yuan xiao

Happy Yuan Xiao to all!

To celebrate Yuan Xiao, I'm a guai guai boy today..
Stay at home and update blog, facebook and probably do a bit of my travel itinerary for both Thailand and Taiwan.. but Thailand one more pressing, because its 27 days time before I'm off to sawadee-khrap land again for food and fun! Woohoo~

Today had self-made yusheng with abalone slices + smoked salmon + jellyfish + a whole lot of vegetables and the pre-made stuff bought from supermarket!~

Then had steamboat.. mum decided to have steamboat tonite, but I asked her not to make so much, or else cannot finish.. and she bought only a little, and ain't we all glad that we finish everything, and no leftovers!

Now super full.. becos after just bathe.. gonna have my yoghurt later with korean strawberries and blueberries! Woohoo~ Yummy!

I love berries,
<<< abriel >>>

laksa steamboat

This was my boss treat. She said she wanted to try this laksa steamboat @ Telok Blangah for many years, but never got a chance to, and she suggested this like early in end January, and hence, I rallied the necessary people and reserve the place.

My verdict?
The laksa base is very good.. but after a few times, you feel very "jelat".. the chicken soup to me is like full of MSG, because it is very salty!

But do note the price though.. it is ala-carte style - you eat what, you pay what!

Almost everything is frozen, and the seafood is very expensive. A few pcs of SMALL and frozen sea cucumber cost us $8 per plate, and cuttlefish about 20 pcs, costs us $8 per plate as well.
Other food like tofu, corn, kang kong vegetable, cost at least $3 per plate.

Thinly sliced chicken breast and pork (about 6-7 pcs per plate) cost about $4-$5 per plate!

If someone is treating go for it, but if you ask me to pay for it, I will rconsider, but high chances I won't be interested in it, because it is super expensive for such simple stuff!

Anyway, if you need to know the address, here it is:

San Katong Laksa Steamboat Restaurant
404 Telok Blangah
Tel: 6275 7069

Ok.. I got to go and sleep le.. very tired.. its the Friday, but ya.. I'm feeling tired already! oh well..

Full!,
<<< abriel >>>

department cny dinner @ grand shanghai restaurant

It's the time of the year where we had our department gathering for CNY. Its a tradition that my company follows every year, or at least most of the departments!

As this year, some of the people couldn't make it for lunch, therefore, because of my Senior VP hectic and busy travel schedules, we had to hold it at dinner time, which is a refreshing change I must say!

Anyway, this year, our department CNY dinner was held at Grand Shanghai Restaurant, which is just beside Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. Always wanted to step in and eat, but didn't have the chance to! haha.. so now I have the chance.. so yupz! =D

It is a 9 course dinner, and judging by its "atas" setting, everything should be in small portions, but surprisingly, that was not the case, because most of it are quite big portions.. so ya..
But I enjoyed it lah.. at the end of the dinner, I had asked the secretary how much is per table.. and she told me the price but she told me to keep it to myself.. I was like "really?" because for the amount of food we eat and the price we pay doesn't match totally! The food is really good.. so ya.. so what I can say is that it is considered cheap for such nice food! =D.. All I can say is that the price of the menu per table was an auspicious number, and it has only 3 digits in it. Go figure!

And because everything is individually portioned, it was very neat.. Just the way I like it =D

Anyway, if you are curious about the menu, it is as follows:

The dinner menu for the evening!

- no picture -
Prosperity Raw Fish (Abalone & Salmon)

Braised Superior Shark's Fin in Brown Sauce

Roasted Peking Duck

Steamed Campane Fish

Braised Whole Abalone with Sea Cucumber & Black Moss

Stir Fried Lobster with Egg White

Stir Fried Shanghai Vegetables with Spring Bamboo Shoot

Pan Fried Rice with Seafood & Preserved Meat

Shanghai Eight Treasure

Looks good right.. haha.. told you..

Ok.. need to turn in le.. Need to work tomorrow..

Sianx,
<<< abriel >>>

3 full days of working non-stop for family camp 2010 publicity

It's official..
I'm back to my publicity thingy for my church Family Camp 2010!

And I actually have already surveyed some of the publicity videos online for the past few weeks already.. just that there is no time to do..
So now that I'm on leave for the past 3 days (including today!), I might as well start on this publicity thingy!
Lest after my work starts, nothing else can be done already..

And I'm fairly satisfied with myself, but all glory to God, because there were some of the videos which are impromptu and I was indeed amazed at how everything worked out so well, and fell into place at the right time!

So yupz.. if you want to see the church camp publicity videos, you have to be in OCC every Saturday to catch it =).. so church kakkis, you are in for a treat.. *chey*

Ok.. I'm very tired le.. have been sleeping like 1-2 am nites for the past 3 days.. and I started work like about 9-10am in the morning.. so yupz.. really tiring.. 15-16 hrs job!

