I’ve always thought that the most famous Katong laksa shop is the one called ‘328 Katong Laksa’ with that female boss with red hair. Today, he took me to ‘The Original Katong Laksa’ that’s located at Roxy Square. The boss, a certain Mr Ng, had supposedly started selling his laksa in the 1940s! But when it comes to food, it doesn’t matter if yours is the “original” or not if the taste isn’t better than your competitors’, no?

I have a picture of the stall (below) simply because I was standing in front of it for a long time. There was no one ahead of me in the queue but the lady who was supposed to be serving customers was chatting with one of the deliverymen. I watched as she handed over cash, he counted the money, she said she’d called their office, he said he didn’t know of the call, she said she did, and told him to look at the invoice blah blah blah. All while a queue was steadily forming behind me.

I had lots of time to stare at this:

It’s really amazing how we’re becoming almost like Hong Kong in this aspect. When your business is super good, like that stall selling fish soup at Amoy hawker centre, you really don’t have to be too customer-oriented and yet people still come by. I’m just glad no one’s throwing cutlery around or slamming bowls onto tables like I’ve seen happen in Hong Kong. *So, anyway, you pay an extra fifty cents if you want takeaways.

The medium serving was a little too much for me. I’ll get a small bowl of their laksa next time. I find the price really reasonable though!

As for the taste, I was struck by how sweet the broth was. What do you do to get such sweet broth? Add minced meat into the stock? While 328 Katong Laksa for me is a spicier version (because I add lots of chili), this ‘original’ one is sweet and can be savored slowly without breaking into a sweat. So please don’t ask me which is better. If I’m craving for something hot and spicy, 328 it is. If I prefer something sweeter that day, then I’ll go for the original.

I like that prices are kept relatively lower in this kind of setting: air-conditioned coffee shop style.

And by the way, ‘Janggut’ means beard in Malay. Apparently, this original Katong laksa stall is also known as Janggut laksa because Mr Ng had hair growing out from his mole located at his chin. Gosh. The things you find out from doing some research online. (>_<)

They have an outlet at Queensway Shopping Centre (#01-59), 331 Upper Paya Lebar Road, and this one at Roxy Square. If there are any other outlets, I don’t know about them… yet.

Where’s your favorite place to get a bowl of laksa?

I’m writing this only because I’ve been so disappointed with the way Lazada has handled the situation with its surprise boxes. I don’t mind not having the “fastest fingers” and not being able to grab one of the popular boxes – Barbie, Watsons, Laneige, GoPro, innisfree, etc – fast enough. But for the one box that I managed to cart out successfully, they managed to burst my bubble the very next day! Yesterday, I paid for the Triumph x Lazada surprise box and everything went through successfully (screenshot above) and I was given delivery dates to look out for. Definitely looking forward to receiving the box. And this afternoon, they sent me SMSes and emails to say that my order has been cancelled and monies would be refunded…

What a shock!

And when I tried to get in touch with them, a representative on their ‘live chat’ could only tell me that particular box is definitely out-of-stock (yes I know that already, please tell me something new) and he’ll let the company know to get in touch with me if there happens to be more stock. (>_<) The odds of that happening? You and I both know it’s unlikely, right?

Was there any compensation? Anything at all to let a disappointed customer know that they’re truly sorry for letting you down? Nope. I did a quick Google search and found that last year something similar had happened as well and a number of customers had their surprise box orders cancelled. Somehow Lazada’s system is unable to stop payment from going through even though an item is out of stock already. So just collect the payment and disappoint folks later? Why did the SAME problem happen again this year? Is the management even paying attention to this?

I didn’t know that when the tagline goes “YOU’RE IN FOR A SURPRISE”, they really meant it. What a nasty surprise it was.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and if you have yet to get a gift for your mom, I have 5 gift ideas for you in this post. I spotted these items on Carousell, and they are all under-S$30 gifts, so you might even want to purchase more than one! It’s best if you know what your mother likes – some women actually do not appreciate flowers (even though they’re not allergic to pollen), others like acts of service (breakfast in bed or even a massage, maybe?) or prefer family togetherness (they don’t even mind cooking the meal themselves). However, if your mother would really love a customised gift, then here are 5 options you can easily get via Carousell:

#1: Satin Pouch from @lipolipp.customs

I think this might even double up as a clutch. If your mother has lots of little barang-barang in her handbag that might need this satin pouch to help with organisation, then this is the gift to go for. Costs just S$18.

#2: Tumbler from @shop___

Most women (and men) don’t drink enough water. So get one of these to remind mom to get her fill of H2O daily! Also comes in baby blue, and costs just S$16! I actually wouldn’t mind owning one myself!

#3: Mason Jar from @theabsolutegifts

You can print your mother’s favorite quote onto a mason jar if you’d like. Costs just S$16.90!

#4: Glass water bottle + customised sleeve from @ilovemasonjar

I think this bottle would be great for yoga-loving moms. You can fill it up with cold-pressed juices or those fancy-schmancy kale concoctions. Or alcohol? No one will know! Muahaha! Costs just $23!

#5: Double wall glass mug from @ilovemasonjar

This 400ml mug would be great for those who need a morning cuppa – I prefer tea, by the way! This costs S$25. So pretty, so good for Instagram. My pals run ‘ilovemasonjar’ (nope, this isn’t a sponsored post) so go ahead and order from them – buyer satisfaction guaranteed.

~

If you’ve already gotten a gift for your mother, let me know what it is. I promise not to tell. I think it’s most difficult to get a gift for someone who seems to have everything he / she needs already. Though, as my mother would say, “cold hard cash” is always welcome. Muahaha! I should just find a gift box that is large enough for me to fit inside, jump in, get someone to tie on a ribbon, and surprise my mother. After all, what better gift than her own child, right? I can make her cry, I can make her laugh, I can even make her laugh till she cries. And I guess all that anyone can ever desire is more laughter and even more happiness! If you’re a mother who’s reading this, Happy Mother’s Day in advance!

Today’s weather was just perfect for dining out on a Friday evening. He commented that the temperature’s so low it feels like we’re back in Genting. I had to agree. As he’d purchased a $50 Inspirit House voucher from Fave previously, we found ourselves back here again. I love that Punggol is a relatively ulu location for people who don’t live in this neighbourhood so there’s really not much of a crowd here even on Fridays.

We selected the Pork Loin Steak ($20.90++) once again, since I’d liked it so much previously. The chef’s been working on the mash but it’s usually a hit-or-miss. The standard’s not very consistent. The last time we were here, it was great. But today, it was only okay~ at most. I also liked the fatty bits of the pork loin, but the rest of it was a little overcooked and tough. The salad was also drenched in balsamic vinegar – a light drizzle would do actually.

