Marina @ Keppel Bay

Recently, I visited Marina @ Keppel Bay. The place is an awesome getaway that literally transports you into another world right in Singapore itself. What's amazing is that you will actually miss the place. In the hustle and bustle of Vivo City and Harbourfront, you will actually miss the tiny, indistinctive slip road that leads here! So watch for it.

Two restaurants I reccomend in this place is of course Prive (my gut feeling is that it's short for private). The other is TCC. I had dinner at the TCC when I visited the place. The view is good.

I also took the opportunity to take some shots. Here goes...

A shot of the bridge when the light was red

This when it was green

Yatch Club

Part of the Prive design...

Aimei with the bridge...

The cone shaped structure at the skyline in the background is Mt. Faber

I need a haircut

In memory of Jon Wong... you go with us... hahaha... solid shot... happened by mistake!

Joanna Wang

Recently, I got myself a CD by a Taiwanese singer called Joanna Wang dubbed the Norah Jones of the East (though I beg to differ... I think she's unique in her own way).

Everytime Aimei and I walked past the music shop, they would be playing her stuff. We didn't know who the singer was but we always commented that the song is good and her voice, superb! However, we never got to buying the album because we never got into the shop... always in a hurry.

When we finally made it to the shop, the album was sold out! Talk about circumstances...! Since then, I've been finding high and low for it and finally, yesterday, I got my hands on the album! It's an awesome album! *Exclaim Exclaim!



It's a 2 CD album; one in English and the other in Chinese. For some particular reason, I feel that she does better in English!

I checked her out in Youtube after getting the CD and I realised she has done numerous covers in live cafe performances! Just to tickle your senses... your earbuds... hahaha... here are some of my favourite songs from the album!



This song is a cover of David Tao's I Love You



This one's Spandau Ballet's True re-made!



Let's Start From Here



This one is performed live at a cafe in Taipei - Video Killed the Radio Star

She's amazing with the classical guitar... hahaha! Left handed guitarist and she's only 20! This goes down as a definite "Dev's pick"!

CIQ... I see the Queue

It's official now... The Old JB Customs is now closed! I repeat... it's now Closed! We the users are supposed to embrace the new CIQ!

Power la SGH 9323 J. Famous already!

Give it a few months and you won't see this guys (directing traffic) around anymore

As of late, I have been getting various emails and comments on the latest Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ). This 'mammoth' project has caused a mammoth headache in terms of jams due to road diversions and is a major contributer to pollution in JB city and for what... I don't know!

Now, I know there are those with their own preferences and all; some prefer the old one while others like the new one better.

For those who like the new one, I understand your feelings. At least you don't see the whole place (walls included) covered in soot! Give it some time, my friend! Hahaha. The soot is going to make a comeback... hahaha!

Some prefer the old customs due to its sentimental value. After all, it has been in operation for 41 years. For me, it's not so much the sentiments but the practicality! Nobody checks the passports! You just flash and go... (get it...? touch 'n go... flash 'n go) Of course I mean flash your passport and nothing else... hahaha! (You're so cheeky!)

Wah... are they acting or something?

For the new one, there's a super high-tech 'autogate' that is supposed to speed up the immigration process but sadly it malfunctions more than it actually functions! That's just for those who opt for public transport! For those driving, guess what? MR. J is still there, worse than ever! Yup... you guessed it. It's still JAMMED like CRAZY.

The familiar sight... Same same la...

So how do you come to terms with this mammoth project...?

Golda Meir

I'm currently reading this book called 'Golda' by Elinor Burkett.



For those who don't know who Golda Meir is, she's the first female Prime Minister of Israel, the third female Prime Minister in the world and the first female PM who got the post without any family connections!



She is one of the founders of Israel; signed its Declaration of Independence and is one of the most respected women in the world with contemporaries such as David Ben-Gurion, Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon.

She was a classic rag to riches story but remained true to her cause to the very end! She became Israel's Prime Minister at the age of 71 and led Israel in the midst of turbulent times of her era. Most of the time, she was the only woman in an old boys' club!



