Dinner turned diaster, or perhaps a blessing in disguise

I was all prepared to end the night with my experiment with white shells – lala, and, a good one, for that when what should be a celebratory night for my success in dishing out one of my favourites, lala to one nightmare that brought me to series of thoughts on physical suffering.

These clams are alive! Can't tell, can you?

Before we went further into the recollection of my worst ever nightmare, here’s the enjoyable bits with my discovery of white shells being actively alive (yes, pardon my ignorance as I thought they would be dead as those fishes sold in supermarket when I bought them sealed in a pack). In order to expel the salt water sands and debris, i was told, is to add some salt to assimilate their natural living condition. True enough, within minutes, the clams were sticking their tongues out, spitting the atomic sized sands in exchange of the fresh dose of salt-water. What a sight to behold – my first, to witness “live” clams in action. And I can conclude that they are a bunch of alcoholics with their longer than usual tongues sticking out for a bigger lick when i adulterated the man-made salt sea with chinese rice wine. The purpose, is to made them drunk and be infused with the wine when they get transferred to the hot sizzling wok.

That’s just the first step, sadly. Besides getting the main lead drunk, I have to get the co-leads ready. Without which, I would render the subtle killing of the white shells an injustice act. The co-leads being slicing the ginger to stripes and chopping the red hot chilli padi. And that, a hint, the start of my nightmare!

After dressing up the star and the co-leads, it was a feat in arriving to the grand finale. The show culminating to a fanfare displaying my first triumphant sauce-sucking good lala. Chewy and juicy at the right note too. See, my point on alcohol proven right. Drunk in relaxation till they were cooked.

Clams getting cooked.

 

Succulent lala infused with chinese wine, ginger and chilli padi

What’s come after is the worst nightmare I hope not to repeat. Me having a taste of being cooked under extreme heat! My hands were literally ablaze with fire after chopping the chilli padi. I am not exaggerating when I said ablaze. I felt like I am going through hell and that feeling of hell, I would rather die. The pain was beyond words and I was so desperate in removing the sting by trying all kinds of online suggested remedies from soaking my hand on all sorts of liquid from fresh milk to Baron’s (the only strong beer i have with 7% alcohol) to rum (cos i needed something with 40% alcohol content) to rubbing my hands with salt and immersed them in ice-frozen water. Oooouch!!!! I felt like punching someone to vent the heat trapped within and believed me, I actually hit the table with my other hand till it’s still hurting today. Can you imagine the level of pain? It’s worse than a cut which I can easily nursed with an antiseptic wipe and the pain would soon subside. This, i feel, like my hand being in constant contact with a kettle of boiling water. I still cringe now thinking of the ordeal.

It was a tough night – 6 hours of excruciating pain and countless time bursting into tears.

However, it was this feeling of being cooked that brought me to a clearer illustration and close brush with the bible description of hell-liked condition in the burning lake. I am so not in favour of me nor any of my loved ones ending there. It’s the worst experience ever, I can imagine, being constantly cooked in extreme heat, burning yet living.

That, also brought me to a deeper understanding of what it meant when someone once told me he would rather die than to continuing living while suffering  in physical pains. I can now, though may not in totality, feel the desperation of pain. I can. finally. That, I thank God for. My friend, you will always be in my prayer and I know for sure God has not given up.

Coincidently, I had one of the most blessed testimonies in church on Sunday by two very anointed missionaries of whom one touched on how her once insanity had brought forth the love of God that Christians were praying for her and one stranger who even prayed that her life be given to this girl when she tried taking her own life resulting from the voices spurring her to call an end to all the sufferings. It’s was such unconditional love from God through this stranger that opened the heart of that missionary to eventually wanting to explore who this God really is. It’s the perseverance of this God whom we have, through his constant bringing of God-liked Christians to this girl that the girl was eventually freed from her illness and be like once again, the normal girl who her mum remembers. Praise the Lord!

While ending the sermon with worship to the Lord, not knowing why, I was so filled with tears and emotions for this boy in church who is suffering from the after-effects of brain tumour that I went out and asked for his and his parents permission to pray for God’s healing upon the boy. God must be with me that my heart mirrors that of his, crying for the boy who or parents are also yearning for a healing touch.

Would you pray with me while perhaps taking some time to re-evaluate your take on life?

P/S Only when I was lying on bed from the night’s ordeal resulting a day of medical leave that I have the time to pace down, to give a second look to the mind-triggering clouds that can whiz you in and out of an imaginary world.

