Skin Deep

Crossing The Threshold and Celebrating Life

2012-01-21T17:15:00.005+08:00

One weekend in October 2011, we celebrated a double-birthday with a difference. It was our younger son, Daryl's 21st, coinciding with grandma's 80th on exactly the same date, the 21st of October. An auspicious double celebration indeed.

For Daryl, it was crossing the threshold into adulthood. After graduating from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Communications & Media, he has since enlisted into the Army, while Yihan, his girlfriend is furthering her studies at the local University.

For us, his parents, we're happy to have given him a happy, stable home to spend his childhood, and in his adolescence, the space to cultivate meaningful relationships with people outside the family. Given his gregarious personality & multiple talents, we believe that he will follow his passion & fulfill his ambition in Life. Time for us to sit back & give him emotional support and financial aid as needed for his higher education.

For Grandma (Theresa's mother), it's a significant milestone to have come this far & be able to see Daryl grow up into a man. In the evening of her Life, she has accepted the wisdom of Velveteen Rabbit, celebrating Life & grateful for what she has. For us in Asia, we try & have parents & grandparents close by & in this respect, Dominic (Theresa's brother) is truly a filial son, attending to most of her needs. Blessed is he.

Family

2012-01-21T09:02:00.004+08:00

When Father passed away almost 8 years ago, he left us some life lessons in his Letters to us, his 3 sons. So here's a blog which I created to commemorate his Life & perpetuate his Wise Words : http://fromfathertosons.blogspot.com/

In his last 10 months on this Earth, when he knew from his cardiologists that time was running out, he wrote passionately about his own lessons in Life, and what hopes he had for us. Family was central to his themes. Love of parents for their children, cherished friends & brotherly love. I hope that his message will continue to light the way for us & our loved ones. And perhaps, he will touch the lives of all who chance across his Letters, promoting down-to-earth family values.

Chamonix - Mount Blanc in the French Alps

2011-10-08T15:35:00.001+08:00

Chamonix was everything I imagined, and more. We wanted to hike the trails in autumn, hoping to see a snow-capped mountain or two. They were all there plus living glaciers, in glorious sunshine and then in our last 2 days, we had freezing rain which magically turned into snow !

We did 2 major hikes; first a high valley hike from the Plan d'Aiguille to the Montenvers Hotel, overlooking the Mer de Glace on Day 2, having seen it the easy way on the previous day by cogwheel train.

On Day 3, we drove leisurely over to nearby Annecy Lake, then on Day 4, we blew our last sunshiny morning on an arduous (and somewhat dangerous) hike to Lac Blanc (main picture). I wanted to spend more time up in this heavenly place but the cloud system had begun to move in. So we beat a careful retreat down to the Col des Montets mountain pass, where our rental car was parked by the roadside.

Day 5 was all rain & allowed us to rest & recuperate. When we saw the thermometer dip towards zero Celcius, we decided to re-visit the Col des Montets & saw our first snow flurry, yay. That night, we had a cosy Michelin-starred dinner right in our hotel (the Best Western Le Morgane). On our last day checking out, we had one last foray up the mountain pass & were rewarded with the first real snowfall of autumn !

Paris in the Autumn 2011

2011-10-01T11:47:00.001+08:00

24 years ago, while in London for business, we decided to spend a quick weekend in Paris. Even with fickle weather & a little point-&-shoot camera, it still made a romantic first impression, leaving us wanting for more. Thus it was a natural choice for my wife when she developed travellers' itch soon after we successfully settled our elder son in Melbourne earlier this year. I quickly made plans & envisaged us spending a week of romance in Paris plus another week exploring the French Alps.

In line with my philosophy of travelling light, I took the opportunity to buy a new pancake lens for my Panasonic G camera system, the 14mm F2.5. It turned out to be a great wide-angle lens for lowlight indoor shots as well as a compact prime lens for landscape photography while on the move hiking the mountain trails.

This time round, the weather was fabulous. Autumn was showing in the changing leaves & the cool crisp air made walking a joy. We didn't miss the crowds of summer & were thrilled to have blue skies every day in Paris!

Each day was filled with sensuous sculptures & exquisite paintings inhabiting magnificent palaces & grandiose museums. Of course there was the compulsory Eiffel Tower climb & we even cruised the River Seine in the glow of the evening light.

The Dance Of Life Comes Full Circle

2011-07-08T23:03:00.006+08:00

Here's an amazing assembly of our dance classmates with their newborn babies, all within a span of the past one year. Imagine the joy of dancing giving forth to new life !

Over 2 years ago, when we had newly joined Teacher Jennifer & George's ballroom dancing, I blogged about the Wu Li or Joie de Vivre observed in the couples on the dancefloor. As they practise their moves to perfection, there must be some kind of magic in dance that gets the mojo going.

And wouldn't it be interesting if the next generation of babies grow up to be musically inclined, swaying rhythmically in time to catchy tunes, anything & everything from samba to swing waltz ! I guess only time will tell ...

Reunion and a Season to Enjoy

2011-05-03T20:48:00.009+08:00

Last weekend was a great way to reunite with many of our classmates from the medical class of 1981. It's an incredible feeling to be in the lovely banquet hall of Rasa Sentosa Resort, amongst friends you remember from 30 years back.

