We will never see today again

My son Andrew's class in Sec 1, 2010 

          We live in an ever unpredictable world, gone are the days of old, when we would be happy just to have a small flat and a mode of transport like the bus. Then came the MRT,car,  then came the low cost airlines, then came the strengthening of our country's currency, and we suddenly find ourselves to be urbanites, travelling to many once considered far flung and expensive places like Greenland, Norway, Alaska, Uganda, and Namibia for work and play.

          Lest we forget where we have come from, we are reminded by the regular social studies lessons and history lessons which our chilidren learn, and we once again are reminded of our humble past.

         Like the bombings of Boston, or the latest earthquake in Sichuan China, or even the latest death tolls of the H7N9 bird flu. I am constantly reminded of the transience of life, that nothing ever stays the same for long. We need to constantly adapt to the new age, else we slip into job and technology obsolescence. 

        It is always heartening to pull out the old photos of my family and friends, and reminisce the 'good old times'. For they will always be that, happy memories which we will never see or experience anything quite like them.

       So seize the day. 

Boston Marathon April 14th 2013 - a black day for sport

     I read with shock, disbelief and sadness that the iconic and most established of all marathons in the world, the Boston Marathon held just 2 days ago was subject to a terrorist attack, when 2 bombs went off at the finish line killing 2 people and injuring more than a hundred.

    Sport has always been a unifying spectacle and bringing people from all walks on a stage where the best and the brightest will prevail. Of course participating in an event is already an achievement in itself, and to borrow a phrase from John (the Penguin) Bingham, (below) and there are many sporting events worldwide ranging from the Olympics, World Cup, Wimbledon, French Open, Augusta Grand, F1 races around the world, the EPL, La Liga, Bundesliesia. For the runners there are literally hundreds of marathons each year, covering practically every weekend and in many cities both major and minor.

         " Its not that I had the ability to finish well but I had the courage to start" 

So it was with great sadness that the most established and admired marathon in the world, the Boston Marathon was subject to an act of wanton violence.  2 people have been confirmed dead, and over a hundred people injured.

       I myself have dreamed of running Boston, the Holy Grail of all marathoners the world over, but my times have not been good enough. For the 50 to 54 category, you probably need to finish it before 3 hours 30 minutes, something which to me is a 'superhuman time',  a time which I have never done. 

       The people who are behind this act are sensless, despicable individuals with evil intent. 

But then again, the world is getting more and more dangerous with each passing year. I only hope and pray that the people injured will be able to recover speedily.

       We must never let the evil overpower the good intent of humankind. Never.

Australian Fusion Fine Dining - OSIA at Resorts World Sentosa

                               The Iberico Ham with Burata Cheese (airflown specially from Italy)

        Last Saturday, our family celebrated my wife's birthday at Osia, the fine dining restaurant at Resorts World, Sentosa. We tried several of their recommended dishes such as the stone fired bread, iberico ham with burata cheese, grilled squid and the seafood iced sensation for starters. The ham and burata cheese (above picture in white), specially flown in from Italy on the same day, were quite unitque. Grilled octopus or squid was warm, soft and tasteful.The seafood surprise was really surprising, the chef's creation of scallops, prawns, other seafood mixed in a fine puree of fruits such as peach, tomato, longan and beetroot. 

        The location is Osia is at Crockford Tower Level 2, next to the Lake of Dreams outside the Universal Studios. It would be recommended to make a reservation beforehand to avoid disappointment.   

                                        The 2 teenage boys enjoying the fusion food 
 
       For the main course,  we had braised and grilled neck of lamb. It was utterly delicious, very tender (medium rare), with the gravy as well as the mint sauce finely offsetting the heavy strong taste of the lamb. I would say, the strong lamb taste was not overpowering. My wife had the seabream which was grilled and covered with cream.   

       The overall price was about S$ 120 (US$ 100) per person, which included s glass of Australian cabernet sauvingon (Penfold's), quite decently affordable for such high quality dining.  
Singapore is indeed a foodie's paradise, for both food connoiseurs and people with less refined tastebuds (like me)  and we should take the opportunity to sample all the offerings right at our doorstep. 

                                    The grilled and braised neck of lamb was perfecr

Tiong Bahru makeover Part 2

       Located in the street directly off Tiong Bahru called Eng Hoon Street, lies several avant garde bakeries, one is the Tiong Bahru Bakery, next to it is the  Orange Thimble and further down the road is the cake shop called Drips. These represent the 'neuveau cuisine' which is muscling in the TB area, and adding new flavours, smells, sounds, and a whole new category of people, the Western expatriates, the yuppies (young urban professionals) and the jet setters who now descend in droves every weekday and weekend. 

