Carnivore

Means meat-eater. Which is also a name for a restaurant located in a hip Dempsey area in Singapore. Guess what they specialise in at the restaurant.

Yeap, meat. Juicy barbequed meats in skewers, cut up and served to you by servers who thankfully know how to handle big knives. All you need to do is nod and they will happily fill your plate with slices and chunks. And if at any point you feel sick from chewing succulent animal protein, there is a self-serve salad bar with a nice selection to clean your palate for a second round of meat if you are game (hunger-inducing pun unintended).

No doubt a meat-lovers haven. And if you think that there can only be so many types of bbq meat, you cannot be more wrong. We counted at least ten different types before we are too stuffed to bother anymore. Ham, beef, chicken thighs, bacon-wrapped chicken breast, fish, sausage. Drooling even as I type.

The ambience in Carnivore Dempsey was good. Nice, quiet and cooling on a Thursday night, much thanks to a rainy day. The restaurant is spacious and mostly because to allow room for the servers to go around with their skewers of meat. The servers are attentive and friendly. Not fine-dining snobbish, but hawker friendly in a sincere way. 

While we enjoyed ourselves in this protein overload experience, the price can be a huge put off. At slightly over $70 nett per pax, its really pricey for average diners. But if you haven't tried Churrasco Brazilian style, don't miss Carnivore and its 1-for-1 special deal.

4 out of 5.

World War Z

The motion picture which stars Brad Pitt opened last week in Singapore to not much fanfare, other than promotional trailers and posters. But its Brad Pitt and with so much reputation, it should do fairly well in terms of box office, regardless of the reviews.

Honestly, I was not too blown away and its not because its about battling the-by-now-boring-theme, zombies. The idea of an Undead Apocalypse has gained traction the last few years and with so many movies a year on vamps, ghouls and zombies, you would think its getting old and probably won't generate interests. But throw in Brad Pitt, the movie becomes 4 stars cool. His shouldered-length uncombed locks and his unshaven face will get that final star.

Sure, it was fun watching the protagonist defending himself and his family heroically against hordes of undead. It was exciting to see him escaping a what would seem like a hopeless situation. I swear people around us wanted to cheer when he managed to prove that his idea worked against the zombies.

However that's about it. Its a fairly exciting movie where a guy left his family to save the world. And while some parts showed his vulnerability, reminding us that he is still human, there are also parts where his heroism was oozing so much that we wish we were like him.

For me, the movie just reminded me of how much fun I had with the Half-Life video game franchise. Thank you, Brad Pitt and Valve.

Food Court Haze

It was about 2pm in the afternoon. The food court was fairly crowded. There were tables available but most of them have used plates left by previous patrons.

A couple came in and made a beeline for a clean table. Now that they have a seat, the logical progression would probably be, "What to eat?". However, their chosen table was fairly far away from the stalls and definitely too far to read or even discern what the signs and pictures are saying.

So maybe now one of them will say, "You go see what you want and buy first lah. I jaga the table.".

Nope. Both of them stood near their table, blocking the walkway between the tables, squinting their eyes trying to make out if that bunch of blurry red is raw beef or just a chunk of chili. After about I would say 2 mins, I think they just gave up and proceeded to look around at other tables and see what other diners are having.

After another couple of minutes of turning hips to necks, they have finally decided to order. The man went while woman sat down and blank-stared into space. Remember, the food court was not too crowded. There were other tables albeit with uncleared plates.

There are a lot of different kinds of diners in the world. Those here in Singapore, seats are very important. Maybe because of years of overcrowding at food centres during lunchtimes. We are famous for reserving seats with packets of tissues, umbrellas or whatever we have with us and do not mind losing.

We can also stare at a sign of a stall for few minutes before deciding that "Nah. I don't take chili.". We can stand in front of a mall directory, whose eateries list is longer this post and still won't know what to eat. We are spoilt for choices.

I am not trying to laugh at anyone's gastronomic habits and concerns. I guess I am at point in life where observing people is more enjoyable than chewing on my favourite pan-fried dumplings.

