Volunteering Journey - Grandma Maria

This has got to be one of the few moments that I choked to fight back tears.

With thanks to The Singapore Eurasians (TSE) for the invitation in having me bring cheer to perform for the children and elderly of the less fortunate, I witnessed many life-changing emotional moments today.

I was in my Satarina costume and Grandma Maria showed immense happiness when I approached her. To my utmost surprise, she held my hands tightly, kissed them and laid her head on my shoulder which I reached out to give her a big hug. She couldn't stop smiling.

Although her voice was not really audible, I managed to make out some of the words as she commented about her liking of my costume.

At one part during a game segment in progress, she turned to me. "I'm happy.. I'm happy. I'm very happy", she said, beaming. I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I shared the moment of joy with her.

Before I changed out of my costume, I decided to see her one more time before I called it a day. She smiled as she saw me walking into the room and held my hands again.

We shared a little chat session and she told me how the gold ring on her finger was given to her by a friend. She was such a lovely lady who found joy in everything.

"I'm so full. So full," she suddenly said.

I looked at her stomach and patted it. "Hey! You can be Santa Claus now!" 

She exploded into laughter.

Granted that she might not have a positive family history, but yet she appeared to be one of the most cheerful people I've ever met. 

It was soon time for me to go.

"I want to give you a hug", I said softly. I stood up and wrapped my hands around her. She gave a joyous laugh and returned me with a huge hug and thumbs up. 

"Come and see me Maria always ok? Come and see me...." She patted my hands and gave a hearty laugh. I felt a sting in my eyes and tears welled up. I nodded.

"Good bye", I said. "Please take care and I will see you soon, ok?" 

Grandma Maria nodded and smiled. I stood up and left the room, overwhelmed with emotions.

Sometimes, happiness can be achievable with such simplicity of life. 

I was glad I managed to take many precious photos and videos (but due to protection of their privacy and confidentiality purposes, I will not be posting them online.) 

One thing for sure, they are precious memories to keep and remember by. Grandma Maria, may God bless you always and I'll definitely hope to see you again soon. 

[Complaint] Mcdonald's new McFlurry Flavor - Chendol (TOO SWEET AHHH!)

And just weeks ago at the National Day Rally, PM Lee Hsien Loong had addressed the issue on diabetes of how the prevalence of diabetes is rising among the younger generation.

And with the appearance of the McDonald's latest craze - I finally understood what he meant.

Honestly, I am not a fan of sweet stuff - and THIS is totally in contrary to what PM Lee had emphasized on:

Sorry ah, I do not have anything against Mcdonald's. (In fact, I LOVE Mcdonald's and am always on the move to try their new menu items)

Their latest Nasi Lemak burger meal is so freaking awesome. (I believe many of you will agree with me on this, right.. RIGHT?)

Unfortunately, their new Chendol McFlurry is a big no-no for me. 

The first mouthful was great- It was very flavorful and bursting with the taste of Chendol and all, but subsequent mouthfuls almost had me gagging from the sweetness that was on the overboard side.

I wouldn't rate it as the normal type of sweetness - but more of a guarantee diabetes kind of sweetness if one were to have it everyday.

I know Chendol should be sweet and all - but this is just way too much. I did not manage to finish the whole cup as much as I wanted to (Not cheap, leh!).

Don't get me wrong, the McFlurry actually has a great potential - but I just feel it can be better if the sweetness can be reduced to at least 30 - 40 percent.

I am sure there will be a few of you who will not think that it is sweet (if you are one of them, then I guess you must be someone who is too accustomed to sweet/sugary stuff). UHHHH.


Sorry Macdonalds, I love you but I am not going to support the Chendol McFlurry.
I really hope that the sweetness can be further reduced for a healthier option!

P/S: The blog post above only reflects my own opinions and does not represent anyone else. In other words, it is from my own perspective.

New cover released!

I just released a new cover last week! - 告白气球


In all honesty, I did not expect myself to be covering this song (I am not a Jay Chou fan and have never sung a Jay Chou song in my whole life)

Somehow, this song was stuck in my head and people everywhere were humming to it.

So here it is - My version of it. Pardon the imperfection as this was just a casual recording.

I am currently working on more covers! I'll be updating soon on my blog.

