I think I love my stay at Gili Trawangan the best when we went to visit Lombok recently.
It’s an island, a little off from Lombok.
I love how everyone there on the island either walk on foot, hop on a Cidomo (horse cart) or rent a bike. NO cars or motorbikes!
I love the beach, the clear waters, the overall surrounding.
So grateful that we had such a wonderful weather during our one night stay there! (was told that it was cloudy and rainy days before we were there. Phew!)
Anyway.
Here’s more about our visit to Gili Trawangan.
There are three islands near Lombok, they are : Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air.
The biggest one is Gili Trawangan and it’s the most commonly visited one too, I was told.
We heard about how we could go snorkeling at Gili Trawangan, and so we decided to stay overnight at a Beach House (instead of going there in the morning and coming back to Lombok island on the same day)
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From our hotel (Senggigi Beach Hotel), we rented a car to take us to Bangsal Harbour. We reached there at around 11.30am.
We chartered a boat (one way trip) from the ticketing counter at the harbour, and we paid Rp185,000 (worked out to be about S$25, for all seven of us, ie. Five of us plus Wilson’s parents who joined us on this trip)
TIPS:
- We had to step into the waters when boarding the boat because the water was too shallow for the boat to really land on the shore. So, I recommend : wear shorts and slippers / sandals.
- If you’re going to engage local porters to help carry your bags to the boat, you’re looking at about paying them Rp3000 per bag. I recommend engaging just one or two local porters. Be aware that many may offer their services, and you’d need to (firmly, but with a smile =) say no to them.
By now I can’t quite remember how long it took us to get to Gili Trawangan (now you can see why I blog. My memory is getting so rusty, I have to pen down all this to remember my precious moments spent with my family!)
I think the boat ride lasted for about 30 mins or so.
Anyway, check out the view at Gili Trawangan!
I love, love, LOVE it.
Upon reaching Gili Trawangan, we took 2 horse carts (called ‘Cidomo’). One was for our family of five, the other was for Wilson’s parents and our bags.
The trip from where we got off the boat to our Beach House was actually a short one. You could actually walk there from the harbour. We didn’t know.
The Cidomo man charged us Rp50,000 per cidomo. That’s about S$6.90. Frankly, it’s quite expensive considering the short distance. Oh well, we ‘paid’ for the unique experience, I guess =)
As you can see, the above is how the main street looks like on this island!
People just casually walk here and there (many are barefooted, and in their beachwear), or on bikes.
Shops on your left and right sell sarongs, sun blocks, etc. They have snorkelling equipments for rent, shops offering diving lessons / trips, boat rides to Bali, etc. Quite a lot of eating places too (mostly western food).
Our Beach House has two small pools. The kids had a great time there, jumping off the side of the pool, … COUNTLESS times! =)
Eating places on this island are most likely along the beach, so I’d say nearly (if not ALL) restaurants on this island have a SPECTACULAR view of the ocean and mountains.
If the weather happens to be great when you’re on the island, … ah, expect refreshingly breathtaking view!
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We went snorkeling with the kids when we’re on this island (Brie napped and stayed at the beach house with my Mom-in-law =).
And THAT was a great experience too. The first time we all ever snorkeled.
Will share photos and how it went in another post! =)
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Okay now, here are more tips to share:
- Fresh water is not as readily available on this island. At our Beach House, we showered in ’salty’ water and rinsed ourselves with fresh water afterwards.
- We waited for a very long time to get a Cidomo to take us back to where we could board a boat to take us back to Lombok island. And we could NOT find any available ones. So we walked to the ‘harbour’ and it was manageable, I mean … we pulled our luggages and the distance from the Beach House to the harbour wasn’t too bad.
- Instead of chartering a boat, we decided to take a Public Boat back to Lombok. It only cost us Rp10,000 per person (about S$1.40 / person). Bought the tickets from the one and only ticketing office there and waited for about 10 minutes to board the boat (basically, they always need to wait till the boat has ‘enough people’ before it leaves the shore)
- Again, I recommend wearing shorts and sandals because you’d need to get into the waters to board the boat.
- And oh, put on lots of sunscreen lotion! The weather does get pretty warm and hot there.
But then again, hey … you ARE after all on a tropical island! =)
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We definitely look forward to the day we can visit Gili Trawangan again!
I have quite a few people asking me how it’s been for us, living in Jakarta and all. Especially since I personally have not lived in this busy city for more than 20 years.
