Wrap Up the 2023 and Welcome the 2024

 

:) (Pic source: wonder_doodles)

Today is the last day of the year 2023. It has been a great year for me. A year filled with time enjoyed with my dear families and friends. A year filled with so many travel and to many new places. A year filled with so many beautiful moments, especially it marks a transformation of my dear son entering the adulthood. I could see how people surrounded me changed too, many for the better and some for the worse. 

This is a year when I join the work life back. Not just any work, but relates to what I have learned and experienced before. Fate plays a big part of it because I work back with my Boss from my first job here in Singapore.

The job and environment are still felt like a dream for me. Not many people are having this kind of job. Back to office hours and five-days a week. Strategic and good location. With one very good and understanding Boss to report to. 

Somehow, it changes me. With most of the time working alone, it has transformed me to enjoy my own accompany more. It gives me room to learn and do what I love doing. 

Never stop being grateful :)

In less than 24 hours, we will embrace to another year. There are so many things I feel thankful and grateful for - all the time that has transformed me to where I am now. 

I want to thank everyone who ever been part of my life journey, for their love, friendships, time spent, and things to learn from them.

I want to thank those who choose to leave too, because from them, I also learn many things in life - impermanence, human nature, and so on. 

On friendships (Pic source: innergrowthreset)

With the experience, it teaches me that not everyone is treating friendship the same way I do. For those who knows me well or long enough, I was the type who try my best to maintain friendship by keeping in touch often (no matter where my friends are - near or far), because I feel grateful for their presence in my life. 

I am no longer treating it the same way now. I take this matter easily now. If people do not wish to part of my life, I will be happily let them go. Why make life difficult? I will treasure those who stay and who treasure the friendship back.

Earlier on, I planned to travel only to new places and less to those I often travel to. However, my priority changes now. Time keeps going. We are getting older every seconds every minutes. My parents and siblings are getting older each day. I myself am getting older too. I just think that I want to spend more time with them, especially we live in different countries and my time to travel is limited. I hope we will spend good time together.

Law of attraction - money affirmation for 2024
(Pic source: financial_wanderlust)

I know it seems a bit late for me to start thinking about retirement. Many of my friends had started it much earlier. But I believe that everyone has their own time for what they do. And I have positive thought about this. At least it gives me motivation and short-term goals at least for the next 5 years :D Hope the above money affirmations, will help me to achieve my goals, and yours too :)

2024 Resolutions

My goals in life is still the same: to be healthy and happy, in peace, and blessed with loving people throughout my life. 

Life, no matter how rich you are, how you are able to travel to many new and wonderful places, but if you do not take care of your health, you will lose the joy. As I get older, I learn more from people surrounded me. And I learn from myself too.

When I was sick, even just a mere fever, flu  and cough - not a life threatening disease - it made my life miserable enough. Everything felt cold. I had to wear winter sweater in such a tropical country like Singapore. 

Non-stop cough disturbed my sleep all through the night. Packets of tissues were used to clear my mucus and made my nose red and dry. Tasteless bud and not being able to smell ruined even the most delicious dishes in front of you. 

Weigh loss that in the beginning seemed to be a happy thing, became something that I got worried of. 

With more variants of Covid and lung infections spreading, I pray that everyone will be free from it.

I wish for more exercises and eat a balance and healthy food intake in order to maintain a good healthy. 

Don't worry, be happy :)
(Pic source: doodlesndreams)

And as I grow older, I realised that mental health is very important too!!! I truly wish and hope that everyone could be free themselves from such suffering and rest their mind in peace, so that they can focus on their life goals - mainly for their happiness and health being. 

Find your happy place :)
(Pic source: doodlesndreams)

I always see my life like a book. I imagine my past as the chapters that has been written and flipped. And I keep writing with a new fresh of paper, the empty and blank one, with the ongoing life that I will live through. 

It consists of good and bad memories. Some chapters are worth to read through again, while some, I never wish to remember. Always remember: we are the author of our own book. Write the way we want it to be. Live from your own heart, not by the expectation of others. Keep it in balance: not too extreme at each side. Most important, fill it with happy memory that one day, you may want to look back and smile reading it. And never give up, when life gives you a hardship to overcome. You are not alone. Share your sadness with anyone near you. Do not keep it to yourself. 

Well, I wish everyone for a wonderful year ahead. For your new beginning in life, and for the continuation of it. All the very best!!! :)

Realisations

Daydreaming

Realisation #1

Long before mobile phone existed, I believed that everyone's most favorite pass time was daydreaming. That was when many poets, writers giving birth to many creations that mostly based on their imaginations ratherthan their experiences in life. Well, at least for me. Daydreaming was my favourite one!!! 

We could daydream just about anything!!! About our singer idols / movie stars, about boy or girl that we secretly had a crush with, about our perfect date that never realised (because it was just too beautiful and perfect to imagine), about having lots of money that never finished, about having perfect figures, beautiful face, long silky hair, and so on. Well, I was too young to daydream something more serious like becoming millionaires, directors, but would not mind of daydreaming about having a dream house / castle-like with maids and butlers ready by our side at any time. Lol!

The beauty of the daydream was that, there was no limit of what we wanted to imagine. As long as we had spare time to waste (like being stuck in the traffic jam, no school next day, even when we pooed inside toilet), we could take our time as much as we wanted. 

We did not need any device for daydreaming, just a head full of imagination, with blank eyes that could stare at anything around. Any place would do too, no need to be in certain place or special ones. Be it at the side of the bus window or car (my favorite ones), at the school's desk, on the bed, and so on.

And the best thing about daydreaming was that, it was free of charge. No monthly subscription to pay (Internet, electricity, mobile plan), no expensive mobile phone required, no computer or desktop required, simply nothing!!!

Do you agree???

Realisation #2

Last time, I used to wonder. In such a small country like Singapore with a population of only around 5 millions people, how come it was very difficult, or hard, or rare, the chance to bump with anyone that I know whenever I was inside the public transports, in MRT or bus station, inside shopping malls and other entertainment complex, as if the number of people that I know over the two decades of living here in Singapore was really small or even non-exist. It couldn't be, right?

