Speeding, No. 1 Road Killer

I have been going in fast speed at the expressway for 1.5 years.

My highest limit can reach about 130km/h. Along the way, getting familiar with the car, more confident and as usual impatient has made me speeding....

Unfortunately, on last thursday, at KJE expressway, I caught by traffic police....

So, I have to deduct 6 merits point and SGD150 fine. =(

I am not very happy cause i worried there will be more letter from the police if there is a new camera set up at the expressway.

As I have been speeding on Tuesday and Wednesday. I hope I didn't exceed much of the limit.

Let's keep the finger cross. The punishment will be more if I repeat the offence.

I promise myself, I will drive within the limit. Trying to be calm, which I always wanted to... I am always impatient when doing anything...

Today I drove at 90km/h to the office, and i felt a little bit sleepy... ZZZzzzzz

To avoidmy licence being stopped, I have to really obey the rules in Singapore..

Adorable Babies

Went to Chloe's 1st Birthday on last sunday. Happy seeing the babies (my nieces and nephew).

I love to hug them.. they are just adorable!

In fact, I have 17 years of nanny experience... from "theng theng" to "en"... and now I almost treat en as my own son.. we love each other a lot! I hope he can be obedient and be a good guy in future.

Let me introduce some new members in our big family:

Little Chloe (Kit's daugther) who celebrated her 1 year-old birthday. =)

Gwen (moo moo), fiona's daugther.. she is so cute and chubby. I hope I can hug her again!

My Cooking

Don't feel like eating out alone... and really miss Italian food which can always satisfy my tastebuds. :D

I must, I must learn to cook good italian cuisine.

Reason: to have good italian food with low price in singapore, the way is to LEARN how to make it...

here's some pasta i cooked in this week:

Spagetthi with beef ragu' and grated parmigiano cheese

Aglio Olio and peperoncino


Do give me some comments so that I can improve! :)

2009 -> 2010

What have I done in 2009?

• Feb: Enjoyed my Chinese New Year with family and friends :)
• Feb - May: Had been revising Humanities and Social Science, Physics, Organic Chemistry and Biology
• May: Took GAMSAT (Graduate Australian Medical School Admission Test). - passed but not flying colors
• April - Aug: Had been learning Italian during leisure & learn roller blading.
• Aug: Met Australian Migration Agency to enquire of the PR application requirement.
• Aug - Oct: Had been learning English (IELTS), viewing condominiums around Singapore.
• Oct - Dec: Training in Catania, Learning product and test engineering.
  Meeting good people and enjoy delicious italian food.
  Travelling around Sicily, to Venice, Switzerland (Zurich, Interlaken and Luzern) & London. Finally, I have fulfilled my promise to meet Ngiam in London. ;)
  Learn cycling (taught by mum and husband)

I would say, 2009 is full of learning. Learning a lot of new things. Probably, life in singapore is a bit bored for me. Without taking initiatives to learn new things, I guess, it's hard to fill up my time. Of course, Travelling is part of my yearly plan too.

Last year trips: {Hong Kong, Shen Zhen, KL} (as usual), Penang, Sicilia, Venice, Switzerland and London.

2010:

I foresee it would be a tough year for me. There will be some changes in my life. I believe with plannings and discussion, we will definitely can get thru it.

• New things to learn: English (seriously for IELTS) and Italian (casually)
• Applying PR for my husband
• Looking for house
• Improving my skills in works
• Spend more time with family
• Travel plan: Default: Hong Kong, Shen Zhen, KL. Wish to go: Japan or Australia

Hereby, wishing all my friends and family have a good start in this new decade!!

Stay Happy and Healthy!

I see, I listen & I learn

The 7-week of stay in Europe has enlightened me a lot.

I am able to experience in Sicily. Understand the culture, lifestyle and people.

Sicily people are somehow much friendly and warm. I didn't feel that I was a stranger there. People like to share their feeling and thoughts which I normally do. They are sincere. It made me easily and quickly adapt to the environment without much worries. =)

Well, some basic italian does help a lot in daily activities which makes things easier. Really happy to have the chance to use my italian and I see that it has improved drastically. I will maintain and continue to learn.

Beside that, I noticed that Sicilian likes the sea very much. People appreciate the nature, and feel contented with what they have. Indeed, the weather and food in sicily are richer than the north of Europe.

I am happy to see that people are not that materialistic like in most of the metropolitan. I feel comfortable to share the thoughts with them. I always believe, that's the way of living. We do not need luxuries stuffs but still feeling happy truly. This is what I have to share with the people around me.

