28 Nov 2016 – Free Movie Screening on the Padang

Fri: TGIF. Was at the polyclinic and the wait was 2+hrs. Since it was not a matter of life&death, 2+hrs was not worth the wait.

The trip to Journey East also went down with the buckets of rains. Had the good company to Gel in the comforts of my own 4walls! Sandwiches/Japanese style & gravlaks with a bottle of red.

Sat: back to the polyclinic at 0800hrs and was in and out within an hour. Tkx to Calvin@CC for the Blackdeer folding chair (made in China) which saved my back! Left my other folding chair in the US to save my back when I am there. 

Homecoming (离人)***documentary screening at the Padang featured interviews and stories from people who have moved out of Pulau Ubin onto the mainland but can’t keep away from island, and those who have made it home after moving from SINmainland.

National Gallery 1st anniversary celebrations with colourful light-show.

Down memory lane to catch the bus on Esplanade Dr. Used to run and played around TanKimSeng fountain when father took me to Elizabeth Walk/伊丽莎白女皇道 and the Satay club here in the 1950s.

Sun: 1st Sunday Advent. Tkx to nephew Clem for lunch with nieces Judy&Daisy and sis-in-law, Kit at SoupRestaurant@Vivo, my favourite locations of all the SoupR if you are lucky to get the sea-view table. Pleasant surprise to bump into Aileen, Alan & their lovely children Jeremy, Alexandria&Chloé.

Tried to do some shopping@IKEA on a Sunday is worse than pulling teeth for me – was I out of my mind??? Discovered Taiwan shaved-ice@Anchorpoint, but still prefer those@MeiHeongYuen.

Was in this area to pick up some snacks from bro Steven whose memories and many of his issues are getting the better of him – how very sad. On the way to the bus with the the beautiful sun setting, more peaceful thoughts about SIN being the few places where it is possible for ppl to worship different religions side by side in harmony – here is a Christian Church next to an Indian temple.

Mon: What a way to start a week, tkx to Gel for this share! Looks like my gate and door, exactly the colour and also exact spot where the number is placed!! Would have died of a heart attack to open the door to this!!! Had to enlarge to see what floor – hope that they do not slider higher than 2floors. This was spotted this morning at Delta Rd. Snake was removed after AVA took an hour to arrive – All Singapore Stuff.

Use your enemy’s hand to catch a snake – Persian Proverb

After the posting you can be sure that I will be opening my one and only door VERY slowly and carefully…

Appreciations to Seb for fixing the browser problem here, otherwise unable to update and edit postings! Tkx to Calvin for dinner with suppliers from Czech Republic and Italy who are in SIN for the OSEA2016 International Conference.

Nov 2016 – And Still Editing For Future Thanksgivings…

2016: a better sleep last night, but still not enough after a nice visit from cousin Yun/Toronto, Canada. HappyTurkeyDay. Was reflecting back the Thanksgivings since this blog started –

2008 – SIN Thu 28Nov. With May visiting, InternationalBuffet including roast lamb and durian (hosted by Les&Ivy) the night before Kat&Greg’s wedding. Have not spent a Thanksgiving with May since!

2009 – SIN Thu 26Nov. Made roasted quail dinner served with a BeaujolaisNouveau 2009 for AmyR who was on crutches.

2010 – SIN Thu 25Nov. made dinner for Les&Ivy, Angelic&Paul & KK. Tkx to Les for a dry white Kistler, a wonderful red from the Harlan Estate and how appropriate to celebrate an American occasion with 2 American wines. Condrieu dessert wine/French was just as complimentary to the Italian dessert. According to bro Les, BeaujolaisNouveau  is more a Ribena (black currant juice) than a wine 🙂 My family&I like it and we have always enjoyed it with our Thanksgiving turkeys since our days in USA. Thus no Beaujolais Nouveau 2010

2011 – SIN Thu 24Nov. Yummy turkey dinner complimented with cranberries and butter-squash soup  by Kat&Greg. 4 generations together giving thanks. Again no Beaujolais Nouveau 2011, tkx to Les&Ivy for hosting this lovely evening.

