Italianized Japanese
JuLiE










Ronald and I planned an itinerary for the long weekend (November 27-29), and yesterday's schedule was at Liang Court to catch Astroboy Live. We came in just in time but the allocated space for the show was already packed. The hostess conducted games before Astroboy and Uran, his sister, came up on stage to perform a dance number. Unlike shows that we used to watch in Suntec / Marina Square, which were like real (mini) theatre plays, this was a complete waste of travel time. After the show was a photo op and that was it. At least Ice enjoyed the crowd participation during the games and I think he also somehow enjoyed the dancing. He was scared to take pictures with the mascots though so we had to force him to.






Anyway, after the show was dinner. We discovered an Italian Restaurant called Saizeriya Ristorante E Caffe at the second level. I would go for anything Italian at any day and I was surprised that Ronald gave in too easily (pizza / pasta is not really his thing). The place didn't exactly look classy, it reminded me of a cafeteria actually. Ronald disagreed. But it was too crowded and noisy too. 








When we checked the menu then we realized why a lot of people are dining here. The price list was pretty cheap for Italian food. We ordered Oven-Baked Escargot (SGD5.58), Spicy Chicken Drumlets, 5 pieces (SGD4.48), Pineapple and Bacon Pizza, 9-inch (SGD6.98), Pepperoncino Bacon Spaghetti (SGD5.98) and Seafood Pizza (SGD6.98). The drink station consisted of both hot and cold drinks for SGD2.58 per adult and SGD1.38 per kid. The price range is cheaper than that of Pastamania and just a little bit higher than a foodcourt's. The pasta had an ample serving of bacon but I prefer it to be a little bit spicier (it's supposed to be spicy to begin with). The pizza was thin crust and the toppings were of generous (enough) amount. It was good enough. The drumlets were very small and weren't spicy at all, which was okay because Ice wouldn't have eaten it otherwise. The escargot was in garlic sauce in olive oil and was actually nice. I didn't even know that escargot is snail and my first time experience wasn't bad. The drinks were value for money. I had two glasses of iced tea and two cups of cappuccino, which is normally more than SGD2.58. 




The restaurant also serves other stuffs like focacia, baked rice, steaks, oysters, salads and desserts and is definitely worth a second visit. But anyway, when we reached home, I searched the restaurant on the web and was surprised to find out that it was actually a Japanese restaurant chain that has about 750 outlets in Japan alone. It has expanded to other countries such as China and Taiwan too. Now I realized that we weren't imagining things when we thought that the service staffs were greeting customers in Japanese.


Where: Saizeriya Ristorante E Caffe
           177 River Valley Road, #02-22 Liang Court Shopping Center
When: November 28, 2009
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Eve of Eid-Al-Adha
JuLiE
Since today is a public holiday, Ronald and I were in a festive mood yesterday (last day of work) and so we went out for dinner and movie. 








Dinner at F.I.S.H. (Tampines 1) was very filling. F.I.S.H. is the Halal niche of Fish and Co that serves everything but pork (of course) and alcoholic drinks. I ordered Baramundi with Cheddar Cheese Crust plus Salad Buffet at SGD18.80. Ronald had Grilled Marinated Lamb Chop at SGD16.90. Then we had my proclaimed 'favorite cake' Chocolate Pecan Cluster at SGD6.95. The fish was okay but I expected more cheese because it said 'cheese crust'. It was a little malansa too but they provided lemon, which tasted good on the fish. It was served with potatoes and tomatoes. I liked the small potatoes but am not really a fan of tomatoes. The best part of my dish was the Salad Buffet! I liked it more than the meal. The variety wasn't really very big but it was still satisfying. And though it said no sharing, Ronald was sneaking some spoonfuls when the servers were not looking. The lamb chop was tasty but a little tough for me and the serving was small. It was also served with potatoes and tomatoes. Now come to my favorite part, the dessert! I really love that cake. It is a moist chocolate cake topped with chunks of brownies, pecan and lots and lots of caramel! Yummy. =)