We were not living in country like Indonesia that consisted of 18,000 islands (big and small), and over 270 million population. Therefore, the chance to meet someone we know was definitely much lower.

But as I grow old, I realised one thing. Even when we bumped in somewhere, first, the person might not be able to recognise the other party (although most of the time, I could recognise them, even after not meeting for many years). It might be due to the weight gains or losses, aging, make up, plastic surgery (although lesser cases), and so on. 

And even when we might recognise each other, the other party might be in deep thought about anything that happened to them that day (maybe unhappy encounters at work, feeling tired, family problems, money problems, etc.) Therefore, they might be unaware of my presence. 

Second, even when we looked at each other and talked, many times we forgot the name of that person as we might have attended many schools, courses, training places throughout our lives, we might have worked in many establishments over a period of time, and so on. 

Even gathering with so called relatives were usually limited to only once per year during Chinese New year (provided you attend it yearly and not find any excuses to purposely save the angpao distributions), or unless there was any wedding and baby one-month celebration.

You might not be able to keep up with the children growing up faces too, unless you stalk them over Facebook or Instagram accounts. 

And lately, I actually felt very grateful with the rare chance of bumping, because not everyone wanted to meet and greet everyone they knew and bumped into. That was why sometimes, even they knew each other, they would act as if they were stranger. They purposely walked into the opposite direction, stuck their eyes and attention deeply into their mobile phone, closed their eyes when they sat down in the mrt as if they were sleeping, stuck their ears with their ear piece or headphone, acted busy with their laptop, and faster walked as if the loan shark was chasing into them, and so on. 

Many reasons could rise from it. They might not friend anymore due to any misunderstanding, clashes in opinions; they might be facing life difficulties that they were unwilling to share with others (getting retrenched, unemployed, divorce, breaking up, having major sickness, and so on); or people just simply did not like to have such superficial friendship. Well, if you think about it, many friends in our Facebook were people we did not know, had not met before, strangers. But why we keep such friends?

Well, perhaps one day I would come up with realisation #3 regarding that. Hahaha....

Anyway, it was a lovely morning. As I breathe in fresh air from my balcony, all sorts of thought appeared. Wish everyone a wonderful Sunday!!! Please take good care of yourself wherever you are. Flu, cough, lung infection happened everywhere around the world. I am still fighting it and wishing myself to recover soon. Hope all of you are in good health!!!

What and where to eat local food in Singapore

Memories of hawker center and its good food

Many of my friends come to Singapore and they often ask me this question, "What should we eat (local food) in Singapore? And where?", especially for the first timer.

I have been living here for more that twenty years now but it does not mean that I have tried every nice local food here because of many concerns. First, the location. Yes, Singapore is a small country and you can go almost everywhere using the public transport such as MRT and bus. But for me, I do not eat out every day. Even if I do, I just go to the places nearby where I live or work. Otherwise, when I eat out while meeting friends or family members.

Second, the queue. Many eating places in Singapore are famous for its food. But famous often relates to long queue. I would not waste my time queueing too long to eat nice food.

Third, the price. The more famous the place, also the more it nears to city center, shopping belt and other touristic places, the higher the food price would be. For tourist who comes to Singapore once in a while, they would be ready to spend more money for the delicious famous local food. P.S. For eating in restaurant, you have to fork out additional 10% for service charge and 8% (9% in 2024) of GST - Goods and Service Tax, apart from your bill.

But still, I will give some suggestions of what to eat and where. Whether they want to go ahead with it or not, it will be up to them.

First, you might want to experience to eat at the local hawker center. 

"A hawker center or cooked food center is an open-air complex commonly found in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. They were built to provide a more sanitary alternative to mobile hawker carts and contain many stalls that sell different varieties of affordable meals. Dedicated tables and chairs are usually provided for diners." - Source: wikipedia.org

As mentioned above, it is usually slightly more affordable, no air-conditioning, no service provided (mostly self-service - queue, order, and collect your food), using plastic (not easily break) bowls, plates, cutleries with plastic trays as well, clean the table yourself after finish eating (otherwise you will get fine - Starting 1 September 2021, enforcement officers will continue to advise diners to properly clear their dirty tray, crockery and litter and enforcement will apply to diners who do not heed the officers’ advice. First-time offenders will be issued with a written warning. Subsequent offenders may face composition or court fines of S$300 - Source: NEA.gov.sg), more varieties of food sold, more local ambience or feel - especially with the sight of those uncles occupying table with bucket beers, groups of uncles aunties occupying table, each with glass of kopi or teh on the table, some playing Pokemon, some with shopping trolleys below the tables - usually during breakfast time, and so on.

There are many hawker centers you can experience in Singapore. I will list those nearer to the city center (as more tourists living there).

Maxwell Food Center

1. Maxwell Food Center - nearest MRT: Maxwell/ Chinatown. This place is famous for Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia (selling roasted meat, char siew, wanton noodle, etc), Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (long queue but price has increased a lot and tastes so so for me), Fried Kway Teow • Fried Prawn Mee • Fried Oyster • Carrot Cake stall (01-53), Rojak · Popiah & Cockle (which you can share with your group - the mixed fruit rojak with peanut crunchy sauce), ( China Street Hum Jin Pang (selling local fried dough - either filled with red bean or made with five spice powder - with a cup of black coffee, Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake (one of my favorite local snacks - must eat with the provided chili sauce), Heng Heng Ondeh-Ondeh & Tapioca Cake (if you want to try the sweet stuff/ local dessert - freshly made every day).

The middle picture - Baguette Huong Viet (Vietnam food) and Bold x Braised (Taiwanese food) - that are located side by side, are recommended by local in case you do not feel like eating local food. Portion, price, and taste are all good.

2. Old Airport Road Food Center - nearest MRT: Dakota. This place is famous for To-Ricos Kway Chap Old Airport Road (delicious pork organs dishes with silky, smooth and chewy white flat noodle - must eat for pork lover!!!), Roast Paradise (roasted pork and char siew with rice), Xiang Ji Lor Mee (thick noodle with dark brown thick broth and fillings), sweet icy desserts at Nyonya Chendol,small little dessert (min jiang kueh or traditional pancake with peanut, red bean, coconut fillings, etc.) at Munchi Pancake, locally craft beer at Hello Ren Min, etc. 

