This Is The Life!

Shermin was American, but he was posted to London for two years. He liked working overseas. It gave him an opportunity to experience new things and meet new people. He hoped to be posted to another country with a totally different culture, and climate the next time round.

However, Shermin also missed his family and friends. However, he had found a cheap, and easy way to get around that. He found this website on the Internet, which provided affordable flights to Florida, New York, Washington, and many other places in the USA. Shermin had made use of DiaAFlight to travel back to see his family, and also made use of the different holiday offers to spend time with his friends.

All Shermin did was talk over his travel plans on the phone with a travel agent based in the UK, and he never failed to get a dream package settled. With DialAFlight to assist him with his travel plans, Shermin enjoyed the fun of working overseas, and travelling near and far without any hassle!

This is a sponsored post.

Christmas Parade

My toddler was very excited! The annual Christmas Parade hosted by our city was going to be held on Saturday evening! His grandparents lived close to the street where the Christmas Parade was going to happen. He got to play at his grandparents' house, and then go to the Christmas Parade! My toddler could hardly contain his joy!

The best thing he liked about the Parade was the candy. The people in the parade threw lots of candy to the spectators last year, and my son loved that part, more so now that he was old enough to enjoy candy of all sorts.

It wasn't as cold as last year, and we didn't have to bundle up. My son was sitting with his daddy on the side of the road. He jumped sky-high when a fire truck honked its horn! The Santa sitting in the fire-truck didn't help calm my son's nerves. He wanted his grandfather to hold him after that! My husband and I laughed cruelly because his reaction was hilarious - to us! Anyway, my son got lots of candy. It wasn't a particularly spectacular parade, but we had a nice time!

Black Friday Shopping Trip

Went to visit some relatives during Thanksgiving. On our way home, we decided to stop at some shops to do some shopping! It was Black Friday. I never shopped on Black Friday before. Anyway, everyone in the car was agreeable to the suggestion, and so we gave it a try.

Went to Garden Ridge, and saw tons of items with very attractive low prices. Got a few items - not as much as some shoppers did, with cartloads full of stuff, and were making our way to the check-out. Suddenly realised the check out line was about a mile long. We put our items back, and decided to leave the store empty-handed!

The experience at the first store did not teach us to be smarter. We stopped at a few other shops. The only shops with short check-out lines didn't have any special sale going on, and prices of goods were not attractive. Stopped at another shop where we picked up a few items. When we got to the shop, the check-out lines were not long at all. Of course, when we were ready to check out, the lines suddenly snaked around the store. We put back our items, and decided to head home!

No more Black Friday shopping for me!

Spain Bound

Agnes worked at a hotel. She came into contact with a lot of Spanish-speaking tourists. She took 2 years of Spanish during her college years, but did not retain much of what she learnt, she discovered, when she was at work, and had to entertain some Spanish-speaking tourists. She was a little disappointed, and would like to be more helpful to the tourists, and often wished her Spanish was better. She decided to take some action to improve her proficiency in Spanish, and signed up for a refresher course in Spanish Language. She was happy to see improvement in her Spanish-speaking ability, and was becoming pretty popular with Spanish-speaking visitors at her hotel!

Agnes decided to go on a vacation, and of course, her destination was a Spanish-speaking country. She found this website online, and started to make a reservation for a hotel. There were many kinds of hotel listed, complete with pictures, and detailed description of the locations. Agnes could make a careful selection, considering the places of interest close to the hotels, and deciding what she wanted to see and visit. It was a convenient way to make her travelling plans.

There were many hotels in Madrid listed on the website. There were fancy hotels, and some simple but comfortable ones too. Agnes wanted something that was comfortable, but not to expensive, but one which would allow her to travel to interesting places without having to travel too much, or too far.

She was able to choose an ideal hotel that suited her needs from the website, and make all her travelling plans around the hotel.

When she came back from her trip to Madrid, she was so happy to have such a great time, that she contributed a post to the hotel news section of a popular travel blog site.

Let's Go Grocery Shopping!

To my 3-year-old son, H.E.B., our neighborhood grocery store, is a most interesting place! It is a place he wants to bring guests when they come visiting! He loves to ride in the "car baskets". He thinks he's driving, and steering the carts! I'm so thankful the store provides such entertaining carts. I don't know how a toddler will survive grocery shopping without the car carts! It's especially enjoyable on Saturdays, because the store gives out food samples too. My son, but especially my husband, get to enjoy free snacks, as we shop. Sometimes, the salespeople give out balloons too, and of course, that thrills my son to no end!

One Stop Insurance Quotes

Ben had been single for more than 35 years. He met the love of his life a couple of years ago, and had just decided to take the plunge into marriage bliss! Having been a bachelor for such a long time, Ben felt new to the game of building a family. He was not alone anymore, and there were so many more things of which to think. He had to take care of his wife, and later, perhaps, a child. Fortunately, Ben had many friends who were already married, and with kids. Ben wisely sought their advice.

