Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro (Halal) @ Arab Street (Beach Road)

Located at a corner shop where Beach road meets Arab street is a Swedish eatery that might look out of place in an area filled with many Middle Eastern bistros/cafes/restaurants.

Thankfully, it has Halal certification and would therefore, be able to attract the Muslim clientele that forms the majority of visitors to Arab street.

The Gang of Four Three (as Alex was sailing that day) specially made a trip to Fika when Ms SaNeVa had a sudden craving for Swedish food. She was in fact egging for the IKEA restaurant but well, majority wins!

Swedish Lingonberry Cheesecake

Diners who frequent IKEA and have their signature Swedish meatballs would know what lingonberry is - a sweet-sour jam that goes very well with the balls and the cream sauce. And a bit of chilli.

I would not comment much on the impact this bloody red jam had on the cheesecake (which i found to be really negligible). However, the cheesecake itself was a marvel on its own.

Rich, creamy, cheesy; three criterions that make a cheesecake irresistibly delicious!

Swedish Meatballs

Having been exposed to this must-order dish from IKEA and never had a chance to try it in other eateries, i am glad to be able to have some kind of comparison finally.

We had a good suspicion that the balls were handmade although such labourious effort would usually be published proudly on the menu - which was not the case for fika.

The charred bits and meaty pieces of these balls worked terribly well with my taste buds; giving bursts of flavour that differed much from those at IKEA. And i love the soft cackling scream as my teeth bit onto their crunchy surface. So much for a multiple-senses experience.

For a slight moment, we thought these actually tasted quite similarly to the deep fried meat balls (served with a sweet sauce dip) offered in some Chinese restaurants.

Swedish Hash

For a moment, i thought this is the same as Macdonald's hash browns - not exactly something i would like to order unless it comes with maple syrup and some chilli sauce.

According to the helpful menu, this has diced potatoes, pan-fried onions and beef, topped with a sunny side up and sliced beetroot on the side - an absolutely accurate description as promised when it appeared on our table.

I enjoyed the soft, tender beef and relished the beetroots but it did not make a deep impression for me (except for the price). Nonetheless, i found no dire complaint for this dish.

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Would i be back? Maybe; to try its cheesecake again or other dessert offerings.

Location

257 Beach Road

(Where Arab Street meets Beach Road)

Price

Swedish Lingonberry Cheesecake - S$7.50

Swedish Meatballs - S$16.90

Swedish Hash - S$17.90

Subject to GST and Service Charge

Additional Information

Kon bought this can of pear cider for S$6.90! Supposedly imported, we were under the impression (no fault of Fika) that it was uniquely different from those sold in IKEA!

For a more updated price list, please visit their official website at http://www.fikacafe.com/.

If you don't mind the heat and the polluted smog from motor vehicles, please feel free to sit outside! Ceiling fans are available to cool you down while you do your people-watching.

Top 5 Regrets People Make On Their Deathbed

With so many links shared by friends on facebook, it was accidental that i clicked on this link liked by a few friends. The title is quite interesting; nurse reveals the top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed.

Bonnie Ware, a nurse who has been taking care of the dying for years, came up with this revelation that is indeed enlightening and will serve well for many people who have not a single idea on how to spend their life.

As a person who loves to enjoy life, i think i should share this article taken from Bonnie's website located at http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html.

It will also serve as a gentle reminder whenever i feel disappointed and upset with life.

First Regret; I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled.

Most people have had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

Second Regret; I wish I didn't work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

Third Regret; I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly,in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

Fourth Regret; I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years.

There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love.

Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks,love and relationships.

Fifth Regret; I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives.

Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have sillyness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again,long before you are dying.

Life is a choice.

It is YOUR life.

Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly.

Choose happiness.

I totally agree with Bonnie!

Fallen Trees, Wiped Out Areas Due to Freak Wind @ Mandai

Continuing the walk from my last post, this stretch of road is also known as mandai road despite it being distinctly separated from the original two-way, single lane mandai road.

This is the view that greets me whenever i drive to work! It was as if time has stopped for that moment of serenity and peacefulness. Well, at least that moment is locked-in for a few seconds before the car behind me starts honking!

Imagine a top-down view where the reflection is symmetrical with trees. Don't you think it looks like a dragon's head with the noticeable nostrils and short feelers?

For a thriving ecosystem that is brimming with greenery, it may look out of place to find branches of dried dead leaves that should have fallen to the ground.

As you can see, this tree had collapsed from the very ground it used to stand on. Was it due to old age, decay, illness or man-made reasons?

It was actually a freak wind (coupled with a heavy downpour) that destroyed quite a substantial natural area in Mandai. I actually drove past that area a few hours after the freakish wind and was appalled at the damage it caused. There is in fact a straitstimes article that explained this freak weather but i could not find it!

