霹雳2013:怡保与邦咯岛 *图多慎入*

*English version*

大家好!

几个星期前，一民热衷于社区服务的阿姨主办了一个到马来西亚，霹雳州的旅游团而我们一家也受邀同游。

日盼夜盼，期待已久的这天终于来临！

我们摸黑起床与各位团友集合后就上了旅游巴士往新柔长堤开去。

一伙人上了旅游巴士就倒头大睡直到抵达了华都牙也 (Batu Gajah) 享用早餐。

妈妈的早餐

有谁晓得这包是什么呢？它只有手掌般大小。

它包的像椰浆饭但里面装的并不是我们熟悉的小鱼干，蛋皮和花生而是几只淋上酱汁的虾仔。

说句实话，我还蛮喜欢这饭配上酱汁的味道。

Perak 2013: Ipoh And Pangkor Island *Photos Intensive*

*中文版*

Hello!

A few weeks earlier, a kind neighbor has undertaken the task to organize a trip to Perak, Malaysia and had invited some of us neighbors to come along.

The big day finally arrived after much anticipation. We woke up in the wee hours of the morning to board a chartered coach which brought us across the causeway.

Everyone spent much of the journey catching up on much deprived sleep until we arrived for breakfast at Batu Gajah.

Mum's breakfast

Does anyone know what this palm-sized packet is called?

It is wrapped like Nasi Lemak but the content is just rice with shrimps and gravy and not the usual ikan bilis, egg and peanuts.

To be honest, the taste of the rice with the sauce is quite nice actually.

Video: Riot In Little India

via

I am still finding it hard to believe that a riot has taken place earlier in Singapore. When I first come across this news on twitter, I thought it was just part of an anti-riot exercise by the police.

Singapore has been riot-free for the last 44 years so how could it happen now?

Titans of the Past – Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals At The Singapore Science Centre

Do you know that a new exhibition "Titans of the Past – Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals" is here at the Singapore Science Centre?

I don't.

I only found out after a few parent bloggers attended the media invite and blogged about it. In fact, the exhibition started way back in October (that's two months ago) and I wonder why it wasn't publicized then?

I believe I only saw the advertisement on TV in late November. Anyway, I was contemplating whether to go or not to as the price of the admission ticket seem pretty steep.

Well, it does not take a genius to guess that I gave in ultimately as it is not everyday that you can come face to face with a dinosaur!

McDonaldland Characters Plushie

McDonaldland Characters Plushie

When I was young, I really like the old McDonald's TV commercials featuring McDonaldland and I remember that they used to launch toys with their McDonaldland characters.

Sadly, they do not make such toys or commercials anymore.

Last week, I am elated to learn about the launch of these plushies featuring the old gang and they will be launched on the following dates:

Hat Yai Trip 2013 *Photos Intensive*

Hat Yai

*中文版*

Sawadeeka!

Last month, I boarded Tiger Airways with my parents heading for Hat Yai, Southern Thailand. We touched down at Hat Yai International Airport after a 75 minutes flight from Singapore Changi Airport.

Compared to taking a coach ride setting off from Golden Mile Complex to Southern Thailand via Malaysia, we saved more than twenty hours and alot of backache.

Those who know me might wonder why does my family visit Hat Yai year after year? Isn't it boring?

Hat Yai is not as picturesque as Phuket nor as glamorous as Bangkok. What it have is a very slow pace of life and aged buildings.

However, these are the exact factors which drew my parents to this place as they find the way of life suits them perfectly.

Furthermore, the cost of living is relatively cheaper here and communication is not much of a problem as the Thai Chinese here speaks a little Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka.

McDonald's Despicable Me 2 Toys Ready For Collection!

After a long wait, the McDonald's Happy Meal Despicable Me 2 Toys will be ready for collection in about a month's time.

Fans who have placed an order for the Minion toys through the deferred fufilment website should be receiving an SMS from McDonald's regarding the collection soon.

