30 December 2009 (Wed): Second last day to the end of 2009! This year the Christmas 'atmosphere' began early, sometime towards the end of October. My eye doctor greeted me 'Merry Christmas' then and added, 'The Christmas lights are up'. (How sweet of her). I cleared M.'s home for her with R. and A., and found some of my old Christmas gifts from Germany, Finland and S. Korea where my penpals were from about two decades ago. Sis A. kept them well in a box for me. The white candles had discoloured-but one of them could still be lit. However, its wax melted very rapidly away and in no time it turned into a waxy puddle on the stand. While doing that very tedious and stressful clean-up of M's place in early October, I was already reminded that Christmas was coming soon. The grocer stores were and still are well-decked with goodies from Europe, especially from Italy, Austria and Germany; also from Australia and Russia as well as Japan. Restaurants quickly put up their trees and spread the year-end mood: Providence showered and the overall temperature dropped although it does not snow: People rushed to get their loved ones gifts in the last few days before Christmas. The usual comment from my Japanese acquaintances is, ' There's no snow. You don't feel like it's Christmas'. One said 'Yuki ga nai; henna kibun' (No snow; strange feeling). But I never experienced the Christmasy atmosphere at all while I was in Japan even with the snow and cold. Christmas is not a national holiday there, and very few commercial offices are dressed up with lights and trees. A.'s office (in Singapore) dressed up its big tree, and staff deposited their gifts for exchange, and whatever they brought to their office, under it. Despite having picked up a few gifts since early November, I did not manage to deliver them before the day arrived. I also had a list to add later on. My gift-stockings bulged this year (see above), thanks to kind friends and kin! But I was determined that the same did not happen to my belly. So what I had for Christmas was just: We liked the sashimi: I'll remember this evening eve anyway.
Paragon 28 Dec 2009 (Mon): I can't help feeling that I've accomplished little this year or, have I been too ambitious? I feel that there've not been many activities - both academic and economic. I wonder if it's due to the prevailing mood of recession in the world? But Singapore is out of the gloom, technically speaking. There's no feeling of a glut here. For instance the Orchard Road decor forebodes an excellent 2010 - or has it just been my hope? I find the decor this year more intricate, and more colorful than last year's - but not all might agree. There is, as usual, no lack of carefully dressed-up Christmas trees, (Above: Tree in Takashimaya) of varied characters as well: Goodwood Park Hotel's main entrance (Above: Tree by Soo Kee's at Bugis) Scotts Road is also a buzz: It's glittering within ten metres above us - all around - and not just inside a building: (Above: Wisma Atria) Something 'festive' peeks at you from the least conspicuous corners: And at the Scotts-Orchard Road junction (see below): Outside a building (see Tangs below): At a side entrance (Goodwood Park Hotel): We have all forgotten how last year's (2008) looked like. I didn't recall it being fancier, except for the golden-framed slide on the stories of Christmas outside Tangs...or was that the year before last? Outside Raffles City last year (2008): (To be continued...)
28 Dec 2009 (Mon): It's heartening to know that efforts have been made to preserve the indigenous flora of Singapore. During my restful holidays, I thought that after the feasting, some fresh air and tranquility would be just perfect.A. took me to this place where I have never known. He knows every nook and corner of this island well. We turned into Pepys Road after coming in from West Coast Road. It was a straight narrow road uphill after that, passing some condominiums and lush greenery. Absolute tranquility - quite out of this world. There were two small car parks for vehicles. We sighted the first one and parked our car there. Then we walked to the top of the hill. There is a museum and archives on World War II. Beside it there are some short houses that blended with the flora. We walked into this small entrance with signs which was the 'end' or 'beginning' of a bridge covered with leaves and branches which were not overly protruding. Along the way there were signs to inform on the flora and the history of the place. I have always enjoyed reading about the folk uses of plants: This used to be the oil deposit in the British colonial days. It was called the Normanton Oil Deposit, as the board informs. Mid-way on the bridge we spotted an old British army house in the distant. Ferns and other tropical parasitic plants decorated this walk-way 'in the air'. The birds were chirping occasionally. No human voices were heard even when some people were walking on the bridge. Everyone seemed to prefer silence to words. After some turns we exited and saw another 'bump' on the hill. We walked upward and came to another flat trail that leads to the Kent Ridge Park. Very lush and clean. No litter was sighted. We saw two pavilions and told ourselves to come back one of these weekends for a picnic. From the pavilion, the panorama of the sea and the PSA Pasir Panjang Wharf which was undergoing expansion unfolded. Part of the wharf will be built on reclaimed land. The works are currently being carried out by Hyundai. We spotted its site office from the peak. We saw another car park some height below from the pavilion. We turned back to the route we had came from. Along the way, old stones and trees lined the path. If we were lucky we would be able to see some birds. A. said that he saw a kingfisher the last time he was there. A 'project' on weeding out exotic plants such as the Australian Wattle, Bearded Smilax, Batai/Albizia and Koster's Curse which that are overcrowding the indigenous species is currently underway - as we found out on our way back to the bridge. This park is almost unknown to tourists and many locals, which was great for us as we had serenity and peace on a hill top all to themselves. But we thank the National Parks for its great work.
