Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Hiccups
How to stop hiccups?
I learnt an effective way today during lunch. I had hiccups and my colleagues told me to hold my breath for as long as possible.
It actually worked!
I learnt an effective way today during lunch. I had hiccups and my colleagues told me to hold my breath for as long as possible.
It actually worked!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Zoo
To make use of the zoo's offer, yours truly and missus visited the zoo today.
The Singapore Zoo is very small, probably because the zoo is divided into 3 portions: Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari.
The star of the Singapore Zoo is definitely Inuka the polar bear. Located at the Frozen Tundra, Inuka was playing in the water when I was there. It swam in circles around the central isle and towards the glass enclosure for a close encounter with the visitors. We were wowed!
The Singapore Zoo is very small, probably because the zoo is divided into 3 portions: Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari.
The star of the Singapore Zoo is definitely Inuka the polar bear. Located at the Frozen Tundra, Inuka was playing in the water when I was there. It swam in circles around the central isle and towards the glass enclosure for a close encounter with the visitors. We were wowed!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Lobster Bisque
Lobster bisque is one of my favourite western soup, and I have not been able to find any in the supermarkets.
Until I found Cold Storage Online.
Elated, I ordered a dozen cans to satisfy my craving.
My first can was served without any additional ingredient. I loved the taste but it felt like it's short of something. So I bought some scallop and crab meat to go with the second can.
It turned out fine, but slightly more diluted than the previous serving; probably because there's water in the crab meat when it was thrown into the boiling soup. I like it condensed.
In the next try, I will cook the crab meat separately from the soup and then add it to the soup.
Until I found Cold Storage Online.
Elated, I ordered a dozen cans to satisfy my craving.
My first can was served without any additional ingredient. I loved the taste but it felt like it's short of something. So I bought some scallop and crab meat to go with the second can.
It turned out fine, but slightly more diluted than the previous serving; probably because there's water in the crab meat when it was thrown into the boiling soup. I like it condensed.
In the next try, I will cook the crab meat separately from the soup and then add it to the soup.
Table Tennis
I played table tennis when I was younger. I was a proficient player, being the school champion and represented my school during secondary school days.
After laying off the sport for umpteen years, I finally picked it up again recently.
Being from the era where the diameter of ball was 32mm and the ball of choice was Nittaku 3-star,
I looked for the once-familiar model of blade: DHS PF4.
I found out that:
The package set me back about 80 bucks.
With proper equipment, I was ready to play some balls. Firstly, I needed kakis; and I found them at SG East Ping Pong. I was just coming back to the sport so I didn't want to give myself too much pressure by joining advance players. Intermediate players would be nice.
3 months later, itchy backside syndrome struck. The Hurricane 3 was doing fine, but I just couldn't get enough spin on my serves, and my forehand top spin wasn't powerful enough. Time for equipment upgrade.
I visited Sin Ten to see what they have in store, and I felt like Harry Potter going to Ollivanders to get his wand.
I told the lady boss that I want a penhold blade with round body and handle. I still have my attachment for the PF4, you see. She recommended the Ma Lin Extra Special with 7 ply. I had no idea how special the blade is, but since it's a Ma Lin, it must be good. By the way, Ma Lin is a record holding champion.
Coincidentally, I am a luncheon meat lover and my favourite brand is Ma Ling.
Next, I needed to select a rubber that goes with the blade. I saw they had a stack of Donic bluefire rubber in the tray and those students going to the store were asking for Donic bluefire. Of course I want a Donic bluefire!
I picked up a piece and the packaging says: SPEED 10++ SPIN 10++ OFF+. Just what I needed! I am an all-round offensive player and this rubber suits me to a tee.
I forgot about the fact that it also says CONTROL 6 (/10).
I added a Butterfly Sriver rubber to the reverse side of the bat. I am learning the reverse penhold backhand which is a modern technique.
The whole thing cost me $209!!!
I was shocked, even though I didn't bat an eyelid when I paid $220 for my Yonex NanoSpeed badminton racket or $550 for my Titleist 913 driver. Table tennis bat is just not supposed to cost so much.
I just paid up and go.
I tried the new weapon in the next table tennis session. There's a marked difference. More spin on the serve, and fiercer attack. The problem was the control part. I have to be more precise in holding my bat angle or the ball would either go into the net or off the table. No problemo, a few more sessions and I will be able to tame the beast.
