WH-ing in JB with our 三美女

 

"Boss declared WH*, let's go JB!" said Kat.

"Luckily you all said earlier, I was able to book KTM train ticket for our trip back!" said a relieved Gina. 

Land of 微笑 ~ 吃喝按摩，远处观草

 

真的是好一段日子没跟吾里猫大嫂和吴金鱼去街街了。而且，续去年7月后，也没回去过曼谷了。对我来说，应该是回去向四面佛还愿的时候了。自去年泰国将大麻草服用合法化后，我们一直都很关心，很担心，很关注这一来会对泰国社会产生什么负面的影响。大麻服用合法化，会照成什么样的滥用不在话下，对社会原本应该具有高度生产力的年轻一代，所带来精神颓靡的恶风，将是续美国11个州在同时也把大麻服用合法化后的世风日下另一个亚洲的雏形。

罢了。人家的事情我们管不得。咱们自己的事情已经够琐碎麻烦了。

OriBori 하게 春天韩国看樱花呀！

我对两个位老人家说：”爸爸妈妈，你们从来未曾看过樱花，我们还是趁着你们两老现在这么有力的时候，快快去韩国看一看吧？”

问题是，我跟淑华也没看过。所以在韩国春天樱花季节来临前半年就一直在做研究，到底樱花季节是那两个星期呢？据说樱花初开的日子，每一年不一样，完全是跟着天气的转暖而定的。韩国官方的预测也只会在二月中旬才会发表出来。

通常，根据每年的樱花季节历史，那两个星期是三月底到四月中旬。所以我就硬着心把飞机票给订了。没想到，买了飞机票后，我才在网上看到新加坡明星陈建彬主办首尔樱花观光团，四月7日才起飞。

我心想：“完蛋了，要是陈建彬看准韩国樱花是4月7日过后才是盛季，那么我们计划的日期应该是太早了。哎呀，算啦！”

How much do we REALLY actually know about Korea... A trip of 心 and 情.

 Another Winter in Korea 한국 겨울 여행... JUST the TWO of us!

22 Dec 2022 - 10 Jan 2023

... a painting on the wall of our hotel...

I saw this painted on the wall of our hotel on this trip. To me, reading a lot is just as important too. Reading gives us the grounding in knowledge, while travelling gives us practical, localised experiences. But truly it is only when we physically interact with the people can we experience the emotions, the vibes, and the affections that they exude - what we call 人情 .

Thus the question "Do we really know a lot about Korea after all this while?" kept reverberating in my mind.  And this trip gave us new insights into the land, the people, their thinking, and their language.

韩国也可以这么玩的 meh？ An Autumn-y Korea.

To Korea in Autumn to 看枫葉！

白云台 백운대 Baegundae peak 836m
北汉山 북한산 Bukhansan, 19 October 2022, 2:17pm

哇！终于可以跟着这几位美女一起去游韩国啦！她们三位最后一次一起去韩国，是2018年的事情了。那一次的旅游，应该是还不错的。但是这一次，有阿Kat 每天每夜 keng 头脑想哪里去玩，有我计划怎么走，用什么交通工具，我深信这次的旅游，应该是很棒的。

Another Ladakhi medical trip, a different experience.

 

Another Ladakh trip. but a different setting this round...

Thiksey Monastery Medical Camp

[27 July - 5 August 2022]

Our team led by Felicia Tan.

“Eh Felicia is organizing the medical trip to Ladakh again leh!” Lee Haw Chou lai liao.

“Really ah?! Wah, eh you go pull people, you quickly go pull people let’s go together,” I replied.

“This time round Chang Haw Chong also coming,"Haw Chou said. "Let's see if the dates are good, and let's hope Mike & Suet will be able to come." And they were. 

Steady lah! 

Lee Haw Chou and Chang Haw Chong are forever the pillars of the orthopods and we were honoured this time round to also have Mike our radio-onco.

Among the other medical team members we have the Chief-organiser Felicia Tan the breast surgeon herself, Yvonne Wong the anaesthestist, Tan Su-Lin our Cambodia-based GP, Meera Magar the gastro-intestinal surgeon from Sushrut Hospital in Phaltan, and Vicky Tan and Shila Das our experienced nurses.  

Jeanette Tan was of course, omnipresent.

The volunteers were out in full force, with Paul Fong, Jack Tay, Jay Lamkin, and our indispensable Leow Chin Lee (aka 李太太),  Suet and Serene (the Ajumma) Gan.

Such an entourage, this was.  The mere thought of it excited me for weeks.

Meeting His Eminence Thiksey Rinpoche at Chamba Hotel across Thiksey Monastery

Bangkok. Massage and eat.

 Haven't seen Bangkok for the longest time. Almost three years.

Very curious how Bangkok has changed after the ravage of Covid on its tourist economy. Hotel prices have dropped. But  BTS fares, massage prices and food prices remained the same.

