Monday, November 3, 2008

Nonya Achar

The ingredients for the Nonya Achar : Cucumber, Carrot, Cabbage, Salt, Peanut, Sesame, Sugar, Chilli, Vinegar, Fresh Garlic, Fresh Shaliot, Canola Oil

Creative uses : Achar Abalone, Clams, Achar Prawn Roll, Side Dish for rice & porridge

Tomato is the great antioxidant

Tomato is the great antioxidant, this is what I have learned from the midnight programme shown on last Sunday from U Channel. This is the Korean documentry show, titled "Life, Aged, Sick,and Death series" This week they talk about Tomato.

Italian eat a lot of Tomato, inside of almost every meal, like Spaghetti, and Pizza there is tomato. They drink tomato juice, and eat tomato as fruits and tibits. Tomato can retify the damage DNA in our body. Tomato can reduce the grow of cancer cell, specially the smoker, and man who has high risk of postage cancer should consume tomato every day if they can.

Tomato is the great antioxidant. In other words, the more we consume tomato, we can defer the aging process, our skin will remain youngful. Tomato is one of the cheapest vegetable that keep us healthy.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Lucky Plaza toilet entry on Sunday

In Singapore, the foreign workers from different entices group will have their regular meeting place every Sunday. Burmese will meet at Penisular Plaza; Indian will meet at Serangoon Road Little India; Thai national will meet at Golden Mile Tower at Beach Road; while Phillipines will meet at Lucky Plaza.

Lucky Plaza is crowded with Philiphines on every Sunday. Almost all those domestic workers who can rest on Sunday will come to Lucky Plaza to meet friends for lunch, remitten of money, visit the tropical phillipines provision store, cut hair, manicure, padicure, even picnic along Orchard Road.

Every Sunday, the lady toilets have long queue because of the crowd. All shopkeepers have to follow in the long queue , causes the shopkeepers lots of inconvinences. Finally, from last Sunday, the building management specially made the second floor toilet solely for the pass holders only. It is a good change, and it is welcome by all the shopkeepers because the queue is short and the toilet is cleaner.

The management put up a sign shown that strictly for toilet pass holders only. And the security gurard was there to guard the entry too.

Today, after I have finished the padicure, I hold the backet of dirty water headed to toilet without the pass. The lady security gurard whom I never seen before said to me, "Withoug pass? You go back to take your pass!" I told her I won't go to the toilet then, I just want to throw the water into the basin which is outside the toilet. I felt she was unreasonable and unpassionate, doesn't the purpose of the closure to the public is to convinence the shopkeeper? Hence I insisted my way to the basin to clean up the backet.

She followed me and raised her voice, "I don't care, my management told me to see the pass, without the pass you can not enter! What you want? You want me to call my big boss here to talk to you." I felt so agnoring, I said,"Can't you see I am the worker here? If you need the pass to get in the toilet, I can don't go into the toilet now, I just want to clean up my backet!"

After almost 40 minutes later that afternoon, we all heard the big boss which the security guard referring to, shouted loudly across the corridor to another fellow security guard, "I don't want to hear sorry, you just do what I tell you to do!............"

Anyway, I returned to the toilet with the pass later.

I think nowadays everyone is under tremendous pressure in work and in life.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Laughing can save life

In channel U every Sunday 12.45am in the midnight, there is this programme made by Korean, touch on the topic that enhancing the human life.

The week before, the programme talk about power walk. This week it touches on Laughing. The scientic has testified that the power of a few minutes of good laugh is equivalent to 9 mins of vigorous exercise.

In the show, there are one couple, both suffered from terminate illnesses - cancer which according to the doctors, they only have 1% chance of living. But they survived because they laugh and laugh the whole day long.

A lot of people don't know how to laugh! Actually what you need to do is squeeze the end of the mouth up, your facial expression already has a lot of changes. Even you don't laugh, see other people laugh has the same effect also.

