Monday, June 9, 2008 by Allan in Allan's Thoughts, General Blog Posts, Really Nice Food

Wow, time flies when you are really enjoying. Its has been a great 14 days… We did quite a lot of things actually. Lots of fun within the big group this time, moving out in 2 cars, walkie talkie-ing to ensure that we don’t break contact, shopping for designers clothes at crazy, crazy “whoops” prices, lots of eating eating eating (i think i put on 1-2kgs in LA, quite a few Singaporean friends noticed), lots of get together at friends’ places, chit chats and playing games…. Very eventful, I wonder when will we be able to do something like that again.

Actually not very ready to blog about all the events as yet, just want to do a brief summary to inform our readers about our updates.

Well what happened during this trip:

i) DnA reunion after 7 long weeks of physical separation. Yes!! Lots of PDAs were displayed on that day and rest of the holidays. It was a very difficult 7 weeks for us, the longest period of separation since our wedding. Of course we are glad its over and we did learn a lot from it - We don’t want to be separated again!

ii) We reunion with a big group, 1st, Uncle Simon and Auntie Shirley (thank you Uncle Simon for the ride during the holidays) who flew in from Chicago, the last time I saw them was some 2 years ago at SnK’s wedding. Next gathering was with our hosts, Auntie Hannah, Auntie Cathy and Uncle Titus. It was the 1st time Mama see Auntie Hannah, and almost a year since she and I both saw Auntie Cathy and Uncle Titus. Next was Yee Por and Auntie Karen and Auntie Annette, and we got the chance to meet Auntie Annette’s family, Uncle Tom, Mark and Matthew as well.

iii) Met Uncle Kenny and Auntie Josephine, who hosted us by letting us stay at their lovely home and that tasty yummy cake! Its a pity we could not spend more time interacting with them, but would do so the next time we go to LA.

iv) Played Call of Duty on Xbox, thanks to Mark (fantastic gameplay and coaching)!! Played on Wii Sports and got into a tiny bowling playing against my wife and Mama, most importantly majority cheered on my opponents, leaving Uncle Tom and Kobe supporting me. Great fun even though I lost both matches!

v) Went to Universal Studios before the big fire burnt part of the studios.

vi) Went to Grand Canyon, one of the world’s Seven Wonders! One down 6 to go! Actually there are so many wonders of the world…

vii) Went to Las Vegas - possibly one of the wonders too - something so amazing created out of a desert!

viii) Went back to Fisherman Outlet for the fantastic food! Hungry now!! Anyone who goes to LA should go there, seriously!

ix) Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive (where “Pretty Woman” was filmed)

x) Crystal Cathedral, the grand ceremonial memorial sunday service. Very touching war stories, my favorites.

xi) Touch Pacific Ocean again.

xii) Almost win the jackpot! Just short of 2 “Js” to fill the screen with “Js”. Proof

Meantime take a look at our pictures at facebook.

Many many more, just not possible to list them all, or I m just too lazy to do it. Just wait for our blog posts!! At least after this Friday, when my wife is returning to Singapore!

Oh also would like to thank our hosts for their hospitality and wonderful wonderful reception. Auntie Hannah, Auntie Cathy, Auntie Josephine, Uncle Titus and Uncle Kenny (as he prefer to use just his name), thank you for everything.

Ok before this post becomes too long-winded, I better stop now. ~Take care and have fun!

Friday, April 18, 2008 by Allan in Allan's Thoughts, General Blog Posts, Some Nice Quotes

Many people wonder how someone can just open their eyes underwater just like that. Does it not hurt? Can you actually see clearly underwater? The truth is, it is really easy to do it and it does hurt, and you actually do not see everything as clearly as out of water. Visibility is within 10 metres if its clear water with good light.

I used to be afraid of opening my eyes underwater. I supposed its an instinctive thing. Since young, I have never dare to open my eyes when it comes in contact with water, shampooing, swimming, water bombs or even when I was training to become an SAF lifeguard (we were allowed to use goggles).

It was only until when I was training to become a lifeguard under the Cardiff Council that I have made myself learn how to open my eyes underwater. It wasn’t easy to make that big step. I have to fight the 24 years old instinctive response, and force my eye muscles to open it wide. I had to practise at home in the bathtub. I did it in the end only because of survival instinct.

I love my then girlfriend a lot, and we really wanted to make our relationship work. So we decided that I had to go and stay in UK to let her family to get to know me better and also for her and myself to know each other better, earn some money and get married.

And that time I was working at a bakery. Not earning a lot unless I go for overtime work shifts. Then one day, I saw a notice about training to be a lifeguard, and potential earnings of a lifeguard is better than that of a bakery worker. So went on to take on the training, since I thought I went thru the SAF lifeguard training, and I am medic trained so basic life support will be really easy. Everything was easy until 1st day of training, we were told we cannot use goggles for the lap tests and rescue tests.

And because of that survival instinct, telling me I want to quit the bakery work, and I have to have a skill to earn better pay, that I went to push myself to open my eyes underwater. Before you know it, I was swimming like a dolphin underwater, literally. I could swim better and faster without the goggles, in actual fact.

So I think it was survival instinct and love that gave me the strength to overcome the fear of water into my eyes. I truly thinks that love can create miraculous things. The power of love can really change someone.

So how do you open your eyes underwater? My tips: Simply just hold your breath and open your eyes underwater, initially for a split second, then a few seconds, and then you will be able to open whenever you want for however long.

Today I am gonna share this nice little love quote.

“Love is what you make it and with whom you make it; it is what it is.”

I love you my wife. Thank you for your inspirations and support all this while and knowing that you will continue to inspire and support me. Let’s open our eyes under the water that lays ahead of us.