escueme's Xanga

New Year, Pull Your Ear

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:00:31 GMT

Saw this perfect rainbow on the way home.... and ...

I got an epiphany!

I know this is probably the end-of-year syndrome where people tend to be more introspective. But being the thinker than I am (*ahem), I have all these random thoughts in my head after many conversations with the people around me. Of course, there will always be trash talk to discard and great perspectives to glean. I just want to put them down somewhere where people can hold me accountable for these *commitments* I am striving for this coming year. Yes, these are quasi-resolutions for the new year but I think they are imperative as beacons. So bear with me for my thoughts (or just close this webpage.. bah)...

Living overseas this year has shown me the importance of my family and friends. When things are so stark and close up to your face, they inadvertently become blurred. Yes I admit that I have taken these individuals for granted as I assumed them as a constant in my life.

Thousands of miles apart now, I truly value my parents' goodness, strength and love for me. The distance this year allows me to take a step back and see how wonderful they are. Sure they can be overly concerned of me at times, but I know the motivation behind those moments is genuine love. I just want to hug them now (awwww.....).

And I thought I would be losing my friends by leaving for a foreign land. While it is true that some became estranged (inevitably and regretfully), some friendships were strengthened despite the distance. Calling a spade a spade, there are friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for life. As I was reminded recently, people come into our lives for a reason, providing things that we can learn from, and fulfilling our social, emotional needs. So much of us is made from what we had learnt from them, so it is paramount that we have good people in our lives. And I think I have such people. These are people that I can be truly myself in front of, who hangs out with me not becos of my material possessions, and good looks (wahahah!), and will ... well ... still love me in spite of my many flaws and when I have outlived whatever the initial reason for befriending me is. I am extremely thankful for them =D

I seek to live my best this coming year as I step into my 30s. I will try my best to break out of my shell and live out my potential. My friends would know that I am extremely driven as an individual and I do want to be successful in all I do. This is not limited to material gains of course. I had been reminded that money cannot buy you happiness. While it can buy one room to manoeuvre, unless one knows what to do with that space, it is futile. I want to realise that potential in me : that I am a unique and genuine person with much to offer - both professionally and in private. Being secured in oneself can be challenging and I know of many people who claimed to be secured but yet wear their laurels on their heads and assert themselves all the time, boasting their achievements and needing a stamp of approval all the time. That is probably the best demonstration of insecurity. They are not wrong; they just need to be treated with more kindness. I seek an inner peace and wholeness. That, to me, makes a person truly attractive (fwah!). I think age has this adverse effect of making me jaded at times. I crave for a renewed thirst for life, learning, wisdom (not smarts). And whenever I come across a bump, I want to be able to learn something, pick myself up and move on.

Finally, I want to be a good person this year, whatever that means. The old adage to be as sharp as a serpent, as gentle as a dove holds true. I think all of us has this ability to discern what being good entails. There are too many manipulative people in this world and I've always professed that while we don't have to be like that, we have to be able to identify that as a form of self-protection. It is easy to harm others for personal gains/protection/satisfaction. But it is a decision to do good. So I do want to show kindness wherever I can. I think my Mum has been a great role model in that aspect, so are some of my closest friends.

ok.. enough of the ramblings =D

I feel very blessed ...

GObama!

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:40:19 GMT

The long race to the White House is finally over. It is fun to be amid the action during this historic period. I even went for a house rally and an election party! It is interesting to see the amount of participation the US citizens put in for their beliefs in their candidate of choice. It is inspiring to see how they feel their vote can make a difference. It is regrettable that my own country has yet to progress to such political maturity.

Throughout the campaigning, I found it super amusing to see each candidate taking potshots at the other. It is even more amusing to see how candidates used misleading information over and over again to uninformed communities to confound their decision-making. It is most amusing to see Sarah "I-can-see-Russia" Palin as a VP candidate.

I am not gonna to deny that my ideal choice for president is Hillary Clinton. But since she was ousted by Obama, oh well. While it is true that there will never be a perfect candidate for presidency, it is appalling to hear in the aftermath of the results Obama's critics saying that they can do nothing now but sit back and see how he is going to run (or ruin) their country. What happened to active citizenery? It sounds crazy that McCain supporters are just going to wash their hands off affairs that will impact them. Isn't it all the more important to support Obama and help steer the new government towards an administration that works? I don't see how this pettiness or divisive-ness is going to help matters.

There were two aspects that frustrated me for the past months.

First was how McCain ran his campaign. I have huge respect for him for being a moderate Republican, going against policies that were just nonsense. His experience and courage for being 'maverick-y' (wahahahha) are worth saluting. However, I am surprised how he allowed his campaign to be designed for the final months. I feel that there were a lot of manipulation and misleading information. Compared to President-elect Obama, McCain had fought a campaign that is less than honourable. Yea yea, it is all politics but resorting to fear tactics rather than relying on the merits of your own plans looked really desperate.

