Lifestyle

“Ooommmm…” “Ouch!”

tei o 5 Comments

I read in today’s newspaper that yoga has become one of the top 20 sports for women. Well, I’m one of those women who have benn trying out this ‘hot’ in sport for the last year or so. It’s my husband’s fault really. He’s totally into it and guilts me into going. I would have been quite happy to stay at home to watch my endless supply of Korean dramas/ movies. Ok, ok, I take this back. I know it’s for my own good.

Why is it more popular with women then men? I guess the general perception is that it’s gentle and mild. I mean, I had images of lotus style ‘meditation’ and going ‘ooommmm’. Boy, was I wrong.

You need flexibility and strength. Which at my age, they are obviously lacking in supply.

There are hand stands, leg stands, shoulder stands and head stands.

One of the ‘you-have-got-to-be-kidding’ pose…… from: http://members.tripod.com/~constro/yoga5.html

Right hand under left leg, left hand behind back to join right hand. Or was it right hand over right leg, and joining up both legs……?

Now, where are my hands……..? from: http://www.asthangafriends.4t.com/twist.html

What made me go on? When the instuctor said encouraging words like “this will help you loose weight” or “this will make your waist smaller”. Aiyah, he definitely knows which right buttons to push.

I am totally convinced that the person who wrote karma sutra was a practioner of yoga. And please, those underage guests, don’t ask me what is karma sutra hor….

Anyway, as I was sweating away in class just now, I was just thinking, how do those artistes do it? Exercising for hours daily, just to achieve that perfect body. Going on strict diet perpetually all the time? I mean BYJ was eating chicken breast meat and exercising almost the whole day for about 6 months just to have that great body for his photobook. It’s not all glamour in the entertainment world, is it? I really admire him and artistes like for their determination.

Well I know I’m not going to be able to loose that extra 2 inches with my ‘barely there’ excerces and I sure won’t be able to do it through dieting (see my post below). Wonder if I should try one of those slimming pills? Liposuction anyone?

Btw, my yoga instructor is a strapping young man who can easily put any fitness instructor to shame with his body.

Life is uncertain. Eat desserts first.

tei o 9 Comments

Can’t remember where I got this quote from but I think it’s a very wise and practical quote. I love it and reckon it may be from a woman… I try to adopt it as my life motto, literally and philosophically. Well, so far, it’s more like physically.

I know I complain about my weight all the time. I would love to loose some of the uninvited ‘guests’. Which normal woman doesn’t? But what can I say? The mind is willing but the stomach is weak… when it comes to food.

Food… is one of life’s great pleasure. Life is difficult enough as it is. Why make it harder? We can always diet tomorrow. Right?

One of best part about travelling (besides shopping) is trying out ‘the speciality’ in that country.

Take for example UK and the famous English breakfast. No, not the tea. I’m talking about the sinful, calorie laden and cholestrol filled but oh-so yummilicious breakfast.

Supplied by FreeFoto.com
Those succulent fat sauseges, the greasy, crispy bacon, baked beans, fresh toast. Down it with a strong cup of tea and fresh milk. But this is not a breakafast that you can finish in 15 minutes. No, no, this sinful breakfast is meant to be slowly savoured, enjoyed over the morning’s newspaper. What a wonderful start to a new day!

In Hong Kong, I love all the dim sum and desserts but my favourite is the creamy, smooth, ‘plain’ porridge from 粥皇. Dip the crispy fried dough or ‘yao zar gui’ into the porridge. Accompany it with a cup fragrant soya bean drink. If the English breakfast was heavy and sinful then the porridge breakfast is simplicity in itself. But it is oh-so heavenly. Sometimes, if I’m feeling peckish, I’ll order some side dishes of dim sum like rice roll, dumpling and carrot cake. And then I’m totally happy until….. lunch.

Because of my interest in things Korean, I love most of the food when I’m there in Korea, especially the snacks. But during a casual conversation with some friends over the weekend, we found ourselves reminiscing and drooling when we talked about this particualar dish- Dakgalbi. It’s spicy chicken, stir fried with vegetables in a big pan. I’m not so sure why it tasted so good, it sure isn’t the most healthy. Perhaps half the pleasure comes from the communal aspect of eating it together with friends. But one thing for sure, the only place to try this dish is in Chun Cheon.

As for Singapore, I can rattle off half a dozen dishes… Char Kway Teow, Chicken Rice, Prata, curry, hokkien mee etc. But of my favourite, which is also a dessert is the humble ‘Singapore’ ice-cream.

This local ice cream is less sweet and not very milky. The nicest flavours are the local ones like durian, attap-chee and sweet corn. And it comes in little scoops. Eat it with the yellow bread … on a hot day. You can’t buy it from the supermarkets or any stores though. You’ve got to get it from one of the ice-cream men. Most often found along Orchard Road or Chinatown. It costs a total of just S$1.

Forget about the Hargaan Daz and Ben & Jerry’s. As far as I’m concerned, this wins hands down over all the other types of ice-cream. Sluurrp!

Can’t believe I’m I blogging about food in the middle of the night. That stupid ^#@5$*&G& postcard of a picture of the English Breakfast pinned on my fridge. Now I’m really hungry.

Sorrieeee…..

tei o 6 Comments

Haha! I just realised that I’ve not written for more than a week…. Sorrieeee….. *red face*.

My brother took a trip to London and is back. My friend, bb took a trip to Japan and is back. Me? I took a trip to Korea and Japan and am still not back. Spritually, that is. Unfortunately, physically, I am here, in Singapore.

Guess most people know that I’m really into Korean dramas since 4 years ago. I mean, it’s not big a secret. Actually, I end up talking about Korean dramas inevitably to most of my clients and friends, often failing to see their glazed look, if they’re not a Korean drama fan. I know more about the Korean entertainment scene than I do about my own country’s. But it’s not my fault. Really. They have too many good looking cute guys over there! *Wails* This is a serious case of too many kimchi men and too little time.

This past week, I have been distracted by what I call, my side dishes. 3 side dishes to be precise.

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Lee Wan from Heaven’s Tree

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Ji Hoon from Goong

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Kim Jung Hoon from Goong

I’m alternating between crying (Heaven’s Tree is a melodrama filmed mostly in Japan) and laughing (Goong is a romantic comedy). Staying up till 4am to watch a video on my tiny laptop that I only half understand. Mad isn’t it? And yet it’s.. so much fun and stimulating, especially when you’re downloading an episode that has just been screened in Korea a few hours ago.

Some people will laugh and think it’s another crazy auntie swooning over men half her age. I disagree. I don’t swoon. I just drool. Haha!

But I want to know- what’s the difference between my kind of fun and those who enjoy watching 22 men chasing after a small ball? Or hitting a little ball with a iron stick? Nobody laughs if you say you’re Man U fan. But say you’re a BYJ fan, and they raise their eyebrows. *Hmphf*

I’ve learnt alot ever since this “Korean wave craze”. I’ve learnt to download, upload, image editing, webhosting and a whole host of terms that I didn’t even know exist. Isn’t something good if it makes you learn?

And it has even spilled over to work.

Recently I’ve starting to import Korean books and Korean magazine. Who says you can’t earn money from your interest?

A taugeh plucking auntie I am not!

Now excuse me whilst I upload a raw, LQ file onto YSI for a fellow K drama fan. Then I’m going to have supper with my kimchis.


My only main Korean dish- Bae Yong Joon

And oh, before I log off..

*Ahem*
Korean magazines and books now on sale in Kinokuniya. Will be available in other places soon. Hurry, hurry whilst stocks last.

End of advertisement. Hehe!