Happy Halloween 2010!

It has been a while since I last updated my blog.  Since Halloween is just round the corner, this is the best time to update it.

To make things interesting, I've enlisted the help of JibJab to customize a Halloween Rap Song with photos of me, my brother and my friends.  Without further ado, click below for the MTV!

Its a nice addictive MTV Rap eh? Hahaha!!!

I'm dedicating this MTV Rap Song to all my friends, relatives (living or dead) =P and all who see this blog of mine.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

Sucking Blood Away Now...

Kevin Tan

Count Von Dracula... =P

BOO!!!

Wanton Noodles 雲吞面

Another Foodie Review!
This time round, it's located at Pek Kio Food Centre 白桥熟食中心. The foodie review today is this SGD 3.00 only Wanton Noodles 雲吞面 from Soon Kee Wanton Mee 顺记雲吞面. 

Note that the queue at this stall can be horrendously long. Patience my laddie, anything for good food right? LOL.

Anyway, after trying out this noodles, it's definitely worth revisiting again!
So, what are you waiting for? Go try it out!!!

Teochew Bak Chor Noodles 潮州肉脞面

Early this morning, my brother brought me to try out this traditional Teochew Bak Chor Noodles 潮州肉脞面 located at Kim San Leng Coffeeshop 金山岭食搁 behind the Mustafa Shopping Mall.

The stall name was called "Ah Ho's Teochew Kway Teow Mee 亚河潮州粿条面". The look of the stall doesn't seem to be capable of churning out any delectable food;

However, Boy was I wrong! The presentation wasn't something to shout about…BUT the key ingredient that makes this dish so delectable is the Special Belachan (Shrimp Paste) Chili! Yup! Without this chili, the noodles would not be nice at all!

However, it is also worth mentioning that the other ingredients like Fish Balls, Fish Cake Slices, Lean Meat used are also quite fresh especially the fish balls, upon biting into it, one can taste the fresh sweetness of the meat. Overall, a large portion of this meal only cost SGD 3.00! What a wonderful deal!

As I write this entry, my stomach is already growling and yearning for the noodles again. So, dun wait anymore, go ahead and try them now!

Selamat Hari Raya Adilfitri

Selamat Hari Raya Adilfitri!

Friday, September 10, 2010 ~ A day in which our Muslim friends from all over comes together to celebrate the successful ending of the month long Ramadan fasting period.  It is also the celebration of the new year, which our friends shall receive "Green Packets", a green colored paper packet that contains money from their parents and relatives.  So its time to get rich collecting all the money packets!

Here's a little well-wishing banner for all Muslim brothers and sisters out there!

As it is also a Singapore gazetted public holiday and it happens to fall on a Friday, which is tomorrow...  it is also pretty much a LONG WEEKEND for all of us!  So its time to "PARTAY" and enjoy the extra off day!

Cheerios!

ADV: Canon "You Are My Inspiration" TVC

I was just browsing around YouTube and Facebook and saw this TV Commercial from Canon.  The theme was called "You Are My Inspiration", a 2 minute love story.  It has nice music, great shoots and an impressive way of expressing one's love.  Super love it!

Check the video out!

Sushi Tei すし亭 (寿司亭)

Sushi Tei すし亭 Logo

Sushi Tei (すし亭), the name so synonymous with the ideology of the Best Quality Sushi in town.  Sure it was definitely more expensive that other common sushi restaurants in Singapore, but since it came well recommended by my best pal, Wubing , I decided to give it one try while at Raffles City Shopping Center.  Upon arriving, was informed there is a 30 min minimal queue, and was asked to leave my number for them to call me when a table opens up; nonetheless, the availability opens up pretty quick within 10 min.  Not bad at all.

Appetizer Dish - Deep Fried 'Sotong' Tempura ($5.50)  (Score: 5 / 5)

 Comes highly recommended by Wubing, the dish that is supposedly to make you 'fly up to the nine heavens' (飞上九重天)， the squid tempura was ordered first and after trying it out... I must say, I'm definitely convinced, resisted the "flying effect", haha..  What makes this dish so wonderful was the good quality tempura batter, not too oily and crispy and the sotong was tender without being too chewy or mushy.

Grilled Scallops with Mayonnaise ($12/-) (Score: 3.5 / 5)

 Next up, is the Grilled Scallops with Mayonnaise in the picture above; presentation wise - it is not too bad as seen in the picture.  The taste however was abit too fishy for me, maybe not enough lemon juice.  It would have been about 4 out of 5, but the price for this dish is a bit too high and thus knock out another 0.5 score, totaling only 3.5  out of 5.