合艾之旅2013 *图多慎入*

合艾

*English version*

三碗猪脚！（Sawadeeka）

上个月，我和两老登上了虎航飞往泰南，合艾。从新加坡樟宜国际机场起航短短75分钟后，我们就抵达了合艾国际机场。

这比起N年前从黄金大厦（Golden Mile Complex）搭乘二十几个小时的长途巴士途经马来西亚再抵达泰南边境而省却了不少的时间与折腾！

认识我的朋友或许会纳闷，我家为何年年都会回到这里度假呢？难道不闷吗？

的确，合艾即没有普吉岛那怡人的景色，也没有曼谷的绚丽繁华。这里有的，只是非常慢的生活节奏和老旧的店屋。

可是，两老偏偏就喜欢这一点，觉得这样的步伐才适合他们。

再来，这里消费便宜，沟通上也没多大的问题因为这里的华侨都会说些潮州，广东或客家话。

8th Death Anniversary

八年前，死亡第一次在我眼前真实地发生。

当时，你已病入膏肓有整整一个星期站不起来了。在兽医院时，你突然使劲了力量站起来看了我一眼后，就吐血到卧不起。

兽医给你进行急救，我却只能无助地站到一旁默默的为你祈祷。这一幕就像美国连续剧ER的情节。不同的是，发生在我眼前的事是真实的而并非虚构的。

遗憾的是，经过一番抢救，你仍然是回魂乏术。

兽医取除了口罩对我说：“I'm sorry, he's gone…”

Happy 15th Barkday!

My dog is amazing, I truly adore,
So very cute, walks on all four.
Sometimes he makes a pretty big mess,
When he's around, I never depress.
 Runs and jumps, when I come home,
Loves when I pet him, and gently comb.

With my dog, I get to act crazy,
When we watch TV, we get a bit lazy.
 He gets excited and begins to bark,
When we are leaving for the park.
My dog is definitely my best friend,
Time with him, I love to spend.

HAPPY 15TH BARKDAY, DEXTER!

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Urgent: Children For Adoption

Must rehome quickly!

Please help! After two long years of being on a waiting list for a dog, we have been notified by breed rescue that, at long last, our number has come up and... WE ARE HAVING A PUPPY!

We must get rid of our children IMMEDIATELY because we just know how time consuming our new little puppy is going to be and it just wouldn't be fair to the children. Since our little puppy will be arriving on Monday we MUST place the children up for adoption this weekend!

They are described as:

One male -- his name is Tommy, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), light blonde hair, blue eyes. Four years old. Excellent disposition. He doesn't bite. Temperament tested. Does have problems with peeing directly in the toilet. Has had chicken Pox and is current on all shots. Tonsils have already been removed. Tommy eats everything, is very clean, house trained and gets along well with others. Does not run with scissors and with a little training he should be able to read soon.

One female -- her name is Lexie, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), strawberry blonde hair, green eyes quite freckled. Two years old. Can be surly at times. Non-biter, thumb sucker. Has been temperament tested but needs a little attitude adjusting occasionally. She is current on all shots, tonsils out, and is very healthy and can be affectionate. Gets along well with other little girls and little boys but does not like to share her toys and therefore would do best in a one child household. She is a very quick learner and is currently working on her house training. Shouldn't take long at all.

We really do LOVE our children so much and want to do what's right for them. That is why we contacted a rescue group. But we simply can no longer keep them. Also, we are afraid that they may hurt our new puppy.

I hope you understand that ours is a UNIQUE situation and we have a real emergency here! They MUST be placed into your rescue by Sunday night at the latest or we will be forced to drop them off at the orphanage or along some dark, country road. Our priority now has to be our new puppy.

$10 rehoming fee but price is very negotiable.

PS - If you laughed or understood the seriousness of this posting, please repost it in other areas of the country as well as continue to repost it. It doesn't matter how quickly it was flagged the point is that SOMEONE SOMEWHERE will have read it and thought about it for a minute.

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Did Class 95 FM Morning Express Wastes Food For Fun?

So about a week ago, Glenn Ong from Class 95 was creamed in the face with a pie. It all began with a meaningless bet between him and Joe Augustine.

Sheng Yi Fa Lor Mee @ Blk 443 Clementi Avenue 3

When I learn about this popular lor mee at Clementi Central, I knew I had to go check it out at Food Loft, a coffeeshop situated along Clementi Avenue 3 near Clementi Town Secondary School.

