Trekking Along the Railway Tracks

If you are no stranger to my blog, you would have read about my railway exploration when the KTM trains were still in operation and about my last train ride.

I have not set out to write a trilogy of railways and trains but it seems like the number three puts a complete closure to all good stuff.

From July 1 to 17 last year, the public was allowed to access and trek along the entire railway line, except for a few spots where minor works were to be carried out. Evan and I were both caught up with work during that period and could only set a date after 17 July. Hence, we got to trek along a few sections of the railway tracks.

Our first pit stop was to meet at King Albert's Park McDonald's to fill our rumbling tummies with junk  before setting off for Bukit Timah railway station.

There were so many people at the cast iron bridge so while waiting for the crowd to disperse, evan and I decided to take some shots of ourselves to while the time away.












After I took this shot, I asked evan if she thought this looked like an artistic advertisement for LV.




I tried to do the same for my Coach but failed miserably when it didn't look structured and symmetrical enough. It looks better real life than here, trust me.






With the digits 1871, we officially embarked on our walk along the tracks.




A bunch of kids in school uniform was walking the tracks with their teacher.




Hwa Chong boys decided to explore the tracks on their own. Where were those Nanyang girls?




It was IMPOSSIBLE to snap a PEOPLE-LESS shot of this bridge. We waited... and we waited... and we waited... but the people did not budge and new people appeared.




We had no choice but to use ourselves to block the people.






The hot scorching sun beat down mercilessly on us as we hiked without any comfort of shade from trees to  Rifle Range Road.






During rare instances when we did not bump into any soul, we quickly snapped shots like these:




We finally reached Rifle Range Road's sign board to capture our pit stop in photo.

There was a flight of cracking and worn out concrete steps which led us to the covers of tall bushes. These steps would eventually lead to the main road but nobody ever walked that path. Evan and I sat on the steps, rested and hydrated ourselves before we continued the long walk to the final pit stop -- the stretch along Rail Mall at Upper Bukit Timah Road.




It was a long walk from Rifle Range Road to Rail Mall but along the way, there was shade and also many things which deserved our shutterbug's attention. Hence, we kept pausing to take pictures.






Could you spot anything in this picture?




A monkey right in the middle of the sign board!












We were rather intrigued by this pink heart which looked a little like bubble gum yet not quite so.




Hurray for shade!




Shade = camwhoring time!

Ok my super worn out expression here is to depict how hot and tired we were but evan decided to pretend and play it cool.








An owl wide awake in the day










Finally we reached the iron cast bridge at Rail Mall and 185X marked our final pit stop. If you notice, we were walking backwards as shown in the descending numbers from where we first started.




Our hearts fell when we reached only to be greeted by even MORE PEOPLE on the bridge than the Bukit Timah bridge.

To mark our conquest, we had to take pictures of us at the bridge- without the people of course!




Nevertheless, thank god for people for I bumped into two colleagues there and we got them to help us take a picture.


Here's evan and jo ending the trilogy of railways and trains.



I hope you enjoyed the nostalgia walk with me through my photos and words as much as I enjoyed sharing them with you!

An Eggmazing Easter Idea

The long weekend is approaching with Good Friday and Easter Sunday just round the corner. It isn't a long weekend for me as I've got work on Saturday but it is really fine as I enjoy working on Saturdays.

That aside, I stumbled onto an eggciting Easter idea from poppytalk via anyaadores to brighten up your gal pal's day.


Get your tools ready.




Using a needle, pierce a little hole through the egg shell.




Empty its contents into a bowl. Don't waste the egg. You can cook it or use it as an ingredient in your home facial or hair treatment.




Paint the shell. Polka dots... stripes... pastel colours... bold vibrant rainbow shades... Let your creativity flow.




Cut a narrow strip of paper.




Pen a lovely note. Use some Easter puns if desired.




Roll the strip of paper into a little scroll.




Stuff it into the little opening of the egg.




Nestle the egg in a sturdy box. Pad the box with some paper shreds if desired.




Mail it out as a surprise or simply hand deliver it to your lovely friend.




I'm sure your friend would squeal in eggcitement upon cracking the egg.




Do share with me pictures of your process if you really got down to doing this.

Happy Good Friday and Easter Sunday to all of you lovely people out there!

Deardear's Birthday Dinner at Forlino

Doesn't this picture look so familiar? You have probably seen it here. I know I said it many times that  I would try to catch up on my backdated posts. I'm actually 9 months late in blogging about my hubby's birthday last July.



I treated kh to dinner at Forlino. It was our first time at an Italian fine dining restaurant and it was a lovely experience.


After browsing through the menu, kh and I decided to opt for Chef Mario Classics Set Menu.





