秋莲板面 Qiu Lian Ban Mian @ Jurong East Westgate

Qiu Lian Ban Mian at Westgate

I remember I had my very first bowl of Ban Mian from Qiu Lian Ban Mian (秋莲板面) some twenty years ago during my schooling days in the 90s.

Ban Mian is a traditional noodle dish with Hakka origins (some say Hokkien) and it is Qiu Lian who introduces it to the masses in Singapore.

Well, I could be wrong though but I do not recall seeing any other Ban Mian stalls around prior my first bowl at Qiu Lian.

It was only after sometime that other Ban Mian stalls began sprouting all over the island when the dish became popular and gained a foothold in the local food scene.

At that time, the novelty of seeing your noodle being handmade (with the pasta machine) in front of you was something new to me and the chewy texture of the noodles was a refreshing change from the usual mee pok, mee kia, kway teow, etc...

Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop From Yilmaz Western @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 6

Fish & Chips $5.50

A few months ago, I visited Yilmaz Western intending to try the Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop but as it was not ready yet, I had the Fish & Chips instead.

I told myself that somehow, I must return for the Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop and that opportunity came just a couple of days before Christmas when my parents and I happened to be around the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio. 

I ordered a Fish & Chips for the folks to try and a Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop for myself.

As mentioned in the previous post, I am most impressed by the generous portion and the economical pricing.

The Fish & Chips scored rather well with my folks but just how did the Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop fare?

霹雳2013:怡保与邦咯岛 *图多慎入*

*English version*

大家好!

几个星期前，一民热衷于社区服务的阿姨主办了一个到马来西亚，霹雳州的旅游团而我们一家也受邀同游。

日盼夜盼，期待已久的这天终于来临！

我们摸黑起床与各位团友集合后就上了旅游巴士往新柔长堤开去。

一伙人上了旅游巴士就倒头大睡直到抵达了华都牙也 (Batu Gajah) 享用早餐。

妈妈的早餐

有谁晓得这包是什么呢？它只有手掌般大小。

它包的像椰浆饭但里面装的并不是我们熟悉的小鱼干，蛋皮和花生而是几只淋上酱汁的虾仔。

说句实话，我还蛮喜欢这饭配上酱汁的味道。

Perak 2013: Ipoh And Pangkor Island *Photos Intensive*

*中文版*

Hello!

A few weeks earlier, a kind neighbor has undertaken the task to organize a trip to Perak, Malaysia and had invited some of us neighbors to come along.

The big day finally arrived after much anticipation. We woke up in the wee hours of the morning to board a chartered coach which brought us across the causeway.

Everyone spent much of the journey catching up on much deprived sleep until we arrived for breakfast at Batu Gajah.

Mum's breakfast

Does anyone know what this palm-sized packet is called?

It is wrapped like Nasi Lemak but the content is just rice with shrimps and gravy and not the usual ikan bilis, egg and peanuts.

To be honest, the taste of the rice with the sauce is quite nice actually.

Video: Riot In Little India

via

I am still finding it hard to believe that a riot has taken place earlier in Singapore. When I first come across this news on twitter, I thought it was just part of an anti-riot exercise by the police.

Singapore has been riot-free for the last 44 years so how could it happen now?

Titans of the Past – Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals At The Singapore Science Centre

Do you know that a new exhibition "Titans of the Past – Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals" is here at the Singapore Science Centre?

I don't.

I only found out after a few parent bloggers attended the media invite and blogged about it. In fact, the exhibition started way back in October (that's two months ago) and I wonder why it wasn't publicized then?

I believe I only saw the advertisement on TV in late November. Anyway, I was contemplating whether to go or not to as the price of the admission ticket seem pretty steep.

Well, it does not take a genius to guess that I gave in ultimately as it is not everyday that you can come face to face with a dinosaur!

McDonaldland Characters Plushie

McDonaldland Characters Plushie

When I was young, I really like the old McDonald's TV commercials featuring McDonaldland and I remember that they used to launch toys with their McDonaldland characters.

Sadly, they do not make such toys or commercials anymore.

Last week, I am elated to learn about the launch of these plushies featuring the old gang and they will be launched on the following dates:

Hat Yai Trip 2013 *Photos Intensive*

Hat Yai

*中文版*

Sawadeeka!

Last month, I boarded Tiger Airways with my parents heading for Hat Yai, Southern Thailand. We touched down at Hat Yai International Airport after a 75 minutes flight from Singapore Changi Airport.

Compared to taking a coach ride setting off from Golden Mile Complex to Southern Thailand via Malaysia, we saved more than twenty hours and alot of backache.

