Pics from the Bird Park

O Sweet Victory!

I am estatic. I finally beat my Dad at Pool! :) Ok, more preciely, I drew with him. Two games a piece. Some of you might think, "Che, what's the big deal, I could beat the my old man at pool any day!" But my case's different. My dad's a full time, retired, pool fanatic. He plays every day and takes lessons - his secret dream is probably to be a pool champion at the age of 62! So, i'll take a draw anytime, don't you think? Great accomplishment for me. :)

It's late... will upload the pictures for the bird park and night safari soon.

Bird Park versus Night Safari

Ok. Here's the deal... In the my humble rating of Jurong Bird Park versus Night Safari .... I would give Jurong Bird Park 2 big thumbs up! :)

I took the opportunity to visit both the Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park during this long weekend. I am not a big fan of the whole zoo thingy but An and I hosted some guests from Japan and they wanted to visit the Night Safari. So we headed there on the 20th of April, the eve of Good Friday. We reached the Night Safari at around 8:30pm and it was jam packed. *sheesh* Here's a breakdown of our itinery. Note the amount of time we spent waiting!!!

8:30 - 8:45pm - Waited to get admission ticket. Admission costs $32/pax (including tram ride) $22 excluding tram ride
8:45 - 9:00pm - Short trail
9:00 - 9:30 - Waited to get admitted into "Creatures of the Night" show
9:30 - 10:00 - Watched "Creatures of the Night" show
10:00 - 10:30- Waited to get onto tram
10:30 - 11:15 - Tram ride

My advice to anyone wanting to visit - go early to beat the crowd. The night safari opens at 7:30pm. It really saves you the hassle of waiting. You need about 4 hrs to cover everything. The tram ride is enjoyable so it is worthwhile to pay the extra 10 bucks for it. You can give the creatures of the night show a miss if you are short of time. *YAWN*

Thankfully, not all is lost for tourist attractions in Singapore as my experience with Jurong Bird Park was a surprisingly pleasant one. I am really not a fan of birds (no pun intended). This is especially after a mynah ate from my plate when i turned my back to get a drink in my secondary school tuckshop. But, all in all, i must say that I really enjoyed walking around the park, eating my sandwhich and simply soaking in the whole serenity of the place. I also managed to expand my bird vocabulary and now reluctantly concur that not all birds are as irritating as mynahs.

If you are intending to go the visit, do give yourselves about 6hours. Take your time and go explore the place by foot. (there is really no point getting a panorail ticket). Entrance is $18. Do not miss the Lory's Loft and the largest man-made waterfall!

Here are some of the pictures from the trips, mainly from the bird park. Didn't get so many of the Night Safari - no flash photography and it was pitch dark. ENJOY!

Tom Yummy!

We went to a pretty good Thai place on Tuesday evening. Being a thai food fanatic (well, maybe more like an international food fanatic), I must say that this place serves very good thai food. The food is probably not as refined as some of the up-market Thai restarants here, but it is really authentic. The steam lemon Sea Bass is extremely good and very close to the one that my favourite Bangkok restaurant serves. YUMMY!



Upper left and lower right - Picture of beautiful sea bass before and after being attacked. :) Tom Yum was also good although i think it could me more shiok (spicier!). Nonetheless, I think this restaurant is a definite must try. "First Thai" is on 23 Purvis Street. It is a rather old shophouse with a quiant yet charming decor. It still has the green and white mosiac tile flooring - the one that you hardly find nowadays. oh yes, another plus - No GST and Service Charge!

From right to left: (An and I, Mom and Dad)

For Laughs

A MBA and a BE student go on a camping trip, set up their tent ,and fell asleep.

Some hours later, the BE wakes his MBA friend and says'Look up at the sky and tell me what you see.

The MBA replies, 'I see millions of stars.'

The BE asks, 'What does that tell you?'

The MBA ponders for a minute.

'Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, it's evident the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.What does it tell you?'

The BE is silent for a moment, then speaks.

'Practically...Someone has stolen our tent'.

'ENGINEERING = 100% COMMON SENSE'

Latte in the City

(Disclaimer: This post contains controversial views, proceed at your our discretion and read with a pinch of salt.)


I am writing from Dome at Parkway Parade. Having my usual caffe latte and just chilling out. The couple behind me is talking about their dog. Apparently, they are in a dilemma about what to do with their dog because he eats his own poop! EWE…. How gross is that?? I am awfully proud to have had a real smart doggie. Goldie would have had scored 180 if there was ever an IQ test for doggies. :) Somewhat like her owner, no? :P okok.. you can stop gagging now. Ewe… anyway, going to tune out of that conversation.



