Day 362
30th July 2011
Will be taking the midnight flight to Fukuoka to meet Zhi tonight! Really excited about going to Japan but it's a full flight and there'll be no room for me to zzz on the plane. sob sob..Went to the dentist again this morning for a check-up and he said the gum is still healing, it'll probably take another 3 weeks for it to heal completely. I'm praying very very hard that I can get an upgrade tonight!! I don't want to start my Japan trip with a swollen gum!!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Meet-up with Mummy and MP
Day 360
28th July 2011
28th July 2011
Time flies. I've been back in SG for 10 days already but I don't seem to have done anything much during the last 10 days. I've yet to go for my facial, massage and retail therapy and I blame it on the damn wisdom tooth. The dental visits, surgery and recovery took up so much of my precious time. It seems like there's still some swelling but it could also be due to the fact that I've put on weight. I'm fat, period. Had dinner with Mummy and MP @ 313 Somerset today and our dinner lasted for more than 3 hours. It was GREAT spending time with them! :) 2 more days and I'll be flying off to meet Zhi and I can't wait to see her!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
弟弟毕业咯！
Day 358
26th July 2011
26th July 2011
Today is another proud moment for Papa Goh, Mama Goh and Guma!
Mama Goh took leave, Papa Goh, Guma and Mei took half day leave and Xiaogu knocked off promptly.
It's all because of one person - BRO! 弟弟毕业咯！
After 4 years of hard work and slogging, he's made it!
Congrats Bro! I'm so so proud of you!
Now work hard and build your career!
I'll be supporting you ALL THE WAY! :)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Family Day!
Day 356
24th July 2011
The right side of my face is SWOLLEN. It looks as if I have a fishball, a very big one, in my mouth. But I still went for dim sum with Papa and Mama Goh, Bro, Guma, Jie, Jiefu and Ting Ting at Crystal Jade. It's the last Sunday that I have. Will be in Japan for the next 2 Sundays and then I'll be going back to Melbourne. Time flies. I've been back for a week already and I'm flying off to Japan next Saturday night. Sigh. Now that I'm back, I just want to spend more time with them.
Anyway, my face is so swollen that I get stares from strangers as I walked around Vivocity this afternoon. I can't bite or chew very well so I avoided all fried stuff but I still managed to eat most of the dim sum. Food was average but the service was rather bad. A few of our food items were left out and did not arrive until we were about to leave. The waiting time between dishes was too long. The guys were full from the waiting and needless to say, Papa Goh was still feeling hungry after dim sum.
Suggested to go Clementi Food Centre for some food since Papa and Mama Goh have never been there before. Papa Goh had a bowl of wanton noodles, some satay and swee kueh. The food was good, even Papa Goh felt that it was good, perhaps because I'm there. Haha. It was nice spending time with them. Mama Goh said she'll take a few days off before I go back to Melbourne to go shopping with me. Now I'm thinking of coming back again in December. It's always difficult to say goodbye to your loved ones. Sigh.
Jie and Jiefu brought Ting Ting to our place for dinner and it's great to have dinner with all of them. I can't eat much, I can't talk much but it's the company that matters most to me. Nothing beats having your family around you. I can't wait to be home......
24th July 2011
The right side of my face is SWOLLEN. It looks as if I have a fishball, a very big one, in my mouth. But I still went for dim sum with Papa and Mama Goh, Bro, Guma, Jie, Jiefu and Ting Ting at Crystal Jade. It's the last Sunday that I have. Will be in Japan for the next 2 Sundays and then I'll be going back to Melbourne. Time flies. I've been back for a week already and I'm flying off to Japan next Saturday night. Sigh. Now that I'm back, I just want to spend more time with them.
Anyway, my face is so swollen that I get stares from strangers as I walked around Vivocity this afternoon. I can't bite or chew very well so I avoided all fried stuff but I still managed to eat most of the dim sum. Food was average but the service was rather bad. A few of our food items were left out and did not arrive until we were about to leave. The waiting time between dishes was too long. The guys were full from the waiting and needless to say, Papa Goh was still feeling hungry after dim sum.
Suggested to go Clementi Food Centre for some food since Papa and Mama Goh have never been there before. Papa Goh had a bowl of wanton noodles, some satay and swee kueh. The food was good, even Papa Goh felt that it was good, perhaps because I'm there. Haha. It was nice spending time with them. Mama Goh said she'll take a few days off before I go back to Melbourne to go shopping with me. Now I'm thinking of coming back again in December. It's always difficult to say goodbye to your loved ones. Sigh.
Jie and Jiefu brought Ting Ting to our place for dinner and it's great to have dinner with all of them. I can't eat much, I can't talk much but it's the company that matters most to me. Nothing beats having your family around you. I can't wait to be home......
Saturday, July 23, 2011
In Pain......
Day 355
23rd July 2011
Met the anesthesiologist at the lift lobby and he patiently explained the process to me in the lift as made our way to the clinic. Mr Tan was already waiting for me at the clinic when I reached there. Was whisked into the operating chair and I was getting nervous. The anesthesiologist tried to chat with me to put me at ease. After the injection to my hand, I was given the oxygen to breathe and the moment it was put on, I was knocked out! The next thing I know, the surgery is done! The nurse woke me up and escorted me over to the waiting room. Dr Goh came to check on me and assured me that everything went on smoothly. Total cost? $1600 and only half of it will come from Medisave. Expensive surgery. The GA cost $630. Now I know how the anesthesiologist can afford his BMW 7 Series.
The area was still numb and I went back to DQ. The concert was already over but I just wanted to pop by to see the booths and also to catch up with friends. Met Mrs Loh and Serene there too! Think some of the retired teachers went back too. A reunion of sorts. :) Heard that the concert was wonderful and really spectacular! Congrats teachers! Your hard work paid off handsomely!
