Home-cooked Korean Bibimbap

We love Korean bibimbap which is actually mixed rice. So today we cooked mixed rice for dinner. I specially went to local Korean shop that sells chili sauce paste and kimchi. We prepared lots of vegetables like carrots, cucumber, brinjal, spinach, fried egg, salmon and scallop. In addition to Korean chilli paste, we also added sesame oil and sesame seed. Absolutely delicious with so much yummy vegetables!

 

Planning Another Trip to South Korea

I enjoyed the recent trip to South Korea and was delighted to experience both Autumn and Winter last month. Thus, I'm planning for another trip to South Korea next year.

I was looking for South Korea guide books at bookshop but there are not many South Korea tourist guide books available. Fortunately, South Korea Tourism Board has done very well by providing free informative tourist guide books for various places in South Korea at Korea Plaza which is located near Telok Ayer MRT station.  Also the Korea tourism staff gave prompt reply when I asked if I could get any free guide book. I'm really impressed with their prompt and good service. 

There are ebook available here too. I prefer to look at hardcopy books. 

Thank you for the free guide books, cute stickers and key chains. Gamsahamnida!

Website: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/main/index.do

Korea Plaza

Nearest MRT station: Telok Ayer MRT station (about 5 mins walk)

Lovely decoration at Korea Tourism Organization

 

Back to Singapore Praying to Kwan Im

I'm back to Singapore from South Korea yesterday. This afternoon, I went to Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo street to thank Kwan Im for safe journey and protection. We managed to avoid the heavy snowfall last Wednesday and Thursday as we were in other city. Luckily we managed to enjoy the lovely snow last Friday (the only snow day we experienced and other days were pretty good weather). 

As usual, there are many people praying at this popular Buddhist temple in Singapore. I always pray to Kwan Im before and after the travel to thank the compassionate bodhisattva for protection. 

 

Autumn and Winter in South Korea 2024

South Korea has left a special place in my heart. This is the first time I got to experience winter with snow drifting onto my face last Friday! I felt so excited and happy and made some snow balls! I am really thankful that I got to enjoy both autumn and winter in late November within a week. Most of the Koreans are friendly and helpful especially from the countryside. 

Seoul is more fast-paced and some people are not so friendly. There are still some friendly and helpful people in Seoul. It is also more crowded and annoyingly had many foreigners protesting. Some disrupting traffic and shopping street on weekends. I prefer rural places where people are more friendly and helpful. I will not go shopping on weekends in popular Seoul shopping streets.

I really like Korean food and cool weather and will visit Seoul and other countrysides in spring again to explore other places like Buddhist temples and parks where flowers will bloom. This time I will travel alone to really explore the country in Spring. I love the beautiful trees and food in South Korea. See you again South Korea! Gamsahabnidaa!

Seoul tower

Playing with snow!

Fubao has returned to China.

Twin pandas at Everland. Happy to see four pandas.

Staff helping to plough away the snow to make it safer for walking. Thank you very much. Kamsahamnida!

Can you see the snow dancing?

At Jeonju

I also love the mountains.

Hello From South Korea!

 Annyeonghaseyo from South Korea! Arrived in South Korea this Monday. Finally my first travel since 2018 when I travelled to Perth in November 2018 for work.I love their healthy food like Kim chi, tall and handsome oppa and cool weather now! I’m eating kimchi everyday from breakfast to dinner. 

Generally most Koreans are pretty helpful and polite. Their toilets are also clean. Some kind Koreans offered to help to take photos of me and my parents. Places like Jeju is also not as crowded as Singapore. Currently travelling around Korea. Hmm, maybe next year I go to South Korea again, focusing on Jeju and Seoul. Next year, I’ll spend most of the time travelling solo for the first half of the year. I will focus on East Asia and perhaps Europe. 

Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee

Last month, I finally tried the legendary Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee located at Singapore Hong Lim Market and Food Centre. I felt thankful that I got to eat this famous fried kway teow (flat rice noodles) by the senior grand master. I heard that this grand master rarely cooks now as his son has taken over the reins.

My mum shared that she loved the fried Kway Teow Mee at Hong Lim Market and Food Centre so I took her there after her medical appointment since it is near to Hong Lim food centre. Luckily we got to eat this tasty fried kway teow by the pioneer shifu. I don't eat cockles and just put it away. It's actually a simple kway teow dish with cockles and egg but so delicious! 

We went there at about 10.15 am on weekday and there was already a long queue. The efficient staff took our order and collected cash. 

Glad that we managed to eat this scrumptious fried kway teow before the Grand master retirement.

Paid in cash. Long queue already formed at about 10.15 am on weekday.

Happy Deepavali!

Happy Deepavali to all Hindus! I am very happy that today is public holiday and I can have extra rest from work!

Last week, I went to Waterloo street to pray at Kwan Im Thong Hood temple and I thought I just prayed outside the Sri Krishnan temple which is just next to Kwan Imm temple. Many  years ago, I was surprised that my ex-colleagues prayed outside Sri Krishnan temple after praying to Kwan Imm and they told me they believe in all religions. Perhaps all religions are teaching similar things like kindness, compassion and karma or Cause and effect. .

Let's  focus on similarities on religions like Kindness, Compassion and kama like Golden Rule and less on the differences. We must not take religious harmony in Singapore for granted. Once trust is gone, society will be fragmented with distrust and disharmony. 

Happy Deepavali to all Hindus. The Light will triumph over darkness and the good prevails! Happy holidays to all! 

Sri Krishnan Temple at Waterloo street

New Dishes at Elemen Restaurant 2024

Had a wonderful vegetarian meal with my friend after work last Friday. We shared  two sets of 8-course meal at Element restaurant, one of which is the new Taiwan course set meal. She didn't eat much so I had most of the food, to my delight.  Anyway I enjoy delicious food with my friend. 

The Taiwan set course will end this month on 31 October this year. If you love Taiwan food, you should come to try. 

Click here to read more.

elemen 元素 @  Millenia Walk

9 Raffles Boulevard

Millenia Walk, #01-75/75A/76

Singapore 039596

             I love Sichuan Dan Dan mian with springy noodle with tasty spices. 

                                                                Tiramisu is nice here

Final UWeekly 优1周 Magazine

Finally the last local entertainment magazine is ending with the final edition this weekend. I'm quite pleased that Kym Ng is on the final UWeekly cover as I like her unpretentious and kind vibe.

With the end of local entertainment magazine, it kinda spells the end of local entertainment. Actually how many people are still watching local dramas now with YouTube, Netflix and Disney available? To be honest, after work, I don't watch local dramas with long advertisements (don't think they should advertise those screaming drama scenes and medical adverts). Please be mindful what you show on television. 

Now I prefer to watch travel videos from youtube as I can control the speed of video and block advertisements. My relatives also prefer to watch Korean drama online. 

Anyway I'm glad that UWeekly persisted for another seven years when both 8Days and Iweekly ended print magazines in 2018. Thank you UWeekly for accompanying me for the past 23 years. 

说真的，虽然不舍优1周终于结束，但天下没有不散的宴席。谢谢优1周这23年的相伴。

Glad that Kym Ng is featured on the final UWeekly magazine.

Final IWeekly local Manadarin magazine on 27 September 2018

               Final 8Days local English magazine on 27 September 2018