You can cry over the sad moment, the tear is actually cleansing your eyes, but remember to laugh even there is nothing to laugh about. In India, there is one group of men and women, every morning they went to the park, their exercise are laughing, yes, laughing, laughing and laughing even there is nothing to laugh about.

Laught will save our days and save our life because the hormone and the immuse system will mobilise the NK cell to attack the bad cell in our body and keep our body healthy and strong.

Ha, ha, ha,ha, ha, we will save a lot of money from the hospitals too, there are a lot of reasons to laugh, ha, ha, ha.......................

Monday, September 29, 2008

Power Walking

What is "Power walk"?
Power walk is the foot contacted the floor fully when walking, with the hands swinging high and spiral core stand straight. For the first 30 minutes of walking, the body will shake away the carborhydrate, it will follow by shaking away the fat. Power walk will help the walkers to inhale more oxygen, enhance the blood flow because the blood pipe is expended due to the pressure from the foot. Keep doing the power walk for 2 to 3 weeks you will see your tummy go down, weight loss, walking lighter and no back pain.

Power walk is a therapy for people with back pain; people who can't stand and walk straight; people who want to loss weight and trim their tummy.

Watch out the shoes you wear! The shoes soles has to be flexible and flat, like you bare foot on the floor. Hard soles is not good for power walk because the whole idea is the pressure inserted on the soles will enhance the blood circulation. The power walk neither will make the soles sore nor make the soles grow think skin. The power walk will spread the presure evenly throughout the whole soles. You will not feel tire for a long distance walking. You can walk for 30,000 Kilo meter still not feel tired.

Power walk is the easy and cheap cost of exercise to help you to gain a healthy body.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Money not enough 2

My daughter after watch the show, asked me to go for it. When I watch the show, ,I have the same reaction as my daughter, I laughed and cried throughout the show because the story is very closed to our heart.

I recommended my friends to watch the show. One of them is a Korean lady. Although she is Korean, but she has moved to Singapore since 19, she married here, have 3 children here, she has business here, she has called Singapore her home, she has no intention to move back to Korea even she is going through the divorce process now.

She told us after seeing the show, she thought about her mother who is now 84 years old. Her mum is not well, and is looked after by her elder brother. So she called her mother to chat. Her brother half way take over the phone, didn't sound very happy even though they have not been in touch for some times. Her brother seems angry that he has to take sole responsibility to look after the sick mother, with so many daughters, none offer to help.

My friend explained why she thinks her brother should look after the mother. When they were young, the family is poor, but the mother make sure that the brother has new make to order uniform to wear to school everry year. He enjoy big pocket money. While my friend never has a single new uniform throughout her school day, every things she has are used items, used dress, used school bag. She decided to leave home since 15. She worked and find the money to study all by herself. She thought all this while, since her brother has everythings best from the mother, and the mother adored him the most, when she was old, he looks after her is natural.

The next day, her sister called her to revive her brother reaction, her brother wants the sister to take over the mother. My friend's 2 sisters all has their own personal problem, so the best person to take over the mother would be my friend because she is the most financially steady among her family. She is the only one with the energy and the mean.

She told her sister to relate to her brother that she can take over the mother and bring her to Singapore to look after her but once she was in Singapore, she will has to die in Singapore because she will not fly her body back to Korea for funeral. You guessed what, the brother agreed, and said he hands off to look after the mother. She can do whatever by all mean. And tells her, whatever documents she needs, they will prepare for her so that she is able to bring her mother to Singapore.

So, my friend decided to bring her mother to Singapore. She said during young day, she did not get much things from her mother, but she thinks look after her until she is capable of looking after herself was good enough. It is her payback time. Furthermore, she is very lonely in Singapore, because her Singaporean husband has gone for other woman.

This is one of the outcome of watching a good movie.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Maid

My friend daughter's maid took her time off to go to the Manpower office to file a complain that she was asked to do head massage for her employer after 10pm.............

My friend is an 74 years old lady with lots of wisdom. She teach her daughter to go for the interview if she was asked by the authority. Her arugment is they didn't operate a spa or massage parlor, the maid was not asked to work either of these place. The employer was so busy whole day outside, when the employer asked the maid to do some massage on her head because she got headache, what is the problem? This art is considered as abuse?

