camera, again

Why is it that Nikon J1, J2, V1 10MP MFT, are so expensive? Goodness gracious. V2 is even worse.. more than 1.2K for single lens kit.

Recently, Nikon launched J3 (14MP).. bet the price would be more than 1.2K as well. Sigh. Nikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f/1.8 lens looks good too. Double sigh...

snacks

Got this from my AIA insurance agent. Thanks BK!

royce choco coated potato chip

supposed to look like that

Surprised to see another bag inside the box.

it's in the bag

there, potato chip choco

Not quite the taste that I'd imagine. Think we're too accustomed to wickedly salty potato chips, so this came across, as very very mild in terms of taste.

interesting experience

Now I know how fainting feels like.

First few signs of trouble. That nauseous woozy feeling, when you know something is not quite right.
Then, the hearing senses diminished. Everything sound more muffled and muted, and less loud. The senses had dulled down a few notches.

At the same time, the sight became grayed. Wondering like where has all the technicolor gone to? Then, it's also like there were many tiny black dots superimposed on everything that you see. Like a tv set gone cuckoo.

Then, everything of the above will seem to come at you, together at the same time. Now, the slightest sound begins to irritate and you'd wish the world to just be quiet. Resisted at first, trying to blink a few times to keep the head clear. But it was hard, and was already breaking out in cold sweat. Then, the eyelids started to feel real heavy, and was thinking that maybe, if I'd just close my eyes and rest abit, then I'll feel better.

Well, it really felt better after I closed my eyes for a while. But the next thing I knew, I was squatting on the floor. Wondering why and how did my bag landed near somewhere else's feet? Was baffled for a few seconds, at the look of concern that a lady near me was giving. She wanted to help me pick up my bag, but I was faster than her. Hahaa!

Lucky for me, I was travelling with a friend. My friend said I was out for about 20 seconds thereabouts. To me, it felt just a short while, like maybe less than 5 seconds, from the moment the eyes were closed to the next moment where I realised I was on the floor.

Pretty interesting experience. Am glad I didn't squash anyone or hit myself or something. Am getting too old for these kind of stuffs!

pour qui

clouds, reflected

It is as though
One day I woke up
Only to realize
That there is nothing
I am nothing

No extraordinary talent to talk about
No career to speak of
No skill that I can depend on
Nothing

Has the world expanded
Or has mine shrunk?

Everyone is moving, full of vigour
I am still, static

Change! Everyone say
Change, I know

Do something, do anything
Just do

Optimism, Confidence
Somewhere along the way
I've lost them

which one?

Been looking at cameras lately. The existing powershot is about 3+ years old, and serves it purpose (at least for macro that I love!) but falls very short when it's low light, and can't seem to focus on more than one person's face in a group picture.

Was thinking of getting another powershot (s110 or G15), but these are priced at $599 and $699. Expensive compact cameras! S110 is exactly the same as S100, just with the additional wifi which I suspect, is one feature that I won't use since it'll drain the battery like crazy. The design of the G15 is much nicer (better grip) but it is expensive because with another $200, one could get an APS-C sensor system camera.

Currently, GF2 (with twin lens kit) is selling for just $449 at Alan Photo. Imagine owning a system camera for that price. Sounds very tempting. But GF2 has its problem with JPEG images. Of course, it has newer GF3 and GF5 (around $899).

Hmm, system camera or compact still?

Or, don't get any...

so, that's how it is

Was at Star Vista yesterday to find NeNe Chicken (a fried chicken chain from Korea) to try their "Freaking Hot". Found it alright but the shop was small, warm and there were lots of zombie like faces in the store. Didn't know why, till I realized that the waiting time was about 20 minutes. The guy that walked up to get his order, had on a frustrated face. That gave me second thoughts about ordering. The shop wasn't even like full, but those five out of six that were in there, have yet to get their food. The slightly bickering 'chefs' (actually the guys that fries up the order) didn't help much. There was a small opening where one could peep into the kitchen. Hahaa, probably these were the stuffs that social media (albeit those invited for tastings) didn't get to see.

So, that's how it is.

