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Archive for March, 2008

S.J.C. Kbox outing

Finally, we had our S.J.C Karaoke outing at Jurong East Kbox yesterday. Looking through my archives in this blog, the last time we went kbox together was last year february. This is soo soo long, please. I’m really very touched and happy to see three of us together again and of course, SING together! Karaoke will be soo soo boring without this 2 char bohs. Claris is my best singing partner, and Sher is our best fan and supporter. Got to know 2 more friends(Shao Ming and Yi Feng) for this kbox outing. They are Mel’s (Claris’s bf) friends. Hmmx.. it was a bit weird to go sing with strangers, somemore with people of the opposite gender. Luckily, they were enthusiastic and spontaneous, which really makes us enjoy the whole kbox session high-ING aroung. Yeah.. found 2 more singing kakis.

From Claris’s blog:

yesterday finally!! met up with my charbos…went kbox at jurong east together with yf and shao..and so…when charbos get together..we talk and talk and talk…it has been damn long ever since we had gathering…we should have more often…and next time MUST take pictures!! yesterday forgotten to take… =X

Ya! How could we miss out taking photos leh?? Ok, ok. Let’s go kbox again this coming weekend? WOOHOO..THE FEVER IS ON! And for the next time, it must be only 3 of us so that we can do recording, yeah?

Currently in my Singing Kakis Club list got Claris, Sher, Collin and Jacky. Cant wait to go for karaoke session with Collin and Jacky. *planning* They sing really very well. Dueting with them really makes you feel comfortable. Of all the guys I know, both of them sing really very well.

We took turns and sang from 2 – 7pm. This is really never enough. How I wish I can just sing until 10pm. After kbox, we went Westmall for dinner when Mel joined us again. We shared about our stories and Mel shared with us the University life. After dinner, SW and I walked to the bus stop to wait for our buses. Really “fainted” while waiting for the bus. We waited for the bus for so so long as if it broke down somewhere. Somemore, I felt a bit awkward with SM, and kept thinking of a topic to chat with him.

Today, went service with Sher. Then had lunch at Holland V. Shopping fever was on and the whole afternoon, we went window shopping. One thing is also to find a bag for myself. My current bag is rotting as the handle is gonna tear soon. Eyed a very nice bag.. but it was so expensive. $80 ok? Of course I didnt buy it but that bag was really nice.  

This week’s reflection

Sometimes, I’m keep thinking of what kind of life I want. Do I really want my life to be occupied every minute, every second? Or do I need a break to have my own quiet time? My purpose of life is to enjoy what I am doing everyday, picking up new skills, growing maturely in my thinking. There’s a lot of things I want to do, but I dont have time to do it.

I really hate the life I’m living now. Oh please, can the time just stop for me? I’m going breathless soon. 

Botak Jones – Damn Good Food At A Damn Good Price

Believe me, like what its slogan reads, Damn Good Food At A Damn Good Price.

Botak John..Botak John.. I have been hearing this name from my dad, but did not have chance to go there. Finally, the whole family decided to go there for our dinner since it was a public holiday. Then I realised that it is Botak Jones, not Botak John. Botak Jones has franchises around the heartlands, which makes food and service to be available on daily basis.

The menu is not like what you usually see at full-service restaurants. Do not expect a nicely-binded and nicely-decorated menu with pictures of the food. It’s a lil cheapo as the menu is just a sheaf of photocopied colored papers attached together.

Then, we ordered Fish and Chips, and Caijun Chicken. Personally, I do not like to eat Fish and Chips. I may throw up after eating it. I really do not know the reason.. Perhaps is because it is fried fish?

Fish and ChipsS$5.50Ratings:
Another thing you must try is their 2nd best meal – Caijun chicken.

Caijun ChickenBeware! It’s spicy. S$ 6.50The grilled chicken, well-seasoned with Caijun spices and topped with melted cheese and Caijun sauce. Though they use breast meat of the chicken, it was dealt in a way that it is not tough or powdery. The set comes with fries and coleslaw, with tomato and salad. Ratings:
The price overall is reasonable and affordable. Remember to reach there early in order to avoid disappointment.

eXperience Change

eXperience a change at simplyjas.com

Finally,I can sit down the whole day in front of my computer and finish up my web designing. Do take a look at what I’ve prepared at http://simplyjas.com It is already 80% done. I’m left with my medialog and my karaoke studio.

