jumping in and out of the boats and attempting to garner what little control we can to impress the instructors enough to pass us. Under the watchful eyes of our 'spotters' on the beach, we made sure we did not stray and collide against other kayakists, who similarly were tossed about by the waves.

Occasionally, actually quite often, after getting dunked by the waves and rolling ourselves into an upright position, we were often confronted with the big "L" sign by our spotters (Read LOSER) It was good fun!

So officially, I am glad to say that I have made it through the 4 star course. Just have a couple more expeditons to go in order to qualify for the award. That should be anytime soon.



A shot of our group of three

Miss Daisy is Back!!!

Today, Miss Daisy was discharged from the workshop after having some surgery done to her front left fender region. This all started 2 and 1/2 weeks ago on 18 Dec when I got her into an accident with a lorry. It was pure carelessness on my part and I should have really been a bit more careful.

The damage was more serious than it should have been, considering the circumstances of the accident. I can only put it down to pure unluckiness that produced the severity of body damage. After an eternity of quotations from various workshops, negotiations and other administrative hold-ups, work finally started a week ago and completed today.

It was a trying time initially, getting to work and around without Miss Daisy. However, looking back at the past 2 weeks, life did slow down a little. I was more careful not to create too tight a schedule for myself so as to allow time for travelling. I resorted more to the old, reliable form of transportation by walking. It created a certain breathing space in an otherwise packed and crazy schedule in my life.

It was a with some trepidation that I went to collect her today. I was worried about the workmanship, the paintwork etc... however, after giving her a lookover, she looks none the worse.

So today is a good day.... if you see her back on the road, give a HONK!

Song of Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro Song

Found this Kilimanjaro song. One that the porters sing to the group on the way down the mountain.

It is so cheerful and a wonderful conclusion to a great climb.

Kilimanjaro. Highest point on the continent of Africa. 5895m.

Quink

Welcome to our latest addition to our family, Quink. Ironically named after the famous Parker range of fountain pen coloured inks. He is our third and latest member of the Schnauzer brood. Fran and I must be Schnauzer crazy. We would not have gotten any other breed of dog.

Some facts first... he is 8 weeks old, Miniature Schnauzer and beautifully white. Picked him up from the pet shop at Bukit Panjang Plaza on 4 Nov 06. His birthday being listed as 21 August 06.

He is a definitely a contrast to the colour of our other dogs. Shy initially, over the past 2 days, he has shed all inhibitions and has been running around the whole place, biting any soft toy he can find and nipping at Nelle and Socks whenever he can. He is a curious little puppy but has shown signs of being an intelligent little fellow.

Introducing our new pet, Quink!

Four Star Kayaking ****

I have officially signed up for the 4 star kayaking award course to be conducted in Jan 07. This will be held in Ramunia, Johor during the monsoon season. This 4 star award is the standard adopted by the Singapore Canoe Federation and is based largely on the British Canoe Union (BCU) standards.

Having come a long way through the various kayaking awards, the 4 star is divided into two categories, sea and river. This course covers the sea and open water component, where advanced skills are taught to the paddler to evaluate and tackle more difficult sea conditions. This is a precious opportunity to be exposed to difficult waves and seas, This will definitely stand me in good stead as I continue to acquire and refine skills that will enable me to go further and safer.

Look at the course syllabus under the following link:
SCF 4-Star Award Syllabus



Just as an end to this entry, I share with you all the picture shown above of incredible wave conditions. If this is what the skills can enable me to do... awesome!