Toshiba Satellite L510-P432

Ric constant interest in computer IT bought me a new baby from the last day of November Sitex 2009 that ends today.

He had insisted his love baby (me!) should not lack behind in his enormous IT appetite. Him having all praises for the new Window 7 OS. Thus, i always benefited from his 'forcing' on me the latest IT product :)

Weighting just 2.03kg; my new glossy metallic Grey Laptop replaces my slower All-in-1 Acer Desktop PC.

Last Day Promotional Price (S$859)

Product Description
* Processor: Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core processor T4400 (2.2GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB) with Intel® 64 Architecture
* OS: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium
* Memory: 3GB DDR2 SDRAM
* 14.0" WXGA HD Clear SuperView LED Backlight TFT display (16:9)
* Graphics: Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M
* Hard disk drive: 320GB (SATA) with shock absorbers HDD
* CD-ROM drive: DVD SuperMulti Double Layer Drive (DVD ± RW/RAM)
* Bluetooth V2.1 w/Enhanced Data Rate
* Camera: Built in Web Camera with SmartFaceTM Technology
* Battery: 6-Cell Lithium Ion

Product Specification speaks little for itself until you actually uses it. I was totally blown away at its fast response speed and the smooth operating Window 7 OS.

My routine tasks (Pics edit, media files transfer) finished much faster than usual, leaving me lingering by my sleek beauty, wanting to do more!

Ah Ho Teochew Fishball Noodle

Its location near busy Mustafa Centre makes it near impossible to revisit Ah Ho till today. With Mom in hand. As with many Singapore hawker stalls owners, their stalls had been passed on to their younger generation.

潮州鱼圆面 ($3)

Taste wise, there's certainly a difference your taste buds can tell. The new generation had opted for a lighter hand on the seasoning sauce. But comfortingly, freshness of all its ingredients is maintained.

The crispiness of their tasty 扁鱼乾 (Dried Flounder) left much yearning for.

And it's heartening to see that the old hawker parents are still around to help out. Try visiting them if you are in the vicinity.

They still won me over with their very unique Chilli sauce mix with fried Garlic bits. Hmm... I shall just request for 'more Chili' to solve the taste difference.

Rangoon Rd with Mom

It's been a year since we last visited Ng Ah Sio, 黄亚细肉骨茶. How time flies!

Were here with Mom today as promised, for a taste of Singapore renowned Bak Kut Teh soup, as compared to her home cooked ones.

Pig Liver & Kidney Soup ($5.5+), You-Tiao ($2+)

Pork Ribs Soup ($5.5+), Pig's Trotter ($8+), Mushroom ($5+)

A little pricey but the meal does taste good.

Especially with Mom enjoying it much; ordering her 2nd helping of rice :) Yeah, we could well be here again soon.

We enjoy nourishing her and bringing her new food experience.

Pepper Mint Plant

Am trying to get a pot of Pepper Mint plant growing this morning, while waiting for Ric to pick us up for lunch before a shopping afternoon at the Singapore Expo.

Making a cut from Sister's Mint Plant and just poking it into the potting soil. Moisten it thoroughly after.

Read the usage we had of Mint here and here.

It's such a handy plant to have around the home; i pray i might succeed in today's implant. If i do, i shall post a pic here.

1 Litre no Namida, 一公升眼泪

We were 4 years late in watching the 11 episodes Japanese TV drama of "Ichi rittoru no Namida" 2005, 1 Litre of Tears, also called A Diary with Tears.

A real life story that tells a 15 yrs old girl diagnosed with an incurable degenerative disease (Spinocerebellar ataxia), but had courageously continue her life until her death at age 25.

The Drama is not the teary Korean type love story.

It is heart-warming and touching, cheering people for the simple fact they are alive, and giving hope to those who suffers from diseases, making them think positive about living and not giving up easily.

Below are 2 of my favorite theme songs from the serial that were beautifully emotional.

Sangatsu Kokonoka (9th March)

Another, also by Group Remioromen , titled Konayuki 粉雪.

I wish, we have health.
Else, at least the courage and love to live it through.

Say love, while you can.
Embrace life.

Sembawang Music, lastly

Our last consignment of CDs today from Sembawang last store in Plaza Singapura.

It was fun; more like a treasure hunting in the mess of vaguely categorize CD titles. With no testing of the CDs available, landing on some value buy depend much on your gut feeling and luck.

The Pink colored "Musica para bebes" series was a CHEAT that impresses with titles of Concerto and Movements from Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky but was all of plain Music box like sound; at a hefty tag of $7.50 :(

Jacky Cheung CD was a STEAL at $1.25 only!

So, a cheat cum a steal. It sort of even off.
Do see the last of Sembawang Music Centre this Sunday.

Thank you for the Music, SMC...

