Not what I must do...
When I need to take off my glasses to read a book and put it back to see a road sign. When I am constantly watching what I eat and what I cook for the family. When I am more concern with nutrients than calories...when I am doing all these, I know I have arrived....not old age but a new term I have learned - the silver agers! People who have hit the BIG 40 and over of course.
Recently, I came across an article about an executive legal secretary who was in her 40s, suffering from dementia. It all started with her not recognising her colleagues, not able to remember on which floor was her office. It was pretty scary reading about her situation. In the past, dementia was associated only with old age. It used to be a sickness suffered only by people who have hit 70 and above. But reading about it also make me more aware of my own well being.
Experts said that we should start taking good care of our brain once we hit 30. Taking care of our brain? We have heard of taking care of our body, our financial health, our family, our children...our brain? Yes, the very important organ in the human body yet least attention is given to it. Imagine having a botoxed face, toned body but the brain ain't functioning!
When I was younger, I used to list down all the things which I must do. But at this point of time, it is no longer what I must do BUT what I must not do...I have come up with ten 'must NOTs'.
I must NOT
- stop praying, the spirit must be kept alive
- stop reading, it lifts up the soul and the spirit and not forgetting, the brain
- stop writing, even if no one is reading
- being active, even if the kids are big, I must keep on playing
- cooking, no greater joy than to have a good home-cooked meal, comfort food for the one you love
- stop doing Kai's Maths. The best brain stimulator!
- stop learning abacus from Ann. She taught me "Impossible is Nothing"
- be an average...I have to be exceedingly and beyond...
- bum around like a turkey but must soar like an eagle
- stop empathising, the world is in great need of love and comfort....
I must remain fit spiritually, physically and mentally...remember, I must NOT be a burden to my children.
Can still eat it raw
I love street food and I love to try new food. I am basically a foodie. Hong Kong is one of my favourite place for holiday because of their great street food scene. Penang in Malaysia also offers great delicious street food. But in Shanghai, it is not just the street food I will not try, even some of the restaurants can be questionable. But do we eat out? Yes, but not often and we are very careful with our selection even then, things can still go wrong.
Just three weeks ago, Kai was down with really bad diarrhea. We had some food at a restaurant at a tourist belt. We would expect a tourist place to be of a certain standard, unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way.
But sometimes, we do find a gem. Like this Japanese restaurant which we found and have been eating at the place if we are in need of a good Japanese meal. They served the freshest, the cleanest and the yummiest sashimi. Having a Japanese owner who is also the chef helps to make the food really clean as we all know that the Japanese are very strict with food safety.
Salmon and abalone sashimi. No word is suitable to describe the taste of these.
I love street food and I love to try new food. I am basically a foodie. Hong Kong is one of my favourite place for holiday because of their great street food scene. Penang in Malaysia also offers great delicious street food. But in Shanghai, it is not just the street food I will not try, even some of the restaurants can be questionable. But do we eat out? Yes, but not often and we are very careful with our selection even then, things can still go wrong.
Just three weeks ago, Kai was down with really bad diarrhea. We had some food at a restaurant at a tourist belt. We would expect a tourist place to be of a certain standard, unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way.
But sometimes, we do find a gem. Like this Japanese restaurant which we found and have been eating at the place if we are in need of a good Japanese meal. They served the freshest, the cleanest and the yummiest sashimi. Having a Japanese owner who is also the chef helps to make the food really clean as we all know that the Japanese are very strict with food safety.
Salmon and abalone sashimi. No word is suitable to describe the taste of these.
Every little girl's dream
Imagine, you are a little girl, you stepped into a building, a Barbie doll shop greeted you...you took the escalator up to the next level, more Barbie dolls and her accessories. You followed the spiral staircase up to the next level, clothings with all the Barbie motifs, you could even design your own Barbie doll clothings. It wasn't finished. You moved on to the next level and a Barbie theme cafe! Well, that's exactly what we found in the heart of Shanghai city...NO, never an overkill for a little princess.
Guess who was bored at this place? No prize for the correct answer.
Imagine, you are a little girl, you stepped into a building, a Barbie doll shop greeted you...you took the escalator up to the next level, more Barbie dolls and her accessories. You followed the spiral staircase up to the next level, clothings with all the Barbie motifs, you could even design your own Barbie doll clothings. It wasn't finished. You moved on to the next level and a Barbie theme cafe! Well, that's exactly what we found in the heart of Shanghai city...NO, never an overkill for a little princess.
