A new addition to the two wheeler family

The brother seems to be feeling the urge to ride and has actually bought for himself a Bajaj Pulsar.

Bajaj Pulsar
The Bajaj Pulsar

He initially contemplated on getting a Vespa LX 150, but finally had his heart set on the Bajaj after realising that the petrol consumption mileage was better and the tank capacity was higher.

We went to one motorcycle shop on evening. And while he was talking to the salesman, I went off to admire this cutie.

Yamaha Fino Scooter

Isn’t it adorable? This is the Yamaha Fino. I like the shape and the look of this scooter as it is so retro. And it is mini sized for any woman to ride comfortably. What’s cute about it is that there is a side pocket in the front to put items like water bottles.

This particular green and white limited edition which we saw at Universal Motors was going for about $5k on the road.

But as adorable as it is, the one thing that didnt make it perfect was that the Fino had very little storage. I can’t even stuff my handbag in there, much less with things like laptops or the SLR Camera bag.

My Vespa GT200 is still the best.

Anyway, the brother will be getting his Bajaj this evening and he’s letting me be the subrider. I can’t wait to try riding on that.

And speaking of Vespas, the Vespa Club is having a 1 Day Trip to Malacca, Malaysia this Sunday. If you have a Vespa and is free this sunday, do join us. It’ll be fun! 🙂

Vespa Club Members at the Big Bike Fest
The Vespa Club members at the Big Bike Fest

Update : Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I finally saw the sunflower biker along the AYE expressway on my way to night class. Wanted to wave hello to him but he rode away so fast.

The sunflower biker in singapore

Super cool right? 😀

Ack! Another meme!

I am really not fond of doing memes.

I got tagged by Sha, and then Eastcoastlife and most recently, Clappingtree to do a meme. But I guess I’ll do this just one more time, just cause I think they are all cool people.

Finish this sentence :

I love
my scooter.

I feel
happy when I am on my scooter.

I need
my scooter.

Idiosyncracies about me :

1. Before I start my journey, I pat my scooter and ask if it is ready.

1. During my journeys, I sing on my scooter.

2. After every trip, I’d say goodnight to my scooter.

Goals before I die:

1. Persuade Cartcart to learn to ride a scooter

2. Have my future kids to learn to ride a scooter.

3. Have everyone else to learn to ride a scooter.

And I tag

  1. No one
  2. Mei yo de ren
  3. Tiada sesiapa orang
  4. Nessuna persona
  5. Karappam Pochi

There I’ve done a meme, happy? 😛

How to renew your road tax in Singapore

Recently, I’ve received a notification from the Land Transport Authority to renew my road tax. This task wasnt as difficult as I thought it would be – after consulting with the Vespa Club forum, I now have a better idea of how to do it.

Here are the steps on how to renew your road tax :

1. Send your vehicle for a full check up

Tong Aik

I had my GT200 checked at Tong Aik after being recommended by a colleague. I like Tong Aik as they specialised in Vespas and they know what they are doing.

Tong Aik was professional, friendly and the prices are quite reasonable. I definitely recommend them for Vespa owners.

2. Head for your nearest Vehicle Inspection Center

Viacom at Bukit Batok

Because I live in the west, I chose to go to the Vicom at Bukit Batok for my vehicle inspection. It was just a couple of minutes away from my workplace.

You’ll need to position your motorcyle along a line. There will be a person examining the alignment, the tyres, breaks, lights among other things. The entire check shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. Once the inspection is passed, he’ll hand you a certificate. This will be used in conjunction for the road tax.

3. Renew vehicle insurance

It is a legal requirement to have insurance when owning a vehicle. I renewed both my insurance and road tax at Asphoon, where I purchased my scooter. I handed my road tax disc as well as the certificate from the vehicle inspection.

A sample of an unstamped road tax disc

A couple of days later, you’ll get your new insurance as well as a stamped road tax disc to attach in your vehicle.

Whee!

And now enjoy riding till the next year!

my scooter almost exploded (but luckily for me, it didnt)

After about two weeks after the accident, I got a call from the mechanic telling me that it was ready for collection. I headed to the workshop. The man who knocked me down was there too.

I was civil, but I didn’t talk much to him. I wasn’t being rude, but I was ready to close the chapter and put it behind me.

