Shocking News: DPM Heng Swee Keat is Leaving Tampines GRC

I never expect heavyweight Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat to leave Tampines after serving here for many years. Frankly speaking, the resident area here is quite good with bustling Tampines Hub and clean park. I don't really like the incoming MP Koh Poh Koon. 

Seriously, I am really unhappy that Heng Swee Keat is leaving Tampines GRC for East Coast GRC. We feel like PAP is taking our votes for granted. Many of my friends and colleagues who stay in Tampines are upset that our DPM Heng is leaving Tampines.😔 

Tasty Dumpling from Mr Bean

We celebrate Dumpling festival today by eating dumpling at home. It is the day to remember the patriotic Qu Yuan and to just eat delicious dumplings. This year there is no dragon boat race due to coronavirus. Hopefully by next year, there is vaccine for coronavirus. 

I brought the vegetarian dumpling from Mr Bean and my mum cooked the mini vegetarian dumpling as shown above. 

Mr Bean's vegetarian dumpling is quite good with great taste and generous mushroom and chestnut filling.

Cool Rainy Weather in Singapore

It is June now yet for the past few days, we enjoy cool rainy weather in Singapore.  Now at night, it is a cool 26 degrees Celsius. I love cold weather instead of the usual hot and humid weather . 

I decided to buy some durian to eat on this chill day. 

Durian is sweet and creamy rich. I love to eat durian in cold weather as the fruit is quite heaty. I brought 2 boxes of durian for $20.00. 

Start of Phase 2 of Re-opening Singapore

Yesterday was the start of phase 2 re-opening Singapore. Most non-essential shops are now allowed to open. I decided to go to Plaza Singapura Art Friend to buy some art materials and to Akimitsu to eat tendon.  

But seriously I hope Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome will start to open to the public soon. I really miss the place.

Almost all the shops were opened yesterday at Plaza Singapura. 

Finally the bookshops are opened for business!

Inspired to Write in Chinese

Back when I was in secondary school, I used to win Chinese essay third prize in school. I was really happy when I won an award for my passion. I had A grade for Chinese GCE ‘O’ levels. However, I haven’t really write Chinese essay when I went to study at polytechnic. So my Chinese writing is not so good now. I need to read and write more in Chinese. 

 

Now I feel like writing in Chinese prose as it is a beautiful language. Today I just feel inspired to write the following. 如果天外有天，那你是在那个天界？

 

I feel like going to Taiwan this year, as I love their cake and tarts. I also want to visit National Palace Museum and Eslite bookshop. I love Taiwan so much that I went to Taiwan several times for holidays. If not maybe I go to Taiwan in March next year for a short holidays.    

Scorching Hot in Singapore

June is one of the hottest months in Singapore. Lately at night, it is also very warm. Located at the equator, Singapore is a tropical country with summer all year long but it is much cooler from November to January with frequent rain. 

Yesterday was really hot but today it is cooler with rain. Glad that today is Saturday as I can wake up late. 

This Used to be My Playground

When I was a kid, I used to play at the iconic dragon playground  as shown below outside my flat with my elder brother.  Sadly it was demolished and replaced with plastic playgrounds which lack unique Singapore identity. The current playground is rather common around the world. 

Do you like the dragon playground too? Don't know why, I feel like playing the dragon playground again after the COVID19 end. Currently there are only 2 dragon playgrounds left in Singapore and another two small dragon playgrounds. 

                     Saw these model playgrounds at Paya Lebar Quarters

Take-away at Elemen Vegetarian Restaurant

After work today, I went to Elemen vegetarian restaurant at Paya Lebar Quarter mall as there is 20% discount for take-away.  I ordered new dish spicy oyster mushroom omelette pasta and requested not to be too spicy. I still prefer black truffle porcini pasta. For wild mushroom truffle pizza, it will be best to heat up before eating. 

Wild mushroom and truffle pizza

                                            Spicy oyster mushroom omelette pasta

Black truffle porcini pasta

Spent $42.12 after 20% discount. 

Mayday Concert Singapore is Postponed to 2021

Mayday 五月天Just Rock it! Blue concert in Singapore will be postponed to 27 February 2021 at the National Stadium. Who wanna go and watch? To book the ticket, go here They only have $308 and lower priced tickets left.