Left after a while as the anesthesia was starting to wear off and I'm beginning to feel pain. Wanted to help Mr Tan's brother with the moving of his house today but I was in too much pain and just wanted to go home. I slept for the next 5 hours and just woke up for my porridge. The right side of my face is swollen and the inside is so painful. I don't even know what is causing the pain but it's just so painful. sob sob. :(
23rd July 2011
Met the anesthesiologist at the lift lobby and he patiently explained the process to me in the lift as made our way to the clinic. Mr Tan was already waiting for me at the clinic when I reached there. Was whisked into the operating chair and I was getting nervous. The anesthesiologist tried to chat with me to put me at ease. After the injection to my hand, I was given the oxygen to breathe and the moment it was put on, I was knocked out! The next thing I know, the surgery is done! The nurse woke me up and escorted me over to the waiting room. Dr Goh came to check on me and assured me that everything went on smoothly. Total cost? $1600 and only half of it will come from Medisave. Expensive surgery. The GA cost $630. Now I know how the anesthesiologist can afford his BMW 7 Series.
The area was still numb and I went back to DQ. The concert was already over but I just wanted to pop by to see the booths and also to catch up with friends. Met Mrs Loh and Serene there too! Think some of the retired teachers went back too. A reunion of sorts. :) Heard that the concert was wonderful and really spectacular! Congrats teachers! Your hard work paid off handsomely!
Left after a while as the anesthesia was starting to wear off and I'm beginning to feel pain. Wanted to help Mr Tan's brother with the moving of his house today but I was in too much pain and just wanted to go home. I slept for the next 5 hours and just woke up for my porridge. The right side of my face is swollen and the inside is so painful. I don't even know what is causing the pain but it's just so painful. sob sob. :(
Miscommunication ruins the day
Day 354
22nd July 2011
Was supposed to do my surgery today but had to postpone it because of some miscommunication. I called the clinic this morning to say that I would be opting for local anesthesia and thought that there won't be a need to fast since I'm going for LA. So I had a very satisfying and full meal with Mr Tan at 2pm. I'm so enjoying SG's food. I can feel my pants getting tighter by the day. Damn.
After lunch, Mr Tan accompanied me to the clinic - the same clinic that Bro went to last year to extract 8 of his teeth - for the surgery. Mama Goh wanted to come along but I told her not to in case she wants to pay for it. This trip home has been an extremely expensive one for me. The house, the Japan trip and this surgery. My savings are depleting fast! Anyway, I reached the clinic at 330pm and saw the dentist - Dr Shaun Goh, at 4pm. He explained the extraction process, which included cutting, sawing, drilling and sewing and advised me to go for general anesthesia. But I DIDN'T fast!!! Sigh. There's no way I can go under GA if I didn't fast. The surgery had to be postponed. This means I can't be in school tomorrow for our 30th anniversary. Not happy! Not happy!
Called MP and Rosiah numerous times to see if they are in school so that I can go help them out. Wanted to go back before my surgery but Rosiah didn't reply. Called her after my dentist visit but she still didn't pick up. Eventually, I decided to just try my luck and head back to school after going home for a change of clothes. Thankfully they were still in school but most of the stuff were done and there's nothing left for me to do. Gave Mrs Singh a big big hug when I saw her. Hugs have become my way of saying "hi" these days. I like being hugged! :) Sadly, I won't be able to be in school tomorrow to help Rosiah out. I will be going in the morning before my surgery to help her out and hopefully I would be conscious enough after the surgery to help her again. Spending time with her and MP makes me happy. :) I miss my friends, I miss my life.
22nd July 2011
Was supposed to do my surgery today but had to postpone it because of some miscommunication. I called the clinic this morning to say that I would be opting for local anesthesia and thought that there won't be a need to fast since I'm going for LA. So I had a very satisfying and full meal with Mr Tan at 2pm. I'm so enjoying SG's food. I can feel my pants getting tighter by the day. Damn.
After lunch, Mr Tan accompanied me to the clinic - the same clinic that Bro went to last year to extract 8 of his teeth - for the surgery. Mama Goh wanted to come along but I told her not to in case she wants to pay for it. This trip home has been an extremely expensive one for me. The house, the Japan trip and this surgery. My savings are depleting fast! Anyway, I reached the clinic at 330pm and saw the dentist - Dr Shaun Goh, at 4pm. He explained the extraction process, which included cutting, sawing, drilling and sewing and advised me to go for general anesthesia. But I DIDN'T fast!!! Sigh. There's no way I can go under GA if I didn't fast. The surgery had to be postponed. This means I can't be in school tomorrow for our 30th anniversary. Not happy! Not happy!
Called MP and Rosiah numerous times to see if they are in school so that I can go help them out. Wanted to go back before my surgery but Rosiah didn't reply. Called her after my dentist visit but she still didn't pick up. Eventually, I decided to just try my luck and head back to school after going home for a change of clothes. Thankfully they were still in school but most of the stuff were done and there's nothing left for me to do. Gave Mrs Singh a big big hug when I saw her. Hugs have become my way of saying "hi" these days. I like being hugged! :) Sadly, I won't be able to be in school tomorrow to help Rosiah out. I will be going in the morning before my surgery to help her out and hopefully I would be conscious enough after the surgery to help her again. Spending time with her and MP makes me happy. :) I miss my friends, I miss my life.
Friday, July 22, 2011
My Second Home
Day 353
21st July 2011
Went back to my 2nd home today. It feels great to be back although things have changed quite abit. New faces, new initiatives and new relationships. Thankfully, the people I care about dearly are still the same. :)
21st July 2011
Went back to my 2nd home today. It feels great to be back although things have changed quite abit. New faces, new initiatives and new relationships. Thankfully, the people I care about dearly are still the same. :)
Everyone is super busy with the preparations for this Saturday's big event - DQPS's 30th Anniversary cum Open House. Not sure if I'll be able to be there this Saturday (dreaded wisdom tooth surgery on Friday) but I do hope I'll be able to make it to help out. It was nice catching up with friends even though they said I've put on weight. Sigh. I tried to lose it but it's just so difficult to continue my diet when I'm here. There's yummy food everywhere! After this, there's Japan. I guess I can only resume my diet when I return to Melbourne. I seriously need to lose weight.
But something else made my day today. A gift from Caihe and Baohe. It's not the present that's important, it's the thought that really made my day. Caihe came back to school last year during Teachers' Day with the intention of passing me the gift but I was already in Melbourne then so the office kept it for me. He also came back the year before to give me a gift on Teachers' Day. That's how sweet he is.
