Mulling over where to go for lunch today, we hit upon the idea of Geylang's famous beef kway teow. That's always a good idea so we made the trecherous journey there from Pasir Ris.
Side note: trecherous because the driver was going at 120km in FIRST gear! That is an uber powerful car and no matter your level of admiration (or disdain) for 4-wheeled toys you can't help but be fully impressed from the tips of your toes to the last split end on your head. 
Fortunately we arrived at our intended destination without mishap. Lunch time is probably the best hour to come because of the ease of finding suitable parking spots and you'll also be mercifully missing out on a noisy crowd for a change. This place is usually packed till late at night so be prepared to wait (and starve) if you can only make it after dark.
If you've never tried the beef kway teow here before then do make a point to do so very, very soon because only then will your eyes be opened and you'll finally understand the meaning of life.
Just kidding, of course, but it's no joke that they've been famous for over 30 years for good reason.
And here is that reason in all it's temptingly savory glory:
'Nuff said. Now go, eat and be merry. You can thank me later.
I was helping my mother with some grocery shopping this afternoon at a well-known local supermart. After squeezing and weaving past countless bodies amongst the narrowly claustrophobic aisles, we finally got all we needed and proceeded to the row of checkout counters guarding the entrance.
As the efficient checkout lady was ringing up the items I started to space out. So I was rather taken aback when I heard her announce the total amount due in a robotic drone:
"Twen. Ty. Eight. Four. Ty. Five."
I turned to her in surprise; then realized that it was the cash register that had talked. When my mom paid the cashier and the transaction was completed, the amazing register again droned:
"Thank. You. Have. A. Nice. Day. "
It reminded me of cabs in New York City which have built-in recordings that greet and thank passengers. I was amused by them when I first experienced them, but I wasn't impressed with how impersonal it was.
I suppose every consumer likes to hear a cheery welcome and then a heartfelt thank you at the end. Getting machines to do the dirty work is a stroke of genius since it relieves front line staff of having to cramp their faces with fake smiles all day long. But why has the principle of customer service degraded to such a state? Is it really so much to ask for one in this line to be welcoming and courteous?
I should program an "Excuse me!" voice into my phone and play it in a loop whenever I'm back at the supermart. I should fit right in with the store philosophy.
The full-tilt jungle madness, sometimes also known as 'children's camp' in more PC circles, concluded yesterday leaving in its wake a trail littered with exhausted youths and adults who had helped in running the camp. It's one thing to have 150 screaming kids running amok, some uptight people would get into a frothy lather about it, but it's quite another to see the fun art work they come up with.
I was invited to be a judge for the art & craft segment in which the various groups were supposed to construct an ark that could float in water, as well as an artistic mural depicting a Bible story or event.
Here are some pics of Noah's Ark as conjured up in a manner only young minds could have the freedom to do so...
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Oh, how I love performing!
Last night, I was part of a recital organized by my voice teacher for his students. The small audience comprised of cheering family members and supportive friends who showed up with camcorders, flashing cameras and bouquets of flowers.
I sang one of the pieces from my voice exam in July so I didn't really have to prepare very much for it. But I thoroughly enjoyed the thrilling process leading up to the recital - the practices with the professional pianist that my teacher hired, revising my song lyrics, taking out my neglected suit, meeting all the other students and going through the full dress rehearsal with them and, finally, experiencing the hushed and nail-biting moments backstage before the curtains parted for my entrance and I stepped out into the harsh blinding lights.
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I have always loved the stage. During my previous years in various choirs I was able to perform in many locations in and out of Singapore, and I was always eager to be a good ambassador of the group I represented to those who took the time to attend our concerts. While it's true that there's always an element of nervousness just before any performance, I think a deep love for music-making and a strong desire to share this gift with other music lovers should overcome that.
Now that I'm in the role of music director I seldom have such an opportunity to sing and perform - and I realized just how much I miss it. So I'm glad to have had this chance - I will cherish the memories till the next recital comes around!
Today was one of those days where I had to dine all by my lonesome self (and in total misery, too) because all my colleagues had someone else better to dine with. So after forcing some food down between dramatic self-pitying sighs at the food court at Downtown East, I was dragging my feet back to the office when a wee long-haired girl of about 8 meandered close by.
Wee Girl: Cane Lane Tendons?
I wasn't sure if she was even talking to me so I slowed down and looked around. Ok, so no one else was nearby; then I looked at her quizzically.
Wee Girl: Cane Lane Tendons?
This time I ascertained she was looking at me, but I still couldn't figure out what she was mumbling about. Her older brother, I'd say he was about 10, was hovering behind her. Both were wearing black t-shirts, jeans, and had tags on lanyards around their necks.
Me: I'm sorry?
Wee Girl: Cane Lane Tendons?
I thought, I must be getting deaf or the generation gap is wider than I previously assumed.
Me: I don't understand what you're saying.
Wee Girl, a little bolder: Can you lend us ten dollars?
Good, I understood that! I'm not a dinosaur yet!
