To perk up the weekend fun, I organized for CP and I to visit Pulau Ubin last Sunday. The plan was to lay off the work outs and just do a leisure bike around a nature reserve. You see, since Monday the week back, all we've done is work out.
My schedule went like:
Monday: Hot Yoga class true yoga
Tuesday: RPM class fitness first + weights
Wednesday: Cardio + Weights
Thursday: Body Combat fitness first + Weights
Friday: Cardio + Weights
Saturday: swim 20 laps
CP had almost the same routine save for Monday and Saturday.
My Sunday idea was a leisure bike through some tropical rain forest with mostly even and flat terrain. I didn't expect Pulau Ubin to be hilly and offer off road bike trails with steep climbs and steeper descents! Some even had loose gravel paths where I slipped and feel off the bike twice!
Overall, it was a good and fun and adventurous experience! Would like to try it again next time...but maybe with a helmet on. We were able to explore most of Pulau Ubin within that day. They also had wetlands with mangrove boardwalks as well as coastal boardwalks. A lot of things to do and good food to have after.
I would say that it's more of a barkada destination rather than a family one though.
I had no intention of going to a concert. That day, I would have much rather preferred to be at home, reading/reviewing for an exam than raving. But, circumstance made it such that I had to. CP's friends cancelled on going so CP had no one else to go to Swedish House Mafia with. The ticket I had that was supposed to be sold to someone else (because like I said I didnt want to go) had to be used by myself. CP found other friends to give the tickets off to.
Dont You Worry Child Parts 1 and 2
To say the least, it was AWESOME! Despite the absence of alcohol in the system, it has got to be one of the best rave sessions! Better than the Guetta experience we went to last year. Mosh Pit tickets ran out, but regarless, the experience was equally (or maybe even better) fantastic. It was beyond warm where we were at, I couldn't imagine the heat in the mosh pit - or even the smell! :-)
It's a dark and twisted world. You begin to wonder God's intention.
God sent you someone who changed you for the good, gave you happiness and provided you a stage to put into motion freedom, liberty and acceptance. But, then they fucked up.
Is God telling you to leave, get your moral lessons, escape and move on? Or is God telling you, here's a person who is capable of good, promising to change for the better and actually have done and enacted steps to change - stick by, forgive as they repent?
All along, I thought and felt it was over. It was. CH147: When It's Over. But, when you love somebody, you do. You see them cry in front of you. You see them beg. Your defences crumble.
You call your family and inform them that you booked flights to NZ last minute. You talk to them. They are of course concerned. You start to cry in the boarding area talking to your mum, hearing her say "Oh, so that's why I couldnt sleep until 3am." You start to cry sitting on the aisle seat of your SQ flight. (Feeling embarrassed that a retired couple sitting beside you had to interrupt your "moment" so they can go take their seats). You head straight to the toilet to cry some more when your playlist unexpectedly went on to playing "On My Own" from Les Miserables. You cry because in your heart, it should be over. You cry to let the emotions out. You cry to grieve. You cry because in your mind it is over. You cry because flashes of memories come. You cry because you loved somebody so much, it hurts to let go. But you cry nonetheless because you know then and there you should.
And then the next day comes. You arrive in NZ. You're surprised by an email. An email from somebody who you told off to stop contacting. It was a response to your separation email. You feel sad. You get a feel of their sorrow, their regret, their longing. They plead. They promise to change. They want you back. They say it would make them the happiest if you can give them another chance.
You think over the weekend. You don't think over the weekend and just relax and enjoy your family's company. You plan your future for yourself. But then a thought hits you.
You're back in SG after a visit to NZ and the Shire (CH148: New Zealand Escape). You were surprised when you read another email from them. In summary: "Look, I don't know what we decided on meeting or not once you arrive - but, I dont remember, so I'm going to wait for you in the airport when you land." You're surprised as you read the message while waiting for your luggage to come out. You get your luggage, and surprise surprise, you see them waiting there for you. Looking sad. Looking repentant. Looking expectant of a bad news. You felt nice that they went out of their way to go see you. You felt sad for their sadness.
You go back home. You tell them: "I will start to look for work in NZ after my contract ends in April. I should be moving by July to NZ. That's how it will be. You asked me to stay by you as you work to change and address your issues. I will. I will until it's time for me to go to NZ. If you want to come, it will make me happy. It's a big decision. It's a big move for both of us. I will not force you to come. Come if you want to be with me. We will still be together. It's up to you whether you will follow me to NZ or not for us to be together. I will not stay in SG."
You accept. You're thankful to be given another chance. I say: "I love you, and that is reason enough to give you another chance."
God throws a wrench your way. You begin to question His intent. You go back and forth. You realize it doesnt have to be one or the other.