3. Chinatown Complex Food Center - nearest MRT: Chinatown. It is located at the second floor. There are many delicious local food that you can eat and drink. Try the local coffee or tea at the 1950's Coffee “五十年代”. You have not eaten local food in Singapore if you have not tried the breakfast set that contains the traditional kaya toast, half-boiled egg, and tea/coffee. Not all coffee stall gives you a nice cup of coffee though as different stall sources different type of coffee beans. Fret not, if you do not have time to visit hawker center, you can just go to Yakun Kaya Toast to have a taste of this local breakfast set. You can find it especially near shopping area. 

I recommend you to visit this hawker center in the morning time as with empty stomach, you can eat more and they have so much variety of food here. 

Ann Chin Popiah from Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre 

Jia Ji Mei Shi offers local breakfast food such as: chee cheong fan, yam cake, triangle rice dumpling, soon kueh, taro cake, peanut porridge, fried bee hoon, etc. You can buy one each and share it with your accompanies. Ann Chin Popiah offers delicious wrapped cooked turnip, veg, bean sprout, grated peanut, crispy bits, and boiled egg. Personally, I love this very much! You can also try their kueh pie tee (with crispy made cup instead of wrapped with popiah skin). 

You can try chwee kueh as breakfast too at the Bedok chwee kueh 水粿. Chwee kueh is a steamed water with rice flour and combination of other gluten-free flour served with cooked preserved turnip/ chai poh and chili - originated from Teo Chew. The chili is a bit oily but taste better with it than without.

If you like fried kway teow, you can try Hill Street Fried Kway Teow. They still cook it with cockles, prawns, preserved sausage, and crispy pork bits. When your body needs some nourishment after so much walk, you may want to try the herbal soup from Herbal Soup 瓦罐煨汤. The soups are cooked using the clay pot burnt with charcoal. If you not sure what to eat, you can ask the seller which soup is suitable to your needs. 

For lunch, you can have the soya chicken, roasted pork, and/ or char siew rice or noodle at the famous Hawker Chan 香港油鸡饭面2/F, the origin store. You may need to queue though.

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice

If you have time to spare for dinner (open from 4.30 to 10.30pm), you may want to order the clay pot rice at Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice. It may take at least half an hour for the food to be ready but it is prepared fresh and from scratch upon ordering and cooked on top of the charcoal, which gives it a fragrant rice as a result. Inside the mixed rice, they put the chicken chunks, mushroom, preserved sausage, salted fish, and vegetable. Before serving, they will pour dark soy sauce and shallot oil. This shop has more than 40 years history and recognized as one of the Michelin-Bib Gourmand stalls. 

When you go Chinatown, you sure want to taste some Chinese food. Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao 中国拉面小笼包 is famous for their xiao long bao (steamed juicy pork dumpling made with thin skin), pan fried or steamed dumplings, beef noodle, zha jiang mian (fried bean sauce noodle), and so on. You have to queue and wait for your food though because they prepare it fresh upon ordering.

For dessert, you may want to try the peanut/sesame/red bean ball soup (ginger or peanut soup) at the 75 Ah Balling Peanut Soup. You can try other local dessert at 一 一五糖水 115 Tang Shui. They sell sesame paste, peanut paste, combination of both, bobo chacha, walnut paste, almond paste, and so on. For cold dessert, you can taste delicious Chendol at Old Amoy Chendol.

4. Hong Lim Market and Food Center - nearest MRT: Chinatown. Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist is famous for local. Long queue is expected during peak hours (lunch and dinner). Take note on the opening time as the stall close in between. If you crave for laksa, you can try it at the Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa. They also sell mee siam, which is also my favorite! This hawker is famous for curry chicken noodle from Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee. So, if you are fans of curry noodle, join the queue and try it! The Tai Wah bak chor mee (minced pork meat noodle) is famous too but usually at a long queue. So does with Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee. If you have enough time, join the queue!!! If you like the combination of chicken cutlet curry noodle, you can try it at the Cantonese Delights - 廣東小吃. Try to avoid peak hour though!  

5. Tekka Market and Food Center - nearest MRT: Little India. It is just finished being renovated and now has opened for business starting beginning of October 2023. Indian food lover, you can head here and eat some delicious Indian such as nasi Briyani at the Allauddin's Briyani, Yakader Muslim Food, roti prata at the Prata Saga Sambal Berlada, Ar Rahman Royal Prata, various Indian Muslim food including roti prata, briyani, rice with meat or fish curry at Zham Zham Muslim Food, etc. 

You can also find non-Indian local food here, such as prawn noodle from 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles, duck rice from Heng Gi Goose and Duck Rice, mee siam and Chinese rojak - not the fruit rojak by the way - from Grandma Mee Siam 燻鲨鱼五香虾饼, and so on. Talking about rojak, you can taste the Indian rojak at the Temasek Indian Rojak. You can not even find it in India :D if you know what I mean. So, fulfil your craving of various Indian food at this hawker center!!!

6. Golden Mile Food Centre - nearest MRT: Nicole Highway. I have eaten the chili mee (noodle) from Chung Cheng Chilli Mee/崇正辣椒面 since many many years ago, and still love it!!! The mee is topped with prawns, pork ribs, fish cakes, taupok, slices of boiled egg, bean sprouts, and of course, chili, accompanied with a bowl of soup. If you can bear spicy food, you can try it!!!

Chung Cheng Chilli Mee - Golden Mile Food Centre

If you love the fried Hokkien prawn mee, you may want to try You Fu's. Just by looking at the photos from Google map, it makes me drooling and craving for it :D For prawn mee soup, you can try it at Liang Seah Street Prawn Noodle.

The Chinese beef noodle and Singapore style beef noodle are different. Have you tried one? If you are a fans of it, or curious how it tastes like, you can try one at the Bugis (Longhouse) Lim Kee Beef Noodles. You can choose soup type or the thick gravy type. Try both if you cannot decide, but personally if I am alone, I would choose the dry (thick gravy) one. It uses white round noodle poured with gravy and topped with salted vegetable, and a small bowl of soup at the side.

