1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #72 - HSBC Women's Champions Golf

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #72

-  HSBC Women's Champions Golf, Spore

(The world's best women golfers converged in Sentosa for the first time, and they made the Serapong course look so easy. With 2 autographs on my cap from hot golfers Korean Hee Young Park, and Paula Creamer, this morning walk-aroung turned out to be a really pleasant one. Aside from playing the new "Neurogolf" where I used only my mind to play a hole, getting to watch the game from a hospitality box was kinda cool. Well done, Stacy Lewis..even though you knocked out my favourites Paula and Na Yeon Choi!)

 

 

 

 

First to Dr Ang, Then to Work..

First to Dr Ang, then to work..

This sentence reminds me of the old Bata shoe advertisement of "First to Bata, Then to School.."

This month's visit to Dr Ang Peng Tiam's office became a marathon session of sorts..my 4.30pm appointment became an 8.30pm test-of-patience. Dinner had to be the last sandwich from Delifrance from the corner outlet. As long as this wait was for me, I had to remind myself that it is just as long for Dr Ang, and even longer for his staff, who had to still administer my Zoometa booster after his consultation. It was only at 9.15pm that I was able to head to the bus station to hop on the ride home.

 

But it was a ride of comfort, relief and satisfaction, with the words from Dr Ang still ringing in my ears.."Your CT Scan, mamogram and blood test results look great, Nellie!"

I will be more than happy to sit through another 4-hour session to hear those words over and over again, every 6-months. Strong in body, strong in mind..

1001 Places/Expriences to See or Savour #71 - Journey Concert

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #71

-  Journey "Don't Stop Believin' " Concert, Spore

 

 
(This is a concert that means so much to me..an anthem against cancer is right here : "Don't Stop Believin' by the band Journey. Here in Spore for the first time, it may not have the peerless frontman Steve Perry, but the newbie, Arnel, comes close to the real thing. Listen to him here. Yes, we as cancer warriors, "cannot stop believing" that cancer can be conquered!)

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #70 - Hock Lam Beef Noodles

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #70

- Hock Lam Beef Noodles, Spore
(This original still packs a punch..the beef broth is still the best around. For a time, we didn't know where they disappeared into, but it popped up in China Street. But this is not your grandfather's hock lam noodles anymore..we gave the counter person $10 for 2 packets of standard servings but the next $10 came back only with a $2 note. Haha, yes, times they are a-changing..)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #69 - Santana concert

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #69

- Santana concert, Spore
(Couldn't catch Santana on 2 previous occasions here but this time, I was determined to get to see this Latin legend. And it was worth the wait, with him belting out his "Smooth", "Maria" and all his oldie biggies. To think that he is 65, and counting..what a symbol of successful aging..those fingers still move like lightning)

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #68 - Amsterdam canals, Holland

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #68

- Canals of Amsterdam, Holland
(The serene canals of Amsterdam make for a refreshing boat-ride. It may not rival the beauty of Venice but it brings its own uniqueness, including hopping off to one of Amsterdam's  many famed diamond jewelry shops along the boat cruise. No new carats for me but the scenery was brilliantly different all the same)

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #67 - Zaanse Schans, Holland

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #67

- Zaanse Schans, Holland
(All that one would know about Holland is right here in one place in this town on the North, with well-preserved historic windmills and houses, clogs-making, cheese of all shapes and sizes, and tulips. The setting is perfectly Dutch, with a crisp cold winter morning to add to the atmosphere)

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #66 - Manneken Pis, Brussels

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #66

- Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium
(This little boy has been pissing into the fountain here in Brussels for the last 500 years and is today the most famous landmark in Belgium. Legend has it that he saved the city from explosives in the 14th century by peeing into the fuse, thus stopping the explosion. Frankly, the Godiva chocolate outlet in front of it and the Grand Palace Square a few hundred metres further is more interesting than this little man. Get your fill of Godiva chocs here which is a good 30% cheaper)

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #65 - Angelina, Paris

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #65

- Angelina's Chocolate, Paris, France
(A sweet reward after a 4-hour shopping spree is this chocolate drink at Angelina, regarded as the best chocolate in the country. And it was right there at the Galeries Lafayette, tucked in a corner of the building. So this is what the rich & famous in Paris do..a leisurely shopping therapy followed by a cuppa rich molten chocolate, direct from the hills of Africa. Nice! And oh, don't forget to round off with the smooth-as-silk French macarons just around the corner. At 1.90euro each, you know they will melt in your mouth like pure Godiva chocs..)

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #64 - Galaries Lafayette, Paris

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #64

- Galleries Lafayette, Paris, France
(Under the most beautiful glass-stained dome to grace any shopping mall, the Galleries Lafayette is pure shopping paradise. They have made it so easy for tourists, so much so that you get your tax refund back from a special counter inside the mall itself, and in cash too, as opposed to waiting till you get to an airport. This means you can 'recycle' the refund again and buy even more..now how naughtily convenient is that? And such good deals too, compared to Spore prices. Oh my goodness, so much to buy, so little time.. And how cool is that view of the city from the 7th floor, huh?)

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #63 - The Lourve, Paris

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #63

- The Lourve Museum, Paris, France
("Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you".. Well, I didn't get to see the Lady with the Mystic Smile but only her home at the Lourve. The glass pyramid is so distinctive, and sitting in the middle of this huge museum ground made it really stand out. Next time, I shall stay away from this museum on Tuesdays because it is closed then..another good reason to come back)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #62 - Versailles

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #62

- Palace of Versailles, France
(So big and so royal. The Palace of Versailles is a massive palace and garden some 30minutes drive outside of Paris, and said to be the much bigger brother of the one in Vienna, which in itself was already a giant masterpiece. King Louis XIV stands in front of the entrance, but my knowledge on this French monarch will likely be found wanting, when compared to the "other Louis" that this country is famous for..Louis Vuitton, sitting in Paris. Still, it's a beautiful place to see, especially the unique sculptured gardens)

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #61 - Eiffel Tower, Paris

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #61

- Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
(The hundreds of faces and colours of Eiffel Tower in all its glory, day as well as night, must be seen and felt to be fully enjoyed. The Seine river ride on the Bateaux Mouches is an experience not to be missed..it has to be the most beautiful and romantic river ride on earth..even with the cold wind outside. And when the lights+laser show on the Eiffel comes on as the clock strikes on the hour, it is exhilarating, taking one's breath away at its beauty! Watch this short video, and you will know what I mean..nothing beats it for sheer elegance. The boat, the river, the sunset, the French music in the background, Eiffel, and the lights..what a romantic, French combo!)