On 27 September 2011, first day of Singapore's 2011 Formula Race, City Hall attracted a lot of young ladies, most of them with the intention to watch GD & T.O.P and Seungri to perform on stage live at 11pm that night. I was one of them! Hate to admit it but it was worth the wait though it all began from 1pm! It was a real long day ahead.
Lorraine and I got the wrist bands to be in the enclosed area in front of the stage. Even though we managed to snare a good spot in front of the stage at 7pm, it nearly killed the both of us to wait till 11.15pm. You can only imagine all the screaming when they appeared. First with Seungri performing "Strong Baby", "What Can I Do" and "VVIP". GD & T.O.P then appeared and performed "Oh Yeah!", "High High" and "Bokkigayo". Finally the three of them reappeared and performed the last track of the night "How Gee".
Even though Taeyang and Daesung were unable to make it but it was still good to see the others live on stage despite the long wait. I was right in front of the stage, could see them really clearly and I will not deny that Seungri and T.O.P are really good looking chaps! Okay, someone please pinch me already! Some people only look good in pictures or videos as they have been edited but this really proved something.
I only have a video of their performance (video to be uploaded, oops!) and some pictures of the pre-performances, obviously taken when we were so bored of waiting...
People kept judging me for attending this event, but you know what? I am happy. Enough said. Last but not least, thank you for everything, Lorraine! :)
K-pop fan, Na!
P.S. I will not start going nuts over every K-pop concerts to be held in Singapore. Don't worry!
For the month of October 2011, I have been out and about exploring good food with my colleagues. Here are some of the places we had been to:
1. Hong Kah Food Court in Jurong West
How to get there? You may reach there by taking bus 335 from Jurong East bus interchange.
What is so great about it? You should look for the porridge served with steamed chicken plus a generous serving of soy sauce + sesame oil. The porridge is very smooth and the chicken is delicious! I have only been there once and yet to have the second opportunity to go back. Food costs around SGD 6-7, serving for two.
Bleh? Do not order the iced desserts from the stall run by young adults (i.e. around 20+ of age), they do not know what they are doing. Portioning was not good to expect people to go back for round two.
2. Hong Xin Restaurant in Chinatown
How to get there? Get off from Chinatown MRT station and walk for around 10 minutes? Okay, not really specific, I totally understand. But you can see the where about it is from here.
What is so great about it? Great dim sum served using push carts. All food served was finger licking good! This place is usually very popular, despite located in Level 5 or 7 (my memory is definitely killing me) and you have to be there as early as 8am, else you will have to queue. I was there with three friends of mine and we had a great time talking despite the noise around us. You have to try most of the dim sum served, from siew mai, har kau, phoenix claws, pork ribs, lau sa pau (steamed buns with custard + salted egg yolk fillings), lotus pau (made in a pig shape), lo mai kai to its great dessert, mango + tofu or durian + tofu! We had chrysanthemum tea throughout our lunch! We spent around SGD25 per pax.
Bleh? The mango pamelo isn't the greatest and I did not really like the roasted suckling too! Other than that, just be there early to avoid queues, especially over weekends!
3. Frog Leg Porridge at Lorong 9 Geylang
How to get there? Alight at Aljunied MRT station, walk past CPA building and at the major traffic light junction, turn right and walk all the way till you find Lorong 9. It starts operating at 4.30pm till late.
What is so great about it? The plain porridge served with frog leg cooked with soy sauce and dash of chilli. Do have your porridge served with gravy from the frog leg! It is the best thing ever! We spent around SGD 15 per pax as we had about 6 frogs altogether but one big pot of plain porridge. We also had the beef hor fun from the restaurant next door. To be honest, I do not recommend you to take both frog leg and beef hor fun at the same time as you will be unable to decide which one and better. Eventually you will decide that frog leg is best.
Bleh? It may get late, and heading back to the MRT station (if you are walking) isn't a great sight. Well, we know what Geylang is famous for. Just do not be alone.
4. Sushi Tei Japanese Restaurant
How to get there? They have branches in Paragon (Orchard), Vivocity and some other places. I have been to the one in Paragon twice.
What is so great about it? PLEASE try out its baked prawn with mayonnaise and cheese sauce over it. We had the large ones which cost SGD 10 each but trust me, you will feel out of the world with every single bite you take. We had brought our German colleagues there and ordered this, they could not stop praising it! Another option will be its baked scallop covered with similar sauce, it is equally good but prawn is still the best!
I have been to the Brunei's leading Japanese restaurant a lot of times and only came to realize that it cannot be compared to Sushi Tei. You get more variety of cooking style to the food here, instead of the normal teriyaki. We also had the Phoenix roll covered with mango, salmon skin (another goodie), and some salmon steak. Desserts were equally great! Both of the times we dined there, it averaged around SGD35-40 per pax.
