Entree Kibbles

XO Crab Bee Hoon (螃蟹米粉) & Claypot Beancurd - Hong Kong Street Chun Tat Kee (香港街珍达记) @ Balestier Road

2012-02-14T22:32:00.000+08:00

Both mom and i have been craving for a particular dish for the past few months.

A rainy day on the 2nd February 2012 made it especially unbearable and mom suggested satisfying the craving at this non air-conditioned restaurant along Balestier Road.

It was already past lunch hour but as you can see, the restaurant (visually, it looks more like a coffee shop) still managed to pull in a crowd. Compared to mom who has patronised the place countless times; this is merely my second visit.

Without further delay, let's makan!

Claypot Beancurd

Amazingly, this dish packed in quite a lot of ingredients - i was expecting 90% beancurd, 5% vegetables and 5% meat! Mixed claypot sounds more acceptable.

This was tasty, particularly when it was piping hot although i would strongly recommend having a bowl of plain rice to go with its thick, savoury sauce.

XO Crab Bee Hoon

The dish that will appease the evil craving!

Unlike the milky crab bee hoon favoured by most Singaporeans, this XO crab bee hoon had a clearer, thinner broth and came with an alcoholic kick, as its name suggests. Personally, i prefer the milky version (which can be added upon request) with no cognac and no cabbage!

What caught me by surprise was actually the succulent crab meat! I am not sure if the XO had a part to play but the crab tasted extremely fresh and sweet.

Delicious!

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Location

412, Balestier Road

Map

As above.

You may also look out for the above building.

Operating Hours

11am to 4.30 pm and

5pm to 11pm

Additional Information

4D punters would love the wet tissue issued as each pack comes with their own lucky number!

Side Activities at Bintan Agro Beach Resort [Bintan Island, Indonesia]

2012-02-12T23:21:00.001+08:00

Bintan Cabana Beach Resort is an ideal place for relaxation and besides that, there's frankly nothing much for you to do in the daytime.

Thankfully, there is a free shuttle to its sister resort 15-20 minutes away - Bintan Agro Beach Resort that offers much more amenities than sunbathing.

For god's sake, you can even take a horse ride on the sandy beach!

The sea view from Agro is not as spectacular as Cabana and screams of commercialism which is inevitable due its bigger size and placement of a sea sports centre.

Our groupon voucher allowed us to rent a bicycle for 30 minutes and we took the chance to explore the resort. Children might be pleased to know that there is a mini zoo within the resort.

Unfortunately, the living condition of the small animals (limited to tortoises, parrots, rabbits etc) was rather dismal and i would be better off not seeing any.

This structure was located at the eastern end of the resort and i was so damn curious of its purpose! With pipe-like connections leading to the structure, i am incline to believe it is either a pumping or sewage station.

Concentrated area for accommodation. For such a huge area that the resort occupies, these blocks took up roughly 20%! I didn't stay in Agro; therefore i could not comment further on its accommodation.

Two swimming pools are available for guests who could not stand having millions of sand in their swimsuits! This is the more popular one as it has a sea view.

Day activities managed by the Sea Sports and Recreation centre and their charges are listed in the above sheet. My intention was to snorkel after that amazing trip i had in Krabi but the operator was not offering snorkeling that day due to poor water visibility.

Foreground is the sports centre while the background features a small yet picturesque island that houses the sun moon restaurant.

A wooden bridge connects the island to the mainland and these huts, initially suspected to be private dining rooms, are in fact rooms managed by Oceanic Spa for guests to have spas, massages and/or jacuzzi baths.

If you are not that particular about privacy, you could pay a slightly cheaper price for a massage in this open gazebo. The price of one massage is still more expensive than Krabi - i paid S$10 for an hour Thai massage in Krabi but i have to fork out around three times the price here.

For more information on the rejuvenating treatments offered by Oceanic Spa, please look above. Do note that prices are in Singapore dollars and subject to change.

Like Bintan Cabana, they have rocks in Agro as well. The differences between the two resorts are obvious; smaller rocks that appeared to be covered in black slush is a far cry from the clean, majestic stones in Cabana.

As you can see, the beach at Agro is also not as pristine even though it should not come as a surprise since this resort attracts more visitors and the installation of any sports centre means increased pollution from motor boats.

You would have noticed the kite-like equipment in some of the photographs - known as kite surfing; this seemed really fun, really exciting and really really tiring! Damn the poor wrist or i would have gladly paid to join this adrenaline driven activity!

Low tide in Bintan Agro was unlike low tide in Singapore; the exposed sea bed in Agro can stretch for a few hundred meters!

That feeling of walking literally out into the sea was breathtaking!

Alex, especially, could not resist the temptation of being the centre of attraction in the 'middle' of the sea. The seawater barely reached above our ankles and we would have proceeded further if not for the darkening skies.

Another reason was that we were too lazy! See the figure in the white circle? That man walked doubled our distance and yet i can still catch sight of his lower thighs! It's more important to fill our stomachs!

Picture of a speed boat lying on the dirty sea bed. This area is near the sports centre which handles motorised sea vessels for island tours and games like Banana Boat.

This tree, adorned with Chinese lanterns in celebration of the recent Chinese New Year, looked pretty eerie at night.

While waiting for the free shuttle to bring us back to Bintan Cabana resort, we found an air-conditioned place that offered free karaoke as long as you purchase a drink! Alex, the self professed singer, belted a few songs in response to apparently horrible singing by other patrons.

Daytime again! We were back in Bintan Agro for a trip to White Sands Island with a group of newly made friends! By the way, the above was one of quite a few retro looking cars parked near the lobby.

It was high tide and the sky looked gloomy - not exactly perfect condition for an island tour. Oh well, i shall touch on White Sands island another day.

Kayaking! We were given the choice of either kayaking or bicycling as part of the Groupon deal and i seriously wanted kayaking. But the tide was too low... :(

Alex had a thrilling time on this Great Marble ride! According to him, this was way better than the banana ride he took later one.

Sadly, i could not partake in any of these due to my problematic wrist. Anyway, you may wish to sign up for the special packages which are slightly discounted.

Just some brochure pictures to pique your interest. I am so going for the Flying Fish when i recover!!!!

A last look at the overcast sky before we left for the ferry terminal.

Linguine Carbonara & Cheese Sticks @ Pastamania [Nex Mall]

2012-02-11T23:43:00.000+08:00

Once upon a time, in the eastern part of Singapore known as Marine Parade, i had my first take on Pastamania; then an upcoming casual restaurant that managed to gain quite a following in Singapore's competitive food industry.

I wasn't impressed and only had my second try a few years later; which was once again a disappointing experience. However, one of my ex colleagues loves Pastamania so much; we had our once in a blue moon meet up at its Nex branch the day before.

Linguine Carbonara

The above was chosen for one reason; comparison as i had this a few times in the past one year and it would likely result in a more impartial review.

Turkey bacon was too hard. Linguine had a firm, slurpy spring while the parmesan cheese cream was... well, more tasteful than what i expected.

In all, slightly above average although better than what i had in pastamania before then.

Cheese Sticks

A note of caution (courtesy of my ex colleague) - order this only if you are sharing with more than two persons and eat them before they turn cold.

The melted filling could be more cheese intensive although the crunchy crust was a delight to have - while it was still scalding hot.

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Location

23, Serangoon Central,

#04-21/22, NEX Mall

Price

Linguine Carbonara - S$11.20

Cheese Sticks - $3.90

Subject to GST. No Service Charge

Additional Information

For a more comprehensive menu, promotions and locations of other branches, please check out Pastamania official website appended as follows:

http://www.pastamania.com.sg/

Taiwanese Food - Formosa Delights (清香馆) @ West Coast Plaza

2012-02-10T23:59:00.000+08:00

Taiwan is one place i would love to go and at the same time, a place i would hate to visit. From feedback received by friends, it is a food paradise and i don't want to get any fatter!

