Working at least over one weekend in office has seemed to be almost an annual ritual. This year, I was in office on a whole Sunday morning. I started at around 830 am and ended only at 130pm. It was half a morning.
I groaned when I thought of the long week ahead.
I must keep my spirits up especially when my bosses had worked over the 2 days during weekend while I merely worked for 5 hours.
February 28, 2009
February 27, 2009
Hougang Mall
I have never been to Hougang Mall for a long time as I was busy with family matters for the past 6 months. I was surprised by the transformation in Hougang Mall. It seemed to be expanded and the number of eateries had increased. When I passed by Qiji, I was so excited. I always craved for the nasi lemak and mee siam of Qiji. Now, I did not have to venture to Marina Square or Bugis for their set meals. I could also eat in Hougang.
Just as Orchard Road was undergoing transformation, it seemed that the heartland malls were all undergoing their own transformation. I wondered whether such transformation could also have been accelerated with the introduction of Reits in Singapore so that many Trusts were trying to enhance the yield of the malls.
Nevertheless, consumers all stood to benefit.
Just as Orchard Road was undergoing transformation, it seemed that the heartland malls were all undergoing their own transformation. I wondered whether such transformation could also have been accelerated with the introduction of Reits in Singapore so that many Trusts were trying to enhance the yield of the malls.
Nevertheless, consumers all stood to benefit.
February 26, 2009
Friday Night in Office
It was Friday. We were all looking forward to an early night and long weekend. Alas, our bosses asked us to stay back as they headed for yet another budget review meeting with CEO. Our hopes were dashed. What we could hope for was the meeting to end as early as possible so that despite burning our Friday nights, we could at least have an early night home to rest.
Since we have completed most of our work, we were just sitting in front of our PC whiling away our time. Our mood depressed as the minutes ticked by. To one point, we were simply in no more mood to work anymore. We were chatting and complaining yet another long night.
At one point, to help cheer us up and to kill them, we started playing a logo game to identify as many logos as possible. It seemed strange that the prevalence of advertisement meant that we were exposed to do many brands and logos almost everywhere we turned. However, despite the famliarity of the logo, we just could not put a finger to the brand.
We laughed at ourselves over brands that we could not identify. Time flew while one was having fun. Before we knew it, it was close to nine pm in the night and our bosses should be coming back soon.
More depressing news awaited when they came back. We would need to work over the weekend in office. :-(
Since we have completed most of our work, we were just sitting in front of our PC whiling away our time. Our mood depressed as the minutes ticked by. To one point, we were simply in no more mood to work anymore. We were chatting and complaining yet another long night.
At one point, to help cheer us up and to kill them, we started playing a logo game to identify as many logos as possible. It seemed strange that the prevalence of advertisement meant that we were exposed to do many brands and logos almost everywhere we turned. However, despite the famliarity of the logo, we just could not put a finger to the brand.
We laughed at ourselves over brands that we could not identify. Time flew while one was having fun. Before we knew it, it was close to nine pm in the night and our bosses should be coming back soon.
More depressing news awaited when they came back. We would need to work over the weekend in office. :-(
February 25, 2009
Eat, Pray and Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat – in Italy where the tastebuds of Elizabeth were indulged in various pastas.
Pray – in India’s Ashram where her mind and emotions went through roller coaster as she settled into mediation and praying.
Love - in Bali with her second husband who waited as she completed the rediscovery of herself.
Elizabeth Gilbert felt trapped in the marriage. She consoled herself in the bathroom every night. One day, she decided to call it quits. She started a journey to recuperate from this emotional trauma, to rediscover herself and to fulfill the dreams she used to have.
She started with Italy where she tasted the delicious pasta and gained back the weight that she had lost during her divorce. She also started learning Italy – her favourite language. While learning the language, she immersed in the Italian culture and fell in love with the city.
Being a spiritual person, after seeking fulfillment in her physical health, she went to India and to her Guru’s Ashram to cultivate her mental health. From being unaccustomed to meditation to getting the cleansing of her spirits from meditation, she met friends and sought inner peace.
Bali was the final destination in a year’s long journey to reunite with the old medicinal man that she has met many years ago during her magazine assignment. She wanted to learn about the world from this old medicinal man who taught her a different kind of meditation. In Bali, she had started to welcome enjoyment of the company of friends into her life. She also helped her friend in Bali built her house for herself and her daughter.
Her courage in walking away from a comfortable life to seek herself and the true meaning of her stay on Earth was very motivational. How many of us felt void in the current life we are leading? Yet, how many of us could really pack our bags and go? How many of us had many dreams since young but now these dreams remained a distant memory? Elizabeth had gone to India and Bali with no friends. Yet, she had come back with a soul mate.
