First Birthday Cake in February 2022

February is my birthday month and there are many promotions and free vouchers for me this month. This Friday, I went to Elemen, a vegetarian restaurant at Millenia walk to claim free birthday voucher worth $28.80 for a eight-course set meal and truffle pizza. I opted for biscoff brownie with vanilla gelato, black truffle porcini pasta, wild mushroom cream soup and churro fruit rojak. 

Click here to see full Elemen menu here.

Next Friday, I will go to another restaurant to buy another cake at discount. 

My favourite truffle pizza!

Is Booster Vaccination Necessary?

Despite high vaccination rate in Singapore, we now have shocking 13046 new Covid cases yesterday. It is high time that the authorities start to question if having booster is effective. If it is not effective, it's high time to reflect and think of new strategy. Israel which is promoting booster vaccination is still suffering from high Covid daily cases.  Why are countries with citizens who are fully vaccinated seeing rises in Covid19 cases? 

I have many colleagues who are infected with Covid despite taking the booster shots. I also have another colleague who recovered from Covid even though he didn't take any vaccination. I believe it is because he is very health conscious who exercises and eats healthily, refraining from sugar. Previously MOH announced that those who passed on despite being fully vaccinated is due to underlying conditions. So it goes to show that even if you are fully vaccinated, it doesn't help if you have underlying conditions. Perhaps living a healthy lifestyle is crucial to overcome this virus and develops herd immunity. 

Athletes around the world reported of heart conditions/attacks after taking vaccination. Some Singaporeans also reported side effects like heart palpitations. The current vaccination does has an impact on the heart especially if you do strenuous exercises.

I think the current health minister OYK and the Ministry of Health are not managing the covid situation well. When covid situation has not stabilised earlier, he should not go to JJ Lim's concert. Those who are infected with Covid19 should just be given MC and not go to work and infect others. High hospitalisation rate is also draining the healthcare workers.  

Is there accountability for the recent passing of 103 years old lady? She was given 4th Covid19 jab. It's really irresponsible to blame her fatality due to underlying conditions. Which centenarian don't have underlying conditions? 

For me, I have compromised by taking two vaccinations already. I'm not taking the booster vaccination. Is Singapore going to depend on endless vaccination instead of natural herd immunity by taking care of our health and refraining from high sugar diet? I'm prepared not to go to the malls once my full vaccination lapses on 14 February. I can always buy things online and save more money by not eating at restaurants. I'm not going to take the never-ending booster. 

My Favourite Broadway Musical: Jersey Boys

I think the best decision I ever made is travelling to New York to watch Broadway musical Jersey Boys in 2011. Definitely one of the best shows I enjoyed throughly with great performance by all the professional cast especially the male lead Jarrod Spector with amazing vocal range. 

Broadway musical: Jersey Boys

Jersey Boys the movie. I like this song Opus 17 Don't you worry about me

Still Prefer Snail Mails

Last week I was doing final spring cleaning and came across all my old letters and cards. In the past before the advance of communications, we sent each others letters and cards. I feel that the current trend of sending electronic cards and messages is rather transient. With the hardcopy letters and cards, you can easily retrieve it and read. These cards remind me of my former colleagues and friends. I wonder how they are doing now.

I keep all my letters and cards in this National Day fun box.

Next Time I Must Lock My Bedroom

My friend told me that I have many weird rules but I think it's just common sense. Yesterday my aunty wanted to sit on my bed but luckily I managed to stop her from sitting on it. I don't even sit or sleep on my bed if I haven't bathe yet or just return from work. If you go out, your clothes will be exposed to all those virus and dust. 

To my dismay, my young cousins sat on my new Ergotune chair. I also don't sit if I just return from outside. After they returned home, I immediately disinfected my chair. Next time, I'll just lock my bedroom if there are visitors so they don't sit on my chair and bed. 

Last time, when I travelled to Taiwan with a friend, I also told her not to put her stuff on my bed in the hotel. Some people just put their bag on benches or toilet floor which are unhygienic. Sometimes I wonder if they think about the implications of putting their things outside and then put on the bed. I must tell them first as I be very upset if they put their things on my bed or sit on it. 

Ode to Art Display at Raffles City Shopping Mall

I like paintings by Wu Qiong and Coplu for their vibrant colour and dreamy scenes. Their art works are currently on displayed at Raffles City Shopping mall by Ode to Art gallery. I like art that sparks joy in you. Art by Wu Qiong

Painting by Coplu

Mayday Chinese New Year Concert 2022

Looking forward to Mayday Chinese New Year concert starting at 10.45pm today at here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePgCvai8wk8

Light to Night Festival 2022- New Ways of Seeing, Thinking and Being

I don't normally go out on Saturday but this week is an exception as I needed to buy new wallet and shirt for the coming Chinese New Year. My current wallet is spoiled after using for about 5 years. 

After dinner, I went to the Civic district to explore the annual Light to Night festival at various locations like the Victoria Theatre, The Arts House, National Gallery Singapore and Asian Civilisation Museum. This year theme is New Ways of Seeing, Thinking and Being. 

Anyway, I just stood at various locations to admire the mesmerising light art projected on Singapore museums and theatres.The event will end on 3 February, next Thursday. 

Outside the National Gallery Singapore, a  former Supreme Court 

The same side of the moon always faces the earth

Victoria Theatre

 

Different Types of Black

I was surprised to see different tones of black pens at Popular bookstore yesterday. I thought black ink is just plain black. Interesting. 

Can you spot the difference?

Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh at Tampines Blk 823A

 I love the smooth and tasty chwee kueh at Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh at Tampines Blk 823A. It is tasty but quite expensive at 5 pieces for $3.00. The steamed yam cake is quite good too. 

I like the soft steamed yam cake.

Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries at Singapore Chinatown

Glad to find this great Hong Kong pastries at Chinatown Smith Street. Their wife biscuits are really delicious with generous winter melon filling and thin flaky crust. I also like their red bean pastry. Great pastry at $2 only. 

I brought the pastry at Chinatown Smith Street

Look at the generous filling for for all the pastry. I love that the flaky crust is thin with generous winter melon filling.

Street Art at Chinatown Singapore

You can find this street art mural titled Letter Writer by Yip Yew Chong at Chinatown, 336 Smith Street.

From here https://yipyc.com/blog/2019/04/26/letter-writer-寫信佬-妙手揮春/

Letter Writer 寫信佬 . 妙手揮春

Painting this mural in Chinatown was a dream come true. This mural is special for three reasons: Firstly, Chinatown is where I grew up and have fond memories of. Secondly, for 2 years, I pursued the opportunity to paint murals in Chinatown, experiencing many hurdles, but also learnt many lessons and made many friends along the way. Finally, this is the first mural I painted with my two children!

In the olden days, Letter writers played an important role of helping our migrant forefathers write letters to their loved ones back in China. They also doubled as calligraphers for Chinese New Year couplets and ancestral altars. This was a common scene in Chinatown up till the 80s before the big Chinatown cleanup when the street markets, hawkers and traditional traders were resettled inside the mammoth Chinatown Complex (completed in 1983). I missed those scenes!

Actually, painting the Letter Writer is part of a bigger dream to paint 6 murals in Chinatown – Letter Writer, Wooden Clog Maker, Cantonese Opera Stage, Chinatown Wet Market, Paper Mask and Puppet Seller, Lantern Festival. I am so happy to have fulfilled part of my dream. Thanks to everyone who helped me get the approval. I hope to fulfil the rest someday! Thank you!

The mural is located at Singapore Chinatown, 336 Smith Street, on the side wall of New Bridge Centre, just outside the CK department store.

Street art by Yip Yew Chong