Faith?

Faith is being sure of what we hope for, certain of what we do not see.

I think that sums up the question about faith.

Let's move on.

Over days of pondering, I realised that I can no longer rely on the 'favourites' to do the job and be the miracle plant. Singapore Soccer Team used to depend largely on 'Fandi Ahmad', Manchester United on 'Eric Cantona' and Liverpool on 'Ian Rush'. Goodness, where are they today? Oh, then I saw that we now have new players. These are the defenders of yester years whom I thought couldn't make it or didn't have the flare as much as the above mentioned. Boy I was wrong. Somehow, the manager of the team saw beyond what I did. Attribute that to experience, perhaps foresight. But I reckon it as a leader who is in control.

If I relied on my peers, then I would have died by now. I left my other childhood friend behind, Mr. Slim Ho. We went through nonsense, more nonsense and finally left each other alon... and we grew. I can't say that about myself as I look back into the memories of old and saw how I fashioned what was 'right' in the eyes of man (men). Haha, please do not read too much into this statement, I don't want to start a holy-msn-nick war.

But alas, the truth is out and I choose to want to know the truth. The truth hurts and it's true. If a peer went er and I have to speak it out, it will surely hurt yet it will bring healing if he responds well. What kind of Christianity have I been leading? Well, at least a 10cents coin for the last 8 years. I began to see that it's more than that. It's a 50cents coin.

I'm so glad because it's not too late. It still isn't and I'm not about to let go just because no one is running alongside me. I cannot look to myself because it has proven time and again that it doesn't work. It simply doesn't. Maybe for a while, and then back to square 1. Simply because if I do let go and give it all up, then I'm no different to those who didn't keep their promises. I made promises too. Peoples' errors do not determine my actions. Neither do I blame others for what I'm feeling. I'm no longer a kid. Neither am I some emo-kid that goes around pity-partying. I shouldn't be. Nobody should.

The truth is, there's so much more than just a tiny mountain before me. I have a purpose to fulfill and I'm heading in that direction. God willing, let me run til I cross the finishing line. Let me not dwell on negative thoughts lest I, too, fall trap to the enemy's plans.

Now, that's a real marathon that requires more than mere physical training. Move on, and keep running.

We can no longer run if we keep looking back.

Hanabi - ViVoCity!

Yes, I have been eating! Especially after meeting both 4A & 4B, my appetite improved :) You guys mean a bunch to me. Nah, you're not bananas... haha, just a big group of potential doctors, lawyers, politicians, designers, teachers, officers, etc. Yes, next up 700 students. Someday, 1000.

So here I am @Hanabi, Vivocity. Filling up the long table were my colleagues from the various departments and I was the ONLY odd one out. Nevermind, my foodie colleagues were there and boy did i settle down at the right table! I have got 2 other hungry ferocious stomachs.

Pardon me if I can't remember the food titles... I can only remember I almost knocked out towards the end, ate too much. What to do, a hungry Coach was there to eat.

(Bad photos due to a bad camera! Did injustice to the food. ROAR)





This is Beef with sesame sauce. Why didn't I try this the last time at BT??

Gosh, the Salmon salad got our palettes going.

Can't possibly miss this wonderful yummilicious SASHIMI!

Shishamo! Tried both the grilled and fried version. My take? Go for the grilled version please.

Grilled Mackeral - SHIOK. We have 15 portions of that.

Everything is nice in this little cup save for the mushroom embedded deep at the rocks.

Ohhh, this is one instant gratification. Cheese Tofu!

A MUST. Tempura. We have 30 portions for that. (opps!)

Mr. Ang, this is to remind you of our makan sessions coming up.


Udon with beancurd skin was a killer. It took up half the stomach space.

Grilled Salmon. My fav. :)


I wouldn't mind going back there again. You get to choose from 118 authentic Japanese dishes made on the spot for you! aHa, vivocity would be a better location given the scenary outside the restaurant along with the space they created compared to that at Bukit Timah.

Is there a must try? YES, but it's off the Ala Carte Buffet Menu. If you don't mind spending a little, go for the salmon skin. My goodness, it's life changing.

Ambience? Not too bad. You can go for the couple seats at the corner.
Price? Hahaha, you pay for what you eat.
A place for antennas to go up? Forget it... you know it never happens in places like that...nor in NIE. HAHA, opps, did I just step on some toes?

Gambette! Whatever it is, gambette!

Office Indulgence!

Muahahaha! It's BACK!