If we can suddenly so drastically drop everything in our life, maybe we can start small? We can start with doing something we would like to do and dropping something that we do not like. Making big steps may be more encouraging as many may feel frustrated when they do not see progress. However, if life commitments do not permit, you can always start small.
I must also start thinking and planning.
Pray – in India’s Ashram where her mind and emotions went through roller coaster as she settled into mediation and praying.
Love - in Bali with her second husband who waited as she completed the rediscovery of herself.
Elizabeth Gilbert felt trapped in the marriage. She consoled herself in the bathroom every night. One day, she decided to call it quits. She started a journey to recuperate from this emotional trauma, to rediscover herself and to fulfill the dreams she used to have.
She started with Italy where she tasted the delicious pasta and gained back the weight that she had lost during her divorce. She also started learning Italy – her favourite language. While learning the language, she immersed in the Italian culture and fell in love with the city.
Being a spiritual person, after seeking fulfillment in her physical health, she went to India and to her Guru’s Ashram to cultivate her mental health. From being unaccustomed to meditation to getting the cleansing of her spirits from meditation, she met friends and sought inner peace.
Bali was the final destination in a year’s long journey to reunite with the old medicinal man that she has met many years ago during her magazine assignment. She wanted to learn about the world from this old medicinal man who taught her a different kind of meditation. In Bali, she had started to welcome enjoyment of the company of friends into her life. She also helped her friend in Bali built her house for herself and her daughter.
Her courage in walking away from a comfortable life to seek herself and the true meaning of her stay on Earth was very motivational. How many of us felt void in the current life we are leading? Yet, how many of us could really pack our bags and go? How many of us had many dreams since young but now these dreams remained a distant memory? Elizabeth had gone to India and Bali with no friends. Yet, she had come back with a soul mate.
If we can suddenly so drastically drop everything in our life, maybe we can start small? We can start with doing something we would like to do and dropping something that we do not like. Making big steps may be more encouraging as many may feel frustrated when they do not see progress. However, if life commitments do not permit, you can always start small.
I must also start thinking and planning.
February 23, 2009
On Standby
This was the first time we have ever asked to be on standby. In view of the more intense timelines for the budget exercise this year, the bosses would be back in office to review with CFO on Sunday. In case, there were specific questions that our bosses needed help, we would be called upon to explain and investigate.
Standby seemed to apply to more IS personnels rather than people working in Finance. We were all puzzled with what we needed to do when we were on standby. Did this mean we have to come to office and wait? Did this mean we have to stay at home and switch on our PC during the standby hours?
Finally, we clarified. The meaning of standby was for us to just be contactable and preferably with our PCs around to check or to help with more detailed questions.
I was fortunate not to be called during the standby period, but some of my colleagues were made to work over that weekend.
Standby seemed to apply to more IS personnels rather than people working in Finance. We were all puzzled with what we needed to do when we were on standby. Did this mean we have to come to office and wait? Did this mean we have to stay at home and switch on our PC during the standby hours?
Finally, we clarified. The meaning of standby was for us to just be contactable and preferably with our PCs around to check or to help with more detailed questions.
I was fortunate not to be called during the standby period, but some of my colleagues were made to work over that weekend.
February 22, 2009
Can You Keep a Secret - Self Revelation
I should not wait until I encounter air turbulence before I spill the beans. I also do not want to make this a confession time. Yet, sometimes coming clean can bring about immense relief.
I am sorry to disappoint you if you are waiting for some sensational secrets that I am about to divulge. Please do not misunderstand. It is not because I am being protective and refusing to let the wrong truth out. It is simply because I have led too bored a life to have any jaw-dropping secrets to reveal. I am in a dilemma of whether I should feel happy or sad for such a wall-paper life.
No matter how 'beige' a person I am. There are still inevitably some mischiefs and embarrassments. Let me take a deep breathe. Here it goes:
1) I have broken a mercury thermometer that my mum had newly bought when I was in primary school. I refused to confess and admit my mistake. Till now, the mystery of the culprit remained a secret to my mum.
2) When I was in Primary Six, I was once eaten so full that I vomitted. It was one of the celebrative occasion where there was good food served. Having been brought up in an average family where finances were always tight. Eating good food was always a far flung luxury. When this luxury presented itself, I was so blissfully drowned in it that I ignored all the protests from my gastric.
3) I always envied the petite girls. Standing besides them always made me feel very clumsy.
4) I had to read aloud to myself when I needed to memorise any facts for study. Hence, I never studied outside my home. Imagine if I were to read aloud at the library or the restaurant, I would have been labelled as a lunatic.
Embarrassing? Yes.
Now, you knew about them. Please keep them to yourself. Shh.....