Well, it’s been close to a month since we all left Singapore, and actually, … it’s been okay.
Both Anya and Vai are adapting pretty well with their new environment. Brie who was clingy after we moved to our own place is now more or less okay too.
And me? Well, I think I’m settling down relatively well too =)
Plus, we’re all healthy since we arrived, and I say, that’s purely God’s grace.
[We eat *yummy* street hawker food too, and so far it's been okay for us. Errr, just don't look at how the food is prepared, they say, hehe]
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Someone told me recently that the first three months are considered ‘honeymood period’. Reality will start to bite after that.
Some others told me to be prepared if I experience emotional downs in the first 6 months.
It’s part and parcel of getting myself ‘adapted’ to living in a new country, they say.
(Yes, better be prepared mentally, I say. And I’m thankful for such well-meaning advices)
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If you ask me, I think every country has its pros and cons. Good stuff and not-so-good stuff.
People can focus on the bad. And, they can also focus more on the good.
I personally prefer to go with the latter.
I choose to focus more on the good and interesting aspects of our ‘new life’ here in Jakarta.
I’m learning, discovering and experiencing new things everyday.
And, I have started sharing them pictorially too! =)
I’ve posted photos with the hashtag ‘Appreciating Jakarta’ on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Photos such as these:
[Anya and Daddy having fun up in the air!]
['Sewing on the go', literally!]
[Love the beautiful sunset!]
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I’ll continue to share with you what I learn and observe as well as how life is for our little family, here in Jakarta.
And you’re most welcome to add me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter and Instagram (under ‘leonny_oureverydaythings), if you haven’t yeah =)
Have a wonderful week, everyone!
All around the world, many are enjoying a good long weekend because of Good Friday.
‘Good Friday’ to me personally has a deeper meaning than just a public holiday though.
It’s a day where I get to remember how Jesus Christ had purposely come to earth to die, and it’s because of HIS love for us sinners that HE replaced us and received the punishments of sin that we deserve.
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We all went to our church’s Good Friday service and I’d like to share some thoughts with you, thoughts which were inspired by the sermon I heard earlier today.
Here they are.
> Many of us become parents but we may lack the joy of parenting our children. Many are involved in the ministry, but they may serve God and others heavy-heartedly. Many may have jobs today, but they may complain about the work they do everyday.
Jesus Christ on the other hand, came to earth WILLINGLY, and HE joyfully served others. HE fulfilled God’s eternal plan. He loved us although we’re still sinners!
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> Some people choose to complain a lot, and they (knowingly and unknowingly) become a burden towards others.
Some others, however, may face life’s challenges, BUT despite their personal difficulties, they still become blessings to others.
The question is: How have we lived our lives all this while?
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> We will one day stand in front of our Creator and give our accountability. We have been given talents, opportunities and time, but how have we used all this? What have we done in our life?
We may have a lot of money and wealth, but we could bring NONE of that with us when we die.
We have time and health today, but how have we used what we have?
What is it that we hold very dearly in our life?
What is it that’s most important in our life?
May our hearts and lives be submitted under God’s will, and may God give us the wisdom to see life in a more meaningful perspective, so we in turn can live a life that’s worth a living.
Have a blessed Good Friday, everyone!
Way before we left Singapore, my hubby and I thought about traveling together as a family.
You know, just to take a good break from all the exhaustion and mad busyness of moving and relocating.
We wanted to take a few days away from ‘city life’ and take the kids to a place where we get to see, breathe and enjoy more of ‘nature’.
And so we decided that we should perhaps check out Lombok!
We’ve always heard about it, but somehow we’ve never got around to visiting it.
[Note: People tend to go to Bali, instead of Lombok, because in a way, Bali is more 'tourist ready'. But really, if you ask me, Lombok is the one that's still less 'commercialised'. Yes, heaps of things can still be made better there, and I really hope one day Lombok gets the attention, visitorship and care it deserves]
[Beautiful view of Bali's 'Gunung Agung' from afar]
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Anyway.
Since I took heaps of photos during our trip, I thought of doing a series of pictorial blog posts on Lombok! =)
Here goes.
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We decided to visit Lombok for 4 days and 3 nights.
Day 1: Arrived and stayed at a hotel in Senggigi
Day 2: Headed over to Gili Trawangan by boat, and stayed at a Beach House
Day 3: Back to Senggigi and stayed overnight
Day 4: Returned to Jakarta
Knowing that we’re not familiar with the roads and how to get to places in Lombok, we rented a car and had a local to drive us around.