But nothing can stop me from having Taiwanese food in Singapore! And that's exactly what i did the week before; lunch at Formosa Delights with my colleagues from School of Business.

Truthfully, i would not even consider stepping foot into a Taiwanese restaurant unless it offers smelly tofu. To me, smelly tofu should be the signature of any Taiwanese food outlet and the lack of it simply implies the place is not worth my money.

Formosa Delights sadly doesn't sell smelly tofu although it came recommended from a fellow colleague. Oh well, it's always good to try out new places to enhance my sympathetic taste buds.

Xiao Long Bao

(小笼包)

Let's begin with the classic xiao long bao; albeit a classic from Shanghai, not Taiwan.

Bad stuff first - the filling was too mushy, lacking a satisfying bite to it, the skin was thick and the important oily soup that was supposed to burst out upon touch failed to fulfill its mission. The ginger and vinegar saved the dish though.

Red Bean Pancake

(豆沙锅饼)

Another classic! Wait, i think this originates from Shanghai too!

Once again, the dough was too thick and lacked the nice sounding crunch that should have resulted from every bite. The only good thing was that the red bean filling was not diabetically sweet!

Stewed Meat Rice

(滷肉飯)

This should be an authentic Taiwanese food. As the Great Kon had mentioned to me, there is nothing healthy about this dish but the taste is simply amazing.

Kon is right - the fat content of the meat was easily over 75%! And he was equally correct on the taste; it was sinfully delicious and entirely worth the spike in my cholesterol level.

Note - please mix thoroughly for the best eating experience!

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Location

154, West Coast Road,

#B1-53, West Coast Plaza

Price

Xiao Long Bao (8 pcs) - S$7.00

Red Bean Pancake - S$5.00

Stewed Meat Rice - S$5.50

Subject to GST. No Service Charge

Singapore Cable Car Museum [Asia's First Cable Car Museum] @ Sentosa Island, Singapore

2012-02-09T22:18:00.000+08:00

I chanced upon the Singapore Cable Car Museum purely by coincidence; dad wanted to use the washroom after alighting at Sentosa cable car station.

Honestly, i doubt many people know the existence of such an interesting museum in Singapore. Even wikipedia, the source for much unverifiable knowledge, doesn't provide any information on it!

With a history spanning almost 38 years, this little museum hosts memorable information on the only cable car system in Singapore. Sentosa Island back in the 1980s was very inaccessible with only two modes of transportation; ferry or cable car.

In the 1970s, it cost S$6.50 per adult for a two-way ticket from Mount Faber (MF) station to Sentosa (SEN) station via World Trade Centre (WTC - which is the current Harbourfront) station. Now, the same trip would set me back by S$26.00! Inflation sucks!

To the untrained eye, the cable car cabins appeared to have remained unchanged over the years until its last revamp. However, they have already reached the 4th generation known as jewel cable car cabin! The above is the first generation.

This is the second generation cabin which featured automatic doors.

Controls for the cable car station - obviously from the 70s or 80s computer technology.

Third generation cabin with design that had departed from the traditional box-shaped outline.

The world's only life sized cable car cabin made up of Lego blocks! With the opening of Legoland across the causeway, its proclamation is in jeopardy!

With the implementation of the 3rd generation cabin, Singapore also launched its very first luxury VIP cabin.

Compared to the wooden or metal seats, the leather upholstery of the VIP cabin looked extremely comfy! If you are in the mood, you may even utilised the inbuilt CD player for some classical music.

When Singaporeans, particularly those born before the 1980s, talk about cable car, there was one incident that frequently popped out in their conversation; the horrifying accident in 1983 where seven passengers were killed.

Unhappy incidents aside, you can also find memorabilia sold in Singapore Cable Car retail shops over 38 years. And if you wish to buy some souvenirs featuring the current generation cabin, a retail outlet is located right before you exit the museum!

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Notwithstanding the short time we spent there (i was rushing for Sentosa Flowers 2012), this nostalgic visit still managed to jot many good old memories, especially for dad (whose first visit was before the birth of my elder sister)!

Location

Enter Sentosa Cable Car station, turn left and walk all the way till you see a light of staircase going down. The cable car museum is located at the bottom of the staircase.

Admission

Free - no one checked for tickets when i was there.

Addition Information

For my daytime ride on Singapore cable car, please click HERE.

Breakfast Buffet @ Bintan Cabana Beach Resort

2012-02-08T22:19:00.000+08:00

On one hand, i wasn't looking forward to breakfast at Bintan Cabana. On the other hand, it was a good lunch at the same resort the day before despite the pathetic variety and i do hope it would be the same with breakfast.

I wasn't disappointed! There were the usual eggs, toast, corn flakes, buns, porridge, nasi lemak and befitting its Indonesian heritage, there were mee reubus and even gado gado.

This healthy bee hoon goreng was a top favourite since it tasted very flavourful yet contained very little oil. It's amazing how such simple stuff can taste so great!

Even this corn ball tasted better than the others i tried before; there was an obvious corn flavour and the middle was moist, not dry!

My favourite had to be this purple jelly with fruit cocktail that wasn't too sweet and exuded a mild, comfortable fragrance as i stuff it in my mouth.

Put it this way - i cannot resist having multiple helpings!

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For my review on Bintan Cabana Beach Resort, please click HERE.

The Last Day of Chinese New Year - Counting Ang Pow Money (红包钱)!

2012-02-07T23:01:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was the last day of festive celebration for Chinese New Year (CNY). Unlike most people who could not wait to tear open their red packets, i would endure until the 15th day of CNY.

The reasons are simple - red packets are meant to be blessings from givers and to compare how much (S$2, S$10, S$50 etc) is tucked tightly in the ang pow given by individuals is simply disrespectful.

Therefore, i decided a few years back to keep the red packets unopened until the end of CNY. Given my fleeting memory, it's quite impossible for me to remember who gave what.

I am actually more interested in the design of these good luck packets. Like the above that shows a festive scene of innocent happiness amongst children.

This one came from DBS, the biggest bank in Singapore. It's customary for banks to freely issue new packs of red packets to customers during this period since they are the biggest holder of wealth. Customers, on their part, put the banks' goodwill on the competitive platform by judging which bank offers the best design and vice versa.

Even shopping centres have recently jumped onto the bandwagon of giving new red packets to customers who spend a minimum sum with their retailers! I was reminded numerous times by dearest mommy whenever she knew i am going for shopping.

Anyway, my total collection from red packets stands at S$463 this dragon year! It may seem like a yearly windfall but i have been trained since young to return the main bulk to my parents.

In the past, my mom will deposit the money into my savings bank account although nowadays, i would give it back as i understand that their expenses on red packets can be astonishing!

On a lighter note, the last day of CNY also means i can finally resolve an irritation - plucking and shaving my unsightly stubble!

Yi Jia South Village Seafood Restaurant (一家南村海鲜) - Epic Salted Egg Crab @ 550-552 Macpherson Road

2012-02-06T20:58:00.000+08:00

On 29 December 2011, a fellow foodie proclaimed on facebook to have tasted the best salted egg crab in Singapore.

Given my latest affection with crabs cooked in this style, i knew it would be a matter of time before i stepped into Yi Jia South Village seafood restaurant!