Guess who was bored at this place? No prize for the correct answer.
The real thing
Talk to any foreigner, 80% of them agree with me that staying in Shanghai isn't the best thing they love to do. Most are driven here by work for themselves or their spouses. BUT, we all agree that we have to make the best out of it, otherwise, it is really miserable.
One of the many things which I enjoy doing while I am here is looking out for local fruits that are in season. I will buy and try them. Scared? Of course, with the huge amount of pesticide sprayed on them, 'chemicals' pumped in to make them look big, fat and juicy... I am worried all the time. But I do trust my gut feel. If I don't feel good about it, if it doesn't smell right, I throw them away immediately. And of course, the necessary precaution has to be taken such as, peel them, wash them, don't buy cut fruits etc...
Since young, each time I have a cough, followed by a bad sore throat, I always self-medicate myself with the 'chuan bei pi-pa gao'. Basically a cough syrup made from the pi-pa fruit or loquat. The loquat is low in saturated fat and sodium, and is high in vitamin A, dietary fiber, potassium, and manganese. It is suppose to be good for the throat.
This is how the chuan bei pi-pa gau looks like
The other day, at the local market, I saw the pi-pa fruit. Yes, fresh ones. I have been eating the pi-pa gao for ages but never seen the real fruit. When I saw them, I bought them to try. Imagine having eaten the 'processed' ones for years yet never seen nor tasted the real thing. How could I miss the chance.
They are in season now. The food experts here told me that always eat fruits in season because they are in abundance, cheap and most unlikely to be 'genetically altered'.
These are fresh pi-pa fruits. Taste wonderful when chilled (anyway, who likes unchilled fruits). Soft, tender and very juicy.
Incidentally, the new house which we will be shifting into next month, has a pi-pa fruit tree. Perhaps, next season, I can harvest my own pi-pa fruits. There are also a pomelo tree and a peach tree, all right at my doorstep. Something for me to look forward to, my very own fruit 'farm'.
My posting is going to be few and far in between as I will be busy with the packing, shifting and unpacking on top of my regular schedule. I have moved so many times that I consider myself a professional mover now. Anyone out there needs a professional mover with unprofessional fees? ;)
Talk to any foreigner, 80% of them agree with me that staying in Shanghai isn't the best thing they love to do. Most are driven here by work for themselves or their spouses. BUT, we all agree that we have to make the best out of it, otherwise, it is really miserable.
One of the many things which I enjoy doing while I am here is looking out for local fruits that are in season. I will buy and try them. Scared? Of course, with the huge amount of pesticide sprayed on them, 'chemicals' pumped in to make them look big, fat and juicy... I am worried all the time. But I do trust my gut feel. If I don't feel good about it, if it doesn't smell right, I throw them away immediately. And of course, the necessary precaution has to be taken such as, peel them, wash them, don't buy cut fruits etc...
Since young, each time I have a cough, followed by a bad sore throat, I always self-medicate myself with the 'chuan bei pi-pa gao'. Basically a cough syrup made from the pi-pa fruit or loquat. The loquat is low in saturated fat and sodium, and is high in vitamin A, dietary fiber, potassium, and manganese. It is suppose to be good for the throat.
This is how the chuan bei pi-pa gau looks like
The other day, at the local market, I saw the pi-pa fruit. Yes, fresh ones. I have been eating the pi-pa gao for ages but never seen the real fruit. When I saw them, I bought them to try. Imagine having eaten the 'processed' ones for years yet never seen nor tasted the real thing. How could I miss the chance.
They are in season now. The food experts here told me that always eat fruits in season because they are in abundance, cheap and most unlikely to be 'genetically altered'.
These are fresh pi-pa fruits. Taste wonderful when chilled (anyway, who likes unchilled fruits). Soft, tender and very juicy.
Incidentally, the new house which we will be shifting into next month, has a pi-pa fruit tree. Perhaps, next season, I can harvest my own pi-pa fruits. There are also a pomelo tree and a peach tree, all right at my doorstep. Something for me to look forward to, my very own fruit 'farm'.
My posting is going to be few and far in between as I will be busy with the packing, shifting and unpacking on top of my regular schedule. I have moved so many times that I consider myself a professional mover now. Anyone out there needs a professional mover with unprofessional fees? ;)
Separation anxiety
Kai is away for the very first time. In the past ten years, my boy has always been by my side. Today, he is away in school for his leadership camp and mama is going through separation anxiety...will he be cold, will he eat well, does he know how to pack his things...Mothers!It just goes to show that it is time to release some string for the kite to fly a bit higher.
