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 !
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.
