11-11-11

Singapore - Today is a special day and it's once in a lifetime.    The last time this event happened was 100 years ago.    But millions will not bat an eye or flinch with this day passing...to me it will be just another day in my life.

7 Billion

Singapore - Today, the world population hit 7 billion people.  Wow! that is a lot of people living on this Earth and it took us only 12 years to add 1 billion people to his population.   The last 1 billion addition happened 12 years ago on 1987.

End of Mid Autumn Festival

Singapore - Today is the end of the Mid Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival.   I brought my children downstairs to play with sparklers and laterns.  We had a great time...

Enjoying ourselves

Laterns around the bench

Sparklers show

Go Karting in Singapore

Singapore - I took my channel partners to Go Kart around West Coast area @ Kart Right track.
http://www.kartright.com/

Yukiko and Lesley - Go Cart racers

Racers...

English Breakfast tea

Singapore - After reading about tea, I wondered what is English breakfast tea.  Doing some research, English Breakfast tea is actually black tea but the English likes to drink their tea with milk and sugar.   I love to drink without either - that is the way tea is to be drunk.

There is the Earl Grey Tea - is a tea blend with a distinctive flavour and aroma derived from the addition of oil extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, a fragrant citrus fruit.

My favourite drink - Tea

Singapore - Tea is recognized as the 2nd most consumed beverage behind water.  Tea was first discovered by the Chinese in 2737 BC and has always been recognised for its purifying and fortifying qualities.  It also clears the mind.   I try to drink this everyday and everytime a request is made 'what would you like to drink?' - it will always be tea. 

Strangely though there are many types of tea, it is basically the drying and processing of only ONE species of plant called camellia sinensis.  Herbal teas or herbal infusions are not really tea, but simply dried leaves and flowers of various other plants and herbs.

Even though all teas come from only one species, there are 3 major variety: 
The China (small leaves and generally thrives at higher altitudes);
the India or Assam (small leaves and generally thrives at lower altitudes) and
the Hybrid (in-between the Chinese and Indian).

Tea making is an art - the processing of camellia's leaves into tea.  It is where many of the subtleties in taste, body, and overall character are created.  In its most basic form, it is taking the raw green leaves and deciding whether or not, and how much oxidation (or fermentation) should take place before drying them out.  Tea leaves have enzymes in their veins.  When the leaf is broken, bruised or crushed, the enzymes are exposed to the air resulting in oxidation.  The amount of oxidation depends upon how much of the enzymes are exposed and for how long.

There are four methods of processing and each produces a different type of tea.  These are White tea, Green Tea, Black Tea and Oolong Tea.

White Tea is nothing more than the leaves of the camellia sinensis that have been processed a certain way.  It is the least common of the four types of teas.  White teas are the least processed of any tea and therefore taste the most like fresh leaves or grass.  They also have the lowest amount of caffeine and most likely the highest antioxidant properties.

Green Tea, like white tea is closer to tasting like fresh leaves or grass hand the black or oolong.  They are also lower in caffeine and have higher antioxidant properties.  The processing of green tea is similiar to white tea in that it does not oxidize.  After the leaves are plucked, they are laid out to wither for about 8-24 hrs.  This lets most of the water evaporates.  Then to neutralize the enxymes thus preventing oxidation, the leaves are steamed or pan fried.  Next, the leaves are rolled up in various ways and a final drying takes place.  Since no oxidation took place, the tea has more of a green appearance.

Black Tea, are the most consumed of the  4 types of teas.  They are the highest in caffeine but still have antioxidant properties, the lowest of the four.  After the tea leaves are laid out to wither for about 8-24 hrs,  this lets most of the water evaporate.  Then, the difference is that the leaves are rolled in order to cracked up the surface so that oxygen will react with the enzymes and begin the oxidation process.  The leaves are left to completely oxidize, thus turning the leaves to a deep black colour.  After that, a final drying takes place.

Oolong Teas are the most difficult of the 4 types to process.  The best way to describe oolong tea is that they are somewhere in between green and black tea.  This is because they are only partially oxidized during the processing.  The processing of oolong tea requires only a partial oxidation of the leaves.  After the leaves are plucked, they are laid out to wither for about 8 to 24 hrs.  This lets most of the water evaporate.  Then the leaves are tossed in baskets in order to bruise the edges of the leaves.  This bruising only cause the leaves to partially oxidize because only a portion of the enzymes are exposed to air.  Next, the leaves are steamed in order to neutralize the enzymes and stop any oxidization.   After that, a final drying takes place and then to to be sorted, graded and packaged.