Students are taught by new teachers every year and usually they only remember their Primary 6 teachers. I teach the lower primary students and chances are by the time they get to P6, they can vaguely remember I was once their teacher. Words can't express how warm and touched I felt when I received Caihe's gift the year before and today again. The year before, I also received Song Yien's (another ex-student) gift on Teachers' Day. She got her sister to pass it to me and it totally made my day. To be remembered and appreciated by the students is the best gift I can ever ask for. Thank you for making me feel special. :)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
OMG! It's not an EXTRACTION, It's an OPERATION!
Day 352
Mama Goh called Dr Eric Ong early this morning to try and book an appointment today for my wisdom tooth extraction. Not sure how she managed to convince the nurse to slot me in today, but she did it! Way to go, Mama Goh!
We used to visit Dr Ong when we were younger as it was near our old shophouse. He was the dentist who extracted my "tiger teeth". After the extraction, there were gaps between my teeth and I thought I should put on dental braces to align and position my teeth but who would have thought that Dr Ong would turn down my business? He actually convinced Mama Goh that I don't have to wear braces as I'm still very young and my teeth would move themselves into place over time, it might not be perfect but they would be fine. Well, he was actually right. It has been 8 years since I last stepped into his clinic. :)
My teeth aren't in the best shape. He found 2 decaying teeth and had to fix them. It was rather uncomfortable as he fixed them but that wasn't the bad news. After taking the x-ray of my teeth, he dropped the bombshell. My lower wisdom tooth cannot be extracted normally, it has to be extracted through an operation as it's growing horizontally. When I told Dr Ong that the dentist yesterday wanted to do an extraction, he was taken aback. He looked at my tooth again and said it's impossible to do a normal extraction when the tooth is in this position. I told him that I'm leaving for Japan at the end of next week and given the tight timeline, he said it's best for me to do the operation this week so that there's enough time for the wound to heal before I fly.
The appointment has been fixed for Friday at 4pm. I hope I'll be able to eat by Sunday. It's the last Sunday that I have to spend with my family. I've already booked a dim sum session. What a way to spend my holiday....
Mama Goh called Dr Eric Ong early this morning to try and book an appointment today for my wisdom tooth extraction. Not sure how she managed to convince the nurse to slot me in today, but she did it! Way to go, Mama Goh!
We used to visit Dr Ong when we were younger as it was near our old shophouse. He was the dentist who extracted my "tiger teeth". After the extraction, there were gaps between my teeth and I thought I should put on dental braces to align and position my teeth but who would have thought that Dr Ong would turn down my business? He actually convinced Mama Goh that I don't have to wear braces as I'm still very young and my teeth would move themselves into place over time, it might not be perfect but they would be fine. Well, he was actually right. It has been 8 years since I last stepped into his clinic. :)
My teeth aren't in the best shape. He found 2 decaying teeth and had to fix them. It was rather uncomfortable as he fixed them but that wasn't the bad news. After taking the x-ray of my teeth, he dropped the bombshell. My lower wisdom tooth cannot be extracted normally, it has to be extracted through an operation as it's growing horizontally. When I told Dr Ong that the dentist yesterday wanted to do an extraction, he was taken aback. He looked at my tooth again and said it's impossible to do a normal extraction when the tooth is in this position. I told him that I'm leaving for Japan at the end of next week and given the tight timeline, he said it's best for me to do the operation this week so that there's enough time for the wound to heal before I fly.
The appointment has been fixed for Friday at 4pm. I hope I'll be able to eat by Sunday. It's the last Sunday that I have to spend with my family. I've already booked a dim sum session. What a way to spend my holiday....
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Angry Gin!
Day 351
19th July 2011
Bought a new hi-card but I'm unable to use it! Mr Tan said he thought he had called 3 previously to request for it but I guess he had remembered wrongly. I feel so handicapped without a phone!! But that's not the thing that made me blow my top today.
I went to the dentist today to book an appointment for the extraction of my wisdom tooth and was told by the nurse that I can actually do it today! The dentist is free this afternoon and I would be able to see him in half an hour's time. I wasn't mentally prepared for it but well, it has to be extracted anyway and thus I went for it. Had my lunch and waited for half an hour in my car before returning to the clinic. It was now packed but the nurse told me I'm the next in line. I waited for 30 minutes before it was my turn.
I only wanted to extract the lower wisdom tooth but the dentist convinced me to extract the upper one as well for peace of mind. Fine. I was given local anesthetic twice to numb the upper and lower area. Then I was told to wait in the waiting area for 10-15 mins for the anesthesia to kick in before the dentist will extract my teeth. I waited and waited and waited and waited. The four patients who came after me went in for tooth extraction, filling of teeth, cleaning of teeth and I'm still sitting there waiting for my turn. I waited for over an hour and I was getting furstrated. I asked the nurse again and again and she kept saying, it'll be my turn soon.
Then, she passed me the Medisave form to fill in so that I can withdraw money from it for my extraction. I asked her how much was my extraction and she said it'll cost $200 for the lower wisdom tooth and $880 for the upper one! I told hter that's really expensive and I only paid $600 when I extracted my upper tooth perviously. Guess what she said? "Oh, now CPF allows up to $1280 for the wisdom tooth extraction, so don't worry about the cost. You can still claim. Actually you cannot claim for the lower one, but because you are extracting the upper one, we'll just write it in together." Can't claim for the extraction of the lower wisdom tooth? It makes no sense at all but now I know why they increased the prices and why the dentist told me to extract the upper one as well. I completed the form and handed it back to her and went back to my seat to WAIT again.
Then, she asked the fifth patient who came after me to go into the room and that was the last straw. I told her I'm not waiting anymore. I went to the washroom to wash my face and rinsed my mouth. Then I stormed out of the clinic without paying a single cent. I WAS INFURIATED. I WAS SUPER PISSED. No matter how good his skills are, I swear I'm NEVER stepping into the clinic again. NEVER EVER AGAIN.