2012 – SC/USA Thu 22Nov.  Dinner made by Linn&family celebrated with the Looneys and also the last Thanksgiving@SandstoneDr. Bye-bye to L&M’s childhood table and chairs.

2013 – SIN Thu 28Nov. At CC but did not celebrate and that explained why no Beaujolais Nouveau 2013

2014 – SIN Thu 27Nov.  Watched a cheesy movie Maps to the Stars** Did not celebrate, but still a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau 2014 to mark the day!

2014, 2015 (pix credits to Linn) & 2016 (tkx to Yun for the 2016). Pix from 2014&2016 got me totally confused as they are taken from the same spot but different years! Just shows what age and time can do to one’s mind 🙂

2015 – Japan/Suburbs Of Ayabe Thu 26Nov. Tasted the best mackerel sashimi with my 2 oldest friends PP&KK and also a celebration to our 60yrs of friendship. unable to find any BeaujolaisNouvea 2015 in this area!

2016 – SIN Thu 24Nov. Not your traditional Thanksgiving dinner except for the wine 🙂 Thankful to Peggy for a yummy dinner and grateful to meet up with 1962CHIJ classmates Angela, PatChee, Rebecca, especially Winnie who is visiting from CA/USA and PatThum not from my class.

Shared the BeaujolaisNouvea 2016 with anyone willing to drink with me! Peggy, Rebecca, KS were a sport to have a sip while PatT&I finished the bottle 🙂

BeaujolaisNouvea history since 2009…

BeaujolaisNouvea 2009, 2012 (pix credits to Linn)

2017 – UCD Alumni Event@GrandHyatt/SIN: Top Industry Trends for 2018 – no turkey or Beaujolais but an evening of learning&discussions followed by drinks&canapés.

2018 – Appreciations to Mr Naoto Orui, the founder of The MusicalBox Museum/SIN for a most interesting and sweetest Thanksgiving.

Today I learnt and tasted 19different honeys and that the bee’s lifespan is a month and in that month, it produces only 1teaspoon of honey! Group pix credits to Yoshie.

2019 – TGIF: welcome from KCH Lily and Angelina&Zephyr from Brussel/Belgium for lunched@Jewel. And Lesley from CA/USA for dinner@FunanMall.

2020: whether you are celebrating or not, one should always give thanks to all our blessings. No usual turkey or BeaujolaisNouveau2020 with the family, but thinking about them and still enjoy different foods with friends.

Not quite your traditional Thanksgiving spread, but a Tropical-Thanksgiving spread for CC staff. BBQ PorkRibs, SpicyChickenSauages, SmokedDuck, RoastChicken by ColdStorage with fresh-produce+dip and Physalis/ChineseLanternBerries which most of CCstaff have not tasted. PengHann did not like it. The spread was served on banana-leaf, being decoratively eco-friendly.

Pix credits to Helen. Tkx to Henry for his yummy spinach casserole. Laptop is acting up and it is so very frustrating, will probably need to edit this&future posts! According to my high-tech guru, its time for a new machine. How can it be when I bought this one less than 3yrs ago!!

2021: simple roast chicken. sausage, smoked-duck dinner+FamousAmosCookie (have to have something American!) with Calvin, Sam, Chris & Helen@CC. Tkx to Helen for salad and ice-cream.

2022: appreciations for all kinds of foods starting with a cheese platter made by me@CC, CheeseMushroom@Herbivore, AlmondCremePaste@YatKaYanDessert一家人 and not forgetting my favourite CoffeeIceCream@Cookie&CoffeeCafeBar all under one roof@FortuneCentre. Nice to catch up with Henry and safe trips to Inessa.

Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have – Catherine Pulsifer

20 Nov 2016 – Welcome Cousin Yeng From Vancouver

Fri: TGIF – walked to Marine Cove/EC Pk for brunch, good MeeSiam at Hill St Coffee Coffee Shop****

CBD for banking and shopping. Ocean Financial Centre –  like the fish mural. Spanning a total area of 2,125.56sq m, this garden previously held the Guinness World Record for the largest vertical garden in the world. Needs some maintenance to show that it is shaped to the world’s map!

Suntec/Fountain of Wealth, ACM, LauPatSat/BoonTatSt for satay, local cockles(see-hum), kangkong/Ipomoea aquatica, sting-ray and yummy chicken-wings dinner.

Continued to Chinatown by DowntownMRT to MeiHeongYuen for Taiwanese shaved-ice, tkx to niece and nephew.

Sat: lunched with 4sis-in-law and visited bro Steven@Bukit Merah – tkx to DaisyLam. Been while (about 30yrs ago) since I  was last here@Jelita Cold Storage where PizzaHut was once located and now replaced by Delifrance.

An early Thanksgiving dinner before Yun takes off. Appreciations to Annie&Neo at their beautiful home for getting together 13aunt&uncle (who had to leave early), 16aunt, 18aunt&uncle, cousin Yeng (welcome back to SIN from Vancouver/Canada) and Ai-Ling&fam.

Yummy hotpot with the best varieties of meats and fish and Veuve Clicquot bubbles to top them off. Yellow DragonFruit (sweet and tasty, unlike the taste of the ones with red-skin) and durians, king of fruits without a doubt! Ending the evening with the perfect nightcap of Glenlivet XXV Single Malt before crashing to bed.

A good gulp of hot whiskey at bedtime—it’s not very scientific, but it helps – Alexander Fleming

Sun: welcome Winnie from CA/USA who arrived yesterday – again@Marine Cove, enjoying the Hill St Laksa, MeePok and MeeSiam. Glad that they got caught up now as they last met 43yrs ago in 1973.

A quiet and light dinner tonight for Yun before flying back to the winter tomorrow!

17 Nov 2016 – @MBS Guiding In This Area

With thanks and appreciations to cousin Annie&Neo for this entire posting.

Tue: @Outram Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha***Keppel Rd for yummy bak kut teh. Been awhile since I was there.

Was entertained with Chinese music by a group of young lovely ladies@MBS Lobby Tower1.

Was totally impressed watching Annie with her glass-beaded handcraft, blessed to be presented with with one of her exquisite necklaces a few days ago.

Sky on 57 by Justin Quek****MBS Hotel. Yummy fusion fine dinning with a view. Salad with Truffle vinaigrette, Char coal Grilled KagoshimaA5Wagyu Sirloin, Laksa, Wok-fried Maine Lobster Hokkien Noodles and Foie Gras Xiao Long Bao.

The SuperMoon finally showed its face tonight high above but besides being big and bright, not sure as to where and how super it is? Perhaps the city lights overwhelmed the natural super part of it…

Wed: breakfast with a view@Club55 MBS Hotel with a view to East Coast Pk and thinking about the 7k walk by the sea! Good smoked-salmon.

Enjoying the super presentations of the variety of foods and T-places and The Shoppes MBS Food court (the most expensive food court in SIN).

A short walk at the infinity pool and  to and on the Super-trees@Gardens by the Bay to be back at the hotel in time to meet Yun’s cousin Emily&Lim from her maternal side.

Dinner@Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine****a part of The Shoppes@MBS. 8 courses+desserts – Peking duck (their signature dish), beef, chicken, fish, noodles, prawns, tofu and the best soup made from pork and seaweeds – tkx to Annie and fam.

The Hurricane Water Feature is unfortunately closed for  maintenance but the Light show was well-received.

Thu: breakfast@Adrift MBS Hotel. Smoked-salmon here not as good as Club55. Laksa and dim-sum OK, but quite a novelty way to serve honey!

More maternal cousins for Yun to catch up with and after such a breakfast, could only handle a few spoonfuls of mango-pudding. If I continue eating like there is no tomorrow, there will be to tomorrow. Yun is heading to the Gardens with Emily while I head back to MBS to update here.