[Results Announced] NDP Preview Tickets Giveaway

When I hosted the giveaway for my NDP Preview Tickets, I did not expect that the response will be overwhelming.

I have read every single e-mail from you guys (Thanks to a few of you who even went the extra mile to send me photos that showcase your Singaporean pride!)

Trust me, it was NOT easy for me at all as I felt EVERY single one of you deserve the tickets. So much that I started questioning myself "WHY CAN'T I HAVE MORE TICKETS TO GIVEAWAY?!"

After all, I only have one pair and I could only select one winner out of the lot.

After filtering the entries (Some entries are unfortunately disqualified), I decided to leave the fate to a lucky wheel. 

I had NO idea who would be the winner (No kelong here - I just wanted it to be a fair and square system) so I kept my fingers crossed and started spinning... ...

I wanted to be transparent in how the winner was picked - so here you go, I've used http://wheeldecide.com/

(Only names with valid entries will be accepted. I am sorry to some who took the effort to send in but   due to the fact that they were incomplete entries, I could not place them on the wheel to be fair to the other participants)

Congratulations, Muhammad Sufri!

I've read your entry I sincerely hope both you and your mum will enjoy the show! 

It sucks to know that many of you will be disappointed - but please do not be because I may still be hosting more giveaways in time to come. 

Yes, that may even include next year's NDP tickets when the time comes - So do stay tuned!

A BIG THANK YOU to each and every one of you for taking time in participating my giveaway. It makes me happy knowing that so many of you are proud Singaporeans.

But I can't help feeling sad to know that some of you are even contemplating to purchase tickets from 'gold diggers' just to catch the show. Please DO NOT ever encourage such sellers - The tickets may worth some money, but it is meaningless if you purchase them.

Everyone deserves the chance at ZERO cost - Why put a price to your national pride?

I hope more of you guys will be able to ballot successfully in the upcoming years ahead. Else, there will always be many other giveaways around as well.

Don't give up!

(And don't give up on reading my blog lah... I will be hosting other giveaways for you guys!)

Love you all! Xoxo.

[Media Food Tasting] Machida Shoten - No 1 Lekei Ramen Restaurant in Japan

It's not easy to search for authentic Japanese quality food in Singapore.

And when I do, I share on my blog with my readers to share the joy!

With thanks to Alvin from DessertingBeauty for inviting me to the media tasting, I have one more To-Go Japanese restaurant added to my list.

Located conveniently at Wisma Atria, which is just a stone's throw away from Orchard MRT station - It is not difficult to locate Machida Shoten, especially with its prominent Japanese-style decorations. 

(I was amazed to know that the brand has already opened 45 outlets in Japan!)

They offer a wide variety of appetisers and small bites as well.

Cha-Shu Croquette ($6)

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the Cha-Shu Croquette is made with seasoned minced pork that will tease your taste buds into yearning for more. If you were to ask me, I would say it is definitely a good appetiser before the main dishes. Don't worry as the sizes are considered small so the portion will not be taking much of your stomach storage space! Hahaha.

Here's a close-up of the minced pork fillings: - They tasted really fresh and soft! The exterior is really crunchy to a T so do have it while its hot to do justice to it!

Disclaimer: Tempting photos ahead. Not recommended to be seen if you have an empty stomach.

Homemade Shrimp Gyoza ($9.80 / 5 pieces)

The Homemade Shrimp Gyoza features the whole tiger prawn as well as shrimp encased in a crunchy exterior.

When I flipped the gyozas over, their base appeared to look burned or overcooked - but they are actually not because that is where the crispiness was derived from! 

Yes, I really the taste - No complaints about it. The encased tiger prawns were as fresh as they could possibly be, and had a "bouncy" texture to them. Soft and crunchy at the same time, I felt that I could finish all 5 pieces by myself. (But of course I couldn't as I can't be selfish lah)

Garden Salad ($9)

And for people who love salads, Machida Shoten has it too! Temper the meat indulgence with their Garden Salad, it is drenched with homemade curry dressing as well as non-oily ova leave vinegar for a flavourful finish.

Initially, I did not think that curry dressing would even be compatible for any salad (LIKE COME ON, CURRY?!?!)

But it was an unexpected twist for me as I somehow find the taste appealing after tasting one bite of it.