He picked us up from the International Airport and we went towards Senggigi. Took us about 50 mins to get to our hotel.
[Love the fresh air and beautiful view]
[Waiting for our grilled corns-on-the-cob]
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One of the places we went to was a Fisherman’s Village, and on our way there, we made 2 stops (and bought some grilled corn cobs from the roadside!) to take photos of the beautiful views!
It was a very simple fisherman village. We walked past homes, goats, chickens, cows and an ‘in-house guide’ showed us the way towards the beach.
If you’re looking for something fancy and clean to see, I’d say this is not the place to go.
BUT, personally I thought it was good that we stopped by this place, because the two older kids got to see a different kind of living there.
They saw a super simple village where fancy gadgets were no where to be seen.
They saw some shirtless boys around their age running around, small girls sitting and shyly looking at us, and some were happily chasing the chickens and goats too.
And, soon enough they both decided to give their half-eaten corn cobs to the chickens =)
Nothing beats real interactions with real animals, I reckon.
We then walked towards the beach and we saw rows of old fisherman boats parked along the beach.
The kids played with dark-coloured sands (note: ‘black sand’ is commonly found on beaches near a volcano), while the adults captured the sea views and the surrounding.
[All along, Brie was carried in my sling]
Glad that we made this stop.
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Quick Tips:
- Donation to the village (given to the ‘tour guide’ in front of the villagers) is highly recommended
- If kids want to randomly feed the animals, do bring along some foods (eg. corns, carrots, etc)
- While making your stops along the way to take photos of the views, there’ll be people trying to sell you stuff (eg. Shirts, jewellery). When we politely turned down the offer, smiled and walked away, we found that they didn’t ‘insist’ / ‘followed’ us everywhere. I thought this was nice (because in Bali, the sellers are generally much more persistent)
- Personally, I think staying overnight at Gili Trawangan was a nice idea. It allowed us to just enjoy the island and the activities (eg. We went snorkelling!) without needing to rush (read: Compared to going there in the morning and returning back to Senggigi in the late afternoon)
- We also thought that a 4day-3nights trip to Lombok was just nice. We definitely want to visit the island again in the future!
[Brie was sick and needed to be nebulised the other week. I'm pretty sure she caught the bugs from her sister and brother who were a little unwell too earlier]
One of the many things I learn after having kids of my own is that these little ones LOVE to touch everything around them, which automatically means germs will be all over their hands and are then most likely transferred from one kid to another when they play, hug, cuddle, etc.
(Not to forget, they LOVE putting their hands into their mouths too!)
I know, I know I can never get rid of germs completely. Actually, I don’t want my kids to be 100% germ-free all the time too (ie. Being super clean and sterile, I believe, does not allow my kids’ bodies to fight the bugs on their own).
I want my kids to still be able to explore and discover their world, even if it means they need to get their hands and feet dirty from touching the soil, sand, plants, etc.
BUT, of course this does NOT mean I encourage the kids to not wash their hands, or put their fingers into their mouth etc after such play and discovery =)
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Anyway, there are still a few things that we moms can do to prevent the spread of germs (without being overly paranoid or going overboard =)
Things like:
1. Avoid sharing meals / water bottles / cutlery / bath towels with someone who’s unwell
2. Cover our cough (and wash your hands afterwards, whenever possible)
And most important of all:
3. ALWAYS WASH OUR HANDS!
Ie. When our hands are dirty, before preparing, eating or touching food, after using the bathroom, after playing outside, etc.
And, it’s best if the kids are taught to also wash in between their fingers and around the nails (as this is where germs LOVE to hide)
(Do leave your own practical tips too yeah on how else moms can prevent the spread of germs)
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Anyway, I don’t know about you but it’s only very recently that I actually paid attention to Dettol No-Touch Hand Wash System.
I mean, I’ve seen these before on supermarket shelves, and when I saw them for the first time I remember thinking, “Woooo, … AUTOMATIC dispenser! Cool!!’ but I never quite thought of getting them for our own home.
Until, they introduced these really cute special edition ones!!
Hoofy the Zebra and Flippy the Penguin!
Basically, it’s the same Dettol No-Touch Hand Wash System, BUT it now comes with special edition decorative stickers! (which btw is only available for a limited period of time! Do grab them while they’re still around!)
