my quaint world

Feel like cooking :)

Never did I thought one day I will feel this way.

I just wanna cook cook cook and make great dishes.

STILL I am just cooking-day-dreaming.

Oh by the way, its great having a guest. Even greater when my guest is a good cook.

Julia sure can cook. Also, she's Cantonese so she make great yummy rich and healthy soup.

We have 2 visitors this weekend - Julia and ma sis, Kelly.

We cooked teochew porridge for lunch yesterday. My sister tried to give a hand in helping. This is what she made.

Well, we had a good laugh!

Oh, I've been to Nice and the Isle of Greece while I've sipped champagne on a yacht
I've moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed 'em what I've got
I've been undressed by kings and I've seen some things that a woman ain't supposed to see
I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me

I love this song.
There were moments where I felt that way during my trip.
Then I'll sing to myself, softly in my ears.

One of the days
(Stop keeping track of days because it was a holiday!)

We drove for an hour or so to Monaco. Its a small country ruled for 700 years by the Grimaldi family.

Area : 2 sq km / 1 sq miles
Population : 32,150

Sun. Glitz. Glamour. Rich. Famous. Expensive. Tax Free.

The very beautiful and impressive Monte Carlo. Damn, lots 40 bucks to the stupid slot machines. But now I dare say that Ms Teh was there, cashing "out" at Monte Carlo.

I'd say we have to have a drink there, in a very loungy bar just in front of Monte Carlo. Parked right in my view are rows of Ferraris and Maseratis and many others which are too expensive that I don't even know em ;)

Just wanna checkout if the drivers are cute.

Well, who knows, maybe I'd get to blink an eye with Brad Pitt, Prince Harry or err Paris Hilton. But it wasn't my night. Damn, 30 bucks for 2 drinks.

Day 3

Went to Nice! Walked around for a couple of hours before we join the usual crowd at the beach. Ehehe!!!

All kinds of mushrooms @ Saleya Market.

Old town Nice.

Crescent beach of Nice.

Abstract cactus. My sister say you can see an image of a deer in this art. Muaahah.

Nice harbour for the rich and famous.

In the late evening, we took a long drive to the top top of Vence. It was of nothingness. Cold. Silence. Me.

Day 2

This day we went looking for real sandy beaches. Drove right up to the centre of Antibes but well, it was another narrow long beach full of merry-holiday makers. So can you imagine the noises surrounding you while you lay there looking at the blue blue sea! Fiewww - NOISY!

Took at walk in the evening at the harbour of the riches and their boats.

I did take some good shots eh?

Each morning, we walk to the centre of Vence to go to the bakery and market for fresh deals to make our meals.

Homecooked meals! Budget holiday la... but it was cosy and relaxing!!!

My most ingenius buy is the portable hotplate for cooking - just 25 bucks and it cooks our food well for the entire week, outdoor. Smart he!

The place we rented has a small terrace in front with a BBQ pit. I've never done so many BBQs straight in a week in my entire life!!! :)

Yummy! Yummy!

Day 1

St. Paul is a beautiful medieval fortified village perched on a narrow spur between two deep valleys.

A view around St Paul.

Olive trees everywhere!

Pretty tiny wild flowers growing on the pathways.

Ooh, the willow trees always give me a sentimental feel.

The wall enclosing the village.

Typical pathway in medieval towns.

Hmm, enjoying the sunshine.


We went to the 'pebbles' beach at Antibes to laze and enjoy the sun. But it was very crowded!!! Imagine sunbathers lying less than 1m apart from each other!

But the colour of the sea - deepest blue I've ever seen, and above the line of the horizon, clear skies of a lighter shade of blue. Breathtaking!

With that in mind for consolation, we also squeezed ourselves in between the sardines of humans.

This picture was taken after the crowd has left though. I didnt wanna seemed rude because there was many boobies exposed earlier on.

There was a fireworks display that night on St Paul. After the fireworks, they lit up the entire village with red flames.

This pictures gives an eery feeling, as though people are trapped in a fire but if you look closer, all smiles on the people! Look closer!

Ah, all the little things in life that brings smiles.

The drive to find the sun.

It was a long drive but thankfully, we arrived all safe and excited.

I think starting off a long driving trip at 6am is an excellent idea. Supposedly to start at 5am but you-know-me :)

Anyway, 6am is perfect - one can start off driving with enthusiasm, 2 hours later as the boredom creeps in, one will feel the pang of morning hunger.

After a hearty breakfast on board, one can continue driving with fulfilment for another 2 hours till boredom kicks in again - then its lunchtime!

Eating is the trick.

Then before you know it - we have covered 700km :)

Well, we picked the wrong week - too many tourist heading to the same way. In fact, this week is a big holiday week so we were stuck in the jam for almost 4 hours.

But we were close to our destination!!! Damn.



Anyway, when I saw this I was estatic :)


When we finally arrived, the night has fallen.

We were tired but safe.

Didn't have a gps but the manual gps (me!) navigated almost perfectly :)



It was a total of 15 hours LONG ride!

Oh yea people, I will be on a week holiday.

It'll be a 13 hours driving tour to South of France. Yes, its a long way BUT we just have to go to the sun. Its freezing here. Bbbrrr!

