Happy 16th Barkday!

A companion, a pal,
A very best friend.
Someone to trust,
To love 'til the end.
Someone to trust,
When feeling blue.
Always a smile,
T'always greet you.
Always a smile,
To dry up your tears.
A person to be there,
To quiet your fears.
A person to be there,
When lonely or sad.
Loving regardless,
If hating or mad.
Loving regardless,
If caring or cruel.
No matter what,
Genius or fool.
No matter what,
They stand by you.
Who is this person,
Have you a clue?
Who is this person?
I'll tell you who.
This is your pet,
That loves through 'n through.

- Author Unknown

Haw Par Villa - The Ten Courts Of Hell

 

I hope you have not been kept waiting for too long for the second and final installment of my Haw Par Villa trip. You can read the first part here if you have not already done so.

The focus in today's post is also the main highlight of the park which is the Ten Courts Of Hell.

I actually made a second trip back to hell as the photos did not turn out well (I didn't realize my hands were shaking too much) during the first visit.

I vividly remember visiting it as a child and the graphic nature of the exhibits gave me endless nightmares but precisely because of this, it further ingrain the notion in me not to do bad deeds.

I guess that is the purpose of this exhibit; to remind us to be a better person and not to commit crimes. I recommended all parents to bring their kids (especially naughty ones) here at least once so they will learn to behave themselves.

Be forewarned that the photos you are about to see are pretty gruesome and morbid therefore you are advised to exercise caution if you want to proceed reading further.

*Reader's Discretion Is Advised*

Haw Par Villa - Singapore's Very First Theme Park Of The Bizzare Kind

Did you know that long before USS (Universal Studios Singapore) arrive upon our shores, we already had Haw Par Villa (previously known as Tiger Balm Gardens). This 77-years old Chinese mythological park was built in 1937, making it Singapore's very first, and oldest themed park to date.

Built by Aw Boon Haw for his brother Boon Par, this pair of Burmese brothers arrived in Singapore during the 1920s with their father's secret recipe to the Tiger Balm ointment. Yes, the people who built Haw Par Villa are the very same people behind Tiger Balm.

Tiger Balm not only make a name for itself in the region but internationally as well.

The park did not started off as the park we see today. Aw Boon Haw had bought the land and built a villa for his younger brother to thank him for helping with the business.

But, the war came and the brothers fled back to Burma where Boon Par passed away. After the war, Boon Haw returned to Singapore and had the villa demolished. In its place stood sculptures depicting traditional Chinese folk tales and mythology. The finished park was then opened free to the public who came in huge numbers.

Life Liberation @ Ulu Tiram, Johor Bahru

A week after returning from my Malacca trip, my folks and I were once again heading to Johor Bahru with Dad's friend (yes, that same uncle we went to Malacca with).

We are going there to take part in this "Life Liberation" (fangsheng/放生) event where we will be releasing animals into the wild. It is my first time attending such an event and as a Buddhist, while I applaud the cause, I am at the same time thrown into a dilemma.

I believe the purpose of liberation is to rescue animals from a live and death situation (eg, live animals saved from being slaughtered for food) but, what if the animals (eg. birds/fish) are intentionally captured/trapped from the wild for the sole purpose of selling to us to free them, then what is the point?

UPDATE: This is exactly what I meant but unable to summarize in a few words!

2D1N Malacca Trip - Hang Tuah Well, Jonker Walk, Chicken Rice Balls, Christ Church, Klebang Coconut Shake, Peranakan Dinner & No Toilet Bowls!

I went for a two days and one night weekend getaway to Malacca (马六甲) with Dad and his friends two weekends ago. To be precise, it was his friend and this friend's other friends.

We woke up super early that morning to meet up with his friend (and this friend's other friends) then, we board a chartered coach heading for the customs.

Malacca (a UNESCO World Heritage site) is a few hours drive away from Singapore and thankfully, I managed to catch some much deprived sleep. Along the way, we stopped for breakfast at Gelang Patah before continuing our journey towards our first destination - the Hang Tuah well.

添发云吞面 Tian Fa Wanton Mee @ Keat Hong Shopping Centre

I was at Keat Hong Shopping Centre (actually it is more of a wet market) because I heard that there is a nice Wanton Mee on the second floor. There are two coffee shops on the second level and the Wanton Mee which I am looking for is located at the coffee shop called 85° Cafe.

The Wanton Mee stall only have a Chinese name called 添发卤面云吞面. As its name implies, the stall sells Lor Mee and Wanton Mee.

I had the Wanton Mee.

Tokyu Hands 東急ハンズ Arrived In West Gate Singapore!