THIS definitely will make hand washing so much more fun for my kids, I thought!
Instead of reminding them again and again to wash their hands, I think I’d probably need to remind them to not wash their hands again and again, hehe.
(One is definitely going to be in our bathroom, and the other one, in the kitchen! The automatic dispenser will sure be helpful when I’m about to wash my dirty/oily hands after cooking / food preparation! =)
Okay, here’s a little bit more info :
1. The special edition Dettol No-Touch Hand Wash System is available at major supermarkets and places like Watsons and Guardians
2. For S$9.90, you’ll get the dispenser, the refill, the batteries (yep, batteries are included!=) and the stickers!
[The round 'eject button' to remove the refill bottle, and the 'On/off' switch. Btw, make sure it's switched off if you're going to lift the dispenser / hold the dispenser near the sensor at the front]
3. I like how it dispenses just the right amount of hand soap for us.
I especially appreciate this feature because our 5.5yo Vai often pumps and pumps,and he ends up with having too much (and sometimes too little!) hand soap in his hands.
4. And of course, it kills 99.9% of germs! Yay!
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Have a good, clean and healthy week ahead, everyone! =)
I have a little confession to make.
And it’s about my hair.
You see, I realise that my hair is increasingly thinning by the year.
I mean, I definitely had MORE hair say, a decade ago. Especially around the top/crown area.
But, three kids later, I KNOW that my hair is now LESS than before.
My hair may look like it has ‘volume’, but really, it’s because I always go with the layered cut, I keep it short and my hair type is not the ‘flat type’. In terms of ‘hair quantity’ though, I really don’t have that much.
Well, I guess it’s in the genes (ie. My Dad’s family tends to have thinner hair at the top and it gets thinner with age). Plus, I notice my hair got thinner after each childbirth (ie. As we all know, it’s common for moms to lose some hair a few months after delivery. But whether more hair grows back, that’s another issue)
Now you see, I go for hair spas / treatments like, once every TWO years (I know, NOT enough care for my hair!). I wash my hair everyday (otherwise I feel it’s oily and yucky). I did try using hair tonic (bought at supermarkets). I’ve never permed my hair. And, I hardly ever use chemicals / hair colours.
STILL, my hair is thinning.
[Apparently, recent stats show that up to 40% of women in Singapore suffer from thinning hair! *gasp*]
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The thought of going for treatments before it worsens (and to check my hair / scalp condition) did cross my mind. I don’t expect my hair to become thick and beautiful, but I do wish for ‘more and healthier hair’ =)
All these years I never got around to actually doing it though.
UNTIL RECENTLY. Just before I left Singapore!
My hubby babysat all three kids while I went to TrichoKare! The one at Wheelock Place!
*Three cheers to supportive husbands!=)*
SO HAPPY that I got to relax! Haha.
Especially after feeling so physically drained everyday, caring for all three kids while packing and getting ready for our family’s relocation to Jakarta!
…
Anyway, I thought of sharing with you how my visit to TrichoKare was like, and what I personally learned about hair (I learned SO many things that I never knew before during my visit!)
[The form I needed to fill soon after I arrived. I had to answer questions on my family history, eating habits, etc so that the consultant had a better idea of my lifestyle, which affects the state of my hair and scalp accordingly]
Now.
First thing first. Just in case you’re not too familiar with who TrichoKare is, here’s a short intro:
TrichoKare literally stands for ‘care for your hair’, and it is Singapore’s first ISO 9002 certified trichological centre! It provides European Herbal Remedies (consisting of all natural European botanicals like Jojoba, Rosemary, etc) and it caters to all hair conditions.
Oh also, TrichoKare’s trichologist is a member of the International Association of Trichologists!
And yes, Diana Ser uses and endorses TrichoKare =)
(If you’re in Singapore, you most likely have seen her on TrichoKare’s TV ads and print ads)
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Soon after I was done with the forms, a consultant came to see me and study the answers I wrote on the forms. She asked a series of questions too to understand my concerns and my ‘hair’ situation better (because our hair condition/growth is affected by our genes, hormones and environment).
Afterwards, she used an equipment to check on my scalp and how my ‘hair follicles’ are like (ie. These are the skin organs that produce our hair).
The machine basically allows us to see the super-zoomed version of our scalp!
(I’ve seen similar images on TV or print ads, but to see my own on the computer screen, it was a completely different feeling altogether!)
