I know that I have gone Missing In Action (MIA) for the longest possible time, till the last day of the year.
Mainly, this is due to work commitment which had me flying around like a chicken without a head, the following photo best sum up how I feel.
Thus, I have decided to write a simple post to recap on what's have happened in Year 2012 on this last day of the year and probably my "possible" resolutions for Year 2013.
For Year 2012, and the things that I have did wrong:
Been drinking way too much till the cows come home, although it is mainly for work, but I too blamed am for it too, perhaps the drinking demon in me is growing without me realising the damage that I am doing to my body and to my love ones, which resulted in me losing my driving licenses Class 2B, 2A, 2 & the beloved 3.
Been smoking like a chimmey, that I must admit is harder to quit this disgusting habit which have been part of my lifestyles for too many years.
Been running or exercising too little, and still am a FAT, handsome &SHORT Boy.
Been eating like a pig, and never know when enough is enough, for my own good.
Been talking with a loud speaker as if I am deaf, or making the people around as deaf as I am.
Been hot headed with a short fuse, that never resulted in any good outcomes, which I should know better.
Not showering enough love and attention to my closest one, especially my Missy, who has to bear with all my B.S and nonesense, for the rest of our lifes.
Not spending enough time with Missy, and most likely my aged parents.
Been taking holidays with my BlackBerry also at an arm's lenght.
Plainly, I have been Ivan for too long and I do sometimes hate myself too much.
For Year 2012, and the things that I did somewhat right:
Working like a bitch and achieving a record year for the company, which I hope will resulted in more $$$, so that I can provide a better quality of life for my love ones.
For all the wrongs I have done, I can only find one right.
Which makes me to conclude that "Life's a BITCH"
So for Year 2013, I will try:
Start a family with Missy (Be it a boy, a girl, a twins or a triple), and I promise to wake up in the wee hours to feed it and change any dirty diapers thrown at my face.
Spend some more time and pay attention to my closes family and friends.
Drink less and not offer to get drunk unless I really feel like it
Eat less unless I am really hungry or love the food that's on the table too much
Smoke much much less and hope that I will eventually get rid of this disgusting habit and optionally be a poster boy for a quit smoking campaign.
Achieved work-life balance
Get back my driving licenses.
Finally, be a BETTER IVAN... maybe
Maybe, I should have this photo posted on my laptop as my wallpaper, just to remind me to do the followings:
Wish me luck folks, and hope for the best.
Again, a HAPPY NEW YEAR and do spend more time with your love ones.
For these few weeks have been a roller coastal ride and yet a humbling experience.
To begin, this IT F.I.T boy was pulled over at a "HOLY" police stop on one of those rare night whenI was painting the town red with my homeies and just letting my hair down.
I was pulled over, asked to come to get down from my car, and ask to "BLOW".
For the records, this was the third time ever that I was asked to BLOW, but the previous two times, I passed, or just barely.
However this time, the display came out RED with the Big "F"ailed.
STUNNED, CONFUSED, LOST
So I was invited for coffee to the nearby friendly neighbor police station... : (
An invitation that I could not refused or did not have the option to.
Upon our GRAND entrance, we were like treated like VIP, for we have policemen as bodyguards and lots of gate nothing less than HARD steel gate to enter.
I like to call it a "GATE of NO RETURN"
Other than that, I personally have never felt so protected before, but would rather not have this experience ever again.
By the time, we finish blowing again and have they taken all our personal belongings except the shirt, pants, boxers, socks & shoe, and FYI, they do also take your pants belt if any...
It was an exhausting exercise and must have been 4 to 5 a.m. but that's not the end, to get out, one will need a person to come by to bail me out, and being in so much trouble already, I didn't want to wake up anyone to bail me out, especially my missy who is sounded asleep like a baby as always.
p.s. She thought I have drunk too much and fell asleep in the car like the other time.
So, to suck it up and being the MAN or the MOUSE, I decided against calling anyone even my closest bitches, thus have to spend some too many hours in the lock up and boy, I tell you it was not a pleasant experience at all.
For I felt so "BIG" and helpless and cannot imagine sitting behind bar without losing my integrity or morality.
So the million dollar questions is whether I would dare bend the law again?
!!! NEVER AGAIN !!!
For I realized, how bad I am to take instructions from people except my Missy.
This song would probably be best to describe how I feel now, with the "D" day schedule for 20 September.
Pray for moi and wish me Luck, won't you.
On a happier note, so missy and me were at PRIVATE Affairs for our fine dining.
