JB venture... Taman Jaya Morning Market 柔佛新山再也花园早市，万孚新村。

Decided to visit another morning market in JB - this time round, it is Taman Jaya Morning Market.

前几个星期，决定在学校假期过后，驾车入新山探寻当地的早市场。主要是品尝当地美食，及购买廉价的甘榜鸡蛋， 也顺道给靖捷庆生。

Apart from stocking up on our depleted eggs at home, we would also like to celebrate CJ's pending birthday next week.

We left home early around 6am. I had to go for my morning ward round - managed to left hospital by 7am, and clear Singapore custom @ causeway around 7.35am. 

cleared custom @ singapore side

driving on the causeway to Malaysian's immigration booth

Followed GPS guidance, driving passed Mid-Valley Mall before reaching Taman Jaya Morning Market.

reached Taman Jaya

Walking to the morning market

Chanced upon a noodle stall which was packed with customers. Since we were quite hungry by then, we decided to take our breakfast before visiting the morning market ( which was very nearby). The noodles, coffee and tea and bean curds were simply delicious.

After breakfast, we visited the morning market... bought some kueh, mee siam, corns, before wrapping up with trays of Kampung eggs from the wholesale store nearby.

Then we visited 99 Speed Mart, Ninso Outlet stores, Eco shop ... didn't buy much from those shops though.

We decided to visit a "new town" 新村 nearby - the new town Ban Foo 万孚came out from our Google AI search. It was indeed a very small old town - but the local store selling Fried Chicken was not open for business on Sunday...We drove to Mt Austin for dim sum instead.

这次的旅程，额外的添加往附件的华人新村一游。谷歌网站提议几个临近的新村。我们最后决定到万孚去。

华人新村是马来西亚华人聚居的村落，形成于1950年代，是马来亚英国殖民地政府在长达12年的紧急状态中设立的一系列华人集中定居点。当时英殖民政府为了阻止郊区的华人与森林中的马来亚共产党游击队接触，便将原本散居在郊外华人集中起来，这些集中点后来就变成了华人聚居的新村落。(摘自wilkipedia)

Ban Foo New Town, parking lots for parents near a school

The house selling Fried Chicken 

Dim Sum before going to NSK and mid Valley mall 

We drove to NSK nearby to buy groceries (fruits, vegetables, detergents) -the mall was teeming with crowds (as if all items were free for grab!)... the variety of vegetables, fruits, fish etc there was an eye opener!

Then we drove to Mid Valley Southkey Mall for late lunch ( @ 汤师父）。

We managed to clear causeway custom and reached home around 6.30pm.

There was some Jam before/after immigration near both ends of causeway when making our way back to Singapore - but it was nothing major - within acceptable limits. The vehicles were at least moving forward bits by bits....

Thick glass = Learned? 别被片面的印象误导。

 

The photo of a thick glass lying on top of a wooden table that has seen better days evoked an emotion of being "learned" and "studious".

But it may be far off from the truth instead. Perhaps profound shortsightedness runs in the family. Perhaps it may be constant strain of eye under dim lights or constant exposure to blue ray from computer screen that may have caused deterioration in visual acuity.

In short, don't take things from face value alone.

厚厚的镜片，再加上棕褐色的镜框，摆在古色古香的旧木桌上，不免让人联想起拥有高超文化底蕴且修养的文人。但事实是否如此,可能要再旁敲侧论后才能确定。

I Light 2026 灯饰

The annual I Light festival commenced two weeks ago. Went for a stroll around Marina Bay to have a look at the I Light decors last week, and snapped some photos at the same time.

I went during weekdays - there were not many people there.

There are more interactive exhibits this year. But, personally I felt that they appealed more to those young at heart, and not "oldies" like me. Any overwhelming surprise this year -- not quite. The "campfire" display was a "wow" factor last year - but the wave display occupying the same location as the former "campfire" site was a let down.... so much so I didn't bother to take any photos of the exhibit.

一年一度的灯饰在俩个星期前粉末上场，为期三周。上周四到滨海湾附近逛逛，一睹今年灯饰的风采。也许是周日晚上，行人并不多。

灯饰要吸引人的眼珠，并引起共鸣，不是件易事。尤其在连续几年登场后，新鲜感已不复存在。

这次的灯饰，中规中矩；有几项展示作品，需要些互动，比较符合年轻人的口味。

沿途的滨海湾灿烂及五彩缤纷的夜景，还是那么迷人。

玩具 Toys

小孩有玩具。我家的毛孩也不例外。它也有自己心仪的玩具。

Three toys

Almost all children have toys to keep them company. They don't have to be fanciful or expensive; as long as they are something accessible, and can offer some comfort and happiness in their free time.

Our pet dog, Mantis, also has his favorite toys -namely shark, tortoise, and recently lobster.

Just woke up from afternoon nap...

抉择 choices

人生长途上，往往会在交叉路口上，做个抉择。

俗话说，条条大路通罗马，但有些道路弯弯曲曲，费时又费力；有些则能在事半功倍的情况下顺利完成。只要在不犯法，不损人的情况下，选择轻松途径上路，是务实的，也是最佳选择。

选择扶手电梯，还是用苦力慢慢爬上梯级呢？

When facing choices in life, should one opt for easier path? 

My thought is - as long as the easier path does not run foul of the law, and does not cause any harm to others, it is okay to take the easier path. We don't have to endure unnecessary hardship to achieve similar results.

The Chinese saying 吃得苦中苦，方为人上人 does not mean that we have to endure hardship all the time. It just means that sometimes, success does not come easily - one has to persevere to succeed.

Puff of cloud 云朵

早上驾车去上班，在十字路口的交通灯前等候交通灯转绿时，目睹了上空的云朵，与前方的蓬头树叶造型蛮相配，于是马上掏起手机·，捕捉那景象。

Chanced upon the scene of puff of cloud hanging in the sky, right above the canopy of tree leaves. They cast a similar shape.

平民住宅起居，与豪华酒店之分 Classy lodging for the rich, and crowded apartment for commoners

一分钱一分货，现实就是那么残酷。

如果有能力且愿意花钱入住豪华酒店，享受人生， 就能体会到舒适的入住环境。

Luxurious lifestyle and accommodation are only applicable for those who have deep pocket, and willing to splurge their money. The surroundings and services provided are most certainly pleasant.

View of luxurious hotel

the surroundings of the hotel

pleasant river view from the hotel

而一般平民也只能集居于稠密的多层建筑屋。也必须在附近的杂货店购卖日常所需。路边摆卖的摊位，虽然杂乱无章，但价钱实蕙。

For common laymen, crowded high rise apartment, with economical amenities nearby is probably the best option.