I was like, ‘Aiyoh! Why does the surface look like that? What’s causing it? How can I tell if my hair follicles are healthy or not healthy?’ etc.
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Here are some quick facts that I somehow didn’t think about before:
> Just like the skin on our face, our scalp can also be clogged if it’s not properly cared for. Clogging of hair follicles affects the growth of the hair, ie. It gets thinner and breaks more easily.
[I sure am guilty of this. Sigh. And in terms of hair growth, I do think mine is already heading towards the 'Middle Stage' now! Better start paying more care and attention to my hair before it's too late!]
> Proper hair treatments help to clear such clogging and allow our hair follicles to grow more healthily. It addresses potential hair / scalp problems early, and it means better chance of ‘full recovery’ too.
> Generally 2 – 3 hair strands grow out of each hair follicle. For my case, I saw hair follicles where out of the two strands, one was alright but the other strand was very fine. Now THIS was the reason why I can see less hair at the top area =(
> The hair at the back of our head usually is the ‘healthiest’. And healthy hair follicles are those where you can see the roots clearly.
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Okay, below is NOT a picture of my scalp, hehe. Just thought I should share with you how a cleaner and healthier scalp and hair follicles look like. Proper hair treatments definitely help in achieving such healthier scalp condition.
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After the consultant explained my hair/scalp condition, I went to have my hair treatment: Serum treatment, wash and massages (Ah yes, massages please =)
Note: At TrichoKare, they use only natural European herbs, and don’t prescribe any pills / medicines (which I personally prefer too)
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Here are more photos to share, taken during the treatment:
Oh btw, I must mention this : I enjoyed the hair wash session, hehe. The scalp was gently massaged and it was relaxing for me (note: You can always tell the lady if you wish for the massage to be stronger or milder).
(The products used were all natural European botanicals, and hey, the aroma was nice! Nothing like the strong smell of hair tonics I had applied on my hair a long time ago)
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Now back to the wash.
The hair wash and all left me feeling rather minty though. It was a nice feel, but I somehow felt cold afterwards.
But this happened next (after I returned to my seat): they placed this warm and slightly heavy green pad on my shoulders, and man, it felt so good! =) I know it was just ‘a warm pad’, but the minty feeling I had earlier and the warm pad placed on my shoulders afterwards somehow made me feel … relaxed.
As part of the treatment, a lady used a hair dryer to ‘tidy up’ my hair, making it all nice and neat =)
And check out the ‘octopus-looking’ warm lights above! (Reminded me of ‘Matrix’ the movie somehow, haha). It was the final stage of the treatment and it’s supposed to help the herbs used on my scalp got better absorbed.
Soon after, I returned back to see my consultant and had another round of scalp analysis to see the impact of the treatment I had earlier.
And yep, I could how my scalp’s condition was better.
The clogging obviously wasn’t completely gone because I only had one session, but it sure made a positive difference to my scalp.
(Note: Generally we’d need more than one session to treat hair/scalp problems depending on the stage we’re in)
So, what’s my verdict after checking out TrichoKare?
It was a nice ‘all natural herbal spa treatment’. And the fact that I’ve been physically (and mentally) exhausted for a good few weeks and months before the session made me enjoy the whole experience even better! =)
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Final tips to share:
> If you’re thinking of getting your scalp / hair checked and analysed at TrichoKare, they have three outlets in Singapore:
- Wheelock Place (#05-09A)
- Velocity@Novena Square (#03-19)
- The Clementi Mall (#05-11)
Just call them to make an appointment before you head down to their outlet:
Phone: 6338 8680 (11am – 8pm)
> Click on this LINK to get enjoy some promotional offers from TrichoKare
[With my consultant, Destiny, at the Wheelock Place outlet]
> If you think you have potential hair/scalp problems, do seek help and advice EARLY. Because really, just like any other health conditions, if it’s detected and treated early, the chance of us getting back to our healthy state is higher and better.
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Have a great weekend, everyone! =)
Some of you who have been following my blog for some time would know that our family has recently moved overseas.
Actually, we all moved to a nearby country, a city where I spent my first fourteen years there.
The city of Jakarta =)
[I shared my thoughts on this big move right here]
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Before I start writing posts on how things are here in Jakarta for us, I thought I should write about how it was when the ‘day of departure’ finally arrived.