Assorted Sushi Platter ($18/-) (Score: 4.5 / 5)

Well, nothing much to rave about this Assorted Sushi Platter and my favorite sushi from this platter would be the top row sushi, covered with fish roe.  Nice and Tasty, it sure leaves me smacking my lips over and over again savoring the sweet taste lingering on in my mouth (齿甲留香，回味无穷).  Almost a full 5, but some of the sushi like the bean-curd skin sushi, just plain rice and the skin, that's definitely a disappointment; resulting in a 0.5 point knock off.  Price wise, I guess S$18 bucks for a smacking good assortment of sushi wasn't that unreasonable. =P

Dai Dai Roll with Salmon & Mango ($12/-) (Score: 4 / 5)

 Last dish to go is this Dai Dai Roll with Salmon & Mango at the price of S$12/-.  The presentation of the dish is very aesthetically pleasing and it didn't disappoint my taste expectation as well except for this greenish sauce (Wasabi base) that was drizzled over the roll.  The salmon definitely tasted fresh, the mango just the right ripeness.  I guess the Wasabi base sauce just didn't go down well with me as it seems to sting the sides of my tongue, which is kinda uncomfortable.  (Of well, maybe its only me as the common quote goes:"One Man's Food is Another's Poison." =P).  Anyway, overall I still give this dish a good 4 out of 5, so it is definitely worth a try!

Finally, washing down the meal with unlimited servings of chilled green tea just makes it all seemed so right!  However, the ambiance wasn't really too conducive for a romantic time but more suitable for gathering of friends as the seating arrangements are too close together.

My Overall Grading:

Ambiance = 3 out of 5. (As stated above)

Food = 4.5  out of  5. (As graded above)

Service = 4 out of 5. (Prompt service, but lack of warmth.)

Cost $ = 3.75 out of 5. (Well, two person at a gross of $50, it a bit on the high end!)

Return To Visit (RTV) = YES! (No doubt about it! Need to try out the other items!)

The Hungry Ghosts Festival （中元节）

Every year, between the months of August and September marks one of the biggest scale Chinese tradition observation in Singapore; it is commonly known as The Hungry Ghosts Festival (中元节) or to the European world, the Chinese version of Halloween except instead of just one day where the ghouls roam free, the Chinese version marks an entire lunar month during which the Taoism religion believes the "Gates of Hell (鬼门关)" are thrown open to allow these "good brothers & sisters (好兄弟姐妹)" or "ancestors' spirits (祖先)", who have endured 11 months of hunger and suffering to come up to the mortal realm for a month holiday of solid feasting of food offerings as well as collect "incenses and paper ingots (元宝蜡烛香)" offered by their descendants, so that they may "buy off / bribe" the hell guards for an easier time when they return back to hell.

Incenses and paper ingots (元宝蜡烛香) ~ courtesy of Jerome Wong

It is also during this specific month, where I recall my parents telling us from young what the taboos are, such as:

1.) Do NOT step on or near the burned pile of paper ingots as these represent their currency in the underworld (now, you wouldn't like it if someone steps on your money right?)

2.) Do NOT wander out too late as the 'ghouls' are out roaming the streets as Chinese believes that these ghouls comprises of people who once suffered 'unjust' deaths and are out looking for a living substitute so they may reincarnate).

3.) Do NOT turn your head around if you ever hear 'someone' calling your name.
4.) Do NOT move house (might risk inviting the 'ghouls' into your home).
5.) Do NOT get engaged or married (might risk getting married to a 'ghoul' partner)

Ghoul Couple (鬼夫妻) ~ Courtesy from Google

As a celebratory function manner to entertain these affectionately termed "good brothers & sisters (好兄弟姐妹)"; the Taoism temples or dialect associations will host large scale dinners on tented open fields especially around homeland areas or near their workplaces.  Often at these dinners, there will be an open auction for the dinner attendees to bid on 'lucky items' at ridiculous prices to bring home and naturally, these raised funds are either donated to charity organizations or as operations funds for the temples and associations.

A typical celebratory dinner setting. ~ Courtesy from Google

 Another common sight during the Hungry Ghosts Festival is the traditional Chinese Street Operas, where the performers wore heavy makeups and periodic costumes and acted out opera classics such as Mulian Rescue His Mom (木莲救母) - a filial story of how a son named Mulian stormed Hell to rescue his mother by offering to suffer the punishment on her behalf;

A scene from the play: Mulian Rescue His Mom (木莲救母)
~ Courtesy from Google

Another play one may get to see could be the famous Journey to the West (西游记) - the journey of the Tang Monk (唐僧) to the West to obtain scriptures accompanied by Monkey King Sun Wu Kong (孙悟空)，Piggy (猪八戒) and Sandy (沙僧).

