Healthy food, healthy lifestyle, healthy me :)

Healthy food quotes - Rimareyka.writes

I did not know when it started. Perhaps after being diagnosed with SLE almost 15 years ago, with regular visits to the hospital for blood/urine tests, consultations with doctor, accompanied my parents for their regular body check up, made me realized how important good health was, especially when we grew older.

We all knew that wealth was not something that we should take for granted. Chronic diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, and by having high cholesterol level, obesity, smoking habits, over consumption of alcohol, and so on, could lead to cardiovascular or heart disease and stroke. 

It was uncommon to hear many people in their late 30s or early 40s were getting stroke, cancer and heart disease. Many were even died because of that. It was not like before, that those diseases were only attacking people in their 50s and above. High stress level, pressures, expectations, competitions, lack of exercises added into it. 

"We are what we eat." - Rimareyka.writes

I was sure you must have heard of the above quote as well. It was not just important, but very very very and very important!!! 

I loved food, super loved food. I was born in Indonesia, so we were pampered with so many kind of delicious food. I studied in few different countries for few years and now lived in Singapore for more than half of my life now. Travelling too had exposed me to taste and love so many kind of food. However, since few years ago, my food intake had gradually changed, especially after started working.

In the morning, after waking up, I made a big cup of fruit and sometimes, mixed with vegetable juice. Apple and tomatoes, banana and blueberries, celeries and tomatoes, apple and carrots, apple and celeries, kiwi and cucumber, pineapple and orange, and lately, added in kale, the superfood, with my apple, cucumber and lemon juice. (Fruits chosen would depend on the season, but most common one would be apple since the quote "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away" must be there for a reason. 

Kale article (Source: The Sunday Times July 20, 2014)

I was very lucky being able to find fresh 'kale' in the supermarket nearby my house and sometimes nearby my working place, as it was not a common vegetable to be found in Singapore. The one that I usually bought - fresh bunch of green curly kale - was grown and imported from Australia.

I found the above article at the shopfront nearby where I took my language course. The article was from ten years ago. Even since before, it had become famous due to its healthy contents.

"Kale is a nutritious food rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin K, and beta-carotene. It also contains nutrients that can support eye health, weight management, heart health, and more." - healthline.com

It did not taste good when eaten raw. That was why I always added it into my fruit juice mixture. Much better to consume that way.

How to make Kale Salad (Source: Love and Lemons.com)

In case you wanted to eat as salad, the above information would be very useful for first-timer. 

How would you pick out the best bunch of kale? The leaves and stalks should be dark green with small- to medium-sized leaves free of any yellowing or browning. Kale leaves should be firm and dry, not wilted and mushy.

I recommended this highly to everyone and hoped that you too could benefit from it.

I had quick breakfast after reaching office. A piece of avocado and a cup of black coffee. Sometimes, I added in banana, peach, nectarine, plum, kiwi, or any other fruits to increase my immune level - to prevent flu or cough, and so on. (Fyi, I used to eat supplements such as Vitamin C, lutein, bilberry eye support, but stopped it and replaced them with fresh fruit/vegetables as eating them too much might not good for kidney).

I brought my own lunch most days (at least 4 days per week). Expensive lunch costs at the area where I worked was only one of the reasons. Too heavy meals - too much carbohydrates, too salty, too oily, too much coconut milk, were the main reasons. 

My lunch content was the organic raw oatmeal, chia seeds soaked overnight with soybean milk with no sugar (used to added with fresh milk but after learning about the content, I changed it to soybean milk), added with a piece of dried prune, some nuts (used to add pecan but now changed to walnut and almond), and sometimes fruits (blueberries or banana).

After work, I would eat at home, my mother-in-law home-cooked meals, usually without rice or very less rice. Stir-fried vegetables, fish (steamed or deep fried), sometimes chicken or pork, sometimes prawns or sotong (cuttlefish), and soup. The only thing I could not stop yet was nibbling snacks and sipping beer or any other type of alcohol drinks while watching TV. But I did my best to lessen the portion (and many times failed), hahaha....

Blue sky - perfect weather for some exercise!!!

And with the free exercise programs given by the government, read here, I signed up two Zumba classes held nearby my house each week and one Nirvana Fitness or Pilate session nearby my office. I wanted to have both but could not as it clashed with each other and with my language class. So for now, just be active with these activities first.

It did not help me with losing weight because it was not enough and I still loved eating and ate anyhow during weekend and holiday time, but.... with the eating habits that I mentioned above, it had helped me decreasing my cholesterol level, from the recent health screening that I took freely organized by Get Fit 2024. Perhaps I would blog about it next time.