Ben found out the importance of having insurance, when he had a family. His company took care of his health insurance. His wife was still working, so her company took care of hers. However, Ben and his wife would like to have a child soon, and both Ben and his wife agreed it would be best for her to stay home, after the baby was born. Both Ben's wife and baby would need coverage then. Also, Ben would like to consolidate his wife's auto insurance and his, under the same company, if possible. They just bought a house together, and so, they were looking for an ideal homeowners insurance too. Ben's friend recommended him this insurance quotes website, that offered expert advise on the different kinds of insurance available, suitable for individual needs. Ben spent a lot of time browsing the website, hoping to do the right thing for his family.

With the help of this website, Ben was confident he could work out the best insurance package for his family.

This is a sponsored post.

Haunted House for Halloween?

Heard this story about my husband's younger brother.

My husband was still a kid then. His brother might have been about 3. Perhaps it was Halloween. His family was visiting a Haunted House. His brother talked about how brave he would be, in the Haunted House, how he would punch the monsters, and ghosts, they would encounter in the Haunted House! However, once they were in the Haunted House, my husband's brother spent the whole time with his head buried in his dad's shoulder, his eyes shut tight!

When they completed their tour of the Haunted House, my husband's dad asked his youngest son, "What happened to all the punching, and kicking?" My husband's brother finally lifted his head from his dad's shoulder, and said, "Fooled you, didn't I?"

In Search of Local Singapore Food

I was craving for local Singapore food. It was not just Chinese food, but a blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian food. My sister was visiting us at the time, and it seemed like a good time to go hunt for some local Singapore food. The nearest place we decided was a good possibility was downtown Houston, some where close to Bellaire.

Sure enough, we found some restaurants serving Asian cuisine. We went to one that called itself the Malaysian restaurant. We thought, surely they would have some local food. They did, but the price for one dish was more than triple what we could get in Singapore. Oh well! We went ahead and tried the food anyway. I would say, we could get tastier food in Singapore, but we were not in Singapore. However, we did get to meet a waitress who spoke my dialect - Hakka. She came from Singapore's neighboring country, Malaysia. My sister and I had a great time chatting with her in Hakka!

Gateway to Explore The World

Fanny was not rich. She graduated from college a year ago. She held a pretty good job, and felt her future with the company very positive. She was single, and felt she had the means to do things she liked. One of the things she loved to do was - to explore the world! However, she wanted to do it "cautiously", not having to spend too much money, but still able to do a lot.

She had a group of like-minded friends, who was in the same situation, and had the same means as her. They all looked for ways and means to go on city breaks, on a tight budget, whenever possible. They had taken a number of short breaks, as well as longer ones, via cheap flights, through a wonderful website they found, which made all the necessary travelling arrangements for them. They had made use of great holiday offers, and had travelled to diverse destinations like New York, Singapore, and Sydney! Fanny and her friends had a lot of fun exploring the world, and enriching their cultural experiences!

This is a sponsored post.

Botak Jones

It was funny! Went to see my doctor in Singapore, and he recommended us a place to eat. Guess it had something to do with the fact that my husband was American. Botak Jones was apparently an American who made it "big" in the Singapore "food scene". "Botak" in the Malay Language meant "bald". Guess he might have added that to his name for comic effect, and also to "localise" himself to the public! Or perhaps, he was bald? He sold American hamburgers and stuff like that. He had a number of restaurants, and stalls in coffee shops around Singapore, and was quite popular and famous. I did not get to eat at any of his places this trip, but heard from friends who did, after we left. They were full of praises.

Well, can't give it a miss next year!

Sentosa Fun

Lived in Singapore for over 30 years. Had been to Sentosa less than 10 times.

Moved to the States about 5 years ago. Had been visiting Singapore during the summers. This summer, we made a trip to Sentosa on Singapore's National Day. It turned out to be a very fun day! We went with a couple of other families, complete with kids, parents, and grandparents. There were several ways one could get to Sentosa. Our family, together with a couple, chose to take the monorail from Vivo City to Sentosa. My son was very excited about riding the colorful train across to Sentosa! We saw them from Vivo City, and they looked like colorful caterpillars!

Met up with the other families at the beach. They had already been frolicking in the waters for about an hour. We joined them, and the kids had the most fun, building sand castles, running away from waves, and having surf rides on the adults' backs! After the beach, the kids spent further water time at the fountain and pool. After that, it was shower time, then lunch at the air-conditioned food center right by the pool and fountain.

After lunch, some of us lined up to ride the luge. I thought my timid 3-year-old would not dare to ride it, but he was very keen to ride it with his dad. Luge riders had to take "ski-lifts" to the top, and then come down the slope riding the luge (kind of a special go-cart). I was told the scenery was beautiful up from the "ski-lifts".

