麻将 Mahjong

据说，戳麻将能减低·患上老人痴呆症的风险。一边洗牌，一边聊天，既能运动四肢，亦能与他人互动，还要不时的记住自己的底牌，以防吃胡。这种不需太过耗力，但却有多种好处的嗜好，对年长者来说，确实难得。

前个星期，吃了晚餐后，到了一间以麻将为主题的甜点餐馆吃甜品。

点了几样甜品，物美价廉，相当可口。

Mahjong is an excellent game for elderly.

Apparently, it can stave off dementia. It is also a good way to work out stiff joints (when players of the game shuffle the Mahjong tiles).

Both the mind and body joints (specifically the upper limbs) are engaged actively in the game.

My father and father-in-law were good in Mahjong games in their younger days. But both my wife and I were novice in this game. CK and some of his fellow classmates are diehard fans of the game. They even have Mahjong set in Melbourne!

We visited a Mahjong-themed dessert restaurant a few weeks ago, when CY and Kevin were back in Singapore. It was a small boutique restaurant/cafe. But the desserts were delicious and reasonably priced. Definitely worth a visit!

Short trip to Bukit Tinggi, Genting Highlands and Melaka

CY and Kevin flew back to Singapore on 23 Dec, and would stay till 6 Jan. 

Both of them were supposed to have their LASIK surgery done on 27 Dec, and then we would go for a short self drive tour to Bukit Tinggi, Genting Highlands and Melaka from 31 Dec to 3 Jan.

But alas, CY eyes were quite dry (when examined on 26 Dec), and had to repeat her eye evaluation on 2 Jan (after applying eye drop to moisture her eyes) to assess if she was suitable for LASIK. 

Kevin's cornea was deemed to be bordeline for LASIK - and eventually he opted for TransPRK surgery (which was performed on 27 Dec).

We made a last minute plan to drive up to Bukit Tinggi for a night, then go to Melaka the next day, and return to Singapore just in time for Kevin's and CY's eye check up in the afternoon of 2 Jan.

In anticipation of heavy traffic jam in the causeway on 31 Dec, we left our house quite early in the morning (~6.30am) - reach Tuas check-point and JB check-point by 7am - it was smooth sailing in both immigration counters, no jam at all (barely any waiting incurred, which was unheard off in our many travels across the causeway/Tuas 2nd link). 

Stopped over at Bukit Indah Pasar Pagi (aka morning market) for breakfast.

Make-shift stalls on both sides of the street

Local carrot cake ... not bad at all

another corner of the morning market

carrot cake.... RM 6

After that, we resumed our drive all the way to Bukit Tinggi.

We stayed overnight at The Chateau Spa and Wellness Resort - was quite amaze at how posh the resort was - literally resemble that of old French villa. 

The Glass ballroom where we had our breakfast 

And of course, the highlight of the trip was a visit to Colmar Tropicale (aka French Village).

The French Village is rather small... the entire stroll can be completed within half hour (if one is in a hurry). For those who just wanted to experience a visit to european village without flying long distance, this is not a bad place... but don't hold too high an expectation.

Walk-way to the Villa

The garden next to the Villa

view of the entire village, from a clock tower

close-up view of the multi-coloured rooftops

We drove to Bentong for dinner. The restaurant/shop that we wanted to visit was not opened for business. Chance upon a Malay restaurant which was well-known for its Rendang Chicken.

Drove back to the Resort after dinner... rested for the night. 

After taken our breakfast in the resort, we drove to Genting Highlands (which was about an hour drive from the resort) - stopped over for a short walking tour (visiting the casino, indoor theme park), and drove for another 3 hours to Melaka. 

Genting Highlands Resort

It was 5 pm by the time we reached Melaka. Checked into our hotel (Christee Suites Hotel), and walked for about 10 minutes to nearby tourist attractions.

A Farmosa.

Church of St Paul.

steps leading to Church of St Paul

Dutch Red Square aka Stadthuys.

Replica of fortress facing Melaka River

Jonker Street nearby...

It poured heavily as we just finish buying some local delights from a shop. We waited for a few minutes... but the rain showed no signs of stopping. Hence, I had to walk back to our hotel (carrying umbrella with me) to pick up our car. 

We drove to a Peranakan Restaurant nearby for our dinner. 

The next morning, we drove to a residential house to purchase some Nyonya dumplings. Wanted to get some Nyonya kuih, but the shop that we went to did not cater for on the spot purchase (had to order the day before). Drove to another shop nearby, but could not locate the place (after following Google Map instruction). Gave up --> drove all the way back to Singapore via Tuas 2nd link --> it was another smooth journey across the causeway.

The entire trip was rather rush... it would have been better if we could spend another day in Genting Highlands itself. This would allow us more time to visit Melaka.

少年不识愁滋味 Carefree years in my youth

前几天，四姨丈寄来来几张旧照片。

当时的我，就读于钟灵中学，应该是十五，十六岁左右。

回想起来，当年就只晓得读书，搞好功课，全然没有妄想长大后会成为怎样的人，更没有想到自己会成家立业与老去。

年轻就是那么逍遥，不愁生活 （因为有父母的抚养资助）。

随着时光的过逝，年龄已过六十的我，重新看到年轻时的稚气，难免觉得有点滑稽。

无可否认，在事业这条跑道，我走得蛮顺利。娶来的老婆，也挺能理家，把三个小孩都教养得好有成就。

姐姐与我

Old photos inevitably will churn up past memories.

As far as I can remember, I was not particularly troubled in my younger days. I had always been a nerdy, studious young boy, with no bad habits (apart from "addiction" to watching movies). And my academic works had always been good. (my parents were never worried about my school work).