It’s the first time we’re trying the Kecap Manis Seabass ($16.90++). From the very first bite, I knew the fish wasn’t very fresh but with the kecap manis (or sweet soy sauce), it’s not too bad. This time, the carrots are tender. Previously, I’ve blogged about the hard, almost-raw carrots – I wonder if the folks at Inspirit House read my blogpost. I don’t think I’ll order this dish again though. Since we’ve been fishing a lot, we’re now very used to super-fresh fish, so it’s hard to accept a standard like this.

~

The dessert was slightly disappointing. Inspirit House was very generous with the ice cream. It was the two largest scoops of ice cream that I’ve ever had with a waffle. Alas! The ice cream wasn’t the yummiest even though it’s stated on the menu that it’s “in-house made ice cream”. <- Really?! I have my doubts.

The chocolate ice cream tastes somewhat like Wall’s, not that I’m saying Wall’s isn’t good ah *cough cough*. It’s just not gourmet ice cream, or even Ben & Jerry’s or Haagen Dazs’. Maybe they should just stock Udder’s ice creams? And the yuzu ice cream? Seems more like a sorbet, or something in-between an ice cream and a sorbet. Just not something I’d order again. Maybe the vanilla would have been good but three scoops of ice cream would just be too much for two people, ya?

As for the waffle, both of us were a little disappointed with that half-a-waffle that was served up. Couldn’t they have given us a full, round waffle? But strangely enough, the waffle tastes REALLY GOOD. The right balance of crispiness and fluffiness and the flavor is on point too. SO WHY SUCH A SMALL SERVING?! We had no trouble wolfing down the waffle but the ice cream was a little difficult to swallow ‘cos it almost qualifies as being ‘boring’. Anyway, I take back what I wrote earlier. Wall’s is better. Next time we’ll just have plain waffles or eat them with just a drizzle of maple syrup. Yum.

Inspirit House is located at #01-05 The Punggol Settlement, 3 Punggol Point Road.

Whenever we dine at one of the F&B outlets at Punggol Settlement, we’ll notice the mookata place. Somehow, having mookata along with a nice view has its allure. Of all days, we chose to pop by yesterday evening. We’d thought there would be a crowd simply because it’s a public holiday (Labour Day) so we made an online reservation for an early dinner (4pm) – there was (interestingly) also 50% discount off the a la carte menu for that timeslot.

We showed up at 4pm and the place appeared to be closed. There was a middle-aged cleaning lady inside but we hadn’t noticed her yet. Then one of the staff appeared but apparently did not work at the mookata shop itself but was instead employed by the adjoining pub (under the same boss / management). So we got ourselves seated within the air-conditioned area. *first mistake*

At about 4.20pm, FINALLY, the staff began strolling in. We placed our order for food.

(Clockwise from top) Scallop $8, Tanghoon $3, Fishball with roe egg (don’t they know roe = egg?) $5, shiitake mushroom $4, sliced pork belly $12, ribeye $15. That’s a total of $47 already before tax and service charge.

You can also go for one of their sets. We were told that you can get one platter from each of the three ‘layers’ in the chiller and it’ll be $39.90++:

After about 12 minutes or so, the (raw) food is served. We could not begin cooking the ingredients as the mookata ‘pot’ hadn’t been brought over yet. So we stared at the platters of food in front of us for another 5 minutes.

I didn’t know they use charcoal here. So we basically inhaled the fumes in an air-conditioned environment. (>_<)

(Just so you know, our table was 1 of only 2 tables that were occupied at that time. And by the time we left, which was about 5.50pm, no other diners came along)

I wasn’t impressed by the broth – it might have been really watered down chicken soup or simply boiled water. But I liked the condiments: the sweet chili sauce was my favorite while he preferred the spicy belachan.

The fishball with roe egg was surprisingly good too, maybe because we’ve never eaten something like that before:

While he’d ordered rice, I thought the tanghoon (vermicelli) would be enough. But halfway through our mookata meal, I knew it wouldn’t be very filling. I thought we’d get some bubble tea later and that would do the trick. As if he could read my mind, he asked if we should try some of the Western food served here. Since the folks at the other table only ordered the cooked food and didn’t get mookata. (Perhaps they knew something)

So I said maybe we should try their fish & chips. *second mistake* We placed our order at about 5.10pm (more than an hour since we’d arrived) and the food was served at about 5.37pm. I think the smoke inhalation must have made my mind hazy. WHY would I place a second order when the first one already took SO long?! Gosh. We did consider cancelling the order but thought the people in the kitchen would surely just say it’s in the midst of being prepared already. Oh well. So wait we did.

The fries were not at all warm, which was strange since it should have been freshly prepared, no? The fish was steaming hot though. I told him this fish & chips really CMI, but he said it’s like “pub food” so what could I have expected?

And he kept chanting “pub food, pub food” until I had it drummed into my already-fuzzy brain that my expectations were way too high.

But as usual, I try to find the ‘saving grace’ of any place. Here, it’s the fact that just some sliding doors and drapes separate the ‘pub’ area from the mookata dining area. Songs were being played, and there were MVs and clips of performances. I really enjoyed that. Then, as if the cleaning lady could read my mind, she drew the drapes closer together till I could only see a tiny fraction of the screen. ARGHHHHHHH!

At about 5.47pm (remember, we arrived at 4pm), we called for the bill. Somehow he figured it would take a while so he might as well walk over to the cashier too. No mistake here. There was some issue with the credit card machine and it definitely took a while to be resolved.

Oh gosh. I really don’t think we’ll ever be back here again. But if you’d dare like, here’s the address:

3 Punggol Point Road #01-11/12 Singapore 828694.

In a mere 314 pages, this book ‘Once upon a time in the East’ by Xiaolu Guo revealed to me a China that I know nothing about while giving a no holds barred account of her life. In its own (perhaps unintended) way, the book helps me understand why Chinese citizens behave the way they do. But first, here’s a quick introduction…

The author, Xiaolu Guo, was given away as a newborn but her foster parents later returned her to her grandparents due to poverty. And it might not have been a bad thing if the elderly couple’s relationship was not dysfunctional too. Her grandmother was frequently abused. After a bout of illness, the grandfather took his own life. A chance encounter with a group of students at the beach made her decide she’ll be an artist. And when she was reunited with her parents, who live in a Communist compound, Xiaolu found she has an older brother who, put simply, detested her presence. Not that it made any difference though since sons are valued and daughters are not.

Despite her father’s job as a propaganda painter, there was often a lack of food for her, and the good stuff always went to her brother anyway. The author even resorted to trapping birds for food!

Though the family brought the grandmother to live together with them, sour mother- and daughter-in-law relations saw the elderly lady heading back to her own home and dying in her own bed.

When she was 12, the author was sexually abused by Hu Wenren, the “son of a communal farming officer”. A year or two later, the author seduced her Science teacher, Mr Lin, and the affair lasted almost two years. At age 15, she became pregnant and then went for an abortion, and the affair ended.

*Almost a decade later, the sexual predator (Hu Wenren) appeared again in her life. Read the book and find out what happened when he showed up again after so long.