Insurance


Every years we have ford out a couple of hundreds dollars to buy insurance through CPF deduction or cash payment, but do I really know what am I buying? Do I know when can I claim? What can I claim if I was hospitalised? What is the cash portion do I need to responsible? Cover till what age? Is it enough coverage for anythings happened? Frankly, recently I had spoken to an insurance agent, I think I am blind, I don't know much about the insurance, I don't know the details, I am negligence. I don't know it is because I stupid or I pretent everythings is ok as long as I have brought some insurance which the government has recommended.

I have brought Incomeshield (Medishield) and Eldershield for myself, as well as Incomeshield for Dependant for all my three children. I will sort out the matters in a more clearer picture later.
I must not be so negligence.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

South Africa

Today I have a lady customer from South Africa, she was here in Singapore for 3 days and will be going to stay in Australia for 1 months. She is migrating to Australia as soon as she settle her business in South Africa.

She was born in South Africa, she has Guest House business there. Her husband own a Guest House business before their marriage, she has another Guest House called her own eventually. They have built up the business 20 years together. One Guest House has grown from 5 bedroom to 18 bedroom, accomplished with shopping area, restaurant, and swimming pool. She love South Africa, so why they want to sell away their business and migrate to another strange land?

She said, nowaday, the South Africa government ruled that the white people has to give away 3-5% of their company shares to the native black, and let them involved in their business, otherwise, they can't run the business. Because the black think that what belong to the white should belong to the black.

She was very upset about the changes in this ruling. She said this is their own business they have built from scatch. When she was young, her family was very poor. She felt the ruling is not fair and it is the black discriminate the white rather vice versa. She said nowadays, a lot of white are considering moving out of South Africa.

She managed to sell away her business for 3.5 millions. She said they took almost 1 years to get the approval from the Australian government.
The Australian government welcome either talented people or wealthy people to settle in Australia. They don't have talent, but they have 1.3 millions Australian dollars for investment, they are qualified. They applied and waited for the approval for almost 1 year. She estimated from application, selling their business in South Africa, and finally settle in Australia, will take about 2 years. They intend to travel around Australia for at least 6 months before they will decide what business to take.

She wanted to buy an apartment for her daughter, and then, they will buy an apartment for themself.

Although her future still very bright, but what I see in her now : she is angry and sad. But live still has to move on............................

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The myth of vinegar


Two days ago, I have dinner with a friend in a vegetalian restaurant at Smith Street in China Town. After dinner, we chat for a while with the lady boss of the restaurant. I forgot what we chat, eventually she mentioned that she had visited a friend in the India hospital. In the hospital, she saw 2 girls have the big tummy. These 2 girls don't know how but got the leech staying in thier tummy. The leech has been growing eggs and baby in the tummy. The doctor did not dare to do the operation on the girl. They are left in the hospital until their time to die. One girl has died. Another girl was lucky because a Malaysian asked permission from her parents and brought her back to Malaysia and used the Chinese Traditional method to treat her since death is the only option in her local hospital.

She and her family members arrived in Malaysia. This man used the chinese herb and vinegar to burn and let the smoke passed through her anus, and she was asked to drink the vinegar as well. She eventually past out all the leech from her stomach.

The lady boss told us, whenever she went to India, she will go to doctor to get a preventive injection. During and after the trip, we will drink a lot of vinegar to clean and clear the possible virus and worm which she might have infected or caught.

I want to write this story down, so that whenever, we caught any virus which can't even cured by the doctor, we will at least try out vinegar, it might works, who's know!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Durian Tour to JB

On 12 August 08 Straits Times has introduced the Durian Tour to JB from June to August. I have to take this down so that next time if I want, I will know where to go.

