Singapore F1 Grand Prix

The first night race in history for F1 Grand Prix and it was held in Singapore! I couldn't be any more proud than being a Singaporean. From internet to newspaper, so many positive reviews on the way we organized the event. Even myself overhead some tourists giving thumbs up on how organize and smooth the way Singapore hosted the event.

I arrived pretty late (about 4pm), to avoid being under the sun the whole day. It was a night of excitement for me, with adrenalin pumping through my veins.

Last night's race had so many accidents. The joker of the night, Felipe Massa who was ahead of rival Lewis Hamilton at the time after 15 laps, was given the green light to leave the pits but the fuel hose was still attached as he accelerated away, spraying petrol and knocking over one of the pit crew. This comical error had him dearly, who had to settle being 13th after the race.

It was a miserable night for Ferrari with defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen ramming his car into the barriers with just four laps left. At the grand prix itself, I saw so many Ferrari fans wearing the red color Ferrari Polo tee. I could imagine their disappointment.

I'm a fan of little Lewis Hamilton. Last night wasn't his best performance. He started off from 2nd place, after the the first accident, came in 8th place and from there slowly climbed back up to 6th, 4th and finally finished off the race coming in the 3rd place.

And who would have thought that Spain's Fernando Alonso, who started 15th on the grid after a mechanical problem in qualifying, won his first race in a year at the Singapore Grand Prix last night.

Managed to take some pictures and made it into a slide show. Enjoy!~

What a difference a day make
"The race is lost. You can't overtake here and I'm starting from 15th, so I will be going out just to lap the track, but it's over already."
Race winner Fernando Alonso, after his car developed mechanical problems during qualifying on Saturday night.

"Fantastic. The first podium of the season and the first victory. I can't believe it right now, I need a couple of days to realise that we could win a race this year..."
Alonso, after claiming his first win of the seaon last night.

Reports from today's newspaper
Foreigners vowed to return next year, charmed by what they had seen. Said Briton Simon Crosse, 44: "This is my first visit, and I've been overwhelmed. I've been to about 15 other Grands Prix, and this is the best. The night atmosphere, the organisation, it was just fantastic."

The sport's supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, called Singapore the "jewel in the crown of F1".

Writing in London's Sunday Times yesterday, columnist and former race driver Martin Brundle called the Republic a "world-class venue". Of night racing, he added, "all of the senses are heightened, and the atmosphere...was electrifying".

Said championship leader Lewis Hamilton: "The most impressive thing for me is what an amazing job they have done here in Singapore to prepare the circuit. I think they did a tremendous job."

DBSK 4th Korean Album

Click to view "Mirotic" music video

Voted as 2008’s most anticipated group, Dong Bang Shin Ki (DBSK) has made a comeback with their 4th Korean album, after a 2-year break from "O" album! Successfully entering the Japanese market, after a year of extreme hardwork to top the Oricon charts, the boys had finally returned home to Korea. Over 300,000 copies of DBSK's new 4th album have been pre-ordered causing the official release date to be pushed back for two days to Sept 26, 2008.

“Mirotic” is the title track for DBSK from their new 4th album. Origins of the song are international. Danish songwriting team, Remee/Troelsen helped to write. The duo incidentially also had a hand in Boa’s new salaciously titled track, “Eat you up”. And Kenny Wormald, who has worked with Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Chris Brown will do the choreography.

The title is actually derived from the Chinese character or Hanja, “miro’ which means labyrinth and the English suffix “tic.”

I am totally in love with their new image. So drop dead gorgeous and handsome!!! Watch the music video and you'll know what I mean. *Drooling... ...

Erotic - English Lyrics
From the start
You were sweet & simply attracted to me
You'd stay always like that
You said when you first walked up to me
All the possibilities opened up
Oh~
What is love? What!
Right now it is red ocean
I'm breaking my rules again
You know it's getting boring?
You do get hurt a little bit
It's all right oh~

Chorus
You want me, you've fallen for me
You're crazy for me
You can't break out, I got you~
Under my skin
You want me, you've fallen for me
You're crazy for me
You are my slave
I got you~
Under my skin
*Repeat chorus

It nests in your head
The sharp stare it's not me
My unmoving chrome heart
This is your choice
Oh~
Flowing through your veins running
Through you are millions of my crystal
Finally the end of the transformation
This must be love?
Oh~

*Repeat chorus 2x

Rap
With a single kiss
The day revitalizing
A powerful pull
The second kiss
It sent a blow to your heart and it feels hot
Yeah~ I have you
You know you got it
Yeah~

Come on! Come on!
I got you~
Under my skin
In your dreams
I order you under my magic spell
You want to do it again
I got you~
Under my skin
My devils ride
You now don't have a place to breathe
Let's have fun now that
I have you~
Under my skin

*Repeat chorus 2x

Isetan Sale - September 25, 2008 (Thursday)

Despite the fact that I went to bed at almost 3am last night, I woke up at 9am this morning and by 11am I was already at Isetan Departmental Store. Today is the start of Isetan 3-day sale and for today only, members get to enjoy another 10% discount on all items except branded goods which is only 3%.

Since I was back from a shopping trip in Kuala Lumpur 2 weeks ago, I dare not spend too much today. Trust me, the amount I spent today as compared to previous Isetan sales are peanuts. I bought a pair of Fendi ballet pumps : S$266 (the pink is so lovely, really can't resist not buying it especially since it's on sale), Lancome cosmetics and skincare : S$176 (even gave me a free red color shoulder bag and mini travel size skincare products when you spend S$160), Aurora Superlight Umbrella : S$19 (cos the one I'm currently using is pretty old).

At the same time, not forgetting to visit Isetan's supermarket and spent a total of S$200 on groceries, all on imported Japanese food. So it's not surprising that tonight's dinner theme is Japanese cuisine.

What's On Menu Today

Ochasuke (seasoned konbu, dried mentaiko and seaweed)

Japanese salad (seaweed with Washoku dressing)

Sashimi (Aji, Ama ebi, Hotate)

Let's Cook - Terriyaki Salmon

::: INGREDIENTS :::
Salmon 260g
Oil 1tbs

::: TERRIYAKI SAUCE :::
Light Soy Sauce 2 tbs
Mirin 2 tbs
Riyorishyu 2 tbs (Japanese Cooking Wine)
Brown Sugar 1 tsp

1. Mix all the seasoning in a bowl and marinate the salmon for 30 minutes before cooking.
2. Heat the pan. Add in the oil. Pan fry the salmon for 2 minutes on each side (Do not throw away the sauce).
3. Add in the terriyaki sauce and let the salmon simmer till the sauce is thickened.
4. Ready to serve.

*Tips : You can substitute salmon with beef, chicken or pork.

September 23, 2008 - Tuesday

Kind of lazy to dish out something grand, a simple lunch and dinner for Regan today. Everyday is a challenge for me to cook something that will increase her appetite. I wonder is it because she is under my care that she is getting skinnier like me. I better do something before my sis starts to complain that I am not taking good care of her daughter.

::: Today's Menu :::
Lunch  : Salted egg, Chilled Tofu with Dark Soy Sauce, Kailan with Braised Pork
Dinner : Bak Kut Teh (pork ribs in Hokkien styel herbal soup)

Asylum @ Clark Quay

As part of the Grand Prix event, which will be starting next weekend in Singapore, the Singapore River is having "The Singapore River Festival 2008, 19 - 28 September".

Spanning a range of jazz notations and set amid the backdrop of the stunning skyline of Clark Quay, Urban Jazz Crossover promises soulful orchestration of artists, and features one of Japan's most talented jazz connoisseurs, quasimode.

We ended up having dinner at Asylum, due to the fact that from where we were sitting, we could see the performance clearly. The food was not fantastic, but the ambience and environment somehow made up for it.

Rating : 2.5/5

Kim Gary's Hongkong Cafe

I went to the one located at Vivo City. I prefer Kim Gary than many other Hongkong cafes here in Singapore. The food are not bad, and prices are pretty reasonable.

Here are some photos on what we had that day. Look at how Regan enjoyed her food and drink.

Rating : 3/5

ABC Market At Alexandra Road

For the whole day, I had only 2 pieces of biscuits and a cup of coffee. By the time I reached ABC Market for my dinner, I was famished!

There were so many things that I wanted to eat, and I ended up ordered way too much food for just the four of us. There were BBQ stingray, raw slice fish, raw cockles with black sauce, fermented black bean with whole pomfret, half Hainanese chicken, fishball soup, fried egg with radish, preserved vegetables with pork belly, and popiah.

 Somehow, we managed to finish up everything. All these food cost about S$55. Reasonable right?

Nectarie - A Dessert Affair

Nectarie, located at Clark Quay, is my favourite place for having desserts. The prices are surprisingly reasonable for the kind of ambience and quality.

I have tried almost everything in their menu and my favourites will be their Caramelized Banana Cake, Apple Crumble & Chocolate Raspberry Gateaux. Their cakes selection are not restricted to those listed in their menu. They do have new creations every now and then. The best way to not miss these creations would mean... going back regularly =]

I will definitely be going back REGULARLY!!!

Rating : 4/5

View Nectarie's Homepage

Traditional Charcoal Porridge

"Hey! I have free movie ticket passes which will be expiring tomorrow. I'll pick you up an hour later," sis said to me over the phone. After watching the movie "My Sassy Girlfriend", both my niece and sis watched "Wall-E" since I had already watched it, we had a late dinner at Ah Chang's Porridge. It is located next to Tiong Bahru market.

Sis kept on saying that the porridge was really good since they use charcoal and claypot to cook the porridge, giving it a slightly "burnt" taste. However, it was a disappointment that night since the main chef was not around and the apprentice was far from his standard.

Rating : 3.5/5

4 Days 3 Nights In Kuala Lumpur. SINFUL!!!

I'd been to KL for many times, this was my fifth time to KL. We travelled by Aeroline, a luxury coach carrier. Upper deck is where the seatings are, and lower deck is like a rest area for you to stretch yourself, and it even has a toilet. Once you onboard, they serve you food and drinks exactly the way as when you travel via airplane. I prefer to travel in this than airplane. It is much more of a hassle to board a plane etc etc...

2 days before we departed, I changed the hotel that we would be staying in KL. Instead of Mandarin Oriental, I picked a new hotel right smack in the shopping area, Bukit Bintang. The hotel opened in April this year. New isn't it? If you do plan to travel to KL, stay here. Price is reasonable, excellent location and most importantly, NEW! It is called The Piccolo Hotel. I requested for connectiong rooms, so that I could access to my parents' room easily.

This trip I also managed to meeet up with my ex-colleague who lives and works in KL, and not forgetting my god-bro who is currently studying in KL. During our 4 days stay, everyday was eating and shopping and nothing else. My damage is scary. I bought total of 3 pairs of shoes, 1 pair from Vincci (this is my cheapest purchase among all) and 2 pairs from Aldo. I also bought a tee from Mango, and not forgetting one from Mooks which is one of my favourite brands of tees. AND I FOUND A JUICY COUTURE BOUTIQUE AT PAVILION!!! I was so happy that I bought 2 tees from Juicy. Please do not ask me how much they cost. You will find me stupid to pay so much for just a tee. *Phoebe trying to justify herself in a weak voice... "But it's Juicy Couture you know and the flagship store in Singapore will only be opened early next year, 2009." >.<

Oh, and I bought a pair of Tiffany earrings too to add on to my collection of Tiffany accessories. I did not know that sending in for polishing is FOC in KL for in Singapore, they charge you S$10 for every silver item you send in for polishing. Those blood suckers!~ Anway, when I found out this piece of good news it wasn't any good news to me anymore for it was my last night in KL. I happened to be wearing a pair of earrings, necklace and bracelet from Tiffany for this trip but oh well... I guess just my luck.

The best has yet to come. The biggest and worst damage is none other than... ... um... ... my Cartier watch. Yup! You didn't read wrongly. Cartier!!! I have already owned one but greedy me not contented to own just 1 Cartier watch but must own 2? That watch costs me about S$6800. Gulp!~

Fickle Minded Me

Remember I mentioned about my new Crumpler camera bag which I bought yesterday? Well, I changed my mind on the one I bought. I managed to change for a bigger size one by paying additional $10. This one is called "5 Million Dollar Home". I wonder why they name these bags starting from the smallest camera bag "3 Million Dollar Home", "4 Million Dollar Home" and the one that I just changed to.

Comparing the the images in yesterday blog and today's, you can see that this is slightly bigger than the other one. Not much of a big difference, except more storage space both sides. This will allow me to have a slot for my extra lens, and the other for my camera cleaning kit.

Anyway, I haven't even started packing my stuff yet. I am feeling so lazy right now that I just feel like taking a lazy afternoon nap hehe... I will do so later tonight.Right now? Nap time!!!