I ordered the default $3 bowl and when it is served to my table, it came together with the vinegar bottle.

When having this dish, I tend to go over the top with the condiments like garlic and black vinegar because that is how I perceive this dish is to be best enjoyed.

However, there are times when the hawkers' face turned as black as the vinegar when I requested for more.

I am overjoyed that I could add as much vinegar as I wanted here without having the hawker rolling eyes at me!

Have A Cup Of Cruelty: The Truth Behind Kopi Luwak

Kopi Luwak, or Civet Coffee, refers to a kind of brewed coffee that is made from coffee berries which have been eaten, digested and excreted by the Civet Cat.

The enzymes from the digestive tract breaks down the bitterness of the coffee berries and coffee brewed from such berries are said to have a very distinctive flavor.

These cat-like creatures from Indonesia feeds mainly on fruits and berries; including the coffee berries. Their excrement would fall onto the forest floor and farmers will harvest these fermented berries to further process them for human consumption.

Well, there is nothing wrong with drinking Kopi Luwak because in the beginning, the excreted berries were collected from free-roaming civet cats in the wild who not only selects the best berries to eat but have a varied diet as well.

However, due to its increasing popularity and limited availability, the traditional way of collecting these pooped berries can no longer meet the demands of coffee connoisseur around the world.

The farmers now need to produce alot of these coffee berries in the shortest time possible and this give rise to battery farming methods where captured civet cats are forced into tiny cages specifically for this purpose.

电影：《总铺师：移动大厨》

影 片 名：《总铺师：移动大厨》
英 文 名：Zone Pro Site: The Moveable Feast
类别 ：喜剧/励志/爱情/亲情
导 演：陈玉勋
主要演员：林美秀 杨佑宁 夏于乔
上映日期：2013年10月17日
本地发行商：华纳兄弟

几个星期前，我在东森新闻偶然看到了这则新闻觉得那首《三八阿花吹喇叭》很有趣。于是，我上youtube搜寻了一下就找到了这个。

那诙谐的表情再加上容易让人想歪的歌词，简直让人笑翻了！这首歌让我对《总铺师》感到好奇因此就开始搜寻更多有关此片的资料。

看了预告片后，我想完了因为这部片几乎都是台语对白的；新加坡铁定不会上映的啦！

正当我纳闷应该是没啥缘分观赏到《总铺师》时，今早就在推特看到这个消息：

最新台湾电影 <<总铺师：移动大厨>> 将在10月17日于本地隆重上映。 http://t.co/VZj69ugdFg
— 优1周 UW (@uweeklysg) September 11, 2013

The Mother Of All Mahjong Tables!

Fans of Mahjong rejoice!

Here comes an automated Mahjong table that reshuffles and stack the tiles for you - automatically!

This Mahjong table would require two sets of Mahjong tiles so while you are playing with one set, the table is reshuffling the tiles from the previous game for you.

永远的经典电影：《僵尸小子》

记得在我还小的那段时间非常盛行港产的僵尸片。

尤其是由林正英所主演的一系列僵尸片更是叫好又卖座。

当时，年幼的我看僵尸片都是从手指缝隙间偷看的。

小朋友都是很胆小的嘛！我想人就是这样 - 越怕就越要看！

如果没记错的话，《僵尸小子》可是台湾的首部僵尸片呢。

多啦A梦剧场版：《大雄的新魔界大冒险》之《七个魔法师》

不管是功课或打棒球都不精的大雄使用了哆啦A梦的道具“如果电话亭”将原本的世界变成了魔法世界！

他一心认为，只要有了魔法，什么事都可以变得很便利应为只需一个咒语就能搞定一切。怎料，在魔法的世界里，不会使用魔法的就只有大雄一人。

这跟现实生活中的他并没什么两样！

这一天，静香与哆啦A梦在院子里帮助大雄复习魔法，却发现天空突然出现了一道奇怪的光芒。

当三人前去树林探个究竟时，竟目睹了胖虎与小夫急速地从天上往地面坠…

Shocking Letter Tells Parents To 'Euthanize' Son With Autism

A close family friend has an autistic boy and this was an anonymous letter slipped under her door. This is real. pic.twitter.com/VyRb2oqPrG
— Lennon and Maisy (@lennonandmaisy) August 19, 2013

The content of the letter is extremely vile, referring to Max as a "nuisance" and a "wild animal" before suggesting the Begley family to move or "euthanize" the teenager.