Despite the intense competition, Xiaolu got accepted into the Beijing Film Academy on her second attempt at application. There were 7,100 students competing for the mere11 spots and she managed to get one of them! No such luck with relationships though. Her boyfriend, Jiang, often hit her. And her roommate, Mengmeng, tried to kill herself after she got rejected by the lecturer she had fallen in love with.

Meanwhile, Xiaolu’s father is diagnosed with terminal stage throat cancer. The author believes that cancer is so rampant in China because of the pollution in the country. Later, her mother also gets stomach cancer and passes away.

“Now my father and my mother were gone, I had been orphaned for a second time.”

Before they died, her parents had visited her, seeking to arrange a marriage for her. While matrimony might not be on the cards for her, Xiaolu secured a Chevening Scholarship and got to start a new life in Britain, learning English and becoming a published author, not bad for someone who was “illiterate until the age of eight”!

As luck would have it, she almost became blind from macular degeneration. There’s simply no such thing as sunshine without rain in this lady’s life.

Eventually, she meets the Australian, Steve, and together, they have a daughter called Moon. How the next part of her life will unfold is likely to be great content for yet another book. And I’m looking forward to it.

~

When reading this book, I often wondered how one person’s life can be so full of trials and tribulations. I do think the author has always wanted to be close to her mother. I sense a silent longing – she wants to know if her mother had given her away as a baby with cruel abandon, or whether it was with tears of anguish. Alas! Her parents wouldn’t tell her, and now they can’t either.

Definitely include this book in your “Must read” list for this year! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

This is the only surprise box I’ve purchased from the recent birthday bash that Lazada held. The Triumph x Lazada surprise box I’d earlier bought was cancelled the day after payment had been processed and the order confirmed. If you’d like to find out what happened, read my blogpost ‘Lazada Surprise Box Cancelled‘ for the details. I’ve never bought anything from the Elizabeth Arden brand, but it sounds atas enough for me to be curious about what could possibly be in their $29 surprise box. As always, I like to find out what is the retail price of the products within the box to check if Lazada’s claim that the surprise boxes contain items worth $100 or more is true or not.

The two items in the Elizabeth Arden x Lazada Surprise Box are the Ceramide Ultra Lipstick (in watermelon) and the Ceramide Purifying Toner. There’s also an additional set of vouchers with discount codes for use on the Lazada shopping site.

If you’re wondering what ceramide is, I’ve found some info online: “A ceramide is one of three types of lipids (fats) that helps keep moisture in the skin.”

What I found most shocking was the pricetag, actually:

What sort of lipstick costs $84?! And its net weight is only 3.5g!

The 200ml bottle of toner seems more reasonably priced at $39.

The total value of these two products (with the toner being on sale) is S$124.14, which is about 4 times the price of the surprise box. Wow. If you’ve ever wondered why the surprise boxes get snapped up so quickly (sometimes within seconds of the launch), here’s why. It’s really good value. Plus, there’s free delivery to your doorstep.

Ok, now I can’t wait for the next batch of surprise boxes on Lazada!

On the Google Play Store, Waze has been downloaded over 100 million times. It’s a community-based app in which drivers submit information that helps other drivers – roadworks, traffic jams, accidents, cop hideouts and even petrol prices! What I’m most curious about, though, is how this free app makes money! And why Google would pay $1.1 billion or what others say is a more accurate figure of $966 million. Whatever (@_@) Also, there are a couple of reasons why you just might want to download Waze for your mother if she’s the one who ferries family members around, and give her a surprise this Mother’s Day.

Why is the app free?

If they’d charged just $0.10 per download, do you know how much they’ll make? >10mil just from Android downloads alone.

When downloading the app, it requires access to 10 different items on your phone – from your identity to your contacts, SMS, Photos, to even Device ID & Call information! Nothing is ever free in this world so if you don’t mind giving the app access to the information in your phone, you’ll enjoy the alerts regarding road hazards, police, traffic jams, etc, submitted by other Waze users. You might even end up saving some money on petrol with the petrol prices submitted by other users. Also, you might see advertisements regarding businesses along your route.

Why did Google acquire it?

Besides getting your data and some ad revenue, Google might be viewing the Waze app acquisition as a (cheaper) way for collecting up-to-date information via its many millions of users. Smart.

And here’s why you might want to download Waze for Mom anyway…

4 Driving Hacks From Waze:

Tip #1: My Voice Is Your Command, Mum

You can record your own Waze navigation voice to guide her on the road. (I hope you have a nice-sounding voice!) To enable voice customisation on Waze, head on over to Advanced Settings > Sound & Voice > Voice Directions. No worries, Waze will guide you through the recording process to ensure that the directions mum receives will remain clear and accurate. Once recorded, your custom Waze voice pack can also be easily shared with the rest of your family.

Tip #2: New Waze to Drive

Planning an upcoming road trip, or just looking to stay ahead of the rush hour? Never miss an important family appointment with the Waze ‘Planned Drives’. This feature will help mum plan her upcoming trips: She’ll know exactly when to leave, and if she’s a lady who lives by her calendar, then she can sync with business meetings and Facebook events.

Tip #3: Mum’s Trusted Co-pilot

Waze is more than just for navigating traffic, it’s also a trusted co-pilot for every essential pit stop while driving. Take the ‘Gas Stations & Prices’ feature for instance: choose mum’s preferred petrol type, and Waze will show price updates and station locations along her driving route.

Whether it’s stocking up on groceries or finding the nearest clinics during emergencies, Waze has got mum’s back by recommending those nearest at any given location, including available parking lots.

Tip #4: Family-friendly Driving

‘Are you there yet, Mum?’ Instead of calling your mum endlessly to check up on her, encourage mum to use Waze’s ‘Send ETA’ feature. Running late or unsure of the arrival time? Tap ‘Send ETA’ at the bottom of the Waze map to let family members follow mum’s drive in real-time via text or WhatsApp, so you’ll never have to worry. You can also send the same to your mum, so she’ll know when to expect you.

After enjoying sushi delivered on conveyor belts, I think Singaporeans won’t be too surprised to find that hotpot ingredients can be selected off a conveyor belt too. For me, the main draw was the $8 pricetag for up to $17 worth of food (plus the soup base and 1 canned drink). I’d gotten this deal off Fave or what was once known as Groupon SG. And I had so much to eat that I walked out of Steamov feeling stuffed to the brim.

I liked that Steamov offers a pleasant air-conditioned dining environment, and we each had our own individual hotpot on an induction stove. The steamboat ingredients seemed pretty fresh (I have no complaints whatsoever) though I steered clear of the veggies as I know many F&B establishments serving steamboat don’t wash their vegetables (no pesticides for me, thank you very much).

Most of the items are priced at $1 or $3 per serving though you can also order a meat platter (starts from $8).