Well. One thing was for sure : we were SO busy everyday over the last two weeks, packing and clearing our stuff (while caring for Brie who’s sick for a few days), that I didn’t quite have the time to stop and feel … too emotional.
(I knew I’d really miss my home and all, but I somehow tried to not think about it much too)
[Booked a 7-seater taxi to take us and ALL our luggages to the airport]
We rushed through everything that day. We still had documents to collect, small things to put into our bags, etc.
But, when it was time for me to step out of our home and rush down to our taxi, … this happened : I suddenly was overwhelmed by emotions.
I remember standing in the middle of our living room, looking around our empty home, and I just broke down and cried.
The surge of emotion was just overwhelming.
I guess it was because I knew I was spending my final few seconds inside the very place I’ve called home all these years.
The place where I watched my children played and grew.
The place where our family created and shared so many memories, sweet and bitter. Everything.
And the part that got to me the most was the fact that once I closed and locked that door, I knew I could no longer enter it like we usually did.
Ugh, it’s hard to explain what the feeling was like.
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Some people thought that I was feeling sad about leaving Singapore because deep down I didn’t want to go to Jakarta.
Actually, no.
They are two different feelings.
I felt really sad about leaving Singapore and everything that we’ve built over the years.
But, at the same time I’m excited about the many new things we’ll be doing in Jakarta together as a family.
Errr, hope I’m making sense?
(Perhaps you’ve been in a similar situation?)
Anyway.
There’s one statement I heard over the weekend that encouraged me a lot. It said:
Let the past be the past, and let us move ahead for there are wonderful tasks, challenges and responsibilities that are waiting to be carried out and accomplished.
I like that.
And I’d like to do that.
So yes, while we treasure the past, we’d choose to move ahead. Together. As a family, and with God as our Guide.
Jakarta, here we come.
["Love Daddy-Daughter moments like this"]
These days, almost everyone takes pictures.
We use our compact cameras, bulky DSLRs, mobile phones, smartphones. Anything.
We take photos of our children, our family, our friends and colleagues, things we do, sights we see, and stuff we eat too!
AND, it sure is very common these days to see these shots being shared on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
So with THIS in mind, I’d like to invite as many of you as possible to do this EVERYDAY for THIRTY days. An ‘activity’ I call “30 Days of Love, In Pictures“.
["Love the silly grin as our 5.5yo boy enjoyed his favourite Yong Tou Fu at Kopitiam, Singapore!"]
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Here’s more about it:
- Take photos of things/people whom you love/appreciate
For people, it could be anyone who’s impacted on you positively (eg. Loved ones, and even a helpful uncle at a coffee shop, or a friendly hawker =)
["Love how this hawker smiles, and cooks his yummy pasta super fast too, for more than a decade!"]
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For things, it could be the food you love to eat, precious gifts you receive, different sights in Singapore that you see and treasure, services which you appreciate, etc.
And, don’t forget to add the caption: “Love …”
eg. “Love the beautiful sunset” or “Love spending time with my girlfriends” or “Love my Bubble Tea” =)
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When you’re creating a Facebook album, do name the album “30 Days of Love, In Pictures” yeah.
If you’re tweeting or using Instagram etc, please use this hashtag #30daysofloveinpictures
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I’m inspired to do this initiative after I saw how itsmyturn.sg is calling out for people to initiate something on their website!
And I thought, hey … we all take photos SO easily these days, don’t we? So why not take photos, share them and share the love and positivity with others?
Yes?
…
A photo a day. For 30 days.
I hope many of you can participate and join me!
Let’s share YOUR ‘30 days of Love, In Pictures’, because it’s amazing how love and positivity towards life can really be contagious!!
['Love this yummy and refreshing dessert, anytime!']
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Let me know if you’re joining by going to the itsmyturn.sg website and clicking ‘YES, I’LL BE PARTICIPATING!’ link yeah!
When they ask you to create an account, you can always just connect via your Facebook if you on FB.
It’s fast and easy! =)
Here’s the link again: http://itsmyturn.sg/participate/details/page/-30-days-of-love-in-pictures-
Hope to see many of you doing the ‘30 Days of Love, In Pictures” action!
Let’s spread the love!
