Merdeka!

Selamat Hari Merdeka ke-50!


Moga rakyat Malaysia kekal bersatu-padu dan sama sama menuju ke puncak kejayaan!

puri?

Yesterday after meeting, Reuben drove us to a nearby coffeeshop for lunch. So we were looking for somewhere that no need pay so much for carpark (read: no shopping complexes), somewhere other than canteen and hawker food price (read: below $4).

Anyway, I think we were at Toa Payoh somewhere. This coffeeshop have 4 stalls only. One nasi padang stall, one drinks stall (with kopi-cino and ice blends no less!), one western food (but not open) and one prata stall. So I went to get food from prata stall.

Decided to get the puri set. Because, I don't know what is puri, never tasted before so wanted to try. Got the mutton puri set for $3. Someone else tried butter prata (but quite expensive @$2 per piece although its big)

According to Zak, puri is chappati fried. Cool, it looked a bit like naan but with oil ('coz fried!). The puri set comes with 2 puris (bigger than usual prata kosong), 1 potato masala (side dish) and mutton curry. The potato masala was nice, mutton curry was tender and puri tasty and sweet on its own. Very nice, didn't disappoint. I'd recommend this set to everyone! (who can take mutton) Value for $$

The coffeeshop is just beside MUIS (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapore), so it should be at 1 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh.

because it was raining

No need to send any sms to me now because I won't be able to read it. The display panel of my mobile phone is now rendered useless. Why? Because I dropped it... onto the cold hard floor. $^%&*$!

So sad...

service

The other day I bought a pair of sunglasses ( because I heow mah... can?) and after that it was chucked into some drawer to never see the daylight again. Yes la.. another white elephant. But probably will have some use when I travel home (yeah.. like twice a year maybe...) Anyway, last week I decided to take it out for some airing and suddenly noticed that there was this line on the lens. Looked like glue stuck on it.. so tried to rub it off but couldn't. So decided to bring it back to the shop. But not sure whether they will entertain me or not 'coz the glasses weren't that expensive (after discount less than a hundred) and moreover, I'm not even one of their regulars and the glasses were bought for more than a week.

At the same time I thought that I should bring the VCD that was bought in early August back to TS because when I tried to play it recently, a lot of discs couldn't be read by my computer DVD rom. The other I only watched disc 1 and it was alright and subsequently didn't get to watch it till recently. So, ok.. I'll do those two together.

So I went to the optical shop first. After some spying and confirming that the sales guy who attended to me previously was in the shop, I went in hesitantly. Another sales lady attended to my enquiries this time as the guy was busy with another customer.

me: Ahhh... the other time I bought this from here. Found some lines on the lens.
lady: Ok, let me take a look at it... (after inspection) Are you sure you didn't drop it? This looks like quite a deep scratch.
me: Nope, didn't drop it
lady: Let me try to clean this first while I search for your record in our files
guy: Hey, its you again! Did you wear your sunglasses?
me: Nope.. it went into the drawer straight
guy: Haha! Really?!
me: Yeah, now realized got scratches on it
guy: Let me exchange another one for you
me: Your colleague is attending to me now ^_^

So after all that, they couldn't exchange any new ones for me 'coz the one that they had in stock also had similar scratches. So yesterday he called me up to say that the glasses were back in stock and I could go collect.

As for the VCD, I went back to the shop and told them the problem. The lady asked for the receipt and when did I buy it. Sheepishly I said, "Quite long... like early this month..." She sort of like looked annoyed but amused but still annoyed. Then she was about to exchange with another box of VCD when I asked if I could exchange it with DVD version instead and pay the price difference. Now she looked less amused and more annoyed. Nevertheless, she was ok with it and thus, I paid an extra $7+ to get the DVD version. Heh heh..

So all in all, I am now a happy customer. Ask and you shall receive...

ps: thanks to the ppl in Optical 88 (CCK) and TS (Woodlands)

fellow commuter

Was in the packed train yesterday heading home after work. As usual, I minded my own business but was looking at other people and stuffs. However, when you're about 5 inches away from another person's back/face.. there's not much to see anyway.