I booked my tickets 18 hours before the actual flight.
I needed to get away and think.
I didn't expect my brother to take me to the Shire.
NZ has remained beautiful.
PS: I'm still trying to figure out how to correct the pictures. I can't get them to upload in the correct orientation - most likely because my phone's accelerometer broke when I dropped it (Phone replaced for 350sgd already though).
As tears of remorse stream down the face. Sleep beckons and follows.
Despite everything, a heart that learned to love continues to love.
Questions too deep. Trust. Honesty. Loyalty. Fuddled into violence.
It's about time.
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When its over. Flight to New Zealand later tonight. Goodbye SG. See you after several days. Not everyone can get their fairy tale ending after all. It was fun while it lasted. Lines have to be drawn.
Following the fun and play last weekend - CH145: Water Park + Cooking Experiment, CP and I had fun during our first visit to the gym (Fitness First) last night.
We went to the RPM class first and man, was I out of shape! I was exhausted after that class - doing a 15 minute warm up on the treadmill before class started. I liked that the instructor used electronic dance music (EDM) during the class and even ended the class playing one of my most favorite EDM tracks from Swedish House Mafia - Greyhound. (YouTube below)
After the class, I showed to CP some of the drills that we do in dragonboat training and did those as well. For cooldown, ran some more on the treadmill. Can't wait to explore other Fitness First gyms in Singapore to see the facilities haha. So, now, I have a membership in True Yoga and Fitness First as well. I should still be doing yoga classes during Mondays though since I already paid for the whole membership (until end of this year).
Going beyond the physical fun and exercise, we continue our playing around even in email. CP and I usually say, email me, email me...seeing who will eventually end up emailing first (I would say we're about tied). Just now, I find myself LOL-ing with the bit of word exchanges we had.
Subj: email me
From: CP
You have been emailed
Love you x
Re: email me
you have been replied to.
thanks for stating the obvious my oh so sweet CP.
Love you xoxo
Last weekend was fun filled - aside from some light drama.
January 5, 2013.
There was supposed to be a President's Design Award in the Central Public Library here in Singapore. I thought it will be a massive exhibition with all the designs etc - like an actual gallery. But, sadly, I expected too much out of it and - well, #fail. Thankfully, the library being 11(?) or so stories tall had other offerings.
They had a "Campaign City" where posters used by government agencies where displayed in the high ceilinged library room (I think it was the Lee Kuan Yew archive room or something). After which, we went to the exhibit "Raffles' Letters" showing a glimpse of Singapore's history and the story behind the man who founded Singapore (Stamford Raffles). And of course, the exhibits were free.
After the visit and tour of the library, CP and I made our way to Bugis + to play some arcade. Eventually, moving off to Ikea Alexandra to eat some Swedish Meatballs and do some furniture / household items shopping.
Capping off the evening was both of us setting up the TV rack he bought and I set up a shelving/storage solution as well. Where, unfortunately, we put the first piece upside down! And, we had to stop and I had to think of a work around to get it fixed (we needed a drill but couldnt be bothered going back to Ikea to rent a drill - for free - but with a 200sgd deposit).
January 6, 2013
For Sunday, CP and I went off to Adventure Cove Waterpark. It was super fun! But, to be honest, I was underwhelmed by the size and the queueing involved. Splash Island to be honest is better in terms of the thrill of the rides - and also Sunway Lagoon in KL. The waterpark did give other attractions that I thought were quite unique to it. Like for one, they had an adventure pool where you could jump off from a meter or two height...a huge aquarium where people can snorkel and see an assortment of fishes, a manta ray tank where people can interact and feed them, and other attractions still closed and will open soon (something like sharks and dolphins i think)
Happy New year everybody. As I said in Facebook, 2012 really came down as a fantastic year for me for all different reasons.
Career wise, I moved back to IBM and worked for one of the biggest companies in the world BHP Billiton - to work in their project of integrating their businesses into 1SAP.
Love life, well, I've written about it, and despite the challenges that may not have been put into writing, I can only say that it's okay and growing stronger.
Personal life, in terms of family, I would have to say is one of my bigger successes for 2012. A vacation to the US with my family for 1 month. My sister's wedding. My getting close to mum and sis and being free and acknowledged.
Financially speaking, I was able to save aside money more than I did for 2011. I believe I was able to manage my money better for 2012.
There's just so many things to be thankful and grateful about last 2012. Despite me saying early on about plans of moving to NZ for 2013, well, that decision has to be put on hold at the moment (or perhaps changed to something else).
In welcoming 2013, CP and I went to the Siloso Beach Party in Sentosa for their countdown. All in all, despite us both saying that we should tone down the alcholol drinking and saving more money, we spent quite an amount drinking vodka + cokes (our preferred poison gin + tonic was not available).