I am sorry to disappoint you if you are waiting for some sensational secrets that I am about to divulge. Please do not misunderstand. It is not because I am being protective and refusing to let the wrong truth out. It is simply because I have led too bored a life to have any jaw-dropping secrets to reveal. I am in a dilemma of whether I should feel happy or sad for such a wall-paper life.
No matter how 'beige' a person I am. There are still inevitably some mischiefs and embarrassments. Let me take a deep breathe. Here it goes:
1) I have broken a mercury thermometer that my mum had newly bought when I was in primary school. I refused to confess and admit my mistake. Till now, the mystery of the culprit remained a secret to my mum.
2) When I was in Primary Six, I was once eaten so full that I vomitted. It was one of the celebrative occasion where there was good food served. Having been brought up in an average family where finances were always tight. Eating good food was always a far flung luxury. When this luxury presented itself, I was so blissfully drowned in it that I ignored all the protests from my gastric.
3) I always envied the petite girls. Standing besides them always made me feel very clumsy.
4) I had to read aloud to myself when I needed to memorise any facts for study. Hence, I never studied outside my home. Imagine if I were to read aloud at the library or the restaurant, I would have been labelled as a lunatic.
Embarrassing? Yes.
Now, you knew about them. Please keep them to yourself. Shh.....
February 21, 2009
D-I-Y Pedicure Removal
Putting on the flowers is easy. Removing them takes a lot of strength as nail polish remover is simply useless in removing this sticker. I eventually have to scrape them off. Hmm, or did I miss out anything?
February 20, 2009
13 going on 30
I used to pride myself as being more mature than some of my peers. While others are painting the town red on weekend night and enjoying their youth, I would rather spend time with my family or my books. I can hear loud protests of labeling me as a mugger (in case mugger is a label only used by my school, it refers to nerds who are busy studying). When some of my peers are purely enjoying their dates as novelty, I always view dates as a way to know the other person and to determine if he is my soul mate. Ok, now I can hear louder protests as this being old fashioned rather than a sign of maturity. Strangely, as I grow older, I feel as if my maturity level has stagnated or progressed at a slower rate than my physical aging.
When I look around now, my peers have become mothers or hold high positions in their jobs. Then I look at myself back, I am still like when I have just graduated. I hold an officer role (with a long distance from managerial role), nowhere near where you would have defined as a high flyer. I am still single with doubts of my ability to take care of another person, much less a family. While some of my friends have started to undertake responsibility to maintain a household, to nurture the next generation and to lead their corporate team to greater heights, I feel slightly daunted at the thought of being put in the same position as them.
You may console me as this being a sign of humility or even diffidence. Perhaps. However, I see this as a sign of my lagging maturity, especially in relation to my aging body.
This deficiency is more in-my-face symptom when I look at myself in the mirror. What used to be tout skin with slightly slanting oriental eyes is now changed. The eyes are no longer slanting but are drooping. The crows’ feet spread out like a web around my eyes. The laugh lines sank deeper. More white hair sprouted and at faster rate than I could count. Suddenly, I felt like a teenager trapped inside a mature body. It certainly takes more than a while to sink in this realization.
Again I drown in this worry of wasting my time on earth and not achieving anything meaningful. Suddenly, spending 5 days a week and more than 10 hours a day in office frustrate me. It seems to be taking time away from me to doing things I should be doing. Wait, calm down. This should be happening to all people. Am I making a mountain out of a moleshill?
Breathe. Deep breathe.
While I get used to the physical age, I should do more to ensure that my emotional, my mental and maturity age follow in tandem. This is yet another alarm clock to warn me not to waste any minute I am given. It should start now.
When I look around now, my peers have become mothers or hold high positions in their jobs. Then I look at myself back, I am still like when I have just graduated. I hold an officer role (with a long distance from managerial role), nowhere near where you would have defined as a high flyer. I am still single with doubts of my ability to take care of another person, much less a family. While some of my friends have started to undertake responsibility to maintain a household, to nurture the next generation and to lead their corporate team to greater heights, I feel slightly daunted at the thought of being put in the same position as them.
You may console me as this being a sign of humility or even diffidence. Perhaps. However, I see this as a sign of my lagging maturity, especially in relation to my aging body.
This deficiency is more in-my-face symptom when I look at myself in the mirror. What used to be tout skin with slightly slanting oriental eyes is now changed. The eyes are no longer slanting but are drooping. The crows’ feet spread out like a web around my eyes. The laugh lines sank deeper. More white hair sprouted and at faster rate than I could count. Suddenly, I felt like a teenager trapped inside a mature body. It certainly takes more than a while to sink in this realization.