Every day is an Adventure - a 'Leisurely' Drive down Korea's Mid-South & West

 

“For the same amount of money, an expensive luxury item will make you happy for a while, but an unforgettable travelling memory will give you endless happiness for the rest of your life.”~임위호의사

The 미친 ones flew VTL into Korea

A long-awaited, 
    most-enjoyed, 
        ate-as-much-as-we-could-but-never-gained-weight
            .. AND walked-like-crazy Trip to Korea during Covid

It has been simply too long since we set foot out of Singapore. That was exactly what a worldwide pandemic did to human beings - we were all confined within our own borders.

The beginning of a new journey

Saint Petersburg ~ "How selfhood begins with a walking away, And love is proved in the letting go." - C Day-Lewis. 

25 August 2019 - 4 September 2019

孩子大了，总是要放手让他们自己走自己的路。每一个孩子的路都不一样的。当然，每一孩子的性格，想法，兴趣都有所不同。身为父母亲，能为他们做的，就只是帮一点忙把路给铺得平坦一点。再多呢，就帮不到了。
这个正昂也真是有他的一套。有他自己的看法。很好！有这样的胆识，我们当然一定会尽力支持。

Annapurna Base Camp 8-22 Dec 2018

An adventure trip of adventures...

ABC 8-22 Dec 2018

There is always a tour of duty when it comes to most anything, trekking in the Himalayan ranges not withstanding.  Annapurna Base Camp is just one of those commonly trekked parts. It makes no sense for us not to trek ABC before we progress further.

And boy was I pleasantly surprised and happy to have on board with our small group, Jacalyn Chung, our good cycling kaki, and Shu Ning, Fann’s best friend; not to mention Nicole, who finally managed to find the time to join the Wong family for this trip, to experience together all the emotional roller coasters - serenity, exuberance, suffering, pain, fear and more that the mountains invariably served.

Discovering the Spirit of Iran

Seeing an ancient world with modern eyes


To many who read widely reports by 'external' media, Iran is a country with inextricable link to terrorist organizations, and has been under pressure from the international community for its nuclear development.  And with Trump’s recent pulling out of the nuclear treaty with Iran and sanctioning on countries from purchasing crude oil from Iran, this country has once again been brought to the forefront of international attention.

Many have expressed disbelief and reservation about my decision to take this trip to the ancient land of Persia.

“Trust me. It’s one of the safest countries and the people are so friendly you will never believe it,” reassured Adrian.

And the deal was done.

Nubra Valley Medical Volunteer work - a trip of discoveries

Ladakh... up north to where life is simple(r).

My good friend Haw Chou texted me three weeks prior to the departure in mid July for this most meaningful trip of medical work up north in Nubra Valley, and I took up his offer within a second.  And of course, the rest was academic history.

2018 汉城迎春清晨步、首尔庆年白日眠

近年来，春节时期频频往外飞。不但国外游玩，而越游越久，甚至索性也把孩子们的爷爷奶奶也一块儿带出国喜庆另一种过年的气氛。

As always Roydon very guai. Always made sure he sent us off at the airport.

前年，我们带了孩子到伦敦过春节。去年开始扶了老爷爷奶奶到曼谷。玩得他们老人家兴致勃勃。今年2018年的春天，我早在11个月前就已经计划好并订了飞机票以及明洞住宿，让孩子们及两位老人家能度过一个难忘的新年。

我与Serene俩对韩国明洞特有独钟。游过了济州岛，到过了 Gurye。可首尔的活力气息、人潮的节奏，加上路人阴阳桑去特别明显的韩语对话连连入耳，完完全全把自己浸汝在一个韩剧环境里。

但是韩国人也过春节的呀！怎么能够去韩国过年呢？

这是一个往往返返时时刻刻涌于我脑里的一个大问题。好多朋友病人都皱起眉头，以怀疑的眼神回应我的计划。好几位韩籍病人亦强调韩国人对过春节这传统非常注重。一过年就是好几天的。好比中国人过年一般。

“韩国二月会冷吗？”奶奶担心地问。

”OK的啦。好比冷气坏了一般。凉凉的啦。” 有时候还是别说老实话。不然老人家会吓坏了。我还记得2017年我跟 Serene 到明洞是，晚间温度下降至零下10度呢！

今年我不断观察首尔天气的趋向。还算不错。白天大概5-6度，晚上大约零下7-8度。早两、三个星期，在一月内当时是首尔最冷的时候。那一个时候，零下十多度加上又下雪，应该是挺享受的。虽然二月比较温一点，但也无妨，带着老人家，还是暖一点比较适当。

2018年2月13日

我们第一回乘搭韩国的Asiana 班级。11个月前以一人$670一张机票订了。在春节期间 super peak period 这价钱算是非常不错啦。况且我直接与 K-Guesthouse 的항길주 Hwang Gil Ju 联络，一晚一间房S$80，也十分优惠。

星期二下午工作至3点，终于收工啦！

我通常喜欢漏夜飞往首尔。那六个小时十五分钟的班机，睡得好的话，一醒来就天亮了。这回爷爷奶奶也真的是睡得不错。

抵达首尔时大概上午7点。冷到爷爷奶奶 buay tahan!

