My Running Shoe

I went for a run on Tuesday night. I have pre-plan the route with MapMyRun, a distance of about 2.8 km, which I only walk for 50m during the run to regulate my breathing. I am quite happy with my progress due to the fact that I started my first run a month ago with only 800 meters of running. Interestingly this is also the longest route I have run voluntarily.

Technologies these days are really of great help to many people in many ways. On measurement of running distance alone, other than using the internet to plan the running route, one can also use watches, mini gadgets or shoes with GPS or pacing software, these devices also have extra functions to measuring other figures like the speed and calories burned, and software to gauge your performance. There are also shoes to fit all kinds of legs, including flat-footers, clothing that are light and remove sweat from your body, MP3s to help you to stay focus and enjoy your run. Medical information on injuries, diet, types of foots, ways of running can be found on the web easily. The list goes on.

What use to be very simple only a decade ago is now a science subject. In my army days, we just put on our vest and shorts, and any fitting pair of the multi-purpose shoe and there we goes. Today, choosing my pair of running shoe alone took me more than one hour, this is the first time it is happening to me, and I used to think that only girls do that, silly me. The sale person first measure my foot, length and width, then they let me walk and run on the treadmill when they determine the type of foot I have, and my walking and running style. Lastly, they narrow down a few models of shoes for me to try on. Along the process, the sale person would explain what and why they checking or doing. And at last, I pay $140 for this Asics GEL-CUMULUS® 9.

Healthy Living

While reading SgRunners few days back, I registered for a talk, as its title says “Fit for Running” the talk was meant to create awareness and prepare runners for the upcoming marathon event. I am not a marathon runner, but I still went on to attend the talk since I am almost 40 and have not been running for a long long time. Most of the subjects are quite dry, but I did the right thing to attend the talk. I learn to understand injuries, the preventions and managing them if it happens, I learn some techniques of strength training, and there are also what and how to eat and drink correctly for runners, lastly about the risk a runner face when running a marathon, why some runner died running. It was 3 hours well spend, at least I learn to run the right way, rather than sacrificing health for fitness.



Back home in the evening my wife suggested a family run, and so every member including my youngest daughter was at my usual running spot, and amazingly, she did 800 meters. Not bad for the first run of a 4 years old, really.

This is really one memorable Sunday in my life, not only did it motivate me to take a wider step in running towards my dream, it also marks a milestone in the family’s healthier lifestyle.

Guard Mounting

I planned this outing about 3 week ahead, not that I am too busy but because it only happen once a month. I also did not dare to keep my children inform worrying that they will be bordering me everyday before the event and worse if I have to postpone to the next month. Anyway, when I tell my friends about my plan, they all give a sarcastic smile and a very simple remark, “无聊”.

So, this is it, the Changing of Guard Ceremony at the Istana. This ceremony only happen on the first Sunday of every month.

There are people waiting at the place even earlier than us when we arrive at about 5 pm. I find a good spot for my family to view the ceremony before getting some drinks as we have to stand there for the next 45 minutes.



The old guards match to the main entrance and wait for the new guards’ arrival at 5.40 pm.




At 5.45 pm sharp, the Silent Precision Drill Squad leads the new guards match in with the company of the Military Band. The new guards then started taking over the duty from old guards.







The next thing is the rifle precision drill performance by the Silent Precision Drill Squad which last for about 5 minutes.




At the end of the drill performance, we come to the end of the ceremony as the old guards complete the handing over of duty to the new guards and match off with the military Band.

A New Dream

I started running nearly 3 weeks back, I have not been excising regularly since my R.O.D., so what have trigged this sudden change in my lifestyle? It happens in the last swimming session I had with my elder daughter. As she is still a beginner, I encourage her to challenge herself by swimming the length of the pool. While pacing her, I found that my stamina had deteriorated to an alarming level.

I was a good swimmer in my polytechnic days, I pass my Bronze Medallion test and was a part-time lifeguard of the swimming pool in the polytechnic. Those days were tough, I trained for 8 hour weekly, minimum of 2 km for warming up and 1 km for warming down, but I was at the pink of my health. Though the traning was meant for more advance certification, the Silver Cross, (the test system for lifesaving course have change since then) I did not go for it because of my final year examination.




Now, I have got my wife and my daughters to start running with me. And to give myself some encouragement and determination to continue and excel further, I brought myself a pair of last season’s Asics Kayano from Royal Sporting House for $160, I know it is funny but this is the first time I spent this much for a pair of running shoe. In fact, I did some research and ask around for advice before throwing in my money. I was quite surprise with the recommendations from my friends, brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Fila were not in the list, instead the popular suggestion were New Balance and Asics. Interestingly, I feel that the money was well spend after just one run, beside being comfortable, the aches on my knee and ankles have subside substantially.

