MY VIETNAMESE GOOD FRIEND, JAMES KUP
Finally, I managed to tour my Vietnamese friend on 8 Feb 2014 around my hometown before he leaves for Vietnam on 13 Feb 2014!
Initially, we planned to spend our time together on last thursday. However, James was involved in an alleged theft case and we had to call off our plan. Thank God, I chanced upon him outside Suntec City en route to work on the next day! We warmly embraced one another and had a cosy tête-à-tête before a new appointment was made!
Initially, we planned to spend our time together on last thursday. However, James was involved in an alleged theft case and we had to call off our plan. Thank God, I chanced upon him outside Suntec City en route to work on the next day! We warmly embraced one another and had a cosy tête-à-tête before a new appointment was made!
CHINATOWN
That frustrating moment when you were meeting someone but your so-called good phone died on you.
Blame on me for my laziness to charge my phone the day before. I was so incensed when my phone ran out of battery when I was just a few stations away from the destination. At that point of time, I was like, 'This could not be my luck! How am I suppose to contact James without memorizing his number well?' It took me a massive of effort before I could finally recall his number ... In another words, it was a pure fluke that I could recollect that eight digits and it took me just one try to get through James using the public phone.
Initially, I was bewildered by James' choice of destination when he requested to meet up at Chinatown Station! In all honesty, I was thinking why had it to be Chinatown when there were so many other nicer places we could visit! I finally understood his intention when James explained that he was recommended by a friend that he could get an affordable luggage there!
As it was his virgin trip to this foreign land, he needed my assistance to locate the luggage store. God gracious, did I know the streets well. Frankly speaking, it was a rather challenging request because I patronize Chinatown on a very rare occasion. After asking directions from a few store vendors around the streets, we finally were able to locate the luggage store which was actually situated at the three-storey hawker centre!
As it was his virgin trip to this foreign land, he needed my assistance to locate the luggage store. God gracious, did I know the streets well. Frankly speaking, it was a rather challenging request because I patronize Chinatown on a very rare occasion. After asking directions from a few store vendors around the streets, we finally were able to locate the luggage store which was actually situated at the three-storey hawker centre!
After we found the baggage, we took a languid stroll along the beautiful streets of Chinatown! Since it was the first time James set foot there, we decided to visit some chinese shops and take some pictures together!
PASIR RIS
PASIR RIS
Hunger pangs began to attack our stomaches when the clock stroke five. It was a clear signal that we needed to source for an exquisite eatery to dine! It would definitely be a huge turn-off if our dinner was settled at a cheaper alternative such as hawker centers or food-courts. Hence, I insisted that we should visit my hometown (Pasir Ris) so that I could tour him around to taste the best foods. At the same time, it would make a splendid opportunity to show him around places where I live.
A veil of calm settled upon me when he did not scream blue murders when he was asked to go somewhere far away from his dorm. In actuality, I expected him to be like, 'It is so far kup. Please do not bring me far away from my house kup'. Teehee.
P.S Ignore all the 'kups' for that word is actually our inside joke.
But, he did not. Phew.
Anyway, I had my answers long prepared if he were to complain about the distance. I would definitely question him back with 'WHAT COULD BE FURTHER THAN TRAVELING AROUND YOUR COUNTRY?'. I am sure that that this answer would totally shut him up. Brilliant, I know.
While James peered through the windows, it tickled my funny bone when he commented that the eastern side of Singapore had a resemblance much like rows of villages! *Seriously? Rows of villages? Then he certainly would have gotten it all wrong! Singapore's unique history of having catapulted from a Third World to a First World country within ONE generation's lifetime has let it to be held as a model for many countries. As Singapore has been touted as a world-class, everyone should have already known of our sublime educational system, our amazing infrastructure and our economic success. Hence, it would be an understatement to claim that villages still exist in a fast-growing country like ours!
Cannot blame him. During the past three months, James had merely witnessed our glorious side when he visited Marina Bay Sands and Sentosa.When I mentioned about our glorious side, I meant that no smart visitors would actually pay a lump sum of money for the air tickets in order to admire our ubiquitous HDB flats, right? Besides our famous HDB flats, the passing sceneries on the train at the east-west line were rows and rows of rain trees. I am 100% sure that our leafy trees, forested lands, the flats and condominiums he saw are not our tourist spots. Since it was also his maiden ride to the eastern part of Singapore, it was no wonder James would contribute such a humorous remark.
