Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee [亚九香菇肉脞麺] & its Teochew Dumpling Soup @ Hong Lim Food Centre [Chinatown]

I am not a big fan of Bak Chor Mee (or BCM; a common abbreviation used in local food forums) but mom was craving for a bowl that day at Hong Lim Food Centre!  =(

As a filial son and also as a curious foodie, i joined the queue at one of Singapore Hawker Legends; Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee to see what the fuss was all about for it to have one of the longest queue at the hawker centre.

Actually, my preferred brunch was supposed to be the nearby Ji Ji Wanton Mee and the decision to switch abruptly to the famous BCM rest entirely on one factor; the availability of free flow deep fried pork lard at Ah Kow. 

Six types of noodle choices and i am in a dilemma on which one to select! Eventually, my selection was based simply on the BCM picture on the signboard; mee pok. 

Most customers ahead of me in the queue appeared to order an extra Teochew Dumpling soup and i thought it would be better for us to have that as well!

Teochew Dumpling Soup

潮州饺汤

Despite its delicious outlook with a semi cloudy broth (which i always attribute to a more flavourful taste), please don't expect too much from this bowl of soup.

The generous ingredients didn't justify for the surprising blandness we had. I did enjoy the dumplings very much although they had a harder texture that would benefit with the inclusion of more Chinese chestnuts.

Mushroom Minced Pork Noodles

香菇肉脞麺

With almost seventy years of history (since 1945), Ah Kow was well known for serving traditional BCM coupled with its special chilli sauce and a type of vinegar specially imported from China.

There were a few other things worth noting; the freshness of ingredients (the braised mushrooms were amazing), pieces of dried flatfish and slices of pork that were much softer than those of its competitors!

"Slurp, Slurp, Slurp...." - Japanese would enjoy eating the noodles!

Taste wise, it would satisfy diners who prefer more vinegar in their BCM. For me, it has a unique aftertaste that was likely the smelly effect of dried flatfish even though for BCM, it was really not as impressionable as i expected (kindly note my opening statement). 

As much as i worship pork lard, even their existence failed to better my opinion of Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee.

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Location

531A, Upper Cross Street, 

#02-42, Hong Lim Food Centre

Price

Teochew Dumpling Soup - S$4.00

Minced Pork Noodles - S$3.50

Operating Hours

8.00am to 5.00pm

[Closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!] 

Countdown - Be Prepared to Confess @ Golden Village Plaza Singapura

To cut the story short, i was invited to register for a preview of a Thai horror movie and i was successful!! Yippeee! As close friends would know, i am a fan of the horror genre!!!

Before i start with my review, maybe you could just give the above video player a click to check out the trailer and have a rough idea of what to expect.

Official Synopsis
4... 3... 2... 1... No matter where you are, everyone in the world is looking forward to the countdown to New Years Day, which includes 3 Thai teens in New York City. They are roommates. 

Jack is a rich kid from Thailand who lies to his parents that he’s in NYC to study, where in reality he is actually spending their money on a daily basis just to have fun. Pam, a materialistic girl who would do anything to impress others and finally, Bee, Jack’s girlfriend, who has yet to reveal to anyone why she came to NYC in the first place. 

The 3 friends want to have a NYE party to remember, so Jack calls Jesus, a drug dealer, to drop off some stuff to their apartment so they can celebrate the end of the year in style. They actually don’t know Jesus that well and don’t really know his background. However, his visit that night will change their lives forever.

4... 3... 2... 1...  They are counting down without knowing for sure that their new day is going to be waiting for them…. if they will be welcoming the new year. 

Given a classification of M18 [sorry kiddos who have yet to reach the age], this drug junkies film was a bit draggy in the beginning with the actual excitement starting only upon the arrival of the flamboyant ang moh drug dealer who looks like Jesus!

Befitting its M18 status, there were gross scenes involving breaking fingers, nail gun, cling wrap, teeth and for the katsaridaphobics; cockroaches. I was expecting a paranormal movie but "countdown" is not exactly it; there were indications but sadly not strong enough. 

Picture taken from http://www.robshep.com/2011/08/20/leaning-on-the-promises-of-god/

I would have placed this under thriller with a bit of spiritual inclinations that ended with a meaningful note. Just to give you a teaser, the ending has something to do with confessions for your sins!

Curious? Catch the movie at all GV theatres from 21 February 2013! 

Ten Taboos to Note When Staying In a Hotel - Preventive Measures to Avoid Paranormal (Ghostly) Disturbances

Singaporeans (especially the younger generation) are crazy about travelling and with this popularity comes a lot of dos and don'ts to deter any paranormal disturbances in accommodations at a foreign land.

An article (in Chinese) listing the taboos of staying in hotels was originally posted at NowNEWS in the aftermath of the mysterious disappearance of Ms Elisa Lam, a Canadian, in Los Angeles. 

