Double Happiness

I saw this Character design, typography by Alvin Koh at Noise Singapore Festival and I was immediately attracted to it. It kinda show the world about Singapore. Though most Singaporeans are westenised and educated in English, most of us are also deeply rooted to our Chinese traditions. 

"The word is the Chinese ligature "Shuang Xi". It is usually used as a design decoration during Chinese weddings. The monster characters are one of my favourite style of drawing." Alvin Koh

Double Happiness by Alvin Koh

Ding Tai Fung,The Best Dumpling in Singapore & the World!

I tried all types of dumpling in Chinese restaurant and till now, my favourite dumpling or xiao long bao is still from Ding Tai Fung restaurant, also one of the top 10 best restaurants in the world. I first had a taste of the delicious fried egg rice in Taiwan and when I returned to Singapore, I immediately went to try the Ding Tai Fung restaurant. Glad to say that the standard is almost on par with Taiwan. Hmm, I really can't discern much difference, well except for the sweeter prawns in Taiwan. The black vinegar in Singapore is darker which I like. 

Really happy to see chilli crab dumpling which is really tasty. It is much better than the standard xiao long bao. What baffle me is why can't they put chilli crab in their main menu? I think I can eat chilli crab xiao long bao every week. 

Fried Fried with Egg and Prawn

Crispy Golden Prawn 

                    Steamed Chilli Crab Dumpling, my favorite dumpling!

Mango pudding. I will stick to this dessert in the future.

For the first time, I tried the almond pudding with black sesame seed, but it is disappointing. 

Tampines MRT station

Noise Singapore Festival 2013: Photography

My personal favourite photograph is Lushness by Jon Chiang. Why? Because I think he captured the essence of Garden by the Bay, the plants blooming in when the sun rises. I also love the Garden by the Bay. 

 Lushness by Jon Chiang , photo of Garden by the Bay

Faber Risen by Jon Chiang

 Jazpar

 Go under the light to see what is inside.

Ang Ku Kueh Girl

One of my favorite designs feature in the Noise Singapore Festival is the Ang Ku Kueh (Red tortoise cake) girl. Finally there is a cute souvenir from Singapore that captures our hearts. 
   
Ang Ku Kueh is an oval shaped Chinese pastry with soft sticky glutinous rice flour skin filled with sweet filling like green bean or chopped peanut. It is shaped like a tortoise shell which symbolises longevity and is normally placed on a rectangle piece of banana leave.

You can buy Ang Ku Kueh girl products like folder, card, soap or satin pouch in the form of Ang Ku Kueh. There are two other characters; Ang Ku Kueh Boy and Png Kueh Girl. You can purchase these cute products at their website. 
Ang Ku Kueh Girl :http://angkukuehgirl.com.sg/

Ang Ku Kueh products

Ang Ku Kueh, Chinese pastry

Noise Singapore 2013 Festival

Come down to Ion Orchard for Noise Singapore Festival from 27 July to 14 August this year, there will be a free showcase Noise Singapore exhibition of Arts, Design & Photography by selected Singaporeans artist at Ion Orchard mall. There were more than 8000 entries but only some were selected. 

My personal favourite include the Ang Ku Kueh Girl and Singapore playground. I will feature a few of my favourite works later. 

Noise Singapore 2013 Festival Showcase
Date: 27 July to 14 August 2013
Time: 10 am to 9 pm
Place: Basement 4 Ion Station (Event Hall) 
Ion Orchard

Ang Ku Kueh girl

Overview of Noise Singapore 2013

 Free postcards and brochures for visitors.

Dove playground

Breakfast on Singapore National Day

A bowl of laksa for breakfast on National Day holiday. 

My Top 2 Favorite Singapore National Day Song in from 1998 to 2000s.

Every year except for 2010, there will be a National Day Parade theme song except for 2010. There are many NDP songs I like. But today, I will just share my top 2 favourite songs from 1998 onwards.

Home by Kit Chan . National Day Parade Song (NDP) 1998

My Island Home - Kaira Gong - Singapore 2006 NDP Theme

Happy Birthday Singapore!

At the Esplanade Theatre by the Bay, the theme decoration is "I Like Singapore". It will be on display from 7 to 13 August this year. Singapore is celebrating 48 years of independence today, 9 August. 

It is indeed a miracle that Singapore, a small island with no resource except for its people, has grown from a third world country to first world, attracting talents from around the world. 

Though it is not perfect, but I love the following;

1) My parents and friends are here.
2) Women are protected by Women Chartered and women enjoy freedom to do what we     want!
3) Great variety of delicious food be it Chinese, Western, Indian, Malay and others      
    international cuisine. (I miss our hawker food whenever I'm in overseas.)
4) Safe and clean city. I can go out at night and not worry about safety. 
5) Garden by the Bay. All the continent plants are in the Flower dome and Cloud forest except for the Antarctica. 
6) Racial harmony and equality. All four races live in harmony and respect each others culture. 
7) Our world-class education system. Like it or not, people from our neighboring countries be it Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and China, Hong Kong love to send their kids to study in Singapore. Our students always win awards and prizes in international competition. Even the United States of America are using Singapore Mathematics textbook and workbooks.

At the Esplanade theatre, concourse area.

Yes, I love its delicious variety of food and it is a safe garden city! 

Visitors writing birthday wishes for Singapore.

Birthday wishes from both Singaporeans and foreigners

Free events at the Esplanade Theatre. I love live performance!

Artworks by students in Singapore

Overpriced and Mediocre Food at Singapore Sentosa Malaysian Food Street

At Resort World Sentosa Singapore,Malaysian Food Street, you can try a variety of popular Malaysian food. Out of curiosity, I brought some toast and soft-boiled eggs and roti-prata for breakfast. Actually in Singapore coffee shops and food court, you get find the above food items easily. 

 

Inside the eatery, you are transported into Malaysian food street. In the morning, only a few stalls are opened. Thus I didnt try the famous penang laksa. 

Actually, it is fun to be in this old town ambience, other than that, I find the food really expensive and mediocre. I still prefer Singapore toast especially the Ya kun toast. I think you can just go to vivocity which is nearby for better food. 

 Inside Malaysian Food Street in Singapore

Long queue at dim sum and drinks stall that sells kaya toast, coffee and soft-boiled eggs.

 Coffee, Thick kaya toast and egg

Egg Roti prata 

 Love my soft-boiled egg runny with light soya sauce.