Dinner at Sakura - Downtown East

Assorted Sashimi and Scallop
Tim Sum
Raw Prawn Sashimi
Beef Hot Plate

Assorted Dessert cakes

Last night my whole family went to Sakura in Downtown East to celebrate my mom's advance birthday.. I really enjoyed the Sashimi.. tried the prawn sashimi, it was great.. no fishy smell.. and clean.. The scallop was not very fresh.. and the Peking Duck was terrible.. Beef hot plat was good.. The tim sum selection was good and the desert was great.. i tried every cake on the dessert fridge...

P1 Registration - Phrase 2C

On 29 Jul 08.. me and my wife woke up to the sound of knocking door.. it was my mom who come to our place early.. as we need to head down to CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity (OLN) to register for our princess Primary 1... And she is at our place early to help bring our child to kindergarten..

We reach there by 8am... and the CHIJ's students were assembling for national anthem.. we saw majority of the students carrying pink in colour school bag... Anyway they are all girls.. so famine colour is very obvious.. hahaha... and on the walls we can see Disney's little mermaid and Disney's princess posters... my child will love the environment...

By the time we take our queue.. we were already no.15... and many parents starts pouring in after 8.13am.. when our number were called the waiting number shoot up over 30.. We were told by the school administrator that there will be balloting for this Phrase 2C as they got only 88 vacancies left.. and the respond should be good..

Well as of the end of 29 Jul 08.. 77 children already registered.. the registration is still open till 31 jul 08.. and if the numbers of children registered hit more than 88 then the school will exercise balloting.. We have to keep our finger cross...

NATAS Fair is round the corner

NATAS Travel Fair, is coming Friday, 1 AUG 08... I have been busy updating the NATAS promotion fares... My hint to you is that don't wait till NATAS Fair, by now all the travel agencies should have their NATAS Fair rates ready....

During NATAS Travel Fair, public pay $3 entrance fee per person and will be greeted by many part-timers at the entrance giving out A3 brochures and paper bags.. Every travel agencies booth are so crowded that you have to take a queue no...and wait.. During this NATAS Travel Fair period.. you can get the same deal at travel agencies in People's Park area without paying $3 entrance fee and to avoid the crowds...

Due to my experience.. many travel agencies will employ part-timers for this 3 days event.. and part-timers do not have very good product knowledge.. and they will either give you the wrong information or quote you the wrong fares... For good information, you can head to the individual tourism representative booth... They have less crowd and friendly staffs to assist in your enquires...

Yes during NATAS Travel Fair you can get freebies.. eg early bird discount or free gifts etc.. But bear that in mind.. What is more important of getting loads of freebies than quality tours (value for money)?? It is the quality of the tour that makes your trip memorable.. not the freebies (that cost only a few dollars to produce in bulk....)

Many travel agencies will cut down on the places of interests and make it an optional program, give low quality meals, poor grade accommodations and PLENTY of local product shoppings... Make sure you compare the itineraries.. NOT the prices.. So bargain hunters must be very very careful if the tour fare is 30% or 50% less than other travel agencies... (of course more then 50% less is ridiculous).. My blunt advice is.. If you don't have the budget.. then don't travel to expensive destination... a nearby and cheap destinations will do.. Remember, what you need is just only a vacations...

For tour packages, you get what you pay for.. Hope my advise could help you make a better choice and get a value for your money packages during this NATAS Travel Fair

Fried Oyster - Teochew Dish

Last night i was watching the TV variety programme about "Fried Oyster" by our local TV host Zhong Qin.. It was during this programme that i learnt that Fried Oyster was a Teochew dish.. I'm a Teochew myself.. and never in my 35 years of life, my parent mention to me that Fried oyster was a teochew dish.. I had my first fried oyster at Toa Payoh when i was young.. and i do fell in love with it.. but as i grow up.. i was more careful with what i eat that i cut down on oily food.. fried oyster was a very oily dish..

In Singapore it was fried with oil, tapioca flour mixture, eggs and lastly add in the fresh oyster... season with fish sauce.. Served with fish sauce dippings or sour chilli sauce.. Singaporean don't like oyster too well done.. we prefer fresh and juicy oyster...

In china the oyster was mix with the potato flour mixture.. and fried with pork lard (definitely non halah).. then add the egg, turn up the heat.. add fish sauce... and fried till the eggs are crispy.. The result, crispy on the out side.. (crunchy) and soft on the inside.. and the fish sauce does compliment the oyster.... That was perfect... i almost drool in front of my TV..

