Praise that hurts

My regular best friend from China never fails to hurt me whilst praising me. He said "I am the type of girl no guy will bring him to show his mum". That was followed by, "who is to know you are such a nice girl!".

I only remember the earlier statement. It hurts like crazy when I think of it.

Come to thInk of it, I had only met two mums. A Chinese mum and a French mum. But that was when I was in my 20s.

Been a while.

My bestfriend and I enjoying World Gourmet Summit 2011 dinner. We had to put on an act for the whole night but we did well.

At Joe Spinelli's Birthday Party with my STB gang.

At AFX 2011 with my STB pals again.

我的澎湖湾之行。

新加坡人怎么会想到我们澎湖来？一位澎湖的大姐这么问我。

我说就因潘安邦的'澎湖湾啊澎湖湾啊外婆的澎湖湾啊啊'。大姐傻眼了。

其实就是那么简单。儿时记忆中这首歌就是那么的琅琅上口。这么多年来歌词还是那么的熟悉。来到美丽的澎湖，海浪、沙滩、仙人掌真的出现在我的眼中。就是少了老船长。这我到不介意。哈哈。

其实我最想要知道的是到底哪才是（潘安邦) 外婆的澎湖湾？说实话澎湖还有不少湾！但是澎湖人都不能确定这外婆的澎湖湾到底是在哪。我想也只有老潘本人晓得吧。

澎湖一游也算缘份吧。当初想到埃及去。看完了两本travel guide, 尽然给我来个暴动。只好到寮国去。回国后，订好到基督城的机票也泡汤了。来了个恐怖的大地震。之前图书馆借的两本纽西兰travel guide也只好作弊了。

心想筹备游玩这事还真不容易。玩还是想的但筹备就免了。就在这'非常时刻'，外婆的澎湖湾仿佛就向我招手 （别怕不是什么恐怖片的情节) 。当然也想到台湾的两位好友。。。所以哈哈哈还需想那么多吗？选择当然只有一个。

虽然我对台北不陌生，宝岛周边的岛屿却没去过。除了澎湖，这一趟还去了马祖。一本travel guide 也没碰到。太幸福了！

回国之前好友吩咐，'BENG 你三年只能来一次喔！' 。'啊！不是一年来三次吗？！' 我诉。对了你们听过’绿岛小乐曲'' 吗？

?! ;-) 绿岛应该也不错吧！

Behind the Scene of a Lunar New Year Greeting Shot

The FINAL Version

2010 in Perspective

Ushered in the year in bikini at Club Med Cherating. Had a blast. Lots of booze, sun and somersaults (Outward bound activity at the resort which I was not surprisingly good at. I am a monkey afterall).

That was followed by a keyhole operation at KK hospital and a full month of medical leave. Fibroid removed with three tiny but obvious scars peeping out of my bikini (still).

Then dad's big fat cyst on his bum burst. The sight was awfully awful. It was so in my face I dont think I have seen anything worst.

Shanghai World expo needed my full attention next. MM Lee, Ocean Butterflies, the late Ken Low, my JC chinese teacher and now Advertising Guru SH, the Singapore Pavilion...memories of which this stint is made up of. Two trips to Shanghai with a spin off trip to Beijing. The first time I stepped into Beijing again after two years. Words can't express my emotions. Was there with Chew, my best friend in Beijing and met up with all my good pals once again. I love ya Beijing!

Then wedding bells beckon. Not mine but hey, its not always about me. Divya's always been an Indian sister I never had (sheer reason being my parents are Chinese haha) and seeing her married off to dear Darren is a must. But before that, off to Paris and Annecy. Not been back since 1996. Choked with emotions when I landed in Annecy. Memories of lovely summer of 96 flooded my vision. School is still there, lake too and our footsteps from yesterdays. Happy that I can share it with my good pal Alan. O I wont forget all the shopping at LV (by Alan) and the champagne we were offered. And the Gucci bag that Alan told the salesperson I would be getting and which I did. And O O O, all the champagne we drowned ourselves. It was a Premium Plus trip no less.

Made it to Kent, UK for the wedding. A dozen of STBians and ex STBians plus spouses turned up. Great to be amongst friends in a foreign land in celebration.

That was followed by a stayover at John's place@Mayfair, London. Told him he must have been great at Monopoly in his younger days. He asked me how I know. I said because we all want to buy our property at Mayfair back then (Monopoly). And he lives in Mayfair now. haha. Met up with my best friend Noel from my Kent Ridge Hall days. After two decades, Noel still talks about the purple undie I used to own (used to hang it behind the hostel door. No Chinese wears purple he thought. Only Indians. Didn't he know I am an Indian in a Chinese body).

Happy times followed by a one day stay at Gleneagles Hospital. Horrifying bowel cleansing process once again. Its so bad that just by looking at the cleansing liquid...I threw up. The nurses gave up. The colonoscope was a breeze though and the results - healthy colon.

Sneaked off to Beijing immediately after the scope. I HAD to REWARD myself. Four quiet days in my hometown was blissful.

Whats next? U guessed it. Back to Memory lane once again. This time to a place I last went 20 years ago! Orlando, Florida. It was a work trip but with fun loving colleagues and to visit attractions and theme parks. What more can I ask for. Fortunately no memories of my time with my then boyfriend (Joey and I drove down from MidWest to Florida back then. Ok he drove I slept). I did drop him a line to tell him I am re-visiting Orlando though. We both can't believe how time has flown past just like that.

And thats followed by an extension of my stay in ... NEW YORK. I LOVE NEW YORK!! And staying over at Peck's. I last visited her ten years ago when she first landed in NYC. She is now 10 years older in the city and owns a lovely apartment. Great to catch up with her once again and walked down the streets of NYC.

And I met up with Nicolas again after 16 years. When he left Singapore (and me), we were on pager system. In Nov 2010, we met over iPhone4. I never thought (guess he too) we would meet each other again but we did. We had dated back then. Good to see him again.

Then its off to Cochin with Celest and Ayak. We had gone on a holiday to Cambodia some 9 years ago and we decided we needed new holiday memories. So off we went for a short but fun 4 day 3 nite trip. The Masala Scrub and Wrap was spicy hot!

2010 was a year of double H. Hospitals and Holidays. But what a blast and what blessings!

God is AweSome.