Keng Heng Whampoa Teochew Lor Mee serves good lor mee. Apart from the usual fish cake, pork belly, fried fish, and ngoh hiang, the seller put in fried fish skin and wanton as well. The gravy is thick and nice. Do not forget to put some garlic and chili, plus drizzle some black vinegar on it. Guarantee, you will love it!!! :)

For duck rice lover, you may want to join the queue at the Ah Xiao Teochew Duck Rice (亞笑潮洲卤鸭). Many people recommend this place.

Have you ever tried the peranakan dish Singapore style? “Peranakan” generally refers to a person of mixed Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage. The peranakan food is the result of blending Chinese ingredients with various distinct spices and cooking techniques used by them. The taste is somehow heavy depending on various spices they use. I never try the food here myself, but one day I would love to bring my friend who loves eating peranakan food to eat at Charlie's Peranakan Food. The price is not very cheap but I think it is worth it as it really needs right spices both in quantity and types in order to make a delicious ones and the portion is quite a lot. They sell varieties of it, such as: babi ponteh, itek sio, sambal lengkong (spicy fish floss), ayam buah keluak, etc. The names itself are exotic and make you wonder how the taste would like. Go down and try it if you are curious! :) The dishes are supposed to be eaten with rice, so do not forget to order plain rice with it.

Tulang (bones) lover must have known Deen Tulang Specialist very well!!! The stall has been there since more than 2 decades ago. Expect for a queue!!! Must try - sup tulang merah (red mutton bone marrow soup - originated in Singapore). Use your hand to pick, eat, and suck the bones. Use the other end of the spoon or even straw to take the filling out from the bones - just be creative with it! Be careful not to dirty your clothes or people's clothes surrounding you hehehe... And better not wearing white shirt here! :D Can try the mee goreng too! 

For dessert, a bowl of icy grass jelly would be perfect for such a hot Singapore weather!!! You can get it at the Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly. You can add toppings like nata de coco, palm seeds, longan, and sea coconuts. Or head down to Thong Sum Hot & Cold Desserts 糖心糖水 for a more variety desserts!!! 

7. People's Park Food Centre - nearest MRT: Chinatown. Back to Chinatown area. I think this place is a favorite place for Chinese people who come from China to work in Singapore since many food stalls here are selling the Chinese food that suit their taste buds. Chinese noodle and dumpling, Mala hotpot, grilled fish, cold dishes, etc. Sunday will be the worst day for you to visit as this place will sure be very crowded. There are two sides of seating area though. So when one side is crowded, try to sit at the other side. 

Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo - People's Park Food Center, Chinatown

Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo 日日紅麻辣香鍋 used to serve the best Mala hotpot. I brought so many friends to eat their food. But after the recent renovation, I personally feel that the standard has dropped. It has become dried and less tasty (perhaps they cut down on their spices when cooking the ingredients. They have two stalls. One in front, and another one at the back. I have tried them both recently and do not reach my expectation. But you may want to give it a try because you may like them. 

Hong Peng La Mian Xiao Long Bao is my most favorite shop in this hawker center. I have purchased from them since long time ago, since before they moved their shop from the other side. They serve the best Zha Jiang Mian or fried bean paste noodle and kuo tie or fried dumpling, in my opinion. Their xiao long bao and hot sour and spicy soup are delicious too! They make the dumpling fresh almost every day. In the past, he even pulled the noodle in front of you upon ordering, but now he uses machine as the quantity ordered increased and only few of them work. Try it and see if you agree with me :)

I am not a fans of braised duck, but this stall - Lek Kee Authentic Teochew Braised Duck - are liked by many. People say the stall serves a very good Teochew braised duck dishes. 

Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu 永祥興豆腐 always draws long queue. Fyi this shop sells clear soup with variety of tofu (beancurd) with fish cake products and fish ball. Most customers are elderly but they keep coming back. It must be one of the comfort food for them and their ingredients are freshly made.

If you want to try homemade local delicacies, you can head to Fatt Soon Kueh. They sell soon kueh (Teochew style steamed crystal skin dumpling filled with jicama, bamboo shoot, black fungus and carrot), ku chye kueh (made of chive), and png kueh or rice kueh (Teochew glutinous peach-shape kueh).

8. Seah Im Food Centre - nearest MRT: Harbour Front. Usually I will have breakfast here before starting my morning walk to Mt Faber and Henderson Waves. But after renovation, I have not gone there yet, maybe soon. This hawker center has lots of Indian and Muslim food. I will usually order teh tarik or teh halia here as they will usually pull the tea in the making. With the tea, epok epok (curry puff) from Makan Boleh and some other fried stuff would be the perfect companion, like sardine puff, jemput jemput (sweet fried banana balls), bakwan (vegetable fritters), and goreng pisang (fried banana).

I love having roti prata (Indian flatbread dish served with curry) for breakfast too, also perfect with my teh tarik and teh halia. You can get it from Mohamad Arafat Muslim Food.

If you crave for Malay food like mee rebus, mee soto, soto ayam, lontong, gado gado, satay, etc. you can try the Daliman's Corner. If you love chicken rice, you can have it from the Aspirasi Food Galore.

At Shi Ji Noodle Stall, you can order prawn soup noodle and braised duck lor mie. If you crave for fried kway teow, you can have it from Seah Im Fried Kway Teow Mee. Fish ball and minced meat noodle from Lucky Fishball Noodle Stall 好運魚圓麵攤 is nice and coffee and tea from Coffee Queen stall is recommended too!

9. Changi Village Hawker Centre - nearest bus terminal: Changi Village. There is no MRT nearby and more accessible by taking the public bus. Located at the eastern side of Singapore, it offers varieties of delicious food that sometimes people come all the way just to eat. 

I love nasi lemak, the fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk, eaten with fried egg, ikan bilis (small fried salted fish), fried peanut, cucumber, and sambal chili. It is best eaten with additional fried chicken wing and otah (grilled fish paste wrapped in banana leaf). I used to go to this hawker center just to eat the nasi lemak here from Mizzy Corner Nasi Lemak. It was my favourite! However, there is also another stall - International Muslim Food Stall Nasi Lemak - where you can buy. 

