Woken Up Before September Ends

Wake me up when September ends...

Wow, it is already September. It does not even feel like August have passed but it did. What has been going on in my life?


We are living in a world too fast to immerse ourselves in living life. Have you ever felt that some days passed by so fast that you feel that you should slow down? Slowing down is not bad thing really. I feel that these days we are too absorbed in achieving something so quickly we ignore life simple pleasures like sleeping or eating which spirals down to stress and unhappiness. So if you are feeling stressed, think of the last time you had a really good sleep or a hearty meal!

Speaking of meal...

This coming early November will be Singapore River Festival, and do not get confused to Singapore River Regatta! Although these two events are happening in November, they are two different events! I am putting in effort to gain mass or in gym terminology - bulk for Singapore River Regatta.

Singapore River Festival is the best time to try new food and consequently achieve my goal of gaining weight. I know how I have been jokingly complaining that I look fat but honestly, I do not like looking skinny. I will gladly not watch my calorie intake at Singapore River Festival. What is it all about anyway?

Happening this coming 4-5 November, Singapore River Festival 2016 features a stellar line up of performances, art and exciting activities where three quays at the Singapore River (Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay) will come together in celebration with a kaleidoscopic line-up of exciting activities. There, you could witness imaginative art installations and breathtaking performances by renowned local and international artists, sample the best food and drink along the river.

In conjunction with this festival, SR Signatures confers its annual accolade on restaurants along the Singapore River who serve up gastronomical wonders to their customers. This connect visitors to the River through food and provide them with the opportunity to tantalise their taste buds while exploring the sights and sounds of the festival. Out of 21 winning dishes this year, 15 if them are from new winning restaurants!

This year’s theme, Where Chefs Eat, highlights the gourmet choices of the chefs and aims to share their expertise with visitors of the event. Visitors can enjoy the opportunity to pit their taste buds against these chefs and decide for themselves how much they enjoy the dishes. It is also part of the Singapore River Festival experience to stimulate all their senses during the festival. Speaking of an experience that engages the five sense, it is hard to miss out your sense of taste!


Subsequently would be the 34th Singapore River Regatta happening on 5-6 November. We are in the midst of preparation and my school team is recruiting for paddlers as the new season starts. If we are in the same school and you would like to try out and paddle alongside with us, feel free to do so! We have great facilities, great coach and great team so it is hard to let it miss in your school life!

We recently won a second place at the Austcham 10km race and given such short preparation time, I guess it was pretty commendable. We did our best! The best part during race was this one swift turn we made in front of Fullerton Bay Hotel then overtook one of our competitors.


Anyway, I just had to screenshot this for some self-degrading joke. I have been dreaming to have this kind of shot taken really but just look at the slab of sunblock on my face! Good thing that Oakley was on because that part was totally a different shade!


That race was somewhat special to me because majority in the boat were my batch mates. I was happy to get silver, but happier because of the people I completed the race with!


It was due to Austcham too I have converted to a carbon fibre paddle. I know it might be disapproving to some but it is not that I was seeking to change! If it could be of any consolation, I still keep my wooden paddle just in case! Some would agree with me that transiting from the wooden paddle to the carbon fibre one gives you a sense of empowerment. Maybe because it is black, or the fact that it is lighter and pricier but not many share with you how annoying it is to have so many pantang (taboos) for the carbon fibre paddle. Due to its brittleness, I cannot treat it as recklessly as the wooden paddle.


New members are coming into the team and it is heartening to see their interest. While I am still searching for some enlightenment, I am grateful some of the alumni are coming back to help out. Paddling is no dance that requires many movement but the technique to one stroke is key in doing the minimum to get the maximum!


Recently, I had a birthday dinner with my friends at this hidden cafe called The Malayan Council. I call it hidden because I got lost along the way! The cafe features a fusion of Western and Southeast Asian delicacies like Gado-Gado Salad, and Fish and Chips with Asam Pedas sauce. It is definitely rare to find such amalgamation of east meets west menu even in upmarket restaurants. The Malayan Council although small in size, serves big portion that probably could feed two. It depends on how much you could stomach in! It was no problem for me because I went with cafe-visiting addict and the other who gobbles up everything in her path, and of course yours truly who is trying to fit a size XS to S. Honestly, I would gobble up everything too but when it comes to food, I am most of the time shy really...

I am shameless at buffets, woops.


A few days later, I was at the official announcement of Singapore Writer's Festival 2016 thanks to BlackBook Asia. Being one of society's upper echelon is not all about skin-deep, brain is important too!

The Singapore Writers Festival started in 1986 as a biennial festival. Now held yearly, the festival is a much anticipated event on the cultural calendar, presenting the world’s major literary talents to Singaporeans while shining a spotlight on home grown and Southeast Asian creative talents. Over the years, the Festival has become an exciting meeting point of writers, academics and thinkers in a choice spread of panel discussions, workshops, lectures and performances in 10 days. It has hosted literati the likes of Nobel Prize winner Gao Xingjian, Whitbread Book Awards First Novel winner Tash Aw, British poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Nebula winner Neil Gaiman and Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham.

The Singapore Writers Festival is one of the few multi-lingual literary festivals in the world, celebrating the written and spoken word in Singapore’s official languages – English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. This year, the Festival will be housed in the Civic District amongst historic buildings such as The Arts House, The National Gallery and the Asian Civilisations Museum.


I am so glad that in my busy life trying to strike a balance, I am powered by great sports nutrition products carried by EPN Singapore! So this September, show your support and love by using promo code ZY 10 for 10% discount! Sometimes I get really tired before going to gym and the pre-workout got me all perked up! Likewise, with all natural protein by NutriWhey, it has been helping me big time with my recovery. It gives me a boost of motivation knowing that EPN has got my back! No more worries about lack of recovery, hydration and what not. EPN has got it all covered!


I am pretty much ready to load up my big guns especially we are moving towards the end of the year! So many exciting things to share with you guys!


It is sad to see our old car gone at the scrapyard. Honestly hate the slow pick up but I just love the volume of this car. I just love big cars. I enjoy seeing myself driving something big, because it allows me to have a look what is coming ahead and have a better view of things. Although, the trouble always come at corner turns. Annoying, really.


I also took the time to shop for art. It is not a need obviously but some parts of the wall is best to be filled with something colourful and mesmerizing. While there is no hurry, I am just looking out to see what is in the market.

The trouble is, I want it to be unique, momentous, significant, big and of course at a reasonable price. How?

Thank you H for accompanying me! It is really good to see your best friend back in town after so long!


By the way, I will be at OCBC Square this Saturday, 10 September for a charity walkathon! Bare Your Sole is Habitat for Humanity Singapore's annual barefoot walkathon that aims to raise awareness for those living in poverty around the world where going barefoot is a daily reality. As a wellness and charity advocate, I will be participating this walkathon with Habitat Champions and 6,000 other participants! A mile without shoes is less than a tip of the iceberg for destitute of people that are struggling for basic needs. Walk with me, see you there! You can find out more here