Mizuki: Good tempura

A beautiful place at Ngee Ann place.

 The opener, pumpkin tofu with jelly is refreshing.

The tempura chef bought us the fresh ingredients before start cooking.

Sunset

 Such a beautiful sunset today

Renting in Singapore

 Lately the rental prices had soared in Singapore. My tenant of 2 years since pre-Covid is moving out and getting their own place. We managed to get new tenant 2 months before the place is available, after posting in market for just few days and received 3 offers from the very first viewing! In any case, we received offer that was even higher than the publicized price. 

Finally this weekend is the handover.

In Singapore, based on the current law, the minimum rental period of any residential units is 6 months. A property agent can be the facilitator, and commonly the agent would represent the landlord and collect commission. The renter generally should not need to pay the agent commission, unless the agent exclusively worked for the renter over filtering multiple units and thus earn comission based on mutual agreement. 

For a rental period of 1 year, it is common to pay agent half-month's commission, and for the renter to be keeping 1 month's rental deposit to the landlord that shall be returned at the end of rental period. For 2 years' rental, agent commission is a month's rental and the security deposit is 2 month's rental.

During the period, the renter can enjoy the unit in peace and quiet, and potentially accommodate viewings if/when the unit is open for sale, or at the end of rental for new prospective rental. In my case, we discussed and agreed whether the renter would continue to extend their lease around 2-3 months prior to the end of lease.

  

House purchase in Singapore

Roughly 3 types of residential properties in Singapore:

1. HDB (Housing Development Board) units, or public housing. They are 99-years leasehold under HDB Government rule. Resale market after MOP (Minimum Occupation Period) of 5 to 10 years. Such as McNair Towers at Balestier area. 5 mins walk to Boon Keng MRT, wet market is nearby, as well as supermarket Sheng Siong. Block 113A and 113B are the 4-room unit, we viewed units at level 34 and 35, asking price almost 1mil SGD. Also subject to Ethnic Quota.

This Weekend

Is mom's birthday. We will be going out to celebrate with Sunday brunch buffet at TripleThree, one of the best international buffet in Singapore. I am relatively strung this week, with offsite coming up next week, missing our Saturday's night date, and with my boss' birthday on Monday.

I have also been reading copiously - alternatively between I hear You by Michael Sorensen, What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey, and Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Went for swim yesterday and woke up energized whole day because of that.

On Tuesday, met up with Eunice who is a dear old friend. She is moving roles, and will take approx 1 month break from work and spending sometime with her hubby in Tianjin. She looks young and happy! I am feeling that she is relieved from getting out of current role, and the fact that hospitalization due to recent health scare is over.

Also I was "duped" into attending Henry's family day at Rolls Royce. We went to their manufacturing tour, which is cool!

What I am grateful for today August 25, 2018 at 7am

• I am grateful for my family,
• The feeling of jazz music flowing softly through my living room at 7am Saturday morning
• I am grateful to be with and observe how my boss work those calls - tough with work - and with our apac stu and apac ssm
• Grateful that my team admin Rohaini and everyone is working towards making the offsite successful, yesterday
• Grateful that I am feeling special to be able to make someone blush and shy and for being able to give my time to support and be there, yesterday
• Grateful to be alive and life is still rolling
• Grateful to be watching an episode of grace and frankie - about touching wedding of robert and sol and the question about making wish.

CNY 2018

Chinese New Year 2018. Went out for Buffet lunch at Oscar's Conrad Centennial Singapore. During the journey, and the long 2-hour buffet lunch, and subsequent train travel to Bishan to see Koko Ching Lien, and travel home, we got to chat. I realize how older Pa and Mom are. They are more sensitive, easily upset, and a bit..senile. I realize that I have not spent time at home lately due to travel and that worries me. Time passings like sand that is irreversible.

Koko Ching Lien looked a bit thin. And perhaps worry about Uncle Edy who is stubborn and having heart issues. He had a poor prognosis, and even was expected to life only 3 months... and turned out he is still dragging on, despite losing will to life. Koko has been very hard, and tough. She was sitting in the living room, without lights on but with company of a few young women, one is her god-daughter, and another pair of mother-daughter neighbor from China. We stayed for around 30 mins and chatted about life in Singapore and certain scam and recent child kidnapping in Singapore and China. Thanks for tradition like Chinese New Year we have the opportunities to visit our relatives home and say a few standard greetings but I suppose the art is in the fact of keeping in touch once a year, no matter how superficial the conversation is, the connection of relative and tradition is nonetheless kept alive.