After an examination on the scooter, I sat on my scooter and waved goodbye to him, thinking to myself, hoping that I’ll never have another accident again.

But as I rode back home, I can sense that something is not quite right with the scooter. Rather than that inviting feeling I get when riding my scooter, it just felt cold and lifeless.

Let the power of the cocoa coloured GT200 beckon you ...

The next morning, there was a very strong smell of petrol coming from the inside of the scooter. I was most concerned. Something is just not right.

Mr Singh, a colleague at the school that I was attached to, noticed it too and advised me to send it for servicing.

pic of the front counter of Tong Aik

Me : Funny thing is, I just went to the mechanic recently. But I want to send it to someone who specialises in Vespa. I tried to call Piaggio service center, but they only work on weekdays.

Mr Singh : Why don’t you bring it to Tong Aik? They work on weekends too. I brought my scooter there for 20 years now. I really recommend it.

Me : But yours is a manual, Mr Singh. Mine is an automatic

Mr Singh : Not a problem. As long as its a Vespa, they can do it for you. Let me get you their contact.

I went there early in the morning to avoid the long waiting time. It was quite easy to get there. It was near Sim Lim Square, my favourite computer shop.

It was such a curious place. I rode all the way to the fifth floor where their workshop was. I knew I was at the right place when I saw all sorts of scooters there. Vintage and new Vespas in all shapes and colours. As I admired the procession of scooters a man in blue overalls popped out of nowhere.

pic of a LX150 Tong Aik

man : Hi! How can I help you?

me : Hi, I’m looking for Mr Wee? My colleague, Mr Singh recommended me here for a servicing.

man : That’s me. Mr Singh? Oh yes, he worked for the police previously didn’t he? What kind of service would you like for your scooter?

me: I’d like to have a full service on it please. Also, there is a strong petrol smell coming from inside. Can you check it for me?

man : No problem! Rest assured that I’ll personally check your scooter and repair what is needed.

After about 2 hours, I went back in the workshop area.

man : The belt and rollers need to be changed, they are worn out already. May I know where you did your servicing previously?

me: What’s wrong?

man : The mechanics there did not handle the tap properly and now its damaged. The oil was supposed to flow in 15 mins, but here, it took an hour.

me : Oh.

man : And you’ve got a good sense of smell there. Let me show you why you smelt the petrol smell.

Mr Wee opens up the cover and we both look at the engine. He revs up the throttle and to my horror, I saw petrol leaking out each time he revs it.

me : OH! MY! GOD!

man : The pipes are weak. It could have exploded but good thing that it didn’t.

me : OH! MY! GOD!

man : You are a very very lucky woman.

my eyes boggled*

man : I need to examine your scooter some more. So sorry to keep you waiting. But I dont think I can finish it now. Can you pick it up on Monday afternoon instead?

me : Yes, sounds good. Thanks for checking, and bye!

Pics of cool looking helmets

I think I’ll bring my baby to Tong Aik for servicing the next time, all the time.

Tong Aik Motors Supply Co
89 Short Street
#01-02
Tel : 63379912

My first road accident

Bah of bahness.

I was riding to work as normal this morning. I saw a woman waving for a cab. The next thing I knew, a car suddenly cut directly in my way. No time to react. Breaking would be useless.

Bah of bahness

I fell down. Then I tried to push my scooter up, unsucessfully. I think I was in a daze and shock.

I heard someone chiding the driver. “Why did you do that!” “Sorry, blind spot” “You cannot say blind spot! Miss are you okay?”

I mumbled a “I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine

How can you say you are fine? Here is my contact. I saw the whole thing. I will be a witness

Anyway, to put a long story short, I’m not going to make a police report and charge him in court. But I’m definitely going to make him pay for my medical and full repairs to my scooter.

My baby is sick again :`(

Broken exhaust cover, deep scratches of body and box. The m in the granturismo is gone. The crome line near the footrest damaged.

Two weeks without my ride. This is agony.

Being a pillion for the first time

My brother, Nazry, took riding lessons and had recently passed and attained his licence. Today, he asks if I could borrow my scooter. I agreed, only if I accompanied him.

So today, for the first time in a long while, I was pillion in my own scooter. For the first 10 minutes, sitting at the back of the scooter, I was freaked out when bro wobbled while going out of the carpark to the main road.

