What a Lazy Bum Bum

Went to WS2 (Water Technology Laboratory) to work on my LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry). This equipment is used to detect a chemical compound in a very small amount. I went there pinning a high hope that this machine is going to work. Since the lab officer need to prepare some chemical reagents for the undergraduate laboratory class, I have to wait in the room. It's a freezing room I would say. Very cold....Brrr.... Due to the safety check, all are required to wear lab coats when you are in the lab. Luckily the lab coat is there. Feel a little bit warmer. While waiting, I snapped a few pics of myself again in the lab (since I was the only one there hahahaha) ... If I didnt do it back then, dont think I will have this good chance to do it. Hohohoho .... See the machine behind me? That's the mass spectrometry machine ... Do I look pro? Hahahahaha....

This is normally how I look when I am analyzing the result from that machine. Cos you will always find weird results that will really make you go frowning everytime. I think if I kept frowning, my wrinkles on my forehead will develop soon. Sigh.... that's really a sad case. Sacrifice so much for the PhD. Hopefully, it will treat me better in the future. Really hope for that to happen ~~

When the lab officer came back and helped me with the run, she found out that the machine got stucked!!! No wonder I cant even get any chromatogram (a graph with some lines in it) of the compound at all for the 4 runs. Sad... wasted the sample bottles though. Pray that tomorrow the machine will work perfectly fine. Pray for me too folks... Thanks in advance!! ^_^

Dog poo everywhere

Went for my morning jog this morning. The moment I set my foot to the groundfloor of my HDB flat, there were dog poos everywhere. Some were still left untouched and some were stepped by some passer-by along that pedestrian path. I am just wondering why cant the pet owner picked their own's pet poo?!!! We are in a civilized era now. Shouldn't we be more considerate to other people?

Imagine that if the dog poos were stepped by a working personnel, wouldnt his first day of the week being dragged down to the bottom due to the dog poos early in the morning? Somewhat somehow, some people will think that dog poos are gold. If you were to step on one, you might strike a lottery if you buy it immediately on that day. As for me, I dont really believe that cos I step on dog poos quite a few times back in Malaysia. It doesnt seems that I had a better luck especially on money on that day. So it's just a myth. Rather it's my most unlucky day.

Therefore, I took my steps very carefully this morning. So that I dont step in any of those poos. Though they were golden in colour, it definitely didnt seem like gold to me. I will squeak if I were to step on one and I will really go crazy for the rest of the day. Lucky enough, phew~~

For the pet owners out there, please please please be considerate to others. Don't let your dog poo left unattended. Be more responsible to yourself and considerate on others! The pedestrian path is for public not for your own consumption. For the responsible pet owners thanks for being so considerate and do keep up the good work!!!

Ishi Mura, North Point Shopping Complex, Yishun

I was like having a two straight days of Japanese food. Lucky me!! ^_^. I came back to Singapore on Sunday afternoon. I always wanted to go and Shalom was very niceeeeeee!! He suggested to go to Northpoint since he hadnt been there before. So we decided to go walk around Northpoint and see if there is anything interesting. Similar to all other shopping mall, they have everything they have got. Their situation is more or less similar to Jurong Point. Upgraded to a bigger shopping mall while preserving the old one. Hmm.. interesting. It's still under construction though. This is how the entrance of Ishi Mura looks like.

Ishi Mura is a Japanese type of food court. The price range from SGD3.90 to about SGD15 if I dont remember wrongly. Not very expensive. Affordable and you can get a quite good ambience of the place too. It's like totally bring you into different type of dimension. Love the decor!! You can find a lot of cooked type of Japanese food like omu rice, bento, ramen, japanese pasta, okonomiyaki, tempura, etc. But they dont have takoyaki here though. Definitely taste far way much better than the Japanese restaurant (the one that have ajisen, okonomiyaki restaurant and another one i cant remember what is that), in vivo city.

They are having the open kitchen type of concept. Therefore, you will know what the chef is doing *sinister grins* so you will know what goes into your stomache hehehehehhehe.... i wont elaborate more here. YOu can use your imagination on this hahahahaa

Bought three stuff. Salmon omurice for myself. Why salmon out of the many cos I love salmon the best!!!! If there is salmon, I will definitely go for it. Cant resist salmon. Cabbage okonomiyaki for sharing and of course, Shalom all time favourite, Kare Rice~~ Hahahahahha

Salmon omu rice taste good for the first half. But for the second half you will get bored of it due to its sauce I think. Too heavy somehow. But still I love the salmon. Hehehehhehe... the first thing to finish is the salmon hahahahahhahaha

Next is Shalom's Kare Rice. The taste are similar to what I have cooked last time. Dont believe? Shalom can be my witness hahahahaha just that my gravy were much thicker than theirs. Theirs are too watery though~~ The tempura was nice but not as nice as the one in Batu Pahat Japanese restaurant. Kekekekeke ....

Last is the cabbage okonomiyaki. Taste okay not superbly good that kind. Probably because both of us are too full. So cant really taste the best out of it. Hahahhahahaha...

Overall, this food court is not a bad one to go to for food lovers. Can try a lot of Japanese main dish at the same time. I love it though. But sharing is required. Thanks for Ah Lom for bringing me there. Hehehhehe... Arigatou na~~ (>_^)

Good Japanese Restaurant at Batu Pahat

It takes me like forever to update this post in school. The internet just keep disconnected whenever I uploaded the pictures as if I am uploading something X-rated. Sigh... This means that I must work when at school ... not deviating my focus into something else. Very good ....

Went back home to Batu Pahat last weekend to celebrate mum's birthday. Actually, it's two weeks late though. Sorry mum... but she didnt mind. I brought her to one of the Japanese Restaurant located at Jalan Jenang. The shophouses behind the row of shophouses opposite the bus terminal. The ambience of the restaurant is very good. Not to be expected in a place called Batu Pahat. Totally unexpected!! That's the signboard of that shop. To be precise, it's the same row as the Ang Ku Kueh shop called Xin xin.

This is how the main entrance of the restaurant looks like. Build something similar to the style in Japan.

This is how the inside of the restaurant looks like. Nice heh? It's as if you are sitting on the floor to eat. Just like how Japanese eat their food at home ... Hehehehhe...

I asked the waitress to help us to take a family photo. Too bad elder sis wasnt home. So lack of her. SOrry ya sis ... paiseh.... we have to go without you cos it takes you ages to come home. I know I know you are really busy since you are the PA of the minister. Hahhahaha...

While waiting for the food to be served, I was snapping around with my handphone camera. See how lovely mommy and daddy together. Although they bicker a lot, still they love for each other. Hahahhahahaha... mum's face gone red hahahahhahahahaha ... I just love to tease her and dad together. To see how her face turn red as if she has just started going out with dad ... Hehehehehe .. .mischievious me...

Next is my brother. Not too bad looking chap. But I never once tell him on his face that he is good looking. He will be too proud of that. =P
Then my brother took picture on me too. I insisted and my brother said, "Dont be such a narcissist!!!" I gave him a punchy look and he just turn his eyes away hahahahhaha... I love to tease him too and at the same way, he loves making fun of me a lot. But not as much as my elder sis (we called her Da Jie).

Finally the food were to be served. Let's prepare the cultleries well before we eat. And we have to say "Itadakimasu~~"

First dish out is Chuka Hotake. Scallop mixed with vinegar. Nice and refreshing!!

Second, one of my favourite is Adegashi Tofu. Crispy at the outside and soft from the inside. The sauce was not too salty and sweet too.. Just love it!!
This is the Kimuchi Hotpot - basically kimchi with micellaneous vegetables and chicken. Just nice for 4 persons and even 5. This is awesome!! Sour and spicy! Yummy!!!

Fourth that come is Tonkatsu Ramen. Pork ribs and big bones were used to make the soup. Very very very tasty. The taste is just right man. And the char siew is awwwwwwwww so soft and goood. Well seasoned too... Love it soooooooooo much!!! Okawari kudasai!!!
My taboo dish! The soft shell crab sushi. Although I am allergic to seafood, still cant resist but to take one of it to try. Totemo oiiishi!!!!

Brother and daddy ordered the same bento dish. Salmon bento. Taste very good. The salmon was juicier in comparison to the Ajisen in Batu Pahat. Taste way much better. Therefore, I told my dad that if next time he wants to buy salmon, remember to buy from this shop and not the Ajisen sushi... This is really very good. In this bento, it comprises of a salad, water melon, miso soup, a bowl of rice and chawamushi. All really taste good! Definitely on par or even better when compare to Sakae Sushi in Singapore.

