Fish & Co (Park Mall, Singapore) Review

The other night a party of us ended up going to Fish & Co at Park Mall (after unsuccessfully trying to get a table at the nearby Sakura International Buffet restaurant - we turned up without a reservation, and was turned away).

The visit actually started out in an optimistic vein. We had a hyper waiter come over to highlight their "Ladies Night" special. 1-f0r-1 on selected dishes. Cool, or so we thought. And I appreciate that you could ask for water for free (When a group of us went to Mad Jack at Nex, that new shopping centre near Serangoon MRT, recently, we had to pay for mineral water. Oh, and their brownie was overdone -- parts of it had turned hard, like biscuit!).

One of my friends ordered one of her favourites at Fish & Co - calamari rings fried in batter. The batter was not too thick, and the calamari was soft. A good start to our meal. A fairly generous serving too for under $10.

Then... our fish with peri-peri sauce came (that was one of the dishes under the 1-for-1 Ladies Night promo). It seemed like the best choice on paper. The picture on the menu looked inviting, and peri-peri sauce sounded different in a good way. Big mistake. The sauce was way too salty. I had to scrape most of it off the fish. If you ever go to Fish & Co, do not order this!!!

Overall, the service was average. Don't get me wrong - the staff do try hard! But the restaurant was obviously too busy for them to give everyone the fastest service.

Also, that's one location I would not choose to go to again. Too noisy for me!

Checking out Thong Chai Medical Institution

Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution was apparently featured on Singapore television recently, with the result that it got my mum interested in trying out its services.

I thought I'd write about our experience, just to give an idea to anyone else who is thinking of seeing if the doctors there can help them out with their particular ailments.

THE SERVICES

According to its website, Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution provides "free medical consultation and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to the public regardless of race, religion or nationality." In practice, the outpatient clinic provides (1) traditional herbal medicine (2) acupuncture.

GETTING THERE

If you're going by MRT, you can stop at Outram Park or Chinatown. We stopped at Outram Park MRT station, then took a taxi because my mother has difficulty walking any distance. Taxi fare was $4. Alternatively, take SBS Bus 174 from opposite Outram Park MRT. The bus stops very near Thong Chai Building.

THE PROCESS

Registration:

• When you enter, you are given a queue number for registration. Patient has to be present at the clinic before a number is given.
• First-time patients will need to bring identification - IC, passport or birth certificate (they have signs saying this is a requirement of the Singapore government). Basic details are entered into their computerised system, and a patient card is given to you.
• You are then allocated to a doctor. What's also interesting is that you are allowed to request specific doctors. Waiting times for the more popular doctors can be quite a bit longer though, from what we understand from another patient there.
• One thing to note: on any one day, you can only see either the doctor for herbal medicine, or the acupuncturist.
• The waiting time for registration was over an hour when we were there to register as first-time patients, and about half an hour when we visited again a week later.

Consultation:

• If you're familiar with traditional chinese medicine, then the procedure is pretty much the same at this clinic. The doctor talks to you to discover your symptoms, checks your pulse, then prescribes a formula tailored to your complaint(s).
• Waiting time for the doctor can vary depending on the popularity of the doctor, as I mentioned in the section above. One patient waiting for the most popular doctor said that she had been waiting over 2 hours. In our case, it took under an hour.

Medicine:

• While many traditional chinese medicine clinics nowadays provide medicines in powdered or liquid form, Thong Chai still does it the traditional way. You are given a combination of dried herbs, which you can see the staff weighing and wrapping up in red paper, just like what they do in a traditional chinese medicine shop. Preparation of the meidicine at home: three bowls of water to be added to the herbs, then boiled down to one bowl for the first day; two bowls of water boiled down to just under one bowl for the second day. (Be warned! Many chinese herbal concoctions are extremely bitter).
• A printed copy of the prescription is also given to you, which gives you the option of purchasing the formula from a chinese medical hall convenient to you. You may also go back after two days for more medicine, but do note that you'll have to see the doctor first.
• The two days that we went, it took 45 minutes to an hour for our prescriptions to be filled.

Helpful websites to help you get around Singapore

Public transport is extremely efficient and convenient in Singapore. But how do you figure out which route to take? Here are few sites which may be helpful:

www.sbstransit.com.sg
The Journey Planner here is pretty easy to use and gives fairly accurate results, and it's a site I use often. All you need to do is enter a Start Location, and a Destination. Drawback of course is that the site only provides info for SBS buses (does not cover SMRT services).

www.gothere.sg
Very easy to use. Want to go from Bugis Junction to MacRitchie Reservoir? Enter just that in the search bar, and you get directions for various transport options. At the moment, though, it doesn't give the best bus routes for less well-known locations.

www.smrt.com.sg
This website has a journey planner which provides info for services run by SMRT. I must say I found this planner rather confusing to use. Hopefully, it'll get easierto use.

