Archive for S'pore

Family BBQ @ Pasir Ris

23 March, 2009 · Filed under family, Food, pictures, S'pore

Sunday 22/3

Ok so i made it to the BBQ. Thank God, Alhamdulillah!

In the car, on the way to Pasir Ris

Syifaa’ and her Half Jap Aunty, Baby Sarina.

A newly reunited cousin, Nigel, Half Chinese, Half M’sian.


The Cousins Gerek
Several missing in the picture tho.


Its Durian time!!!


The Tents


The BBQ Pit


The Beach Scene


What u can see across the sea.

Trying to figure out how come we haven’t caught any fish yet.

Nah… Its ok!


We found Seashell instead!

We reached there close to 1pm. But the Simei gang and the rest were there from like 9am when it was cool and cloudy. It came close to raining but suddenly after Zohr, the weather took a turn to BLAZING HOT! Yeah we got sunburnt but at least we didnt get drenched, which would have been worse cos there’s no shelter nearby.

Its been a longggggg while since we’ve BBQed at Pasir Ris Park. The normal beach we go to is East Coast. But this extended beach is very nice!! Serene and full of greeneries. Unfortunately, it lacks facilities and shops. Moreover, the carpark is like a good 5min walk away to the BBQ pits and beach!

In 7hours, I ate Nasi Lemak, Otak2, just ONE SLICE of choc cake, Goreng pisang, POpiah otak2, Fried bee hoon, just ONE PIECE of Durian (not tt its my fav anyways) and potato chips. I drank coke light, water and just teeny wee sips of fruit punch.

At one point of time, all the cuzzies went to rent out bicycles. I was soooooooo dead jlos ok! Oh well… wldnt wanna risk the baby’s life now would we? Besides, Z would kill me if i ride the bike and injure his baby. Even when i told him that the two new found young cuzzies accidentally slapped my tummy, he got all hot and angry already, “HOw dare they!” he said. LOL his over-protective is nice but out of place lah. Firstly they just tot i was FAT besides, they are KIDS.

I cldnt coax anybody else to go walking with me. So i just savoured the 5min walk x 2 to and fro the carpark. And that was all the exercise i got on that day. Cheh! I tot i’d be strolling along the beach for hours. The irritating Hub gave his classes as an excuse. Yeah yeah whatever.

Loved and savoured the attention i received from the extended family esp Nenek who shared her experience (more than 10 times i dare say!) and some tips.

One MALE Cousin kept gently poking my tummy and saying that it felt like a ball! I was trying to get them to feel the baby’s kick alllll day but his movements were very limited and tentative. Until towards the end of the day, we were sitting down quietly and slowly i got Nur to place her hand at two ends of my tummy and finally she felt the slow stretching of his feet! YAYYY Felt like a great achievement getting them to feel it! hehe

Reached home at 9pm all tired but contented. Now baby, you can come out, please.

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Hot Weekend

16 February, 2009 · Filed under ME, ramblings, S'pore

Lunch time last Week in the office proved a perspiring feat. But we still got late afternoon showers.

Over the weekend? it was like being GRILLED. and we were indoors! We can start to say bye bye to that breezy wind.

But last night was soooooooooooooooooo hot i cldnt sleep. I was in bed by 11… in between the heat, excitement over a present Zubair’s received and baby’s active kicking, i only managed a wink at midnight but came awake again sweating an hour later.

Took another hour to fall back to sleep and woken up at 4am. This time, too cold with the aircon and ceiling fan on as well as the standing fan not 1 metre away with no blanket.

So much so that i woke up this morning at 7:25am!!!!!! when we should have hit the road LATEST 7:35am.

=( i dont like being late.

Note to self: sleep earlier.

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My Preggy Tummy Nearly Got Poked

13 February, 2009 · Filed under married life, ME, pregnancy, S'pore

I boarded the bus to my antenatal class @ KK.

No. 57 single decker with only 4 seats on lower ground but ample space for standing passengers as well as wheelchairs. It was crowded.

2 Elderly Nyonyas boarded the bus somewhere from Fu Lou Shou Complex with bags of groceries. It had been raining and they had their umbrella sticks with them.

One of them was standing in front of me and suddenly raised her umbrella wanting to put it onto this empty panel as high as my ear level (remember i was sitting down) to my left. Somehow, she didnt quite get the aim right and actually poked my arm!!