The airport shuttle bus 6015 never failed us.

上午6点着陆于仁川机场。凭着我们的经验，搭了一辆6015的巴士，一小时后就到了明洞站。信不信，虽然真正的 check in 时间是下午两点，但是六楼房间有空位，九点钟我们就有得 check in 了。太妙啦！

这么巧！我们跟奶奶的旧同事陈老师同时同巴士抵达明洞！

旅游节目安排

自由旅行就是好在这一点。一切随自己的时间。累嘛就迟点起身，若有精神就花多点时间在外头。景点一切随缘。我们在 Guesthouse 碰到一群从马来西亚来的年轻人。他们说每天的行程是：“靠着感觉走！” 潇洒哉！

Really hungry at 9am. Luckily we could grab a nice full breakfast at the guesthouse!

没想到家人全都肚子饿了。还好，Guesthouse 自助早餐还允许我们煎蛋、泡咖啡、烘面包、吃玉蜀黍片配鲜奶。我心里偷笑。这位 Guesthouse 管理员 Gil Ju 也闭一只眼睛、不与我们计较，随我们去吃到够。

Everest Base Camp Trek Part 7 ~ Back to Kathmandu for R&R

Part 7 ~ Kathmandu at last.  And a lovely tour of Swayambunath Temple.

Swayambaunath Temple, Kathmandu.

Somehow, connections of the boss of Namaste Lodge gotten us a second flight out of Lukla despite the huge backlog of passengers from a whole day of delayed flights.  Those of us on the second flight managed to make it back to Kathmandu early.  But the other half of our group who were scheduled for the third flight were delayed and left on cold Lukla for another four hours because of poor weather in both Lukla and Kathmandu.

Everest Base Camp Trek Part 6 ~ Back to Lukla!

Part 6 ~ Our last assault on Lukla was well-coordinated by General Adrian.  The Airforce would take its first flights in and the infantries would trudge in later..

On a mission!

So it was.  The very last day of our trek.  Our hearts were in a dilemma.  As much as we were glad to be back to Lukla soon, we knew that our journey was coming to an end.  None of us wanted it to end.  Despite the hardship, we all had so much adventure in the past twelve days.  Many of us wanted more.

Everest Base Camp Trek Part 5 ~ The return of the Jedi from Gorak Shep all the way to Namche Bazaar.

Part 5 ~ The story of how the Jedis willed themselves onwards in a half-dazed state from Gorak Shep to Pheriche, and how the same knights gallantly drove themslves by sheer determination on foot back to Namche Bazaar.

[Photo: Fann]

This was finally the turn back towards home.  Everyone knew the end was drawing near.  Near, but not that near yet.  Three more days separated us from the comfort of Kathmandu.  In many ways, our objectives had been accomplished.  And the victorious members just only needed to be patient and continue their walk, which by now was already in rhythmic automatic mode.  The Jedis were finally returning home.

Everest Base Camp Trek Part 4 ~ The highest point. Kala Patthar 5545m.. and EBC second-attempt!

Part 4 ~ The one vantage point that can allow one to have a full view of Everest is this mount called Kala Patthar.  

Kala Patthar [Photo: KC Tng]

Sometimes in life, it was like this.  Would one come all the way to London for the very first time and not visit London Bridge or the Big Ben?  In the same vein, although EBC was the pinnacle of the trek,  but to me, and to the girls, we held in our hearts the wish to summit Kala Patthar the highest point, even way before our trip.  To us, it was a MUST climb.  And we'd stop at nothing to achieve that.
Without being disrespectful to all my fellow trekkers, to myself, climbing to the top of Kala Patthar was even more important than arriving at EBC.  The magic figure of 5545m was too strong a draw.

Everest Base Camp Trek 2017 Part 3 ~ Lobuche to Gorak Shep & EBC!

Part 3 ~ The going got tougher, slower and more challenging as the altitude went skywards- Lobuche at 4900,  Gorak Shep 5160m, and the final last push towards EBC at 5350m.

The final push!

At 5000m, the oxygen level dropped to 53% of sea level.  We only knew this in hindsight.  But with this knowledge, in retrospect, we now could explain everything that happened on this third quarter of our trek.  It was really a last push, a burst of fire towards our destination.  This was what we came here for.  And hopefully nothing would stop us.  Hopefully.

Everest Base Camp Trek 2017 Part 2 -From Namche to Dingboche.

Part 2 ~ After the acclimatisation at Namche, it was time for some thinner air.

We knew that we were going to enter a realm of higher altitude and it was time for some real action.
This was time for our bodies to really start adapting.  Little did we realise that the transition from 3400m to 4400m would be that great.  This second quarter part of our trek was a period of reckoning. And time was not on our side. We needed to keep pushing, keep going. AMS and illnesses started hitting us. But the team spirit was still strong.