09 December 2009 (Wed): Christmas shopping this year in Singapore has been fun. Good music at shopping malls and boutiques, a continuous stream of special offers, an enormous range of gifts and very cool weather,generally, though not wintry. I try not to leave Singapore during Christmas, but in fact have flown to Hanoi for some days and am back again.
Surprisingly this year I have received more than the number of gifts I'd expected, and I am sure they are still coming in. My first one is a Rolex oyster perpetual datejust steel and gold, M116231-0017, thanks to M. and Sis A.
E., that nephew of mine with caustic humour, commented that I finally own a 'Kopitiam watch'! 'Kopitiam' refers to the 'working class' cafe where prices are relatively cheap compared to restaurants. That is quite a keen observation, I thought, as even washers, food servers, and lorry drivers are wearing, or aspire to have, Rolexes.
"What a lift to the Swiss economy!"- C. acknowledged with thanks after I e-mailed him this information. He promptly accompanied his reply with a spiritual gift - my fourth X'mas gift. His gift, air-flown from Davos, is a book on how to combine Christianity and materialism ("Rolexes and Chopards", as he defined it-ha!). I will open the gift on Christmas eve.
I met up with Cy. whom I have not seen for over a year. Nothing has changed-which is good. We wanted to go to the sale at Takashimaya, but thought of having a good sushi dinner first. We both agreed to try out Itachoo, a chain from Hong Kong.
The ambience at Itachoo resembles that of a crowded cafe or a dim-sum restaurant-which explains why it's described as the 'dim-sum style sushi store'. Its culinary standard is slightly above average; it also performs better than Sakae, Sushitei, and the rest in terms of service.
Cy. and I ordered the hamachi, the salmon tataki, the salmon and flying fish roe: The best deal is the lightly grilled salmon for 40 cents a piece! Only the early birds catch this succulent 'worm'- I will have to emphasize.
At the end of our dinner, we headed to Takashimaya's B1 - a big square stacked with glittering Christmas displays. What variety! We chose a Christmas wreathe (S$18.90)and gift ornaments (S$2 each), and finally dragged our feet into Cedele for warm Camomile tea and ice-cream. Cy chose sea salt with caramel which she found too sweet. My choice was fig with cinnamon. I enjoyed it.
Cy. took a picture of me, selected some which she took for this blog and sent all of them to me through her iPhone. Cool speed. I asked Cy. for a pix her lovely long-time companion: At 10:20 pm the staff came and told us to leave.
A note to add, though: Christmas decor along Orchard Road this year is fabulous. I appreciate the attention to detail and colors. (More photos coming up).
黃譓禎 - 巫啟賢 - 邂逅 3 November 2009 (Tuesday): CK chuckled when I remarked in office today that I am going spread the 'Singapore soft power' in Vietnam. He thought it was just one of those fatuous comments that came from me.
I encountered a few educators of Chinese language schools in VN who were interested in procuring new language materials. One of them asked me if I could find books on Chinese riddles so that students would be stimulated to stretch their vocabulary in Mandarin. I tried to look for such materials, but ended up with none. The Popular Book Store in Bras Basah was one of my stops for book hunting but finding suitable ones for children was a task. Finally I settled for a pictorial book on proverbs.
The prices of Chinese language books here are generally rather high- approximating four to five times the price of what you pay in China with costs of operation, freight, etc. incorporated in them. Besides, Chinese publications sold outside schools are mostly published in China and reflect the values, customs and ideals of the society of Mainland China.