Seasoned Iberico Squareribs ($14)

The Seasoned Iberico Squareribs is an indulgent offering that are first boiled till they are tender, and then seasoned with Machida Shoten's very own original sweet soya sauce. I am one who is quite picky when it comes to pork ribs, but I will give it a A grade its tenderness!

I could literally taste the sweet sauce - The pork ribs are very well-marinated and the sweetness is penetrative to the taste buds.

Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice ($10)

Note: Yes this is quite spicy (Spicy level: 3/5) but spicy enough for my liking!

The portion appears small, but actually it can be VERY filling! Each mouthful exploded with the fragrance of shrimps (Trust me, you will LOVE it if you like the taste of shrimps)

However, do note that it will not be recommended for people who are allergic to prawns/shrimps. 

Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen ($14)



One of the must-try dishes at Machida Shoten is the chef's recommendation, Shou Tonkotsu. This is the signature Yokohama-style irked ramen, and it serves the perfect combination of soya sauce and pork bone broth. You can enjoy noodles cooked to your desired softness or hardness and even choose from 3 levels of doneness for your noodles! The noodles are then immersed in a tonkotsu and soya sauce broth. There are various add-on ingredients, from seasoned egg to cha-su just by topping up a small amount.

I would say this fares better than many other typical ramen I've eaten at other places. The noodles did not taste "too overly cooked"but in fact, it was just right. It's no wonder this is classified as a chef's recommendation! I will give it a TWO thumbs up. 

Garden Veggie Ramen ($15) *Exclusive to Singapore outlet*

When it was first served to the table, I almost thought it was another plate of salad - but look closely, it's actually ramen! It looks so colourful, right?!

It comprises of 12 different fresh vegetables in a bowl an the broth is made with 7 types of vegetables too. Fried garlic oil is added to enliven the flavour. 

Honestly, I wouldn't say this is my favourite of the lot as the taste was more to the bland side - and I would suggest you to have this first before trying other ramens of stronger flavour. 

Miso Tonkotsu Ramen ($14) *Exclusive to Singapore outlet*

Don't be fooled by the photo - THIS BOWL OF RAMEN HAS AN OVERPOWERING TASTE.

This Miso Tonkotsu Ramen fuses the goodness of miso and tonkotsu soup base, and the miso that the restaurant uses is a blend of red and white miso. The dish is then topped with sweet corn, cabbage and butter for an extra kick.

If you were to have this before the Garden Veggie Ramen, I am sure you would not be able to taste any flavour from the Garden Veggie Ramen at all.

Personally, I feel that this is too strong for me (and I am not a fan of corn); so I wouldn't exactly classify it as a favourite.

One thing that I noticed though - The portion of their ramen seems to be huge; I would recommend sharing with a friend unless you are a big eater. 

Something random -I find this sign kinda cute - it is a guide of different ways to eat your ramen!

My favourite of the lot? I would still pick the Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen.

And here's the chef behind the scenes - Many were actually going gaga over him as he looks quite cute! A young hunk who can whip up good Japanese dishes... I am not surprised everyone finds him attractive!

I feel like such a stalker. HAHAHA.

Address:

MACHIDA SHOTEN

Wisma Atria Level 4

435 Orchard Rd

Singapore 238877

Opening Hours: Daily 11AM – 11PM

Directions: Alight at Orchard MRT Station (NS22) and exit at Exit D towards Wisma Atria B1 (do not exit to Ion Orchard). 

Take the escalator (after OCBC bank) up until level 4, where the Food Court is located. Walk past it and you will see Japan Food Town. 

At the main entrance, walk further in and Machida Shoten is the second restaurant to your left.

[Review] The Sushi Bar - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

So I posted about this really AWESOME meal I had several days back on my Facebook and many of you have been waiting for the revelation. 

As promised, here's the answer: -

THE SUSHI BAR

Ok so I am not earning anything from this BUT I JUST HAVE TO post about this because the food was SO UNBELIEVABLY GOOD that I could not believe my mouth. 

So good that I invented a new word immediately known as "Mouthgasm".

The Salmon sashimi was so freaking FRESH and THICK (I repeat, THICK!!) that I literally FROZE in my seat when the first piece reached my taste buds. 

(Can you believe that this whole set cost only $11+++?!)

