Another life experience..

This morning, had breakfast with CT as it is his off day. After breakfast, went NTUC to get some stuff for the teachers at camp to munch. So I bought fruits and some crysanthenum tea drinks for them. I dropped CT back home before I drove to the camp site.

On my way along TPE, I went to the fastest lane and just minutes later, the car in front of me jammed brake and I had to jammed my brakes as well as the car came to a complete stop from the usual 80-90km/h we were all travelling. And immediately when I jammed brake, I looked in my back mirror and saw the car behind me was still travelling in his normal speed, I knew I will def get a hit from his car and yup, I did. It was a 5-car collision at the fastest lane along TPE.

The car behind me that hit my car was a Lexus and I saw the front seat passenger getting a hit on her head as their car was travelling the normal speed when it hit my car. I actually stopped in time without hitting the front car but all thanks to the Lexus, that my car had to hit the front car.

The jammed brakes was probably due to 2 cars who already at the side road and the silly Singaporean syndrome kicked in as the car drivers in front were all rubber neckers, being so KPO! One of the men who was already at the side road rushed over and asked us if we were ok. I was like..yah..cant believe this is happening but well, this is not a new experience for me getting jerked by a hit. I am thankful that I was driving a merc and not some light metal car. If not, my back will def be badly hit.

Definitely recollections of the train accident in US came flashing by in my memory.

The man who came to help us, actually stopped the whole traffic in TPE and signalled for us to go to the side road on the left. It was amazing how he controlled all the 4 lanes for us to move over. Anyway, after we did that, the man introduced himself as a claims adviser. He said he could help me settle all the paperwork and get my claims for me. Of course, I was more than willing for him to help as I was totally lost as to what to do. All of them were busy snapping pictures, while I just couldnt be bothered and just snapped one shot of my own car to show CT. Ha

My car bumper came off while the Lexus car number plate in front was totally gone, smashed and vanished. The car in front of me was a cute orange Nissan car. Not as badly smashed as I would imagine..just dented in the boot area. My car was the 3rd car in that sandwich.

After taking down our car numbers and contact numbers, the car adviser guy told me to drive and follow his car to his office cum workshop where he would help me settle. I asked if I needed to pay anything and he said no as he would claim everything from the last guy who hit me. So, I was relieved and drove right behind his car to his workshop nearby in Ang Mo Kio.

He was really nice and I felt he was God-sent. He told me that he was already at the side of the road as his client's car broke down and needed his help. So, he witnessed the accident. I think without him, I would be so lost and helpless. So, he helped me to fill up the paper work and told me to leave my car here as they would repair it and get the claims from the 3rd party. My car was in no state to drive further anyway as the bumper was already dragging the floor and I just felt insecure driving the car, feeling that the parts will just fall off one by one. Haha.

He helped me to get a rented car for me to drive-a Toyota Corolla. I transferred my stuff from my car to the rented car and drove home. In between all that was happening, I had to make calls to the teachers at the camp site whom I couldnt get as no one answered. So, I called my school and told my VP and asked for off from camp. She told me to go see a gynae to get the baby checked.

So, I drove home, met up with CT and we both went to East Shore Hospital for the checkup since my gynae was there. Another assurance from God was not only sending the car adviser to be at the accident scene but to allow CT to be off on the day of the accident so that we can both settle the stuff together. I was glad he was around to accompany to see the gynae together and spend the day together.

Ok, baby Caleb is fine after the checkup. So, all is well.

Actually, the funny thing is that CT always wanted to re-spray the car and change the bumper as it already had some scratches. So, we were both glad that it can now be achieve without us having to pay a cent. The other funny thing is that last night, I was quite upset that I had to go back to camp this morning and complained to CT that I didnt want to go for camp. CT said that he prayed for my safety last night and asked me,"eh, what did you pray for huh?" I said," I just complained to God that I had to spend the whole day in camp doing nothing and felt so worthless.." So, CT said, "yup, God answered your prayers and my prayers. He kept you safe and now, you have 2 days mc. So, you do not even need to go back to the camp at all."

So, truthfully, the rest of the day, I was quite happy being with CT and enjoying his company as last night, I was very sad that it was CT's off day and I had to spend the whole day in camp, including the campfire (since it was last night in camp).

What a blessing in disguise! :)

Going camp despite...

These few days, the whole of Sec 3s have camp at MOE adventure campsite along Dairy Farm Road. Nope, its not an animal farm as much I wish it is. It is just a campsite for students to do obstacle courses and nature walk at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

My colleagues all felt that I should not be asked to go since I am pregnant..It just tells a lot about my school management doesnt it? But in all honesty, I do not mind dropping by to take photos with my students as I will definitely miss them when I go on maternity. But as a responsibility for me to stay whole day in the camp, I wasnt too happy.