I have to say that their roast duck was pretty enjoyable. And I’m someone who doesn’t really like duck meat. (I do have a thing for London Fat Duck though)

During this visit, we chose the Mushroom & Black Chicken pot and the Herbal Duck pot. I’m not sure if it’s the soup base or the condiments, but the feeling I got after the meal was that I had ingested a lot of MSG as I was feeling SO thirsty. After 2 canned drinks and lots of water, the thirst had not been quenched. So, when you visit, do go easy on the sauces and just use the soup base to cook the food and try not to drink too much of it.

I did enjoy mixing my own blend of sauce though. I like including lots of minced garlic and spring onions.

Would I return? Sure.

The Fave deal is still on. It’s $13 for a Mini Steamboat Hotpot Set for 1 person. Still a really good deal though. I’d paid $8 ‘cos there was a special promo code about a month ago.

~

Steamov is located at 325 New Bridge Road.

Thanks to Nordgreen, I got to test and review one of their highly popular watches. If you haven’t heard about them yet, their January 2018 Kickstarter project was fully funded in 2 hours, and almost fifteen times oversubscribed, netting them about S$320,000 in sales when the campaign ended. I’ve found the watch to be incredibly lightweight and beautifully crafted. What impressed me most are the quick release straps – I’d no longer need anyone’s help in order to change my watch straps!

I can easily switch between the leather strap and the mesh strap to suit different outfits and looks:

For me, the ability to change my watch straps to suit my outfits and moods is the main draw of these Nordgreen watches. For a lot of other consumers, it’s the fact that the watches are designed by Jakob Wagner, who has worked for brands like Bang & Olufsen, Alessi and Hay. Also, for every watch you purchase, you will get the chance to “give to one of three charitable causes – environment (preserve 200 sqf of rain forest in Latin America), health (two months of clean water to one person in The Central African Republic) and education (two months of education to a child in India)”.

If it’s time for you to get a new watch, or if you’d like to get one as a Mother’s Day gift for the most important woman in your life, pop by the Nordgreen website. (Link and discount code below)

~

Use my affiliate code ‘GRACETAN’ and get 15% when you purchase a Nordgreen watch.

I was looking forward to reading this book, ‘Misdirection’, as I’ve enjoyed the previous books by Ning Cai (and also her co-authors). Someone from the publishing house actually got in touch with me earlier on and said they’ll send a copy for me to review but in the end, they pulled a disappearing act on me, it seems. So I went to the library and borrowed a copy – NLB purchased so many copies that reservations aren’t even required! There are at least 3 copies in each library! And I’m done reading the book in just 2 days. And 1 thing I have to say is that I have a lot of respect for folks who write novels – it’s just so difficult to craft something so lengthy and keep the (modern) reader’s attention throughout.

Quick summary: Maxine Schooling wakes up from a 3-year coma to find that her parents and younger brother with Down Syndrome have been killed. She discovers that she now has a photographic memory which helps her (and the police) tremendously in tracking down a serial killer, a.k.a. ‘The Singapore Spectre’. By the end of Book 1, she still hasn’t gotten any idea of who had murdered her family members.

And this book succeeds in ‘misdirection’. It seems to sail along just fine without too many surprises and you might even guess correctly who’s the villain even though it might not be entirely obvious at the start. However, there’s still a right hook at the end to make you wonder how did I forget about this person?!

This book, ‘Misdirection’, is targeted at young adults, and I have to add ‘Singaporeans’ as well. The book is simply choke-full of references that probably only SG folks will pick out. And let’s not forget the Singlish terms: “bak chew tak stamp”, “sibei expensive”, “his magic very tok kong one”, “lembek”, etc. The author also tries to incorporate lingo that younger millennials (not me) will enjoy – “savage AF”, “Netflix and chill”, etc. But would the young ones also know who ‘Teresa Teng’ is? And The Backstreet Boys? LIME Magazine? And Ning also borrows family names quite liberally, e.g. ‘Anandan’, ‘Dr Wijeysingha’, and of course ‘Schooling’.

Also, there are references to what Singaporeans will be familiar with: 100Plus isotonic drink, 938NOW, Mandai columbarium, Funan DigitaLife Mall, Razer mouse, Books Kinokuniya, Katong Shopping Centre, among others. But the main one has to be the “controversial megachurch” called “Crossfront Family Church” with an accountant in jail for siphoning off millions of dollars from church funds. *cough cough*.

I feel ‘The Savant Trilogy’ seems to be fiction rooted in reality. There are so many names, places and events that Singaporean readers will be able to relate to, so the line between fact and fiction is blurred. If that’s the case, then I’ll want it to be even more ‘realistic’.

For one, the protagonist, Maxine (or Max) Schooling, has been in a 3-year coma at the Parkway East Hospital. I did find myself wondering why no one pulled the plug during those 3 years – don’t they know we have a severe shortage of hospital beds in Singapore?! (Ok, ok, fiction book) By the way, a stay at the actual Parkway East Hospital in Singapore would cost $618 per day in their ‘Single Classic Room’ so a 3-year stay would easily cost more than a quarter-million dollars including all the other incidentals. And shouldn’t the vicious killer have returned to finish the job since he/she managed to murder everyone in Max’s family except for her?

Also, Maxine was attacked and fell into a coma sometime between 2015 and 2018 but when she wakes up and later uses her mother’s phone, it happens to be an iPhone 4 (which Apple launched in 2010) so I’m wondering why it’s not a newer model, e.g. iPhone 6 which her scientist parents would have easily been able to afford? Also, why would the horde of journalists appear at Mandai Columbarium because of her – someone who got out of a 3-year coma? We don’t really have a paparazzi culture here, and I can’t think of any journalist who would chase down a story all the way to the columbarium. Also, Snapchat was launched in 2011 but Max doesn’t know what it is because she slipped into a coma 4 years after the launch?*

*I have to admit that I’ve read this book only once, so maybe everything will get ironed out with a second reading. Pardon me if I’ve made any mistakes with this first impression from reading ‘Misdirection’.

Finally, I have to add that I feel a bit meh at the sheer number of references to actual people whether living or dead – this character looks like so-and-so, that character looks like this famous Korean singer, another character looks like a certain Korean actor, etc. Even the people who provided endorsements for the book (e.g. Neil Gaiman and Lang Leav) will find that they are mentioned within the novel. (@_@) When there are so many references to people, places and events we know, for me, it’s actually preventing me from getting lost in the book (something I enjoy, e.g. when reading the Harry Potter series which ‘transports’ me to a whole new wizarding world). That said, Ning demonstrates remarkable prowess in her use of descriptive phrases, especially regarding the weather. There are so many beautiful descriptions that just utilizing a handful in school compositions would make any English teacher very happy.

~ What I hope is not in the 2nd + 3rd book ~

I’m particularly concerned, though, about references to the LGBT community and supposed homophobic Christian churches. The Grindr app was also mentioned within the book. (If you don’t know what it is, it’s like Tinder for gays) I think that by and large, the LGBT community gets by unmolested by the rest of the population but for some reason, they can wear pink for Pink Dot but if churchgoers wear white, they’re up in arms. Can’t we just all wear red and be proud of our identity as Singaporeans?

