Yoghurt Plus | 2012

After a long while, I should be back now. For 2012, let's start things off with a snack. Something that has been quite a hit here in Singapore. That sweet (although not necessarily healthier) alternative to ice cream, yoghurt.


Yoghurt Plus in Changi City Point (a new shopping centre beside Expo MRT) greeted my son with a weird blue something timely called, the Smurf.


After Jakjak's playtime at the play area in CCP, he said he was hungry. We personally think that it's just one of his clever tricks so that we don't have to go home yet, but it was better than him asking for another round of play. So we humour ourselves by trying out the Smurf.





As it turns out, Yoghurt Plus was this little pink nook on the 1st level, sitting quietly beside Starbucks. That being said about the company it keeps, it sort of stands out as being too "kiddie". In typical (I'm only saying typical out of context as I have only really been to one other yoghurt place) yoghurt diner fare, the counter is as colorful as white can be with an assortment of toppings providing the rainbow of hues. The yoghurt itself resides in the back freezer. Even so, the friendly staff of two were very accommodating. It should not really be rocket science to order yoghurt, but it should be noted that knowing what cup size and how many toppings you want are crucial. For a snack, the small sized cup was perfectly adequate for 1.5 persons (that equates to myself and a 6 yo boy).





Yoghurt, to me, is yoghurt. There is really nothing much you can do to make it more interesting. Toppings do enrich the flavor, but it does little to curb the additional sugar that it incurs. I mean, the reason you go for yoghurt is just that, it has less fat than regular dairy ice cream. If you top it, you get more sugar and more fat. So it's kind of anti-goody. But then again, the whole funky fun feel of Yoghurt Plus invites you to do just that, have fun. With a quirky hot pink theme and iPads on guest tables (with wifi, though I was not able to test it) you just know you have to try one. It helps that there's a weird flavor called the Smurf, but that's marketing for you (it worked with me).


Would I go back? Let's just say I now have a loyalty card to fill. :-)

posted from Bloggeroid

Lerk Thai | Food

Category: Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
Location: Singapore Expo
Craving Score: 3.5/5 (you'll come back for more)


This one is obviously flavoured Thai. And to be honest, my taste buds are not actually attuned for things that are spicy and hot (I usually let my freshly boiled coffee sit for a few minutes before taking a sip). It's not attuned, but I don't necessarily avoid it, nor do I restrict myself from taking it in. And Thai food, well, like Singapore food, it's reputation in the spice-o-meter preceeds it.


I've actually had Thai food before so I already knew what to expect. The question on my mind was, "how would it fare?". We had a good oggle at the menu and placed our bets.

The first thing on the table happened to be Chicken and Mushroom Salad. Not very Thai-ish from the name, but those slices of flaming red chilis will cast your doubts aside. First bite allows you to experience the texture of the meal as the crunchy slices of (something) on top mixes with the soft mushrooms and tender chicken cubes with the cold slices of chili. It's one of those Ratatouille (the mouse movie) moments that left me gasping. But that was because it was so darn hot!

Shortly, a sculpted Pineapple came our way with steaming Pineapple Rice crammed inside the small vessel. This is another Thai signature dish if I am not wrong, and it goes in the right way. It had slightly less chili on board, which was quite welcome for my tongue. It was a bit on the salty side, but that could just be me (I have been cutting down on oil, sugar and sodium intake for a while now). Of course, you don't get rice simply by itself and expect a complete meal.

This is where the Soft Shell Crabs come into the picture. For people with hyper tension and high cholesterol, this should be a no-brainer. Stay away! But then again, what is life without a little adventure, right? Right. These soft shell crabs (sorry, I don't really think there would be "soft" shells) are spot on. Slightly crunchy, slightly juicy, all tasty. You can feel the cholesterol ... err ... crab juice flowing away off your lips while your teeth crunch and nibble their way through the breading. A bit of vinegar and spice is available should you need/want additional flavor in your crabs. Personally, I recommend it to help kill off some of that shell-fish smell, but even eaten on it's own, it hits the spot.


Fans of spicy food will have their fill in Lerk Thai, and those who are not fans as well. Of course, your choice of food will be the burning notice on your tongue, but a little fire won't kill you. It will burn your tongue, yes, but you get fo live and eat another dish.

iPod Touch, fourth gen

Category: Gadget
Genre: Portable Music Player and then some
Make: Apple Techie Score: 4 / 5 (almost perfect)


I had never been a big fan of Apple. (There, I said it)


The primary reason for this is that I found the prices of their products leaning too much on the high side. This made their image highly desirable for many because of it's upmarket appeal. That didn't matter much to me because there were quite a number of products in the market that did the same things but whose point of acquisition was much lower. 

It wasn't until recently that Apple seems to have stepped down a notch and their pricing made much more sense. Either that, or everybody else started increasing their prices or I was finally earning enough to afford an Apple product. This makes the 4th gen iPod touch my first Apple product.