Exactly a month after his posting, on the 7th day of Chinese New Year, my family gathered in Yi Jia's Macpherson branch to celebrate 人日; the day when humans are supposedly created and typically viewed by Chinese as the birthday for everyone.

Its main branch in Toa Payoh Lorong 7 was featured in the popular TV show on Channel 8: Sizzling Woks (煮炒来了) and the three featured dishes garnered a really good review - with one scoring full marks!

These three dishes were therefore a must-order.

But before that, let's begin with lo hei to usher in a prosperous, fortunate Dragon Year! This salad dish (发财鱼生) has become so synonymous with Chinese New Year that many of us could have had this more than five times over the fifteen days of festive celebration.

Jovyn was curious - it's her very first encounter with such an action-filled, noisy way of eating.

Strawberry Chicken

草莓酥鸡

In normal circumstances, you would never find me ordering any weird combination when it comes to food. However, there are always exceptions to this rule; for example, it was featured on national television!

Remember yam yam; the elongated crunchy biscuits with a side section filled with cream for you to dip in? The delish strawberry cream of Yam Yam came to mind when i took a bite!

Personally, i can accept this innovative twist and was in fact surprised that such a combi can turn out to be pretty good.

Garlic Pork Ribs

蒜子排骨

Another TV-featured dish - this was less palatable than the guinness stout pork ribs, honey pork ribs etc that i totally enjoyed. Indeed there was a gentle garlic sensation but i don't see why this would stand out from the others.

Beancurd with Chai Po

家乡自制豆腐

Most things taste great with preserved radish (known as chai po in Hokkien) - you can give me a bowl of porridge with a plate of freshly fried chai po and i am guaranteed to be satisfied.

The same goes for this homemade beancurd topped with a generous amount of oily preserved radish. There's nothing out of ordinary about this dish although none of us has any complaint either.

Honeydew Prawns with Thousand Island Dressing

千岛蜜瓜虾球

Simply put - the display was a pretty sight and my expectation was high since this was given a full score on national television by the hosts and a local celebrity chef!

Cavin LOVES it!!!

The prawns balls were essentially 100% mashed up fresh prawns encased in a solid flour mix but what's most interesting (and of course the most delicious) was the tangy thousand island dressing (mixed with the fruity essence of honeydew) covering each of them.

Chilli Crab

辣椒螃蟹

This was in fact one of the better chilli crabs in Singapore that managed to satisfy the fragrance, spiciness and shiokness criteria. There's a problem though; the fried buns to go with the chilli crabs were disappointing.

Salted Egg Crab

咸蛋螃蟹

My main purpose of visit.

As you can see, the crab was devoid of any noticeable liquid on the surface. To the uninitiated, this could jolly well be a bigger version of softshell crab.

But this was way more awesome! As i chomped down the crustacean's shell, i could not help noticing the crusts breaking into powder form that, once came into contact with your taste buds, resulted in an optimal balance of both sweetness and saltiness.

Despite being fried, the crab meat remained moist, sweet and succulent!

Epic would be a damn suitable word to describe this dish. C'mon, the concoction is addictive enough for me to bite off the main casing and chew it like a softshell crab!

Sorry Uncle Leong; this salted egg crab was unfortunately a notch better than yours. Of course, this is MY opinion.

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Location

550-552, Macpherson Road

Map

Look above

Reservation

6747-8263

Price

Strawberry Chicken (M) - S$14

Garlic Pork Ribs (M) - S$14

Beancurd with Chai Po - S$11

Honeydew Prawns w 1000 Island (L) - S$32

Chilli and Salted Egg Crabs - S$67.20 in total

NO GST and NO Service Charge!

Traditional Hainanese Chicken Rice (传统海南鸡饭) @ Redhill Lane Block 85 Food Centre

2012-02-04T23:59:00.000+08:00

Don't get me wrong - the subject title merely refers to the name of the stall i patronised and may or may not attest to the authenticity of Singaporeans' beloved local dish.

At the very least, i was comforted by the queue of around five persons.

To be honest, i don't find this plate of roast chicken rice exceptionally good (too dry, not oily and not fragrant enough) although this doesn't answer the basic question on authenticity [note: Hainanese chicken rice is always referred as the steamed version] which is a damn tricky subject in the first place.

However, for S$2.50, i can confirm that this is a damn worth it meal with thick, chunky pieces of chicken meat! Other than that, i prefer my roast chicken rice from Eng Kee.

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Location

Block 85, Redhill Lane, #01-46,

Redhill Lane Block 85 Food Centre

(Walking distance from Redhill MRT station)

Taking a Daytime Ride on Singapore Cable Car @ The Jewel Box [Mount Faber], Singapore

2012-02-01T23:59:00.000+08:00

Instead of parking my car at Sentosa for Sentosa Flowers 2012, i was kind of persuaded by my dad to take a much longer route using the jewel cable car from Mount Faber.

Reason? His last visit was more than 32 years ago! Back then, there was no jewel box and the door to the cable cars required attendants to manually open and close it.

As time was limited, i decided to pay a flat S$5 fee for the valet at The Jewel Box to park my red-plate car. Bloody wrong move!! I was under the impression that a round trip cable car ride would cost at most S$15 per person.

Wrong; it was an exorbitant S$26 for one adult!!! While signing the S$52 bill on the credit card slip, i could not help but lament it would have cost me less than S$20 in total to drive and park my car in Sentosa. Heart pain ah!!!

This informative panel would have made for an interesting read if i am not rushing for Sentosa Flowers 2012. It was already coming to four in the afternoon when i arrived at The Jewel Box!

The almost black cabins; a big contrast from its bright solid hues before the major renovation in year 2009. By the way, don't expect it to be air-conditioned even though each ticket was S$26 per pax! Despite the shortcomings, i was determined to make the most out of the ride.

Here we go!

Cable car systems in the world usually serve a very simple purpose; an aerial view of the surroundings. At 93 meters above sea level, the jewel box station (aka as mount faber station) is the highest point for the ride.

To the right, you can clearly see the public housing that almost 80% of Singaporeans reside in and further away at the horizon, you can catch glimpses of the Pasir Panjang wharves.

To the left is Singapore's largest shopping centre, Vivocity and the Sentosa Boardwalk that connects the leisure island with mainland Singapore.

Beneath is of course the lush greenery of Mount Faber. There was even a huge and unknown colonial house located in the midst of nowhere. The picture sure doesn't look like it was taken in Singapore!

The scene changed as the cabin proceeded along its predetermined path. In this photograph, try to spot Marina at Keppel Bay (hint: the bridge) and Pulau Bukom, the oil refinery hub of our country.

Dad seemed to enjoy the ride. Guess he was recollecting his memories of the same journey thirty years ago and comparing the massive changes over the years.

Time to enter the Harbourfront cable station. Visitors will normally embark from this station as it is conveniently located near the Harbourfront MRT station.

Reflections at Keppel Bay - a luxury condominium that challenges to change the visual landscape in the area upon its completion.

Thirty years ago, such a close up view of a cruise ship along the cable car ride would have sent shudders down many people's spine. Read here for more information.

Tower 2; a cable car tower that is situated on Sentosa Island. Or was it not? In the past, the land on which the tower stood was an island separated from Sentosa. Fondly known as Sarong Island, you may click here to read further on its glorious past.

Resort World Sentosa (RWS) is undeniably attracting a lot of visitors due its casino and the world renowned Universal Studios theme park. In the future, it would also be the seat of the world's largest oceanarium.

Frankly, i was ecstatic to see this! Known as Equarius Water Park, i have no idea RWS is building a water theme park given the failure of Fantasy Island back in the 90s.