And I find chopsticks frankly distressing. Am I alone in thinking it odd that a people ingenious enough to invent paper, gunpowder, kites and any number of other useful objects, and who have a noble history extending back 3,000 years haven’t yet worked out that a pair of knitting needles is no way to capture food? ~Bill Bryson

14 Nov 2016 – Thanks To Les & Ken

Sat: Beach Rd with the nearly completed Duo (residential, offices, retail, hotel) – a contemporary twin-tower integrated mixed-use development with Parkview in the background. Blanco Ct PrawnMee  is a must when in this area!

Wall-murals@corner of Beach Rd and Haji Lane.

Haji Lane – this charming tiny lane, hidden away in the heart of the Muslim quarter, is a fashionista’s paradise. The collection of narrow colourful trendy shop-houses are many Kodak moments for those who can appreciates this.

Arab St – like hanging around to window shop – Yun managed to get a few things here.

Sat: walking towards OUE on this beautiful moonlit evening. Tkx Yun for the pix in the elevator.

Tkx to Les for gathering a small family group (Les, Yun, myself, Lee, Yasmine, Daisy and Darryl – with 3generations) for fine dining with a view at ME@OUE*****

Starters with Sashimi, Spanish Ham and their Squid ink brioche followed by a main of Côte Du boeuf, sautéed mushroom, mashed potatoes with arugula.  Château Latour 1986 brought by Les – a meal fit for those who know how to appreciate good international foods!

Japanese say Americans are lazy. HA!! At least we cook our fish!

How can you expect to govern a country that has 246kinds of cheese – C de Gaulle.

Note to self: Alcohol based marinades and gas ovens SHOULD NOT BE COMBINED…

Sun: seafood to die for – tkx to Ken&Cynthia at Crab@Bay548 Macpherson*****

Two of their signature dishes, Crab BeeHoon and Guinness SpareRibs (you would think that only the Irish knows how to use their national drink… lol ) are a must.

Salted-egg salmon skin ( a more than perfect snack with a glass of good bubbles), and clams (Bamboo/Razor and Lala clams (啦啦)  are delicious.

Mon: thank goodness for the rains and what an ideal day to snooze and rest the stomach. Am I still dreaming after the last 2meals or am I in heaven yet 🙂

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends – to DIET is to DIE without the T.

When a man’s stomach is full it makes no difference whether he is rich or poor – Euripide

Walked for 3hrs this evening hoping to see the Super-Moon, but the clouds were just too much for the moon to even peep thru’. Instead stumbled upon Lion&Dragon dances on the East Coast Pk evening walk.

Can someone plx tell me what the burning of a paper boat and sending it out to sea is about???

Edited 28Nov: 15th of the 10th Moon is also the day when the Taoist prays to the Shui Guan (Official of the Water, literal translation) tkx to Victor Yue from the Heritage Society/Bukit Brown.

12 Nov 2016 – To The Purple Generation

Mon: welcome to the world #30 Eliot Yihua Lam-Tribbe – born on Mon 7Nov, weight 7lbs 13 oz to Kat&Greg.

Mailed off Flat Stanley + Gardens By The Bay brochures back to Perth/Australia, a project PP’s grandson is doing for his class.

Flat Stanley will just have to be satisfied with one location, did not have the energy to do more!

Tkx to H&H for the colour print-out.

VivoCity with the newly renovated Kopitiam, also jacked up with new prices – a bowl of Beef Vietnamese Pho for S$6+

Watched Tsukiji Wonderland****a documentary film about the famed Japanese fish market which spotlights Japan’s food culture and hundreds of intermediate wholesalers in the market who devote their lives to procuring the finest, most desirable seafood. The film preserves on screen the fish market that has been operating for about 80yrs and according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, offered more than 400 types of seafood, with a total market value of about ¥1.6bil (around US$15.8 mil) a day in 2014.

