Kindly Yours

Singapore was an idea, but now a reality based on conservative caution and over whelming preparedness for its continuing future. Singapore is a country very conscious of the fates of nations in the past, calculates its risks at all levels, harnesses the power of the human potential and fully acknowledges the vagaries and timing of opportunities arising and lost.  The government and economy has delivered but they both take no rest in taking things for granted.  Singapore's intelligentsia is passionate about the interplay of forces, changing politics, alignment of key factors and the means to survive and prosper.  It is a nation that has worked with very limited physical resources and utilises disadvantages to empower and lead. Singapore's history has been powerfully influenced by both the positive and negative interactions of various cultures, religions and races.  It strongly monitors the continuing outcomes of such key factors around the world, seriously learn...

Prawn based curry - rich, gratifying and full bodied, goes well with the traditional south Indian banana leaf rice or with Penang's unique Nasi Kandar. PUTU MAYAM - STRING HOPPERS The tongue has to twirl itself a bit in naming this snack, but it is a truly simple rice flour breakfast creation from Tamil Nadu in southern India and also popular in Sri Lanka and south-east Asia.   Idiyappam flour is mixed with coconut milk to form a mixture which is then pressed against a holed ladle to create the vermicelli-like noodles.  Such noodles are steamed for eating and often flavoured with the Pandanus leaves favoured in tropical climes.  As the Putu itself is often plain, they are served often with palm sugar, grated coconut or jaggery (which is Hindi or Urdu for a composite made from sugar cane and palm sugar, which can be mixed with peanuts and coconut).  A total vegetarian diet choice! Suggested Sources of Putu Mayam : 1.   Stall at the Sin Hup Au...

The art of personalised care as echoed in Toorak/South Yarra. Adjoining Toorak is the hip Chapel Street, running seemingly for miles across different suburbs, with an eclectic choice of books, craft, clothes, accommodation, art and alternative lifestyle options.  The old Jam Factory now houses a cinema complex and shops, but the charm and thrill is literally the streets into the sun set.  It is not just the Chapel Street precinct, for nearby Prahran, Greville Village and the Windsor Quarter makes this area one of the most exciting that defines Melbourne itself.  A great place to ride your bike, but if you have to catch public transport, there are easy buses and train stations on the Sandringham Line (stations at South Yarra, Windsor and Prahran).  The Exchange, Commercial Road cruise clubs and Burlesque 54 offer the LBGT community a party focus.  Foodies naturally are attracted to the events organised here for the annual Melbourne Food & Wine Festival....

OYSTER OMELETTE ( OH CHNIEH) When made well, oyster omelette is all at once crispy outside and gooey delicious inside. My rating of 8 is given to this version photographed at the Lam Ah Cafe, opposite the fire station at the corner of Beach and Chulia Streets, within the UNESCO designated heritage area near Penang Harbour.  Lam Ah Cafe is open only from 1030am to 430pm, closed on Sundays. Suggested Other Sources of Oyster Omelette : 1. Yi Garden Coffee shop , 150-152 Macalister Road near corner with Lorong Selamat - open from noon to midnight, except Sundays. 2. Song River Cafe, 65 Gurney Drive - evenings, a tourist hub. This is within walking distance from the Gurney Plaza and Paragon shopping centres towards the middle of Gurney Drive. 3. Stall at the Pulau Tikus Markets - from 630am to noon every day. 4. Bee Hooi coffee shop , at the corner of Pulau Tikus Lane and Burma Road, with the stall for the oyster omelette open...

POH PNIAH  The Poh Pniah or "thin biscuit' in Fujian dialect - delectable, delicious and divine as made by the Padang Brown stall, only available from 12 noon onwards until sold out.  My rating for this particular dish is a 8.5 out of ten.  Freshly made poh pniah skin is a good start - followed by filling in fresh and adequately textured ingredients like crabmeat, dried shrimp, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, cooked pork bits, grated Chinese turnip (or jicama ), cut lettuce and grated carrots. The sauce is made with blending soy, rice wine, Hoisin sauce and oyster sauce. Suggested Other Sources of Poh Pniah : 1. Sin Yin Nam Cafe at New Lane junction near Macalister Road.  New Lane has been localised in name to 'Lorong Baru". 2.   Kek Seng  coffee shop , 382-384 Penang Road, open daily from 8am to 5pm. 3.   Stall at New World Park food court, Swatow Lane (from 11am to 4pm each day). 4.   Wah Leong Coffee Shop , along Burm...

NUTMEGS Nutmeg seeds drying in the sun, off Chulia Street in the UNESCO heritage designated area of George Town - the outer covering of such seeds, the mace, has been removed here.  Nutmegs were first planted by the British East India Company on Penang Island after seeds were transplanted form their native home in the Banda Islands. The British colonials also successfully grew nutmeg trees on what is now the island nation of Grenada in the Caribbean. My quickly depleting nutmeg drink, stirred with sour plum to create a cooling tasty effect. SWEET STEAMED SNACKS Sweet sticky cakes in miniature baskets freshly steamed - a significant cultural concoction for the southern Chinese, especially for the Lunar New Year.  You an also taste such snacks in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and in the Asian suburbs of Western cities.  Preparation and photo credit - Ms S.K Teoh. WESTERN STYLED TEA BREWS Teatime relaxation, with ginger lemon ...

So the cabin crew lady forgets, or omits, to bring you the juice you have asked for two times, even with your fellow passengers being aware of this.  This is on Silk Air between Penang and Singapore on the scheduled 1215pm flight on 28 February 2015.  Aw, is this only a minor thing? However, on a later connecting flight, its parent airline, Singapore, consistently provides quality customer engagement, whether for business class or economy class passengers, on the flight sector between Singapore and Sydney.  The cabin crew members on the upper deck of the Airbus 380 exude greater training, better personality, show initiative and reach out beyond their mere job role on this overnight flight of SQ221, arriving at Sydney Airport around 735am on Sunday 1 March 2015.  The on-board in-flight entertainment facility was out of action for a while mid-flight, but I reckon no one passenger was bothered much.  This is because the overall flying experience with SQ on this...

Abalone, sea cucumber and all that to restore the body's inner health. Penang's Chinese demographic  cannot shake off its penchant for the three treasures at each restaurant dinner - the marinated cut chilis, the garlic and the soy sauce. Rice noodles - the sar hor fun - with a mocktail. Delicately braised tender scallops served with steamed broccoli. The Beijing duck, accompanied by wraps and a light pomelo and prawn cold salad. Types of Chinese smoked tea, taken hot without any other addition to taste, palate and texture. Birds nest soup in a light broth of coolness. Celebrating the seventh day of the Chinese New Year, traditionally to commemorate the birth of humankind, my group had an elegant experience of what Cantonese can do in cuisine.   We aimed for things away from the usual banquets that are served all over the city, the country and really, the East Asian region and south-east Asia in these two weeks of festive delight, gat...