About to reach the Sentosa cable station where you would be blessed with an impressive view of Sentosa and a sea dotted with tankers, ships and boats. In a clear day, you might even be able to see the island of Batam in Indonesia.

Spa Villas - i would really, really love to stay here!!!

Last view before we officially entered the island to begin our journey or Sentosa Flowers 2012. Interested to know more about my review of this flora event? Click here.

After two and a half hours of happy clicking, it's time to join the queue and board the cable car again for our return trip to jewel box cable station.

Saying goodbye to RWS and making a point to stay in any of its iconic hotels in the near future! Miser me would always prefer to spend the money on an OVERSEAS trip to Batam. Damn.

I have always enjoyed this panoramic picture of the central business district and Singapore's shipping precinct, the very basis of our existence. Sir Stamford Raffles chose Singapore as a strategic trading post due to our deep harbour and after almost 200 years, i would say he must be proud of his decision.

The wavy design of the Reflections at Keppel Bay often attracts the curiousity of visitors who see it. And for an avid photographer, it's a must-take!

West Coast Highway; the best way to travel to the city or the East side of Singapore from my workplace provided there is no jam at the end of the highway. If there is, you are screwed for a distance as long as 11 kilometers.

Tower 1; at that time, i could not to wait to get off as i received a phone call from phone that relatives were on their way to visit our house for Chinese New Year!

In case you are wondering why the term "jewel cable car" is used, you may wish to take a look at the cable cars at night. Each cabin has small white lights installed outside its metallic cover that glitter like stars or jewels.

Should i incur another hefty expenditure to experience the night time?

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For more information on directions, operating hours, charges and attractive promotions for the Cable Car, please visit

http://www.mountfaber.com.sg/.

Additional Information

I purposely left out this last portion of Sentosa Flowers 2012 in my post since many visitors would not consider incurring extra cost to travel to The Jewel Box.

Themed as Dragon Gate Inn, cable car riders would be granted a complimentary cup of Chinese tea while enjoying the special set up in celebration of the lunar year.

Personally, the overall atmosphere was pretty good although in terms of flowers, i don't see how uniquely different they are from those i see in nurseries.

Rainbow Cupcakes from Kasie Again!

2012-02-01T22:20:00.000+08:00

Kasie must have read the comments for her rainbow cupcakes on my blog, with specific attention on the following sentence: "granted the vibrant colour doughs were not as perfectly layered as the ones i saw".

Why did i say so?

She recently asked her sister to send me another batch of homemade rainbow cupcake! Guess this is her subtle way of proving her competitive streak and that nothing will stop her to perfect the rainbow layers.

To be honest, the layers were more distinct this time although she should have decorated the top with delicious buttery cream! Nonetheless, it was still pleasant of her (and that of Karen) to take the trouble to courier this over.

I could not help but feel nostalgic when i took a big bite; it was like a zesty tasting traditional Chinese steamed egg cake (雞蛋糕). Not that i am complaining as the standard was actually pretty good for a 雞蛋糕!

Kasie, if you are reading this, keep the cupcakes coming!

Simple Lunch Buffet @ Bintan Cabana Beach Resort

2012-01-31T21:48:00.000+08:00

When i reached Bintan Cabana at 11.30am local time, my stomach was already protesting of hunger. But lunch, included in my groupon package, will only start from 12 noon onwards.

Disappointment greeted me when i saw the limited variety of food for the buffet lunch - barely less than five types of simple dishes, excluding rice, soup and fruits.

Damn, i don't even feel motivated to eat!

Taking a sip, i was amazed the thick soup that counts mushrooms, eggs and tender spring onion bulbs as its ingredients tasted just like shark's fin soup!

Guaranteed to be a healthier version that sits well with opponents of shark finning. Not that it matters to me since i feel that eating meat, regardless of what they are, is already an act of cruelty.

This fried vegetable didn't look appetising, the crust was soft and i admit there was a vague taste of flour but the insides were moist and actually tasted quite alright.

Eggs always enhance my appetite and the perfectly cooked chilli padi omelette did just that! Frankly, a bit of numbing hot chilli padi makes a lot of difference.

The chickens that were sacrificed to become the deep fried chicken must be really health conscious. Every piece was lean and did not appear to be oily!

My perky ears caught the conversation between a customer and the service personnel; apparently the chickens were not caged up and ran around freely in the kampongs.

Judging from my above review, there was no reason why i should not take additional servings.

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For my review on Bintan Cabana Beach Resort, please click HERE.

Bintan Cabana Beach Resort Review @ Bintan Island, Indonesia

2012-01-30T23:36:00.000+08:00

Truthfully, I wasn't expecting much when i booked for a 2 days 1 night stay at Bintan Cabana beach resort in Bintan island via Groupon.sg.

But I badly needed a holiday after the stressful period at work and the deal of S$190 for two persons (includes ferry, accomodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner) proved to be too irresistible!

Anyway, it's always good to visit a new place (can blog mah) and although i have been to Batam Island countless times, this visit made it only my second time to Bintan.

The layout of the resort works in a weird way where a main road divides the resort into two areas. This imposing structure is the entrance to where i stay whereas the main entry point of the resort is disappointingly dowdy.

Most room types are classified under the villa or chalet category.

My coupon only provisioned for a pathetic clubhouse accommodation that is the furthest from the main road! In case you are under the impression that it is fifteen minutes by foot, i would like to clarify that a leisurely walk to the entrance took me three to five minutes.

Room was cozy enough for me. Note the words "for me" as i am not known to be very picky with overseas accommodation.

I would be fine so long it has a clean bed, a private shower and a working television. Oh yes, it must be fully air-conditioned; evidence of a true blue Singaporean!

Open concept reception, lobby and restaurant - all located in one place.

The plain yet main building housing the lobby, restaurants and reception. As you can see from the picture, there are more rooms available on the second floor.

However, you would not regret the spectacular scenery from the restaurant that borders the sea!

This panoramic view is worth the one hour drive from the ferry terminal. Many patrons would just pull a chair, order a drink, enjoy the scenery and take in the gentle sea breeze.

When asked on the differences between Bintan and Batam (since they are next to each other), the answers from many are straightforward; Batam for shopping and Bintan for beaches.

I totally agree!

At least from what i experienced in Bintan Cabana! The beach was spotlessly clean, the weather was fabulous and walking under such conditions is plain mental relaxation.

I should have brought along a Lesley Pearse book and read it under this small, wooden gazebo facing the sea!

The rocky terrain nearby is a beautiful photography spot and you see a lot more beachgoers in that area than anywhere else.

Even timid Alex took the challenge to climb up this sloping rock that is accessible using a secret passageway!

If he can do it, so can i (how could i bloody lose to the scaredy cat)!!! I was caught by surprise as there lies a small yet nostalgic fishing village (in the background) so well hidden by the rocks!

In this resort, there is a chance for you to walk far out into the sea. Just wait for the low tide when the seabed is exposed for at least a few hundred meters!

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Shuttle service to town is available at a nominal fee of S$10 for adults and if you prefer to travel on your own, you can also rent a car or motorbike. There is also a free shuttle to its partner resort - Bintan Agro Beach Resort which has more facilities and allows exciting sea sports activities.

Room rates and contact details for Bintan Cabana if you prefer to buy direct.

Personally, i am already looking forward to my next visit of relaxation and fireworks.

Play Fireworks in nearby Bintan Island - Something You Can Never Do in Singapore

2012-01-29T14:34:00.000+08:00

Coming from a country where fireworks are off-limits to general public unless with a permit from the relevant authority, the above rack display in a mini-mart of a beach resort in Bintan (Indonesia) attracted my curiousity instantaneously!