To begin with, parking your vehicle is a MAJOR challenge and the restaurant didn't even have valet services at all, however on a positive note, I probably would not have that problem very soon at least for some months.
So after 30 minutes of looking for a parking lot, we finally arrived at
PA = Public Affairs ?
Secondly, the place which was not so private after all and I can hear my fellow diner chewing away, and if the owner is reading this, maybe they should consider calling it PUBLIC Affair instead as I have suggested.
WooHoo, I can see what you are eating and hear what you gossiping about !!!
After another 5 minutes upon placing our order, which is not so bad, our first dish came...
When butter meets bread
The bread was soft, hot and crisp, and butter melts like "butter".
This is a FISH
To be more accurate, this is Japanese Sashimi, and I applaud the owners' innovative and probably bold approach to use this as their entrée.
It was freshly dead, and unfortunately does not melt easily in the mouth and for that reason not one of my favourite of the night but it definitely caught me off guard.
Hokkien Mee?
Oh okay, it is Capellini pasta with scallop.
Its does look as good as it taste and it is finger leaking G@@D.
Egg, Mushroom and Fole Gras
First time ever, have I seen this combo.
I was puzzled, lost and confuse but having broken the egg, and looking past the mushroom, and smelling the fole gras, it actually tasted very good and each of these ingredient seems to comprehend each other very well, a little too well, like long lost friends/lovers.
Fish AGAIN !@!@!##!@!#
The owner must have love fish a lot too much.
After finishing sashimi, we have seabass, and if you are fish lover, I reckon this place may be ideal for you.
I am not a big fan of FISH if you are wondering.
But this Seabass can do, but I love the curry mustard sabayon on the side better if you ask me.
Don't worry, we didn't just stop at FISH, that would have been such a LOW point to call it quits.
We have dessert too.
Odd NUT out
We ordered cheese platter and in the middle of no where, a NUT was there.
What a party crasher, but we took it as one of our own and it ended up in our stomach before you can say "HELLO".
Why did the ICECREAM cross to the other side of the bowl???
Like all good couple, we need to end on a sweet sweet note, so we also have ice cream and cakes.
The ice cream looked lost and the cake on the other side, looked desperate, so we did the honor and married them on the spot, as Mr. & Mrs. Ice-Cream Cake.
Hello?
Private Affairs
A Modern European Restaurant & Bar???
Mmm...
Are you serious?
Which part of your menu is Modern European?
It should be called Fusion European or Asian something, in my view.
Maybe the owner was just confused
Yes, I FORGIVE YOU, like how I hope the judge will FORGIVE ME too
Verdict Out of Five (5*):
Quality of Food: 4.0 (Good ingredient and end product)
Ambiances: 2.0 (Given that we pay upmarket price, we expect upmarket standard? NO?)
Audiences: 2.0 (I am LOST, not sure what type of customer they were hoping to attract)
Price: 2.5 (As mentioned upmarket price with somewhat low quality of presentation)
Services: 2.5 (Good enough, though I have to ask 2/3 times for a simple cup of ice water)
Hygiene: 3.5 (Didn't see the kitchen, but food tasted good)
My overall rating is 2.75*, food is good but not good enough to justify for the lack of parking and price.
Quote: Mistakes make me human, failure make more stronger, hope keeps me going, LOVE keeps me alive.
It has been so time now that I have just lay there and spend some quality time with you, it is not that I taken you guys for granted but I did, like so many of us.
Maybe it is because I have forgotten the simple joy of holding an flavored ice-tube in my hand, playing marbles in the dirt, making robot voices with the electric fan and catching spider in the woods.
What H@ppen?
I wondered aloud too.
For I wanted to still enjoy the simple things in life and be me.
However at the same time, I want to have your life and be you.
Like the song "Girl, You'll be a Woman soon" Could it have been that we just grew up too fast because of social pressure that we became that "WOMAN" without ever realizing it.
However, I have come to the realization that:
"Life" was never meant to be "Equal"
Else this would not have happened to me... (Story Time)
One sunny evening in the island of Brunei, there was me "IT"
Waiting patiently at the departure hall for my return "DELAYED" flight to Singapore, until I saw him...
Remember "A spade is a @ spade" and there is no pooling in Singapore
In my head, I thought to myself, "GREAT" at least now I know the real reason why my flight was delayed because HE is late and the whole world has to come to a pause and wait for HIM.
So after approximately 45 minutes of Pain, the aircraft started to taxi out of the gate, getting ready to depart.