Wake Up Call

on Thursday night me and my wife gave our nephew a good talk (lecture)... We told him that for the pass 2 months we observes that he did not make any progress at all... We give him a good enviroment for him to study.. (Got his own room, nobody disturb him, good writing desk, buy assignment book for him and a new book shelve)... But never for once we see him self study.. and because he told us that his grand mother has been nagging at him .. so we decided not to nag at him (nagging is not our style).. He did not impose self disiplne on himself..

I told him that he is already way behind everyone.. because he factured his arm and has been on MC for a long time before the mid year exam.. And because he did not take his mid year exam.. his results all flop... We advise him to find friends who are good in academic and willing to teach him.. instead of his current friends who always ask him to play..

Then on Friday he bring his new soccer ball to school.. then to realise that his friends wants to go home and study for their test... Well with the peer disappointment.. he came home and told my wife taht he wanted to strive for As.. and he went to his room, took out his Chinese book and start to study... Now he realise that he is way behind time....

Me and my wife are glad that he finally wakes up.... but unfortunately we have already decided to send him home next month.. But this will be our best "gift" to him, and hopefully he maintain it..

Who to look after my Child??

2 weeks ago my wife told me that she has made up her mind to go back to the work force.. We had talk to my mom to help us to look after our daughter for a few months till my wife's job is stable (after getting confirmation letter).. then we will decide to place her in a childcare or get a domestic maid.. We have decided to send our nephew back to his grandmother place.. he look very disappointed.. but we have no choice.. as he is still not independent enough to look after himself.. and our priority is to keep our self surviving.. Household expenses are rising...

Last week my mom drop a bomb shell saying that we have to wait till my sis-in-law go back to Germany.. and wait till my dad finish his study (course) during the end of the year...before she could look after out daughter... OOH!! my!!.. what has all these got to do to delay our plan? She is again trying to back out.. I have already told my wife to get prepared for it.. Whether my sis-in-law going back to Germany or my dad's studying has got nothing to do with our plan....

I told my wife that we need plan no 2.. Is to engage a maid.. My dad had a big argument with my mom last week regarding this... My dad encourage my wife to go and work, and condemn my mom's decision.. He told my mom that, since my brother's family are in Germany and she got nothing to do.. she should help us out.. by looking after our daughter..

I'm really disappointed with my mom.. we have been seeking for her to help since our child is born, so that my wife could go and work... but she has been refusing.. but then when my brother's child was born she agree to help him to look after his child.. she is so damn unfair.. we are both her sons and we got different treatment.. If she were to help out then all of us could work, and could give her more pocket money.. a "Win win" situation that she refuse to foreseen..

Teddy Bear Clothes

This teddy bear jumper dress was made by me.. Not very good workmanship but.. a good try for a start.. I will work harder to improve my sewing skill...

Chopping vegetable beside rubbish bin

These pics are taken with my mobile phone.. The green in colour bin is the rubbish bin... The location of this food court is at People's Park Centre.. "Chinatown Basement Food Court".. This is a vegetarian stall...

I came across the stall helper cutting his vegetables beside the food court rubbish dupe area... After seeing this.. i never never patronise their stall again... This is super duper unhygienic.. i really hope the environment minister see about it... This stall was run buy some Chinese national.. but was own by the food court boss.... Sometime they prepare their ingredient infornt of their stall and cause lots of mess to the walkway... imagine if someone were to step on the vegetable laying on the floor.. sure slip and fall de..

We have made numerous complaint to the food court but nothing was being done... I urge everyone who read this to boycott this vegetarian stall.. they are very unhygienic and someday, someone will get a food poisoning.. it is matter of time only...

Office internet.. are up and surfing....

Finally finally.. manage to get it solve... my boss brought a new router modem.. and i mange to call Abacus's engineer. and he instruct me step by step to configure the router to their static IP address... and "TAH DAH".. Problem solve....

All long our router modem has been having problem.. it keep disconnecting and we have to turn off and on the power in order to reset.. We always thought the socket is loose.. so brought a extension plug... until.. the old router modem is finally brain dead.... now the old router modem is resting in peace....

Well... i felt a sense of achievement... being a non-IT savvy person.. i do learn a lot during the process of solving the problem.. My boss gave a pat on my back and said "Well Done, Lawrence"....

office internet down....

Well yesterday.. suddenly office Internet and the fax was down.. manage to get Singtel technician to come down.. the fax line was recovered.. but got no connection for Internet... our router modem is connect to firewall and then to the switch... after a few trial and error.. we decided that to change the switch and the router modem..... (It is so nice of the SingTel's technician to lend us his MIO modem for a few days till the problem resolves..

After connecting into a new switch.. only 3 to 4 PC are able get Internet access.. Well no choice.. now all the Abacus flight reservation system cannot connect to Internet.. Today got the Abacus's engineer to help resolve.. but he is unable to resolve.... He don't know what went wrong and was unable to configure the MIO modem to their IP address..

The current scenario now is.. we have decided to via pass the Firewall.. since we have already have firewall in our individual PC.. We connect the router modem to the switch... "Ta Dah!!" only PCs are able to access Internet.. but the rest of the Abacus Flight Reservation System still unable to access Internet... Well now we need to get a new router modem and get Abacus engineer to configure... Hopefully it works...

Anyone got any suggestion??

Keeping finger cross... (Boss feeling the stress as business are effected... and me racing with time to solve it......) Luckily.. today manage to get those prioritise PCs to access Internet... So work could resume...

Had enough over my messy house

Imagine every night after work, so tired.. reach home and discovered that your home just hit by a typhoon.. Oh i'm not referring to Myanmar.. It was the mess that created by the 3 residence of my home... My wife, daughter and nephew... Clothes were laying every where in my nephew's room, toy were lying around the living room (daughter's creation) and my masterbed room's toilet pile with soiled clothes... This sights makes me wanna faint...

I manage to bark at my wife and daughter to clear up their stuffs.. any aliens stuffs lying around the house at where it is not suppose to be.. i will throw it away.. Soon you can see me holding a garbage bag and start throw alien stuffs things into it.. and the 2 ladies in the house rushing like mad to clear their stuffs ahead of me before it ends up in my garbage bag... I spare my nephew.. cos i need to be a bit tactful in handling him.. (Nagging at hime will not help)..

At the beginning i teach him and guide him about my family cultures... especially being tidy.. he is another typhoon... a rebellious teenage... Every morning, when i woke up.. and visit the toilet.. I can see urines on the floor and on the urinal seat... (every morning have to clean it up) so once i told him politely.. "please lift up the urinal seat and aim properly at the urinal." and he nodded his head.. for the next few days .. it was alright.. then came the toilet floor starts to get wet again.. this time.. mixed with a few drops of urine and a few drops of urine.. and slowly... the last few days.. it was urine all over the floor again..

And every morning.. his room is a big mess.. with clothes and underwears all over the room.., bed not pull, newspaper all over the bed, books all over his study desk and drawer not close... He never wash his utensils after taking his breakfast..

He always complaints that he dun have much clothes to wear... and blame my wife for not washing his clothes.. but check on his drawer.. he still got many clothes (i gave him some of my own clothes).. My wife told him off and teach him to wash his own luandry.. but he still leave his luandrys all around the house...

Tonight, i'm going to have a talk with him... He is 14 years old already.. and still behaving like a king in the house.. treating my home as a resort.. and my wife as the housekeeping...

Making Teddy Bear Clothes

On monday i was playing around with my wife's sewing machine.. and manage to sew a dress, a jumper dress and a vest for my 3 teddy bears.. This is the first time i manage to make clothing for my teddy bears.. I really didn't know that i could sew.. But i still lack the skill and the know-how to make clothings... Hope to explore more into it... Is there any site which i could look into? Please recommend... I was planning to make lots and lots of Teddy Bear clothings with all the used clothes at home... See the picture below...

(The picture is for illustration only

Singaporean Dress very Sloppy...

Well i do agree that most Singaporeans don't dress well.. The reason mainly because our weather is too humid.. and dressing down is more comfortable...
But then.. because Singaporeans have a casual waredrobe so that they don't even know how to dress to occasion... When i went to watch a musical play in London.. eveyone dress smartly in formal wear... but went u go to Espanade to watch a musical concert.. you can se many Singaporeans guys wearing jeans and t-shirt.... Even for a wedding reception and dinner... Singaporeans will wear jeans and T-shirt.. During my wedding dinner.. my wife's Japanese director wear smart formal.. Foreigners will dress their best according to occasion..

Many years ago when i join a group of Singapore travel agency's staffs for a familisation trip to Hong Kong... and to my surprise.. some travel agent's staffs wear Bermuda and T-shirt to visit hoteliers.. And the Hong Kong hotelier's sales staffs wore business suit.. (even during summer period)... lucky i got myself prepared.. (i wear shirt and pants)...