美雅, Mei Ya Coffee Corner

What better way to round up a meal with Coffee or Dessert?

Does Kaya Butter Toast sounds like Dessert to you?
It does, to me :)

Economic Breakfast set ($2.20)

The luxury of having the Eggs cracked and served; save the trouble of us having to fumble with the scorching balls.

Only Asians have their Eggs half-boiled? If you haven't tried this, you should, definitely.

It's an out-of this-world feeling after adding condiments of Pepper and Black Soy sauce to the sticky Egg mix. Drink it up while hot. Mmmm... addictive.

At Mei Ling Food Centre, Ric surveyed more patrons for this Coffee stall (#02-37) that we ordered and we were indeed impressed with its thick, mildly bitter yet non sourish tasting Coffee.

Coffee powder also on sales at $12 per kg.
Anyone?

Mei Ling Street Wanton Noodle

Heard another stall at Mei Ling Food Centre that queues at lunch hour; gotten try.

Wanton Noodle ($2.20)

It's a tasty bowl of well-textured Wanton Noodle, with generous serving of Char Siew and green Vegetables; hot peppery Soup and Wanton Dumplings. At a near $2 pricing that's hard to come by these days.

Ric rated the Wanton Noodle as average though.
Your verdict, any?

Mei Ling Street Carrot Cake

Other than previously visited Phoenix Garden Carrot Cake that boasts of using 'Handmade' kueh, their neighbor at #02-41 is making the same claim.

Carrot Cake, Black ($2.50)

Though pricier than the $1.50 at Phoenix Garden, this stall serve a chunkier fried Carrot Cake pieces that pack its aroma in the bigger bite.

Less oily version too.

This stall is a morning operating stall only, the very minute i snapped this picture of its Signboard, the light went off sharply at 10:45am :)

So be early, it's worthy a try.

Canandian Pizza

The weather is finally turning chill, all day drizzling rain with freezing breezes. It's the typical Singapore year-end weather we love.

Ti's the time to grab a bottle, and hit the outdoor with a warmly toasted cheese Pizza...

Hawaiian Pizza 12" inch ($10)

We spent the night conversing at NTU campus, wine-ing lightly over a bottle of smooth Yellow Tail Shiraz and a hot Pizza.

While the sky cleared for the Saturday night...

Bonus Egg-in-a-Hole :)

Preparing a luxury version of the Egg-in-a-Hole toast for my parents... pity Ric tired up at work to join us.

This was Mom's bite. Drooling... drooling...

Drooled!
Mom loves this. So do I :)

The works were made up of simple assembly works.

After making the Egg-in-the-Hole toast, just topped up with Ham, Tomato and Lettuces. There you have it!

Simple, yet utterly satisfying!
This was our usual outdoor Breakfast Combo.

Make a Breakfast to pamper your loved ones!

Sembawang Music - Closing.

It fills me with remorse to read the closing down of Sembawang Music Centre...

Ten years may have passed since my last purchase of an Audio Compact Disc! My physical library of disc had been controlled at a lean 60 pcs in this MP3 era. With thousands, in soft copies.

MP3 music comes free, no bondage of any kind in monetary terms or shortage woes. Keeping the tracks you love and discarding the rest into the bin.

It was also thanks to MP3, making it possible reaching out to the wide range of world music; buying them all would be costly, thus restricting us only to our familiar few.
Even Audio Sound System these days supported the playing of MP3 conveniently.
This year however, i start appreciating the clear digital recordings in CDs that play beautifully on Hi-fi System instead of MP3 from the PC audio. Setting aside everything, sitting back and letting the music entertain... filling the room.

Sembawang Music bankruptcy raised the alarm; shopping around, i really don't find many CDs shops these days.

Our pick after toiling in SMC last stores in Thomson, Raffles and Plaza Singapura.

Recalling my first visit with Ric to Sembawang Music shop in the old Sembawang Shopping Centre, about 15 yrs ago... when my date was trying to impress with his music passion ;)

Hopefully, we might still be able to go shopping for CDs in a 'brick & mortar' shop when we are 50.

Philips Micro Theater - MCD388

Ric bought this to match my increase appetite for media enjoyment. Also as an enhancement to my existing 42" inch Plasma!

Philip Micro Theater ($239 fr Warehouse sales)

The set come with the same specification as Philip Soundbar, but at a much lower price tag. Its Digital wireless Subwoofer is a draw for powerful bass in Movie watching! I can't wait!

Playing multiple media format in DivX, DVD-Video, Video CD/SVCD, Picture CD, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW , CD, CD-R/RW, MP3-CD, WMA-CD, SD/MMC card, USB flash drive!

So much to explore!
Music is life!

UFO, the Oyster Cake

Singapore version of Oyster Cake at Maxwell Food Centre really doesn't go too well with us for its bitterly over-fried taste.