While, I was busy getting myself comfortable in monkey class for take off and going home to my missy after a week away, unlike somebody "HIM" who travel in business class.
The aircraft STOPPED in the middle of the runway.
Suddenly, like in a movie set, a black car pulled up by the side of the aircraft and the door was opened again.
I was going "SHIT", are we being hijacked because HE is on-board?
WRONG, WRONG and I couldn't be more WRONG.
Believe it or not, a commercial airliner "SILK AIR" has to stop in the middle of everything to allow some Brunei ("I think") government officers to board the plane despite the fact that we are already out of the gate and in the runway.
It caught me at "HELLO".
So believe me now ? When I say that Life was never meant to be Equal, I meant it.
Which brings me to this blog entry where I will be reviewing two (2) stalls concurrently, located at
HDB Ang Mo Kio, 711 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, Singapore 560711.
Side by side, but their fate couldn't be more different
First up: The Penang Prawn Mee, the underdog, the underrated, the honest and hard worker.
First and foremost, I must confessed and unofficially informed you that this is probably one of my favourite Prawn Mee in Singapore and friends who know me for years will tell you that I am not a big fan of prawns, however this is different just like life was never meant to be equal.
Beside, don't people always prefer to roots for the underdogs, however please be ensured that this blog is unbiased and above board... (See below)
YOU WISH !!! Of course, I will be biased and have my judgement clouded, even though I am still not being paid to do so.
Before you are to quick to pull the trigger, take a look at the glorious picture and if you are game enough, go down to this location and take a chance before you judge me.
Remember I am NOT the one who is drawing SG$15,000 a month salary or the one who can authorize the airline to stop its plane in the middle of the runway to wait for me on days that I am late, I am but just HAM-SOME... (See below)
I WISH !!!
I was the one who is drawing SG$15,000 a month salary & have the authority to stop a commercial aircraft anytime I wish.
Dry or Wet, you decide
Just look to your left and tell me you don't feel the LOVE emitting from these glorious noodles.
This what I will called COMFORT FOOD, not COMFORT WOMEN, thought it will be nice to have them as well. (Just don't tell my missy)
Why called do people called comfort food, I believe it is because when you eat a particular food, it bring warmth to your heart and give you hope.
Everyone need hope, including yours truly "Ham-Some" ME.
The noodles and the sauce dance together like they belong, with a little bits of chilli, a little bits of tomato, a little of Life.
Still not convinced?
Look at it, and tell me you don't feel anything
Looks at those prawns, something that I ensured you that you won't typically find in other prawn noodles, and if all HELL breaks loose, this is SO GOOD and that will still be an understatement, in my view it is VERY GOODElICIOUS.
Also, did you know that this boss also have a one "kind" of an attitude, in a good way.
For if he ever ran out of these dry prawns, he will simply refuse to sell any more dry prawn noodles instead of offering fresh prawns as an alternative like most other prawn noodles stalls will do, he simply doesn't compromise but want to ensure that his food is served to its best potential.
Which ponder me to think, if we have compromise too much in our life.
If this is not reason enough for you to pop by, try the Lor Mee too.
It is definitely above the current market standard that will put so many specialize Lor Mee stalls to shame, for the sauce is not as starchy that you feel you are eating GLUE and the ingredient are a prefect mix when they come together, no single ingredient will outshine the other, but will only work together as one.
Lor Mee, back to basic
I say that this stall is not getting enough credit, maybe like some of us at work, for without a doubt, I reckon that this stall deserve to more business unlike some overrated stalls that sell overpriced, overrated and over endorsed food, made famous by food blogger whose tongues are probably eaten by the dogs and will be better off that way too.
Take up the challenge and tell me I am RIGHT.
Second up: The Western Food, the top dog, the overrated, but still the honest and hard worker.
Looks like the real deal
This western food joint came highly recommended by lots of my friends, and if you look around in this coffee shop, you too will noticed that the business is brisk and lots of people are there for western food apparently.
That caught me at "HELLO".
It is decent at most, and oily it definitely is.
In my view, a good chicken cutlet need to have its skin and meat working as one, whereas in this case, the skin was running away from the meat and it sure feel as if you are having the skin and the meat as 2 separate dishes.
French fries need to be served cold and crispy, however this was COLD and DEAD.
Coleslaw need to have some bounds when chew upon, however they were ...
Take up this challenge too and tell me I am RIGHT AGAIN.
I love to be RIGHT.
Call me Mr. RIGHT or better, SIR RIGHT.