Yes, it lowered my cholesterol level. In the past, my cholesterol levels were always in borderline high. That was why I was happy and surprised when I received my blood test result. It had been 5 years since the last time I checked (before Covid). The blood pressure, glucose level, and cholesterol level were all normal. The only thing that I had to change was the BMI. It was borderline high. I had to lose at least 5 kg of body weight. Blamed it to the aging and slow metabolism (plus unhealthy snack, tidbits, beer, liquor, etc. etc. etc.) hahahaha....

I was not as hardcore as others to really train their fitness and build muscles. For now, let me maintain the healthy eating habit and have regular exercises, not forgetting to be mindful of what is going on in my mind - to be peaceful and at ease, maintain positivity in every aspect of life, live, love and laugh more, and have good relationship with everyone. 

I hope with this post, you would pick a thing or two to implement into your daily life (only the good ones, of course, hehehe...) and more conscious, care, and love about yourself (your body, mind and soul), and most importantly be grateful and happy with your life. I wish you all the very best in everything that you do. Cheers..... :)

Let's be active and healthy!

Health quote (Pic source: Google.com)

As a fellow Singaporean, I feel very grateful that we have a government that takes care of its citizens well being, as well as health. In this matter, I want to spread this information as far as possible, so that more fellow Singaporean, permanent resident, employment pass holder or work permit holder aged 17 years and above can benefit from the exercise events that you can find out from the Healthy 365 app. 

Despite being Singaporean for almost two decades, I only started joining the event last week. Hahaha... It is never too late though. I believe, there are still many more who do not even know or aware about such benefits. What I am talking about is the free exercise programs that are available all over this tiny island and country.

Sample of Healthy 365 app

First of all, I hope by now you have downloaded the Healthy 365 app on your mobile phone, and also have collected points from many sources, such as steps that you walk every day, minutes from your physical activities (MVPA - Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity), number of hours of your sleep, points collected from healthy meals, drinks, desserts or groceries that you purchased from various shops by joining the Eat, Drink, Shop Healthy Challenge 2024 and National Steps Challenge.

Fyi, the Sleep Tracking Challenge has ended on 31st May 2024, so there is no longer needed to wear your digital watch when you sleep.

And from those points that you collect, you can redeem it to various eVoucher. From as low as 150 points, you can exchange it to a S$1 SimplyGo eVoucher (for those who do not know, SimplyGo is a travel card - can be used to pay for public transport such as: MRT and bus). You can use your point to donate to various organizations too, such as: Community Chest, SGH Needy Patients Fund. You can buy soya bean drinks, bubble tea, and many more. For me, I usually change my points to the FairPrice eVoucher - the supermarket voucher. I can buy more healthy food as a result - fresh fruits and vegetables.

I used to use the app up to this point only.

Sample of Healthy Workplace Ecosystem (HWE) events - Healthy 365

Last week my friend messaged me and asked if I ever joined their exercise program. She sent me one of the exercise events that is held at my office building. I told her, so far I had not joined any yet. I heard about those events from my Boss last year. However, when I tried to find suitable programs around my areas, I did not know how to search. Feeling hopeless, I never pursued it any more.

But this time, since the exercise event that she told me was just being held above my office, so I thought, why not? I did not even know that there was such events at this building. So that day, I brought the exercise mat (as they did not provide) and joined my first Pilates for free. Yes, it was free!!! All the programs stated there, were provided free and led by professional and experienced instructors.

As you can see the above, they have this so called Healthy Workplace Ecosystem (HWE), usually located near office buildings or city area, so that office workers can join the activity after work instead of going back home. Pilates, Yoga, Zumba, Cardio Dance Fitness, KpopX Fitness, Piloxing, Line Dance, Steel Combat, Dance Remix, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) - are some of the exercise programs they offer. You can see the level of intensity of the training from that page too so you can have a mental preparation before registering the event.

It was perfect for me! I heard about Pilates since long time ago but I never gave it a try. There is classes being held but usually it comes with a price (nothing is free for those private health centers). Even when my friend told me the above, I was still hesitating as I worried that I might not be able to follow - since I never tried it before. But she encouraged me to give it a try. So, I thanked her for her support and encouragement that I finally gave it a try. Perhaps I may try other type of exercises too since it was opened to public and it was free. From the trial, then I can decide which one to keep joining and which one to let go. Isn't it fantastic??? :)

How to check exercise events at Healthy 365 App

Apart from those located near workplaces, I could also find activities nearby my home. How to find? From the Healthy 365 App, click "Explore" at below page and click "Events". You can type the area where you live in or nearby you. Here, I typed "Punggol". But Punggol is big, so is Jurong, Tampines, and other parts of Singapore. To find a more specific area, I click "Map View" Here I could use my fingers to move the map around and find the location nearby my home. 

