My Fruity Muse

The wife has a colleague who sit next to her, who is a fruit aficionado. In case you are wondering he ain’t gay but lets not go there. She has been raving to me about these great fruits from Japan which cost an arm and a leg which are simply out of this world as well as some other exotic fruits, that this guy eats.

First there were the Japanese strawberries which did not impress me that much. The cost was pretty ok, it was not “arm and leg” sort but she insisted the more expensive ones are divine. I was not convinced. Then there was the Donut Peach. I first saw this in my office fridge, and I was utterly disgusted because it looked like a near rotten peach which had been left there to it’s own devices for a long time, which was the fate of quite a few items in this fridge. I even took a picture and looking at it could you blame me?

Eventually I learned they are meant to look that way and are indeed a proper fruit in its own right. So one day the wife brought some home (courtesy of the fruit aficionado) and so I tried them. The taste was “psycho”! Simply out of this world; juicy, sweet, fleshy and just wow! I was left with a rather ugly looking wrinkly nut at the end which was an expected end to a truly unexpected taste.

Then there was our date night when we went to Inagiku, which is a pretty fine Japanese restaurant in Singapore. The food was ok, and the wife told me the desserts are amazing so I ordered the Musk Melon, which the menu listed it at $30 (we have a 50% discount and hey its date night!). Thinking it was going to be something amazing! I was greeted with this, a measly single slice of melon with some fancy knife work . Sorry for the already eaten picture, it was after eating it, feeling super disappointed that I decided to capture it. Utter disappointment and overpriced. 

Continuing on our unintentional Japanese obsession and our Ramen dinner last night we decided to take a walk into the Japanese market. The wife grabbed this:

Looks like a simple bunch of grapes. Seeing the “Air Flown” sticker and a larger than normal grape globes I was expecting an unusual price. When the cashier rang it up it was $19.90, my eyes bulged at the wife.

She answered me, hey you always tell me how I don’t let you try these exotic fruits so there. I was skeptical to say the least. Reaching home I grabbed the camera to capture this momentous occasion of eating these 20 buck Kyoho grapes which is what they are to be exact.

Ever tried Bubble Yum Grape? Well that is exactly how these tasted but only better because it was an actual grape and not some chemical compound. The sweetness and the richness of the taste was surprising, to the point I suspected they were genetically modified. They aren’t. I could not eat them all because they were so sweet I felt my throat was getting scratchy and thought it best to save them bar risking a cough.

Now the wife says she wants to try the $80 bunch of grapes once Mojo is delivered. How about these babe!

Japanese Grapes: Only $900 a Bunch

M still skeptical

My Take on How to be a Better Father

I know this is premature but there is no way to fully prepare oneself for Fatherhood, so here are some pointers for where I am starting at:

1. Time – Children spell Love as T.I.M.E and this time is not spent in front of the TV or head buried in a laptop but quality time. Once they grow up there is no way of re-living the times lost. So before regret, establish that fatherly bond.

2. Love and Honour Moms – This is often forgotten but I feel it’s the most important, children are the best “mimicers” and if we show love, respect and honor towards our wives and their mothers, the child will know that 1) people are to be treated with respect and 2) when they grow up they know how to treat their partners.

3. Be the example – We can talk/lecture all we want to but, if we as fathers do not practice what we preach we are pointless. Kids physically grow up but mentally and emotionally they grow up by learning from us. We need to be the guide in a world without boundaries.

4. Hug them as often as you can – As men, we are often shy to show affection but, children have an uncanny knack of bringing on smiles. So don’t hold back on the affection; let go and show them your soft side, there will be time for seriousness when it is required.

5. Have Fun – Although this list may sound serious, the idea is to not talk things too seriously. Learn from them, as they will teach us invaluable lessons that no one else can. We need to show them, that we are happy and not stressed over needless things. Have fun no matter what!

6. Let Go and Let God - Fatherhood can be lonely. What are we to do when there is no one to turn to in tough situations, there is no father to the father. But with God as my eternal father in whom, I can always turn to when I am lost and He will show me the way in all things.

Honestly, I know these 6 points are certainly not exhaustive and I will be the first one to put my hand up and say that I am a NOOB as there is no way I know it all. But somehow I felt the need to put these points down following some research on the subject to which, I was surprised to find very little.

So what else do you reckon does it take to be a good father, chime in and teach me.

M Learning

TED: Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity

For people who have not heard of TED, here is an infomercial by Majimoblogs.com; “TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.”

