CH158: Bintan Getaway

CP has suggested a vacation after all the stress we had the past week or two. The obvious choice of course was Bintan for a beach getaway.

Initially CP was assigned to book rooms and I have the links I found from Web Asia because they had the most affordable rates. CP ended up booking something more expensive and I arranged to have it cancelled ahead of CP saying it was okay.

So, end result is when CP tried to book it again, it didnt go through and we got to Bintan without any booking. But, we proceeded to same result and CP booked the rooms while I attended to some work.

CP, without my knowledge, booked a chalet facing the sea. X_x

The resort was amazing! We booked at te Mayang Sari resort which is part of the Nirwana Gardens group (they have beach hotel where water activities are and the main hotel where the pool and kiddie area is).

We went from Friday-Sunday to make the most out of the experience. To say, the least, it was a very relaxing and fun weekend. I appreciate as well the ferry between SG and Bintan as it was unexpectedly comfortable. It was nice waking up with just the sea a walk away from your doorstep.

Pictures!

[Random] What You Get Out of Love

I saw an archived article from Thought Catalog, and I can't help feel that it goes out to all the lovers out there (Friend, etc). The way it's written is very true and real and not kind of love Hollywood makes it out to be. It succinctly explains why it's so hard - well, for me - to just fall out of it. It's as good as a drug can get. It starts off where it's so easy to let go, but once you get into it, you're hooked and your'e there.

Also, the other day, I cooked my version of Honey-mustard-BBQ-garlic Beef + Capsicum. Honey Mustard BBQ because I used a Hunts sauce to add to the mix. It turned out okay, but comparing to previous dishes served, I was told it was not at par with the Citrusy Salmon I made last time:

Enjoy the article!

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http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/this-is-what-you-get-for-falling-in-love/


This is what you get for falling in love. You get to be obsessed, slightly nauseous, like you’re on speed but better because the comedown doesn’t happen for a long time. You get to have something or someone to look forward to, something more than a new episode of your favorite TV show on your DVR. You get to have the privilege of knowing someone beyond their tweets or stupid, ridiculous Facebook. You get to know what turns them off, what turns them on, what makes them yawn with indifference. You get to know that their dad is an asshole and that their mom was once sick with cancer and that things are sometimes strained between them during the holidays but then they all get drunk and it’s okay for a little awhile. You get to know someone beyond the context of going out and getting drinks. You get to know someone at 2 o’clock in the afternoon on a Sunday when they look like shit and are totally boring to be around. Like, they’re just watching TV and they feel no pressure to entertain you. They’re just being who they are and you’re there to witness it. It is dull but it’s also, in its own way, exhilarating.

You get to share your life with someone and invite them to participate in the most arbitrary decisions of your life. “Chicken or fish tonight?” “Vodka or gin?” “Doggie style or missionary? “Baby or no baby?” You get to be inspired to be a better person, to be the type of lover who knows how to really care for someone. You should want to protect them from everything that’s bad. You don’t want to be the thing they need to be protected from. No no, they’ve already had that, they’ve already been burned. You want to be the best partner, an antidote to all the other lackluster ones they might’ve had in the past.

You get to know that if you ever died alone in your apartment, your body would be discovered shortly thereafter. It wouldn’t be left to decay and ultimately be found by your landlord. You get to know that you really affected someone’s life. You left an indelible mark. They will never be the same after you. They will cry, cry, cry in your absence. It all sounds so morbid but, I don’t know, it feels so nice knowing that you have the ability to leave someone grief stricken once you’re gone.

You get to go on vacations and screw all day in some hotel room. You get guaranteed sex, the kind of sex that you know and love and are sometimes bored by but it’s okay because you love them and a little boredom never hurt anybody, right? You get to drink too much at dinner and have someone put you to bed. It’s better than passing out alone, isn’t it? You get to see new things with a partner, revel in fresh experiences together, Instagram photos of you two smiling near a waterfall and be too in love to worry about being cool. Only single people have time to care about maintaining the perfect internet persona.

You get to be a goddamn brat. You get to push the wrong buttons and kick and scream, and trust that you won’t be penalized for it. You get to test their patience away, run them against the wall, be an overall insane crazy person, and still be forgiven.

You get to say no. You get to say yes. You get to say screw you. You get to be okay. You get to be safe. You get to be in love.
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CH157: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

I wouldn't have fancied spending my Sunday icky and sweaty. But, because of having skipped a day or two at the gym, I decided to just to anyway. Because its been raining in SG with thunder clouds, I haven't been able to go out and do my cardio swims (bad timing).

CP and I went out yesterday (Sunday) to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. It's also a bit of a travel away. It's actually my first time to linger so far out West of Singapore.

Overall, activity wise, Pulau Ubin is still much more challenging - the bike trails. We weren't able to go around biking in BUkit Timah - just hike through, walked up and down steep trails. It could have been more challenging if we were running I guess :-).

Afterwards, CP and I went to Fusionopolis to shower in Fitness First and sneak in some weights and some core exercises.

Definitely worth visiting Bukit Timah if you want a change in pace. An experience away from urban Singapore.

All those work out, put to waste though when we decided to hit Beach Road for some steamboat buffet! :-)

[Random] Cooking Experiment 2

So, I've been living up to 2013 plans by continuing to learn how to cook. Yesterday, I experimented with Citrusy Salmon with Broccoli Side.

Instructions are quite simple.
1. Remove skin of salmon. Wash salmon. Dry. Coat with salt and pepper on boat sides.

2. Squeeze lemon to cup, mix water in and add sugar. Experiment with measurement to your taste.

3. Heat butter up In skillet (medium heat). Put salmon in. Cook 2-3 mins on one side and then flip. Once flipped, let salmon cook a bit more before adding the lemon mix made.

4. Let salmon and mix sit in for 8 mins. Regularly check to make sure salmon doesn't over cook. Remove salmon:

5. Let sauce thicken up a bit more by letting sauce mixture simmer.

Broccoli was cooked by boiling it in hot water until crisp and green.

Pour sauce over salmon and broccoli.

Haha, to be honest, the sauce I made was a bit strong so I didn't put too much on the plate and only a drizzle for that kick. But overall, it was well received.

And no, this does not usher in a food or cooking blog. :-)

CH156: Masonry

Perhaps, at some point, you realize that there is something wrong - something dysfunctional.

You initially figured that arguments happen, gaps arise, and the next consequential thing to do is to reconcile and hold each other tighter.
That the prospect of a life without the other is too much to bear, so you're willing to get past the differences and the harsh words thrown at each other.
Because, you've been happy and you've seen how much more you can be with the other person, that you realize maybe that person is your soul mate and you're afraid of letting go.
Because you're afraid that the person may be "the one that got away" (ref: Katy Perry's song).

But, it dawns on you, if the cycle repeats itself, maybe it's time to think of yourself for once.
Instead of reconciling during/after arguments, what if, this one time, you build a wall instead?
Instead of looking forward to a reconciliation of embrace, of tears shed, of meaningful exchange of words, that this one time, you build a wall and walk away?

And as Ellie Goulding so beautifully sings it - "It will never be the same."