The blue pins indicate the place where the exercise events being held. So I can just click on the blue pins, and the name of the place will appear at below, then I click "View events at location".

Healthy 365 App

The above left page will appear. There, you can see which day and date, what type of exercise, level of intensity, for who, and so on. For details, click on that event and the right page will appear. If you are interested and want to join, click "Book now" below.

So, there are many ways to search for the suitable exercise and location that you want. Once you click Book now, they will send an email for your as confirmation. If you are unable to go, you have to cancel it beforehand, otherwise there will be penalty - and it also gives other people chance to join that empty slot. Fyi, Active Ageing means for people age 65 and above.

This way, you can have as many exercise as you want and all at the convenient of your fingertips. 

You can check the Health Hub website here to find out government programs for the healthier Singapore, not only physically, but also mentally. 

So, are you ready for your next exercise event??? I hope this post can benefit you and motivate you to exercise more in your daily life. Jia you!!! :)

Babe, U R too hot!!!

Pic source: happybeingdoodles.com

End of March, just as when I thought April would be cooler, I was totally wrong!!! April was even worse!!! (Straits Times said March 2024 was the warmest on the record - capping 10-month streak of the temperature record).

Ching ming festival (tomb sweeping day) fell on 4th April this year but few weeks before that, people had already started preparations for tomb-sweeping and ancestral worship. Usually people would offer the death some money and things as they believed that the deceased would receive it in the are world. Therefore, lots of burning happened and it would increase the heat temperature especially in South East Asia countries. 

A week ago I heard the news that Thailand was facing very high temperature too, especially in Bangkok, the metropolitan city. I checked with my friend who stayed there and he said, even in Chiang Mai, where he was located at that moment, the heat did not spare the area. 40 degree celsius was not enough, there was air pollution too as there was wildfire nearby the area. 

Pic source: Accuweather - Strait Times

And since the beginning of the April, everyone here could feel the heat too. Many news were reported, from the very high level of UV in the island and what to do with it, to the extreme heat or heatwave that was going on in South East Asia countries (the above picture was posted only 2 days ago). 

From the personal experience, this was like a living hell. I mean, I was usually the type of person that could bear the normal heat. I mean, it was common to face 30 plus degree temperature in a country like Singapore and I was born in Jakarta and stayed there for seventeen years, so it was not a very big deal. 

But now, it was really becoming so much unbearable!!! I used to have a morning walk in MacRitchie Reservoir because despite the sun, there were trees covering most of the hiking trails. Only when came out, then there was not much protection from the sun. I went once sometimes in March and I found that the heat was too much. The water that I usually brought and topped up, was not enough to cool down my body. That was why I had stopped going, especially when the news reported that March's temperature was breaking the records high.

Until towards end of April, I thought, this was not the way. No matter what, I still had to have some exercise. So my brain had some thinking. Hahaha... Perhaps it was not on much use earlier :P Lol. Then why not just walk around where I stayed??? It was a blessing to live in area like this. It was not far from the man-made river and park, but at least, there was such a place. 

I thought of cycling in the evening. I finished work quite early and could reach home by 6pm. However, the sun was still shining bright at 6pm and the heat was still felt emerging from the asphalt cover. I did not think it was a good idea. I was even wondering why people was still going for jog in such hour. First heat, and second, the carbon monoxide produced by the trees when the night appeared.

One of my morning walk/run

And when I had difficulty to sleep after waking up for pee at dawn, so I thought, why not I go for walk early in the morning before I started my day? And that solved my problem. So now, when I woke up at 6am, I got up and moved my body around the neighborhood. The earlier the better. Like to start before 6am was better as there would be lesser people, lesser noise, but the sky was darker, sometimes could be eerie when you were the only one there, but I had to finish and went back home before 7am as I had to leave to work by 8am. I loved it!!! During weekend, I gave myself longer time and route to go plus breakfast date with my hubby. It was perfect!!!

But afternoon and evening time were still unbearable. Even when I lie down on my bed with wall fan blowing towards me, or when I watched TV sitting on the sofa with ceiling fan blowing from the top, my body was wet from all the sweat, as if the heat could penetrate all over the house. And it was not me who felt it this way. It was for everyone. Everyone complained about the heat.

My office centralized air conditioner was very cold (I even had to wear jacket inside the office). But when I went out for a walk after lunch, wahhhh.... the sun was burning, I could feel the heat penetrated underneath my skin. Often times I chose to take the lift and walk through underpass (went for a longer route) rather than crossing the traffic light in front of me directly under the sun. I think, even in such few meter distance and seconds, the UV light could harm the skin.