A scene from the play: Journey to the West (西游记)
~ Courtesy from Google

A modern day variation to these street operas is the emergence of modern day Musical Stages or Getai (歌台).  Singers would wear outlandish clothing and belt out modern day songs or performers would do talk shows or comedy gags to entertain the modern day "good brothers & sisters".

Modern Day Getai (歌台) Performers.
~ Courtesy from Google

Now, a point that one must note when attending these performances be it the traditional Chinese Street Operas or modern day Getai is that you will notice always, the first two rows of seats by the front are always left vacant.  These are the VIP Seats (贵宾席) for the "good brothers & sisters (好兄弟姐妹)" and as such are not meant for the living, so remember always, NEVER EVER sit in those seats should you attend these performances!

Lastly, as the Hungry Ghosts Festival draws to a close, believers would prepare one last food, incenses and ingots offerings for the spirits to bring away as the Hell Guards (狱卒) under the command of the two famous Hell Generals, General Fan (范将军) & General Xie (谢将军); commonly known as Black and White Impermanence (黑白无常) will come into the mortal realm to gather the good brothers & sisters back to Hell as well as 'arrest' the deserters (those who refuses to return).

The Black & White Impermanence (黑白无常)
- representing also Peace & Stability (国泰民安) with Wealth & Prosperity （风调雨顺).
~ Courtesy from Google

PS: Images on this blog post are 'Googled' and publicly shared and I do not claim any ownership.

Futuristic News!

Can anyone spot what's wrong with the image below?


If ya spot it right, welcome to futuristic news by Straits Times.
Future 4D or Toto results anyone? Huat ah!!! =P

MOV: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Walt Disney Studios, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub, the creators of the “National Treasure” franchise, present THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE - an innovative and epic comedy adventure about a sorcerer and his hapless apprentice who are swept into the center of an ancient conflict between good and evil.

Balthazar Blake (NICOLAS CAGE) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (ALFRED MOLINA).  Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (JAY BARUCHEL), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé.  The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness.  It'll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE. The screenplay is by Matt Lopez and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story by Matt Lopez and Larry Konner & Mark Rosenthal.

If you are a sorcerer’s apprentice, what would you use your powers for?
If I ever become a sorcerer's apprentice, I would definitely want to master the skills and become one of the defenders against evil powers while having a little R&R from time to time.  Having the power of magic, is a sense of responsibility and quoting from Spiderman - "With great powers, comes greater responsibility."  I think I would definitely use the powers for the greater good of humankind.. lol...

Remember to “Catch The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Movie starting from 22^nd July 2010 and join the Walt Disney Studios Singapore official Facebook and Twitter page!”

Missing Saffie

Looking back, its been some 3 weeks since I last updated my blog since Good Friday.  Just got overwhelmed by too many things going on at the same time.  I wanted to upload some photos of my recent encounters but stupid fluke with iPhoto application, my photos was erased from my iPhone before I could completely transferred it out.  Super Irked!

Anyway, while browsing through some random photos on my Facebook random album, I saw the photos I took for 'Saffie' back then when she first entered my life in September 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back at her photos, ain't her a cutie pie?  I missed her so much, after she departed from my house in late January for a distant relative house who could provide her with all the playmates (fellow doggies) as well as a large place to roam about instead of my small HDB house that does not allow her breed.  Wishing her all the best, and sure hope one day, I'll be able to see her again.  God bless...

Good Friday / Friday before Easter

Good Friday is also known as the Friday before Easter.

We commemorate this day as the day that our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross as he bore all our sins, and gave us peace, salvation, and freedom over death.

He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…he was pierced for our transgressions…crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth…he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken – Isaiah 53:4-8

Therefore, it is important that we must never forget that our God loves the world so much and we must be reminded of this even as, in his dying breath, Jesus forgave those crucifying soldiers - whose care for him extends only to mocking threats and the careful division of his clothes.

Two Good Friday Prayers

Lord,
by shedding his blood for us,
your Son, Jesus Christ,
established the paschal mystery.
In your goodness, make us holy
and watch over us always.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. 

Amen.

Lord,
by the suffering of Christ your Son
you have saved us all from the death
we inherited from sinful Adam.
By the law of nature
we have borne the likeness of his manhood.
May the sanctifying power of grace
help us to put on the likeness of our Lord in heaven
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

The epistles of Paul are a rich source of biblical Good Friday material.

■ Romans 3:21-26 and Romans 5. These passages provide profitable insight on how the death of Christ results in the justification before God of all who believe.

■ 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. In this passage Paul presents the cross as either nonsense or the ultimate answer.