I understand it is hard for autistic children to communicate with others and convey their thoughts thus it could be very frustrating for them which may explain their sudden outbursts in public at times.

It is heartbreaking enough to have a child with special needs and I think all this hatred towards the Begley family is uncalled for.

The New Meatless Burger McAloo Tikki From McDonald's

Say "aloo" to the all new McAloo Tikki!

The Allo Tikki (sounds like Hello Kitty!) is a popular street food in Northen India made with potatoes and various spices.

"Aloo" means potato, and the word "tikki" means a small cutlet or croquette.

Sandwiched between two fluffy buns, a delicious patty made with potatoes and peas is fried to crispy perfection then topped with onions, fresh tomatoes and sweet tomato mayo.

This is McDonald's first *meatless burger and it cost just $2 ala carte!

Shoon Huat Bak Kut Teh 顺发肉骨茶 @ Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru

A few weeks ago, my family and I crossed the causeway to Johor Bahru and we decided to go to Shoon Huat Bak Kut Teh at Taman Sentosa for brunch.

It was our second visit to Shoon Huat and just like our previous visit, we had to brace ourselves to walk through an invisible wall of smoke and heat into the shop.

This was due to the cooking being done right at the entrance and the columns of smoke from the charcoal fire has engulfed the interior of the shop. Instead of dispelling the heat, the couple of ceiling fans seemed to make matters worst by distributing the heat all around.

In a nutshell, the place was anything but comfortable to dine at.

Creepy Tales From A Bangkok Hotel

Inspired by foongpc's post about his ghostly experience with Penang Hotel, I thought I would share what I had personally encountered in Bangkok.

This happened many years back, when the twelve of us (including four lecturers) from the retail course that I was attending, flew to Bangkok for a field trip.

Upon arrival, the first thing we did was to check into our hotel but due to some miscommunication, the rooms which we had booked earlier were not available.

Fortunately, the frontdesk managed to upgrade us to a suite on a higher floor which provided a splendid bird's eye view of Bangkok's landscape.

Basically, the structure of the hotel was built in a circular shape as shown in the 'cross-section' illustration below.

Ghost Files Singapore

Are you a fan of the paranormal and nothing thrills you more than venturing into the unknown?

Ghost Files Singapore (GFS) is a brand new paranormal web television series starring Noel Boyd and his team of paranormal investigators - Joel Liew and Jocelyn Teo. Do watch out for guest investigators such as celebrity musicians Jack and Rai along with social media personality Billy Chong in subsequent episodes!

Each week, join the investigators as they bring viewers to a haunted site to document the paranormal activities at the said location using state of the art equipments. In the first episode, the team headed to two locations on Pulau Ubin - the German Girl Shrine and Jelutong Bridge.

Hold your breath as the investigators conduct EVP sessions while trying to pick up any signals from the unseen.

Does ghosts really exist or is it just a fragment of our imagination? Join the team on their quest as they uncover the truth.

The first episode of GFS premieres this coming Friday (August 9) at 10pm so be sure to bookmark this link to their site http://www.ghostfiles.tv/index.html. What better time to launch this show than during the first week of the Hungry Ghost Festival!

GFS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GhostFilesSingapore

GFS Twitter: https://twitter.com/GhostFilesSG

Nick Pitera: Kiss The Girl (Acapella)

Nick Pitera - the Youtube sensation has recorded an amazing one-man acapella of the song "Kiss The Girl" from the Disney movie, The Little Mermaid.

This talented young man needs no further introduction if you have been a regular reader of this blog for I had blogged about him here and here before.

If you like him as much as I do, do add him on Twitter, Facebook and subscribe to his Youtube Channel.

McDonald's "Deferred Fulfilment" Website Is Up!

After what seems like eternity, McDonald's "deferred fulfilment" website for the Despicable Me 2 Happy Meal Minion toys is finally up and running.