My relative remarked on how fair Henry looked, and so is chubby me. We as a family looked radiant. "Thanks to all the nutritious food that Dad cooking", says me. "No... it is because we think positive and does not do harmful things to others, in action and in thoughts", added Mom. Henry was just quiet and walk agreeing along. I am not sure if Dad listens, given condition of his ear but I am happy Dad has satisfactory lunch at buffet which is his super favorite. At home, I quickly had shower due to humidity of Singapore - after my month-long business trip, I had troubles adjusting to. "Dad is so happy because every time we mentioned buffet, Dad eyes light-up like sparkes", teases me to Dad. Dad quickly mentioned "No no no,.." while shyly turning away to take a nap at his favorite spot, by the window.

Boxing Day, Nostalgia and Illness

Spent this morning cleaning up my CD archive. The time spent during my university holiday at the computer center collecting anime episodes and mangascans. Wow - what amount of time spent labelling, copying, downloading, and burning those CDs. After 15 years, most of those CDs are corrupted. Thanks to my prodigious labelling (with color-matching markers!) I was able to skip through the CDs after my dear bro reminded me "Why?" and after the initial batch of copying and failing reading.

I also found some nostalgic files, such as, lame 90's songs belonging to A1 and Backstreet Boys. Songs which I lamely still adored, by the way. Also faded cringe-worthy photos of my awkward youth. There is one particularly memorable during bad make-up Indonesia prom-nite in 2003.

Most of the time, listening to mom complaining about, or rather commenting bluntly about her relatives. We are so worried these days about 4i's eldest son, Jensen. He was diagnosed with cancer stage 4, already attacking his nerve. Avoiding chemo, he was now seeing the shaman who is my cousin in the family, and there was a conflict when he recently discovered blood in his urine... So worrying. His health is an example of period of realization for me, when I was busy travelling for work, jeopardizing my health, but also made me unavailable to my family even when they were in Singapore. Imagine the regret if I never ever see him again. He is so young, 5 years younger with 2 very young sons and such a world ahead of him.

So there, my true feeling. Like speaking to myself, when I felt this way when peeking on diary that I found through those disks, of myself talking in the diary in 2003 at SMA, around fourteen years ago.

Tart Blanc

Went with mom to redeem tart blanc voucher from groupon. Ended up the tiny place was full, went to Mos Burger next to it at Millenia Walk. Afterwhich we strolled around in Harvey Norman. The Tart has to book 3 days in advance. We ended up purchasing display-set Bosch vacuum cleaner that is on 50% sale.

Finally we are enjoying Tart Blanc tart, today on Friday, so yummy and fresh. Not very sweet, but you can tell it is baked with care and high quality ingredients. Each is SG$7.50 so pretty pricey for a tiny indulgence.

I first had the Banana Chocolate Silk tart, Marinated Bananas, Caramel Sauce, Roasted Banana Cream & Chocolate Silk Cream. The banana and chocolate is always a good combination.

I then shared the Blood Orange Matcha tart, that is made of Orange Jelly, Orange mousse with Jivara Chocolate filly, & crumbly Matcha base.

Credit, from various internet sources. http://danielfooddiary.com/2014/01/24/tartblanc/

I said good bye my Business Group

Last night , we went out for my farewell dinner, on Monday I'll be starting my new job in a role with Asia Pacific Microsoft Enterprise group, as their Annuity lead.

I am excited, sad, nervous, worried, excited (yes, I said this twice now), about the opportunities, and what lie in the future.

For Dinner we went out for Catalunya, which I love. Its kitchen is headed by a group formerly in kitchen of El Bulli, which was voted a couple of times as the top restaurant in the world. El Bulli was then closed down, as the Chef/Owner wanted to restart his enterprise.

Catalunya is located at a unique shell-like structure out of the bay in Marina Bay Singapore. This allows the dining area to be surrounded by the view of Marina Bay from Fullerton, towards Marina Bay Sand, across to Esplanade. Its door is simple and easily missed. It used to offer 1-for-1 cocktails at the bar, which has been discontinued. My favorite drinks are Flamenco Martini and Sangria.

farewell team, mbs.

Day of Mourning in Singapore

This morning, Singapore woke up to a very sad news of the passing of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew (LKY). He was a strong leader who lead the founding father of Singapore. I am saddened and share my grieve with the rest of fellow Singapore. It must be very hard for his family, and PM Lee Hsien Loong who conducted press release at 8am this morning in a stoic and touching speech although he must be very sad inside.

Singapore, and the World lost a great leader today. Such is life. LKY left behind a strong legacy, and a life lived to the fullest and most productive. Rest in Peace, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.

https://www.facebook.com/RememberingLeeKuanYew

Another weekend is over

I had been travelling heavily in the past 2 months or so. For example, in the last Feb, I was in Singapore for 1 week, the rest - Jakarta, Perth, Tokyo, and Seattle.