Will be exploring the region of the east French Riviera - Cannes, Nice, Monaco...

Found a small nice cheap (hehe, got a last minute deal) place to tuck ourselves in for a week, Maison de l'Ara @ Vence - to re-vitalise, to re-energise, to discover, to wander and to get a tan :)

So folks, see ya in a week!
Meantime, have a blast this week!

Last Saturday, I went to the Pole Pole, Latino Festival in Knokke with 4999 other people :)




We camped at a friend's garden. Arrived at noon, beers, pitched our tents, beers, beers, beers...




Afer couple of beers, it was real fun to try to upturn each others innards by jumpin on the huge trampolin. But it was fun!!!

Although I feel really woozy after 5 mins :S



Then we hop by the Surfers' club (where all the riches are) and had couple more drinks.



And people oogling. Then we went back to our gartel (garden hotel) and started our BBQ and had the most delicious ribs and salmon I ever had. Yuummyy!




At about 9pm, we moved on to join the crazy party at the beach till 4am!

Sometimes it just take a single lit of fire to start a catastrophe.

Well, well, that's how I feel. Just a teeny weeny stupidity of another, starts the volcanic eruption within me.

Now the world looks bleak and black. Just like the weather outsie.

And I have long grouchy face :S

How do we maintain to be in the state of high spiritness and above all these little insignificants that always seems somehow to affect us, bring us down?

This is the challenge.

For now, I try to smile, I try to wipe out the words, the deeds and the feeling of angers from within me. I try to make a reset. I think I'll eat some chocolates :)

Spend Sunday lazing at the beach of the Belgium's Surfers' Paradise @ Knokke. There were many cute surfers, sunbathers and topless sunbathers.

I slept, read a book, stared at the coming waves and blue skies, all in the sun for 4 hours. It was relaxing indeed.

Didn't do a dip in the sea though because the water is at f***ing freezing cold - 17 degree! Though the sun was shinning hard and my friends were burnt. Not me with my thick, strong Asian skin :)

This they call it summertime! Brrr...

Ok, I admit I have new addiction - blog reading or rather blog breezing.

I can't just help it. I can spend hours and hours breezing over the thousands of blogs in this world. Getting a tiny glimpse into others life.

Eventhough, I promised myself to stay focus at work, I can't help but to sneak an hour or so to feed my addiction. And many long hours in the evening also.

There's couple of blogs that I read regularly though - Karen's, Zoe's, Girl's, Kenny's and loads more.

Any theraphy to recommend?


Oh yea, Happy Birthday to Little Creature!!! ;)

And Happy National Day, Singaporeans!!!

Ok, its Monday morning, don't feel like working much, so I'll write ;)

I wanna have a mountain bike - Cube LTD 5 2005! Its really nice to go biking in Belgium - the forests are beautiful, view of the maize fields are endless, and weather is puurfect.

Reality sucks because there's certainly a limit to every penny in ma pocket :(

Someone buy me a bike? Pretty pretty please!

Aaahhh, tomorrow's my furry baby's birthday!

Nam is 4 years old.

I feel so homesick now :(

I miss his dreamy eyes and quiet moves and occasionally crazy antics.

Tanglin family, please give him a big kiss, big hug and big treat ok!

Feel on top of the world. Feel like going out.

Friday - We are goin to a outdoor party in Mechelen organised by radio station, Q-Music.

Saturday - We are going to Pole Pole! Latino party and we'll sleep out in a tent by the beach.

Except for that Saturday, I have to go to the hairdresser at 8am.
Too long, too messy.

Well, life's a gamble. I just hope it'll be a decent cut.

Cross my fingers!!!

Yummy!

Dark. Grey. Cloudy. Cold. Gloomy.


That's real the belgium weather.

Last weeks' been surreal.

When I arrived at work this morning, I saw the usual - many mails of jokes, pictures or articles from friends and family. And this particular mail from my Godma's sister struck me.

She sent me the experience of a friend, Angie whom I accidentally met up again recently.

Well, the story goes like this :

My housemate in Singapore was lookin for a Tech Consultant, after countless interviews, alas she hired Angie. My sister happened to see her pic on the MSN and thought she looks rather familiar. So my housemate just casually asked Angie if she's from Soka and if she knows the Tehs.

And she did! So we met up for a yummy roast duck lunch sometime ago.

We were in the Student Division years back in SGM - practising the song 'Achy Breaky Heart'.

Coincidence he!

And well, so knowing her made me read her experience with great interest. (Well, at times one can't help to be a little nosy he)

Its about her struggle in her past relationship and how she managed to emerge again victoriously and happy.

Indeed, it is inspiring!!!

It just reminds me that everything wells from within. Suffering or happines. And that is our choices.

But it is easy to forget, admist the current of life. And thus, to fall into the gutter.

Thus, the practise of faith is what keeps one's mind sane. The moment of calmness and reflections.

I will not post here the experience but if anyone would like a read, just drop me a mail.

I tried to look up here to see if she did posted it online. No but this site has collection of interesting and inspiring experiences from Soka members around the world.

Read it and share with me, the words of which experience inspired you most?

Oh yea, its work hours now... but normally I write during my lunch break. So no fret for I am no lazy bum ;)

But I gotta go now... loads of work to do :(