For fans who have missed out on certain designs from the last two weeks, now is your chance to complete your collection!

DIY: How To Make Your Own Lightbox For Product Photography

All the materials needed for your DIY lightbox

Gone are the days of posting crappy product photos with distracting backgrounds on your blog.

You can achieve that professional "studio shot" with just a sturdy box, a cutter, a ruler, some mahjong paper and a roll of tape. 

All you have to do is to make your own lightbox with materials which you probably already have lying around the house!

What Lesson The Recent McDonald's Hello Kitty And Despicable Me 2 Promotion Has Taught Me

Happened in Penang, Malaysia [via]

Can't they just lift up the shutters? [via]

All it takes is just ONE McDonald's promotion to bring out the worst in humanity.

Remember the wedding series of Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel some 13 years ago in Singapore? It attracted so much attention that CISCO guards were hired to maintain order when ugly human dramas such as fights, quarrels, and queue-jumping became the subject of media coverage.

Seven people were even injured when a glass door at the Boon Keng outlet shattered due to the jostling.

Fast forward back to the recent Fairy Tales Hello Kitty and Despicable Me 2 promotion this year where customers purchase the toys in bulk - causing stocks to be sold-out island-wide within hours. I have no qualms if they had bought it for their own collection but the point is, these people are reselling for profits.

Not only do they deny others from getting the toy, such deplorable and selfish acts only disgraced the reputation of all Singaporeans.

McDonald's Singapore Donates 1000 Happy Meals To Charity

[via]

From today till 31 July 2013, customers purchasing Happy Meals in the Despicable Me 2 promotion has the option to donate their meals to the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).

This move came after a series of complaints that fans who bought the meals solely for the free Minion toys had thrown away their food which drew a backlash from the online community.

Apparently, this was already happening during the previous Hello Kitty Fairy Tales promotion where customers were seen dumping the food into the bins after getting their toys. There were many pleas on McDonald's facebook page to allow customers who had only wanted the toys but not the food to donate their meals.

Video: When Elephants Goes Amok! *GRAPHIC*

The Elephant is the largest land mammal and also the most regal-looking.

These highly-endangered giants should be revered and left in the wild but the biggest threat they faced are the loss of habitat when people cleared large areas of land, forcing them to stray out of the forest into settled areas where they sometimes destroy property, trample crops, and even kill people.

What you are going to see are some videos of elephants going on a rampage.

Viewer Discretion Is Advised

Free Despicable Me 2 Minion Toys With McDonald's Happy Meal

McDonald's Singapore will be launching a set of 9 Minion collectible toys from the animation, Despicable Me 2 this coming Thursday, 11 July 2013 at 11am.

The Minions are:
1. Tim Giggling
2. Tom Googly Eyes Grabber
3. Dave Gadget Grabber
4. Evil Minion Chomper
5. Stuart Light Up Grabber
6. Evil Minion Noisemaker
7. Tim Giggle Grabber
8. Stuart Babbler Grabber
9. Jerry Breakdancing

The toys will come free with every purchase of a kid's Happy Meal.

Singapore Zoo Celebrates Its 40th Birthday!

Officially opened on 27 June 1973, the Singapore Zoo is undisputedly one of the finest zoo around the region.

A distinct feature of the zoo is its open-concept where animals roam freely in the open. Take the Orangutans for example, visitors could observe them in close proximity among the trees via the elevated boardwalk which offers a spectacular 360° aerial view of the surroundings.

Unlike some zoos that keep their animals in concrete cells, the animals' quarters here are landscaped as closely to their natural habitat as possible so they are simulated to put on their natural behaviour as they would in the wild and with some luck, they might just start breeding!

One of the Singapore Zoo's greatest achievement is its successful breeding program for some of their endangered animals. To date, they have bred 40 Orangutans, 13 White Rhinos, 3 Sun Bears, and even a Polar Bear. It is heartening to know that the zoo's efforts towards conservation and preserving wildlife is taking off!