Money well spent, but my heart still pain.
After laying off the sport for umpteen years, I finally picked it up again recently.
Being from the era where the diameter of ball was 32mm and the ball of choice was Nittaku 3-star,
I looked for the once-familiar model of blade: DHS PF4.
I found out that:
- table tennis ball is now 40mm in diameter
- each set is now 11 points instead of 21 points then
- there are like thousands of brands out there
The package set me back about 80 bucks.
With proper equipment, I was ready to play some balls. Firstly, I needed kakis; and I found them at SG East Ping Pong. I was just coming back to the sport so I didn't want to give myself too much pressure by joining advance players. Intermediate players would be nice.
3 months later, itchy backside syndrome struck. The Hurricane 3 was doing fine, but I just couldn't get enough spin on my serves, and my forehand top spin wasn't powerful enough. Time for equipment upgrade.
I visited Sin Ten to see what they have in store, and I felt like Harry Potter going to Ollivanders to get his wand.
I told the lady boss that I want a penhold blade with round body and handle. I still have my attachment for the PF4, you see. She recommended the Ma Lin Extra Special with 7 ply. I had no idea how special the blade is, but since it's a Ma Lin, it must be good. By the way, Ma Lin is a record holding champion.
Coincidentally, I am a luncheon meat lover and my favourite brand is Ma Ling.
Next, I needed to select a rubber that goes with the blade. I saw they had a stack of Donic bluefire rubber in the tray and those students going to the store were asking for Donic bluefire. Of course I want a Donic bluefire!
I picked up a piece and the packaging says: SPEED 10++ SPIN 10++ OFF+. Just what I needed! I am an all-round offensive player and this rubber suits me to a tee.
I forgot about the fact that it also says CONTROL 6 (/10).
I added a Butterfly Sriver rubber to the reverse side of the bat. I am learning the reverse penhold backhand which is a modern technique.
The whole thing cost me $209!!!
I was shocked, even though I didn't bat an eyelid when I paid $220 for my Yonex NanoSpeed badminton racket or $550 for my Titleist 913 driver. Table tennis bat is just not supposed to cost so much.
I just paid up and go.
I tried the new weapon in the next table tennis session. There's a marked difference. More spin on the serve, and fiercer attack. The problem was the control part. I have to be more precise in holding my bat angle or the ball would either go into the net or off the table. No problemo, a few more sessions and I will be able to tame the beast.
Money well spent, but my heart still pain.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Food & Electronics Bazaar
Date: 19 July 2013 to 21 July 2013
Time: 11am to 9pm
Venue: Singapore Expo
Battle Of The Rendang Burgers
When every Singaporean's eyes were focused on the showdown between Gordon Ramsay and Singapore hawkers, another showdown started quietly at the fastfood outlets: the battle of the rendang burgers between McDonald's and Burger King.
To me, the rendang burger was the ultimate Burger King burger. Until I tasted the latest version. The sauce seems drier and less rendang-like, and I can't taste the onions because they used diced onion. Fail.
McDonald's probably got hold of the many negative feedback on Burger King's rendang burger, and seized the opportunity. They introduced their version of the rendang burger 1 month later. It addressed all the feedback on the Burger King version. Needless to say, it won hands down. To ensure a complete victory, McDonald's even assembled a complete local flavour meal: rendang burger, curry fries, durian ice cream and their version of the bandung. The curry shaker fries is always a local favourite, but I don't quite like the Rose McFizz, probably because there is no evaporated milk. I like my bandung in its original form.
To me, the rendang burger was the ultimate Burger King burger. Until I tasted the latest version. The sauce seems drier and less rendang-like, and I can't taste the onions because they used diced onion. Fail.
McDonald's probably got hold of the many negative feedback on Burger King's rendang burger, and seized the opportunity. They introduced their version of the rendang burger 1 month later. It addressed all the feedback on the Burger King version. Needless to say, it won hands down. To ensure a complete victory, McDonald's even assembled a complete local flavour meal: rendang burger, curry fries, durian ice cream and their version of the bandung. The curry shaker fries is always a local favourite, but I don't quite like the Rose McFizz, probably because there is no evaporated milk. I like my bandung in its original form.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Travel Smart
Singaporeans are good at exploiting loopholes in the system. LTA's free travel trial is the latest to fall.