One look at her and you're reminded of your grandmother. Her image was perfect. the sensible shoes, frumpy dresses, swollen ankles typical to old people, her old-school handbag and her favourite Chesterfield cigarettes that were ever present with her with the hospitality of heaping food at you manipulates you into obedience! She is so good at foreign policy and her diplomacy skills so potent that she outmaneuvered Nixon and Kissinger at their own game of realpolitik!

I love her passion and tenacity to defend her homeland from skirmishes and enemies around. Her energy and stamina at that age is amazing for a leader of a nation.

I definitely recommend this book to anybody who loves to draw lessons and inspiration from others!

Sesame Seed... Sesame Street

I was at Marina Square and guess who's in town? The guys from Sesame Street!

Cookie Monster, Ernie, Bert and Elmo super emo rocks! I grew up with these guys and it's really cool to see that 20 years later, they are still bringing joy and laughter to millions of kids worldwide! Kids were responding, singing and dancing together with them... simply amazing!

These guys never age, never change, they look and sound the same... talk about age defying puppets... they have found the answers to eternal youthfulness! Cosmetic products have got to learn from them... the fountain of youth flows at Sesame Street with sesame seeds!

My favourite characters have always been Bert & Ernie (Ernie especially), Count Dracula and Cookie Monster. Ernie tops them all! Funny guy... very witty as well.

I am beginning to ask myself why is there a post on cartoons and the like every now and then! I guess there is always a part of me that's too zany to deny!

Michael Jordan vs CEO John Rogers

Many of you know that one of the sports that I'm reasonably good at is basketball. Well, to tell you the truth, it is probably the only sport I can say that I have a form of confidence playing.

The person responsible for the love of the game is none other than Michael Jordan, His Airness himself. Why am I blogging about Jordan...? You will find out soon enough...

I still remember staying up late on Friday nights watching NBA games aired on RTM 1 (nobody watches RTM 1 apart from this show... hahaha). My friends and I would copy the moves and talk about the game the next day especially if it's a game that features Jordan.

So when I stumbled upon this video of MJ in his basketball camp for CEOs and high flyers called "School of Flight", I thought it was funny. It's about this CEO "smoking" Jordan on the court. Of course, his airness has yet to turn on the heat but it was funny with Damon Wayans (Wayans' brothers) making jokes at Jordan being outsmarted in his own turf...

Check out the video!

Modern Rock

Hi there! Yup... I'm back... again! The Return from the Dead Part II. Sorry, no lame excuses this time, just very solid, justifiable reasons... it's the economic recession! Hahaha!

This is the first post for november; a far cry of the consistency that used to be in days past! Anyways, I do have something interesting to share... as always... (*take a bow... if I was wearing a top hat, *take a bow, hats off).

I just rediscovered my passion for the music which I used to listen to when I was in High School. The genre I was into those days is Modern Rock. My super super favourite of the time was this singer called Alanis Morissette.



Her international debut album, Jagged Little Pill is the highest selling debut album by any artist ever! I would blast her music from my hifi set at home after school, at night, when I'm studying... truly classic!

So for those who have no idea whatsoever on Alanis, here is a taste of her brand of music:



Alanis Morissette - Ironic


This one is called Hands in Pocket


You Oughta Know

Another band that spat out anthems for the generation is none other than Oasis. My favourite one is of course 'Don't Look Back in Anger'



So there you have it... my High School songs... actually, some of the high school songs which fall into the category of modern rock.

Of course, this was just one of the phases in my growing years. I have yet to show you the Rap and hip hop stuff which I used to listen to. Maybe, I'll show you guys one of these days... just maybe!

Enjoy your weekend people! Enjoy the MV as well!