To me TED as the tagline says, are “Idea worth spreading”. Its basically a collection of presentations by some noted individuals in their fields taking about ideas, concepts, discoveries and to me this is just plain entertaining and mind opening.

Today as I was watching, I came across a presentation done by Sir Ken Robinson. He was talking about how schools and conventional education can kill creativity. He being a creative expert who is challenging the way schools are educating our kids, is I think really worth a listen, trust me its quite entertaining. Moreover he is not the only sucessful person who have said this.

What hit me though, was in the last part of his talk, he gave an example of how children, get misunderstood and get an illness like ADHD or ADD “conferred” on them following which they are categorized and boxed. I really hate this practice and I completely reject it! I believe if I was born today, I would be one of these kids who would get categorized, boxed and classified as “different”. My life might be quite different from the way it is today and I can say this for quite a few of my friends as well. Anyways, do have a listen:

M Exploring

thekitchn.com and other stuff

Ok one of my hidden obsessions or rather loves is home decor. Yes I have said it, I like to read home decor magazines and books, surf home improvement sites, etc (not the Tim “the tool time” handyman kind) but more the design type of thing. This dormant passion was discovered when I was in Penang for a week and I spent the whole week reading (being completely absorbed to it; mind you) cover to cover one issue of Home Beautiful Australia and from there I have managed to incorporate it into our JK home, personally quite proud of these design features.

Coming back to the subject, I found this site called thekitchn.com and I think it is a really great site and I wish you guys do take some time to check it out, especially you home lovin folks, you know who you are. There are quite a few interesting reads and tips. But the other stuff that makes this site cool is that it has 5 sub-sites in the same flavor but different cuisines. Here are the 5 sites with their tags and it’ll give you the idea:

1. thekitchn.com – inspiring cooks. nourishing home
2. apartmenttherapy.com – saving the world one room at a time
3. ohdeedoh.com – home, design, children
4. unplggd.com – smarter homes. fewer wires
5. re-nest.com – abundant design for green homes

Ok the last one I am not quite there to be called Green…green per say, as my philosophy is better to save the people that the planet, the planet will be here forever in whatever shape or form but the people. (ok mini rant off).

So tinker down to any of the 5 sites, whatever your thingy might be and have a see, I am looking here for some inspiration to get some new elements into the home. As the wife says, we need to do something everyday to make the home beautiful.

M decor

Walking the Nakasendo

I found this blog, via another friend’s blog and I was totally blown away by the task that this blog is dedicated to. Basically he is going to be, as his blog is entitled, “Walking the Nakasendo”. Nakasendo is an ancient highway linking Edo (modern day Tokyo) and Kyoto. So for 20 days in April and for 546KM, he will be walking it, alone!

Personally, the idea is so different and so cool. I was completely enthralled by the blog and the commitment and preparation involved to achieve this, so much so, that I spent half a day reading every blog entry. As I read, I was imagining the solitude of the walk, though solitude can be “growth enhancing”, but for 20 days it can be tough but I am sure at the end the rewards will be irreplaceable. Gives me the motivation to make the Karakoram Highway dream a reality.

What also adds to the blog, are the pictures that have been taken during the training process, not of the training itself but the views and images seen along the way, that have struck a chord in me. Simple captures but really amazing shots and perspectives. I really look forward to more pictures from the epic walk. Seriously kudos to you for making public housing look so good!

Honestly, they need to be seen to be believed and the fact that we both work in Science Park, the images have inspired me to cycle around the area although I think walking is sometimes better, as I have to contend with morning rush hour which is not always safe but then again, I have always been the dramatic cyclist, so best to stick with what I know best.

So my friend, as you embark on this solo quest, I would like to call forth upon you, His provisions of blessings and safe journey on your walk, may He protect you and watch over you each step of the way, as we look forward to seeing you back home with more pictures and stories to enthrall us all some more.

M a fan!

31DBBB

Say what? Its “31 Days to Build a Better Blog”. Oh…I see.. Huh?

Ok quite simply what I have done, is that I have registered for an online challenge started by Problogger, which by the way is good blogging resource. The idea here is to build a better blog, that people will come to, read and enjoy.

Yes, this blog still remains a very ME thing, but the idea is also to have more social interaction with the online community and to discover people experiencing life the way we all do in their own unique ways.

The challenge, is not against anyone neither is it a competition but it is more to improve on my ever-changing blog. This also goes in line with my Change Initiative as well as the underlying reason of my blog that is to search for new discoveries and experiences.