Mr Confidence

Miss Scattered

Ms double-minded

and..Mr Aunty killer..hahah!

Decided to capture the fascinating clouds with my camera and perhaps next, a painting of the clouds to mark as a personal reminder to pace my steps to better appreciate the simple beauty of God’s creation.

Who Will Get that Last Bottle of Tiger Beer?

What do a 300-pound wrestler, a humanoid robot, a gorilla (the largest of the living primates) and a jungle hero have in common? Nothing really,but in Tiger’s latest television commercial,these four burly characters share one common passion – their fervent love for Tiger.

The latest TVC for Tiger – “The Last Tiger” was done with some good fun, revealing who amongst the four or perhaps not, will get that last bottle of Tiger. 

You may not know but the biggest challenge for this TVC was the transition effects between each unzipping and unmasking of each character, especially the ripping of the Gorilla suit to that of the Robot. Due to the vast differences in tone and texture, the switch was enhanced with a mix of animatronics and computer graphics. A lot of planning and research was done to get the most visually effective transition, right down to the exact timing needed for computer rendering of the selected character’s facial language to aptly portray the expression and emotion intended for each transiting scene.

Enjoy!

And the spoof…

… more to come?

My Zen-Liked High Tea

The ususal muffins, cakes and e-clairs for high-tea? Not so when you are inviting Americans to your place for that casual get-together,eat and chat session.  It would just be yet another boring high-tea just if we Asian are treated to weeks after weeks of Nonya kuays though I must say there are much more to just Nonya kuays for Asian snacks. We are spoilt for choices from Nonya to Teochew to Cantonese cookies, tarts, doughnuts, puddings, baos, and the list goes on. And, that’s why it seldom cross our mind how unexciting it is to be given the usual muffins for the westerners as to the wide varities of chinese snacks to the Asians.

Bob & Barbara

Bob and Barbara, a fun-loving couple from America whom we get to know in church were amongst the first to be hosted in our make-shift home. Though away during our wedding, both Bob and Barbara are earnest in knowing how our wedding went and that brought the thoughts of inviting them over where we can all go through the pictures and videos of the special day.

What’s the expression all about? The delectable food of course! **Wink**WINK**

The Osmanthus jelly that I made. Rather than making the usual jelly that one can easily get commercially, I chose something more exotic yet pleasant to the palate. Osmanthus is a genus of flower species from Asia and is known for its strong fragance. The translucent jelly with the Osmanthus in small panicles create such a sight to behold that it took me quite a while before I could surrender to my desire in qualifying the petite creature a culinary success.

To tease the sight a little further, the jellies were arranged in 3 seperate porcelain dishes to give it a dash of elegance. A white canvas is always a better alternative especially if that piece of art is filled with details. 

I am really into details, I realised. The tea-eggs arranged like a twin tower with splashes of tea-infused sauces were one of the highlights. It was the first time Bob and Barbara tried this marbled-looking eggs and surprise Surprise, they liked it! Thought the taste with hints of chinese herbs would sway towards the harder to accept quadrant but I guess they are more adpatable to Asian species than most westerners. Other than the vital chinese tea, I dropped in a few English Breakfast tea bags for a East-West experience. It was a good move with the mix creating layers of differing yet complimentary scents.

Next, one of my favourites. The Taiwanese pineapple tarts! The jam painstakingly sourced from Taiwan and the pastry, scrupulously molded by none other, than the writer of this blog, me, yours truly! I had a weakness for pineapple tarts and would not resist making some for those I love! (I would only offer my tarts to those my heart melts after due to the laborious amount of efforts needed). So, lucky you if you were/have been offered the tarts as that would give you an indication of where you stand.

Affection aside, I decided on something easy to wash down the heatiness from the tarts and with the left-over red dates and logan, it was a quick attempt for the drink known effective to relieve insomnia.

Trailing after these Asian delights, there were also the varying cheeses I brought from Copenhagen bringing this high-tea a zen-liked experience.

Pesto cheese

Chevre cheese

Or rather, a East meets West connotation?

Ipoh = Michelle Yeoh = Pretty Girls?

I was in Ipoh last weekend and throughout my stay – though short, was wondering where the so-called pretty Ipoh girls are. Just like Alishan in Taiwan, Ipoh is said to house the fairest and prettiest Malaysian girls due to the constant supply and consumption of its clearest and cleanest water source from the waterfalls in nearby Tanjung Rambutan.

Rambutan

Yes, it’s Tajung Rambutan (Rambutan being name of one of Malaysia’s fruits – white smooth flesh, coincidentally) and not a typo error.