I somewhat glared questioningly at the aunty as if to say, “HUH???” And she made a half sincere apologetic smile. I bet she didnt know i was pregnant and resented that i was sitting down. In retrospect, she could have hit my tummy by mere inches ok!!! Then Zubair would regret and feel guilty ALL his entire livelihood for not being there for me. HA HA HA… lol… Anyways, I didnt give up my seat because im selfish and i was afraid i’d fall. The driver was rather violent that day.

As i was about to alight, i almost almost almost wanted to tell this 40+ Malay guy to give up his seat for the aunties. Before i could muster enough courage, the bus had stopped and i alighted.

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No, Singaporeans Are Not Lost Yet

18 December, 2008 · Filed under ME, S'pore

Hopefully today is the last day of the week long Public Transport Commute for this 6.5month pregger me. My parents are coming back tmrw from “Honeymoon” *chuckles* and dad can start sending n picking me up from work pronto. (Ameen!!)

This morning, a miracle happened.

I caught a train at about 7:54am. This came about 4min after the last one (which by standard is long and wld be slightly packed). However, the priority seat just next to the 3rd door where i was standing was vacant. Unfortunately, there was another lady in front of me and she got the seat.

So i resorted to standing in front of 3 able bodied men. 1 sleeping. 1 was listening to iPod with a laptop bag on his lap. the other watching video on his PSP or something with a laptop bag also. I tried to bring on my courage and voice out to please for a seat. At the same time, i was coyly resting my hands just under my bump to make it look MORE obvious that im pregnant cos i was wearing this… wat some pple (read: the FC) call a TENT.

Suddenly, that very lady who got that priority seat rose and called me to sit. WOW. She’s like in her 40s most prolly and would have wanted very much to have the seat for herself. But i imagined she was ever pregnant before and understood the pain of having to stand the whole 45min ride.

I felt very relieved and grateful that there are still some Singaporeans who are not selfish but do have that social graciousness. On the other hand, i felt a bit guilty. I shld have saved her from having to give up that seat by asking THOSE FIT GUYS to let me sit.

Oh well…

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Musical Chair

17 December, 2008 · Filed under ME, S'pore

This is a journal entry about a 6 month pregnant woman’s – my – feat to get a seat in the train during rush hour.

MON, 15/12

I saw the same uncle from last Thurs! I tried to make eye contact while standing in front of him but he was looking the other way and then buried behind the papers. I was hopeful that he would give me a seat again at Yishun like he did last week. But unfortunately, he didnt recognise me and i wasn’t wearing a maternity top or i didnt really show, i suppose.

At the other corner, the priority seat was vacated and then filled by a Fit young man. I almost wanted to go over and claimed it but tot it was too dangerous to squeeze my way there while the training was bumping around.

So i stood. and stood. and stood some more. shaking my feet in between because it was hurting so bad. Nobody cared. Everybody closed their eyes.

30min later at Orchard, suddenly the uncle’s eyes shot open and he jumped and alighted the train. I relinquished his seat most gladly. Almost too greedily. hehe.

However, it’s too late. My Monday was already spoilt. I felt tired thru out the day. Had to resort to taking a nap in the toilet. twice.

TUES, 16/12

It was by some twist of luck that the train i got was fairly empty with lotsa seats. I was seated in no time at all. But i found it very difficult to catch a nap.

WED, 17/12

This morning i reached the platform at 8am. Before that i looked at the board. Train coming in 4min and next one in 6min. Actually im quite late already (by my standard) so i told myself i HAFTA get on the first train that comes.

When it did, other pple behind me overtook me to get to the door even before the train stopped properly! I made a tentative scan of the profile of pple sitting down. Mostly women, dozing men and newspaper reading guys. i cld prolly walk down the carriage till i find a suitable “candidate” to victimize but it wld be troublesome, embarassing and not to mention dangerous.

So i waited for the next one.

From the platform as the train slowed down, i could see there was a vacant seat just next to the door i was waiting. i calmly let passengers alight first and THEN went for the seat. But i saw already another middle aged guy smartly dressed with a laptop case dashed from the other door to the seat i was eyeing. I looked in his general direction with my head held high and absolutely DID NOT hesitate in any body lang TO GET THAT SEAT. He saw me and faltered.

YES! This time i won. Woohooo

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DNH Consultants

16 December, 2008 · Filed under business, money, Passes, research, S'pore

3 weeks ago, i called up this Consultancy company.

