KK always complained that I din write the things about him... well, here's something we shared.

Visited the Peranakan Museum today~ Located near SMU and National Museum of Singapore, the entrance fee is $6 for adults, half price for students and NS men and totally free for NUS students. If you want to know more about the Peranakan Culture, you could make a trip there.


Sad to say, the building looked more impressive than the exhibits inside. Most of the electronic displays were not working, unfortunately.



KK surely looked surprised. In case you dunno, there were 4 fleets of staircases inside the building.

The musuem used to be the old Tao Nan School. In case you were not aware, Peranakans were not only created by cross-racial marriages between Chinese and Malays, there were also Indian Muslims, Indians..... There were also different types of Perenakans; Hokkien, Malaccan, Hindu and many more. The first floor exhibited some photos of famous people in Singapore whom belonged to the Peranakan heritage (Dick Lee was Hokkien Peranakan btw).

One of the most common traits of Peranakan was they do not speak Mandarin. I remembered when I was in Primary One, my tutor married a Peranakan whose mom always cook curry at home. They spoke English and were Catholics. And one of their daughter married an Ang Moh. You really can't blame them for not able to speak or understand Mandarin because their ancestors do not speak the language. Back in their days as traders, the Chinese spoke dialect and from the mixed-marriages, the language was infused with Melayu, similar to our Singlish. When they learned to trade with the British, the rich families sent their children to English schools, thus they spoke Good English.

Sometimes I would think the Peranakan Culture to be quite a "Rojak" (btw, the rojak dish was invented by Peranakans.) But as time goes by, when you mix everything up, you formed an unique identity. That's what Perankans are. Peranakans were certainly proud of their identity. One thing I have to admire for their culture are the dishes they've created, certainly the best in South-East Asia! From Sambal curry, Nyonya rice dumplings to kuehs, these mouth-watering dishes .... the time spent in the kitchens by the nyonyas had certainly paid off!

For more info, do visit
http://www.peranakanmuseum.sg

BTW, there is free entry for all on New Year's Day.


The "kuching" sculpture at the entrance.

Coincidentally, we spotted another "kuching" near Hill Street.


With quite similar pose somemore.... =)

"ding dong bells.... ding dong bells... ding dong all the way...~" <--- wrong lyrics for the X'mas song

Was addicted to "Little Nyonya" liao la. Told myself not to watch the 1st episode already cos I thought it's going to be overrated by mediacorp but I've ended up watching every episode. My sister was even more kiasu. Bec she missed a few epis., she signed up for mob tv to watch a few epis ahead than was shown on tv.

Spent X'mas eve with the girls. Went to Phin's Steakhouse and one of my friends had a whole cup of lime juice poured over her.... by the waiter. Was a pretty awkward and unpleasant experience to enjoy your X'mas eve half-soaked in lime juice. In the end, after a series of apologies from the boss of the steakhouse, they waived off her meal from the bill and the 10% service charge. (but GST for service charge still counted in... duh...!!)



Went to watch "Bedtime Stories" after some gift unwrapping.

Sadly.. it was a movie for kids.

The teen with her parents, sitting beside me was laughing loudly when watching the guinea pig doing some stupid actions. I've only managed to chuckle a bit on this scene where Adam Sandler tested the fire-resistant spray on the salesman and ended up spraying into his own eyes as an apology. The rests of the scenes looked pretty lame. I was so sad that the hot Australian, Guy Pearce acted as the brainless villian in the show~ it was soooo... wasted!!!

After the movie, 5 sleepy and "sian" ladies went to the nearby pub for a mug of beer and countdown. The pub was noisy (had always been) with a gang of young chaps playing games, our next table a few uncles playing poker and not forgetting the young ladies with short skirts serving drinks.

Surely it was quiet for a X'mas eve like this, but it was really a peaceful night!!!

4th Year, 1st Sem







Finally can see some upward trend in the result's graph...
Gambatte for the next sem and thesis!!

Let it snow... let it snow... let it snow....

Hokkaido, a Winter Wonderland.

It has really lived up to its name. Snow-capped fields, harsh, cold weather, abundant seafood, expensive but certainly delicious white chocolates, we'd spent a lovely 7-days holiday over there.



Click on pic to see more photos*

Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7