We're well into the month of March.
And it has just occurred to me that I haven't written about Christmas of 2024 one bit at all.
I have been occupied, I suppose, in one way or another, and the brain gets somewhat muddled from time to time, but to pass through two and a half months at least without realizing what you haven't yet done is something new altogether.
It used to be that I had it on draft- and I left it there until the right time.
But I had completely forgotten about it for the year of 2024.
Despite me looking at the series of pictures from time to time.
Maybe because the Christmas of 2024 was a tad different from the years before.
It was a year where I didn't do the annual Christmas tradition of running around top-tier hotels snapping pictures of their Christmas decor and Christmas trees.
It was a year, too, where I didn't get to try, and sight, the usual trimmings of Christmas foods that I like, and sometimes crave for during the course of the year.
All in all it was a very different Christmas, and one which, I have to say I don't regret.
The season began for me sometime in end October in Bangkok, Thailand, where, in the open space outside Central World, in the midst of lightning and a thunderstorm, I caught sight of my very first Christmas tree for the year, and my very first overseas Christmas tree in more than ten years.
After that very first tree there were a few more trees here and there at various places around the city.
There was a tree that I saw on the top floor of Central Embassy right near OKONOMI where I'd gone to have lunch, and this tree I particularly remember because it looked like it had been frosted over with snow.
Of course I had to take picture of the Christmas in the lobby of Urbana Langsuan where I stayed in late November, and which tree they had really put in effort, what with all these wrapped presents here and there surrounding the tree, and huge pine cone decor at the check-in counters.
There were trees whose pictures I took at Centara Grand, and in Central World itself.
Let's just say I do remember the rich reds and glittery golds of Centara Grand rather well.
And likewise the beautiful blue 'Frozen' blue shade of the decor on the huge Christmas tree right in the center of the Central World atrium- sponsored by Samsung.
There was one tree that continues to strike the mind months after I've seen it.
It's not a tree in the middle of all the tourism bustle.
Neither is it a tree in a five-star.
But it is a tree done up with great sincerity with the lights all in blue and lots and lots of colorful metallic balls hanging from the branches.
They went all out with this one, I tell you.
Seeing all these trees from Bangkok now I can't help but be thankful.
Never in my life had I imagined I would one day be seeing Christmas in Bangkok, and not just once, but three.
A part of me wishes that there had been opportunities more, but, considering that at the beginning of the year I didn't even think I'd have a chance, well, it's certainly worth being thankful for.
That doesn't mean that we didn't do a celebration on the island.
Neither does it mean that I didn't get to take pictures of Christmas trees.
I did- but just one.
Outside this Korean-style dessert cafe in Velocity where I had been accompanying an elderly lady to her medical appointment in TTSH behind next door.
The season of Christmas was like a Christmas tree charm.
A very small one.
I don't recall whether or not we went out to Orchard on Christmas Eve (it used to be another tradition of mine) but this year we somehow found ourselves near Jalan Besar (maybe we had gone to Mustafa prior) and so decided to have dinner at this place that my friend had thoughtfully made a reservation.
REX Steakhouse & Bar, located at Cavan Road, is (considerably) a casual eatery in this part of Jalan Besar that serves up quality steaks, quality beef burgers, a comfortable ambience, and at a good price.
I wasn't surprised to find a casual steakhouse this part of town.
The Kitchener-Tyrwhitt area continues to hold its own as a hipster place all these years and is (still) a place where people come hang out when they want drinks, specialty cheese, Thai food, zichar and, on weekends, brunch.
What charmed me very much, however, was the service, and the food.
We weren't dressed for the Christmas Eve occasion but no short of a warm welcome we received as the staff guided to a little table by the window.
I wish I could tell you what exactly there was in the menu but I didn't take a picture and I don't really remember.
What I do recall were the feasts they were offering.
Not sure if there were any specific Christmas ones (I think there were) but there was this Feast for 3 or 4 which had Smoked Pork Belly, Pork Sausages, Iberico Pulled Pork, USDA Beef Brisket, and Brioche buns.
Then there were the St. Louis Pork Ribs that from the pictures looked really, really good.
I looked at them, thinking it be great fun to eat those ribs (using hands) on Christmas Eve but my friend got intrigued by their burgers, of which selections they had The B.M.C, the Classic Single, the Classic Double, a French Onion Burger, and a Pulled Pork & Sausage Burger.