Getting a new Malaysian passport at the High Commission of Malaysia in Singapore

I thought I'd share my recent experience applying for a new Malaysian passport at the High Commission of Malaysia in Singapore. Hopefully, it'll be helpful to others.

STEP 1: FINDING OUT WHAT TO BRING

• What I did was call the High Commission's telephone line for Immigration and Consular matters - 67328067 - for recorded instructions. The recorded message also gives fax and email contacts.
• The message mentioned that they process a maximum of 200 applications a day.
  

STEP 2: GETTING THERE

• The High Commission is located at: 301 Jervois Road.
• To get there, I took the MRT to Redhill, then Bus 32 to the stop opposite Valley Point (on River Valley Road). From that stop, it takes less than 5 minutes to walk to the High Commission.
  

STEP 3: GETTING IN

• You will need a pass from the guardhouse. When I got there at 7.45 am (they were supposed to start giving out passes at 7.30 am), I got a green "I" (Submission) pass number 096.
• I was also given an application form while queueing at the guardhouse to get my pass. There is no charge for the form.
• I noted that older people were reminded to show senior citizen cards. They got a pass with a different colour - I assume that means they get priority.

STEP 4: SUBMISSION

• Submission is accepted from 8.00 am - 11.30 am, subject to limits on the number of applications processed each day.
• To get a queue number to submit your application, you have to produce:
  - Completed application form
  - Current or expiring passport
  - 2 passport-sized photographs with the right specifications
  - Malaysian IC and photocopy
  - Singapore IC (or work permit, student pass, etc.) and photocopy

Photos and Photocopying

• There's a photo booth at one side of the submission area. You'll have to go to the person manning the booth to get a queue number, then wait till your number is called (you can take a seat). Charge for photos: $6. When I got there at about 8 am, I was given number 43, with about 30 people in front of me. I waited an hour there.
• The photocopying service is next to the photo booth.

Getting a submission queue number

• This step requires you to stand in queue. I started lining up at 9 am, and only got the queue number about an hour later. Luckily, I had the foresight to bring a page-turner along (Barbara Nadel's Arabesk: Inspector Ikmen #3 in case you're wondering. Engrossing story!).
• After that, you can take a seat while you wait for your number to come up on the display board. Whew! I definitely needed to sit down by then.
• It was slightly more than an hour, 11.15 am, before I was able to submit my application and make payment. The fee for a new passport is RM300,and they accept Singapore Dollars in cash only. On the day that I went, I was asked for S$124.
  

STEP 5: COLLECTION

• Collection is from 2.30 pm - 4.15 pm.
• You have to first get a yellow "Q" pass from the guard house. I got to the guard house at about 1.45 pm, and was given number 028.
• Collection started promptly at 2.30 pm, with everyone getting their passports based on their Q pass number. It took about 15 minutes to get to my turn ie number 28.

Once I had my new passport, I proceeded to the Singapore Immigration website to transfer my Singapore re-entry permit. You can do it electronically nowadays - http://erep.ica.gov.sg/erep/index.do. Just fill in a few details, and print out the new re-entry permit.

Review: OSIM uSqueez Warm Massager

We were looking for a foot massager for my mum recently, and found out quite a bit about the OSIM uSqueez Warm, which motivated me to write this review on Hubpages:

Review: OSIM uSqueez Warm Massager

Although I didn't mention it in that article, I actually also tried a similar product from OTO -- the OTO Power Foot. According to the OTO salesperson, a unique features is that it has three rollers, and offers options for massage of other parts of the leg like the knee. It's worth checking out not least because the price and freebies are quite attractive. In terms of how good the massage feels, though, I think the OSIM uSqueez wins.

Matthew and the Mandarins at the Esplanade on 1 February 2010

It's been a while since I blogged, but this I must mention:

Coffee Morning & Afternoon Tea: Remembering Johnny Cash by Matthew & The Mandarins

1 Feb 2010 at the Esplanade Recital Studio

Matthew is an outstanding country singer, with a voice that's warm and rich, and a real feel for the music. I also really like the Esplanade Recital Studio as a venue -- it is small enough for you to hear and see properly, and there's an intimate, cozy feel to the place.

Great book for learning to use GIMP

I've been using GIMP for a couple of years now, but very blindly, and because of that to perform only very rudimentary tasks like cropping pictures. So when I discovered the book/manual, Grokking the GIMP recently, I was very excited. Particularly since I found the book very well-written, and very enjoyable to read.

And... the book can be read for free online. Don't you just love free stuff?

I've written a review (with info on where to find the book online) and published it on hubpages:
A Novice's Review: Grokking the GIMP by Carey Bunks

Free software for resizing images for Facebook albums, blogs, websites, etc.