Bali

More than 10 years ago, Bali, the island province of Indonesia was rocked by a terror attack. It took more than 200 lives, not counting collateral damages. But that did not stop people from flocking back to the island to look for excellent scuba-diving and even better food. I did just that over the Vesak Day holiday (observed by Singapore).

From huge wreck sites like Liberty Wreck and the nearby Drop Off, to the Gili Tepekong and Manta Point, Bali has lots to offer for all avid divers wanting to experience a very vibant and unique marine fauna. Mola mola and manta rays can be seen almost all year round, depending on your luck and/or perhaps how convincingly you can describe your encounters.

The scuba industry in Bali is growing. At the airport, you can see stacks and stacks of brochures most of them from offering free try outs for curious newbies, to perks like free nitrox to the more experienced. Your only problem is deciding which one to go with.

Even if you are not interested in diving, there are lots to do in Bali. The streets are lined with spas offering all sorts of treatment you can imagine. Cream baths, hair treatments, mani-pedis and other stuffs which I shall not be too obvious about here. All these for half of what you would pay in Singapore.

With so many tourists from all over the world coming to Bali, you can find all sorts of cuisine in Bali. Some may not be as common like french or chinese, but if you look hard enough you can get at least the <insert country name>-Bali fusion. Some of them prepared by actual chefs from <same country name as before>. Bakso, sate, keriting, KFC, Texas Chicken and of course the very familiar McDonald's, food is definitely not a problem.

Nice food and fun activities for really affordable prices separated by a 2.5 hour flight, I will be back!

In 10 days or so

I will be in Bali, gliding about underwater with the marine fauna, and adding some colour to my pasty asian skin!

Chewing Exercise

For as long as I can remember, I eat as though I don't have teeth. I don't chew my food, almost at all. I can finish a bowl of porridge like I finish a cup of water. In summary, I swallow my food and I eat very fast. Too fast.

Recently, we visited a nearby TCM doctor for some aches and pains. The general diagnosis unsurprisingly is, we are unhealthy. Just by looking at our tongues and taking our pulses, the doctor could quite definitively say that we need to chew more and eat slow.

So after that session, I have been chewing my food more and swallowing mashes rather than chunks, consciously thinking that I am doing the right thing, and my digestive system will reward me with good general health in the long run.

Honestly, I don't feel much different yet and I feel "frustrated" already not being able to swallow that delicious chicken chunk immediately, like I always do. But for the sake of good habit and eventually better health, I will persevere.

Maybe I should machine grind my food and drink them instead?

Bumper Stickers

You can tell a lot about a person from his/her car. Japanese or European car? What colour? How much that car cost? Of course it may be ways off from your first impression and subsequent analysis, but you can probably make an intelligent guess and you will probably be 70% right. 

People do a lot for their rides. Some wash and clean their cars every single day. Some decorate their cars with so many plush toys that they look like a mobile toy shop. There are people who plainly make it known what sports team they are fans of. Some have decals and stickers all over their cars that you wonder if they are actually able to see out their windshields.

Their favourite radio stations. The tertiary education institution they attended. Crappy one liners which are suppose to be funny or make a point. "If you can read this, you are too ****ing close!". If you feel you need to put things like these up, you might be driving too ****ing slow.

I drive a black Honda Jazz. I chose this car because 1) it was reasonably priced, 2) easy to drive and 3) has good fuel-consumption. And black because black sucks the least out of all other colours available for this car. And it won't stand out like Ferrari Red or lemony yellow.

I don't put any labels or decals up other than the Road Tax and HDB parking discs. The car is for transportation purposes. Not for naps, meal breaks, entertainment nor as one popular TV show has put it, coitus. 

I don't have plush toys and/or cushions. I don't like to tell people what sports team I root for or what radio stations I tune in to. I attended several schools and all of which don't give out stickers/decals for reasonable prices. $10 for Times New Romans in Bold?!? You gotta be kidding my windshields.

I drive, "free". But maybe a little too "free".

Although decorations like these may be pointless and in some cases, vision-impairing, they do commit the owner/driver to behave accordingly especially on the roads.