Living in Singapore : Appreciating ‘Singlish’! (And ‘What Type Of Singaporean Are You?’ Quiz)
[Caught a glimpse of a beautiful rainbow, from just outside our Singapore home]
…
When I asked some friends to tell me one thing that immediately came to mind when they think of Singapore, they generally would mention ‘SINGLISH’ as one of their top five! =)
(Some other common ones mentioned are : Chicken Rice, Laksa, Chilli Crab, Char Kuay Teow, Popiah, Orchard Road and Universal Studios)
…
Now, just in case you’re not familiar with what ‘Singlish’ is, let me explain.
Singlish stands for Singapore English, it’s how locals here in Singapore generally speak. Well, most of them, anyway.
You see, when Americans speak, they speak in their American accent. Australians speak in their Australian accent. And those who live in Singapore, well, we speak in … ‘Singlish accent’.
This means, you’ll hear words being put together in a more ‘jumbled up’ manner, and you’ll most likely pick up words like, ‘ah’, ‘lah’, ‘meh’, ‘hor’, and ‘one’, at the end of the sentences. Each sentence may include words taken from these languages too: english, chinese dialects and Malay =)
Something like this :
Hey, this doesn’t taste good.
- Eh, this one not good leh
She’s decided to stay at home and sleep.
- She stay home and sleep lor
*YIKES* Oh no! Why was it done that way?
- Aiyoh! Why like that?
Can it really be done that way?
- Can like that meh?
Are you sure?
- You sure or not?
Do you want to go out and eat?
- You want go makan?
This is mine (eg. A book, pencil, bag)
- This is my one
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I recently asked on Facebook three questions, and one of them is this:
“What are your most commonly used Singlish phrases”, and I received overwhelming entries!
It was so fun reading every one of them! =)
Then, I decided to make a video featuring most of the favourite Singlish phrases submitted! Just for fun! =)
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Here is the video!
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Check it out, share it if you wish, but most importantly, see if you can find your own favourite ones there! =)
(If you are not familiar with Singlish, see if you can understand any of it at all, hehe)
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So how?
What you think ah? Hehe.
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If you ask me, I think Singlish is not just a language.
Singlish is a culture.
(ie. If you live in Singapore, you’ll most likely ’adopt’ Singlish. However mild. However strong =)
I feel, Singlish somehow … connects people. It makes your communication with friends and colleagues somewhat more ‘natural’ too =)
(Oh also, taxi drivers will understand you better when you speak in Singlish, hehe)
It gives Singapore and those who live there their strong identity =)
[If you're wondering, yes our kids speak Singlish with their friends, AND we speak Singlish too, hehe. We do however make sure our kids know how to speak in proper and formal ENGLISH too though, hehe]
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Anyway.
I was actually inspired to reflect on ‘Singlish’ and how it has very much influenced us who live in Singapore after I checked out this website, itsmyturn.sg
It has a just-for-fun quiz where it’ll help you determine ‘your personality’! =)
ie. Do you complain a lot? Are you the patriotic type? Do you need to be MORE patriotic? Are you the ‘Take it Easy’ type?
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Click the links to the 4 main categories, to see the results gathered from the quiz:
Speak, Eat, Play and Do
And here are two examples which I find are relevant to me =)
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE Bubble Tea! (No relevance to whether my friends drink it too though. Because I. Just. Love. Bubble. Tea.)
To be a little more specific, I love Koi and Gong Cha, ‘Milk Bubble Tea’, the kind with ’small black pearls and 80% sugar’ =)
Hehe… is THIS your favourite Singlish phrase?
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And just the other day, I took the quiz too.
And after answering a series of questions, here’s what they think I am :
Hehe.
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Okay, anyway … do check out the Quiz yeah! =)
Have fun, everyone!
[The sun sets everyday, but a new day filled with new hopes begins the next day. Photo was taken at Siloso Beach, via iphone]
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I have been wanting to write this post for the longest time.
But each time I wanted to sit and pen down my thoughts, there seemed to be 1001 other things that I felt I needed to do.
Perhaps it’s my mind’s way of avoiding something.
This is one tough post to write. And I really don’t know how to start.
Umm. Okay.
Let me try. .
(I think it’ll be a rather long post. Hope you’re willing to sit and read for a while)
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Some of you may know that my hubby has been traveling overseas for business, since the beginning of last year. He flies back to Singapore every weekend to be with us, and flies overseas again on Monday or Tuesday morning. It’s been like this, every week.
Last year was a tough year for our family, because we had to be away from each other so much.
Hubby and I struggled day in and day out, in our own areas of responsibilities.