Tue: pick up food here and there in the East for dinner today. Les famous mussels and caviar, 3 different kind of roasts, Salt-baked chicken and 2 veggie dishes was more than enough food for 10ppl. Forgot pix until dessert – Henri Charpentier cheese cake (the best I have tasted so far) from Ai-Ling, more cheese cakes from Sue and local fruits from me.

Wed: 9-11; 11-9

Breakfast@Blk51, 132TeoChiewNoodle first before leading Yun to the Courts of Hell@HawPaVilla!

These courts are so gruesome to be posted that they are now placed in a tunnel of their own. Much of the sculptures in the whole park are under maintenance and they sure do need a new layer of paint.

Since we were in the area, a short rest@The Norwegain Seamen’s Mission, 300Pasi Panjang Rd for a Solo and to pick up some kransekaker. The Peak@Balmeg Hill must have the biggest pool I have seen in a condo-complex, tkx to Pauline, Tama, Ruben & Eva for showing us their lovely condo. Tkx Yun, KoreanBBQ dinner@JuShinJung@WestCoastRd with interesting napkins. Must get myself some of these.

Thu: Yun’s MGS reunion. Tourist guiding up stairways to heaven via 3-storey high boots with Alice & Yun@Orchard Central after her reunion lunch.

 

6 Nov 2016 – Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng

Peck San Theng 碧山亭 in the 1950s as vivid as the memory tells in these B/W. The one of the cemetery without people is downloaded. 1950 grandfather LAM SongKee’s funeral from the family collection. 1955 – paying respects already at the age of 5! Gone are all my grandparents and parents, but never forgotten.

Fri: TGIF. Yun & I paid our respects to our common paternal grandparents, LAM SongKee (1891-1950) and CHAN SweeNgor (1891-1978)@Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng/廣惠肇碧山亭. Took us about 1hr on #13bus in the rains. By the time we got there about noon, the sky cleared for us to do our duties. There are 100,000niche capacity here.

Glad that we took the time to explore this location. Was first time here 8yrs ago, also with Yun and then we only had time to pay our respects with the blue generation, but did not check the grounds. It was then that Yun observed that the glass was cracked on our grandmother’s niche. It is now replaced with marble. Strange that our beloved helper’s, HungJeh niche is under grandfather. Fond memories of a gracious and kind person. She made the best dishes, and up to today am unable to taste anything as good as some of her dishes.

The KuanYin temple is amazing. Cannot quite get enough of the intricate craftsmanship of roof tops and the interiors here.

The porcelain wall murals – Chinese classic stories from the Romance of 3Kingdoms +many more murals inside this temple.

Tranquil landscaped garden with the Kwong WS monument and the 2 temples are quite a serene sight to reflect from the pavilion. The modern design of the niche buildings are a contrast from the temples, but fits in nicely.

Glad to have talked to a gentleman at the administration building who gave us a brief run-down on the history and yes this is the original location of our grandparents’ cemetery. Appreciations to them for providing me a wonderful and blissful childhood; to HungJeh for her cooking which has taught me how good food should taste.

Playing tourist on Emerald Hill Rd. Somehow this area does bring up a picture of the play Emily of Emerald Hill (1989) by Sella Kon – a fascinating play about a journey thru’ human consciousness, and thru’ time…

Alamak, had to be kiasu to make sure we get to see everything at the SIN Visitor Centre on Orchard Rd including a virtual tour. Also can buy a chope umbrella for S$22, prefer my old-fashion tissue way and does not matter if stolen!

Snacking on a piece of bakkwa from Bee Cheng Hiang. Pity that Yun is unable to bring that and the pork floss back to Canada.

Chow Kueh Teow@Zion Rd. Memory lane thru’ Tiong Bahru&Seng Poh Rd where Yun&family lived in the 1950s and early 1960s. Popped by the lobby@Fullerton Hotel as we had to change bus there. One does not blame her for moving out to stay with her half-sister after what I have put her thru’ 🙂

Sat: nice to catch up with more family including 13Auntie&Uncle. Appreciations to cousin Annie&family for a scrumptious dinner@Beng Hiang****one of SIN most famous Hokkien restaurants. 8 course dinner including a soup and dessert. Was formally located@Amoy St, now@Jurong Gateway Rd.