We may have changed in outward appearances but there was a slideshow of old photographs to bring back warm recollections of the Spring of our lives. We should feel so lucky to have had 3 decades of life's experiences since then.

Theresa & I especially feel lucky to have shared the journey thus far. So much so that we decided to sing Jason Mraz's duet of the same title, as part of the night's lively entertainment. The next morning, those of us who stayed overnight availed ourselves of a leisurely breakfast while the weather stayed fair for us to play a casual game of table-tennis outdoors.

As we enter the Autumn of our lives, we must remember to go easy on ourselves and to protect our skin from too much sun. Learn to delight in congenial company & to take our time to enjoy Life's journey. After all, there's no point in rushing, when we already know the destination :-)

Wildlife From Koalas To Pangolins

2011-03-28T17:50:00.008+08:00

Now that we are back in safe & boring Singapore, we have started doing our regular Sunday hikes in MacRitchie again. Lo & Behold, a few weekends ago, I was surprised by a rare adult Pangolin crossing my path along the Treetop Walk, just after the turnoff to MacRitchie Nature Trail.

Even though you see a shaky, handheld pix taken at iso1000 in the early dawn-light, it is still better than nothing ! The conservationists amongst us are fond of using "cute" animals like the Pangolin & the Koala to promote their cause, neglecting to mention the less glamourous critters that go extinct every year in our fast-diminishing forests & jungles. But we really need to remember to balance our need for fossil fuel & human habitation against the fragile intertwined fates of every living thing on Earth. Sustainability is the new buzzword.

Sea, Sky and the Great Outdoors

2011-03-28T16:59:00.016+08:00

After settling Calvin in, we decided to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, to visit Theresa's relatives living in a nice northern suburb called Chatswood. And in sync with our love of the great outdoors, we chose to "take the scenic route". Over a span of 12 days, we drove the Great Alpine Road, then up the Sapphire Coast towards Sydney, turning inland into the fabled Blue Mountains before staying the last 3 days at The Rocks, right in downtown Sydney. How best can we describe all that we saw adequately? In pictures of course, pictures that paint the wide-open skies, the startlingly blue seas, the beaches, forests, rocks and flora. There were seagulls aplenty but knowing that Australia has all manner of poisonous snakes, spiders & the great white shark, we avoided activities like bushwhacking & body-surfing ! However, Theresa, imbued with the Kinabalu spirit, simply had to add the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb to her climbing experiences.

Comfort In The Company OF Friends

2011-03-28T13:27:00.012+08:00

In a strange, far-away land like Australia, there's a sense of comfort & security when you leave your first-born to study there in the company of good friends. My childhood friend, Alan Francis and his wife, Jenny certainly made Calvin feel "at home" in Melbourne @February this year. They took us walking around Williamstown, hiking the nearby Truganina Wetlands & eating in the Vietnamese enclave of Footscray.

When we drove off on our Great Alpine Road adventure, we knew that Calvin had found his second home.

RMIT & Architecture in Australia

2011-03-28T10:17:00.013+08:00

About six years ago, our first-born son Calvin created his own blog & spoke of becoming a famous architect one day. How wonderful, now that he has embarked on that path at Melbourne's RMIT downtown campus.

If one strolls through the city, one can't help but be inspired by its vibrant, living-breathing architecture. It's buildings & landscapes are a blend of old & new, ever-changing & life-enhancing. The roads are tree-lined & cyclist-friendly, giving you the sense that the original city-planners always wanted Melbourne to be "human".

Being right in the middle of the city, the tutors at RMIT ensure that their students have no ivory-tower delusions. Thus early in his course, Calvin has been exploring the cityscape & getting involved in hands-on projects. As far as we can tell, he's loving it !

How Do You Keep The Music Playing ?

2010-12-05T15:58:00.024+08:00

Last night, my wife was invited by her vocal coach, Erick Guansing to sing a duet with him as part of his Students Concert at the Esplanade. The song by Michel Legrand, was "How do you keep the music playing?" and what's awesome was that she dedicated it to yours truly, me :-)

Coincidentally, our 27th wedding anniversary was a fortnight ago. So how does one keep going, when change is inevitable? I guess we continue to discover fun, new activities in music & beyond. Like dancing, hiking, watching movies & other "couple" things to "make it better as it grows", as in the song.

In her dedication, she touched my heart when she acknowledged my love & support for her over the years :-) Likewise, I am happy when she encourages me to indulge in my current favourite hobby of photography. The Panasonic G series have been wonderfully lightweight for adventure shots on our hikes while my Nikon D90 turned out great shots in the dim light of the auditorium.

T'was Music That Brought Us Together

2010-11-27T10:03:00.014+08:00

If one has ever struggled to master a musical instrument & watched the movie "Amadeus", one will identify instantly with the character, Salieri, court composer to the Emperor of Austria. Mozart was his gifted rival whose God-given talents trumped hardwork & perseverance everytime.

And so I remember now, as a young boy, it was music that brought me & a bunch of little mozarts together under the baton of the late Mr Goh Soon Tioe, famous violinist & impresario. Last Friday night, his daughter, Vivien gathered former students & alumni together for a reunion after 40 years. It was good to hear everyone share happy memories of us playing as an orchestra on the verandah of Mr Goh's house.

