The Call Button

The little red round button,
the call button.
So small, the size of a 10-cent coin.
Yet so important, the lifeline of sorts
to medical care and help.
From simple biological functions
that those confined to the bed can't do on their own,
to more life-threatening situations
(hope they don't arise).

Yet another stay.
Water, water, where it shouldn't be.
Between the heart and the lungs,
which be the bigger culprit?
The investigation continues.
Call in the equivalents of Sherlock Holmes,
and the Monk.

Health, how critical,
in more meanings of the word than there is.
Good health is wealth, they say.
How wise, we say.

The flutist on the Bull

The flutist on the Bull,
simple music flowing from the humble flute.

Not the ambience of the music halls,
but the vast openness of the padi fields and farm lands,
that the music floats to.

How ephemeral is the music?
The flutist wonders.
How soon will the Bull kick him off?
He wonders.

Soon, soon, the Doubting Joneses say.
Which piece (of music) is eternal, they say.
Citing examples of music past that died after a while.

The spirit of the flutist falters, a little;
the music trips a note.

Will you kick me off, the flutist asks the Bull.
Music's important, replies the Bull,
showing an appreciation beyond the proverbial uncouth specimens of its species.

Somewhat assured, the flutist continues,
continues with his music,
continues to sit a-top the Bull.
Yet with the lingering doubt seeded in his mind,
he sits tight a-top the Bull ...

16351

Apple pie ice-cream, anyone?

Time after dinner,

a quick stop at the Island Creamery.

Horlicks, Chendol, Pulot Hitam, Coconut Swirl, Teh Tarik,

Black Forest, Burned Caramel, and so on.

Yummy, yum.

What a great after-dinner treat!

What a great time-out with the family!

Chicken Soup for the tired soul

Catching up
on a deficiency of sleep.
Somehow the minutes just slip by every night,
and it's soon past 11 pm,
inching closer and closer to midnight.


A welcome sight, the chicken soup.
The succulent chicken drumstick, the tasty soup.
Tucking in with gusto,
eating with relish.


Chicken soup.
Chicken soup for the tired soul.

Memories ...

Images of the past week in Vietnam

Images, some fleeting, others with deep imprints from intense work, of the past week...

... the trip, in the rain, to the water treatment plant out in Ha Nam Province, near Hanoi.

... the streets of Ho Chi Minh city - of motorbikes and families of 4 riding pillion,

of food stalls on wheels, of hordes of motorbikes crowding the streets.

... and of Prima restaurant, touting Singapore cuisine, at the Hanoi airport!

(Though the fish soup, and the price, aren't quite the same. :( )

Comfort food at last! Ice cream with nuts and chocolate bits. Wanton noodles, heavenly blueberry cheesecake, even teh tarik!

The welcoming sight of flowers and fruits upon arrival back to Hotel Equatorial in Ho Chi Minh city.

Guess what this is?

Clear skies after the rain. Out for a breather yesterday. In a bustling part of town. French architecture. In Hanoi.