The Girl from Tomorrow

Funny how that TV series popped into my head. I was wishing I had the power to levitate things with telepathy  - 'cos if I did, I would be enjoying a bag of chips right now (Grrrr). I spent a good deal of time back in the 90's pretending to be Alana (the main character) while I was following the series, wearing a head band (that had no powers whatsoever) and branding myself with three black dots on the side of my forehead.

I woke up early this morning to go on a hike to Bukit Timah Hill with Sarah, my outdoors-loving-buddy. We hiked to the summit of the tallest hill in Singapore in less than an hour and agreed that it felt rather anti-climatic. After resting at the shelter until a mild shower of rain passed us, we hiked back down and started all over again. The second trip proved to be more interesting than the first. We tried an alternative route that was not too popular with the other hikers to discover it led to a dead end. However, beyond the boundary markers was a steep drop into an abandoned quarry which was now a deep bluish mini-lake. We also spotted a good number of ants, butterflies, birds, squirrels and monkeys on the way back.

I spotted a freakishly huge specimen of a Giant Forest Ant (Camponotus gigas) with killer pinchers (my giant feet have been captured here for a size comparison)

We compensated for the massive loss of calories earlier in the day by stuffing ourselves with naan and two paneer dishes, until all we could think of was falling horizontal and falling asleep. The serving staff came to serve us with four plates, judging by how much we ordered. Even the two of us being somewhat big eaters could not finish all the food. An interesting concept I discovered in Singapore (considered faux pas back home, when I left the place) was that in restaurants, people can opt to pack their leftovers. It follows logic that ones pays for the food and is therefore entitled to all of it regardless of it being a dine-in or a take-away. So that's what we did, and I didn't have to worry about dinner that day!

~ ~ ~

Not many years ago, I had a rather ill-informed view on gaming and gamers in general. I associated them with words like "addictive", "childish", "anti-social", "violent", "unstable", "irresponsible" and "unproductive". But with exposure to a few different types of games, getting to know a few gamers personally, countless debates (most of which I lost!) and under the patient mentorship of Ryuu, I've had to tweak my previously held opinions on the topic. 

While I maintain that most violent games out there are unfitting for impressionable young minds, I have discovered that to generalise all games is terribly unfair. Games come in various forms; they can bring much enjoyment to the senses and most require a considerable amount of brainwork and skill. Game graphics keep improving with time and the X-box Kinect has taken entertainment to a whole new level with its motion-sensing features (very exciting indeed). I don't see myself turning out to be a hardcore gamer, however, I can see myself picking up and enjoying the occasional game (not something I would have envisioned for myself five years ago).

Flower is a delightful game I am trying out these days. So far, it's basically running wild in a huge green grassy field picking colourful (musical) flowers that add on to a growing tail of petals that trail along - and I'm the Wind! It's so Zen-like, I love it.

My boss is back after five weeks on holiday and I am much more productive at work (with him sitting behind me, facing my computer screen). The office is also more fun these days listening to his wise sayings, funny stories and the creative swear words flying about within the "all-male-except-one" team. It really does take all kinds of people to make the world more interesting. 

Four months later, it vaguely feels like the team has grown to accept my ways just as I have gotten more comfortable around them.

Pre-Monday Blues

A rare three-day weekend comes to an end.

Yesterday, I dropped by the clinic to do a "pre-employment" medical check up. Mind, one month after commencing employment. The clinic was a very tiny place where all patients sat facing the reception. And I do not know why they all happened to be male that morning. In between was a narrow aisle. I met two of my male colleagues while waiting. They recognised me immediately and gave me a big smile, which I returned.

Soon, my name was called in and I was given a  plastic cup and a loud instruction, "Miss, here's your cup. Please come back with a urine sample. The toilet is down the aisle, to your left.When you are done, leave the sample here on the reception counter."

So I take the transparent plastic cup and go to harvest a sample. I walked back carefully holding my cup filled to the brim (they didn't tell me what volume they required) and placed it on the reception [BEHOLD, Shu's urine sample for all to see].What better way to break the ice with male colleagues than over pee samples and might I add, what a comfortable situation that was.

After the nurse took a couple of drops from it for the test, she announces again, "Miss, you can go and throw your urine sample already." So another awkward trip down the aisle, carrying my contents back to the toilet and disposing it.

Sheesh. I'm pretty sure in my past experiences with clinics, it was done with much more confidentiality.

In a poorly researched decision, I hiked to MacRitchie Reservoir this morning. The last time I went there about 5 years ago, not only was my picnic sandwich bag grabbed from my hands by a young fella like the one above but I also recall the hike was a lot shorter than the 12km it was! So I am inevitably drained today, wishing I had another day to rest. The place has not lost any of its beauty and serenity though. 

 Bumped into a little clouded monitor lizard. He seemed used to the presence of humans.

Insect pollinators - the unappreciated workers who work hard to bring us most of our food

A baby daycare! 

 The tree-top walk - a close encounter with the canopy ecosystem

The Foodie

Invictus

- William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

And that was a poem also found in the inspiring and feel-good movie - Invictus, based on a part of Nelson Mandela's life.

~ ~ ~

Age is just a number. We all start the scale at zero, but who's to tell what the number at the other end of the scale is. So there's no point to rushing or trying to keep up with everyone else. I'd rather prefer to grow up and go about doing things at my own pace.

Today, I got my week-end 'nature fix' by hiking to Singapore's highest peak. It took only about 55 minutes to get to the summit at 165 meters above sea level walking all the way from my place, giving a good idea of how flat Singapore really is. When I landed here for the first time, eight years ago, three things really shocked me; the lack of mountains, toilets that flushed themselves and internet without cables. I didn't spot much animals except for a few monkey mothers carrying clingy youngsters on their bellies, a squirrel, some birds and a few insects. But walks in damp rainforests with the constant shrill sounds of cicadas in one's ears, are cool and calming.

Reaching the summit of Bukit Timah Hill after hiking through a nice damp rainforest trail

Just like how some couples bring out the best in each other, there are winning combinations of food. For example, cheese and tomatoes or chocolate and mint (there's nothing quite like these). Once long ago, I accidentally discovered during a shopping trip to accompany a friend, that green apple juice and celery juice mixed together were such a team (otherwise the thought of drinking "celery juice" alone is like drinking egg-plant juice or onion juice). The sourness of green apples perfectly complements salty celery. I was so inspired by this discovery that I started eating green apples with massive amounts of salt and I managed to get a convert in the process too.  After work, as I change buses at an interchange/ massive mall, I am drawn to try out new food though I have not been paid yet. The other day, I was overjoyed when I found out that the bubble tea shop sells green apple and celery juice with the chewy bubbles. I've also ventured a little into "sweet territory" (which is not usually my primary preference) and found out that cinnamon sugar coated warm pretzels are really nice too. I'm so going to a hell dedicated to gluttons.

Relations at work with aliens are improving, slowly.