Last and the best to arrive is the mixed tempura. The have ebi and vegetables tempura. Mom loves this the best while well dad normally will not have much comment on the food. It's like the tempura you can find in any Japanese restaurant.

Glad that mom and dad enjoyed the food very much! Brother always loves japanese food. So not surprise at all that he loves it! I paid for this meal. Well, it's expensive indeed where mom and dad kept grumbling for bringing them to such an expensive restaurant bla..bla..bla... If we were to eat something else, we can eat for about 2-3 meals in a very good chinese restaurant. But it's only something that I can do in return for their favour in bringing me up and giving me the best that they could to mould what I am today. Letting them eat something they have never eaten and would never ever try if they are on their own (cos it's too ex). What I have done is really insignificant! I told him it's not that everytime we eat out like this. Only when we are back home or they went to KL. So no worries about that..... we can save on something and spend on them. Just do my best as I could to let them lead a better life ^_^ cos they have been into all the hardships when they were young. It's time for them to have a better life!!

Positive and Negative Story

Went back home to Batu Pahat (my hometown) during the weekend. It's soooo nice to be home. Just love it!!! At home, my brother tell me something about positive and negative story. Here goes the story:-

Last time when mommy and daddy were young. Both of them were thin. My brother gave the thin sign as negative. And he said therefore, my elder sister when she was born become a positive denoting that she is fat (my sis is not fat just a little plum that's all). But my brother just wanted to play prank on both of us. Then, he carried on his story. After some years, mommy got a little bit fatter and daddy still maintain his thinness and therefore, he denoted them as a little positive (negative value is still there) and negative, respectively. So when I was born I became sometimes positive and sometimes negative (fluctuating according to time). When his turn arrive, mommy has gain quite a sum of weight and daddy still maintain the same. So it becomes, very negative due to mommy's weight gain. The end result was he became very thin.

I broke into laughter when I heard this. He is really ... sigh ... I just wonder why cant he put all his mischievious and weird ideas into his studies!! That's really a ... sigh .... speechless.... sometimes I cant really out talk him......... Really dont know what to do with him *sweat* However, because of him, the house is really merry and happy. My mom will always said when 3 of you are together it's as if the house is having 10 kids no matter how old we are. I wonder whether it's a good thing or a bad thing Hahahhahahaha....

Toilet Story

I was frustrated today as the results of the LC-MSMS (a machine to detect some chemical compounds) wasnt what I expected. The samples were okay but the standards are just totally off. Shucks!! Therefore, on my way back to my lab (the machine was in another lab), I had the urgency to go to the ladies. I chose the toilet for the handicapped. While I was in the toilet, it struck my mind that I have never written Toilet Story before. Therefore, I decided to snap a few pics of myself to write a really down to earth Toilet Story of my own.... I guess you guys will really say she really got a Permanent Head Damage. Well, this is one of my way in getting off my frust and stress. Or else I will be scolding people here and there and definitely, I do not want to do that and you wont want that too!!! Hehehehe.... So I decided to use this method to ease my frusts and stresses away! And it really helps!!! Anyone would like to try??? Here goes the story ^_^

Have you ever been to public toilet where it smell soooooooo gross that makes you wanted to vomit? The smell is soo bad that it will even help to stop the urgency of going to the washroom after smelling that kind of smell. Something like a rotten egg (hydrogen sulfide) or heavy urine (ammonia) smell? Can you guys imagine? *Gross*

Or have you ever seen there are poos hanging in the middle of the toilet bowl without flushing it and you will just stop breathing? It was EEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW .... and you wont even have the appetite for any food for the rest of the day the moment you recall the scene (comes in different colours and sizes sometimes). YUCKZ!! *vomit*

Today the details of the toilet that I visited was in the following (this idea was suggested by Shalom hahahahhaha-he got a greater idea than me in my toilet story. Therefore, he should be acknowledge in this post):-

Type of toilet: Handicapp Toilet
Location: E4A, Level 5, Faculty of Engineering, NUS
Rating:

I gave it the rating 3 not because it was not too clean but it was ok. No particular bad smell. Well, it smells like a normal toilet smell. Since it's a toilet for the handicapp, less people are using it. I love using it because it was spacious and cleaner in comparison. Plus in some they have a small fan inside to fan away the smell. Hahahaha... The floor is not wet which therefore makes it cleaner than the common toilet. In other girls toilet, sometimes, the floor are wet and it makes the toilet looks dirty. There are times where the flush go faulty and all the after business were left there. And there are times where the "towels" are left here and there without any consideration for the next user. Bins are just placed right beside the toilet bowl and still people are just too lazy to bin it!!! That's why I like to visit the toilet for the handicapp.