Something Devastating To Share; Golden Retriever And Samoyed Ended Up As Delicacy During Yuling Dog Meat Festival

A animal activist kneeling in front of the butchered dogs asking
for forgiveness while dog meat traders watched in amusement

First of all, I am a dog person so don't come argue with me about the plight of chicken and pigs. Call me a hypocrite if you will. I know, pigs are intelligent creatures too but that is not the point of this post so let's just keep it at that.

What I am going to share here is a video of a China program that features about this annual dog meat festival at Yulin, Guangxi. I am appalled to learn that there is actually a festival dedicated to men's best friend although it's for the wrong reason!

Apparently, the locals organised this festival to mark the summer solstice in the southern Guangxi province, where they feasted on dog meat with lychee wine.

What The Hail?

via

Today, Singapore welcomed a much sought-after rain that provided some respite for Singaporeans who had been suffocating for the last couple of days ever since the haze from Indonesia invaded our skies.

There were reports of hailstones falling in several areas of western Singapore like Chua Chu Kang, Bukit Batok and Jurong East.

The NEA announced that the rain is not toxic and Balakrishnan said that we did not do cloud seeding. It is not from the cloud seeding done in Indonesia either as the wind directions were not right.

Although relatively rare in the tropics, it was not the first time that hail has descended upon Singapore. The previous hailstone sightings was in March 27, 2008 over the central part of the country.

Toast Box Laksa

When I visited The Esplanade recently, I got so hungry that I do not think I could survive the walk over to the Marina Square food court at the opposite without fainting from hunger.

Since I am right outside Toast Box, it seem the obvious choice for me.

I really like the concept and decor at Toast Box but have been most reluctant to dine there due to their slightly higher pricing. However, it seemed to be the most economical choice viable at that crucial moment considering where I was.

If dining at Toast Box could spare my aching calves from more walking (I have been walking all day that day), I would gladly do so even if it means paying just a little more.

The Worst Haze Since 1997?

Low visibility of the Singapore Flyer

As you would have probably known by now, Singapore has been hit by one of the worst haze since 1997. In Sumatra, farmers slash-and-burn land as it is a fast and cheap process to clear space for palm oil plantations.

This inadvertently causes forest fires that pollute the air. The wind current then carried most of the smog towards our direction, leaving our island republic in a hazy situation.

The plummeting air-quality causes many to fall ill including myself who had had a asthma relapse since a week ago but with no signs of recovering.

Movie: Monsters University

In case you haven't heard, everyone's favorite monsters are back!

After twelve long years, Mike and Sulley are making a comeback with a new movie except this time, we are brought back to the very beginning where they first met in college!

It all began during a school excursion to Monster Inc. for pint-sized Mike and his elementary school friends. There, he met one of his heroes, "Frightening" Frank McCay who gave him his Monsters University cap and from that point forward, Mike is determined to attend the university and become a top scarer, just like Frank.

Economical Rice @ Kopitiam Foodcourt

"Economical Rice" (also known as mixed rice/chap chye png/chap fan/jin ji cai fan) refers to a typical chinese food stall that sells a myarid of home-cooked dishes that is accompanied by rice or thin porridge.

The food are displayed behind a glass pane in shallow, square receptacles which are kept warm on top of water heated by heating elements. When ordering, you simply point out what you want to the vendor and pay accordingly to each portion of dish you ordered.

Meat dishes typically costs more than vegetables with fish and seafood being the pricier items.

These rice stalls are a common sight around Singapore and can be found in most coffeeshops, hawker centres and even food courts.

"Economical Rice" translates to affordable meals that's easy on the pocket hence is a popular choice for many who are out to look for a thrifty meal or meal on a budget.

Apple Introduces iOS 7

We heard it would be flat. We heard it would be black and white. We heard that it would be a totally different experience.

It is. iOS 7, the latest version of Apple’s flagship mobile operating system, is here, and it’s almost entirely different from the versions that came before. Gone are the skeuomorphic designs and 3D effects, replaced by Sir Jony Ive’s “flat design.” Rumors had been flying for weeks about the new OS and now it’s here and it is, at least at this early reckoning, a massive change for the six year old operating system.

First, we must remember that Ive, Apple’s industrial designer now in control of software following the departure of Scott Forstall, isn’t a believer in interfaces that copy real-world objects. In the past, making the Notes app look like a legal pad or the calendar app look like a Moleskine calendar notebook were part of the iOS design philosophy, as ingrained in the OS as “Slide To Unlock.” All that is gone now.