I'm a Dim Sum Dolly-man

Recently I discovered an awesome place to eat dim sum in Singapore. Awesome... because:

1. It tastes good

2. It is affordable compared to the other high-end joints

3. It has been around since the 60's

4. Wong Lilin (my favourite Singapore actress a long time ago) ate there

5. Some other celebrities ate there as well

6. The restaurant belongs to my friend, Earnest's grandparents

7. I say it is good... (being the fussy pot that I am)

So there you have it; 7 good reasons why you should visit:

Swee Choon Tim-Sum Restaurant (Air-Conditioned... but if you're the back alley sort, there's also back alley seating)
187/189/191, Jalan Besar, Spore 208882
6pm-10am except Sunday and Public holidays.

It's situated opposite New World Centre.

Let me show you some of my recommended dishes in the house:


The siu mai is really quite good. The har kau (sorry for the terrible pin yin) is good as well. The carrot cake is also a chef's reccomendation.


The xiao long pao is my personal favourite. The soup overflows from the inside and it's really very juicy... *I'm hearing strange noises from my tummy now. This is definitely a must-have!


This dumpling in dried chili sauce thingy is also very delicious. I like it a lot. It was my first time trying out wanton made in such a style.


This is thus far the weirdest Chinese dish I've tasted. What you are witnessing right now is the Chinese Roti Canai (Prata... in some translations). It's called "Spring... something... something... I can't remember... Sorry. Maybe you can try asking them for the Chinese Prata... hahaha. It tastes good... really... even though it's Chinese...!


The Jelly Cheese Cake was my choice of dessert. It's good. I liked it!


For the more adventurous sort, you can try the Pandan Glutinous Ball with Red Bean Paste. I'm not a big fan of Pandan, Red Bean and Glutinous stuff so this was definitely a no-go for me but based on the reviews from my friends who were with me, they were singing praises for this dish!Go ahead and try it.


I ordered a simple "noodle in oil and sauce" and allowed the dim sum to be the highlight of my dinner so there's nothing fancy about my noodles!

Overall, it was a good experience! Now don't go around comparing this to Ipoh Dim Sum or Crystal Jade. They are different in nature. If you're looking for something tasty and affordable in Singapore, this is the place to head to!


Do share with me your experiences when you visit the place and let me know what you think!

The Complexity of Life...

Hi Guys!

Finally, I'm back to scribble something on my blog! Really sorry for the long time off. I've been extremely busy the past one and a half months and I'll get busier the next two months... hahaha. Oh yeah... for those still wondering... I'm not dead... still alive and breathing helium... hahaha!

Today I made a decision to stop giving excuses and just start doing something about the blog.

To give you a little update, I just upgraded my room. I got myself a table and a bed side lamp from IKEA. There's nothing interesting about this story except for its complexity and how much trouble it gave me. I got a table and lamp,reached home and unpacked it...







I started with the table...



... and yes, the table legs (sold separately...) are called Vika Curry. They might as well call it Chicken Curry... hahaha.

As I opened and read the manual, I realized I needed a Philip Screwdriver (Flower head for those unfamiliar with the term Philip's head).



So I decided to move on to the lamp and started reading the manual for that...



For those of you who don't understand Polish...



Yup... I needed a correct screw driver for the given screw and I didn't have in my hand a Philip Screwdriver or any screwdrivers for that matter...

I decided to put the project on hold until I got myself a screwdriver.



I managed to borrow a screwdriver the next day and continued on with the project that was shelved for a day.

I started off with the lamp and it was a success.




This picture is for aesthetic value... hahaha!

However, in the process of fixing the lamp, I began to get this suspicious feeling that the screwdriver is going to give way... and it did! I fixed one leg and after that the screwdriver refused to grip the screw!

Why?



Simply because the 'flower' head had 'withered' and could no longer grip the screw...

The table was left stanbding with just one leg for another day. I got myself a proper, new, bought it myself, Philip Screwdriver and fixed that one-legged table for good!



I see no point in showing the picture of the table for all the hassle it has put me through... Anyways, it's white in colour and it stands with four legs... hahaha!

There you have it... the complexity of life...! I know... the title can be a little misleading. Sorry if you were looking for answers on world peace, solving hunger problem and widespread poverty... I'll have to deal with these matters on a more serious note one of these days... Till then, have a great week!