       Started by the smart businesswoman Cynthia Chua and helmed by the famous sous chef, Gontran Cherrier, the place is buzzing everyday with the young and happening crowd.The bakery is known for its classic croissants, quiches and other types of pastries. Everyday easily 1000 croissants are sold. You would be lucky to get a table if you come on the weekends which are choc a bloc with expatriates and locals who come riding, driving, taking the bus or MRT to this 'chi chi' place

      Further down the street is a small cafe called Drips, it serves great pastries together with some mean coffee. There are also bookstores serving drinks, modelling agencies, architect firms, law firms and myriad of small antique shops dotting the area. It makes a walking tour of the district quite interesting.

      So these are the many offerings for Tiong Bahru which is evolving into the better, more eclectic type of small suburb.

Tiong Bahru Market 2013 - a makeover Part 1

Tiong Bahru market, an institution where even the top world renowned chefs and critics like Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson have paid a visit.   

            
        Tiong Bahru market in Telok Blangah is almost as world famous as Newton Circus. Started in 1965 in Kim Tian road, it was a messy mish- mash of hawker stalls in dilapidated single story building with a zinc roof and where the canvas toppings shielded patrons from the harsh sun and rain. It was a fire hazard and very hot, humid and dark just to manouvre between the rows of densely packed stalls. 

          In 2000, the Government decided to upgrade the market and a temporary market was set up in Kim Tian road, for 2 years. In 2003, this spanking new 3 story building was ready for occupation. (See picture above top)

          On the ground floor is the wet market housing everything from fish, poultry, pork, mutton beef, organic or otherwise, vegetables, fruits, and on the outside there are general clothing, jewelry, hardware, mini- supermarket, herbalife, healthcare and even afterlife products (yes hell money and trinkets), acquarium fish, you name it, they have it !  

         On the 2nd floor houses the food centre, where several well known Singapore hawker delicacies can been purchased for about S$ 3 to $5 per bowl or plate. This would be the chee quay, yam cake, chee cheong fun (rice noodle). For noodles, one is spoilt for choice, they have the wanton noodles, fish ball noodles, big prawn (with or without pork ribs) noodles, Malay mee goreng among the 50 odd food stalls. Rice dishes span chicken, roast or braised duck, char siew (pork belly), siew yoke (roast pork), vegetarian rice, Malay nasi lemak and economy rice. Buns, there are several top well known stalls serving char siew pao (bun), Da pao (big bun with minced pork inside), siew mai (pork dumpling), har gao,curry puffs, the range boggles the mind.   

        I dare say you could find every conceivable local hawker delight in Tiong Bahru. 

                    
                Very very good Bak Kut Teh or Pork Rib Pepper Soup at the Coffeeshop nearby                  
               Just beside the TB market lies the Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh. This is a very famous Pork Rib soup where the Pork Ribs are boiled in a specai garlic pepper soup. For about S$ 5, you get a bowl of 3 ribs, add $2 - 4 and you get some small bowls of 'yue tiao' or deep fried flour, groundnuts and salted giam chye. Top that off with a bowl of rice and you are in Singapore hawker heaven !     (See below)

Kuching Laksa, really unique in taste.

        Located in the heart of the business and financial district of Kuching, Sarawak,East Malaysia is this gem of a coffee shop. My colleague Sean and I headed for it this morning on the recommendation of our customer and we were very pleasantly surprised to get a taste of home made, traditional Sarawakian food.

        The Laksa is made using vermicelli,  (thicker than our mee hoon as we Singaporeans know it) fresh caught prawns and the stock which has no coconut milk in it or curry sauce, but in fact is made from five spices, and the famous black pepper of Sarawak. I give this dish a 10 upon 10. So perfect in flavour and texture. 

        It was a very memorable dining experience for me. Additionally, we had fried carrot cake (less the black sauce which is too sweet anyway) and another famous Sarawak dish, the Koh Loh (or long and thin) Mee. Oh, this noodle is 'to die for !'.  Or as they say in Singapore, 'die die must try'. Springy, succulent, and with a hint of fish sauce and other condiments, the noodles come with the char siew, wanton dumplings and some chopped onions. Another fine example of culinary excellence from the small city of Kuching (or Cat) in the Eastern State of Sarawak, of Malaysia.

        Seize the day. Eat Kuching Laksa.     

Our Seniors are Our Gold Class Assets

      
                                            

       Every other week, we are hearing about one small country after another in Europe getting into big financial mess due to overborrowing of their banks and Governments getting into the act by relaxing mortgage loan limits to their populations hence leading to a housing bubble which is moving far and beyond the reach of the ordinary citizenry through work and investments. Countries in the EU which have gone bankrupt are almost reaching double figures and the number count is sure to get higher and higher.  If anything, it goes to show that a democratic system coupled with generous welfarism is a slow slide downhill to financial ruin for a country. 