Though I was a musical disappointment to Mr Goh (no talent, lazy to practise), he had the wisdom to let Vivien take me under her wings (in a little studio at the bottom of the stairs). Thus was I able to fiddle some tunes, decent enough to duet with & court my wife, Theresa(an accomplished pianist) in our final year of Med School. T'was music that brought us together indeed.

Venturing Forth, Down Under

2010-10-22T13:45:00.030+08:00

3 years ago, Theresa & I toured Queensland after my Skin Cancer Workshop. This month, we brought along our 2 sons to see a bit more of this vast southern landmass called Australia. It was supposed to be Springtime in the southern hemisphere but the locals told us that you may get 4 seasons & more in a day !

Thus we chased clouds & golden sunsets, enjoyed sunshiny days, and endured drenching rain while hiking. Calvin even got his wish to touch snow on Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. After a wet & cold winter, we understood why Australians simply love going outdoors to enjoy the sun.

Too much sun exposure however gives you sunburn, especially with pale skin. Which is why, from what dermatologists have observed, there's so much skin cancer in the land down under.

This trip was primarily meant for Calvin, our older son to compare 3 different schools of architecture in Melbourne, Adelaide & Tasmania. Ultimately, he felt most enthusiastic about RMIT in Melbourne which has a world-renown academic programme, right in the heart of the city.

Daryl, who is 2 years younger, came along to enjoy the outdoor scenery & to immerse in the vibrant spirit & warm Australian culture found in the city. And what a great experience we had; 4 days in Launceston & Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, followed by 2 days each in Melbourne & Adelaide, with 3 days spent on the Great Ocean Road between these two wonderfully planned cities.

Friendship on the Trail

2010-08-09T20:43:00.014+08:00

When friends come visiting from overseas, we enjoy showing them the greener, wilder side of Singapore. Even though we now have a new theme park in Sentosa, casino-resorts & giant malls along Orchard Road, it's the solitude & back-to-Nature feel that we prefer to share by hiking on our favourite MacRitchie trail.

Sajit & Andrew (pictured above) are my long-lost schoolmates from St Joseph's Institution, who have happily re-connected with me through recent class reunions. Shoo & Sian (at left, with Theresa) are friends from almost 20 years ago when they graciously shared a delicious home-cooked meal with us in Boston while we were all living abroad.

Sajit, who now lives in California, has his own favourite trails back home. Shoo & Sian have their fabulous walks back in Canada. We had so much fun on the MacRitchie trail that we promised to visit them sometime soon in their neck of the woods.

Together, On Top Of Mt Kinabalu

2010-04-13T21:51:00.021+08:00

Unstoppable, that's how I'd describe Theresa, my wife of 26 years. Now 2 years after her first successful attempt climbing Mt Kinabalu for charity (see earlier postings in 2008 & the related blog http://ididkinabalu2008.blogspot.com ), she decided to climb the mountain again, to make it a family event. Slowed down by a left knee injury sustained last year, she was determined to make it happen & it was a case of mind over matter !

As for myself, my greatest foe was AMS or acute mountain sickness. Luckily, I anticipated this by fortifying myself with Ginkgo Biloba (Tanakan brand) supplements. It worked ! I only experienced headache, nausea & a tingly numbness of the cheeks on the mountain.

The wonderful feeling of having all of us together on the summit buoyed up our spirits. Later, on the way down, the thought of a nice hot shower & a warm bed awaiting us in Kinabalu Park kept us going as we hiked through periodic afternoon rain showers.

Subsequently, we spent 2 nights recuperating in a rustic lodge at the Kinabalu Park HQ. It had a real fireplace which we kindled at night. In the daytime, we could sit on the verandah porch, sipping hot tea with an awesome view of the majestic Mt Kinabalu.

We enjoyed bonding with our sons during & after the climb, sharing with them everything from mundane housechores to their future aspirations. After unwinding, we planned a 2 nights' stay at the 5-star Magellan Sutera Resort overlooking the South China Sea. One evening there, we saw a most spectacular sunset from our room balcony, after which we boarded a free shuttle bus into town to feast on the freshest seafood at Twin-Sky Seafood Restaurant.

Climb Kinabalu 2010

2010-04-13T21:29:00.021+08:00

Six months ago, my wife conceived of a family vacation with a BIG difference - climbing Mt Kinabalu again, this time with our 2 grown-up sons. I decided to arrange everything through the people who knew Kinabalu best - Sutera Sanctuary Lodges of Sabah.

As we wanted to have a bit of luxury for the family, we booked private rooms all the way. The extra personal space & ensuite bathrooms were truly "luxurious" to have in the Laban Rata Resthouse, at 11,000 ft above sea level, just before the final 2 km climb up to the summit(13,435 ft) at 3am.

This was going to be the second attempt by our younger son, Daryl. He had gone as far as the Panar Laban Rockface in October last year with 3 buddies when they were beaten back by extreme cold & driving rain at 4am.

Luckily they were shadowed by a wonderful mountain guide, Anddy Maz who ensured their safe passage. Naturally we made a special request for him & my wife credits her second successful attempt to his unwavering support.

We were extremely proud of our 2 sons, who exhibited perseverance & passion for the task at hand. They learnt invaluable lessons that can never be imparted in a classroom. In fact, they were more concerned for mum & dad's safety during the whole expedition, rather than the other way around!

We hope that they will continue this family tradition that we have started and sincerely believe that families who play together, stay together.