Last but not least, I would like to propagate that "Be considerate!Please flush the toilet after use!!" And dont just throw the "towels" and "tissue paper" around. Pick it up if you dropped them. Sometimes I am wondering, whether the common ladies toilets that I have been are really ladies or gents. I really really wonder.....

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to Shalom W. for contributing his idea in writing this post! HUAHUAHUAHUAHUA ....

Who will marry me? Raise your hands!!!

I was wondering who will miss me if I dont update my blog. Or I am just an insignificant subject in this world that no one will really care. Hmm... well, I know! Definitely someone will ... cos he has been sounding why I didnt update my blog recently. That person is Shalom W. Hahhahahahha. I updated 5 posts last week .... sad.... OK let's see ...

Been busy with my experiments lately so didnt have much time to think about what I should be putting into the post. Sorry, readers that I have let you down. I shouldnt have neglect you guys. So can forgive me this once?? ^_^ . I will try my best to update the bloggie~~

Recently, a lot of my friends are getting married! Happy for them of course that they found a person who completes their life to the next 50 years. You are asking about me? Whether I have found mine? Hmm... this kind of question will be the most difficult to answer. If I say yes and in the end it turns out to be a no, it will be quite sad. If I say no, that will hurt certain someone. So both answer is not right either. So just let things decide when the times come. Why rush over things, right? I always believed that when the right time comes, everything will be clear. For the moment, it is just blurrish. There are still room of uncertainties though ... and the fears from the distant past is still here though I have tried my hardest to discard them away.

One thing I am certain now is I am very blissful with the current situation I am in now. I am a happy girl everyday though life is just simple and plain. So what more am I asking for? No doubt people will turn greedier when their life gets better. But I constantly remind myself that I cant be that way. Cos we must appreciate what others gave and not be blinded by what others have given us and take things for granted. It's not the right way to get things done. Therefore, the lyrics of the song is somewhat true "Everytime I close my eyes, I thank Lord that I've got you and you've got me". Cos it's not easy to have someone who really understands and completes you and many ways.

Thus, I wish all my friends who are ringing the wedding bells soon, May you all be blessed with blissfulness and happiness. May the love last as long as you live. May it grows each day and not fading through eternity.

Bless Xiao Ou - Please Help her!!!

Neither you or me know who Xiao Ou is. Little did I know is from the NUS email that circulated and the booth that were setup in a few locations in NUS for the past few days. Xiao Ou is a 24 years old girl diagnosed with Acute Lymphotic Leukemia (ALL) a type of cancer that will take her beautiful life ahead. Coming from China to further her studies, not knowing this disease will haunt her. If I were her, I will be devastated.

At the age of 24, there were plenty of stuffs that I wanted to do. But, sadly, for Xiao Ou she might not be able to fulfill her dreams like we all do. She doent even have a chance to whine and complain on any unhappy stuff that she met like all of us always did. We keep wanting to get better stuff, to be treated better. We are soo greedy that we want this and we want that. Stop and step aback. What if one day when you visit a doctor and the doctor tells you that you are contracted with ALL and needed to be admitted to hospital immediately for chemotherapy. Would we still be complaining and keep wanting more and not contented in what we have?

Therefore, in addition of pondering about what we have been doing all this while, I would like to urge all readers to help in donating so that Xiao Ou are able to survive this ordeal. Maybe a dollar or two may not be significant, however, a few hundreds of people might help a great deal. Here, I would like to ask all the kind samaritans out there to help this young lady who has a bright future lying ahead of her. You doesnt have to be a Singaporean to help. Anyone at any part of the world are able to do it. A little kindness that you showed to others, will enhance your happiness greatly. Please kindly visit this website if you wish to donate and they will tell you how should you donate.

http://www.blessxiaoou.net/eng/

I thank you for your kind help in saving another life! May God Bless You!