And I'm loving it. Can't wait to try the Banana Chocs from Meiji. It's possibly sweet but surely Lindt wins hands down.

Ah...here we go. Ulcers!





Met the students again, after 5 months. One said I kick-butt the class and the other went tearing as family situations come into the picture. If only chocs really make one happy. I know the One who can take these sorrow, fears and hurts away. But how?

2008

For Katie cutting was a way to deal with the emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother: "the scars that she caused were on the inside of me … when I began cutting, those scars she created in me came to the surface."

http://www.cpyu.org/Page.aspx?id=77237

A slightly more proper perspective

British statesman William Wilberforce once commented, "The objects of the present life fill the human eye with a false magnification because of their immediacy."

No wonder...when such 'immediacies' are not met, we panic.

I am glad that there are no emergencies in Heaven. My God sees all, knows all and has it all. In all these that I go through, I have Jesus.

TamPoPo on Youth Day!

Aha, finally found the time to upload this. Youth Day proved to be yet another holiday for the ones who are still in their secondary education. I was back at work and a meeting was held over lunch! Hungry was an understatement since I missed breakfast.

To cut the long story short, that led to a 'Lunch' treat (4pm) from my Team Leader! And so here we are... Tampopo at Liang Court. Boy am I glad to be back there for a meal. (shiok!)

I didn't want to go for the good old Soya Bean Based soup nor the Black Pig that I tried the last time. I thought I would try something atypical in the restaurant such as the "Fried Prawn and Chicken Cutlet Set". Well, at least I can say it is worth its price. Crispy on the outside, both the prawn and chicken cutlet tasted so good that I was almost quiet over the meal... too engrossed munching away.



Here's it!



Well, I would also recommend the "Black Pork Tonkotsu Ramen", something which Mr. Ang has been dying to taste. Soon la, soon. If I eat it, the pork must taste good.

It's surely not a place to bring someone for a treat unless you are willing to burst a hole in the pocket. Nonetheless, if an individual simply go for a dish or a set, you shouldn't go beyond the $50 mark. BUT, how can you resist the side dishes???? I shall not elaborate here nor post up the pictures but leave it to you for your own exploration. I loved the eggs, I am still in wonder of how they did it. Yummilicious! A good meal after a long day at work.

Ambience: not the best during meal times, it's noisy.

Pocket friendliness: No go for a budget man like me. Well, then again, once in a while...

Good to go!

(yes, the camera phone quality is baddddddd)

Mozart Chocs

Mozartkugeln Chocolates from Mirabell in Salzburg, are the most popular Mozart Chocolates in Austria.



At first glance, it didn't appeal much to this Asian young adult who was busy trying to install Active Sync in his brand new gift. After some reading up, I started to appreciate this delicately prepared cocoa ball. (ha!)

Mirabell is one of the oldest brands in Austria and by far the market leader in the domestic market Mozartkugel. Know what? It takes 14 steps in the production and approximately 2.5hrs just to get this fine piece of art outta the box. So... I guess I should learn to identify the process and finally reach an understanding of the effort put into the end product. My goodness, that's a lot of effort put into chocs. I can't imagine the amount of effort God put in to design this life I'm in. Actually, it might have been easy until the times when I took things in my own hands. That's when He gets really busy with me. Hahaha... what to do, it's the process..and I'm enjoying it.

Here's a look at its presentation:




Above: Elgin's humble lenses.

Below: Shot with a macro lense. That's the difference.

I still prefer the 85% cocoa bits. It doesn't fail saved for the ulcers.

This came as a surprise as my mom walked in and offered it. Maybe it's time to make a trip to Candy Empire :)

"$4.90 Instant Grill" Cookout session!

Well, cooking has gone a higher level with a pinch of creativity and hinging on that would be the crazy thought of BBQ-ing at the staircase!

This afternoon, we did away with the usual 'Courts Kopitiam' experience. Jac went for her weekly addiction: Teh Peng. Thereafter, it was the preparation for the great cook out, at the staircase.

To begin with, we actually had no idea where we wanted to do this. It was just the mere thought of BBQ that drove us to putting it all into action. So here we go!

Needs:
1. $4.90 Instant Grill with probably 3-4 matchsticks. Perhaps 1 box for the slightly more clown.
2. Stools
3. Brush
4. Paper plates w utensils
5. Chopsticks
6. Butter, Garlic, Onions
7. Good food you wanna eat
8. Camera

No smoke, only heat. It flames up for a good 15mins before dying down to mere heat, strong heat. It is akin to cooking/baking/grilling on hot rocks, just like the Koreans.