Milford Track, Fiordland National Park

2010-01-27T22:20:00.031+08:00

There's something magical about this "Land Of The Long White Cloud" or "Aotearoa" in Maori. More than a quarter of a century ago, we honeymooned on a whirlwind bus tour of New Zealand & since then, we keep going back for more magic & romance ! 14 years ago, we revisited with 2 boys in the backseat & loved it. This time, we decided to return & celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary over the new year. Sweet memories.

It was Theresa's idea to do it the kiwi-way.

"Let's go tramping (hiking) on the Milford Track," she said. Better yet, we signed up for the Classic - Milford plus the Routeburn Track, back-to-back.

Nearly 100 km over 8 days.

Now that we've done it, I can truthfully say that it was a couple's retreat with a happy ending. We survived & came away fitter in mind & body. With amazing pictures, taken with my new Panasonic GH1, to show for posterity.

Routeburn Track, Mt Aspiring National Park

2010-01-27T21:54:00.023+08:00

What a strange place, this land of huge waterfalls, deep valleys & soaring peaks. We were totally unprepared for Routeburn in really wet weather ! The first day saw us fording gushing waterfalls & hiking inundated trails in steady rain. Thankfully, at the end of every day, we could look forward to hot showers, cooked meals & drying rooms !

Sometimes we city folk need to explore the great outdoors in all its different moods. It recaptures that sense of adventure that's so hard to find in Singapore. Learning to read the weather & terrain, relying on one's 5 senses, this is truly communing with Nature. Feeling spiritual & alive. At one with the universe !

Tongariro National Park, North Island NZ

2010-01-27T21:28:00.013+08:00

The North Island has its own charm & grandeur. Instead of doing the usual tourist attractions of geothermal sulphur pots & hotsprings in Rotorua, we took our time exploring the Tongariro Nat Park by basing ourselves 80 km south of Rotorua by Lake Taupo & also spending 3 nights at the historic (Bayview) Chateau Tongariro.

Compared to the Volcanoes Nat Park of Hawaii, the sacred trio of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe & Ruapehu are volcanoes with violent eruptions in recent history, inspiring a deep sense of respect & awe. In fact, Ruapehu's last major eruption occurred in September 1995. As the weather was fickle, we opted to do half day tramps around the Chateau instead of the full day Tongariro Crossing. We also made the car-ride up to the upper slopes of Mt Ruapehu to see Mead's Wall, made famous in the movie trilogy, Lord Of The Rings.

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

2010-01-27T20:48:00.020+08:00

While in this part of South Island, we decided to indulge ourselves by staying at the iconic Hermitage Hotel. We upgraded to a high-floor room with a lovely picture-postcard window looking out onto "The Cloud Piercer" or Aoraki Mt Cook. Morning & night, we dined at the Panaroma Restaurant with the same mountain view. It was truly inspiring.

As a prelude to the 8-day Classic Walk in Fiordland & Mt Aspiring National Parks, we did easy 1 to 2-hour hikes in the Hooker Valley & up to the Tasman Glacier overlook. Because the weather was cloudy with sunny breaks & rain in the afternoons, we always started our hikes early in the morning after a hearty buffet breakfast & ended the day with a cosy romantic dinner.

New Zealand 2009 / 2010 Lake Tekapo & Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu

2010-01-27T19:39:00.028+08:00

We started off our 3-week dream vacation in the South Island, landing in Christchurch after a comfortable direct flight from Changi Airport. Though it was summertime in the southern hemisphere, the air was cool & crisp as we loaded our baggage into a Ford rental car that sunny morning.

After an easy afternoon drive through the Canterbury Plains, Lake Tekapo was exactly as we had remembered from past visits with its startlingly turquoise & tranquil waters. The beautiful alpine flowering lupins made for a perfect foreground & we made hay while the sun shone as can be seen in all our pictures !

A week later, we were in Queenstown, by Lake Wakatipu. Although this was a much more "touristy" place, we found it as pretty as when we last visited. Whenever the sun came out, the lakeshore was crowded with locals & tourists alike but it was just as picturesque as in the postcards.

Since our guided hikes' itinerary with Ultimate Hikes New Zealand started in Queenstown, it was just the place to get pre-hike essentials like fleece thermals & insect repellent.

A Coming Of Age

2010-01-26T21:46:00.016+08:00

Last month was a good excuse to gather the village together on Calvin's 21st birthday. The pictures over the years tell us that Life is all about Change & Life Events. Our big boy is now a grown man !

Daryl has also grown up ... literally.

Grandmas will fondly remember their growing up years as they took turns to help us babysit the boys. Grandpas also had their fun being the family chauffeur to & from school & music lessons. Kindly uncles were recruited from time to time & now there are 2 young nephews & a niece for us to dote on. That's why an old African proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child.

If You Care To Look, You Will See

2009-11-13T21:47:00.019+08:00

Have you ever noticed a tiny worm at your feet, or spotted a dragon swimming in the distance? My wife's powers of observation never fail to amaze me as she would usually be the first to point me & my 90 - 400mm Panasonic zoom lens in the right direction.

Take for example, the hammerhead worm, or Bipalium kewense, which usually inhabits the moist dark forest floor & feeds on earthworms ! While the dragon in the water turns out to be a giant monitor lizard, looking for his next meal ...