There were many other attractions on the island. We chose the giant Merlion. The view was beautiful at the top of the Merlion. We saw a few helicopters bearing the Singapore flags flying by. The kids were thrilled!

So many improvements had been made to this island attraction. It's a worth a visit - the island of Sentosa!

Sun and Beach!

Shooby felt tired, and drained. She just had company visiting over the whole summer, and she felt in need of some "own" time. She wondered what she could do. Her house seemed too quiet now that the guests had left. It was ironic that now she had her house back, she missed the "crowded" feeling! Perhaps, it was time to get away from everything for a while...

She got on this website, and browsed through different destinations listed there. The website provided lots of information about where to go, and the price of different vacation rentals. Shooby narrowed her search down to one destination - Florida. However, she had to decide where in Florida she would like to stay. She looked at Florida Vacation Rentals, and looked at the different hotels, and resorts available. Colorful pictures accompanied the information, which made it easier for Shooby to narrow her choices down. She also looked at Orlando Vacation Rentals, and got great information from the site too.

However, after looking at Miami Vacation Rentals, she made a final decision. She loved looking at the pictures on the site, and planning what she would do, and see during her trip to Florida. Ah! What a joy to look forward to the sun, and the beach!

Vivo City

Bao-er was thrilled to be home in Singapore for the entire summer vacation. She got to savour her mom's special "hakka yong dao fu", fried shrimp, curry crab...

There was a lot of talk about this new mall called the Vivo City, during Bao-er's stay in Singapore. She was curious, and finally satisfied her curiosity, by making a trip there. It was easily accessible by the MRT (train system in Singapore). It was a huge mall, with numerous well known shops, and several eating places (from fast food to special ethnic cuisine restaurants), and entertainment spots for kids and tourists. From Vivo City, Bao-er noticed with delight, that she could take a monorail from there, direct to the popular place of interest, also another island, called Sentosa! From Vivo City, Bao-er could also see the cable cars (another means of transport into Sentosa), the monorail, and just a good view of Sentosa.

Bao-er would surely like to make another trip to Vivo City next Summer!

Haven't Been to Sydney, but...

I haven't been to Sydney yet, but I have heard that there are some really good deals to be found on hotels in Sydney, if you know where to look. In fact, until recently, I didn't know where to look, and that is part of why I haven't been to Sydney. Without finding good offers, hotels price tags can be very high. I have always been prevented from going to Sydney in the past because of the cost involved.

Well that may change very soon. There are some great prices available on Sydney hotels when you shop at www.cheaperthanhotels.com. And, they can even help you to find last minute deals, just in case your trip is rather unexpected.

There is even some really great budget hotels available on the site, for those who might be even more strapped for cash than I am. I have found more than one Sydney hotel that looks good for me. So how about we all meet up for New Year's Eve at Sydney Harbour? Looks fun, doesn't it?

Going to Cancun

I went to Mexico a long time and stayed outside of Cancun. I am hoping to go there soon and stay in a cheap hotel in Cancun. I love that part of Mexico. There is so much to do in both day and night time. I am hoping to see the ruins at Tulum. I have heard that they are very grande. My friends that have been say that the views from the top are amazing, and that the ruins themselves are worth the cost of the flight to Cancun.

Besides the ruins, the beaches are the best. If you like clear blue water, clean white sand and cheap hotels in Cancun that look out onto these beautiful beaches. The days on the beach are filled with non-stop relaxation. I hate to leave the beach to go on a tour at times. Unless the tour is to Xcaret. I went there before and loved it. It is a short trip and the snorkeling is wonderful there. We saw many beautiful types of fish, one of them being a parrot fish. It is a fish that is about 4 ft. long and has a mouth that looks like a parrot's beak and has the bright colors like a parrot. I tried with no luck to get close enough to touch one.

At night there is plenty to do as well. Many times my friends continue their relaxation around the pool with a nice beverage in their hand and a lounge chair under them. I enjoy watching people which is always easy to do at one of the Cancun Hotels, or in places like Senor Frogs which I hope is still around.

The Trio Paris Bound

Shooby, Bao-er, and Bao-yi, had not been on a vacation together for a while. They had been busy with work. They were looking at some old travel pictures together, and the travel bug gnawed at them! They itched to go on a trip again! They were wondering where to go. It had to be some place new - to all three of them. They could not afford to be gone for too long because of work too. They went on line, and all decided travelling to France would be fun, and a novelty for all three girls.

They found this great website which showed them where they could find some cheap hotels in France. The website also gave them information about places of interest to visit. The girls got more excited as they read more about Pairs - the city of romance. They were not exactly on a romantic mission, but they felt excited all the same! From the website, they found out they could visit Disneyland too! They started to look up some Paris Disneyland Hotels. They found out they could stay comfortably close to Disneyland at an affordable price! Bao-er practically clapped her hands with joy! Oh boy! A chance to rediscover her childhood at Disneyland in France! How cool was that?