Anyhow, while we were still at Tanjong Pagar or so, heard this booming voice that sounded very 'ang moh'. Slang and all. So I thought, well... probably some expat in the train. So Ade got a seat after a while, and she was reading her Harry Potter book, so I'm left with my own thoughts. There was this huge Chinese guy sitting next to Ade and he was also people watching, just like me. Haha.

By the time we reached Redhill or so, the train was less crowded. Noticed this long haired guy (like those 'mat rocker' but Chinese). He has this backpack and was carrying a bike helmet and was trying to inch closer to the center of the train to get a glimpse of the train route. He was like squinting and trying to figure something. I was tempted to ask if he needed help but then, never mind.. decided not to be so kaypoh.

So after like 2 minutes or so, he decided to seek help. He turned to the nearest person (and that happened to be yours truly) and asked in heavily accented, "Sorry, do you know how to get to Mar-see-ling?" Then I pointed to the route map and said, "You'd have to change train at Jurong East and go towards the red line, up north". I told him it'd take probably 18 minutes or so to reach Marsiling from JE. "I'm going towards the same direction too, so I'd let you know when we reach Jurong East." Unknowingly, I think I'd slang abit when I talk to people with heavy accents. Haha!

Then the big Chinese man who was sitting suddenly asked that chap, "Are you from London?" That guy looked surprised and said, "Yeah, how did you know?" The sitting Chinese man chuckled and said, "From your accent". So the sitting Chinese man continued to ask questions and that chap responded. After a while, he said, "Boy, isn't it hot in here..." Haha, I think he was beginning to get a little bit uncomfortable from all the questionings from a stranger.

So as I was standing beside them when all these took place, from their conversations I know that the long haired guy came to Singapore from London, and will be going to Malaysia and thereafter, Shanghai. While the seated man has been to London, Southampton and Brighton before. (and I was thinking... I haven't even been on a plane before, much less all these places..)

So, when the conversation topic came to Malaysia (got to know that the long haired guy is a Malaysian actually) so I couldn't resist and said, "Which part of Malaysia were you from?" He said, "KL" so I said, "I'm from Selangor". I think in general, it is always nice to meet your own countrymen while you're overseas.

Just before parting, we managed to introduce ourselves. He said his name, and it sounded like Markel (or was it Marcus? sorry if I got it wrong, but the accent was kinda heavy and I had to get off the train before the door closes.. ya, it was like kinda rush, you know? :P ) and so we bid our goodbyes... and I wish him, a safe journey.

ampang yong tau fu

Hngh! Food court stalls who claim to be selling "Ampang Yong Tau Foo" are all scammers! Tried the one at Centrepoint food court. Eeek... it doesn't taste anything remotely like the real stuffs. Ptui ptui ptui!

delifrance

Had dinner at Delifrance Lot 1 with Ade just now. The enhanced menu looks delicious but of course price is still a consideration. So decided to eat sandwich after all (ya.. although wanted to try the 120g sirloin steak @$9.90 but then decided against it... also did thought of getting the aglio olio but then, still don't want.. chicken wings looked nice also @$6.50 but maybe not tonight..)

So, the guy who took our order asked what bread do I prefer. They have ciabatta, baguette, croissant, rye and 9 cereals. So I said rye but then he said they don't have. So I asked if 9 cereals is those soft or hard kind. He kind of roll his eyes and said, "Well, its actually made out of cereals like sesame, soy bean etc" Then I was like, maybe better stick to croissant safest (baguette usually make my jaw ache and ciabatta seems kind of heavy). So I was quite surprise when he said, "Well, why not I let you try a bit of the 9 cereals."

So I was thinking, maybe just a tiny eeny square for me to try... but he really did bring a slice of 9 cereals! Heh heh, that's what I call service. So nice of them to offer. ^_^

jason bourne

Went to watch movie today at CCK. Picked "The Bourne Ultimatum" starring Matt Damon. Watched "Bourne Identity" and found it quite good, but didn't watch the second one "Bourne Supremacy". The movie basically has its characters constantly moving, constantly doing something. The pace was quite good, with car chases, fight scenes etc.