After dinner, we rushed to Tampines Mall to watch The Twilight Saga: New Moon. I like this better than the first one. Okay, I'm not gonna be a wanna-be critic of this movie at all! I just want to say that both Ronald and I enjoyed it. I like the characters, they're all beautiful! I also like the melancholic theme and the twists of the story. It is just ironic that some parts are rather slow paced but some seem rushed with no proper transition. Okay I'm stopping now... I will be soon reading the Twilight e-books stored in my laptop for almost a year already. I am convinced now that it's gonna be a good read. :) 


Where: F.I.S.H., #04-11 Tampines 1 (dinner)
            Golden Village, #04-17 Tampines Mall
When: November 26, 2009
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Exploring Pasir Ris
JuLiE


Except for the fact that it costs me around $30 to get home on a cab from a night out in the city, I think living in Pasir Ris is kinda cool. It is near Tampines where our offices are (Ronald's and mine). But unlike Tampines, which is too crowded, Pasir Ris is a rather serene place. What really makes it cool though is that family-oriented sites are very accessible.





Downtown East is a place that has everything. Okay that is a complete exaggeration but still, it is where theme parks like Wild Wild Wet and Escape are. It is also home to Ehub, a mall catered for the youth, that cannot be relied on for shopping but has other stuffs like a bowling alley, billiards hall, arcade, cinemas, restaurants and coffee shops. We usually bring Ice there to play at Explorer Kids. Ronald and I on the other hand normally catches a close-to-midnight show then stroll back home or drop by at the 24-hour hawker center for supper. 




Another cool thing is that Pasir Ris is near the beach! Beaches in Singapore are nothing to get excited about really. However, there are still a lot of fun things to do since they are not just beaches but also parks.  With Ice, an afternoon at the beach leaves him happier and more satisfied than an afternoon at the mall and not to mention that it leaves our pockets less distressed too. He can stay and play at the sand forever if we don't convince him otherwise. And if we do convince him, he'd play at the playground (Pasir Ris Beach Park has a BIG playground), or cycle on a rented bike (we haven't bought him his own bike yet), or fly a kite if the weather permits.




Cycle (or drive or commute) a little further North (I think) and you will reach Changi Village. I like this place. It is a rustic 'village' beside the beach where you can go for food trip (seafood especially) as it has big hawker centers. It also has some bars and pubs that you can go to if you want drinks after supper. A lot of shops selling bargain items are also in the vicinity. Go there on a Saturday night and your timing will be just right for the weekly flea market. The beach here (Changi Beach Park) is one of the oldest coastal parks in Singapore. Sit at the beach and you will have a view of Pulau Ubin, one of Singapore's islands. Pulau Ubin is a different story all together. And if you want to go there, just board one of the the bum boats at the Changi Ferry   Terminal.                                                                                               








These, among other things, make me think that Pasir Ris is kinda cool. =)
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Shisha-ed!
JuLiE

Ambrosia is a Mediterranean Lounge located in Kampong Glam (Baghdad St.). They serve Mediterranean food, wines and other alcoholic drinks, and shisha. Like their neighboring stores and restaurants, they try to emulate the Mediterranean lifestyle, which is a balance of work and leisure / relaxation. The ambience inside the lounge is very laid back. You get to sit at the carpeted floor propped with pillows and eat at the low tables. And mostly, people go there (in that whole area for that matter), for the shisha.

















We ordered a kebab platter (SGD22+), pita chips (SGD5.70), pita bread (SGD3), an apple freeze (SGD6.50), a pail of heinekken (SGD28+), and a grape shisha (SGD21). The price range is on the high side as you can get shisha for as low as SGD12 from the establishment across it. 

But anyway, it was a nice way to relax after work. I was even thinking that if ever they had this in UP, nobody would have gone to class. Change the flavored tobacco to marijuana leaves and the future of the most intelligent (haha!) group of youth is doomed.