The three girls booked their hotels in Paris on line, and were ready to pack and fly off to Paris. They were glad everything could be done on line so easily. They looked forward to a hassle-free vacation. They had worked hard for so long, they thought it was a well-deserved holiday.

Remembering Shanghai...

This was Bao-er's first trip to Shanghai, her second to China. She was surprised to find this city modern, and "rich", unlike the city of Cheng-du she visited years, and years ago.

She had some friends in Shanghai, and most of them spoke fluent English. They all held jobs that were demanding, and challenging. Bao-er's friends took her to a wholesale market place, called "Yu Yuan" which sold stuff Bao-er had seen sold at China Town in Singapore. The items were triple the price found at "Yu Yuan"! Bao-er loved "Yu Yuan". She got some lovely Chinese silk purses, table cloths, and table runners from one store. She also bought a number of jade bracelets for her friends back home.

The food in Shanghai was incredibly delicious! Perhaps, her friends were good hosts, and took her to all the good restaurants. However, she did venture out on her own sometimes, and the restaurants she picked served good food too! She especially liked the "Dou Jiang" (soy bean milk) and "You Tiao" (made of flour - bread like "sticks") she got from one small restaurant.

Visit Bug!

If you haven't seen these posters, or if these posters make you curious, and you want to check out the mystery behind Bug, visit this site!

These bug movie posters ring with sinister mystery. The one with the bug of course, suggests something scary, sending chills down one's spine. Ashley Judd is embedded in the body of the bug, suggesting a mystery involving a beauty. Beauty and the bug - the perfect combination of an enticing mystery! The poster is in black, and white. It's actually a beautiful picture. Ashley looks beautiful and vulnerable trapped in the body of the bug!

The other bug movie poster features Ashley Judd - in GREEN - the "scary" color! Ashley actually looks sinister in this poster, or does she look scared? Within her face is embedded the face of man! So, from the two posters, we gather this mystery involves a bug, a beauty, and possibly, a beast (the man)? However, the first poster has Ashley Judd embedded in its body - could Ashley be the beast disguised as a beauty? Then, the second poster has the face of a man embedded in Ashley, could Ashley be the bug? Did she devour the man? Goodness! I'm hooked on the mystery already!

Guess I'd have to visit this site, to see what I can find out about this movie! Then of course, I'll have to watch the bug movie itself!



This is a sponsored post.

Outlet Mall

I've been to San Marcos a number of times. Every time I go there, I won't give the outlet mall a miss! It's a paradise for shoppers! You can get all kinds of brand name products at good prices. One of my favorite stores is the Nike store. Most ot the time you can get a t-shirt for less than $10! It's just a neat store!

If you have kids, be prepared to load up! Carter's, Oshkosh, Children's Place, Baby Gap... There are lots of items on sale. Whatever you're looking for, you can find a store at the outlet mall selling it! There are candle stores, calendar stores, even chocolate stores at the mall. There are scores of clothing stores, and stores selling purses, and suitcases. Of course, there are many stores selling shoes too.

If you get hungry while shopping, you can get something to eat without even leaving the mall! What can I say? The San Marcos Outlet Mall is just a shopper's paradise!

Pay A Visit to Accounting Paradise!

Barry had just moved to another State with his family. His mother was getting old, and he needed to be closer to her to take care of her.

He had decided to set up his own company, so that he could have more flexible hours, and be on hand to meet his mom's needs, when they should arise. Barry did not have a lot of capital, so he was trying to minimize his expenses, but yet have a viable business going. He did not have a lot of contacts in the new environment, so he basically had to start from scratch. However, before he left, he had a friend who had also set up his own business a while ago, and was doing pretty good. He recommended him a company which specialised in taking care of payroll for small business. Barry was glad he could transfer the headache of accounting to someone else. This company promised to try to achieve the lowest price for their customers, set up an easy system for their clients so that anybody could continue their work. This accounting company also did not require their customers to sign a long term contract with them. They were confident the standard of their service would bind their clients to them without a contract!

Barry liked the company's confidence. It made him confident hiring their services to do his books. Barry looked forward to taking care of the other parts of his business, since he did not have to worry about the books any more!

This is a sponsored post.

Kemah Boardwalk

It's great to live near such an interesting place as the Kemah Boardwalk! It boasts of a number of seafood restaurants that serve mouth-watering delicious food. It's not only a place to have good food, it's also a place that offers great entertainment for the whole family. Sometimes, there's live outdoor music in front of the water fountain, which is a water playground for big and small kids! There may even be some roadside magic or juggling acts going on occasionally.

There's a little train that takes you around the place. It may not be thrilling enough for big kids, but little kids are delighted to have a ride in it. Not to worry, big kids! There's a roller coaster being built right now, that will make you scream your lungs out! There are games stalls you can visit, to have some fun. There are souvenir shops you can browse through at your leisure. There's non-stop entertainment at the boardwalk. Just taking a stroll around the boardwalk is delightful!