Again I drown in this worry of wasting my time on earth and not achieving anything meaningful. Suddenly, spending 5 days a week and more than 10 hours a day in office frustrate me. It seems to be taking time away from me to doing things I should be doing. Wait, calm down. This should be happening to all people. Am I making a mountain out of a moleshill?
Breathe. Deep breathe.
While I get used to the physical age, I should do more to ensure that my emotional, my mental and maturity age follow in tandem. This is yet another alarm clock to warn me not to waste any minute I am given. It should start now.
February 18, 2009
Can You Keep a Secret?
This is chick lit. In case you have not heard chick lit... Chick lit basically refers to literary genre typically meant for women. Many of Sophie Kinsella's books can fall into this category as they tend to be more popular with the ladies than gentlemen. From Confessions of a Shopaholic (which is being adapted to a movie to be released soon) to The Undomesticated Goddess, the main character is often a lady which has a certain shortcoming and her overcoming of this shortcoming and eventually finding romance.
To be frank, I have read The Confessions of a Shopaholic many years ago and have not really like it. I was more captivated by The Undomesticated Goddess. The book which got me addicted was Can You Keep a Secret?
Emma was your typical girl on the street who dreamt of a high flying career with promotion and business trips. When she went on her first business trip, she had to come face to face with her fear of taking an airplane. When the flight went through turbulence, she went into a delirium. She started unloading all her secrets to her fellow passenger who turned up to be the founder of the company she worked for. From embarrassment to falling in love with him, Emma had to learn to deal with a date who knew every little secret about her. At the same time, she learnt to step away from her lies and be open about her feelings.
What is a successful chick lit without a happy ending? Emma and Jack ended happily ever after.
I nearly could not put down the book once I started on the first page. This was the book which got me smiling while I was on the train. I had to suppress my laughter in case my fellow passengers thought that I had a screw loose. Few books had been able to tickle me so much for a long time.
The funniest moment was when Emma went into a secret unloading diarrhoea when she thought she was about to die. How many of us could remain sane and rational when faced with our mortality. It was inevitable that Emma suddenly had a lot of regrets and felt it was the time to also confess her sins for her devious tricks and lies might have been her punishment. The secrets that she revealed might seem trivial but could also be the odd little common lie that you and I might have committed before - such as about your interests in front of your boyfriend, borrowing things from your room-mate, breaking someone else's things, etc.
The irony came when after lashing our her secrets, she had to put up a facade in front of the man who knew them all.
Life was never a bed of roses. Dating the man who knew you best might be your lucky day, but if he also turned up to be the founder of the company with net worth that would bury you alive, you better start worshipping your lucky stars. Yet, a smooth sailing life would be too boring. Just as Emma thought she had found her soul mate. An untactful Jack revealed all he knew about her on National TV. Suddenly, the world turned upside down as everyone knew her secrets and started confronting and teasing her.
Shh... I will not say more in case I spoil it for you. For those who want a good laugh to cheer your day and hopeless romance to assure you that there is hope to life, this will be an ideal book. :-)
To be frank, I have read The Confessions of a Shopaholic many years ago and have not really like it. I was more captivated by The Undomesticated Goddess. The book which got me addicted was Can You Keep a Secret?
Emma was your typical girl on the street who dreamt of a high flying career with promotion and business trips. When she went on her first business trip, she had to come face to face with her fear of taking an airplane. When the flight went through turbulence, she went into a delirium. She started unloading all her secrets to her fellow passenger who turned up to be the founder of the company she worked for. From embarrassment to falling in love with him, Emma had to learn to deal with a date who knew every little secret about her. At the same time, she learnt to step away from her lies and be open about her feelings.
What is a successful chick lit without a happy ending? Emma and Jack ended happily ever after.
I nearly could not put down the book once I started on the first page. This was the book which got me smiling while I was on the train. I had to suppress my laughter in case my fellow passengers thought that I had a screw loose. Few books had been able to tickle me so much for a long time.
The funniest moment was when Emma went into a secret unloading diarrhoea when she thought she was about to die. How many of us could remain sane and rational when faced with our mortality. It was inevitable that Emma suddenly had a lot of regrets and felt it was the time to also confess her sins for her devious tricks and lies might have been her punishment. The secrets that she revealed might seem trivial but could also be the odd little common lie that you and I might have committed before - such as about your interests in front of your boyfriend, borrowing things from your room-mate, breaking someone else's things, etc.
The irony came when after lashing our her secrets, she had to put up a facade in front of the man who knew them all.