Those who know me might wonder why does my family visit Hat Yai year after year? Isn't it boring?

Hat Yai is not as picturesque as Phuket nor as glamorous as Bangkok. What it have is a very slow pace of life and aged buildings.

However, these are the exact factors which drew my parents to this place as they find the way of life suits them perfectly.

Furthermore, the cost of living is relatively cheaper here and communication is not much of a problem as the Thai Chinese here speaks a little Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka.

McDonald's Despicable Me 2 Toys Ready For Collection!

After a long wait, the McDonald's Happy Meal Despicable Me 2 Toys will be ready for collection in about a month's time.

Fans who have placed an order for the Minion toys through the deferred fufilment website should be receiving an SMS from McDonald's regarding the collection soon.

合艾之旅2013 *图多慎入*

合艾

*English version*

三碗猪脚！（Sawadeeka）

上个月，我和两老登上了虎航飞往泰南，合艾。从新加坡樟宜国际机场起航短短75分钟后，我们就抵达了合艾国际机场。

这比起N年前从黄金大厦（Golden Mile Complex）搭乘二十几个小时的长途巴士途经马来西亚再抵达泰南边境而省却了不少的时间与折腾！

认识我的朋友或许会纳闷，我家为何年年都会回到这里度假呢？难道不闷吗？

的确，合艾即没有普吉岛那怡人的景色，也没有曼谷的绚丽繁华。这里有的，只是非常慢的生活节奏和老旧的店屋。

可是，两老偏偏就喜欢这一点，觉得这样的步伐才适合他们。

再来，这里消费便宜，沟通上也没多大的问题因为这里的华侨都会说些潮州，广东或客家话。

8th Death Anniversary

八年前，死亡第一次在我眼前真实地发生。

当时，你已病入膏肓有整整一个星期站不起来了。在兽医院时，你突然使劲了力量站起来看了我一眼后，就吐血到卧不起。

兽医给你进行急救，我却只能无助地站到一旁默默的为你祈祷。这一幕就像美国连续剧ER的情节。不同的是，发生在我眼前的事是真实的而并非虚构的。

遗憾的是，经过一番抢救，你仍然是回魂乏术。

兽医取除了口罩对我说：“I'm sorry, he's gone…”

Happy 15th Barkday!

My dog is amazing, I truly adore,
So very cute, walks on all four.
Sometimes he makes a pretty big mess,
When he's around, I never depress.
 Runs and jumps, when I come home,
Loves when I pet him, and gently comb.

With my dog, I get to act crazy,
When we watch TV, we get a bit lazy.
 He gets excited and begins to bark,
When we are leaving for the park.
My dog is definitely my best friend,
Time with him, I love to spend.

HAPPY 15TH BARKDAY, DEXTER!

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Urgent: Children For Adoption

Must rehome quickly!

Please help! After two long years of being on a waiting list for a dog, we have been notified by breed rescue that, at long last, our number has come up and... WE ARE HAVING A PUPPY!

We must get rid of our children IMMEDIATELY because we just know how time consuming our new little puppy is going to be and it just wouldn't be fair to the children. Since our little puppy will be arriving on Monday we MUST place the children up for adoption this weekend!

They are described as:

One male -- his name is Tommy, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), light blonde hair, blue eyes. Four years old. Excellent disposition. He doesn't bite. Temperament tested. Does have problems with peeing directly in the toilet. Has had chicken Pox and is current on all shots. Tonsils have already been removed. Tommy eats everything, is very clean, house trained and gets along well with others. Does not run with scissors and with a little training he should be able to read soon.

One female -- her name is Lexie, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), strawberry blonde hair, green eyes quite freckled. Two years old. Can be surly at times. Non-biter, thumb sucker. Has been temperament tested but needs a little attitude adjusting occasionally. She is current on all shots, tonsils out, and is very healthy and can be affectionate. Gets along well with other little girls and little boys but does not like to share her toys and therefore would do best in a one child household. She is a very quick learner and is currently working on her house training. Shouldn't take long at all.

We really do LOVE our children so much and want to do what's right for them. That is why we contacted a rescue group. But we simply can no longer keep them. Also, we are afraid that they may hurt our new puppy.

I hope you understand that ours is a UNIQUE situation and we have a real emergency here! They MUST be placed into your rescue by Sunday night at the latest or we will be forced to drop them off at the orphanage or along some dark, country road. Our priority now has to be our new puppy.

$10 rehoming fee but price is very negotiable.

PS - If you laughed or understood the seriousness of this posting, please repost it in other areas of the country as well as continue to repost it. It doesn't matter how quickly it was flagged the point is that SOMEONE SOMEWHERE will have read it and thought about it for a minute.

