Home lunch

Lunch takes on a whole new meaning when you have the right company. Among my friends, who are themselves "trailing spouses" too, the home lunch model works very well...


Someone cooks lunch for everyone, some others chip in with dessert, fruit and what not. But what makes it so enjoyable is the chat in between helpings of muah chee, lychee, laksa and "tong sweh".

Free-flowing, frivolous, unfocussed chat. Mmm...nice.

Xi'an and back

Over the school break, we were in Xi'an (西安), popularly referred to as home to the Terracotta Army (兵马俑). It was a good four days joining a tour package booked online.

We visited quite a number of places and had a taste of Xi'an food, which we didn't quite like but overall, the trip was fine. Two particular spots stood out: the Terracotta Army and Hua Shan (华山).
I especially enjoyed the guided tour of the Terracotta Army. The Chinese guide brought to life the seemingly boring topic of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb. Even the boys were amused by the way he went about weaving fact with fiction.

Well, these were some of the interesting "facts" he shared about this ancient discovery (not really sure if everything was indeed true because he said it in a rather candid manner):

1) No two faces were alike, because the sculptors in those days would sculpt using a "partner" sculptor's face as model. So, it's you-sculpt-me, I-sculpt-you.

2) Despite the lack of modern tools and technology, the sculptures were considered to be of rather high quality. Apparently, this was because of their "quality control" system.

Sculptors had to inscribe their name on their creation and if any flaw/defect was discovered, he would be "poked" by a sword at the place where the defect was. Ouch!

3) All the soldiers' faces looked different but had one thing in common: single eyelids! The theory was that perhaps Qin Shi Huang himself had single eyelids^-^.

Well, so much for fictional fact. But it was truly quite interesting. Zern - the aspiring explorer and fossil digger - had lots to learn from this trip.

For Keane though, it was Hua Shan that made the trip worthwhile. The boy was so bent on climbing to the West Peak, the second higest peak.

From the cable car station, this route would mean walking countless steps for at least 4 hours. But on and on he went with his father, even when Zern and I stayed behind to rest.

So, my verdict: Xi'an is worth a visit. Just be prepared for the dust, tourist crowds and the not-so-familiar food.

Kids talk

Keane & Zern sometimes say things that are really amusing. Somehow, writing about them don't quite bring out the full essence. You must have the right setting, context and facial expression...use your imagination.

Scene 1:
The boys are now crazy about Star Wars and were watching the DVD movie series on Sunday, their only DVD day. It was getting to be way past their alloted time but they were so mersmerised. Yoda (the old looking wise one) was on the screen.

To get their attention, I did a Yoda-like line:

Me: Time to stop watching You must tell me.

Keane stared at me for a while blankly, and calmly replied...
Keane: Watch Mama, you must let us....

Smarty pants.

Scene 2
The boys are not allowed to watch Tv on weekdays but well, the father on it. An HBO movie was showing. A bloody scene was on.

Me: Didn't know they show such bloody scenes on HBO. (turning to boys) Are you all afraid...don't watch..or you might get nightmares later.

Zern: (eyes still fixed on screen) It's ok. It's just tomato ketchup.

Me: (like you know look)

Zern: Yes, it's true, you know.

Sigh....

Scene 3:
Zern has this very wriggly front lower tooth that just won't fall off. The new tooth is almost full grown and is behind this loose milk tooth. We've been trying all ways and means to wriggle it, pull it but it just doesn't want to come out.

Over dinner one night...

Papa (in great mock disgust): Zern, I just can't stand looking at your teeth. It's so ugly with the old crooked tooth and the new tooth behind it.

Zern (looking very forlorn): Don't say this kind of thing. It makes me very str-ess--ful. (said with great emphasis on the word "stress").

Think the boy picked up the word from a school project that his brother was doing on "mental stress" just a few days ago.