Local-licious Vegetarian at Elemen Restaurant

Next month, 9 August, Singapore will be celebrating  55 years of independence. Elemen, a vegetarian restaurant has just launched Singapore local dishes- Local-licious set meal for a limited time till 31 August this year. 

Yesterday after work, I went to Elemen for late lunch and ordered Local-licious 8-course set meal at Millenia Walk. I love most of the dishes especially the chicken rice sushi with fried crispy beancurd skin and golden fritter with porcini mushroom and spicy special sauce. Kaya creme brûlée is great too but it's in small portion. I hope the golden fritter and kaya creme brûlée can be added to the main menu. Really love the fried fritter. 

To me its not so filling as the three sushi are in small portion like three tablespoons. So I ordered another main dish, the wild mushroom with white truffle pizza and I had 3 slices of pizza.

To find out more, visit Elemen website here.

Elemen Singapore Appetiser- From left is yam cube, lion mane in curry sauce and lastly potato.

Local dish rojak salad with crispy you siao with fruits and vegetables in peanut sauce. 

Cream of mushroom Kut Teh. I like this fusion mushroom and herbal peppery flavours. Surprisingly the pepper is not overwhelming. I actually don't like pepper but this combination is good maybe because of mushroom cream flavour too. 

From left to right, there is Malay nasi lemak, Indian nasi briyani and Chinese Chicken rice inspired sushi. My favourite is the Chinese chicken rice sushi. I find the portion quite small. Its like three tablespoon of rice. 

I love this chicken rice sushi with the crispy beancurd skin. It will be best if they are served hot. 

I had the crispy thin wild mushroom and white truffle cheesy pizza too! 

Golden fritter with porcini was served piping hot. I love the tangy spicy special sauce.

Sng Muay sorbet is traditional sour plum.

Kaya creme brûlée is really good.

Fresh sugarcane juice with lemon and coconut jelly chunk with sea salt. You can find sugarcane in many hawker centre drink stall.

Free gift for Local-licious set

 Inside is old school biscuits that I used to eat when I was in primary school.

Singapore General Election Cooling Off Day

How time flies! Tomorrow is finally the Election Day！Do you know who to vote for? Meanwhile, just enjoy the funny video by Singapore famous blogger aka Mr Brown.

My Thoughts on Singapore General Election 2020

In this general election, all 93 seats will be contested. Frankly speaking, many Tampines residents are in favour of current MPs as they have delivered their promise in developing Tampines Hub. The current deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat who led Tampines GRC team has done a great job and he made the effort to converse in both Mandarin and Teochew.

 

I still remember many years ago, when we were given a survey on what we would like to have in the new Tampines infrastructure (I have lived in Tampines for almost 4 decades),  I remember writing that I hope that there will be a big beautiful library where I can read all day and a badminton court.

The Tampines Hub has fulfilled all my wishes. There are many restaurants, a big beautiful library with indoor playground, supermarket, various sports facilities, outdoor and indoor movie theatre, hawker centre, and even Karaoke where I can sing late with my cousin or friend. Its a really convenient one-stop centre for Tampines residents. 

Frankly speaking, the opposition members only appear now during the general election and if they could suggest solutions on unemployment which is also happening around the world, solve the CECA agreement, then I will consider voting for them. 

Yesterday I was surprised that Workers' Party, the only credible experienced opposition party did not accept the media invitation to debate in Mandarin. To many Mandarin speaking residents like my father, they are very upset. Even though I'm educated in cosmopolitan westernised Singapore, I value our Chinese culture and language. We must not forget our roots, history and culture.  It is really disappointing that the Workers' Party did not make the effort to develop bilingual speakers in their party. Hello, most of us are educated in both Mother tongue and English language in schools and should be able to converse in both languages. It's a really terrible decision made by the Workers' party leader. 

For the current party, they should stop raising prices like bus fares, electricity and increase 10% GST after election, increase CPF minimum sum and retirement age. If they make it hard for Singaporeans to receive their CPF saving, many Singaporeans will be frustrated and perhaps migrate or just vote for the opposition out of anger. 

People Action Party (PAP) posters can be seen around Singapore streets.

PAP candidates for Tampines GRC. Till now, I haven't seen the opposition posters around. 

Have You Collected Your Mask?

I just collected reusable antimicrobial masks from a vending machine located near my home. This is the third reusable mask distributed by Singapore government to Singapore Residents. 

This time, there are two reusable masks in a package and there is a thoughtful design where you can tick off when you used it so you know how many times you have used the mask. It is washable up to 30 times. 

You can either use your identification card (IC) to scan or key in your IC number to collect your reusable masks. 

Visit this website to find out more. 

Really thoughtful design to keep track how many times you have used the mask and instruction for usage.

Singapore General Election 2020- Where is Your Polling Station?

My young cousin shared with me where your polling station is located via this website here

https://app.eservice.eld.gov.sg/Voter/pollingstationenquiry.aspx.

For the first time, you vote based on the assigned time. There was no allocation of time in the past, I could choose to vote in the morning or evening. This time, I'm given the time slot from 5pm to 7pm to vote. I rather vote in the morning and get it done. 

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.