Since it is the period of celebration (being Chinese New Year) and Alex had never played with fireworks, we decided to purchase and try out two types of fireworks at night; Pluto (at 200,000 rupiah or S$28) and ThunderClap (at 250,000 rupiah or S$35).

It's obvious from the clear plastic packaging that Pluto has four rockets. For ThunderClap, it was indicated as 20 pcs on the box but it would be more accurate to say 20 packs as each pack has 3 mini rockets!

Before we began this unprecedented journey (at least for Alex since i did play with fireworks in my youth), there is one very important item required to get this going.

A pack of cigarettes that cost me S$3.

Just in case you thought i am going to smoke, i would like to assure you that it is definitely not the case! I have quitted casual smoking for ten years and have no intention to retake the smelly butt.

The purpose of the lighted cigarette butt is simple - we need it to light the fireworks. Matchsticks and lighters are of no use when you are facing the sea breeze and no one in their right mind will bring incense sticks on holidays!

This is yet another important component - stick this into the sand so that it can act as a launch pit for the rockets. You may stick the rocket in the sand (i did initially) but it may fail to take off into the sky. Safety is the key word here.

These are the minor injuries i got as 'presents' from playing fireworks that day.

Lighting these consumer fireworks is an easy chore although caution must be exercised in order not to hurt bystanders and yourself. For example, don't hold the fireworks in your hand!!!!

Step back at least one or two meters after the wick starts to sparkle.

Watch in amazement as it successfully shoots into the black, starry sky! Oops, i spotted a safety issue here; don't place those new, unused fireworks so near to the launching pad!

The burst from these consumer fireworks was definitely not comparable to those we catch on television but the exhilaration of firing them yourself is confirmed to be more fulfilling. And exciting!

Even scaredy-cat Alex gave it a few tries! And no doubt, he counts this part of the overseas trip as his most memorable.

This was me launching the ThunderClap which was named due to the irritating loud noise and bright spark emitted at the end. It was cheaper although not as fun and as beautiful as Pluto.

For a more entertaining experience, buy the 'wonderful' at an estimated cost of almost S$60! Only a one-time action is necessary; lighting it.

49 shots would follow shortly, each with a different effect that would mesmerise any young kid. I would strongly recommend this for families with younger children.

Chop Hean Kuan Dim Sum (点心包饺) @ People's Park Hawker Centre

2012-01-28T23:52:00.004+08:00

Despite having a main meal, our dear Alex wanted something small as a snack; for those who don't know him well, snacking is one of Alex's favourite activities!

He didn't need to search far as there is a dim sum stall just a few tables away from where we sat. Anyway, he started raving non-stop about the seafood dumpling he bought that it gave me no choice but to take a tiny bite.

Let's put it this way - it was awesome enough for me to take a special trip down to Chinatown six days later just to have the seafood dumpling and try the others items the stall have for sale.

Seafood Dumpling

(海鲜饺)

The generous filling was peppered with bits of crab sticks that tasted extremely sweet - as in sweet freshness of seafood. Add in the thin crust that cackled with every bite and i guess you don't need much imagination why i enjoyed it so much!

Chives Dumpling

(韭菜饺)

Although a notch lower than the steamed ones from Ho Kee Pau, this is still no weakling. Filled with juicy minced pork and a lower proportion of chives, this would likely attract customers who detest too much chives in their food or simply love fried products.

Lo Mai Kai

(糯米鸡)

I know - it does look like dog food, specifically from the popular (and expensive) caesar brand. Thankfully, this was for human consumption as i would not have minded a second helping!

The essence of chicken had seeped into the glutinous rice, resulting in a full flavour experience not commonly seen in many places while the chicken meat was minced and molded into a patty that was tender to the bite without tasting overly sweet.

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Location

People's Park Complex Food Centre,

Block 32, #01-1018, New Market Road

(Exit C from Chinatown MRT Station)

Price

Seafood Dumpling - S$0.80

Chives Dumpling - S$0.80

Lo Mai Kai - S$1.80

Sentosa Flowers 2012 (圣淘沙春节花会2012) - Enchanted Spring in The Dragon Year

2012-01-26T23:59:00.005+08:00

This is my annual pilgrimage every Chinese New Year! And this time, i specially brought my dad along since he is an avid flower lover and has never been to Sentosa Flowers.

Unlike in the past, the point of entry i took this year was via the cable car station. It's not hard to find the venue for Sentosa Flowers 2012 - besides the clear directional signs, there were so many people embarking on the same route as us!

Bundles of heart shaped rose bouquets hanging from the top signal the start of the theme "Sweet Love".

Couples were scrambling to take pictures in front of these supposedly love tunnels. Unfortunately, it would have looked weird to ask someone to take a photograph for my dad and myself.

It's okay; we prefer to look at brightly coloured flowers adorning the area anyway.

And i have always enjoyed taking pictures of others, especially if they are unaware of my presence! Having said that, i am no peeping tom and take no enjoyment in doing such cheap and illegal thrills!

Flower columns flanking "The Dance of The Dragon".

You would have expected something really majestic and spectacular underneath this red tent.

Frankly, i would have been more impressed if this is made of flora or at least decorated with them. This exhibit would have looked more appropriate along siloso beach.

"Tea Journey" was actually quite a good walk where the history of tea was simply explained.

There was even a small area designed to look like a tea plantation!

I heard from the radio station this morning that Sentosa Flowers 2012 has over 100,000 flowers covering 800 different species.

Beds of flowers like the above were common and if not for the crowds, i would have gladly laid down amidst the scented flowers and napped under the hot sun.

Given the tropical temperature we have in Singapore, some species, like peach blossoms, are specially imported only to last for the duration of the flora festival.

Others, like the above, are commonly found in Singapore and used typically for Chinese prayers.

"Dinoland" - not hard to know why this is necessary! Have you ever wondered why the Westerners view dragons as evil, greedy creatures whereas Chinese sees them as auspicious animals?

I like this! Period.

Thanks to television shows, i have always linked sunflowers to cheerfulness, which is one lovely attribute that should have been inbuilt to everyone's personality.

View of the towering Papa Merlion.

Tulips! I think they are real this time. Tulips were imported last year for the same event but unfortunately, all of them wilted on the fourth day.

"Spring Melodies" - hm............. it would be nice to have someone playing traditional Chinese instruments in addition to these Western musical symbols. Damn, i am such a traditionalist!

Dragon fruits artificially held by plastic strips. For me, it's quite an eyesore in spite of the efforts and should be removed. The fruits looked delicious though.

Did I mention my dad loves flowers??

My first impression when i saw this gigantic floral dragon - fungal infection with a feverish hot body and freezing cold paws! Nonetheless, it does look pretty cuddly and drew a really long queue for visitors who could not wait to take a picture with it.

Crowd on the second day of Chinese New Year! Cavin hates crowds and would have taken leave on a weekday if not for the lack of time.... :(

The area surrounding the waterfall was boring this year. Themed as "Dragonflies", it is as it is without any visible floral reference.

This is my usual starting point from Beach monorail station. For first time visitors, i would recommend you start from here as the flow to view each exhibit is smoother.

Maybe due to its proximity to the nearby beaches, this stretch is named "Sea World".

It has styrofoam corals, sea animals like clownfish and crabs adorned with flowers and even bubbles signifying air bubbles under the sea!

To control the human traffic, this stairway up to the main venue only allowed a one-way traffic. This is a fabulous move as i remember how tempers flew in the past when people stopped to take photographs every few meters!

Honestly, the zodiac sign of Dragon is not explored to its full capacity this year and i was kind of disappointed with the number of dragon exhibits using flowers. Such flower fairies would likely only attract children and are too common a feature in gardens.

