Have you been to Singapore Quarry? Where?

After having lunch at Bt Timah Food Center we went for an unplanned adventurous trail, Daily Farm Nature Reserve. Unfortunately we couldn't find the place. 2 fellow in their fancy trekking suits told us there is this "Singapore Quarry" nearby... We could have parked our car near the MOE adventure Center and walk the trail all the way to the so-called quarry. However we chose to park at the nearest spot and walked the shortest route. Parked at Jalan Asas behind The Rail Mall and just walked for about 0.7km.
There is basically a very huge piece of rock, a waterbody, a platform, a shelter & very hot weather.

I drove these before

Car is a mode of transport. It's considered luxury in the past but a necessity in where I grown up.
Malaysian usually get our driving license at the age of 17. In the past >10 years, I have driven these cars...

Mazda 323

Perodua Kancil

Perodua Kenari

Daihutsu Materia

Save the Wallet. Cook at Home #2

I love Italian food. So I invested a little bit in herbs & spices such as rosemary (迷迭香), oregano, parsley (荷兰芹) etc. These spices can make wonders. They are relatively expensive in Singapore. 25g bottle is about $4-$5. In the US, 1 tub (15g) cost < U$1. A small amount of spices can bring up the taste very subtly yet sufficient to satisfy your taste buds.
Let's learn how to recognise the spices.
1. Oregano

 2. Rosemary

3. Parsley

Linguini Bolognese...

Steps

1. Boil pasta (of your choice) in hot water with a pinch of salt.

2. While boiling pasta, heat up wok with olive oil.

3. Fry garlic, onion till golden brown.

4. Cook carrot with water. Simmer till softened. Add a little salt if desired.

5. Cook meat for 7-10 minutes then add tomato.

6. Stir in pasta sauce then spices such as grounded oregano & rosemary (optional).

7. Drain pasta and serve on plate together with a generous amount of meat sauce.

Ready to tuck in...

Save the Wallet. Cook at Home #1

It was recommended to eat 2 servings of vegetables & 2 servings of fruits daily.
Other than mixed vegetable economic rice (杂菜饭), we don't really get enough vegetables from other food. A plate of stir-fried vege is easily $6-$8. Extremely overcharged. FYI, 1 packet of vege, enough of 4 person consumption is only about $1-$1.50. So we should cook vege at home.

The simple way to cook vegetable besides stir-frying is to boil it in hot water.
Steps:
1. Boil 2 cups of water in a pot
2. Add a little oil. Salt is optional
3. When boiled, put in vege and cook for 30 sec to 1 min depends on the strength of fire
4. Observe the change of color & remove vege from water when cooked
5. Serve vege with some oyster sauce and minced garlic

Another overcharged dish in Singapore eateries is Bakuteh. Bakuteh is a popular & nutritious soup in Singapore. Usually a bowl is $8. Actually preparation is less complicated then many other hot dishes.
Steps:
1. Boil 6 bowls of water. When boiled put in groundnuts (optional) and coice of Bakuteh sachet
2. Separately boil another pot of clear water
3. Cook meat when clear water is boiled. When meat surface is cooked, transfer meat to Bakuteh soup pot. This is to lock in the freshness of the meat and to avoid the blood from contaminating our Bakuteh.
4. Boil Bakuteh for 15 min. Put in garlic (optional)
5. Turn fire to small and continue to slow boil for 30 min. Heat up before serving.

Note:
To keep overnight in fridge, remove meat from soup to prevent oversoaking. Meat texture will turn hard and coarse.

Somemore furniture needed

2 months after shifted into Clementi, our common room is still not quite done yet. Currently there is a small computer table. A 22" monitor & keyboard occupied 90% of the table. Not enough space to study. We also have 1 super-single bed, 1 bookshelf, 1 rack & 1 clothes hanger.
To make this room complete with more storage space, I need a wardrobe & a chest of drawer. But I afraid these 2 pieces of furniture will make this room smaller. Hopefully can get something suitable from JB again.

Vacation Plan 2011

Tokyo Japan 5D4N, Jan/Feb 2011

Take Tokyo city as base. Roam around the city in trains. At first glance their network is quite complicated. After studying a little bit, it is actually not so intimidating.
Mt. Fuji 1-Day tour. Heard the winter is usually too cold. Tour up to the mountain area might be impossible. So give it a miss :(
booked hotel for 4 nights. Grand Price New Takanawa
Local transport TBD later. Suica & N'EX for 2-way airport transfer.
I wanna eat a lot of japanese food. First at Tsukiji Market then to some departmental store. Verify whether food sampling is truth or myth haha..

Bali, 4D3N Mar 2011
Now everyone can fly to everywhere! My tag line sounds not bad.
Either stay in hotel or a villa, if other friends are going together.
Highlight of this trip would be eat, relax, SPA & massage.
_________________________

Jan - Japan, 30/01 - 03/02
Feb - No plan
Mar - Bali, 18/03 - 21/03
Apr - No plan
May - No plan
Jun - KK Home Trip, 31/05 - 03/06
Jul - No plan
Aug - Taipei, KL Home Trip, 28/08 - 31/08
Sept - No plan
Oct - No plan
Nov - No plan
Dec - No plan

Life after shifted house