Bleh? Well, no reservation of seats may be considered a bleh. But other than that, all is good!
5. Sembawang Seafood Restaurant
How to get there? We took a shuttle van there. But perhaps you can get there by shuttle bus service provided by Sembawang Plaza from Sembawang MRT station. This restaurant is right opposite to the plaza entrance.
What is great about it? Perhaps I can say cheaper seafood, it was around SGD 35 per pax (there were around 11 of us). We had crabs (cooked in black pepper, chilli and salted egg), curry fish head, butter prawns and some vegetables. I love the crabs! Not because it was especially good but simply because due to my love for crabs!
Bleh? We were there for dinner and we had to dine in candlelight because its generator kept failing. Other than that, it was okay considering the amount we were paying for seafood!
6. Toh Guan Food Court, Jurong East
How to get there? I was there by car with my colleagues and I could not find the exact location of it. This may need some time... All I know it is located somewhere past IMM in Jurong East.
What is so great about it? Look for the stall which sell bah kut teh and fish head curry! I am really not a big fan of fish head curry but this is great served with rice. It costs around SGD9 per pax, a big pot costs SGD18. Do share it with someone as the portion is quite big! I did not try the bah kut teh but maybe I will try it out some other time! When you purchase drinks, the uncle will give you a free packet of tissue. Sounds good? :)
Bleh? A little too far to be reached by walking alone, unless I find other sources. This is basically just typical Singapore food court environment, so do not have high expectation of the ambiance. Well, food is good - I guess that's all that matters!
Bon Appetit to all! <3
Happy 26th Birthday to me! Not going to lie about it, after all age is just a number and as long as you are healthy and happy, what else matter? Okay, obviously not going to lie because the candles have already clearly indicated my age. It was not easy to blow out the candles, they keep increasing each year and I am a little more out of breath each year! Not forgetting to thank my lovely colleagues who made my first birthday in Singapore much more tolerable. Feel really loved, by all eleven of them.
A couple of months have passed since my last updated. No I have not been busy, I have been a bummer. It had always been work and classes. Nope, no revision has been done yet especially for the fact that my exam is around 6 weeks away? I remember marking it on my calendar earlier this morning, as of 1st Nov, there will be 48 days! Oh no!
In a glimpse of an eye, I have been in Singapore for 10 months! How time flies! I have not seen my family for 7 months, I miss them like crazy, especially home cooked meals! I do not even know whether I can still drive properly when I get back.
Not forgetting to welcome my new nephew, Ryan Chin! He came to Earth on 25th July 2011, so that means I have yet to meet him to date but I love him already!
How has life to me these days? Well, there had been some ups and downs at work and in life throughout these months. At work, most of my existing job scope had been assigned to our new supervisor, so I am basically a major backup of everyone, though I have not acquired skills in certain area yet due to unexpected circumstances. A colleague had to work part time for almost three months, so I had to back her up to do payables (not the most interesting job but it requires less thinking). So every time every one else is sick or on leave, I have to take over most of their tasks and I am left with "less thinking required" job scope. For sure I was a little upset over these whole situation in the beginning, but you just got to adapt to changes and come to think of it, as long as I still get paid and since these tasks are not too difficult.
I am going home in January 2012 for around 10 days! Yes... I am really looking forward to that. Although it will be a long journey home. Before that, I have to face my exams! Boo-hoo!
Another realization of life:
In a relationship with any human, regardless of gender, the pattern will always be the same. It starts off being great, you enjoy their companionship. But a couple of months down the road, s/he will start to irritate the heck out of you, and you will start to resent a little just to hang out with him/her. You also start to wonder what happened to the person you have known many months back. Well, is this called compromising? Even though the position I am in now is not relating to a man, but I actually had this feelings about compromising, to look past her "flaws" and our little disagreements.
But really, with her judging me based on her own standards is not right. I have my own to be happy whenever I wish. I have my own right to like someone (as a person) even though I may not know him/her well. Why should I like or dislike one just because you like or dislike them?
Today is a day off at work, just lazing at home feels great. Hey, I did my ironing alright. In addition to that, I had a good nap in the afternoon through the rainy day! Awesome! Yes, no revision involved, but I got the notes on my bed, with P1 Notes 8 flipped to page one. That's a big step, no?
An auditor is having his CPA exam in 2 weeks (one and a half by now?) - all the best to him! ;)
Till my next update, take care!
xoxo, Na!
P.S. Looking forward to our company's D&D in about 1.5 weeks' time to be held in Shangri-La Hotel. Theme would be Singapore identity style. Too bad my mom is not here, so no one to sew baju kebaya for me. So I may end up there with my own dress. :)