A number of factors actually influenced my decision to get one of these contraptions. The main reason being is that it is now equipped with a camera that can take decent stills and pretty good HD videos at 720p. Add to that tons of these so called "apps" from the Apple App Store and you have yourself a decent gadget that will give photographers days and days of creative fun. Speaking of apps, it's not just about photography. There are games, notebooks, organizers, calendars, flash cards, and even apps that you probably won't have any practical use for. It is not just a music player anymore, the iPod has become a dedicated personal assistant and mini computer.


I bought it because I can now tailor it to fit my purpose. It is no longer just a gadget. It serves my needs as a portable music player, a photography buddy and personal assistant (one that I can bring home with the wife not batting an eyelash). Plus, at the current price point of the entry level 8GB model, it's already a pretty good deal. I dont't know if that is my honest opinion or if it's just because I can afford to buy one now, but the bottom line is, I like it for what it can do now compared to what it was doing as a music player when it was first introduced in the market. In fact, I like so much, I bought another one for the wife.


It is not without it's flaws of course. The still camera, though good, is not great. My ageing C902 can take better pictures than the one with the iPod touch. The battery life also leaves a lot to be desired. Used primarily as a music player, it's fine, it can last me 2 or 3 days of pure listening enjoyment. However, factor in the use of the camera and the apps, it rapidly depletes the usage to one day. My son played with some games for a total of 1 hour (four 15 minute gaming sessions), I scribbled a few notes and accessed Facebook for less than an hour. The next day, I had to re-charge it early in the morning. 


The camera deficit is easily rectified by the apps that support the camera function, but the battery life is just too short for something that has evolved into a mini-computer. Granted, most netbooks only work for a little over an hour, but those are dedicated computers with power hungry processors. As it is, the iPod is a great companion. Improved battery life will definitely have made it perfect.

Worlds of Fantasy, Disney on Ice

Category: Live Show 
Genre: Fantasy and Children 
Production: Disney  

Viewer Score: 4 / 5 (Great!)

I watched Worlds on Ice more than a decade ago. I think I was already in secondary school back then. My parents brought the whole family along to watch it, and it was not a Disney production. So you can imagine my lack of enthusiasm back then. I mean, I live in a tropical coutry where the only ice I see is inside the freezer.

Some time after that show, Disney came out with their own version. A decade and several years later, I am now able to bring my son to watch an ice skating show. 


Having the name Disney at the front of the title immediately makes this show different. And don't dismiss it as a kiddie show as well, because this father enjoyed it as much as his kid did. From my perspective, it was probably due to nostalgia. The characters of the ice show were from the era of cell shaded animation (most of them anyway), and not those CG movies that came out from the early 2000's. For my 5 year old though, seeing his cartoons come to life was a big deal. Hey, I was impressed and actually delighted to see Lightning McQueen and Mater in the -err -metal.


As a musical, it definitely has that Disney magic. For my son, it was definitely a thrill to see Mickey Mouse and friends, not so much as skating, but simply to see them in a different light (ergo, not through a TV screen). As expected, you cannot really emulate everything from TV to a real scale version, moreso for animated films. But you have to give credit to the staff for producing a noteworthy and enchanting world that will tickle the imagination. Even if you are watching this from a non-Disney fan's perspective, you would still enjoy the show. You will get more out of it if you have watched the cartoons before, but it won't really be a handicap.

Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely. Of course, there is a matter of pricing. If they priced it a tad lower than how much I had to pay for, I probably would watch it a second time. Still, it's a great show for kids and kids-at-heart.

Movie | Gnomeo and Juliet

Category: Movie
Rated: GP
Re-run Score: 2/5 (once is good enough)

Copyright Touchstone Pictures

Romeo and Juliet is the most well known tragedy that I know. It was such a finely written work of art by one guy named William. While many have sworn by the love story of the two protagonists, not many seem to care about the love ending. They died in that play folks. 


As such, we expected a twist or two in this animated adaptation of the classic by William Shakespeare. The actors being replaced by gnomes (of all things) was just the beginning. And while the rest of the story unfolds as how you would have expected it (cheesy), the presentation actually makes it interesting. Of course, don't expect it to be an out and out romantic film, it's target audience are actually those who have not hit puberty yet.


While the animation leaves much to be desired, the animators did try. I mean, how much can you do to actually make a gnome look good. They are garden sculptures after all. You'd be surprised at the level of authenticity though. The weathering, the colors, the sounds of plasters grinding. If you're like me who thinks about the little things in movies, then you would appreciate it. And the musical score, you just have to love it. It's love songs about love, yet it's not at all squishy. It had been thought out well and you can pretty much tell from which era the people who made it belonged to.


Overall it's a wonderful movie. It won't offer much in terms of originality and wow-factor. But credit it for turning a tragedy into a comedy, and a good comedy at that.

