A Temperate Garden in Tropical Singapore!

Gardens by the Bay, the pinnacle of the garden city Singapore. We only managed to visit the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome in the half-day trip. We'll be back to visit the other 3 quarter of the park.

A Walk In The Park

We didn't travel this year in the Christmas period. Meimei had to be on standby for work so we decided to stay home for the holidays. I must confess it is so much more relaxing being at home than living off a suitcase. Sure its plain old Singapore but there are still many sights and locations we have yet to explore.

Today is our first trip to Gardens by the Bay. Papa and Mama are also in Singapore for the holidays so we went as a whole family, Sis included, to the gardens. The place is really huge, we were there half a day and only covered a quarter of the place. I foresee many more return trips, weather permitting.

This was also my first real site-test of my Canon G15. I learned a lot about the camera on the trip and also picked up a number of tricks and techniques from Meimei. I'm loving the chance to really pick up photography.

Overall a wonderful way to end the holidays. Goodbye 2013, may we have a blissful and magical 2014!

(Shots courtesy of Sis)

Humpy Walls

When we were hunting for our home, one of the criteria I had was that the layout had to be squarish. No odd v-shaped or circle shaped walls. Those create wasted space and corners which you can't really utilise.

So we were excited when we found our 'ideal' home. Our apartment is basically squarish in layout. However, within the apartments there were inlets and turns  in all sorts of sizes. After seeing many homes in the area, these design flaw seems to punctuate flats of the early 90s era. Was it a construction technological limitation? I doubt so, the ones built in late 70s through 80s were fine. No, it's HDB trying to create fancy homes but at a budget, hence the somewhat non-flatten exterior and messy interiors.

Now we are left with corners which are weird and challenged on its utility. You'll never find a off-the-shelf cupboard or fixture you can put in the inlets to fully maximise the space. Your only option is to create customised built-in cabinets or cupboard, which by the way cost double to triple the ala carte ones.

We addressed the uneven walls in our master bedroom with built-in but our budget couldn't take the same for the other rooms. So now we are left to compromise on the space. Find a reasonable furniture to utilise 60-70% of the space and live with the space inefficiency till we can afford to install built-ins. And that means having to measure every twist and turn of the walls ... it takes quite awhile I must say ...

I suppose some would say these gives the apartment character ... not your blocky squarish 4 by 4 unit. Hmmm, if we didn't have to pay for the floor space I suppose you could say that. But when your 126sqm unit actually gives you only 120sqm of usable space ... you would cringe too at the wasted space. Oh and don't get me started on the inlet beneath every window ... the HDB architect that designed this must have a dent in his head.

Instant Thai Green Curry

We chanced upon this truly delectable instant pre-prepared green curry soup at the supermarket. All you had to do is add in the seafood, meats, fresh basil and lime leaves, and a touch of chopped chilli for that spicy oomph. Its so simple and easy to prepare, one pot for a meal. We stocked up a few packets of the soup hehe.

It now gets me thinking how easy it is to 'cook' Thai. Suppose we open our own Thai food restaurant someday? Heh, nah ... too much effort to the other menu items. Plus I'll be constantly tearing trying to cut the onions and chillies. No thank you sir.

Unsupervised Shopping - Meimei@Diaso 23 Dec

2 measuring tapes ... we already have one but ooo~k ... 3 mesh for baking ... I don't remember having so many trays but ooo~k ... 1 milk bubble maker ... what? huh?

Christmas 2013 - Takashimaya Tree

Always love the tall Takashimaya 3 storey tree. More so this year with the turquoise colour theme.

Christmas 2013 - Themed Desserts at TCC

Christmas dessert at TCC. I like the strawberry snowman.

Vase 303 - 2013 14th Dec

Orchids, the national flower of Singapore. I like its delicateness.