19th July 2011
Bought a new hi-card but I'm unable to use it! Mr Tan said he thought he had called 3 previously to request for it but I guess he had remembered wrongly. I feel so handicapped without a phone!! But that's not the thing that made me blow my top today.
I went to the dentist today to book an appointment for the extraction of my wisdom tooth and was told by the nurse that I can actually do it today! The dentist is free this afternoon and I would be able to see him in half an hour's time. I wasn't mentally prepared for it but well, it has to be extracted anyway and thus I went for it. Had my lunch and waited for half an hour in my car before returning to the clinic. It was now packed but the nurse told me I'm the next in line. I waited for 30 minutes before it was my turn.
I only wanted to extract the lower wisdom tooth but the dentist convinced me to extract the upper one as well for peace of mind. Fine. I was given local anesthetic twice to numb the upper and lower area. Then I was told to wait in the waiting area for 10-15 mins for the anesthesia to kick in before the dentist will extract my teeth. I waited and waited and waited and waited. The four patients who came after me went in for tooth extraction, filling of teeth, cleaning of teeth and I'm still sitting there waiting for my turn. I waited for over an hour and I was getting furstrated. I asked the nurse again and again and she kept saying, it'll be my turn soon.
Then, she passed me the Medisave form to fill in so that I can withdraw money from it for my extraction. I asked her how much was my extraction and she said it'll cost $200 for the lower wisdom tooth and $880 for the upper one! I told hter that's really expensive and I only paid $600 when I extracted my upper tooth perviously. Guess what she said? "Oh, now CPF allows up to $1280 for the wisdom tooth extraction, so don't worry about the cost. You can still claim. Actually you cannot claim for the lower one, but because you are extracting the upper one, we'll just write it in together." Can't claim for the extraction of the lower wisdom tooth? It makes no sense at all but now I know why they increased the prices and why the dentist told me to extract the upper one as well. I completed the form and handed it back to her and went back to my seat to WAIT again.
Then, she asked the fifth patient who came after me to go into the room and that was the last straw. I told her I'm not waiting anymore. I went to the washroom to wash my face and rinsed my mouth. Then I stormed out of the clinic without paying a single cent. I WAS INFURIATED. I WAS SUPER PISSED. No matter how good his skills are, I swear I'm NEVER stepping into the clinic again. NEVER EVER AGAIN.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Home Sweet Home
Day 348
16th July 2011
Boarded our plane and was really glad that there was no one sitting beside us! 3 seats for the 2 of us which means I can lie down to catch some zZz. The food kinda sucks, especially the 2nd meal. Choose between a pie, chocolate bars or fruits. The miserable pie was handed out to us on napkins and there was no drinks to go with it. Sucks big time. After more than 7 hours, we're finally HOME! Sweeeeeeeeeet!
As usual, Papa and Mama Goh, Guma, Xiaogu, Mei, Ah Jie and Jiefu insisted on coming to the airport to fetch us but I really didn't want to bother everyone, especially when our arrival time is 12am in the morning so I told a BIG lie to Papa and Mama Goh. Got Bro to collaborate my story to say that I'm only reaching on Sunday 12pm. Haha. Needless to say, they didn't suspect anything, until they heard my MIL telling them that we're arriving on Sunday 6am. Well, Mr Tan wanted to go meet his MJ khakis so he lied to her about our arrival time. The elders were chatting and somehow, they got really confused about when we're arriving. Mama Goh panicked and called Bro around 12 plus to confirm our arrival time when I was already sitting comfortably in my car going for my dim sum supper at Geylang with him and his en-en. LOL. We had dropped Mr Tan halfway for him to cab to his MJ khaki's place at Jurong West. MJ is his top priority, food and sleep can wait.
We got home around 2am and despite Bro's repeated knocks, Papa and Mama Goh didn't open their door until I announced my "arrival" at their door. Heard Papa's voice immediately and ta-dah! Surprise! Surprise! :) Mama Goh told Bro that she'll never trust him again. LOL.
Chatted with Bro all the way until it was nearly 5. Feel GREAT to be HOME! :)))
Day 349
17th July 2011
Before last Tuesday, Bro and I had great plans for today. We wanted to have dim sum at Taste Paradise and then sing KTV at Teo Heng, to celebrate my homecoming as well as him getting a job. But tragedy struck and Po Po (Mr Tan's grandma) passed away last Tuesday and all plans were put on hold to attend Po Po's wake. This is the last thing we can do to show our love and respect for Po Po. Papa and Mama Goh, Guma and Xiaogu have been going for the wake during the last few days and I'm really thankful for what they did. They might not know Mr Tan's family well but they really made an effort to show that they care. I'm so blessed to have them in my life. ♥
Day 350
18th July 2011
Today is Po Po's funeral. Mama Goh took leave and attended it with Guma. I hate deaths. The thought of someone disappearing from the face of the Earth permanently saddens me. It can be so sudden, leaving you with no chance to even say goodbye, leaving you with no chance to say how much you love him or her. To me, nothing is more important in this world than spending time with the ones you love. Money spent today can be earned again. Love lost today can be found someday. Trust broken today can be rebuild one day. But time lost is gone forever. Nothing can bring it back. Saw this quote on Bro's Wall today. Found it really meaningful.
At 3 years old, "Mum, I love you"
At 10 years old, "Mum whatever"
At 16 years old, "My Mum is so annoying"
At 18 years old, "I'm leaving this house,Mum"
At 25 years old, "Mum, you were right"
At 30 years old, "Mum, can I go over your place for dinner?"
At 50 years old, "I don't wana lose you, Mum"
At 70 years old, "I'd give up everything to have Mum here with me"
It's not just about mums, it's about everyone that you love and care for. Don't wait till it's too late to show how much you love and care for them. Every moment spent with them is a precious memory added to your life and their lifes. Cherish every moment.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Eat Out - City Grill Room
Day 347
Last night in Melbourne! This time tomorrow, I'll be sitting on a plane homeeeeee. I can't wait! Went for dinner after packing our luggage and my bag was OVERWEIGHT because of all the chocolates and food that I'm bringing home for family and friends. Mr Tan wasn't too happy with all these stuff, we had initially planned to bring our small luggages but now we had to use our super huge luggages. Well, this is probably the last time I'm bringing these stuff back. Seriously, Singapore has EVERYTHING and I really only buy tokens for people that I care about and that isn't too many. But I know my parents, they would be delighted if I bring tokens back for them to give to relatives and friends so I'll be good. The last thing I want is for them to nag at me throughout my entire stay for NOT bringing tokens home. My luggage is SERIOUSLY heavy. No more next time.
