I am almost regretting my decision of picking up this title for my post. “When I was Sixteen”. It’s kind of making me look old, very old. Feeling like its been a very long time since I was sixteen. I am not old, not at all. I am just sixteen plus five years and few more just here and there. Not more than that.
So, now that I have clarified that the above title has nothing to do with my current age, I would like to go ahead on my post.
Lamb In Love
The reason that I am going all nostalgic about being sixteen is a book. “Lamb in Love” by Carrie Brown. I picked up Lamb in Love after my read of Dan Brown’s Inferno.
Brown (Dan) – Brown (Carrie) sitting next to each other – in the Library. Funny 🙂
If you, by any chance go by the list of books that I have read, you will notice that I have seldom read love stories. I don’t even remember the last time I have picked one. So, I was very enthusiastic about reading a love story after such a long time. But, man it was slow.
When I was Sixteen
It was so slow. that I have never felt the urge to use my book as pillow to sleep before. It was a love story between Norris and Vida, both in their late years, around forty. They and their cute love of just waiting and looking at the other one through the corners. Shy and coylove, oh I am so over it now. So over, that I just couldn’t finish it. Just can’t.
That’s when I realized, that I am no longer that sixteen year old, who used to love this type of slow and romantic love stories. I have so much outgrown this lovey dovey stuff, it startled me a little. :O
When I was Sixteen
How I used to think of a prince charming, riding on an ultra white horse? I used to think of the, first sight love, butterflies in stomach and tinkling of bells.
Saw your prince and fall in love at the same moment. I used to think of that slow pacing introductory love, which used to take months to say hello, to love of your life. How stupid I was to think of finding ones soul-mate in that first sight. That blush of cheeks and stammering of words when you saw them. Cupid struck!!!
It was damn cute, but very funny, now to think of it. I see now some of these fifteen and sixteen years old, but I don’t see that innocence or say stupidity. I see love but no lovebirds. Maybe a few, but rare species now, almost extinct.
I don’t miss that period of my life, it was silly and adorable at the same time. Now, I have my soul mate. Bells don’t ring in my ears but birds do sing and sometimes I blush too 🙂
When I was Sixteen
On that note, maybe I’ll try reading another love story, pretty soon…..
As I lay in my comfortable bed, gazing the stars from the window and leisurely listening to some slow music playing on the radio, I realized how relaxed I am as compared to the morning hustle, that I was in three days earlier, to catch my flight. My flight to my dream vacation place, to Singapore.
As usual I woke up late that day and was almost running to airport rushing down through every other person, to catch my flight. If I would have delayed by some more time I would have probably lost the flight, and with that, this amazing opportunity to visit a place as serene and at the same time as vivacious as Singapore.
Singapore
This is my first visit to Singapore, although I was dreaming about it for very long. The moment I stepped down from the plane and put my foot on the Singapore’s soil, I knew, my dream has finally come true. My journey from the airport to my accommodation in Singapore’s hotel “Landmark Village”, has been a smooth ride. Roads are so clean and well maintained, it does give you a feel of advancement of our technology. I took a glimpse of why this place is sometimes called the most developed in terms of infrastructure. Located in southeast Asia this country is the most urbanized of the lot.
Singapore
Most arresting thing that I found while traveling in Singapore is it’s diverse culture, having a blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian and western influence. Same is also reflected in its food and art. Every aspect of Singapore speaks out of its diversity, which is actually influenced by 42% of its foreign population, comprising mostly of Chinese, Malaysians and Indians.
Now I am in my comfy accommodation, laying leisurely and thinking of all the places that I have visited in my short stay here. I have taken the city tour the very first day, consisting of City Hall, the Supreme Court, Padang cricket club and beautiful Merlion park with an equally amazing view of Marina Bay. This is the place where I got introduced to the famous mythological creature, the Merlion. Merlion is part lion and part fish. It’s a beautifully crafted animal standing tall with height of 8.6 meters and weighing around 70 tonnes, at Marina Bay. Not many people notice but there is another Merlion also. A 2 meter high Merlion cub just behind the big Merlion.
Singapore
Sentosa island is the most sought after tourist destination of Singapore. It has many attractions to see. Most popular among them are Tiger sky tower, Underwater world, Adventure Park and Butterfly Park. I didn’t have time to see all of them, but I do visited the Universal Studio there.
