What meant to be a longer day turned out to be much longer than it had planned to be.

Meeting was shorter than the 2 days before, which perhaps spare the bad back a lil.

I ended up didn’t go gallop, galloping at the Turf Club, but since I had a prior pleasant experience in the box lounge, I guess forsaken this time for a greater good was more appropriate in this case.

A tiny piece of incident when I was almost “giaping” my legs with urgency when I needed the loo badly.

I ran into the ladies, looking for relief, only to realise that 2 men were looking at me all flustered.

Knowing how I have ALWAYS made an embarrassing mistake like this, I cupped mouth and squealed before running out apologising. In response, the guys squealed back in mocked horror.

Trust me, the running was cos I needed the toilet badly.

I ran out, turned around and saw it was LADIES sign what!

I ran back in, the 2 guys laughing at how flustered I was.

Plumbers.

Bah!

I didn’t care and went into the loo with all the embarrassing sounds to be heard.

Just as the day seemed too grim, my co-worker messaged to relay the exceptionally good news to me that I was only too eager to share with my boss with one too many “yay”s and giggles. I should be glad I didn’t use any “BOOMSSZZ“.

Sat around at Toa Payoh hub for a while, before going for dinner of Bak Kut Teh in between phone calls.

It should be a quick conclusion to the day though a reluctance of ending the day and the stress laden prompted an aimless, yet fruitful drive around places seldom ventured with me leading the way by not knowing the way.

The west can be a very mesmerising place.

Went into Jurong Island (haha!), okay fine, we went past the gantry and made an U-turn.

From the massive plants standing stoic in the orange lights, spitting out clouds of pollutants to the sky, to the small hills of biofuel still worked on by the digger at this time of the night, workers cycling after a long day of shift work, a shipyard so well-hidden that you could only barely see the helm of a very massive fleet, and sights that were never seen nor heard flanking the peaceful, rural roads.

I almost didn’t think there are still non airconditioned buses around. Or maybe they are all left to beautify places like Orchard and all.

I survived well without triggering the gurkhas’ suspicion cos being shot was not really the way the curious cat want to go.

And then, I thought of the camera I had underutilize, which would be of great use in such an occasion. Someday. I shall be back.

An early night of rest (which I had aimed to sleep at 11pm) was no longer of importance with this recharged feeling, and then it became a quest to look for other hidden gems I was determined to find.

A drive to Jurong Hill, to the place my dad used to bring me for Japanese dinner, as I recounted stories of my very first Japanese meal I could recall.

I must have been 4 or 5 back then. I remember my first attempt at cold noodles, and what an exclusive event that was.

The entire Jurong was not what I thought it to be.

And the main adventure of the night, was…. FEAR FACTOR!

Well, at least for me.

Friends know how much I am fearful of… DEAD FISHES, and how I get nauseous seeing them, and my palms get all sweaty and such.

Somehow witnessing a pet ariwona died when I was a young girl proved to be traumatic.

So after going through all the checks and all, which prompted the guard to say, “First time here huh?” to my enthusiasm.

I chirped a saccharine “Yup!” before skipping to the entrance.

Jurong Fishery, here I am.

The smell hit me first and I started breathing through my mouth, somehow, it is not unlike how people head to cemetery for the thrill, some kind of morbid curiousity.

I walked to the dock, and saw the many fishing boats, some really state-of-the-art, some just… classically worn.

Many men were sleeping around on the floor, or any where they can find, whilst many others were already preparing for business to be started at 2am. Nearby, there was a tentage of getai for the occupants of the building.

It was a world of its own.

I just walked around on the breadth of it, not wanting to venture in on the “walk of faith”. I browsed prawns and crayfish, totally intrigued by the business here, and of course looking totally out of place in a halter and jeans.

I saw only 3 other females there, who all worked at the place.

Left empty handed, but not before I took the walk of faith, as if like watching a horror movie, and keeping my head straight, squealing and eee-ing like annoying females should be.

When at the carpark, they were putting this BIG fish on the floor and I was so curious that I decided to look, though I felt a bit nauseous, I decided to be brave and made a conversation with the uncle.

I was thinking of buying  a fish for Minibean’s porridge, but I probably wouldn’t dare to hold it.

And then, venturing on.

***

I remember when I was in kindergarten, I would have came out tops if not for the fact that I was shuttering between JB and Singapore so often that my attendance was compromise.

Once, the incentive for the one who topped the class, was a trip to a nearby swim park, which was probably THE swim park back then.

I have always wanted to go to the swim park.

The teacher eventually got me to go as well, but because of the 60 day visa rule, I couldn’t.

I cried, and I begged and I insisted.

My parents relented and I remember on the day, I took a camera and snapped a picture of my dad crossing his arms and smiling at me.

I found the place yesterday.

It was no longer what it was, but had became a small fishing/prawning village, still buzzing with life at 2am in the morning.

It was… very comforting when I realised where it had been.

And then it was a great experience at the village.

I didn’t Tang dynasty had been demolished. I had assumed it was just abandoned like it always was.

I was almost burned out from the week, and with uncertainty looming, it was as good as the Friday could get.

Oh, in the midst of stress last night, I had almost forgotten that what was triggered by my purchase impulse is here?!?!

I shall go get it today.

Whoooooooppppppppeeeee Doooo! Yippieeee yay!