Resignation

Ha, finally decided to call quit after working with ZAS for almost 5 years.  Though it's a nice company and just got a new laptop over the 5 years PC, enough is  enough for me!
Would take a short break and then join another company.  Hope I've made a right choice.  Please pray for me! 

Sea of harvest - Concorde Hotel

Last Saturday, we were at Concorde Hotel, Spices Cafe for the dinner buffet - Sea of Harvest in celebrating my birthday!

We arrived at 6.30pm and were being brought to our seats, 5 adults + 1 child + 1 baby.  The staff were courteous and the atmosphere were good.  However, food quality were not up to expectation!
For the cold dish, there were oysters (already opened), small crabs, prawns, scallops displayed on ice.  Some sashimi like salmon, white fish cut into small slices and sitted unappealing in a corner.
Oysters were okay just very small and flat.  Scallops and the small crabs didn't look fresh to me and so I had none.

They also had on menu crabs to be cooked in different ways, pepper, chilly.  We've tried the thai style crabs, pepper and chilli crabs.  The sauces came with the crabs were nice, unfortunately all the crabs were not fresh!  So disappointing!

Total bill amount to S$245.00 (Citibank's promotion - every 4 adults, 1 foc).  Still it is not worth and I wouldn't be going there again....

Prawn fishing at Jurong Hill

Went to Jurong Hill for prawn fishing on one saturday afternoon this early Dec'10.  The place comprised of a few fishing ponds; a pond for fishing crabs and rest of ponds cater for prawn fishing (about 2 ponds).  We spent $30 for 3 hrs (S$15/hr, S$25/2hrs and S$30/3hrs)   Naturally, we rented 3 hrs.

After fishing for 1 hr,  my youngest son finally caught his first prawn!

In total, we've caught 3 prawns.  We had them bbq at the pit and ate it.  It was a very expensive dish - considering 3 medium size prawns for $30!

A day at the Zoo - 31/10/2010

We arrived at the zoo about 11.35am and I remember the last visit was about a decade ago. 

Today, the zoo is a model of the 'open zoo' concept. The animals are kept in spacious, landscaped enclosures, separated from the visitors by either dry or wet moats. The moats are concealed with vegetation or dropped below the line of vision. In the case of dangerous animals which can climb very well, moat barriers are not used. Instead, these animals are housed in landscaped glass-fronted enclosures.

Among various attractions that the zoo offers,one highlight is the "Breakfast with an Orangutan" programme that allows visitors to meet and interact closely with the orangutans in the zoo, amongst which includes the famous primate matriarch Ah Meng, (died on February 8, 2008) who was an icon of the Singapore tourism industry.

Animal shows, as well as token feedings coupled with live commentaries by keepers, are also the daily staple in the Singapore zoo. However, we've not seen any of the shows as we've missed its timing.

We managed to cover every parts of the area and my 10-year old was busy clicking away with his camera. On our way to the carpark, my older son couldn't find his car key!  We quickly returned back to the Zoo information counter and made a report of the lost.  Luckily, somebody has found our key and left it at the counter.  Wow, aren't we lucky!  It was an interesting and fulfiling day!

Interesting...

Credit: Charles M. Schulz

Are you a snoopy or a Lucy?

Happen to come across this piece at myfoodsirens which I found it interesting!  Yeah, why not - as long as you are happy, nothing matters.....

Catching crabs - Sembawang Park

Wow, see what Marcus has caught!

Sembawang Park is a tranquil park situated in the north of Singapore facing Johore straits. Sembawang area is named after the Sembawang Tree (Mesua ferruginea)

The park boasts a beautiful beach side, which is a popular fishing ground and one of the few remaining natural beaches of Singapore. The walkways inside the park are restored old pathways used during British occupation. The Sembawang Shipyard to the west of the park was a British Naval Base from 1938 to 1968. The park is also surrounded by other places of historical interest like the Admiralty House, Kampong Wak Hassan, Masjid Petempatan Melayu Sembawang and Sembawang memorial.

People get together for barbequing, camping, fishing and swimming during the weekends, holidays......

If you are coming by MRT/bus,  take bus 882 at Sembawang Interchange.  The bus loops at the Park every 20 minutes. Car parking is available at both the entrances (Sembawang Road and Tuah Road)

Nine Emperor Festival

It so happened that we were there at Sembawang beach on 16/9/10 to witness the grand praying of the God, Nine Emperor last saturday.

We were there trying to catch some crabs when we saw a group of devotees started gathering all the praying stuff around 5pm.  By 8pm, a small group of devotees were there and all the lights were lighted up.

It was only until around 11pm, we saw the coming of more, more devotees in groups via lorries, buses, etc.

Along also came a huge dragon paper ship and the followers were trying to pull it near the seaside where the praying soon to start.
At about 11.15pm, some of the followers started to put the 'paper money' around the ship and after that came chanting of prayers over the speaker. 

When it finished, it was already 11.25pm and the devotees set fire to the money papers around the ship.  Devotees started to pray with joss sticks and planted over the seaside.  In no time, the ship turned into a big ball of flames.  Some devotees were carrying small paper boats and putting them afloat on the water.
When the ritual had ended, lights were switched off and everything returned to quietness!
It was such an memorable night and also was my first time to witness this big event!