A nice jet-setting life but pretty disruptive to my non-existent private social life now. This can't go on forever. I go on with this thought that I need to do things differently but the inertia is a hardest thing to break.


At least I have the following achievements to crow for:
1. I am very close to attaining my driving license.
2. I read very touching story about Mimi an 8-year old Aussie girl who realllly want a Surface 2.
3. I collected my miles.
4. I took care of all my credit cards.
5. I am very happy with my savings stat.
6. I blew up my marathon training.


Sigh... I really really Really need to do something.


Meanwhile, went to do night-cap stroll with mom throughout iLight at Marina Bay. While went to complete documents for Taiwan visa applications....


Logging out.

Movies under the Star

This morning while jogging with Clarissa my little nice from Medan, I noticed the sign for DBS Movies by the Bay. www.dbsmoviesbythebay.com for details. Tonight's show is Thor!

I am quite excited for spend this Saturday night with this movie event!

Herbs and Apartment living

I am cleaning house frantically, maybe coz I'm board. Deeply satisfied that the kitchen floor is now sparkling clean. So when I was searching web for some herbs/indoor gardening tips, plus playing Fantasica (http://www.fantasitrading.com) I come across sites of apartment living, that inspired me to clean up my small office area in my apartment. Staring at my clean stack right infront of my office table now :)

Some useful links to start:

• (overseas): best herbs for indoor
• (sf-overseas): ideas of potted herbs - motivation
• (Singapore based forum Green Culture): location of nursery gardens in SG.
• Some nice pictures of herbs: basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley.

Ritz Champagne Brunch

Went for the Ritz Carlton's champagne brunch. After my pocari sweat run 10km run. My timing was horrible, joined the 3rd wave flag-off time at 7:21am, and arrived at 8:54.......

The champagne was very nice though. I must be drinking 5-6 glasses of the Moet 2004, Vintage. Waiting for the photos to be uploaded from my WP8 to Skydrive.

MOET vintage

 

They also have the best seafood section. 1) Baked lobster, and 2) foie gras with gold specks.

Fresh oysters - 5 types:

 

 

Seafood section with unagi maki, fresh sushi, and sashimi belly....

Pocari Sweat Run

My worst timing ever for 10k run.

You'll see that the original 2.7Km wasn't bad - 8min/km.

Then the next 3.2km towards 5.9km split 8:45/km. Pretty good considering, there's marina barrage first slope and 2 water points.

The next 2.7km (where there is no waterpoint and super hot) with marina barrage final slope, and towards Garden's - the timing is 11:33/km. I started having very bad stitch then.

The final 1.4km is 9:20/km is not bad. I started to regain speed after final waterpoint and run quickly towards the finish line.

Energizer Trail Run

Saturday morning! I went to get ready for the first Energizer Trail run Singapore! That I am joining. It is organized at one of the NS-men camp, at lorong Asrama, which after searching on the streetdirectory map, is normally off-limit for normal civilians. (later confirmed by the MC of the event too!).

It was a very hot and humid day. The weather was pent-up with the rain that almost drizzle (luckily it didn't for the sake of thousands of runners with kids who were looking forward for the event). I arrived at 230pm after various arguments with Mom, whom I dragged and whom is energetic enough to accompany me to the event. My mom is so adorable.

The Energizer 2013 race route and obstacles

Annual Health Screening package

Parents safely in journey to MBS, tonight I am focusing on research of the best annual health screening package that utilizes my perk accounts from my company. The due date is end of June which is the fiscal here. I've been going to Raffles Medical for my GP so I thought this year I would consider package here instead of the one at the Executive Screening centre.

Step 1: Comparing the Executive General package at S$802.50 and the Elite General $1,588.95.

Step 2: Research what each tests mean and whether they are necessary or not.

Step 3: The Singapore Health Promotion Board has a guidelines about age and tests. After carefully reviewing them corresponding to my age and my family medical history including other risks, I have determine that the executive Ladies package is the best for me (an early 30's lady). Even though I can afford any packages, I avoid excessive waste and false positives. The most important is to live healthily.

Singapore Household survey 2012

Singapore govt is carrying out the survey for 2013 latest. This is a document from the last one in 2012 - useful and informative for my weekend reading. Local file and website of http://www.singstat.gov.sg/publications/population.html#household_income_and_expenditure.

I did it!

I completed my first half-marathon. Timing 3 hours 3 mins - is okay average considering my lack of training. I am so elated and am donning my nice finisher's tee.

First Tiramisu on Sunday rainy morning

Tried my first Tiramisu. Result - nice with right sweetness and right alchoholic contents. But I made the mistake of leaving the egg white for too long that it spoiled.