Life was never a bed of roses. Dating the man who knew you best might be your lucky day, but if he also turned up to be the founder of the company with net worth that would bury you alive, you better start worshipping your lucky stars. Yet, a smooth sailing life would be too boring. Just as Emma thought she had found her soul mate. An untactful Jack revealed all he knew about her on National TV. Suddenly, the world turned upside down as everyone knew her secrets and started confronting and teasing her.
Shh... I will not say more in case I spoil it for you. For those who want a good laugh to cheer your day and hopeless romance to assure you that there is hope to life, this will be an ideal book. :-)
February 15, 2009
Safra Yishun
Safra Yishun is just beside Yishun Park.
Out of curiosity of what is inside Safra Yishun, I venture into the Club after my jog. It has a large swimming pool. Actually, I think there are more than one pool because there are at least a lap pool and a children pool.
There is an overhanging bridge which provides a bird's eye view of the pools.
There are also 2 set-ups for rock climbing. For rock climbers, this will be an ideal spot to test your perseverance and skills.
The clubhouse houses a fruit machine room, a billiard room, ballrooms, Eatzi restaurant and a Chinese restaurant. The Club grounds are open to public, but membership is required for using the facilities.
Yishun Park
Slacking breeds sloth. The more inactive one is, the harder it is to become active. To those who are exercise maniac, it is perhaps inconceivable on how much motivation it takes to keep a regular exercise regime, especially one which often takes a back seat to other more critical activities, like sleep and work.
With the new year, I should really start disciplining myself. The weekly yoga session is barely enough to keep the rickety old bones in shape. I have to do more. With Saturday morning being taken up by yoga classes, I am left with Sunday mornings to catch-up on other exercises.
I like jogging because it is something that can be done anytime and anywhere as long as you have a pair of trainers. It is something that does not require the gathering of a team which is an arduous task in light of the busy schedule of everyone. It is something that I can do at my own pace without fear of dragging anyone down or hogging certain facilities unnecessarily. Jogging also allows for multitasking - I can get my heart pumping, my calf muscles stretched, think about stuff while listening to the latest pop songs.
Yishun Park is often crowded with people, even on weekday mornings. I should really learn from the residents in Yishun. I wonder what is the charm of the park that keeps everyone so motivated.
The running route is not too strenuous, ie the uphill route is not too steep. The routes are lined with many trees. Many trees are growing haphazardly to resemble a real forest. The fresh air boosts the working of our hearts. The crisp fresh air also helps clear the fog in our heads. With occasional jogger running past you, one does not feel so isolated in the inroads.
If you are lucky, you can even spot the monkey family 'gracing' the park and entertaining the visitors with their 'feeding' session. If you are tired from all the sweat and pants, it is a good time to slow down and watch the monkey play (no pun intended) for a while.
After the jog, my guilt eases a little over the trash food and the sedentary lifestyle that I have subject my body to. The greetings from the monkeys also cheer me up in the morning so that I am more energised for the day.
I should come back more often. If you have the time, maybe you can join me at Yishun Park.
With the new year, I should really start disciplining myself. The weekly yoga session is barely enough to keep the rickety old bones in shape. I have to do more. With Saturday morning being taken up by yoga classes, I am left with Sunday mornings to catch-up on other exercises.
I like jogging because it is something that can be done anytime and anywhere as long as you have a pair of trainers. It is something that does not require the gathering of a team which is an arduous task in light of the busy schedule of everyone. It is something that I can do at my own pace without fear of dragging anyone down or hogging certain facilities unnecessarily. Jogging also allows for multitasking - I can get my heart pumping, my calf muscles stretched, think about stuff while listening to the latest pop songs.
Yishun Park is often crowded with people, even on weekday mornings. I should really learn from the residents in Yishun. I wonder what is the charm of the park that keeps everyone so motivated.
The running route is not too strenuous, ie the uphill route is not too steep. The routes are lined with many trees. Many trees are growing haphazardly to resemble a real forest. The fresh air boosts the working of our hearts. The crisp fresh air also helps clear the fog in our heads. With occasional jogger running past you, one does not feel so isolated in the inroads.
If you are lucky, you can even spot the monkey family 'gracing' the park and entertaining the visitors with their 'feeding' session. If you are tired from all the sweat and pants, it is a good time to slow down and watch the monkey play (no pun intended) for a while.
After the jog, my guilt eases a little over the trash food and the sedentary lifestyle that I have subject my body to. The greetings from the monkeys also cheer me up in the morning so that I am more energised for the day.
I should come back more often. If you have the time, maybe you can join me at Yishun Park.
February 14, 2009
Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day to those who have found your soul mates!
Happy Friendship's Day to those who are still waiting for your soul mates!
Happy Friendship's Day to those who are still waiting for your soul mates!
February 11, 2009
Tropical Sakura
Seeing Sakura (Cherry Blossom) is always a dream. Sakura is no longer available only in Japan. Now, Sakura can also be found in Taiwan and Korea.