Tokyu Hands (東急ハンズ) has recently opened a new store in Singapore - its first outlet in Southeast Asia - earlier this month.

This Japanese lifestyle store sells such a wide variety of merchandise that you can call it a part hardware, part hobby, part kitchen, part gift and stationery store all in one.

Seeing some excitement from friends about its arrival, I decided to check it out to see what was the commotion all about.

From what I found out, Tokyu Hands is a multi-level shopping paradise in Japan but the store here is located in a 7,500 sq ft store on the first floor of West Gate Mall in Jurong East.

Actually, it reminded me of Daiso but a more upmarket one (read: EXPENSIVE).

Wei Ji Noodle House - Wanton Mee @ Chinatown Complex

Update: Wei Ji Noodle House has permanently closed.

Sick of having the usual at Chinatown Complex market & Food Centre, I walked around the food centre, hoping to uncover something new for lunch when I stumbled upon Wei Ji Noodle House.

Hidden at a inconspicuous part of the complex, business is sluggish - or at least that's what it appears to be - when I was there just before noon. This is a striking contrast to the other stalls just round the corner.

Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try and ordered myself a plate of wanton mee.

The person taking my order is quite aloof who made no effort to take my order even though I was standing there in front of the stall for a good whole minute.

I had to take the initiative to call out to him what I wanted. Even then, there was no communication between us during the entire transaction as I am the only one doing all the talking.

I wonder is that part of the reason for the lack of business?

鯛パフェ Tai-Parfait @ Bugis Junction

Update: Tai Farfait has permanently closed.

Last month, I was passing by Bugis Junction (the truth is, I was there to use the toilet) when I realized the basement is undergoing renovations.

While walking around, I learned that some of the new F&B tenants are Boost Juice, Yellow Submarine, Bear Bites, Tai-Parfait, etc.

Among those, what caught my attention was Tai-Parfait, a Japanese-concept store selling fusion dessert which combines Taiyaki with Parfait.

That is why, I am back a few days ago, to try the Taiyaki which is a traditional fish-shaped pancake from Japan filled with a sweet filling (usually Azuki) on the inside.

At Tai-Parfait, the Taiyaki filling options are Azuki, Matcha, Custard Cream and Chocolate. The Taiyaki is shaped like a fish with a gaping mouth where your preferred Parfait ingredients goes in.

You can buy the Taiyaki as it is without the Parfait portion (SGD2.20/pc) which includes ingredients like fruits, matcha and soft-serve ice cream.

Tiong Shian Porridge Centre - Mixed Pork Porridge And Raw Fish Salad @ 265 North Bridge Road

It has been ages since I last had a bowl of porridge at Tiong Shian. I remember when I was younger, my family would have our dinner here whenever we visit Chinatown. Perhaps that is how I grew to love porridge, especially the Cantonese-styled ones.

As the coffee shop is located just by the main road, customers had to endure the carbon output from passing vehicles. Not only that, they also had to put up with the unbearable heat during the day. And of course, not forgetting the emotionless and sometimes rude waiting staff.

Despite all that, it has not deterred customers from returning for their porridge fix. This place is always fully packed that it would be quite a daunting task trying to get a table.  

Mini Beanies And Soya Porridge @ Mr Bean Jurong Point

When I saw the above poster on Mr Bean's facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MrBeanSingapore/photos/a.204749536337346.69311.194064697405830/520886044723692/?type=1&theater), I was smitten-ed by the cute Mini Beanies donning different funny hats. 

I have always like Mr Bean's mascot so I thought I gotta give it a try!

And there I was, a few days later, standing in front of Mr Bean at Jurong Point, ordering my Mini Beanies.

Tanglin Halt Western Food @ Clementi Central

Update: Tanglin Halt Western Food has permanently closed.

*This review is from a combination of two different visits.

Tanglin Halt Western Food is run by Mr Ng and his wife for the last 38 years.

Located just next to the popular Chai Ho Satay, this western food stall also happens to be one of the stalls with a perpetual queue at Clementi Central.

I mean, where else can you find Fish & Chips, Pork Chop, Chicken Chop for $4.50 and Beef Steak for $5.50?

Health freaks who avoid western food would be happy to know that since joining the Healthier Hawker Program in July last year, the stall owner has switched to healthier alternatives like oil with unsaturated fat and salt containing lesser sodium than regular salt. 

财好沙嗲 Chai Ho Satay & Dried Pork @ Clementi Central

Chai Ho Satay & Dried Meat has been around for a long time. As its name implies, this stall sells Satay as well as Dried Meat (Bak Kwa).

The stall has probably been there even before I moved from Clementi 25 years ago.