■ 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. This passage from the apostle Paul fairly begs to be preached on Good Friday. Explore what reconciliation means, how it was accomplished through Jesus Christ, and move on to talk about our responsibility in sharing the good news by being “ambassadors for Christ.”

■ Philippians 2:5-13. This passage deals with the humiliation and subsequent exaltation of Christ.

■ Colossians 1:15-23. The subject of these verses is the reconciliation to God of the created order—both the natural world and sinful human beings.

This day, this Friday, is indeed good. On it, our God demonstrated his love for the world and Christ borne our wretched sins. We who now bear his name would do well to treat our sin with similar gravity and the world with similar love. God Bless You.

Touched By An Angel: Episode 406: (The Pact)

Ever since seeing the 100th episode of Touched By An Angel (TBAA), the story Psalm 151 simply reaches out and made me cried in rejoice at the wonders of God.  Going on further, I continued to scoured the Internet for more episodes available and the following is from Season 4 of Touched by An Angel, episode 406 titled The Pact.

Synopsis:

The angels arrive at a camp for HIV positive teenage girls to find two veterans, Nikki (Meagan Good) and Erin (Thora Birch) picking on the "newbies" Melanie (Jade Villalon), Kim (Olivia Hack) and Abby (Ashleigh Aston Moore).  Acting as counselors, the angels get to know the girls and try to help them deal with their fears.  Rafael (Alexis Cruz) speaks to Melanie, learning that her mother died of AIDS when she was a child.  Melanie tells him of the song, "Duermete Nino Lindo" (Hush My Pretty Baby), which her mother used to sing.

Meanwhile, Erin develops a crush on Andrew (John Dye) and is heartbroken when he seemingly rejects her.  Tired of painting the names of past participants, who are no longer alive on a rock known as "the face," Erin talks the other girls into a suicide pact as some way of ending life their own way, without pain or pity.  The girls then steal drugs from the infirmary where Rafael is working and prepare a suicide cocktail.

As the girls all meet at "the face" to go through with the suicide, the angels arrive and Rafael begins playing "Duermete Nino Lindo" and Melanie loses her resolve to kill herself.  As the other girls follow suit, only Nikko remains intent on suicide.  Monica (Roma Downey) appeals to Erin to take the lead and she convinces Nikki to give up the suicide plan.  As all the girls now realize that their best times may lie ahead, the angels lead them in singing "Duermete Nino Lindo"

Without further ado, here are the five clips of Episode 406, enjoy!

The Pact: 1 of 5

The Pact: 2 of 5

The Pact: 3 of 5

The Pact: 4 of 5

The Pact: 5 of 5
 

Hope you all enjoy the episode as much as I do and to sum it all up about God's love; the following is what Monica says to the teenagers when they question why God can't heal them of their diseases.
Abby: "Why doesn't God makes us better?"
Monica: "I know this is hard for you to understand. Many people don't like to hear and that most people can't accept it, but I want you to try, just for a moment.
God is able to heal everything and everyone, he made your bodies and he can heal your bodies from diseases, but your body was created to be the temple to something more precious than physical life; your spirit, the true you, the souls of Nikki, Abby & Erin.  That's where the real life is to be found, and that's what God wants to heal today.
He's so sorry & so sad that this terrible disease may take you from this Earth one day, but nothing, nothing will ever take you away from God."

Touched By An Angel - Episode 100 (Psalm 151)

I was browsing through my DVDs collection and chanced upon my Touched By An Angel DVD season 1 collection, decided to check online if there are any other episodes available online to check for holy inspiration and I chanced upon a recap version of the TBAA 100th episode, titled Psalm 151.  Curious, I played the clip and was very touched by the music, the storyline and the message that nothing is impossible and that God is the one in charge.  The song "Testify to Love" sung by Wynonna Judd who acted as 'Audrey' the mother in the episode was very touching and teaches us that we should always praise God for what He has done for us.

Without further ado, here is the recap clip of the 100th episode of TBAA:

  If you are interested to see the entire episode, the episode is available on YouTube in 5 parts as listed below.  Enjoy the word of God!

Psalm 151: Part 1 of 5

Psalm 151: Part 2 of 5

Psalm 151: Part 3 of 5

Psalm 151: Part 4 of 5

Psalm 151: Part 5 of 5

Song & Lyrics: Testify to Love - Avalon 

God Bless You All! Amen!

Some Great Tips for 2010

Nothing comes close to these great tips for 2010 although its overdue by some 3 months.

Stay Out of Trouble

Aim for greater heights

Stay focused on your job

Exercise to maintain good health

Practice Teamwork

Rely on your partner to watch your back, take your time trusting others

Save for raining days

Rest and Relax

Always take time to smile

Last but not least...

Realize that nothing is impossible!

Have a great remaining 2010!