I was watching Hetty Koes Endang belting out "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" at Siti's Wedding(yes, I watched it) and couldn't help but be awed by her powerful voice. Even without having to go through rehearsal, she proved herself to be a true diva... a legend in her own class.
This was the singer I grew up listening to on roadtrips to Belgium and Italy, the singer whose songs my dad sang and still sings along to alongside Broery Marantika's and other evergreen legend singers. Hearing her sing and LIVE at that too... was definitely a moment for me.
This was the singer I grew up listening to on roadtrips to Belgium and Italy, the singer whose songs my dad sang and still sings along to alongside Broery Marantika's and other evergreen legend singers. Hearing her sing and LIVE at that too... was definitely a moment for me.
"... And baby, every time you touch me, I become a hero
I'll make you safe no matter where you are
And bring you anything you ask for, nothing is above me
I'm shining like a candle in the dark
When you tell me that you love me..."
A week of hols was just not enough! Urgh! Especially when an assignment dateline greeted me heads on 1st thing Monday morning and a test two days following. Another 3 pending next week. I'm on the verge of going nuts!!!
Singapore was great! Extremely different to the late 80's(duhhh la kan!). We took a morning bus from PJ to Singapore with only one pit stop at Tangkak for whomever had to visit the loo. They made it clear that the bus only allowed LIGHT USAGE of their toilet. Anything heavier, R&R baby! Toilet dia kecik gila oke, like if you were slightly on the heavy side like me, you'd have to struggle to even pull your pants down. Thank God at least, I could close the door... with me inside. Complimentary mineral drinks were given as we boarded the bus and they served yummy chicken pies on our way there and nasi goreng ayam on our way back... not bad at all.
Aeroline Bus. The bus is a double decker bus, capable of seating a little more than 20 people on the upper deck and a lounge enough to cater about 6 people. Equipped with a TV and player set, plug points if you bring your laptops or need any cellphones charged as well as free flow of Milo, coffee or tea. It was a pleasant experience(minus the toilet je la), very comfortable seats and 5 hours didn't really seem like it. On our way back from Singapore, we conquered the lounge almost immediately before the makciks hogged it like they did on our way there.
It was about 3pm when we arrived at our long-awaited destination. Got all our stuff off and took a cab to the MRT station and headed on to Pasir Ris at Mun's datuk sedara where Mun and I bunked for the next 4 nights. I was just very impressed how clean Singapore was. I mean, really... when these people say they impose fines, they really do and it shows! Cars on the road are also sparkling clean. I guess it also rubbed off on their hygienic habits. They have schools that probably makes ours look like a run-down shack. Another thing that surprised me was that their school uniforms weren't integrated. Different schools, had different uniforms.
It was about 3pm when we arrived at our long-awaited destination. Got all our stuff off and took a cab to the MRT station and headed on to Pasir Ris at Mun's datuk sedara where Mun and I bunked for the next 4 nights. I was just very impressed how clean Singapore was. I mean, really... when these people say they impose fines, they really do and it shows! Cars on the road are also sparkling clean. I guess it also rubbed off on their hygienic habits. They have schools that probably makes ours look like a run-down shack. Another thing that surprised me was that their school uniforms weren't integrated. Different schools, had different uniforms.
Pasir Ris neighbourhood.
Upon 'checking in' (heee!) and given yummy caramel pudding and cold drinks by our lovely host Aunty Bibah, we set off on our own on our first jalan-jalan cari makan quest. I tell you, I haven't been on public transports as much as I did the whole time I was in Singapore as I would in more than a year here!
Dua orang perempuan sedang melahap!We went to the Whitesands Mall and found a stall in their food court that sold mee rebus and mee siam (sebenarnya dah belasah dulu baru teringat nak amik gambar, hihi). Yummmm! The next few days we shopped, strolled along Orchard Road and of course more makan-makan. I was initially pretty frustrated that halal food is rather scarce in Singapore. You don't see them scattered everywhere like they do here. Unless you know the right places to eat, even better if you have someone to take you, then you're good. Otherwise, quite susah la. You can't even be too sure of the halalness of their fast food joints, except for McD's and L.J Silvers.
Orchard Road kami jejaki!
That night our wonderful host and family friends took us to a nice place in Bedok serving a total fusion of everything you could possibly imagine. It's the place to be! Had fun meeting up with more of Mun's extended cousins, played cards(yes, we were a loud lot) and enjoyed ourselves. The only thing was that the week I was there, Singapore happened to be celebrating their Independence Day. Malls and everywhere else were just filled up to the brim everywhere we went. It was all about red and white-- and cows on the lawn. Someone has to explain that to me, I really don't get the red and white cows, I mean why cows? Bedah!!!
The eatery at simpang Bedok.I'm not sure if they have this at Swensen's here, but we had dessert there and they have this mouth-watering caramel banana-crumble yang sangtlah sedap!
Swensen's banana crumble!When it came, we were kinda disappointed coz it looked so dry and completely unappetizing. Felt like we had been cheated off by the delicious-looking picture on the menu... but when the waitress started adding more pieces of cut caramelized bananas on the sizzling plate and drizzling butterscotch cream sauce over and around the banana-crumble... the universe seemed to have been put to a halt and nothing mattered more than having this delicious thing devoured! Heaven!!!
Took a cab home after buying some stuff at HRC and had a pleasant chat with the cab driver. And then I saw...
Took a cab home after buying some stuff at HRC and had a pleasant chat with the cab driver. And then I saw...
