Thebarefootfoodie

Berlin Marathon I like Marathons. There is something almost superhuman in completing 42 km in anything between two to four hours plus, for the serious runner. This will be my second International Marathon - as a clapper and supporter - for the record. Marathons are getting to be a great excuse for me to visit selected cities with a buddy whose husband is one such serious runner.  Berlin is on the international circuit as one of the "Big Five" . You not only have to qualify with  timing, but also balloted to have your name on the participants' list - so overwhelming is the demand. And so it goes, that KH is one of the 40,000 or so selected, and I bought myself a ticket to Berlin. Catching a connecting flight anywhere in Europe is a trial in fitness and endurance itself. Flights are usually late by a couple of minutes, and by the time one touches down in the international arrival hall and clears security, only to find that the domestic connection is several kilom...

Yunnan Flavours and other detours. Posted on 4 Jan 2012 G and I left for our little getaway on 14 Dec. It was a treat to have G-time exclusively for myself, without the children. We booked Thai Airways to Kunming, which allowed for a short stop-over in Bangkok. T kindly let us have the use of his condo again at Thonglor, a hip, yuppy enclave peppered with swanky eateries, pubs and the de-riguer spas for creature comfort. Lunch was at Tadaima, this delightful Japanese joint at Eignt Thonglor - one of the best I've ever had. Yum! This time, we even got to meet up with T for yet another indulgent dinner, before he flew off to a different corner of the world to seal a mega-dollar deal.  On 15 Dec, we were awakened very early in the day by a most unexpected phone call. D had missed his flight to the USA due to....well, it's a long story.... Hmm - we have a little situation on our hands. After being momentarily stunned by the news, our senses quick...

Beijing Encounters ( Part 2 ) Posted on 4 Nov 2011 Mutianyu - Great Wall   This is a stretch of the Great Wall which is further afield - read fewer tourists, less touch-up work. Its appeal factor is boosted by a ski lift ride uphill and a tobaggan ride downhill. The catch - it is a good 180 minutes from Beijing by public bus. Our two intrepid travellers rose to the challenge.  First, we needed to track down special bus 867 that goes from Dongzhimen to Mutianyu. We set off bright and early at 7 am, bracing ourselves for the usual hit and miss rounds of getting directions from the locals. Bus 867 was supposed to leave the terminus at 8.30 am, or so the guide book said. We made it to the bus-stop at 8.45 am, after a convoluted search, huffing and puffing. There was a long queue before us - a good sign that the bus has not left without us. Rubber time operates here. The bus arrived at 9.30 am and everyone scrambled aboard. The more fortunate found seats, others li...

Beijing Encounters ( Part 1 ) Posted on 3 Nov 2011 I ended up as an accidental tourist in Beijing to pin down a good pal who has so much on her plate that she has no time to do lunch, let alone anything else. After a few missed lunch appointments , I decided to wait till she gets back to planet earth.  And so the weeks went by, until one day, a sack of durians got dropped off at my place with a message from A " Hi Y, thought you might like these." Another time, on a not so happy occasion, we met at a wake and when I mentioned lunch, hoping to be third time lucky, her husband, KH,  said that he was also subjected to the same. Ok, forgiven. Being the architect who has had a hand in designing some of the icons and landmarks in Singapore, I guess brilliance breeds some eccentricity and is entitled to a wide berth. Then came the invitation to join her and KH ( the hubby ) in Beijing. Reason - KH will be running the Marathon, and since she will be there.... Prime Ho...

Oh to be in England, now that Spring is here. ( Part 3 Scotland ) Posted on 29 Jun 2011 Onward to the last leg of our trip - Scotland. Driving across stretches of unspoilt landscape, occupied mainly by sheep and cattle, we coveted stolen moments of oneness with nature, with no one else around.  What a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life and from other people. The much touted highland cow, with the long hair and curly horns ( much like the shaggy dog minus the horns ) was surprisingly difficult to spot. We caught a glimpse of them round a bend, blink, and never saw them again. How now brown cow? The trip is not complete without paying a small tribute to good ole Nessie, dead or living - the jury is still out on this. There is comprehensive info to whet your appetitie at the Loch Ness Monster Visitor Centre, located within the Drumnadrochit Hotel. After some hours on the road, we arrived at Pitlessie House, a delectable B & B in a historic hous...

Oh to be in England, now that Spring is here. ( Part 2 - Ireland, and Northern Ireland, UK ) Posted 26 Jun  2011 Spent half a day at Warwick Castle before hopping onto the car ferry from Holyhead to Ireland. Warwick Castle is a medieval relic from days of yore, suitably revamped to snag the tourist pound, It has included, as its latest attraction, Merlin's Tower, at an additional fee, of course.  Those who missed the London Dungeon can still stock up on cheesy scares at the Warwick Dungeon here ( for an optional extra ). The highlight of the visit was a live demo of the world's largest trebuchet, an ancient siege machine, weighing 22 tonnes and standing at 18 metres tall. There was also a joustling match between the good guy and the baddies.  Predictable , as D would comment afterwards - why should the good guy win all the time? Hmm, the pragmatist vs the optimist. His is the lone voice out there. Deep down, even in the hearts of those who are bitte...