Dinner tonight was at City Grill room. It's a little out of place and coupled with the fact that the temperature tonight was 5 degrees, the walk there seemed especially long. It was crowded and really noisy. For some reason, everyone was talking at the top of their voices and Mr Tan and I had to practically shout to be heard. The service was top-notch though. Always with a great smile. If not for the noise level, Mr Tan and I would certainly be back. Great service always makes us repeat customers.
The prawn kebab was rather pricey, 6 pieces for $13.80 but I was in such a good mood that I didn't really care. I'm not the one paying anyway, haha. The prawns were really delicious, they were crunchy and grilled to perfection. It was served with garlic sauce but they taste just as good on their own. Writing about them is making me drool!
The pork spare ribs though was a letdown. Meat and Wine Co. is still the best. Probably something to do with the sauce that they use and how they grill it. The meat didn't fall off the bones!
The wagyu burger was served with chunky chips and fried onions. I love the fried onions! The burger received the thumbs up from Mr Tan. It was really filling and by the time he finished the burger, he could barely eat the fries and fried onions. But fret not, I saved the day, only for the fried onions though. I finished all the fried onions. Yummmmmmmm!
Goodbye Melbourne, see you in August!
Last night in Melbourne! This time tomorrow, I'll be sitting on a plane homeeeeee. I can't wait! Went for dinner after packing our luggage and my bag was OVERWEIGHT because of all the chocolates and food that I'm bringing home for family and friends. Mr Tan wasn't too happy with all these stuff, we had initially planned to bring our small luggages but now we had to use our super huge luggages. Well, this is probably the last time I'm bringing these stuff back. Seriously, Singapore has EVERYTHING and I really only buy tokens for people that I care about and that isn't too many. But I know my parents, they would be delighted if I bring tokens back for them to give to relatives and friends so I'll be good. The last thing I want is for them to nag at me throughout my entire stay for NOT bringing tokens home. My luggage is SERIOUSLY heavy. No more next time.
Dinner tonight was at City Grill room. It's a little out of place and coupled with the fact that the temperature tonight was 5 degrees, the walk there seemed especially long. It was crowded and really noisy. For some reason, everyone was talking at the top of their voices and Mr Tan and I had to practically shout to be heard. The service was top-notch though. Always with a great smile. If not for the noise level, Mr Tan and I would certainly be back. Great service always makes us repeat customers.
Tonight's menu
Black Tiger Prawn Kebab
Pork Spare Ribs
Wagyu Beef Burger
The prawn kebab was rather pricey, 6 pieces for $13.80 but I was in such a good mood that I didn't really care. I'm not the one paying anyway, haha. The prawns were really delicious, they were crunchy and grilled to perfection. It was served with garlic sauce but they taste just as good on their own. Writing about them is making me drool!
The pork spare ribs though was a letdown. Meat and Wine Co. is still the best. Probably something to do with the sauce that they use and how they grill it. The meat didn't fall off the bones!
The wagyu burger was served with chunky chips and fried onions. I love the fried onions! The burger received the thumbs up from Mr Tan. It was really filling and by the time he finished the burger, he could barely eat the fries and fried onions. But fret not, I saved the day, only for the fried onions though. I finished all the fried onions. Yummmmmmmm!
Goodbye Melbourne, see you in August!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Gin's Kitchen - Mapo Tofu
Day 346
I have so many bottles of sauces (chilli sauce, chicken rice mix, sambal belacan, etc etc) in my fridge that I "devote" one whole shelf to them. I just don't wish to buy any more sauces. Premixes seldom or rather never taste as good as homemade sauces and I've stopped buying premixes except for curry premix, something that's BEYOND BEYOND me. I've been learning to make my own sauces and so far, I'm happy with my progress. Not the best but passable. This time round, I decided to buy a premix as I doubt I'll be using the fermented bean paste, which is the main ingredient in the sauce often.
Ingredients- Lee Kum Kee Mapo Tofu Premix
- 1 block of Tofu (classic regular) (cut into 1 inch cubes)
- 100g of minced pork
- 8 button mushrooms (sliced)
- 1/2 clove garlic (minced)
- 50ml of water (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of sugar (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of red chilli flakes (optional)
- some chopped scallions (optional)
Marinate for pork
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon corn starch
Directions
1. Marinate pork with seasoning for 30 minutes
2. Saute garlic in 2 tablespoons of oil
3. Add minced pork to wok and stir fry till cooked
4. Add button mushrooms and Lee Kum Kee Mapo Tofu Premix and stir well
Optional: I found the premix too salty and thus added water, red chilli flakes and sugar to the sauce
5. Add tofu and stir very gently to avoid breaking up the tofu. Let it simmer for 5-7 minutes
6. Add some chopped scallions (reserve some for garnish) and stir gently to mix well
7. Dish up and garnish with chopped scallions
The red chilli flakes was a great addition. It upped the spice level of the dish and we love it! 超开胃，让我吃了又吃！
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Rest in Peace
Day 344
Mr Tan's grandma passed away today. Jiejie msged us the other day to say Grandma was admitted to hospital due to a heart attack and was in a critical condition. Grandma has been ill for the last few years, in and out of hospital numerous times and has been bedridden after her stroke and has to rely on feeding tubes. The last few years had been tough on Grandma. Rest in peace, Grandma. We'll miss you.