Beware of your location...

Singapore - Whenever I travel, my iphone has been a blessing - snaping photos of places unique and interesting.   This is until I read an article that taking photos on iPhone can divulge more information that I really want to.

According to CNet, pictures taken with the newer generation of cell phones can reveal your exact location through a technology known as geotagging.  The geographical location of where photos were taken - in the form of latitutude and longitude coordinates - is encoded, and anyone who has a copy of the photos can access this information.

When posted on the social networking website or blogs, the photos - with the geographical coordinates analysed - can reveal such information as where you live, who you live with, who you go out with and your commuting patterns.

The location information is encoded in the Exif metadata of photos.  Metadata is a term for the description information embedded inside an image or another type of file.  The metadata capture by your camera is call Exif data, which stands for Exchangeable Image File Format.  Most digital photo software can display Exif information to users, but it is usually not editable.

iPhone offer the option to disable geotagging of photos.   Check this website for more information on geotagging - http://www.icanstalku.com/

Lo Hei - 12 Steps to enjoy Yu Sheng

Kuala Lumpur - It is this time of the year, where shouts of congratulations, success are mentioned to one another...as we dug into our delicious Yu Sheng.  This is a dish invented in Singapore and Malaysia and enjoyed but many chinese families around the world.

The rituals
Yusheng in chinese with yu means "fish" but sounds to another chinese word that means "abundance", while sheng literally means "raw" but sounds appropriately, it means "life". Thus Yusheng implies "abundance of wealth and long life". In Cantonese, it is known as lo sheng with lo also meaning "tossing up good fortune". The tossing action is called lo hei, which means to "rise" (hei), again a reference to a thriving business and thus its popularity with businessmen during the New Year.


Step 1: All at the table offer New Year greetings.
Words mentioned: Gong xi fa cai meaning "congratulations for your wealth" or wan shi ru yi meaning "may all your wishes be fulfilled".


Step 2: Fish, symbolising abundance or excess through the year, is added.
Words mentioned: Nian nian you yu and you yu you sheng.


Step 3: The pomelo is added over the fish, adding both luck and auspicious value.
Words mentioned: Da ji da li.


Step 4: Pepper is then dashed over the ingredients in the hope of attracting more money and valuables.
Words mentioned: Zhao cai jin bao.


Step 5: Then oil is poured, circling the ingredients to increase all profits 10,000 times and to encourage money to flow in from all directions.
Words mentioned: Yi ben wan li and cai yuan guang jin.


Step 6: Carrots are added to the fish, indicating blessings of good luck.
Words mentioned: Hong yun dang tou.


Step 7: Shredded green radish is placed on the fish, symbolising eternal youth.
Words mentioned: Qing chun chang zhu.


Step 8: Shredded white radish is added for prosperity in business and promotion at work.
Words mentioned: Feng sheng shui qi and bu bu gao sheng.


Step 9: The condiments are finally added. First, peanut crumbs are dusted on the dish, symbolising a household filled with gold and silver. As an icon of longevity, peanuts also symbolise eternal youth.
Words mentioned: Jin yin man wu.


Step 10: Sesame seeds quickly follow symbolising a flourishing business.
Words mentioned: Sheng yi xing long.


Step 11: Deep-fried flour crisps in the shape of golden pillows are then added with wishes that literally translate to mean the whole floor would be filled with gold.
Words: Pian di huang jin.


Step 12: All toss the salad an auspicious seven times with loud shouts of lo hei and other auspicious New Year wishes.
Words: Lo hei which is Cantonese for "tossing luck".


The ingredients are mixed by pushing them toward the centre, an encouragement to push on the good luck of all at the table.

Changi Point Park connector

Singapore - Brought my family to Changi Point Park which is located way past Changi Airport.    My kids played roller blading, skate boarding and wave boarding...

this is wave boarding....

Airport Emergency Hovercraft

Resting at the end of the Changi Broadwalk

Numerous sailing boats...look at the storm clouds on the horizon

We had a great time but it started to rain...

