Promise of Weekend

Last weekend was quite a weekend. Though I didn't exactly do much, I set a record by swimming, running and cycling all in the weekend. It felt good. Today's Friday, and I can't wait for the weekend to commence and to take to the roads again!

The Road to Atas-dom

The road to Atas-dom is paved with good intentions. It shows you where you stand in the scale of atashood as the pinnacles of finery gleam everywhere in the background. Be exhilarated, be humbled.

black dots and white fluff

I love the little dots that rise and fall in a line suspended in the air. My Sunday morning was made all the more beautiful because of this lovely image. It makes it worth my while to crawl out of bed early in the morning and risk a tired Sunday.

pedal. rain.

It's been pouring since morning. Though it's evening now there seems to be no difference in the time because the sky's been gloomy and overcast since the first torrent of raindrops came beating down this morning.

As I held my umbrella and shielded myself from the splattering rain this afternoon, I thought of the last Malaysia ride we had - of being caught in the rain and getting our bike and ourselves drenched with rainwater.

I hated it when we are caught in the rain while cycling overseas. But for a moment just now, I felt a tinge of yearning to cycle in the rain: pedal, pedal, pedal; feeling the icy coldness cut my skin and the relentless droplets attack my eyes; the pedaling keeps going on, our mind carrying just one singular thought that no one needs to spell out: let us get to our destination as quickly as we can.

quaintly charming

They were moving on, I had to make do with a quick pause, so I moved closer to the beckoning gate, flipped my camera out and took a shot. I was drawn to the building the moment I saw it. I like how the gate opens up to a road leading to the main house, and how the fallen leaves and shrubbery around the gate gives the compound a quaintly charming facade. Just a chance discovery like this makes a whole lot of difference to an otherwise usual morning ride. Lovely.

Tokyobike ♥

It's difficult not to like Tokyobikes. The bikes are sleek and simple, the pastel colours have a refreshing appeal and the whole package resonates with what I think is its design objective: simple, classic and delightful. Going back to the basics and keeping things simple never run out of date. There's a place for simplicity and minimalism in life, in a way that is supposed to counter the complications and clutter that life inevitably clocks up.

I hope some time in the future I would be able to own a Tokyobike. The only pity is there isn't much of a countryside or charming small town to go around on a bike. This also means I can say goodbye to romantic ideas of picking wild flowers and putting into the bike basket, or cycling uninterrupted past idyllic fields with blue sky and fluffy clouds above.

All right. I shall stop dreaming.

smelling the roses

Last week, I enjoyed my cycling and running so much that I endeavoured to do the same this weekend in a bid to relive the moment of happiness. If the formula has been tried and tested, I thought, why not apply it again? I couldn't wait for Saturday to arrive the whole week. Nevermind the horrid office hours; I would be contented so long as my weekend is untouched and I can hit the road again. I wanted badly to be under the sun and blue sky and to be surrounded by greenery.

Unfortunately, my high hopes gave way to disappointment eventually. Instead of abundant sunshine, I had cloudy weather for the weekend morning. I was also incredibly tired and therefore unable to enjoy the physical exercise. I ended up cycling only; running had to wait. To mitigate the exhaustion I was feeling, I stopped at a few places to enjoy pockets of peace. Increasingly, cycling has become less of a passion in and of itself; it is also the means for me to escape and enjoy the natural surroundings in Singapore.

It's cliched to say this, but it is an enduring truth that we need to make a consientious effort to apply brakes and enjoy the little things in life. I hope to always be applying this in my life.

Fifth & Sixth: Ode to a good Weekend

I cycled, I ran, I napped, I had coffee and carrot cake (both local and English), and I just had french fries and coke for supper.

The weekend was wonderful.

And I can't wait for the next good weekend to arrive.


I love big and open green spaces, which are such a rarity here


Abandoned logs alongside the railway. I like to think it speaks of an adventure.


Grasses


There's just so much beauty and so much to admire in nature


My partner in adventure and space seeking


Lunch/Dinner on Sat: Jamaican Pork Sandwich


I. Love. Cakes. Display. Yums.


Had latte for a change


Evening scene that made me stop in my track. I have taken to carrying my camera when I go running

The Kampung Way

Having not cycled across the causeway for quite some time, last Sunday's ride to Tanjung Piai was some sort of a comeback ride for me. The route was scenic, and we were blessed with good christmas weather. I was also fortunate to be riding with a friendly bunch of folks who cycled at a tolerable pace and made frequent stops to wait for the slower riders.

Being the youngest in the group, I was frequently referred to as 'the young man'. Yet the truth is most of them put me to shame easily as they were on mountain bikes and riding as fast as the roadies, including me the young man. It reminded me of the days when I, too, was using a mountain bike. I certainly still miss my old bike.

I was fully prepared to cycle in inclement weather for this trip. Not only did I bring a poncho, but I carried my windbreaker with me. After all, I have never enjoyed a dry overnight Malaysian ride. This being the north-east monsoon season, I was even dead certain that we have to brace ourselves for torrential rain.

It therefore came as a pleasant relief that I did not find myself rain-soaked in this trip. The sky on the second morning and the route we took were so lovely that I found myself frequently reaching for my camera. In the end, I was glad that I made the last minute decision to join this ride and spent a getaway Christmas.


Fishermen Turf


I have an endless fascination with overhead cables. I think they add so much character and rustic feel to the landscape. There's something very languorously charming about seeing these cables in a village or town.


How people travel in kampungs and villages


Kampung houses dotting the sides of the road.


Lalang Land: My all-time favourite

Along the way

Seletar revisited

I said I would be back.

The decision to make good my promise was actually made on a moment of impulse. The good weather today fuelled my urge to be outdoor and enjoy the lovely breeze. My morning plan to cycle had failed, but I was stirred in the afternoon to take a second chance. I was in town when the urge to cycle to Seletar came upon me with a desperate urgency, so much so that I was willing to take a cab home before the evening gets swallowed by darkness.

In the end I managed to get to Seletar before dark, lingering there till the last light faded into darkness. Though it would have been nice if I had reached earlier, I was nevertheless able to enjoy a tranquil evening surrounded by big open spaces, water, voluminous clouds and plenty of silence. I felt contented.


The long inviting road packed with vehicles at the sides


Enjoying some me-time and the view in front


There were a few families around, amongst other people who have also come to enjoy the lovely space here.


The two brothers keeping each other company


It was nice seeing the kites. One of them went really high.


Such as this...


The clouds shifted to let in the crimson red burst through


I went into unchartered terrain, literally


The long road ahead was mostly empty. I would have gone on to Sengkang had the road not been sealed at one end by a fence not interrupted the road.


Scenes like this just stop me in my track. I can just admire it for a long, long time.


The old Seletar's gone, so very sad. I kept cycling into the small roads joining the remaining houses, but always came to a dead-end. The residential area has shrunk to a miserable puny area. The old England is lost.