Me: Ten dollars? Why do you need ten dollars?
Wee Girl: We want to get home.
Me: Why do you need ten dollars to get home?
Wee Girl glances away: ...
Me: Where do you live?
Wee Girl: Ang Mo Kio.
Me: How did you get here in the first place?
Wee Girl: ...
Me: What happened to your money?
Wee Girl: Just now we had money, but now, I don't know.
Is this some sort of scam, I thought.
Me: What do you mean, you don't know?
Wee Girl: ...
Her big brother stops hovering and sort of saunters into the conversation now.
Me: Why do you need ten dollars to get home? If you take the MRT to Ang Mo Kio it won't cost that much.
Big Brother: Where is the MRT station?
Me: If you walk out of here in this direction (I indicate it with my arm) you'll see it. It's walking distance.
Big Brother turns to Wee Girl: Ok, we'll go to the MRT.
They both turned away from me in a bid to inform me that my presence was no longer required.
What a strange episode!
I’m sitting here in front of my dusty laptop, trying to sieve through the muck in my head for a shining nugget of significance to blog about. Well, needless to say, I’m not even close to succeeding.
Someone once told me, and very seriously too, that I was frequently in a world of my own. When my thoughts start to move inwards and I get caught up in the whirlwind of my experiences and fantasies, I get quickly (and gleefully) transported to fantastical far-flung locales that probably don't exist.
Now that I think about it, my thought patterns seem to vacillate between fulfilling a singular task with great concentration and letting a violent flood of random ideas overcome me. Left on my own, my thoughts pile atop each other and amalgamate into a swirling mesh of conflicting emotions – maybe that’s why I’m known to be moody (or psychotic depending on whom you ask).
Right now the babble in my head has somewhat abated into a low genteel murmur. I suspect it has to do with the comforting quiet of an overcast but cool Monday afternoon at home. Only a few issues stand out – the upcoming Christmas program, my Romans assignment, the videogame I’m currently engaged in, where to go for dinner…
So here’s to savoring a moment of respite before the madness starts up again.
I was SO looking forward to having the spanking new camera in my grubby hands by now, but let's just say the transaction didn't sail through.
I am quite disappointed; but it's because it's hard to come down from my own excitement at what I thought would be a straightforward purchase. However, I have no qualms about patiently waiting and looking out for a good deal to come my way.
It's not like I absolutely have to have it this instant.
In the meantime, I guess it's back to living vicariously through those who do own the camera I want - and I suppose more research can't hurt, right? :)
Well, I've gone and done it.
After the past weeks of reading every bit of information I could scour from the Net till the wee hours of the morning (now you know the truth behind why I'm taking so long to recover from this dumb flu), I've made arrangements to purchase a new camera tomorrow evening.
The past months with my Casio have been very rewarding. I've enjoyed taking nearly 2000 shots with it already! But it's time to expand my knowledge and skill beyond what this little camera can offer. So it's finally off to the big bad world of dSLR where the big boys play.
A new experience beckons - and I can't wait to take my first fledging step!
Sounds suspiciously like health-nuttism propaganda, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it's nothing quite so dramatic, but rather, just great food that's priced just right.
This little hang-out, located on the second floor of Century Square at Tampines, is tucked away at the corner of the 'Exclusively Hers' segment. Yes, I know, I know; I never knew about the existance of this gem myself since guys won't be caught dead in this part of the mall on their own, but I was shown the light by Nita so I no longer have any fear of treading onto the female domain.
The premises are small, but cosy and neat. The menu is not very varied but serves quality and innovative concoctions. Essential oils, dried fruits and nuts, and very clever homemade sauces feature prominantly on the attractive menu - everything edible is all organic, of course.
The starter of the ironically-named 'Diet Salad' already set the tone for the meal. Fresh greens tossed with bell peppers, nuts, dried fruits, tomatoes, cucumbers, alfafa sprouts and fresh strawberries in a creamy yoghurt and cottage cheese dressing all came together beautifully in a deliciously hearty and substantial serving. This ain't no fine dining stalk-of-celery-drizzled-with-olive-oil. It's a complete meal in itself.
The grilled salmon was served in a creamy sweet mango sauce with fresh cubed fruits and vegetables. My compliments to the chef! It sounds strange, but there's nothing strange about good tasting food. And when it's also healthy, well, that's a rare experience you shouldn't turn down.
Ambience: 4 out of 5
Food: 4.5 out of 5
Price: 4 out of 5
Overall: Highly Recommended!
The Internet is a dangerous entity.
For instance, my continuing research for a suitable camera to upgrade to has led me down paths I had no wish to tread, and from which I can't turn back from either (that's just a fancy way of saying I'll need to spend more than what I had originally intended).
In the same breath, if not for the dastardly Internet, I would probably have made some very uninformed choices which would have resulted in some undeserved usage of some very precious (and scarce) dollar bills.
Can't live with it, can't live without it... *sigh*
Sounds familiar eh?