I do not need to travel to foreign lands to see Sakura, or at least a look-alike version of Sakura.
This is not Sakura but it looks like Sakura from afar with the crown of pink and no leaves. I am not an expert in flora and fauna, but I tentatively nickname this the Tropical Sakura. Glazing at the soft pink is a good way to start the morning, especially when I can see it daily from my living and bedroom.
February 09, 2009
Largest Moon
There is a full moon on the 15th day of every Lunar month. The full moon on the 15th day of Chinese New Year was touted to be one of the brightest and biggest moons for many years as this was the time when the Moon was nearest to the earth.
Have you seen this phenomenon?
The moon was indeed big but was not bright was it was hidden behind a veil of cloud.
Have you seen a different moon from me?
Have you seen this phenomenon?
The moon was indeed big but was not bright was it was hidden behind a veil of cloud.
Have you seen a different moon from me?
February 07, 2009
Fa Qi Ren Bak Kut Teh
We passed by this Bak Kut Teh restaurant (I classify it as a restaurant because it has waitresses and waitors and is airconditioned) many times along Balestier Road. Other than Tau Sar Piah (Chinese pastry with bean paste as filling), lights, Chicken Rice (Loy Kee and Boon Tong Kee), one well-known Bah Chor Mee stall, Balestier is also well-known for Bak Kut Teh (Pork Rib Soup).
There are many pork rib soups along the stretch of Balestier Road, which is not a very spacious or long road. Just as you lose some confidence in the quality of the laksa along Katong with so many stalls calling themselves as THE laksa stall in Katong, many similarly are doubtful of the tastiness of the pork rib soups in Balestier. There is this stall which will only operate in the morning. There are pork rib soups in the restaurants of the many 'boutique' hotels. Which is THE one or ones?
After hearing that Fa Qi Ren was rather reasonably-priced, we decided to try. Sometimes, I feel very cheated when I have certain expectations of the quality of the food and to be hugely disappointed by the taste, the price and the entire dining experience even though it is touted to be The one. Hence, I am always a little apprehensive in trying such 'signature' food stalls in areas which are well-known for certain food.
When I walked into the restaurant, I was instantaneously blinded by the many photos of the celebrities taking photos with the owner. We ordered the normal bak kut teh, prickles and the little instestines. You can also opt for the higher end longer ribs. Well, the bak kut teh was above average as the meat was rather tough. It did not disappoint me but I would think it was the best. What impressed me was more of the little instestines as it was very supple and fresh. The soy sauce to sauteed the instestines was very aromatic. As the preparation of intestines required alot of effort to keep it clean, the tastiness of the dish would probably lure me in for a second visit.
If you ask me, I will give it 3.5 spoons out of 5 spoons. *Wink*
February 04, 2009
The Twentieth Wife
Many of us had heard of the devoted love of Emperor Shah Jahan to his wife when he built Taj Mahal in her memory. The poignant romantic story between Kurram and Arjumand gripped many around the world. For those of us who are foreign to the history of the Mughal Emperors, few have heard of Salim and Mehrunnisa who were more known as Emperor Jahangir and Empress Nur Jahan.
Mehrunnisa, translated to "Sun of the Women", was the twentieth wife of Emperor Jahangir in India. Their love spent over many years since when they were teenagers. The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan narrated the tale from the birth of Mehrunnisa to her marriage to Jahangir. It is a work of fiction based on reality.
Mehrunnisa was born to the Ghias Beg family while they were fleeing from Persia to India. Being on the run and with no money, Ghias initially wanted to abandon Mehrunnisa. When Mehrunnisa was picked up by a fellow merchant traveller who had helped sponsor part of Ghias's trip to India. Mehrunnisa was saved and continued to stay with her family.
Since young, Mehrunnisa had been bright and pretty - the apple of the eye of Ghias who continued to indulge in Mehrunnisa and discussing politics with her. When Mehrunnisa first met Prince Salim - the eldest prince and heir to the throne, she fell in love with him. However, it was a one-sided affair. When Prince Salim finally laid his eyes on Mehrunnisa in the chambers of the then Empress - his stepmother, he too fell in love with her. For days, he could not forget her. Their love was not meant to blossom in their first encounter as Mehrunnisa was bethrothed to another man shortly after.
From then to they were finally together about more than a decade later, the royal family witnessed the betrayal of Salim to his father in Salim's desire for the throne. It also witnessed the fall from grace of Mehrunnisa's father - Ghias Beg during the reign of Jahangir as he was guilty of accepting bribes. The Indian court also was torn between the fight between Salim and his eldest son - Khusrau for the throne. Eventually, Salim had to blind Khusrau as his punishment when Khusrau's many attempts to assassinate Salim failed.