Up to Unification in 1975 in Vietnam, Chinese language and subject materials in Chinese-medium schools in Central and South Vietnam were imported from Taiwan. In the case of Singapore, locally written and published books in Mandarin already existed shortly after Independence in 1965. Outside school, however, many literary materials and stationary were imported from Taiwan. Movies, TV serials, variety shows, music, and story books which originated in Taiwan, for instance, have shaped the culture of many educated Chinese overseas; scholarships from Taiwanese institutions of learning also attracted the Chinese-educated in Southeast Asia to pursue higher learning there. It was an era of Taiwan's 'soft power' when the wave of Taiwanese 'campus songs' starting from the mid-1970s innundated our media and spurred Chinese-educated students to creative pursuits. Many started jotting down rhythmic phrases and added musical notes to their terse poems and in some cases, carefully crafted lyrics. A special genre of light-hearted melodies -- contemplative, subtly romantic, or heartwarming -- which were Singapore's own songs --thus called xin yao in Mandarin, emerged. One of the two syllables in the appellation xin is derived from the name of the country; the other syllable yao denotes 'songs'. Their composers were youth ranging from teenagers to adults mostly in their twenties.
Sung on TV, radios, school and community concerts with the accompaniment of the most common instrument, mainly the guitar and piano, they soared in popularity. These songs were the conduits to the young writer's inner world - of innocence, purity, awe and curiosity, sometimes angst and cynicism to societal demands and changes. Sentimentality weaves through the melodic lines, invoking the ephemeral joys of childhood, school days and friendship and the lightly depressing reactions to a transforming society and cityscape but occasionally a pronounced pride towards the city of Singapore.
梁文福 ,劉瑞政, 王邦吉- 細水長流 The beauty of these songs lies in the spontaneity of their creation,unmotivated by commissions and profit. They were written for the pure joy of personal or shared expression. The music is soothing and contents are eclesiastically poetic, replete with youthful idylism and sentiments. None conveys the profound morose of life, the puerile and fractious voice of frustrated teenagers, or the pernicious grudge of adults. The rhythm may be fast or slow but never like a funereal dirge.
This xin yao wave raged but subdued by the turn of the 1990s before they began fossilizing in the collective memory of a group of people who grew up in the late 1970s to late 1980s. Soon these songs evanesced into the historical immortality of this society. Once played, they whip up the nostalgia for some pristine state of human feelings and relationships that seem to be more common in the past.
As CDs, I think they will make meaningful gifts and teaching materials (for certain levels of Mandarin learners) for my acquaintances...
写一首歌给你-梁文福 In the midst of these thoughts, CK, barged into my office again and recommended a new tear-jerking Hokkien fado that he recently found. I exploded into laughter and was baffled - after all these years of Speak Mandarin Campaign?!
15 October 2009 (Thurs): Today is hanamoku- meaning 'blossoming Thursday' -and I am looking forward to the long weekend!
I recall going to this Cantonese restaurant located in a public housing estate (with supposedly cheap rents since it's for the masses);but I realised after several visits that this restaurant-Chin Huat Seafood- is not cheap at all. You'll have to order at least 500 grams of shrimp- if you order a shrimp dish- and if you order a fish going by seasonal prices- then beware. Your bill for two may come up to S$100 for two diners with two other cheap dishes such as a green veg and a noodle dish. Price aside, the quality of the food is good. The hor fun is not the dried flat rice noodle dish (what is known as sar hor fun in Cantonese) but the fresh flat noodle- each strand separated with oil. That's how the Cantonese like it - I don't mind either variety. The greens is not as tasty as that of Hong Kong Street Bukit Timah, but its bamboo clam ranks very high in terms of taste, at a very reasonable price of S$8 a piece (see top picture). The clam comes with a delicious consomme - not available at restaurants such as Seafood 1960s at Turf Club, or Jumbo Seafood (East Coast). It is not overpowered with minced garlic either.
The fruit we enjoyed at home after one of our dinners there the previous trip was kyoho grapes. These were given by Y. san after his trip back home:
16 September 2009 (Wed): CK,my colleague popped by my office and handed me a gift from Ho Chi Minh City. His brother brought a 'BIG BAG' home, supposedly.
Through the transparent zip-log bag, I saw some grey balls of what he told me was tea. Enchanted by its shape, I was ready to enjoy it.
The aroma, first of all, perfumed my room with chrysanthemum fragrance. The tea ball, when immersed in boiling water, 'blossomed'. From its centre, a string of yellow dried chrysanthemums danced; I couldn't wait to bring it home.
At home, A drank it like it was another wonderful tea, with no hoo-ha oo-wow coming from this 'cool' tea-drinker and 'connoiseur'. "What?!" I thought. That's all the reaction I got.
But a week ago, after a month has past, we went to Goodwood Park's Coffee Lounge again for its porridge meal. The waiter, Benjamin, from Ipoh cheerfully recommended this 'FLOWER TEA'. "I've had that before, Benjamin. I loved it in fact," I replied - somewhat dampening his enthusiasm to introduce the new tea. Anyway, I ordered the flower tea he recommended.