However, i also wish to state that i understand it is challenging for the organisers and we all know life is never perfect and you can never please everyone.

This is a permanent water feature. And i don't understand why visitors love to touch its spit. If they wish to gain some dragon luck, they should consider opening their mouth and take in the spit at its full force! Haha.

The "Tree of Life" is yet again another permanent exhibit where visitors can write down their new year wishes and hang the charms on the branches.

Each colour has its own representation which is a money making strategy! At S$2 each (i think), I would likely buy all since i would wish for prosperity, wisdom, wealth, love and family in the new year!

Awaken the dragon in the portrait by using the huge-ass brush to light its eyes. Due to its "photographic" value, the queue to take a picture was easily fifty meters long.

The misty walk with orchids. Apart from the fact that orchid [specifically Vanda Miss Joaquim] is the national flower of Singapore, many Singaporeans do not seem to have any affinity with this species.

Dragon Gate - during the imperial times, it's a big deal to pass through the dragon gate as doing so signifies great power and prosperity for the future.

Taken at Resort World Sentosa. This huge revolving structure makes it difficult to take a close-up picture with my dad in it although on its own, it maintains a majestic presence in the sky.

Beautiful dragon near the casino's entrance. Bet there are some fengshui implications for its strategic placement.

Flower mascots were available for visitors to take pictures and i can just imagine how suffering it is to walk in stilts and wear thick, uncomfortable clothing under the hot sun!

By the way, don't assume all the mascots are female. This is a male for goodness sake!

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Location

Sentosa Island

Duration

Till 29 January 2012

Opening Hours

10am to 10pm

Map

As above

Additional Information

My post on Sentosa Flowers 2011 can be read via HERE

My post on Sentosa Flowers 2010 can be read via HERE

My post on Sentosa Flowers 2009 can be read via HERE

Jovyn's First Lunar New Year

2012-01-24T23:28:00.000+08:00

Our dear bulldog cheeks baby is celebrating her first lunar year and besides dressing nicely for this culturally important occasion, she is also expected to visit a lot of relatives to showcase her progress!

The first thing she did in my house upon arrival was to take a big dump! In order to protect her purity, we have taken steps to ensure the modesty. Jovyn wasn't sold as you can see from her pissed off face.

Nonetheless, she was still pretty excited about the dragon year! And was freaking adorable in the outfit she wore to my uncle's place for a big gathering!

What i didn't expect though was her affection for the red packets.

Best Day to Start Work in The Dragon Year - Zodiac Sign

2012-01-24T00:01:00.002+08:00

Most Chinese are superstitious and even if something has no scientific basis, we have to give it the benefit of doubt - the phrase "just in case" is always a valid excuse.

This table has been circulated via email for the past few weeks and from what i understand, there are people who stay faithful to its recommendation on when to start work in order to have a fantastic year.

For example, today is a public holiday (being the first day of the Dragon Lunar Year) but some office personnel purposely went back office to switch on the computer and reply a few emails to justify their start of work!

In their mind, there is no harm in doing so.

Speaking of which, it is already Tuesday (24 January 2012); tagged as "Good" for those under the zodiac sign of Monkey. Let me log on to my mailbox.

I am working from home.

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Not sure what is your Chinese zodiac sign?

Click HERE to find out!

My Chinese New Year's Eve (龙年除夕夜) 2012 - Reunion LUNCH (团圆饭) & Night Market in Chinatown

2012-01-23T09:18:00.002+08:00

Lunar New Year's Eve is always a busy day for Chinese and i am no exception myself especially when the past few months have been so filled with work!

Nonetheless, i managed to tidy up my room before the start of the Dragon year. [psst, shall blog on the latest state of this room in due course].

There was also the very important reunion lunch! Most Chinese have reunion dinners but our family decided to have it earlier so that my sister can have her reunion dinner at her in-laws. Nothing's wrong with that since the purpose of reunion is togetherness and you can practice it even during breakfast!

To get into the festive spirit, mom and i took to the streets of Chinatown pasar malam! As expected, it was people mountain people sea (direct translation from 人山人海).

Maybe this picture is better suited to describe the Chinese idiom. In a way, i feel that the crowd is more manageable this time - i wasn't stuck in the intersections like in the past. Must be because of the incessant rain that started from late afternoon.

Although i was in the same market a week ago [look here for the post], it was during the daytime and there were some stalls that only start their operation at night. For one, i don't even remember seeing these tins of love letters for sale!

Super absorbent (according to the lady) floor mats for the new year! I don't remember seeing this either even though these solid colour mats were easily available in a lot of places.

Self-curling hair device - frankly, the organisers should allow only vendors who are selling products related to Chinese New Year (CNY) or entrepreneurs with unique wares to offer. Common floor mats?! *roll eyes*

These are quite special; fruits that resemble gourds. I have no idea what they are and am in fact, regretting not buying any to try out!

Balloon dragon dancing to the sky!

This stall selling Taiwanese mochi and festive sweets was already slashing price at around 11.30pm, attracting customers who could not resist the good deal! I could not blame them as it's better to clear these perishable festive stocks before CNY to cover the cost.

One big bag of goodies, filled to the max, cost merely S$5 (originally, it cost S$1.80 per 100 gram)! Our two bags of achievements cost only S$10 for 3.2 kilograms!

Good deals aside, i could not stand this auntie whose hand kept reaching out to grab the goodies (we counted no less than five times) even though she had already paid, filled up and received her bags! This was indeed ugly behaviour to the max! By the way, she was captured in the previous photograph. *smirks*

This stall at another street was actually quiet initially but once the vendor dropped the price from S$10 a bag to S$5 a bag, it was swarmed with customers within five seconds!

Sometimes, it is not good to wait till the last minute as well. Some products were already sold out before midnight and mom, who loves novelty peanuts, did not manage to get any.

Flowers at only S$10 for three bouquets. Since retail stalls are generally closed for the few first days of CNY, i believe the price would drop further after midnight.

Such 'roof' is necessary in case of rain.

And it did rain heavily fifteen minutes before the clock strikes twelve! As you can see, the street was almost devoid of customers - everyone was just looking for shelter to protect their purchases.

We went to the food centre where mom can rest comfortably while looking at the performances.

The cool weather required a cup of Teh-O. A handful of hawker stalls were open to cater to the drinking crowd and it was therefore not hard to find my tea.

This was where we welcomed the Dragon year! Visitors to Singapore, who always assume that Singapore is a sanitised society, would be in for a big shock here. Dirty dishes strewn all over the place, people openly gambling in the public etc etc.

One stall vendor was already done with praying when we took the street again twenty minutes past midnight. My parents heard that the best time to pray to the Jade Emperor is 5am this Dragon Year and woke up purposely at that time to pray for the family's well-being.

This was the same stall where we bought the goodies at S$10 for 3.2 kilograms; everything was cleared out!

Boxes of mochi at hugely discounted prices. S$10 for a bag and you squeeze as many as you can. On the sideline, i heard a happy customer commenting that he managed to put in fifteen boxes into the plastic bag.

Another place where you can get massive discounts - shops that sell decorative items, especially those imprinted with the Dragon zodiac. If they don't clear it, they have to wait for the next cycle which is twelve years away.

Human jam at Chinatown MRT station. Thank god the trains didn't break down or i can imagine the amount of complaint postings on facebook overtaking those with CNY greetings.

Mom did her first praying for the lunar year at this temple beside Amoy Food Centre. There was actually a reason for it - something to do with a dream. Ask her if you are intrigued.