Budget Airlines - Bane

Singapore - I read a good article in today Sunday Times on the hidden cost of flying on the cheap.

1. Once a booking is confirmed, it will cost anything from $70 to $100, depending on the airline, to change flight or passenger details for a round trip. Fare top-ups will apply if you were originally scheduled to leave on a slow day such as Tuesday or Wednesday, and now want to fly over the weekend or during the school holidays, when the airlines charge more.
2. Change fees - these are subject to fare top-ups. Airlines allow customers to book new flights provided they did so within a stipulated number of days of the originally scheduled departure date. Typically, such waiver period last a week or two.
3. Low-cost carriers do not give refunds. And if they do, the refund process can be tedious and can wait for months for the refunds to be paid.
4. Flight is cancelled or delayed for whatever reason, you will not get a drink or a bite out of the airline while you wait at the airport, and it will not put you up at a hotel either.
5. If bags are lost or damaged en route, do not expect a hardship allowance or quick compensation. Read the fine print on the when claims must be made upon returned.
6. Getting in touch with budget carriers can be tough especially in a crisis. Nobody picks up the phone and there is no email contact for customer service either.

Fly low-cost by all means. There are many good deals out there and, most times, nothing will go wrong. But if something does - a coup here or an earthquake there - it is always good to know where your airline stands on matters such as flight cancellation and refunds.

Mercury poisoning in Food??

Singapore - Toxic effects from ingesting fish containing mercury, a liquid metal harmful to humans. Sea creatures absorb mercury deposited in oceans due to natural occurences such as underwater volcanoes or man-made causes like industrial pollution. Fishes higher up in the food chain (like tuna, swordfish, salmon, etc) accumulate higher level of mercury compared to smaller fishes.

The symptoms of mercury poisoning are fatigue, muscle weakness, impairment of speech, vision, hearing and memory loss. In severe cases, it may lead to brain disorders or even death.
Cooking doesn't remove mercury from fish because the metal is bound to the meat. The fish will contain the same amount of mercury whether it's eaten raw or cooked. So it's all the same whether it's sushi or barbecued sambal fish.

Be careful where you next eat your sushi !!

Lighting hit Singapore Merlion

Singapore - The Merlion Statue, which was slightly damaged in a lighting strike yesterday, is only one of many structures hit by the frequent lightnigh storms that zap across Singapore each year.

Singapore has the dubious honours of being one fo the highest rates of lightning activity in the world as its hot tropical weather is ideal for the formation of storm clouds. An average lightning strike carries a current of up to 200,000 amps. In comparison, a 100-watt bulb carries a current of about 0.4 amp.

Between 1982 and last year, the NEA Meteorological Department detected lightnihg on an average of 186 days per year. And lightning hits each sq km of land 12 to 20 times each year. Because of this, lightning rods on buildings have been mandatory since 1979, as they help intercept lightning bolts.

Chinese New Year customs

Singapore - There are many many traditions and customs during Chinese New Year to greatly appreciate the deep Chinese Culture. The following are just the basics:

1. Days before Chinese New Year it is customary to clean your house and keep it spic and span as relatives and guests whom you invited are coming to your house. To many Chinese, it is bad luck to sweep your house during the 2 days of Chinese New Year.

2. Bring along 2 oranges which symbolize 'Gold' - this will be exchange with the host with 2 hands, and greetings of 'Happy New Year' and all the niceties of the seasons...

3. Married couples will give red packets (Hong Pao) to children. Working and married children will give Hong Pao to their parents and to their Grandparents. Children will receive the red packets with 2 hands.

But over the years, I have seen a deteriorating of customs which trivals being Chinese in modern Singapore. You will find married couples without children taking advantage of the long holidays to book holidays out of Singapore to avoid giving money and seeing relatives. You will find reunion dinner turning into obligation of whose turn is it now, some skipping it altogether. Some younger generations wearing all black or all white - like death or ghost (said by many old folks) in such a happy festivities....

Eve of Chinese New Year - Reunion Dinner

Singapore - After 'spring cleaning' my home - we hurried over to my parents place for the Reunion Dinner. This is a yearly event held by every ethnic Chinese around the planet on the Eve of Chinese New Year where members of the family will return to their parents house for dinner.

