年除夕生病啦！falling sick on Chinese New Year's eve...

今年年除夕夜，尽然生病啦。

开始只是喉咙有点痒，鼻腔有些堵住的感觉，晚上突然有些冷颤（但没有发烧呀）。隔天，也就是年初一，就觉得好累好累，无精打采。勉强去医院巡房，看了那几个住院的病人，便回家休息！因为母亲过世还没满一年，今年也没有去拜年。

据说，过年生病，不是个好兆头。但碰到了，也既来之则安之啦！

虽然没有发高烧，但是咳嗽却是很难受；尤其是在晚上睡觉时，一直克制不了咳嗽，整个睡眠都被干扰了。今天已经是正月初十，晚上还是咳得很难受。。。

Fell sick on the eve of Chinese New Year, with lingering cough that persists till now (Day 10 of Chinese New Year). The cough is rather disturbing, and disrupting my sleep routines. I tried honey, kamquat, dexamethasone, antibiotic ... nothing seems to work. I guess just have to ride it out!

Falling sick during Chinese New Year is a taboo.... taking medicine during Chinese New Year is strongly discouraged. But when one is sick, there is nothing we can do about it...

红灯区 Red light district?

夜游新加坡河畔，有点误闯红灯区的感觉。

其实新加坡不是没有风月场所，只是它只法定于某个区域。

而新加坡河畔，属于正规的旅游地标，绝对没有不良意识的活动在此运转。

这就是旅游局所要游客游览的景点之一。。。

Was exploring around the vicinity of Singapore River a few days ago, after visiting Chinatown.

The simmering red lights emitting from the surrounding area gave me an impression that I was in "Red light district".

But, red light districts are only restricted to certain locales. And Singapore River is certainly not one of them! 

蛇年 year of the snake

一年一度的牛车水农历新年亮灯装饰已经上场一段时间。这次的主角是金蛇。以往的装饰，都会被人诟病，但这次金蛇的造型，鲜艳活力十足，没得挑！

牛车水夜市场，也是人山人海，水泄不通。不少人就是来这里感染下过年的气氛。

若要避免人潮，那只能在邻里小贩中心的年货市场逛逛。

It's time for Lunar New Year! As usual, Chinatown is teeming with people. Not everyone is there for shopping - some are there to feel the "vibes" of New Year.

This year's snake light decor was a definite charmer and winner! No bad press from the public on the ludicrous designs or decors of the Zodiac animals as in the past few years.

新山一日游 Day trip to Johor Bahru

这次决定驾车往新山一日游有两大原因：

1.年关将至，希望能在新山附近购卖些物廉价美的年货。

2.试试柔佛电动车充电站的设施，当作以后在马来西亚长途旅行的一项暖身活动。

也趁机试试所贴上的射频识别标签是否操作正常。

只可惜天不作美，一月10日-13日，因为季候风的影响，连续下了连绵豪雨；但居然已经请假了，也只能硬着头皮‘上阵’。原以为不是学校假期，或碰上长周末，跨境入柔佛的车辆应该不会很多；但事与愿违，大市与新柔长提的预计等候时间都在半个小时以上（后者更可能会超过一个小时）。于是便飞车直奔大市方向去。结果需耗时45分才能越过新马关卡。

因为下雨缘故，也只能去几个地方逛。原本要去的Johor Jaya 早市及年货市场，只能取消行程。

第一站：Skudai 皇后花园的早安粥点，及附近的市场。

在那边吃了早点，买了40粒鸡蛋，逛一逛超市/店面。

发现有一摊丁加奴鱼面，蛮好吃！

第二站：经济超市 / 菜市场

误打误撞的去了一家超市 SKS Mart Skudai，哪里有很多小摊位；其中一家售卖的蔬菜蛮新鲜实惠。

第三站：古来的秀花菜饭，与明轩（客家餐馆）

在秀花菜饭买了些糕点

在明轩餐馆吃了晚餐，便直奔Johor Premium Outlet 去充电与购卖运动鞋。

明轩餐馆

Decor inside the restaurant

Johor Premium Outlet 的充电站蛮方便使用。（那边有8架充电桩,看来不用排队等候）。

在经过关卡闸门与南北大道的收费站时，射频鉴别标签无法被侦察到，也只能用传统的TouchNGo 卡了。

I went for a day trip to Johor Bahru yesterday.

Took a day's leave from work specifically for the trip.

But alas, the weather was terrible - it was forecasted to have continuous heavy rain from Jan 10-13, with several areas in Singapore and Johor expected to be flooded!

Regardless of the weather, we soldiered on. We departed from our house at 6.40am. Took almost one hour to clear the jam at Singapore Tuas immigration counter.

Have to skip the Johor Jaya morning market because of the rain.

Went to our regular spot - Morning Congee in Skudai, and explored the shops in nearby area.

Drove up north to Kulai, and took dinner at Ming Xuan restaurant (recommended by CNA).

On return trip via Tuas link, had to queue for over 1 hour to clear the immigration counter at Johor side. Clearing custom at Tuas was a brisk. Finally reached home at 11pm+.

“郊游” outing

2025年阳历正月一日， 公共假期。傍晚时分，带上家犬，往东海岸公园溜达！

家犬螳螂，极少在外头溜达。日常生活中，在户外大小解后，便急着要回家去。不过向来不屑与其它同类接触的它，已开始向附近的狗狗投以盼望的眼神。在家里也比较活跃起来。

First day of year 2025. Went out for a "family outing" with our pet dog Mantis.

He is such a laid back dog - prefers to stay at home most of the time.

Even when we bring him out in the morning and afternoon to do his business, he will automatically walk to the gate of our condominium once he is done with his business!

He walks for a long distance in unfamiliar place i.e. when he does not know the way home!

“翻新" Touch up

农历新年就要到来，需要应时为家里装饰一番。

阳台的甲板，油漆已经脱落有一段时间，该粉刷一下了！

当然事先得把甲板用砂纸把旧层油漆抹去，然后再油上新漆。但这次所购卖的好像是染料式油漆，而非往常所买的油漆，无法把旧层油漆掩盖过去。呜呼！

Lunar New Year is approaching! It's the time of the year to discard old /spoilt items, "rejuvenate" unsightly items!

The wooden deck in our balcony was last given a new layer of paint over 4 years ago; the paint is slowly coming off with each passing year.

Time to do some "facelift"!

躲藏 The art of hiding

要不露声色及不被人发觉的躲藏隐蔽起来，是要有一定的功夫的！

虽说颜色已经与周遭环境近乎相同，但还是不完美；犹如孙悟空72变，但还是无法把猴尾巴掩蔽起来，结果还是逃不过二郎神的法眼。

有时觉得已经躲得很隐秘，但因为外型太夺目，与周遭环境格格不入，一下子便露馅！

How to hide from others, or be inconspicuous to others - it is an art by itself.

Camouflaging needs to reach certain perfection, before one can merge into the surrounding effortlessly.