not himself

that was what was reflected on his msn intro... hope he is fine.

7 down 3 to go...

nearing the completion of my 7th module in my masters.

3 more to go.

aim to graduate Jul 08.

emotional rush

amidst the songs, i was quietly crying inside.

fusion bak chang

once again, bak chang season. completed after 2 days of hardwork. glad everyone likes it :) my recipe as shown below - my own version - fusion chang - nonya and hokkien kiam chang... first attempt was during my tour in the states in 2004. all the delegates who tried liked it. my fellow singaporeans loved it as it reminded them so much of home. and my thai friends and their families loved it to bits! i decided that i should continue making it and improving on the recipe, even after coming home.

meat
4kg of meat (wu hua rou)
300g of heh bee (dried shrimps soaked for 3 hours)
1 large packet (300g) dried shiitake mushroom (soaked overnight & sliced)
15 large onions (diced)
10 garlics (chopped)
250g of sweetened preserved winter melon (diced 5mm)

seasonings for meat
2 packets of coriander powder
white pepper powder (to taste)
200g of white sugar
light soya sauce (to taste)
dark soya (to taste and to colour)
50 mil of sesame oil
50 mil of oil (vegetable)
50 mil of lard (optional)
1 tablespoon msg (optional)

rice
4kg of glutinous rice (soaked for 3 hours)

seasonings for rice
white pepper powder (to taste)
10 mil of sesame oil
20 mil of oil (vegetable)
10 garlics (chopped)
1.5 tablespoon salt (or to taste)
half cup gravy from the cooking of the meat
1 tablespoon msg (optional)
pandan leaves (about 7, cut 5cm long and sliced vertically)

others
120 bamboo leaves (washed in hot water and soaked overnight)
rafia strings (tied into 10s of 50cm long) (1 roll makes about 12 bundles of 10s)
pandan leaves (2 stalks) cut to 2cm strips (for inserting into the dumplings)

(recipe posted in 16 jun 2007 & updated in 08 jun 2008)

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

A very nice song to share...



We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Have said too much
But not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

feeling old, passe

was at cathay grand this evening watching hula girls.
the whole crowd seemed so young.
so energetic
so...

then it dawned upon me that i have aged.
not a nice feeling.
but it hit me alright.

my 30s are over and gone.
my best years have gone.
and i have totally wasted it.
well, not the rite thing to mourn over it.
better start living my 40s before i regret it.

nightmare in perth

it's my worst holiday ever.
nothing went right from the time we touched down.
forgot to bring my driving license.
ended up having him drive.
stressed him up big time.
took the brunt...

could not understand why he cannot plan the trip.
could not understand what his thoughts were.
could not understand his sense of distance and directions.
why could he not be more proactive in planning what to see, what to do.
at least if he practively act on the itinerary and plan his route
he will be less stressed up when driving.

culminated in a big bang and all hell broke loose on the eve of my return.
anyway, glad i am home.
my worst holiday ever.