When Can I Sing at Karaoke?

I miss singing at karaoke where I can also hear my voice via the mike. My buddy has been asking me to sing at the online karaoke app but I don't really like to use it as I can't hear my voice and could only hear it if I record. Maybe I should buy the real mike that can project my voice. 

I do hope the karaoke will be opened soon to the public. I enjoy singing alone at the karaoke singing to my heart content if my buddy or cousins are not free. Sometimes I think I am narcissistic as I enjoy listening to my voice. 

One thing for sure, I will definitely sing Mayday 五月天songs even though its not easy. 

盛夏光年

我驕傲的破壞 我痛恨的平凡 才想起那些是我最愛
讓盛夏去貪玩 把殘酷的未來 狂放到光年外 而現在

放棄規則 放縱去愛 放肆自己 放空未來
我不轉彎 我不轉彎 我不轉彎 我不轉彎

讓定律更簡單 讓秩序更混亂 這樣的青春我才喜歡
讓盛夏去貪玩 把殘酷的未來 狂放到光年外 而現在

放棄規則 放縱去愛 放肆自己 放空未來
我不轉彎 我不轉彎 我不轉彎 我不轉彎

我要 我瘋 我要 我愛 就是 我要 我瘋 我要 我愛 現在
一萬首的mp3 一萬次瘋狂的愛 滅不了一個渺小的孤單

我要 我瘋 我要 我愛 就是 我要 我瘋 我要 我愛 現在
盛夏的一場狂歡 來到了光年之外 長大難道是人必經的潰爛

放棄規則 放縱去愛 放肆自己 放空未來
我不轉彎 我不轉彎 我不轉彎 我不轉彎

My Blogging Journey

I started this blog "All About Singapore" in 2013. I also started another blog "Heart Sutra and Buddhism" blog in October 2017 and now it is among the Top 50 Buddhist Blogs . I felt happy when I was informed that the Heart Sutra and Buddhism blog became one of the Top 50 Buddhist blogs in January 2018 with Tiny Buddha being number 1 and my blog is now ranked 40th place in the world.  I feel happy if my post can inspire people to do good and share Buddha's teaching. 

Who am I to write about Buddha's teaching? I won't say I am perfect else I would be in the heavenly realm as a deva (heavenly being) enjoying fruit of good karma or reach enlightenment already. I still do not really understand what enlightenment is as I haven't experience it. Buddha simply said you don't have to go through samsara, cycle of rebirth anymore when you are enlightened. Even the devas (heavenly beings) after enjoying their good karma in the heavenly realm still need to go through samsara. Thus it is important to observe the five precepts, read more dharma and meditate and hopefully one day like Master HuiNeng became enlighten when he heard a verse from the Diamond sutra. 

At the moment, I think this is one of my purposes in life. To share Buddha's teaching. 

Yummy and Nutritious Sweet Potato and Nuts

Since the COVID-19, I have learnt and cooked more. I discovered that I can prepare healthy and yummy vegetarian dishes in easy and fuss-free way. 

Recently I used the steamed sweet potato and pumpkin and topped it with cranberry, honey coated macadamia, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds with some pine nuts.The dish is creamy sweet and crunchy with seeds and nuts. It is both a meal and a dessert. 

From Healthline :The 17 Best Protein Sources for Vegans and Vegetarian

Nuts, seeds and their derived products are great sources of protein. 

One ounce (28 grams) contains between 5–7 grams of protein, depending on the nut and seed variety.

Nuts and seeds are also great sources of fiber and healthy fats, in addition to iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, vitamin E and certain B vitamins. They also contain antioxidants, among other beneficial plant compounds (67Trusted Source). 

When choosing which nuts and seeds to buy, keep in mind that blanching and roasting may damage the nutrients in nuts. So reach for raw, unblanched versions whenever possible (68). 

Also, try opting for natural nut butters to avoid the oil, sugar and excess salt often added to many household brand varieties.

I brought the nuts and seeds at Alison's pantry

Cloud in the Form of Love

I love gazing up the sky to look at cloud. Today I'm delighted to see cloud in the form of heart shape from my workplace. I immediately took photo of it. Do you see the heart shape too?

Took this photo of the heart shape cloud from my workplace today. There is no photo manipulation of changing the shape.

Too this photo of cloud from home yesterday. 

五月天 Mayday Online Concert Today at 8pm

To all those who love 五月天 Mayday band, there is online concert at 8pm today! Thanks to my cousin for reminding me!

I went to their 2016 concert with my friend at Singapore indoor stadium then and we really enjoyed the concert! Hopefully we can attend live concert in Singapore in the near future.

To view the online concert at 8pm today, click here.

To read my blog post on Mayday concert in 2016, you can click here.

Let's rock!

将军令 is one of my favourite songs.

This is one song I will sing at karaoke. Really miss singing at karaoke. 

New Mask Given by Singapore Government

I received my second reusable mask given by Singapore Government.  Have you collected yours?

Go to this website to see where you can collect at https://www.maskgowhere.gov.sg/. You can also collect from vending machines.

Fried Egg Noodles for Lunch Today

My mum cooks fried egg noodles with carrot, yellow bell pepper, garlic, egg and prawns. As usual it is very tasty.

Yummy and Healthy Salad

My father prepared simple but yummy salad for us. He simply used  bell pepper, avocado, cucumber, apple and caesar sauce. I added extra honey coated macadamia for the extra crunch and raisins. I don't normally eat bell pepper but its quite delicious when combined with other ingredients.

Exploring Bugis Street with Unique Architecture

Last Saturday, I alighted at Bugis MRT station to walk to Fortune Centre to collect take-away sushi at Herbivore. On the way there, I saw modern and traditional lovely architectures. The old shophouses are conserved well and they are coated with vibrant colour. For the first time, I notice the colourful spiral staircases at the traditional shophouses. In the past, I didn't notice as I didn't pass by this area. Now due to coronavirus and circuit-breaker, the Bugis shopping mall entrance is now blocked at the basement level so now you need to exit the MRT station in order to access the Bugis shopping mall at level 1.

Bugis Junction area which is popular with both the  tourist and youth is now really quiet and empty. Hopefully by the end of this year, it will be buzzing with more people. 

Beautiful modern Bugis+ shopping mall juxtaposed with the cheerful colour traditional shophouses. I love Bugis+ hexagon and stars inspired architecture.

I love these colourful spiral staircases of these shophouses. It would be nice to stay in one of the shophouses.

Many non-essential businesses are not opened yet.

I was walking past the National Design Centre and for the first time, I saw notice sculpture. 

The National Library (left) and the National Design Centre

Healthy Home-cooked Soba Noodles

For today dinner, I cooked soba noodles tossed in sesame sauce and added pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sliced almond, dried cranberries and blueberries with a soft boiled egg.

It's a simple dish to prepare and its healthy and delicious. Glad that my parents enjoyed the soba noodles.

Wish Me Luck in Finding Mr Right

I'm now in my very late 30s and I think I better start searching for my other half aka soul mate. I've downloaded a few dating apps to help me find him. So far a few guys like me but I'm not interested. I don't like very young guys. I can accept above 37 years old and above male. I like someone born in the year of pig or snake. I notice that I get along well with people born in the year of pig so even though he be 2 years younger than me, it should be ok. I do like people with water element. Think it's the cosmic attraction since I lack water element in my Bazi. 

I don't mind if he is of different religion but he must accept that I'm a Buddhist. Sometimes I wonder if I should just click like first and find out more about the person first and not like just because he is good-looking. I'm always attracted to good-looking man. 

In my workplace,  my colleagues are either married men or much younger than me. Till now at this age, I have not date yet. I do hope to experience dating soon. In the past my priority was in study and work. Now I must plan some time for dating once this coronavirus end. Anyway if next month I still don't see anyone I like, I might just click like to find out more. Maybe I should not be picky, superficial and expect handsome man. I just want to look for a life-partner to grow old with and with similar interests. Sometimes it can be boring to travel alone.

Hopefully I get to find the special one. Actually I don't have high expectations now. At my age, I also don't plan to have kids. I do hope my Mr Right is kind, good looking,  financially independent and smart. It will be a bonus if he can write Chinese poem.