"I think we should stand as well."

And so we stood up still from our sofas, eyes slowly welling up with tears as a soldier started playing a piece on his bagpipes. Following that was a minute of silence. Right after that, we recited the pledge and sang the national anthem.

I've never felt so sad for our nation before. The last of our founding fathers, Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away on Monday and together with his family, the nation and the rest of the world mourned the lost of a great man for a week. Throughout the week, CNA broadcasted Mr LKY's old speeches and rallies in light of his passing. I was never one who was interested in politics. I thought it was boring and as long as my life was going alright and where I'm living isn't going through any difficult situation or circumstance, I didn't bother much. However this past week has changed my perspective.

I've heard stories of how Mr Lee was a very strict and stern dictator, who was not afraid to speak his mind even if the things he said were not what people agreed with. I've heard bits and pieces regarding politics among the "adult talk" during family gatherings where they discussed about the PAP/WP etc. This week, I read the opposite. I read on how Mr Lee built this nation from a third world country to a first class metropolis. I read about his determination to continue fighting for this little red dot even after the devastating split from Malaysia. I read about how he formed good, long-lasting and even close relationships with diplomats and ministers all over the world, which eventually led to Singapore being recognised globally. What touched me the most were of course stories that were more personal, stories from his younger brother Mr Lee Suan Yew and children, even stories about his love life with his late wife. He cared so much not just for the nation, but also did not fail to neglect his family.

What killed me the most was watching snippets of him and his wife, moments when they were younger where pictures showed them young and in love and even till old age, they still looked out for each other and their love continued to blossom deeper each day. Who can forget when his wife passed away, he laid a rose on her and kissed his lips with his palm and put it onto her repeatedly?

The past week was a long week but it showed me for once the true Singapore spirit and unity of the nation. Forget all the national day parades you've seen on TV the past many years, this week was a week where everyone from all walks of life came together and helped each other especially when thousands of Singaporeans queued to pay their respects to Mr LKY at the Parliament house over the past few days. Citizens gave out water, drinks, snacks and even umbrellas to shield the people from the scorching sun. Despite the long queues, people waited patiently without complaining and this was a first I've seen! Foreign diplomats and leaders even came down for the state funeral. This goes to show how much of a respect people and leaders had for Mr LKY!

I've never felt so sad but at the same time proud of my country before. Thank you Mr LKY for building this mud land up from the bottom to the top. I get to live in this metropolis feeling safe and secure, knowing my future is in good hands thanks to your (and the other founding fathers) foresight. I dare say that Singapore would not be what she is today if not for your hard labour and dedication to this nation. Even till your old age, you still had this country in mind all day and I'm amazed at how you still continually learnt Mandarin EVERY SINGLE DAY to make sure you won't forget this root of yours! It was definitely a very, very sad moment when I recited the pledge and sang the national anthem today because I know we've lost a special and honourable man and I really could not help but cry. But yet, I rejoice because you have done a fantastic job and I truly salute your efforts! I have so much respect for you Mr LKY, and for that I am eternally grateful and proud to call myself a Singaporean. 50 years ago, you cried for our nation. 50 years later, our nation cries for you. May you rest in peace.

Click here to watch a simple tribute video.

Hello! So I'm finally getting down to my BKK post, which may be very long I don't know. I just know I have loads of photos to post so just continue reading and soon you'll reach the fun part!

Took off on Friday with the twins and our parents, and I think we were super excited because it was our first time travelling together! Since I'm the cutie younger girl, I got to sit in the middle of my 2 big brothers in the plane! Filmed the entire process and I was busy vlogging. Oh! I attempted to film almost everything we did and went to, so I'll be editing it and piecing the bits together! :) So once we arrived at BKK, we took the MRT equivalent to our hotel. Funny part: We obviously had to bring our luggages along in the train so when we exited the train station, there was the gantry and because Uncle Richard's luggage was really big (about the height of 1 K2/P1 kid?) and the gantry thought the luggage was a person so Uncle Richard got stuck behind the gantry with his luggage getting through! Headed to Siam for dinner and some shopping and we had such a fantastic seafood dinner at Som Boon! Not a fan of seafood but I had quite a few prawns/lobsters and I managed to crack the crab and cleaned its shell meat-free :)

kids who use free wifi at changi airport to play bubble trouble

fantastic soup that's only S$3-4!!!

Day 2 was spent at markets. Headed to Chatuchak early in the morning so we could get good deals heehee :) It's shocking how those 2 boys became aunties and bought so many things there! Took out their auntie bags and stuffed their shopping in there, me included and it was just so crazy how we could almost spend all our money there! Didn't manage to find the little puppies though :( We bought nice cold coke bottles that were glass at only 10 baht! but provided we returned them after we consumed the coke, if not its 20 baht for the glass bottle too. So we bought the 10 baht one, walked around just looking at stuff and almost lost our way back to the glass bottle aunty! But I'm glad we really made it a point to walk back and find that aunty so kudos to us for being honest souls :) Spent the night at Rod Fai night market and it was an insane journey getting there and finding the other cab (because we split into 2 cabs and the drivers alighted us at 2 different locations..) But it was another good night there nonetheless! Tried street beef noodles and spent yet another night getting good buys and not caring about how much I spend haha! We saw the cute puppies and kitties at the night market though!! They were so adorable ^,^ and we even saw bunnies! They were only sold at 200 baht = S$8... I would have gotten one home if I could! 

Day 3 was spent combing the Siam area again, mainly Platinum and T21 and a small night market at On Nut! It was sort of our last full day in BKK which is actually a very short holiday if you think of it because we had only 2 full days of shopping! But well, I've to learn to be contented :-) Thanks Joe for watching over me and walking with me while I looked at my girls' stuff and you couldn't go look at your own things haha! So this just means we have to go back hopefully soon to continue shopping for you! And also for Ben who's a shopaholic and bought so many shorts and shirts I was shocked :o The kids bought the parents dinner that night and it was quite funny because when the parents were 'settling' the bill and doing all the money matters among themselves, I actually paid the waitress and told her to leave to settle the bill and the parents didn't believe! Spent the last night staying up playing cards with them (thanks for teaching me the 99 game!!) and just talking and also stalking some people oops heehee ;)

 So it was back to SG that day, but that didn't stop me from taking a final trip to T21 since it was just beside our hotel! Did a tour of T21 and filmed it down too haha! Got a pair of Converse and I love it! :) Got some Starbucks too! We left SG with 1 luggage each (mom and I) and we were going back with 2 full ones hahah! We really got a lot... We even had to carry our luggages in the cab because the boot was too small! Had ramen (like finally....) at the airport and it was crazy expensive... I definitely need to go back to BKK especially T21 because they have so much good food there plus it's so cheap!

To my dear twins, I thoroughly enjoyed myself those 4d3n! I think if we could have extended the trip, we would have definitely extended it and continue spending like nobody's business! Like Ben said, it was really one of the most carefree weekends ever and it was so fun! Being able to explore the world with you 2 by my side has got to be one of my highlights this year (though it's only March) and I really wish we could go back to BKK now :( Here's to finding more cheap clothes and being aunties with the both of you, but still being the most united in spirit and knowing you 2 are brothers I can really trust in the darkest moments. Here's to stalking more hashtags that no one knows of and secretly gasping over photos. This is definitely not the end of our #bjctravels and we're still gonna have our #benjoryl #1xmonth meals so stay tuned for our adventures haha! Love you guys!!

And yup because we were overly attached, we met the next day for steamboat and they came over to my place to watch a movie and eat ice cream haha!