D.C. short meeting

Almost immediately after I came back from Singapore, I had to go to Washington D.C for a meeting. It was a 3-day meeting, but as the meeting starts on early Monday morning, I chose to be in D.C on the weekends to avoid any unpleasant flight delay surprises. Tanner (my former PhD student), who now is a postdoc at UVA Medical Center came to visit me, and we had the opportunity to catch up over a drink and dinner.

Singapore trip ... visiting dad and mom

My dad has not been feeling well, and has been in the hospital for a while. He had fallen while at home, and while there is no immediate threat, my sisters and I have decided that we would keep him in the hospital. At least until we can get someone to help out at home with his daily chores. My mom has been in charge of all those - giving him medications, meals etc. every day, but she is also getting old and tired. Therefore, moving forward, it seems a smart choice to get a helper. The purpose of this trip is to say hi to my dad, mom, sisters, while at the same time trying to convince my dad that we are doing all we can to get him out of the hospital. Cognitive impairment is starting to set in for him, and he is convinced that we are trying to keep him away from home.

I usually stopped by Tokyo for a night on the way to Singapore, partly to say hi to Jun, and also to take a quick rest from the 12-hour flight. I almost always stayed at the Keio Plaza Hotel because there is a direct bus from the airport to the hotel, and also, the hotel serve really nice breakfast! :) 

Jun and I at a Japanese speaking only restaurant

Breakfast at Keio Plaza Hotel

Breakfast

Lunch at the Narita Airport - Ippudo Ramen. A good choice for cheap and delicious ramen

This wasn't a fun trip, so I didn't really have much time to go around and visit any other places. My schedule for the days were - breakfast with mom, go to visit dad in the hospital for a couple of hours, lunch, go to library to work for a couple of hours, go home, have dinner and hang out with mom. 

Kopi

Juey Chap

Yong Tau Fu

Steamboat

Nephews (Jared and Kevin) are huge!

The hawker center at my mom's place

Mom

Roti Prata

Temple at my mom's place. We would always go there to pray whenever I am home.

Dad

Chicken rice

Po Pian

Loh mee

Sisters (Meow Lan and Gek Lan)

Alfred, Kimberly and Olivia

Wanton Noodles

Claypot noodles

Half-boiled eyes

Another temple (at Bugis) where my mom and I would go whenever I am home

The Chinese New Year decoration are still up

Kueys

Laksa

Steamboat at home

Edwin and I have a quick drink and chat

Changi airport early in the morning...