Recently, we took our singing pals along for a few forest rambles, to introduce them to the simple joys of hiking & observing Nature. All this while getting fit & looking cool on the trail, which is why it's our favourite pastime (besides singing & dancing!)

Monkey Love & Babies in the Wild

2009-09-06T20:25:00.015+08:00

This weekend, we had a very wet start to our forest rambling. Braving the rain in our raincoats, we calculated that it would ease up by the end of our hike. Enough to observe more Nature & allow me to shoot candid moments with my trusty G1.

Just as we hoped, there was a troupe of long-tailed macaques breakfasting on leaves, insects & tasty fruits in the trees & underbrush.

Love was literally in the air as you can see in this spontaneous kiss between 2 acrobatic young monkeys. At the same time, we spied 2 young mothers with their scrawny infants. Hovering around protectively was the group's alpha male. He was sporting a stump of a tail, presumably the result of previous monkey fights.

Beware the colour Red in Paradise

2009-09-06T19:48:00.009+08:00

Last weekend, we took a side trail to MacRitchie Reservoir itself for a change. While looping back from Prunus Trail, a rare venomous Blue Coral Snake crossed my path!

Usually it is shy & nocturnal in habit but it was about to rain so everyone, & I suspect the snake too was hurrying home. Notice its dark blue body, light blue strips & Red underbelly, tail & head. Beautiful but deadly.

As usual, I had my G1 in hand to capture the shocking moment. Somehow, hiking heightens all your senses unlike driving along a scenic country road. Even jogging doesn't allow you to observe as much.

Meeting a Blue Coral was a somber reminder that besides the usual bugs in Nature & Paradise, danger may slither in unexpectedly. Keep alert & stay alive.

Love Amongst The Rambutans

2009-08-09T12:52:00.019+08:00

Three weeks ago, when the rambutans had all ripened on the vine, we witnessed an astonishing display of tender love. We spied a pair of monkeys perched upon their private bough. Oblivious to the rest of the world, they snoggled like a courting couple. Sweet.

It reminded us of our time when Grandma matter-of-factly offered us her mature gardens for our private use. "No need to venture too far," she said, probably thinking it was much safer than necking in the woods surrounding our reservoirs like MacRitchie's.

Students' Concert 2009

2009-07-19T17:26:00.025+08:00

The concert was a great success ! With a near-fullhouse & a warm reception after the finale, this year's experience was definitely more fulfilling. Teacher Erick Guansing made sure everyone had his or her moment of fame & the audience got more than they had expected.

This time round, I managed to sneak in both my Nikon D90 & Panasonic G1 with telephoto lenses during the performance.

As it turned out, the Nikon's low-light performance edged out the Panasonic even though both were able to capture every nuance of expression on the singers' faces. My wife was thrilled to have her very own fanclub because our two sons & all our invited friends came to lend their support.

Singapore Street Festival (SSF) 2009

2009-06-28T10:07:00.012+08:00

Taking singing to the next level, it was a special thrill for my wife to sing a duet with Sia Yeun on this year's SSF stage. In 2007, Ms Tay Sia Yeun, who was Teacher Erick's prodigy, captured first place in the SSF WOW Singing Awards. This year, she had her own Sunday half-hour SSF show at Orchard Cineleisure to entertain a public audience.

Erick's students each had their chance to take to a public SSF stage at various venues in the month of June. And this year, not 1, but 2 of his young talents, Jean & Elliot were amongst the top 7 finalists for the WOW Awards, testament to Teacher's nurturing style.

Next month will be even more exciting at Erick's 2nd Students' Concert, entitled "Voices Of Love" when they get to dress up & sing their hearts out. Stay tuned !

Peranakan Ball, Fullerton Hotel

2009-05-10T13:51:00.014+08:00

After being affiliated with the National Skin Centre (NSC) for 20 years, it was wonderful to celebrate with all the staff & friends at a special Peranakan Ball. Peranakans are a special community of Straits-born Chinese whose unique culture is drawn from Chinese, Malay & European roots. For my wife, it was a great chance to dress up & enjoy a unique multisensory event.

Along with dinner, we were treated to song & dance items by both staff & professionals. My wife's voice coach, Erick Guansing, who has always been with the pharmacy of NSC, was naturally the star of the evening's show. He sang the music of Dick Lee, like "Bunga Sayang" from his musical Kampong Amber.

The Path Less Trodden

2009-05-01T16:30:00.015+08:00

What a surprise we got when we decided to take an alternative return hiking trail this morning. A babbling brook, giant ferns & new photo opportunities ! It's amazing how much fun one gets, rambling close to Nature. Much more than doing treadmills in the gym.

Our normal 2 -hour brisk ramble covers an 8km loop to the HSBC Treetop Walk in MacRitchie Forest. Because we start early, before the Treetop entry gate opens, we do the Treetop segment in reverse to its exit gate, involving a total of 1156 steps up & down.

Sometimes taking a longer, scenic route turns an otherwise dull journey into a delightful voyage of discovery. That's why I always carry a nice digital camera to capture those magical moments. My current favourite is the Panasonic G1 dslr. It's compact - practically weightless & fits in the palm of one's hand. With a hinged articulating screen, one can go for that imaginative overhead or low angle shot. Even Nikon has now come out with the D5000 to allow for more creative composition. They have taken my dated D60, upgraded it with D90 wizardry & added on a flip-down & twist screen. Bravo !