Sakae Sushi Promotion - ONLY $1 *NANI??!!*

Sakae Sushi at Cityvibe (Opposite Clementi MRT) is having a opening special promotion. All coloured plates except red plates are only $1. Very very cheap. You can choose their side dish too that cost the same as the coloured plates sushi (SGD2.29). Shalom and I went there two days in a row due to their cheapness. Not sure when they are going to end their promotion though! So sushi lovers!! Attention!!!! Dash down to Cityvibe while the promotion is still on. There is another shop called Shin Tokyo having promotion at 99cents too. But the choices are definitely much lesser than what you can get in Sakae Sushi. So what are you waiting for!!! Let's crash Sakae Sushi together!! Ohrzzzz!!!!

It's located at second floor of Cityvibes (just in case you cant find it *wink*smile*). However, you may encounter loooooong queue. Do pre-order your sushi with the waitress cos those sushi on the belts are quite limited. And... umm... do understand their service will be quite slow due to the crowds. So dont order cooked food at this kind of time cos the kitchen will be very busy with sushi making as a lot of people ordered them (cos there was one lady ordered cooked food and she was complaining and complaining... sigh .. just dont understand this kind of people). Therefore, if you are aiming for cooked food like ramen or whatever which is not sushi, then go to other branches please. Try to understand others. They are just working over there so dont vent your anger unpolitely to them. What if you were them. I think you will be busy like hell too. Your money is not really very GREAT. So be understanding, and your life will be lovelier ^_^. Enjoy the promotion while stock last!!!

Jin De Lai Zhong Hua La Mian, Boat Quay

We had a gathering on the 9th of March 2009. It's on Monday. Kakis that present were:-

1. Celia
2. Hui Ying
3. Li Lian
4. Meng Li
5. Me (Ee Ling)

I suggested this place known as Jin De Lai Zhong Hua La Mian. My fyp student, Hong Dou, kept complimenting the authenticity of the food in this restaurant that are similar to those you can find in Xi-an, China. Our appointment time is 730pm and well all of us are quite punctual. That's a great thing!! Since I never been to this restaurant, I cant figure out where it was. As we walk along Boat Quay from Raffles Place exit, we cant really find the restaurant. I was like ... Oh noo ... did I take them to the wrong place? Meng Li was saying "hmm... dont think that the restaurant will exist" in middles of bars and seafood restaurant!! I was like "Oh Sh**" cant be right... But as usual, Meng Li was kind enough ... she comforted me to finish till the end of Boat Quay and finally, we FOUND it nearly the end of Boat Quay.

We were greeted by a very friendly waiter. I cant take my eyes off their cashier table. It was nicely decorated and cant resist myself for not taking pictures. I called Hong Dou to recommend some dish! And thanks to his recommendation they were all quite good. OK let me intro them one by one ya...

While we were browsing through the menu, A BIG JAR of plain water was served together with peanuts.

In this gathering, we had a lot of food this time compared to the previous few. The first thing here is Dong Po Rou Mian (Dong Po Pork Noodles). This noodles was light. Not greasy at all! The meat used here is pork belly plus a few leaves of pak choy. The soup was well done!!! It was like umph~~~~~ kind of feeling when you drink it. You will ask for more. The taste of the bone was absorbed in the soup. You will definitely not regret in ordering this noodles!!
Next in line is, 4 in 1 Noodles. It was called 4 in 1 because they have 4 kinds of ingredients and you need to mix them together. They have pak choy, bean curd, tomatoes and of course braised lean pork. The noodles are called "dao xiao" noodles, where they knead a dough and slice the dough using a chopper. The noodles are really really very chewy. It's totally not like the kind of soggy and sticky even after you leave it for some time before eating!! Super nice!!!
I dont know what this noodles is called. But it was spicy kind of noodles where you need to mix it too. So I called it spicy noodles. The way they make the noodles are the same as the previous on. But the sauce taste totally different!!!! Not oily. Comprises only bean sprouts, a little meat and the spicy sauce. It taste really refreshing and totally makes you cant stop eating it!!!! I love this too ^_^

Then, my all time favourite in any chinese restaurant - DUMPLINGS!! Yay. But because of this dumplings, I got an allergies due to the shrimps that mixed together with the pork and leeks. Unable to sleep until 4 am in the morning. Darn... I was soo tired. But i dont regret eathing this though! The skin are well made and the ingredients are fresh!!!

They called this Rou Jiang Mo (Minced meat bun?). The way they do it is, they braised/stewed the meat. After that, minced the meat, spread on the bun. What is even more interesting was they spread the gravy of the meat onto the bun. IT taste really really really AWESOME!!!!!!

This is a Chinese Pan Fried pancakes. What they stuff inside was leeks. The leeks taste was refreshing. The smell will lingers in your mouth even after you swallowed the food into your gut!!

We ordered two desserts. Sweet pan fried pancake and the corn pancakes. Both of them are not too sweet and all of us love the corn pancakes the most. The corns are juicy and sweet. Love it soooooooooooo much!!!!

What's even more surprising is it only cost us SGD40 for all the 8 dishes. We were like ... WHAT!!! 40???!! We are like did he calculate the money wrongly? Each of us only spent SGD8 per person and we had a very nice meal!!! A very nice outing for us that night. Definitely I will come back for more!!! Hehehehhe.....

Waffle Place Cottage

Went for a small dessert with Shalom after our dinner at the Viet Inn, the Vietnamese Restaurant at West Coast Plaza. This place is called Waffle Place Cottage. Service thumbs up and the waffles plus ice cream TWO THUMBS UP!!! It's delicious and even more tasty. Both the ice-cream and waffle are not too sweet. The owner told us that the recipe of the waffle and the ice-cream are from America. It's really delicious and price wise it not too expensive too. The best thing is they have waffle student's promotion. If you flash your student card, you will get $1 off from your bill for waffle and ice cream. That's a good deal for a student. One is too much for one person. So if both of you share one it's just nice. Hehehe.. love it soo much!!!

While scanning around the shop, there are people writing some stuff on the sticky notes. And the waiter gave us a bunch of magic pens and sticky notes for us to scribble something on .This is the art of work done by Shalom and me. Obviously, Shalom possess a better artistic skills more than I do. Hahahhahahaha.... I was like WOW~~~ for me I cant really do that. Sigh.. but that's something not to be sad about. A partner is someone who complete you cos every human being is imperfect. Right? *Wink* Alright folks! That's all for tonight. See you guys again. Matta ne~~

First time making Thai Dessert (Khanom) - Bur Luoy

Hihi... I am in again. This time I tried making a thai dessert or Khanom. It's Bur Luoy - Rice balls in cocunut milk. Ok the ingredients needed are

1. Glutinous rice powder
2. Coconut milk
3. Honey Rock sugar
4. Pandan leaves

First pound the pandan leaves using mortar and pestle.

After the leaves being crushed, add in a little bit of water and squeeze the water. You will get greenish water. This is use as a natural colouring when you are kneading the glutinous rice powder later.

To knead the dough, take about half cup of glutinous rice powder (can make about 15-20 medium sized balls) and add in about 1/4 cup of hot water. Add the water in little by little and at the same time knead the dough. Stop adding the water when the dough do not stick onto your hands. Add more flour if it's too sticky and add more water if it's too dry. You can add in some vegetable oil (in this case I am using olive oil) to avoid the flour from sticking on the plates after you make them into balls later. For colouring, you can use the pandan water to replace the water.

Before you placed the balls onto the plate, grease the plate with oil first to avoid the balls from sticking onto the plates.

Heat the washed pandan leaves with coconut milk. Do not boil the coconut milk. To prevent from boiling, keep stirring the coconut milk.

At the same time, boil another pot of water, to cook the rice balls. Scoop out the rice balls when it's floating on top of the water surface and place them in a bowl of cold water. This makes the rice balls more chewy.

Lastly, add in the rice balls into the coconut milk and cook for about 15 mins. You can either serve it hot or cold by adding a few ice cubes into it.

After tasting out, it's the best not to put the pandan leaves, cos pandan leaves covered the taste of the coconut milk. And at the same time, a little bit of salt is required in order to avoid the boringness of this dessert.

Happy Trying out!! Next thing to try is the Tuna Thai Salad (Yum Tuna). Hehehehee....