Pink Bags

I got 2 pink bags on my Italy trip. :)

Gathering on 27th April 2013

We met up to have lunch at Jones the Grocer and after that tea time at TCC.
I ordered my big breakfast. They all order the egg benedick and Hendra ordered the berry toast.

Arnold's Chicken

Since TeoLeng intruduced Arnold's Chicken to Niko. His favorite food list became longer.

We went to Buangkok Green to eat lunch there. We had to wait for 30 minutes. :(
Compared to Popeye's I think the spring chicken was not to fat but the spices wasn't absorbed into the meat. Popeye is still the best.

Bangkok Jam, Wheelock Place

We ate here because the rest are queuing very long.

We ordered phadthai for me and curry rice for Niko. Both turned out to be nice. But it's a bit pricey compared to Aloy Thai and other thai restaurant.

Bishan Park Site Visit

This trip was organized by Nirmal together with Herbert, the architect for this park.

Venice - day 1 and 2

After so long journey, more than 24 hours I guess...We reached in Venice central station. It is in the Venice Island. We crossed from the main island by train...cool.



I felt very cold when we arrive there. My fingers were like numb. May be that time I was not used to the weather. We bought 2 one-way water bus ticket (5.1 line) and went down at St.Mark Square.

We waited for 10-15 minutes till Lorenzo came and pick us up in front of the water bus terminal.

His place was empty on that day we came. It was 3-4 story building on a very narrow aisle. In fact, most of the houses are in narrow aisle. The house is in the 2nd floor. It's an apartment with 3 bed room and 1 pantry. there's no living room as this is a BnB. The room is very nice with a bathroom in side.



One thing I noticed when we were in Venice compared to other cities in Italy was the pigeons are obese. Most of them are big size.

Venice is the most touristy places in Italy. Not so many African and generally I felt safe compared when I was in Milan or Naples.

Basically our activities there were :
- walked till my legs tired.
- saw the window showcase, they display very interesting items.
- ate Gelato when it was freezing cold.
- had lunch and dinner in recommended restaurants
- went in to churches
- desperately looking for non gassy mineral water
- went in to some museum (used to be palace)

I wanted to buy Murano glass bracelet for my mother but it was not so cheap. I didn't buy finally. :(

First day we just explored the area, went in to some churches, see what things to buy, researched on the restaurant price for dinner and tomorrow meal.

The next morning, Lorenzo prepared breakfast for us. He served croissant with marmalade filling inside. It tasted fantastic, crispy outside and warm and sweet inside.
We went to St.Mark Square in the morning after breakfast in our Bnb.


Da Mamo for lunch our 2nd day. We were a bit skeptical about this restaurant as we suspected he must get some kind of percentage from our purchase. In fact, it seems to be the best seafood spaghetti I have ever eaten in Italy.

Zero Energy Building, ISD Visit

This trip was organized by Harn Wei.

Balck Lace Shoes from Charles and Keith

SOTA, Singapore

SOTA stands for School Of The Arts at Dhoby Ghaut area. We visited this place in relation with WOHA workshop.

Remembering the Anime Festival Few Years Ago

I got to select the items I wanted to purchase on the vending machine because I bribed the uncle with Sushi and Gyoza.

Egg Bed Tofu with Mushroom and Oriental Pork Rib

Today Niko cooked his signature egg bed tofu with mushroom and Oriental Pork Rib with instant seasoning.








I think the taste of the egg bed tofu made by him is getting better and better.

The pork rib was good. Sour and sweet.

Chewy Junior

I like this because of the chewy skin. I actually don't mind eating the original without any toppings.

These are my favorite chewy...I like apple cheese and almond.



I just bought for tomorrow breakfast, 1 box of 8 for $9 and get 1 piece free.

It's about Bread

Actually I don't like the after taste in my mouth after eating bread. It tastes like a bit acidic, sticky, and the bread might get stuck in between teeth.

I wanna review on some bread I like better than others.

BREADTALK - everywhere got like mushroom in Singapore and Jakarta
I like the firefloss and the chocolate croissant only. I am not really impressed with the rest.


Pullman Bakery - Millenia Walk, Singapore
The best of this place is the curry bread. It is crispy on out side but soft and warm inside. The best is to consume it when it's hot.
Other than curry bread, I like the pork sausage bread.


ROTIBOY - Mall Taman Anggrek, Jakarta
Again, similar to pullman curry bread. Crispy on the outside and soft in the inside.


FOUR LEAVES - Singapore
I like their white bread. They are really soft compared to Breadtalk white bread.


SUN MOULIN - Isetan Scott, Singapore
They also have better bread compared to Breadtalk. The best is we can select the thickness of the bread slices. I like the thinness, it comes in 12 slices.

People Who are Obsessed by Branded Things

I was one of the people belong to this category. But as I grow more mature and wiser, I started to think the essence of my life. Even though I still like to buy branded items but I bought them because I like the design, not be cause they belong to certain brand. If I am not comfortable with the price, I will always delay buying it while I keep thinking whether I really like the design or what occasion would I wear it or how often would it be worn or do I have matching clothes/accessories to be worn with it.

I give example on what kind of transformation I have gone through. Last time I bought a plain white T-shirt because it was labelled by D&G for $80 while Giordano has the same one for $6. Now I bought a Furla bag because I only can find this design at Furla store. I could find similar design in other store but I don't like it 100%, compared to Furla one. So you got the difference?

According to research, people bought branded things is because they lack of confidence. So to boost their confidence, they carry branded bags to be perceived as rich person. They are too concern on what other people think about them. I do still bought branded items not because of the above reason. I am more on my personal satisfaction possessing the items I like.

Let me share the lesson I have learned if you wanna buy branded things.

1. Buy a classic design rather that latest seasonal items
Compare a chanel 2.55 design with a Balenciaga bag ( It's not about the colour. It's about the design )



2. Buy an branded items because of material quality or design rather that LOGO on your face.
Compare these 2 AX T-shirt. One of the T-shirt here reminds me of one ex-colleague from Philipines. He is like walking free ad for AX.



There are some people who don't eat to save some money buying branded bags. If you can not afford then you better don't forced yourself to buy. We should just buy things within our comfortable level. If you already sacrifice basic needs to buy something secondary, there must be something wrong about you.

The branded minded person is just too shallow or childish on selecting their consumption because they just judge the things based on what labelled the things are coming with. They even not considering about the design.

Anyway it depends on people preference and priority. I am just throwing out idea in my head because of today afternoon I meet somebody who is overly branded minded and yesterday we had similar conversation on what reason my colleague bought a watch.

Knorr Risotto Funghi

We bought this instant risotto from one of the supermarket in Milan.

We just ate this for lunch. We added canned button mushroom from Hosen.



Niko cooked fried egg and CP wanton with sesame sauce.