It was during our last trip to China, Fuzhou that we tasted a decent version that's juicy, sweet and plump with lots of cabbage vegetables and dried seaweeds.

福州蚝饼 ($1.20 per piece)

After the trip, my China friend pointed us to the Sin Hoe Seng Eating House where 好再来家乡菜 is operating at end of Sim Ave Lor. 25A, right behind the Aljunied MRT station. The stall serves an exact rendition from China; helmed by a China lady apparently.

This original Fuzhou Oyster Cake is plump, each pumped up with cabbages, seaweeds and 1 small Oyster. The Chili sauce specially concocts for local taste buds zests things up.

Go taste the different; it's a tad oily but provides something different from our UFO.

兴法, Xing Fa Seafood - Crab

'Hear say' the Crab here (Blk 631, Bedok Reservoir Rd.) is cheap and very good. So packing it home for family to indulge in.

Sadly, it was far from it.

Chili Crab ($25 per crab)

Butter Crab ($25 per crab)

Several complains on the lack in the expected robustness of the meat texture, smallness of the Crab, dryness of roe and the soupy Chili mix.

This Cze Char prove to have done much better.

So since when did my interest in Crab reignite?
Since the BBQ Crab session with our good friend here, at the start of this year.

You have any recommendation for me?
Grateful :)

Inle Myanmar Restaurant

I've never been to Myanmar; would love to one day. But i've got many Burmese friends who came upon as being friendly, easy-going and mild-mannered.

Today, our 1st bite into Myanmar cuisine at Inle Restaurant (basement of Peninsula Plaza).

Am having their $7 nett Lunch special that includes a Rice or Noodle with a Dessert of choice. Superb value for an all new experience.

Mohinga ($6.50)

"Mohinga is the most famous traditional Myanmar rice noodle (Khau Kswe) in fish broth, served with egg, fish cake and chickpea fritters. An all time favourite noodle dish of Myanmar, eaten throughout the day and during festive occasions."

Mohinga draw resembles to our local Mee Siam. The little spiciness and sour tang whets the appetite.

Butter Rice with Pork Curry ($7.50)

The most popular being this combo set of thick savory Curry with Portuguese-styled Butter Rice.

An enjoyable palate of melt-in-the mouth Porky and aromatic Butter rice.

Hpa Luda 'rose scented' dessert ($4)

"All-time Myanmar's favourite dessert - Vanilla Ice Cream, Glass Jelly, Agar agar, Sago and Egg Pudding in sweet syrup" I definitely enjoyed my fusion of Vanilla Ice-cream with Rose Syrup.

Myanmar Hsanwin Makin ($3)

"Myanmar sweet cake baked with semolina flour." A rather tough and oily piece.

We had promised ourselves a repeat visit here to try out more of the interesting item on their lunch menu.

Worthy a special mention of the pleasant service here. The staffs were attentive and patient; it helps for our 1st time into Myanmar dining.

Hardy Gloxinia!

I had clearly forgotten i have a pinky colored Gloxinia! Was touched when it bloom a surprise on me.

My very first 2 pots of Gloxinia that survived all attack from rodent's bite; till they became bare and leafless, are now blossoming.

I'm surprised Gloxinia was such hardy plants when many had commented it's a difficult to maintain plant!

Outdoor Gloxinia grew so much better than being indoor, they particularly needs no fertilizers at all and blooms all month of the year! Compare the 2 here.

So always leave them outdoor, just make sure it's away from the rain. Direct rain fall ruin the plant ;)

蓉记, Yong Kee Curry Puffs

This is one of my favourite Curry Puffs from #01-02, Sembawang Hill Food Centre.

Not that it tastes out of the world; i simply adore its simplicity, its aromatic ultra thin crust, crunchy flank and moist infill.

Potato Curry Puffs ($0.80 cents per piece)

Warm and freshly out of the frying wok.
I can't resist snacking on it right after my lunch here.

There you have it. Beautiful...

Subaru Challange! Go Team 6!

At its usual spot of Ngee Ann City, the annual Subaru Challenge kicks off yesterday and we happened to be here this morning, catching the heat of the game.

The friendly people at Car 6 that waves and poses for a photo :) This picture for your keepsake.

Better to give up once you draw an unfavorable spot that may requires you to be in a "half-standing" posture ;)

This "Touch, Hold on and Win a car" event had been a most watched since it started in 2002, it gets harder each year with a record set at 81 hours 32 mins last year; rain or shine.

Way to go man! You are now only at 20 hours 40 mins.
Good morning and hang on there!

Update on 3 Nov'09: 40 year old Mohd Anuar, S'porean wins the Subaru WRX car after standing 77 hours 43 mins without sleep. Cheers!