Imagine a sweet old lady driving a small pastel-coloured car with a decal that says, "Jesus saves!". Cut her lane and next you will hear incessant honking and from your rear-view, multiple high-beams and a hand gesture which will definitely not be a thumbs up.

Even if you don't own a car, you are not exempted from similar judgements. You are what you wear. Ring = Married. Cross = Christian. Flashy = Attention-seeking. And you can't hide behind your clothes like you can in the car, unless you wear a hood.

Coming back to the car, my point is one better behaves as one like to portray him/herself to others. Stop driving like your dad's name is Thomson. Or worse, PIE.

Driving Me Nuts

About a year and a half ago, I was involved in an accident. To cut the story short, I was making a right turn and the other party zoomed down from the other side to decorate the front left of the car I was driving. It was also the first time I experienced the deployment of the air bag, but was also disappointing because it didn't fully inflate. Good thing my life didn't depend on it. 

That incident was a blemish in my driving confidence. It made me question my ability in driving. And for the next couple of weeks from then, I drove like old ladies who probably wore very thick heels to reach the pedals. I was paranoid. Of course that recovered quickly enough for me to make trips to as far as Legoland in Malaysia. But it was always something that hung in the air. There were no closure for awhile and hardy looked like it is going to soon.

Then today, I was informed by the lawyer's firm that TP has charged the other party for dangerous driving and we are awarded 80% of the claims. Not only its a closure on something that has been hanging too long for comfort, I am technically cleared and it is a huge relief for my insurance renewal. I should feel relief and happy.

But I am not.

At the first instance of hearing the news, I was very surprised that I am now on the plaintiff side, and even a little sad. I feel for the other party. Old guy who, if I didn't remember wrongly, went to his usual lunch place to have his usual delicious <insert name of food> (I think it was some noodles). And he was on his way home. He must have driven on that stretch of road a thousand times.

In my heart, I honestly hope this will be swift and that all the workshops and lawyers will have gotten their "deserved" share from this incident. For me, I just pray that the other party is still alive and enjoying his favourite neighbourhood food. And I won't need to wear shoes with thick heels just yet.

Drive safe.

The Rolling My Eyes White Post

I don't care if you think iPhone is way better than Android phones. I don't care if you think Android phones have better apps than those in any other app stores. I don't need real-time weather updates like your new Nokia can do (I can open the windows and look out by the way). 

I don't care if your phone is so old that the museums won't even want them. I don't care if your phone is so expensive that the phone cover needs another cover for it.

Can make calls? Can text? Good enough.

If I hear another first world problem and I will roll my eyes dead.

"My car just stalled in the carpark, and I can't work out at the gym anymore!".

Sim Lim Square

I haven't been to Sim Lim Square since quite a long time ago. Maybe more than a year even. That is long for someone who use to go there at least twice a week, just to get acquainted with the shops and/or window shop. I decided to pop in today to doll up my new laptop. 

The place have changed a bit since the last time I was there. For one there are a lot more laptop repair shops lining the "backrow". You know you are there when you see junkyard heaps of laptop parts all over the shop spaces and lining the floors. The usual indian proprietors who came in the early 2000s are still there but now with more PRC as sales and tech people. There are also more shops selling used PCs and electronic parts. A sign of prosperity in Singapore. Or more like "I am sick of this 3 month old gadget now. I want that new model."

The usual PRC sales girls selling Chinese gadgets are also still around. And I saw more males hitting on these sales girls. How do I know they are flirting with these girls? Their body language and facial expressions betrayed them. I for one don't believe they will be able to read enough chinese to use the gadgets they are pretending to buy.

I also heard some shouting all the way at the ground floor. From the top (I was at 4th), it looked like a PRC couple, probably tourists shouting at a shop owner. I guess Sim Lim Square has become like the infamous Lucky Plaza. The notices at every lift landing from CASE listing down the shops that received complaints, said it all.

After slightly less than an hour and $54 poorer, I went off with a reasonably protected laptop (cover sticker, keyboard cover and screen protector). What a fun trip!

To Err Is Human

to admit them takes courage. Lots and lots of courage.