Not only that the waterfalls carries with it a notion of humor, the street name too, is a classic of its own. The street where my husband’s grandpa stays  – Jalan Chantik says it all. (Jalan in Malay means walk and Chantik, beautiful).  How appropriate the name, i thought, it is,  in parallel with the state of Ipoh’s demographics and how that may imply where all the Ipoh’s beauties are.

Ipoh in the 50s was known as a mining town but with the collapse of tin prices and the closure of the tin mines in the late 1970s, Ipoh’s growth had stagnated and that resulted in the migration of many young talents to other parts of Malaysia and Singapore. With the migration of young talents, Ipoh is now more known colloquially as a “old” city and earned a reputation as a good location for retirement. As with the senior residents, pace in Ipoh is rather slow and that speaks for why it is a backlash to luring the younger ones to further their roots in this “soon-to-be” forsaken town. As during one of our breakfasts’ conversation with our first uncle over the famous Hakka noodles, there are many jobs opportunities waiting in Ipoh but the problem lies with the technology advancement rate that instead of moving with times, factories are still using the old machines, old operating systems in trying to get the younger tech-savvy generation to adapt and get into the old, out-dated grooves. No wonder it’s only during major chinese festivals like this mid-autum festival that we get to see the younger faces amongst the old and frail.

No doubt that the pace in Ipoh is in the likes of constant cruising through in first gear, it’s worth a drive to this town famous for its food. Owning to Ipoh’s water that is relatively high in alkali content, the produces are generally tastier. The beanspouts in Ipoh are truly sturdier and crunchier than those I had in Singapore.

The Ipoh kuay teow on another hand, is so silky smooth that you wouldn’t mind a second helping.

Silk-liked texture - what else can i say?

I definitely, for once, had to cast  my guilt conscience aside and went on a food feast for the well known Ipoh white coffee, the juicy chicken satays, the must have Ipoh Kai Si Hor Fan  – white noodles served with chicken and prawns,

Kai Si Hor Fun

true authentic Hakka mees, cutest fish balls, ice-kachang and the king of fruits -DURIANS.

Fish ball noodles

Fish ball junior - the smallest i've ever seen

Food aside, I had the most spectacular stay in our uncle’s resort style terrace.  Walk round the vicinity and you will see this unique monolithic rock formation. The locals refer to it as Pencil Rock and is now a mythical attraction for the locals. I was told that  the structure lights up at night but I have to wait till my next visit to witness it myself.

The Pencil Rock

With the  moutainous hills and lake at the back yard, it was a refreshing break from the busy city. Feeding the fishes, admiring the morning dews on the leaf, smelling the scents from the flowers . . .  . . .

… …i wonder if this is a better way to pace my life? Though now that I seriously think Ipoh equation to pretty girls is lengendary, she is defintely one beauty queen dressed with God’s most intricate creations.

Christiania

Glimpse of what you will be greeted with in Christiania.  Graffiti after graffiti. Excellent pieces of self-protraits and hidden voices amongst the residents of Christiania. This is the first piece of art that caught my attention when I touched my foot in this much-talked about “village”.  And of ourse, before i could venture further, the first artistic sight was captured within click seconds.

That’s me and my colleague, Pat striking a pose. Wonder if that qualifies us as part of the grafiti? Hope not. Too real to be considered a permanent fixture in the name of art, unlike the mermaid casted in stone.  As much as I am captivated by the freedom this village has to offer, I do prefer to be in a “smoke-free” environment. Christiania is pretty much a liberal town in Copenhagen where residents operated on their own rules and regulations – out of the control of the local Government. Very often, you can see people “smoking” or indulging in their own definition of being high in a very different way. That, I prefer not to be part of.  However, it’s their pratice towards creativeness that earned my thumbs-up!

I could never imagine finding this piece of sculpture in Singapore.  Chiselled out of a tree trunk! Impressive, isn’t it? It does look like it has a hidden message, signalling the lost of control/grasp driven at their Government? Or is my imagination running wild? Either way, it’s too good an art to pass.

Yet another piece of installation art? This, ahem…targeting the lovers in Christiania? Love swans, what more do I need to say? Love is evidently in the air with a free mind.

Next, me, yours truly. An embellishment to the already perfect wood carving. Ideal moment for that click on the camera? Coins, please…thank you…on that note, it is interesting to know that Chrsitiania do have its own currency! … … That, just blew my mind! Their own currency for that town of 1,000 residents? Where’s the relevance or the standard of which to place a value to its currency?

