Collyer Quay-- where the merlions stay

The last time we visited Singapore was 8 years ago. And even when we were there 8 years ago, we did not really get the chance to look around. This time, we were much more privileged to "tour" around Singapore.
Through the kindness of our friends and relatives, we were able to see more of Singapore. This little country has changed so much through the years. We can hardly remember places where we had been before or places that we remembered were there. For example this place is called the Collyer Quay. It has changed so much just beyond our imagination. The only thing that did not change was the humid and hot weather.
Along CQ, there were more shops and restaurants. More lands had been reclaimed from the sea, and more buildings were constructed there. There were now 2 merlions instead of one... A baby merlion and a papa merlion.
The restaurants catered more for high ended customers. The food catered there were in smaller portions and more fine dinning style. A good place to visit..yes. One should try once in a while to live the life if one can afford it.

Flags edition

Correction to the blog before. These flags are flags of the states of Malaysia. It is interesting to learn how many states there are in Malaysia.

Malacca

We were able to visit this mini asian place in Malacca per kindness of our dear friends, Ai Hoon and Kum Meng.
In the back of this building were old kampong houses which the Malays lived in past years.
Now they were just houses for displaying purposes. The stores along this cultural center carried handmade toys and souvenirs. An interesting place to visit when you go there.
Along this path were flags of all the countries... and it would be fun to play a game of identifying the flags.
When you get a chance to visit Malaysia, don't forget to pay this place a visit. You will be amazed at what the Malays can do with their hands.

I am back !

I will be back here now. It has been a long time since I go on my blog.
Well, there are exciting things that had happened in the past few months since my absence. So i will be posting them soon.
Do check on my blog to learn more.
See ya ......

My children from school.

As much as i hated it, drastic measure had to be taken. I had to finally bid these children and more good bye. Working with them was loads of fun. Unfortunately, I have to think of what i really like to do and for who. The decision is made. May have to be out of job for a little while, but we know that GOD has something planned.
Hope to be able to see them sometime just for old time's sake.

My new job

It has been such a blessing to find a job in these times of trouble. To think of it, I have been teaching in the Montessori school for about a month now, maybe a little shy of a week. And it has been such a great experience. I am starting to find that children are very innocent and forgiving. And no matter how well or bad you treat them, they will still love you. I have been a softy all the time when disciplining children are concerned. Fortunately, teaching here makes me think twice. If I can put Clara under control, why not these rowdy kids. It was indeed a very trying time at the beginning. And it helps me greatly to learn quickly too to be kind and firm at the same time. I realized that children will go to any extend to test water. Especially so with the American kids. For they hardly had discipline at home. So they tested and tested me and now they realized that I can be fun and at the same time serious.
It is after some very trying experiences that made me determined to win the battle. Must know what fight to pick. With much prayer, I was inspired to read a book called, "Kid cooperation". Just wanting to find ideas as to how to deal with certain situations. And sure enough, all the incidences that I went through were written in this book. So I learn to apply the methods suggested. They do work !!!!. But i think things got better because i prayed for them everyday.
For Mother's Day, some children were telling their parents to buy gifts for me. It really touched my heart to know that they do appreciate me. A little boy jokingly said that he needn't listen to me. I decided to have a serious talk with him. And he cried when I called him. After the talk, he seemed to have forgotten the incident, but in my mind, I was still serious. And this is one of the little boy that bought me a gift. So sweet ! We never again had any problem listening.
Wish i could write a book on my experience each day.

Artichoke

So glad to have artichokes growing in my garden. This is such a good plant and thank GOD for helping them to grow. It is a miracle to have mine so early as the research that i did said that it will only produce fruits after the 2nd or 3rd year. But this is the first year after i planted it.
I know the LORD has blessed all the plants that i have put in the ground. And I am ever so thankful for them. Right now, I think there are about 11 artichokes altogether.
Thank You, Jesus for this vegetable.

Just thinking

Just cannot understand why sometimes when your love ones are unhappy, they tend to put their unhappiness on you. Why do they think that it is ok to stress you out when you have nothing to do to make them unhappy or frustrated.
Don't they know that when they are unhappy, they must not let the people around them feel their frustrations. Instead they should take a walk in the garden, smell the roses, listen to the birds and enjoy the beauty around them. Plus, there is a GOD who can do everything when they ask Him to put them back on good moods.
After talking about this, I think I need to take a walk in the garden and talk to GOD.

For sale

Handmade hairclip

For sale

Here is another look of the hair piece.
Colors can be customized.
When making orders, please specify color wanted.
Length " 10 inches

For sale

This is a hair piece that is made with beads. You can wear it as a tie or a clip on your hair.
It enhances your hair and gives it an unique style to your look.
Most importantly, this is handmade.
A rare collection for your hair.

Price: $US 12. Compare to price outside $15
Overseas orders: shipping and handling will be charged.

