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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Chocolate at Max Brenner.

Finally I've tried Max Brenner at the Esplanade!

Took the chance to sit down after watching the firework display on Saturday n try the delicacies after hearing from friends about a year ago how good is it.

Well the concept is great for chocoholics cum sweet-tooth like me!!

Imagine a place with only desserts and all kinds!! drinks, brownies, crepes, ice cream... muahh!

But it was kind of disappointing. The food isn't [[WAH]] but a rather silent wah.
Disappointment always comes with great expectations.

Tried banana split waffle and venezuela hazelnut milk chocolate drink.
Interesting serving.. isn't it?

Banana split waffle: 2 cute spongy fresh waffles with ice cream and some chocolate! Just above average??? Looks great though!!

Chocolate drink: Rather thin and tasteless. Expected thicker and sweeter chocolate though. Would prefer my 3-in-1 Milo drink anytime man! But the ice-blended and Suckao (chocolate expresso) looks nice though.. Next time ba!!

Maybe the fondue is fantastic; it comes with 3 small fondue 'apparatus' (how do u call that with the candle at the bottom to keep the choc fluid?) and mini marshmallows, strawberries and bananas. LOOKS exquisite... But having tried the chocolate cum ice-cream fondue at Haagen Daz long long ago, I have eyes/mouth/heart ONLY for Haagen Daz's fondue!!

But I have FINALLY tasted Max Brenner's chocolate after walking past it for countless of times and always imagining how heavenly the smooth thick chocolate would taste down my throat...
It isn't as heavenly as I had thought to be though..


Add colours to your life!!
9:39 PM


Monday, August 20, 2007

Chemical Engineering? That's so not GLAM!

That was what a Biz professor remarked casually when he enquired what my major was.

Does it matter whether your job is glam or not?

Maybe it didn't matter to me sometime back, but I am sure it does matter to me, albeit just a little now.

Been thinking alot recently, especially on issues that I've not considered before. Talk with Alvin this afternoon prodded me to think more.

U can either say that I'm naive and still living in my own world; or that I am unambitious and easily contented with the little things around me. But this painful and late realization made me regret not planning adequately for my future earlier. Guess I am not alone in this.

With seniors graduating and entering the workforce and looking at the people around me who are going to graduate the same time at me.. it prompted me to think further, about my life after graduation, about my career, which will be what my life will depend largely on.

Friends busy securing internships with high profile companies during holidays; going for extra courses to get external certifications like CFA; busy planning their academic future, like pursuing a PhD and ensuring they graduate with good results; taking entrance tests to proceed on to do Masters in US...

What have I done to pave the way for my future? My future in 1 yr's time?

All along I was leaving in zer's world. A few years back, she thought she will be contented being a teacher for the rest of her life. Cos she just wants to bask in the joys and satisfaction from educating young kids. There was even a pt when she would be just contented to be a housewife for someone she loved. But now, I no longer dream of becoming a teacher. It would not fit in the kind of life that I would want. Suddenly there is this urge in me to want the same things as some of my other friends would want. Things that I denounced as worldly possessions and unimportant parts of life... Things like having a successful career, high income (high meaning not just 3k, a figure which I all along thought would be just nice). Basically just a cushy and comfortable life (that would include travelling yearly!!) which I do think I would glady want it in the future.

I was rather surprised at myself for bearing those thoughts. Cos all along I have no big ambitions and wouldn't want to be caught in climing the corporate ladder. Afterall, so what if u win the rat race? U are still a rat. Maybe I was just escaping into my own zer's world again, by blocking out all these thoughts that I used to think would affect adults only. And now suddenly I feel like I am thrust into this adult world, without much warning and preparation.

But maybe I should just live in zer's world again. Be contented with a job in PUB, which is after all doing what I like. Don't hanker over the worldly things. Cos they only make pple suffer in the process of doing so. (Look what its doing to my small undersized brain now; overworkin it) Are people who opt out of the rat race escaping from it? Or are they just savouring their life in their own right and standards?

I really do not know.

Maybe the better option is just focus on my short-term goals as of now.
Shall slowly straighten out my thoughts and consider what I really want and who I really am.

Add colours to your life!!
11:25 PM


Life ain't the same anymore

I miss school life.