Tour Agency : Chan Brothers Travel (Tel: 65336119)
Luxury Tours ( 67332808)
Maxpac Travel (67848568)

Itinary :

  • Visit to a durian plantation which near the town of Tangkak in Ledang district, to sample unlimited portions of durians and other seasonal fruits
  • Shopping at Aeon Tebrau City mall in JB
  • Seafood dinner

Fees: $53 for an adult, $47 for a child

By air-conditioned coach

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Garden Festival in Singapore

I have visited the Garden exhibition in Suntec City on 25 July 08. The admission fee during weekend is S$12/- instead of S$6/- during the week day. Although all the master piece are nice, I don't understand why I feel bored when I browsing the 2 halls. I only took a few pictures for memories of the trip.

This is the wall decor from one of the great design of Garden.

This is the stand for Green Culture Singapore - Singapore's No 1 Gardening Website & Discussion Forum. I have taken notes of how they use the natural or cut paper leave to decor the boring wall.

Their web is http://www.greenculturesg.com/ GCS is more of an interest group of hobbyists with a cyberspace presence and they ranked the #1 website in the Lifestyle - House and Garden category for 2007 by Hitwise. People with great interest in gardening or plant, this site should be able offer a lot of very practical advice and knownledge. You must visit this site if you love to grow somethings.

Hanging the big leaves on the wooden fan with some garden light is very nice too.

Special floral design on the wall with some crystal hanging with the ribbon.

This design use the difference glass colour shade to create the very attractive and special effect regarless of days or night.

Do you know where to take a romantic Dinner Cuisine in the Garden set up in Singapore? One of the place to go is Halia, their address is 1 Cluny Road, Ginger Garden, (enter via Tyersall Avenue) Singapore Botanic Gardens, Phone : 65-64766711

The Floriculture Association (Singapore) at 3 Coleman St, #03-16 Peninsula Hotel Shopping Centre Tel: 63386194 offer Certificate WSQ Courses for Gift, Corsage, Hamper, Bouquet, Arrangement, Wedding, Venue, Funeral, Celebration, Display, Image etc.

The official launch of the WSQ Floristry will be on 13 Sept 08 at Toa Payoh Town Park.

Their web site is http://http://www.tropifame.net/ This website seems to be stilll under construction till date. You can check again later.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Forever Living

On 1st week of July, I saw an advertisement to enage part time beautician, and it stated that they will allow the sucessful candidate to enjoy subsidies for the facial training course.

I called and they tried to fix an appointment with me. I stopped at Clarke Quay MRT station, and exit by B exit, cross the road, then I saw the Forever Living Building right in front. The young man waited for me at the traffic light in front of their building. In my heart I think, another MLM!



Forever Living has bought this historical building for 1 billion dollars four years ago. I remembered I ever came to this building one evening, it was convented from hospital to a disco place then.



Frankly, I think this historical building is under a good hand of Forever Living.

They offer me a 25 hours beauty couse for S$599/- and I can buy 13 items of the skin care products at the cost of S$99/-. The actual value of the 13 items is about S$400++ if buying at retail price. Because I wanted to learn facial for a long time, so I decised to sign up for it. The other considerations included

  • I wanted to tape on their marketing skill and support.
  • The company has been around for 30 years, that's means their products has been proven for 30 years. From my own experience, I might not like MLM, but I can not denise that MLM products are usually good, special and exclusive.
  • I might able to have a salon set up in my house.
  • Their products costs are very attractive and reasonable.
  • This is a rich company. The company has brought the heritage 100 years old building for 1 billion dollars. It is always good, able to stick to someone rich and wealthy.
  • Since their brand has been established worldwide 78 countries, I think it will be easy to do sales just mention their brand. The customers will not question me on the quality and branding problems.

I never thought I will have any success in MLM, but I don't mind keep on learning somethings new from others.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Crab

That day, I was doing the foot reflexology for a European couples. They have just finished their three and a half hours buffet lunch in Raffles City Hotel. They said the foods were so nice that they could not resist but just eat and eat. When they talk about our Chilli crab from Sri Lanka, they mentioned they have eaten the gaint Japanese crab, and the long claw Alaska crab. Frankly, I did not know all these, this is the first time I heard about Alaska and the Japanese crab. So, I check the google, these are what I found.