This coin, 1.5 times the size of a Singapore $1 coin  is worth about SGD$20! I think. (can’t really remember). Hard to imagine as much as how I have to remember a 20 dkrone (coin) is equivalent to SGD7! This Christiania currency, if you so wish to remember Christiania by, can be bought from the local pubs as a souvenir – it was given to me free by one of the locals!

Other than its own currency that can only be used in Christiania, they produce their own Christiania Beer too! Again, I wonder, where is the economies of scale for the raw materials, equipments, and, a brewery perhaps, all for that community of 1,000 residents?  I find my brain generating questions faster than I could handle in that short span of 3 hrs covering this mysterious town of Christiania.

Draught beer or

bottled? Your choice.  Beer aside, their zest in recycling is nothing less than commandable.

Can you spot a gigantic spider constructed out of what seemed to be metal junks?

Or a steel-made lady figurine

Or, a vintage-looking flower cart? You can also do your part in the green movement by particpating in their “Put and Take” recycling booth where you can simply exchange your unwanted apparrals with something that catches you fancy.

Hear that alluring baby blue jacket calling you? I’m afraid for that, you have to buy yourself a air-ticket to Copenhagen or to gear yourselves for the cycling expedition to where the treasure lies.

But if you are thinking so, do join them in their games of water-polo, created out of basketball net for that ultra local immersion program.

… … and don’t miss that entertainment while at the pub with a see-through aquarium after a dip in the pool. Oh, Wait. It’s the toilet in a pub. They beat Disney hands down on this, entertainment planned right through to when your body is calling for a break. For those who otherwise prefer to entertain than to be entertained, you can opt for the public toilets planted along the garden with picture-taking opportunity.

However, while you are busy clicking away, do be sensitive to a “No camera” logo and abide in their rules of “NO PHOTO” (meaning no photography) allowed in some sensitive areas lest you risk being bitten by their well-trained “police-chasers” dogs as clearly illustrated on the rubbish truck.

But, if you abide to their own-made rules and open yourself to their warmth and hospitality, you are in for some real culture exchange like joining in their sing-along session and some photographs taken to remember the trip with!

That’s Pat and me again after our sing-along session with this talented chap. This guy is really good with his guitar! while hmm..this another guy…

cool hair-style!

And me? After the arts-filled excursion, I have decided to try my skill on self portrait photography!!!!!! A form of art too, no? I’m sure it is. Wait till I bring you through the exciting photography arts in Copenhagen! **wink**wink**

View these 2 wonderful short video clips found in you-tube for a better idea on what Christiania is all about.

No more coke, BEER pls..Burger King in Japan

How cool is this that beer lovers can now opt for a can of chilled Heineken in Burger King – Japan.

I was actually thinking about this a few weeks ago while at Macdonald. Wouldn’t beer be a better pairing with those fried nuggets, fries and burgers just like what anyone would go for in Germany? Beer with fried finger snacks! Rather than fizzy coke. WELL Done, BK! Truly reflecting well on your slogan “Have it your way”!

Seeing Copenhagen from a different light…

and that i meant from the traffic light designed just for the cyclists. It has been an enjoyable, exciting yet exhausting week exploring one of the world’s most expensive city, Copenhagen. If not for the necessity of work requirements, I wonder if one would spend a week in Copenhagen, at least not for me at the first mention. However, I have to,  after such a wonderful experience cycling in Copenhagen,take my words back. Infact, I wish I have more time dwelling in the beauty of what this quaint city has to offer.

Since my last cycling expedition in Paris, I’ve have been convinced that getting around the city using a bicycle has the unspoken thing that make you feel like you are a part of the city on a whole different level. Stealing a peek  to the left at fellow cyclist – well-dressed Danish (i mean) on the bicycle,

, glancing off to the right to go with the drum beats.

You name it, you have it.  Breeze trough the city while it embraces you with surprises along the way.

 The window display of a spectacle shop. Isn’t it cute? Very creative, i must say in capturing one’s attention.  Just that I feel it would be better if it’s a replica of that very iconic (at least for me) old man and old lady porcelain figurines on their rocking chair, one reading his book and the other knitting away, both spending their time alone yet together. The sight would be one bursting with tenderness.

With the bicycle, you are pretty much on your own and you are free to roam even to the tinniest street that is often missed if you are on the public transport. Off the beaten tracks, here i was, at Copenhagen’s dedicated Chilli House. Located at Copenhagen’s main square, Rådhuspladsen, Studiestræde 40, you will get all things chilli from

 

Something Familiar?!?

chilli illustrated vest to chilli apron to chilli fridge magnets to what i call the most ironic chilli sweets!!