I hope, too, that there won’t be anyone trying to flee from Singapore in a motorized sampan in the next installment. I’ve had quite enough of the CHC references, pastors dabbling in magic, and characters who apparently look like people we know.

All in all, the former ‘Magic Babe’ (now Mind Magic Mistress) managed to successfully execute a ‘misdirection’ in this 196-page book. Perhaps one day this book will be the basis for a movie and all the characters who look like famous people will be played by those same famous people. Now that would be pretty cool!

[Image from ethosbooks.com.sg]

Brought up in a Jalan Kayu kampong, Ravi was one of seven kids in the family. His father was overly fond of alcohol, a spendthrift and had even been to prison three times. To make matters worse, one day the father even robbed his young son of the money meant for school expenses. M Ravi even went to the police station to try and lodge a report but the officers wouldn’t accept it as the accused was his own father.

His family seems to be the stereotypical Indian family full of drama. There was once when Ravi’s parents were fighting and his Dad was choking his Mom. Ravi’s older brother intervened and broke their Dad’s arm! Read the book for the full details.

Ravi’s mother also suffered from depression and she eventually committed suicide. That proved devastating for Ravi, who’d moved out with his mother due to her disagreements with other members of the family. I feel for this lady I’ve never met before – she had her first child taken away from her by absolutely cruel in-laws, and right from the start, she had been forced to leave her sweetheart and marry a man she didn’t love because his parents were rich from winning the lottery. Too bad that this man would squander away those winnings.

As you can probably guess, Ravi discovered he had outstanding oratorical skills and did well in competitions in school. He was also a very determined boy. He camped outside a Tamil teacher’s flat until the latter wrote him a speech for his competition.

He had a slipped disc as a result of the hard work during his time in the Combat Engineering unit while serving NS. He eventually took up the issue with MINDEF and was given $3,000. While in the army, he also went on a hunger strike because the food for vegetarians was deemed unpalatable and not nourishing enough. He eventually got his way and the meals he wanted.

He studied History, Political Science and Sociology in NUS but also went for evening classes to study Law (University of London’s external program). While he was preparing for his Law exams, the Government announced that this degree would no longer be recognized in Singapore. That’s when Ravi decided he’ll go to the University of Cardiff in Wales for 2 years of study. On 31st May 1997, Ravi was called to the Bar. In 2000, he started his own firm.

Ravi’s a really interesting character. He got around the rules and did a firewalk when he was just 13! He’s also a dancer, with a passion for Indian classical dance. He even had a short stint as a TCS newscaster – imagine how differently his life might have turned out if he’d stayed there!

~

Lots of lawyers take up pro bono cases because of the media value – there’s lots of media and public interest in the case, or they are doing it as a show of being concerned about the people so as to pave their way into politics. I know of at least one young lawyer who took up a case and then instructed his clients to meet at a location near the Courts so they could all walk together to the hearing, and the lawyer would be photographed together with his clients for the newspapers. <- He even decided who should stand where. (@_@) *And in this case, it wasn’t even pro bono. They paid him a princely sum for him to get featured in the media. Said lawyer was even extra friendly to journalists during the breaks, chatting with everyone like old friends. Perhaps he should have gone to TCS to be an actor.

Lawyers like Ravi are probably few and far between. He had offered to pay for the funeral expenses of Vignes Mourti and even slept next to the casket together with Mourti’s family because they were so afraid that the body would be taken away to be cremated as per the official instructions and the deceased’s friends and family won’t be able to pay their last respects. [Read the book and find out what happened]

“Some people here feel that a lawyer should never get too closely involved with his clients and their kin, especially in death penalty cases where the stakes are so high. But that’s not how I’m made up. It’s especially in those cases where the stakes are so high and where human pain is at its apex that I get drawn into the life and emotional distress of these clients.” – M Ravi.

And in the death penalty case involving the Nigerian Amara Tochi, Ravi flew around the world to rally support for his client. I’m guessing he might be the only lawyer in Singapore who does such things. I’ve met one other lawyer who admitted that he does all that pro bono work hoping to get into politics. He put it in no uncertain terms that he felt he was deserving of the MP’s paycheque. Thankfully, he won’t be elected into office any time soon.

~

Ravi mentions in the book that his licence to practise law had been suspended for 1 year in October 2006, but fails to explain why. I did a quick Google search and it appears that he had been disrespectful to a judge. Not sure what had happened though I’d certainly love to hear Ravi’s explanation. In all fairness, I think that in the heat of the moment when putting forth an argument in court, certain actions might be deemed rude or disrespectful so I really won’t hold it against the guy. Perhaps in the (near) future, lawyers will be replaced by robots which will obviously not let emotions come into play, seeing as how they have none. I’m looking forward to such a day!

Though when it happens, we won’t hear of gutsy lawyers such as M Ravi who, during the Falun Gong case, filed a criminal motion against Judge Shumangam. Really, read the book and find out what happened! It’s nothing short of amazing.

While this book has convinced me that activists who are against the death penalty really have a legit cause (e.g. you can easily be caught with drugs placed in your luggage by someone else, and be sentenced to hang even if you are innocent), I’m not so fond of his clients who want a repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code. One of Ravi’s clients had sex in a CityLink mall toilet with another man. They got arrested and were each fined $3,000. And yet they still wanted to “take a stand against 377A”. There’s also been another case of two gay men arrested for having sex in a coffeeshop toilet. Seriously, guys. Sex in a public toilet of all places. And coffeeshop toilets?! Aren’t there more sanitary places to demonstrate your love for each other? (@_@) I’m quite sure they wouldn’t have gotten arrested in the first place (377A or no 377A) if they hadn’t done their hanky panky business in public toilets.

*Ravi also mentioned former NMP Thio Li-Ann’s statement (from a long time ago) about how anal sex is akin to “shoving a straw up your nose to drink”. *cough cough* I actually didn’t know about this statement of hers till I read this book. Ravi, like many others, found that statement offensive. And he has my respect because he isn’t gay (or, at least, that’s what I concluded from reading this book) but would fight for gay rights or human rights in general. Some lawyers out there are fighting for ‘human rights’ but are really, ultimately, just wanting to fight for their own gay rights. In all fairness, I think Singapore offers the middle ground – we’re not as liberal as the West (no gay marriage, etc) but we don’t dish out punitive punishment like some of our neighboring countries where gay men can be publicly caned.

As I’ve written in the previous book review post, about Misdirection by Ning Cai, let’s stop making a fuss about wearing pink or white. Let’s just stick with red and move on already.