So come the verdict:
Penang Prawn Mee
Verdict Out of Five (5*):
Quality of Food: 4.0 (One of the best ever)
Ambiances: 2.5 (It is a coffee shop, so behave like the ah-pek)
Audiences: 3.25 (If you go on a weekend, the beer ladies not aunties are an eye full)
Price: 3.0 (Price are going up, but still very affordable for everyday people)
Services: 3.5 (Less than 5 minutes and blink your food is served)
Hygiene: 2.5 (Not the cleanest but we will survive)
My overall rating is 3.75*, I think I am in LOVE. Western Food Verdict Out of Five (5*):
Quality of Food: 1.5 (Decent, not great, edible at most)
Ambiances: 2.5 (Same as above)
Audiences: 3.25 (Beer mei mei, Beer mei mei)
Price: 2.5 (About what the other western are charging)
Services: 2.5 (Fast enough, but what is speed without quality)
Hygiene: 1.5 (Seen them prepare their toast on a naked table)
My overall rating is 2.0*, we all deserve BETTER.
Probably the best way to sum up the 2 stalls up is with the poster below:
Quote of the post: "The world is my stage, I am the actor, the clown and the director"
Err... by the time, I started working on this blog again, I am already back in Singapore... So to be politically correct...
Greeting from the Little Red Dot,
BANG bang BANG to ZOOM zoom ZOOM to BOOM boom BOOM.
Above are the words that I would used to describe these last few weeks.
Bang What, Bang HEAD, Bang B@lls
Zoom there, Zoom here, Zoom everywhere
Boom this, Boom that, Boom everything,
except going to Boom Boom room to see Kumar
( I think Kumar is no longer with Boom Boom Room anymore)
So I thought to myself and reckon what better way to read my blog, with some music.
Having said all the above, I did managed to also finish reading a Book, not just any book but a very thick book none to say the least.
One thick book
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.
I haven't read a book that's so intense, so insightful, so honest, so clear and definitely so white for a long while.
Although this is not the first biography of Steve that I have read but I must admit that I got to know this man a lot better, and somewhat my initial impression of him has evolved a little more than it should.
Below is a summary of what I thought about him.
Q: Was he Successful?
IT: No doubt about it.
Q: Was he an Ass + Hole?
IT: Yes, he was with the biggest "A" ever.
Q: Was he a bastard?
IT: No, he wasn't just any bastard but a Class A bastard.
Q: Did he evolute technology to a new found HIGH?
IT: Need we go there, but by just looking at (i) everything from POD, PAD & PHONE, he didn't just create a new innovative product, he created a LIFESTYLE.
Highlights:
If you didn't notice easier, the next time you get your hands/eyes/head/bxxbs either on a MacBook or/and iPAD, take a moment to indulge and just "feel" it for a minute, for it is a piece of art (sexy art) and history that you are holding, see and appreciate how tightly integrated the hardware & software are, like they belong together as ONE with no portable battery, no built-in fan, no nonsense, "Just Simple".
Q: Anything else to add?
Steve J, "A" Genius, "A" Legend, "A" God Father, "A"ss hole
R.i.P Steve Jobs 1955 to 2011
p.s. I love you too
If you are interested to know what I am reading now...
Look RIGHT.
Of course, I am not going online and openly tell the whole world that I think my boss is an idiot.
For the record, he or she is NOT "MCQ with the following choices"
A) Really...
B) Sometimes only...
C) Maybe...
D) Ivan T is so Handsome (I just needed to slip this in)
E) All the above
Don't we always think that we are the Genius and our bosses are generally the S. H. I. T. H. E. A. D.
Or are we the idiot working for the Genius?
Only time will tell and will give you a review when I am done reading this book or if my boss(s) come hunting me down like a wolf.
So from one Legend to an other Legend.
I present to you the one and only "TRUE" Bak Kut Teh that literally translates as "Meat Bone Tea"or what we called 肉骨茶.
Don't worry, we are Chinese and not dogs although one Ministry of Education SCHOLAR from China by the name of Sun Xu did called Singaporean DOGS on February 2012, but I think there are too many blogs or posting about this that you can probably Google and give your own take on this matter.
So if you are not accustomed to Asia culture just yet, DO NOT WORRY, for there is no dish which comprises of Meat Bone + Tea just yet, that I know about however if you deem otherwise, please let me know and would love to give it a try
The only logical reason for the name that I can think of is that this dish is best appreciated together with a cup of tea or many cup of tea for the matter of fact, since the traditional Chinese tea cup are only this BIG.
