conflict of interest

Homo sapiens is a very strange species. On one hand, he believes in sanctity of human right and personal space; yet, on the other hand, he also yearns for the acceptance of others.

When other people's belief clashes with ours, we are frustrated and angry. No major adverse impact occurs if these frustration and anger are kept in check. But, if these are not properly managed, they may lead to major disasters.

If this "conflict of interests" can be managed successfully, life will be a bliss.

Simple example - we are advised to take photos based on what you like, and not to please others. But yet, if others dislike the photos we have taken, we will be terribly disheartened! It is tough to balance our interest, and yet trying to please others.

floating tree branches

sunset

心态

在没有人为或外来负面因素的影响，多数人都会永远保持着年轻的心态。

可是一旦结婚，成家立业，受到柴米油盐的干扰，就会开始感觉到心态的老化。

若家里没有小孩的“熏陶”，往往会忽视自己身体神态的老化，不知觉的以为自己还是个年轻小伙子。在看到孩子们渐渐成长后，才发觉自己已经不再年轻！

也就是为什么，单身者往往即使已是不惑 、 知命之年，还显得那么年轻，那么漂亮洒脱。

有了孩子之后，身材，思绪，神态，都会来个翻江倒海的转变！不认老都不行！

Wildlife / Plants @ Sungai Buloh Wetland Reserve

Sungai Buloh Wetland Reserve, a place with teeming mangrove trees and a variety of wildlife.

Apart from egrets, we saw some fish, crabs and mudskipper during our leisure walk in the park.

We also saw a crocodile "gliding" with flow of rising tide along the river cutting through the reserve, and some monitor lizards strolling among the mangrove trees along the river bank.

Also chance upon weaver ant building a nest a leave.

And colourful filaments of Putat Laut, apparently a common flower found in mangrove habitat.

Not to forget the brightly coloured apple snail eggs, attached firmly onto the wooden poles in the middle of a pond.

And lastly, the calm and scenic beauty of the wetland reserve.

It rained!

The month of November is going to see a lot of rain.

It does not hurt much if it is just drizzling... in fact, it is cool to go for brisk walk when it drizzles.

However, if it pours, then there is bound to be a lot of disruption. Nobody likes to be soaked wet outdoor.

Furthermore, Asian in general and Chinese in particular, does not like body to be soaked wet with rain. There is this lingering fear of catching "rheumatism" if one is exposed to rain (particulary if one's hair is drenched with rain) ... this may lead to chronic body and joint aches in the during old age. It may not be medically proven, but how can one argue against ancient wisdom?

However, the view of the trees / leaves swaying to the rhythm of the wind while being showered by the rain is rather pleasant (at least to me).

                                      View from our balcony ...

"calamity"

 

The sight of trees being uprooted is rare in a city landscape such as Singapore. There is no tornado, earth quake or typhoon in Singapore. 

But occasionally, the combination of strong thunderstorm with loose soil (caused by erosion), may lead to an old tree being uprooted and toppled over (as seen in one of the exercise trails in Windsor Nature Park above).

Fortunately, the adjacent area is uninhabitated. Hence, no harm was done apart from some "damage" to the adjacent trees / shrubs, and partially excavated trail.

Flash flood used to seen only in the past. However, over the recent years, flash flood has made a comeback many a times in Singapore. 

Morning exercise @ Nanyang Technology University (NTU)

It is one of the weekends where I don't have to rush back to hospital for morning round. Hence, my wife and I decided to go NTU for our routine brisk walking exercise.

Reached Hall 12 car park at 7.50am, and started our walking exercise along the "Blue" exercise track. 

Fortunately for us, it was a shady/cloudy morning. Otherwise, we would have been scorched by the sun after a 2-hour walk. 

The scenery along the "Blue" track was quite pleasant ... we explored Yunnan Garden, Admin Building and iconic The Hive (aka Dim Sum basket) along the way.

Hall 12 

Blue exercise track

Scenery along the exercise track...

Acting cool...

Sport & Recreation Centre along the way...

Yunnan Garden @ NTU with replica of NTU Arch...

Memorial Tablet commerating the establishment of Nantah

Replica of the Iconic Arch

Old Administration Building, which has now being converted into 华裔馆。

And finally, the iconic The Hives (a must go place for tourists)...

We gave Nantah Lake a miss as it was getting hot and humid in late morning. Walked back to Hall 12 car park, picked up CK, and drove to Taman Jurong Hawker Centre for breakfast.

Photos - reality vs deception

Photos can be deceptive at times.

What a photo captures is merely a glimpse of a selected corner of entire scene. The selected view may be very charming and scenic, but what's not captured may not...

View of an elevated forest boardwark... it gave an impression that the elevated boardwalk perched high up in the forest, overlooking into the forest way ahead.  In reality, it was probably just about a height of 3 storey building.

A brisk jog down a gigantic arch runway, cutting across the forest....

It reminds of scenic bridge travesing through the gorges in Japan/Korea... But in reality, the boardwalk is only less than 2 meter from the ground.

Hence, it is important not to be "overwhelmed" by look-good photos put up in Facebook / Instagram... it may be the "real" thing.

In case you are wondering where the photos were taken...they were all taken along the elevated boardwalk leading from Telok Blangah Hill Park to Holt Park!