At first, i wanted to know if they can help me write up the Business Plan for our partnership. Apparently, they can help with the WHOLE PROCESS of foreigners setting up their businesses in Singapore. Or another way to put it: All or nothing.

Cost:

$1,000 for doing and submitting the paperworks which includes doing up the Plan as well as filling in the form for the EntrePass which will enable the foreigner to work in Singapore.

$2,500 after approval from MOM and ACRA which includes registration of the business in itself. (Cost about $100 for a foreigner to register on his own with another singaporean partner)

The kind man warned me though that if the first application was rejected, chances of appeal and/or subsequent application would be very low. In other words, its CRUCIAL to get it right the first time round.

He was very initiative though. He asked me other questions to understand more about our situation. When he gotta know that Zubair was holding a Work Permit, he said the chance might be low if we go thru the Partnership route and explored other ways to do it.

First, he suggested that we apply for PRship straight away. Traditionally, we would wait about 6 months in the same employment and then had to get the employer to sponsor the application. However, this guy said that he can help us submit a convincing application at a fee of $1,000 (irregardless of outcome) without having to wait 6 months nor getting the employer to sponsor.

Hmmm… sounds interesting to our desperate minds back then.

Then he started to look at yet another angle. He found out that im pregnant due in Mar 09. So he said just wait till the baby’s here then we can submit the PR application. With 2 points of support ie Child and Spouse are Singaporeans, the chance of approval is higher.

Although in the end, the result is still the same (ie we hafta wait till the baby’s born), i feel very highly satisfied having had this 8min teleconversation with a Kadir from DNH Consultants.

1. I finally got Z off my back to do the Business Plan.

Mind you, its not cos i dont care… but i feel that its soooooo difficult for ME to write something convincing about a business i dont have a passion for.

2. I spoke to somebody VERY knowledgeable and got answers ON THE SPOT.

It was a sharp highly intelligent conversation hahaha (not from my part tho). Me asking Qns, he answered promptly. I like it. Makes me feel like i can depend on them… on somebody … anybody… in this screwed up world of complicated visas and such.

He IS right though. After getting the PRship, it would be a BREEZE to open the partnership THEN. No need to apply thru MOM for this entrepass shit, things like tt. We wont even need to hire professionals to do it, we can DIY.

The heartwarming part about this phone call is that, he very early pre-amped (is this the right word?) me that he was going to Haj for a month and will only be back in Jan 09. and also when he asked how i gotta know his company, i said from your prayer time table i pasted on my work desk, he said, “Oh that’s nice.” It made me feel like, “Ok.. I can certainly trust this guy.”

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Its a Bully or Be-Bullied World

12 December, 2008 · Filed under ME, S'pore

My parents are off to M’sia for 5 days or so. That means i hafta go to work by train.

First day was Thurs. I was disappointed that when i got in the train, most of the pple seated were either ladies, or if men they were either reading newspaper or seating w their partner. So i stood in front of a Chinese uncle in his 50s. Beside him was another guy in early30s both buried themselves behind TODAY paper.

15min later, i was at Yishun and my feet started feeling sore. So i adjusted my footing. The Chinese uncle looked at me for quite a few seconds. So i braved myself. This is it. I made eye contact and promptly he asked me, “Do you want to sit?” Hahah i almost ROLLED my eyes but instead, i put on a sweet smile and said, “Yes, please.”

Going back… me and Z were from having dinner and window shopping @ Plaza Singapura, as usual we went to the tail end of the train where its not as crowded. There were two 20s guys hotly concentrating on their PSPs fighting each other probably. One of them glanced at me and nudged his friend to which i think he said, “Just ignore”

My feet were already VERY SORE from walking for the past 2 hours, i didnt give up looking for a potential victim. I looked around some more and showed off my tummy… until an INdian uncle looked at me and i, again, shot the Q, “Can i have a seat, please?” He gave it up and it was heaven.

The sweet part of the journey is that… Zubair got a seat a few stations later… but soon after another pregnant lady came in and Zubair shot up to offer her his seat IMMEDIATELY. Heart warming. =)

Now this morning i was dressed to the nines for the Posh lunch. The only shoe to match is my 1.5″ heeled pump shoes. I know this is gonna be bad news but i had no choice. So the plan is to KILL. Shoot my victim (metaphorically speaking ok) within the first minute of boarding the train.