Then, went to another shop that sells burger. Looks quite nice, their logo and stuffs. Bigger shop. Think it's called Triple-Out or something. Glanced through the menu and the original burger was near ten bucks so thought I'd get that to try. But service was also slow, and then I realised someone had ordered takeaway as there were many paperbags of stuffs lying on the counter with the staff trying to sort it out. Hmm. Out the door I went.

So, that's how it is.


Ended up without getting anything from Star Vista. It's funny how I always didn't manage to get out from the same entrance. Second visit and it's the same. The building's layout is confusing to me.

brioche, je t'aime~

Brioche is my current fav. for a bread. It's soft, fluffy, buttery and tasty. It is said to be of French origin and high in eggs and butter. All the sinful stuff!

plain 'ol round brioche

all the eggs and butter went in here

with jam and emmental cheese

Got it from Tiong Bahru Bakery, and I think they have a loaf version, as well as chocolate and sugar brioches.

peculiar dream

This dream happened probably two days back, or so. In it, I was going to have lunch with my ex-housemate, Danny. Then, we went to this place that needa go up a rickety stairs and to something like a balcony, just that it is still covered (with four walls and stuff). Then, this space was very narrow and there were other people there as well. All have solemn look on their face.

The staff asked everyone to sit in a row (side by side, no face to face). Of course, I remembered feeling puzzled but everyone seemed to know what they were doing, so I followed suit. Then the staff said, "At times, you may hear creaking sound and the floor may start to shift. If that happens, remain calm and move slightly to balance."

Eh?? Then, immediately after that, the floor became shaky and the whole place was like going to fall apart slowly. Although it was a dream, it felt like a dangerous place, where one is waiting for disaster to happen.

Strange and peculiar. Wonder what's in the subconscious that brought this about. Hmmm.

A-YO GG!

Girls' Generation latest Korean album launched Jan 2013, "I Got A Boy".




Quite infectious after a while. "Oh oh oh e-o oh~ Oh oh e-oOo~" "I got a boy meotjin! I got a boy chakhan! I got a boy handsome boy nae mam da kajyeogan~"

At first, I thought they were singing, "I got a boy watching, I got a boy checkout!" Hahahaha! Turns out, it's a mixture of language. Orhhh!

it was better in my head

Saw tuna steaks (@$6.95) in NTUC Bukit Timah, so had an idea to do pan seared tuna. Grabbed a tube of wasabi, a small bottle of olive oil and a bottle of cracked peppercorns.

for marinade

So, the marinade was pretty Asian styled. Soy sauce (found out I only had dark sauce at home, so used the Sukiyaki sauce instead) and sesame oil. Sprinkle some peppercorns on the fish also.

Let the thawed fish steaks sit in the marinade for one hour, and to flip it to its other side every half hour.

marination in process

Then drain off the marinade and set aside. Coat the steaks with olive oil and heat the pan. Seared it quickly on each sides, leaving the middle still pink. But, I guess I was over ambitious 'coz I had all three steaks in the pan at the same time and as a result, some are overcooked. Partly 'coz its irregular sized.

For sauce, squeeze some wasabi into the leftover marinade and here's where I think I got it wrong...the sauce was heated up in the pan but the wasabi didn't dissolve.. instead, it became sort of clumpy in the liquid. Faints. Hahaha!

seared tuna tataki, with awful looking presentation

Anyway, the fish was edible and ate my quota of vegetable for the day. It's a healthy meal! (I think...) Couldn't finish three steaks, so kept one in the fridge. Had it for lunch the next day, and I think it tasted better when chilled. Just dab it with some wasabi and that's it. Not bad.

Then, had the idea to do a breakfast dish. Sausages, eggs, baked beans and bread. Sounds good?

big breakfast (would've been prettier if I'd have added sauteed mushrooms and a slice of tomato)

The scrambled eggs were supposed to be fluffy and creamy, but it wasn't. Dang.

not fluffy eggs

I think I'd prefer frankfurters as compared to bratwurst. Cheesy bratwurst just taste so wrong.

Imagining these recipes in my head was so much better than when it's actually cooked. Hahaa, cooking #101, failed. Nevertheless, it was edible and stomachable. Hahaha!

All the ingredients for the above were from the NTUC vouchers that I got for Christmas exchange. Thanks for your generosity, my friend!