10 Things I would miss in Singapore

I have been trying to list down things I want to do, places I want to go, or food I want to have before leaving Singapore. I did come out a few of them such as visiting the new revamped National Museum, having brunch at Wild Rocket and Marmalade Pantry as well as Dinner at My Humble House, but that's about all up to now. May need to do some more research or inputs to experience more about the different faces of Singapore in the last four weeks.

However, during the process, instead of listing down the new things that I want to try, I managed to list down 10 things that I think I would miss in Singapore. There are food, places and shopping. These may somehow summarize my past five years living in Singapore. Guess I would try to visit places again and take some pictures.

1. Black Paper Crab and Chilly Crab from Jumbo
2. Kaya Toast from Yakun
3. Sugar Roll from Polar
4. The Night Scene at The Altivo, Mout Faber
5. The Night Scene at Cityspace, Swissotel The Stamford Hotel
6. Kinokuniya Bookstore at Ngee Ann City
7. Shopping Malls along Orchard Rd.
8. Mango
9. Chicken Rice from Wee Nam Kee
10. Popian from Qi Ji

P.S. Mango just started their sales yesterday. Bought two dresses as it's kind of good price. Should have some occasions to show these two nice dresses soon. : )

搭訕

今天還頗有感而發的, 所以就繼續下去吧。可能因為從小就是眾人目光的焦點, 所以我也習慣了旁人注目的眼光。我可以很清楚得感受到人家在看我, 但我還是依然故我, 畢竟眼睛長在人家臉上, 我也不能怎樣。

但有些時候就不只是眼光而已。 開始工作之後, 遇過幾次搭訕的情況。我是個很不常上夜店泡的人, 所以記憶中搭訕的狀況都發生在路上。今天中午出門去烏節路走走, 在多美哥換車的時候就感覺到一個人一直跟著我, 我是個走路很快的人, 所以我試著改變路徑嘗試擺脫, 畢竟我不怎麼時興在路上交朋友。最終還是被堵住了因為去烏節路的人真的太多了, 所以千遍一率地問題來了: 要去哪裡啊? 要去吃中飯嗎? 跟男朋友還是老公約嗎?

老實說, 被搭訕可能是種讚美, 畢竟不是每個人都可以這樣鼓起勇氣在路上跟陌生人講話, 我可能真的那麼有吸引力吧! 但是, 當搭訕的對象完全不在我個人可接受的範圍之內那就變成了一種騷擾。尤其被問了三遍有沒有可能共進午餐也明確地拒絕三遍之後, 他還硬遞給我他的名片, 我開始有點擔心我的人身安全, 所以我就真的大步且快步地離去。

寫這個不是想炫燿, 而是我開始思考我是否吸引到不適合的目光。也就是說, 怎麼都沒有我喜歡那種形的男生來搭訕呢? 後來想想, 我應該不是那種可以在路上就結識人的人吧! 有印象以來, 吸引我目光的人通常都是在工作上讓我覺得可以跟我匹配的人, 所以我應該別奢求"搭訕"可以幫到我什麼忙吧! 但我想我還是頗期待有個真的讓我覺得impressive的人來搭訕吧!

寂寞與孤單的差別

已經五年沒好好地用中文寫作, 該是時候要好好練習一下。總覺得我從小就已經習慣寂寞, 畢竟從小長時間就是一個人。以前也讀過一本書"享受寂寞", 講的就是如何享受一個人的時光, 畢竟那可能是一個人唯一可以沉澱思考的時間。這五年來, 我也老覺得寂寞是正常的。就算之前有男朋友的時候, 我也會一個人逛街, 吃飯, 看電影, 因為我還頗享受那安靜的時光。

但是, 最近這幾個月發覺我不只是感到寂寞, 應該說是孤單吧! 一直在想寂寞與孤單的差別, 照字面說來, 寂寞應該是寂靜沉默而孤單是孤獨, 感覺上好像沒大分別, 但是是有分別的。寂寞的時候可能只是覺得一個人而已, 你還是有可以一起分享生活點滴的對象, 但孤單可能就沒有了。

我想孤單的感覺應該是我做出回台灣決定的主要原因。最近常有感觸很深卻找不到可以分享對象的時候, 也常有想要有一個伴一起生活, 旅行, 分享的感覺。但生活總不是完美的, 不是事事都能順心的。所以我想回"家", 老實說, 我已經搞不清楚哪裡是我的家, 而家又會是怎樣的感覺。

我很清楚的知道, 這次"回家", 應該也會是短暫的。最多一兩年, 畢竟那已成為我父母親的家, 跟自己的家還是有差別的。但我知道, 父母跟家人會是永遠陪在我身旁的人, 尤其是孤單的時候。那種想打電話找人講話卻翻遍電話簿找不到一個人的感覺只有"悽涼"兩個字可以形容。

我想這樣的情形跟我在新加坡整體的狀況有關。但我就是個不喜歡自己不開心的人。我母親給我最大的影響應該就是這個觀念吧! 她總是說快快樂樂也是一天, 憂憂愁愁也是一天, 為什麼不快樂地過日子呢? 所以我總是要求我自己不開心的時候, 要不就接受現狀改變心態或是改變狀況讓自己過的更好。我想我試過改變自己的心態去接受現狀, 但我終究不能接受這個漸漸喪失鬥志及熱情的我, 所以我決定在我最美麗燦爛的時候作個完美的告別。重新開始, 開始去尋回那永遠鬥志高昂的我。

改變不一定都是好的, 但我相信嘗試是必要的。我做過一些改變的決定, 結果有好有壞, 但我另一個信念就是雖有遺憾但不後悔。所以現在的我, 決定了要過更好更充實的生活。我不知道回去後寂寞或孤單的問題會否依舊存在, 但我相信新的挑戰應該會讓我無暇思考這些東西。或許那是解決孤單最好的方法吧!

Ah Teng's Bakery

Visited Ah Teng's Bakery at Raffles Hotel two weeks ago with Jessica as we both wanted to have brunch at some interesting place. So we had their sandwich set which cost only S$7.5 (I did take some pictures but somehow it just disappeared. Would take it again as I want to try their scone set also and show you the whole series later.). That was surprisingly cheap as we thought Raffles Hotel should be quite ex. Today, I went down to try their high tea cake set. There are so many different cakes and I chose this one which is pear and chocolate.

Wanted to explore the different aspects of Singapore as I have decided to return to Taiwan in second week of Jan. I have exactly four weeks or twenty eight days left to find out more about this city that I have spend my last five years and four months. Guess I have been taking a lot of things for granted or just didn't bother to explore too much as I thought I would just stay here.

However, now I have different attitude towards everything. Trying to list down all the places that I want to visit or things that I want to do before leaving. Only got a few on hands up to now, but I would definitely try my best to make good use of the balanced twenty eight days in Singapore.

Shenzhen

Was visiting suppliers in Shenzhen last Wed to Fri. That was my second time visiting China for the past five years working in sourcing. Guess I have been trying to avoid visiting China unconsciously. If not, I should be there a few more times as that's the major places that my products are manufactured.

I was a bit scared before reaching Shenzhen as a few friends warned and threatened me that place especially the security part. I have heard at least three cases of murdering just within 7 days before I left for Shenzhen. I thought I should be able to survive as I have traveled around Indonesia or Vietnam. Shenzhen shouldn't be any problem, but I was still a bit worried. However, I was quite surprised that the place is not as bad as what I expect. Maybe it's because we stayed at a new area and we hired private cars to travel around the city instead of taking taxi on the road.

Guess I can't avoid visiting China from now on as I wouldbe be getting involved more in the Greater China market. I should have more chances visiting China but not sure which part of it.

Dinner at Vincent's KL Place

Finally, I got the chance to visit Vicent's new place in KL and meet the pricess, Chee Sum's baby girl. We knew each other from APXLDS 1999 in Malaysia. They are two of my very good and old friends and I think they are the best part of my AIESEC life. Vincent cooked three nice dishes for us and I was really amazed as they really tasted very nice. Thanks my friend!!

Daddy & Mommy's First Trip to SG

Daddy and Mommy were in Singapore last week for my graduation. This is their first ever visit to Singapore and also Mom's first overseas trip. They were only here for four full days. We visited places such as Little India, Katong, China Town, Sentosa and Botanic Garden. We haven't really gone out for traveling together for a long long time. Hopefully, we would have chance to go out together more often after I'm back.

Home Made Food

Went straight back to my grandma's place after reaching Taipei last Sat. It's always good to be back home because of the "Home Made Food". Dad went to buy these small raw fishes that night and we just have it straight away. That's the best that I have ever have. Can't be more satisfied after this.

Different

Flying back home in 7 hours to explore the possibility of a different life back there. Don't know why and how I just want to have something different. Can't really stand this me who is losing the proactive and positive attitude for life. Don't know what would be the result but I just got to try.

Never Try Never Know.

My last time making this kind of big changes was about 16 months ago. The result up to now is not so good but I believe I learned something new about life and myself. That's the reason why I strongly believe I just got to try and make some difference. So it's time for another one. Another different life. Another challenges waiting ahead of me.

現實

人是現實的
如果連家人之間都要談金錢
我想沒有什麼是真心的吧

還以為回家可能可以找到一絲溫暖
不過我想我會失望的
不管是在價值觀或是生活方式上
可預見到的衝突都不少

人可能真的只能靠自己
但是我累了
我只想找個地方休息
找個地方可以安心的休息
找個地方可以感受到溫暖
不過那好像是個奢望
一個不知道何時可能實現的奢望

真是不該繼續感傷下去
生病過後的一天
人可能總是會多愁善感的吧...

Strong?!

Thought I'm very independent and strong, things are just different when we fall sick. Hasn't been very healthy especially these two years. Seeing both Chinese and Western doctors which costs a bomb but seems not working as it's really bad today.

Really hate this kind of sick feeling especially staying alone at home. Dare not to tell my parents as I know they would keep worrying about me but can't do anything as they are so far far away. However, I just don't want to be alone when I'm sick. I just want to drink some hot and nice fish soup when I'm sick. Seems that's only possible when I'm at home. Guess it's time to make the decision.

Home I Come!!

Warm Welcome to Issac!!

Warm welcome to Jean's baby boy, Issac, who was born on 12th Oct 2006. Got Jean's message yesterday on my way back to Singapore. I know her due date is coming soon but I didn't realize she actually delivered the baby on Thursday. Went to visit her and the baby at home this afternoon. Issac is really small to me and he doesn't really look like a 3kg baby, but he is only 4 days old. : )

Jean is one of the earliest one getting married among my friends at the same age group and now she is also the first one to be a proud MOMMY. The way she feeds and takes care of the baby is just very amazing and touching to me. Guess we really stepped into the next stage of our lives already. More responsibility and more mature. That should be a good sign I guess. : )

New Findings in KL

Was in KL for business trip this week. One of the night, I went to Mid Valley, my usual shopping and eating place, for dinner. After dinner, I went to walk around Jusco and I was really surprised to see 乖乖, my child time favorite cookies. Lately, I found more and more Taiwan product products available in both Singapore and Malaysia. Great to know that Taiwanese products are penetrating into overseas market and they are really delicious.

Yesterday, my colleague and I took the early morning bus at Pudu Raya to Kuantan to visit one of our customers. The bus was 9am but we went to China Town (Pataling Street) for the nice congee for breakfast. Food in Malaysia is always nice especially this kind of old stalls. Along the way there, there are a few floral shops and I was surprised to see them having Winnie the Pooh as part of the flower sets. Creative!!

Authentic Finnish Creeps

It's really a very much sweet stuff weekend. After my chocolate cake yesterday, Chou invited a couple of friends to his place to enjoy the authentic Finnish Creeps for lunch. It looked like simple stuff but it's only nice when it's prepared with warn heart and good friends around.

Felt a bit down because of the different problems and issues on hand lately. Sometimes, I just hate the feeling of "being alone" though I'm a person who used to enjoy spending time with myself. It's really great to have friends around to kill another weekend for me. Trying my best to make the whole thing different now as I can't stand myself demoralized and unhappy for too long. Got to get back my up beat pace and happy mood very very soon.

Indulge

Was a bit down on Sat evening because of the up and down last week. So decided to go for my usual therapy, watching movie, to kill time. However, that was another one hour more to go and I was at Plaza Singapore where I can't find any interesting shops to shop around.

Therefore, I decided to do a sinful thing that I have stopped myself doing for quite a while. I went for a nice Chocolate Cake at Secret Receipt. What a sinful thing but I did get a bit happier after this indulge. Guess that's the reason why people say that most of women can't live without dessert. That's quite true for me.

My Jade Bracelet

Just broke my jade bracelet which I have been wearing for almost the past 10 years. My heart just sink when I saw it broken on the floor. It seems to be broken somewhere somehow like my jade bracelet now also. So hard yet so fragile.

Surprise

Last Monday when I just stepped into office after coming back from Vietnam, I got the biggest surprise I have this year. A card - A REAL CARD, A HAND WRITTEN CARD - from New York, from one of my close high school classmates. We have not seen each other for over 12 years I think.