Salim was the only man that Mehrunnisa had loved but she did not defy the Emperor or his father's wishes. Even after the marriage, she tried her best to fulfil her obligations as a wife and mother despite losing many unborn children to miscarriage. Even when Salim wanted to invoke an Act to force the divorce of Mehrunnisa and her husband in Salim's capacity as the Emperor, Mehrunnisa had remained faithful to her husband.
It was only with the brutal death of her husband when her husband attempted to join the rebels was she freed. Even then, she had avoided the Emperor until many years later.
Mehrunnisa was a woman who surpassed the women of all eras. She was more than a feministic woman who might have transcended her time. Despite adversity, she remained strong and calm. Beneath her love for Salim, she remained devoted to her husband and remained fair in her judgement of Salim's delinquent actions. Even when making decisions against her wishes, she would also consider carefully after weighing the consequences of her actions to the community at large, the perception of the citizens to their ruler and even the reputation of her family. She was a role model for many women of all ages.
If you have time for a little romance, brief history of Indian rulers and the dreams and aspirations of a young Indian lady, The Twentieth Wife would keep you entertained during those leisure hours. Moreover, after being exposed so much to various American and British writers, it was refreshing to take on a new style from an Indian writer.
Mehrunnisa, translated to "Sun of the Women", was the twentieth wife of Emperor Jahangir in India. Their love spent over many years since when they were teenagers. The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan narrated the tale from the birth of Mehrunnisa to her marriage to Jahangir. It is a work of fiction based on reality.
Mehrunnisa was born to the Ghias Beg family while they were fleeing from Persia to India. Being on the run and with no money, Ghias initially wanted to abandon Mehrunnisa. When Mehrunnisa was picked up by a fellow merchant traveller who had helped sponsor part of Ghias's trip to India. Mehrunnisa was saved and continued to stay with her family.
Since young, Mehrunnisa had been bright and pretty - the apple of the eye of Ghias who continued to indulge in Mehrunnisa and discussing politics with her. When Mehrunnisa first met Prince Salim - the eldest prince and heir to the throne, she fell in love with him. However, it was a one-sided affair. When Prince Salim finally laid his eyes on Mehrunnisa in the chambers of the then Empress - his stepmother, he too fell in love with her. For days, he could not forget her. Their love was not meant to blossom in their first encounter as Mehrunnisa was bethrothed to another man shortly after.
From then to they were finally together about more than a decade later, the royal family witnessed the betrayal of Salim to his father in Salim's desire for the throne. It also witnessed the fall from grace of Mehrunnisa's father - Ghias Beg during the reign of Jahangir as he was guilty of accepting bribes. The Indian court also was torn between the fight between Salim and his eldest son - Khusrau for the throne. Eventually, Salim had to blind Khusrau as his punishment when Khusrau's many attempts to assassinate Salim failed.
Salim was the only man that Mehrunnisa had loved but she did not defy the Emperor or his father's wishes. Even after the marriage, she tried her best to fulfil her obligations as a wife and mother despite losing many unborn children to miscarriage. Even when Salim wanted to invoke an Act to force the divorce of Mehrunnisa and her husband in Salim's capacity as the Emperor, Mehrunnisa had remained faithful to her husband.
It was only with the brutal death of her husband when her husband attempted to join the rebels was she freed. Even then, she had avoided the Emperor until many years later.
Mehrunnisa was a woman who surpassed the women of all eras. She was more than a feministic woman who might have transcended her time. Despite adversity, she remained strong and calm. Beneath her love for Salim, she remained devoted to her husband and remained fair in her judgement of Salim's delinquent actions. Even when making decisions against her wishes, she would also consider carefully after weighing the consequences of her actions to the community at large, the perception of the citizens to their ruler and even the reputation of her family. She was a role model for many women of all ages.
If you have time for a little romance, brief history of Indian rulers and the dreams and aspirations of a young Indian lady, The Twentieth Wife would keep you entertained during those leisure hours. Moreover, after being exposed so much to various American and British writers, it was refreshing to take on a new style from an Indian writer.
February 02, 2009
The Battle of Red Cliff I (赤壁)
Courtesy of my sister's friend, we were able to watch this film via the DVD. It was about the battle taking place at Red Cliff between Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Part I set the scene leading the the eventual battle where Zhuge Liang visited Sun Quan to request that they joined forces to fend off Cao Cao.
Zhuge Liang met Zhou Yu - the well regarded general and strategist of Sun Quan. They plotted the Eight Trigrams Formation which led them to the first victory against the army of Cao Cao. However, the main battle would lie in the rivers with tens of thousands of ships from Cao Cao.
