Yellow Truck

The moment I saw u, u were a glowing sight.

Bright, sunny, a powerful engine.

I love how easily you respond to every steering and brakes.
Though the time we spend will be the limited 3 years on paper,
I will cherish you in every way.
Welcome, my bright, yellow Truck.
May you brighten my locomotive path ahead.

Motorcycle Licence

Note : This may be a "seating on the fence" posting. Do bare with a young lady's musing.

Of late, I have been considering a motorcycle licence a.k.a class 2B licence. Though in SG, it is considerably more "practical" to get a class 3/ 3A license a.k.a car license, I personally feel that given the present day's traffic condition n elevated COE prices, perhaps, a class 2B license will be in the league.

Here's K's thoughts of Pros of a Class 2B license

1) Being a driver on the road, learning to ride a motorcycle will allow me to understand the "body language" of motorcyclists(its very different from handling a car) and perhaps after learning defensive riding, one day, I could save my life n someone else's life on the road (be it driving or riding).

2) K has always wanted to ride on a motorcycle during vacation in less traffic populated countries (like in Tai nan). Although a motorcycle license is rarely needed in such places, motorcycle handling skills will be very beneficial.

3) Economic cost : The COE of a motorcycle, road tax, the vehicle n the cost of fuel and maintenance is much lower than say a van or a car. Let K give a rough break down

K's Estimated Cost of Motorcycle Expenses as at 2012/2013

Cost of Class 2B License $1000

Motorcycle(2nd hand Vespa) $ 1500 - $4500

COE $ 1200 - $1500

Insurance $ 200 p.a

Road Tax $100 p.a

Fuel $300 to $500 p.a

Parking Charges $150 p.a

Add : Tyres/ repair/ maintenance $ 100 to $2000

Total Cost of Motorcycle Ownership : $ 4550 to $9750

Of cos, this is a higher estimated gross total estimated amount. Most likely during the first year of K's riding, she will get a much lower maintenance cost Honda Phantom/wave or a ready to be scrape motorcycle to gain the experience of riding

4 ) The taste of ever warm summer tan ~

And here are the Cons ;

The Danger

1) Its unfortunate that in SG, motorcycles are often treated as a lesser vehicle by car drivers n are often forced out of the lane.

2) Motorcycles are "light" in comparison to much larger vehicles and they may "drift" off course (K has seen many cases in the expressways) and it is very dangerous.

3) Motorcycles are more prone to skid in wet conditions (rainy weather) and tyre blowouts can cause much danger to motorcyclist.

4) No matter what, a motorcyclist is often in a much higher risk of an injury rate in accidents. A saying by older drivers in SG : " You dont buang people, people buang you ;
Although you ride safely, there always a risk of getting hit by other vehicles."

K's Conclusion : Although riding is dangerous, K sees no harm in learning to ride defensively and the lessons could be an eye opener.
( Due to budget constraint, K may not get a little vespa after all)

Medium rare

Lately, I have been feeling fatigue, getting a little dizzy when I try to get up n having a pallor complexion. So I popped by the clinic n after a few tests, yup, I'm mildly anemic.

Iron rich food is in ( here's my cue to enjoy some steak, Kai lan - I read somewhere that its rich in iron n not forgetting abit of wine( PS : What's the point of a good cut of steak without some wine =p)

N I will be heading outdoor for a good dose of sunlight n sea adventure.

I love my Whisky and Chocolate

Whisky and Chocolates are the best combination; just like Soya bean milk and dough fritters!

Yeah, I'm not much of a drinker ( Note : I hate alcohol guzzling) but I like whisky. I enjoy my Johnnie walker neat with some chocolate. They are the best combination; a little sip of whisky and a bite of chocolate - a smokey aromatic flavour and the rich velvet texture of chocolate swishing in my mouth. Mmmm... Perfect. My favourite hot afternoon treat is a measure of whisky with green tea and ice; really refreshing for the hot weather lately =)

Animals... Psss... Keep Quiet

There are times when individuals see certain animals (be it in the zoo or out in the open), n suddenly they will become quiet. Its something which K is amused by as K n her friends were out at Pulau Ubin n we spotted a small green tree snake lazing on a mangrove tree.