Aloha!

Hawaii? Who would not want to visit this beautiful island? It's a surfer's paradise, and a beach bum's most ideal haunting place! Even if you don't surf, snorkel, swim, or are not particularly crazy about beaches, there's still plenty to do on any of the islands of Hawaii. Hawaii has a unique mix of races making up its population, and so possesses a unique mixed culture.

Shooby was looking on this special travel site on line, and she felt her heart strings tugged. She had heard a lot about this Rainbow State. She was going home from Houston to Singapore. She thought it would be a good idea to stop at the beautiful island of Hawaii, before she headed home (and work). It would be a good rest stop, to get her ready to go back to the "grime"!

Shooby was not a surfer. She loved to swim and snorkel though. She also loved nature. Hawaii would have a lot to offer her. Those volcanoes, and waterfalls! Shooby trembled with joy just thinking about the natural beauty of Hawaii. She loved hiking too, and Shooby could just imagine the fun she would have discovering all kinds of living creatures hidden along the trails. She would have to find a place to stay too. She continued to browse the travel site, and see what they had to offer. She clicked on beachfront condos in wailea. She realised to her delight, that most of the vacation rental homes offer ocean views - at affordable prices! Oh! What tranquility! Shooby could just imagine watching daring surfers riding the Hawaiian waves from morning till dusk! It would be like a silent movie, with the sounds of nature in the background.

Ah! Just the thought of Hawaii made Shooby feel relaxed, and rested. She picked out a place to stay on line, and looked forward to a great vacation.

South West Florida New Homes

My husband's brother just built a house. It's gorgeous! Both the inside and outside have the looks of a model home! Everything looks perfect! However, we know his brother had a stressful time while the construction was taking place. Building a house is never easy, but choosing a reliable builder is a very important part of the process!

If you're living in South West Florida, you're in luck! Here's a site that will help you find a reliable builder who will suit your building needs! This site is full of colorful pictures, and useful information. You can even preview the work of your potential builders on this site! Your dream home may just be a click away!

A New Surf Site For Bloggers!

This surf destination has a cool name - Bloggerwave! All blogger-surfers out there should take the time to check out this new site!

Whether you're an adventurous, or cautious blogger-surfer, you're welcome on this site! Ride the Bloggerwave, and do creative writing stunts with the many tasks offered by the site! If your stunts are accepted, you may even win a prize in the form of cash! Why not enjoy doing what you like to do, and at the same time, make some money. It's a golden opportunity! Don't get left behind, pick up your surfboard, and ride the Bloggerwave!

Tour the World of Trends!

Are you a housewife? Computer geek? A fashionable young adult? A hip grandparent? A globe-trotter? A decorator? Whoever you are, and wherever you are, this is the site for you - Toast the Trends! There are news, articles written by different people who talk about fashion, home decoration, entertainment, electronic gadgets, and life in general, all with the same purpose in mind - to toast the trends! On top of that, if you like free stuff, find out from this site how you can win a new ipod - to keep up with the trends!

New Challenge in A New Country!

Jack just arrived in Singapore the night before. He felt pretty good, after a day of rest. Flying for 24 hours was no joke! He arrived at the hotel dead tired. He had been to Singapore a number of times on business trips. This time, he would get to stay for at least 2 years. He knew his wife and kids would like Singapore. They would get to enjoy summer weather all year long!

Jack was sent by the parent company in the States, to set up and head the advertising department of a new company here. His company was expanding globally. At the same time the company was being set up in Singapore, there was another being built in Shanghai, China. He was kind of glad he got the job in Singapore. His family would find it easier to live here just because of the main language spoken here - English!

Jack arrived at his new company housed in a new building. He breathed in the new smell of a new building, and felt his adrenaline pumping. He was ready to tackle anything. He stepped into the new office, and was welcomed by his new colleagues and new boss. Some would feel lost being in a new country with the task of having to build up new contacts. Not Jack! He turned on his laptop, and started working. He went to this site, masterseek - a global search engine that provided free and quick access to company profiles, contact information, and descriptions of products and services from companies all over the world, and started his search for new contacts! Jack was confident he would be able to build a fantastic advertising team!

Landslide

Another article about China by Hifidel. Reading it brought back memories of my own trip there, or was I on the same trip as Hifidel?

Shooby Plays Tour-guide

Shooby was going home to see her folks in the States! She only got to do this once in two years. She had been living in Singapore for more than ten years.

She was very excited this trip home, because she was bringing Bao-er, and Bao-yi with her. The sisters had decided to visit Shooby's home town. Shooby's family and friends were very warm towards Bao-er and Bao-yi. The sisters were overwhelmed by their generous hospitality.

