Cooking Therapy

I had wanted to cook when I was much younger and at that point I had the decency to want to go through the proper method of learning how to cook, perhaps some lessons with a culinary school and then becoming some apprentice at a big place and crawl my way up.

As I continue to grow up it somehow became somewhat faded until the point where I realized that it was merely more of a childhood dream.

Nevertheless, I do try to cook whenever I have the chance at her place. Last week's dinner turned out to be much better than I expected as we originally wanted to do away with just a fried rice and expectations were very low.







Love the XO sauce, its a tad expensive but the taste is really good. I was at the supermarket deciding which one to get when I felt that I should probably support my fellow business partner. I have met the people at Woh Hup at a couple of events where we went in as sponsors. Must tell them that their products are really good the next time I see them.











A simple dinner with her and her dad lounging in front of the TV. Her dad took a nap on the sofa after a while. Simple pleasures in life.



------------------------



We tried to cook for a couple of times before, once was when I tried to have salmon lingered with mustard cream sauce. Was a little bland as I was worried whether the taste of mustard was acceptable in the first place.



Now, this is what you see in a few food outlets. Its a hot dog rolled into a prata and it costs a few bucks outside. We had alot of them done under $10. And we can add as much or as little as we want. Serious, F&B are reaping in high margins.



I like recreational cooking, where the agenda is light and the meal simple. I don't mind cooking for her everyday.

We, the citizens of Singapore

Were at the National Musuem again to catch the Singapore Living Gallery as well as the Singapore History Galleries. 1-for-1 if you have any Mastercard, which means it will be at only $5 a ticket.

This exhibition traces the history of Singapore from the 14th century or-so to the modern world today.

What I am impressed and amused with was this iPod look-alike gizmo called the Companion:



It is not an iPod (too big and heavy), and it is not the elite cavalry of Alexander the Great (as I am typing this I wonder who else would get the latter reference). It is a device that you hang around the neck and plug a pair of earphones into for a guided tour, like so:



As you walk around the 2,800 metre gallery, numbers will be denoted on the floorings at each section.



When you key in the number, the Companion will play out a voiced introduction and then you will be given options to choose from, all of which corresponds to the indexed exhibits. So when you are about to enter a room that holds some exhibits, you key in the main number that appears on the floor and you will get a brief tour. Along the way you can key in the extra numbers that appears beside the numerous artifacts and it will display a small text file that explains the history or the nature of the artifact in question.

What impresses me is that it is even "radio-controlled". When we were at an area where there are scheduled screenings of a clip, the Companion automatically plays the audio in sync with the screened vidio. When you are at a certain area when it is playing a looped movie, you can key in the number and "tune in" to the audio, just like 89.3 and TVMobile. Because the movie is continously looped and you cannot expect it to repeat from the beginning each time a visitor arrives, you hop into it like when you are listening to the radio - Halfway through the transmission.

I didn't get to take much photos as it was too dark and it is rude to use flash inside. For those of you who are still using the flash function in exhibitions, please stop doing so. It really bugs the hell out of people. For the record, here are a couple of OK shots. (Note the roman numeral 2 in the first photo, that means it falls under the 2nd section in the Companion)





We also went to the Living Galleries and they were divided firstly into:



This is where you see the past relics of our film and other wayang shows. Current wayang-ing at civil service sector is not included.





And then there is fashion, which isn't the most appealing for me.



There is a section in this part of the gallery that had reams of various types clothe being strewn around. It brought me back to the 80's Wu Xia movies where the rooms of the ladies always have this kind of setting. Imagine a bath tub behind, dimmer lights, a Xia Nu going for a shower. You get the picture.



And then there is good ol' glorius food:



The way they hung up the old food equipment is kinda like an armoury where the weapons are held on the walls, or worse, a torture room where the vices are kept.



My Favourite! Nasi Lemak!



Lastly we have the film section:



I didn't take a single photo inside cause it is simply eerie. The exhibits inside are all old photographs dating back from the 1880's to the 1980's. Many of the people in the photos have probably past on and it just gives me the shivers to have the thought of taking a photo of the photo of the dead. Uh-uh, no taking of chances here.

-------------------------

All in all, we didn't get the chance to look through the entire gallery because it is freaking big, (think I mentioned it was 2,800 metres somewhere earlier in the post). However, it is a very good exhibition to go to, not only for the National Education part where we can know much more of our history, but also of the way it was presented. It is educational without the boredom and the strictness of it all. Entertaining, informative and eye-opening.



We really enjoyed it.

Fighters

I interviewed a few candidates today for an opening in my company and I was heartened to see so many fighters.

The pay package for the position was honestly very low. In fact, it was so low that I was visibly quite embarrassed when my HR colleague openly stated how much the range is. I respect the company's policy and I do know that the market rate is actually a little lower than what we offer (there are higher ones, of course). However, the candidates were optimistic and willing to put in the hard work for that small piece of pie. Ethically I can't reveal some of their backgrounds but looking at their stories and what they are putting up with, I marvel at the determination and preseverance of my fellow man (and woman). Everyday people on the street, random Tom and Nancy beside you in the lift.

I looked silently at their scars and battle wounds and told myself that I am so much more fortunate than others and I have to treasure every aspect of it.

Have I posted this before?

One of the things I wondered most about is why ladies like to wear a white top and a colored bra.

I mean, its not that I mind, in fact if the situation permits I might even thank the person for caring by sharing.

At times it would be a sheer white top wrapping over like a silky veil, barely able to quiet down the purple bundles of joy. Other times would entail a white uniform blouse playing the translucent guard to the bounty of pastel colored jewels. And let's not forget that executive lady that just got out of her car, wearing a professional stripped blouse that fits over those pair of lovely headlights.

I asked my girl and a few close female friends before and the common answers are that either a) the girl didn't realize it or, b) the girl needs attention. I'll never know the real reason and I need not to, I'll just enjoy the fruits of its labours.

I am sure I have written this sometime back, it could be here, could be on orbitation.org or, hell, back in diaryland. I just got reminded of this when I was walking around today and saw a few treasure chests, waiting to be explored.

Sorry about the innuendos.