I also don't like the fact that at moments, the race card was played. When Obama was asked if his race will be a an impediment towards the White House, he refuted that and said the only factor would be his own failure to articulate his vision for America. TOTALLY AGREE! Yes, Obama is not white (only half-white). I hope people voted for him becos he is a better candidate with a clear plan for the current situation and can bring about a positive change for the future.

Anyway, the inauguration is in Jan and all eyes will be on him from now on. Lots of expectations.. I am not sure if that is a victory, given the inheritance from Bush.

Picking up a brush

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:59:09 GMT

It has been many many years since I picked up a brush to paint something. I wanna use the excuse that I am still recovering from my junior college art class experience *shudder* where my tutor scarred me for life. LOL!

Anyway, been so bored in Tampa and decided to paint a picture to jazz up my apartment as the walls looked really plain and boring. I am too cheap to buy a real painting anyway. Hence I bought some paint, canvasses and brushes and created my own art. It would be great to hang behind my bed.

Decided on the colour scheme because I thought an enlongated white canvass (3m by 1m) would be nice in my dimly lit bedroom. Red would be a stark contrast to the tint of grey on white. And I wanted to do something chinoiserie as it would be a good representation of my "oriental roots"..wahahahha!

Anyway, it is not as easy as I thought it would be and I grew tired (and lazy). Here is the finished product. I just need to figure out how to put it up on the wall now...

More About Food

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:35:38 GMT

Hey hey

It is time to write more about food again!!

One thing I recently discovered about myself is that I really like Cuban cuisine. Florida is supposed to be famous for that and there are plenty of good eats around the area. I found this quaint little diner that serves authentic Cuban "peasant" food. The place, La Teresita, is always crowded and the locals would sit at the counter and food is served quickly and in generous portions.

We had the traditional Cuban sandwich, roast pork, black bean soup (reaaaaally goooood!), yellow rice, tostones with garlic butter sauce, and washing all the food down with a glass of hot cafe con leche. Ok, don't ask me about their cuban names cos I cant remember. I can remember their taste though :p

I finally perfected my baked chicken drumsticks. Here is the recipe, and trust me that they are really finger-licking good.

Marinate the drumsticks (or any cut of the chicken) in Worchestershire sauce, salt and pepper for at least an hour. When ready to cook, coat the chicken drumsticks with yellow mustard (yes, it is strange but the sharp taste of mustard fades after baking) and then my mixture of breadcrumbs, dried italian herbs (those pre-mixed bottled type from McCormick) and chilli powder (just a little for some heat). Bake the meat in a preheated oven at 375F for 30 mins or till the juice from the chicken runs clear. Eat with hands... woohoo!

Loads of Drama

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:27:14 GMT

Everyone is raving about the F1 races in Singapore huh!? Oh well, I am glad people had fun there. I am sure they are going to be inspirational to some impressionable youths who will now want to "mod" their Nissan March or Toyota Corolla to look like some racer, complete with the relevant tacky decals.

I am curious to see how the Marina Bay area looked like though during this period of time, being all 'pimped out' for the rest of the world. So if you have picts, pls post them online so that I can see them (and die of envy).

The past few weekends had been wonderful staying in Tampa, and catching the various independent theatre groups' performace. The first was Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde. Excellent excellent excellent. It chronicled Oscar Wilde downfall years and I like how Wilde challenged the legitimacy of the various definitions of beauuty, art and morals. Very provocative and the cast members were great.

The second is Blackbird - story of a confrontation between a young woman and the man who molested her when she was young. I did not like it as much as I thought the art direction was kind of awkward even though the acting was good. It was 90 mins without intermission and very antagonising to watch. Nonetheless, it provided a great conversation topic at the post show drinks.

I caught The Wild Party on Sat. Based on Joseph Moncure March's narrative poem about a decadent party that ends badly, it is supposedly metaphorical of the 1929 stock market crash (gulp.. think 2008 Wall St crash). It was done in a similar style to Ah Gong's Birthday Party - an interactive setting where the cast is amongst the audience. Performed at a art gallery in downtown St. Petersburg, the location has been transformed into a Jazz Age pleasure dome, furnished with sofas and chairs. It is like a real party. Audience members mingled and schmoozed, sipping wine or beer or soda (you pay of course), munching cheese and crackers.

I really like the Wild Party. While I am only partial towards a few musical theatre where people burst into songs while having a conversation or walking or whatever (e.g. Les Miserables), this one is pretty intriguing. It is really really stylishly done. You are fully immersed in the play. The characters cajoled with you with their drinks (sometimes spilling some on you). The cast is really superb and all of them sing really well. I found out later that quite a few of them are performers in the amusement parks like Disney and Busch Gardens.