At that time, numerous trees were split open (across the trunk) and some had thick, broken branches that were on the verge of falling onto the road! The National Parks had no choice but to saw off the remnants before they hit any cars or humans.

This is a very mild picture showing the destruction caused by the wind in February.

From far, this gave the impression of a tree full of bats! These 'bats" were actually dead leaves that appeared to bundle up together.

Monkeys on the track!

Feed them and risk a big fine!!

The intensity and ferocity of the wind can be clearly shown in the next few pictures.

Tree trunks were practically tore off with monstrous force.

Trees that can never stand straight again after being pounded continually for a few hours.

Another picture showing a more prominent split down the centre. 

It's amazing how the wind managed to mercilessly twist this trunk to its death!

Mini plots of "burial" for trees that had to be cut down for the safety of humans.

Something to lighten up the spirit! Nature continues its cycle regardless of what happen. The power of Gaia, like what one of my friends will say.

Revitalisation is in place. Natural revitalisation, if i could add. If not for the attraction of internet, mobile phones, tv and movies, i bet i am quite suitable to a hermit life. Oh, i need an urban toilet in my natural abode though - the sitting type.

Another slightly more damaging picture of the destruction caused.

An even better one.

This may look like a wasteland now. Half a year ago, it was an area thick with green foliage.

I always find it very sad that so many trees have disappeared just like that. This unfortunate incident is definitely not comparable to the disaster we see in Japan recently but it's still a great pity.

Trees that collapsed near the water with some portions dying and the rest, barely surviving.

I am almost coming to the end of this tiring walk that lasted around two hours!

Let me cross the road to take bus number 183 back to the area i parked my car.

With so many park connectors in Singapore, maybe i should attempt a few to see what they really offer in urbanised Singapore.

=end=

Boon Kee Wanton Noodles (文记云吞面) @ Clementi Central Hawker Centre

When i tried the wanton noodles from Boon Kee the very first time with the Great Kon, i didn't understand what was the big fuss for the stall to generate a waiting time of 20 to 30 minutes!

Slow workers? Limited manpower? Or maybe a horde that happened to be craving for wanton noodles?

It wasn't till i was hungrily sourcing for breakfast one day (before work that is) that i decided to give Boon Kee another chance to redeem itself.

This time, i can fully understand why it is so popular! There's a difference when you have only one dish as versus to four or five carbo-laden dishes spread out on your table. For one, it's easier and more time efficient to appreciate its very essence.

The char siew (叉燒) is one of the better tasting ones for wanton noodles although it can never be compared on the same standing as Kay Lee.

I used to have a weird habit when it comes to wanton noodles - the wanton (dumplings) will be left untouched in the soup. However, this habit was broken when i tried the ones from Boon Kee; they weren't exactly meaty but still palatable enough for me to finish them every time.

A mee kia (thin noodles) and mee poh (面薄 aka flat noodles) person, i allocate a big proportion of my taste test to noodles when it comes to wanton or fishball noodles. Obviously, Boon Kee's mee kia did not disappoint!

Mixed with chilli paste, it was a great concoction that tingled my taste buds with every ungraceful slurp! Given its dark outlook, this will likely be placed under the commonly known "KL style wanton mee".

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Location

Block 448, Clementi Food Centre,

Clementi Ave 3, Stall No # 01 -36

Price

S$2.50 a plate

Nature Spot - Kingfisher in NUS

The green view dotted with gigantic, huge ass trees right in front of my office was always cited by me as a possible area to build a new block of office to replace the ageing, no lift-access one i am assigned to.

Before i am hurt with rocks thrown by nature lovers, i meant it as a harmless joke! A nature lover myself, i know humans are the real intruders and wild animals are merely the unfortunate victims.

The above reflects one main reason why i will prefer the green area to remain as it is. No lah!! Not the money!!! It's that beautiful blue-white creature avian on the S$10 Singapore bird series currency!

Since i joined this department, i was captivated by these two kingfishers that always stopped by my office. Within a short while, i can accurately pinpoint their grand arrival by that distinctive shrieking chirp they made.

It may take a while for me to spot them amid the numerous leaves that make up the majestic crown of this group of trees but the feeling of seeing them ALIVE is always so heartwarming (Cavin is such a loving person)!

They went missing for a long period of time and i remember how sad i was when i chanced upon the dead carcass of a kingfisher - i am not sure if it was the same one that frequented my office. They all look the same!

Anyway, it was with happiness when i heard that familiar playful chirping once again recently! Oh, there it was; standing on a tree branch far far away and calling for its mate.

Nature is sometimes best observed from an non-invasive distance.

Don' you think so?

Treasure nature in Singapore; it is surprisingly in abundance in such a tiny nation we proudly call home.