Lentils, Not Our Favourite Food

There were several recipes in Gordon's cookbook which calls for lentils. Honestly I thought it was a type of vegetable when I first saw the word. It's not something you normally eat in Asia. And it is hard to find too, I managed to find a pack at the organic, aka expensive, aisle at Cold Storage.

It taste like salty green beans, and are hard to cook through. Maybe I was doing it wrong but I find it baffling that some of them are not cooked after an hour in the pot. I should have substitute it with rice or pasta. Oh well, I suppose there is no harm trying new stuff once in awhile.

Sauces Fantasy

I've always been one for the sauces, especially when it comes to eating western.  A piece of fillet is a piece of fillet. A strip of sirloin is a strip of sirloin. Its the seasoning, the marinate and the serving sauce that really brings out the favour of the meats and fish. Some would argue that having just the meat is the best way to taste it. Yes I would agree if this was in a western country where the meats are fresh from the farm. But in Singapore where everything is imported frozen ... nah.

I remember asking for more mushroom sauces on my sirloin beef or more of the white mayo for my surf and turf. Funny thing was, I never bothered with Asian sauces. I think asian cuisine are already coated with too much sauce, and most of them are starchy and sticky ... not really my taste. So as I picked up some of the simpler recipes from the cookbooks, my eyes tend to gravitate towards the sauces preparation steps. I somehow perk up when it comes to making my own sauce.

Since I was making fish these few days, the first I tried was a vinaigrette. I never figured vinaigrette was this easy to make. 4 parts olive oil, 1 part white wine vinegar. Hmm it's that easy? Add in mustard, fried onions, chopped spring onions and whatnot to layer a further favour. Wow ... now I have a good sauce for fish!

Shredded Pork Shoulder with Garlic Bread and Cherry Tomatoes

Meimei had marinated the pork over night with lots of spices. Fabulous afternoon snack. Guilty pleasure!

Pan-Fried Red Snapper in Vinaigrette Dressing, White Button Mushrooms, Carrots and Potatoes

I made my first vinaigrette today. It really goes well with the fish. Now I know how easily it is for restaurants to make a sauce for fish.

My First Home Repair!

The contractor Uncle Lim was here yesterday to look at the touch-ups we wanted done before CNY. He advised to get a wrench that had teeth to open the cap. He didn't sound keen to open it himself, said it would leave scratch marks ... i.e. he doesn't want to be responsible for replacing the tap if we become nasty and blame the scratches on him. Understandable, I would have done the same if I was in his place.

So I went to the hardware store today and got the most mean and tough looking wrench. Wala, the cap came off on the first try, yeah!! After that the valve came out pretty easily and I was done in 5 minutes. Woot! I will chalked this up as my very first repair job. 

It may look simple to most people but it's a milestone for me. I've never been a hands-on person. So to be able to find the valve and change it myself was a small accomplishment. Hopefully this can spur me to do more simple touch-ups myself.

Oven Baked Pork Shoulder with New Potato and Tomato

Over cooked the pork, turned out tough and dry ... will remember to watch the time on the meats. But still as tasty, though the picture doesn't do it justice.

Teriyaki Cod Fish on Bed of New Potatoes, with Portobello Mushrooms and Imperial Batavia Lettuce

Casual lunch, cod fish was for the weekend but we were busy. Better cook it than let it go bad in the fridge.

Say Cheese You Lousy Drivers!

I can't say it enough that I should have installed a car camera long time ago. It's been 'on my mind' since the big accident but somehow as time goes and the scars heal I set it aside. It costs a few hundred, the workshop to install is of unknown creditability, fear of being conned etc. It went into the abyss of my memory bank till ... the recent Injustice On Wheels. That spurred me to immediately re-look at the camera e-flyer Meimei had sent ages ago.

So today I went straight to the workshop after sending Meimei to office. $400+ is quite a hole in the pocket for just a camera but priceless for a peace of mind. Meimei was elated that we got it. So smile you idiotic drivers, pose for the camera!