.

锦绣拼盘/Cold Dish Combination – lobster, jellyfish, century-eggs, Hokkien spring-rolls/Ngor Hiang, 海南烧猪 Suckling Pig (Boneless) – Charcoal Roasted, Steamed fish.

香脆蚝煎/Fried Oysters with Egg (Oyster Omelette), 炆白菜粒/Traditional Braised Whole White Cabbage and 生日寿桃/Longevity Birthday Buns.

Sun: both mind and stomach need to rest before the heart gives in – going to be another busy week ahead. Have so far managed to not repeat any foods for Yun but now that she is with Annie&family, it is up to her to remember what she has eaten 🙂

Winter is hitting with full force in Norway (winter pix downloaded).

Remember that if there were a lot of red berries on the Rowan trees (pix taken last month in Norway), then it’s going to be a long cold winter (Norwegian folklore). Stay safe&warm Norwegian family&friends. US family&friends, remember to Fall back.

3 Nov 2016 – From Toronto/Canada

Mon: no rest for the weary. Lunched with Cynthia, Linda’s cousin before she leaves back to Edmonton/Canada. Met with Lawrence at the airport to see him off and to pick up a bottle of bubbles that he could not take with him without checked-in luggage.

Looking forward to sample this bottle of Champagne Roses de Jeanne, where each wine is from a single grape variety, vineyard and vintage.

Happy Halloween and tkx to L&M for the pix. Missing the Magnificent6. Looks like a viking, pirate, some green monster and an adorable minion, but not sure what #1&2 are??

Congratulations to Irmo Boys XC team to qualified for state and to Katy Hall and Katie Weber who qualified as individuals! Good luck to these fine young runners and way to go coaches.

Tue: beautiful peacock floral arrangements at SIN airport to welcome cousin Yun from Toronto/Canada. Glad to have her in SIN on schedule safe and sound.

Started our food tasting at Soup Restaurant***SamsuiGingerChicken and AhKon FanShuLeaves@T2.  Food pix downloaded.

Dinner@Blk51 MarineTerrace, nasi lemak/otah, satay with calamansi juice. F&B pix downloaded.

Wed: breakfast@Marine Terrace Market****BeeBee Carrot Cake and congee.

Checking out the seafood section at the wet market.

Testing the East Coast Rd selection of nonya food/AngKuKueh, KuehLapis, KuehDadar, OngoiUbi

 BakChang – food pix downloaded.

Kim Choo Kueh Chang***good selection of Nonya snack delicacies. 328 Katong Laksa****deemed by many to be the tastiest of all the neighbourhood’s many laksa shops, this one’s known for their thick, spicy, totally slurp-worthy coconut gravy in their newly renovated location.

Shared a piece of yummy rich sugee cake@Quentin’s Eurasian Restaurant.

Walked thru’ Ceylon Rd – Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple, a temple for the Hindu god Ganesha who is the presiding deity.  Joo Chiat Rd to show Yun some of these well-restored shop-houses.

The sky opened up and we took shelter@I12 window shopping. Continued to Little India by #16bus and MRT. Vibrant and colourful clothing@the upper level of Tekka Market. ChickenBiryani, SoupKambing  and fresh coconut juice for dinner. Glad that the Deepavali lights are still on.

Thu: lunched with Jo@Glory****NasiPadang – Achar, AssamCurryFish, ChickenRendang, Otah, Popiah, SambalSotong. At present noisy and dusty constructions just outside, so not a good time to be there!

Continued for coffee and kaya toast@the iconic Red House in Katong, which once housed a famous bakery. Now Heavenly Wang Cafe, a neat casual yesteryear ambience and is a pleasant place where one can get decent affordable local coffee and food.

Special Nov date: