A Mother and a Wife

It's weird how the feeling of becoming a mother changes your perspective on life.

I had a wonderful childhood, although it could be better. My mother did everything in her power to raise me and my sister to the best that she could, although there were obstacles too mighty for her to cross.

She was a lowly paid full time working mother, working for my dad. Because she had accidentally got pregnant with me when she was dating my dad, she was plunge into motherhood not by choice. Sorry Mom 😅😅.

I hardly ever saw my parents in the day, and barely had any time at night because of all the school work I had to do. I remember calling her all afternoon asking her what time she will be back from work. When she does get home, she was always too tired to play.

I made a choice that I shall not be stuck to a man and let his life define my career choice. I will get my degree, work hard, and children can come later to be fair, I was not even counting on having a family of my own.

I met a gentleman who treated me like I was his world. We agreed to have a baby 2 years after we got married, and just overnight, my perspective changed.

Suddenly I didn't feel my career was that important anymore, now that I have a human life growing inside me. I wanted to give her everything I didn't have, and want to make sure she never felt alone. My initial dream of becoming and architect seemed so unimportant. I suddenly felt the stress to slave for a corporate life was the last thing I wanted. I still loved architecture, but I did not want it to over shadow my new life.

I wanted to have time to not just be a designer, but more importantly, a mother and a wife.

Pregnancy Cravings: Quinoa Grain Bowl

So Krispy Kreme has been a fussy eater. I have realize that whenever I eat hawker food, which is the only thing available anywhere near my work location, I will have a very bad nausea after which prevents me from lasting throughout the day. So I have been ordering slightly expensive options which has made me broke last month. This time, I have asked my hubby to make so healthier meals for me to bring to work to cut cost.

My choice tonight, Jamie Oliver's Quinoa Graine Bowl! The recipe is from one of his cookbooks titled Super Foods, one that I bought 2 years ago and never used 😅😅.

Hubby is a busy engineer, and yet taking the time to cook upon requests after work. I am so blessed 😊😊😍😍.

And it was delicious! I think my husband tweeked the recipe to add more of my favourite ingredients into the dish. I am generally a big fan of quinoa but if I were to eat it everyday we would be broke 😂😂.

Baby Moon to China

Shanghai – Nanjing – Chengdu

Yes, you’re not dreaming. Raine Chong has willingly travelled to China for a Holiday despite a history of avoiding PRCs in Singapore 😂😂. But to be fair I wouldn’t have talked myself to coming if my brother and Mimie wasn’t living in China and telling me so many good things about the country!

First Stop, Shanghai

Shanghai was seriously beautiful. It is even better than I thought! The last time I was here was 15 years ago when I was a mere 14 year old teenager. I hated it of course because I didn’t get to see many things, and mainly stayed in the city. Basically I thought it was a shithole. But this time I stayed with my brother in the new suburbs of Shanghai located in Pudong, and I got to say it looked so European 🤩😍

I remember in University students and professionals were teaming up to produce a masterplan for new developments in China. I cannot believe such a success it is. The picture above is taken at the CBD area where my brother worked, which is at Xin Tian Di. The were not congested, and people were walking and cycling everywhere. It was magical. This is actually the benchmark I think Singapore should aim towards – to remove people from cars so we can build nicer public spaces!

The citylife of Shanghai was so vibrant as well. Everyone is out and about, rather than rushing to get to our destination which was what I was expecting to see! I mean that was what it was like in Singapore. But people could be found in the streets dancing and singing, kids running about, and the young out getting a beer. It was so pleasant.

My brother always said the Shanghai Disneyland was really underated, and recommended we went to check it out. So we did! And oh my god it was good. The only problem was that everything was in mandarin, and I couldn’t sing along 😭😭. But if not, the theme park was superb!

For the rest of the time in Shanghai, there was alot of sightseeing to do. Rather than hear me go on about it, just enjoy the pictures!

Though while travelling, I could totally feel Krispy Kreme getting bigger. I did not need maternity pants when I reached china, and by the day 3 I had to pull out my maternity pants! Looks like Krispy Creme is enjoying the travels!

The last stop in Shanghai was THE BIGGEST MUTHA FUCKIN STARBUCKS IN THE WORLD

Thanks to my siblings I had so much to do in Shanghai!

Nanjing – to see Michael & Mimie!

It has been too long! Mimie was one of my bridesmaid for my wedding, and yes that was the last time I saw her! It’s been 2 whole years!

Looking at hers and Michael’s (her Beau) life in Nanjing was so refreshing coming from a Singaporean’s perspective. Owners of CrossFit gyms, and some side business in on Amazon. Despite the lack of stability she talks about, somehow it sounds so appealing comparing to my life in the corporate world.

Nanjing was so beautiful! So much nature parks around the city!

Aside from sight seeing, we took this opportunity to work out in Michael’s Gym!

Chengdu, fulfilling our Sichuan Cravings!

When we got to Chengdu, I knew it meant there was no one else but me to communicate for directions and for ordering food, but me. My first thought, was that this, was going to be a disaster.

If many of you know Stuart and I, you know we LOOOOOOOVE our Spicy Sichuan fix!! So our first stop was a famous hotpot highly recommended by a popular china YouTube star, Food Ranger!

We basically used Google translate to take a picture of the menu to manage to order our dishes. So yes, it took us almost an hour to order our food. So kids, please learn your Mandarin, not because it’s a beautiful language but because it will soon become essential!

Chengdu wasn’t a very nice looking city so I didn’t bother taking many city shots. But the food tho…

There was this famous teahouse that was recommended too, so Stuart and I managed to stop by for tea.

In Chengdu we really took I easy since it was last stop of our trip. We stayed in a monestry which made it even more peaceful (although I am convinced it’s being run by gangsters).

Last of all, we musn’t forget the PANDASSSSSSSS!!!

THEY WERE SO CUTEEEEEEEEEEE. Nice to see the origin of China’s diplomatic tool 😂😂.

All in all, China is really an eye opener. I felt like a mountain turtle while I was there because everywhere, including the street stall and even beggers, use cashless payment to make purchases! I rmb walking pass a bigger and he was asking us to make a donation to him via his WeChat account 😂😂. Makes me thinking that Singapore has got alot of catching up to do to become a smart city.

But even my brother has made me understand the ruthlessness of Chinese people and why they are generally so rude – a trait singaporeans detests and get annoyed by. In china they basically follow the Iron rice bowl theory, which means every man for his own, because if you fall, that is your own loss. It’s about grabbing every opportunity you can get to make sure you get the best you deserve – which includes mrt seats 😂😂. And yes, I have learned the technique to push people around on trains and people will never get pissed about it 😂😂.

But China has the benefit of having population. People willing to do labour for a extremely small fee in the city, because these cheap labour come from the villages. Something that Singapore doesn’t have this the rising cost of living. There are so many things we could lose out on because of our size, and why a lax immigration policy is important. That’s something many Singaporeans need to remember, because one wrong move could cause our sampan to capsize.