The French Onion burger seemed interesting- between the buns there was a Double Beef Patty, Smoked Provolone, Gruyere Cheese, Caramelized Onions, Bone Marrow butter and Beef Jus.
I wondered what Bone Marrow butter tasted like.
It seemed like an adventurous thing to have.
But wise it is to be cautious (and safe) on Christmas Eve, so we agreed on the Classic Double instead.
It had a Double Beef Patty, two slices of American Cheese, and vegetables in the form of Lettuce, Tomatoes and Red Onions. For the sauce it was the Classic Burger Sauce, which, I have to admit, I don't really know what it was but it tasted good anyway.
We were pleasantly surprised by the patties.
Especially since we have had experiences where the burger looks good and solid and everything but the patties were actually hard and dry.
Here at REX Steakhouse we were delighted to find that the patties were just the right portion, had just the right amount of firmness in the minced meat, and were grilled perfect enough that you could feel the oil bursting out from the meat inside your mouth but not to the degree that you actually got jelak.
I took the top bun.
My friend took the bottom.
We also decided we'd have a couple of appetizers, and so hard it was for us to choose, I tell you.
On one hand the Macho Nachos looked good- we have a thing for nachos and black olives and guacamole- then there was the Chili Brisket with Cornbread that I wanted to try, the Crispy Buffalo Wings and the Texas Chili Cheese Fries.
Originally I had my eye on the cornbread, even as a side, but I was already having half a bun, and there were other table appetizers I wanted to try.
So we had an order of Crispy Mother Cluckers, and a second order of Housemade Sausage.
The Mother Cluckers were great.
They didn't really look like the picture in the menu but it didn't matter.
I loved the batter even though for some reason I couldn't taste much of the beer in the beer battered chicken strips but the Carolina mustard dip was so good we asked the staff if we could have more.
The Spicy Italian Sausages (the housemade ones) were just as good.
Up till now I hadn't known that sausages could have this sort of chew- I'm used to the tough German kind, the soft hot dog kind, or the hard lup cheong kind- but this one had a chew that, in fact, felt quite fun.
It would have been lovely had we had the stomach to have some of their sides, like the Coleslaw, the Mac & Cheese, or even the Potato & Egg salad, but I wanted dessert over sides, so from the menu we chose a key lime meringue pie.
It's a lovely memory to see these pictures taken almost three months ago.
I think of us at that table looking out the window towards Jalan Besar Stadium and the quiet of Cavan Road to our side.
I think of us being thankful for the year that had passed and the times that we had had.
Was it strange celebrating Christmas Eve in a place on a quiet stretch of a suburb outside town?
No.
After all we weren't the only ones there.
There were other diners that evening, most of which came after us, and everyone looked like they were there for a quiet, relaxing meal, including a solo lady who plugged in her ears, steadily ate through her burger, paid, and left.
She sticks in my mind because I have a deep admiration for those who can eat alone.
I've never been able to.
Even if it be places that I'm familiar with.
It's just a joy to be able to share a meal with a loved one who knows your tastes and knows that at your favorite Thai restaurant you'll order either Dish One or Dish Two.
My friend never gets surprised whenever I order Pad See Ew from Tuk Tuk Cha.
Especially if it is Christmas time.
He knows I'm all for wok-fried flat rice noodles with soy sauce, and what better time than the season for feasting where I'm definitely down for the food that I like, never mind the salt and the oil.
Happiness is more important.
Christmas time 2024 saw us having a good deal of our favorite foods.
Not all which belonged to the season, by the way.
I think we were quite determined to avoid the 'seasonal' (and overpriced) foods.
So Christmas Day saw us heading to Springleaf at Jln Tua Kong for a plate of crispy, skillfully flopped murtabak that was chock full of beef bits and chili and mayonnaise.
So full were we that we decided to skip dinner and go straight to Jane Deer at North Bridge Road opposite Bugis Junction for their signature desserts.
My friend took a bowl of peach gum.
"Collagen very good for the skin!" He enthused.
But my heart had been leaning towards the Steamed Egg White for the longest time.
So I got that.
And wished myself a Blessed Christmas 2024.