Read: When God Winks

This is the book that I have read recently:

When God Winks: How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life
Squire Rushnell
Atria Books

This is quite a heart-warming and thought-provoking book to read. Squire Rushnell's writing style is accessible, and I enjoy his story-telling style of writing.

What is a God Wink?

According to the answer given by Squire Rushnell on http://www.whengodwinks.com is that a god wink "is what some people would call a coincidence, an answered prayer, or simply an experience where you'd say, 'Wow, what are the odds of that!'"

In some ways, I am still thinking about some situations that have occured in my life in the year 2008 and 2009. I wonder if these were God Winks?

Looking forward to 2010

Here is to wish everyone a meaningful year of 2010 that is blesed with good health, hope and joy.



In this post, I would especially like to thank my dearest friend, Mystic, for making time to spend New Year's Day today with me to reflect upon the year 2009 and to look forward to 2010. She has been extremely patient to lend me her ears as I articulated and tried to reflect upon how the year 2009 had been for me.

Before I have written this public post, I wrote a private post to reflect upon how the year 2009 has been for me, and to look forward to the year 2010.

The year 2009 has been a year with lots of challenges and learnings. At the same time, it provided room for growth and progress. I am thankful for the wonderful favours, support and encouragement that the people in my lives have generously given me in the year of 2009.

Looking forward to 2010, I wish I can be patient to wait when it is necessary to wait. I wish I can be more aware to see the signs that could point me to my destiny. I pray for good health for myself and my loved ones. I wish for strength to deal with the challenges that are to come. May I maintain a sense of hope that will see me through even when times should seem dark.

The hunt for the best mashed potato in Singapore, part 60

The quest for the best mashed potato has evolved to such an extent that often when I feel the yearning to send good wishes to my friend, I would often be inspired to look for mashed potato to review. May the best wishes and positive vibes reach my friend.

I was at Bishan on 26 Oct 2009 and I searched the entire Junction 8 for mashed potato. I had tried the one at Cafe Cartel and that seemed to be the only food outlet in Junction 8 that serves mashed potato. So I continued walking and I ended at the food centre (GM Food Centre) that was above the Bishan Bus-interchange.

There was a humble-looking Western food stall named "Robin's food experience". Someone blogged about this stall here.

I found out that the daily potatoes for the day was mashed potato! Of course, I had to order one! Each serving costs $2.

The cook was so lovely that he made mashed potato for me from the very scratch. I have a serving of mashed potato that was made with care and thoughtfulness. The mashed potato has a generally smooth, creamy and fine texture.

The sauce has an interesting colour. My tastebuds sensed that the sauce was made with some kind of vegetable broth added to it. It seemed that there were traces of carrots in it from the colour of the broth. However I can't be certain on this. The sauce was just right: not too salty nor sweet. For its affordable price, this mashed potato is worth checking out. I hope that this stall prosper in terms of its business. Food establishments like this who care about making quality food ought to enjoy good business.

The daily potatoes from Robin's food experience are also served with grilled items.

With this post, I wish my friend to whom this series of posts is dedicated to: thoughtful people who add delights to the day.

***
Robin's food experience
GM Food Centre
Above the Bishan Bus-interchange

A visit to "Quest for Immortality"

For those who are fascinated by the ancient Egyptian world, there is now a special exhibition held at the National Museum of Singapore (22 Dec 2009 - 4 Apr 2010). The exhibition "Quest for Immortality – The World of Ancient Egypt" is presented by the National Museum of Singapore in co-operation with Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Egyptian and Near Eastern Department.

As stated in the publicity, this exhibition "offers an insight to the ancient Egyptian’s attitude to life and the afterlife, and the preparations they made to ensure their transition from earthly existence to immortality."

There are 230 artefacts spanning from 4000 BCE to 950 CE on display. The exhibit shown in the photo right above is a statue of the god Horus and King Horemheb. According to the explanatory notes, "Horemheb was believed to be an earthly incarnation of the god Horus." On the other hand, "Horus, the god of the sky or sun, is depicted with a human boday and the head of a falcon". This statue has a stately aura that caught my eyes. Furthermore, I understand that this is the most expensive artefact in the exhibition in terms of its value.

In the exhibition, visitors will also get to appreciate the process of mummification. There are also mummies of animals and humans on display. I learnt that the English word 'mummy' is derived from medieval Latin 'mumia', a borrowing of the Persian word mūm, which means "bitumen". Because of the blackened skin, bitumen was once thought to be used extensively in ancient Egyptian embalming procedures (source: Wikipedia)".

Non-flash photography is allowed for this exhibition. My personal experiences at the exhibition reminded me that rather than being pre-occupied with taking photographs of the various artefacts, one could see and learn more by taking time to view the various exhibits with his/her own naked eyes. Attending one of the guided tours that will start from 4 Jan 2010 will also be a great help to give one a deeper understanding of the ancient Egyptian's attitudes to life and afterlife. I intend to visit this exhibition for at least a second time.

There is an activity section in this exhibition that will certainly entertain and keep children (and adults) occupied. At this section, one can write one's name using hieroglyphs, which was used in written communication during the Old and Middle Egyptian eras. One can even have a chance to play a few ancient Egyptian indoor games.