I am quite positive that the ride on the MRT had opened his eyes wide, especially the village part. :P
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A veil of calm settled upon me when he did not scream blue murders when he was asked to go somewhere far away from his dorm. In actuality, I expected him to be like, 'It is so far kup. Please do not bring me far away from my house kup'. Teehee.
P.S Ignore all the 'kups' for that word is actually our inside joke.
But, he did not. Phew.
Anyway, I had my answers long prepared if he were to complain about the distance. I would definitely question him back with 'WHAT COULD BE FURTHER THAN TRAVELING AROUND YOUR COUNTRY?'. I am sure that that this answer would totally shut him up. Brilliant, I know.
While James peered through the windows, it tickled my funny bone when he commented that the eastern side of Singapore had a resemblance much like rows of villages! *Seriously? Rows of villages? Then he certainly would have gotten it all wrong! Singapore's unique history of having catapulted from a Third World to a First World country within ONE generation's lifetime has let it to be held as a model for many countries. As Singapore has been touted as a world-class, everyone should have already known of our sublime educational system, our amazing infrastructure and our economic success. Hence, it would be an understatement to claim that villages still exist in a fast-growing country like ours!
Cannot blame him. During the past three months, James had merely witnessed our glorious side when he visited Marina Bay Sands and Sentosa.When I mentioned about our glorious side, I meant that no smart visitors would actually pay a lump sum of money for the air tickets in order to admire our ubiquitous HDB flats, right? Besides our famous HDB flats, the passing sceneries on the train at the east-west line were rows and rows of rain trees. I am 100% sure that our leafy trees, forested lands, the flats and condominiums he saw are not our tourist spots. Since it was also his maiden ride to the eastern part of Singapore, it was no wonder James would contribute such a humorous remark.
I am quite positive that the ride on the MRT had opened his eyes wide, especially the village part. :P
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Whilst en route to Pasir Ris, he also realized (and got him the shock out of his life) the amount of time I had to spend on traveling to work! *NOW PEOPLE FINALLY UNDERSTOOD MY PAIN*
YAM'S KITCHEN
Well, why Yam's Kitchen? Simple - because I liked it. And I had the cocksure assurance that James would fancy it as well!
Well, why Yam's Kitchen? Simple - because I liked it. And I had the cocksure assurance that James would fancy it as well!
Yam's Kitchen was my top choice because the dishes there have pleasured me in every aspect - the taste, the appearance and the portion. Also, what on earth could be better when good foods were accompanied with a good friend like James?
Since my vietnamese best friend had been quite interested to attempt chinese foods, it made it all the more a good opportunity to bring him closer to our chinese culture! However, I learnt from James that the dishes were comparable to that of Vietnam's in terms of taste and appearance! Well, that means, it made no difference from the foods he has in his country!
:P
After our dinner, the next plan on my itinerary was to bring him to the rooftop car-park. James was amused at the mention of visiting the car-park, but was then amazed and mesmerized with the BREATHTAKING sceneries there. With that in mind, we decided to capture some photos to serve as memories.
Since my vietnamese best friend had been quite interested to attempt chinese foods, it made it all the more a good opportunity to bring him closer to our chinese culture! However, I learnt from James that the dishes were comparable to that of Vietnam's in terms of taste and appearance! Well, that means, it made no difference from the foods he has in his country!
:P
After our dinner, the next plan on my itinerary was to bring him to the rooftop car-park. James was amused at the mention of visiting the car-park, but was then amazed and mesmerized with the BREATHTAKING sceneries there. With that in mind, we decided to capture some photos to serve as memories.
The rest of the night was spent chatting with James and his vietnamese counterparts at the food-court.
If only we had more time, I would have brought him to the beach - that sanctuary I have grown up liking and proud of. James will be leaving in a few more days and I wish him all the best in whatever he does. Here's a short paragraph dedicated to my good vietnamese friend, James:
虽然我们只认识短短了两个月
但是感觉上与你相处了好几年
虽然和我们之间有语言的障碍
但是在友情之上我们仍然坚固
当我需要和你挥手道别的时候，
心里有虽然会有一丝丝的不舍，
但我坚信如果有缘千里来相聚～
It was such a privilege to have a proper meet-up before he leaves for Vietnam. The day had ended well and I will miss us. We will DEFINITELY meet up in the near future!
It was such a privilege to have a proper meet-up before he leaves for Vietnam. The day had ended well and I will miss us. We will DEFINITELY meet up in the near future!
Bon Voyage, my friend! ;)
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