I love the fact that while the various groups are not that well known (at least not yet), they contribute to a really vibrant arts scene here in Tampa. The support given by the community is overwhelming too. At least you get people who are interested in arts here. While I await with abated breath for Sg's arts development, I will enjoy what I have here in Florida.. hmph!

Looking Through the Len of Optimism

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:25:26 GMT

It is turning chilly now. For the past two days, we have cool winds all day and the evening seemed to be kinda cold. Yup, those types of weather that you want to wrap yourself in blankets and eat hot stews. Monday supposedly marked the start of fall and while we don't have leaves changing colours, the change in temperature is a welcoming difference.

I was driving home after an event on thursday and saw the sun setting as I drove along the highway. Gradually, I saw the bright sky toning down and this palate of pastel colors appearing across the skies in front of me - peach, orange, lavender (ok, I'd ran out of color vocab.. you know what I mean.) Ya, i know this sounds a tad flaky but I just thought I am living in a really beautiful world, and I have a great life. I have been focusing on the difficulties (like the crazy economy, esp in US). I should start looking at the opportunities - they are more attractive. I am not saying that the difficulties will not be there; they just should not be an impediments. Shying away would be a waste. I recalled a really elderly lady telling me at the event on thurs,"You have less fun when you are shy."

I know the words are kinda non-sequiturs but i guess i am just happy with the new weather. YAY....

Guacamole!

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:00:48 GMT

I have this obsession with guacamole with chips though it is obviously not the healthiest snack. I finally mustered the time (and even courage) to make some. Avocados are really expensive here but i really want to have some guacamole! Especially when I propped myself in front of the TV watching Michael Scofield evading the clutches of The Company ....or Food Network.

Annnyyyywwwaaaaaaay, I like what I'd managed to churn out:

Simple receipe :
Avocados (really ripe ones)
Cilantro, onion, tomato (minus the seeds and mooshy part) - all diced or chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Lime juice (a hearty squeeze)

Use a fork and mash everything up and complement the guacamole with Tostitoes Scoops... and a really big TV :)

Hola, Puueeeeerrrtttoooo Rico! And other updates...

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:24:16 GMT

Oops, been a while since I last put in an entry. Being preoccupied with hurricanes and facebook. Glad to report that the first two hurricanes/storms missed my city. We are keeping all the fingers crossed for the others that are coming/looming/forming. Can't believe the Floridians have to deal with this every year. But I guess this is the price to pay for having summer year-round.

On a political (and comical) note, the Democrats and the Republicans are having their conventions these two weeks. Got to hear some really really good speeches. While I was not too wow-ed over by Barack Obama's speech, Michelle Obama's, Hillary's and Bill Clinton's speeches are spectacular. I was particularly impressed by Bill Clinton's. No wonder people regard him to be one of the best public speakers. Piercing points and totally accessible by all. I think some leaders in my country have lots to learn.

I am pleased to inform everyone that Prison Break Season 4 had started! Wentworth Miller is still perpetually intense and speaks in a low dark voice. I think this will be an interesting season cos there is no more prison to break out of (finally) and the team is doing something like an Ocean's Eleven... minus the Armani suits. Wooohoooo!

Now to the main substance of this entry: PUERTO RICO!!!

I had randomly picked a vacation spot for the long US Labour Day weekend. And I am totally glad that I went to Puerto Rico. It is such a beautiful place - marrying the best of nature. You have grand mountains and hills in the central of the island and gorgeous turquoise waters and pristine white beaches surrounding the island. While you can get by with speaking English, I wished I could speak more spanish though.

I had several objectives for this trip: do some adventure activities in the nature, taste good local cuisines and visit Old San Juan with its forts and copperstone streets. I stayed at a simple and cheap guesthouse in the Condado area (read : bare essentials but selected becos of the beachfront location... ya ya I am a cheap traveller). This is the view outside my room.

Upon landing in San Juan and checking into my room, I drove about 2 hours for a Bioluminescent Bay Kayaking trip. Har? What is "bioluminescent"? It is the most amazing natural phenomenon - a tropical phosphorescent bay!

Imagine the blackness of the sea on a moonless night. As you paddle into the bay, you will see the water surrounding your kayak light up in a gorgeous, jaw-dropping and somewhat eerie blue glow. When you dip your hand into the warm water, your hand sparkles with darting lights like underwater fireflies.

The phosphorescence is actually bioluminescence generated by microscopic organisms in the water. It is believed to be part of a natural defense system triggered by the movement of predators. Pressure exerted upon these microscopic organisms causes the chemical within them to mingle and they light up, supposedly so that their predators can see more desirable prey - and thus leave them alone. Hence any movement will cause the water to glow. The phenomenon occurs sporadically in warm seas around the world, but Puerto Rico is one of the only places on the planet where you can depend on it every evening at two different protected bays and a lagoon. I went to the Laguna Grande in the Cabezas Nature Reserve in Fajardo, the East region of Puerto Rico.

