Yummy Sarawak Kolo Mee @ Tampines Round Market

I used to stay in Tampines for more than a decade of my life but I didn't like to go market when I was young.  My mum would always "tabao" food from the Tampines Round Market for me in the past.  I remember she would normally buy chicken noodles or pork ribs noodles for me.  After I shifted out of Tampines, only then I realized that there are many "gems" in this market.  One of which is this "Yummy Sarawak Kolo Mee".  It is easy to spot this stall with bright yellow signboard and a long waiting queue.  Last Saturday, I followed my hubby to service his car at Tampines Industrial area.  We walked over to the round market for breakfast whilst the car was at the car servicing workshop.  Since we had time to spare, I decided to join the long queue for the very first time for the famous Sarawak Kolo Mee.     

 This stall was featured in many Channel U, Channel 8 food variety shows and also certified by Makansutra for its quality Wanton Mee.

 I saw a huge pot of braised chicken feet (very plump!) at the stall front and was almost tempted to order chicken feet noodles.  However, I decided to order two bowls of their Signature Kolo Mee instead and will save the chicken feet noodles for the next time.

 Tatah!!!  Signature Kolo Mee ($4) with pork ribs, char siew, wantons (two boiled and one fried) and a plump dumpling with crunchy chestnuts bits inside.  The kolo mee Chilli is optional but be warned, it is very spicy.  The curly Kolo Mee was served dry with some special sauce which somehow reminded me of instant noodles (like those Indo Mee Dry).  Overall, it was a satifying bowl of Kolo Mee.  :)      

Yummy Sarawak Kolo Mee
Tampines Round Market & Food Centre
Blk 137, Tampines St 11, #01-44,
S521137

Ju Ming Taichi Series @ Singapore Botanical Gardens

[11 Apr 2015. Sat]  A trip to Singapore Botanic Gardens to catch the Ju Ming Taichi Series Sculpture display as well as to enjoy an evening of music with Singapore Chinese Orchestra at Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage.

Singapore had submitted a nomination for our Singapore Botanic Gardens to be listed in UNESCO as a World Heritage Site last year January.  If successful, it will be our country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Let's keep our fingers crossed!  :)  

Whoohoo... Spotted a huge monitor lizard.

Spring Kyushu Fair @ Tampines Mall (3 - 14 April 2015)

This year, I am glad that I didn't miss the Kyushu fair at Tampines Mall.  After making a visit to an elderly home at Tampines area, I took a bus to Tampines Interchange.  Before taking the MRT back home, I decided to drop by Tampines Mall to check out the food at Kyushu fair.  

Fortunately, at 5pm, it was not too crowded yet and in less than 10 minutes, I bought 3 packets of food.

 I love croquettes and since there was a promotion "Buy 5 and get 1 free", I grabbed 5 different types of croquettes - Pumpkin, Veggie, Potato, Sweet Corn and Crab Cream and also an Ebi Tempura.  All for $10.  I remember a few years ago, one such croquette cost at least $2.50 and those with additional ingredients like sweet corn, crab cream ones cost $3.50 during similar Japanese fair.

 These were to be shared with my hubby so I painstakingly cut each croquette neatly into half.  :)

 Decided to try out the unagi rice too.

 Delicious!  Probably will make another trip to the fair before it ends on Tuesday.

Spring Kyushu Fair
Tampines Mall

Qing Ming Festival - Tomb-Sweeping at Lim Chu Kang Cemetery

All these years, I had not ever followed my parents to Lim Chu Kang Cemetery to pray to my late paternal great grandmother and grandmother who had passed away when I was in primary school and Secondary One.  However, conscience might have pricked on me when I decided to follow them to the cemetery for the very first time for Qing Ming this year.  My parents decided to go on a Saturday morning instead of the actual day on Sunday.  There were lesser crowd and the weather was good although it got a bit hotter during the later part of the morning.  Also, considering the fact that on the actual Qing Ming festival,it will rain without fail, it is better to avoid going to the cemetery on the actual day.  Something that I am not too sure whether it is pure coincidence or ...   

Upon reaching my late paternal grandmother's tomb, a guy approached us and we need to pay him $50 for helping to maintain the state of the tomb for the past one year.  A receipt was issued to us.

Younger brother was more familiar than me on what to do.  He inserted the joss sticks on the coloured paper on the tombstone.

My late grandmother's tombstone.

Dad poured clean water over the tomb and started to wipe it clean before we placed all the offerings on it.

We also need to pay our respect to the Earth God.

Offerings to be burnt to the deceased.  I don't think my ancestors would know how to use iPhone!  

All burnt to ashes within seconds...

We also threw strips of paper high up into the sky and shouted "Huat Ah"!  I didn't follow though... 

Next, we proceeded to my late great-grandmother's tombstone.

We followed the same ritual... 

After that, hubby also drove to Bukit Brown Cemetery to show us how it was like.  We would like to join guided tour that will help us understand the history of Bukit Brown or Lim Chu Kang Cemetery better.  Anyone been to such guided tour?  Where can I sign up?