On the whole, I like the way that the exhibition was thoughtfully curated and organised. I had wanted to attend one of the Curator's Tours, only to find that all the tickets have been sold out! I reckon that this meant that this exhibition is one that is worth going for.

More information about this information can be found here: http://nationalmuseum.sg/nms/nms_html/index.asp

Many thanks to the National Museum of Singapore and all the parties involved for making this exhibition possible.

The hunt for the best mashed potato in Singapore, part 63

I surfed the internet to look for leads for good mashed potato in Singapore, and found out that Oomphatico serves mashed potato. When I visited Oomphatico on 26 Sep 2009, I ordered the mashed potato with feta.

One serving of this costs $5 before tax. Real mashed potato was used, and its texture is of a fine, smooth and compact nature. The mashed potato has cubes of feta cheese in it. The feta adds a flavoursome tinge of delightful sour taste to the mashed potato dish. Interesting the feta is chewy when chewed, and it melts in the mouth with time. I think the feta went well with the mashed potato in terms of taste, and colour. I think lovers of mashed potato and cheese would like this one for its simple yet sincere presentation and recipe.

After reviewing mashed potato from about 60 different establishment, I felt I needed guidance to learn the necessary vocabulary to better describe the mashed potato that I have eaten. Does anyone know any such experts and could recommend to me please?

In the meantime, to my friend whom this series of posts is dedicated to, I wish you blissful moments each and every day.

***
Oomphatico's
163 Tanglin Road
#01-35 Tanglin Mall
Singapore 247933

http://www.oomphaticos.com

Exploring Singapore with RL

17 Dec 2009, Thu:

This is a special post dedicated to one of my good friends, RL, who has so generously and graciously lend me her time to explore parts of Singapore with me. This kind gesture of hers has helped me put my skills in exploring Singapore to good use.

It was a day that needed a bit more sunshine. We decided to explore East Coast Road and Joo Chiat area. One of the first landmarks that we saw when we were in the area was the Red House Bakery, also known as the Katong Confectionery and Bakery. According to infopedia, the "bakery was a popular breakfast haunt among Singaporeans living in the eastern part of Singapore, dishing out its signature cakes and curry puff." I learnt that this building is put in trust to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) by the great grand-daughter of Hajjah Fatimah. 

Hopefully, one day the Red House Bakery could be restored to its former glory. This building may look humble yet it is precious because it holds the priceless memories of countless people who had made it once their favourite breakfast haunt.

When we were exploring for a shop that was selling pancakes, a drizzle started. We decided to use the opportunity to enjoy a nice bowl of laksa at 328 Katong Laksa stall located at 51 East Coast Road. The laksa tasted delicious, so was the chilli that was served with it. The best part was the hospitality of the gracious lady boss. When yours truly tried to ask if she could please take a photo with me and my friend, the lady boss very gladly agreed. I personally think that she has the sincerity and foresight as a business-lady.

After treating ourselves to Katong laksa, we strolled along the shophouses of East Coast Road. We visited Rumah Kim Choo and Rumah Bebe. Visitors to these two shophouses can clearly experience the rich Peranankan influences when they set foot into these two shophouses. Colourful kuehs greeted us when we were at Rumah Kim Choo.This place also sells nice Nonya dumplings.

There are lots of good food along East Coast Road and Joo Chiat Road. We stopped by the coffeeshop along 125 East Coast Road to treat ourselves to Mary's Corner's Tau Kwa Pau. Tau Kwa Pau is a dish consisting of fried beancurd skin stuffed with various ingredients such as minced meat, egg and cucumber. It certainly looked more delicious eating a Tau Kwa Pau than eating a plain beancurd on its own.

After the meal, we gave ourselves the challenge to walk the long stretch of Joo Chiat Road. One of my intentions was to accompany my friend to check out Kway Guan Huat at 95 Joo Chiat Road in the hope to see the traditional art of making popiah skin. We did not see get to see how the popiah skin were made, but I shall share a photo that I had taken when I was at Kway Guan Huat sometime last year. I simply think it is a fine art to make popiah skin by hand.

The making popiah skins at Kway Guan Huat.

When we were walking along Joo Chiat Road, we couldn't help but check out the various food establishments in the area. I was also admiring the interesting architectural designs on the shophouses in the area. There are some beautiful shophouses along Koon Seng Road that are worth a look.

What has made our tour of the Joo Chiat area complete for my dear friend was our stop-over at the Four Seasons Durian Cafe at 212 Joo Chiat Place. The reason is simply because my dear friend deems herself to be durian obsessed. It would be a challenge to resist fresh durians! Many thanks to my friend for her treat to durians. They were delicious and fresh.

On that very day, RL and I also visited Chinatown and Orchard area. What I appreciate about the day out with RL was the great company in her. We managed to catch up a bit on many things. The sights, good food and lovely places that we had experienced that day, were in my opinion secondary to sharing time to connect with a good friend.

Here, I thank RL for inspiring me in her own ways and for her generosity in exploring parts of Singapore with me. I salute her for her tenacity and endurance for walking hours with me. Thank goodness for wonderful friends like her. I wish her all the best in her endeavours.