Facelift

I've just given a facelift to this blog.

I think it looks nicer, don't you? Apparently, editing of the template is also easier though I've not really explore it. But it warned me before I click on the 'change' button that the layout may be a little 'out' for some posts. I was hesitatting for that couple of seconds before I 'hit' it. hehe!

I've already adjusted some of them but don't have the time to go through all of it yet. So if you spot anything that looks strange, do tell me.

Hmmm...

I must say I like this new look alot. ^^

I'm a WAG

I just realised that I'ma WAG. No, not a dog. WAG stands for Wives and Girlfriends...to be specific..those wives and girlfriends of the fabulously rich English League football players. These ladies are normally decked out in designer wear, with perfectly manicured hands and look ultra cool even if they have about 3 children in tow. They normally appear at important football matches to support their husbands/ boyfriends. More often than not, they draw much media attention as well. Of course, the most famous WAG would be Victoria Beckham.

Well, I'm a WAG too...only I'm not the wife of an ultra rich Engish soccer player but the wife of a excercise-mad Englishman.

This WAG here doesn't have any designer wear...(unless you count Giordano) and cuts her own nails at home. I think I look pretty cool sometimes- when my hair behaves. But one thing I do have in common with the other WAGS- I appear at the events that my husband participates in. Though I must admit, I normally only go to those important ones too because this husband of mine probably participates in more events than the number of matches that David Beckham plays in.

Last month, before our holiday, he went for the OSIM Triathlon. Of course, it beats me why anyone would want to pay and torture themselves with such grueling sporting events...but looking at the crowd there that day, I guess those 3,900 participants don't agree with me.

These events start really early, so that means leaving the house at about 6.30am in the morning, when I'm barely awake.

It had been raining a couple of days before the event...so the place was really, really, really muddy...


If you want to go to the toilet...you have to queue in the mud. Lovely, isn't it?


Designer wear definitely not suiitable here.

Ok, just in case, you don't know...triathlon consists of 3 segments- swimming, cycling and running. The distance varies depending on the organiser but I think the official Olympic distance is...

Swim- 1,500m
Cycle- 40km
Run- 10km

A triathlon normally starts with the swim. Here's the starting point.



Lots of half naked men. Haha!

And they're off!!!!!


He had to swim 2 laps in the open sea. Unfortunately, the rain that had been threatening the whole morning, started to drizzle. And by the time he came in after the 1st lap, the storm was upon us.



Because of safety reasons, they stopped the other batches from starting and pulled in those that were still swimming. Tim and a few others were already half way through the 2nd lap. Frankly, I was really worried because even those rescue crew were having trouble controlling the boats in the rough sea. I was straining my eyes and crossing my toes and feet at the same time. He actaully told me later that he was swimming well and couldn't understand why they were stopped and pulled in. Humph! So much for my worry!

The rough sea


And then it rained and poured and stormed...for more than an hour.

And yes, I was totally wet...and cold. Can you imagine Victoria Beckham looking like a wet chicken? No? me either. But I wasn't as bad as the participants, who mostly dressed in shorts and t-shirts.

Everyone was frustrated and had to just stand around to wait for the rain to stop. They had to stop the whole event because it got too dangerous even to cycle. And then thankfully, the downpour came to a stop finally. But there just wasn't enough time to restart the whole thing, so the swimming was modifed to a short run and then they could start with the cycling.

They had cycle 4 times round the route. Avtually, I like this the segment the best as most of them looks really cool in their cycling gear and racing down the track. It often seems effortless...at least it does to me.

At the end of the cycling segment


This was followed by the run. I think any participants will tell you that this is the worse part. After all the swimming and cycling, it takes tremendous effort to run that 10km.

As a supporter, I also agree that this is the worse segment...as it's less exciting and by that time, it's also boiling hot. And that's anotehr difference between those famous WAGs and this WAG. They get to sit comfortably in the shade, served with beer and food, whereas I'm either being cooked in the hot sun or drowned in the rain.

BUT...

It does mean that he will be reaching the finishing line any minute and looking out for him, trying to catch him when he crosses over is always one that fills me with joy and anticipation (yes, despite all my grumblings ^^)



And the reward?
another medal...hehe!

Btw, the elites (those professional participants who race for money) start off really early in the morning before everyone else and of course, finish before everyone else too.

The winner for 'Men Elite Open' was Courtney Atkinson, an Australian. He did it in 1h 50m 16s. The 'Women Elite Open's winner was a Japanese. Shizuka Kutsuna did it in 2h 6m 43s. For more infor on the results, you can go here

So does this inspire anyone of you to try it next year?

Hehe!