The hospital I was born in... *chokes up*That night we had dinner at... okay I really don't know the name of the place, I can't believe I was so ignorant but we had this yummy mee goreng basah wrapped in daun upih(yes Khayam, that's the name!!). So yea, that was indeed a Singaporean food experience.
Four of us did Sentosa Island the next day and had loadsa fun on the luge ride... twice! It's a go-kart like thingy that you go on in and set down the hill with. Pulling the handle bars towards you works as the brakes and releasing it would determine how fast you go. Best gila racing menuruni bukit! Went to Siloso Beach hoping to do the Flying Trapeze but unfortunately it was closed =(
Four of us did Sentosa Island the next day and had loadsa fun on the luge ride... twice! It's a go-kart like thingy that you go on in and set down the hill with. Pulling the handle bars towards you works as the brakes and releasing it would determine how fast you go. Best gila racing menuruni bukit! Went to Siloso Beach hoping to do the Flying Trapeze but unfortunately it was closed =(
Having a good time at Sentosa Luge & Siloso Beach.We then headed off to Clarke Quay hoping to do the reverse bungee. Would you believe my luck? The damn thing was closed too! Urgh, I came with hope... and now crushed it is. I ended up buying 4 shoes to ease the disappointment(a-uh! no eyes rolling please!). One of them was this lovely pair that I immediately fell in love with the moment I saw it.
*falls in love all over again*
Frustration transformed her into a crazy shoe shopper.
Frustration transformed her into a crazy shoe shopper.Thursday night, Bedah brought us out and belanja us makan! Thanks Bedah! I don't normally get on the same wavelength with people I've just met... but I guess she's exceptional. I'm sure to come back oke, so don't get bored of me just yet :p I still don't get why you said I have that Singaporean look.. and you're not even the first. Maybe my being born there has that effect. Heheh.
On Friday, we took the 4.30pm bus home and arrived PJ at approximately 9.30pm, exhausted.
Ahhhh finally.... home sweet home!
P/S: By the way, for those of you who have yet to watch PGL The Musical, go! A definite must!
Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. --Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book
Ahhhh finally.... home sweet home!
P/S: By the way, for those of you who have yet to watch PGL The Musical, go! A definite must!
Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. --Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book
Helllooo!!! I'm back after a while of no updates. Let's see how long I'm gonna last this time. Heheh.
My parents are back from South Africa, yaaaayyy!!! I miss my mommeee! Them being back also means... lil goodies for mee. Woohoooo! My mom bought some pretty garnet, amethyst and quartz stones of which I plan to make into bracelets and necklaces for the upcoming Raya... then I'm done with the accessories bit... except for a purple bag which I'm gonna have to scout for later. Tahun ni tema purple so the amethyst fits perfectly into the theme. She also bought a pretty black woven hobo bag from Nine West that I've already started carrying around. Sure, it doesn't match Bottega Veneta's but for their outrageously ridiculous price, I'm absolutely delirious with mine.
Upon their short transit at Changi airport, my mom sent me an SMS, "Mak and abah sampai tengah hari. Masak sedap2 tau!" Normally, I don't cook for the whole family coz I always try to run away whenever my mom calls me to help out. Hahah. Also, if she knows that my cooking is rather edible and sometimes pretty good(perasan!), I'm afraid she'd pass the job to me and I won't get to come home to her cooking anymore =(
So yea, I whipped up some pretty easy stuff coz I've been having this crazy craving for sambal daging. Yea, like who the hell craves for that kan? For your info, I'm fine with a different kind of sambal every day. It's my favourite dish. I'm that easy to please. Since I also eat with a passion, I think I need to at least learn quarter of the things I love eating. Quarter pun banyak tau!!!
My parents are back from South Africa, yaaaayyy!!! I miss my mommeee! Them being back also means... lil goodies for mee. Woohoooo! My mom bought some pretty garnet, amethyst and quartz stones of which I plan to make into bracelets and necklaces for the upcoming Raya... then I'm done with the accessories bit... except for a purple bag which I'm gonna have to scout for later. Tahun ni tema purple so the amethyst fits perfectly into the theme. She also bought a pretty black woven hobo bag from Nine West that I've already started carrying around. Sure, it doesn't match Bottega Veneta's but for their outrageously ridiculous price, I'm absolutely delirious with mine.
Upon their short transit at Changi airport, my mom sent me an SMS, "Mak and abah sampai tengah hari. Masak sedap2 tau!" Normally, I don't cook for the whole family coz I always try to run away whenever my mom calls me to help out. Hahah. Also, if she knows that my cooking is rather edible and sometimes pretty good(perasan!), I'm afraid she'd pass the job to me and I won't get to come home to her cooking anymore =(
So yea, I whipped up some pretty easy stuff coz I've been having this crazy craving for sambal daging. Yea, like who the hell craves for that kan? For your info, I'm fine with a different kind of sambal every day. It's my favourite dish. I'm that easy to please. Since I also eat with a passion, I think I need to at least learn quarter of the things I love eating. Quarter pun banyak tau!!!
Sayur campur, sambal daging, ikan merah masak halia, kicap for cicah and udang goreng kunyit --by Chef Naz *cough2!!*.
Speaking of food, I'm off to Singapore tomorrow morning on a jalan-jalan cari makan quest with my best buddy. I'm also gonna pay a visit to Cairnhill Plaza on Cairnhill Road where I was born and grew up in during the first quarter of my life. Other than that, I'm eyeing the reverse bungee and perhaps a lil shopping... if anything is on sale that is coz I heard the Great Singapore Sale is over. So yea, will be there until Friday and I'm ready to stuff myself sillyy already!!! Happy hols to me!!!
No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut. --Channing Pollock