Singapore
Universal studio, of Sentosa island is Asia’s second Hollywood theme based park after Japan. This park is full of rides and movie attractions. It also has its own Hollywood Horror Nights events. Many themes which makes this park even more interesting to visit are Hollywood theme, New York theme featuring the skyline of New York and its sidewalks. Sci-Fi city theme based on what cities would look like in the future, showing the advance technology in fiction form. Ancient Egypt theme based on Egyptian architecture. Lost World theme, one of my favorite, containing Jurassic park and water park. Other themes were Madagascar and Far-Far Away theme. It was fun to visit the Universal studio specially the Madagascar and Lost world themes park. Very entertaining.
Singapore
Singapore also boast of a very entertaining night safari and zoo rides. Singapore zoo also known as Mandai zoo is managed by the wildlife reserves of Singapore. I must say that I was quite impressed with the large number of Orangutans in the zoo, never seen so many before in any zoo. I came to know from the zoo guide that famous primatologist Dr. Francine has spent around six months in the same cage with some eighteen Orangutans. Bravo!!!
Also, good to notice was, that the animals were kept in as natural habitat as possible, with open spaces and hidden barricades. I also took the horse carriage rides through the zoo. I saw many children cheering throughout their rides and enjoying every bit of it.
Singapore
Last and the most fascinating thing that I did in Singapore is Night Safari. Most amazing thing is that this night safari park is specially built for the night visits only. It’s an open zoo area accessible by foot, bathed in the artificial moon light. It looks like animals are living in their natural habitat. A vibrating Tribal dance was also performed during the safari, along with some fire plays. My tour ended with that, and I returned to my beautiful accommodation in Singapore.
Now, its time to sleep, as I have to catch an early morning flight back to my home, but I have promised myself that soon I’ll be visiting Singapore and this time I would be staying for long in this beautiful place.
Good thing about living in an area with lots of trees nearby (other than the view) is that you got to see so many visitors (wanted/unwanted) from the wild. Yesterday, while I was downstairs checking my mail, I saw one cat, all covered in black puffy hairs. All black and beautiful. She had bright eyes, bright as fire. Kind of scary for me. Too scary, but beautiful in a way.
Cat, which don’t want to be saved
You must have guessed what I would have done after seeing that beautifulcat…. No, I didn’t hold her and loved her… on the contrary I ran. I ran away and close my doors as fast as I can.
Yeah, I am frightened of cats. Actually, I got scared of everything that walks on 4 or more legs. 😦
I don’t hate them, it’s just that I would like to keep my distance. I love them, till no touching is involved.
So, I left her on my doorstep. But, she never left me. :O
At night, when my hubby arrived from gym, she was still there. Still waiting at our door. My hubby, he appears to be very rough and tough but when it comes to helping others he is all heart. Sometimes, I hate this habit of him, but to tell you frankly(don’t tell him) I love him for this. Muaahh.
So, he was not willing to close the door on her in this cold weather. He was afraid that she might die of cold or can become food of some wild animal. Thus, we started our rescue mission. First thing that we thought of, was to provide some food for her. So, I put some milk and bread for her to eat. But, she was behaving just like my kids. Won’t eat, no matter how much you pursue her. Stubborn.
Cat, which don’t want to be saved
We guessed she must have eaten something and is full. So next thing that we do was to arrange a cushion and blanket for her to prevent from cold. But she refused that too. How stubborn and ungrateful.
We wanted to hand her over to the society office, so that they could put her up in some comfortable place. But, it was already very late in night and there was no one at office. Seeing no other option my hubby finally decided to knock on our neighbor door and ask them if the cat is theirs. (I once saw a black cat in their hands, a different one though).
Our helpful neighbor Mark, also came out to help her. He even offered to put her in his garage till morning, to save her from cold. So finally, we decided to put her in garage and in morning to hand her over to the office guys or to cat shelter.
Mark and my hubby both went down to garage and tried to put that stubborn cat in the garage. That stubborn cat. She did it again. Ran away. Mark also got some scratches on his arm in all this struggle. But, that black cat was long gone in darkness of night.
My hubby was worried that she may not survive the night, but I was sure no one can touch that stubborn cat, not even cold.
And I was right (as always). I saw her today again, on the door waiting to scare the hell out of me. I didn’t even went to go check my mail. 😦
Cat, which don’t want to be saved
Well, the cat was saved, though. My neighbor told me that he had taken the cat to the society office and they have placed her in a shelter. I was relieved, less for the cat but more for myself. Now, there is no four legged animal, waiting at my doorstep. Peace.
My Journey So Far.... 