Escape To Paradise

2009-04-16T16:22:00.024+08:00

What's a long weekend for, if not to plan a quick escape to an idyllic island paradise. For us, this is a 45min ferry ride to Ria Bintan ClubMed. Good food, great entertainment & wide open spaces to entice city folk back to Nature & revel in recreation.

On previous trips with our 2 sons, ping pong & archery were two land favourites while playing in the sea surf was everybody's. ClubMed has given meaning to the phrase, "The family that plays together, stays together."

Without ever leaving its spacious grounds, one can spend delightful hours trying out different pastimes & making new friends. Indoors or outdoors, rain or shine, day & night, there is always a Clubmed activity to keep everyone happy.

Hiking gets you close to Nature

2009-03-15T16:36:00.035+08:00

We'd like to dispel the notion that Singapore is all a concrete jungle because we actually have a few pockets of rainforest & we're glad to show some enchanted trails that you can hike close to Nature.

Besides the usual troupe of long-tailed macaques or giant millipede crossing our paths, we've seen a clouded monitor lizard foraging in the leaf pile & a rare pangolin scaly anteater up a tree.

As Dr Jill Taylor has prescribed (see earlier post), hiking is good for our right brain. It helps us remember that we are but a part of the fabric of the whole universe. Besides, as our dear friend in Boston, Professor Lee I-Min believes, it's good for your health !

Friends Sharing Music

2009-03-01T11:46:00.011+08:00

What are friends for ? Some say that "A friend in need is a friend indeed." For us, we would rather cultivate friendship steadily, through mutual pleasures. Like singing. So it was that last month, Francis & Huey Chin, our good friends from medical school, opened up their house to their singing pals under Teacher Erick, for an evening of food, fun & sharing of music.

And for that matter, with the children "growing up" , my wife & I feel the need to cultivate time together. Like (once again) going on movie-dates, and trying out new experiences like dancing, hiking & travelling.

A Penny For Your Thoughts

2009-02-20T21:22:00.014+08:00

What happens when a human being (a meme machine - see earlier post on Randy Pausch) suffers a stroke, and recovers? What happens when that person happens to be a neuroanatomist, a scientist who studies the brain, the very organ that generates memes. Eureka! You gain new insights & create new memes.

Jill Taylor has lived to tell her unique story, of how her brain functions shut down one by one, the day she suffered a brain hemorrhage. And how she took 8 years to walk, talk & think again. We take for granted our ability to sing, dance & surf the Net. Imagine how crippled we'd feel with a brainstroke?

Dr Taylor, however, shares with us a wonderful revelation during her darkest moment. When her damaged left brain disconnected her from our mundane world, she was able to reach into her right brain to find a profound peace, compassion & feeling of oneness wth the universe. In her book, she tells us how to achieve that, without suffering a brainstroke.

So what's the price of a life-changing thought? Maybe a 16th century "penny", enough to buy you Dr Jill Taylor's book in today's currency :-)

The Dance Of Life

2009-02-06T10:39:00.022+08:00

What do the book "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" and the musical film "My Fair Lady" have in common? I would think it's the pivotal role that Dance seems to play in our lives. Let me explain. "Wu Li" is romanised Chinese for life energy, amongst other things & Gary Zukav chose his poetic title to introduce the beauty of quantum physics for the layperson. On the other hand, in the musical adaptation of Pygmalion, one delightful passage about dance which I simply relish, is this : "Oozing charm from every pore, he oiled his way around the floor."

While I watched the confident senior couples dance at the Raffles Hotel last weekend, these reflections became my inspiration to blog about our dance teachers, Dr Jennifer Foo & Dr George Wong. They have been married for over 50 years & continue to impart their love for dancing to new generations of converts like us. Such a wonderful couple, they have what the French call Joie de vivre !

Celebrating Life

2008-12-25T18:15:00.005+08:00

Come the end of the year, there's Hari Raya, Deepavali, Christmas, & just around the corner, Chinese New Year in January. It's always a good excuse to come together to celebrate with family & friends. It's also what's unique about Singapore - a multi-cultural & multi-religious gestalt.

After working hard in the office & raising the kids, what better way is there to celebrate life & our raison d'être by gathering the clan & friends for a smörgåsbord of Christmas turkey, Mediterranean salad & Chinese favourites. Then wash it all down with Chinese tea or a Tiger (beer), here's to Life !

Celebrating Our Silver With Gold

2008-12-06T17:23:00.011+08:00

This October, my wife & I decided to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary with a trip down memory lane - leaf peeping in New England, driving up to Niagara Falls & winding up in New York & Long Island. The weather was much better than our (wet & rainy) August trip to England & we'll let the pictures show why Autumn in this part of America is simply spectacular.

We were treated to lunch in Boston by Lee I-Min, our friend from 1991 when we stayed a year for my skin research at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Amazingly she looked as youthful as before, having become a professor at Harvard's School of Medicine & Public Health with a main research interest in exercise for health & prevention of chronic disease.

A Paradox of Life

2008-10-01T21:19:00.014+08:00

One year ago, I visited Queensland, Australia for a weekend workshop on skin cancer. Accompanied by my wife, we decided to follow it up with a road trip to the mountains & the beaches. We had a great time; cool mountains, sparkling seas & refreshing breezes. Blessed with plenty of sunshine, it is a paradox that this tropical paradise has one of the world's highest rate of melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer.