Canadian King's crab

Alaska King's Crab

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Learning to do Home Cook Pizza









On 11 July (Fri) I attended a 1day Italian CuisineWorkshop Recipe by Mrs Jambu at Kampong Kembangan Community Club. She is a good cook, after the lesson, I think I can make Pizza by myself. The following is the recipe.

Italian Pizza
Ingredients :
300 grams Bread Flour
8 grams sugar
24 grams shortening
1 tsp Yeast (dry yeast)
240ml water

Topping - Ingredients :
250 grams Grated Mozzarella cheese
1 tomato sliced thick
1 big Onion -ring
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 small can pineapple
1 small can small can mushroom sliced
1 can Tuna fish

Method :
  • Place flour on a clean table and make a well

  • In the well mix salt, sugar, shortening and yeast

  • Add water slowly and mix to form dough

  • Knead well until smooth and elastic

  • Divide dough into two

  • Coated with shortening then cover and rest for 10 mins

  • Re-knead and place the rolled dough into the baking tray

  • Before resting for 10 mins, using a fork to prick holes before baking

  • Pre-bake in the oven at temperature 180 degree C for 10 to 15 mins

  • Spread sauce and gamish with topping

  • Grill until golden brown using top grill

For Sauce - Ingredients:



  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil

  • 1 can tomato paste + 1 tbsp of water

  • 200 grams Tomato (Chopped)

  • 50-100 grams sun dried tomatoes

  • 2 tbsp chili sauce or 1 tsp chili powder

  • 3 cloves Chopped garlic

  • 50 grams chopped Onion

  • 1 tsp Vinegar

  • 1 tsp Sugar

  • 1/2 tbsp Oregano

  • 1/2 tsp Salt

Method :

  1. Saute onion and tomato paste, add in all the sauce and spices

  2. Cook for 1-2 mins, add chopped Tomato (add a little water if required) Cook until thicken.

  3. Cool 0 then spread on the cooked dough

  4. Place topping and grill until golden brown









Monday, June 30, 2008

Plastic surgery

My friends have sent their twin for plastic surgery for their jaw before they serve their National Service. The operation was done in Mount Elizebeth Hospital. Each operation cost more than 20K. After the operation, the boys can chew their food better than before. Their look have become more attractive. The result of the operations are very positive except the money has spent. These lucky boys must thankful to their parents for their sacrify and willingness to part this sum of money for the better of their future.

Boy No 1 , before the operation.

Boy No 1, after the operation. The boy immediate transformed to a handsome and smart looking boy.

Boy No 2, before the operation.

Boy No 2, after the operation. Once again, the maggic of the plastic surgery. No pain no gain.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Tibet



I have picked up this leaflet from a vegetablian food store. Its content said like these.
"the goal is autonomy not independence www.dalailama.com be anti-violence not anti-China :Respond to anger with patience and compassion inspire yourself: Read up on Gandhi and Martin Luther King from ordinary to extraordinary : Write to your President, United Nations Commission for Human Rights and your local embassies to press for dialogue, genuine autonomy & transparency compassion in action: Dialogue with any company that trades with China to insist on human rights small action big result : Support email campaigns and petitions. www.avaaz.com be the change you wish to see in the world : Peace starts with just one person. Dedicate one hour a month to stand up for Tibet until Tibet is autonomous keys to happiness : Practice the 16 Guidelines for a Happy and Meaningful life. www.16guidelines.com do something positive : Dedicate 10 minutes daily to world peace remember you vitamins : Recite the Sutra of Golden Light for world peace www.sutraofgoldenlight.org accountability plan : 'Every individual has a responsibility to help guide our global family in the right direction : - H.H. The Dalai Lama take action now : Start your own non-violent "Stand up for Tibet" campaign. Tell us about it at info@standupfortibet.org"
Frankly, the moment we pick up the paper, my friend and I are wondering, what is the difference between autonomy and independence. We guess independence means "no government", autonomy means still has "government". Any way, we are very poor in the history, we don't know what is the history between the Tibet and the China, just like we still don't quite know what is the story about the World War I and World War II.
We are more concern about the cyclone victims in Burma. No matter what we still think that Olympic Game should not be disturbed. It is Sport after all.

