Getting a Pac of 林志元

With Chinese New Year around the corner, one of the things to always do during this period of time is to get New Year Goodies....One of them is "Bak Kaw" 

Came over to Chinatown to get it from the Famous store -   林志元. Am also getting for my best Friend - Alvin for him to score with his love's Family.

Chinese New Year is just around the corner, The streets and shops around the area are all decorated up with Chinese New Year Decor.

The Crowd is really amazing. Even though the Slice Version is already sold out. People still Q for the left-over pieces...aka small pieces. Since I am already here. I decided to Q for it anyway. it is cheaper  @ $41. The normal Slice Version is $46. It should reach $48 later in the week when the Lunar New Year is near.

I think I Q like 2hrs before I reach their Shop-front. Phew....

Though there is this "runner" walking back and fro telling people that the Slice Pork have been sold out. I wonder why they don put this sign further up to prevent any frustration...

Every year, the street of chinatown will be filled with these mascot, for his year, 2010, it is the year of the tiger. So we have all these golden "Cat" on sale....look pretty cute!!

Lot of these prosperity decor on sales as well.

Lunar New Year is also a start of spring. How can spring be without Flowers...though these are fake flowers....it is hard for flowers to last long in humid Singapore

I wonder if they really painted the building this color for the festive season. It have been a really long time since I been in Chinatown. (>than a year)
It is the only season of the year where oranges from the US or Australia loss out to their counterparts in Taiwan and China.

The Variety of things to buy for the Lunar New Year is what attracted people to come all the way from different parts of the country

From biscuits and cakes to...

Dried food stuff

Took the opportunities to walk the street of Chinatown with Alvin and his love. The most priced and worthwhile experience must be the reward from the 2 hours Q for sliced Pork

Probably the first time having this in our house for Lunar New Year. May the coming 2010, the year of the Tiger be a year filled with blessing and happiness. 

First Run of 2010 - Men's Health - Urbanathlon

This is my most costliest Run to date($128)...but it is the first time I Participate in a run with Obstacles. Honestly speaking, I wasn't in the best shape coming into the run with little training in the Gym to strength my Arms and strength.

Suppose to run it with a friend, but he somehow is moody again so....I proceeded to the venue myself....(thinking he probably have someone running with him).


I arrive pretty early at the race and waited a while for the race to start at 7.30am. Saw "Emu" coming along moody so kinda ignored him.

The Race was flag off in waves and I was kinda in the middle wave to start off. Taking part in the run have a different feeling to it. First time in a race, I have to forgo my Ipod and Camera due to the coming obstacles that involves water and mud. But honestly speaking, I am more afraid of the corporate wall. 

First Obstacle , I thought this must be the most easy of the obstacle. Clear it in a breeze, Leap off over it

The 2nd Obstacle, Corporate Ladder, involve climbing up the hill @ Fort Canning Park. This does get tough as I hated running up slopes...and honestly, this is a very long slope. After coming down, Legs almost wobbly and it also include climbing up 2 Overhead Bridge, one for coming into the park, the other for exit back to City hall area
The 3rd Obstacle, Walk Street, this was the obstacle I was most worried, but turn out the walk was lower than I thought. Make a little more effort than the first obstacle, but still manage to clear it easily.
Obstacle 4 was the station I most underestimated it. Beside the super long Queue that results in at least a 30min wait, I was unable to even pass 2.5m into the 5m monket bar. Did have enough Arm power and I should have taken the penalty of 5mins instead of retrying it which I still failed to clear. I think I wasted like at least 45mins here....
This Obstacle was located just infront of Monkey Bar. Just need to climb into the tunnel and exit from the other side.....They call this Tunnel Vision.
They call this Tyre out...as in Tired out. By then, Obstacle 6, which is at the Singapore Flyer , I am already dead tired. But luckily this was that tough.
We make a loop toward the end of the Kallang River before we see the last two obstacles that will make you wet follow by dirty. Obstacle 7 - Leap of Faith is to Leap into a pool of water and in the process getting yourself super wet. My shoes and short are all soak by the time I came out of the Obstacle and is really uncomfortable to run now...The only good thing is it is cooling now...lol
The Last Obstacle - Down and Dirty is where u get super dirty by crawling through a puddle, infact, it is a pool of muddy water. I tried my best to be as clean as possible by lifting my back as high as I could, but it is in vain...My short and shoes turn brown and covered with mud from bottom down, including my hands.