Ok.. cya all around sometime.. I shall go into dreamland le..

Pinnacle Ultimate HD V14 rules!,
<<< abriel >>>

cny 2010 : day 2 visitation

** Photo on left: A family photo! Big huh.. =D

Now now.. Its finally Day 2 of CNY.. I have been waiting for this day for very long le.. haha..
This is the day where I meet all my other cousins (my dad's side), as well as my other relatives! It's really enjoyable!

This is not only the time where I get the most angbaos *grinz*, but most importantly, meet people who are closer to my heart (other than my church kakkis..) As people say, "blood is thicker than water".. so yupz =)

As usual, its my grandma (who is 80 yrs old by the way) who cooks the nicest Peranakan food in the world!
Her nasi lemak so so, but her lontong, I tell you.. fwah! Words cannot describe it! It is the BEST in the world.. oh man.. I'm salivating already.. ahhhh~

** Photo on right: My cousin, Nathaniel, and myself

This is the day of visitations where we will go to each other's house (at least 6 stops) with an entourage of cars, and one whole gin gang would just gather at each other's house for like about 30 mins each, before proceeding to the next stop!

Of course, its non-stop eating at every stop, and yupz.. I'm guilty of that.. haha..

There were no sudden surprises like asking me to take over one of my uncle's car and drive (like what happened last year)!
Though on one hand, I wish I get to drive at least, but then on the other hand, thinking about parking, I will think twice!

Oh well.. I will buy a car someday, but the keyword is "someday". The problem is only when! haha.. =P
But most probably, I will buy those off-peak cars, since I plan not to drive too work. It's very expensive! Parking itself is enough to kill, not to mention ERP somemore.. haha..

** Photo on left: My cousin, Fiona, and myself

At the end of all the visits, the last stop would be at my aunty's place where typical Peranakan food is prepared for dinner.. All prepared solely by my aunty!!

As mentioned before, the usual Peranakan fare was present: Ayam buluak, babi kapiting soup (which is mince meat balls with bamboo shoot soup), ngoh hiang, hati babi (which is mince pig's liver wrapped with pig's stomach membrane and pan fry, but until today, I still don't appreciate it because I don't take pig's liver in the first place!), nonya chap chai and one more dish I forgot..
Of course, how could we forget the ever so necessity condiment, sambal balanchan (prepared with only the finest balanchan with chilli padi! hot but shiok!)

And I stay there for quite a while to chat with cousins, play with my iPhone (until no battery!.. haha)...

It got late, and my family left my aunt's place like about 2230 hrs.. and then came home to bathe and stuff.. and now blog this before turning in for the nite.. I'm super tired already, but satisfied with all the good food! Yummy!

Ok.. good nite world!

Can't wait for CNY 2011.. haha..,
<<< abriel >>>

cny 2010: day 1 visitation

** Photo on left: My dog, Precious, and I wishes all a Happy Lunar New Year 2010! Gong Xi, Gong Xi!

First of all, let me wish all you readers a very happy Lunar New Year 2010!
May the New Year bring you new hopes and resolutions that would be fulfilled in due course! =D

So on with this blogpost..

It is the usual thing that my family would all meet at my aunt's house (mom side) for lunch and a little chit-chat before we proceed to the rest of our own program in the afternoon.

Frankly speaking, I quite dread myself to go to my aunt's place, because my cousins and myself don't really talk much.. so its just go there and eat and collect angbao only.. I know.. I'm terrible.. haha.. =P

** Photo on right: Chilling out at Starbucks, Plaza Singapura, before the movie starts at 1600 hrs!

We were at my aunt's place like before 12 noon, and this is the earliest we've been there so far.. dun koe why.. but oh well..

We stayed till like about until 2.30pm to 3pm, before we left my aunt's place and head down to Plaza Singapura's GV to catch the movie, "Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief".

I am quite sure that I'm one of the first who started to book the tickets online, when the system allows the public to buy the tickets.

Since it is the first day of CNY, and lotsa ppl maybe present, therefore, I reckon that reserving seats would be necessary.. I would rather pay the extra $1 booking fee than getting a seat that is like so front..
So in the end, I booked a seat like the 2nd row from the back, and it was a good view, without needing to strain my neck =)

And you know what's best? Because I book 4 tickets and I paid by Visa, there is a limited offer of a complimentary tickets.. so that means I pay only the price of 3 tickets for 4 tickets.
*This offer is only valid for weekend tickets!

** Photo on left: The movie we've watched after our Day 1 visitation!

It's been a while since we caught a movie as a family! I think it was about 2-3 years at least!
And the only time we can watch movie as a family is always after the first day of visitations!

Anyway, once we reached Plaza Singapura, I went up to GV to collect my tickets, and because there is still like about 30 mins more before the movie starts, we proceeded down to Starbucks, and I had my usual, Dark Mocha Frappucino! Its a little too sweet but still better than some other places!

