Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Restart


It took me 2 hours to redo my blog into this clean look and i must say I am pleased. Don't laugh, you IT-savvy people, at my HTML illiteracy! It's funny how I tried to dabble with the HTML codes only to find the codes I copied down ending up unreadable. Eventually I realised that blogger has this new (pardon me if it's not too new) layout where I can add my banners and extra tools as gadgets easily. Within a few minutes, I got my sidebar in order. Whew.

So I've stayed away from my blog for months and I've thought about the original intent of my website I created back in my JC days. Back then, I started a blog to create a platform to expand my GP skills by discussing and inquiring on all those intellectual topics eg. euthanasia, science & religion etc. But now that I'm past that phase of GP and A level preparation, having done that 2 years ago, it's time to start on a clean slate. Of course, it comes with a new intent for this portal.

The name stays because it broadly covers everything that I'd probably ever type on this site, unless I start to turn this into a blonde journal for the whole world to see WHICH will never happen. So yes, restart. Restart to engage and share of all the discoveries I make from my day to day experiences. I figured that's what blogs are for- not rantings and whinings of personal issues but more of social websites to deseminate valuable experiences to share with others. I greatly appreciate those food and travel blogs eg. ieatishootipost and others I came across in my search for amazing off-the-track travelogues, these are the blogs I hope to emulate. Given my limited social circle, this blog is dedicated especially to my loved ones and friends whom I dearly want to share all my worthwhile experiences with :)

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Quest for best dessert joints I


I'm on a quest for search for the best dessert joint in singapore based on my own terms. It'll have to provide good tasting, yummy desserts that cannot satisfy a craving for more, be generous in its portions (only a plus), decently priced.

Thus far, I've paid a visit to Max Brenner's chocolate bar and i came out not too impressed. I went there for the chocolate but the chocolate drinks and desserts weren't chocolate-y enough. I appreciated the concept, porcelain mugs and steel straws though. The ambience and decor were aptly set up, with bags of cocao on shelves, Max brenner's tale, arty pictures and woody furniture etc. Yet, at the heart of it as I had mentioned, Max Brenner's didn't live up to its name as a chocolate bar.

Tried the hazelnut creme crepe, chocolate granita, chocolate soup, orange smoothie, hot chocolate and marshmallows, mexican spicy hot chocolate and eighties' milkshake.

The drinks got a little je-lat after a while. Perhaps we were rushing through our drinks but I'd think that the drinks were quite sweet. I liked the mexican spicy hot chocolate. It kicked up a little spice in my life and such zest really matched the cocoa taste. No wonder the mesoamerican cultures mixed such an elixir. I'd love to stir up a such a concoction one day. Throw in some cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk in the right proportions and you'd get a really divine mayan xocolatl drink.

Just yesterday, I set out to serangoon gardens with my pals to explore the famed ice3 dessert parlour. It ended off with utter disappointment. The choco-banana mudpie and crepe with ice cream were total disasters. One was ice cream in the shape of a block and the other was crepe with preserved fruits and tasteless blueberry ice cream. When I returned home, I searched up reviews and saw that indeed, it was an island-wide let down. Too bad I had to experience it for myself with a pinch on my wallet.

And so, I continue my quest for the best dessert joints in town.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

What do you want to do?

I don't know.

I really don't know.

Do i really need to know?

Job week had consistently been memorable throughout my 4 main scouting years. Yes, I did earn much each year during those 4 days of going door to door, discovering treasure troves of generous contributors and utilising my strategy of pulling at people's heartstrings. I'm sorry, I didn't intend to brag. I recall going to my favourite hotspot- Lincoln lodge, the condominium right behind United Square in my secondary 4 year. It was a place full of expatriates and warm, friendly people- definitely unforgettable. From the top floor, I descended, ringing each apartment's doorbell. At one particular door, an indian lady opened and immediately, I sold my story on job week. She paused for a moment and cracked her brain on ideas of jobs to give me. Not long after, she gave up and called out to her spouse for any ideas as well. Eventually, she simply invited me in hospitably like an expected visitor.