Reading Habit

Look at this family! The moment this family on board this MRT, after setting down on the seat, without second thought every one of them took out their book and read in the MRT. You see them so engross in their reading. Their big sister even standing without the seat also read.





I was seating just next to their parents. I heard the father discuss or highlighted some points from the bible enrichment book with the mother. They didn't waste any time in the MRT. Reading is so natural to them.

Nail Studio

Last Saturday, my friend has an grand opening of her Nail Studio at People's Park Complex, on 3rd Floor above the hawker centre. I think this hawker center has just gone through the renovation work. This place used to be the shopping center of the older generation. After the renovation, this place looks very promising to be the next shopping location for the younster like Far East Plaza, and the Bugis Village. The addition of the escalator and the location is above the MRT station, made this place seems has very bright future though not many people has known about this "new" place yet partly also because the exterior wall has not changed.





There is lion dance and buffet lunch for more than 30 relatives and friends. My friend took over this place from a lady who successfully tender the 2 units, got the place and after the renovation, then got pregnant and then realised that she was not capable to run the studio because she could not stand the smell of the Acrylic nail.

Their friends not only sent them flowers, they came for the service and at the same time buy the package from them, very supportive. Their social network is very good.

This place got very high ceiling. My friend install a beautiful crystalised lighting. They also installed 2 aircon, I think the monthly electricity will be very high. The nail dryer is about 300W, it is not 50W like fan! The total area of this place is about 400 sq ft. This shop renting from HDB direct does not mean cheap rent. It is about the same price as you rent a shop at Lucky Plaze in Orchard Road. I believed my entrepreuner friend are able to do a prosperous business here.

I like this picture that adhered to the front door. The tip of the nail is the design of the US dollars, very creative.

Very simple painting and lighting, without any blockage and the black and white setting made this place very cosy.

The 2 tables for the nail station. They install an computer there so that they can serving the net while in the shop. This computer keep the children present there from their bordom. The pictures at the wall were specially ordered from OPI from the States, cost S$28/each.
The entrance and the cashier counter. Behind the counter are four seats for the Padicure and Manicure. This place has no water output in the unit. They overcome the problem by getting a mobile barrel like the picture below and a big container that contain all the waste water, very brilliant.

Behind this wall is the small storage place to put the staff handbags, water supplies, tea preparation area. The colour scheme and the 风水 (the feng shui) was follow the advice of their paster from the Thai temple. Their paster came to pray for them that evening.






How to install and type Chinese characters (Window XP)

我总于可以电 脑打字了。

Thanks to the Geylang Methodist Primary School. The school just started using computer learning at home scheme, so they give their student a step by step installation guide so that the students able to key in the Chinese character for the chinese assisgnment. I have been trying to type Chinese character using computer but don't know how to fix it for many many years. Now then I see how (Really never take things for granted). I really appreciate the effort of the teacher. The setting is as follow.

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Regional and Language Options
3. Click : Language
4. Tick : Install Files for East Asian Languages to install the Chinese files.
5. After step 4, click Details
6. Go to setting, then click Add
7. Input Language : Chinese PRC
8. Keyboard Layout/IME: Microsoft Pinyin IME 2003/Microsoft Pinyin IME 3.0
9. Now you can type Chinese in any software. When you are typing, you can press shift+Alt to switch between English and Chinese. You can also click Language icon below your windows to switch.

How to type faster? (For Microsoft Pinyin IME 3.0 only)
1. Open Microsoft Word
2. Use your mouse points to the Language icon
3. Right click open the menu and choose Restore the language bar
4. Switch to Chinese PRC
5. Go to Context menu, then Properties
6. Tick Prompt Step by Step, incomplete input, Fussy input. Then click OK.