Scale 1:1
For all you fans, you would have read my earlier entry about our very own Singapore version of Bak Kut Teh, which is white and pepper soup base.
This is totally DIFFERENT, and LiFE didn't feel so wholesome or completed before.
But before anyone gunned me down like a bitch out of a brothel, let me come out to say that I like the Singapore version too, however in my view, the only thing in common between Singapore and Malaysia version is the name, as they couldn't be more different like a fishball to a fish.
Life would be much easier if they were called different names, but human like us, just enjoy complicating life and isn't just contented with simplicity.
For your information, my missy has always suspected that one of the main reasons why I have married her was that I need to have a reason to go up North to Klang on the pretext of visiting my mother-in-law like any good son-in-laws should do but more importantly to fulfill my stomach.
That is so so so NOT true... because I -------------Blank-------------
"Fill in the blanks time, for you to dream out a prefect answer"
Anyhow, for those of you who are not familiar with Klang, Malaysia see the map below, and I am certain that your geographic teacher will be very ashamed of you, but hey nowadays, we do have GPS nowadays so life can be a lot easier.
Klang is where the A is ?
So my driver, okay he is not as handsome as me but he has a pair of eyes, a pair of hands, a pair of legs, one brain, one head and can drive, plus he is FREE and will pay for meals, so no complains.
Fiat, the closer a common man can get to a Ferrari?
After 3 hours of driving within the speed limit, covering a total distance approximately 350 kilometer (You worked out the maths), we arrived at Restoran Lai Choon Bah Kut Teh 来春烘肉骨茶 No: 116, Jalan Pekan Baru Off Jalan Meru, 41050 Klang, Selangor.
My Number One Bah Kut Teh Joint
There isn't much to see, but trust me this is where good food comes from.
Beside, does it looks dark inside from the outside?
Food is served right from the front
That's because it is DARK, YOU IDIOT &/or GENIUS.
Presenting to you the PIGs from UP North.
Confuse yet?
Are you like a lost puppy now?
Do not fear, cos IT is here to SAVE THE DAY.
Let me explain, for anyone who hasn't been to Klang or tasted the real Klang Bak Kut Teh before, they have not 1 but 2 version, the WET and the beloved DRY.
So unlike Singapore version where you will get one individual dishes, this come all into a single pot.
Let talk about the WET.
A pot of happiness
Ms. WET is very flexible and definitely customized to one's taste bud, for one can illiterately enjoy any part of the pig as if you are in a five start posh meat restaurant, starting from the part of meat - fat/lean, bone/boneless, leg/legless and if you are adventurous enough, you can also order some spare parts to go along with it, and one of my favourite is their intestines where the big intestine wraps around the small intestine (What a noble creation), and take my word, the taste is just pure heaven.
Let's move on to the DRY.
A pot of Joy
Mr. DRY here is a little different however like Ms. WET, you can choose what you want to include.
I like Mr. DRY for its intense dark sauce taste coupled with a little spice, that always cooked to perfection, never failed to make me feel like falling in LOVE all over again and the aftertaste it leave me with, lingering in my mouth and head.
If Ms. WET was pure Heaven, Mr. DRY is plus Heaven.
Warnings: Do not be fooled by those stalls in Singapore that claims to serve Klang style Bak Kut Teh, for I have tasted so many and none has ever come remotely closed to the REAL McCoy, and do know that this dish is highly addictive once you have had it.
Another thing, in Malaysia or at least in Klang, you can bring your
own tea leaves, own ingredient, own anything and whatever thing you
would like to have, for a token sum only.
How generous and graceful of the stall owners.
If only Singapore can learn to be a little like our neighbors.
NOW look LEFT.
That is not a BOMB.
That is just a self made Kettle Pot sitting on a LPG Gas Tank.
Q: Does it look dangerous?
IT: Yes it does.
Q: Has anyone been injuired before?
IT: I don't know
Q: Do I care?
IT: No, I don't
Q: Eat at your own risk, is it worth it?
IT: Go be THE idiot
Verdict Out of Five (5*):
Quality of Food: 4.5 (No words will justify the taste you will experience, it like a nature high)
Ambiances: 3.0 (Simple)
Audiences: 4.0 (Everyday people, you and me)
Price: 3.5 (Price has escalated since I first visited but it is in RM, so no complains)
Services: 4.0 (Order and blink, the food is served)
Hygiene: 3.0 (Good Enough, like Bersih Malaysia)
My overall rating is 4.5*, and yes, this is my highest rating till date.