I do miss the people (especially my colleagues), food and weather there. I wonder, when I can I go there again. Anyway, I am lucky to have this experience in my life.

There was one statement from a colleague: " I am happy that we stay so far away but our hearts are very near (same thinking)!". When I heard that, I felt that is true...

Let's change the view to London....

London has been my dream destination since 9 years ago.... and this trip, I finally made my effort to go there, partly is to visit my good old friend, ngiam..

Well, after seeing Italy and Switzerland, I feel that London is not that beautiful.. Now I agree with Ngiam, Yes, Italy is more classic. Anyway, I do like the musuems in London, they are too big and many information. It's too bad that I only stay there for very short time, if not, it's worth to stay longer in the musuem.

Also, I am happy that Ngiam brought me for a play. It's a must-do in London. What we watched is 'The Lion King', it's professional and entertaining. To me, though it's kinda ex, but worth it I would say again. :)

London is a huge city with many people coming from different places. There are a lot of Indians and Chinese too. What's remind me when i was in Lescester Square is that I felt like I have been to Hong Kong. The place is busy and full of lights.... Also, in Oxford street, the shopping area is really big.. so far, I guess, it's the biggest I have ever seen.

Thanks to Ngiam & Emily for their 3 precious days spending the time with me.

Lastly, here you go something about Switzerland. This is the most advanced, organised, & systematic country in Europe. Beautiful mountain and lakes. Of course, I love the snow very much.

My last snow experience of snow was in switzerland as well. And this time I experienced my first time for snow falling. I still remember the feeling when I saw snow falling at the window when I opened my eyes from sleep. It was just wonderful. I always wonder when will be my chance to see the snow again... miss it so much.

I am lucky to have an offer to stay in Markus's house. That was the best stay during my trip in Europe.. I remember, I stayed in a whole red hotel in venice, a tiny and dirty room in London, and an old style hotel room in Interlaken. Oh ya, there was still another good one in Zurich airport dayroom.

Beside going to touristic places, such as Luzern and Interlaken in Swiss. I enjoyed my stay in Markus's village, Wettswil. I finally saw his little house in the forest, walking around in the snow, eating Rosti, Cheese Fondue and healthy breakfast. The scenery around Swiss is truly amazing. People here are active. They like jogging, snowboarding, skiing, sleighing and biking due to the good environment.

I read a tourguide describing swiss people - they are the most wealthy, healthy and wise people in the earth! Somehow I do agree with it. Swiss are lucky.

well, well, well, now I have back to the reality.... I precious the experience in Europe and it made me grow..

Feeling grateful and now I gonna move on, be good and hope for the next trip..
(where and when will it be??)

Siracusa, Sicily

Without much planning, we took a bus to Siracusa to meet up Vincenzo and Elisa.

Wanted to go Siracusa since the second week in Sicily but seems like can't be arranged and I do not want to go alone.

But finally, in my last weekend here, I have been to Siracusa.

This town is very peaceful. I would say it's better than catania.

We visited few places together like Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionisio), Greek Theatre & Roman Theatre.

Ear of Dionysius

The big difference between Greek and Roman Theatre is the shape. Greek Theatre is halved- circle whereas, Roman is the fulled-circle which like Colossuem.

Greek Theatre

Roman Theatre

After the walking at the archeology sites, we went to Ortigia (a small island) to take a walk. It was very quiet, along the sea. Then, we reached a restaurant called long night (lungo notte) which is facing the sea. We had good seafood and watching the sun set...

Sunset at Ortigia

Piazza Duomo at Siracusa

The trip is simple but wonderful. Beautiful sea and it was really Romantic. Now i know why people saying Sicily is a great place for honeymoon. :) With this natural environment, people feel romantic, no stress and calm in mind.

*Specially thanks to Vincenzo and Elisa*

Typical Sicilian Dinner

Tonight Claudio invited us for a pizza dinner at a famous Sicilian restaurant in catania. I am happy that he brought me to explore many places and food in Catania. The dinner was nice with antipasti, pizza, dessert and wine. =)

The pizza is the best among I eat in Catania. Today we also met his wife and a friend. They are cheerful. I feel that people in Catania is happy and not like in other city. Main difference is they are really sincere.

I bet I will surely miss this place after one week. This is my 5th week here. One more week to go.. *mixed feeling*

Sicilian Antipasti: (olive, sundried tomatoes, eggplant, green pepper, fried vege, mushroom, cheese etc)

It's really mouth watering! I bet we can't find this in Singapore

Here's come my half pizza. The best I had in catania.

Claudio, his wife and me

This trip in Catania has left many good memories to me.

I am lucky to have such an experience in my life. =)