Anyway, yesterday was the first day and it was a torture because the 12 teachers who went because they are form teachers of the Sec 3 classes all spent their time mostly in a small aircon room watching DVD in our colleagues' laptop to spend our time. There are about 15 instructors who were conducting the whole camp, so I felt so redundant.

At about 545pm, I told my CCA HOD who is overall in charge that I wanted to go home to eat my home cooked dinner and rest as I was allowed to go home at night for sleep. And you know his reaction...he asked me:" Do you have to go back so early?" I couldnt believe my ears as there was so sign of empathy for me who stayed the whole day in camp and feeling so uncomfortable.

I had to tell him about eating home and having my due rest. Spent some time explaining before he said ok and reminded me to be back again in the morning early the next day. Sigh...

Who will Caleb look like?

I have been having friends coming up to me with stories about getting a gender mixed up at the day of delivery itself when they realised that they did not get the gender the gynae told them.

So, I am kind of mentally prepared but whatever the case is, I have been wondering how will my baby turn out to be. Who will he look like? Daddy or Mummy?

So far, most parents with first new borns seem to take after the dad. That is from my observation but I also know of few cases that they take after the mom. Hmm...

So, will Caleb look like this??

(featuring baby CT)

With cute dimples...?

With the ah beng look..

Or this?? (featuring me!)

fat and round...

Or the ever drooling baby..

Hmm...that waits to be answered..coming to the hospital near you in July!

Day 2 of Bintan..our last day

Woke up early this morning at about 7 am to catch the sun rise. I was a little sad as last night, my room air con was freezing such that when we went out this morning, my camera started to fog up. So, I couldnt really get good pictures of the beautiful sunrise that we saw. Here is what I could take with my foggy camera..

The next picture was actually a nicer one with the slanted coconut tree in the foreground and the sun was much stronger...but sigh, my lens refused to clear up..oh crap. Well, just use a little of your imagination and enjoy ;)

After catching the sunrise and walking in the beach, we went to swim in the pool which overlooks the beach. This is my first time swimming since my pregnancy and I was really looking forward to this so much so that I dreamt the night before I came to Bintan about it. I dreamt I forgot my swimsuit and was so upset with myself. Glad its just a dream.

I was looking forward to it as I love to relax in the pool and moreover so, now that I am pregnant and lack exercise. I was pondering as to whether to get a maternity swimsuit or not but didnt wish to waste such money on it as I have lots of swimming costumes already and didnt want to add another one to this 'collection'. So, instead, I wore my bikini which is of course free size for any pregnant women as size of tummy doesnt matter! haha..

bought this bikini in the states as I wore it to swim and tan there...since my apartment had 3 swimming pools and we stayed so near the beautiful white sandy beach of the gulf shores and 45 mins drive from florida. So, glad this came in handy now as I would NEVER wear it in Singapore...haha..unless there is absolutely nobody around staring at my flabs.

If you are wondering who took that picture for us..well, nope, its not a third party but we just left the camera on the beach chair and set it to timer.

Here are more pictures of the nice big pool overflowing out of the edges as if the water flows to the sea.

The bar area..

I know I havent written down the name of the resort I am staying yet. Well, this is because I thought of letting you guys guess. But anyway, I shall say it now. This is actually the Nirwana Gardens Resort. So far I have been to Bintan, I have always stayed in this same place because the price is most reasonable with good amenities that meets my needs.

I saw Bintan Lagoon but didnt choose to stay there last time and now cos it is a place for family and golfers since there is a golf course there and though I love to play golf and always dream of becoming pro (wishful thinking), I cant now. Maybe next time when my kid grows up...

Other places like Angsana and Banyan Tree doesnt meet my requirement because CT and I do not indulge in spas and I think in my lifetime, I may not do so as well. I just do not feel that I need one...and prob do not like the idea of people touching me and breaking my bones. Haha...dunno.

There are places like Club Med also in Bintan but that is also a place with family and if you are very active. Obviously I am not now.

Anyway, back to Nirwana...I like this place because it is huge and has a nice pool and a beach just in front of the resort. This is what I look for in the hotel plus its nice and wide range of buffet food for breakfast for free. They serve Japanese food, Nasi Lemak, Bee Hoon, Fried Rice, the usual sausages, potatoes, curry chicken, bread pudding, etc..and stalls which will make sunny side up for you or omelettes with your own choice of fillings, as well as pancakes stall...and also the whole array of different bread, muffins, cakes, fruits and cereals.

After such a filling buffet breakfast, we went to walk around in our hotel and take more pictures..

This is a picture taken at the balcony at our room.

This is the view from our room..can see the beach from here..


Picture of the beach..

