Resto Surabaya at Lucky Plaza

Tahu Telor, Deep Fried Egg and Tofu with Shrimp Paste ($6.50+)

Somebody told us the Ayam Penyet at Resto Surabaya is mediocre, and recommend their Ayam Bakar instead, so we followed suit. Somebody told us their grilled Tempeh is fantastic, but we didn't buy it, and ended up begging for more as we shared our only 2 pieces that comes with the grilled squids and chicken, sparingly.

Somebody say just order anything with sweet black sauce and you wouldn't go wrong. He is quite right. I say, you order their grilled chicken and grilled fish, perhaps not the squids. Fish dishes are very popular here, and you definitely wouldn't go wrong.

For once, i find my beloved rice redundant. We were comfortable to indulge in the full flavors of the dishes here, they were simply flavorsome and not overpowering. Delicious.

Sotong Bakar, Grilled Squid ($8.90+), Ayam Bakar ($6.90), Tahu Telor ($6.50+), Plain Rice ($1+)

Ayam Bakar Surabaya, Grilled Chicken Surabaya Style ($6.90+)

Ikan Bakar Resto , Grilled Fish with Sweet Soy Sauce ($13+)

Iced Chendol ($3.50+)

My Redmi Note

Xiaomi Redmi Note, 5.5" (S$199) with tempered glass screen cover

We should be proud. That China smartphone technology is fast catching up with the Korean lead - Samsung. Goodbye to the age of expensive smartphones!

After testing on several lower-end version of Xiaomi phablets, we decided it had to be Redmi Note that doesn't heat up on prolong web surfing. Smooth and fast without a glitch; we have friends switching over from their Samsung Note 3 to Xiaomi for its longer battery life - 2 full days. These heavy users were all praise for Redmi's extended mileage.

Now we just have to see how durable this China phone is... We are rooting for it.

One application i found particularly useful and well-done - Alarm clock. Notice this smartphone can be switched off throughout the night, it will jump start itself at the struck of the clock! How convenient and batt saving. All our previous smartphones had to be left on.

Singapore Philatelic Museum

Have always wanted to visit the Singapore Philatelic Museum, always. For i wanted to see what i've missed out in my collection, and also to enrich my history of Singapore philatelic.

Since we already have quite a collection of some of Singapore's oldest stamps, it doesn't awe us when we saw the displayed. But the old posting boxes are fascinating!

And it is especially nostalgia to see these stamp packs for sales - we used to save up pocket money to buy them! Now, you don't see them that commonly anymore.

Metal Portable Posting Box (Yellow, small), circa 1970 - 

This posting box was only used in post offices during festive seasons for local greeting cards 

when mail volume was high. Mail was collected from these boxes throughout the day. Unbelievable!

Orange Post Box - 

This is repainting of the Yellow Post Box to reflect the merger of the 

Postal Services Department and Telecommunication Authority of Singapore on 1 Oct 1982.

 Yellow Post Box - 

In 1971, the Postal Services Department designed and locally manufactured new posting boxes 

for the first time. It featured double posting apertures for separating mails meant 

for "Singapore"and "Other Countries".
Don't we always wonder how's the inside of these metal boxes!

Lamp Posting Box, circa 1949 - 

Lamp posting boxes were first used in 1896. Meant for areas where mail volume was low, 

these boxes were cheaper to install than the big, round pillar boxes. The display was used during 

the reign of King George VI (reigned 1936 - 1952). However, the king's cipher was removed 

(filed off) after Singapore became a Republic.

Red Pillar Box, circa 1952 - 

This pillar box was donated by Hong Kong Post after the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. The royal cipher of the QENR (Queen Elizabeth II) on all Singapore's posting boxes were 

removed by the postal department when Singapore gained independence in 1965. 

Each pillar box is made of 400 kgs cast iron.

包今天, Bao Today

Steamed Chicken Feet ($4+), Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaf ($4.50+), Honeyed BBQ Pork Bao ($2.50+)

We never actually trusted dim sum served in air-conditioned dining, at least not whole-heartedly. So it was the 30% promotion at Bao Today's newly opened branch in Rendezvous Grand Hotel that lured us here tonight.

Happily, dinner was satisfactory - the steamed feet, char siew bao, dumpling and warm, smooth porridge. What's perplexing is their use of syrupy minced meat in the glutinous rice layer to produce the required mushy mouth-feel of this recipe; we thought it's bizarre. Meat pieces in the porridge tastes funny too..

With a good discount? Then yes, we can come back and be selective.

Fresh Shrimp Dumpling ($4.50+) 

 Century Eggs and Lean Meat Congee in Claypot ($6.80+)

宝发, Bao Fa Claypot Rice

Claypot Rice, for 2 pax ($10)

Claypot rice is a rare find among Singapore's hawker, so there's always followers whenever a stall pops up - however it fares?

Ba Fa at Blk 283, Bukit Batok East Ave 3 seems to be such. Business is good and waiting time of at least 30 mins is guaranteed, but taste is fairly mediocre. There isn't the exciting "charcoal smell" we commonly associate with well prepared claypot rice, and we suffered badly from their dosage of MSG.

Consider instead, their morning offering of minced pork noodles - Bak Chor Me, which seems to be a much popular and delicious option.

Singapore Night Festival 2014

William Close featuring The Earth Harp, front lawn of National Museum Singapore

Singapore Night Festival runs for 2 consecutive weekends (22 & 23 and 29 & 30 Aug), starting tonight. Big and loud drums from ZingO opens the fest with a roar - it was brilliant that drums could be choreographed this way!

Then we catches William Close before walking away; there it struck me. I was alarmed when i saw a majestic visage of a divine figure looking down on us! Something from Ankor Wat? "You see that!?" I was jolting Ric. "Anybody sees that!?" Yes. I was pleasantly alarmed :)

The 7 light projections by Clement Briend on the trees are surreal, and mystic with their playing of ancient music. The night is feeling exciting!

Divine Trees 1

Divine Trees 2

Came back the 2nd weekend when it rained heavily, it stopped and we attended block party at the Armenian Street with the roving brass bands and treats of free durians - plenty for everyone!

Had thoroughly enjoyed the Night Fest! Mood was festive and enthusiastic, drawing much participation from the general public. And the dull city night is enliven!