Harder Than I Thought

I don't really use it that often since I already have a desktop PC for most of my work and entertainment needs. But it is clean, fast and stable. Good for programming and related development work.

Couple of days ago, got myself a new windows laptop (Samsung NP530) so my old macbook white has to go.

This macbook was bought on a whim. I wanted to develop some apps for iOS and needed a MacOS to do it. I never got down to it (thanks to procrastination). But it did serve us well. It was used as a skype machine for overseas friends, a DVD player before bedtime, a stable PC for web developing and, it was an indoor entertainment machine when we are on vacation and it was raining outside.

And today, it was sold to the highest "bidder" for $300. The room feels empty without it.

But we are going to get some nice dinner with that $300!

Hello!

My much neglected blog! Juggling between eating, sleeping, exercising, reading, working, designing some online system and learning about Responsive Web Design for that system have not been easy.

So many things to write about and no time to do it.

To love at all is to be vulnerable

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

CNY Munchies!

Shiny yellow pineapple paste sitting on cookies baked to browny perfection, stacked on top of each other in a transparent rounded plastic container with a Ferrari red lid.

It is the Chinese New Year season! And like previous years, our dining table is piled with festive goodies. At noon today, I came back home hungry and did not buy any lunch. I thought maybe I will just eat the goodies to save money. Heck my resolution of losing more weight.

With my tummy growling and my salivating mouth hanging like a tired dog on a hot day, I reached for a container of pineapple tarts.

The person who sealed this container must have had rolls of scotch tape and was not afraid to use them. There must have been 3 layers of it. After feeling my way for, I swear like eternity for the tape end, I finally started peeling it with my freshly cut nails.

First peel yielded about 5 cm before it tore in the middle. Subsequent 5-6 peels were the same. "For the love of God and my growling tummy, please use better quality tapes that will come off in a single peel!!", my mind yelled.

Finally after 2-3 mins of wrestling with filmsy tapes, I finally got to the first piece of that deliciously looking tart. After swallowing 2 pieces, I decided to close the container and eat mandarin oranges instead.

They are not as nice as they look, and the price it was tagged.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Now Reading: The Relationship Principles of Jesus

By Tom Holladay. Online info from publisher here.

Picked up this book from the bookstore set up at church on Sunday. Hopefully this will inspire me to have better relationships with people around me. Book review in 2 months' time!

Tapioca Chips

I woke up today feeling awesome about myself, and about my plans for the day. I have several to-dos which I listed the night before and very confident and determined to complete them before the Thursday sun sets into the nice cool night, setting the mood for a greatly anticipated relaxing weekend.

ALAS!! No wait. I meant, WAH LAU EH!! It was not meant to be. (Who the heck uses "Alas" nowadays anyway.) Customer service obligations would send me zipping across island highways from Woodlands to Hougang to Katong and back to Hougang. Add quirky weather of sunshiney drizzles, and heavy traffic at some stretches of the road, the driving left mental skidmarks in my already frustrated mind. Only some TLC like sniping someone's head off in a game of Counterstrike would help.

But, because I went to Woodlands, I drove past the Old Chang Kee factory which is now selling my favourite festive snack, tapioca chips. In original, tomato, sambal and of course curry flavour. Because I went to Katong, I saw several new restaurants and cafes which will be a perfect weekend outing for me and the wife.

Sometimes life throws a wrench into your plans. Other times, procrastination will do it. It is now 7pm and my list is only a quarter completed. That is because I am too busy eating the chips, and typing up this post.

I need an upsized dose of caffeine, to plough through the remainder of the list.

DISC

About 15 years ago, I took the DISC test for the first time and was convinced that I was a SC personality. In short I was a structured person who didn't like risks.

I retook the test recently (NOT the same exact test with the same questions) and found out I am now more DC. The same structured person but this time with some dominance.

I embrace change. I hate corny silly one-liners like "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail" but I totally agree with "the only constant in the world is change". I don't hate this one as much.