~

“While it is an established tradition in many other countries, lawyers here in Singapore are not at all comfortable with activism. But I have made it my mission and my calling card. I feel that all the advantages that have been given to me, and all the sacrifices my family made so that I could become a lawyer, can best be paid back when I involve myself in human rights activism and the cases that come out of this commitment.” – M Ravi

I totally judge books by their covers and this one features a blurry image of a man(?) covering his face with his hands in what is probably agony (or shame), and the overall impression it gives is hardly attractive. If not for that little circle in the corner with the words “WINNER Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2015”, I’m not sure if I’ll pick up this book for a read in the first place. Anyway, I can totally understand how a book needs to be launched really quickly once it wins any sort of prize. So there’s hardly any time to obsess about cover design.

At first, I didn’t really appreciate the title, but after reading the book, I find that it’s a really good title – ‘Now That It’s Over’. Now that the relationship is over, how do you move on? Now that the tsunami is over, how do we pick up the pieces? It gets you thinking about how you’d respond to a situation that is unpleasant or has made you feel like the rug’s been pulled out from under your feet. Do you respond in a positive “let’s move on” manner, or do you think that when ‘this’ is over, there’s nothing else to live for?

The way the author, O Thiam Chin, writes about sex in this book will raise some eyebrows. While the sex between the heterosexual couple seems rather bland, if not entirely boring, the descriptions of homosexual sex acts are shockingly vivid. Please don’t blame me for being kaypoh. I found myself curious about whether the author is gay. Actually, I think I already have the answer. Also, I’m not sure if his depiction of the gay characters in this book as being quite promiscuous (cheating is common) will be appreciated by the community.

There are four main characters: Ai Ling, her husband Wei Xiang, her BFF Cody and his boyfriend Chee Seng. They are in Phuket during the devastating tsunami in 2004. One person doesn’t make it out alive. And one relationship doesn’t survive. Read the book to find out more. I like how the book toggles from character to character instead of being a rigid, linear narrative. This keeps me guessing who and what is next.

The part I love most is the one about the seagull ripping out the eyeball of the dead woman (Ai Ling)…

“It pokes at the eye, assessing its jelly-like texture. The half-shut eyelid reveals a brown-tinted iris. The seagull regards it for a second, and then in a sudden move, it strikes in sharp, precise thrusts until the eye pops out, restrained only by the optic nerve. Thick dark blood dribbles out of the socket and down the woman’s cheek. The seagull bends and holds the eyeball with the tip of its beak, giving it one last tug, freeing it. The eye catches the sunlight and seems to be taking in the seamless, thriving sea. In the next moment, the seagull jerks back its head and consumes the lifeless object.”

*jaw drop*

I really wonder if seagulls will actually consume human eyeballs but I found an article on the Internet about how seagulls eat the eyeballs of baby fur seals so as to make the blind seals “more vulnerable to further attacks”. (@_@)

The book has been given mixed reviews – check out Goodreads – but I’d rate it pretty well. The author scored C6 for both English and Literature at the ‘O’ Levels! But look at him now. This prize-winning book has made me feel shocked and also squeamish. Love it! Now that it’s over, I’ll go read another award-winning book.

*Also, I really like the mentions about VCDs, Motorola and Nokia phones. Younger millennials probably won’t know what VCDs are. And how awesome Nokia phones once were – the battery life was incredible! Excuse me while I go charge my Samsung phone once again. *sigh*

[Image courtesy of Sky Tower Pte Ltd]

If you’re someone with many kids, bring the young ones to Sentosa and get on board the 360° revolving cabin to marvel at the breathtaking sights.

On Aug 12 last year, 39 people were stranded in the Tiger Sky Tower for 4 hours. Ordinarily, I’d be quite afraid of taking the ride ever again. But the folks who were stuck in the Sky Tower were given food and water, and there was air-conditioning and a mobile toilet as well. Most importantly, no one was in any real danger as the ride also has “failsafes similar to elevators”. The ride has since been cleared by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), so you don’t have to worry, and can bring the whole family out for some fun and take advantage of this promotion.

Kids-ride-for-free promo:

Date: 15 May to 12 Aug 2018

Time: 9am to 9pm daily (Last admission: 8.45pm)

Venue: Tiger Sky Tower @ Imbiah Lookout

*Other terms & conditions apply.

He said we’re really lucky to be able to “earn in SG and spend in JB” as it’s such a short trip over the Causeway. I agree. It’s really convenient to pop by JB even without a car  – just take public transport. During this trip to JB, we visited our current favorite – Paradigm Mall – and also Sutera Mall which we used to frequent. And although I cannot stand the stench of durians, I did take a few bites of the pungent fruit this time. GASP. (@_@)

They seem to have ‘upgraded’ the bus – from rickety to rather plush:

The bus ride from JB customs to Paradigm Mall cost just RM2.20 per pax. Once you reach the bus terminal, there’ll be people ushering you to the right bus. Just state where you want to go.

Only 1 thing I want to eat at Paradigm Mall:

Once again, I ordered my favorite Tuna Mayo sandwich from LIANG Sandwich Bar. This item costs just RM7.90. It’s like a super crispy prata enveloping the fresh veggies and tuna. For just RM2, you can add a drink. And we had the Iced Peach Tea, which was surprisingly good. He went with ‘Jay Chou’s Favourite’ as his choice of sandwich and it turned out to be something like chicken ham and honey – I found it tasted so odd. Sure wouldn’t put it on my list of favorites.

Also ordered Gong Cha’s Earl Grey Milk Tea with Ai-Yu Jelly and White Pearl which cost just RM 11. I’m someone who isn’t very adventurous when it comes to food. If I find that something tastes good, I’ll just order it again next time, without bothering about the other items on the menu. Makes life simpler, no? Too many people stand in front of extensive menus and seem to get paralyzed when confronted with so many choices. And then regret this new choice if it isn’t as good as the previous one. I cannot understand this sort of people. Just stick to what’s tried and tested!

After shopping at Paradigm Mall, we decided to get a cab and go to Sutera Mall. It was raining when we stepped out of Paradigm and headed to the taxi stand – thankfully I had an umbrella in my bag. Why the taxi stand is located so far away, I do not know. (@_@)

Taxi touts outside Paradigm Mall wanted us to pay RM20 for a ride to Sutera Mall, which is really not very far from Paradigm. By “touts” I mean taxi drivers who drive taxis with prominent messages on the cab doors stating that these are metered taxis and haggling is not allowed. The audacity. Previously, we even tried to bargain with one such driver and his retort was “What’s 5 ringgit to you Singaporeans?!” I simply turned and walked away. It’s money, that’s what. I’m sure there are many other Singaporeans who would be willing to part with any sum these guys state, but I believe we (or rather, I) shouldn’t be encouraging these drivers to forego metered fares and start stating whatever price they want. (Don’t encourage such behavior, ok?)

You’ve just got to be really patient and wait till a taxi driver who is willing to switch on the taxi meter appears. Our ride cost RM10.50, almost half of what the other drivers wanted us to pay. Bless this good man’s soul.