Cause I’ve been so busy with work until I’m getting no life and no life-er. I find that my work is taking me a lot of time, due to lack of resources and manpower in my department.

Yesterday, supposed to have karaoke session with my church friends. But in the end, it was cancelled. It was quite disappointing as I was really in a high spirit, ready to go sing. S.J.C., let’s go kbox can?

Qun Zhong Eating House (Jin Hua Xiao Chi)

Yes.. another food entry again. Hope you’ve been enjoying all the food posts I have here in my blog. I really took pains to get the photos taken, or source it from the search engines. Got the food reviews from bloggers and make a conclusion about the food.

This entry, we will be talking about Qun Zhong Eating House, also known as Jin Hua Xiao Chi. Last week, I went to this Chinese eating house with my colleagues after work. It was a 10 minutes walk from our office. To be exact, this Shanghainese Eatery is a 5 minutes walk from Maxwell market. It is located at 21 Neil Road amongst the quiet row of shop houses. The place is a bit small and cramp. During lunch time and after 6pm, we will see a lot of people queueing outside. And you could wait for the seat up till 8:30pm just to get your seat.

There are total of 12 dishes in the menu, and the price of each dish is really very reasonable. I did not take the photos of the dishes because the boss gives me a very unfriendly feeling. (But no worries, I managed to find them on the web. Special thanks to Steelwool for the photos)And guess what? My intuition is true. I read a lot of comments from Netizens about the boss attitude. The boss will only let you in to the restaurant when everyone is there. Online Food commentors showed a red flag and said that they will not come back again.

Whatever their comments, the food is good even though it may provide the bad service and attitude at times.

Photo Credit: Steelwool @ flickr
Red Bean Paste Pancake
Price: S$9.00
Ratings:
This is really heavenly. You must try it when the plate comes to you. Eat it while it is hot. The crispiness of the skin and the nice red bean paste. Really made me to have another one..and another one.

Photo Credit: Steelwool @ flickr
Guo Tie
Ratings:
It just taste the same like what we get outside. Nothing special.

Photo Credit: Steelwool @ flickr
Xiao Long Bao
Price: 7 XLB for S$7 (per basket)
Ratings:
This is really great. You must be really skilled to take it to your spoon without the skin tearing off. The skin is thin and the fillings are heavy. Provided, there’s a lot of juice in the Xiao Long Bao. It’s juicy!

Photo Credit: Steelwool @ flickr
Glutinous Rice Ball – Tang Yuan
Price: 6 Glutinous Rice Ball for S$3 (per basket)
Ratings:
It’s full of surprises as you do not know the flavour of the tang yuan that you are getting. In a bowl, there has 6 tang yuan with different flavours like black sesame or red bean. Apart from the Tang Yuan, the soup of the tang yuan has different tastes. You can have Rose or Osmanthus syrup. Personally, I dont really like the rose flavour as it is too strong for me.

Photo Credit: Steelwool @ flickr
Stuff Meat Pancake
Price: S$9.00
Ratings:
I’m not very sure how this Stuff Meat Pancake is related to Guo Tie because they somehow taste the same.For all these we eat, it costs me only S$13! And I’m so contented and happy that I had great food. I really dont mind going there again for my Red Bean Paste Pancake!!!!

I got a freeze brain @ Amara Shopping Complex

Ooh… I’m getting a freeze brain because of Yummy Desserts.

A great place to recommend for people working in CBD Area. Yummy Desserts is located in Amara Hotel Food Court. You would really like it especially after a walk from your office to Amara Hotel. Yummy Desserts provide you fruity slushies such as watermelon, papaya, honeydew, strawberry, kiwi, avocado and mango. No preservatives added. What you get is really fresh fruits. You can get a cup at the least $2.80.

Honeydew and Aloe Vera
Photo Credit: hungrygowhere.com

Mango and Coconut freeze
Photo Credit: hungrygowhere.com

The fruit freezes is not what you get from those fruit juice stall outside. The drinks are very special. It is really a fruit + juice. You can have your juice, and also at the same time, get to eat the fruits.