Shooby decided to show Bao-er and Bao-yi some other places in the States besides her home town. She was going to show them Jersey City. Bao-er and Bao-yi were excited! They had heard a lot about this place. They had done some homework on the net, and had singled out some places they would not want to miss visiting.

Bao-yi loved museums. She had picked out a couple which she would like to visit. Bao-er could not wait to catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. Shooby said it would be possible to pay this famous lady a visit, if they went on a ferry. The trio was also very excited about going to India Square! Singapore (where Bao-er and Bao-yi were from) food is a blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian food. The sisters could hardly believe they could catch a taste of home right there in Jersey City - half way around the world! The three girls could hardly contain their excitement as Shooby drove towards Jersey City, envisioning the many places of interest they would get to visit.

The trio checked into their hotel, and looked forward to a few days of fun, exploring the city!

Hershey

Check out this interesting place, recommended by silken!

Walking Down Memory Lane in NUS

Bao-er got down from the bus. She could not believe all the changes she was seeing. This used to be the only university in Singapore when she went to school here. Everyone who got into the National University of Singapore was very, very, proud to be part of the student body.

She smiled as she climbed some familiar steps, leading to the Arts and Social Sciences building. She used to do this all the time! There were steps everywhere. There were elevators in some buildings, but being young and always rushing for time, the students preferred the steps.

Bao-er could see herself, young and green again, climbing those steps, folder in her arms, and backpack over her shoulders. She was rushing to LT12 for an English Language lecture, probably the one that put her to sleep (or transport her to dreamland) most days. She day-dreamed a lot back then. However, if it was an English Language lecture, her eyes were probably glued to the back of the guy she had a crush on. Bao-er laughed at her foolish young self!

Then she passed by the Japanese Studies Department's "Tea-room". It might not be the "Tea-room" any more! She saw herself and her friends in the room. They were having a lesson on traditional Japanese tea ceremony. They were squirming because they were not used to sitting with their legs tucked under their bottoms, for long periods of time. They were also giggling because they found all the seriousness, and elegance behavior, expected of them quite overwhelming, and a little funny! They were also trying not to laugh out loud because the "sensei" was always calling one of their friends "monkey", complaining about their inelegant behavior, and constantly sticking her hand into her kimono to adjust her bra-strap! Bao-er nearly laughed out loud, just thinking about that. How she missed those days! She could almost taste the Japanese sweets that went together with the tea. She remembered devouring lots of those, together with her friends, in the back room, away from the sensei's prying eyes!

She left the Japanese Department reluctantly. She walked to the Cafeteria next. She used to gobble down food, in between lectures, and tutorials there. Of course, the stalls were all different, except for one or two. The whole cafeteria was renovated. Parts of it still remained the same. She saw herself getting some hokkien mee (noodles). She fondly recalled the girl who tended that stall. She used to tease the male students who bought from her stall. She would ask, "Hokkien mee, you want me?" She would giggle when the boys looked embarrassed!

School was out for the summer. The campus was quiet. Bao-er saw a few students here and there. Some of them might be foreign students staying at the campus dormitories. Bao-er looked at them, and was filled with sudden envy. How young and happy they looked!

London Receives Shooby

Shooby finally began her solo European adventure! She felt excited, and relaxed, at the same time. She had no schedule to keep, and could do anything (or nothing), at any time she desired!

The research she did with Bao-er and Bao-yi before the trip, helped a lot. She felt she already knew London, before she even stepped off the plane. Bao-yi had helped her print some information on London Accommodation they had found on the net together. Armed with the information, Shooby checked into a hotel, which she would later find, delivered everything the information had claimed, and much more!

Shooby rubbed her hands in glee, as she thought about the bookshops she had seen, riding in the cab on the way from the airport to the hotel. She was not crazy about the Royal family, but she was looking forward to catching a glimpse of the Buckingham Palace nevertheless. Shooby sat at the window, and took in the London sights and sounds, from the hotel. She did not like shopping much (apart from book shopping), but she would have to visit Harrods, and get one or two souvenirs she had promised Bao-er and Bao-yi. Shooby was happy to discover that she could get to many places she wanted to visit easily from her hotel. She decided she would take some leisurely walks, ride the red buses some, and try the coaches too!

However, it was getting late. Shooby would have to wait till the next day to start her exploration - after enjoying a hearty, Continental breakfast, provided by the hotel! Hmm...scones!

My Friend, A "Shanghai Tong"

Check out this aritcle written by hifidel, obviously another "Shanghai Tong", like Shooby!

Shanghai Delight

Shooby had been to Shanghai numerous times. This time, she had invited Bao-er, and Bao-yi to come with her. So Shooby, the American, was acting as tour-guide to her Asian-Chinese friends!

When Shooby visited Shanghai alone, she would usually stay with her good friend, Lilith. Bao-er and Bao-yi were Lilith's friends too. However, the three girls thought three would certainly make too much of a crowd, so they looked up some hotels in Shanghai on the net, and found an ideal hotel, before flying over . They chose one close to Lilith's place, of course!

