Actually, I spent CNY week (this week) back in Hong Kong, and did a whirlwind pre-CNY trip home last week. Just like all the Singapore stopovers before, it was hectic hectic hectic.
Got in on Tuesday at 1.30am, slept in, went for a 3k swim, visited my niece Gaby at me bro’s place, then caught up with the Boss over dinner.
Wednesday I was tired; went for an easy 60min trail run at the Tampines MTB park next to home, chilled and worked from home, then went for Tvoon and Rteng’s wedding at Four Seasons. It was one of the best weddings I’ve attended, because the food was good, the company was excellent, and there wasn’t the usual wedding crap.
Thursday I was still tired as I only got home at 1am after the wedding. Went for an easy 75min spin to Coastal on my Pista, to make space in the tummy for a lunch at Aunty Amy’s and dinner at Aunty Gek’s. Assam fish, stir-fried broccoli, sambal prawns, chicken soup, kueh pie tee, fish head bee hoon… damn I’m salivating at the thought already. Finished off the night at Uncle Choon’s, where Aunty Shirley so kindly gave me a slab of her amazing Kueh Lapis. It’s the bomb.
Carbed up, Friday started well with a 17k run, with breakfast with John at Bedok sandwiched between. In the arvo I made my first trip to MBS (can anyone say suah koo?) and took the Singapore River Cruise. The only other time I’ve done that is in primary school, and boy has the scenery on the stone-walled banks changed since then. That night, we had an early reunion dinner; mom made popiah and we also had steamboat. Nom nom nom.
Saturday began with a 3k swim with the bro at Safra Tampines. Then we met up with the other bro for lunch at Alkaff Mansion (as described in an earlier post). I threw my Pista in the boot, and got my lil bro to drop me off at Cycleworx, where I hung out, had lunch with Shooter and Spotter, and washed me bike. Then the skies started turning moody, as it had for the past two days, but that didn’t stop my ride with ZQ. The heavy rain pierced our skin, but it did nothing to dampen our spirits… we had planned to ride just a little loop, but decided instead to ride a bigger Mandai-Kranji-Neo Tiew-Lim Chu Kang-Boon Lay loop. The pace was easy and the conversation was good - catching up after 12 years, how can it not be? - and before I knew it we were in Clementi tucking into sambal stingray and kang kong. Belly happy, I rode home on nice empty streets… sweet.
The return flight was 5.30am Sunday morning, so after getting home from the ride, showering, hanging out with family, packing… I pretty much got three hours of sleep before heading to the airport. I was tired, but it was a memorable and fulfilling trip.