We had lunch at EverGreen Restaurant located at L1 of Sutera Mall, and next to the mall’s Aquarium with REALLY BIG fish. I think the biggest fish might be at least 1.8m long.

We had the Specialty Curry Fish Head (RM37), mantou (RM6.80), Fried Mee Suah (RM9.50), coffee (RM3.20) and (fresh) Pineapple Juice (RM5.80). The bill came up to RM69.30, just over 20SGD. The fried mee suah was delicious while the mantous were much bigger than expected and served warm and fluffy. The curry fish head was decent, though we wondered where the claypot had gone – the fish was served up in aluminium foil on a plate.

To our surprise, Sutera Mall has a public library within! And it’s gorgeous inside. It’s certainly as attractive as our libraries here in Singapore.

We also wandered around the area near the mall, which has lots of coffeeshops, pubs, specialty stores, etc.

We chanced upon this ice cream shop called ‘Inside Scoop’ which apparently has many branches in Malaysia. They were totally out of waffles and ice cream cones, and almost out of ice cream as well. Because of the public holidays after the elections, there were no deliveries.

I like the decor:

We enjoyed the Valrhona chocolate and another something-Tango flavor. The double scoop of ice cream cost RM13.50 and we also had to top up RM3.80 as we had selected the premium flavors.

My first taste of durian in decades:

There are 2 durian stalls along the main road, which you’ll see as your vehicle is turning into Sutera Mall’s carpark. We found that the stall on the right (when facing the main road) had a lot more customers so we picked this stall. He had 2 durians for a total of RM10 while I had the fresh coconut for RM4.

Mistake: Ordering 2 durians at the same time. One tasted good while the other was rather lousy. There was a mother-and-daughter pair at the table next to ours and they ordered durians one at a time, taking their time to enjoy each fruit. So the boss always made sure they liked each durian they were served so they’d order more.

From Sutera Mall to the JB customs (Woodlands checkpoint, not Tuas), the metered taxi fare was close to RM30. Not sure how much the touts would have asked us to pay but I’m glad we found a Chinese uncle who was not only friendly and chatty but also willing to turn on the meter. According to him, 4pm to 7pm is when traffic jams can be expected, but there’s also a second ‘peak hour’ from 9pm to 10pm. So heading home between 7pm and 9pm is best. You’re welcome.

If you don’t already know, Keong Saik Road was ranked 4th in Lonely Planet’s top 10 Asian travel destinations for 2017. But what do you eat there for dinner, apart from the pricey hor fun that I’ve reviewed previously? At the very instagrammable Hotel 1929, you can have an omakase dinner at Birders (鳥人), which I enjoyed together with my pal recently. We were not too surprised to find that it was a full house on a weekday because Birders has received extensive media coverage thanks to its creative menu and that undisputed celebrity factor: it’s co-owned by actor Adam Chen.

*Their new Degustation Dinner Menu requires advance booking of a minimum of 2 days.

The 8-course omakase Degustation Dinner provided a rollercoaster ride of flavors that showed just how much thought had gone into crafting this entire dining experience. Besides wowing with attentive service, I think it’ll be difficult to leave this place and not tell a friend about what was served up during dinner. You’ll see why in just a minute…

First up was the Sashimi Moriawase. It’s a delightful and aesthetically pleasing platter of salmon, swordfish and yellowtail sashimi, together with amaebi (sweet shrimp) and ikura. The beautiful plating and fresh seafood certainly heightened our anticipation (and expectation) regarding the next 7 courses.

After sashimi, which most people are familiar with, the next course is for the adventurous foodie. It’s called “Liver Mousse 2 Ways“. There’s chicken liver mousse and even liver chawanmushi.

Paired with the yuzu marmalade, the chicken liver mousse actually becomes quite enjoyable. It’s also served up in what looks like a cute little sardine can. Spread the mousse generously onto the brioche sticks and savor the surprise it brings. The liver chawanmushi will make you wonder what sort of creative genius would come up with an item like that. And the person who came up with this menu is *drum roll* none other than actor Adam Chen!

We certainly seized the ‘photo op’ with a celebrity – this is just one of many pictures

From left: Adam Chen, our new friend Felix, yours truly, and Bosco Lim who took all the pictures for this blogpost

Next, we had the savory French Onion Soup, which we found a tad too salty. But I’ve been told this item is not a permanent feature in the menu so you may get some other dish or soup when you dine here. It’s omakase after all.

If you haven’t already guessed, the next dish will be one that’s out of the ordinary. And it’s the “Birders Beef Katsu Sando“. According to Adam, beef katsu is quite the rage in Japan now and one of Adam’s friends has a business selling $120 Beef Katsu sandwiches. *gulp* Thankfully, prices at Birders are much more affordable, and this Beef Katsu Sando is truly delicious.

Although the beef looks almost raw, this sandwich is undeniably one of the best I’ve ever eaten. It’s also paired with lotus root chips which are very addictive even though they don’t come with copious amounts of salt. Birders should start selling these chips as the healthy alternative to salted egg chips. I’d certainly purchase a few packs.

After the high from eating a mouth-watering sandwich, it’s back to the familiar with Ribeye Steak (about 70grams worth). And it comes with brussel sprouts (one of my favorite veggies), nagaimo (mountain yam) and mushrooms.

I found the brussel sprouts a little dry. And the ribeye could do with a bit more seasoning though I have to say that this cooking method retains the juices well. The slightly taller chunks of Nagaimo (mountain yam or chinese yam) prevent the dish from looking too flat in pictures, but it doesn’t taste like much despite being packed with vitamins and minerals.

Then there’s what we’ve been waiting for: the Yakitori Platter. I’d initially thought Birders was famous just for yakitori and sake. So the other dishes really came as a surprise.

On this platter, we had thigh, tail, tsukune (chicken meatball), heart, ginnan (ginkgo nuts), and tomatoes. I’m not a fan of the ginkgo though the chicken skewers are really good. After all, this place is called ‘Birders’. I like how just about every part of the chicken is used in the food. And, of course, with the onsen egg, which coats everything with that golden goodness, it’s certainly a treat.

I think the skewers are best enjoyed with some sake. And it’s a bonus that the sake comes in really cute 180ml glass bottles. I even took the bottles home! Of course, you can enjoy some wine, whiskey or any of the other alcoholic beverages at Birders.

In all honesty, I was surprised by this next dish: Mentaiko Chazuke. It’s a very comforting dish, no doubt, yet I was already bursting at the seams from the 6 courses preceding this dish and you serve me RICE?!

As usual, there’s dashi broth and tea, with mentaiko and other toppings. Diners with bigger appetites will certainly appreciate this dish (you won’t walk out of Birders still feeling peckish after the 8-course dinner, for sure). Ladies who are feeling full already, just surrender the dish and let the gentlemen have it.