Ratings: It is more than fruit juice.
Mango is not totally blended into juice, making it to be less watery. Watermelon and melon were rolled up into a ball and added on top of the juice. I like the idea of getting cute little tadpole jelly and sago balls in the drink. To me, I can say that this is an interesting drink.

Mango and Melon Juice

 

Drinking of distilled water

Many people argue for and against drinking of distilled water. So, is drinking of distilled water good or bad for our health?

Here, is a mini research I did when surfing informations in the net. (If you see this, it is the counter agrument of the statement in black. )

IT IS BAD!
Drinking distilled water is unhealthy.

Distilled water does not contains oxygen. (Pure water, H2O, contains two molecules of hydrogen and one molecule of oxygen. If distilled water does not contain oxygen, water will not exist as water. It would be simply two molecules of hydrogen.)

Distilled water dissolves the useful minerals in your body. It gets acidified after absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. The more purified water a person drinks, the higher the body acidity becomes. (Drinking something acidic will not cause the body to be acidic. Rest assured that by having minerals with other alkaline food can help to alkalize the body and bring balance.)

(According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)When you drink distilled water, it will “extract” minerals – sodium, potassium, chloride and trace minerals like magnesium, from your body and released out when you pee. Drinking distilled water once in a while is okay. Drinking it too often can affect your health. You will need to get mineral supplements to replenish the loss of minerals. Lack of minerals may cause heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure. Cooking foods in distilled water pulls the minerals out of them and lowers their nutrient value. (Cooking any food will lower its nutrients value especially when cooking and draining of water. Distilled water is not particularly more “leaching” than any other type of water. )

The more mineral loss, the greater the risk for osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and a long list of degenerative diseases generally associated with premature aging.

IT IS GOOD!
Distilled water is free of dissolved minerals. Because of this, it can absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them. Studies have shown that drinking distilled water can help one cleanse or detoxify the system for short periods of time.

One month ago, I conducted this survey and these are the questions I asked in the survey.

What water do you normally drink?
1) Distilled water
2) Tap water
3) Tap water (after boiling it)

Which type of water do you think is the safest?
1) Distilled water
2) Tap water
3) Tap water (after boiling it)

Do you think distilled water is bad for health?
1) Yes
2) No

And here is the results:

Qn 1: What water do you normally drink?

Qn 2: Which type of water do you think is the safest?

Qn 3: Do you think distilled water is bad for health?

From the survey, you can see that majority believes that distilled water is healthy. It also shows that very few people know that distilled water in unhealthy. One day, my cousin showed me a medical write-up about Cancer. Cancer cells are known to grow in an acidic environment.

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime.

3. When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

• a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour.
• b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.
• c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful,especially to people with cancer.
• e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine.Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells. and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level.

-Extracted from http://informativehealth.com/?cat=3

So, where’s your stand? Is distilled water good or bad? For me, prevention is better than cure. I shall drink less distilled water.

Dae Jang Keun D’Hote Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant

Last friday, went to Dae Jang Keun D’Hote Korean Charcoal BBQ Restuarant with my colleagues for lunch. I like the concept of the restaurant. It makes me more comfortable as we can have our own private tatami rooms. You can have your own privacy, and there will be waiter/waitress to serve you.

Canned drinks are selling at $5 each. It is much more expensive than what you get outside. If not, the restaurant serves you tea and you can also request for plain water.

Golden Spoon and Chopsticks.
Meals are eaten with a set of stainless steel chopsticks called jeotgarak and a long-handled shallow spoon called sutgarak. The two are together known as sujeo. I had a hard time using the chopsticks. Normally we use chopsticks that is round. But in Dae Jang Keun Restaurant, the chopsticks are flat. This means that it is more challenging to use them to take the food.

Then, we had Banchan (correct me if I’m wrong). Banchan refers to small side-dishes served along with cooked rice in Korean cuisine. It comes in varieties like Kimchi, Namul, Jorim, Jjim, Jeon. Kimchi is fermented vegetables, usually baechu, seasoned with chili peppers and salt. Namul is steamed, marinated, or stir-fried vegetables usually seasoned with sesame oil, salt, vinegar, minced garlic, chopped green onions, dried chili peppers, and soy sauce. Jorim is a dish simmered in a seasoned broth. Jjim is a steamed dish. Jeon denotes a variety of pan-fried dishes.

