Quarter of the century

Happy 25th!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes.

Thanks for making my day special and memorable.

Thanks for the effort in getting me something.

Thanks for the special delivery.

Blessed.

xoxo

NUH vs. H1N1

Once again, it’s packing time.

My luggage

Leaving my home sweet home for a prolonged period of time to study/ work seems to be an annual thingy since I finished my high school. It is closer this time, to Singapore.

Date of arrival and my body temperature

Due to fear of having H1N1 attacks, every visitor who arrives at NUH is required to have their body temperatures checked. Those with normal body temperatures are given a green button label with date and body temperature specified.

Good luck =)

Happy Mother's Day

It was 5 years ago when me last celebrated mother's day with beloved. Five years later, me is still not entirely financial independent to get beloved anything precious. Hence, this year me decided to cook beloved a special meal on this special day.

Pumpkin Soup

We started off with pumpkin soup served with garlic bread.

Garlic bread

Followed by pan-fried salmon with lemon butter sauce and cod fish with apple sauce.

Pan-fried salmon with lemon butter sauce

Pan-fried cod fish with apple sauce

Lastly, we finished off with heart-shaped chocolate pudding, which marked a perfect ending for this special meal.

Chocolate pudding

Happy Mother's Day, my beloved mum! Love you always *hugs and kisses*

Sweet Potato Onde-onde

Sweet potato onde-onde

Me made onde-onde again, this time filled with the usual gula Malacca that is favoured by aunts and dearest.

Cubed gula Malacca

As opposed to the usual green pandan flavoured and coloured onde-onde commonly seen in those Malay stalls, sweet potatoes were used instead to give similar effect.

Mashed sweet potatoes

Me tried using pandan once when I made it in Melbourne, but the outcome was not as good as those made with sweet potatoes. The skin was not as soft and chewy unless it is consumed immediately. Making the skin using sweet potatoes somehow maintain the softness and Q-ness of onde-onde no matter how long you place it (even if it is left till the next day).

Cut-up view

Pumpkin is another good substitution =).

Wealth and Us

Wealth ≠ Money

When we talk about wealth, it does not solely represent the money we have on hands and/or in our accounts.

Wealth = Happiness + Health + Money

In a lot of people's mind, “money = happiness” because money allows them to own big car(s), big house(s), branded stuff, fine dining and the list goes on. And, hence “no money = no happiness”. It is true that no money brings some sort of sorrow. However, money is not everything. Money does not bring the real and eternal happiness.

Money brings only short-term happiness

We got to know that:
 Money can buy house, but not home.
 Money can buy bed, but not sleep.
 Money can buy clock, but not time.
 Money can buy book, but not knowledge.
 Money can buy food, but not appetite.
 Money can buy position, but not respect.
 Money can buy blood, but not life.
 Money can buy medicine, but not health.
 Money can buy people, but not friends.
 Money can buy insurance, but not safety.

A man with many desires will never be contented. A person who's never contented can never be happy with life.

Learn to slow down the busy pace occasionally. Learn to look back at times. Learn to appreciate. Learn to share. Learn to enjoy the nature of happiness. Learn to be the true self.

Learning is a big part of life.

Happy Labour Day =).