To the Chinese this is the most important event in the Chinese New Year calendar to start the year in the right footing. The children and married sons will return to their parents house to enjoy the Reunion festivies. It is common to have 'Steam Boat' - ingredients are cooked in a simmering pot of broth (my mum had a mixture of pork, chicken and prawns - yummy). We had slices of pork, beef, chicken, pork liver, fish, prawns, tofu, vegetables, etoki mushrooms and rice.

My parents took the time to prepare this delicious reunion dinner....

Celebrating Lunar New Year

Singapore - Exactly next week, Singapore and many countries will celebrate Lunar or Chinese New Year (CNY), as it is commonly known - it is in fact celebrated on a grander scale than the Gregorian New Year. We usher in the Year of the Ox.

Chinese New Year Trivia
Why do Chinese exchange a pair of Mandarin Oranges when we meet during Chinese New Year.
A: The Cantonese pronunication of Mandarin Oranges is 'gam' which sounds like the pronunciation of gold in Cantonese as well. Also we exchange oranges in pairs as even numbers are auspicious.

Rice eaten by half the world!

Singapore - Recently came across an article about rice and it was so fascinating to find so many varieties of it.
1. Jasmine Rice - Singapore's favourite rice, also know as 'Thai fragrance rice or Thai Basmati rice', this long grain white rice has a subtle floral fragrance. There is also a brown variety. Jasmine rice is originally from Thailand. This is used in our all-time favourite Singapore Hainanese Chicken rice.

2. Basmati Rice - A long-grain with a distinct fragrance that goes well with Indian food. Basmati means 'The fragrance one' in Sanskrit. Also 2 varities - white and brown Basmati rice. This is used in our all-time favourite too 'Brani chicken/mutton rice'.

3. Black Glutinous Rice - Also known as 'Pulut Hitam'. It's steamed and pressed into sweet cakes, or cooked like a porridge and sweeted with palm sugar. Served with coconut milk drizzled over it.

4. Long Glutinous Rice - Thinner and more opaque than short glutinous rice, it's used to make Chinese rice dumplings 'bak chang'. It's also used to make sweet kuih.

5. Risotto Rice - This absorbs plenty of water without getting mushy. Varieties include arborio (the best), carnaroli and vialone nano.

6. Parboiled Rice - Also known as 'converted rice', it combines the nutrients of brown rice and soft, fast-cooking white rice. Rice is steamed before husking, so grains absorb nutrients from the husk.

7. Wild Rice - This is actually grass seed, not rice. But it's more nutritious, with a higher protein content and a pronounced nutty flavour. This expensive grain goes well with poultry but takes longer to cook.

F1 1st night race FINAL today!

Singapore - Finally, our very own F1 race and it will be the 1st night race in the world! I watch the qualifying race yesterday and the cars were zipping past even from my tele.

Check the fuel surcharge

Singapore - When making travel plans these days, it woul dbe prudent to check the fuel surcharges and taxes that accompany the ticket price. High oil prices have inflated fuel surcharges to the point where the add-ons for flights to cities such as Bangkok and Tokyo often exceed the actual economy airfare itself. Skyrocketing oil prices this year have been putting the squeeze on airlines, hitting the bottom line hard.

Happy 43 Birthday Singapore...

Singapore - Today, Singapore celebrates 43 years of Independence. Every year, the hightlights were being glued to the television watching the National Day parade, the march past of the the Guards of Honour, the super sonic fly pass of the F16, and much more...there is much to be thank you for living in Singapore!

I had a great time...

Medicines for a Happy Trip...

Singapore - Travel light but don't leave home without packing essential medical supplies. Always take note of problems that you might encounter from the climate, the altitude, the disease status that requires vaccination. Always plan for every trip.

I always packed medication and it is always in my luggage never need to take it out. Only changed when it is nearing expiration date. When you are a frequent traveller it is always important to check your destination climate and disease status. For vaccinations requirement, you can check my other link.

Mosquitos is a menance even in Singapore too. Traveling within South East Asia, I always need to be aware of malaria, dengue and other mosquitos disease outbreaks.

My medical kit:
Paracetamol (headaches and pain)
Antihistimines (for allergy reactions or colds)
Hydrocortisone cream (insect bites)
Acidophilus (Pro-Biotic)
Mask and thermometer.