The experience of seeing-and being surrounded by-this eerie light is nothing less than magical! Would never have believed it if i won't there myself. I had a moonless night and it was super dark. So the sparkles in the water were especially prominent. I did not bring along my camera cos I don't wanna risk it getting wet as I was afterall on a kayak and to capture the glow would require a better camera than my point-and-shoot compact camera. But I am posting a picture of a kayak in the bay that will sort of give an idea of what I am talking about. It is really more white sparkles and a mere blue glow (think Disney movies). Check it out:

Day two was a trip out to the Caribbean Sea on a catamaran. We sped 45 mins to a nearby island Culebra and spend a day enjoying the beautiful sea and, getting a sunburn and snorkling. The boat also made a stop at Flamenco Beach - supposedly the most beautiful beach in the region. The best thing about this excursion is the free flow of Pina Coladas and Rum Punch that comes with the price...woohoo! Drank so much and most of us are tipsy halfway... and still snorkling! (On a sidenote, I just want to remind everyone that Puerto Rico produces rum and the Barcadi factory is there.) It is my first time snorkling and it is a lot of fun. Had to run from a couple of jellyfishes though.

Our catamaran and the famed Flamenco Beach in Culebra.

Great Cuban sandwich, pina colada and surrounded by gorgeous water and sights ... wahahahahha!

I signed up for a rainforest and ziplining hike in Toro Negro Rainforest. Ziplining is like doing a "flying-fox", except in this case, we hiked to the top of some mountain, harnessed up and start ziplining above the canopies of the trees to descend the mountain. It is super cool!!! We had a 'indigenious' lunch spread too - consisting of really good Puerto Rican rice and peas, roasted chickens and pork (specialty there) and of course, yuca (like tapioca roots) and plantains (which look bananas but with a similar neutral flavour and texture of potatoes).

Climbing a waterfall..not easy

The 11 of us had lots of fun climbing waterfalls, swimming in pools and hiking the rainforest..... till the heavy rain came. We had to cancel the last part of ziplining over a waterfall cos there were flash floods and hence would render it super dangerous. We were appalled to see the little stream we were previously waddling in becoming this crazy white-water river. We were stucked in the rainforest, getting soaked for a few hours cos the roads were flooded and our adventure van could not pass through. It is actually quite an adventure and I think it was more fun. Better soaked than sticky with perspiration!

For the final day, I had a full day in Old San Juan since my flight was at 8pm. It was really charming and I like the forts alot. The copperstone streets and the quaint shops reminded me of Spain and Sweden. I am gonna let the picts do the talking.

Of course I am going to post pictures of the glorious food I had in Puerto Rico!!

In order of pict but not necessarily in taste : BBQ ribs and chicken breast with avocado mayo with fried plantains, Rum punch(s) @ Parrot Club, Grilled Chicken with parsley pesto with the famed Mofongo (mashed plantains with bacon and chicken bits) @ Casa Dante, Caesar Salad @Parrot Club and delicious local desserts @ the famous Kasalta Bakery in Puerto Rico.

HURRICANE ALERT!

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:47:00 GMT

Okkkkaaaaay.

Florida is panicking. It has been projected that Tropical Storm Fay is heading towards us. The storm is currently over Cuba and the warm waters around Florida could be the catalyst for the tropical storm to develop into a hurricane.

Think Katarina for its implications.

People are bracing themselves for electricity and water cut-offs, and trying their best to insulate their homes. Emergency centres are already set up and people are told to get ready for a bad hit. Over this weekend, you see people flooding (what a bad pun) into supermarkets to buy water and canned food, batteries and medical supplies. Residents in Key West (most southern point of US and nearest to the storm) had already been evacuated and people in Miami to Tampa are told to be prepared for the storm to hit us as early as Tues.

I have never experienced a hurricane before and I am a tad overwhelmed by the sights of people scrambling to buy food, water (which is projected to run out by monday).

I am freaked out...

Escueme, can you speak engrish?

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:18:09 GMT

I was at an event today where alot of international officers attended. As usual, the small talks preceded the start of the food (which was the reason why everyone was there anyway). After chatting a while with an american and his wife, the conversation turned really hilarious...

"So how long have you been living in America?" he asked.

"Uh, about three months," I shrugged.

"Ok then where were you living before here?"

"Singapore."

He was genuinely shocked," Really?!"

Uh oh, i know where this is coming from.

"Were you wondering how I learned to speak English?"

"Oh ya! Cos you are speaking it without an accent at all!"

*ROLL EYES*

It is moments like this that i could not decide to make fun of his ignorance, or just play along out of courtesy. I decided on the latter in the end.

"Thanks. I guess watching lots of TV helps..."