(5 girls chatting away while walking in the green forest)
K (In a normal voice - pointing out to her friends) : " Look, is that a green tree snake on the tree?"
Suddenly, the rest of K's friends fell silent n the conversation followed into a quiet whisper
Friend 1 (In a low whisper) : "Psss... That's a snake?"
Friend 2 (The loud boomer in the gang who breaks into a whisper too) : "Yeah, it is... Its so small!"
N there was a discussion in whispers as to whether to take the picture of the snake.

I wonder what would have happened if we were to walk into the path of a wild boar instead....
(Imaginary scenario)
K( Quietly - Pointing out to her friends) : "Pss... Look, that's a wild boar ahead of us!"
All four girls (Screaming n starts running) : "ARGH!!! WILD BOAR!!! HURRY UP!! RUN!!!"

I guess it will be highly comical n dangerous to have a grunting wild boar chasing after us....

Luggage

Recently, 4 wheeler luggage seems to be very popular. The interesting thing which K notices at train stations, is individuals dragging their 4 wheeler luggage on 2 wheels (as illustrated in the picture above - Blah for the horrible drawing) and I cant help wondering why had these people bought a 4 wheeler luggage in first place and how long their luggage will last.
I can empathize the poor luggage sellers when potential / ex luggage customers come dragging 4 wheeler luggage on the hinges.

(At the luggage department)
The umpteenth a.k.a 900th customer who comes dragging a 4 wheeler luggage on 2 wheels.

Exasperated Sales person ( After explaining 900 times to a 900th customer) : "Sorry Mdm, the luggage is designed to be used on 4 wheels. You should be using it on 4 wheels."
900th customer (Stubbornly): " Ai yah, if I use all 4 wheels, later all 4 spoil how? I use 2 wheels, if 2 of them spoil, I still can use the remaining 2 wheels."
Exasperated Sales person : " Well, if 2 out of the 4 wheels are damaged, u cant use it well. Or do u want to look at 2 wheelers instead? The wheels r bigger..."

Seriously n simply putting it, the mechanism of a 4 wheeler luggage is to that of the concept of weight, centre of gravity (g) of an object ; or the example of a car (4 wheels) n a motor cycle (2 wheels).
Like a car, 4 wheeler luggage has a much better centre of gravity than a 2 wheeler luggage. Whereas, a 2 wheeler works in a way of tilting(like a motorcycle) the luggage to get a better centre of gravity, so that the luggage can be pulled along more easily, hence bigger wheels(like a motorcycle, for better stability and managing friction.

Now, would u drive a car on 2 wheels? =p

Mistakes

Once a upon a time(sounding fairy tale like), there was this period of time where I was very Very afraid to make mistakes ; Mistakes like losing a crayon in sch, mistakes like shading wrongly on the OAS forms, mistakes like forgetting my keys n waiting along the common corridor w/o lunch n dinner till my parents return late fr work at night etc, mistakes like saying whatever comes to my mind without thinking.

Of what these seemed like big mistakes to me then actually toughen me up- I learn to be mindful of my box of crayons n future possessions, learnt to read instructions carefully, learnt to finish my homework by the stairs while spending time reflecting in the darken corridors of the late dusk then, learn to never skip my meals, learn to be mindful of the situation n think before I speak.

Fast forward, as a young adult, I learn that there are many mistakes one makes; the difference between a major /minor mistake n the severity of the consequences depends on the stakes, how well one handles the situation n how a person learns to stand again after learning to fall. The distinction is no longer black or white but alot of grey areas with a silver lining.

A gamble and a lot more decisive planning is the next step from now on...