By the way, Happy Chinese New Year!

龙年快乐!

Lobster Porridge & Chilli Crabs @ Orchid Live Seafood Beer Garden, Yishun (off Sembawang Road)

2012-01-21T23:59:00.000+08:00

There lies, hidden along a quiet road, a seafood restaurant in Yishun that many people are not aware of despite the placement of a neon signboard at the main Sembawang road.

To be honest, i was in the vicinity five years ago but didn't even give the old fashioned, run-down restaurant a second look.

The ambience was reminiscent of seafood restaurants in Singapore before the 80s when air-conditioning was an expensive luxury, lighting came from fluorescent tubes, chairs were of plastic material and the roof was merely pieces of cheap aluminum.

But reviewers on HungryGoWhere were raving on the lobster porridge from Orchid Live Seafood! Nights in Singapore during this period can be pretty chilly, especially after thunderstorms and a bowl of steaming hot porridge sounded really tempting when i was searching for seafood restaurants in Yishun!

Lobster Porridge

(龙虾粥)

Before i start, please note that only fresh lobsters are used in the preparation of this dish. And from memory, there are at least five tanks of live lobsters in the restaurant.

This is a 'verbatim" style of serving; one look and you know what you are having without any need for beautification in terms of garnishing or serving bowl.

The order for two pax had two lobsters swimming in the broth and cost S$9 per 100 grams. The truth is - I have no idea how heavy a lobster weighs.

What's more important is that the broth was so god damn delicious; it was refreshing (no doubt the help of spicy ginger) yet managed to maximise the appetising seafood essence from the lobsters.

That, unfortunately, also meant that the real lobster meat had lost much of its original flavour. Well, you can't have the best of both worlds sometimes.

It didn't take us long to clean out the whole bowl! I should have ordered for three persons!

Chilli Crab

(辣椒螃蟹)

There is a funny regulation here - even if you are eating alone, you must order a minimum of two crabs. The only exception is when you want your crabs to be steamed.

When i slurped the first spoonful, alarm bells were ringing in my head; rich tomato base with a lack of spiciness. Ten seconds later, i had to order another bottle of drink to quench the hotness!

Alex, self proclaimed to be the Chilli Crab guru who counts no signboard chilli crabs as his favourite, said these chilli crabs from Orchid Live Seafood were only a small notch below his favourite. For me, i especially liked the generous serving of eggs that went into the frying wok for the wet chilli paste.

Buns are a must when it comes to butter and chilli crabs - as i have always insisted in my blog.

For such dark colour (usually due to over frying), i really wonder how the chef managed to keep it so soft and fluffy! By the way, they were really small.... Give me the buns from Forture any time!

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Location

No 1, Bah Soon Pah Road

(Located within Green Valley Farms)

(Next to Khatib Camp)

Price

Lobster Porridge (0.6 kg) - S$54

Chilli Crabs (1.6 kg)- S$64

Buns (6s) - S$4

No GST, No Service Charge

Additional Information

For my Muslim friends who are not very particular with Halal certification, no pork and lard is served in this restaurant. Since less salt, less oil and no msg are crossed out, am i right to assume that the food here have more salt, more oil and msg?

Weird.

Driving is preferred although there is a bus stop [B57069] nearby with bus services 167, 169, 171 and 980. There is a private carpark for diners and it is free!

Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2012 - The Year of the Dragon

2012-01-20T23:59:00.000+08:00

It's less than a month after Christmas and with January being a typical busy period for me at work; i find it difficult to get into the festive mood of Chinese New Year (CNY), which is at the end of this week!!!

Therefore, a decision is made to travel down to Chinatown - there's nothing more appropriate than to see an area decked in celebratory gold and red and to hear the auspicious music blaring at full volume.

The theme of every Chinese New Year is easy to predict and i can confidently give a 100% accurate prediction. Hint - knowing the zodiac animal of the year!

Dragons are in control of the zodiac realm this year and out of twelve zodiac animals, most Chinese have the greatest affection for dragons.

This gigantic dragon is the main attraction in Chinatown and was designed by students of Singapore's latest government university.

It was indeed impressive given its placement in the middle of two main roads!

As far as daytime is concerned, decorations were not excessive and frankly lacked surprises except for the dragon i mentioned in the beginning.

My usual starting point to Chinatown's main shopping street - which is also commonly known as the touristy area where you might find more foreigners than locals. And here, is where i begin my pictorial post for the temporary market in Chinatown for CNY.

In the past, there weren't many brands of peanuts and the only one i recognised was this brand with a farmer slinging a hoe behind his bag. Unlike my mom, i am not a peanut person. I prefer cashew nuts!

The vibrancy of colours was unbeatable (at least within Chinatown) for this shop's facade.

Waxed products - a delicacy amongst the Cantonese and for a Hokkien like myself, i can never understand what is the big deal about waxed food.

Befitting Singapore's reputation as a food nation, sale of edible products constituted a major proportion of stalls in this temporary market.

Once again, stalls selling jellies and mochis from Taiwan attracted the most crowds although i attribute their popularity to massive dispensing of free samples.

Plush toys featuring dragons were available but a fat dragon in this case looks just like a cross between a reindeer and goat.

The golden dragon is more realistic and bears a striking resemblance to the main character of this comic book called Gon [he or she is a dinosaur].

At 2pm on a weekday, i would say that the turnout was pretty good with heavy human traffic at most intersections.

Dried persimmons! Despite its dark yet pale outlook, this is a really delicious treat although i would not encourage you to take more than four in one sitting.

Chinese couplets were spotted in quite a few spots. Although this is a cultural thing in the Chinese community, my parents have never ever displayed Chinese couplets in the house.

At S$1 a pack, these chopsticks with Chinese surnames seemed to attract buyers very frequently! I should have bought a few in preparation for the reunion dinner this Sunday for the Teo (or Zhang) family.

Boxes of mochi with numerous flavours! To be honest, i prefer muah chee from Hougang Six Miles over this imported mochis.

Some of the mochi vendors were also 'cutting' out samples to any interested parties! Given my lack of exercises for the past few weeks (thanks to my wrist), i wasn't very keen on loading up additional calories and hence, declined all "invitations".

Big dollies on top of a shop selling festive decorations for CNY. Such unusual displays do make the shopping experience slightly more exciting.

Traditional Chinese paper cuttings and couplets on sale. I went through some basic paper cutting classes in my secondary school and it was no easy feat especially for butterfingers like me! The hands must be insanely nimble in order to cut out these elaborate designs.

The sun was merciless in showing his full prowess and i eventually decided on these honey mandarin oranges, which cost us S$2 a bag, to quench the thirst. In case you are wondering, they were slightly sour.

Iconic people's park complex in the background. Direct translation from Chinese should be pearl's square but in Singapore, it's normal to have a English translation that has no relation whatsoever to the original title.

Business was roaring as evidenced in this picture. There's actually a strategy to get really cheap buys; wait till the last second of the eve of Chinese New Year.

Once the clock strikes midnight, vendors of perishable products would try to clear all their festive stocks at dirt cheap prices. For example, a big bag of Taiwanese jellies may cost lesser than S$10!

Free engraving on supposedly lucky stones that were priced too expensive in my opinion!

Tablecloths with Southeast Asian inspired designs. Older generation Chinese may not like them due to the dull colours - to celebrate CNY, bright colours signifying prosperity, fortune and happiness are always preferred.

To quote an example, my dad absolutely loves stuff like the above and it is his hobby to decorate the living room with them whenever CNY approaches.

Taiwanese goodies have gained popularity since they entered the market a few years ago. However, given Singaporeans taste for new, novelty products, i wonder if it would be the same situation in another few more years.