After walking for a while, the weather was too hot..so we went back to our nice cool room and chill out...or in our terms, NUA... We actually slept for a good hour before we changed and checked out of our hotel.

Though the trip was so short, I enjoyed and appreciated the time we could just getaway for a night as I knew there was no other time we could do so.

Guess the next time I come back here, will be with Caleb.

Bintan Getaway Day 1

This is the start of the holidays and I am required to go back to school everyday over the next week. So, CT and I went to Bintan during the weekends for a very short getaway before baby Caleb is born. I figured I would not have anymore time to do so since when its the June Hols, I will be going through my 3rd trimester.

I chose Bintan, even though its expensive, because I prefer to take ferry and moreover, I only had time for a 2days, 1night stay. So no point going somewhere further. I also like the beach and the surroundings there.

The last time I went was with CT during our 'honeymoon' in August, 3 years ago. So, it was a good time to relive those times before the baby comes.

I enjoyed the ferry ride as I love being in the sea. So, the choppier it is, the more exhilirating it was for me and CT,despite my condition now. There was TV mobile shows in the LCD TV too. So, it was quite a comfortable and entertaining ride.

When we first arrived, we went to the hotel to see if we could check in early. They only had 2 single beds available..which we didnt want. So we told them we would wait. We dropped our luggage with the resort and went for lunch at Pasar Ole Ole. Where else could we go? When we arrived at Pasar Ole Ole, we walked 5 mins away from it and went to the hawker centre for local food amongst local people. So the food there was much cheaper.

We just had vegetable rice to fill our stomachs and the only regret is, we didnt change our money to Rupiah. So we still had to pay in Sing dollars which they would earn more. Anyway, still much cheaper than tourist places food, I figured, and happily gave them $6 sing dollars for both our lunches. I enjoyed the Indonesian vegetable rice dishes, especially this wierd looking green chilly sauce which was very tasty and spicy! We both had fried chicken, fried prawns in skewer, and veggies.

After a nice and cheap lunch, we walked back in the sun to Pasar Ole Ole for shopping. We bought ice cream and prawn crackers. We had to spend our time there while waiting for the bus to take us back to hotel. Once we headed back to hotel, we checked in to our room which CT upgraded for my comfort and treat.

Check this out...the living room

Our bedroom...And our spacious toilet with 2 sinks..

By the time we checked in, it was 4 plus already. We went to our hotel, bathed and rested till dinner time. We were watching TV and doing my Math Olympiad questions. To me, this is relaxing..to be able to stimulate my brain a little but yet in a relaxing environment. It was fun as CT did the questions with me.

At night, we went to the Kelong for dinner...our usual dinner experience in Bintan. We would go there to catch the sunset. We actually just missed the bus to the Kelong but the hotel staff was nice enough to take us on their private jeep to the place before the sun sets.

This is the picture of the kelong restaurant..
We ordered a dinner set for 2 and boy, there were a lot of various dishes. Take a look!

Let me tell u what we ate: vegetable chicken soup, seafood fried rice, seasonal veggies (xiao bai chai), fried lemon chicken, sweet and sour prawns, gong gong, chilli stone crabs. All tasted really nice. It was probably one of my first time eating the gong gong as the whole thing...and when I pulled out the flesh, it looks exactly like the shell just that it is darker in colour and of course, softer.

It sure looked like a dish from fear factor right? But who cares if it taste good?

After a very filling dinner, which we wiped the food all out, we went back to our hotel and walked in the beach from one end to the other end within the hotel. We were so exhausted after that that we fell asleep when we went back to our hotel room, which was only about 10pm then.. zzzz...

lying so straight..in 18 weeks

Went to the gynae today for the usual checkup. My weight gained was suddenly so abrupt that the gynae told me to watch it. Sobsob. That was why that night after the visit, I had brown rice porridge for dinner at bedok central which made me hungry even after eating. sigh. So far, I have put on about 4 kg since pregnancy and for my first trimester, I only gained 1 kg. So that was why the sudden 3 kg jump kind of left me off with a warning by the gynae.





Anyway, I must say I have been rather disciplined in my eating. I do not crave for any food and I just eat as per normal. Maybe snack a little when it comes to 4pm. But other than that, everything is normal.





Gynae confirmed that the baby is a boy..much to my relief because I have heard of stories that the gynae tell them one thing and after it is borned, they realised it is a diff gender. I dont wish for that to happen to me.





Took a scan of baby and boy, it was big and straight! It was amazingly lying so straight...check it out!

The head all along used to be on the left side, but it seemed to have turned and now it is on my right. Can you see the spinal cord? Babies are supposed to be curled up in the womb I thought so was really surprised at this picture.

Pamela told me that after this, I wouldnt be able to catch the baby in the scan as he would grow too big.

Caleb is now about 12 cm for the record.