Chai Ho Satay is a non-halal Satay stall. They have pork Satay aside from the usual mutton and chicken.

I have long wanted to try the Satay here but I was always there at a bad timing when they were still not opened for business. It wasn't until last week when I brought Mum to see a Sinseh nearby that we were finally able to catch it in business.

华记面食品 Wah Kee Noodle @ Amoy Street Food Centre

Just across from Tai Seng Noodle House at Amoy Street Food Centre is Wah Kee Noodle - another stall specializing in Cantonese-styled Wanton Mee that is run by a husband and wife team.

After placing my order with the husband, the wife is heard raising her voice at him over some petty issues like having not enough bowls. I think I caught them at a bad timing as the atmosphere inside the stall is a little tense.

I had thought of cancelling my order and going over to Tai Seng instead but, I was worried that I would incur lady-boss' wrath so I awkwardly waited for my order in front of the stall while she continue berating her husband who just kept his silence throughout. 

The moment my order is ready, I quickly scoot off with my noodles! That few minutes felt like forever!

Dinosaurs: Dawn To Extinction

By the time you read this post, the exhibition, Dinosaurs: Dawn To Extinction would have already ended it's 8-months run at the Artscience Museum. The exhibition began in January this year but unfortunately, I got hit by the procrastinating bug and before I knew it, three days is all there is left for me to visit.

Entering the hall, visitors would be greeted by a family of Herrerasaurus. I like how the museum played with the shadows of the skeletons by projecting them onto the wall behind them. 

I thought I was seeing things when I saw them move.

Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist @ Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

This review is from a combination of three visits.

One late afternoon, Dad and I came to Hong Lim Market & Food Centre for lunch and we had the soy sauce chicken noodle from Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist.

It was a choice out of desperation. We had actually come for Tuck Kee Ipoh Sah Hor Fun but it was already closed by the time we were there and so were most of the other stalls.

Yakader Dum Briyani @ Tekka Centre

 Dum Briyani SGD4.50 with an added hard-boil egg for SGD0.50

All my life, I thought Nasi Briyani is simply Nasi Briyani - a spice-infused rice dish drizzled over with curried meat. The only difference is having either chicken, mutton or fish to go along with your meal.

My first trip to Tekka Centre recently taught me otherwise, as I soon found out that there is another kind called the Dum Briyani where the meat and rice (placed in alternating layers in a pot) are cooked together where the rice stews in the meat juices, absorbing the delicate flavors of the spices and herbs as opposed to Nasi Briyani where the rice and meat were cooked separately.

Tuck Kee Ipoh Sah Hor Fun 德记怡保沙河粉 @ Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

One of the most exasperating thing to happen while queuing for hawker food has got to be when you thought you are next in line, the person in front actually ordered more than 10 packets to go!

What a bummer...

That's what happened to me when I was queuing for a plate of Tuck Kee (Ipoh) Sah Hor Fun at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre.

Tuck Kee does not use the regular wide hor fun used by our local tze char stalls here. Ipoh's sah hor fun is a flat, rice noodle that is long and narrow bearing some resemblance to our kway teow.

The sah hor fun is drenched with a thickened brown sauce full of crustacean umami with chye sim and fried shallots on the side.

The only headache you have, is to choose what ingredients you want to go with your sah hor fun. The choices are Chicken with Prawns ($4), Medium Prawns ($4.50), Pacific Clam with Prawns ($4.50), Abalone Mushroom with Prawns ($4) and of course their signature and most popular item, Crayfish with Prawns ($6).

No brownie points for guessing what I ordered.

吊桥头大华猪肉粿条面 Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle @ Crawford Lane

I have long heard about this famous "Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle" which have been hailed as the best Bak Chor Mee (Minced Meat Noodle) in Singapore by its fans.

That claim sure arouse my interest but I only got to try it last week when I went to collect my new passport from the ICA (Immigration & Checkpoint Authority of Singapore) beside Lavender MRT.

The stall in question is located at Blk 466 Crawford Lane, which is right behind the ICA building.

Even though I was there at 11am, a queue of 6 people had already formed in front of the stall. The queue is very slow moving; by the time it reached my turn, twenty minutes have passed.

Of course, I know twenty minutes is not a very long time to wait considering that the queue can sometimes stretch beyond the perimeter of the coffee shop during peak hours (which literally translates to at least 60 minutes of wait)!

I really take my hat off to these people who bothered to queue so long just to have a bowl of noodles.

Nick Pitera: One-Man Tribute to Aladdin on Broadway

via

Nick Pitera has done it again - this time as a one-man tribute to Aladdin on Broadway.

This talented young man needs no further introduction if you have been a regular reader of this blog for I had blogged about him here, here and here before.