It is another 2.2Km run back to the finishing line. I can see the Cleaner of the park or the route toward Marina Bay will probably be complaining about us making their day,

I finally completed the run in a embarrassing 2hrs and 5mins excluding the 5mins penalty I clock for failing to clear the monkey bar. It was a good experience and it does tell u how fit you actually are, and my timing tell me I got alot of training to do.

The Board where participates took photos with are now filled with mud from after the run

Did have the chance and mood to take photos at the Nikon Booth. It will be good if there are friends running the race with you.....The photos are fun!!!
The Bad thing about the Run must be the number of shower point make available to runners. There are only 2. You can see why the Queue is so long. I did even bother to use it. I was myself up at the Marina Square Toilet and I am sure the management of Marina Square is going to be very angry by the state of the toilet.

My shoes is beyond repair....super dirty and smelly, and my clothes will probably need to be separately washed as well.

I seen comment on the Forum that there is a petition of a finisher Tee considering how expensive this race is...Let hope 2011 events will be a better manage one as well.. For Sure I will be at 2011 Edition. This race is fun and challenging.

Safari Zoo Run 2010

This is the First Race I am doing with My long Time Friend, We known each other for over 10 years already. Alot of changes since we started working together in the Same Company, 5 years back.

The Run we sign up together wasn't any big runs or marathon, infact, it is only about 6km long.

The different thing about this race is that it is the first time, we have a race @ the Singapore Zoo. It is being Organise in memory of Ah Ming who die 4 years ago. Part of the funds are also going to be use for taking care of the endangered animals in the Zoo,

Alvin came together with Love....it a rather hot day to run though. The Run start at 4.30pm.

Moments before the run!!!

I Realize that there is quite a number of people running the Race. Though it is lesser than most race I run before. It can get quite crowded as the zoo Road are not as wide as we thought.

But the bonus is that we can to see Animal in their living environment while running.

Almost to the ending point!!!

Last 100m!!!

Race as fast as I could to the Finishing line...Completed in 39mins.....super lousy timing consider I can do my 5km in 30mins...

There is a big Concourse for the runners to rest after the fun Run. Also alot of people are queuing up for the freebies

As Alvin's Love help us "Guard" our bags...we kinda skip this altogether. So it is very good of the organizer to setup the baggage in such a small place. Though I can't really judge the service quality.

The Freebies...include a bag, a Red packet and a drink....quite ok for the price...

KFC Lunch...yummy!! Lucky to have found seats in the Restaurant.

The Safari Run 2010 is a rather fun run. Though it is non-competitive. Found it worthwhile as it include a visit to the zoo. It is especially suited for Family to spend a day @ the Zoo. But they have to come in early as the BiB only allow entry from 1pm.

Dad birthday 2010

We celebrate Dad Birthday 67th Birthday on the 31-Jan @ Sherator Tower Hotel, The Dinning Room,  Buffet High Tea. It is a rather Posh place

High Ceiling and a beautiful Garden at the back with waterfall.

There wasn't a crowd when we arrived. Baby Xuan got her special set of utensil for the buffet.

Mum and Dad getting Ready to eat and explore the Buffet options available.

Group Photo before starting !!!

Family Photo shot courtesy from the waiter @work

Of all food in a Buffet, I am particularlly interested in their Cakes and dessert Section. It is quite a spread.nonya Food, Nouya Food have make headlines ever since the MediaCorp Drama - Little Nouya
Donno what they call it. But Basically, it is flour with Coconut fillings...super sweet

Oreo Cake !!!

Marble Cake

Cream Puff, High Class!!!

Nouya Dessert upclose!!

Pandan Cake!! in a small cube

They even have Foudue....Chocolate...I Like but not the mus mellow 

The superstar of the Buffet, Durian Moose!!

Fruits Dessert, Appetizing Longans!!!

This is the Special Order Lava Cake... Sweet and Sinful...haha..but nice

 It is not call a buffet if it doesn't have the Chinese stir Fried Offering.

We have Fried Fish Roll.....

Some "WuXiang" to begin with...and alot of others Chinese stuff...but was running a little full to try all of them

Xuan Really have a very good time @ her first Buffet.

The Overall Experience @ The Dinning Room was rather OK. Not the best Buffet yet. Was actually drawn here because of the Durian

Baby Xuan is near her bed time as she is asking for her favourite pillow...