Mr Tan's grandma passed away today. Jiejie msged us the other day to say Grandma was admitted to hospital due to a heart attack and was in a critical condition. Grandma has been ill for the last few years, in and out of hospital numerous times and has been bedridden after her stroke and has to rely on feeding tubes. The last few years had been tough on Grandma. Rest in peace, Grandma. We'll miss you.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Gin's Kitchen - Spicy Korean Seafood and Tofu Soup
Day 343
Usually when we eat out, we'll go for something that I can't replicate at home, like sashimi, sushi, Japanese bbq, Korean bbq, Indonesian grilled food and western cuisine. I've never had more Japanese and Korean food in my life until I came here. I really love the spicy Korean soup and would often lament about the lack of ingredients when I order it at restaurants. The solution? Cook it at home! Of course, I used premix for the soup and it's so easy and de-li-ci-ous! Yum!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of Korean Hot Bean Paste
- 1 teaspoon of Knor Chicken Powder
- Peeled prawns (deveined and tail intact)
- Crabsticks
- Button mushrooms
- 1/2 onion
- Eggs
- 1 block of tofu (halved)
- 800ml of water
Directions
1. Bring water to boil in a pot
2. Add chicken powder and hot bean paste to the boiling water and stir well
3. Tuwn the heat down to medium high and add onions, mushrooms and prawns
4. Once prawns turn pink, add crabsticks and tofu into pot and stir gently to prevent the tofu from breaking
5. Crack egg into the pot, stir gently and let it cook for about 45 seconds and it's time for dinner!
Usually when we eat out, we'll go for something that I can't replicate at home, like sashimi, sushi, Japanese bbq, Korean bbq, Indonesian grilled food and western cuisine. I've never had more Japanese and Korean food in my life until I came here. I really love the spicy Korean soup and would often lament about the lack of ingredients when I order it at restaurants. The solution? Cook it at home! Of course, I used premix for the soup and it's so easy and de-li-ci-ous! Yum!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of Korean Hot Bean Paste
- 1 teaspoon of Knor Chicken Powder
- Peeled prawns (deveined and tail intact)
- Crabsticks
- Button mushrooms
- 1/2 onion
- Eggs
- 1 block of tofu (halved)
- 800ml of water
Directions
1. Bring water to boil in a pot
2. Add chicken powder and hot bean paste to the boiling water and stir well
3. Tuwn the heat down to medium high and add onions, mushrooms and prawns
4. Once prawns turn pink, add crabsticks and tofu into pot and stir gently to prevent the tofu from breaking
5. Crack egg into the pot, stir gently and let it cook for about 45 seconds and it's time for dinner!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Eat Out - Bigmama's (Korean)
Day 341
After our lunch at Nasi Lemak House, we went QV and bought some food for next week. I only need to cook for 4 more days and I'll be flying. No more cooking, no more housework! Holiday Time! Of course, we can't go home empty-handed so after QV, we went Chinatown for some shopping. Within 15 minutes, we've spent $200 on presents and that's only half the items on the shopping list. Oh, I bought a pair of UGG boots today too. Finally! After looking around for the last few weeks, I finally decided to buy it. It's probably one of the few things that are made in Australia, or so I hope. Every thing is now MIC.
Dinner tonight was at Bigmama's. Yes, another place that requires some travelling but this time, there were lesser complaints from Mr Complain Tan. It was full when we got there around 730 and since we didn't make any reservations, we had to wait. Not the best scenario when I'm with Mr Complain Tan. We waited for about 15 minutes before we got a table. Bigmama's has both Japanese and Korean items on its menu but after tonight's menu, I think it's a Korean eatery although many have raved about its agedashi tofu and almost every table ordered it. We didn't as Mr Tan is not a huge fan of tofu.
After our lunch at Nasi Lemak House, we went QV and bought some food for next week. I only need to cook for 4 more days and I'll be flying. No more cooking, no more housework! Holiday Time! Of course, we can't go home empty-handed so after QV, we went Chinatown for some shopping. Within 15 minutes, we've spent $200 on presents and that's only half the items on the shopping list. Oh, I bought a pair of UGG boots today too. Finally! After looking around for the last few weeks, I finally decided to buy it. It's probably one of the few things that are made in Australia, or so I hope. Every thing is now MIC.
Dinner tonight was at Bigmama's. Yes, another place that requires some travelling but this time, there were lesser complaints from Mr Complain Tan. It was full when we got there around 730 and since we didn't make any reservations, we had to wait. Not the best scenario when I'm with Mr Complain Tan. We waited for about 15 minutes before we got a table. Bigmama's has both Japanese and Korean items on its menu but after tonight's menu, I think it's a Korean eatery although many have raved about its agedashi tofu and almost every table ordered it. We didn't as Mr Tan is not a huge fan of tofu.
Tonight's Menu
- Kimchi and Tofu in Spicy Soup with Pork
- Chilli Chicken Karaage
- Salmon Sashimi
- Tempura
Bigmama's certainly take pride in presenting their food. The presentation was simply terrific. One of the better ones I've seen in Melbourne. I love one of the side dishes to bits. Calamari tempura! It was SO yummy that I wanted a second serving but sadly, it was never brought to our table. I waited and waited but it never came. We were one of the few diners left and the staff probably forgot about it. :(
The Salmon Sashimi was the first to arrive and this was rather disappointing. We both thought we saw salmon sashimi on green salad on the menu but it came with rice. The salmon wasn't too fresh and there were so few pieces of it. There was so much rice but so little fish.
Next, the tempura came and this was another disappointment. Where's the tempura batter? It's breaded prawns, not tempura prawns. It was a huge serving for $10 but it was more vegetables than anything else. I would prefer less vegetable and perhaps 1 or 2 more prawn. 1 of the vegetables was actually string beans and I didn't like it at all.
My kimchi and tofu soup came next and it was piping hot. This was probably one of the better dishes of the night. The pork was tender and yum and I just love tofu in hot korean soup. The only thing that's missing? Egg. It would be great if an egg was added. :)
The last to arrive was the Chilli Chicken Karaage. This was also pretty good. Crispy and addictive. But by now, we were stuffed and only manage to finish half of it. The rest was packed for our lunch tomorrow.
1 more week and I'm flying!!
