HDB 2-room Flat- My Nice Home Gallery

Last week, I went to HDB at Toa Payoh with the plan to book a flat. Alas all the 2-room type 2 flat (45sqm) are fully taken. They only left 36 sqm 2-room BTO flat. I went to My Nice Home gallery to have a feel of what 36 sqm room is like and I didn't like it. My current bedroom is larger than the 2-room living room and bed room combined. My bedroom can keep 5 Billy bookshelves of 80 cm width each, a bed, a desk  and a wardrobe. 

Sometimes I feel unhappy that singles in Singapore are not as well taken care of as compared to married couples. Married couples get to purchase flats in matured estate and 2-room flats and above. Married couples with kids also enjoy child care leave whereas Singles have to help when they take child care leave. Singaporean singles can only purchase BTO flats in non-matured estates and 2-room flat. If Singles want to buy bigger flats in matured estate, they can only buy resale-flat aka second hand which I don't really like. I prefer a brand new flat.

Why can't they let Singaporeans Singles purchase 3-room BTO flat and in matured estate too? If I can't buy a flat to my liking, maybe I should retire in other place for a cheaper and nicer accommodation. 2-room flat here costs about $125000.00 depending on the level. 

Its not as if we want to be single. I don't want to spend so much money on condominium as monthly service conservancy charge is high and I need to plan for retirement alone. Most probably, in old age, I might stay in old folk home as my brothers will all get married. This month, my youngest brother will be hosting Chinese wedding dinner, even though early last year he already registered his marriage with his wife at the Registry of Marriage.

My Nice Home Gallery

I really want to buy this type 2, 45 sqm 2-room BTO flat. Its just right for 1 person. I don't have to spend too much time cleaning up. My new home will have lots of wood material, maybe pine and spruce wood. I like this resort bliss concept.

I have billy bookshelves instead of those shelves.

I also like this kitchen concept. Wood gives warm vibe which I love! I don't really cook as I'm too busy with work.

Hmm, maybe I place some succulents here. I love plants too.

This is a smaller 2-room flat of about 36 sqm. It is too small for me.

My current bedroom is so much bigger than the living room and bed room combine.

This is laminated wood, which doesn't emit warm feeling.

Spending More Than Usual on Birthday Month

I realised I spent more than usual on my birthday month, February! The start of Spring. Well, several shops are offering discount during my birthday month so I brought almost a year stock so I don't to spend so much due to 20% discount and double points. 

I must really save more money next month and not spend unnecessary. 

History of Yusheng (Raw Fish Salad)

During Chinese New Year, we will toss Yusheng with our family. Yusheng is a traditional Chinese dish that originated from China but SIngaporean chefs had added new dishes to make it uniquely Singapore Chinese. For my family, we do not toss yusheng during reunion dinner. Instead we have it on the last day of Chinese New Year. Now many companies will also have this yusheng tossing with colleagues in Singapore. 

On the 7th day of Chinese new year, my mum will cook a dish comprising of 7 different vegetables as it is a Teochew tradition to celebrate Ren ri (Human birthday) or 人日。Sometimes I think yusheng might just be started from Chaozhou as we eat 7 different vegetables but its all green vegetables instead of colourful vegetables in yusheng. 

From Wikipedia:

Fishermen along the coast of Guangzhou traditionally celebrated Renri, the seventh day of the Chinese New Year, by feasting on their catches.^[1] The practice of eating raw fish in thinly sliced strips can be traced back to ancient China through the raw fish or meat dish known as kuai (膾, kuài). However the present form of yusheng is believed to have started in Chaozhou and Shantou as far back as the Southern Song Dynasty.

River Hongbao Show in Singapore 2019

Singapore River Hongbao Show at Marina platform is one event I look forward to every Chinese New Year. Yesterday I went to the show with my friend and I love this year fireworks. Tonight I'm going to see the 10 minutes international fireworks with my cousins. 

Tomorrow is the last day and there is 10 minutes international firework too. Do visit before it end. 

This year the theme is bicentennial edition to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Raffles' arrival in Singapore in 1819 in addition to the celebration of Ji Hai pig year.

I will post more pictures by tomorrow. The photos that I share here are from my Samsung note 5 phone. Using my phone, I can only upload a photo at a time only.  Its easier to load more photos with my Panasonic Lumix camera. 

Website: http://riverhongbao.sg

Chinese New Year

Yesterday is the first day of Chinese New Year. I woke up late at about 10 am then I spent the day surfing internet and watching movies at home. Later in the evening we went to our aunty's new home for gathering. 

