Risky Ris

She'll be the country's unofficial ambassador. To charm with her personality and polish articulation. Her opinions and thoughts will be heard by millions. Can she do the job? The most talked about Singapore Girl in recent weeks.

Hoya hoya

Hold my breath as I await patiently for this cluster to burst into blossom. A hoya plant native to the tropical rainforest esp. Thailand and Malaysia. Only recently was I aware of this species whereas it's very popular houseplant in Australia and the world at large.

ButterFly

Another creature of god took flight from my balcony. Munching through my kafir leaves before finally morphing into a pupae and emerging out as a butterfly one week later. Amazing how all creatures great and small instinctively know about survival.

Alarm News

In the papers today, Thanks to the handy mobile phone, Alarm clock is on it's way to being extinct. Yes, I wake up to the serenade of ' Sting' while eldest is roused from slumber by her favourite korean singer. When my alarm clock ran out of battery, That was the beginning of the end of my Alarm clock. With the mobile phone, a variation of wake times can be set throughout the week. No more ear piercing sudden heart thumping shrills. Wonder how the clockmaker is going to reinvent and revamp this humble time keeper to stay afloat. An alarm clock that also takes picture and takes call, Perhaps?

Truly Malaysian Food

Rojak! Fruit rojak with tropical fruits of sour mango, red jambu air, kedondong, nutmeg, pineapple, cucumber, jicama(sar kok)and star fruit. Drizzle with pungent fermented prawn paste, a dash of sweet sugar, a teaspoon of piquant belachan powder , a pinch of chopped fiery chilli padi, generous scatter of finely minced exotic fragrant ginger flower, a gentle stir and a final sprinkle with of nutty protein peanut. Presto!, it done.

Truly Malaysian.

A melting pot of indian, chinese, malay and indigenous.

What's the fuss over nasi lemak and chilli crab.

Pic: courtesy from thestar online.

Good Read

Another nail biting read. Makes good reading when down and out. Dan Brown writing on sensitive subjects making many uneasy with the plausibility of events if intepret or view from a different angle. Yet two of his novels made it to hollywood. A newcomer to my stable of favourite authors together with David Morrell.

NLB@16th Floor

A night view of S'pore on the 16th floor of the National Library at Victoria street. Was invited to a function organised by the NLB but spent the later part of the evening taking in the magnificent 360 lights of downtown S'pore.

Flowering Road

Flowering trees lining the streets. Very hot days followed by very heavy rain has cause these trees to burst into full bloom. The street, a carpet of pink and white flower. Alas, once trampled upon, it'll quickly decompose giving the poor sweeper a hard time. Soon in a week's time, it's the showering of the twirling seeds. Youngest and I would scoop these winged seeds, on the 2nd floor release and watch how they spin in the wind.

TeaCups

Antiquity cups, Bodum cups, China cups. When presented I graciously accepted. A set of two dainty Antiquity cups. Carefully cleaned and kept under wraps, till one day it proved it's worth. Serving up warm nourishments to three guests over the years. In prefect condition, or so I thought, till last month. Spots were found on a routine check. More checks were done. Relieved, it's not menacing but for now to remove this lumpy spot is the best solution.

Over the Moon

From ice-cream/sesame paste/nutty coconut/ chocolate to jelly version but nothing taste as good as the traditional pastry mooncake. With lotus/redbean paste, scatter of pine nuts and a single salted egg yolk to complement the taste of something sweet, something salty. It's mooncake festival next month. Time when chefs pit against each other in concocting nourveau fillings. Gold flakes to shark fins. Wonder what fillings and skin will the chefs come up with next.

Destressing

Some eat, play electronic games while others watching endless serial dramas to keep the mind preoccupied. The last 2 weeks of much waiting and anxiety, had me devouring 2 novels. Something old, a 1952 translated novel by Sakai Tsuboi and something espionage, by David Morrell. Reading an interesting book still does wonders to the mind. Wonder if holding a book and reading will ever be a redundancy especially now with all the latest portable gadgets for viewing.

Forever young

In the eye of some parents, the child is forever the little mischievous 6 year old. And when child is in late teens and dad still makes comments like, don't jump on the sofa, dad has not been growing up with the child. Dad has not been observing and dad has not been spending time with the child. Dad has been too preoccupied to notice the transformation of child to young adult.

