Slow, is a new speed

I was very captivated by what I saw...

No pushing, shoving, all queuing...

They moved, or could be struggling, up the bricks.. orderly, non-hurriedly, steadily...

Slow, really is a new speed :)

Kowloon Park, Hong Kong

Alright, a funny issue about the Kowloon Park.

Nadia had suggested to go to Kowloon Park on her last day in Hong Kong. It isn't an usual item that I'll do in Hong Kong, but I'm happy to go along. But... as soon as i stepped into the Park. I love it!!! It is a small oasis of peace from the usual Hong Kong I know.

We went back again for a second time in the afternoon, and had picked a spot and faced a particular view for around 35 minutes, just staring at the greens, listening to the chirping of the birds and the sound of the fountain. It was serene, rejuvenating and yes, very therapeutic. I later posted a few pictures of the beautiful sceneries on facebook.

Shortly after posting the Kowloon Park scenery photos on facebook, some friends had sent texts to nag at me. Asking me why, of all places in Hong Kong, I went to a park? And that, what had I chosen to go a park instead of doing shopping, (most singaporeans and asians come to hong kong to ONLY shop and eat) They couldn't agree to me spending a big part of my time in the park. One guy friend even texted, "Parks, we have it everywhere. One park doesn't worth that much of your time." I replied, "Women, we have it everywhere too. Why should that one woman worth that much of your time in one life?" :P :P

And very often, it isn't a matter or 'worth, not worth?', 'is this the best?' or 'do I have the time to search for a better and a prettier?' But rather, with a given scenario setting, with a given emotional status, under a certain environmental conditioning, at that one point of contact, with that moment of fate - THAT, is simply what you need and want and appreciate at that very moment and, THAT is the best!!!! :)

Taking me and Kowloon park for example. After the rejuvenating session at the Kowloon park, I wasn't hoping and wasn't even thinking about how pretty the Victoria Park or the Hong Kong Park is, because, at that very very moment, Kowloon Park is the prettiest... it is the best!!! :)

I was so grateful to Nadia for bringing me to the Kowloon Park, leaving this beautiful little print in my memory and showed me another beautiful side of Hong Kong. Had it not been Nadia, I didn't think I would ever stepped foot onto a park in Hong Kong... :)


So many times in Hong Kong and yet I had NEVER once stepped into ANY of the parks. Today, Nadia suggested the Kowloon Park and I happily went along. But as soon as I stepped into the park, I realised what I had missed... I love it!!! :) It was refreshing and serene and peaceful and rejuvenating... :)



Had picked a spot and faced this view for around 35 minutes... just staring at the greens, listening to the chirping of the birds and the sound of the fountain...


.. I saw my favourite version of leaves...


... I also saw my favourite version of trees...


... and for a moment, I didn't think that I was in the busy, bustling Hong Kong, with plenty of shoppings undone... :P

Yesyes, the park had been very therapeutic indeed ^^

A Lunchtime Harpsichord Recital

A charming instrument with lots of beauty and character... :)


I also love the presentation of the music scores. Imagine they are brand new & white A4 size music scores fitted in a clear folder... the charm of this entire photo would be halved...


One of my favourite angles... :)


Another of my favourite angles... :)


By Carey Beebe. A Ruckers Double Harpsichord.


A Photo Collage of the instrument...

Always thankful

I am beginning to realise this recurring trend in my life.

The more undesirable it appeared; the higher the impact it would have on my thoughts.

Something that had appeared to be so small, so fragmented and so not coherent had managed to puzzle themselves up to form a clear enough picture to be hung on my wall, such that I am able to peep through the picture, for a different view and from a different point.

I can’t be more thankful.

In the process of the happening, I was delighted to discover that one element I had been searching for, for the longest time.

Something I wasn’t entirely sure;
Something I couldn’t pinpoint;
Something I vaguely knew I possess, yet just couldn’t name it, and was clueless where to find it…

Now, I found it.

I'm so thankful! :)

Always do :)

People I missed

Absolutely love this pic! Couldn't stop laughing, both before and after... ;D The 4 loveliest people!!!

Lovely sweetie Alma - My best buddy cum partner

Warm/Strict/Stern/Funny/Kind/Lovely Radmila

Sue & I + a cosy lunch + coffee...

My first meal with chopsticks since i arrived!!! Thanks Koyih!
Sam - my 13-year-old handsome nephew of my height!


Finally, all of us are in... :)

That's Carola... the magician in my musical life... :') Always always thankful~

Nadia - I admire her strength, in many ways. She's amazing!

