Monday, May 22, 2006
Snowy * 2000-2006 *
I start my mourning of Snowy 12 days after he had passed away simply because the news had came at first as a piece of news. I just accepted it. I didn’t know how to react. Today, 12 days later, I dissolved into a pool of tears because it was only today reality hit me.
I was not in the know when he was ill with sickness, struggling for his life. I was not there when he was put to sleep. Nor did I find out until 4 days later. I had come home, confused, delusional and sad, expecting my dog to be there for me. I had it wrong. He wasn’t there anymore. I had been too late and everything was over. And the worst thing was I wasn’t there for him. My parents was there for him but it stills leave me guilt-wrought for not being there. If only I had come home immediately when holidays started.
I remember hearing commotion in the middle of the night when my brother came home. I came storming out of the house asking him to keep it down and instead my brother just gestured for me to come. In full doubt I ventured over. And there, exploring and sniffing around was little Snowy. He was such a cute guy, a little creature with white, snowy fur. It was late and we were not prepared for him so we tried to leash him so he won’t wander off while we were asleep. It was not easy, a puppy and already a rebel.
He was rather sickly when he came to us. We nursed him and coaxed him to drink his puppy milk. With his daily 3 meals, he grew to a fat puppy, with a barrel of a tummy and short little legs. His tummy would sway left and right when he waddles off after his dinner. He hated bathing. Every time we want to bathe him he would put on a fight or whine and sit on the floor, refusing to move. His one love is going out. I remember the evenings when we tore through the hillside, trying to out run each other. We hiked up the hills together and he always wanted to be one leading although sometimes he did not know the way.
I never did succeed in teaching him any tricks. All he understood was “Come here”, “Wait” and to look to the direction of my finger when I pointed at something. He knew his name of course. But answering would be up to him. There are days when you call out to him and he would just look at you, hesitating for a moment to decide whether he wants to come to you. If he felt like it then he would come to you. Otherwise nothing you do can make him do so. Despite his disobedience and my failure as a trainer, he knew where he belonged. I remember the evenings where both of us just sat there, me stroking him and he all relaxed and settled.
I was a coward when it came to gory stuff. Yet, during the 2 times he had wondered off and was attacked by strays, I nursed him back to full health. I wasn’t scared then. I just wanted to save him. The bite wounds didn’t deter me. Although they were deep and bloody, I became the doctor and the nurse to my dear, dear patient.
He was my companion during the years when I was growing up. He was my object of obsession so much so that during his 1st year with me and my family all I could talk about was him. My friends, every one of them, had to bear with me and my dog-stories.
For the 1st week I was back at home I couldn’t help but look out, waiting for Snowy to appear at his usual spot, just in front of the door. I would look at the food we had during dinner and thought to myself that Snowy may darn well like that piece of chicken there. I would listen quietly for his patter of feet when he runs from the garden to the porch. I wondered why the garden is so quiet because I couldn’t hear the breaking of flower pots and the scratching of the ground. I didn’t feel right when I came home the other day and there was no wet nose to greet me when I unlocked the gate. I kept wondering and waiting. But today I accept that there will be no more because he is gone.
This short piece here is in no way justice enough for the times and memories of him, growing up together with me. However, it would be endless and too painful to go into every detail. Snowy will remain forever in my memory and in my heart.
I love you very much, Snowy and always will.
Posted by Berenice at 1:28 PM
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Sing as I see it
OK-lah, this is a cheap attempt of mine to get the attention of the Tourism Board of the Lion City, in hope that they will notice my post and they will pay me for my blasphemies.
I think now it is high time to conclude a nearly-a-year of stay in this city-state with a random, highly unreliable flash-back or review or take-on or insert whichever suitable word.
Uh...where should I start? Maybe I should base everything on food since it’s easier for me to remember. *Don’t shoot me, they do have nice food here* Honestly, I think by the end of this entry, there will be a long queue of people waiting to witness the hanging of this so-called traitor. [I AM NOT!]
New Asia Bar I love the whole darn atmosphere. And at 71 storeys high the view is well, lovely. The high ceilings, the huge hanging lamps…Sigh! Everything! Sitting there and just absorbing the whole thang while sipping on a nice cocktail and having an interesting conversation with friends *snorts* is a good piece of evidence that life is just not about text-books. Oh boy, I sounded so “uppy”. *Earth calling Berenice~!*
Thanks to Dom, I realise that they have really nice Italian-styled pizzas too. I owe you one!