Life is full of paradoxes; we may have more conveniences than before but less time to spend with loved ones, you can hear but fail to listen, look but do not see because our minds are multi-tasking! Perhaps it is time to slow down. Visit an old friend. Or take the scenic route.

Visit England 2008

2008-08-27T22:32:00.015+08:00

The day after my wife's concert, we flew off to visit an old friend, Eric Maxim, in England. We first met 20 years ago while on holiday in Interlaken, Switzerland. Over the years, Eric has taught us what being a pen-pal is all about. There's something warm & fuzzy about receiving snail mail from the postman, & deliberately writing longhand instead of zipping off an email.

Now, at 92 years "young", he has shown us how to have dignity in the evening of our lives, coping as well as he has done. Sadly, he recently lost his true love, Edith, his dear wife of 53 years.

But as Randy Pausch (see previous blog posting below) told the graduating class in his "short" lecture, no one beats the "grim reaper". So may each one of us chase his/her childhood dreams & also, find true love & happiness in this (short) journey of Life on Earth.

Music & Singing

2008-08-02T23:55:00.007+08:00

After her Kinabalu climb in May, my wife is now back with her first love : music & singing. Tonight at a Students' Concert, her singing coach, Mr Erick Guansing, created a platform for his students to share their singing passion.

There were songs from Broadway, the Movies, Jazz numbers & Chinese ballads - a potpourri which the audience loved as much as our local cuisine. And that somehow epitomises Singapore, a harmonious melting pot of many tastes.

It's also intriguing to remember Tunes as memes. They leap from brain to brain at the speed of sound. You get emotional, happy & pass it on. Reworking, remixing & in the process, creating. And they get better, for generations to come.

Tribute to Randy Pausch 1960 - 2008

2008-07-28T11:19:00.015+08:00

There's nothing more powerful & inspiring than a man's (or woman's) last words. In his Last Lecture, he did not dwell too much on topics like deathbed conversion or herbal remedies for his pancreatic cancer. Instead, he spoke animatedly about what he did to achieve his childhood dreams.

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt (with), just how we play the hand."

Randy Pausch did not live in vain. He was a powerful Meme Machine : his messages have already touched millions of people. He will continue to live on in the minds of generations to come because of what he shares. For those who haven't experienced his memes, see & hear them for yourself on YouTube, or buy his book.

"...it's not the things we do in life that we regret on our deathbed, it is the things we do not."

"...find your passion & follow it...you will not find that passion in things (and money)...there will always be someone with more..."

Sharing the Kinabalu Spirit

2008-07-26T22:36:00.008+08:00

Tonight, we had an evening of sharing. There were slideshows & funny videos to replay shared moments on the sacred mountain. Impromptu speeches spoke candidly of strength found on the scenic Mesilau & slippery Timpohon Trails. Despite altitude sickness, extreme fatigue & the following day's wild river rafting, it was a miracle of survival through trust & comradeship.

I see a special Meme in there; its the universal adage of " Together we stand, divided we fall. "

Sex & Culture ( Genes & Memes )

2008-06-27T15:32:00.026+08:00

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of Life? Have you ever asked, "Why are we here?"

"To drink from the fountain of youth" may be someone's purpose in life but how can you avoid eternal pain & disease? Since we can't live forever, another choice may simply be to replicate oneself biologically thru' sex & marriage. But how about celibates & childless couples?

The answer may lie in the idea of passing on our Memes, as opposed to genes. For those unfamiliar with the term, Richard Dawkins is first credited for defining a meme as a unit of cultural transmission that's passed on from one generation to the next.

A meme can be a Tune, a catch-phrase or simply a more efficient way of doing something. To paraphrase Dawkins, "Just as a gene gets propagated from body to body via egg & sperm, a meme leaps from brain to brain via a process called imitation."

Love, Being Real & Remixing

2008-06-24T16:13:00.015+08:00

How do toys become Real ? And (as the song goes), what's Love got to do with it ?

I'd like to quote from Margery William's book, when Old Skin Horse gave this piece of advice to Velveteen Rabbit : "Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been Loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints & very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

An interesting analogy is in "textual poaching" on humankind's great literary preserve, passed down through the centuries. It is conceived that good ideas get Reworked & Remixed. One may see it as Poaching but others may view it as acts of Loving Use.

Ethical Wills & Remixing

2008-06-24T16:03:00.009+08:00

When my father passed away in 2004, we felt a great loss. However, while trekking in the sacred mountains, we felt his spirit moving in the mists & clouds. We also remember him through his Letters to his Sons, a form of Ethical Will.

If you read his Letters, you'll come across familiar quotes from ancient China & Europe - he talked about filial piety & dignity in old age. And yet they are made unique in his own words & exemplified in his lifetime. Call it Remixing.

I'd like to paraphrase an anecdote from Jonathan Lethem, "For we are all nomadic readers, poaching our way across fields we do not own,... yet adding value to great ideas & making them even better."

Mountains as Sacred Places

2008-06-22T14:03:00.013+08:00

Mt Mazama blew its top around 6688 years ago. Snowmelt filled the resulting crater to become Crater Lake, Oregon. Just like Mt Kinabalu, the native people have considered them Sacred. No matter what religious background, one will be imbued with respect for such places. Certainly, appreciation for their environs, so different from the city & town.