I'm a happy girl, in a happy world! :)))
Eat Out - Nasi Lemak House
Day 341
Had been wanting to eat at Nasi Lemak House for weeks but something always crop up. Finally, we went there today. It was quite a distance from the city and Mr Tan hates to travel for food. He couldn't stop grumbling along the whole journey there. "Is the food really that good?" "Is it worth the distance?" "They all taste the same, don't they?" It irked me when he didn't stop even after we got there. I couldn't stand it but I didn't lose my temper, I told him very NICELY that I only get to lunch out with him once a week and I really hope he can just take it as accompanying me and be NICE. It worked. No more complaints until he went to order the food.
Nasi Lemak House is small and was packed when we got there. All except 1 table was occupied by Asians. Good sign. But the service was really terrible. Mr Tan went to order the food and he came back with another complaint, this time, about the service. The staff's face was BLACK and he had a really bad attitude. Food was brought to our table with a black face and he didn't even acknowledge me when I thanked him. Oh well, he's probably unhappy about having to work on a Saturday.
Thankfully the sambal chilli saved the day. It was really spicy and it's difficult to get spicy chilli here. Most chillies dishes have been "Australianised" and are rarely spicy. Imagine our joy when we get really spicy food. Mr Tan finished the whole plate of Nasi Lemak because of the sambal chilli. He loves his chillies. The ikan bilis and peanuts were crunchy and yum. I found the egg to be overcooked. I prefer my egg yolk to be slightly runny, but that's just me. The only downside was the chicken drumstick. It was rather hard and tasteless though the inside of the drumstick was quite tender. We probably wouldn't return, unless my ears are willing to sacrifice themselves for my stomach. Haha.
Had been wanting to eat at Nasi Lemak House for weeks but something always crop up. Finally, we went there today. It was quite a distance from the city and Mr Tan hates to travel for food. He couldn't stop grumbling along the whole journey there. "Is the food really that good?" "Is it worth the distance?" "They all taste the same, don't they?" It irked me when he didn't stop even after we got there. I couldn't stand it but I didn't lose my temper, I told him very NICELY that I only get to lunch out with him once a week and I really hope he can just take it as accompanying me and be NICE. It worked. No more complaints until he went to order the food.
Nasi Lemak House is small and was packed when we got there. All except 1 table was occupied by Asians. Good sign. But the service was really terrible. Mr Tan went to order the food and he came back with another complaint, this time, about the service. The staff's face was BLACK and he had a really bad attitude. Food was brought to our table with a black face and he didn't even acknowledge me when I thanked him. Oh well, he's probably unhappy about having to work on a Saturday.
Thankfully the sambal chilli saved the day. It was really spicy and it's difficult to get spicy chilli here. Most chillies dishes have been "Australianised" and are rarely spicy. Imagine our joy when we get really spicy food. Mr Tan finished the whole plate of Nasi Lemak because of the sambal chilli. He loves his chillies. The ikan bilis and peanuts were crunchy and yum. I found the egg to be overcooked. I prefer my egg yolk to be slightly runny, but that's just me. The only downside was the chicken drumstick. It was rather hard and tasteless though the inside of the drumstick was quite tender. We probably wouldn't return, unless my ears are willing to sacrifice themselves for my stomach. Haha.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Gin's Kitchen - 榨菜汤
Day 337
Mr Tan's favourite soup - 榨菜汤. I've never had this soup before and didn't really know how it should taste. It's really tough to cook something you've never had before but he likes it, so I cook it. I didn't get the taste right the last few times I cooked it but I think I'm finally geting it right.
Ingredients
- 1 packet of 榨菜
- Pork ribs
- 1/2 stick of carrot
- 1/2 onion
- 1 potato
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 800ml of water
Directions
1. Remove 榨菜 from the packet and save the marinate in the packet for later
2. Rinse the 榨菜 under running water for a few seconds and cut them into thick slices
3. Cut the carrot, onion and potato into chunks
4. Blanch the pork ribs for 5 minutes and drain them
5. Place pork ribs, carrots, onions, potato, garlic cloves and 榨菜 into a pot
6. Add 800ml of water into the pot and bring it to a boil
6. Cook the soup over high heat for another 15 minutes and then simmer over low heat for another 20 minutes
7. Add the marinate from the packet into the soup and the soup should taste just right!
Mr Tan's favourite soup - 榨菜汤. I've never had this soup before and didn't really know how it should taste. It's really tough to cook something you've never had before but he likes it, so I cook it. I didn't get the taste right the last few times I cooked it but I think I'm finally geting it right.
Ingredients
- 1 packet of 榨菜
- Pork ribs
- 1/2 stick of carrot
- 1/2 onion
- 1 potato
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 800ml of water
Directions
1. Remove 榨菜 from the packet and save the marinate in the packet for later2. Rinse the 榨菜 under running water for a few seconds and cut them into thick slices
3. Cut the carrot, onion and potato into chunks
4. Blanch the pork ribs for 5 minutes and drain them
5. Place pork ribs, carrots, onions, potato, garlic cloves and 榨菜 into a pot
6. Add 800ml of water into the pot and bring it to a boil
6. Cook the soup over high heat for another 15 minutes and then simmer over low heat for another 20 minutes
7. Add the marinate from the packet into the soup and the soup should taste just right!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Eat Out - Seoul House (Korean BBQ Buffet)
Day 335
It's the third of the month again which means it's time to eat out! Japanese or Korean Buffet? Couldn't decide what to have for dinner. Since we had sushi for lunch, we decided to go for Korean BBQ. Mr Tan was hungry so I ruled out all those that were far and popular so that we won't have to travel too far and wait for our food. Wooga and Hwaro, my preferred choices, are both out. In the end, we chose Seoul House along Russell Street.
We ordered the BBQ Buffet @ $28 per pax. For $28, we can choose from marinated pork ribs, marinated chicken, marinated pork, octopus, squid, mushroms and beef. Also, spring rolls, korean dumplings, soy Bean Soup, steamed rice, lettuce and other side dishes are included in the buffet as well. We ordered the chicken, pork, mushrooms, octopus and pork ribs. It was difficult to tell the chicken from pork as they all look the same. Not only do they look alike, they taste almost the same too. The quality of the meat leaves much to be desired. Look at the picture of the meat and you would know why. It reminded us of the budget Seoul Garden back home, you are going for quantity, not quality.