        The key to economic progress is about balancing the budget deficit, incurring small or little foreign debt, as well as encouraging foreign direct investment or churning enough money to drive the economy every year to growth. Singapore through years and years of frugal and prudent financial policies has grown from strength to strength to be one of the highest earning per capita countries in the world today with almost zero foreign debt, and a corruption free Government with strong GLCs, safe streets, clean air and strong currency. We have one of the largest foreign reserves in the world, a world class city and enviable lifestyle - if one can afford it. 

      Yet, people are unhappy with many aspects of our society and some of our Government policies are seen as elitist. True, no Government can please everyone, but first and foremost, the citizens who have given so much to the Nation building of this country must be given their due recognition.

     The lack of social safety net has always been a big issue with Singaporeans. Furthermore the 'no retirement' concept bandied around surely has few supporters. Many visitors who come to Singapore while impressed by the infrastructure are taken aback by the number of elderly folk doing menial and mundane jobs such as trolley stacking, toilet cleaning and taxi marshalling. Surely, these fine people in their golden years would rather be in the community centres, hawker centres or gyms enjoying the fruits of their earlier savings ? 

     It begs the question, has costs of living skyrocketed so fast and high that these people have no choice but to work until the last days of their lives ? Yes, some choose to work, but for many, it is a Hobson's choice, or no choice at all.

    Somehow, some policies must change to help these Singaporeans. Be it through food stamps, serving with dignity in social enterprises or paying these grandfathers and grandmothers token sums to help out in kindergartens, schools and in the canteens of polytechnics. A hybrid of welfare handouts should be implemented which errs on the side of compassion and not coldly calculating civil servants checking every cent in one's bank accounts before some limited payout is made. People young and old have pride and feelings too. 

    They deserve our support and respect. They have earned it, although they may not be aware, but our country is moving fast forward with nary a thought of 'those left behind', 

     

4 1/2 years ago in Bangkok - 2008

                                           Barricades outside Thailand Government House

      How time flies !  4 1/2 years ago, we had a thriving business in Thailand distributing test equipment from Germany. Now, we are distributing test equipment from Korea into Thailand, and although the going has been a little slow, I see tremendous upside to the future.

       During one of my trips in 2008, my then Sales Manager Tawatchai, brought me to witness firsthand People Politics in action. The "Yellow Shirts" or the popular movement helmed by several maverick businesspeople and tycoons decided to camp their supporters in the very Government House where the Puea Thai Party was holding office - or had the majority of the MPs in the Government. The then Prime Minister was a Mr. Somchai, who happened to be the brother-in-law of the ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was deposed in a coup de'tat.   

     The fractious nature of Thai politics while very interesting to watch from afar, has been ongoing for the last 6 to 7 years ever since Thaksin's Government was deposed. The current Government is run by his sister Yingluck who helms both the Puea Thai party and is the current Prime Minister democratically elected.

      I managed to sneak in to the protestors camp to take a look inside and it was a carnival. Lots of protestors had plenty of food, drink, and were entertained daily by numerous speeches fiery as well as entertaining and the camp-in occured for 4 months before, the situation took a turn for the worse in November 2008. The Yellow Shirts seized the 2 airports and there was fighting on the streets as the coup took effect. The Government was forced to resign,the whole country was in a state of shock as practically millions of visitors were denied exit and entry to Thailand for 7 days.

       It was a dramatic time for Thailand. 

   

Our excellent chicken rice - One of Singapore's National Dishes

Meritus Mandarin's Chatterbox Chicken Rice is a 

' die die must try dish'

        That Singapore is a foodie's paradise is without a doubt, we have so many great food establishments from Western to Oriental that one can literally sample the best of the world's cuisise at world class restaurants with Michelin stars to humble hawker fare serving fantastic local dishes in a span of 5 days.

        Here is the world famous Hainanese Chicken Rice. Made famous by Mandarin Hotel's Chatterbox cafe. The chicken is boiled for several hours and the pieces of meat are moist and soft, giving the impression that it melts in your mouth. Condiments like the Chllli sauce, Black sauce and finely ground ginger accentuate the taste. The chicken rice is also specially prepared with the sesame oil mixed into the rice to give it the unique flavour.

       The price for a set meal at Mandarin's Chatterbox is a pricey S$ 27 ++ (US$ 25) making it a gourmet meal on par with many Western dishes in terms of price. 

      Give me my Chicken Rice any day !!