Singaporeans, especially Singaporean guys.. should learn how to dress up.. and with proper dress scense for different occassions... (I spare Singaporean ladies.. because majority of them could dress quite well)

Why the birth rates are still low in Singapore?

Recently the news of adapting to Sweden method of increasing birth rates has been the debates for all Singaporeans...

Well i have my own point of view in the following.. Due to the high living expenses in Singapore, both parents have to work and required someone to take care of their child. Those who are lucky manage to get their in-laws or parent to help.. but those who are not so fortunate (like me) have to find alternative like, child care centre.

Child care centre closed at 7pm.. and if parents are late, the child care centre will impose a fine... But due to current economy.. which job does not require you to work a little overtime...? Of course you can't expect to leave your work at 6pm sharp, you boss will think your work load is too little and then the next day, your work load will increase... Worst still.. those working in retail hour (like me) will have a hard time fitting into Child care centre operating hour...

Getting a nanny is too costly.. and of course you never expect nanny to teach your child things like phonics and academics subject... Next. many will think of getting a maid.. You are lucky if your maid is obedient and take care of children well.. If you are not... your maid will abuse your kids.. As for me maids are for doing household chore and they should not take over the role of parents from you... this goes to the nanny too..

Then came the maternity leave.. Most employers still would not employ anyone who is pregnant knowing that after few months into her work she will take long maternity leave.. So those who lost their job during pregnancy.. will find it hard to find a job till her child is born...

Last night i heard a child telling his father "Daddy, why must you work on weekends?" and his dad reply "Because i got lots of work to clear." and the child reply "Daddy, it is so unfair." My heart really broke down after hearing this..

And the last reason.. The financial cost of bringing up a child... Because of our high education standard.. most children have to go for extra enrichment class, in order to catch up.. not to excel... My child K1 spelling is so difficult that she hates studies... (some i can't even read).. think the syllabus is getting more and more difficult.. It is so different from my time K1.. where we only learnt "A, B ,C & 1, 2, 3"... So parent have to spend lots of money in enrichment class as they have to work and don't have the time to teach themselves..

There so many factor to look into if you want to have a child... Of course children will bring extra liveliness in your living room.. but have to sacrifices time for them... How many parents in Singapore could afford to do that while working over time everyday fight for their daily bread in the fast moving corporate world....?

3 China Tourist Missing in Taiwan

Hahaha.. as i was expected.. since the opening up of direct flight from China to Taiwan... already 3 Chinese women are missing in Taiwan.... Taiwan should be prepare for such immigration problems... There will be more china tourist that will go missing.. these tourist are just making used of such opportunites to work in Taiwan.. They will abondon the tour group when opportunity strike.. Most are being pre-arrange before hand and there will be someone to pick them up... In Mandarin we call it "Tiao Fei Ji" - Translate (Jump Aeroplane)

Same thing happen to Indonesian tourist to Korea few years ago.. A group of Indinesian book a tour package and when missing at Korea airport... The tour guide could not find the group execpt for one guy.. and the guy told the tour guide to ignore the missing rest...

One more staff resign...

Already shorthanded.. and one more staff was let off by my boss... This staff is taking part time degree in the evening.. and the company is kind enough to grant him 1 hr off 3 times a week so that he would not be late for his course.. also taking into consideration that in the evening there are more customers.. But he had gone overboard by requesting the comepany to let him work on the day when he is not studying.. we are already short handed and with such request.. the company could not grant him.. so we decided to let him go...

It might be very tight without one more man power.. but we have to bite our teeth and move on.. everyone is so tired now... only 2 staffs per branch is workign everyday and with addition to 2 new staffs from China.. they are still struggling with English and also not to mention some sotong in the company....

Spoil my lunch....

I was having lunch at Hong Lim Hawker Center.. As usual i was enjoying the 4 dishes and 1 rice for S$2.30... plus a cup of Soya milk S$0.70... When i almost finish my lunch.. a mid 40s lady, full of body odor, came and approach me... she was selling tissue, 4 packs for S$1.. Her body odor spoil my meal... i was like almost wanted to vomit out.. but manage to control myself... A women sharing table with me just got up and left the table, in a hurry...

And to make things worst.. this lady who was selling tissue was very rude.. she speak in mandarin "I don't have money to eat, buy my tissue!" she scream. out loud.. i don't know if she is deaf or what.. She sound as if it is my responsible if she got nothing to eat... i don't own her anything...but i got really turn off by her body odor and rudness.. If she is more polite in her approach.. i would buy tissue from her... Thus spoil my lunch...

