Rollerblading, Dinner & Talents

The reason I'm still up at this time of the night is because I just came home from rollerblading.... from Orchard Road to Marina Bay Sands and back! It was soooo awesome, my heart is still pounding from the adrenaline of blading on the street. I don't know what it is, but I just feel so free when I'm blading down the pedestrian path. Rollerblading is such a great way to tour Singapore! I really regret not bringing my camera. I decided not to at the last moment because it felt a little bulky in my fanny pack, but I most definitely will next time. The riverfront area looks really beautiful at night especially without the crowds of people.

Anyway, below are a few pictures that I did take during the past week.

I had dinner with XiaoTong on Tuesday. She hasn't changed much since our TK days, except that she's skinnier now. But she's still just as bubbly, smiley and chirpy!

We ate at... *drumroll*.... Sun With Moon at Wheelock Place again! Because I still had coupons left over, haha!

Finally decided to try the Agedashi Tofu, but it wasn't that great. I like when the tofu is real smooth on the inside but crispy on the outside. I can tell from the ridges on the side of this tofu though, that it's been bought from some supermarket. Kind of killed my impression of it. 

Salmon roll was whatever. Didn't taste particularly fresh.

As usual, the tonkatsu ramen hit the spot. I'm still not sick of ramen! Though from my last three posts, it seems like that's all I've been eating... 

Yesterday Val came for dinner. Audrey left early because she was really tired and wanted to sleep a certain number of hours for work the next day. I really admire her discipline in going home to sleep no matter what! I definitely do not have that kind of self-control when it comes to sleeping or eating according to a set schedule. Just check me out now blogging at 03:25 in the morning.

So this morning I tuned in to CLIMB via Skype for a very brief moment, but it was enough for me to hear what God wanted me to. 

The three men who were given talents in the Bible. That was the chapter Jay was talking about. Coincidentally (according to God's plan), it was the very thing I was reading about the night before. I knew that it was something I needed to pay attention to, but honestly I'm not sure what now. 

All I know is, God landed me in this job, at this particular office, with these very people for a very specific reason. 

A while ago, my boss started saying that he'd like to start attending church again. Once in a while, we'd have these conversations about Christianity and church, but there just seems to be something that's either missing or holding him back. 

Then tonight as I was out rollerblading with another coworker, he began asking me about what made me change so drastically and I told him that it was Jesus Christ. God changed me. I could never change myself even if I wanted to. 

I know God has given me different gifts and talents, but one day He is going to ask me what I did with them. Am I going to bury them in the field somewhere, or am I going to risk what I've been given in order to produce a harvest of righteousness later? 

I thank you Lord Jesus, for every single opportunity you've given me to witness to other people. Help me to be a shining example of Christ living in me at all times. I pray that I will always be humble at Your feet, giving You all the glory and praise. I pray that my life story will become a story written by You, for You. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Amen, and have a blessed night everybody! 

:) 

Life & Running

Life's picked up again right after the new year started. I've been going out a bit more, doing random stuff.

I did some geocaching at night. 

Some reading and rolling in bed during the day.

Finally met up with Lizzie after her return from the UK.

We ate at Sun With Moon, this Japanese restaurant in Wheelock Place. I've been eating here almost every week because I have $50 worth of coupons to spend there, haha! 

I usually end up ordering the same thing- ramen ramen ramen. Their tonkatsu (pork) ramen is really good, but so is their Hokkaido ramen. Apparently the Hokkaido ramen's stock is heavier than the tonkatsu stock, but I don't know much about that; I haven't actually made an effort to compare the two different stocks. 

Lizzie's hotpot looked good too. 

Last Saturday I walked from Orchard to Dhoby Ghaut with Rachel. 

Wandered to Orchard Central, where I got the impression that it is the new Heeren. I think pretty much all the cool shops from Heeren have moved out and into Orchard Central's upper floors. 

Some shop spaces are still empty.

Others are already operating.

Many sell quirky stuff that's only useful for one thing: gifts for other people. 

I came across a canal with fish in it! *Puts my fishing cap on....* There were so many, and they looked big too! 

Hidden away in Istana Park is this place called Art Palate Cafe. It's really cool! There's a breezy eating area near the front entrance where you can have tea and some food.

The entire little building seems to be made of glass and wood. The place feels airy and carefree. Surprisingly, there's no greenhouse effect even with the hot Singaporean sun shining through the roof. 

On the upper floor, there are people painting and relaxing.

View from the second floor down. 

Singapore's been enjoying some really nice weather actually, despite it being the rainy season.

On Sunday, I treated my family to dinner. Guess it's a tradition of some sort for the kid to treat her parents to dinner out of her first pay cheque. Though it's not my first actual proper pay cheque, it somehow feels appropriate because this is like my first legit job in Singapore. 

Wasabi octopus appetizer.

I took them to Nirai Kanai Okinawan Diner in Tanglin Shopping Center because the restaurant is closing down on January 15th (that's in three days!) It's really a shame because the food here is really good and the chefs and all the staff are straight from Okinawa, Japan. They're closing down because the chefs are moving back to Okinawa. 

I wanted to let my parents eat here at least once before the place closes. There will still be another branch left in Liang Court but I don't think the chefs there are from Okinawa.

Needless to say, the night ended well. It feels great to finally be on the treating end of the dinner. I think my dad enjoys not having to foot the bill for once, haha! 

That's my past week in a nutshell. 

On a different note, I still haven't been running regularly. In fact, I haven't run at all this week. I rollerbladed, but it's not as effective as running. As a result, I can feel all this tension building up inside of me. It needs to be released through a good hour's run, but I just can't seem to get up early enough these days! I think it's because I've been sleeping around 01:00. I need about 7 hours of sleep to tide me over. Anything less and my ears will refuse to hear the alarm clock in the morning. 

I feel so pissed at myself for that. 

It's already been 12 days into 2012 and still can't do one straight week of running? Where did all my discipline go? I feel like I shouldn't even call myself a runner anymore. I cannot believe that I used to run twice a day and gym every single evening (plus swimming twice a week). Looking back at all that, it seems so impossible. 

And I know I'm not getting any younger. I see my friends who are in their thirties getting tired easily- and I think to myself: Am I gonna be like that in just a few short years? 

NO! I REFUSE! 

Before I let my brain and body turn to mush, I must absolutely make the most of every single year I've got! I must use up every ounce of energy that comes with being young, single and in my twenties! 

I MUST RUN MY HEART OUT EVERYDAY UNTIL THE DAY I DIE!

Dear God, every good gift comes from You. I thank you for healthy legs and lungs. Thank you for reminding me that in not using a gift, I am thwarting the desire of the gifter. Help me to utilise all my gifts and blessings to my full potential, so as to give You all the glory! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.