Shooby had been to the same area so many times, her friends in Shanghai called her "Shanghai-tong"(someone who knows Shanghai thoroughly)! From the airport, Shooby, Bao-er, and Bao-yi, took a cab to their hotel. The cab driver had to take a second look through his rear-view mirror, to make sure it was Shooby who spoke, when she gave clear directions to the hotel, in Shanghai-accented-Chinese! The cab driver chuckled, "Wah! You speak like a Shanghainese!"

With Shooby's precise directions, the trio arrived at their hotel within minutes. After they had freshened up, Shooby showed Bao-er, and Bao-yi where they could get some lunch. Within walking distance from the hotel, were lots of shops, and eating places. Shooby really knew the area like a local. Bao-er, and Bao-yi were impressed as they followed Shooby, weaving in and out of traffic, through different streets that looked alike to them.

With Shooby as their guide, Bao-er and Bao-yi savoured some great Shanghai food, did some great shopping at a whole-sale market, and saw some great sights - both modern, and traditional!

Bottle Tree Park

Check out this article by hifidel, about Bottle Tree Park!

A European Vacation for Shooby

Shooby had been working really hard for the past few months. Many changes had also occurred in her life, draining her emotionally, and physically. She hardly had any time to relax. Sleep had also eluded her for many nights. She was in dire need of a good rest!

She walked into the room with some brochures in her hand. Bao-er and Bao-yi, who were sitting at the table, looked at her inquiringly. They knew how much stress Shooby had gone through the past few months, and were worried for their friend.

"Would it bother you if I indulge in a solo European adventure?" Shooby asked.

"What? Alone, wondering in Europe?" Bao-yi's big-sister-instinct was immediately awakened.

"It's O.K.! I'll do it the safe way! You know, I really need some alone time to sort through some things!"

"We understand," Bao-er said, "you deserve some quiet time to yourself."

"Come help me decide where to go!" Shooby lay the brochures she had in her hand on the table.

Bao-er and Bao-yi picked up a brochure each eagerly.

"What about Barcelona? Wah! I'm excited for you already!" Bao-er exclaimed.

"What about Prague?" Bao-yi asked. "Seems like a safe city to me!" she continued. She was still nervous about Shooby travelling alone.

"London is an option too!" Shooby muttered slowly, her head bent over another brochure. Shooby loved books. Bao-er always joked about her being the scholar among the three girls. Shooby would be delighted if she didn't have to do anything, except read and teach literature.

"London is good," Bao-er said slowly. "I can just imagine you spending hours in the bookstores in London!" she laughed.

The three girls were so excited about Shooby's trip, they went from the brochures to the computer to find out more about travelling in Europe. Even though Bao-er and Bao-yi were not able to accompany Shooby on this trip, they felt happy about sharing her preparation for the trip.

Toa Payoh Hub

"Wow! So this is the hub people have been talking about?" Bao-er marvelled. Shooby, Bao-er, and Bao-yi were in the Toa Payoh MRT station. It was no plain old MRT station though. One could spend a whole day there!

There were stores, and more stores, in and outside the station. There were lots of stores selling clothing. However, if you were shopping for medicinal herbs, or shampoo, you would be able to find them at the hub too! Cheap stuff, not so cheap stuff - you name it, some store would sell it! Macdonalds, KFC, Japanese buffet, hawker-center food, beckoned Shooby, Bao-er, and Bao-yi, when their hunger pangs cried out.

The three girls were amazed at how much they could stretch their dollar shopping at the hub. They bought clothes, bags, belts, and so much more! Bao-er decided to list the hub as one of her regular shopping destinations.

Water Park Paradise

"Only about $2.00 to get in?" Bao-er asked, with her eyes opened wide with disbelief.
Shooby was telling Bao-er about how much it cost to get into a water-park in Jurong East.

It was a bright and sunny day, Bao-er, Bao-yi, and Shooby got down from the train at the Chinese Garden Station. They were excited as they walked to the water-park at Jurong East. It was tucked in the middle of a few blocks of high-rise apartment buildings. There was a water playground for kids, and supervising adults, complete with slides. There was a "river" where you could float down on inner tubes. The three girls played at the water playground, relaxed in the jacuzzi, and also swam in the pool with "man-made" waves. Shooby was the only one brave enough to slide down the long, and winding water slides.

It was a day of water fun for the three girls!

Hard Rock Cafe (Singapore)

Shooby, Bao-er, and Bao-yi, were strolling along Orchard Road. They had just finished shopping at a couple of book stores. They went to Kinokuniya, and Borders. They were within walking distance of each other. Shooby, of course, had bagged quite a few books. Bao-er bought a couple of Japanese magazines from Kinokuniya! Now that Shooby had satisfied her book "lust", they had to find a place to satisfy their hunger!

