Tambun

My FIL celebrated his birthday today by getting the monks to the house. I dunno what exactly to call such a ceremony in English but in Thai they call it "tambun". It's kindda unprecedented in the family. The ceremony is a gesture to acquire merits, something the Thais are very into. I'm not so sure if this is a Thai practise or a Buddhist practise.

My FIL got some workers home to tidy up the place and re-arrange the furniture to make space for praying. The preparation work started few days ago and Mdm had been getting up quite early since 'cause people were already working in the house early in the morning. And today, I got up at a record time of 6am in the morning!!! *APPLAUSE*

Quite some relatives and friends attended the ceremony which was followed by a lunch that was prepared by some caterers. All in all, I think there was like 60 attendees, excluding the 9 monks. The whole thing wrapped up in the noon though people stayed around. This kindda reminded me of CNY. Of course, CNY at my place seemed much rowdier but happening and fun!!! Every year, my parents will, without fail, prepare food (lunch and dinner) for the guests. This year, our tiny 4-room flat was crowded with 80 people at its peak!!! It's damn scary la. My folks never get to step out of the kitchen much on the first day of CNY.

Restaurant reviews

P and I went to this restaurant with a very nice setting last Saturday. I doubt places like these exist in Singapore. The closest to it is a now defunct restaurant in Punggol, this restaurant on stilts that my family visited when I was very very young and before Punggol was a concrete jungle.

The restaurant P and I went to was located about 20 minutes away from the city. The setting is forest-like and they didnt even spare the loo! Check out the taps. There's this mini meandering "river" bordering the restaurant compound and it leads to this huge water body that is the size of... hmm, one third little Guilin? Some international school booked part of the restaurant for a function (we supposed it shld be prom) and on our way out of the restaurant, these students were happily sashaying. It's quite amusing. And then I recalled I havent attended ANY prom in my life!!! Damn.







Sundays are usually days for sleeping in and Macdonald delivery. Anywayz, last Sunday wasnt cos there was some sort of community work P had to attend to near his market. This head monk of a temple near his market passed away and P (in the name of the company) donated some food to the temple. I promise this is a scene that we have not seen in our entire life. Apparently, when some big shots of a temple die, there would be a big woohaa and on the day that the body is to be cremated, there would be a big fair. People in the vicinity would flood the fair. It's amazing. The temple would have already garner support of some local enterprises for their donation. So, people who have kindly agreed to donate would set up stalls under the tent and then start distributing food to those who are there to attend the ceremony. I believe some people are there just for the food though. Anywayz, P got his staff to prepare some local food and drinks and we started distributing at like 11am. People just flocked over and some even brought their own plastic bags. It was actually quite chaotic.

I was telling P that kiasu-ism doesnt seem uniquely Singaporean. Come to think of it, it still gives more sense for people here to be kiasu. The food distributed might be enough to provide them for days (considering they could have flocked to every single stall for food). Those getting food aint thais you meet in the city and life probably is hard. Something you get to observe if you've been here long enough is the income and wealth disparity. I have been so lazy since I arrived that I have totally forgotten my mission. =.=''

Ok... back to food (getting kinda non-sequential in emotions here). We went to this new hyper market after the fair and guess what, Sakae Sushi is here!!!

Look at the cups, menus and interior deco. Everything's so familiar!!!





Even the food is. Just like the Sakae's food quality in Singapore, it sucked!!! Arggghhh. And food's considerably expensive. A normal plate on the sushi train cost 29 baht (which is like S$1.20). I am not doing to eat there ever again!!! Pui~

Check out this for quality japanese food. The sashimi is superb.

Post V Day

Happy V day to all!!!

This is our first V day as man and wife =)). P came home the day before with a box of chocolates and I was like "eh! it's tomorrow!!". He then replied calmly that it's just a warm up to V day. O..O

My V day starter



We carried out the V day SOP yesterday. Check out the pics =))

P enjoying his ice blended lime juice at Maze cafe in Niman



The new Maze cafe at Niman




Mdm waiting for moi food




Tom Kha!!! Coconut milk lover should never miss this. It's soooo yummy.



V day special from Maze cafe. It's freeee! I'm a cheapo. LOL



Check out Maze's cube rice.



It's a chinese dish!!!



Right after dinner, we went to our favourite supermarket. Check out this pic. LOL~



Bought our usual groceries at Rimping and spent quite a bit of time choosing our V day wine. We were looking for a dessert wine but ended up with Rosé which... was a disappointment. We only managed to finish up half the bottle cos every sip sends a shiver down by spine! And this wine is even more expensive than our dinner!!! Argh.

P got this for me at Rimping. It's Begonia and it's moi very first plant! It's now sitting beside me next to the work desk. OMG. Me is feeling refreshed by just looking at it. ^^

Mr Chong

The youngest Mr Chong with the eldest Mr Chong. See the cheeks... how cute!!! (It's in the genes!). Stressed sia~

Back

Back! *Yawnz*

Strangely, I felt like I have been in Sg for a long time. So long that it seems to have erased my memories of the time spent here. And when I arrived yesterday, it doesnt seem like I have just been away for a week!!!