One of my favorite faraway hawker center - Changi Village

Later on, other food is proven to be good there too, apart from nasi lemak. Weng Kee Original Taste Ipoh Hor Fun serves a delicious Ipoh Horfun, added with chicken chop. Do not forget to add the sour green chilli! You will crave for another bowl! 

If you like satay bee hoon, you can try Ho Guan Satay Bee Hoon. There is lesser people selling this local food nowadays, hard to find, especially good one. Satay bee hoon is rice vermicelli with kang kong (morning glory), cuttlefish, pork slices, bean sprout, prawn, with lots of chili-based peanut sauce. I eat them once in a while. Really good!! If you have not tried it yet, order one and share.

On your way home, do not bring empty hand. You have traveled far to this place. Dabao (takeaway) some fried stuff snacks from the Million Star Fried Banana and Mei Xiang Goreng Pisang (美香炸香蕉,as it would be prefect with a cup of coffee or tea for the evening tea time. They have various snacks to choose from. I always dabao goreng pisang or fried banana from Warung Nenek. Their bananas are always sweet, its outer layer is crunchy, coated with sesame seeds. It is cheap too. You can always air-fry them at home before eating. Or you can eat them at the nearby Changi beach park :)

Wahh... so many food to eat and all at different places!!! So you know now why I never ever slim down in my life? Hahahaha.... ^^" Singapore is really heaven for food, as many people would eat outside rather than cooking at home. For singles and married couple or even small family with only 1 or 2 children, the cost of eating outside would be more or less or even cheaper than buying food ingredients and cook at home. Not yet count the amount of time and energy required to buy the ingredients, carrying it all the way to home, washing, cutting, preparing, cooking, and again, washing the dishes after eating. When you go to hawker center, you just have to spend time to queue and order your food (sometimes to find seat during peak hours), and money to buy the food you required. At least you do not have to wash the plates afterwards.

But of course, eating out every day would not be a good choice to maintain good health and diet. Exercise is needed and balance meal is important as well (perhaps includes the oatmeal / other healthier options on your daily food intake, choose more vegetable dishes or even salad, and not forgetting to take fruits or dairy like milk, yoghurt) to fulfill the required nutrition for your body. 

As and when I am free, I will update more on the hawker center and food list onto this post.

P.S. I do not do any advertisement or receive any benefit from posting this here. I just want to help my fellow friends who come and visit Singapore and want to know where and what to eat here, especially local Singaporean food, which will add their eating experience from this part of the world. Hope it helps! :)

Almost forgot!!! Please check the location, opening time and day, directions, from Google Map. Thank you!

As I Grow Older

Lol... :D (Pic source: Google.com)

As I grow older...

I have seen and experienced many things in life - good and bad - mostly from people surrounding me. I can not say that I have become better or wiser, but I have definitely learned a lot and am still learning from it. 

As I grow older...

my perceptions towards certain things in life have changed. What is important, what is good, what is true, what is wrong, what is nice, and what is not.

Is money important? Is health even more important? 

Is being truthful good for you? Or is telling a white lie better?

What determined good quality friendship? Is friendship valued merely friends with benefits? 

What does love mean to you? Attachment? Afraid of feeling losing? Distrust? Is it even healthy at the first place? Relationship with no trust, who to blame?

As I grow older...

what used to be important, no longer is. 

As I grow older...

losing friend is part and parcel of life. There are things in our lives that are not meant to stay.

As I grow older...

I put more importance on quality than quantity. Books I read, food and beverage I consume, things I wear, friendship, relationship, and so on.

As I grow older...

"love" in relationship can not be build in a day, a week, a month, or a year. It is over time. Someone who choose to stand right by my side no matter what my situation is, who speak up for me while the rest are mocking me, who protect me from any physical and mental harm, and love me the way who I am with its strengths and weaknesses.  

As I grow older...

I begin to realize, of what I need, and of what I need to leave behind.

As I grow older...

being naïve is no longer possible. People is just easily taking advantage. 

As I grow older...

the less I have, the better it is.

As I grow older...

it is ok not to be ok. You are not alone. 

As I grow older...

my priority in life changes, so with everything else. 

As I grow older...

I realize the importance of being surrounded by good people, people that are good for you, good to you, and good for your soul. 

Therefore, for now, I will cherish what I have and let go what not supposed to be. 

Somehow, it is just necessary. Plus, the changes we do not want, are the changes we need, in order for us to grow.

And sometimes, walking away is necessary, a step forward from those, who do not want to be part of our lives. 

You happy, I happy. 

Let us be happy :)

P.S. I just heard it from someone, "You cannot change the people around you, but you can change the people around you," and that is my new favourite quote :)

Current Purpose of Life :)

The scenic view of MBS and CBD area of Singapore

As some of you had already known, I was no longer a full-time traveler now. The job was kinda tying me down to remain staying in Singapore city. I had no problem of staying here at the country as I had traveled enough for the past two years after the pandemic had eased down.

Starting this month, however, I had another kind of life, a life that I used to lead. Out of nowhere, I received messages from many of my good friends who were staying overseas. They informed me that their friend, or their cousin, or their spouse, or their family, or themselves were coming down here for a short trip of many different purposes. Some was for holiday, some for working, some for other foreign country Visa appointment, some for attending religious purposes, and so on.

I was very grateful that they all still remembered me, despite we had not met each other again for quite a long time (since before pandemic, or and many years before that). As long someone went over here, they would think of me. I was very happy with their remembrance of my presence here. Many would even ask and offer if I had anything that I wished to have from their home country. Such a sincere heart touched my heart.

Since last year, many of my Bhutanese friends flew to Australia for studying and or working. There were lots of them. I felt like 80% of them were there to experience a different kind of lives. But the rest of 20% was still remaining in Bhutan and led their lives like usual, and some with changes happening through their lives due to some circumstances. And those whom contacted me of the arrival of their acquaintance, mostly were residing still in Bhutan.

Lao Pa Sat - It's Tiger time!!! Cheers...

So, once in a while, with their visits, I would have a chance to meet up with them. If they stayed longer, we would have more chances to meet and if I was free, I would be able to accompany them to visit some of the Singapore tourist attractions. However, they would usually follow my plans (which usually traveling in budget) by visiting places that required no admission tickets to purchase. It would both save our pockets while we still could enjoy the beautiful scenery of Singapore city.