Ah, it's so goot that I'm going to do it again, this time with more friends. Perhaps over a cycling trip :)



We had very simply dishes.

Cauliflowers, baked with herbs and spices, topped with cheese. What kind of cheese? The type that melts under heat.



Prawns, surrounded by garlic and butter.



We had thinly sliced beef flavoured with strips of onions, Cheese Sausages with chopped onions short of the bun.

Here's it! :) SHIOK! (Oh, forgot to mentioned, alu foil was used)

Total time taken to cook: 35min, including start up

Price: Affordable la
Ambience: Smelly even without the smoke. That's because you need to prepare the garlic/onions and that's enough to sabotage if it's a date. (Eyebrows moving up and down)
Effort: worth it

WHAT?!!

WHAT?!! These advertisers are good... *gosh*

Pastry anyone?

Here's a jump start to pastry tasting! I reckoned it would be a budget foodie run for tasting. This was brought home by my dear Mom and sponsored by this uncle who began a pastry shop somewhere in Holland Drive. Here's where it is:



It's beside the XO fish soup place, beside the interchange. I have not personally gone there but might do so in the near future. Heard the items there are not local. BUT, how?? Pastries?? Imported?? Interesting, perhaps I could make a trip down and conduct some interrogations before carrying on with the free marketing!

So here we go!


The Blackforest cake.

Unlike the usual piece you find at the average bakery, this one uses real cherries instead of the canned ones. Rich in its texture and smooth in the mouth. The top layer of cream, however, was too thick for my liking despite what my Mom claimed as 'light'.

A closer look

The Tiramisu Cake. No go. Big time. This one must be a special order for some unique individual who does not go for the traditional Tiramisu that sets me going. In fact, I was rather disappointed to discover its almost weak associations in its layers. No-Go!

Ah, the Brownies. Dad said it was a 'Triple Choc' cake because there are 3 different types of chocolates in it. Mr. Ang found it chewy while I felt it was just thick enough for me. This particular dish can be accompanied with an ice-cream topped on it. Gosh, I would say it's lacking the nuts to complete the crunchiness of it.

Guess what, even Quiche has her own pastry to play with. Chewable bone. She loves it. She'll kill to bite it.

Ah, feels gd to chat over a simple dessert. If you ask me, I would recommend Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie located along Robertson Walk, if not as City Hall Raffles City basement. Next time, I'm gonna bring down a Macro lense for that meal. :)

Yawn

Pastries would be the theme for this coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Here comes my Indian Accent

Aha! Care for South Indian Food anyone?

If you recall, I have had a couple of posts on Chellas, Little India. However, this one beats Chellas hands down. I must say you pay for what you munch. I'm not sure if this is an 'Up-class' place but we were the only Chinese there then... haha, the others were ex-pats.

This quiet little restaurant is located at the basement of Tanglin Shopping Centre and it turned out to be pretty promising. Small in its space and could possibly house up to 25pax at most. You get to choose between buffet and ala carte. We went straight for the ala carte.

There was only a small selection but from the list comes a niche or rather, a twist in taste, texture and overall experience compared to the usual shop houses. I didn't really know what to order...safest choice would be Onion Rava Masala Dosa. The Crepe somewhat taste crispy and toasted to the right degree without making it overly dry. The onion, even Jacqueline agreed, was of a type apart from the ones we have in the NTUCs. It was served on a white porcelain plate and came across as something neat. I think my standard for Dosas just went up.

Jac went for the Onion and Chilli Uttappam. The last time I tried 'Uttappam', it left me feeling rather disappointed. This one basically rescued the reputation of 'Uttappam'! YUMMY! At an affordable price that goes below $10 for almost every item, it's a possible place to go for an sumptuous meal! (Oh, I forgot to add that you will carry the same fragrance as the shop later on)

Except for the walk you need to take just to get to that almost forsaken shopping mall, it's worth the while. The manager actually recommended particular restaurants to visit should you want to try authentic & delicious Indian Food. Interestingly, he wasn't very supportive that we get our tastes of Indian Food from Little India. Hmm...

Price? Affordable. Both of us had our fill for merely $25 at an established restaurant.
Ambience? None. I had a hard time trying to make out what the waitor was saying. Maybe only Jac can cipher his unique manner of word pronunciation.

gosh...I think I need a small camera, if not a decent camera phone better than this one I'm holding onto.