However, for some strange reason, I always have space in my tummy for dessert. And how important that is! Dessert makes or breaks a meal. And Birders serves delicious Matcha Crème brûlée. It’s made in-house so you definitely have to give it a try. Also, it’s so pretty – a riot of color – and reminds me of the first dish featuring sashimi. And we’ve now come full circle and can head home with happy bellies.

~

Birders is located at 50 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089154. Tel:
8748 4585.

*To book the S$68++ Degustation Dinner, send a message to the number listed above.

{ Giveaway }

Head over to my facebook page to take part in my giveaway. You stand to win a $50 voucher to dine at Birders.

I’m finding it terribly difficult to work when the weather’s really hot, especially when it was around 32 degrees Celsius at noon. To fight the lethargy, I find myself munching on some of the snacks we’ve bought recently: the OREO soft cake, Tong Garden’s wasabi peas and Lotte’s Double Dip snack. Let me know if you’ve tried these, and whether you like them:

OREO Soft Cake

You can get a whole box of the OREO soft cake at ValuDollar stores, and one box costs around $1.65 or so. I’ve noticed it got sold out a couple of times at the ValuDollar store in Waterway Point. It’s OREO like you’ve never experienced it before. It’s so soft that it just melts away on your tongue, giving you an instant sugar rush. Resist the temptation to eat more than 1 at a time, though, for obvious health reasons.

Tong Garden Wasabi Coated Green Peas

On a whim, I decided to get these Tong Garden Wasabi Coated Green Peas while shopping in JB. I thought the flavor would be mild but these actually pack a punch. After a handful of peas, my nose begins to run and I start tearing up. It’s a snack you won’t have to worry about eating too much of (and getting fat) because it has so much heat; you’ll be crying before you can finish it all. Get them at FairPrice for $1.75.

In unrelated news, the siblings running the business are back in court. The late Mr Ong, who founded the Tong Garden business, had 10 children and they seem to be taking turns to squabble over shares and how the company is run. Makes me wonder if having so many kids is a good thing.

Lotte Pepero Day Double Dip Gift Pack

There are two flavors: Yoghurt and Cafe Latte. I’m not a fan of coffee so obviously the yoghurt flavoured ones are my pick. Just $7.90 for a set of 4 from the Korean mart at Marina Square. Psst, there might be a 1-for-1 promo going on right now.

I’ve never been in the cockpit of a plane before so this ‘Flight Experience’ was a nice introduction to the world of flying… as a pilot. From the get-go, you’re addressed as “Captain”. I took a while to get used to it because… Captain, you’ll need to watch a 15-minute pre-flight briefing video first before you’re allowed to fly.

The video is just so mind-boggling that at the end of it, you probably won’t remember a thing. It’s better to just listen to your co-pilot (i.e. instructor’s) directions. People train for 2 to 3 years before they become pilots so don’t expect a 15-minute or even a 30-minute video to do you much good.

Sidetrack: I found it interesting that pilots are trained to escape from the flight deck in an emergency situation by breaking a window (a really small one) and climbing down with the help of a rope. No wonder most pilots look pretty fit. If they don’t watch their weight, they’ll most certainly get stuck. I don’t even think I’ll be able to get out of the window easily.

Landing the plane is not quite simple either. Often, I’m horrified when the plane lands “badly” when I’m on one of those commercial flights. I wonder why the pilot can’t brake gently and just land the plane like a leaf gently drifting down to the water surface causing barely a ripple. But when I’m the one “behind the wheel” (so to speak) I find that it takes both skill and luck. There are things like wind which the pilot cannot control, but which can greatly affect how the plane lands.

The great thing about this simulator is that where you’re seated doesn’t move or else someone’s going to throw up (either you, your co-pilot, or the unlucky person(s) seated behind you two). The sound effects, though, are pretty realistic.

At some point, I got so bored I took my hands off the controls, but everything seemed to be going well. I turned to the instructor and asked if it auto-pilot mode was on, but it wasn’t. So, ladies and gentlemen, do not trust me to fly the plane you’re on, ok?

~

If you’re raring to go, just note that prices start from $175 (for a 30-minute flight). Yup, and effectively, you don’t go anywhere. Would I do this again? Probably not. Also, I think it’s a better idea to let the instructor pick the route. We had selected (1) Grand Canyon National Park and (2) Tokyo Haneda to Narita Mt Fuji. Both were rather boring.

Still, it’s a great opportunity to ask a trained pilot any questions you may have about flying. And you’ll also get a Certificate of Achievement when you’re done.

I don’t think the cash register at Nam Kee Pau (at Waterway Point) has stopped ringing since they first opened for business. These days, I have to queue for a good 10 to 15 minutes if I want to purchase one of their pau for breakfast. Today’s no different though we did get the Amy Yip pau instead of the regular-sized Big Pau or char siew pau. The monster-sized Amy Yip pau costs S$4 and they’ll put it in a box for you, instead of the usual plastic bags.

We did wonder why it says “malaysia Boleh!” on the box. Turns out Fei Siong Group (which runs Nam Kee Pau) also has 12 other F&B brands that it’s managing – from Encik Tan to London Duck (which I suppose is not to be confused with my favorite London Fat Duck which is under the Akashi Group). Malaysia Boleh is located on the 3rd floor of Jurong Point 2. It is a foodcourt featuring Malaysian street hawker fare. I guess Nam Kee Pau simply uses their food boxes as they are all under the same management anyway.

Truth be told, I think the Big Pau ($1.80) gets my vote. It’s just the right size (hur hur) versus the massive Amy Yip pau. I don’t really know who Amy Yip is so I speculated that this pau, modeled after her substantial cleavage (so I’ve heard), must mean she’s a double D at least? Googled her and found she has a H cup. ‘H’ probably stands for “How is this possible”?

I think Nam Kee Pau makes really good pau. I like their Big Pau and Char Siew Pau. Though the Amy Yip one is way too big, it’s moist and the filling is tasty. It’ll just put you into a food coma straightaway.

When I saw this on Instagram, I knew I had to go get one. It’s a Hello Kitty perfume bottle that does not contain perfume. Instead, it has a row of 8 stickers which you can pull out from the side of Kitty’s face. Why not just include some perfume? LOL. It might not be the most practical gift in a Happy Meal – there’s a hair band and purse in the upcoming weeks – but it is just so pretty.

There’s a whole new set of Hello Kitty and Yo-Kai toys at McDonald’s and if you don’t already know, you don’t have to pay for the toy – it’s free with every Happy Meal!

Probably the smartest thing that McD has done is to create the Happy Meal. Parents think it’s a good deal ‘cos there’s a free toy with the not-too-pricey meal, and kids get hooked on McDonald’s from a young age, and are likely to be loyal for life. Awesome business strategy.

I’m not sure if I’m collecting the rest of the Kitty toys though. Unlike a lot of people, I don’t have an urge to collect ’em all. I don’t need “complete sets”. If there’s just one item I really like in a collection, I get just that one item. Do you do the same? If you are the kind who collects everything, well, I envy the storage space you have at home.