Save Planet Earth- Global Warming

Friends,

We have to save Planet Earth!

Though we are not super heroes, each of us can contribute our little fair share to mininimize the effect of global warming.

Remember the star fish story of how a boy keeps throwing back the star fish back to the sea to save each one? Someone challenged him and told him that he can't save every star fish from drying up, so there is no point of throwing them back. But he replied that, at least, it makes a difference to that particular starfish he saves and prolong the lives of them disappearing from the face of the earth. It was well said and replied. What are you doing today to save the dwelling place which you live in?

I know some of you mentioned that you don't care, as you do not intend to have any off- springs. But it may be too late to care only when natural diaster fall upon our very lives and loved ones, to experience suffering then to adopt a change in attitude.

Time is passing by fast. We have to act fast too. There are reports of polar bears in the artic have been found drowning as some of them cannot find thick ice to stand on. They can't fish through the think ice as fishes senses danger through the thin ice and is dying of hunger. Temperature has been rising steadily as has been tracked according to Al Gore's lecturer, a strong believer and advocate for the green movement. Log to the link below find out more:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/al_gore_s_new_thinking_on_the_climate_crisis.html

If humans do not react readily to change the ways we live, there may be more disasters like flood and famine around the world. This is due to the cause of temperature rising in the north and bringing the ice berg to melt and hence, the whole cycle of ecological temperature is messed up. It has thus caused some part of the earth to have flood while it's neighbouring country is having a drought. Maldives is predicted to drown in a few years time due to this reason as well and they are looking around for other island to purchase so that they can have another place to live in. Is that not a sad that the reputed island should disappear in our times? It does seems like we have reaped what we sow by not heeding its warning signs.

I urge all my fellow earthings, citizens (we are living so near the equator), friends and all parents to do our part to save our earth. Let's do our part to recycle, conserve energy, find new ways to reduce ways etc. We may not be heroes, but we are the custordians of our next generation's lives. Let's set a good example for them to follow and be proud of.

Counting My Blessings

Counting My Blessings... for the things I take delight in

1) Knowing that my Living God loves and cares for me
2) Having God-sent friends who truly care and help you in times of trouble
3) Being a Singaporean and lives in a safe country with different races
4) Doing absolutely nothing while enjoying the sea breeze and the awesome sea
view with sun- rays hitting the waves and the trees swaying as if dancing by the sea
5) Watching my 2 kids blow bubbles in the wind and chasing them around
6) The simple pleasure of enjoying ice cream with my kids and seeing their face
beaming with joy
7) Knowing my family will always support me in whatever I do
8) Having a decent home to live in and a car to drive me wherever I want to go
10) Having a job that puts bread/ rice on the table
11) Eating shell fish with my spouse and watching comedy Korean drama
12) Tickling my kids and hear them roar with laughter
13) Having the luxury to travel and shop overseas
14) Never forgetting to thank God for a healthy body to skate in and shop non- stop when opportunities arises

All set? What do you pack for travel?

What do you pack for a trip?
You will amazed that women in general pack an enormous pile of stuff for their trip versus their "MARS" partner.

Women's Toiletries:

1. toothpaste + toothbrush
2. facial wash
3. serum, moisturiser, toner
4. paper panties
5. tissue + wet tissues
6. cleanser+ eye make- up remover
7. cotton wool
8. sanitary pad
9. tooth floss
10. lingerie
11. a set of clean clothes for each new day
12. snacks for kids if any tagging along
13. cameras
14. make- up
15. vials or fragrance
16. pen and notebook
17. sun glasses or shades or caps or hats
18. extra slippers for easy walking
19. hair spray, gel, clay + comb
20. calculator for some women who can't convert currency fast enough
21. mobile phone
22. A book or magazine to read during the flight or journey

I am sure there is so much more. Now you know why women's luggage is almost always heavier than men's...

We just have to well- prepare for the road.

Well, that also account for why women have nicer things, cos more demand means more supply and that explains why there is more women's boutiques and skincare than that catered for men.

Now, I wonder if Venus is heavier than Mars??

The Flight of Time- Lesson from Penny Parrot

My daughter's dream came through when a little visitor flew in to visit our HDB room on the evening of 22 June 08 Well, she has asked me for a pet, be it a puppy or a parrot but I had said no. Her school has asked her to do a power point on "Groom a Pet" for the June holidays and I have given her play dole to mould a pet parrot as her project. So, imagine her delight when she spotted the beautiful creature visiting our home!