Dim Sum at Geylang Hahaha thanks to RS I finally had my chance to experience the dim-summing feat at Geylang. I’ve never been to that area before. And don’t even ask me how to get there. I have only a wide-eyed look to give you. If that helps, go ahead. Anyway, sitting there while RS was firing away orders for dim sums, I noticed there was a massage parlour directly opposite us. Gosh, there was a nice-lookin’ lady standing in front of the stairway. Wonder how customers get in? Hmmmm…
It’s so unique to be served with drinks in tubs. The drinks all came in round tubs. It’s more like a container than a cup/glass. I couldn’t care less that I looked like a greedy pig when I sat there “sucking” thirstily and endlessly at my drink. The dim sum was nice but somehow I expected more. Hahaha slap me if you can...blerk! *Can’t touch me!*
Carl’s Jr. This is subjected to a bias view. I was with a friend when I had my first and only CJ experience, well, till now. We just got of a camp and were half-starved and half-delusional from fatigue. So if anyone wanna include their 2 cents worth of IMHO, feel free to do so. I believe in free-speech. Well, since there may be a possibility that I am born with a Greedy-strain 5 chromosome, I have the probable tendency of ordering large portions. Ok ok, enough self-flattery. CJ actually have the claimed title of having the biggest burgers in the whole of Sing. So I ended up with a huge burger, huge drink and huge fries. It was the real deal.
Sauces squirting on to my face as I bite into the burger, I must say I enjoy the messiness totally. May reduce my sexiness, but that can wait.
Annalaskhmi A place that says eat all you can and pay what you feel. It is true. Do not think that I am trying to make a fool out of you. It is a charitable organisation therefore self-explanatory. Was there for Boi’s birthday. Their lassi-s are fantastic. It was a pity that they come in such small servings. I cannot stop myself from sipping it at all. You cannot say no to their lassis. If you do, I shall not forgive you. Consider yourself my enemy. Ok I was too much back there. A vegetarian Indian food restaurant, do not go if you have cravings for meat. But it is still worth a try.
Honestly, a day without meat won’t kill anyone. Will need a revisit from me, this place here.
Boat Quay I have yet to have the kind of cash to go a-dining at that place. Maybe in a few years time. Or maybe someone invites me to dinner there. We will see. So I am proud to say that my take on this place is not about food. Walk up a bit, you will find a stretch of i-dunno-what-to-call-it. There are steps leading down to the river/sea inlet where you have traditional boats ferrying tourists for rides along the quay. These boats and their Chinese lanterns make a pretty nice scene. Just sit there, relax, get a drink from 7-11 (no $ ma), and enjoy yourself. Can be a fine place to bring someone special; can also be a fine place to be with close friends. Whoever la. As long as it’s not someone who is in a hurry.
Turkish mum-mum FYI, mum-mum is a baby term for food. Essen is German. Makanan in Malay. My knowledge of languages is still rather limited so I stop here. Err, back to point. Mr Dutch happened to introduce me to this Turkish fast-food place at Far East Plaza. Funny huh? Turkish food and Far East Plaza. I think they have some good stuff there. Was there when some people from a food show was filming the Turkish guy and his Turkish ice-creams. Sigh, I want to go there now. Loved the doner sandwich and the lahmacun. Haven’t tried the rest of the offerings yet. But I will. I will!!!
Emerald Hill I just cannot say enough about the buildings there. They are so old-school. So antique-y. So I-wanna-live-there! Those houses probably cost a fortune. So dream shattered. This place is just a few hundred feet, my horribly bad estimation, from Orchard Road; But the difference! Man, you walk away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping and tourist crowds and you walk into an area of tranquillity. You can even hear birds chirping and it was so quiet. My price for entry for this secluded area: 3 mosquito bites on me leg.
Little India & Mustafa Square I cannot say no to this place. I am addicted to this place. Firstly I cannot say no to Indian food. Secondly I am not done with wondering around this 24 hour shopping freak of a giant place here. I ended up in one of the eating places near Mustafa one day for lunch; the people working there amazingly do not speak English. So using the universal language of the index finger, I kept pointing at the food that I wanted. It was really hard. They just won’t serve you the things you want because they didn’t think it was the best combination. But the damage was not done because they did have pretty good food there, which I and my friend got in the end after much insistence.
West Coast Park This Park is a few minutes walk from my hall and it served as our gangs midnight sojourn base. The playground there is our favourite. I had a blue-black spot (almost entirely faded now) from there which seemed to the others that my fall from the flying fox was so convincingly kung-fu like and free-fall like that everyone was cheering. A venue for our silly self-invented ball games as well. Its car park bay serves as a make-out spot for couples. Tip: Peer into the cars and you will know what I’m talking about. Don’t make it so obvious though. Discreetly.
East Coast Park Once I had the opportunity to walk across the whole stretch, well nearly, of the park. It was damn long. But I enjoyed it. There were a lot of tents set up the last time. Maybe these tents serve the same purpose as the cars in WCP. My speculations only, mind you. Activities galore. Need to visit that place a few more times.
Sheesha It is not smoking. But I am not sure how to form an argument justifying that. I like it very much. There is a definite favourite place for me among the many that offers this. It is so nice to go there and relax with your buddies. Hahaha I sounded so reflective. Just give it a shot I guess for those who have not tried it.
I still have some more I wanna drone on but fortunately, I am feeling very, very sleepy. Stopping here would be a good option.
Good night.
p/s If wanna pay me for giving such good reviews, then please leave your email at the Comments spot and I’ll get back to you. Hahahaha… *wink wink*
Posted by Berenice at 3:11 AM