I was really very very surprised and touched when I saw it. I have always known that I have good friends around me though they are not really next to me physically. We care for each other in our own way and I believe this is what we call life-long friends. Therefore, I also picked up pen to "WRITE" a card for her and that's something that I have never done for a few years. It's really very different from writing e-mail. Just like what's written on the card. It's not just "Hello" when it is written this way.

Planning to go US if I succeed in opening overseas market by the end of this year. Hope I can make it and meet up with you in New York.

Movie Marathon

Sort of breaking my personal record this weekend as I watched four movies: The Banquette on Fri, Miami Vice on Sat, P.S. and Imaging Me & You today. "Love" is such a popular topic that all the movies here are talking about it. One killed his brother because he loved or I should say desired the sister in law. One sacrificed herself in a way to be the stepmother or aunt because she wanted to save her lover's life. Love between a man from the justice side and a woman dealing with illegal stuff. Love between a 39-year old woman and a 20 plus man who looked like her first true love in high school but died early. Love between a newly wed woman who meet her MISS RIGHT during her wedding. All the different types of loves but what is love actually?

A question that I have been wondering for the past one day. People love by sacrificing, compromising, forgiving, forgetting. The other day, talked with a good friend about her Long Distance Relationship. People sacrifice or compromise to make the relationship work. Lately, heard from another good friend that she forgave to make the relationship work. I support all their decisions because they are working on what they want, but what am I working on?

Have been spending quite a lot of time alone, traveling, working, eating, reading, walking, sleeping, surfing, shopping, watching movie. There was a particular moment when I was watching movie today that I just wanted him to be next to me. Just want to feel his smell, his voice, his hand, his warm shoulder, but where is he? That's probably a question that I would never ask.

National Flag

Went to Fullerton Hotel for a drink with friends yesterday night. After the drinking and chatting session, we decided to walk around Boat Quay area to enjoy the midnight breeze. After one round that we came back to Fullerton Hotel, we saw a very interesting and exciting scene as we saw TAIWAN NATIONAL FLAG flying up there. Not sure who is the important people staying there, but we are really excited to see our national flag flying at public area like this.

I like people calling me TAIWANESE and I like Singapore as they recognize my nationality as TAIWANESE.

Haha... Daddy Mommy Are Coming Finally!!

Finally, my parents are visiting me in Singapore after my 5 years plus stay here. They always said that it's better for me to go back and I can fly back twice if both of them are coming over. However, it's for my MBA graduation ceremony in Nov this time. There is no more excuse.

I just booked the ticket for them yesterday as I saw the special promotion on Singapore Airline's website. It costs only TW$3999 per person excluding tax and surcharge. Even with tax and surcharge, it's less than NT$6500 per person. Don't think I can find anything better than this for them.

Haha... Anyway, they are coming finally. I have started to plan for their trip here. The funny part is other than Night Safari and Santosa, I actually plan the whole trip based on the various types of food to eat. Can't really think of any other must-go places as they are not keen on shopping at all. So let's just eat eat and walk walk lu...

Forbidden City

Went for Forbidden City tonight and it's quite a good performance though I'm expecting some more from Kit Chen. Basically, the story went on quite well with the nice stage setting, humors and performance. Generally, I would say it's a good show worth watching and I'm happy that I bought the ticket quite early so I got some early bird special price and the seat was quite good. For those who have not yet catch, it definitely worth a try.

Part of the performance is talking about betray and why people are afraid of love because they know it would end with end somehow. Guess that's what I have believed so far and it's not easy for me to open up my heart. Not sure if I would change my view later but I do believe it doesn't worth the time and efforts if I know it's going to end anyway.

Vietnam Telecom 2006

This is my 3rd time visiting Vietnam and the 2nd time this year. This time, we took part in the exhibition to penetrate into Vietnam market. The response from the consumers on the products are quite positive but seems it's not that easy to penetrate into the distribution channel. Anyway, it's my challenge to open this market and guess I need to work harder to get our brand and products popular there. So I should be visiting Vietnam again soon.

We went there last Monday evening as we need to do the set up on Tuesday. This time, we stayed at a apartment near exhibition hall which is about 8KM from downtown. However, the amazing traffic makes this 8KM quite a distance to reach. First night, I walked around downtown with my colleague. I actually know a bit about this area because of my last trip. It's quite fun visiting these places again.

I always like to walk around whenever I'm traveling as I think that's the best way to get to know more about how local people live. So on the second day, we started to explore HCM City by ourselves. We walked around the local market to find our breakfast.