Selamat Hari Raya

Selamat Hari Raya everybody! Maaf Zahir Batin! I would expect that most people would be travelling and heading back to their respective hometowns for Malaysians. For Singaporeans, it's going to be a one day break to spend time relaxing with family friends! Either ways, it's going to be fun!

I don't have much to offer to you during this Raya festive period. I was really cracking my head on what would be the best Raya gift to all my readers, so I came up with a brilliant gift for everybody!

Since there's going to be a whole great deal of feasting, feasting and some more feasting of such delicacies such as:




Ketupat


Lemang


Rendang

After eating so much, I am concerned about all that excess calories you have accumulated! You need to exercise!

Exercising needs a lot of motivation and one good way to get yourself motivated in the gym is having a great music playlist to pump yourself up for your workout! There... you have guessed it! My Raya gift is I'm going to share my gym music playlist with you so that you're going to be motivated to hit the gym hard!

What do I have on my playlist?

1. 50 Cent - In Da Club
2. POD - Alive
3. Daddy Yankee - Gasolina
4. Eve feat Swizz Betz - Tambourine
5. Chris Brown - Forever
6. JLo - Get it Right
7. Cassie - Is it you?
8. Michael Jackson - Jam
9. Kanye West - Stronger
10. Cherish feat Yung Joc - Killa
11. Eminem - Lose Yourself
12. Bombfunk MCs - Freestylers
13. Neyo - Miss Independent
14. Nelly feat Fergie - Party People
15. Fort Minor - Remember the Name
16. Limp Bizkit - Rollin'
17. Prodigy - Smack my ***** up
18. Prodigy - Breathe
19. Moby - Bodyrock
20. Murphy Lee - What da hook gonna be?
21. POD - Boom

My personal favourites that really get me going is

• Fort Minor - Remember the Name
• Limp Bizkit - Rollin'
• POD - Alive
• Daddy Y?ankee - Gasolina
• 50 Cent - Daddy Yankee

Let us know what is your preference when it comes to gym music.

Sentosa Island with Dev

I went out with some friends to Sentosa today! I did a lot of photo taking with my camera so here goes... the sites and scenes of Sentosa. I'm minimizing words... let the pics (and the captions) do the talking. (Readers screaming from behind the screen: "Shut up and get on with the pictures...!")

Ok... ok... I get the point!

How do you know you're in Sentosa? Signboards is one way...

... or even these tiny canoes or kayaks... (I think I'll go with canoes)... you'll always know when you're in Sentosa!

My friends told me that it's fun... didn't try it though!

Now this is the real deal... the sun, the sand and the sea!

I love the sea a lot. I used to say that my name, Dev in Gaelic means "lover of the sea". I was about to type that out but I decided to check first and to my horror of horrors, 'Dev' does not mean "lover of the sea" anymore. Hahaha. I checked it out when I was 13 years old... and I've been living 12 years of my life with that definition. The guy who did that website must have simply made up a "mystical" meaning to the name!

What a shocker?!! Instead, I found out that my name, Dev in Gaelic means "poet" and in Bengali/Sanskrit means "divine/deity"... hahaha!

Ok... enough of side table talk... I am not going to steer away from the topic anymore...

We played beach soccer and volleyball but somehow or rather, volleyball seemed to be the favourite choice for most of them!

The guys hanging out with Eric giving his "I kill you" look!

And guess who I bumped into at Sentosa? Vic... yup, what a small world! It's been some time since we actually met so it was great to see her again! Fancy meeting her at Sentosa of all places.

Being the friendly guy that I am, I approached these two gentlemen to snap a picture of their tattoo... The Tattooist... Muahahahaha... I skin color you!

Talking about colours, I caught a glimpse of a very colourful bird that most of you guys know about...

Yes, the peacock! Walking proudly and parading itself, I wished I had a camera with greater focus and zoom! *Think National Geographic quality shots.

I took many more shots but I think I'll upload and dump them on my Facebook! I think they are not too bad shots... let me know what you think!