Personally I felt that the prices of the tickets to those tourist attractions had increased a lot and very expensive. E.g. visit to Singapore zoo would cost S$48 per pax, while visit to both zoo and River Wonder or Bird Paradise would cost S$88 per pax. There might some % of discount offer, but it was still expensive for me. SEA aquarium would cost S$32 per pax. If you were coming alone, it was fine and especially if you had never experienced going such place. But if you came with family (spouse and children), that would cost quite a lot!

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple - Little India

So usually, I would not bring them there. They could visit on their free time. But under my guide, I would bring them to see Singapore beautiful city scenery like to see the famous Merlion statue sprouting water from its mouth, the view of Marina Bay Sands, CBD (Central Business District) area, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, to specialty areas like Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street, and so on.

Apart from guiding them on how to go around Singapore by themselves, I could also advise where to buy things they wanted to buy, where and what to eat (different categories of food providers here, such as: hawker center, food court, and restaurant), and even took beautiful pictures for them (as I was blessed with quite good quality of camera phone). Compared with usual Singaporean citizen, I was sure that I was good enough to provide such hospitality to my dear overseas friends. Hahahahaha..... In a way, I was still travelling, but domestically and within the country ^^

This post was not written for me to show off, but to share with you my activities lately as I had to remain staying in Singapore and no longer became the full-time traveler. And I never asked them for money nor tips of my service hahahaha... but they usually showed their gratitude and appreciation by giving me gifts from their home country. So, thank you very much for your kind thought and gesture lah :)

I had a chance to browse the country as a guide and tourist, exercised my legs, challenged my brains on what to do, where to go, how to go, and so on, like took it as some form of exercising both physical and mind, becoming an active individual rather than just staying at home, doing nothing or just watching some dramas.

Beautiful scenery of the Garden by the Bay at night

That was also why I chose to settle down here in Singapore - for their geographical situation, for their safety to go around day and night, for their convenient public transports and accesses, for the free shows offered to both local and tourists in some places, for the government and political stability situation, and so on. The only downsize was that it all came with a price (the increasing cost of everything here - food, transport, utility, services, tax, etc.)

Still, I felt grateful and thankful. Well, that was the post for the day! Hope you all found your purpose in life too apart from living a mundane everyday life. Wish you all a great weekend and F1 weekend is here!!! Those who came to Singapore for this special event, have a great time ahead!!! Ciao!!!

Most favorite time

Loot of the day :P

One day, upon looking at the handwritten weekly school schedule, a man asked a young kid, "What is your favorite subject in school?"

The kid was innocently answered loudly with so much proud, "Recess is my favorite!!!", and 'Recess' was really written there in between English and Math between 12 to 12.45pm from Monday to Friday.

Hahahaha..... ^^"

And if you asked me what is my most favorite time of the day during work, that would be 'lunch break.' Lol!!!

I think I mentioned before the location of my office in previous blog post. If you could not remember, it was located at the Singapore's famous shopping belt area. Apart from Uniqlo, Zara, Iora, and so on, there was my most favorite place to browse during my lunch break. 

Guess what???

Jeng jreng jeng jreng.....

One of the boutique library in Singapore :)

Yessssshhhhh!!! It was library!!!

It was such a beautiful one!!! I wrote about it last time here, just less than a month after it was opened. It was still clean, beautiful, quiet, with many book collections, and many seats available too!!!

Book browsing at local bookstore :)

Sometimes when I browsed bookstore on weekends, I would check books on shelves, flipped those that were gaining my attention and checked if it was according to my taste or not. I would take photo, browse its title in the Library apps, and checked if such book were available (both e-book or physical one).

So when I had time, I would first check the availability of the book in advance. If it was there, I would walk there, get it, scanned, and brought back home.

Browsing healthy recipes :)

When I had too much time, I would sometime browse and read the book until my lunch break was over. Especially when the book was too thick and only few pointed things I would like to know, then I would capture its content in my camera phone and I could browse it again when I needed it without having to borrow.

Capture the beauty of knowledge :)

There was just too many things to learn from the books, the beauty of the knowledge that the authors shared with us :)

Thank you Singapore 🇸🇬 ☺️ 

So, I am truly grateful for everything that happens :) For the easy access for such beauty in life, and everything else. I hope you all enjoy your most favorite time of the day too, just like me :)

As of now, I wish you all a wonderful week ahead as I had to get back to work :) See you again!!! 

Weekend notes

Happy weekend!!!

Was it just me? Or did it apply to anyone who were employed? This month - August - went extremely slow. Hahaha.... We were only going to finish the third week of the month and two more weeks to go!!!

With monthly pay, the pay would be the same no matter how many days it existed in a month - be it 28 or 31. Well, maybe just me! Hahaha....

This week the weather was with many raining days, even this upcoming weekends. Unlike the weeks before, with more sunny days around. This week we had also started the ghost month or known more as the seventh month (in Chinese calendar).

The air was smoky, which came from the burned incense sticks that were put all along the roadside, plus the money with other accessories / belongings (like car complete with its driver, house with servants, series of latest mobile phones and tablets, branded clothes and shoes, latest design jewelries, and so on). So the rain, perhaps helped in washing out the heat and smell.

We were lucky enough to live in a country that was blessed with good geographic location with lesser natural disasters and extreme unpredictable weather, like what happened in the other countries surrounding us.

The typhoon had hit Japan and Korea recently. The severe flood had also hit many countries in the world recently, affecting many lives and the daily lives encounters. So again, I was grateful for being here, living in this country.

Well, reading too much news during past time was really not good for the brain. Lol! I think I should have browsed less on the news and read more on positive kind of news or books. I had returned to my reading habit recently though, on my journey from and to work, and before sleep (it really helped in getting sleep fast) Hahahahaha..... :D

Since tomorrow was predicted to rain, I would finally have an excuse not to go for the once-a-week morning walk exercise. Then I guess I would just sleep late tonight and wake up late tomorrow. The weather was really cooling here during nighttime that we did not even have to turn on the air conditioner. 

