First attempt cycling ECP to Changi Beach Park

Yay to Sunday! Thinking that it has been long since I cycled, originally planned to cycle from Pasir Ris park to East Coast park. But due to limited knowledge to how to park connectors work, I decided to head from east coast park to Changi Beach Park instead. 

Arrived at around 5pm and rented a bicycle at $16 for two hours (2 hours free 1) at the bicycle shop beside Burger King at Area C of east coast park. Basically grabbed a coffee bean before starting the journey and took some selfie with my girfriend while we waiting for the bicycle uncle to come by to fix our friend's bicycle because the chain came off. They actually got a replacement bike which I thought was pretty sweet. 

Selfie time ~ 

Basically took us around 30 minutes to go from Area C where we picked up our bike to reach Lagoon at Area E for our dinner. Grabbed some oyster egg, bah kut teh, rojak, satay and bbq stuff from various stalls and I have to say it was a really great meal. Will do some food tasting from each stalls in lagoon and post some recommendations to make choosing from all the stalls easier soon! :) 

For three, though I ate the most of it lol 

And so, I peddled on from Lagoon to Changi Beach Park. I would say it is a pretty straightforward route over, but it was a little challenging for me because it was already dark and I missed a few signboards and had a hard time looking at which split road to take within east coast park. After exiting East coast park , the way along the park connector was a easy ride. A straight route pass a long canal, and then cycling beside the airport, watching planes take off after planes. Really tranquil but approximately 6.7km long of park connector. 

Its around this distance after passing the canal

And my leg is aching by the time I am here 

 I guess I was really lucky because the heavy down pour only came just as I arrive at Changi Beach Park. I barely explored Changi Beach park yet as it was already 9.30pm when I reached and the sky was really dark. I would say it looks pretty much like East Coast park. But it feels like aeroplanes are flying above your head instead of watching them land from afar in East Coast Park. 

Braced myself to cycle in the rain when it got smaller as I had to return my bike back by 11pm. It took me around 1h 15 minutes to cycle from Changi Beach Park back to the bicycle shop without stopping and in a pretty fast speed while being already familiar to the route. Am thankful I did not be ambitious and cycle from Pasir ris to East coast park though, because just this to and fro distance was already killing me as a first time cyclist for such a distance. 

Plus 6.4km of connector to Changi Beach Park 

Ended my trip with a horlick dinosaur from the prata shop at marine cove as usual. Took grab car back to toa payoh at $24 as it was peak hour and I couldn't grab any taxi at that point in time. 

Am extremely thankful that my girlfriend helped me get out of my house to begin this trip though she had to leave early after the dinner. Learning to do things alone and this is the first adventurous trip around east coast park and I love how i conquer my OCD and decides to go with the flow and wherever the road brings me. 

It felt great to be stucked in the rain alone, and being able to leave any time I want because I know it was only for me to bear the consequence. It felt great that I did not have to consider if the person with me would be bothered if I get lost, or having to convince people to cycle in the rain. And finally, I am learning to enjoy my life alone. More great times of freedom to come! 

Promise yourself

Chanced upon a really good read that kept me motivated and I read it at least once a day to remind myself. Hope it makes a good read for all reader. Here it goes: 

PROMISE YOURSELF

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. 

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. 

To make all your friends feel

that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past

and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times

and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,

not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side

so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

📝 Christian D. Larson

2017. A new start or an end?

Starting the third day of 2017. 

Reviewing 2016, its the year I lost myself gradually over time. I stopped doing things that I liked, stop believing in things that I used to believe, and unknowingly, I am filled with negativity and spreading negativity to everyone around me. 

2016 is a year where my greatest goal of starting a social enterprise is gone. I was enthusiastic, confident that I could make that small positive impact to the world while sustaining my daily life expenses. Only to realize when I started the enterprise that the world has became so dark. People no longer have faith in social enterprises, because there are just so many businesses that have been exploiting people's sympathy to earn more. It's so depressing to know how genuine social enterprises are barely making it there, and the big organisations are mostly running through government funds. 

Barely alive. That is me for 2016. 

Trying to please people because that's what will keep me alive in this society. Because people around me hope that I can be more patient, less crude, less negative in my words, and more politically correct. I tried not to, but without a goal, I don't know what am I trying so hard for. I am just like a walking zombie, counting my days, being alive just for the sake of it. 

Find a new goal in 2017? Nah. I will try my best to. I had one, which is to be a volunteer in a third world country, conducting classes and empowering young children with knowledge. And seemingly, this goal of mine made my mum broke into tears. I don't know why. 

But I want to be positive and bright again like I used to be. 

And I guess finding myself again and be strong is what I really need to do for 2017. 

Still, shutting down all my companies related stuff and dumping away all my stocks by end of this month. Let's see where this goes again.