The air, it was hot too!!! Suffocating!!!

And with the flow of cold and hot air in and out the building, people were easily getting sick. Flu, cough, and fever. You could see many people wearing masks especially when commuting in public transports like MRT and bus. 

Water! We had to drink much water, enough to take back all the sweat that we expelled from our body.

I have no idea how long more we have to endure such heat. I really miss the Covid time, when people could not travel and just stay within their country where they were. With less emission from the planes, factories, cars, and so on, the world was cooler and healthier. I do not know what the world will become. If this kind of weather went on all the time, where human being would stay???

Coldplay Concert - Thought and Experience

Coldplay 'Music of the Spheres' (Pic source: Google.com)

Just 2 days ago I had a chance to attend the Coldplay 'Music of the Spheres" world tour. There were 6 concerts held in Singapore (23, 24, 26, 27, 30 and 31st January 2024). It was a big hoo haa when the tickets were being sold in more than 7 months ago. People was trying very hard using multiple gadgets, some even took leave from work (some took MC or sick leave) in order to get the ticket.

I heard about this band group long time. I love listening to music (and their songs) but I did not really put attention on who sang it, just like I watched many movies and dramas, but I did not know who starred it. I just listened, watched, and got entertained. Did not really give more attention on who played it. 

Other than being entertained, I listened to music for various reasons, such as: to lift my mood up (especially in the morning as I got myself ready to start my day - usually inside the toilet while poo or taking a bath), to calm my mind (especially when studying, preparing exam, getting ready to work or starting my day activity), to heal (from the broken hearts - mostly, from separation from loved ones), to motivate myself (from bad mood, bad occasions, or to get ready for something - new job, new class, etc.), to accompany my journey (I spent lots of time in the public transport and flights, so it was a really good accompany), also perfect companion when exercising alone (while running, walking, cycling, etc.), to express what I feel (many lyrics suited my mood - it could affect both ways - feeling more emo or stronger), to bring happiness (how many of you would suddenly smile when listening to song lyrics? heart thumping? suddenly knocking fingers following the beats? or shaking legs following the rhythm?

Chris Martin - Coldplay Singapore 2024

From this concert, I found out more benefits from the music. First, it brought people together. 52,000 people was there in the stadium. We all came from different countries, nationalities, religions, race, languages, background, and many more. But we all went there for one reason - to listen to music that Coldplay played!!! Wasn't it wonderful???

The concert was also one way to express what you felt (by singing along, dancing and moving your body with the music, by shouting out loud - really a way to release your stress too and forget about anything else that happened in your daily life - the job that you hate, the never-ending assignments and exams in school, family problem, relationship problem, etc. 

At mid forties, having been living in Singapore for more than two decades, I had only attended one concert before this, one of my favorite duo singers - Air Supply - which was held a long time ago, in an indoor old Kallang stadium (before renovation). That too, I attended because my husband and I got free tickets.

Despite living in a country with endless lists of world bands and musician performances and concerts, I used to tell myself that there was no need to spend substantial amount of money just to go and listen the 1-2 hours of music. I mean, I could just turn on the music in my mobile phone if I wanted to hear their songs. Why should I fight the battle to get the ticket so many months earlier, pay an exorbitant amount of money to get a good seat, and the enjoyment was only last shortly? I had to face a mass crowd upon entering and leaving the premises too. So, that was why I had never attended a paid concert before.

But this time it was different .I just felt that the Universe conspired to make me to attend this concert. To begin with, I met up with an old friend from the school in beginning of January this year. We had not met for over two decades (since we graduated and parted our ways). He currently worked organizing the food and beverage stalls whenever there was event in Jakarta. So he was familiar with concerts. He too had a pair of teenager twins and a younger boy. Despite their ages, the twins often requested him and his wife to attend the Korean bands' concert. 

I, who only attended one concert before, was having no experience or whatsoever with these days concerts and its related matters. As we chatted, we was talking about the light stick, that people bought to attend their favorite bands' concert. At that point of time, I could only imagine what light stick would look like and I thought it was just a stick with some photo label and name of the band and could produce some lights. Little did I know that the stick that produced lights was synchronized with the songs played during the concert and why people would buy it even if the cost was very expensive!!! One light stick, he mentioned, cost him one million rupiah (S$85) in Indonesia. In Korea, it might cost around S$50. So some people tried to get the cheaper one from online shopping stores, and they might get the fake or counterfeit ones. And how did he know if it was fake, was when that light stick would produce different light color from what was synchronized with the real ones. Lol!!! So when it supposed to be red or blue or green, that fake light stick might produce yellow or white. So, it would be obvious for people to find out that it was actually fake. Lol!