The true Singapore song and pledge

The alternative version to Kit Chan's 'There's no place I'd rather be'.



我的家就在这里
This is my home

改编词:周崇庆/萧嘉蕙
原词/曲: 叶良俊

你说要去PARIS 我听成PASIR RIS
You said you want to go Paris, I heard it as Pasair Ris

长城有魅力 也很吃力
The Great wall is charming but it's also tiring

要爬上铁塔 非常EXPENSIVE
To climb up the Eiffel Tower is very expensive

其实SENTOSA 会更便宜
Actually Sentosa will be cheaper

这是美丽的天地 我的家就在这里
This is a beautiful place, this is my home

去到外地 我才发现
When I go abroad, I realised

原来这里最干净
It is cleanest here

这里也有PULAU UBIN 要骑脚车也可以
There is Pulau Ubin here and you can ride bicycle

你要很小心 别像周崇庆
You have to be careful and don't be like Zhou Zhong Qing

不然少了四颗TEETH
Otherwsie you will loose 4 teeth

这是美丽的天地 我的家就在这里
This is a beautiful place, this is my home

从JURONG EAST 到 PASIR RIS
From Jurong East to Pasir Ris

TAXI BUS 和 MRT
Taxi Bus and MRT

这是美食的天地 有很多好吃东西
This is a food paradise, there are many delicious food

LAKSA CHAR KWAY TEOW 和那 LOR MEE
Laksa Char Kway Teow and that Lor Mee

不满意有云吞MEE
If not satisfied there's wan ton mee

还有SATAY 和福建MEE…
And satay and Hokkien mee


And the true Singapore pleadge:
I the citizen of Singapore, pledge myself to strike on
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, regardless of
toto, 4-D and big sweep to buy hope and earn extra money
base on quick pick system, 7_12 and big sweep with 4-d bonus
so as to achieve car, cash and condo.


Now who says Singaporeans have no sense of humour.

Happy National Day/ Month everyone. ^^

Chinatown- Singapore

A big thank you to all my friends who sent me birthday wishes...thanks for remembering...^^

I took the day off last week and went down to Chinatown, a place I normally go only during Chinese New Year. There are quite a few changes and it's more touristy now. At the same time, I must admit that the whole place is alot livelier...

Chinatown Heritage Centre

I've actually passed by this place numerous time but have always given it a miss as I thought it was just another one of those place meant for tourists.

But my good friend, YL, actually recommend it so despite my reservations, we decided to visit it.

Somehow this made me think of the famous TCS drama- 雾锁南洋 (starring 黄文永 & 向云)。

The Chinese Heritage Centre records the history and lives of those who used to live in Chinatown. Most of them would be migrants, who came seeking for a better life. It was actually quite fascinating to read about the hardship and vices of these early migrants. But I think it could have done with a little more actual display. The more interesting sections would be the video clips of interviews with various types of people who used to live or continue to live in Chinatown (including a samsui woman and a hawker) and the recreation of living quarters in the shophouse.

I have these bowls too..^^

The recreation and restoration of the cramped, dark and unhygenic living quarters of a typical shophouse was the highlight of the whole museum. I'm totally amazed (and shock) how 12 to 15 familes could live together in such tiny area. I'm not sure how they survived. But then my grandparennts and their children lived in similar quarters too though my aunt told me that theirs was slightly better and it wasn't in Chinatown.

The musuem shop was so-so. Entrance fees is $10 (which is way too expensive) but if you flash your POSB/ DBS card, you get 50% discount. Not sure if this promotion is permanent though. Here's the website for you to check out- Chinatown Heritage Centre. There are some more information and pictures on the site. Ok lah, I think well worth my time spent there.

We had tea and coffee in this coffeeshop, just opposite the heritage centre and I had a heart attack when I paid for the drinks.

$1.50 per cup!!!!
This is daylight robbery...just because there were lots of tourists sitting in the coffeeshop. This was just your regular tei or kopi, served in your regular kopitiam cups. Of course, to the tourists...$1.50 probably is nothing. I'm definitely not stepping into this coffeeshop again.

Expensive kopitiam

We continued on our journey of Chinatown. I didn't know that the street stalls have become permanent. I thought they were only there during the festive season. So 'sua koo' right? But the stalls are really targted at the tourists lor..nothing very interesting. At least not to a local like me.

Street stalls....beginning to look like 'Ladies Street' in Hong Kong



Hehe! Someone told me that this shop is special....



Toys for the living....



Toys for the dead....



What's Chinatown without dimsum right?

One thing I did like about Chinatown is the restoration of many of the shophouses. The architect is really beautiful.

I Like Holidays ^^

I like holidays...^^

Bintan, July 07