Are you ready for a whole new world?

928 Yishun Laksa

Hidden in a small eatery behind Yishun Bus Interchange is a well-known Laksa stall that has many accreditation and awards plastered on its glass panel.

Despite their fame, this Laksa stall has no name and is affectionately known as the "928 Laksa" by its customers because the eatery is located right at the foot of Yishun Block 928.

You can tell how immensely popular their Laksa is with those staying staying in the neighborhood when it is the only thing they sell and yet able to command a perpetual queue that never seem to end for the last fifteen years of business.

Video: Why It Is Cruel To Let Your Dog Drink Via A Water Bottle

First of all, you have to understand how dogs drink.

I have always thought that they slurp water in the same manner as us by using the front of our tongues.

However, I realised how wrong I was when I learn that they 'scoop' water into their mouths using the bottom side of their tongues instead!

Watch the video below.

Video: Share It Maybe - Cookie Monster Parody

This is another parody of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" by Sesame Street.

Do you like Cookie Monster?

Hokkien Rhymes

This fun and whimsical project presents an investigation into rhymes from the local Hokkien dialect and their gradual disappearance.

These rhymes are prevalent in pockets of conversations among an older generation of Singaporeans. Sadly, these quaint rhymes are being eroded through lack of use, with no written records. This project aims to preserve a selection of these quaint rhymes before they disappear.

Movie: Jurassic Park 3D

Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough

Director: Steven Spielberg

Genre: Adventure/Science-Fiction

Language: English

Release Date: 30 May 2003

Distributor: UIP

Official Site: Jurassic Park

First of all, if you are wondering, this is not a new sequel to the 1993 franchise but the very first Jurassic Park that debuted on the big screen 20 years ago. It was remastered into 3D to commemorate the film's twentieth anniversary.

When billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) devised a way to genetically clone dinosaurs, he invites experts of this field - Paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Palaeobotanist Ellie Sadler (Laura Dern) - to a remote island at the coast of Costa Rica for a sneak peek at his unfinished park, hoping they would endorse it to appease the nervous investors and the laywer who represented them. But when the park's security system is sabotaged by a disgruntled employee, hell breaks loose and the visitors are left to fend for themselves against the park's hungry inhabitants.

Video: Road Rage

This incident which happened outside the Civil Service Club at Tessensohn Road was caught on camera by the victim's dashboard camera.

In the video, the victim - a taxi driver was seen slowing down as there is another taxi in front.

It is not clear why there are so many people crowding around the taxi in front but it is evident that they are obstructing the traffic.

The driver horned about four times but upon hearing it, a fat man rushed out in a menacing manner, banging on the victim's bonnet with his fist while a skinny man went over to the driver's side and yelled at the victim to get down from his vehicle.

Happy Vesak 2013

For the uninitiated, Vesak Day is to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. 

It rained rather heavily on Vesak morning but that did not dampen our spirits to visit the Singapore Buddhist Youth Mission at Clementi.

The rain turned into a drizzle upon our arrival and I realized that there is something very different this year compared to previous years. The bazaar which used to be built on the road right in front of the temple's entrance was now built at the court beside it instead.

From what I observed, this arrangement effectively ease the traffic - both vehicular and human. The endless crowd of devotees going into the temple no longer have to jostle with those browsing at the bazaar. 

The freed-up space also meant that vehicles could drive all the way in and u-turn their way out instead of making 3-point turns on the stretch of narrow road and endangering all the people walking on the road.

Please Help This Elderly Man At Ang Mo Kio

While having lunch at Ang Mo Kio a few days ago, an elderly man approached my table and began consolidating all the leftovers from the different bowls into one.

Initially, I thought he is the cleaner here to clear up the table so I did not pay him much attention until he sat down and began to eat out of that bowl!

I was shaken by what I had seen and I knew that I have to help him somehow but how do I go about it without hurting his feelings?

Yunus N Family @ Ang Mo Kio Central Food Centre

Mee Soto is one of my favorite Malay food.