Other than exclaiming "OH MY GOD" over and over again, I was speechless. Wah!! The taste of full blast freshness and soft, tender salmon just sat comfortably in my mouth and every bite was SIMPLY pure bliss. No doubt about it.

I was reluctant to even swallow it down because I was really enjoying every single minute, second and millisecond of it. Where can you find such high quality shashimi in Singapore, you tell me?! I felt that I could just eat this FOREVER. 

 When I tried their other signature dishes (Miso soup, scallop, etc) as well, I soon developed goosebumps all over my body because the taste was SO awesome that I felt my spirit shot up to the sky in an instant and came back to my body. 

The super duper big bowl of generous serving.
This picture was taken before my spirit shot up to the sky:-

 The miso soup came in large bowl and every slurp made me jealous of myself because it's THAT good. I had to blink a few times to remind myself that I was NOT dreaming. Was this even real? Had I already entered heaven? God, every SINGLE dish I tried was mouth-watering and made me question the fact that such high quality of food indeed exist. I felt dizzy. Dizzy from being overwhelmed by the goodness in my mouth. I JUST CAN'T. What did I do to deserve this high feeling before 2016 ends?

 That's like the BEST food I have ever eaten in my living years. If you are thinking I am exaggerating, then TRY at least once to believe. Their food is superbly of out-of-the-world quality with GENEROUS quantity (can you imagine...THICK sashimi..) and the price is almost half of what other standard Japanese restaurants have to offer. They have got to be kidding but its just true. Do note that if you are eating their food, its NOT just food.  

YOU ARE EATING A PIECE OF FOOD THAT SEEMS TO BE FROM HEAVEN.

 This is one of their signature dishes, Wafu Spaghetti.
 

 Even if tomorrow is the end of the world, you will feel like the happiest person alive. 

 I am so happy now because the food was very rewarding after a hectic schedule, and all thanks to my dear friend Marie Lim who recommended me this place of a gem! I think I may burp from the filling food and I will love the smell of my burp. So GOOOOOOOOOOD. Mouthgasm mouthgasm.

Total damage: $81+ for 2 pax (inclusive of GST and service charge)



**I heard that advance booking is recommended, especially if you are planning to head down during peak hours (such as dinner time, etc).  They have two outlets in Singapore, 1 at Far East Plaza (which was the one that I went to for this review), and another at Ngee Ann City.

As below is the address of The Sushi Bar:-

FAR EAST PLAZA OUTLET:

14 Scotts Road ,Far East Plaza #04-28

Singapore

 NGEE ANN CITY OUTLET:

 391B Orchard Road, #05-34/35, 

Ngee Ann City, Ngee Ann City, 238874

 For reservation please SMS to 88183535 for Ngee Ann City outlet and 96536464 for Far East Plaza outlet. They DO NOT take reservation on weekends, public holiday and eve of public holiday.

Opens at 11:30am 11:30AM - 3:30PM, 5:00PM - 9:45PM

 **Okay, I repeat that this post is completely of my own opinion. Different individual may have different experiences as the taste of food is VERY subjective. I am just recommending what I think that are worth trying!

[Event] Fancy a Domino's Awesome 4-Some?!

If you think being a blogger is is easy, I'll tell you it isn't because I have to control my saliva (excuse me for sounding disgusting) while blogging about FOOD.

And don't say I did not warn you for clicking in to read this entry because you are most likely going to salivate as well.

With major thanks to The Influencer Network and Domino's Pizza for the event invitation (my stomach says thanks too), I was able to taste a new wonderful combination of my favorites from Domino's Pizza. (Do read on to find out more!)

Honestly, I was already a fan of Domino's Pizza since ages ago, so having the opportunity to taste their new launch is truly an honor!

I went down to the venue (Domino's Pizza @ Kovan branch) with an almost empty stomach after work. 

An easily accessible place from Kovan MRT!!

Some of the below images are courtesy of The Influencer Network. Thank you for capturing so many beautiful photos!

If you are still wondering what is this "Awesome 4-Some" I have been talking about, here it is: -

Open the box to reveal the goodies that await...

Behold...

My eyes sparkled when they revealed the contents inside the box.

 

If you are an avid Domino's fan like me too, I am sure you would recognize them. 