Kai is away for the very first time. In the past ten years, my boy has always been by my side. Today, he is away in school for his leadership camp and mama is going through separation anxiety...will he be cold, will he eat well, does he know how to pack his things...Mothers!It just goes to show that it is time to release some string for the kite to fly a bit higher.
In the embrace of mother nature
Yes, we had a very different holiday. We went back to mother nature and it brought back sweet memories of my childhood days at Changi village!
Mui Wo is a small village in Lantau Island, Hong Kong. We wanted to get away from the maddening crowd of Shanghai and found this place through the internet. We have never been there and it turned out to be a great choice. However, this place is not for everyone although it is indeed a beauty. To get to the village, you have to travel either by the Lantau taxi or the public bus. It is about 30 mintues drive from the Hong Kong International Airport, going through mountains and valleys. If you have motion sickness, it can be a challenge.
After the roller coaster ride, we arrived at our hotel - The Silvermine Beach Hotel. Ok, this is not your idea of a beach resort - five stars hotel, with five swimming pools facing the sea, with white clean deck chairs placed under colourful beach umbrellas and having hunks and beautys serving you with wine cooler. Remember...back to mother nature!. I would give this hotel just three and a half stars. It is like your NTUC chalet but of a higher class. Buffet breakfast is served every morning but it is FULLY self-service. Including getting your own coffee and tea, refilling them! But the friendly staff, beautiful and clean environment are enough to make us talk about our next trip there!
This was the beach in front of the hotel...low tide and the villagers were gathering clams, mussels, oysters and any shell fish they could find. YES!!! expect lots of fresh seafood and YES! we had them. Yum-mo!
The surroundings. Raw and rustic
We went crazy looking at the menu and dh placing the orders. The man taking our order was getting worried. It's heavenly you know, eating fresh seafood just beside the sea. Not now, then when?
Fresh clams stir-fry with black bean sauce. Ooo, sooo good! Even the kids enjoyed the food
You wake up to such beauty, what more could you ask for. This...is heaven on earth!After the many months of never ending winter, the kids finally could enjoy some outdoor fun. With the beach at their doorstep, they wasted no time...
Always enjoy taking pictures of dh with the two kids. He is indeed very good with them
I always find Kai very amazing. He is short-sighted but he always has an eye for small tiny creatures and he loves looking for them and they love finding him too... a hermit crab
Looks like, Ann is going to be quite like him soon
We also took the bus to Tai O. A forty-five minutes ride to a fishing village.
The bus stop
On our way there...up and down the mountains. Isn't life like that, we have our up moments and our down moments
Tai O, the fishing village. Now, what does one expect to see at a fishing village? Seafood galore, yipeee! Nothing to worry about as we tucked in
Wet ones
Dried ones. Have you seen dried puffer fish?
And of course...cooked ones! Delicious!
The market place
Freshly baked almond cookies and homemade silky soft bean curd (tau-fu fa)
It's really the best bean curd I have ever eaten. Sorry kids, your mum and papa just needed to eat this! (Ann took this picture of us)
We decided to do a boat ride to the open sea...
Can you spot the side profile of a man?
Then we spotted something moving near a fish trawler...
No, not shark but PINK dolphins. One was in bright pink but I failed to capture it with my camera. Looking at these pink dolphins, those that are enclosed in Sentosa sure don't look too happy. Really, animals, mammals that are meant for the open space should be left to survive in their natural habitat. However, Kai was right in saying that even if those Sentosa dolphins are released to the ocean, they may not survive because they are now used to an enclosed place with food provided for them
Finally, we took a different kind of boat to mainland Hong Kong to meet up with some good old friends. You see, we are friend-starved in Shanghai or rather, I am! Able to meet-up with them is a great pleasure.
Big and spacious, air-conditioned ferry
When we arrived at Hong Kong island, there was a protest going on...
Amazing, a protest going on and lots of shoppers also going about with their shopping. Kai was asking which was the protest banner and which was the sale banner!?
Triss, our long-time friend. Jimmy and Ailing were professional designers who gave up their jobs to be full-time mission workers. The gathering of friends is a joy to the soul
Call me a nature freak but I get lost in the beauty of God's creation. On the last day, before our departure from this wonderful place, while dh and the kids were still snoozing away, I took some time out to enjoy some 'me' time. I capture some final wonderful moments...
