Joining the 30yo club

Finally, the 'dreaded' day is here. It seem so far away in the horizon for so many years, and never thought how it would feel to finally reach here. And 'poof', it's here faster than anything I've seen.

Some say what achievements have gone through the past 30yrs?? I'm happily married to the love of my life, I'm enjoying my wisest and perhaps the most productive years to date. My 'raw speed' of thought hasn't match up to when I was 18 years old, neither has my 'pure' physical fitness now compared to when I was a teenager. BUTT!! I'm enjoying fine wines up to vintage of 1982 (that's a tad off my birth year!! 1979, which isn't known to be a great wine vintage). I've my own ride and I've taken part in biatholons and triathlons and I've just signed up for my first marathon!!! (standard chartered 2009). I've also been conferred a Phd recently. I've been fortunate enough to witness great cities and national parks of the world, and been blessed with a camera to capture many of these great sites. All in all a great 30 years!

For the next 10 years, many of the '30 club' have said that it's the best years of one's life. I look forward to be successful in my career, to carve out a path worthy to guide others on theirs, to taste the best food and wine around the world, to savour the fruits of labour with my family.

More thoughts to follow....*written after a tank of Sake!!!*..

OUT!

*part 2 of story....Here's one of my best meals I have could have imagined, great Japanese fare (courtesy of TK's arrangements & Thomas culinary skills @ Tomo, Marina square), private room, and XL bottle of Sake, 6 pax, fluid conversation and exchange of ideas = a meal close to perfection. The sake when warmed turned out to be extremely fragrant, switching on the 'right' taste buds at the right time. Here's a composite shot of the gang. From the top left, Cheng Wee, Me! and Yaozhong, buddies from Victoria School, top right, Hoe Soon and myself, trenders! and yes, that's the bottle of sake which we finished. Bottom left, wifey and I tucking in mouth-watering prawns! Bottom right, a trio with Loke Yuen grining with excessive sake blowing red on his face!

Part 3 to follow...

And it was back home for a traditional cake cutting with my parents and wifey. Damn 3 big candles!!!

This was about a week prior to the actual day, celebrating with my research group, Organic Nano Device Lab @ National University of Singapore. It's a tradition to get a cake for the 'babies' for each month. And since August was going to be my last month and it was my big THREE-O, I had to decide to get a 'good cake', and share it with the group! I chose passion meringue from The Patissier , it cost...a BOMB!! Think $XXX, but from everyone's reaction, this cake was worth it..hee.

More to follow? I think so!! watch out!