The movie was good I must say, and I'm already hoping for the VCD/DVD release of the show.. Wanna buy and watch the show over and over again! I don't mind watching it a second time.. even my sis says she feels like going to the cinema and watch again =)
Some people have said its very cliche, but then I personally don't think so.. I like the action and the pace of the movie.. very nice.. the CGI is also perfect! =)

My family (including myself) is already looking forward to the second installment already.. Word has it that it would be released in 2011 or 2012. So yupz.. Can't wait for it =D

Ok lah.. need to turn in for the nite already.. Had a long day..

Tomorrow is another long day ahead, but I don't mind, because I get to see my cousins (dad's side) and also the Peranakan dinner (which I missed last year, because I was sick!).. so yupz..

Till then.. Adios! =D

Tired but still can go on,
<<< abriel >>>

cny 2010 reunion dinner

Family Photo @ Pearl River Palace Restaurant on 13 Feb 2010
As usual, our family never fail to miss a single CNY reunion dinner!

This year, we went back to Pearl River Palace Restaurant for our reunion dinner. The reason? Easy to go home, and its a seated down Chinese dinner.. so not too bad..

I'm very game for another restaurant next year, but will see how.. sometimes got budget contraints leh.. haha..

Our menu are as follows:

Properous Tiger Menu (4 pax)


Yu Sheng with Norwegian Salmon

Braised Superior Shark's Fin with Fish Maw,
Crab Meat and Enoki Mushroom

Sauteed Scallop and Prawns
in X.O. Chilli Sauce served in Golden Nest

Steamed Sea Bass in Superior Soy Sauce

Braised Sea Cucumber, King Topshell,
Dried Oyster, Flower Mushroom with
Pork Knuckle and Black Moss served in Claypot

Braised Ee-Fu Noodles with Enoki Mushrooms
and Mushroom in Abalone Sauce

Chilled Mango Sago with Pomelo and Red Ruby
The menu looks good right? haha..
Had a splendid time today!! =)

Saying of which, I have not been to Pearl River to eat their ala-carte buffet for quite sometime already. Maybe I should sometime =) Makan kakkis, gear up!! =D

Wishing everyone a happy Lunar New Year 2010!,
<< abriel >>>

collecting new biometric passport @ ICA

Can you believe it?
I waited for 2 solid hours just to collect my new biometric passport..
I was there like about 10.45am, and only got my passport like 12.30pm.. *gulpz*

I made this passport is because I would be going on holiday in October 2010, and with my current passport, not possible, because it doesn't have a 6 months validity.. so ya..

I regretted not making an e-appointment before I went.. sigh.. looks like next time I must do it le.. ie, 5 yrs 9 months later!

Sigh,
<<< abriel >>>

the grand peranakan feast!

heya all..

just came back from my eldest uncle's (dad side) place for our annual family reunion dinner..

as you all know, I'm a peranakan, and therefore, the food is like so ever yummy.. esp. the ayam buluak!! This is a typical and must-have dish at every Peranakan dinner! without this dish, the food are never complete!

With that said, not only we had ayam buluak, but we have also the ngoh hiang, ayam pongteh, sambal tibun (which is actually sambal shrimps and chilli padi, with cucumber and pineapple), and many others!

It was a feast that I look forward each year, esp. the ayam buluak! it has NEVER fail to whet my appetite! You can say I'm addicted to the dishes already..

And the best thing you know what? Almost everything has chilli in it. Yummy! The hotter the better.. haha.. but my chilli tolerance is not quite there yet, but good enuf I suppose! =D

so ya.. the best thing is that I would have more Peranakan food on Day 2 of CNY, where my aunty will whip up dishes like ayam buluak (yes! again!! =D), babi kapiting soup (meat balls and bamboo shoots soup), and many others... ooo.. I'm craving again!

Ok.. now time to rest, and yes! my leave officially starts now till 21 Feb (Sun).. going back to work on 22 Feb.. =D.. woohoo~ I'm going to enjoy every minute of it!

Till then.. =D

Long life the Peranakans,
<<< abriel >>>

the preparation to cny 2010

First stop, I actually dye and colour my hair today..

It was a whopping 2 hrs long.. didn't know why.. maybe they were all busy.. but ya.. this guy who do for me, is quite experienced..

But then when the finished product come out, I dun really like.. a little too bright for my liking.. last year was perfect, but this year, my hair is very bright.. its quite " ah-beng-rish".. but since its done, I cannot do anything loh.. just have to accept.. so ya..

So there I am now.. when I take the CNY photos, you would see lah.. but then again, photos and real life would be different..

Looks like I have to wash more or sumthing.. sigh.. oh well..

A slight bad hair day,
<<< abriel >>>