The presentation was delightful; it was served in a transparent western drinking glass instead of the ceramic cups that I use at home. The glass was placed in front of A. whose eyes widened. "This is very nice", he exclaimed. "It must be good..."
I took a sip. Nope, not that good, though. The tea-ball opened up as usual, but revealed a small bouquet of red orchids and jasmine in its middle. These flowers don't go well with the tea, unlike chrysanthemums. Nevertheless A. became intrigued by this 'discovery'; he wanted to comb Singapore to find it. After two days he gave up. Fortunately R. was going to Ho Chi Minh City for a short break. She came back with two small bags from TAX Centre across Rex Hotel, where M. recommended the supermarket to get coffee. A bag of the tea-balls costs about SGD 6 for 8 balls according to R. On each bag reads 'Jasmine Pearl Tea (Tra lai tran trau)'(ジャスミンパールティー).
Great accompaniment with any kind of Chinese/Vietnamese food and Japanese snacks: These are from S.-san who sometimes returns to visit his family here:
It was one of those Friday evenings when I had to head for Dempsey when ideas on where to eat were not forthcoming. I haven't really had a feast there, so why not? I thought.
The place looked quite 'happening'- crowded and bustling with activities; yuppies eating, drinking and chatting. Even when empty tables were spotted in the Jumbo Seafood Restaurant, the Filipina guest-relations officer chirped 'Sorry Ma'am, they are reserved'.
La Forketta, the Italian place seemed like the place to go, but the music was explosive inside the restaurant, noisy diners competing with it. No thank you.
So, Culina was the last resort. White asparagus with al funghi risotto...Croque monsieur with salad...The menu on the chalkboard looks good. We ordered our wine and appetizers.
Mmm...our wines turned out good. Our appetizers weren't bad either. Not the best risotto here - but asparagus was very fresh and crunchy.
Then came croque monsieur: A mistake.
Next, the dish of the evening: scampi pasta. Quite exciting to look at, but urrgg...so salty.
The tab came up to SGD 102 plus. We felt we had eaten just to keep our organs functioning, but end up overworking the kidneys.
The next time I run dry of ideas on where to eat, I'll just head for Garibaldi. For a few more tenths of dollars, food and wine is surely awesome.
Thumbs up to this sashimi. One doesn't need to spend a bomb at Sushi Yoshida anymore for fresh and delicious fish. And sashimi comes with grated honwasabi (real wasabi) here: The sashimi lunch set costs S$14.90 ++! Incroyable! The same set is available for dinner now at S$19.80++: There's no sign of cost-cutting on the detail; the salt used is sea salt and seasoning such as shichimi toogarashi is made-in-Japan: So I don't have to travel to Japan for the real stuff. Mmmm...I am impressed with this place- both by its interior and exterior. It's an exciting fusion of the sturdy old and sprightly modern: One can't say it boasts of a group of posh Japanese restaurants- that doesn't seem to be its concept. It's made up of several outlets for casual, yet impressive izakaya dining: At izakaya, staples such as edamame and beer taste almost the same as elsewhere everywhere. The Japanese always demand that their beer be served at the right temperature. I've seen a Japanese man roaring at a waitress and almost driving her to tears at Hong Kong Street (Bukit Timah) for serving his beer 'warmer' than usual. So here, these can be expected to be perfectly served: The indispensable sake: Yummm... chijimi is superb as well: The apparent strengths of this place are: first, it does not have a 'low-cost' izakaya feel. There was certainly meticulous planning -in the embellishment of what should go to which niche and corner and so forth. Yet, it's spacious, very appealing to the senses: There's even a rock garden to look at and attain peace: Second, the price line is the same as that of Sakae - big shock! - as well as that Tampopo and all those outlets outside Meidi-ya in Liang Court. What a shame to those who cheat on authencity and try to cream the undiscerning average consumers off! Can I say, at least for now, the Japanese restaurant scene here has shown some maturity with the arrival of this group of restaurants? Authentic food, relaxing ambience. Attentive service as well- I found the Japanese waiters super-friendly and vigilant. There is an array of favorites for the locals who indulge only in salmon (see Vegetarian Roll below) and kushi-ryori (kebabs): Sushi is prepared at the counter next door to Tsubohachi: The grilled fish is as scrumptious as the raw. See nishin grilled to a heavenly crisp: Although desserts are limited in choice, I love this soft green tea ice garnished with warm cubes of sweet potato with a soft outer crunch. Wunderbar! Slurp. I'll go there many times more before the authencity wears off, when the chefs and waiters all pack and go home to Japan...
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