In fact, it is the first Malay dish that I was introduced to when I was young. So far, the best Mee Soto I had is the one from the GSMB canteen at Ayer Rajah. Alas, it is a military camp where I no longer have the authority to visit anymore.

My favorite way of having Mee Soto is to dunk a begedil or fried chicken wing into the soup. I would first eat up all the mee and ingredients before taking my time to enjoy the soggy begedil/fried chicken wing.

Fish & Chips From Yilmaz Western @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 6

The initial plan was to visit Rasa Sayang Western Food at the S11 coffee shop located at Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 (next to MS Color) but due to some unforseen circumstances, I ended up visiting Yilmaz Western instead.

Fortunately, I had done my homework the night before and have a backup plan if not, I would have made a wasted trip!

Over at Yilmaz Western, the specialty I have heard about was their Grilled Chicken Chop which was served on a sizzling hotplate.

Unfortunately, I was informed that the Grilled Chicken Chop is not ready yet and the boss suggested me to order something else. I was a tad disappointed but as I did not want to return empty handed, I ordered a Fish & Chips instead.

Video: The Coolest Melting Machine

You know what's cooler than having a can of 7-Up to cool yourself on a hot, sweltering day?

When the vending machine is made entirely out of ice, of course!

As the block of ice starts melting away, the cans of 7-Up frozen within is then up for grabs.

Don't you think it's a refreshing change to see such ingenius marketing from a different carbonated drink company this time round?

Let's watch it.

Batam 2013: One Day Tour

It has been close to twenty years since I last visited Batam with my secondary school friends. At that time, we went to Waterfront City and the chalet bungalows had only just been completed.

When I learn that my brother had booked us a one day trip to Batam on Labour Day, I was elated to revisit this slow-paced city again!

Early that morning, I brought my folks to meetup with my brother and his in-laws for breakfast at Habourfront where the Singapore Cruise Centre is located on the second floor.

After breakfast, we went up to check in to board the ferry but was told that the gate has already been closed even though we arrived at the stipulated time as told by the tour agency.

The personnel spoke to someone via the walkie walkie and we were given the green light to proceed as the ferry have not departed yet.

We hurried in and was just in time to hear our names being announced over the PA system.

Navy Open House 2013

Set your course and embark on a navy experience with us!

Take the ship’s helm, man the guns, and visit the bridge to get a sense of what life’s really like rolling the waves on the high seas. More than just the sea and the sun, there are also lots of fun and other entertainments for the family. Visit us at the NS Portal booth @ HEART Tent, and you will get to play games and win cool prizes!

Would You Pay $96 For Two Plates Of Seafood Hor Fun?

How about $60 for 2x "Union" Cucumbers, $72 for 2x Hong Kong Kailan or $72 for 2x Spinach Toufu?

That was how much a customer is being charged for at Chen Fu Ji （陈福记）, a restaurant offering chinese cuisine at Riverside Point, Clarke Quay.

The bill for the entire meal adds up to $3922.70!

(click to enlarge)

Video: The Longest Death Scene Ever In Movie History

"Kareteci Kız" (Karate Girl) is a 1973 Turkish film directed by Orhan Aksoy.

Zeynep (Filiz Akin) is a mute girl who has lost her ability to speak because of an accident.

One day, five prison fugitives came to their house where her father was slained and they took the money meant for her operation to regain her voice.

Due to the shock, Zeynep regains her ability to speak.

The fugitives were caught but Zeynep had wanted to take her own revenge, therefore she told the police that the fugitives are not the ones who have attacked them.

视频：《白狐》

目前非常喜欢这首合唱版的《白狐》。

觉得歌词跟意境都很美，犹如走进琼瑶小说里的情景一样；目睹男女主角那刻苦铭心却天意弄人而无法相爱的一段凄美爱情故事。

永远的“阿哥”黄文永

via

今天傍晚5时许，新传媒资深艺人黄文永因第四期淋巴癌在新加坡中央医院与世长辞，终年60岁。

去年11月出席《戏剧情牵30》时，他以明显消瘦的身子出现在节目上就开始引发了许多关于他患病的传言。

那也是他人生中最后一次站在舞台上。