Interactive Solvil Titus Advertisements at Bugis Bus stop

Advertisers are getting more creative in attracting the attention of their potential customers. Sometime back in July 2009, I saw this interactive advertisement for Solvil Titus at the bus stop next to Bugis Village.

See the two counters (1730 & 7701)? They reflected the number of times people 'vote' for the two Solvil Titus message (Take a life time to find love & Seize the moment for passion) reflected on the advertisements. Commuters who were feeling bored while waiting for their buses can press the respective red button to vote.

I think this is a very interesting way of engaging the potential customers. At least it makes me remember the adverts. Those who were interested would take a moment to 'vote' and that created a deeper impression in their minds, which is what advertising is all about isn't it?

Nanbantei (of Tokyo) @ Far East Plaza

Nanbantei is an excellent Japanese yakitori restaurant located at Far East level 5. The whole setting is rather authentic and one of the chef is definitely a Japanese. I think they have more than 1 Japanese chef since I recognised an old Japense uncle who was not serving at the grill counter. That particular Japanese uncle serves one of the best yakitori!

Nanbantei has one of the best yakitori in town and there are many great reviews about it. One thing I like about the place is that they serve raw vegetable sticks with miso sauce / sea salt. Thus when one wants to clear the mouth of meat taste prior to taking another yakitori stick, one can do so easily.

The palce is not too big, but generally I think Japanese eateries are not too big / spacious, so that there is this cosy ambience. I think it is great to sit at the counter where one can watch the chefs in action. It is sort of fun to see how the chef sprinkle the salt onto the dish, and see how your sticks are being cooked.

Beside great yakitori, they also serve other authentic Japanese food. I like their onigiri, that comes in three different options (with salmon, with plum pickle, and with fish roe).

Ok let's see the sticks themselves. Here's the pictures of the yakitori sticks. We ordered a number of sticks, includigng scallops and prawns. Yesh! The scallops and prawns are great! Of course I must say that the prawns and scallops are also the more expensive stuff, and that explains the $90+ bill we got for the two of us.

I liked shisamo after my recent japan trip. I think shisamo done nicely, would not have the fishy smell, and yet give just the right flavour to the fish.

When you feel like having yakitori, drop by Far East level 5 to try out Nanbantei. They also have set offerings that are not as costly. Give them a call at 67387470 to reserve seats, or else during peak hours it may be hard to get seats.

Thoughts - National Day 09' of a 'World City'

9th August is the National Day for Singapore. In the midst of all that celebrations and the party mood of the 'biggest' party of the year, somehow I don't exactly feel the same pride (for being a Singaporean) as I used to be. I remember that as a kid I sang these National Day songs proudly (e.g. Count on Me Singapore ... remember these songs?) and the feeling is somehow different.

Somehow I no longer feel this place as warmly (as I should). Driving along Little India on a Sunday evening always reminded me how much I missed the Singapore I know. Just a few days back I was on bus 857, and it surprised me that during the short 20 minutes when I was on the crowded bus, I actually didn't understand a single word that was being said by my fellow commuters. I recognised the Thai accent, the Bangla accent, and of course the dialects of workers from China (i.e. not hokkien or teo chew or cantonese). The two times when I was being served in a food place (a foodcourt in a mall, and later in a chinese restaurant) today, I was being greeted in a heavily accented Mandarin.

It made me feel like I am a tourist. Watching the National Day celebration on TV, coupled with all these happenings, made me feel like I am watching the celebratory event of a different country.

I don't think I am the only one feeling that I am a tourist in my own land of birth. There is this excellent comic 'Resident Tourist', that is captivating precisely because I think the readers can relate to so much things described in the comic.

It is interesting to know I am not the only one who think that something has gone wrong here in the little island, that makes its own citizens feeling so out of place in the land of their birth.
There are these blog posts by oikono, titled 'Where are the Singaporeans left?', and 'The Hawker and the Banker'. Not just this blogger, but another blogger (the famous Blinky Mummy) had something to say about the state of professional life.

I do miss Singapore, a strange sentiment, becasue I am currently in Singapore living the 'Singapore' (note: not Singaporean but Singapore) lifestyle.

I think Singapore has indeed become a 'World City'. Not global city in the sense of the New York or London or Tokyo but a 'World City'. 'World City' in the sense of being a minature world with no identity of its own (unlike New York or London or Tokyo). Crossing the island from Hougang, to Little India, to Tampines, to East Coast, gave me a feeling of having completed an international tour somehow.

I think the original Singapore is lost in the present little red dot.

Ironic, because this little red dot is actually quite small.

Goodwood Park - Durian Fiesta & Mooncakes!

Goodwood Park's mooncakes are here again (soon). Currently they have the durian fiesta, which has been going on since 1 March, and will end by this weekend, i.e. 10 August. Their durian oreo cake ($48), durian & pandan (with coconut) cake ($46.80), and the puff ($39.80 for 20 pieces) are great! Orders can still be made at 6730 1786.

After trying their durian cakes last year, I have since keep an eye lookout for their durian offerings.

9 days after the end of the fiesta, their mooncakes promotion will start. I guess it takes a week or so to prepare the equipment and bakery for mooncake making. They do have the early bird offer, where the 2nd box is offered at 50% off after you bought the 1st box of 4. Credit cards discounts are also available. Details could be found at their website.

Yesh the words are a bit small so let me type them out (mooncakes of 4 pieces):
1) Lotus seed paste w melon seeds ($43)
2) Lotus seed paste w double yolks ($47)
3) Lotus seed paste w 4 yolks ($52) - wow 4 yolks!
4) Assorted nuts with ham ($51)
5) White Lotus seed paste w double yolks ($49)
6) Piglets ($4.80 per piece)

Snowskin selections:
1) Soursop paste in snowskin ($40) - soursop... that is new
2) Mango w pomelo in snowskin ($40)
3) D24 durian paste in snowskin ($48) - yeah!
4) Cempedak paste in snowskin ($48)
5) Combos - 1 each from above ($44)

See also: - Goodwood Park Durian Puff, Cake and Durian Oreo Cake!
- 2011 April post about Goodwood Park Durian Products

Pine Garden (松园) Lychee Martini Cake

Pine Gardens (松园) located at Ang Mo Kio sells great cakes. One of the more popular cakes is the Lychee Martini cake.

We had some a few months ago and here's the two pictures. Yupz the picture below is just a box. I thought to capture the address, but oh well here's the details of the shop copied from their website:

Enquiry	:	(65) 6457 6159
Fax	:	(65) 6457 0546
Email	:	pgcake@pacific.net.sg
Address	:	Blk 529 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 #01-2369/2329 Singapore 560529

Lift Upgrading Programme - Pictures

It is interesting to see how the entire Lift Upgrading construction is done. Many of the pieces for the new lift core is pre-fabricated in the factory and then fixed / assembled at the site.

I took some of these pictures. What is more amazing is how these workers can work at such ease so high up, i.e. 20 over storey in the sky! I think I would tremble so violently that I can't do much work actually.

From the pictures, you can see how the pieces are lifted up and then adjusted at the spot to form the lift core in an almost lego-blocks like fashion. The workers have to budge the pieces, and also communicate with the crane operator at ground level. Tough job! Yeah, the yellow colour crane is stablised at the ground level by those four spidey looking legs.

When the pieces are finally completed, a new lift shaft and lift will be installed.
Sometimes I have mixed feeling about the life upgrading programme. While it is great to have lifts at your downsteps, it actually also obstruct the views that I used to enjoy. Sometimes I wonder why HDB cannot build the lifts properly in the first place many years ago. The dust and inconvinence is quite irritating actually.