One will also have respect for the weather. On Kinabalu, my wife had beautiful blue skies after sunrise at the summit, but rain & mist halfway coming down. Crater Lake, on the other hand, let us experience a last snowfall in June, 2007, creating a wonderful winter landscape that was all too transient. Enjoy the Oregon Album.

I'd also like to share that fabled speech by Chief Seattle in 1854 which was refashioned into a plea for eco-conservatism; and transformed into a poem entitled "This Earth Is Precious".

Climbing a Mountain & Cancer

2008-06-15T17:24:00.016+08:00

Everyone will face difficulties in Life, big or small. My wife, a paediatrician, got to thinking that climbing Mt. Kinabalu, one step at a time, was somehow like conquering a Big Cancer for a little child.

So she decided to make it a charity climb by canvassing for donations to the CCF or Children's Cancer Foundation in Singapore, if she made it to the summit. Now that she's succeeded, everyone including the brave young “climbers”, will be inspired to persevere whenever the road ahead seems like an uphill climb.

Believe in yourself, and you will achieve.

The Best Currency in the World

2008-06-10T20:13:00.007+08:00

Now that we're back home, safe & dry, it's time to reflect upon our Kinabalu adventure. I realise that although money may buy you lots of stuff; like warm hiking socks & a sturdy walking stick, the best currency to have in your pocket is not the Ringgit, US Dollar or Euro. It's Trust. Especially when you finally stumble out of the Timpohon Trail at 9pm in the rain.

Trust in your travelling companions, your mountain guide, porter & bus driver. It's something intangible but instantly recognisable like when you look at the face of Leo, our little chihuahua, asking, "Will you be there for me?"

Down To Sea Level

2008-06-09T19:01:00.006+08:00

And now, the bags are packed, we're checking out. Everyone's relieved, relaxed & ready to go Home. Time for a last groupshot !

That "Top Of The World" feeling

2008-05-31T18:55:00.000+08:00

When you reach the very top of Mt Kinabalu, you know that "Nothing is impossible". A case of Mind over Matter. Everyone comes away changed in one way or another. And yes, there's a sense of togetherness, "We Did It."

Kinabalu, at the start of the climb

2008-05-30T18:22:00.001+08:00

This is the group assembled at the start of the (scenic but longer) Mesilau Trailhead to the summit. After 3 months of arduous local training, everyone's looking forward to the Real Thing. Except that all along, I had decided to stay back & await their safe return at Kinabalu HQ. Doing the leisurely Nepenthes Trail instead, I felt was kinder to my poor knees.

Climbing to New Heights

2008-04-28T22:04:00.007+08:00

Sometime in your Life, you will feel the wanderlust. Or the urge to scale a mountain. This year is Climb Kinabalu 2008. At 13,435' (4100m), it's the highest peak in SE Asia. Last year, my wife met up with old friends from school & discovered her hero in an ex-soccer star, daring to lead a second expedition up Mt K. Word soon spread & now, there are about 2 dozen aspiring climbers, from adolescents to mid-lifers, all questing for adventure.

Enjoying the View of Crater Lake

2008-04-22T20:43:00.015+08:00

Once in a while, it's nice to slow down. Smell the flowers. Take the scenic route. Last year, my wife & I breathed in the fresh mountain air of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon USA. This area is sacred to the Red Indians. We understood why, just by being there & taking the time to drink in the beautiful vistas.

Being Real, Like Old Skin Horse

2008-04-17T13:57:00.013+08:00

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with wanting to do Cosmetic, or to drive that beautiful Car. It's the unhealthy pursuit of wealth & outward beauty, to the exclusion of everything else, that leads some of us down the slippery slope of moral decline. After all, being Real like Old Skin Horse in "The Velveteen Rabbit" is far loftier an ambition, than wanting to be Buzz Lightyear in the Menagerie of Life.

As Time Goes By

2008-04-01T23:43:00.020+08:00

Baby Patrick's the new kid on the block. And Sherri's grown into the little story teller.

Grandma may be slower but she's kept busy with toddlers in the house.

And so they say, it takes a Village to raise a Child.

Being Old is the Real Gold

2006-09-16T19:04:00.031+08:00

Here is little Sherri's paw in Grandma's hand. New & Old. Symbiotic, as Nature intended. Remember the story of the Velveteen Rabbit? We will know when we become Real when our hair falls off & our joints become shabby.

How about this picture of Grandpa hugging his first 2 grandsons? See the joy in his face...

Once we accept that becoming Real is part & parcel of our Journey on Earth, only then, will we know that Olden is truly Golden.

Skin Deep Beauty

2005-08-19T16:37:00.014+08:00

Is beauty only skin deep? Must we always yearn for perfectly smooth skin? That may be so in puberty. And maybe again in mid-life when age "catches up".

But pause for a moment.

Look at couples who have ridden the storms of long marriage. You will see beauty in their crow's feet & marionette's lines. Look at your toddler's little paw in grandma's wrinkled hands. See how contented his world is & how happy she is with young life.

There's beauty in skin aged with years of laughter & loving touch. Appearances are deceiving; wrinkles can be beautiful. Don't Botox everything.

Moraine Lake & Medicine Lake, Alberta & Lake Tahoe, California

2005-08-18T20:26:00.017+08:00

Here are my thoughts on skin, beauty, health & life.