Me in my Museums Photos

To celebrate the International Museum Day, the International Council of Museums has organised a contest titled "Me in my Museum". The ten best entries will win the following prizes – Made for SAM Piggy Bank, Walter Plush Toy, Walter Stationery Set, Shoulder Gusset Bag, Medium Gusset Bag, Liu Kang Abstract Fish Tie Gift Box, Vincent Leow Postcards Set of 6, Patterns of Trade Dual Print Tee, SYSNMH Plushie, ACM Plushie and SAM Plushie.

For more information, check out this site: http://yesterday.sg/announcements/me-in-my-museum-photo-contest/

Hurry! The contest runs till 3 June 2012 only. The closing date for this contest has been extended till 15 Jul 2012.

Yakitori in Singapore

One of my good friends introduced me to a new eating place today! Nanbantei Japanese Restaurant is hidden away inside Far East Plaza, #05-132. It is said to be "one of the longest standing and possible the first Japanese yakitori restaurants around".

I am not quite a lover for meat and it took me some coaxing of myself to be game for the meat items. I was more interested in the skewered vegetables. Then again, the lovely fragrance of the seasoned meat over the charcoal coaxed me to take the challenge to enjoy various kinds of skewered meat such as asparagus maki (asparagus wrapped with pork), shiso maki (pork with shiso leaf) and more.

I like the idea of having to watch the chefs grilling the various skewered food. I am thankful to my friend for choosing the seats at the counter so that we can watch the chefs demonstrating their showmanship of seasoning and grilling the various kinds of meats and vegetables. My friend brought to my attention that the chefs would sprinkle sea salt over the meat to season the meat. The meat is flavoursome and juicy. I like the skewered shitake (mushroom). The skewered ginko nuts were a little on the bitter side for my taste.

Service wise, it was acceptable except that one of the staff had gotten our orders wrong and insisted that we had ordered wrongly. The conclusion that I came up was that the next time we order at Nanbantei, we ought to just point to the item that we had wanted. Our order of "salmon belly"was misheard as "salmon maki".

On the whole, the place has good ventilation and a homely decor. I would consider visiting Nanbantei again if I have friends who would like watching yakitori being skewered while enjoying a variety of yakitori. On my own, I may not visit it too often since it was the skewered meats that stood out and I am not quite a lover for meat. The skewered vegetables were palatable but they were less outstanding compared to the skewered meat.

Here is a tip, we have learnt that it is quite economical to consider the course dinners which is made up of selected number of skewered items and other food items. An average meal here will cost about $20 - $40 per person.

Many thanks to my friend for the recommendations.

Nanbantei Japanese Restaurant
14 Scotts Road
#05-132
Far East Plaza
Singapore
Tel: 6733 5666

Opens Daily.
Please visit its website for the operating hours.

Grateful for a lunch with a good friend at Gobi

The fast pace of urban life makes time with good friends more precious. I am feeling grateful for a comforting lunch with a good friend , JY, at Gobi. It was my first visit to Gobi. My gratitude to  JY for the wonderful company and treat at Gobi. JY has been most kind to lend her ears and support when needed.

Born from the love for desserts and sweet nothings, Gobi is most well-known for its "disturbing delightful desserts". Gobi's desserts, at least the Soufflé with Crème Anglaise that I had tried, are delightful, though I cannot find anything "disturbing" about its desserts. As such, I would like to think that Gobi's tagline is possibly just a way to capture the attention of the dessert lovers.

The grilled vegetable salad was refreshing and the baked miso salmon was served in an interesting fashion with spinach and carrot puree.

The photographs of the food shall remind me of a delightful lunch with a good friend. If you ask me about my reviews, I shall say, go for the souffle. After all, Gobi is known for its desserts.


Gobi
350 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427598
Closed on Mondays.
http://www.gobi.com.sg

The Soul's Urge test

This is a time to do some personality tests, just for the fun of it. Please find the results of a test that I had done easily.

Your Soul's Urge is Joy

You are a truly and naturally happy person. You are always grateful for something. People are drawn to your light hearted spirit. You are very popular without trying to be. You can see the good in almost every person. You don't criticize, condemn, or gossip. You truly embrace life without fears or worries. You hurt like everyone else, you just move on from it more quickly.

What's Your Soul's Urge?

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

Read: The Pocket Therapist

Title: The Pocket Therapist
Author: Therese J. Borchard
Publisher: Center Street, New York (2010)

Easy reading is the best way to describe the book "The Pocket Therapist"  by Therese Borchard. This is a compact book with 144 tools and techniques to help address anxiety, fear, conflicts and difficult situations in life. Perhaps the fact tat the author had the experience of overcoming and managing depression and more helped make the book more credible.

A comforting and engaging read.

To read more of her works, please visit Beyond Blue on Beliefnet.com

Visit the ArtScience Museum before the RMS Titanic ends on 29 Apr 2012

This afternoon, I had the pleasure to visit the ArtScience Museum with one of my good friends as a prelude to her birthday. We were surprised by the long queue at the main lobby of the museum. Most of the visitors were there to catch the exhibition, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. This exhibition will be held at ArtScience Museum till 29 Apr 2012.

A few days ago, on 10 Apr 2012, was the 100th anniversry of the maiden voyage of RMS Titanic. At the time this post is published, it is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Titanic. Perhaps that is why many people are so keen recently to learn about RMS Titanic?

The Exhibition takes visitors through the Ship's conception, construction, sailing day, life on board, the famous iceberg, Titanic's sinking, the discovery of the wreck, while all throughout telling the incredible stories of her passengers and crew.

My favourite sections of the exhibition were those of the recreation of the First class cabin, the Grand staircase, the recreation of the Promenade and the various personal stories of the passengers onboard the fateful RMS Titanic.

