Viewing of Orion Constellation From Home Balcony

As I was looking at the sky from my balcony last weekend, I saw a bright twinkling star and three stars in a line. I recalled that my cousin had said that it is a sign of Orion constellation. So I used my Skyview app to find out more about the star constellation and indeed it is the  Orion constellation. I'm very happy that I can see star constellation from my balcony. Fortunately, there is no tall building infront of my block and I live at high floor. In the future, I hope to find a home where I can see the stars in the comfort of my home.  

Can you see the Orion constellation?

Cooking Vegetable Curry

On Christmas Day, my mum cooked vegetable and chicken curry with ready-made curry paste. My mum added lots of vegetables like carrot, brinjal or eggplant, cabbage, long beans and tomato, I love to eat lots of carrot and cabbage curry. She also added coconut milk and some spices like blue ginger, shallot and garlic for seasoning. My mum prefers to use the traditional method of pounding the spices using mortar and pestle stone pounder so I helped her with task. 

My youngest brother and his wife joined us for late lunch and they enjoyed the delicious curry. I'm happy that I learnt how to cook delicious vegetable curry. My mum is a very good cook and I think I have to start learning from her especially her signature dishes like fried beehoon and curry.  

Using the traditional mortar and pestle stone pounder to pound shallot, blue ginger, garlic.

My father brought this curry paste at Tampines wet market.

Merry Christmas!

Tomorrow is Christmas Day! I wish all my Christian and Catholic readers and friends Merry Christmas. Even though I'm a Buddhist, I also like Christmas Day as we get to see beautiful Christmas lighting at Orchard road and now in many shopping malls in residential area. In Singapore, Christmas Day is also public holiday. Tomorrow, I will just enjoy a good meal with my family at home. 

This year, Orchard road street is decked with beautiful Christmas lighting and I love this year design. 

Take care and enjoy the day!

Christmas lighting at Singapore Orchard Road.

Outside Ion Orchard

Tang Orchard 

 

Doraemon at National Museum of Singapore

This Friday I had a great day exploring Singapore and shopping! In the morning I first went to Gardens by the Bay, Flower dome, then to National Museum of Singapore to see the cute Doraemon's Time Travelling Adventure in Singapore. I also visited the Singapore History Gallery and the Story of the Forest which features dazzling visual animation by teamLab.

After taking lots of photos of the cute Doraemon, I walked to Plaza Singapura shopping mall to buy some almond shower and hair conditioner and also some facial products as there are promotions by many shops due to Black Friday sale. 

After shopping, I went to Orchard Shake Shack for dinner and then walked to Ngee Ann city Kinokuniya bookshop to read and buy some books.  Before going home,  I went to explore the beautiful Orchard road Christmas light display. 

Doraemon's Time Travelling Adventure in Singapore at the National Museum of Singapore

Story of the Forest by TeamLab at the Glass Rotunda

At Ion Orchard

A Lone Red Flower Blooms

Yesterday I was happy to see a beautiful red flower blooms just outside our home. My mother has been growing this plant for few years now and it's only recently that I notice the plant is a flowering plant. Just wondering what is the name of this plant.

Furry Chickens at Community Garden

Saw these cute fluffy chickens at Tampines community garden. I didn't know they exist! They are known as Silkie.

From google:The Silkie (sometimes spelled Silky) is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk and satin. ... In addition to their distinctive physical characteristics, Silkies are well known for their calm, friendly temperament. It is among the most docile of poultry.

The Mango tree at Tampines.

Vegetarian Choices at Shake Shack

Finally my cousins and I tried the fried shallot cheese fries and the pie-oh-my concrete at Suntec City, the fourth Shake Shack in Singapore. We went for dinner at around 5.30 pm so there was no queue. 

As usual I had the Shroom burger which in my opinion is the best vegetarian burger. We also tried the limited time offer ShackMeister Fries which is simply crispy fried shallot on top of cheese fries.

I be back for the pie-oh-my concrete at Orchard Shake Shack. Really love the pecan pie by Cheryl Koh.

Simply love this incredible Pie-Oh-My which is a vanilla custard with TARTE's treacle pecan pie. My cousins and I really love this plain looking concrete as it tastes so heavenly with the crunchy pecan buttery pie with not so sweet vanilla custard which we like. I'm really looking forward to the launch of TARTE by Cheryl Koh at Raffles City shopping mall. Single concrete costs $7.50 and double $9.50. 

Matcha made in heaven just tastes like strawberry ice-cream with shortbread with matcha powder and strawberry yuzu jam. 

Shake Shack ShackMeister Fries costs $5.90. I think the fried shallots is more suitable for dry noodles or fried rice.

I should have order double Pie-oh-my instead of double Matcha made in heaven.

Shroom burger is the best vegetarian burger in my opinion. I love the crisp fried portobello mushroom filled with cheese.

Queue started to form at around 7pm on Friday evening. 

The Gift of Death: The Essence of Death, Life and Love

I just reconnected with my friend Hai Yen after 12 years of no contact. How time flies! 

I'm really happy to catch up with her at Cedele cafe and conversation just flowed naturally. We always had lunch during our school days and she is the only one I feel comfortable with at school. Even though she is two years younger than me, she is wise beyond her years and really smart. 

Today I'm delighted to reconnect with her and I'm surprised we share similar interests on spirituality. I was wondering why I didn't attend her wedding many years back. Was it because I was facing some issue then? I felt bad about it and today I said sorry to her. Oh dear, is old age catching up. I don't remember many events that happened ten years ago.

I'm amazed that she also read books on spirituality like books by Dr Brian Weiss, a psychiatrist, hypnotherapist and author on past life regression and The Law of Attraction. Not many people like to read spiritual books like us. 

Dr Brian Weiss's book on past life regression verified Buddha's teaching that who you meet in this life is related to you in past life. Your current husband could be your father in your past life and vice versa. That's why there is a Chinese saying that daughter is father's past life lover. There is soul family and everyone has guardian angel. Being in a physical body, we experience duality. We identify thing as good and bad, birth and death, happy and sad. Like a coin, birth and death are just two sides of the same coin. Maybe that's why Buddha said do not be extreme, follow the Middle path.  

Anyway I'm happy to share with you the book my friend wrote. I just brought the ebook from Amazon and read the first chapter of The Gift of Death and it is really well-written. Do buy this book. Go to this link here to read more. My friend believe in unconditional love which I agree to. But I believe there is karma, cause and effect. Just like there are karmic relationship in the human realm. Whatever you give, you will get it back be it good or bad depending on the action. 

Just want to share some interesting points my friend shared in her book, The Gift of Death: The essence of Death, Life and Love. 

Passed on relative or higher being will send message via thought. I don't know why sometimes a message will just flashed in my mind. Do you have this experience too? Sometimes I wonder why I suddenly have this thought or idea.

There are four levels of trauma and recognising it helps us to move closer to the life we wish to live.

Level 1: Socially conditioned trauma also known as culture or social norms. 

Level 2: Childhood trauma- How you were brought us as a child. When love becomes a transaction between parents and child. 

Level 3: Generational trauma- When socially conditioned trauma or childhood trauma remains unaddressed and passes on to many generation. 

Level 4: Past life trauma. This reminds me of the book by Dr Brian Weiss. Like what Buddha said, don't make any promise in this life as it be fulfilled in the next life. The promise or emotion you can't resolve or fulfil will be carried on to the next life.