The poetic westlake (Xi Hu) of Hangzhou or the rustic beach of Mui Wo...I choose the rustic beauty...
Yes, we had a very different holiday. We went back to mother nature and it brought back sweet memories of my childhood days at Changi village!
Mui Wo is a small village in Lantau Island, Hong Kong. We wanted to get away from the maddening crowd of Shanghai and found this place through the internet. We have never been there and it turned out to be a great choice. However, this place is not for everyone although it is indeed a beauty. To get to the village, you have to travel either by the Lantau taxi or the public bus. It is about 30 mintues drive from the Hong Kong International Airport, going through mountains and valleys. If you have motion sickness, it can be a challenge.
After the roller coaster ride, we arrived at our hotel - The Silvermine Beach Hotel. Ok, this is not your idea of a beach resort - five stars hotel, with five swimming pools facing the sea, with white clean deck chairs placed under colourful beach umbrellas and having hunks and beautys serving you with wine cooler. Remember...back to mother nature!. I would give this hotel just three and a half stars. It is like your NTUC chalet but of a higher class. Buffet breakfast is served every morning but it is FULLY self-service. Including getting your own coffee and tea, refilling them! But the friendly staff, beautiful and clean environment are enough to make us talk about our next trip there!
This was the beach in front of the hotel...low tide and the villagers were gathering clams, mussels, oysters and any shell fish they could find. YES!!! expect lots of fresh seafood and YES! we had them. Yum-mo!
The surroundings. Raw and rustic
We went crazy looking at the menu and dh placing the orders. The man taking our order was getting worried. It's heavenly you know, eating fresh seafood just beside the sea. Not now, then when?
Fresh clams stir-fry with black bean sauce. Ooo, sooo good! Even the kids enjoyed the food
You wake up to such beauty, what more could you ask for. This...is heaven on earth!After the many months of never ending winter, the kids finally could enjoy some outdoor fun. With the beach at their doorstep, they wasted no time...
Always enjoy taking pictures of dh with the two kids. He is indeed very good with them
I always find Kai very amazing. He is short-sighted but he always has an eye for small tiny creatures and he loves looking for them and they love finding him too... a hermit crab
Looks like, Ann is going to be quite like him soon
We also took the bus to Tai O. A forty-five minutes ride to a fishing village.
The bus stop
On our way there...up and down the mountains. Isn't life like that, we have our up moments and our down moments
Tai O, the fishing village. Now, what does one expect to see at a fishing village? Seafood galore, yipeee! Nothing to worry about as we tucked in
Wet ones
Dried ones. Have you seen dried puffer fish?
And of course...cooked ones! Delicious!
The market place
Freshly baked almond cookies and homemade silky soft bean curd (tau-fu fa)
It's really the best bean curd I have ever eaten. Sorry kids, your mum and papa just needed to eat this! (Ann took this picture of us)
We decided to do a boat ride to the open sea...
Can you spot the side profile of a man?
Then we spotted something moving near a fish trawler...
No, not shark but PINK dolphins. One was in bright pink but I failed to capture it with my camera. Looking at these pink dolphins, those that are enclosed in Sentosa sure don't look too happy. Really, animals, mammals that are meant for the open space should be left to survive in their natural habitat. However, Kai was right in saying that even if those Sentosa dolphins are released to the ocean, they may not survive because they are now used to an enclosed place with food provided for them
Finally, we took a different kind of boat to mainland Hong Kong to meet up with some good old friends. You see, we are friend-starved in Shanghai or rather, I am! Able to meet-up with them is a great pleasure.
Big and spacious, air-conditioned ferry
When we arrived at Hong Kong island, there was a protest going on...
Amazing, a protest going on and lots of shoppers also going about with their shopping. Kai was asking which was the protest banner and which was the sale banner!?
Triss, our long-time friend. Jimmy and Ailing were professional designers who gave up their jobs to be full-time mission workers. The gathering of friends is a joy to the soul
Call me a nature freak but I get lost in the beauty of God's creation. On the last day, before our departure from this wonderful place, while dh and the kids were still snoozing away, I took some time out to enjoy some 'me' time. I capture some final wonderful moments...
The poetic westlake (Xi Hu) of Hangzhou or the rustic beach of Mui Wo...I choose the rustic beauty...
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