Filming during a Cooking Show.

I never knew exactly how Food TV works until I participated in a full scale production of a cooking show late last year. Looking through the photos, it was tedious. Here's one photo.



This was the dish I prepared and plated (Sous Vide Bresse Chicken will Corn done multiple ways - Sauteed Sweet Corn and Pop Corn Dark Muscovado served with Barley Risotto) and the cameraman was taking video from all angles of the dish.

If you want to watch how the cooking was like, head on to the Bosch Dream Kitchen Competition at: http://boschdreamkitchen.com/cookOff.html

A game of Carrom

It's been a long time since I played or see anyone played Carrom.
It this already considered a traditional game? People don't see to play this now.
I wonder if it's available in electronic form in a tablet PC.;-)

This was at a Backpacker's Inn at Joo Chiat.
Called the BetelBox Backpackers.



Have you stayed in a backpackers inn? I have only stayed in one, a Youth Hostel in Australia.

If you are on a budget and visiting Singapore, let me recommend Betel Box.
Had a view of it the other day and it looks clean and good. You can find more into at www.betelbox.com

KTM Train on the Causeway

After the closure of the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, many people might think the KTM trains do not travel to Singapore anymore.

They still do! It just that it terminates at Woodlands.



The train was zooming past us as we were stuck in the Causeway Jam.
Waiting for the day that the Singapore MRT is connected to Johor Bahru!

Someone should really come up with flavours of Jam and name it the Causeway Jam, PIE Jam etc.
Doesn't that sound cool? LOL

View from the Causeway.....

View of Singapore as you enter via the Singapore-Johor Bahru Causeway.

You always get to take photos because of the traffic jams.



If you are not busy trying to switch your mobile network from the Malaysian telco to Singapore telco, you get to see the following:

- The water pipes beside the causeway.- Telegraph wires above the water pipes. I think they are telegraph are they?
- Senoko Power Station at Woodlands at the far end.
- Beautiful skies
- The water from the Straits of Johor.

Cactus Flowering

The wife and I were walking around, trying to clock up steps on our Fitbit. We noticed that cactus in the neighbourhood near my in-laws place are flowering.



We are not sure why, but the many houses with cactus plants are all flowering!
The MIL says the household is in luck. We think it's because it's Chinese New Year coming and it's some sort of seasonal thingy.

The flowers are beautiful aren't they?

Gardens By The Bay Night View

A friend was visiting Singapore and we met her at her hotel.



Such a magnificent view of the Gardens by The Bay.
Those are the SuperTrees!



The Domes!

Anyone been to both the Gardens by the Bay domes and also the Eden Project in UK?
Which is more interesting?

Hot Food Vending Machine in Singapore

Spotted a new kind of vending machine in Singapore. It's a Hot Meal vending machine!

It's located at the Central Forum at the National University of Singapore.  It's where there's a stretch of around 10 different kinds of vending machine, all in a single row.



I am not sure how it works. I did not try it. Maybe one of these days I will try it!
(not because of how the food will taste, but how the machine works!)



There's a touch screen where you can order your meals.
There are 4 different meals on sale now. Pasta with sauce, Fried Rice, Hor Fun and Curry Chicken.

I am just curious to find out, how the Hor Fun will turn out!
I saw the email address on the machine and googled Jiayen. It seems they manufacture frozen food and their products can be found in supermarkets.

The techie in me wonders how the food is heated up. I suspect it will be microwaved. On the screen you can see that the food in the machine is stored at minus 14.2 degree Celsius.  Wow, how cool!

Would you buy Hot Food from Vending Machines? 

Big Frames on the Sidewalk

Just could not help snapping this!

Two huge frames with James Bond and Marilyn Monroe posters along a sidewalk that had been red-carpeted!



Not sure what the occasion is, not interested to find out too.
Just trigger happy and took a shot of it.

Interesting things do happen around Singapore.

One Blue Day....

Happen to wake up early before 7 am and saw the skies were so blue and mist covering Bukit Timah Hill.



The foot of the transmission tower is the highest natural point in Singapore at 164 metres.

The 3 tallest building in Singapore share the same height at 280 metres. (that's because there's a height restriction of buildings in the CBD, if not, I think buildings in Singapore will be double the height of Bukit Timah hill)

Retrolicious in Tiong Bahru

I was walking around Tiong Bahru the other day and took a photo of this.

It's one of those retro buildings, and it's what caught by eye was the "Block Number Sign".



It reminded me of the Chinese New Year sign that people hang up all over the country now!
Don't you think so?

Christmas Reflections

A slighter delayed post, it was on draft since before Christmas last year.



Orchard Road Christmas decoration and reflections on the glass windows.

Supertrees

I was recently as the Gardens by the Bay (again.)

Everyone never fails to whip out their camera or even phone cameras to take a photo or two of these magnificent trees.



There are probably the only trees in the garden that won't grow any taller!
But they will grow side ways (because of the plants).
Just like humans when they reach a certain age.
haha!

Canon EOS M Lens Cover

Cover of my new toy.
A present from the wife.



Do people always take photos of the lens cap when they get a new camera?

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hall, Singapore

Did you know there's a Mahatmas Gandhi Memorial Hall in Singapore?
It's located at Race Course Road.



The original building was opened in 1953.

It has been conferred conservation status on 30 April 2010 and this current refurbished building was opened in January 2011.

If you would like to read more, you can refer to Singapore's National Library's Infopedia.

Clementi Road Jam

Maybe someone should make marmalade or conserves and name it the Clementi Road Jam.
The 'Clementi Road Jam' is already famous, someone should capitalize it!



School has started today and the roads are back being jammed again.
It does look like a long car park doesn't it?

Security Tokens for Banks Transactions in Singapore

It's the first day of the year and was reminded via email by one of the banks below to remind us that from 1 Jan 2013, the new Security Token Card will be effective.

I thought I will post a sample of the different security token cards by different people at home.  Everyone at home banks with different banks and we all have different tokens!



The most interesting or rather innovative one is by Standard Chartered!
The ATM Card itself is the security token! The card is the still the same size as the regular card. Got it in Nov last year. (Yes, the reminder was from Standard Chartered) If only the other banks will do the same. It's such a clever idea!

Most of the cards have the same function and you press the 'on' button and it gives you a 6 digit code.  HSBC's card has a little twist to it though. When you press 'on', you are prompted to enter a 6 digit PIN first before it gives you the code. Does that makes it more secure?

Does a longer code makes it more secure? Maybank's previous token generated a 8 digit number, but the new one follows the other bank's and gives a 6 digit number now.

If you are a techie, the gadgets are E-Signature Digipass 270 by Vasco.
Standard Chartered's made by NagraID.

Most people leave their cards at home. It's good that the banks still allows SMS OTP for transactions with 'less risk' according to the banks.

Wishing everyone a safe and prosperous 2013!