Realised it for the first time when I met Alvin (one of the 6 Alvins whom I know) in Central Forum today. There was a bazaar in Forum! Walking past the same familar stores that sell the familar accessories and to my surprise, the t-shirt cum jeans skirt stall sells Little Miss Tees for only 10 bucks, and 2 for 18 bucks!! (that's besides the pt..) When was the last time I had jalan jalan in a bazaar? How I miss school life in NUS!!!!

Not that I've dropped out of school, but rather I no longer attend classes like I did in the past 3 years.. I miss attending lectures with the rest of the Chem Eng peepz and this sem I am not taking any common modules with the entire cohort since I had already cleared my Design I module in Denmark. Ironically, I used to dread long lecture days, and those days with long breaks in between. But now I am missing them. I miss hanging around on benches or having long lunches in canteen or walking around the bazaars at Central Forum in between lectures. There's less get-together session with my friends from Chem Eng and I've got specially jio them for lunch every now and then whenever I miss them. And the electives I take are together with the graduate students, so few of the other undergrads take them as well. But at least I still see some friends around, like Sharon, Lisa and a few others. Plus, tt doesn't help that I am taking 2 science GEMs this sem, spending half of my time in Science Fac instead. :(

Now that I'm in Year 4, there is more free time in the day for me due to the less number of hours clocked in for lecture and tutorial time overall. But at the same time, I will use my free days to do FYP. FYP is individual and again I'm left alone to do my project and could only say Hi, Bye to friends whom I met in the lab corridor. Although school had already started for a week, I do not feel like a 100% student when I still have to juggle between work and school.

Maybe when work ends I will be able to spend more time hanging around in school and meet up with friends! :)

And Boy... At the same time, I feel old...

Add colours to your life!!
9:51 PM


Thursday, August 16, 2007

Continuation of lousy day

Well, apparently that was not the end of my lousy day yesterday.

My bacteria cells didnt grow cos I added too much antibiotics n killed them instead.. I'm so sorry abt that, my bacteria babies...

And I realised I left my office's thumbdrive in comp centre when I was there in yesterday's morning... and of course its not there anymore..

Hope yesterday was not the worst day in my life, so far...

What a depressing start to yet another long day in school in sucha gloomy weather..

Add colours to your life!!
8:35 AM


Wednesday, August 15, 2007

What a (almost) totally lousy day!!

Haven't had such lousy day in quite some time...

1. Specially woke up at 7.30 am today (even though today is my day off at work) to finish some readings for my FYP... this was only 0.5hr more than my usual waking time.. *sleepy*

2. Couldn't finish my readings (cos I fell aslp) and so I read till the very last minute and realised I was late for my school.. *still sleepy*

3. So I took a cab to school and I only realised that my mentor sent a msg (before I left home)telling me she will only be in lab after lunch when I almost reached NUS.. WTH!! wasted my 8.50 cab fare! Should have checked my hp before I left home!! *heart pain*

4. Was looking forward to lunch at the newly refurbished Arts Canteen, but the Gong Bao Ji Ding I ordered sucks... apparently they changed the chef for that claypot stall..
*sorely disappointed*

5. Had a slight buzzing headache in the afternoon while I was in FYP lect and later in the lab.. must be due to lack of sleep for the past erm 1 mth.. (!!) *head pain*

6. Lab work today was not smooth going either!! I FELT SO LOUSY!! ):
This was only the 2nd time that I was doing and first time without guidance from my mentor. So I was abit (very) jittery about doing it independently. I forgot where many of the things were placed in the lab and was 'snooping' around every nook and corner, then kena scolded by another PHD student for intruding his 'territory'. Sorry lah, I didn't know..
Miscalculated some parts and in the end I left lab at 7pm --> Tired and Hungry and Late for Kboxing with XBox!
*lousy feeling*

7. Luckily the day was saved by KBoxing with Xbox.. Felt so good while singing with sijia, jac, junhao and terence... Thanks guys! Too bad we got the student package (and I arrived 1 hr late) and didnt feel too shiok cos the time was too short.. We tried to drag the time though, but the guy keep coming in to tell us "this is the last song"... till we were quite paiseh!
So gian to organise another FULL KBox session again!! :)

Ended my day with Happy thoughts!

Happy... Sha La La!

Today isn't a bad day after all! :)

Add colours to your life!!
10:55 PM


Monday, August 13, 2007

Bits of NDP 07

Definitely not a pro-photographer.. but chanced upon interesting sights from NDP 2007.. Singapore is 42 years! and when people grow older, we sort of lost count of age.. it doesn't matter how old, as long as we age gracefully.. :)

Change of colours (flags) at Suntec Convention Centre!