I am now running 3 times a week and have more confident with my improving fitness. Being a non-runner half my life, I hope that soon, I would be able to run a half-marathon, maybe even a full marathon with my wife and children.

The Third Terminal

I was invited to an open house with my family on Sunday. It was a unique one, an open house of the Terminal 3, at the Singapore Changi International Airport.




The basic facilities were completed, but the whole place was undergoing renovation of the tenant’s shop lots. Being an engineering guy, the first thing I notice was of course the building services in the terminal. The roof of the building was covered with skylights which allow sunlight to penetrate and light up the place, there are very minimum light fittings in the main hall. Then there were air-conditioning outlet that is build very low above the ground, this contribute to energy saving since the system only need to cool the lower space where the human traffic is, rather than the whole hall which is easily 10 meters high. I also see more architectural features and lots of indoor plants at every corner as compare to terminal 1 & 2.





While my wife find the trip bore, I treat as just another family outing, the children and me enjoy ourselves take photo and playing catching in the big hall.

A Little Mishap

I got into an accident last night, actually someone got me into an accident. The SOMEONE banged into my rear bumper.

I end up spending my whole morning to settle my car repair in his recommended workshop at Sin Ming Road. Today is a hot day, I waited for the boss of the repair shop for half an hour, then I waited for him to confirm that the SOMEONE is going to claim his insurance for one and a half hour, and then I waited for another hour for the replacement car to arrive. It was like a nightmare right after you wake up in the morning. So to keep myself busy, I started taking these photos in the vicinity, really wander who’s the owner.



Anyway, I finally got my replacement car, a Toyota Camry. Quite high tech compared to my car, it took me quite a while to figure out how to adjust the driver seat. By the the way, that SOMEONE is one of SIngapore's national triathlete, I certainly hope that this incident will not in any way affect his training or performance for any upcoming event.

A CHILDREN’s Garden In Botanic

I was very tired yesterday. I did not get enough sleep the night before, and what welcomes at my work site me was intense task to be rushed. I intended to write about my Sunday trip to Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden with my kids, but my memory had failed me, that was why I am only writing it today. I learn about the garden only about a week back, and since my wife have a weekend assignment (road show), the trip would keep them occupied for the weekend and also give them a break before they settle down for their preparation of year-end examination.



As I was not familiar with this area, I parked at the car park near the Singapore Botanic Garden visitor center. Following the maps and the road signs, we walk about 20 minute to the garden within the park vicinity.



The greenery is something children cannot appreciate, while I enjoy my slow walk toward the garden, my kids would hassle me about the long walk and keep asking me, “我们到了吗?” So along the way I would talk to them about the plants, and took photos for them to kill their boredom.




The place is quite well planned for the children visitors. There is a controlled entrance which is guarded, the guard is meant to ensure that children in the garden are accompanied by adult since the entry is free. There are children’s toilets and drinking points, and the canteen is right outside the garden with little chairs and tables.






The garden is separated into many stations like water-play area, cave, suspension bridge, tree house, maze, etc. With its size and the variety of play area, it could easily keep the children busy for at least half a day, especially the water-play area. As I did not prepare extra clothing for the children, plus the weather was very sunny, we left the place after only 2 hours. Now, things got tough for me and the children, they were too exhausted to take the walk back to my car but there are not alternative, so the daddy (that’s me) has to lure, encourage, push and pull them along.



This is a picture of my youngest daughter learning how to drink from the water point on her own.



On the way back, we pass by the big pond where we had an encounter with the black swan.



When we reach the visitor center at last, we took a rest before we goes off. And we manage to spot and snap a picture of a squirrel hanging around our rest area.

Crab Story

How many ways of cooking a crab do you know? For most restaurants or coffee shops I know, it is normally about three to five ways. So it is going to be impossible to find one place that can cook your crab in say 10 ways, right? WRONG!!!



When I had my dinner here on Tuesday night, it was not so crowded, and I choose a smaller table right in front of the store, it so happen to be right in front of this light box which displays all the type of crabs they are offering. I came here quite often and never really realize they actually offer 16 types of crab dishes. If you are a crab lover, it is going to be tough on your pocket.

So far, I have only tried the Chilli, Black Pepper and Tang Hoon crab since it is the most common type of crab you can order anywhere without looking into the menu. But I will come back for more, some of them(the crabs) just look irresistible.

Family Day

My wife’s company had their family day last weekend at the SAFRA Resort. So our family was there for the whole of Saturday afternoon and evening.

We started with a swim with the kids in the pool. It reminds me of the life saving trainings in my poly days, it was tough. We trained twice, a total of eight hours a week, swimming close to a hundred laps every session. But sadly, swimming one lap now feels like a marathon.



After the swim, the kids join in the tele-match, magic show followed by barbeque dinner. My elder daughter was enjoying chocolate fondue so much she didn’t feel the chocolate flowing out from her month.