SIngapore Arts Festival - A Walk to Remember (Part 2)

Annalakshimi - pay as you eat!

Annalakshimi is an Indian Vegetarian Restaurant dedicated to serving, loving and giving back to its community. In fact, the restaurant is manned by volunteers who generously give their time to cook, clean and serve the hoards of diners who pass though their doors. Their only policy? Eat what you wish and give what you feel! How awesome is that? I love the concept in its entirety! 

The evening began in typical fashion - getting lost. But to be fair, this time, it was also Jacob's doing because he walked so surely ahead of us; we followed blindly. Opps! As it turned out, a woman's intuition (specifically Meili's) is much more powerful than a man's (specifically Jacob's) percepts and soon we were tucking into delicious curries. 

Apart from the food, which was really delicious (I liked the curries best; Ritesh says its comparable to the food in South India!) we also had a good time getting our fortunes told - this was perhaps the most insane part of the evening! 

Ritesh himself knows a little about palm reading while Rod and his friend (I'm soooo sorry, I forgot your name!) know a thing or two about numerology. Apparently, my whole being is base on the number 4 (which makes me a planner), while Jamie's number is 9 (which makes her a magnet for success!). 

Thank you everyone! :)

Peranakan Food - a closer look

I'm a glut! And that is why no diet plan ever works on me - not even the ones which purport to the be the most effective. ;) I can't help raving on and on about food. So here's another food-related post. I hope you folks are hungry! 

These are not just ANY Peranakan dishes, these are THE FIVE DISHES Jamie and I hold in very high regard. 

So to all Peranakan restaurants out there, you had better had your act together because you wouldn't want to have cranky Jamie and I cussing and swearing on wasted 'stomach space' after a meal at your restaurant. 

Chap Chye also known as Nonya mixed vegetables. This is pretty simply to cook - Vermicelli, gingko nuts, black fungus, mushrooms and cabbage. 

This is the single dish that in my opinion defines Peranakan cuisine - Ayam Buah Keluak - lots of hard work to mark, savory and ultimately delicious. The Buah Keluak (black nut) has to be cracked, it's flesh pounded and then stuffed back into the nut. 

Spicy Assam Fish - I didn't even know this was considered Peranakan food. I love it anyway! Did you know that many Asians believe fishermen should never ever flip the fish over because it brings them bad luck? Even today, many people who work in the marine industry prefer to remove the bone once done with one side of the flesh rather than flip it over! 

Kueh Salat  - this two layered cake is Jamie's favourite! But she's picky like that :P  So guys, only get her the ones from Bangawan solo! 

My favorite - the onde onde is one of the most fattening desserts in existence. These are panda-flavoured glutinous rice balls sprinkled with coconut on the outside and seasoned with a little salt. You will find gula Melaka hiding right inside.  It's such a joy to eat this lovely dessert - very much like Kinder Bueno ;)

Don't leave Singapore without trying these goodies! 

Ready for popiah?

 Hey guys!

Are you excited?

 I am!

I took some pictures of our "popiah and pizza area" just so if anyone gets lost, they would know what to look out for.

We could not reserve a function room, so we had to settle for a BBQ pit instead! But the fantastic part is it's only a few steps away from the pool! :D

Our BBQ pit is PIT B. (Yes, But we WILL NOT be having any BBQ - just popiah and pizza!) 

It's really simple to get here from Lorong Chuan MRT station. If you look closely, behind the pit, way in the background behind the cars, there's a huge concrete structure - that's Lorong Chuan MRT station. 

So basically, you just get out of the station, cross the road, walk through the guard house and you're here! 

Lorong Chuan is a really tiny station on the newly built circle line. It is only one stop away from Bishan interchange. If you choose to take the escalator all the way up, turn right till you see the guardhouse. If you choose to take the life up to the concourse level and then another lift/escalator, turn left till you see the guardhouse.

The name of the condominium is "The SpringBloom"

If the guard stops you, say you are here for the popiah party at BBQ pit B.

He might need you to fill in some form with your personal particulars since this is a residential estate. 

When you get through the guard house, turn right, and you'll see the pit!

If you still find yourself lost, 

call either Jamie or myself.

we'll be sending out our contact numbers nearing the date via e-mail. 

So watch that!

The Pool Deck is right above! :)

[Left side of the picture] 

I love this shot so I just had to include it! :)

a sneak peak of our pool! :) 

the evening light was beautiful and I could not resist sneaking in a few more shots!

That's me! :)

xoxo

see you there soon!