Recently, I was given a whole set of very large picture files for use in a powerpoint project. And I knew I should really resize them to a more suitable size, which had me searching for a good free software which will automatically resize all the pictures at one go.

What I ultimately decided on was Irfanview. There is a plethora of free software to resize pictures on the net, but what convinced me was the CNET editors' review which stated that it was a "longtime favourite" among their staff.
I downloaded it, and it worked like a charm for resizing the of pictures to the size I needed. I also used it to convert another batch of pictures to grayscale. I had to adjust a few pictures for contrast/brightness, but generally the results were quite good.

I can see myself using this quite a lot to resize photos taken with my digital camera before uploading to my Facebook albums. It usually takes quite a while for the pictures to finish uploading since I don't usually resize them, but with it being so easy to resize them as a batch...

Note: You can find "Batch conversion/rename" under the File menu.

Free Entry to Asian Civilisations Museum: 30-31 May 2009

My friend alerted me to this one.

Free Entry to the
Asian Civilisations Museum
on 30-31 May, 2009
from 9 am - 7 pm

Great opportunity to check out The Kangxi Emperor exhibition, which is well worth a visit for its interesting insights into the sophisticated systems used by the Emperor to govern his country.

They will also have special activities from 12 pm t0 5 pm. More details here:

http://www.acm.org.sg/exhibitions/eventdetail.asp?eventID=490

Value Buy: Honey (or Honey Bee) Mango from Thailand

If you're in Singapore, now's the time to buy mangoes if you love them.

The fabulous Honey Mangoes or Honey Bee Mangoes from Thailand are going for really reasonable prices, under $0.90 per mango in 'buy 2' or 'buy 3' deals (my mum found a $1.35 for 2 deal in a supermarket recently, but that's probably exceptional).

The best thing about this variety is that the flesh is sweet and smooth (not fibrous). And they taste great even when they're still firm and mostly green. This mango turns yellower as it ripens.

Small wonder then that shoppers have been snapping these mangoes up!

Best Acar Recipe!

My mum raves about my auntie's acar recipe. And now her son-in-law has put it up!


http://unclephilipsg.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-mother-in-laws-nonya-acar-recipe.html

And while you're at Uncle Phil's blog, check out his other posts. He himself is a really good cook, so it's worth checking out his various recipes as well!

Spice Garden at Fort Canning Park

"Bunga Rampai" is given as souvenirs to guests at traditional Malay weddings in Singapore. To make "bunga rampai", "sireh" (betel) leaves are filled with finely shredded "pandan" (Pandanus amaryllifolius) leaves, fragrant flowers (for example, "cempaka" flowers), and sprinkled with rosewater. These souvenirs symbolise wishes of beauty and well-being to the newlyweds. (Picture taken during walking visit around the Spice Garden organised by Fort Canning Park.)


I wrote a few weeks ago about a walk around the Spice Garden at Fort Canning Park, where participants had the opportunity to find out about some of the plants, herbs and spices used in traditional Malay cuisine. I enjoyed the Spice Garden so much that I thought it deserved a more complete write-up:
The-Spice-Garden-at-Fort-Canning-Park

Spa Infinity at Far East Shopping Centre (Singapore)

My friend gave me a great treat recently -- a session at Spa Infinity (this spa is in a building next to Wheelock Place) - since she got hold of a very good trial package. Imagine, $15 + GST per person for use of spa facilities, a 30-minute massage session, and some light snacks at their cafe. Good value, and though they do try to sell you additional items when you get there (we were asked if we were interested in using special essential oils blends for our massage, for an extra amount of money, of course), they're polite and pleasant even if you say no.

The spa opened its doors about half a year ago, so no signs of wear and tear in the facilities yet:
- separate locker room facilities for men and women. I of course didn't go into the male locker room, but I assume it's the same as the one for women, with a glass-walled steam bath, a jacuzzi hot pool, showers, toilets, changing booths, lockers.
- a cafe where they serve light snacks and drinks.
- a lounge with comfortable sofa seating and television area to relax in; also serves as a place where you can wait in comfort till you're called for your treatment.
- treatment rooms.

Verdict: This place is worth checking out. Relaxing ambience, above-average massage service, and with the economic downturn, you may just be able to get yourself a value-for-money package. What I also like: they use a credit point system, so even if you initially signed up for a package of massage sessions, you have the flexibility of using your points for a variety of other services (facials, hair removal, pedicure, manicure, etc.).

What wasn't so hot: The hot pool was too hot the day we went, but we were assured that they would monitor the water temperature more carefully in the future. And note that the cafeteria menu is basic, and the food is also average.

Prices start from $75 for a 45-minute massage. If you're game to sign up for a package, the price per session could go down quite considerably.