Matt Damon as Jason Bourne


Some rooftop action


Edgar Ramirez as Paz, one of the 'assets'


Matt Damon and Joey Ansah (Desh)



Julia Stiles as Nicky Parson


Desh and Paz are quite cool. Chiseled and cool looking... but they're out to take Jason down. The car chase scenes are quite 'fierce' with the cars being whacked left right front back. Fight scenes are good to watch too. Not bad!

taxi uncle

Yesterday took a cab from Tanjong Pagar back to home. The taxi uncle was quite friendly and talkative, but he talked like an old old man. So along the way, I've sort of noticed how his taxi will somehow lean towards the left and just like an inch away from the other vehicle...

Then the conversation went on to the way motorist behave on the road.

taxi uncle: You know ah.. last time I was driving with a female passenger, and ah this car I don't understand why ah.. suddenly came up from behind and tried to block my way.

me: orh... (glancing at how close his cab is to the lorry on the left)

taxi uncle: The passenger ah, was sooo terrified.. but you know ah, until now I still don't understand why the other car like that... still don't understand you know...

me: *probably 'coz you veered into his path!* (thinking silently)

taxi uncle: You know ah.. I've always been a careful driver... But then ah.. accidents do happen... You know ah.. accidents are hard to predict.. so they may happen.. (when he's talking animatedly, his hands will be lifted off the steering wheel...)

me: uncle.. but safety still comes first

taxi uncle: You know ah.. once, when driving.. also with female passenger.. we nearly got into an accident...

me: (slowly inching towards the right side.. in case of collision, still have hope of survival...)

Then the uncle stop at the traffic light. And he said, "You know or not... when I see the things at faraway... my eyes can see better! I'm long-sighted (老花眼）.. not near sighted..." Then I said, "Orhh.. me also." Oops, the uncle got excited and turned to look at me. "You!? Sure or not?" Then he took off his glasses and handed them to me and said excitedly, "Look... see how many degrees.." I was like, "Err... uncle no need no need.. you better concentrate on the road!" Then he still insisted, so I quickly look look and said, "Aiya.. I don't know la.. " Then he took off the glasses and decided he won't put them on again!

*gulp* I said, "Uncle, you better wear the glasses!" But he smiled and said, "No need.. " I was getting worried... Then I asked him his age. He asked me to guess.. So I said, "70? 60?" He smiled and said, "58!" I was like.. har... 58 ah.. but he looked more like 68 to me!

So the rest of the journey was like our taxi keep on veering towards the left, with maybe one inch from the other vehicle but luckily, arrived safely at the destination. Phew...

Celebrating Singapore's 42 Birthday!

fun test

You're Obi-Wan Kenobi


The Classic Star Wars Test

Brought to you by Tickle

kdramas that i've liked...

Nowadays the expectation of drama's have gone up a few notches, preferably with new storylines and not those that have been done to death (read: winter sonata etc). But anyway, let me just intro a few that I've found to be interesting enough.

Way back in 2002, "Loving You" was launched. But I think the series came to our shore quite late, can't remember but it was on TV. Anyway, that's how came to know about Eugene (formerly from S.E.S - a girl band from Korea).



"Loving You"

And of course, it was from this series that Eugene and Park Yong Ha were rumoured to be pak-tor'ing. Haha, who knows. Anyway, its a nice drama with quite typical storyline but thank goodness no one suffered from any terminal disease in here. Only evil plots by the supposedly 'best-friend' of the lead actress. But of course in kdrama land, the lead actresses are usually innocent and chooses to believe their good 'friend' when everyone else can see that the 'friend' is plain evil. Anyway, if you like love story kind in quite the kdrama fashion, then you'll like this series.


Next, is something that I've never see before in kdrama. Martial arts (武侠) kind. "Cha Mu" title sounds misleading. Who wanna watch a girl who brews tea? Hahaha, actually I don't know what the title means but the storyline was interesting enough to watch. A slave girl (I think in the drama, women born in those era are considered low-class or unimportant as compared to the men) who rises to become a police-woman of that time. Expect lots of action in this one but the ending all sad one.


"Cha Mu"



Coming back to the modern world, here's another drama that I liked. I like the girl (Im Su Jung) who acted in this one 'coz she's fresh faced never see before and can act quite well. But this one I don't like the ending. Check out the soundtrack, it's quite haunting.


"Sorry, I love you"


Next, probably I'll intro those that I've watched in more recent times!