Orchid Garden at the Botanical Gardens

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is one of the most outstanding gardens in the world and recognised as a heritage site. Most foreigners do not realise that we have a tradition since 1957 of cultivating orchids and naming them after dignitaries who visit our country.

The first person to have the honour was the wife of Singapore Governor.

Oncidesa Gower Ramsey Sunkist. Unlike the dancing lady, it has no brown spots. Spectacular golden showers.

Dendrobium Angela Merkel named after the German Chancellor.

Dendrobium Michiko named after the Crown Princess of Japan.

Greeted by a mist of golden showers, walking up a slope towards Burkhil Hall.

There is an Orchid Extravaganza at the Gardens by the Bay this month to celebrate our National  Day.

Bincho at Tiong Bahru

I was at Bincho today for lunch with 2 friends. Its at the hip and very convenient Tiong Bahru.

I used to acvompany my grandmother for her marketing at Tiong Bahru so this is a familiar location for me. My curtain shades were done by the shop next to Cheng. Alas. I didnt realise that Bincho was behind the mee pok shop snd spent 10 mins walking up and down searching for it. Thanks to the waiter at Flock.

When I entered the narrow and long restaurant, my lunch mates reserved the one facing the door and in the middle of the walking space.

We ordered Yakitori. BBQ chicken on rice.

Cozy or claustrophobic

Ventilation is very good though. You dont end up smelling of BBQ.

Maybe 3 is a crowd. Most groups are just 2 pax. Great if you are alone.

Deep fried chicken skin for starters.

Korean deep fried sweet sesame chicken. Too dry for my taste.

The roast chicken on rice was tasty. Total: $30 per pax.

Interesting hole in the wall. Unlikely I will  return because I do not like dark cramp space.

The photos from Seth Liu blog though looks interesting if you are going for omakase.

Bincho
78 Moh Guan Terrace
#01-19

Simple well wishing

Have you received presents which you dont need? Or not sure what to give your friends?

Fruits and food baskets are my favourite gifts. Everyone needs to eat.

Wrap a double sided tape around the edge to tuck in the cellophane.

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And to a woman’s heart.

Recently, I went to a hamper wrapping class. It cost $25, subsidised by the People’s Association.

Big plastic bag. Tape the ends and tuck in. Tie a ribbon at the top.

Which comes first? Basket or fruit
For weddings, get well.

1. Always buy extra fruits to fill baskets
2. Basket from Daiso
3. Choose fruits
– Texture
-Shape
– Color
4. Group your fruits

Baby shower. Or simply grouping gifts of odd shapes.

Tape double sided tape around the edge to catch the cellophane wrap. The ribbon will cover the ends.

Pretty ribbon at the top.

Grouping items together.

Or simply wrapping them like a candy.

Another visitor

Someone dropped in for a visit this morning. Year of the Rooster. Its from my neighbour who keeps at least 2 roosters and 2 hens in their balcony.

See the white discs on the cheeks. They are wild and not the common ones you eat from farms.

At 7.15am I had a young boy 14 yrs old(?) knocking on my door waiting to retrieve the chicken.

They put a white paper collar to keep one of them from crowing.

There are big shit droppings though. No eggs from the rooster.

There is a very interesting article written by a lady whose 2 children decided to keep these red wild jungle fowls as pets. 2 eggs every morning.

https://www.csmonitor.com//layout/set/amphtml/2004/0123/p22s04-hfes.html

Toro Toro

I had a lovely girls day out with my friend of 20 years standing. We watched wonder woman at the GV cinema and off to lunch at Maguro for a toro cut lunch.

The big bowl of 5 cuts of toro all from different parts of the fish.

After 10 days in Japan, I am still very much into Japanese food. Thank you SC.

MaguroDonya Miuramisakikou Sushi & Dining

#03-314 SUNTEC CITY NORTH WING SUNTEC CITY MALL,
3 TEMASEK BOULEVARD, 038983

Then to Hoshino Coffee for tea time set with souffle. Forget dinner.

Happy Birthday Gardens by the Bay

Its been 5 years! Can”t believe it.

Last night’s lightup at Gardens by the Bay!

Visit to the Flower Dome and intermingling with the chickens. Afterall this is the Year of the fire Rooster.

Minister Lawrence Wong recounting the plans to set up the gardens in 2004.

Admiring the Blue Beauties at the Flower Dome.

Italian Country farm.

From 1-30 June, the annual membership fee is halved!

PuBen

璞本(púben) by Jereme Leung

归真反璞 (guī zhēn fǎn pú)
归：return 返回；
真：天然，自然 original natural state；璞：蕴藏有玉的石头 stone jadeite

Next time you are at the South of Bund in Shanghai. Jereme is a talented chef who has lived in Singapore, HK, Indonesia and the last 15 years in China. His culinary skills are authentically Chinese with a modern twist in presentation. He started off as a chef in Cantonese cuisine and immersed himself reinterpreting Shanghai cuisine.

Really miss his Empress Jade at Mt Faber in Singapore.

Pretty?

Prawns with pomegranate and pansies

Rose ice cream

http://www.jeremeleung.com/chinese/JL_proj_puben.html

Goodbye my sunbirds

Today I experienced an empty nest syndrome.  The birds flew away. I hope they have not been eaten up.

Sunbirds at my balcony – update

These photos show that both male and female olive backed sunbirds feeding their young at my balcony. The black chested is a male sunbird.

Staycation – nail spa

Another Staycation. This time I’m getting my nails done at Belle Lady at Orchard Gateway. Perhaps its their way of getting staff trained. Its a reasonable price at Groupon and many other nail spas offer the gelish manicure or pedicure.

Belle Lady is opposite the Library at Orchard. I borrowed a book on productivity to read while doing my nails.

My own foot bath.

My nails really take a beating and need some pampering. I will return for a soak off. She asked me to do a $20 add on callus removal. Oh well. Why not.

Cross over the underpass, pass by Lady M Millecrepe, Tokyu Hands for Japanese shopping experience to Centrepoint for Chicken Up, Korean soya sauce Chicken wings.

And next door to Honolulu Cafe for Hong Kong egg tarts. There’s a 5pm-8pm offer. Buy 2 get 1 free. Snack time. Yumms. I almost forgot I am in Singapore. Taking the bus home.

Update
After I came home and found out that most bloggers wrote about the Honolulu Egg Tarts ($1.70 each) being sold out by 1pm. It “is probably the flakiest egg tart you will ever come across in Singapore. Made by freezing the dough overnight to fold 192 layers, the egg tart is exceedingly crispy and is pleasing to your taste buds.”

I really liked the tarts. Why was I charged $4.05 for 2 tarts? GST? I didnt like the pastry but the filling was so creamy with a special fragrance. Eaten fresh and warm, its truly the best egg tart in Singapore.

I didnt have to queue at 6pm. Or rather, there was only 1 person ahead of me. I will likely return.

Fresh from oven. These are oven times. Centrepoint is quite empty during weekdays. Although the streets are full of pedestrains. So do enjoy yourself.