Under the free travel trial:
For example, you stay near Boon Lay MRT Station and your work place is near Redhill MRT Station. Normally you take a train from Boon Lay and alight at Redhill. You pay $1.47, right?
Wrong! If you can reach Outram Park MRT Station before 7.45am, your trip is free. After exiting the faregate, you then enter again and take another train to Redhill MRT Station. It only cost you $0.73, which gives you a saving of 74 cents.
If you work 220 days a year, you will save a total of $162.80 during the trial year.
Under the free travel trial:
- Commuters must exit at any of the 16 designated stations in the city area by 7.45am on Mondays to Fridays (excluding public holidays) for the train portion of their journey to be free. Up to 50 cents discount from 7.45am to 8am. The train journey must not begin at any of these 16 designated stations.
- The 16 designated stations are Bugis, Chinatown, City Hall, Clarke Quay, Dhoby Ghaut, Lavender, Orchard, Outram Park, Raffles Place, Somerset, Tanjong Pagar, Bayfront, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Marina Bay and Promenade.
For example, you stay near Boon Lay MRT Station and your work place is near Redhill MRT Station. Normally you take a train from Boon Lay and alight at Redhill. You pay $1.47, right?
Wrong! If you can reach Outram Park MRT Station before 7.45am, your trip is free. After exiting the faregate, you then enter again and take another train to Redhill MRT Station. It only cost you $0.73, which gives you a saving of 74 cents.
If you work 220 days a year, you will save a total of $162.80 during the trial year.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Divorce Rate in Singapore
Today's papers were all about how the number of marriages increased and divorces reduced last year.
The ugly truth remains that the divorce rate is still high at 25.9% (7,241 divorces vs 27,936 marriages) even though it is significantly lower than that of USA (50%). The last time USA had divorce rate lower than 30% was 1969.
The fact that 1 in 4 marriages end up in divorce is not exactly encouragement to get hitched, and our government has much to do to put a halt to us following the foot steps of USA. If something needs to be done, it is now, before we lost faith of the age-old institution that they called marriage.
The ugly truth remains that the divorce rate is still high at 25.9% (7,241 divorces vs 27,936 marriages) even though it is significantly lower than that of USA (50%). The last time USA had divorce rate lower than 30% was 1969.
The fact that 1 in 4 marriages end up in divorce is not exactly encouragement to get hitched, and our government has much to do to put a halt to us following the foot steps of USA. If something needs to be done, it is now, before we lost faith of the age-old institution that they called marriage.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
New 5 Cent Coin
I received change for my purchase today and found myself with an unfamiliar coin. On closer look, it's the new 5 cent coin.
I compared it with the old coin. The new coin is bigger and slightly heavier. I also prefer the engravings on the new coin: the "5" is bigger (good for old man like me); the lion head and Esplanade makes it easier to recognise that this is a Singapore coin, unless the 3 leaves on the old coin belong to the species of famous Singapore leaf that was featured in a locally produced army movie.
I am quite happy with the progress of our coin design, till I receive a coin of a different denomination which is badly designed. I heard the new $1 coin is a piece of junk but have yet to see it personally.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
MK Restaurant
Famous Thai steamboat MK Restaurant (http://www.mkrestaurant.com/) has opened its Singapore outlet at 313@Somerset (http://www.313somerset.com.sg/).
Singaporeans like hype; expect long queue if you plan to dine there within these 2 months.
As usual, it's good food at Singapore price. Like what my friend said: "same same but different; food same same but price no same same."
A good alternative in Singapore is Parkway Parade Steamboat at Roxy Square basement.
Another cheaper alternative is Johnny's Restaurant (http://www.johnnyrestaurant.com/) in JB.
Singaporeans like hype; expect long queue if you plan to dine there within these 2 months.
As usual, it's good food at Singapore price. Like what my friend said: "same same but different; food same same but price no same same."
A good alternative in Singapore is Parkway Parade Steamboat at Roxy Square basement.
Another cheaper alternative is Johnny's Restaurant (http://www.johnnyrestaurant.com/) in JB.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)