Honestly, I am stoned. Yesterday was a hectic day to say the least, my cheek muscles are starting to ache from all the smiling. T’was my sister in law’s wedding yesterday. I was supposed to wake up early this morning to accompany my mom to pay respects to my late grandfather because she had a weird dream about my late grandparents recently. Some bizarre one where she met my grandparents at the mrt station and both of them told her that they didn’t have a house to return to. (Yes, I know what you are thinking…. YES!! I tried to convince her that you can’t believe your dream 100% that’s why they call it “dream” not “reality” but, oh well, obviously I failed miserably). She hit the panic button and got my aunt to buy one of those paper made bungalows so that they can burn it for them. I really don’t buy this theory and I have stopped trying to explain to them that once things become ashes, they cannot mysteriously rise and form buildings, not even concrete, brick or stone. And besides, my mom and my grandma’s catholic!!! AARRRGHHHH….. Well, oft in life there are things that you will find audacious, even laughable, that you completely do not believe in but will just carry out. I know I comply to please and to maintain the peace. I am that sort of person, (ALMOST like a doormat, ALMOST bold and capitalized, thank you very much) I wanted to remind her to make sure that bungalow that she bought contains cable and wireless so that my grandparents can watch ESPN and surf the internet (that will definitely keep them from hanging out at mrt stations) but thought against it. Anyway, I really couldn’t peel my eyes open at 8am because I slept close to 4am last night. My spirit was willing but my body was weak. Ahhaha… So I called her to postpone. An and I got out of bed at around 10am. He had to reach Kaki Bukit at 11:30 am for his BCP. This BCP thingy is conducted once a year on Saturdays. It is meant to simulate a recovery process if there is ever a bomb at raffles city or something. Anyhow, I dropped by SP to collect some notes before dropping him at Kaki Bukit. This is how I landed up at Dome at Parkway.


Life’s good when you are sitting, sipping your coffee and watching the world go by. What else can you ask for? :)


Here are some random pictures from the wedding. I really like the one I took with the top view of the champagne glasses with the couple’s studio picture in the background. Someone was actually browsing the album and I happen to catch the moment at the right angle, how cool ah???? I really had a ball of a time snapping pics yesterday. Maybe I should learn photography (watch out Raymond :) ). Raymond was our wedding photographer and also Carine’s and Wei Leong’s photographer. He is really an excellent photographer/coordinator and a very nice lad. 100% recommended.




(An and I goofing around in the morning whislt waiting for the groom to arrive. We were trying to show off our wedding bands around our ring finger, how lame)







The Attan family plus Enju (Carine's friend whom flow from Italy to attend the wedding). Savouring the few last moments before she changes her name to Mrs. Tan Wei Leong. From left: Mom, Pappy, Carine, Enju, me and An.








Solemnization of Mr. and Mrs Tan Wei Leong by Brother Emanuel. Brother Emanuel also solemnized Mr. and Mrs Andrew Attan Lim King Ching on 02062007. :)









This is my fav shot of the bride. It was taken after the solemnization before the wedding dinner. Don't you just love the back of the dress?












My mom and mom-in-law posing for a picture before the dinner. (my mom hates this pic of her... but too bad... i own the site... HAHAHHA...)

This is one of my fav pictures of the evening. I figured that it is much easier to take pictures of stationary objects. I just love trying to capture things from different angles. The top view of the champagne tower with the couple's studio picture in the background.









Another picture of a stationary subject. This is a stand that was lining the center aisle. It was dotted with tealight candles.












After the dinner with Mauritian friends and relatives.

Vegetarian Bee Hoon, Roast Beef and Kalia

An's parents arrived at Changi T1 @11am on 8th March. We were barely on time! Phew! (last year we were late and left them waiting!!! OOOPPs :P) We did the amazing feat of squeezing 7 of pax into Smurf (my van). Imagine... 2 infront and 5 behind... Gosh. Anyway, we drove back to our place. An and I did pasta for lunch. Really swear by jamie oliver's recipe! We added a bit of chilli that An's dad made for that extra kick and i think it turned out pretty well. For dinner we attempted vegetarian bee hoon. Got the recipe from my mom. I think the secret is LOTs of garlic, onions and Miso sauce. Check out the Kalia that An's mom made! Absolutely Lovely. Want to learn this dish before she goes back to Mauritius.



(Back: Jon and Angel, An and I, Carine and WL
Front: Ma and Pappy)



This is the Kalia dish that i was referring to. It's really yummy. Somewhat like Briyani but not so oily. You can really taste the spices there's cumin, coriander, cinnamom, black pepper. Yum. :)