Cremation of my Grandfather

At 630pm, we proceed to Mandai Crematorium. The time is actually very late because its all fully booked the whole day and 730pm is the earliest slot when we called up on Sunday.
Gee. How come so many people died recently?

Cremation is the process by which the Deceased’s body is exposed to extreme heat (1800 to 2000 degree Fahrenheit) for 2 hours. Through this process, the body is reduced to bone fragment (or ashes), to be collected by family members for its final resting place.

I had been to Vernon Crematorium several years ago (1994 and 2002) where I get to see how my paternal grandparents get pushed into the fire. It was terrible, seeing your loved ones going into the fire. Whom you used to smile and chat with, were no longer with us. The physical person who used to so near, suddenly seems so far away and then being reduced to bones and ashes. That indescribable feeling is just so painful that thinking of it everytime made me cry.
And today, I experienced it again. But its at Mandai Crematorium where its more clean-cut as its using a more advanced technology. The place where I am standing, does not have a clear view as the process was done at a small corner. I do not get to see any fire, only the coffin being carried up mechanically and then get pushed into another deeper area where I supposed is the fire area.
Although not seeing the fire made it less painful for the loved ones but just thinking about it hurts so much. I feel so painful for my small sized grandfather.

Dear Grandfather,
I hope you are relieved of the pain and suffering and will stay happy in your new place. Please watch over grandmother and make her better.

I just saw him on 19th December and 1 week later, he was gone. He has been asking my aunties and uncles to cut his hair but no one know how to cut. Wanted to bring him to the barber but he refused. And finally, my auntie promised him that they will cut his hair for him on the 26th December but then they never get the chance anymore. Its something that they will regret most. For not doing it earlier.
They were choosing his photos, to get the best one and realized that we have taken such few photos with him. The last one was dated 2007. When I see the rosy and pink glow on my grandfather in 2007 and how happy he was, taking a group photo with us, the tears just flowed down. I got reminded that he's no longer with us. My grandfather was no longer with us. He's gone. Forever gone. It hurt so much. It really hurt so much. I know I must be happy for him that he has gone to a better place but it still hurts. I just cannot stop crying.

The Demise Of My Grandfather

This morning, my mum called me to inform me that my grandfather has passed away in his sleep at 630am. It was such a shocking piece of news. Since my last post , my grandfather have been getting really frail and weak. It was heartwrenching to see him being reduced to just bones and skin.
I visited him on last Sunday and to think that, that was my last time seeing him alive. He was just lying in his bed the whole day. Not eating well and not feeling well.
Before his death, he fell down and lost alot of blood on his head. But the doctor told us, he died due to cancer. I wondered if doctors do analyze the cause of death before coming to any conclusion. How can a doctor publish a verdict by just checking on him in his room for a short while?
His lung cancer have been in remission for the past few years and he's not even a smoker.

The make-up that he had, made him into a different person, almost like he's not our grandfather anymore. The thick gunk and the white face. The hollow cheeks and the sharp nose.
Just looking at his face in the coffin had me sobbing like crazy.
It seems such an ironical weekend, with celebrations on Xmas day with my parents in the afternoon and friends in the evening and then mourning for my grandfather the next day.
Its going to be a sad Xmas from next year onwards as we get reminded of his death anniversary.
Looking at the brighter side of things, at least, its a break from his misery.
I wish that He has brought him to a happier and comfortable place. I wish him well and hope that he will be happy wherever he is.
Thank you for being my grandfather. I love you.
Its something that the reserved Asians never say to our loved ones.

Looking at him during the wake, its such a far cry from the healthier him during CNY this year. Playing poker cards with us, losing money and lamenting about it. Within a year, he had fallen sick, in and out of hospitals and now he's no longer with us.
We will forever keep you in our hearts, grandpa.

Chocolate Crunch - Matcha Chocolate

I purchased a box of  Chocolate Crunch - Matcha Chocolate from Narita Airport.

Its mixed crushed "Yatsuhashi" with smooth chocolate which contains lots of green tea powder,
Small bite-sized which is just not enough to satisfy my matcha craving.  12 pieces in a box

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Matcha Tea from Taipei

I picked this up from a supermarket in Taipei when I was there for a business trip in July. It look so adoringly cute that I could not resist buying it. 12 sachets in 1 packet.

However, its quite poorly made.

The colour is such an unattractive pale green. It does not have a lingering matcha taste, instead, it left an almost too sweet after-taste on my tongue. Yucks.