And when bro turned a corner at the junction. I thought that I might just fall off at any moment! It was so scary! I never realised how close I could get on the curb!

This must be the same feeling that my previous pillions felt.

Bro went smoothly after that and was a good rider, checking for incoming traffic and checking for blind spots and in the end, we got to our destinations safely.

But I wont forget so easily the fear from the first few minutes.

To all the people I’ve ever pillioned before. I am sorry to have caused you fear, psychological pain and unecessary trauma while all the time naively insisting that I was riding safely. Please forgive me. I wont insist on giving you a ride on my scooter anymore.

The days my dearest visited finale

“Hey you! Yes you lurking there! Its National de-lurking week. That means you MUST post a message and say hi! 🙂 “

Saturday, I wanted to show cartcart the science center . Being the science and maths enthusiast that he was, I was sure that he’d enjoy it. We strolled to Jurong East, had a late lunch at my favourite Vegetarian stall and marvelled at how closely it tasted like actual meat.

Then we stopped by a local supermarket where Cart had the time of his life comparing as well as learning about local foodstuff.

He poured over the curry spices, the dried herbs, the noodles, basically things that Singaporeans use to cook on a day to day basis.

He was most excited.

Cartcart even quipped that he found this experience as enjoyable as our trip to the underwater world.


Look! A genuine Italian brand!

We took our time and when we finally reached the Science Center, I looked quizzedly at the ticket booth which had no one manning it. Then I realised that we went there 5 minutes too late to last entry! Even shows at the Omnimax theater till 9 pm were fully sold out.

That’ll teach me to be so ill prepared. We walked out dejectedly past children who were laughing happily in the water pool which was side by side to the pathway.

But the day was still young! We were at Jurong East! I hang out here a lot. And what better way to spend it by watching a movie together with your partner 🙂

The show that I was interested in watching was Night at the Museum, but it started much too late and the only show that was remotely watchable was Charlottes Web . I guess that would have to do. *chuckles*

The movie was pretty okay. Even with the many many changes from the original book, I think I got teary eyed when Charlotte died.

It’s a good thing that the arm rests in the movie theatre were movable and we were able to cuddle 🙂

On our bus journey back, we passed by Pasta Fresca and after hearing its jingle being played regularly on 938 live, I thought it would be nice to have dinner there.

A slightly bitter, fizzy drink that is well known in Italy

The decor looked nice enough. Cartcart mentioned at how authentic the place was decorated and even noticed that the type of fabric the curtains made were the actual type of fabric used in Italy.

Cartcart ordered arrabbiata, just to compare how it tastes to the pasta we had yesterday.

So cartcart, how much does this one rate?

5

Wow, a whole point compared to yesterday 😛

Yes, now I can safely say that this is the best pasta I’ve eaten in Singapore 😛

Heaps of cars lining up next to the mosque

Sunday, Hari Raya Haji.

Mum had just completed sewing Cartcart’s baju kurong the day before. She seemed unconfident that the outfit would fit him well because of some of the pertinent additional measurements that I didn’t take.

But when Cartcart put it on, it fitted him perfectly. When he came out to show me, I was floored at how stunningly handsome he looked in the green baju kurong. So handsome that I forgot to take a picture of him wearing it.

My Mum and dad gave him generous compliments at how good he looked. Cartcart was putting on the capal, the Malay sandals that we bought during our trip to geylang. He really looked so elegant. Mum thought that if he wore the samping (waist cloth) and songkok (hat) it would be more complete.

But cartcart seemed to be doubtful. “It has long sleeves!” He whispered to me. “I might perspire badly in this

However, during the entire journey to my grandmother’s house, cartcart didn’t break a sweat due to the cooler December weather and the air conditioned train coach.

When we reached the doorstep, in my mind, I was wondering and hoping that everything would go al-right.

My aunts were there and the first to greet us, then my uncles, and then my cousins. We talked, and then had lunch together and just chilled. I see one of my cousin, Eusoff, deep in conversation with cartcart while the rest of the clan seemed transfixed in a Malay soap opera that was premièring.

It was pretty relaxing.

But I got nervous again when grandmother came out of the room, gave that slow and knowing smile of hers and asked me that question that grandmothers always asks.

So when are you going to get married?

Uh … Um …

When you go out with him, don’t hold his hands.