Being Presence

When nothing can be done, being presence is all that should be done. The sense of touch and being close, comfort and calm a troubled mind. We sometimes forget the emotion and phychological value of being presence. Had the privilege experiencing this yesterday.

Yammy Yam

A true blue teochew, I like anything yam. From dessert to pastries. Mum prepared this pork belly with yam one evening. The secret ingredient to this dish is, the preserved fermented bean curd. The yam when cooked must melt in the mouth. Sprinkle of coriander and spring onions gives it colour. Bowl of steaming rice is just right for this simple but delicious dish.

Shutter bug

Has been told of this photography exhibition by local renown and accomplish Photographer Tan Lip Seng. Checking through the web, was awed by the string of accolades and accomplishments. Exhibition until 30th Aug at the Ngee Ann Cultural Cenre at Tank Road. Hopefully will be able to head on down to catch this with dad.

Waiting Game

3 days consecutively, been to SGH. Mon, taking blood and urine samples for testing and x-ray. Tue, to see the nephologist Prof W. Today, to see the musculoskeletal Dept Prof T. The wait today has to be the longest. 2 1/2 hours. So angst was I that I had to look for the feedback form to fill. Honestly, in all aspect, the hospital staffs are effecient, hospital procedures get done within 30 min wait, a cafeteria if not an eatery placed nearly every block. Even pharmacies are stock with interesting healthcare products. However the waiting time to see the doctor is just ridiculus. When 1st appointment of the morning is 9am, the Prof saunters in at 10.30am. The Prof might be brilliant but his time management and time allotment really needs improving. Thank goodness, dad only has to see him once a year for review.

Pineapple Crab

Mum' s here. And it's tomato/pineapple crab. Youngest's favourite. Singapore's chilli crab is just too spicy for youngest. Sweet pineapple and tangy tomato paste with an egg to thicken the gravy is just finger lickin delicious.

Perhaps Love

Perhaps love is like a resting place

A shelter from the storm
It exists to give you comfort

It is there to keep you warm

And in those times of trouble

When you are most alone

The memory of love will bring you home

Perhaps love is like a window

Perhaps an open door

It invites you to come closer

It wants to show you more

And even if you lose yourself

And don't know what to do

The memory of love will see you through

Oh, Love to some is like a cloud

To some as strong as steel
For some a way of living
For some a way to feel

And some say love is holding on

And some say letting go

And some say love is everything

And some say they don't know

Perhaps love is like the ocean

Full of conflict, full of pain

Like a fire when it's cold outside

Thunder when it rains

If I should live forever

And all my dreams come true

My memories of love will be of you

And some say love is holding on

And some say letting go

And some say love is everything

Some say they don't know

Perhaps love is like the ocean

Full of conflict, full of pain

Like a fire when it's cold outside

Or thunder when it rains

If I should live forever

And all my dreams come true

My memories of love will be of you

Introduce this piece to youngest today. From John Denver & Domingo Placido

Have a listen on this link to youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TMAGYKdnqM

The Runaway

When a four legged shell pet escape, the first thing to do is watch your steps. Next, look into every crevasses, nooks & crannies of flower pots, just to be sure it's not trapped and waiting to be rescued. Failing all these steps, take a break. Do nothing.
Spent the whole evening searching for youngest 3 week old tortoise when it was discovered missing. After much assurance that she won't get nightmares, she when to bed. The rest of us would peer into the balcony once a while hoping. This morning it appeared right in the open. On the rack where it's home is. After a night of adventure, it must be tired, thirsty and hungry.

Teh Halia

Girlfriend swears by it. A good cup of Ginger tea/teh halia will rejuvenate/revitalize any weary bone/body. Been under the weather lately. In Asia, this means a mean cup of freshly brewed sweeten milk tea with 3 tablespoon of freshly squeezed ginger juice. And the best cuppa, using the freshiest ginger, is from the corner indian drink stall in Tekka Market. Been residing here for the last 20 years and yesterday's visit to Tekka market was my 3rd. A sip of hot and spicy beverage sure was an experience and indeed a pick-me-up. The Indian Thosai with the sweet& sour condiments just the right savory breakfast with that cuppa.