We continued our conversation. He mentioned that in one concert where various bands came and performed, the audience who sat not far from his wife, brought various light sticks (one light stick for each band). Wow!!! That audience must be a damn rich die-hard fans!!! Hahaha... 

Seat location - Coldplay Concert Singapore Stadium (Pic source: Singapore Sport Hub)

Little did I know that in less than a week later, my sister-in-law said that she had an extra ticket of Coldplay concert to sell, but it was a single seat, which mean that if I was to purchase it, I would be sitting alone during the concert (She bought 6 tickets that was located in one area, sitting side-by-side, and 1 ticket that was located in another area, and only 1 seat. She bought it initially as she thought my nephew in Hong Kong would want to come to Singapore to attend it, but at the end he could not).

I heard about how good the Coldplay concert was. I mean, they came to Singapore before and I had close friend who loved attending it, as I saw his Instagram posts. I too knew how lovely their songs were. So, when she offered that extra ticket, I immediately said yes to the ticket, even before she showed me the location of my seat. It was S$134/ticket (still within my budget - I mean, I never put any budget for concert at all, but I felt that S$100 plus ticket was in fine range for me. Her was  S$200+/ticket. She already said that my seat was a bit far for that price range, which was fine for me because I did not even have the intention to watch at the first place and did not have much expectation on it. Just want to go there, be there, enjoy the show, experience it myself, get myself happy, have fun with the rest of the audience, and yes, I paid her immediately on the same day.

The concert was only two-week away and I felt that I had to get myself ready. Hahaha... 'Get ready' here means to get myself familiar with the Coldplay songs. Like I said earlier, I heard many of their songs before without knowing it was them who sang it :D So I downloaded their popular songs (20 of them) and put them into my mobile phone. I listened to eat on my way to and from work, whenever I was in toilet, and so on.

I felt that was not enough. I needed to get their lyrics too! Because I wanted to know the song in more depth and also I wanted to sing along during the concert :D So, I copied it from google and pasted it into my Samsung notes one song by one song so whenever I needed it, I could open it faster and easily. It proved to be very useful!!! :) I used them during the concert and sang along confidently hahahaha.... even my brother was surprised that I knew the song lyrics of particular song that he was not aware about.

On the day of the concert, again the Universe heard me. I was tired and did not have enough sleep the night before as I had to attend the night class. That day, my Boss came to office to have her quick lunch. At 2.30pm, before she left the office while opening the office door to leave, she told me this out of the blue, "Rim, today if you have nothing, you can go back early. It is a festive mood (Chinese new year is coming soon and she was busy preparing it - shopping here and there, and therefore, she was in good mood too that particular day)." I could not believe my ear when she said that. I just needed it!!! Time off early so that I could go home and rest (because the concert would only start at 8.30pm and I usually finished my work at 5pm. The gate opened at 6.30pm. So if I had to finish work at 5pm, it would be impossible for me to go home first and go to the concert place as to reach home itself, I would require at least 45 mins and to go to concert place would be another 45 minutes. Stayed idle in between would be tiring). Wahhh...... thank to the Universe for hearing my wish... I went home at 3pm. I managed to sleep for an hour, had quick dinner at home before leaving to the concert place. 

Coldplay Concert - View from my seat :)

I reached there in time with my brother and his families. We entered together and took some photos before we parted to our gates (we sat facing each other). To my surprise, my seat was actually good. Yes it was far from the stage and located at higher level, but I could have greater view (more complete view) of the stadium. I mean, with the light that synchronized in the bracelet that we were lent during the concert (we could actually bring it home, but they would appreciate if we returned it back to them so that they could recycle and use it for their next concert), I would be able to see more colorful lighting effect from my seat.

The person who sat on my left and right was also seated single seat, just like me. One came with her friend who was seated at the other side. Hahaha... I was not alone :D

Cut it short, the concert was awesome!!!! I loved it very much!!! Maybe it was my first time to attend world class concert, so I had nothing to compare (and as you all knew, comparison was a thief of joy!!!). And I was awed with the performance, the lightings, the music equipment, the arrangements (to control crowds and people to their seats, offer help with directions, facilities, etc.), and even the audience, everything was great!!! I was glad I was there, very lucky indeed, and million memories - although seating alone - would remain at the back of my head. 

In the future, I would love to attend again, not just Coldplay, but maybe some other amazing singers and or bands, with world class standard :D 

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!

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!!!