Oh …

But all in all, everything seemed okay. My worries about a drama happening was for naught. I feel quite relieved that everyone seemed pretty cool with it.

The same evening, we had new years eve dinner together at the community centre. Mum suggested that cart and I go to have a local national feel. But I think it was kind of a bad idea.

The entire concert was like a hungry ghost festival concert with music blaring at a million decibels and the singers wearing clothes that is so shiny that it will leave you momentarily blind. It was pure torture. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. But cartcart had the patience of a saint and thought it would be better to wait till the dinner course ended.

By then it was too late to take public transportation. I asked cartcart if he was game enough to ride on the scooter with me. He was! And he managed to squeeze in one of my helmets and off we went and we managed to reach the bed and breakfast in time to see the fireworks from the new year countdown from the city skyline.

Monday, New Year’s day

Today is the last day that cartcart will be staying here. I really think that a week is just not enough to spend here … I haven’t shown him everything that I wanted to show him …

Juli was free to have lunch with us today. Cartcart and I took the scooter to vivo city, where the parking area was so large, that it was so easy to get lost in there.

We went to a cafe which I thought it would be good, but turned out that the food there was below par.

Coffee with a piece of pen?

I wasn’t enjoying my fig and apricot sandwich. I have no idea what cartcart was eating. And Juli wasn’t thrilled with her fish dish either.

But it was a pretty casual affair, the three of us talking together. There is few things as satisfying as talking to friends

After we said our goodbyes to Juli, we had to rush to Chinatown to buy presents and souvenirs for his family. We only had about less than two hours before needing to reach back to my place to say his goodbyes to my family.

Cartcart bought a mask for his sister, and a lovely Chinese tea pot set for his mom and dad. We reached the temple again. And this time, Cartcart decided to enter and see the interior of the temple and witness purification a ceremony where the priest was at the altar, washing a large utensil. It was too far for me to see as non Hindus were not permitted into the holy area.

When we reached home, mum asked us to have dinner together, “I promised to make you Nasi Lemak!” We sat down together, where our family had our last meal together with cartcart.

As I walked out of the kitchen to clear the plates, I overheard mum talking to cartcart, “She’s a good daughter. I hope you will take care of her. Will you take care of her?” “I hope to do that

I went deep in my thoughts …

At the airport terminal, even with mum, sis, aunt and my cousins there, I still couldn’t control my sadness and the tears began to roll down. One week just isn’t enough. “Why cant I spend all days with you?” I looked in cartcart’s face as he gave me a hug before reluctantly leaving for his flight.

Sometimes I feel like this is all a dream. That we are all asleep and then we wake up to our reality.

In all honestly I don’t know how long I can take this. Such happiness when we are together, and then heartbreak when having to part.

Why cant I spend all my days with him? That would be such a beautiful. He is kind, gentle, romantic, patient, wise and the sweetest person I want to spend the rest of my days with you.

Reunited with my beloved scooter!

And it feels so good!

After days of anticipation, the works was done and I rushed down to Asphoon at Toh Guan to see my scooter. Looking at it, you could not tell that it fell down at all. The place where the dent used to be, was completely smooth and the paintjob was well done.

I couldn’t wait to ride it again!

Oh to finally glide down the roads again with the wind in my face. The feeling, is priceless I tell you. The famous scene of Jack and Rose from Titanic? That’s nothing, this is the real deal!

My baby and me! Together again! We must never be separated 😀

By the way, I found this cutie in front of the workshop looking for a new owner.

Its a FY plate, so its about 2 years old, and has run for 37K clicks. Its a little scratched, and I noticed that the box was slightly cracked. But everything else is in pretty good condition.

Interested? Its currently at Asphoon, Toh Guan Branch, Tel: 6515 0770

I miss my baby

I miss my baby.

When you came into my life. Everything seems so complete. I never knew there were an empty part of me and I was so happy.

We had wonderful times together, Sometimes I’d treat you bad but you were always faithful to me.

One day, out of my sheer obstinateness, I treated you harsher than usual. I made you run in the rain till you slipped and fell badly. You got hurt and had to be sent away.

I cried and I cried and I cried. But you never came back. You were gone. And now that you’ve left me, there is a void in my heart. I’m so sorry I did that to you! I was so cruel!

I miss you.

Come back to me.

I want you … I need you back in my life.

Please come back to me…

I love you.