Pin Heads? Nooo.. Black Heads...

Kids rushing down from Suntec Convention Centre to proceed to the Esplanade..

Little cute starfish!!

How cool is it to stick the flag on your caP!

Mad rush up the escalator to get fresh air..
Esplanade Underpass.. seriously the ventilation system needs to be improved

Singapore's skyline as the backdrop of this year's NDP.. I like!!

Even the expats join in the celebration by dressing in our national colours!

Singapore's skyline again.. This is one of my favourite pic (:

Fireworks atop Singaopore's tallest buildings!


Add colours to your life!!
9:47 PM


Fluorescent Bacteria.. how cool!!

SIGH

Been sort of neglecting my FYP from the start.. cos zer chose to work rather than do her FYP.. >< But now she seriously hopes she can stop her work (in 3 weeks' time) so that she can have more time for her family, friends, S.O, her tuition kid, herself and of course, her FYP...
*screams for just a wee bit more time*


My own prepared agar plates with 2 successes at the top and 2 flops at the bottom..
I had 6 agar plates to play around with and only the last 2 turned out to be alright! I was quite clumsy and broke the agar surface while streaking bacteria on it.. But in the end, my mentor was quite proud of my streaking skill!!!

Things like the above keep me going.. I have grown MY OWN bacteria! The last time I cultured my own bacteria was during secondary school when we made our own thumb imprint on the agar plate and see how dirty/clean your thumb is! What interesting bio classes we had back then! This time, no more dirty thumbprints on my agar plates --> Bacteria with Fluorescent Genes! Tadah! haha I am still quite fascinated by what my mentor does and thrilled everytime I go to do my lab! (Probably cos its still the starting... as I've been to my lab for less than 4 times!!)

I am sure there are people out there who are already sick of going to labs!

Add colours to your life!!
9:24 PM


Sunday, August 5, 2007

Cute II

Short and spiky..
Like the new feathers of a fledging baby bird...

Yet at the same time...
Soft, ruffled and cute

So cute..
So irresistibly cute..

I Like!

Add colours to your life!!
10:14 PM


Random moments I like..


Dancing water in the light of the slanting sunrays...
Glaring, yet you still want to stare into the burning sun..
Just to catch a glimpse of the rays glistening in the water.
Vivocity entrance Fountain


Alone in a big (ok not sooo BIG) city with a big cup of frothy mochaccino..
Hiding behind a thick forest of bushes,
Away from the noise of the heavy traffic at Orchard Road;
Away from the frantic shoppers.
Who says you can't find peaceful solitude in a bustling city centre?


Day and Night
The Marina-Esplanade area.. and Beyond..
Marina Reservoir, Singapore's first city reservoir,
is currently under construction;
So is the Singapore Flyer, modelled after the London Eye.
And can you spot the largest Stage on Water to the right?
Built for NDP 07, to celebrate Singapore's 42nd Birthday
View from Equinox, 69th Storey
Breathtaking and..
Happy Birthday Singapore!!

Add colours to your life!!
9:41 PM


Rest.Peace.Refresh.Refuel

Finally a day with only yours truly at home on a lazy Sunday!
Been meeting up with friends after work everyday and sometimes even tuition after work.. it's really tiring and I wonder where I sometimes get so much energy in a day.
The times when I try to study/clear my work during semester time really pale in comparison!

Actually I'm forced to stay at home today, not because of I want to but rather because my NEW writing desk and other barang barang I got from Ikea last week is FINALLY here! Will wait for my dad to be back at night to help me fix the new and BIG table! Finally after 9 yrs of using an old and small desk (converted from my mum's dressing table) I will get a new desk and ironically, in my last year of studies...

And I will have a new pin board, new pretty floral storage boxes, new glass shelf to display my loves.. Dunno why, but ever since I come back from SEP, I've got a serious urge to revamp my room and make it more cosy... My room used to be (and is still) my work + sleep only corner, Let's make it a cosy corner too! :)

Oh and another reason to stay at home today is to START reading my FYP readings on transposans (?) and more cheem microbiology stuff.. Haven't started my semester and I am already procrastinating.. not a good sign as I am seriously in the mood for pulling up my cap. It's gonna be an ever uphill challenge and zer will try her very best this semester!! Try like never before! and like Jade says.. Don't ever have any regrets when we graduate (in a yr's time..)

Add colours to your life!!
2:27 PM