From the menu, the ones with a resonable price is their bento set and Bibimbap (mixed rice topped with vegetables, beef and egg, and served with a dollop of chili pepper paste) Then, you can stir them together before serving.

Sweet and Sour Chix Bento Set
I had this. The proportion is more than enough for me.
Ratings:

Black Pepper Beef Bento Set
Initially, I wanted to order this. But was afraid that I cannot take the spiciness. Luckily, I didnt. My colleagues had hard time eating as it was too spicy
Ratings:

Dessert
After our meals, we had this. Actually, we have no idea what is this.
Ratings:

Like the food? You can actually visit Dae Jang Keun at Shenton Way, Yess Leisure. I have a name card for this. If you want, I can show it for you. Or, do you want to cook Korean food yourself? This website offers you Korean Food Recipe. Read here. Enjoy!

Expectations

Living up to my parents’ expectation is tough. Just look at the environment I’m in and my family background. Instead of being the cream of the crop, I think I am the crop of the cream, and the thorn among the roses in my family.

I know I’m living for myself and I should lead the way I want it to be. I’m not living for him, I’m not living for her, I’m not living for them.. but I’m living for myself.

I tried to convince myself that I should not compare myself with others because my abilities and strengths can be others’ weaknesses. I tried to convince myself that it’s ok to get this results because I already gave my best. It was my every single bit of hardwork and put in whatever I can to get these grades. I tried to accept the words in the bible believe that no one will judge on me, and i will not be judged. (Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven) I find hard to stay joyful when I’m a very self-conscious person and really do care how people look at me. 

Just as I stepped forward to admit the grades I get, people started to give me that kind of pathetic look or even give me the hint that I CMI(cannot-make-it). I hate the feeling of rejection, when I cant get into the place I want. I dont want to be like a ball when people throw me around, not giving me acceptance. I dont want to face it again.

During sermon yesterday, I learned that “Bad days are inevitable. To feel bad, is a choice you have to make.” I was renewed by the Word and is learning that “Our Joy does not depend on circumstances“. When I tried to be brave, staying optimistic, I was K.O.  by the judgement from people, the comments and criticism from them.

Yesterday back home, I was hit by my mum’s word. I overheard her conversastion with my dad, and was really very disappointed how my parents look at me. To them, results is more important than my welfare. I didnt get word of encouragement from them, their support. But I got from them is their nagging.

It’s so tiring living in such environment…

Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined to me, and heard me cry. He also brought me up out a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust the Lord.

Marmalade Pantry

Welcome to the tai-tai world. If you are tai-tai, or a tai-tai wanna-be, the more you should read this blog entry. There’s one place I can recommend you, and it is known to be the tai-tai hangout spot. (guaranteed by SD Food Advisor)

Photo Credit: Robert A. Steiner

Introducing you, The Marmalade Pantry. …

Before I blog this entry, I went to a lot of websites/blogs to do a little research on The Marmalade Pantry. One of the many comments about The Marmalade Pantry is that it serves nice cupcakes. In Marmalade Pantry, there are 5 different types of cupcakes – Nutella Cupcake, Cloud nine Cupcake, Elvis Cupcale, Limonata Cupcake, Chocolate Deluxe Cupcake. The photos make me drool- especially the one posted in Dessert Comes First.

Because I was doing research about Marmalade Pantry, I caught Dessert Comes First by chance. The website really recommends good food, good pastries. And that the mouth- watery pictures that they post is of good resolution, and look delish!

From Left: Nutella Cupcakes, White Coconut cake with cream cheese, Lemon Cupcakes
Photo credit: Dessert comes first

From Left: White Coconut cake with cream cheese, Lemon Cupcakes, Nutella Cupcakes
Photo credit: Dessert comes first

By chance, I got to eat these delicacies.

Smoked Salmon rillettes with caviar on pumpernickel
The salmon is too salty. Dont really like the pumpernickel.
Ratings:

White chocolate panna cotta with raspberry coulis
Served in a short wine glass. It’s really yummie!
I like the raspberry coullis a lot!
Ratings:
Mini sticky date toffee puddings
Ratings:

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