Tips:
(1) When choosing a spa, look at spas at locations most convenient to you (no point stressing yourself out getting there each time you want to de-stress!); and ask or watch out for trial packages.
(2) If you find yourself satisfied with your trial, don't be afraid to negotiate a package suited to your needs:
- you may want to ask for a smaller trial package, so that you can try a few more times to see if the services are consistently good, and if the spa really suits you.
- ask for better prices, and more extras.
(3) If there's something you don't want to make use of, do speak up. They may adjust the price accordingly, For example, at Spa Infinity, it may suit you better to opt for a package without the free-flow cafeteria food option.

Istana Open House, May 1 2009

The Istana (official residence of the President of Singapore) grounds are worth a visit. Lovely trees, flowers, and well-kept lawns make the Istana grounds a very relaxing day out for groups of friends or for families. My friends and I went last year, and loved exploring the grounds.

There's another open house is just a couple of days away, on Friday 1 May 2009.

Opening hours: 8.30 am - 6.00 pm
Admission to grounds is free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Others pay $1 per person.

For more on the Open House (and other dates this year), check out the official Istana website:

http://www.istana.gov.sg/IstanaGrounds/OpenHouse/index.htm

Avocado Beauty Tip

So you've cut up the avocado to make your favourite sandwich or salad, do you throw the skin away? Don't!

Try rubbing the inside of the skin over your face and/or hands. Don't be surprised to find your skin smoother and more glowing :)

25 and 26 April 2009: Traditional Secrets to Well-Being

Last week, my friend and I ventured to Fort Canning Park for a guided walk through its Spice Gardens, and it was fascinating! They have such a wide variety of herbs and plants at the Spice Garden, with informative labels which explains more about the uses of the plant.

This coming weekend, there's another related workshop that's well worth going to, I think. A workshop where they will demonstrate some of the concoctions traditionally used by Malays to attain better health.

Traditional Secrets to Well-Being

Date & Time:
Saturday 25 Apr 09 (12.45pm) OR
Sunday 26 Apr 09 (1.30pm)

Venue:
Blackbox Theatre & Spice Garden, Fort Canning Park

Fee: Adults $5; Senior citizens and Students $2

For registration and more information,
email surinam_sumsudin@nparks.gov.sg
or call 63321200/ 63321302

*Participants are advised to be dressed comfortably and to note that there will be a fair amount of walking

More details at:
http://nparks.eventshub.sg/ems_wb_Details.aspx?CalID=5&EventID=30649

A couple of interesting FREE NParks Events on 18 April 2009

D.I.Y Vertical Garden
Date: Saturday 18 Apr 09
Time: 3 pm – 4pm
Venue: HortPark, Fruit Room

For more information and registration:
http://nparks.eventshub.sg/ems_wb_Details.aspx?CalID=5&EventID=28417


-----------------------------------------------

Jemput! Rediscovering Plants in Malay Cuisine & Culture.

Date: Saturday 18 Apr 09
Time: 4pm (lasts approximately 1.5 hours)
Venue: Fort Canning Park

For more information and registration:
http://nparks.eventshub.sg/ems_wb_Details.aspx?CalID=5&EventID=28557

New Singapore Stamp Issue: Cinema Theatres of Yesteryear, March 20, 2009

Coming up on March 20, a glimpse of Singapore's cinema history from SingPost, through a set of stamps featuring some of the old "grand dames" of Singapore theatres:

- Cathay
- The Majestic
- Capitol Building
- Queens
- Rex

I'm definitely going to buy a set (or two). These days, I always love receiving anything with more unusual stamps - it happens so rarely now, with franking being in such wide use. So I like to do the same with any letters I mail out - add some of the more special stamps issued by the post office.

Pictures and more info at the SingPost site: Cinema Theatres of Yesteryear Info

Cafe Cartel After-9-pm half price cakes

I don't think I've mentioned this before but a few friends and I meet at Plaza Singapura quite often. And what do we do after dinner? Adjourn to Cafe Cartel, where they have a 50% discount on cakes after 9 pm. That works out to around $3 (inclusive of taxes, etc.) per slice. A comfy place to chat, at a price less than what you'd pay at a bakery. A good deal, really.

FREE EVENT: Fuku No Ne Ensemble, 29 March 2009

Another free event organised by the The Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation. I've been to a couple of previous events organised by them, and they certainly brought in top-notch musicians. Judging by that, this one should be worth going -- if you enjoy traditional music.

Concert: "Fuku No Ne Ensemble - Japanese Music Tradition and Innovation"
Date: 29 March, 2009 (Sun)
Time: 7:00pm
Admission: Free (Registration is required)
Venue: Victoria Concert Hall

Listen to a music sample and register for event at:
http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/events_FUKUNONE1_29-3-09.html