We tried the small cake baked by the portable charcoal stove, the French baguette and the Vietnamese pho for breakfast. That was quite a interesting start.


Later that night, we went for the authentic Pho recommended by Ms Wu with my director and colleagues. Body language is really useful as we simply pointed around to tell them what we want.

On sat, our last night in HCM city, we went to the famous Binh Thanh Market which is selling all kinds of different stuff such as food, accessories, textiles etc. It's my first time going inside though I have been there a few times as they normally closed around 6pm. This is really tourist place as they are selling SKY HIGH prices there. Can just go there for experience but for shopping, I would recommend those small shops a few blocks away. Those small shops are much better as they are offering their own design at a much more reasonable prices.




We tried the local carrot cake there at roadside. It's another portable charcoal stall. Though it's a small stall at the roadside, it's really quite nice and the business is quite good as there are quite a number of local people eating there together with us. Besides, we also tried that shop that I saw at my last trip. The fresh spring roll and the fried rice with chicken slice.



After that, we walked back to the central area and this is the best dessert that I had in this trip. Restaurants or shops here tend to decorate their places with the local arts and paintings which make them very unique. The creativity part here is really amazing.




This morning, we finally got to try the French baguette at the corner near our apartment. It's another small stall with a small stove inside to fry the eggs and that's really amazing to me. The baugette and cafe are quite nice though it's just a small stall at roadside. This breakfast should be a good ending for all my meals in HCM city this time.

This is the apartment we stayed this time. I was a bit shocked when I first arrived as this is sort of one man show operation so that it's quite different from the hotel set up that I used to stay. However, this is quite a nice and warm place to stay and I can't find any other place more convenient to the exhibition hall though there is nothing much around at night.

Last, this is what I got this trip. A nice handbag costs US$4, a nice skirt with embroidery costs US$22 and the Vietnamese coffee and filer.

Vietnam now should be quite similar to what Taiwan was a few decades ago. So I did not find it very different. Besides, with my experience in Malaysia, I found it quite easy for me to survive here. To summary, it's quite a fruitful trip and I would return again soon to continue my market penetration there.

Nancy's Wedding Pictures

Just got the link from Nancy for her wedding photos. She should be the earliest one to get married among us with the similar age. It's really nice to see good friends having found the person who can share and acompany her for the rest of the life. Seems I would be attending some more weddings later this year. Congratulations to all of you. : )

心

一直以為我的心已經在這世界的另一個角落
也一直以為那可能是個美好的未來
今天我終於承認我錯了

一直以為我是個意志強過於心的人
也一直以為只要我努力而且我想要沒什麼做不到的
今天我終於承認我錯了

無法再繼續這種期望與失望的生活
無法再接受這種似有若無似是而非的生活

今天我終於決定找回我那遠在他方的心
今天我終於決定找回我以往那平靜沉穩的心

再次過回我那沒有期望就無所謂失望的生活
我應該就此知足了

畢竟我曾踏出那一步
畢竟我曾衝動過
畢竟我知道我是可以真心付出的

Congratulations to Nancy!!

Congratulations~~ Nancy~~

Can't believe that you really got married yesterday. It's a pity that I can't be there for you but I can see you must be very happy from the pictures. It's really great to know that you found your Mr. Right and decided to settle down. We all have stepped into another stage of our lives. Guess soon the conversation topics would be all about the kids. : )

9th Aug

9th Aug is a special date for me. My first time visiting Singapore is on 9th Aug 1999 when I stopped over here on my way to South Africa. I always remembered this date as we traveled from Singapore to Malaysia on that day and the checkpoint was like crazy because all the Singaporean or Malaysian working in Singapore all wanted to go to Malaysia for the holiday. Five years ago, I reached Singapore on 8th Aug to start my traineeship. Today, 9th Aug 2006, is the first day of my 5th year in Singapore. Isn't it quite special or even memorable for me?

Anyway, it's a public holiday here though I'm still working to prepare for the coming exhibitions and presentations. Would try to relax and rest a bit in the afternoon. : )

Happy Father's Day

Sorry Daddy that I did not keep my promise to be back for every Father's Day and Mother's Day.

Was really tight up with all the exhibitions and important projects on hand. I only give myself six more months to bring up the business and I really want to make it. Please forgive me for this year and I promise I would be back with you next year for Father's Day.

Daddy!! I Love You and Happy Father's Day!!