New Vegetarian Dishes at Elemen Restaurant

I'm really happy with the new 8-course set at Elemen. Now I have more choices like charcoal springy noodle with butter cream sauce and chocolate mousse dome which has crunchy hazelnut chocolate base. At $32.80++ per person for 8-course set, I find it affordable. They also have membership rewards whereby one can earn rebates. It is now my preferred choice for vegetarian restaurant.

Menu

Elemen at Millenia Walk

Nearest MRT: Esplanade MRT 

The elemen appetiser. With guava, purple sweet potato

 Grilled halloumi with tomato and watermelon. Its my first time eating halloumi, a semi-hard cheese.

 Creamy carrot soup with pumpkin.

 Charcoal noodle with butter cream sauce. I like the smooth springy noodle. 

 Fresh orange carrot juice.

Chocolate mousse dome. This is my favourite dessert with rich chocolate and crunchy hazelnut chocolate base.

Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Keng

I'm delighted to know that Ajahn Keng will be giving Dhamma talk this month! But then I realised that my youngest brother has wedding dinner on late March. I could only attend 1 dharma talk. The talk is near Labrador Park and I really appreciate that Ajahn Keng is giving Dhamma talk. 

Even thought I'm more inclined towards Mahayana Buddhism, but I enjoy listening to Ajahn Keng, a Singaporean monk who is is also known as the forest monk which is the Theravada Buddhism whereby monks go for alms and meditate in the forest. For me I don't think there is not much different as both are Buddha's teaching.

Singapore Design Week March 2019

I went to National Design Centre near Bugis Junction as there is design exhibition there from 4th to 17th March. If you are design enthusiast like me, you can click this link to see the full list of events.

National Design Centre

Nearest MRT: Bugis MRT. Just opposite National Library of Singapore

 You can buy Singapore souvenir at the Farm Shop in National Design Centre

 This cardboard reminds me of Taiwan cardboard shop at Cingjing.

HDB 2-room Flat- My Nice Home Gallery

Last week, I went to HDB at Toa Payoh with the plan to book a flat. Alas all the 2-room type 2 flat (45sqm) are fully taken. They only left 36 sqm 2-room BTO flat. I went to My Nice Home gallery to have a feel of what 36 sqm room is like and I didn't like it. My current bedroom is larger than the 2-room living room and bed room combined. My bedroom can keep 5 Billy bookshelves of 80 cm width each, a bed, a desk  and a wardrobe. 

Sometimes I feel unhappy that singles in Singapore are not as well taken care of as compared to married couples. Married couples get to purchase flats in matured estate and 2-room flats and above. Married couples with kids also enjoy child care leave whereas Singles have to help when they take child care leave. Singaporean singles can only purchase BTO flats in non-matured estates and 2-room flat. If Singles want to buy bigger flats in matured estate, they can only buy resale-flat aka second hand which I don't really like. I prefer a brand new flat.

Why can't they let Singaporeans Singles purchase 3-room BTO flat and in matured estate too? If I can't buy a flat to my liking, maybe I should retire in other place for a cheaper and nicer accommodation. 2-room flat here costs about $125000.00 depending on the level. 

Its not as if we want to be single. I don't want to spend so much money on condominium as monthly service conservancy charge is high and I need to plan for retirement alone. Most probably, in old age, I might stay in old folk home as my brothers will all get married. This month, my youngest brother will be hosting Chinese wedding dinner, even though early last year he already registered his marriage with his wife at the Registry of Marriage.

My Nice Home Gallery

I really want to buy this type 2, 45 sqm 2-room BTO flat. Its just right for 1 person. I don't have to spend too much time cleaning up. My new home will have lots of wood material, maybe pine and spruce wood. I like this resort bliss concept.

I have billy bookshelves instead of those shelves.

I also like this kitchen concept. Wood gives warm vibe which I love! I don't really cook as I'm too busy with work.

Hmm, maybe I place some succulents here. I love plants too.

This is a smaller 2-room flat of about 36 sqm. It is too small for me.

My current bedroom is so much bigger than the living room and bed room combine.

This is laminated wood, which doesn't emit warm feeling.

Spending More Than Usual on Birthday Month

I realised I spent more than usual on my birthday month, February! The start of Spring. Well, several shops are offering discount during my birthday month so I brought almost a year stock so I don't to spend so much due to 20% discount and double points. 

I must really save more money next month and not spend unnecessary. 

History of Yusheng (Raw Fish Salad)

During Chinese New Year, we will toss Yusheng with our family. Yusheng is a traditional Chinese dish that originated from China but SIngaporean chefs had added new dishes to make it uniquely Singapore Chinese. For my family, we do not toss yusheng during reunion dinner. Instead we have it on the last day of Chinese New Year. Now many companies will also have this yusheng tossing with colleagues in Singapore. 

On the 7th day of Chinese new year, my mum will cook a dish comprising of 7 different vegetables as it is a Teochew tradition to celebrate Ren ri (Human birthday) or 人日。Sometimes I think yusheng might just be started from Chaozhou as we eat 7 different vegetables but its all green vegetables instead of colourful vegetables in yusheng. 

From Wikipedia:

Fishermen along the coast of Guangzhou traditionally celebrated Renri, the seventh day of the Chinese New Year, by feasting on their catches.^[1] The practice of eating raw fish in thinly sliced strips can be traced back to ancient China through the raw fish or meat dish known as kuai (膾, kuài). However the present form of yusheng is believed to have started in Chaozhou and Shantou as far back as the Southern Song Dynasty.

River Hongbao Show in Singapore 2019

Singapore River Hongbao Show at Marina platform is one event I look forward to every Chinese New Year. Yesterday I went to the show with my friend and I love this year fireworks. Tonight I'm going to see the 10 minutes international fireworks with my cousins. 

Tomorrow is the last day and there is 10 minutes international firework too. Do visit before it end. 

This year the theme is bicentennial edition to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Raffles' arrival in Singapore in 1819 in addition to the celebration of Ji Hai pig year.

I will post more pictures by tomorrow. The photos that I share here are from my Samsung note 5 phone. Using my phone, I can only upload a photo at a time only.  Its easier to load more photos with my Panasonic Lumix camera. 

Website: http://riverhongbao.sg

Chinese New Year

Yesterday is the first day of Chinese New Year. I woke up late at about 10 am then I spent the day surfing internet and watching movies at home. Later in the evening we went to our aunty's new home for gathering. 

On New Year eve, I went to Waterloo street Kuan Imm temple for prayer. I read that the street was filled with people who wanted to offer the first joss stick in the temple at midnight yesterday. It is believed that the first person to offer the joss stick will be lucky for the year.

 I went to the temple at about 11 am on New year eve so there were not many people. But the place is filled to the brim late at night nearer to midnight. 

I still receive Hongbao this year. This piggy design is my favourite red packet as it is cute.

Light to Night Festival in Singapore 2019

Went to explore National Gallery of Singapore for the light Art yesterday. Took a few photos of it.