Within walking distance too, was Hard Rock Cafe. The three girls entered the restaurant, and were greeted by friendly waiters and waitresses. Like all the Hard Rock Cafes around the world, there was a souvenir corner in the restaurant. Shooby, Bao-er, and Bao-yi were not intending to buy anything, but still found it fun to browse around a little.

Then, they were showed to their table, and served drinks. The lunch menu was good. All the three girls chose items from the lunch menu. They got to have soup, and a dessert, with their main dish! No band was playing at the time, but the instruments on the stage, and the used instruments from famous rock stars adorning the restaurant, gave a "rock" atmosphere to the whole place!

It was a delicious lunch, at an interesting place!

African Heartbeat

Shooby, Bao-er, and Bao-er's sister, Bao-yi, arrived at a restaurant tucked away in a little corner of Jurong East Industrial Park. It was called the "African Heartbeat". Ever since Shooby had got a used BMW, the trio had a lot of fun checking out places which were "unreachable" by public buses, or the MRT (train system).

The place was as exotically decorated as the name of the restaurant. The menu included crocodile, and ostrich meat. The girls bravely tried some of the "strange" dishes. The food was tasty, and the presentation pleasing to the eye. The girls had a great time!

(Is the restaurant still there?)

Omarama, New Zealand

Beautiful place visited by hifidel!

Galveston Ferry Ride

Bao-er, and Bao-yi had spent a couple of weeks with Shooby's family in the States already. They were having a lot of fun! They had been invited to eat with so many families, they felt full all the time! The Americans thought the two girls were tiny, and perhaps, were trying to help them grow a little more!

It was a fine summer day. The sun was shining, and Shooby's mom thought it was a good day to take the girls to the beach in Galveston. Shooby's mom was a wonderful cook. She packed some lunch, and drove the girls to Galveston. The view that greeted the girls when they drove up to the beach, took their breath away! Bao-er, and Bao-yi, had never seen so much of the sea all at once. There were beaches in Singapore, but not as vast as what they were witnessing.

The ladies held hands and jumped in the waves for some time. This was a new experience for the sisters. They were a little afraid at first, but were soon giggling, and jumping wildly, in the sea. The lunch Shooby's mom packed was delicious! They had fun eating the lunch, while watching surfers riding the waves.

Then, they got into the car, and Shooby's mom drove the car right onto a ferry in Galveston Bay! This was another whole new experience for Bao-er, and Bao-yi! The car got to get on the ferry too! Wow! On the ferry, everyone got out of the car, walked, or stood around the ferry. The sisters saw pelicans flying over the sea, trying to catch their lunch! Then, they saw some creatures they would never forget! Pink dolphins! Jumping in and out of the water! Bao-er was so excited! Dolphins were her favorite animals! She had dolphin clips, pendants, earrings, and bracelets! She could not believe she actually got to see real dolphins!

Bao-er would never forget the ride on the ferry!

Gondola Ride

Check out this travelling piece written by hifidel!

Daiso

I took the train, and stopped at Jurong East MRT Station. Took the escalator down, and walked through the Popular Bookstore. Of course, I could not help browsing the store too! After I got through the book store to its exit, I crossed the road to the other side, and waited at the bus stop. Instead of a bus number, I looked for a bus that said "IMM". Took me less than 5 minutes to reach the IMM building - a shopping mall that housed a store that I liked - Daiso!

Had loved Japanese culture since I was in Secondary School. Daiso was a Japanese store. Most of its merchandise cost $2. The store was like a departmental store, selling stuff from food, kitchen utensils, to clothings, and hair products. I could spend hours, upon hours, just walking through the store. It brought back memories of my days spent in NUS, at the Japanese Studies Department.

The Durian Building

If you've never tasted durians, you should! However, remember! It's an acquired taste. How could you deny yourself the luxury of savouring the King of fruits - at least, he's King this part of the world?
There's even a building on the beautiful island of Singapore, dedicated to his wonderful, majestic, but slightly prickly exterior. Been to the Esplanade? You should go! Within its prickly exterior is an art lover's paradise. What? Not an art lover? You should still go! You'll find something you like about the place! Take a boat ride upon the Singapore River, and view the Esplanade from a different angle!

Hunan, China

Here's an article about China, by hifidel!

Lake Tahoe

I went on vacation at Lake Tahoe once, and still recall the trip with pleasure! I stayed at a condo apartment, which was near some ski slopes. I spent 3 days skiing (or rather, learning how to ski). The mountains were beautiful! The apartment was comfortable, and cozy. It was always a pleasure to come back from skiing, and get into the hot tub at the apartments. There were always friendly strangers at the tub to exchange skiing stories with. I ate at a different restaurant each day. I had Italian food one day, Chinese another, and Mexican, yet another. The scenery was just beautiful, everywhere we went, in Lake Tahoe. I would like to spend another vacation there!