Just jotted down my thought here as the blog update today and wish everyone had a great weekend ahead wherever you were!!! Hope you were all in good health, live in peace and harmony, surrounding by people you loved. Take care and have a lovely time!!!

Just another day

Dark clouds

It was just like another weekday afternoon. The weather was hot outside, and yet, dark clouds were seen from afar. Melancholy feeling came and overwhelmed me once again.

Kiss 92 played one of my historical favourite songs by Boyzone, oh really historic, indeed!!! Some of the good memories was suddenly playing at the back of my mind. 

I decided to make myself a cup of coffee using the atas Starbucks origami coffee bag. As I poured the hot water into it, hmmmm..... the smell was awaking me up, reminding me a little bit that I was sitting at the office working table, and not on vacation at the bar on top of five-star hotel with amazing view! Ha!

I took out Cannolo Cioccolato from my shopping bag (as usual, I grabbed something during my after lunch walk that would be a perfect company of my coffee or tea), and hmmmm...... perfecto!!! Just ignored the calories that it contained in that piece of sweet pastry, and as I bit the top part, the Cioccolato burst inside my mouth, I closed my both eyes and focused more on the intense flavour that filled my whole mouth!!! Yum!!!

Next song was sung by Firehouse. What a nostalgia feeling they tried to lead us into! 

Outside the leaves were moving along with the wind. And the rain seemed like coming in soon. I turned the radio volume up after both coffee and cannoli filled my belly.

It was time to work again!!! Focus, and concentrate!!! Read and reread! Understand and remember! Yeah... three more hours to go. Let the time fly and enjoy the ride before it was over!!!

With every kiss, our love is like brand-new
And every star up in the sky was made for me and you
Still we both know that the road is long
We know that we will be together
Because our love is strong

I finally found the love of a lifetime
A love to last my whole life through
I finally found the love of a lifetime
Forever in my heart
I finally found the love of a lifetime

Lunch pack

Lunch pack (Pic source: Google.com)

When I went to Australia, I always saw people bringing lunch pack to school and/ or to work as it was not only healthier, but also most importantly, more affordable. The price of buying lunch outside was pretty expensive, especially in city area. It was wiser to save the money by bringing the leftover food from the day before and reheated it at the office pantry upon consumption. 

In Bhutan, it was a normal thing for people to bring lunch pack from home. They even exchanged their food so that they could taste different dishes every day. These days, the cost of living in city area had increased tremendously too, and it was only wiser to bring the homecooked food from home. They had the taste of love of their spouse, siblings, and parents too.

I really loved the idea of bringing lunch pack to work and/ or to school.

So this time, as I went back to workforce, I decided to prepare my lunch pack too! I was quite exciting with the idea actually! 

There was a fridge, kettle, and a toaster in my office. However, there was no microwave. So, if I brought food to work, I would have to eat it in cold condition (heated food was better for the stomach and the taste).

At my first week to work, I made a-week portion of potato salad (so I could keep it inside the fridge before consumption). I had it for four days in a row, but later on, I realised that it was not a good choice to bring salad to work because the air-coonditioner in my office was super cold!!! I even had to wear a thick sweater every day hahaha...

Pumpkin soup :)

My brain thought hard and later on, I got a better idea. The next weeks onwards, I made soup to bring to work :) because I had the thermal pot that could keep my soup hot upon consumption time. I could eat it with bread too in case it was a thin soup. 

I loved soup, especially when eaten in cold environment. And I loved making and eating the Western soup, not the Chinese style. 

So I made different soup each week and got the recipes from Google. So far, I have made and brought the potato soup, tomato soup, pumpkin soup, mushroom soup, white bean plus vegetable and tomato soup. It really suited my taste bud hahahaha.... Sometimes I even wondered how good I was in making soup, although there was no experience in making one before :P

Only buy fresh ingredients :)

Every Saturday after finishing my walk, I would stop by at the supermarkets in the area and bought the ingredients. Either at the same day or the day before, I would prepare a week portion soup, divided it into 5 containers, and freezed it so that it could last longer. 

I moved the container out from freezer to normal fridge the day before and reheated it the next morning and kept it inside the thermal pot. I had it during lunch time at my desk, sometimes with bread, sometimes with fried rice, then had walk afterwards.

Tomato soup with bread or fried rice :)

Once a week I would buy the food from outside, so I would not get bored from eating the same food every day. So far, I chose vegetable soup over meat. But next time I might try making soup with seafood or chicken :)

It kept my body warm, full, and happy :) I felt grateful and happy with the arrangement. I was not sure about the health impact from it, but I always used natural ingredients and never used any MSG into it. So I would not feel thirsty after having it. 

I did not know how this habit would last but I hoped this could continue for a long long time :)

Gratitude beyond measure

Gratitude Quote (Pic source: Google.com)

Good morning!!! It is Friday!!! Yayyy!!! 

First week of August is here and four more to go! August is such a very long month (with 31 days in it), just like July! But if I can survive this, I am sure I can survive the rest of the year! :)

Many people asked me, "How is your work so far?" 

I said, "It is so far so good. I feel comfortable."

I mean, I feel like I am building my nest here, feeling secure and comfortable. This feeling is just like when I met my hubby for the first time. Like I knew that he was going to be the anchor of my life - someone who was able to provide me with emotional support, guidance, stability, and hope of my life; someone who was going to be a good father for my child.

This job, my Boss, and the office environment, are exactly the same thing. I feel that this is going to be something for the rest of my life.

So I am going to learn slowly, read more, know more about how it works, what the company dealing with, and slowly master it.

To be frank, I have never been so passionate about a job like this before. This is my first time when I could hug and embrace my job as if it is my lover. I could say that I love what I am doing here. 

I used to wonder a lot of how my other friends loved their job so much, by dedicating their time (many even sacrificing their family time), to embrace themselves with their jobs. Some, even after taking a break from it, were missing to go back and be part of it again. 

I kind of understand their feelings now. 

I even can put all the travel desires on hold, until I know what I am supposed to be doing with my role here, know well when is the best time to be away or when is the busiest time of the months or year, before I start planning on the next vacation.