I must admit, I was both scared and thrilled though. Wondering how I should deal with the uninvited guest. It was very pretty, with green feathers and a red face and blue tail. It chirped and stood on my coffee table while my daughter and I were both having dinner. First instinct, I gave her some cooked rice but she does not seemed satisfied and flew onto my dining table and perched on my dish of sardine. My daughter rushed to tell her dad in the bedroom while I tried shoo it away. The next thing you know, it flew on and hung on to the back of my clothes and I was terrified, running around in the hall. My husband opened the door and asked me to get out so that it can fly off. We did not want to keep the bird becasue of our 1 year old toddler. We were concerned about the hygiene and the receent bird flu case. He opened the door and the bird flew but did not went far away. Then it perched onto the latch on the parapet of the building and stopped there. We kept saying to it, fly bird, go free. But it would not go. I went back to the house and gave it a slice of apple and it looked like it enjoyed and nibbled and ultimately finished the whole slice.

My neighbour, an old lady came and commented on the beauty of the bird. Then, another neighbour from another unit came back. I asked the young girl if she has any cage since she has a hamster before as the bird refused to leave and I was afraid that other people or a cat would catch the bird. She came back with the cage and we managed to put the bird into the cage.

After bringing back to the house, we admire the pretty birdie and seem to have some emotional connection with it. It looked so cute and friendly. Then, I looked at my son and was instantly worried about the hygiene again I told my daugther to give it to the school aviary where there is alot of birds, but she wanted to keep it. I told her the bird would be lonely but looking at the beauty of the bird told her alright, maybe we can find its owner (maybe staying nearby and lost the bird) or keep it for maximum 1 week.

The next day was school re- opening day and my daughter brought the bird to school. The children liked it very much and they decided that she is a female and named her Penny the Parrot. Unfortunately, the form teacher was sick for a week and a relief teacher took over for the few days. So, we decided to keep the bird till she was well and present it to her then.

Everyday, we looked at the Penny (well, if it is male, then we decided that it would be Peter) and talked to it. It even "played" with us, swaying form 1 side to the other, as if playing hide & seek with us. It was simply adorable and playful. My domestic helper would clean the cage at night (after my son slept) with gloves and we would feed it with rice, apple, water and even pumpkin.

Late last night, which was the fourth night, however, it seemed weak and tired. I thought it was sleepy and told my daughter to go to bed and let' s not disturb the birdie. I did not know it would be our last time to see it alive.

The next day, it was dead. I was devastated. I wondered why. Was it lonely? Under- fed? I asked if my maid fed it well. Was it sick? I was depressed. If only I had given it to the aviary and it would be well- taken care of. Did it flew in and court death? I mourned for her. True, it is only a bird, but it is still a life. A beautiful creature wasted away in my hands...I felt remorseful at not giving it away earlier and guilt consumed me for the whole day. I should have let it go but looking at its beauty, I thought maybe I can keep it for alittle while. It felt it was my fault. If I had truly love it and meant it well, I would not have kept it and unwittingly caused it to die? It also started to set me thinking that life is short and fragile and every moment is fleeting.

It's death taught me to take a close look at my own life. How would I want to spend in my limited time on earth? I have been so busy, I did not even had time to give it a decent burial. I must take a deeper examination of what I am doing to life currently. The flight of time was scaringly short with the little pretty bird. It maybe pretty, but it's span on planet earth, short.

I prayed that it's soul rest peacefully in heaven.
Rest well, little Penny, hope to meet you in heaven someday.
We truly missed you, rest In Peace, our feathered friend.

Funny Cabin Crew Stories

I was a cabin crew 15 years back. I had a great time going to wonderful foreign places and getting to know all sort of people from all over the world.

There were funny things which happened on board the plane all the time and I still smile when I thought of those funny moments.

1) When asked whether she would like to have beef or fish, an old woman with no teeth, could not pronounce properly and kept saying "Bish". After much struggle, we decided that fish is probably better for her as she may have no teeth to chew and encouraged her to take that.

2) "Treasure" Hunt- An old woman has completed her meal and returned her tray told us much later during the flight that she must have misplaced her prized posession (dentures) in her tray. We have to search and comb through all the carts to find her lost treasure.

3) A man must have thought that the airplane was a fantastic invention with superb gadgets. He must have thought that the air vents were microphone and kept standing up to shout near it that he would like to have 2 glasses of coke. The cabin crew who walked by, controlled her laughter and handed him the drinks he requested. To her dismay much later, he did it again, requesting for another glass of drink. Maybe some one can look into inventing a "drive through" order concept near the seats?

4) 15 years back when passengers were allowed to smoke in the aft rows, there was a man who did not noticed that there was air vents on the top of his seats. He tried to ignite the cigarette several times but the strong gush of air from the vents detered him from lighting it up. After many attempts, he lowered the shades from the window and put his hand over the cigarette and it was successful. The crew who saw the whole thing was at first speechless but laughed secretly afterwards as she thought it was quite amusing.

5) An inexperienced traveller reported to the crew that the "washing machine" took too long and she wanted to have her clothes back. My colleague was dumb- founded and had to explain that it was a toilet bowl and not a washing machine!