I wont ever ever ever victimised another woman. Cos i know how much they treasure their seats. Besides, guys are supposed to be the tougher gender, right? So they should “EARN” it by being bullied by poor tired pregnant women like me. HA HA

Conscious consideration (i can’t remember wats the suitable word) needs to be exercised when asking for a seat:

  1. Try not to ask from another woman
  2. nor Elderly
  3. nor couples
  4. Able bodied men are most suitable
  5. Esp smartly dressed ones
  6. and AWAKE
  7. With no extra or bulky baggages
  8. and Seated on the PRIORITY SEAT

So there.

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Protected: Restaurant Ember Xmas Lunch

12 December, 2008 · Filed under celebration, Food, pictures, S'pore, work

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Fish & Co!!!!!

9 December, 2008 · Filed under dates, Food, pictures, S'pore, Ups

Thursday 4th Dec.
I read from a friend’s website about “Muslim-Friendly” restaurants in Singapore that’s not necessarily certified and i was sooooooooo glad that FISH & CO is one of them!!!
There was a time when Zubair was newly here and he asked to eat at Fish & Co. Despite my whole body yearning for some of their food, i fought the urge and told him, “No, we can’t. What if they fry using Pig Oil?” Lol.
My friend was quick to add how she concluded this place as Muslim Friendly:

Just to share, I personally met the founder/owner of Fish and Co at an
entrepreneurship seminar back in Uni, and he assured that strictly follows halal
requirements except for the fact that his outlets sell liquor.

He shared the Muslim market is important to him so his alternative strategy is to employ Muslim employees who can do the word-of-mouth validation for him to customers.

And its true, there’s always more than a handful of them around.
But like I said, info is only to the best of my (limited) knowledge, so you may want to get reassurance from the staff if you do decide to dine at these places. Strictly
seafood outlets like Fish n Co are necessarily foolproof all the time; I remember getting the shock of my life after 2 days of happily eating great fish n chips in San Francisco, turns out most outlets use beer-battered fish!

Ok i risk sounding country bumpkin-ish but the knife’s unique! ahahah

So the very next evening, me and Zubair went to their best outlet at Park Mall, fondly called the Glasshouse. We were there pretty early and the crowd was non existent so we had EXCELLENT service attention. However, the downside was the washroom was under maintenance so i had to go to the main shopping center’s facility and one level up at that. Ergh.

I wondered why they needed to have this special fish-bone placemat
I took so long to go to the loo that my soup got cold when i returned and the very proactive and sensitive waiter offered to reheat the soup. Damn. I forgot to give him a fish bone for his individual service.
We had Fish Chowder for starters. I was a bit apprehensive about having FISH Soup lah so called but to my delight, it didnt taste Fishy AT ALL!! Its just as creamy and as nice as mushroom soup only better!
I tell you i cant take a good photo nowadays with the weight im putting on
Nor can i smile like i used to – with teeth showing – it will make my nose look SO BLOODY ROUND!

Another appetiser – FRIED CALAMARI

I wanted to order the Seafood platter, but was afraid it might be too much so ordered Calamari instead. A few min later, it finally struck me that Zubair doesnt really eat squid. So we had to send them packing. Hmmm well … its nice… but its not really the kind of calamari i like… i love with more batter. The crispier the better. But it did taste nice.


Mine – Danish Fish & Chips

They had a special $10 nett promotion for their 10th anniversary with special Fish & Chips menu. One of them being this Danish Fish & Chips with OOOOOOOOZing Mozarella cheese!!!! Now this is the Fish & Chips with cheese ive been dreaming about!!! I’ve only been taking the one @ Fig & Olive’s with half slice of Cheddar cheese on top, so i can tell you this one is HEAVEN!


Zubair’s Something Ginza Salmon.

Naturally, he’d prefer to eat them with rice and it looks yummy – the rice i mean. But when he fed me some, i felt it was tasteless. Then again i’m not a very fishy person UNLESS its deep fried. Zubair the Salmon lover enjoyed it tremendously.
After finishing the soup and fries, I cldn’t finish the Fish nor the Calamari so we had to pack it. Later that night when we reheated it, it was still as nice as ever, ok!!

The following day, i described my exp to the friend who recommended me this place in the first place. Suddenly she had a craving for it, and the two of us crazy Preggers went for an impromptu lunch @ Suntec City outlet.

I’m a happy girl. … (Or should i start considering myself as a woman?)

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Protected: Would You Go & Get This Free Exp Meal?

28 November, 2008 · Filed under Food, ME, S'pore, work

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