"Mario Caramella, Chef Patron, who hails from Milano, Italy, brings to Forlino over 30 years of culinary experience as head of several award-winning Italian restaurants in Asia, where he has honed his signature style of cuisine marrying classical Italian flavours and ingredients with contemporary presentation and cooking techniques. Expressed through his signature dishes such as Spaghetti 'alla Chitarra' with Lobster, Roasted Quail with Goose Liver, Pancetta and Truffle Sauce and Boston Lobster with Sicilian Eggplant ‘Caponata’, Chef Mario's approach to quality Modern Italian cuisine is marked by culinary integrity and honesty as well as a lifelong passion for bringing the timeless appeal of his homeland's cooking to the world." -- forlino.com


Apertura





This cheese and ham combi wasn't on the set menu. It was an appetizer recommended by the waiter.




Blue Fin Tuna with Sicilian Cous Cous, Fennel and Orange

Two thumbs up for this!




Spaghetti  ‘alla Chitarra' with Lobster

The spaghetti somehow tasted a little Asian. I love my Asian and Chinese noodles but I wasn't quite expecting such Asian taste so it caught me by surprise. Of course the lobster was sweet and succulent and that's more important right?




Roasted Quail with Goose Liver, Pancetta and Truffle Sauce

I'm not particularly fond of quails as I find quail meat too tender for my liking. I always love to chew my food more. If you don't already know, I'm a fan of foie gras. I sin a great deal by having goose liver at the top of my list of favourite foods.




Before our dessert arrived, the affably cute waiter presented kh with a birthday cake and wished him "happy 21st birthday".






Molten Lava Chocolate Cake with Banana Gelato and Rum Sauce

Chocolate and banana... chocolate and alcohol... These combinations could never go wrong. However, I would have enjoyed the dessert a lot more if not for the fact that kh's complimentary chocolate birthday cake was served before it. It was indeed too much chocolate at one go.




I forgot to snap a picture of the coffee and Petit Fours which were on the set menu.


After dinner, we strolled along Esplanade Drive to soak in the beautiful night scenery.




Singapore's many icons all in one picture -- Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands, Merlion Park.




Esplanade Theatres on the Bay and the many hotels in the background




There was some art on display at the Esplanade foyer. I'm not sure about the symbolic representation but it sure looked like something related to impalement.



~~~

On kh's actual birthday, we had family dinner at Paradise Inn.




Pardon kh's kiam-pa's face.




Food spread for 7




I really love dishes from Chinese restaurants.









Back at home, we had a mini cake cutting.




Judging from the number of big and small candles given, the staff at the cake shop obviously thought the birthday person was very old.




I will end off this post with the 30-year-old BOY who still loves acting young.

Memories of Charmaine

These videos were taken in June 2011. Uncle Christopher has kindly sponsored a few days stay at Festive Hotel as a reward for Charmaine for having undergone a major surgery in May 2011. It was also an advanced birthday gift for Charmaine.

For the photo updates of our fun time in the simulated beach pool, go to this post.

PS: There will be no photo or video updates of Charmaine from this post onward as after July last year, her health deteriorated by the weeks as cancer ravaged her little body. I would love to remember her here on my blog when she was still mobile and more energetic as what you see over here.


~*"Interview" on the couch*~



Some of Little Charmaine's cute antics were captured in this video when she was supposedly watching tv. She did not know that she was being filmed.

Note: I do not know how to edit videos so I'm uploading the raw files as they are.

For some noteworthy moments, you may scroll to:
- 0:28
Some cute actions of Char

- 3:00
Godma Jolene and Uncle Charles disturbed Charmaine with some questions to add more sounds and actions into the video. Charmaine didn't actually know she was being filmed.

- 4:07
Uncle Charles revealed to Charmaine that he was afraid Charmaine wouldn't like him based on his looks and hear what she had to say. So cute!




~*Do you know who is the richest man in the world?*~



Some of Little Charmaine's cute antics were captured in this video when Uncle Charles was behind the camera "interviewing" her. He was asking her philosophical questions which she didn't quite understand even upon explaining. Both of us tried explaining to her in very simple terms and she still seemed lost. Nonetheless I find it very meaningful and worth sharing.

PS: Pardon Charle's command of English. He is Chinese/Hokkien educated. =P



~*Thank you Uncle Christopher*~



Those few days were one of her happiest moments. As you know, Charmaine simply loves Sentosa, Universal Studios and their roller coasters as well as the simulated beach pool at Hard Rock Hotel. Everything combined during that few days stay indeed made her one very happy girl despite all the pain she was suffering from. — at Hotel Michael Resort World Sentosa Island