Pre 33rd year anniversary celebration

Times flies.... We cannot believe we have survived our 32nd marriage and will be heading for our 33rd anniversary this coming Sabbath.
In celebration of our anniversary, we took this very special trip to San Marino Huntington Library.
In the library, we see many different kinds of garden. One of which is the Chinese Garden a replica of the Soo Chow Garden in China.
We had a wonderful time visiting this place and we highly recommend you to visit it too.
Free admission on the first Thursday of every month.
So visit it someday. It is so beautiful !

Curry Puffs

This morning I woke up wanting to make some curry puffs. And that is what i did exactly.
Took my old faithful curry puffs recipe book and started making them.
Now we have some curry puffs to satisfy my urges.
Cannot wait to eat them.
Want some???

The biggest bullet ???

Is this the biggest bullet head you have ever seen? Ha hahaaa, no, this is the cover for the propeller for the Queen Mary.
I cannot imagine what the propeller looked like or how big until we saw it in the water. And it is indeed very huge. Beside it is the nut for QM too. I guess everything is humongous over there.

A trip to the Queen Mary

I have always heard about the Queen Mary and have never personally visited it. Yesterday, we were privileged to see it with my own two eyes.
It was a humongous ship to me. And we had fun walking around and reading the different informations on the boards. I am amazed at how it can carry thousands and thousands of people. The security supervisor told us that no other ship can go as fast as this one. In my mind I wonder how such a big ship could move so quickly in the waters and yet not sink. It is truly amazing to me.
We had a lot of walking to do and we even saw a movie crew doing a movie onboard. We don't know what the movie was called, but in the dinning room, we saw the title " Happy sweet 16 , Taylor " And i tried to see if i recognized any of the actors or actresses, but none.
We were very tired and hungry at the end of the tour. By the way, we got in for free. There is a special going on now. We all get to go in for free till the 31st of this month.
If you are interested, do go now before the special offer expires.

Kuey Pai Ti

Have you seen or tasted Kuey Pai Ti before? Here is a picture of this tasty food.
Since it is Chinese New Year, I thought to make this for Reunion Dinner will just be the perfect food.
So there I went to the Singapore site to look for the recipe for this food. And I found this wonderful lady who was so willing to share her recipes with people. And wa lah, I was able to make it for my family to eat.
It is fun to make and easy too.
But most of all, the joy is to see how my family enjoy eating this food. These are just the shells. You put veges on it and it is indeed a very delicious food.
Happy Chinese New Year !

Another Birthday

Time really flies... and it has been 32 years since I gave birth to my oldest child. As his birthday is drawing nearer, my thoughts brought me back to those days when he was a little babe. He was a healthy 7 lbs 12 ozs little baby. Today, he weighs heavier than when he first came into the world, and he is taller than both of us.
Just cannot imagine where time has gone, and how he grows to be so big and so fast! He was a wonderful baby and now a wonderful adult. Our prayers for him now is to have him complete his life by having a family of his own, and serving God together with his family.
We want to wish him a preHappy Birthday now.
When you make a wish, please make my wish come true....hahahaaaa....
Pre Happy Birthday !

Loquats

This is my loquat tree. It is as tall as I am..about 5 ft some.
Never expect it to flower yet, as we just had it in the ground for about 1 or 2 years. But look it is flowering now. Cannot wait to taste the fruits when they come out.
This picture is taken by my brand new camera. It is so clear and clean cut.
So happy for the camera and the flowers.

Birthday Celebration

Here I would like to thank all who came to my birthday celebration. I had a lot of fun and hope that all who came had too.
To my surprise and delight, my gifts are a kodak digital camera and a card from Michael's.
So happy to have the camera becuz my old faithful is not functioning as good as it was before. Very sad to replace it but a new camera is what I have been wishing for.
Thank you, my dear children,(all 4 of you) for giving me such a precious gift.
I will make very good use of it and will treasure it very very much.
Look at all the beautiful and delicious dishes that my husband, the chef, had prepared. Some vegetarian and some meatarian. And we rounded the dinner with purple rice and coconut milk dessert. We all had a lot to eat. And I am really blessed to have wonderful children, friends, and a good husband. They made my day so enjoyable and memorable.
Now, my one other wish is to be a grandmother. Who will make me the happiest person on earth?

Another year !

I cannot believe how fast the days go by everyday. It is time for another year of my life. I won't tell you how old I am, but I am old enough to be a senior citizen.
Oh well, I have to learn how to age gracefully. Even though I am of age, but mentally, I feel like I am still in my late 20s.
People are telling me that I don't look my age and that I look 10 years younger. Oh yay ! Will just take this as a compliment.
Tomorrow will be D Day. I am praying that this year, my life will be a more productive life. Meaning..more active in winning souls, more active in working on my spiritual life, more active in practicing what i learn and so on.
Pray for me that God will give me the strength.

Happy New Year, 2009 !

Happy New Year every body ! We want to take this opportunity to wish all a very Prosperous and Healthy New Year !
We pray that the old ugly depressing 2008 's situations will never be back. And that this new 2009 will be better and prosperous for all.
But most important thing we should do is to get closer to the One who died for us and redeemed us from this sinful world. As Christ's coming is nearing, we should all be prepared so that when He comes, He will be able to gather all His priced jewels home.
This is our prayer. Have the best New Year !