Not wanting to let me off jobless, she had decided to get me to teach mandarin to her young daughter who was occupied in one corner with her toys. With a glass of coke with ice, we carried a conversation that led to the question on what i wanted to do. At that time, I thought probably investment banking since it seemed like an appropriate choice but then again, i conceded that I still wasn't too sure. Without hesitation, she shared that it was totally alright. She admitted she was 26 before she finally discovered where her passion laid in. Her job then in JP Morgan was where she was concluded her search for a career she was contented with. Not many know their desires until they visit the corporate world long enough. And that would take much time.

Advice may narrow the choices but only experience will decide.

"I am a simple man," revealed the then Chief of Staff-Joint Staff of the Singapore Armed Forces, BG Chan Chun Sing. In the closed door session with OCS cadets, he chronicled his life, how he came to be and accepted his calling. He was offered the SAFOS scholarship after his JC days and accepted it even though he wanted a different career. From there, the rest was history. He had no complains, no qualms about not having the liberty of choice. He is a great example of one who obliged without doubt to an organisation he had no idea of what to expect.

He showed that one can choose to find contentment in any job.

With these 2 tales in mind, I've decided to take my time to discover my passion. And if I don't find it, I will remain contented with my life despite whatever outcomes I face.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Trouble is my friend

"
Lenka has the likes of regina spektor. The childish, playful, soothing voice befits such mirthful songs.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Root Beer floats


About 2 weeks ago, I had dinner with my 2 dear cousins and an acquaintance at Relish in Cluny Court. Responding to a sudden craving for ice cream in a soft drink, I was led to ordering a root beer float. It had cost around 7 dollars for a scoop of vanilla and a slim glass filled with root beer. I looked behind the counter and saw an ice cream freezer with nestle label. Can't expect much I guessed. I wielded the spoon and dug into the soft vanilla ice cream first because I didn't want it to totally melt. Within seconds, an ice cream lover turned a "float" into a mere root beer drink.

But it wasn't just any ordinary drink. It was root beer mixed with some vanilla cream. It was creamy joy to sip the drink bit by bit. I suppose the 7 dollars wasn't all too bad. But when I went down to Marble Slab creamery, I saw a tempting option of trying their root beer float as well. Too bad, I was filled by the eccentric beef burgers of Relish. Anyway, at this moment, I am sitting comfortably tucked in swivel seat in Marble Slab creamery, analysing the creaminess and pleasure of my root beer float. I daresay, IBC rootbeer fails to accentuate the creaminess of the vanilla ice cream. The ice cream is indeed one of the best vanilla ice creams that may possibly exist out there (as shown by its huge ribbon "Best ice cream in America").

The texture of the vanilla is smooth, flavour strong, not too thick and sufficiently creamy to give the desire for more. Its melted form improves the flavour of IBC root beer, however, the excessive gassiness of the bottled drink diminishes the entire package.

So, the verdict is that A&W root beer floats still reign supreme. The nostalgic and creamy A&W root beers are superior to any other root beers I've tried thus far. If we combined A&W root beers with marble slab vanilla ice cream, perhaps we might get the creamiest concoction. We'll try that one day.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

A Night with Ono


1st May 1945
One by one, in groups and in pairs, the seats in the gargantuan theatre filled. People were fiddling with their phones only to realise there was no reception while others, chatted incessantly with much anticipation for the singer who'd take stage. I sat there without much expectation for this lady and spent my moments observing the layout of the entire layout. I haven't quite had the opportunity to step into the esplanade theatre and appreciate it for some time so occupying top the circle was the perfect fit for such a moment. The metal tube-like objects stuck on the ceiling, the multiple doors of entry, the woody and soft feel, the stage set with the grand piano, guitar, cello and drum set all culminate to a feast to one's eyes.

Wait, there's still the feast to the ears. After the celloist, pianist and drummer took their place to a gentle applause, Lisa ono sauntered out to an even louder applause. It's her 3rd time in singapore performing. And she was performing not just for me but also for the japanese and brazilian ambassadors to singapore so she had better put up a good show.

It begun slow, lisa ono warming up her voice for the 1st 2 songs. But 3rd was my favourite- garota de ipanema (girl from ipanema). Play her youtube video and you'd know. It followed with a string of bossa nova standards. I couldn't quite recognise some and singing in portugeuse made me a little bored as i didn't understand the pieces. The first half of the show made me feel a little dissatisfied as it was a tad too anaesthetic. She was a sweetheart to the audience despite her limited vocab as she sounded so earnest and innocent, especially, when she pleaded with everyone not to go home during the break.