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Did Class 95 FM Morning Express Wastes Food For Fun?

So about a week ago, Glenn Ong from Class 95 was creamed in the face with a pie. It all began with a meaningless bet between him and Joe Augustine.

Sheng Yi Fa Lor Mee @ Blk 443 Clementi Avenue 3

When I learn about this popular lor mee at Clementi Central, I knew I had to go check it out at Food Loft, a coffeeshop situated along Clementi Avenue 3 near Clementi Town Secondary School.

I ordered the default $3 bowl and when it is served to my table, it came together with the vinegar bottle.

When having this dish, I tend to go over the top with the condiments like garlic and black vinegar because that is how I perceive this dish is to be best enjoyed.

However, there are times when the hawkers' face turned as black as the vinegar when I requested for more.

I am overjoyed that I could add as much vinegar as I wanted here without having the hawker rolling eyes at me!

Have A Cup Of Cruelty: The Truth Behind Kopi Luwak

Kopi Luwak, or Civet Coffee, refers to a kind of brewed coffee that is made from coffee berries which have been eaten, digested and excreted by the Civet Cat.

The enzymes from the digestive tract breaks down the bitterness of the coffee berries and coffee brewed from such berries are said to have a very distinctive flavor.

These cat-like creatures from Indonesia feeds mainly on fruits and berries; including the coffee berries. Their excrement would fall onto the forest floor and farmers will harvest these fermented berries to further process them for human consumption.

Well, there is nothing wrong with drinking Kopi Luwak because in the beginning, the excreted berries were collected from free-roaming civet cats in the wild who not only selects the best berries to eat but have a varied diet as well.

However, due to its increasing popularity and limited availability, the traditional way of collecting these pooped berries can no longer meet the demands of coffee connoisseur around the world.

The farmers now need to produce alot of these coffee berries in the shortest time possible and this give rise to battery farming methods where captured civet cats are forced into tiny cages specifically for this purpose.

电影：《总铺师：移动大厨》

影 片 名：《总铺师：移动大厨》
英 文 名：Zone Pro Site: The Moveable Feast
类别 ：喜剧/励志/爱情/亲情
导 演：陈玉勋
主要演员：林美秀 杨佑宁 夏于乔
上映日期：2013年10月17日
本地发行商：华纳兄弟

几个星期前，我在东森新闻偶然看到了这则新闻觉得那首《三八阿花吹喇叭》很有趣。于是，我上youtube搜寻了一下就找到了这个。

那诙谐的表情再加上容易让人想歪的歌词，简直让人笑翻了！这首歌让我对《总铺师》感到好奇因此就开始搜寻更多有关此片的资料。

看了预告片后，我想完了因为这部片几乎都是台语对白的；新加坡铁定不会上映的啦！

正当我纳闷应该是没啥缘分观赏到《总铺师》时，今早就在推特看到这个消息：

最新台湾电影 <<总铺师：移动大厨>> 将在10月17日于本地隆重上映。 http://t.co/VZj69ugdFg
— 优1周 UW (@uweeklysg) September 11, 2013

The Mother Of All Mahjong Tables!

Fans of Mahjong rejoice!

Here comes an automated Mahjong table that reshuffles and stack the tiles for you - automatically!

This Mahjong table would require two sets of Mahjong tiles so while you are playing with one set, the table is reshuffling the tiles from the previous game for you.

永远的经典电影：《僵尸小子》

记得在我还小的那段时间非常盛行港产的僵尸片。

尤其是由林正英所主演的一系列僵尸片更是叫好又卖座。

当时，年幼的我看僵尸片都是从手指缝隙间偷看的。

小朋友都是很胆小的嘛！我想人就是这样 - 越怕就越要看！

如果没记错的话，《僵尸小子》可是台湾的首部僵尸片呢。

多啦A梦剧场版：《大雄的新魔界大冒险》之《七个魔法师》

不管是功课或打棒球都不精的大雄使用了哆啦A梦的道具“如果电话亭”将原本的世界变成了魔法世界！

他一心认为，只要有了魔法，什么事都可以变得很便利应为只需一个咒语就能搞定一切。怎料，在魔法的世界里，不会使用魔法的就只有大雄一人。

这跟现实生活中的他并没什么两样！

这一天，静香与哆啦A梦在院子里帮助大雄复习魔法，却发现天空突然出现了一道奇怪的光芒。

当三人前去树林探个究竟时，竟目睹了胖虎与小夫急速地从天上往地面坠…