So you can stand and watch the changes or if you want to join 31DBBB. There is not much to it.

M Changing Again!

One Minute Writer

I recently started following a blog called the One Minute Writer. I found the concept rather interesting. I think we all have at some point had a prompting to write something, it could have started with writing in a diary about the day's events or could have been random notes jotted down somewhere. I used to love to write down these thoughts when I was on the bus but since I drive that opportunity has gone but the love of writing is still there and inspiration is everywhere.

So back to the One Minute Writer; what it does is that it gives a daily prompt and from this prompt we are to write whatever within one minute, if you take longer go ahead. The idea is to get the words flowing. If it lasts a minute so be it, if it lasts an hour, then it does ya. The adage is "You have 1440 minutes a day. Use one of them to write".

M writing

Haiizz

After posting all the pictures below, I realise that Blogger.com renders pictures really badly. The quality of these precious images looks crap and the true emotive conveyance is lost. Oh well, take my word for it lah, they are great pictures.

M pixelated.

Cheap but Good

Whenever I come to India there are only a few things that I buy to bring back home. One of the things I love to buy is books. It may be surprising but India has such a wide and large selection of cheap and good books. Best of all, there are books that you cannot find back home. Cheap you say?? Let me break it down for you. I bought 10 books, and I am talking full length novels here for SGD 65, all brand new and some are even new arrivals.

I have found that Indians being a literally expressive race have an unsurprisingly great selection of authors and the number of Indian Booker Prize winners to tantalize the avid reader. And of course there is R.K. Narayan who is one of my favorite Indian authors. My total selection was 15 books, yeah excessive you may say, at least I have got my reading for the next 2 years sorted out.

M Booked

Food glorious food

Well to most outsiders when you think of travelling to India and food, the result is very often "Delhi Belly".

Yeah the foods dirty, it's not cooked properly, it's not fresh or it's not beef it's actually dog are some of the terms I heard being tossed around.

I disagree!

Food here is wonderful. The flavours are amazing and if you love Indian food then this place would be heaven. But strong ceaveat - EAT WITH MODERATION.

Overeating is usually the cause for stomach issues and if you ever do get food poisoning it's probably because you've drunk contaminated water. So stick with bottled water or what they call here as Bisleri. So travel without fear and enjoy.

M eating
(pics to follow as soon as I get a proper wifi; using illegal wifi at a shopping centre)

Whattha Bargain!

I have always wanted a pair of Asics that can be used for everyday use. I love the sports shoes and I have been using them for a long time.

Unfortunately, I can't bring myself to buying a pair of shoes for $200+. So just my luck that I managed to find a warehouse sale at Suntec, where I got these babies at 40 bucks! Whattha Bargain!

M Onitsuka

My old room

The other day I went back to Mayflower (my home since birth till marriage) to work on my parents’ computer and as I sat in my old room waiting for some files to be copied, I soaked in my old room. Although this was not always my room, it was the last abode I occupied till I moved out. Now, the room is clean and stark unlike how it used to be, cluttered and lived in. It was like my one room house. Everything I needed was there, I never had to leave this place, except for bio and food breaks.

It was a place of security where I shed tears, shared laughs with my friends and family, it was a place I ran to, my refuge. Do I miss it? Well no, not really. I am in love with my new home in Jalan Kayu. But I do love to reminisce of the carefree times that I spent in that room, discovering myself and becoming one with myself. It does not look much now, it’s a little brighter of course but it now looks almost clinical except for the curtains.

M wandering.

ICB

So what do those acronyms bring to mind? Ice Cold Beer, well perhaps but recently I came engaged in this acronym with a very different expansion (by the way that is the correct term to use with reference to acronyms – not just entertaining but educational as well...SO FULL!)

It's the International Children's Bible and the one I am raving about in particular is The Illustrated Bible. I mean "WOW!" if I had this as a kid I think my life would have been very different. It's illustrated like a comic book but the words are in actual Bible verse with chapter and verse numbers. It's so cool and for people who really do not like to read from their Bibles or rather who are afraid to start becase they fear they might get lost, this is a great alternative.

Highly recommended, the Bible comes ALIVE!! Brilliant, I say!!

M Feeding!

[Picture courtesy of Thomas Nelson]

Mobile blogging - Take 2

Okay first attempt was less than sucessful. Was it the usual mail
server problem or what?

Let's see attempto secondo.

Thanks,

Marcel