Where: Ambrosia Cafe
           19 Baghdad Street
When: November 20, 2009
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When Kids Talk, You Listen Part II
JuLiE



















I love Ice. He never fails to surprise me and brighten up my day. On top of that, I never get bored when I'm with him. I don't really know if I'm just biased but I really think that my son is smart. At 4, he is a good observer and he reasons out very well. He remembers everything you tell him so you cannot tell him something wrong or it will be used against you. Below are some amusing conversations with Ice that I can remember right now. It is just much cuter when you hear him say those in person.  

14/06/09 - While I was looking at photos:  

Mommy: I'm so ugly :(
Ice: Why? :( But I still love you Mommy...  

23/04/09 - While Ice was watching TV:  

Mommy: Don't lie down while watching TV Ice. 
Ice: But I'm sleepy Mommy. 
Mommy: I don't believe you, you just woke up. 
Ice: I don't believe you, I will lie down.  

24/11/09 - While Ice was playing with his pig toys:  

Ice: Giddiyap! Giddiyap! 
Mommy: Pigs don't giddiyap, only horses do. 
Ice: Remember mommy, horses don't talk? 
Mommy: Then who giddiyaps? 
Ice:Only the people. And kids.  

11/06/09- When I got home from work:  

Ice: Mommy! Mommy! I miss you!!  

26/11/09  

Daddy: Ice stay here and I'll comb your hair. 
Ice: Why daddy, because I'm not perfect?  

02/07/09 - When Ice was brought to the hospital in an ambulance for suspected case of swine flu:  

Mommy: What was the ambulance like? (Ice was with Ronald btw) 
Ice: Umm, it has something inside that you can lie on when you're dead. (The stretcher I suppose)  

20/08/09  

Ice: Mommy, what's next after Monday? 
Mommy: Tuesday. 
Ice: What's next after Tuesday? 
Mommy: Wednesday. 
Ice: What's next after Wednesday? 
Mommy: I don't know. 
Ice: Mommy, don't you need to go to school to learn that? Don't you Mommy?  

03/09/09  

Ice: *talks* *talks* *talks* 
Tita Lolit: Ice... stop talking... 
Ice: I'm not talking to you! I'm talking to myself!  

14/10/09 - When Ronald crowded into Ice in bed:

Ice: Daddy move!!! 
Ronald: Move where?!! 
Ice: Move to a new house!!!  

24/10/09  

Ice to Mommy: Arrghh! I don't like you!!! 
Mommy to Ice: Arrghh! I don't like you too!!! 
Ice: Mommy... are you just kidding?  


28/10/09 - a day after scolding Ice:


Ice: Mommy, are you still happy with me?
Mommy: Of course, why? *concerned face* 
Ice: Because I want you to be always happy.. But sometimes you're angry at me :'(  

02/11/09 - When Tita Yayet gave Ice a water pillow :  

Ice: Tita Yayet, why is this so heavy? You know how small I am right?  

13/11/09 - After the Parent-Teacher Meeting:  

Mommy: Ice, the auntie said you eat so slow. 
(The auntie is the one who cooks the food at school) 
Ice: That's not true!!! I don't want to see that auntie ever again!!! 

17/11/09 - Also after the Parent-Teacher Meeting:  

Daddy: Ice, teacher said you have to improve your Chinese. 

Ice: Chumpi chumpop! *pretending to speak Chinese* 
Daddy: What does that mean? 
Ice: I don't know, because I never speak Chinese.  

In November:

Ice to Tita Lolit: I have an idea, I will sleep for 5 minutes. 
(He only got up the morning after).  

In November - To wake Jacq up:  

Ice: I love you Tita Jacq!!!  

In October - While Ice was practicing his phonics at home:  

Ice: Wo- Wo-Wowit.. Wowit starts with W.
(He was referring to Tita Lolit's name)  

Tita Lolit: Spell panty. 
Ice: P-N-T

In November - While Ronald and I were fighting aloud:

Ice: Ssshhh! I can't hear my show!! (He's watching his cartoons)

In October - While having coffee at Coffee Bean Ronald excused himself to have a cigarette:

Ice: I wish daddy stops smoking. He doesn't know it's bad for him. *with a very serious frown*
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