Although most of the diners were having BBQ, the place was surprisingly smoke free. We still smell of BBQ but at least we weren't smoked out. The service was good though. Food arrived quickly and they came twice to change our grill. Seoul House is probably good if you are going for quantity but it is a no-no if you want quality in your meat. We wouldn't be going back.
Gin's Kitchen - Fried Chicken Wings (Kentury Premix)
Day 334
It's no secret that both Mr Tan and I are HUGE fans of KFC. KFC is always comfort food for both of us and whichever country we go to, we would definitely seek out KFC as every country have a few unique items on their menu. For eg, Hong Kong's KFC serves waffle fries and mushrooms on rice while Thailand's KFC serves Green Curry Fried Chicken with rice and tuna salad. I love KFC's Wicked Wings to bits! If I don't have to worry about my weight, I would have them everyday! Mr Tan had them for lunch almost everyday when he was working in Jemena. If he was given a choice, he would rather have KFC than the food I cook. But who could blame him? I would have gone with KFC too. Haha.
Mr Tan came across this pack of Kentury Premix at Asian Grocer last week and said he would use it to make fried chicken wings for me. Well, we made it today, but guess who did the cooking? Me! All he did was help to coat the chicken wings. The "dangerous" part of frying them was left to me and one stupid drop of oil hit me on my eyelid. Painful! I had a tissue that was soaked in icy cold water plastered to my eyelid for the next hour. Should have just bought my Wicked Wings! Thankfully the chicken wings were tasty, although they looked nothing like the picture on the box, they were still good. Still thinking if we should buy the "Spicy" version to try because KFC, is only less than 10 mins away from our place.
Ingredients
- 1 pack of Kobe Kentury Premix (contains marinate and frying powder)
- 6 chicken wings
- 8 tablespoons of water
- Oil
Directions
1. Clean and cut chicken wings at the joints. Place all chicken wings into a big freezer bag
2. Add the marinate powder and 2 tablespoons of water into the bag
3. Toss and ensure that all chicken wings are coasted with the marinate
4. Tie the bag and leave it in the fridge for 30 minutes (I leave them overnight)
5. Mix 1 tablespoon of frying powder and 6 tablespoons of water in a bowl to form a batter (I added 1 big heap of the frying powder and the batter was still watery)
6. Remove chicken wings from the bag and dip them in the batter
7. Coat them in the frying powder and press the flour onto the chicken wings
8. Fry them for 3 minutes on each side over medium heat and another 1 minute over high heat
9. Serve with my fave Thai sweet chilli sauce!
It's no secret that both Mr Tan and I are HUGE fans of KFC. KFC is always comfort food for both of us and whichever country we go to, we would definitely seek out KFC as every country have a few unique items on their menu. For eg, Hong Kong's KFC serves waffle fries and mushrooms on rice while Thailand's KFC serves Green Curry Fried Chicken with rice and tuna salad. I love KFC's Wicked Wings to bits! If I don't have to worry about my weight, I would have them everyday! Mr Tan had them for lunch almost everyday when he was working in Jemena. If he was given a choice, he would rather have KFC than the food I cook. But who could blame him? I would have gone with KFC too. Haha.
Mr Tan came across this pack of Kentury Premix at Asian Grocer last week and said he would use it to make fried chicken wings for me. Well, we made it today, but guess who did the cooking? Me! All he did was help to coat the chicken wings. The "dangerous" part of frying them was left to me and one stupid drop of oil hit me on my eyelid. Painful! I had a tissue that was soaked in icy cold water plastered to my eyelid for the next hour. Should have just bought my Wicked Wings! Thankfully the chicken wings were tasty, although they looked nothing like the picture on the box, they were still good. Still thinking if we should buy the "Spicy" version to try because KFC, is only less than 10 mins away from our place.Ingredients
- 1 pack of Kobe Kentury Premix (contains marinate and frying powder)
- 6 chicken wings
- 8 tablespoons of water
- Oil
Directions
1. Clean and cut chicken wings at the joints. Place all chicken wings into a big freezer bag
2. Add the marinate powder and 2 tablespoons of water into the bag
3. Toss and ensure that all chicken wings are coasted with the marinate
4. Tie the bag and leave it in the fridge for 30 minutes (I leave them overnight)
5. Mix 1 tablespoon of frying powder and 6 tablespoons of water in a bowl to form a batter (I added 1 big heap of the frying powder and the batter was still watery)
6. Remove chicken wings from the bag and dip them in the batter
7. Coat them in the frying powder and press the flour onto the chicken wings
8. Fry them for 3 minutes on each side over medium heat and another 1 minute over high heat
9. Serve with my fave Thai sweet chilli sauce!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Awesome News!
Day 333
My brother has found a job! He went for the job interview on Wednesday and today they called to say he's hired! Bro has an engineering degree but didn't want to be an engineer. Finds it too boring. Engineering wasn't his choice of study in the first place anyway. During the last few months, he has been talking about his desire to work in banks but sadly, I haven't been able to help much. He really really wanted to work in a bank and thankfully he had this friend, Dennis, who spoke to his supervisor about it. Sometimes, friends seem more willing to help than those close to you. Perhaps it's because Bro has always been a great friend. He'll be reporting to work on 18th July as a Personal Banking Associate. He's really happy about it and I'm excited for him too. Wishing him all the best in his very first job! You're the man, BRO!
My brother has found a job! He went for the job interview on Wednesday and today they called to say he's hired! Bro has an engineering degree but didn't want to be an engineer. Finds it too boring. Engineering wasn't his choice of study in the first place anyway. During the last few months, he has been talking about his desire to work in banks but sadly, I haven't been able to help much. He really really wanted to work in a bank and thankfully he had this friend, Dennis, who spoke to his supervisor about it. Sometimes, friends seem more willing to help than those close to you. Perhaps it's because Bro has always been a great friend. He'll be reporting to work on 18th July as a Personal Banking Associate. He's really happy about it and I'm excited for him too. Wishing him all the best in his very first job! You're the man, BRO!
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