In two different countries.
Last year was especially challenging because it was the year when I was pregnant and had a newborn baby Brie too. It was also the year when Anya entered Primary One.
The coaching, sending and picking up from school, managing our home and housework, handling the day to day activities, dealing with tantrums and attitudes, while being heavily pregnant and then caring for a small baby.
Frankly, now, when I look back, I can’t quite imagine how I managed to get through the whole of last year.
All I know, we did sail through it all. And hey, we did have fun too along the way! =)
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Many did ask, ‘How did you do it?’.
Well, frankly though, there’s no straight answer.
I only know of these TWO things:
1. I know I would NOT be able to cope one single day with three kids and no helper / family support and my hubby being here only over the weekend, IF I were to depend on my own strength and capability. It’s a tough reality and I’m definitely not a super woman!
2. I know I sailed through only because of God’s grace, mercy and strength. Everyday, I humbly asked God to give me the needed strength, patience and endurance that’s enough for me to go through the day, and HE did give what I needed.
[Spending my days and growing up with Daddy? Yes please! Here is 3-year-old Vai hand in hand with Daddy at VivoCity, back in 2009]
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It took us one whole year of praying and really seeking after God’s will. Do the kids and I stay here while Daddy continues to travel in and out of Singapore? Or perhaps, we should move and stay together as a family?
I guess, like most people, I personally prefer to stay in my comfort zone. I prefer familiarity. I’m settled here in Singapore. I’ve built my home, my family, friends and community here. From zero. I like things the way it is.
The question is: Is it all about me and what ‘I’ want?
Could there be wonderful and bigger plans ahead of us that we’re not yet aware of, waiting to unfold, when we ourselves are willing to ‘enter the unknown’?
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We have recently come to a decision.
And, we have chosen to stay together as a family.
Yes, I’d like to stay put, but given the option, I much prefer to stick together, and face challenges TOGETHER. To be with each other in whichever country God wants us to be.
Anyway, my hubby and I also believe that God’s plans are always good for those who place their trust in Him. We also believe that if we ourselves are willing, God can use our family as a blessing too in our new place, new community, new surroundings.
(It won’t be easy for sure. And we know we’ll need to go through a whole lot of learning journeys ahead!)
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PHEW.
There. I’ve finally managed to pen down our family’s big adventure!
[We shared with the kids our plans from day 1. Together with them, we prayed and asked for God to clearly show us what HE wanted us to do. When we finally decided to move, Anya drew this, the surrounding of her home in Jakarta]
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So where is this city we’ll be heading out to next?
It’s JAKARTA!
Yep, the city where I was born and raised for over a decade.
And, errr … it’s been TWENTY TWO years since I last lived there, so ummm, yep, it’ll be an adventure alright, adjusting to life WITH THREE KIDDOS there this time round! =)
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When are we leaving?
Eeeks, … in two-and-a-half weeks!!
(I’m still trying to get the idea to sink in my head that our little family will start a whole new adventure in a different country in less than a month!)
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Am I sad? Am I excited?
I DEFINITELY am missing Singapore already!
I can’t help but feel sad about leaving Singapore!
Career, marriage, friendships, children, and millions of other memories were built right here in Singapore!
Thinking about leaving my home, my friends, my neighbourhood, and everything already makes my heart ache and feeling all emotional! SO, I’ve been trying to not think about it much all this while, and just face the fact when the day comes! I’m sure I’ll look like a wreck at the airport! *Arrrrgghhh*
On the other hand though, I am also EXCITED about the new adventure our family will be having together in Jakarta! I know, it’s a HUGE move for us! Lots of adjustments too! Imagine ME, driving the 3 kids around in the jam-packed streets of Jakarta! And btw, the last time I drove a car was back in Australia, THIRTEEN years ago!
(Oh btw, there are also other big plans that I’ll be doing in Jakarta this year! Am super excited about those as well!)
Ah. It’s a weird mixture of feelings, really!!
[Anya's drawing of our new home in Jakarta]
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Anyway, I’ll sure keep on blogging away! Hope you’ll continue to follow our family’s big adventure in the city of Jakarta! =)
(Most welcome to follow my daily updates and add me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter! If you’re an Indonesian, you can follow me on Twitter/MomLeonny too =)
And Jakarta oh Jakarta, … hope you’ll welcome our little family there! =)
*Okay, I think I need to get back to spring cleaning and packing our stuff*