But to go from S to D in 15 years is almost like going for an ah gua surgery where you still keep original parts but you add more stuffs to satisfy all worlds. I still remember how it was like 15-20 years ago. I definitely know how I am right now.

The wife said maybe I WAS a DC person already. Just that I behaved more S "outside of home" and/or now that my english has improved since 15 years ago, I understand the questions better and/or, know myself better.

Perhaps.

On a related note, I took a colour personality test too and I am declared a Red, which basically means D if translated on the DISC scale. I wished I was a green really coz that is my favourite colour and also very trendy what with green initiatives all over the world. Global warming is real.

Personality tests can be fun. It is a bit like opening an ang bao. You know there is money inside, just don't know how much. It is sort of getting an identity. But being defined like this can be dangerous too. What if I really am a DC by nature who thought I was an SC and so convinced that live my life out going against part of my nature? I will feel confusingly unhappy thinking, "I don't like what I am doing but I know this is how God made me. So I will suck it up and just do it like the shoe ad says." (yeah, Nike commercials were really hot 15 years ago.).

I wonder what I will be 15 years from now. DI for Delusional Idiot?

Miserable Movie Experience

Cathay Cineplex in The Cathay has always been a favourite place for me to watch movies. Not because of the location (In fact I wish they were nearer to me in Toh Yi) but because of the comfy seats. It is more comfy than any other cinemas I have been to in Singapore. Of course nothing beats home because at home, I can remove my shoes and/or shirt. Or even shorts if I so fancy (don't worry this post won't get more 50 shades of grey than that).

Recently, we decided to try out the Platinum Movie Suites, the Gold-Class equivalent of Golden Village. And it was FANTASTIC.

Right from the exclusive club looking entrance, to the modern classy deco at the lounge, the setup just makes you feel the ticket is worth the 400% extra. We were thoroughly impressed. And for people like me who watches movie at home half-naked, I was glad I wasn't too underdressed (I was in my Sunday best).

The experience offer not only motorized control for the desired recline on that classy leather seat, but also butler service which will serve you your favourite movie snack, while your eyes focus on the action going on on the silver screen. All at the price of the food of course. But at $10 for a tasty burger, and $5 for a nice cup of coffee, its well worth the epicurean experience.

I must say that the whole experience was really good and memorable and we are already planning to go again. Soon.

Oh yes, we watched Les Misérables (wiki). I was really hoping for a dance off between the Gladiator and Wolverine. Ten out of Ten.

Thankful

Today, I went on my routine rounds on the road. One of my stops is at this bus and comfort taxi depot along Braddell Road. The boss of the canteen is a nice man who always try to talk to me if he has time. Nothing different today except when I arrive, he was out in his van and he was trying to shift his van to allow a new wrecked car to be towed in.

Curious, I asked what was going on. He began to explain that this incoming wreckage which crashed earlier the day is going to be here 'permanently'. 

"Permanently?". 

"The driver of this car died in the crash."

He continued to say that its nothing new actually as he pointed to some of the other wreckages further back. Drivers of some of those cars died in their respective accidents too.

There I was standing in front of this relatively new looking despite the awful dents and cracks, car whose owner less than 12 hours ago, was alive and probably grumbling about Mondays. His now lifeless form is probably somewhere surrounded by crying loved ones. His spirit may now be somewhere waiting for judgment. Maybe even still recovering from the fact that he will no longer enjoy the earthly pleasures, like love, beer and apple products.

Maybe he was right next to me when I was standing in front of his car. Or even sitting beside me while I am typing out this post.

<Cue chills>

Earlier last week, news of a young mother died from internal injuries, leaving behind 3 young children and their dad. People who know them were shocked by the news as she was in her early 30s and seems healthy. She wasn't sick or even showing signs of sickness. Things just happened for that family. And they were not believers. 

Some divine being doing human population control? Cosmic accident that happens by chance? 

All of us live out most of our days taking life for granted. I do. The first words out of my mouth some days are "Hey! Drive properly lah you *********er ***hole." Other days, "Hey wake up! Time to go to work!". Never "Morning God. Thank You for another wonderful day!"

Evening God. Thank You for another wonderful day!