After the 20 minute interval, ono entered in a different eye-catching red dress, i suppose it somewhat signified a change in the genre of music in the 2nd half. The songs arranged were fast paced and this time, she got out of her seat next to the grand piano and swayed with her music. I broke out of my semi-conscious state and was absorbed in the contents. Her mellow and mellifluous voice enchanted the crowd. It came out stronger and more solid in the second half. Her rendition of "moon river" was amazing. Plus, i give much credit to the pianist who made the songs jazzy with his instrumental bridges.

So, i wasn't too surprised when she came back for 2 encores. She surmised this acoustic treat with "what a wonderful world". How apt.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

The Spirit of Adventure

Went on random hike from my home to Chinatown and to Bugis last week on friday. And you thought I'd be sick of hiking after all those route marches. Here's the route:
DISCLAIMER: This route is not the exact route taken and is a only an estimation
Ok, I admit it's hard to figure out the route.
-SP is start point.
-The blue route ends at Ann siang (try to make out the words
-2nd half of the day is the yellow route
-I think you can see the s'pore flyer words
-And there the End Point (EP) near city hall mrt
Sister was supposed to train and condition herself for her ultra marathon in the sahara desert but we ended up exploring shops.
Here are 2 interesting signs along balestier road:






















Saw the "drop inn" sign on the way home before. clever puns.
Popped into a few shops on the way to Ann siang. Along kandahar street where the famous rich and good cake shop swiss rolls lay, was the house of Ginza chocolate - Blue Ribbon. Tasted the chocolate ice cream as I could ill afford the expensive pieces of chocolate/truffles and I wasn't too impressed. The lady didn't warn that they had mixed in different fruit flavours with the ice cream, a cardinal sin to a chocolate purist like me. Sister and I had a long chat with the owner, examining the variety of chocolates on display and determining whether this shop was worth returning. I guess not.






















We moved on through Kampong Glam and pass the one shop where innocent young primary school kids were frequently conned. (don't have a picture but I think you can recall) You might remember a perfume shop with mini perfume bottles at a dollar each. On a school trip to Kampong Glam, long queues of us, halflings eagerly took our turns to choose between the perfumes. I remember the day I brought 2 home, hoping to impress mother, only to be reprimanded for purchasing such "smelly" perfumes. I think the bottle sat cold on my bathroom counter top for ages until I disposed of them years later.

We strolled through the reputable haji lane known to house a cluster of boutique stores(supposedly owned by tai-tais / fledgling designers). It was noon then and most shops opened at ard 1pm so we were a wee bit early to weave through these shops. Came to this tiny street once, and it was alive mostly with teens folded on rolled out carpets smoking sheshars and playing cards.With nothing to check out, we headed straight to my favourite haunt and the best kept secret in town - Shaw towers.

Shaw towers looks as shabby as any other shaw building. In the interior, it isn't any much different. What makes Shaw towers a hidden gem is actually the variety, uniqueness and affordability. The dining areas on the ground level look decent and are pretty packed during lunch hour.The eating joints there serves thai, korean and vegetarian (western) and there's an interesting ice cream parlour to end off your meal. Uncle Tom's Palette boasts a wide array of ice cream from apple pie to sesame and depending on the season eg. CNY, you could get luo han or pineapple tart! A scoop's about $2.50 - almost half the price of Ben & Jerry's. It's definitely better than Island Creamery (if I spelt that correctly) and truly value for money. My only grouse is that the ice-cream can get a bit jelat as there's distinct creamy taste in every flavour that irritates me after a while. If not, it's worth visiting especially for amiable owners who'd be more than willing to allow you to try every single flavour (no kidding!).

On the second level, directly above Ah Yatt Seafood market, you'd often see crowds of indians. Don't be surprised because there's a bollywood cinema there. I haven't patronised it before but i believe it was converted from the former Shaw Prince cinema. Along the aisle of shops, there're magic, dvd, manicure and skin treatment shops. My favourite's (no prizes for guessing) is Xotiq chocolatier (for more info go to my hungrygowhere.com entry) which sells my alltime favourite chocolates. After I restocked on my supply of chocolate, we proceeded to Ann siang - widely acclaimed for its beautifully decorated and arty stores.

I guess I'll write up on Ann Siang another time! Have to leave to India for a month.