Hong Kong | Kim Gary

Category: Restaurant
Cuisine: Asian
Location: Tampines 1, Singapore
Craving Score: 3.5 / 5 (You'll come back for more)


Tampines 1 has made a name for itself for being a high end specialty mall that caters to a wide group of audiences. Naturally, being the cheapskate that I am, I have always turned a blind eye to this restaurant at the basement of Tampines 1. That, is Kim Gary's Hong Kong Restaurant.


One day, my wife and I finally ran out of places to eat (that happens a lot if you live in one place too long), so we decided to finally try out HK Kim Gary. We were not really sure what to expect because the pictures of the menu are quite a varied sort. But eventually, we have come to classify it as Asian Fusion.


The first thing you will notice (considering you are a foreigner like me) is that the people here seem to have a problem speaking english. Not that it's a big deal, this is a foreign country after all, but it would be helpful to tourists if the staff did not have any apprehensions speaking English.

However, all that becomes history as you are greeted with an old school way of ordering your food. In typical Chinese fashion, food is conveniently labeled by number and sometimes come with a picture. Thankfully, some English has been spared here for names and descriptions of the food. Once you have chosen your food, it's then time to jot down your order on the order slips provided. Again, this is fine and all, but then the staff takes the slip of paper and repeats your order. What would be the big difference if the staff took the order in the first place?


That's how they operate so I don't have anything more to say about that. It's about the food after all. And since that is what counts the most, it's a relief that HK Kim Gary scores on this part of the scale. And it scores big. Asian Fusion is normally defined as a conglomeration of traditional food and a touch of modernization to appeal to today's taste buds.

Today I ordered the Korean Noodle with Beef and Lychee with aloe. The serving was big enough for two, which was a big plus. Although I normally do not eat that much anymore, it's a welcome touch to today's shrinking plates. I have not really been to Korea to tell if the dish is authentic or not, but it is good enough to warrant another visit. The flavor was rich and the beef was just tender enough to start melting in your mouth, but not completely disintegrate. It had enough flavor and yet just enough available space to personalise it. The lychee drink was nothing to write home about, but I had been itching to try the drinks served in a candy bottle and not a standard glass. 


We had eaten at Kim Gary's before and the baked rice I had back then was a great meal on it's own right. This second helping just makes it a fact that this place is good. Redundant service not-withstanding, Kim Gary's is a place that is worth your dollar.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

Category: Books 
Genre: Literature & Fiction 
Author: Mitch Albom 

Shelf Score: 4 / 5 (Keeper)

The Plot: It is Eddie's birthday. And his job as caretaker of the rides in Ruby Pier has been his routine now, day in and day out. The difference today, compared to any other day, was that Eddie was about to die. Living a life without a soul since his wife died, Eddie had taken refuge in his work by maintaining the roller coasters, the ferris wheel and all the other rides at Ruby Pier, where his father had worked before he took over. As the day wound down, one ride, Freddy's Free Fall went awry. An accident that almost took many a life. And one more was about to go when Eddie did his best to save a little girl. Suddenly, it all went blank and Eddie never remembered anything. No pain, no emotion, no memory. Not even knowing if he had saved the little girl's life. During the first few moments, Eddie was unsure of what was happening. He could not speak, but he could pretty much do anything else. Which made him wonder where he actually was, surely, he thought to himself, this was not heaven.

It was not until he met a blue man who he felt was vaguely familiar. Like someone from his childhood. And during the course of their conversation, he did remember the blue man. And the blue man explained the beginning of Eddie's journey, to his heaven. A journey that will lead him to four others who will teach him. Four others who will share their heavens with Eddie, until Eddie finds his own.

The Review: Mitch Albom writes this book in bits and pieces that weaves itself into a fine web that glistens with brilliance and emotions. You get a feel of Eddie's journey, his thoughts, his feelings. You get to wonder for yourself if your definition of heaven is indeed what it is. But where this book really gets you is the tight grip it has on reality. It is how the book exploits the dark side that you deny you have. The dark side that you only imagine but always feel that it was only in your mind. But that dark side is there, and as you read, you accept it, in one way, that you are sometimes guilty of having done something that you continue to deny. It is heart breaking at times, but it is the moments that your heart breaks, that you open up and accept and feel and see the truth. A wonderful journey and an amazing view at life. That is what this book is all about.

The Verdict: I loved Tuesdays With Morrie. It was light on the feet but heavy with lessons and emotions. I was expecting something that was bordering on pretty much the same level. But I was wrong. I don't know if it was because I could relate to pretty much everything that the book threw at me, or if the book was really made that way. It was much heavier than Tuesdays. Much heavier in fact, that I felt so deep in my emotions that I couldn't read his next book. It was all good though. Because even in the thicket of emotions that the book made me feel, it was the lessons learned after all, that really mattered. I wouldn't mind reading the book again after six months, if only to remind me of some of life's greatest lessons.