6) We had a flight training and during emergency landing, we are supposed to shout "Run, jump, Help at the bottom!" But I remembered one of our colleagues from another base/ country shouted "Run, jump, HELL at the bottom!". Alot of Singapore based, roared with laughter as she mis- pronounced it. Think no one would jump if HELL is at the bottom!

7) Check out some of the crazy things flight attendants do- http://sg.video.yahoo.com/watch/4743429/12668935

Well, I must say that all the laughter made us enjoyed our jobs more.

Important Telephone Numbers for Travellers

Important Telephone Numbers for Busy People:


1) Singapore Automated Flight Information 542 4422 (toll free- key 1800 infront)
2) Singapore Airline 6233 8888
3) Taxi to Airport (Citicab) 6553 8888
4) Insurance (DBS Traveller Shield) 222 3333 (toll free- key 1800 infront)
5) Banks (UOB) 24 hours 22 22 121 (toll free- key in 1800 infront)
(DBS) 111 1111 (toll free- key in 1800 infront)/ 65- 6327 2265 (from overseas)
(Citibank) 24 hours 6225 5225
6) Singtel Mobile 1626
7) Your Travel Agent - Please fill
8) Your Hotel - Please fill
9) Who you are meeting upon arrival - Please fill

Travelling with KIDS

My Kidos!

I took up the challenge of bringing my 2 kids on a vacation last Christmas.
Some of my friends applauded me and some told me to brace myself cos it won't be easy.

Well, it was kindda fun bonding with my kids but I must say, it would have been better if I had been better prepared. Well, now that I am equiped with what to prepare for my next, I trust that future trips should be mor enjoyable. Meantime, I will share some of what I learnt, with you.

Tips on a trip with your kids :

1) On the plane: if your kids cry due to pressure, stand by little biscuits or bite size munchies for them to be distracted and chew so that their ear passage way will not be blocked. I heard some celebrity mum actually drug their children, by adminstering cough drops for them to drink so that they will sleep through out the flight, but honestly, I am not for that idea at all.

2) Always bring a stroller. If your child is 3 years and below, don't think of ever lightening your travel and hence not bring extra weight. If there is extensive shopping and walking, it will tire both parents and child. I made this mistake and had to buy one at the country due to tiredness towards the end of the trip, which cost a bomb.

3) Bring enough supplies of milk powder, wipes, diapers and baby shampoo and soap in a small container. Equip your trip with some plaster, sunscreen, axe- oil, sketch book for doodling for the older kid. I always carry a bottle of hand sanitizer, tissues, wet wipes and some candies in my handbag. Sterilise the milk bottles with hot water if your hotel room is equiped with electrical flask.

4) Cameras to capture those special moments.

Make sure you charge your batteries before the trip!

5) Funny as it sounds, I got a whistle for my daughter when she was younger as she loves to wander off by herself. I told her if she ever got lost, she has to blow it so that I can tarck her down. But that's in Singapore. In foreign countries, I NEVER, EVER, let her leave my sight or daddy's. But we reminded her that IF we ever get lost, to go back to the place she last seen us. If she does not know where, to approach ONLY aunty in UNIFORMS, like the sales girl to get them to do announcement so that we can look for her. Not any stranger on the street.

Vacation can be enjoyed together as a family if given the chance to. Just be more well- prepared and have a positive mindset. It's a time to bond, share the love and do things together in a foreign land. It all depends on how you want it to be like. I had fun. I am sure my next one would be even better. Cheers.

Korea, Korea, Korea- Shop till you drop!

"SEOUL" GOOD TO SHOP


Worldwide, the word "shopping" sends different sensation to different people. Usually the women screams in delight while the men (probably being programmed in a different make- up genetically) clamps up. Well, unless he is a retailer or businessmen in the trade.
Of course, the credit- card folks will encourage and cheer us on, that's why "the men never gets it' (whoever came up with that interesting tag-line for the ladies' card?) 'cos they are not economy boasters in that sense.

It is amazing that shopping creates jobs, retail sales, warehousing, shipping, marketers etc.
Without shopping, life is mundane and stale in every aspect. Just like balancing the ecological system is essential, shopping helps to balance the job cycle and taking that away will hurt the industry.

I am planning for a trip to Seoul. Yes, for shopping. There is so much to shop for in Fascinating Korea. I am going to change some won now that the exchange rate is not bad given the strong Singapore Dollar...I know, I am helping their economy. Hey, but what goes around, comes around...

Annio Haseyo! There are apparels, bags, shoes, boots, accessories and beauty products from skincare to make- up. It's like a woman's paradise in Korea. There is so many things which you covet that look so good that you want to own.