Samplings could be really helpful in the decision making process.

Another icon in Chinatown - the circular Pearl Bank Apartments shown in the background of the photograph. There have been talks of en-bloc which i am hoping would not go through due to its status in Singapore's landscape.

I was looking out for this stall as my family really liked the aroma concentrate for the air revitaliser i bought last year and as you can probably see, each bottle is given a 50% discount! Me LIIIKKKKEE!

Fortune telling for the Dragon Year. Though i am curious and have been forced (thanks mom) on a few occasions to have my fortune read, i would strongly discourage friends who are superstitious to visit fortune tellers.

This old-school shop (大中国) was so crowded with people buying traditional festive biscuits and goodies! I thought it is only famous for mooncakes!?!?

Coming to traditional festive biscuits and goodies, there is a big drop in vendors this year! With supermarkets selling reputable brands, chain stores (like Mr Bean) promoting their own brand and online booking by smaller operations, i guess i should have seen the decline coming.

Pinwheels have made a comeback this year! These toys were so pleasing in the eyes of children and as a child, i remember using the fan when there was no wind.

Narrow section right beside the Buddha Tooth Temple! I can bet that the human traffic would be worse nearing CNY! If you wish to get out, utilise the covered walkways outside those permanent shops.

Flavoured peanuts and melon seeds! Feel free to grab one for a tryout and you would likely find one that suits you. Mom adores such places!

Traditional Chinese attire for children! Wearing new clothes on the first day of Chinese new year is part of our custom to signify a new beginning and i am so thankful that my nephew is damn picky with clothes whereas my niece is still a toddler.

Spring flowers to brighten up your house can also be purchased in a pretty big nursery to the left of Buddha Tooth Temple. The selection is quite comprehensive for a temporary location.

In Chinatown, this is a usual phenomenon before Chinese New Year; queuing for barbequed pork (or bak kwa as we call it) at Lim Chee Guan. My sister's record is a bloody eight hours wait!

Before i end this post, i would like to wish all of you a healthy, joyous and prosperous Dragon year!

恭喜发财，万事如意!

My Poor Wrist

2012-01-18T23:15:00.000+08:00

It has been more than two weeks since i last blogged on the pain on my left wrist and sadly, the pain persists till today and i am actually in a worse situation than before.

In order to reduce the chances of aggravating the injury, i specially bought a wrist guard from a renowned brand; Ebene. The sales assistant even passed me a few packets of cream to relieve the pain upon learning my reason for purchase.

Nothing's wrong........

Until a few days later.

Initially, i felt a slight irritation at the area where i thinly spread the white cream.

A day later, fierce looking welts appeared and the itch was god damn unbearable!!!! Maybe it was psychological but i could almost feel the itch spreading to my face!

My colleague insisted i should see the doctor - which i did. Was diagnosed to have an allergic reaction towards the cream and two medications were dispensed: steroid cream and sleep-induced antihistamine pills.

Given that Western drugs are known to treat the 'signs', i was frankly hoping for a speedy recovery.

That didn't happen!!! My wrist looks bruised now and the itchiness (and redness) is relieved by a bottle of pure basilic essential oil, not medication!

Sighs.. a double whammy for my poor wrist. And i doubt it would even recover by the Dragon Year!

Damn, the relatives are going to ask if i have a fight with someone.

Freshly Baked Buns from Bunnies Bakery @ People's Park Complex [Chinatown]

2012-01-17T21:20:00.000+08:00

When the smell of freshly baked buns hit me while walking briskly along a walkway filled with people, i know i have to stop and look for the source.

Bunnies - In China, this implies that the shop sells rabbit meat but here in Chinatown (Singapore), it is simply a bakery with bunnies as its mascots.

On the outlook, i would have discounted this shop and tagged it with any neighbourhood bakery in Singapore that is trying to gain a foothold in this competitive industry by having nicer decor, adopting a mascot etc etc.

But the delicious whiff of fresh bread proved too irresistible and i queued; just like the four customers in front of me.

There are twenty four regular flavours to choose from and i could not make up my mind immediately on what to have for takeaway! Eventually, i settled for garlic, cream cheese and egg mayo.

Sizes have already been pre-determined for you; either six mini buns in one or two buns in one. However, they are quite tiny and i could easily squeeze a few mini buns in my mouth.

The above is the box of six egg mayo mini buns. Singaporeans would have recognised this style fondly as many neighbourhood bakeries do offer this with fillings like red bean paste, lotus paste and even curry.

For me, there's no doubt on the buns' fluffiness and freshness. Pricing wise, i also thought they are in a comfortable range affordable for many people. There's always a but.

Out of the twenty four flavours, i chose three. For all three flavours, i know of other bakeries that do it better. Barcook Bakery for cream cheese, BreadTalk for garlic and well, i am not really impressed with the egg mayo.

To give the cute bunnies the benefit, i could have chosen the wrong flavours.

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Location

1, Park Road, #01-66

People’s Park Complex [red star on map]

(near KFC and next to the hawker centre)

Pricing

Garlic [2in1] - S$1.40

Cream Cheese [6in1] - S$1.60

Egg Mayo [6in1] - S$1.30

Geylang Ho Kee Pau (和记包) - Dim Sum Galore (点心) @ 康福 Hock Khong Coffee Shop

2012-01-16T22:38:00.000+08:00

My stomach has digested countless dim sum from Ho Kee Pau for over ten years but when asked if i have ever patronised its main teahouse in Geylang, i am ashamed to admit that my first visit was only early this month.

It's kind of amusing that it took me so long since i frequently send my mom for her massage sessions nearby, my favourite durian stall is located directly opposite, the MRT station is merely a five-minute walk away and i do drive my family car all over Singapore.

Notwithstanding the above, the point is that i am finally here.

There is no air-conditioning and the setting is kopitiam style; not exactly the teahouse with traditional Chinese decor many would have expected from the terminology.

Decor is secondary when it comes to food; one of the basic food philosophies adopted by the Gang of Four (although it is really enforced by Kon and myself since the two younglings are so bloody pampered)!

Wanton Noodles

(云吞面)

This came as a really nice surprise since i wasn't expecting much from a dim sum place.

Once you mix up all the ingredients, it's hard to believe that such a simple bowl of noodles could be so tantalising to the taste buds. Definitely worth another visit just for this.

Lotus Rice

(腐皮卷)

This is one item i would never order on my own given my past experiences with almost tasteless grains that could be put to better use as fried rice with egg.

However, this is way better than the ones i had before although it gave me the impression that i am eating savoury rice dumplings.

Beancurd Skin Dumplings

(腐皮卷)

They were not even close to Wan Dou Sek's standard. Period.

Char Siew Bun

(叉烧包)

To be honest, i find it quite difficult to find a char siew bun that tastes horrid. Either that or i have been pretty lucky in my orders for juicy Char Siew buns.

Chives Dumplings

(鲜虾韭菜饺)

Simply put, this is one item i commonly ordered from Ho Kee for takeaway and it is a must for me to squeeze a generous amount of chilli sauce to go with the dumplings.

Chives are much hated vegetable for kids and i am no exception myself. But i could never have the heart to resist these chives and prawn dumplings from Ho Kee.

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Location

No. 43, Geylang Lorong 27

[very near to Aljunied MRT Station]

Prices

Look above for the menu (front and back)

Additional Information

This is a 24-hour establishment and i could not help but feel envious for those people living in the East! It's alright; my aim to lose weight would never materialise if i live in that region.

There was this super-crowded coffee shop two doors away! Guess another trip is a must in order to find out why there were so many diners.