Review on Bangkok's Hotels

Here is a quick review on Centre Point (Petchburi 15) (4 Stars) and Grande Centre Point (5 Stars)....

Let me start off with Centre Point (Petchburi 15).. When we arrive at the hotel at 9am, the front desk told us that we can only check-in after 2pm.. We registered for our room and head out to Chattuchak weekend market.. by the time is return at about 1pm.. the hotel is kind enough to issue us the room keys.. For security reason, when taking the lift up to our room, we need to slot in the room key before we could press the floor no. Then i realise that my room key could only access to the floor we stay.. superb security.. I even need the room key to access to the swimming pool, jacuzzi and other facilities..

The room was big and spacious.. i took a triple sharing room.. and was given 2 double bed... The room come with attached bathroom with bath tub, mini Hi-Fi, TV, pantry, fridge, hair dryer, generous amount of bath gel, shampoo and body lotion... Staffs are very friendly and there are free flow coffee for hotel guest at the lobby.. Breakfast is good...

I rate 8/10

Grande Centre Point.. a very new, 5 stars hotel.... security is the same as Centre Point (Petchburi 15), that requires the room key to active the lift.. For triple sharing, i got a 1 bedroom suite.. equips with 2 plasma TV, fax, kitchen, utensils, washing machine, writing desk, fridge and mini hi-fi.. The king size double bed and sofa is so cosy and comfy... attached bathroom with a bath tub and a shower stand.....

The free coffee at the lobby is serves with china bone ware.. very impressive.. Breakfast is wonderful, with choice of tim sum, choice of eggs, pastries, juices, cooked food and wonderful spread of fruits...

I rate 9/10

more photos on Bangkok / Pattaya trip

More of our Bangkok trips photos

Coral Island



Nong Nooch Cultural Show







Wat Arun "Temple of Dawn"






Tiger and Pig staying together in Tiger Zoo

Elephant Performce at Nong Nooch Village

Dream World

5D4N Bangkok / Pattaya Tour

Well.. what a tiring trip.. but it is a nice trip... Manage to spends some happy quality moment with my daughter and wife... also manage to bond with my wife's nephew..Here is a quick summary on my trip...

Day 1, we took Tiger Airways departing from Changi Budget Terminal and arrive in Bangkok at 8am.. by the time we reach hotel it was around 9am.. too early to check in.. so we decided to go to Chatukchat Weekend Market.. My daughter is very very tired, need to carry her around... After that we head to Platinum Mall for lunch before check-into the hotel at 2pm.. Centre Point (Petchburi 15) Hotel is convenient.. only walking distance to Pratumun Market.. During shopping at the crowded Pratumun Market, i lost sighted of my wife.. and had to lead both kids back to hotel..

Day 2, we followed the tour to Floating Market, Wat Arun Temple, four facced buddha and Tiger Zoo... Then check into Pattaya's Jomtien Garden Hotel.. This hotel located in Jomtien Beach has not much shopping and lest vibrant then Pattaya Beach..

Day 3, went to Coral Island by speed boat.. My daughter was singing all the way from Pattaya Beach to Coral Island.. Coral Island beach was so beautiful and plenty of sea sports.. Water was crystal clear... The souvenir and shopping in Coral Island are much cheaper than in Pattaya.. my wife really regrets buying her bikini in Jomtien Beach... cos its cheaper in Coral Island... After lunch we dip int the hotel pool before heading to Nong Nooch Village.. The cultural show at Nong Nooch Village is spectacular.. and the elephant show is entertaining...

Day 4, head back to Bangkok... reach Dream World theme park at around 2pm because of heavy traffic jams and heavy down pours... The buffet lunch at Dream World is the worst i ever had during my trip.. the food was terrible and no refill... (Really reminds me of army food at the cook house).. Rest of the day we spend taking photos and rides at Dream World.. I never expect Dream World to be so fun... so worth going... After dinner, we check into Grande Centre Point.. a new 5 stars hotel near to the four facced buddha.. When we step into the hotel lobby, everyone goes "wah....." Grande Centre Point's 1 bedroom suite was so confortable... It was equipped with a kitchen with utensils and a washing machine, 2 Plasma Tv, a Sofa, a fax machine, a bath tub, a shower, a iron board and iron, a safe box and a very comfy King size bed...

Day 5, Almost end of our trip.. did some last minute shoping before heading to the airport for our flight back.. Empty all our Thai Baht for dinner.. Flight was delay for 30 mins... and only reach Singapore at 12.30am...