Also shown at the ArtScience Museum was Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes External. Lovers of Pop Art will enjoy this exhibition greatly. I like the clarity of the colours used in many of Andy Warhol's screen painting. While I appreciate how Andy Warhol managed to create iconic masterpieces from ubiquitous objects from the popular culture, I find that his works did not impress me as much as the works of Wu Guanzhong and a number of other artists. I suppose I like works that may not look appealing at first glance but have a quality that make them look beautiful with each repeated viewing.

My favourite exhibition at the ArtScience Museum this April would obviously be Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. If you are curious about the real stories behind RMS Titanic, do visit the ArtScience Museum by 29 Apr 2012. Please also read one of my previous posts, Experience Titanic the safe way.

In the meantime, may the passengers who were lost onboard RMS Titanic rest in peace.

ArtScience Museum, Singapore
http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Museum/Whats-On/

Eli Davidson's tips on How to stop being so hard on yourself

One of my good friends shared this article by Eli Davidson, and I have found it a good read:
How to stop being so hard on yourself.

Admittedly, I am an idealist many of the times. I recall that especially during my younger days, I can be hard on myself  at times. Thankfully, over the years. I have learnt some of the tips shared in the article even before I have read it. I have learnt to center myself through taking deep breaths. This is quite a good tip to begin with. So if you are interested, check out this article.

Cheongsam and the changing roles of Singapore women

Are you interested in fashion or cheongsam? Or are you like myself, wondering if cheongsam has influenced the design of some of the clothes or uniforms that you have worn?

Here is a blog on my recent visit to the exhibition, In the Mood for Cheongsam: Modernity and Singapore Women: Cheongsam and the changing roles of Singapore women

In the Mood for Cheongsam: Modernity and Singapore Women
From 28 Mar - 27 Jun 2012, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement
National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road
Singapore 178897

Read: How to Love Yourself in 17 Ways

One of my dear friends shared with me an online article that I find a good read and reminder. This article is by Evelyn, and here's sharing it with you: How to Love Yourself in 17 Ways.

Music bless us all

I write this post with gratitude of the gifts that music and art have bestowed me. Through music and art, I have collaborated with countless creative souls and experienced the value of team-work.

The recent concert that I had played in was a success. The orchestra as a whole has scaled new heights. For myself, it was a humbling experience to continue to learning deeper and more new things from playing music. Reflecting, everyone in the orchestra has journeyed and grew a long way from the first day since the orchestra started preparing for the recent concert.

The title of the concert was Providence. Perhaps life does provide, fate does lead us like an unknown hand to where we ought to? I have no idea. Yet the entire experience to explore the theme of fate in the Fifth Symphony of Tchaikovsky was a humbling one.

Many thanks to family, friends and all well-wishers for your support and encouragement. These mean a lot to me.

Providence by NUS Symphony Orchestra

NUS Symphony Orchestra presents
Providence
24 Mar 2012 (Sat)
7.30 p.m.
School of the Arts, Concert Hall, 1 Zubir Said Drive Singapore 227968
(Nearest MRT stations: Dhoby Ghaut, and Bras Basah)

ORDER YOUR TICKETS NOW FROM http://bit.ly/wontVs

Under the baton of Maestro Lim Soon Lee, the NUS Symphony Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, a majestic work revolving around the theme of fate and providence. The Orchestra will also be joined by teenage violinist Selina Tang, winner of the 2009 National Piano & Violin Competition, on Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major. The evening’s programme also includes Suppé’s Overture to Poet and Peasant, a light-hearted classic bound to thrill and enchant.

Ticket prices: $15 (circle) and $18 (stall)

For enquiries, please e-mail nusso.contact@gmail.com

Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/225770950842248/

Eastern and Oriental Express

Here is a link to a post that is overdue. It aims to share a few photographs and memories of 5 Jun 2011 when the luxury Eastern and Oriental Express train service made its final departure from the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

Bukit Brown Family Day 18 March 2012

Enjoy a special part of Singapore that is a treasure land if we look deeper. SOS Bukit Brown and Nature Society Singapore are co-organizing the Bukit Brown Family Day event on 18 Mar 2012.

Activities include special guided tours:

9.00 a.m. at Sikh Station - Introduction by Catherine (Second tour starts at 9.30 a.m. if there are more than 10 people and follows the same schedule as tour 1)
a) 9.15 a.m.  at group 1 – by Peter (second tour eta 9.45)
b) 9.50 a.m. at group 3 – by Raymond (second tour eta 10.20)
c).10.30 a.m. at group 2 – by Yik Han (second tour 11.00)
d) 11.10 a.m. at group 12 – by Charles, this last station will be capped by a short uphill (easy) to the jewel in crown Ong Sam Leong’s family grave site and group photo. ( the second tour eta 11.50 will be led Catherine and Peter )

For more information, please visit: http://bukitbrown.com/main/?p=2199

Stephanie Dowrick's Ten Tips to take charge and stay calm

One of my favourite writers, Stephanie Dowrick, shared ten tips on how one can take charge and stay calm.

Please find her tips here: http://www.stephaniedowrick.com/?p=2606

One of the tips that I have found useful is this:

2. Ask yourself: “What’s needed right now?” Or, “What would help right now?” When your primitive mind says, “Nothing”, persist. Keep asking: “What memory, what plan, what breathing, what comfort would help right now?” In very bad moments, write down the question and your answer. Keep writing until you have some clarity and less confusion and helplessness. It will also help just to remember that, “This too will pass.” At times when you can’t write, say your helpful phrase over and over like a mantra. This literally soothes. When stuck, imagine what you would say to the person you love best. Say that to your own self.