YES, they have now "combined power" to bring you the full satisfaction of having the best of FOUR worlds. LOL.

But what got me so excited is the fact that they indeed used to be my favorite sides - and now I can have them all in a box! Whoever came up with this idea, THANK YOU! Haha.

Here are the 4 tasty sides, if you haven't know already:-

1) Cheesy Mozzaralla Stix - 100 PERCENT Mozzarella Cheese wrapped in a CRISPY CRUST topped with Mozzarella cheese, baked to a GOLDEN PERFECTION.

2) Mini Cinadots - (I think the name of this is so cute!) Delightful Mini Cinadots that are sprinkled with cinnamon and complemented with icing sugar for a sweet treat. Honestly, I am not a cinnamon lover but I somehow enjoyed this. The cinnamon is not too overpowering and the sweetness is just right!

3) Golden Roasted Drummets - My ALL-TIME favorite at Domino's. Seriously. If you are a drummets lover and have yet to taste these, YOU SURE ARE MISSING OUT. These are well-seasoned, tender and juicy roasted chicken drummets. No, I am not exaggerating.

4) Garlic Cheese Onion Rings - Savor the taste of cheesy, garlicky golden rings made with 100% REAL onions and baked to a tender crisp.

Sorry ah, they are mine, MINE, MINE. *grabs*

Haha, I have no idea who made this - but it's so freaking cute! The tasty sides spread...

 I am seriously impressed with Domino's for coming up with such selections. Customers like us no longer need to be spoilt for choice anymore!

And yes, you can choose to order this tasty four-in-one box as a snack on its own or even best completing with the 2 Pizza Deals from Domino's Pizza!

And that's not all. It is currently available for sale at an Introductory Price of SGD$15 (Usual Price: $22.20), with NO delivery charge.

How shiok is that?! Having it delivered to your doorstep!!

Back to the event, Domino's is so kind to treat us to their other signature selections too - A real treat for all of us attending bloggers!

If you are one who haven't tried Domino's before, mai tu liao... Seriously.

Enjoying the food and companion with the other influencers! It was so nice getting to meet new friends!

(Hope to see you girls in other events soon!)

It was a feast. We had the Awesome 4-Some and loads of drummets!

We were even treated to delicious meatballs (However, they contain beef so I only ate a little of it)

And this is a MUST mention. I ALWAYS have this whenever I dine in at Domino's.

Chocolate Lava cake.

It is not my first time blogging about this and I am still HIGHLY raving it.

If you are a chocolate lover, you must must must must must must must try this else it's a lifetime regret!

I literally screamed "OH MY GOD" when I tried it for the first time years back. 

Poke your spoon in and experience the WARM chocolate bursting like a volcano eruption.

Warning: VERY THICK CHOCOLATE!

It was a really fun event meeting other fellow influences while tasting all the goodness at Domino's.

And all of you out there are definitely not forgotten as well!

For being such an avid reader, here's an EXTRA bonus for you guys out there -

-Quote “TIN2R” for 2 Regular Pizza + $1 Off Awesome 4-Some

-Quote “TIN2L” for 2 Large Pizza + $2 Off Awesome 4-Some

-Quote “TIN2XL” for 2 X-tra Large Pizza + $3 Off Awesome 4-Some

Offer is valid for Online Order (http://dominos.com.sg/), Call Centre (62226333) and Over the Counter. Coupon valid from 6 Aug – 7 Sept 2016. #dominossg #awesome4some

AND THAT'S NOT THE END!

Here's a fun contest that you can join to win exciting prizes for yourself as well!

"Be A National Day Pizza Patriot" Contest (1st - 31st August 2016)

Just simply upload a photo of yourself sharing Domino's Pizza like a Pizza Patriot, a person who defends the right to share pizza! (Haha, personally I find the whole concept VERY creative)

For every 51 photos uploaded, bigger and better prizes will be unlocked for all of Singapore. You could even unlock up to 50% off on your next trip to Domino's and that's not even the grand mystery prize!

Here's an illustration guide of the pose, courtesy of Domino's Pizza.

Like this loh: -

(You can come up with your own creative poses!!)

Ok, what are you guys waiting for?! Go along now and participate in the fun activities. 

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Here's a good luck charm that you can print out- Just kidding.