Typical of a war film, the show too lined with many bloody scenes of soldiers dying. For someone with a weak stomach or terrified at seeing blood, such scenes could be abit uncomfortable. I remembered watching 2 other epic films which also touched on plotting, killing and assassination - A Battle of Wits (墨攻) and The Banquet (夜宴). Both also had many scenes where one would see intricate sword fights and bloodshed. Such scenes could be slightly uncomfortable to watch when there were too many.
Back to Red Cliff, it was overall an interesting movie to catch. My friends practically waxed lyrical over it as during a dinner the weekend before, we spent a good hour discussing about the movie.
Zhuge Liang met Zhou Yu - the well regarded general and strategist of Sun Quan. They plotted the Eight Trigrams Formation which led them to the first victory against the army of Cao Cao. However, the main battle would lie in the rivers with tens of thousands of ships from Cao Cao.
Typical of a war film, the show too lined with many bloody scenes of soldiers dying. For someone with a weak stomach or terrified at seeing blood, such scenes could be abit uncomfortable. I remembered watching 2 other epic films which also touched on plotting, killing and assassination - A Battle of Wits (墨攻) and The Banquet (夜宴). Both also had many scenes where one would see intricate sword fights and bloodshed. Such scenes could be slightly uncomfortable to watch when there were too many.
Back to Red Cliff, it was overall an interesting movie to catch. My friends practically waxed lyrical over it as during a dinner the weekend before, we spent a good hour discussing about the movie.
February 01, 2009
House of Flying Daggers (十面埋伏)
This is a film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro. It was a film lined with many martial arts scenes and beautiful sceneries in the backdrop. The beautiful sceneries were vivid with colours - with bamboo scenes, by the rivers, in the forest with autumn leaves.
Zhang Ziyi played a member of the Flying Dagger Tribe. She posed as the blind daughter of the Tribe chief to lure the government officials who were hot on their trails of nailing the tribe down. Takeshi Kaneshiro was the spy of the government officials who befriended Zhang Ziyi hoping that she would lead him to their hiding place. What started as harmless flirting each bearing his or her own agenda soon developed into real romance.
All the leads played dual role in the movie. Andy Lau was a spy sent by the Flying Daggers to keep tab of the government officials. Andy Lau and Zhang Ziyi used to be lovers. However, this love turned to hatred when he discovered than Zhang Ziyi had genuinely fallen in love with Takeshi Kaneshiro.
To save Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Ziyi sacrificed herself.
This might seen like a typical triangle romance movie. However, the kaleidoscopic scenes were a visual joy. The effects of flying daggers and bamboo added excitement to a simple romantic movie. The dual roles played by all the leads added some mystery and suspense.
It was overall an enjoyable show.
Zhang Ziyi played a member of the Flying Dagger Tribe. She posed as the blind daughter of the Tribe chief to lure the government officials who were hot on their trails of nailing the tribe down. Takeshi Kaneshiro was the spy of the government officials who befriended Zhang Ziyi hoping that she would lead him to their hiding place. What started as harmless flirting each bearing his or her own agenda soon developed into real romance.
All the leads played dual role in the movie. Andy Lau was a spy sent by the Flying Daggers to keep tab of the government officials. Andy Lau and Zhang Ziyi used to be lovers. However, this love turned to hatred when he discovered than Zhang Ziyi had genuinely fallen in love with Takeshi Kaneshiro.
To save Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Ziyi sacrificed herself.
This might seen like a typical triangle romance movie. However, the kaleidoscopic scenes were a visual joy. The effects of flying daggers and bamboo added excitement to a simple romantic movie. The dual roles played by all the leads added some mystery and suspense.
It was overall an enjoyable show.
7th Day of Lunar New Year - Everybody's Birthday
It is the 7th day of the Lunar New Year. It is also everybody's birthday - Ren Ri.
There are many different ways of celebrating this day depending on your dialect group. For the teochews, we have to eat the seven types of vegetables - each signifying an auspicious meaning. These seven types of vegetables are believed to bring us long lasting youth.
What is Chinese New Year without the signature Singaporean dish of Yu Sang (Yu Sheng) - a colourful combination of sliced radish, carrots, cucumber, jelly fish, crackers, honey, oil, peanuts and sashimi (raw fish)? Lo Hei which means tossing and mixing these ingredients together to signify a prosperous year ahead is a traditional and fun practice. Ren Ri offers an opportune time for our Lo Hei session. 
Well, it is quite a lot of work to D-I-Y Yu Sang, so we have purchased a take-away from Sakae Sushi since my family collectively agree that it is one of the better ones.
What do you have for your Ren Ri?
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