After Thoughts Part 2

Bread worm


Silk worm


Finally get to taste the worms from the streets of not Bangkok, but Nong Khai. There were other insects available, like, dragonfly(I swear it's dragonfly), grasshopper, some water bug etc. But I was only gamed enough to try the worms.

It was fantastic, surprisingly crunchy and savoury in taste. I especially like the silk worm, which tastes so much like prawns. Very meaty with lots of protein :)

I should try the rest the next time. A pleasant surprise might be in store for me, hee hee.


"It's just a matter of perspective."

After Thoughts Part 1

Just came back from a 3D 2N road trip to Northeastern Thailand. My brother drove us all the way from Bangkok to Phetchabun, Udon Thani, Nong Khai and then to Vientiane. Our final destination was Nong Khai, home of the Naga. We were supposed to see a phenomenon along the Mekong River called the Naga Fire Ball. But we didn't get to see it, after hours and hours of driving up northeast and waiting by the Mekong River. A little disappointed, but, I must say that the sending off of the Kong Ming lantern into the sky was pretty fun and impressive. The locals also displayed fireworks, though small but added to the surrounding atmosphere. Then, from a far distance, you can see krathongs floating from one end of the river to the other end. It would have been a fantastic sight if you were to see it from Laos, which is just opposite of the Mekong.

But through this experience, we know that the controversial Naga Fire Ball could be the real thing. That it isn't staged by people. This phenomenon has been around and witnessed by people from both sides of the Mekong since a hundred years ago. To know more about its history, click here.


"It is not the destination, but the journey, which is so rewarding."

Ah Zhu's Special Bak Chang

Best Bak Chang ever! 2nd helping le.


And my mission is to bring 30 of these delicious bak changs to BKK for my brother and sis-in-law.


Note: Ah Zhu is my Mum.


"What will I do without my Mum's bak chang?"

The Cookie

This is a good one.

A young lady was waiting for her flight in the boarding room of a big airport. As she would need to wait many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a packet of cookies.

She sat down in an armchair, in the VIP room of the airport, to rest and read in peace. Beside the armchair where the packet of cookies lay, a man sat down in the next seat, opened his magazine and started reading.

When she took out the 1st cookie, the man took one also. She felt irritated but said nothing. She just thought:
"What a nerve! If I was in the mood I punch him for daring!"

For each cookie she took, the man took one too. This was infuriating her but she didn't want to cause a scene.

When only one cookie remained, she thought:
"Ah... What would this abusive man do now?"
Then, the man, taking the last cookie, divided it into half, giving her one half.

Ah! That was too much! She was much too angry now! In a huff, she took her book, her things and stormed to the boarding place.

When she sat down in her seat, inside the plane, she looked into her purse to take her glasses, and, to her surprise, her packet of cookies was there, untouched, unopened! She felt so ashamed! She realised that she was wrong... She had forgotten that her cookies were kept in her purse.

The man had divided his cookies with her, without feeling angered or bitter... while she had been very angry, thinking that she was dividing her cookies with him. And now there was no chance to explain herself... nor to apologize.

There are 4 things that you cannot recover.
The stone... after the throw.
The word... after it's said.
The occasion... after the loss.
The time... after it's gone.

Maybe she was just hungry lah...?


"You got your brain very early. Apparently the warranty has run out."

Hello? Rise and Shine

To all singles out there, it's time to break out of your shells and go and meet someone new! Especially those who are not so young anymore, if you still harbor any thoughts of getting married or hitched, then start doing something about yourself! Change your hair style, change your clothes, your shoes, your underwear, anything! The most important thing is to take the first step forward. Then, meet some people, either from your friends, or your friends' friends, or your sisters' friends... you get the idea.

Having said all that, good luck.



"You and only you can make it happen."

We are Minuscule

Someone sent this series of graphics to me yesterday. Thought that it was rather awe-inspiring.

Imagine the size of the Earth when compared to other planets in the Solar System. Well, it seems big enough.


Now compare again.


Well, it's the Solar System, so the Sun should be the biggest, naturally.


But what if it's beyond that System -- the Universe.


You starting to get the picture?


Antares is the 15th brightest star in the sky. It is more than 1000 light years away.
Now how big are you?
And, how big are the things that will upset you today?
Or, for that matter, the things that are important?

KEEP LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE!

Pass it around to all the people you know. It might help someone get a better feel for the important things in his/her life.

Well, I felt a lot better now, knowing how small I am.


"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first."

Kirakishou

Wow. I just found out from one site that the Kirakishou is one of the most expensive Rozen Maiden dolls, costing around 200 to 300, presumably USD. They are limited, only 1000 and sold exclusively through a online Japanese store. I had just checked the site out, and the dolls are sold out! Why didn't I get these dolls while in Japan? WHY WHY WHY????!!!!


"Lolita rules!"

Pullip, Dal Dolls + Rozen Maiden

Suigintou(Mercury Lampe) and Shinku( Reiner Rubin), Pullip.



Suiseiseki(Jade Stern) and Souseiseki(Lapislazuri Stern), Twin Sisters, Pullip.



Barasuishou(Rozenkristall), Pullip.



Hina Ichigo(Klein Beere) and Kanaria(Kanarienvogel), Dal.



And, Kirakishou(?), Pullip.



Actually there are 8 of them, including Kirakishou.