In those younger days, I never thought of myself growing into adulthood, getting married, working hard for the family etc. I just focused on my studies.

Those were carefree days, thanks to the unreserved support and love from my parents. The thought of growing old never occurred to me in those younger days.

Somehow, I have forgotten how I looked like in those days...

生老病死 Life cycle...

当自己渐渐老去时，父母们也肯定比我们更加衰老，多病。

我父亲在多年前因心脏病暴发而过世，当时他在加护病房待了一个星期多，最后心肌衰弱而撒手而去。

我母亲也因为脑小血管疾病所导致的帕金森病症而行动不便，最近几年情况开始恶化，完全无法动弹。好几个月前，惊见她的臀部患有蛮深大的褥疮，经过几个月门诊医生的细心清洗，才慢慢好转过来。

可是上个星期，突然呼气急促，氧气指数少于90%，得入院急救。所幸只需配上抗生素，病情便好转过来！住了4天后便出院，但当晚有因为病情复发而再次入院！注射抗生素后又稳定过来。

生老病死，看来没人躲得了。虽说这是常规，但也有人会跳过”老“ 与”病“这过程，直接步上黄泉路 （比如因车祸毙命者）。

要活得老又健康，能行动自如又能自顾，是件幸福的事。

Being born, growing old, falling sick and then passing on... this is an inevitable circle of life.

My bedridden mother was admitted to hospital for pneumonia recently - this is her very first episode of chest infection. Fortunately, this episode responded well to antibiotic treatment. 

However, I cautioned my siblings that this may signal the beginning of many hospital visit for chest infection in the future!

I broached the topic of " DO NOT INTUBATE and/or RESUSCITATE" to my siblings. I felt that this is probably the best option for my bedridden mother. Being a medical practitioner, I felt that we had to be practical when dealing with diseases of old age and/or quality of life of elderly individuals.

And it is not being cruel!

Fortunately, my siblings were in the same page with me.

夜奔 rushing at night

因为年迈的母亲前几天患上肺炎入院医治，临时订购了周末来回新加坡/摈城的机票。

恰巧当时我的两位同事都休假，需要人顶替周六早上以及周一的差事，所以只能在傍晚才能启程。最终只能选购晚上7。50 的班机。从机舱窗口向外张望，外面一片黑漆漆的，除了偶尔点缀在地平面的灯光之外。

起飞前

飞机在高空飞翔

忽然联想起’林冲夜奔’.林冲是在绝望中夜奔，寻找出路。我则是去探访亲人。

抵达槟城国际机场，在移民厅关卡，人山人海，消耗了一个多小时才顺利过关。抵达高渊老家时已是晚上11钟。

隔天中午，去探访了母亲。所辛他的病情已稳定，不需要配用氧气。精神状况也蛮好，眼睛能自己张开，说话时声音也比往常响亮。

下午五点到机场报到，原本预定的7。10pm班机，既然延迟到凌晨1。55am。。。呜呼唉哉！虽然补贴了马币20 块，但那也只够买一杯Starbucks 饮料，或一个麦当劳汉堡。。。。算了，还是去机场内的贵宾室享用饮食吧。

这一回，真是名副其实的"夜奔"了。

My mother fell sick a few days ago... She became breathless, and oxygen saturation hovering around 85% in room air. She was brought to local district hospital for treatment... Admitted for treatment of aspiration pneumonia.

She was weaned off intranasal oxygen 2 days later, and discharged home on the 4tg day... But her condition deteriorated the same night, and has to be admitted again. 

I booked a return flight from Singapore to Penang over the weekend. Both were night flights. 

Fortunately my mom's condition improved, and again managed to wean off oxygen after 2 days. 

But alas, my return flight from Penang was delayed... From 7 10pm to 0155 hour.... More than 6 hours!

飞机启航时，俯瞰峇都茅的夜景，着实另有一番滋味！

靖捷凌晨三点半驾车到机场接我。抵达家门时已经是4点多了！

小睡了三个小时，便得起床上班去。

病人排得满满的，午餐时分，稍微歇息半个小时，又得“披肩作战”，五点多才下班！

Work in progress 还在受训中。。。

We adopted a dog three weeks ago. His name is Mantis.

He was rather timid and quiet in the first week. Then, in his 3rd week or so, he started to bark for food.

Following which, he started to learn to pee outdoor on the grass patches (outside our condominium).

Apart from this, he still not responding when we called him by his new name, Mantis.

He seems to be rather "zen-like" in his demeanor (as I had described him in my earlier blogpost). Gazing at us when we walked pass him. No wagging of tail or jumping in excitement when he saw us in the morning, or when we returned home from outside.

Still work in progress...

我们新领养的牧羊犬，终于（在第2-3个星期）学会在户外的草地撒尿，排便。也在第三个星期左右，为了食物，“初试啼音”吠了几声！它吃食物时，狼吞虎咽的很快，整盘的食物/米粒皆收拾得干干净净。

最近也开始敢爬上梯级，步入电梯。

不过还是没有那么活跃，只是静悄悄的看着我们，没有兴奋的跳跃摇晃尾巴迎接我们！

已经三周了，还是不晓得自己的新名字是MANTIS!

什么时候能“修成正果”呢？

为旅行而发愁

好久没有到国外旅游，心里有些不平衡。

尤其在十二月分，同事们几乎都在谈论年尾要到哪里去度假。。。日本似乎是热门地点！

想来想去，西藏旅游的念头浮现出来。

原本要在9月份往西藏旅游，但因为某种原因，无法成行。

预定一月初往南马自驾游，再过两个星期，再往九寨沟跟团游，然后4月份在入藏。

现在需安排往中国的行程！

一下子去那么多地方，是否有些夸张？