On New Year eve, I went to Waterloo street Kuan Imm temple for prayer. I read that the street was filled with people who wanted to offer the first joss stick in the temple at midnight yesterday. It is believed that the first person to offer the joss stick will be lucky for the year.

 I went to the temple at about 11 am on New year eve so there were not many people. But the place is filled to the brim late at night nearer to midnight. 

I still receive Hongbao this year. This piggy design is my favourite red packet as it is cute.

Light to Night Festival in Singapore 2019

Went to explore National Gallery of Singapore for the light Art yesterday. Took a few photos of it. 

Feng Shui Talk by Master Xie Yuan Jin at Popular BookFest 2018 謝沅瑾老師

BookFest at Suntec Singapore is one event I look forward to every year. Held in December at Suntec city annually, you get to enjoy stationery, gadgets and IT, books, music and titbits at good discount. Besides shopping for the above items, you also get to enjoy other events like sharing by authors. 

In 2013, I attended a talk by Taiwan famous director and author, Giddens Ko 九把刀 。 This year, I attended a talk by famous Fengshui master from Taiwan, Master Xie Yuan Jin 謝沅瑾老師. After the one hour talk, he signed autographs for his fans. I learned some basic fengshui. If you want to learn more about Fengshui, you can watch Fengshui show he is involved in as shown below. There is a Chinese saying, 福人居福地 福地福人居. Blessed people live in blessed area and vice versa. To be a blessed person, just do more good deeds. 

Today is the last day for BookFest (end at 10pm) by the way. Next year, I hope Giddens Ko can give a talk again in Singapore BookFest. 

Nearest MRTs: Cityhall and Esplanade MRT stations

 Autograph session

Singapore's late former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew Conferred a Reform Friendship Medal by China

This week, Singapore's late former Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew was conferred a Reformed Friendship Medal by China for his role in China reform. Without Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his team like Dr Goh Keng Swee, Mr Lim Kim San and many others like hardworking Singaporeans, Singapore would not be able to transform from third world to first world country within a short period of time.

In recent Taiwan elections, I was shocked to see politicians especially those Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) accusing and smearing their opponents of corruptions without evidence, and got away with it. I realised that it is important to sue if someone purposely slander and accuse you. Mr Lee Kuan Yew was right to sue those who slander and accuse him and spread fake news about him. So the way to stop fake news is to sue those who spread fake news. 

Its not right that many of those scheming DPP candidates get away with their accusation on Mr Han Kuo-yu. Many DPP candidates flocked to accuse him of corruption, selling Taiwan, inappropriate relationship and so on.  After one year of checking the account in his former role as a general manager of Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corporation, they found no evidence of corruption. DPP should apologise.

In this video, Mr Lee Kuan Yew clever reply to Chris Patten. ( from 20 secs). Democracy is not for all countries. Many middle-east countries are now in mess now with western interference. Some countries do need strong leader to manage the country. 

My Home at Tampines in Singapore

I've been staying in Tampines since I was a few months old. Thus, I hope to buy a BTO flat in Tampines. However as Tampines is a mature estate in Singapore, singles are not allowed to purchase BTO flat. Singles can only buy resale flat in mature estates. 

Lately I applied for a Punggol BTO flat with a sea view but I could not get it due to overwhelming response. Frankly speaking, I don't want to buy resale flat. But if I want to stay in Tampines, I might have to apply for a resale flat. 

I hope there is a change in policy. To allow singles to purchase HDB BTO flats in mature estates or give priority to the singles who have been staying in the mature estates for more than 30 years. 

In Tampines, I like the Tampines Central Park. I used to go to the Watermelon playground when I was young. Tampines is like a mini Orchard road with 3 shopping malls in Tampines central. If I were to change residence to other non-mature estate, I will miss Tampines. 

 Tampines Central Park is well-managed.

 I don't like current new playground. It emits funny smell when weather is hot. In the past, the ground was filled with sand. 

 Provision shop at void deck.

 Now there is a place for dogs to have fun.

 There is art sculpture Mother and Child by Dr Ng Eng Teng. Is he related to Dr Ng Eng Heng?

 Tampines Hub where you have almost everything! 24-hour supermarket, swimming pool, library, sports complex, outdoor movie theatre and shopping mall.

 There used to be a small swing but now it is replaced with metal frame and two seats. Maybe some swung too high and hit the other side of the Watermelon.

Night View of Singapore

Recently I went for a walk with my cousin and we went to Marina Bay Sand to explore Christmas decoration. It is more comfortable for leisurely walk at night. 

Marina Bay Sands.

 Gardens by the Bay