If you have not RSVP-ed yet,

DO SO NOW!!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=176381565757159

Some fantastic festivals of the world (July)

As we celebrate gastronomical delights at the annual Singapore Food Festival in Singapore this month, let's not forget the other amazing festivals around the world. Of course there are TONS (July seems to be THE month for festivals!) but I'm just going to highlight some of the more interesting ones :)

Festival of San Fermin

When: July 6
Where: Pamplona, Navarre, Spain

Supposedly Spain's most famous fiesta, the festival of San Fermin, (or the Pamplona Bull Run) is a week-long colourful, riotous celebration involving the running of the bulls, bullfighting and other traditional folkloric events. During this San Fermín festival week, the bulls are let loose in the streets every morning and they run from various points to the bullring, while thousands of brave (and crazy??!) men run alongside them! That truly must be a sight to behold! Word has it that every few years, one of these spunky runners end up dead!

Me thinks this would be a fascinating festival to visit! I'm sure Liz would agree! Just gotta stay out of a bull's way! :)

credits: boston.com

Looks fabulously exciting!!! woot!

Balaruc-le-Vieux Medieval Festival

When: July 15th to 17th

Where: Balaruc-le-Vieux, France

Always wanted to experience life as King Arthur or Robin Hood did? Now you can! I've always wanted to visit a Medieval Festival, watch some jousting, medieval dancing, music and drama! And where else would you find knights in shining armour on horseback?

Not exactly a Knight in shining armour..but what the heck :p

Gion Matsuri

When: July 9

Where: Kyoto, Japan

Japan holds a very special place in my heart, and I've always loved Kyoto so I definitely had to include this :)  The Gion Matsuri, or festival of Yasaka Shrine, is easily the most famous festival in Japan. It is celebrated throughout July and two of the most popular events are the Yamaboko Junko (a procession of floats on July 17th) and Yoiyama (evening festivities when the streets are closed to traffic and come alive with food and drink vendors...yummy!). The floats are known to be huge and impressive, and definitely worth a trip to Kyoto, especially if you love Japanese food and culture (like me!)

credits: Virtual tourist

Planning to visit this festival? Don't forget to check out this Kyoto Guide!

Circus City Festival

When: July 12-23

Where: Peru,  Indianapolis, U.S.A.

Always wanted to run away to join a circus? Did you know that you actually could? :)

Affectionately known as "The World's Greatest Amateur Circus", young circus enthusiasts volunteer to train and present performances during the Circus City festival which occurs for 10 days in July each year. It features rides, games, food, entertainment, arts & crafts and much much more and highlights include the parade and of course, the circus performances featuring juggling, unicycles, trapeeze and highwire acts! This is truly old school circus stuff that you read about in Blyton books!! How lovely :)

                                          

                                                                                      credits: Perucircus.com

Now if only we had cool festivals like that in Singapore! For now, we'll just have to settle for the Food Festival, but next year...who knows :)

Love,

Jamie & Liz

4th of July Celebrations in Singapore!

The wonderful thing I really love about Singapore is that we celebrate just about everything - the Oktoberfest, St Patrick's Feast, Dragon Boat festival, just name the festival/event and someone out there is probably organizing something.

Opps! I just realize that today is Canada day, isn't it? Well we Singaporeans like the really BIG festivals, dont' we? I mean is Canada even a country anyway? :P

One of my favourite parts from South Park - the movie!

I'm just joking! Jamie and I really love Canada! I would trade my life here for a life in Canada if I could!  I ADORE CANADA! Canada was where Jamie and I saw the Northern lights for the first time in our lives and where we attended out first festival together (the winter carnival in Quebec). And the food, my, my, absolutely delicious, fresh produce... and don't get me started on the charming waiters I wouldn't mind tipping and tipping and tipping just to have him come to our table again. 

Anyway, here's a picture to prove just HOW MUCH we enjoyed ourselves in Canada! 

Jamie and I enjoying ourselves in Fort Mcmurray (known as the armpit of Canada!) If we liked Mcmurray so much, what more the rest of Canada? :)

But now that Canada day is almost over, here's the next big thing to look forward to, the fourth of July of course! The American Association of Singapore (now, now, is there even a Canadian Association of Singapore? :P) is organizing am Independence Day celebration in Sembawang - FREE OF CHARGE! THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS!

Join In The Festivity, even if you are Canadian! 

Have a good weekend everyone! 

Don't forget, the promotion at the Peranakan museum promotion runs till 3rd July 2011 (that's Youth day by the way! :)

xoxo

liz & Jamie

This time, the men GET it!

Guess what folks, since we are in the spirit of all things Peranakan, Jamie and I stumbled upon a wonderful offer we know you just can't reject ... especially if you of the MALE species!

The Peranakan Museum has this really awesome promotion ending on 3rd July where guys get to go in for FREE! No strings attached, you don't have to pay a penny! Accompanying ladies I'm afraid will have to pay $3 for entry into the museum. But that is still half the usual entry charge.

But you know what?  I say, get the guy and make him pay for your ticket! It doesn't matter who GETS it, it's who pays for it that counts, right ladies? :)

love,
liz and Jamie