I do not mind missing many aspects or things or even moments, temporarily in life (of traveling) - and as long as I still put a priority to spend time with my family at home and life here in Singapore - because I always believe that everything happens only for good reasons. That some day, when the time comes (for me to travel), if I have to be there, I would be there. And if the time would not come (for me to travel), it is ok, and I will be fine because I know what I am doing, enjoying it, and would never regret it.

It is mostly happy feeling and mood. As promised, no work during weekends; not much phone calls to receive and to make; not much stress at work; and not much emails - compared to other companies I had worked before; and those things means a lot for me.

Inside the lift at our office building, I often hear people gossiping around their bosses and colleagues. I felt truly grateful that I did not have to experience it since it is only two of us in the office. Instead, my jolly boss often talk about her Zumba, Pilate, and her passion in catching Pokemon with her fellow friends, also about how she spent her time with her children and grandchildren back home.

And yes, I am grateful, and will forever grateful for everything that happened to me in my life.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you SB!!! May all beings be happy and health, free from suffering and the cause of suffering, life full of peace and joy! Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

Pluviophile

Pluviophile

I reached the station ten minutes before 9am. As I ascended the escalator from the underground MRT station, I could see the sky had turned dark and the wind blew chillingly touching my skin. 

"Wow!!! Looks like rain is coming!!!" I talked to myself. "Lucky both ways to the office building had the underpass so that I would not get wet in the event of rain," my mind was speaking again. 

Upon reaching the office door, I could see the office had turned dark, unlike many other mornings when the sun rays pierced through the both side windows, illuminating my working table and chair. 

"Wow!!! I like this!!!" exclaimed my own self. It was dark but feeling cozy instead of depressing.

I turned on the office light and walked towards my seat. I put down my bags, turned on the PC and office mobile, and set myself down into the chair. 

The morning would not be complete without coffee. I was supposed to cut the caffeine down, but the office would not be complete without coffee smell, especially in a weather like this!!! Hahaha... *my usual excuse :P

I opened the fridge and took the bottle of water out. I filled the kettle half and turned it on. As I looked up, rain had started heavily. 

"Wah, lucky I have reached here without getting wet!!!"

The sound of water boiling soothed me. I turned the Youtube on from the computer. I loved quietness when working, but sometimes, I would love to listen to some music too, especially on raining day like this. 

I typed 'raining day song' and many choices appeared. I clicked on a playlist and let it run themselves.

I cut the top part of the coffee sachet, filled it inside my rooster cup and poured the hot boiling water inside. I stirred it and brought it to my desk. Hmmmmm..... just loved the smell :) The taste was good too. I sipped it slowly and checked out my office email.

I opened the yesterday 'to do list' note and completed it one by one.

Raining day... 

Loved it because of the mood it brought, the ambience, the cozy dark feelings, the chill, the coffee smell, the me-alone time, but mostly because my Boss would usually come late, sometimes did not even come to office.

So, that was why.... I am pluviophile, one who loves rain; one who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days and everything else I mentioned above :D

Fleeting moment

"Your life is fleeting" by Justin Young

Life is but a fleeting moment.

For every step we take,

every choice we make,

every place we go, 

everyone we meet. 

For accepting changes,

all circumstances we face.

Be it for better or worse,

it is all fleeting all away.

Why we take it too hard???

Take it easy, take it easy...

With this realisation, 

that nothing stays put, 

that things change all the time,

things going up and down,

just take it easy, 

and let your heart be at ease.

Soon or later,

everything vanishes,

be forgotten,

and will not matter anymore. 

Just treasure what you have,

love everyone closest to you,

and be happy in simple way,

for whatever things that make you feel grateful, 

for being able to be alive,

now, 

at present moment.

"Life is but a fleeting moment.

Take it easy and enjoy the ride."

- Rimareyka.writes 

We are on our own time

Que sera sera...

"Someone graduated at the age of 22, but waited five years before securing a good job.

Someone became a CEO at 25, and died at 50, while another became a CEO at 50, and lived to 90 years.

Someone is still single while someone from his school group has become grandfather.

Obama retired at 55, and Trump started at 70.

Everyone in this world works based on their time zone.

People around you might seem ahead of you and some might seem to be behind you. But everyone is running their own race in their own time. 

Do not envy them. 

They are in their time zone, and you are in yours. 

So relax. 

You are not late. 

You are not early.

You are very much on time."

You might have seen or heard the above before. And this is what exactly I feel too! As age increases, I have seen more of what is going on at people surrounded me - some whom I know, and some whom I do not know in person. 

Be it about school, work, career, marriage, having a child, and even when it relates to travel, retire, and so on. 

I thought myself that I retired early in my late 30s, spent years of travelling and spending more time meeting my family members and friends every where around the world, while I still could, had the energy and blessed with good health.

I thought I had given up all my accounting knowledge and administrative skills that I acquired from my working experience and study before. I had even thrown most of the study material related to it because I had no intention of going back, and thought that who would even interested to hire me, who had so called 'retire' for many years. 

I did work during Covid time, that was because travel was impossible at that point of time and the job that I did was related to kitchen and F&B service operation, which both were not related to admin and account at all, and just to pass time. 

So, who ever thought, that one day, someone I knew from two decades ago, contacted me and asked me to work with her again, just because she found me reliable and could be trusted?

I trusted my gut feeling inside me that this was what I had been looking for since long time ago. My hubby said to his friend that I was kinda find my dream job. And he was right!

In the sense that I could work in a small office with one Boss to work with (and few others that were at the other part of the world); the location of the place was superb - in the shopping's belt of Singapore, nearby library, etc.; work in a peaceful environment (most days my Boss came at later hours); and many more, but most importantly, I was lucky to find a nice and understanding Boss. 

Oh, I could wear casual attires to work too!!! Jeans and sport shoes, hoodie for cold AC room, no problem!!! That was important for me! :)

What about travelling? Well, it can wait. As the above saying, "We are on our own time." And I always believed in "What is yours is yours. What is not yours, forget it." 

And I believed in fate very much when it comes to traveling - such as the destinations, people whom I travel with, seasons, weather, and so on. I know we all get older each day, but many things will come naturally when it is time. Just believe that everything will come at the right time :) 

Que sera sera....

Whatever will be, will be....