These are the eight dolls from the manga/anime, Rozen Maiden. Don't ask me about the story, you can check it out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rozen_Maiden_characters. Aren't they cute? So pretty and pristine looking. Their faces look different from one another, and the details of the clothing and accessories are meticulously well-made. They are expensive though. One costs about a little over 100SGD and some may be more expensive.

I already have 3 mini pullips, bought from Macau. I should have bought the Suiseiseki doll when I saw it in Hong Kong, costing less than 100 SGD. But that's about the only one that I saw. I am interested in getting the Kirakishou. Seems like this doll/character is pretty much neglected in the anime version.

Interested in Pullip dolls already? Check out this site http://www.magmaheritage.com/Maidenrozen_shinkupullip.html. It's local and they have a sort of museum showcasing Pullip dolls. I have yet to visit there. Was afraid a trip down there will leave a hole in my pocket. Sigh.


"Why are all my hobbies so expensive?"

The Waffle Maker was Down

So, I was in the mood for some waffles after lunch and shopping. We decided to go to Cafe Cartel in Marina Square.



We sat at table 21 and the waiter promptly served us the basket of bread. We browsed the menu, although I already knew what I will be having -- Banana and peach waffles, yum yum. I wrote the number code onto the order chit, and Hubby ordered the Deep-fried pork chops. Hmm, didn't he say he was very full? Hubby then passed the order chit to the waiteress. He returned to tell me that the waffle maker had broken down. You really did not want to see the look on my face at that moment. It was anguish and disappointment all in one. So Strawberry Crepe it shall be.



It looked really nice, wasn't it? Wrong again. The crepe was a disaster. The strawberry jam filling inside was too sweet for my liking. The crepe skin was too hard. I like it soft and fluffy. Think I like the Japan version better. Disappointment again.



But the pork chops that Hubby ordered really looked good. And it's value for money too, less than 14 bucks. Well, at least there is something to cheer about.


"A hungry woman is an angry woman."

Quest for the Ultimate Demi Glace Sauce

We went to Marina Square today for lunch. We had specially chosen a Japanese western restaurant called Waraku because it serves something which me and Hubby like -- the Demi Glace sauce. We just wanted to try out the sauce, so it didn't matter what was on the plate. But we ordered the hamburger steak with demi glace anyways.



For me, just having the hamburger steak was not enough. I was famished. So I ordered another Rice Set, with rice, salad and corn soup. How I loved the salad dressing! I loved the tangy taste, just like what Ma Maison* served. The corn soup was also similar to Ma Maison's, sweet and creamy.



Then finally, the main character arrived. At first glance, I thought that the sauce looked a bit too light-colored. I tasted the sauce on its own. Hmm, not quite what I had imagined. I ate it anyway. The demi glace sauce which we had eaten before in Japan had a meatier taste, but this one tasted too tomato-ish. Also, the color should be a nice, dark brown, definitely not this color. Even Hubby didn't like it. He vowed never to step foot in this restaurant again. It was just too bad. The food wasn't really that bad, but the demi glace sauce is really a very important component in Japanese western food. So too bad, the verdict is written all over my face.



Well, I will not give up just yet. I will continue to look for similar restaurants in SG, in search of my demi glace sauce. Or, could it be, only Japan has the ultimate demi glace sauce?


* Ma Maison is a Japanese western restaurant located in Bugis Junction.


"Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler."

To Bangkok and Beyond!

18 more days before arriving in BKK. I am looking forward to this trip even more than the last time I was there. This trip would be like an adventure of some sort. My sister-in-law will be bringing us to see the Naga fireball, a natural phenomenon that occurs every year along the Mekong river. Then we will cross the border into Laos, for a brief stop. Next up, she is still contacting people who could bring us to see fireflies, where, I'm not so sure.

I also wanted to try some bugs when in BKK, watch muaythai (not sure if this is possible), go Ayutthaya by train and the floating market. And the most important thing of all, is to take great pictures and have fun with Hubby :)



"The best moments are times spent with your loved ones."

What would You Do?

You were being approached by a lady while on your way home. She had a baby in her arms. She then pleaded you to keep her baby. Not knowing where she was from, or whether the baby was really hers, you were quite taken aback. What would you do? The first reaction that came naturally would be: no and walk away. But when you had time to think about it, you felt that you could've done something. You worried for the baby, fearing that you might read about it in the papers the next day. You decided to go and search for the duo, but to no avail.

The question is, what would you have done? What is the right thing to do? Even if you asked me, I'm clueless. Anybody has any ideas? Any numbers to call other than 999?


"Whatever you do could affect the lives of others, positively or negatively."

New Passport

I had been such a moron.
I didn't check my passport's expiry date before I booked the air tickets to Bangkok.

Travel date: 24 Oct to 30 Oct. Passport expiry date: 4 Mar.

Duh? We are supposed to have at least 6 months validity before embarkation. Luckily the process of renewing it is fast, if not expensive. So now, I've got the new Biometric passport, complete with a new photo! Boy, I was trying for years to get rid of that old photo. Hahaha, no more suspecting eyes from the immigration officers from around the world.

Oh, just a reminder from ICA, if you are going for holidays during the peak season, which is from October to the end of the year, be sure to apply for your passports early to avoid the long queue and waiting time.

Hey kids, happy children's day.


"I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce."