2012 February « Xuan's Howdy Days

Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium

27 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

Embark on an exciting journey to discover the Southeast Asia’s maritime trade between the East and the West from the 9th to 19th century. Featuring more than 400 objects, the Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium is the first and only museum in Singapore dedicated to showcase the history of ancient maritime trade.

- MEMA

Marvel at Admiral Zheng He’s massive Treasure Ship (Bao Chuan) and learn about his epic voyages from China to the ‘Western Ocean’. Check out the ports of call, the exotic bazaars (Souks) and cultural emporium which Admiral Zheng He and other Asian explorers visited along the Maritime Silk Route.

- MEMA

If you have one hour to spare and yet, do not know what to do if this is “x” trip to Sentosa. Can always drop by the newly opened MEMA (though I am more looking forward to the opening of the aquarium)

Each station is divided into the different countries that the sailors might have passed and the merchandise that they had traded.

I was pretty amazed that Giraffes and Rhinos were actually shipped then by this life size replica. However my favorite adventure from the MEMA would be the typhoon theater. A 360 degrees theater which you would be taking on a stormy and doomed voyage to the bottom of the sea due to the wrath of the sea. I almost thought I was flying in the sky and sinking into the deep abyssal of the ocean.

It had been some time since I could take artistic shots

Since I visited during the CNY, there was the Sentosa flower show but it was thronging with people so I could barely took photos with people walking in and out and pushing.

At least there were a few decent photos.

All types of dragons were spotted all over since it was the dragon year.

In the mood for love?

Hope you all had a great CNY and Valentine’s Day

Address:
8 Sentosa Gateway, Resorts World Sentosa

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What is your CNY routine?

24 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by Xuan-er in Baking/Cooking, Celebrations

Do you have any Chinese New Year routines that you just follow it annually that it had become a part of you that you would feel it to be missing if you miss it?

Waking up to some sweet ginko and dried longan soup to sweeten up the new year for you.

Steamed yam to signified good luck. I love dipping hot steam yam into dark soy sauce chopped full of garlic (just steer away from me cos I may smell)

Yusheng tossing, definitely not for people who like to keep their tables clean as the tossing would definitely create a mess.

This is a new routine added, Japanese eat soba during their new year to signify the longevity. This year, we added this as we have our in house Japanese chef

I don’t visit the River hongbao annually but this is one place that I go on and off over the years.

Without fail, the fortune of god would always be in the centre

So did you have a great CNY?

Traditional Family CNY food

21 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by Xuan-er in Baking/Cooking

It is no wonder it is tough for me to lose weight

This is something of my family tradition. Meat rolls wrapped in the fatty pork’s stomach lining and steamed. The oil from the tissue would seep into the minced pork that was marinated with chopped water chestnuts, spring onions and carrots.

It is so delicious but a pity that it would only appear once a year at our table due to complicated washing and chopping procedure..

ps: what is the best is not the meat rolls for me but…….the tiny weeny bit of juice that seeped out from the process of steaming. Fragrant but non oily 2 teaspoons of steamed…juice…

I am already salivating just by writing this….will wait till 2013 for its appearance again.. >_<

This year’s CNY came by too fast

18 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by Xuan-er in Chilling out

The photos are almost a month late. Heee, life has been a little too busy on my side that the only thing I want to do when I get home every evening is to be a couch potato >_

I have always steered away from Chinatown during the CNY, as I don’t like to jostle with the crowd in our heat and humidity. However, there are always those days where you would do something for a change and bring 小白 out to see and snap the world.

This year’s Dragon year came a little too early, and hence so there is a public holiday drought for the whole February and March in Singapore.

Walking and jostling with the people does bring a little interest to me that Chinese New Year is not only about eating and making merry with your family and friends. It is also a times for you to get in touch with your Chinese roots.

The stall selling the preserved ducks and hams are still in that corner of Chinatown…..

4 digit numbers displayed out, the culture of Singapore (or maybe Malaysia too) Everything with 4 digits can be betted on with the Singapore pools. Did you win anything this year?

If we had a colder temperature, we would be having some plum blossoms too

Antoinette

14 Feb 2012 2 Comments

by Xuan-er in Chilling out, Food, SG Cafe Food

This quintessential Parisian pâtisserie and salon de thé will set the benchmark for the pastry and dessert scene not only in Singapore, but also in the region with her takes on time-honoured French classic desserts. While our restaurant promises a savoury celebration of Chef Pang’s culinary prowess with an excellent selection of classical regional French fare

- Website

Heard great stuff about this place so the army of us trodded there for our 1st gathering.

Recently, I have been intrigued by the French European design for dishes and furnishing The damsel in me is acting up?

Too many choices, that we can’t make up our minds

The famous macrons.

Strawberry short cakes, which is not short on ingredients

Do you want to bring the teddy piece back?

finally, settling down for some tea.

Although it was tea time but they serve all day breakfast too.

Beef stew, like mains are also on the menu

The rest of us, settled for the cakes…..

And for the not so hungry, some almond biscuits.

Address:
333 Orchard Road
http://www.google.com.sg/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Mandarin+Gallery&aq=&sll=1.316777,103.872158&sspn=0.145702,0.222988&ie=UTF8&hq=Mandarin+Gallery&t=m&cid=9520927375766576687&hnear=&z=14&iwloc=A&output=embed
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Les Merveilleuses de Ladurée

10 Feb 2012 2 Comments

by Xuan-er in Shopaholic

Image credits: Chronicles of Beauty Nerd

Recently, the packaging of this make up line caught my eye. I thought that Jill Stuart Make up was very princessy but these products from Ladurée just brought it up a notch higher by going more of the princessy elegance. This is a new cosmetics line launched in Japan in end January between Ladurée (yes, french delicate macrons) and Albion (Japanese make up company).

From the looks of the blog reviews and photos of ladies waiting in line to get their hands on this new make up makes me understand why they like to launch new brands or products in Japan. Apparently, there was even a lady who flew to Tokyo from Taiwan just to get her hands on these make up. (Well, Taipei is only a short 3.5 hours flight away from Tokyo so it could easily be a short weekend getaway for them too. This line is currently only available in Japan and expected to be sold in Europe and USA only in later 2012 or 2013.

blush
Image credits: Official Site

The top seller would of course be their star product: Blusher made into petal shape. Not only adds the color on your cheeks but such a beauty to be added onto your vanity table. Blush comes in 3 shades, refer to their site for the details.

Image credits: Trendy Girl

Close up of the petal blush. Of course, pretty things do not come cheap. The blush set of the casing and blush is 10500¥m which comes close to S$175 which is obviously not cheap to our weaker SGD.
Prices in JPY: Blush – 7350¥, Case – 3150¥

blush
But fret not, for their opening special (so these are limited edition). They have the miniature versions of the blushers which is more wallet friendly in my opinion. However, they would come housed in a printed box instead of the more intricately designed case for the full size blusher.
Prices in JPY: Mini blush – 3360¥

The main focus of the line is mainly their blusher – which comes in the petal shaped and the cream cheek base shaped like an egg in a cup. Powdered blusher housed in vintage looking casing and the face base items like concealor, foundation etc. Lipstick with a charm for their designs and a very nice looking cheek brush to go with your really nice (but expensive blusher)
Prices in JPY for the other items.
Cream Cheek Base – 5 shades, 4410¥
Pressed Cheek Color – 20 shades, ¥3900¥ for refill, 1575¥ for case and brush
Lipstick – 7 shades, 4410¥
Cheek Brush- 6300¥
Refer to their official site for more details.

I would be travelling to Tokyo in the last weekend of March. I am willing to do custom purchase (CP) for anyone interested in this cosmetic line. Please leave a comment or email me for details of this CP. Items can be collected in Singapore in the first week of April or mailed internationally for overseas requests.

Hide Yamamoto

04 Feb 2012 2 Comments

by Xuan-er in Food, SG Japanese Food

Appetiser… in 3 selections

Squid sashimi – seasoned with salt and sesame oil

Shirako…Gasp!!! It is actually fish sperm sacs…yup, you didn’t read wrongly…male fish sperm…how did this exotic item taste? It got a little getting use when I heard the word “sperm” but I would say this tasted “fishy”?