Chilli Sweets

Would I need chilli sweets when I am yearning for something sweet, probably not. But, there again, there’s the chilli chocolate which on another hand, is a perfect  match to the palate.

With the bicycle as my mode of transport, I’m off to my next adventure, Copenhagen’s self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood of about 1,000 residents! Join me in my ride around the lovely, unconventional, free-spirited Christiania in my next jounal!

Bye! OR hej, hej, (in Danish) or quite simply, hi, hi, said in a very quick, charming, singing manner…HEJ HEJ 🙂

Mango Ice with Mango, an extra $1 please…

Went for lunch at Vivo Republic Food court earlier and am amazed how a particular dessert stall is becoming more like an “add on” treats of an ice-cream parlour. I ordered a mango ice and the stall lady went, “Do you want mango? Add $1 for mango toppings.” Though tempted, I wondered if I should over-indulge myself after a hearty meal. However, the question of what’s a mango ice without mango lingered on.

Next, my colleague ordered Cheng Teng and the lady went again, “Add sea coconut for an additional $1?” And the same went on for the ice-jelly order .  Time must be really bad or that this stall operator is really creative with her offerings!

Halfway through my mango ice, i caught sight of a ant drowned in my bowl of melted mango ice and our conversation went:

Me : Oh, see that! Should I go back for a partial refund? (Jokingly)

Angela : Refund? More like she will ask you for extra $1 for that additional ant topping.

Me : ya right, extra calcium, must-be!

And of course, I don’t need that extra calcium.

Friends

Now that the wedding celebrations are over, I am missing the fun and great company of friends – especially those whom i seldom meet.

I shared in my church wedding ceremony that God has been faithful and that without HIS faithfulness, I would still be caged in my world of skepticism towards friendship. Due to a very unfortunate circumstance while in primary school, i lost thrust in human relationship and was so emotionally scarred that I told myself from then on that there’s no such bonds as one would termed as his/her best friend. Through HIS grace, I was shown by the people around me that friends are gifts from heaven and I am glad to be given the courage to be able to open my hearts to accepting friends – and not one on the surface. That, i don’t deny the vulnerability but without which, i won’t be able to go through the trials that i had and without their lending hands, I wouldn’t be able through my own effort result in such a memorable wedding. With that, a big thank you to my all my friends. Either those who have helped in one way or another or those who have sparred the time in sharing this moment… …. A BIG THANK YOU to you guys & gals! …muacks!! Can’t put into words how much I love you! There is no more saddness in my eyes now that I know i will always have you by my side.

Note before my wedding

Auntie Julie and Me

3 more days and i will be walking down the aisle with the Wedding March. Thanks Linda who has graciously volunteered to be my organist for the church wedding.   I still can’t believe till this very day that I am finally getting dressed in my childhood fancy of that long, white, angelic gown.

I always wonder especially during my teenage years who exactly would be my soul mate. Will he be like Cinderella’s prince charming who rescued her out of her miseries or will he be like Shrek who will go  all out to protect his Fiona or perhaps he would be like hmmm….well….i’m not sure….guess i am thinking too much then. However, deep in me, I have always yearned for someone who truely love me – without reservation and today I can safely say the man who I’m going to marry has been with me all these while – through my hurts and struggles and that his shoulder is always there for me and who I know will never forsake me, even despite all odds.

And…thanks to my “ah yees”, i had my lovely bridal shower last Friday. A small gathering of 6 at Jones.

Kennie, my lovely cell leader who too, has a very lovely husband, Steven.
She is the one who organised the bridal shower and has creatively put together the door gifts for the gals.

Look at the door gift! I’m impressed! Each of us was given a message relating to wedding/marriage. Whoa! Just like message in a bottle. How romantic!

Message for Me

 

Huiyi’s message

Julie's message

What’s more? There’s sprinkles of love hidden in each of the cups.

Lai Ping & her packed sprinkles

 

This is auntie Julie who I must say is blessed with her cookery talents. Her husband William is another gentleman who selflessly give to church’s ministries. (Think my church is really blessed to have no lacks of model couples). Do we look like mother and daughter? hmm…or some hongkong stars?

And of course, food to fill our hunger. Just managed to capture a few as I was grilled most of the time with a well prepared FAQ.

Group Pic

Last but not least, our group picture with the lovely ladies. Thanks gals for the presents and the wonderful company! You make me feel so loved!