With Wanning & Pinju... 陈珈沂, missed you! :)

Thanks Gabriel... the best chat in 14 years ;)

Gooooood to see you Kahloon :) It was funny how you had given me the perfect answer at the dessert place... haha! :D

We, or perhaps it should be I, couldnt quite imagine a combination like this during our uni days... ;p

We'd spent an unbelievable amount time of time searching for food when we met up 2 summers ago... so this time round, what to eat, where to lunch, how to spend the afternoon... were all pre-arranged and yes, it did work out beautifully... we're wiser! :)

love all the posters on the wall... a low-cost yet stylish way to decorate... it happened the same for all the walls in the cafe, and most parts of the ceiling too... Yep, our afternoon coffee, but a late one - 4:43pm~

Me: you both look great here. Alma: ya it's Nikki who looks great! Nikki: ah yes, i'm photogenic! ;P She is absolutely adorable! :)

My beloved ex-piano teacher!!! And I'm showing her how we can take a picture FOR the mirror! (looks like i really can't resist mirrors :P) I haven't seen her for 11 years. was secretly in tears when i gave her my biggest hug ever, right after she opened her door... :')

Claer loves Chinese noodles~

Claer is a fantastic shopping mate. She has a funny philosophy which her daughter gladly inherits - when you go shopping, don't come home unless you have 5 or 6 bags of stuffs, otherwise, that just means you dont have a good shop...!!! hahaha :D

And since we only have an hour to shop that day... I only bought one item after an hour's of shopping... Claer commented, 'You're not doing very well...' hahaha :P

It's strange how sometimes we can not meet a friend for the longest time and yet still be able to talk like old friends. i was very moved~ :)

An incredible and unbelievable coincidence!!! :)

Good Old Brahms - someone i adore!!! :)

Kiat is still as gentle and soft spoken. I was asking whether she ever yell or scream... :)

Angelic Ariella with her granny & me~

A rare-get-together. Love it. Thank you guys! :)

A quick meet up with Nanna. She made a deliberate trip from Copenhagen to London to send me off. Very very touched indeed. On the way to the airport... :)

Arrived at Changi Airport after 13 hours... :) Home is in the air... :>

The Fried rice and ABC soup prepared by hubby... something I had pre-ordered the day before... :)

Bits & Pieces of London

This was my very first meal, which happened 13 hours after arrival... was actually starving!!! loved the wholemeal bread, missed the Latte and loved the air... :)

Koyih, Henny, Sam & I hopped out of the chinese restaurant just a moment ago, and we hopped straight into Rasa Sayang very shortly after, for some singa style desserts... 吃得好饱哦! :)

I love this street near Chinatown... where a whole stretch of book places sit... :)

And, this is my favourite bookshop along that stretch... :)

I used to spend hours in this shop...

just browsing through the piles... or running through the titles...

they have a fairly good collection of long-forgotten scores, antique program notes and many other old music books and materials... etc

also many overdued treasures and fascinating little gems...

I was busy snapping pictures when the owner of the shop turned to me and asked, 'And you were having fun??? ;P ;P ;P

Time for Work! :)

Alma & I were at Southbank today, she had made me a nice picnic-lunch - mushroom risotto, with parmesan cheese. It tasted so yummy! even better when it was brought outside the house! :)

Both Alma & I adored this scene. Not just becoz they have the time to enjoy their afternoon tea, but also becoz they still make a beautiful effort, despite their old ages, to dress up, to make-up and to make their way to the centre of town for tea... Of course, above all, they have friends! It's such a pleasure to watch the way they speak and how polite they were to one another... adorable old ladies! ;)

A lovely dinner by Wanning & Pinju. I was very touched. Thankie so much :)

A pretty place for lunch and chats~

A heart-warming gift - a beautifully self-composed work for piano & voice, Op 51~

Used to pass by this church thousand of times, yet didnt find it especially pretty or attractive... until today...
that's just how we take things for granted, at times...

A place i really missed in that building... :)

JS Bach - at Royal College of Music~

Practice Room - RCM~

This is stunningly gorgeous, and looks very feminine!!! :P

This one too... :) But this is bigger in size coz it's a grand; the pink one is a baby grand...

This looks cool~

Reduced price! :)

Had a fun time trying and playing on these pianos... like the look of the music stand... but the sound isn't too brilliant :)

I love this. piano duet stool :)

My morning coffee; Alma's morning hot chocolate. This cafe served excellent creamy hot chocolate~

At a conference at City University~

Performing Musicology~

Ok lah, not too bad ya... only 3 of these in 18 days - the 1st time was in Oxford; 2nd time was with Kitty; 3rd time was on my last day in London... 不会太过份吧～～