I was so tired that I spent most of my time yesterday napping. My couz was at my place the night before and we were playing cards the entire night (my flight was at 6plus in the morning and we had wanted to stay up since we had to get to the airport at 4 plus). Anywayz, the funny thing was that the guys started getting hungry at 3 plus and I cooked them instant noodle. Right after finishing his supper, Yang lay on the sofa and napped. And... he never managed to get up to send me off!!!

Boo~~~

30

I'm going back to Chiangmai in less than 30 hours!!! OMG OMG OMG. It's not like I am not missing my hubby nor I hate going back. But there seem to have so much stuff that I havent done yet. Top on the list is... where the hell is my K session?!? I havent:

1. K
2. Met up with wh, lin, sh & gang, syd peps
3. Shopped enough!! (Marina Sq, Vivo, Wisma, FE Sq?!?)
4. Eaten Jap at UE2
5. Gone to Jeremy

Shit.

Nonetheless, this trip is event-packed and catching up with Allstars, KL gang and my couz is awwwesssoooomeee (plus the speed shopping at Taka + Westmall + Lot 1 and watching my first chinese movie in years). And of cos I have tried to spend as much time as I can with my family. Gossiping and chatting with MM makes me feel so in touch again. I am wishing for Doreamon's magic door this CNY (or any of his teleport gadget). I am feeling kindda tired but am trying to deprive myself of sleep so that I can maximise my active hours.

CNY is great. I mean aside from the usual gambling and all, chatting, gossiping and crapping with my couz is really quite something. Actually, it would really be nice to have a couz trip to Chiangmai (or anywhere) without the oldies. If any of you are reading this, it's an open invitation!!!

I will be meeting the V girls tom ^^

Facebook, Car and CCK

I found someone I havent met in yearssssss. Like 15 years?!? OMG. How can I lose my childhood friend like that?!? I am so missing the crazy band sessions in primary school.

Just back in Sg today. I havent left for ages but just away for 3 months. It's so human to be used to routine and habitual living. My dad's car seemed so undrivable to me now. The brakes, the steering and the height etc. I was looking for the handbrakes at the wrong position!!!

I love sending the CCK gang home cos it never fails to bring back lotsa memories when I drive around that area. Anywayz, they are doing something weird to the MRT station and Lot One has adopted a new logo. I dont like the facelift they are giving to the various places around. I know I'll be around once every few months... but dear planners... read Gordon Cullen!!!

I had fun today. Well, not the chiong and get crazy fun but the chatting and catching up kindda fun. As for tomorrow, I'll be meeting the Kungpows!

Merlion... ROARRRR

The whole funeral thingy was wrapped up yesterday afternoon. Emotions aside, the ceremony was an eye-opener. And few days on, I guess I have learnt to deal with situations like this, ie get your feet moving and butt off the chair. On-off, P will turn to me and say "pretending to be busy again?". Yup. Either you're truly busy, or you're busying yourself trying to look busy (cos there aint anything for you to do). Picking up rubbish, arranging chairs etc. As for now, I get to sit back, take a long deep breath and countdown to my trip back to Sg!!!

I was arranging meet-ups and I realised that one week is not enough!!! Sob. Man, I want to shop, sing K, shop, sing K, shop, sing K, shop, sing K and club (and yups, meet up with friends and spend time with my family)!!! It's really a very tight schedule and part of me want to spend every evening having dinner with my folks. But with most if not all of my friends working, guess it's hardly possible not to arrange meet-ups over dinner.

Just some weeks ago, I met up with some really nice people from a local Uni. And after 3 rounds of interviews, I was informed yesterday that I am officially part of Payap!!! Yea~. From 3rd March onwards, Mdm is no longer a TTT . I cant wait to shed that label!!!

Payap is like the second biggest Uni in Chiangmai. Though not the best in the region, it appeals more to me than CMU. CMU is very local while Payap has an increasing pool of international students and staff. The feeling is kindda like NUS vs SMU. I'll be with the Faculty for International and Graduate Studies and what's extremely pleasing is staff in the entire fac speaks english!!!

My direct boss is an American Thai who was with the US Marine. So, I'll be working with him and the ex-VP of the Uni who is this American lady who has retired but is volunteering her time to lead the team. I had met the President of the Uni at my 3rd interview and guess what, he speaks mandarin!!! How interesting is that (plus he shares my surname). These people appear to be so friendly, down-to-earth and extremely nice and humble. Cant really expect big shots from NUS (not even the Dean of a fac) to sit down and share jokes with you the way they did.

Anywayz, back to topic. I am engaged as a Fundraiser. Not those who carry coin tins around but I'll be doing lotsa research work on fund sourcing and expenditure reduction. Plus some PR work, ie meeting people and setting them up with the President. The job description sounded interesting and I hope it does turn out to be so. The Personnel Office is also looking at arranging for me to teach as an adjunct. I am really keeping my fingers crossed that my new job will turn out well. Suddenly, I aint feeling like I'm just any mediocre white-collar worker.

I am so looking forward to home and starting my new job.