RSAF AIRSHOW 2014

climbing skies 

"We are what we repeatedly do; Excellence then is not an act but a habit" 

-Aristotle

Swelling with pride to see my husband defending the skies, both in air and on a mega poster.

Wish I was there to see it in person!

and few know the years of hard work behind the fleeting moments on stage.

xoxo,

a proud wife

crystael

Adventures in Dallas

solo voyages and the lone star state

“Be wise enough not to be reckless, but brave enough to take great risks.” 

― Frank Warren

And so the journey to Dallas was an exciting one. Since Justen was flying in to Dallas from his work trip, I drove to the airport at 6am and took a flight from Tucson all by myself for the first time here. Was very pleased with the achievement although it is a little one! Driving on the roads here all seem to be a breeze after this adventure, no more jitterbugs!

It was icy cold in Dallas at -3 deg celsius, and I also got to see snowfall for the first time in my life. Can't describe how lifted my spirits felt seeing and experiencing Nature's icy beauty. 

On the way to Killeen to meet some friends, we stopped by Dallas's Bishop Arts District for lunch, where we were later told by locals that that was the best place in town to be. It comprised of cute little streets filled with quaint shops. But alas most of the shops were closed due to the very unusual snowfall that they were experiencing. Luckily Oddfellows was open and our food was delish!

Oddfellows

316 W 7th St, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 944-5958

Drove over to Austin for a day trip the next day, and spent the afternoon at South Congress Avenue, a hippie shopping street with many quaint shops. 

The strangest was really this store, Uncommon Objects. In it were packed with really random antiques in every nook and cranny --some eerily alive. Real antique victorian gowns, worn in shoes of the past, many porcelain dolls, vintage leather bound books and portraits that all looked like they belonged in the 1900s, filled the shop and were all too eager to say a story a of their own. Left the shop with such a strange feeling like I was dwelling in the real memories of owners of the pieces.

Uncommon Objects

1512 South Congress, Austin, Texas 78704

http://www.uncommonobjectsblog.com/

<3<3<3 My favourite photo<3<3<3

And then to the Texas Capitol State Building in Austin

The next day was back to Dallas with our friends from Killeen! And oh boy was I excited at the thought of Dimsum! Its strange how you crave for food you used to take for granted in a foreign land. The dim sum was luckily really good, highly reccomended for an authentic dose of siew mais and custard buns. We were so lucky to catch the lion dance right in front of our table too, the best lunar new year atmosphere I've felt since reaching the states!

Kirin Court Chinese Restaurant

221 W Polk St #200, Richardson, Texas 75081
(214) 575-8888

Then it was to the mandatory tourist shot at the spot of 

"The Assassination of Kennedy"

Rogue cowboys at the Fortworth Stockyards Station

And the cute little girls and great friends that accompanied our Dallas adventure!

And so our little adventure in Dallas ended, complete with great friends and memories! 

Grateful and happy!

Try, and astound yourself with what you are capable of.

xoxo

crystael

Where I Belong

"Where I belong, where I keep my heart and soul, where dreams come true for us.Where we walk together hand in hand, towards a future so bright. I want the whole world to know, I want to shout it out loud, that this is where I know I belong." 

Where I Belong, by Tanya Chua 2001

Morning comes along and I can't wait to see my sunny island

in its glorious greenery whether rain or shine it is still beautiful.

Bright lights shine on the streets at night, guiding me closer to home.

To a place where I know it is safe and warm, where I belong.

Friends and families by my side, seeing me through as I grow and learn.

Everyday's experience, bitter sweet or sour, they're still wonderful.

As they become precious memories, they'll be kept close to my heart

And no matter where I am I will always know, where I belong.

I want the whole world to know, I want to shout it out loud.

That this is where I know I belong.

In recent years, I have found myself falling in love with my homeland, Singapore, more and more each day. While I was back home, it was still easy to take what I had for granted. Safety and connectivity were just all there and never had to be considered. In the rush of day to day work, it was easy to simply use them without appreciating the effort behind all these systems that served us.

Now that I am living in the states, I miss all of it even much more. The song definitely encapsulates my perspectives well. Indeed, it is easy not to appreciate what one has until it is gone. Before, the lush greenery that was all around me was often unnoticed, and I never appreciated how pleasant the sight of greenery is. It is only till I am faced with brown buildings (mostly) and occasional compounds of trees that I realize how the physical surroundings of the garden city of Singapore can actually serve to lift one's spirits. 

On the roads, I now require daily doses of Vitamin A in hopes to improve my night vision to deal with night driving! Well, I never knew that I would appreciate street lamps so much! lol. Subways are most of the time a pain to take as the slightly germophobic me is so used to the clean air conditioned MRT. Oh well! 

Probably the factor I realised I took for granted the most, was the unspoken safety as I got around day to day. Getting a cab back home at 3am after a night of partying was never a concern and I had no qualms to go for a night jog around the neighbourhood at 10pm with cookie. I reveled in getting around independently no matter how late. I only realised how safety considerations were never part of my day to day thoughts back home, when I found myself mentally preparing defense mechanisms if there ever was a sudden shooting in the mall where I was catching a movie. The idea of those thoughts were novel, yet also revealed to me a new kind of mental restriction amidst the freedom.

And of course, the most sorely missing bits are my family and friends that I love so much. Thank god for the invention of internet and skype and all that devices that keep us connected so easily.

It is a thing to visit another place and marvel at their freedom and seemingly stressless lifestyles, but it is another to live in it and realise the vital things that are missing. There is no perfect country.

 I enjoy the states very much but I guess Singapore sparkles too for many reasons.  

Or perhaps I am just too much of a Singapore home girl.

xoxo

a singapore home girl

crystael