garden by the bay part 2

21/3/2016 Monday

I wanted to head back to the gardens before the cherry blossoms ends.

I took a few photos on my way to the flower dome.

Dragonfly busy at the lotus

It's a golden dragonfly!!!

tat's me!

another busy fellow

I waited and shoot, waited and shoot, was very excited. After that, then I realized it was so hot and I was perspiring!

But I enjoyed it!,

 direction to Gardens by the Bay :

MRT : take circle line to Bayfront station, exit B

            follow the beautiful underground linkway

then you can choose to walk or take the shuttle service

If you have a group of 3 or 4, taxi is a good choice.

or you have little kids, taxi will be good too.

Both doms are air-conditioned and very comfortable, but weather outside is hot, hot and hot.

though hot, the place is great to stroll from early evenings.
very bautiful.

It's a Monday, but I realized   there are many locals too.

It seem more crowded today, but the blooms wasn't as beautiful  last week. Today there is music.! I was thinking that there should be music, especially Japanese songs or so at where the cherry blossoms is. 

I can't remember if there is music during my past trips, may be I was too excited that I didn't noticed it.

Music is good.

 

 

top: very cute wavy trunk

these look different, feels like very soft

 

this sculpture is a gift from Singapore Changi Airport to Gardens by the Bay, embodies the strategic collabrations between the two organisations. It is a partnership which brings the world of plants to Singapore.

on my way to the mrt station .....

it is very hot, but windy.

  this looks like a pretty ribbon

The End

Travel Pouch

Travelling has become part and puzzle of our life. May it be a long holiday or a short getaway, packing is always a headache.This is specially true for females travelers. There is so little we try to take , but there is still so much to take. Clothes to match, cosmetics, shoes, lingerie, care products and it goes on and on.
This is a very simple pouch I made out of my old (yet new) top. I will use it for lingerie and hygiene pad products.

(I forgot to take a photo of the top) it is a basic top with long sleeve and high neck where I could tie a bow behind. The cotton is soft, but it is really too small now. and it is quite new.

I pins the bottom portion and cut across to get a rectangular piece.( keeping the bottom where it is folded and seam .- this will be the top of the pouch) I used my old one as an estimate.

But generally it should be slightly wider than the bra width and deeper. 

As the sleeves is of lace material , I cut 2 smaller rectangles for pocket inside.

 I will sew each smaller rectangle to the bigger rectangle (the side where it is suppose to be inside of the pouch). sew 3 sides only. 

( *keep the side along with the seam unsew)

Then, sew the sides of the big rectangle where we cut. ( the pockets should be showing)

Recently I bought a roller cutter and a plastic sheet from Diaso. Just roll and cut, simple, magical! Only S$2 each! even the round pin box is from Diaso. It has a magnetic base! I could find my pins easily after each used. I love Diaso.

Now, cut a small slit at the folded end and string a ribbon/string thru' it. The yellow cutter is from Diaso too. the puller is from some sewing shop, but Diaso has it too, something similiar. I think I saw it.

D O N E !

Materiall needed

1. an unsed T-shirt or similar
2. a ribbon 2.5 times the width of the pouch
3 a pin/puller
4 a scissor/ roller cutter n a plastic board
5. pins
6. a sewing machine

Gardens by the bay

 17march 2016
I have decided to join the individual yearly membership for Gardens by the bay. It has many exhibitionss throughout the year. I m so excited!

 Now, "Blossom beats floral display" at Floral dome. Cherry blossoms everywhere! Very beautiful!

Here are some of my photos to share .

Welcome to Gardens by the Bay

very Japanese scenery

cherry blossoms

The queue was pretty long outside, but it's quite comfortable inside.

from far, I tat I saw sunny sides up! 

fuchia

this two gentlemen  help us with photo taking. it's FREE.!!!

It's year of Monkey, of course

two different queues for photo taking.

water is beautiful, so soft .....

the little world beneath

I will b back!

Food - Hakka Abacus 算盘子

It's a new year and I wanted to prepare a little feast for my family. I hope to prepare something different each time.

The other day, I was having lunch with my 'old' friends. One friend mentioned that she is preparing abacus fior the new year.  she gave me some advise and and check internet too. there were a variation of recipes. I only want the yam to stick together hence I picked one with the least ratio and did my own adjustment.

recipe yam, tapioca starch, corn starch, mushrooms, dried cuttle fish, dried prawns, black fungus, roast pork ( i couldnt find, hence I buy the raw one to fry,), minced garlic, light soya sauce, oysrer sauce and pepper.

1.  Soak some mushrooms, dried prawns, black fungus, dried cuttle fish. 

-   Drain. 

-   Cut the mushrooms , black fungus and cuttlefish to slices.

(the quantity is very oprtional, basically I think the dried prawns and mushrooms give the dish a very fragrant flavour. the pork and black fungus add texture to it. )

2.The  supermarket has a last yam! I am lucky. This is about 550g. Peel off the skin, cut to thin slices and steam about 10minutes or til you can pok a fork thru'.

(My yam weight about 500g after peeling.)

3. Boil some water for cooking.

4. After steaming, I smashed the yam with a fork as the yam is really hot! then, I add 1 Tablespoon (1T) of corn flour and 3T of tapioca starch. mixed it well. Eventually I use my hands to mix them. i felt that the yam will hold together. I knead it into a fishball size ( approx. 15 mm or so) , press it, then using my thumb and index finger to press each center to create a little well. ( using finger knuckers is easier) anyway, it is to make it looks like abacus.

5. As the water boils, add a pinch of salt and a little oil. Add the abacus to boil. once it float , they are ready. scoop up, drain and add to cold water. (This step is good for storage purpose so that it will not stick to each other. I will fry some and keep the rest for my reunion dinner. ) Drain them.

6. On a hot pan, add a little oil fry the pork til a little brown , add dried prawns and cuttle fish. Once I smell the fragrance of the prawns, I add the mushrooms and black fungus. Once I smell the frangrance of the mushrooms, add some garlic. Fry for a little while, add a little light soya sauce, a little oysters sauce and pepper. Stir in the abacus, mix well and we are ready to eat it!!!

My family enjoys it. The abacus is not very spongy as I add very little starch, but the flavours of yam is yummillicious. My son suggested I should deep fry it to crispy on the oustside, like yam ring!

May be thats how the yam ring is made too! I shall try it one day......

If I could add a few cut chillies, fried shallots and parsley, it would be better. Hopefully on the reunion dinner, I can do same or better. :))

Recipe

Yam

Tapioca flour /starch

Corn flour

dried prawns

mushrooms

black fungus

dried cuttle fish

garlic

light soya sauce

salt

pepper

oyster sauce