A Suzhou Christmas

Christmas is today but it felt like it happened a week ago.

Firstly, the boys already had their Christmas Concert a week ago and have been enjoying their Christmas break since then.

Also, our Suzhou extended family already had the Christmas gathering (cum gift exchange) more than a week ago. This was to make sure everyone could turn up. Almost everyone (except us) already made holiday plans and are now away from Suzhou.

The boys are really enjoying the presents, something they didn't have quite as much in Singapore. This was just a sample of the presents we received. So beautifully wrapped, aren't they?

We also did a little bit of decoration here and there around the house. And by some lovely concidence, our one remaining chilly fruit decided to turn to its true colour - RED! Even our red gloxinias bloomed. Red and green do make the house look more Christmasy.

So, here's wishing all our friends and family all the best things that money cannot buy....love, joy, peace and good health!

Ho Ho Ho....

Kids on kids

We were having a discussion with Keane and Zern over dinner one day. The topic was whether they want to have children when they grow up.

Zern: Nope. Don't think so.

Us: Why?

Zern: Because I want to be an explorer when I grow up.

Us: Oh, so having children makes your job difficult.

Zern: (Nodding).

Us: But you know, you can teach your child all about digging and stuff.

Zern: Maybe.

Us: What about you Keane?

Keane (with devilish grin): Yes, I want children.

Us (secretly happy with the answer): Oh. Why?

Keane: So that I can control them.

Us: Like we control you guys now?

Keane (same devilish grin): Yes.

Going home

Just the other day, someone asked me,"Are you going home?" after a lesson at yoga. My immediate response was,"Yes, going home. Anything on after this?" Actually, what the other party was asking was,"Are you heading back Singapore for the hols?" We had a laugh over "home" as in "home", or "home" as in "hometown".

A slight breakdown in miscommunication? Or perhaps it's just that I have begun to see "home" differently. Not that Singapore is not my home; it will always be my home country. Just that "home" conjures up images of a place where you immediate loved ones are, where your everyday life revolves and that place, at least for now, is in Suzhou.

By some strange coincidence, SL shares the same sentiments the past week even though he was not in Suzhou. He's been in Singapore for a business meeting, finding time to indulge in his favourite meepok and nasi lemak, and swimming outdoors under the sun (not cold and indoors like in Suzhou) too.

While he enjoyed (some of) the comforts of familiarity from back home, he couldn't help but comment that he missed too the nice cool weather of Suzhou, the family (us of course!), and surprisingly, the sense that things can change and do change here in Suzhou. Singapore seemed so "boring", in comparison.

Indeed, home is where the heart is.
But, more so, home also has to evolve as the heart evolves.

ZhangJiaJie 张家界

Last weekend was the boys' mid-term break, perfect for us to venture to another part of China. This time, to ZhangJiaJie.

Surprisingly, ZhangJiaJie doesn't seem to feature in my friends' travel plans. Most haven't even heard of it. But for us, it's another tick off our list of must-visit places in China.

Located in HuNan, ZhangJiaJie is a region of varied landscapes. So varied that you can be exploring a stalacite cave one day, mountain climbing the next and even strolling down river paths on another. It was tiring but the view was well worth it. Very thankful that the weather was fine throughout our trip.

"Yellow Dragon Cave" (黄龙洞）was the boys' favourite. They loved to awe at the stalacites and stalagmites, with the tallest standing at over 19 metres. It's still "growing" as water continues to drip on it. There's also a boat ride that brings you from one part of the cave to another. It is that big.

Next day, we went to the "Son of Heaven Mountain" (天子山). Sandstone peaks covered with lush vegetation greeted us. We took the cable car up, but decided to walk down. Over 7000 steps down. Aching calves and all but you get to see more this way.

Last and SL's favourite is the Golden Whip River (金鞭溪）hike. It was a simple walk along a well-built path beside a wondrous river -- reminds us of New Zealand's river sceneries. It took us more than 3 hours, rather long for the 7 km route. We rested many times because the boys were getting tired. Nonetheless, the breaks gave us the chance to soak in the views. Wished we had brought along our picnic mat and food!

We couldn't have managed to squeeze in quite so much without a local tour guide, a 20-ish chap from the local Tu tribe. According to him, local customs dictate that a guy is only considered a "worthy" man if he is afraid of his wife. The woman heads the household in ZhangJiaJie, apparently. And of course, the guide himself admitted he is very afraid of his wife-to-be.

Here's the only shot we have of him....he's the one on the left. (The one on the right...well, he's not afraid of his wife of course, or so he says:P.)

There're just so many pics of the place, so will put them up in Flikr. Soon.

Green or red chilly?

Much to the boys' joy, our first chilly plant has indeed borne fruit. However, the chillies failed to turn red. I distinctly remembered that we planted seeds from a red chilly! Think it's because we started late, around July. The boys and I have already made plans to start planting earlier next round, beginning late Spring. We've even decided on what to plant, ranging from cucumbers, tomatoes, to lemons and of course, chillies...

We're also quite pleasantly surprised by the purple Gloxinia plant. Its sleepy buds decided to rear their heads out perhaps coaxed by the cooler weather. Isn't it beautiful? I don't think I can ever grow that in Singapore's humid hot weather.

Of eggs and milk

Since shifting here, we've been cooking at least one meal everyday except on weekends. It's not easy to come up with new dishes and varying menus but at least, we tried.

Nowadays, the same question,"What should we eat today?" takes on a whole new difficulty.

First milk.

Now eggs.

Sigh...

Suzhou family

My Suzhou extended family. Even my own family wasn't that close.

Buffet's Wisdom

SL and I are big fans of Warren Buffet, as some friends know. In the midst of the gyrating share prices and economic news, I need and thrive on his wise words. This is an article recently on him.

NEW YORK: Legendary investor Warren Buffett has said he is buying American stocks and feels that fears regarding long-term prosperity of country's many sound companies 'makes no sense'. In an opinion column written in the New York Times, the billionaire investor said he "cannot predict the short-term movements of the stock market". "...I've been buying American stocks. This is my personal account I'm talking about, in which I previously owned nothing but United States government bonds," said Chief Executive of Berkshire Hathaway Buffett.

"A simple rule dictates my buying: be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors," he pointed out. According to Buffett, the financial world is in a mess, unemployment would rise in the near term and business activity would falter.

Writing in the New York Times, Buffett said "to be sure, investors are right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions". "But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nations many sound companies make no sense. These businesses will indeed suffer earnings hiccups, as they always have. But most major companies will be setting new profit records 5, 10 and 20 years from now," he asserted.

Pointing out that he does not have 'faintest idea' whether stocks would be higher or lower, Buffet noted, "what is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or economy turns up." He felt equities would almost certainly outperform cash over the next decade.

To heed his words is one thing.
To act on his words, well, let's just say it really takes nerves....

Osmanthus = Kwai

The weather's turning cool nowadays -- perfect weather for the fragrant osmanthus flowers to bloom.

KT - your namesake is permeating the air with a sweet smell that reminds me of Wrigley's spearmint chewing gum. Remember that smell?

Writing again...

Been busy writing again and my article appeared in an expats magazine. It was one of those meet-with-editor-and-the-article-got-accepted type of thing. Seemed like a breeze compared to what I had to go through in Singapore.

Speaking of Singapore, Jerome and Li Lian - hope you're reading this blog. Never thought I'd say this but I kind of missed those days fighting deadlines and working on the nth re-write. Maybe it's because I had you guys to take the brunt from the customers!
If I have never said this before, let me say it now,"It was a privilege to work with you guys...hang in there!"

Visit me someday...before I leave Suzhou for good. Ha.