Amethyst, those purplish semi- stones are also ample in Korea and they have so many designs to choose from. Hip clothes and wonderful accessories, down to stationeries (everything just look so cute), tempt me to spend my hard- earned money away. Oh, there are also very adorable dolls with beady eyes and laces and gorgeous children's clothes that you will want to lay your hands on if you have kids. You just tell yourself, you came all the way here, might as well buy something back and it's oh-so-cute! And those Korea Dramas VCDs too....

MUST GO SHOPPING PLACES

Check out Women's Paradise in Korea- Myeung Dong (like a street for women's shopping), Dong Daemun, Ee Hwa University and Nam Daemun. They each have their own unique selling points.

Myeung Dong has everything a modern young woman will covet, from clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories to make- up etc. If you are tired, you can also take a rest as there are many donuts shops, fast food chains or eateries around. The make- up or toiletries shop like Etude and Face Shop also pile up goodies (from cotton wool, tissue papers to sample trial size products and pencil case, pouches and waste paper basket) for you whenever you shop in their outlets, thanking you and encouraging you to purchase more from them.

In Dong Daemun (meaning Eastern Great Gate) area, there are many buildings, usually made of around 7 storey, with shops catering to women's interests. These are the few which you should check out: Doosan Tower, Migliore, Freya Town and Hello apM. Let me tell you, you can spend the whole day there and have not comb through all the buildings. These building usually have resturants or cafe, like our food court on their highest level so you can take a rest there if you are tired or need to take a break.

Ee Hwa University- one of my personal favourite. The shops were meant for the university female students. But of course, because of its gorgeous stuff and rows of interesting shops, they have become popular with alot of young Korean women too. They even have very cool make- up services and manicure shops within this area too. Yakun, our home grown brand is also found here.

You can walk to Nam Daemun as it is situated near to Myeung Dong. You get all sorts of people and products at Nam Daemun. In Korean, it means South Gate. there is alot of buzz here, with sellers shouting "Sale, Sale" and throngs of buyers or tourists squeezing their way through. There are shops selling seaweed, ginseng, kitchenware, accessories, books, children's clothes and all kind of miscellaneous goods and even money changer within this buzzling market place. If you are daring, you can try eating in some of the food they sell, from red-bean mochi to pancakes. But I will not recommend you trying the raw seafood they sell at their stalls. My friend tried with gusto and got food contamination with a bad tummy ache and I had to resort to buying her medication from the pharmacy.

Back to shopping- Though you can bargain in Nam Daemun, do not ever insult the sellers by slashing the price by half or more as the seller may feel insulted and not want to sell you anything after that.

I know a few key phrases and that help me quite a fair bit. It's not difficult, try it. It may help you in your bargaining.

KEY KOREAN PHRASES

How much: E-ru Ma-e Yo?
Discount Please: Ka-ka Tsu-seyo!
Thank You: Kam-sa Haminda
You are a nice person: Im-nida!
You are so pretty, miss: Ippoi yo, agashi!

Got it? Have key phrase, will shop. Don't leave home without these- ha.


CHECK OUT THOSE FOOD

Food- wise, as all Singaporeans are alike, we love food and are quite adventurous to explore.

Recommended list: Ginseng Chicken, Fried Silk worm (IF YOU DARE- Heard it's like fried peanuts and good for the men- boast up vitality, nope, I have not tried it), chewy rice cake with chilli, Bi Ping Pak, Ren Mien (Must try- Yummy cold noodle, especially for their Summer), raw octopus etc. There are all sorts of preserved vegetables a.k.a. kimchi too. And the fried seaweed is very tasty with sesame seeds. I highly recommend it. Yum!

Check out those ginseng and coffee flavored chewing gum too. It is quite interesting.
Guess you only get them in Korea!? Wonder if they have kimchi ones!??

I always come with an almost empty luggage. Then, usually end up having to sit on my luggage to squeeze all my "treasures" the night before I leave Korea. Maybe I am a shopaholic at heart. It's hard to resist shopping in Korea.

ACCOMODATION/ HOTEL STAY
I have some girl friends who asked where is best for lodging or rather which hotel to stay in?
Well, I would recommend them based on your budget per night and where you want to go everyday.

If budget is not a consideration- LOTTE Hotel Seoul is my favorite.
Choose Myeongdon Hotel which is conveniently located the shopping belt for quick access to shopping, food, entertainment and the subway. Always check if there are FREE WIFI or transportation to the airport. These can save you a lot of money and hassle.
Staying near Dongdaemun could be another alternative for the shopping queens too.
Just google, there are so many options from service apartments to even airbnb these days.


The latest craze is to go to Korea for plastic surgery.. Don't think I would need that for now. But hmm....who will know 10 years down the road, when I need a little lift? But for the time being, I'll stick to shopping for those BB cream, cosmetics and the facial masks.

Well, you have fun and tell me about your experience of Korea.
Who knows? We can exchange notes on where to shop next!