What intrigue many netizens is the surveillance video showing Elisa's bizarre behaviour of her last appearance in the hotel's lift; one that hinged heavily on the highly interesting world of the supernatural.

Here are the translated ten taboos you may wish to note when staying in a hotel. For all you know, this might be helpful in preventing another similar yet unfortunate incident. 

Taboo Number One - 

Don't Opt for a Room Furthest from the Lift Lobby

Hotels would always try to give rooms nearer to the lift lobbies as it is more time efficient when it comes to housekeeping. Therefore, the further the room is from the lift, the weaker the yang qi  (陽氣 also known as the life spirit) and hence, the higher the probability for spirits to reside in.

Taboo Number Two - 

Notify the "Occupants" Before Entering the Room

I have been trained on this since young! Knock on the door three times (or press the doorbell, if available) before you enter your room. As a show of respect, enter sideways instead of appearing to be barging in. Once you step in, say a big hello! 

Back in 1995, i had an encounter in Taiping, Malaysia. Typical of me, i was so keen to take a good rest in the hotel room that i just rushed in. What i saw immediately upon pushing the door open was a shadow running into the bathroom. 

Taboo Number Three - 

Switch On All the Lights

With reference to point two, switching on the lights is a confirmation that you are going to share the premise with the unknown residents, if any. It is also recommended to ruffle the quilt and hit the pillows to reaffirm your occupancy. In order to give "them" time to adapt to your stay, do not rush to open the wardrobe and drawers. 

Taboo Number Four - 

Mess Up the Bed Stacked Against the Walls

If you are alone and have been given a room with two single-beds, choose the one away from the walls (from this, i am assuming that the bed is situated at a corner). Nonetheless, you are still advised to mess up the unused bed and keep the pillow in the cupboard to prevent the spirits from thinking that they can continue to use the bed since no human is sleeping on it.

Taboo Number Five - 

Take Note of Bible / Quran on the Bedside Table

Image taken from http://transcendenciaadilson.blogspot.sg/2011/11/evangelho-etica-para-o-terceiro-milenio.html

In many Western / Muslim countries, it is apparently a common practice to place the holy books on the bedside table or in the drawers. BUT, an open book that points to a specific page usually signifies the repression of an unwelcome presence and you are better off changing to another room for a peace of mind. 

Taboo Number Six - 

Be Aware of Any Weird Odour or Strangeness

Self explanatory i guess although i would likely dismiss any weird odours unless it smells really bad. Do rely on your sixth sense; request for another room if you feel really uncomfortable or there is a strange eeriness lingering in the air. 

Taboo Number Seven - 

Don't Hang Your Clothes in the Closet

Now, this is something i could not comprehend! What's the point of having a closet then!? It was said that the "occupants" would slip their arms into the sleeves of the clothes you hang up in the closet and hide within. 

Taboo Number Eight - 

Before You Sleep, Do the Following

Leave at least a light on (most people would likely leave the washroom's light on)! Alex would have no issue with this as he leaves ALL lights on when he stays in a hotel. 

For those who are anal about having neatly placed shoes, the following suggestion might be slightly challenging for you; to avoid the invisible occupants from wearing your shoes and walking around while you are sleeping, overturn one of them and display them in the formation of the Chinese character for eight (八) which is in line with a supposed charm that harmonizes Yin and Yang and has the benefit of blocking spirits from getting too near. 

Taboo Number Nine - 

Flush The Toilet When You First Enter

This doesn't make sense to me as it seems to put things too simply. According to the text, this is with reference to the last human occupant who might have left "unclean" stuff (we are not talking about shit of course). Thus, flushing the toilet bowl is more a preventive measure. 

Taboo Number Ten - 

Refrain from Cutting Nails and Taking Pictures from Midnight

I am guilty of the second one since i love to take photographs of my surroundings! Nevertheless, it was also said that you should not take pictures using room painting(s) as a background. Psychic experts have also advised no photography in the hotel's elevator(s). 

On no cutting of fingernails and toenails in the middle of the night, parents should note that the same goes for their children as well. In addition to the aforementioned two actions, i have one to add.

Don't whistle at night.

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For the original text in Chinese, please click 

http://www.nownews.com/2013/02/22/91-2905285.htm

Universal Studios Singapore Annual Pass

From friends to relatives, i have received a number of enquiries about my annual pass for arguably Singapore's only professional theme park; Universal Studios Singapore. 

I am not going to copy and paste word-by-word all the information you can easily find on the official website. Instead, i am just to give you a summary of what to expect and whether it is worth your money. 

Cost of the Annual Pass
with free lanyard

S$188 for an adult [13-59 years old]

S$158 for a child [4-12 years old]

S$158 for a senior citizen [above 59 years old]

Since you can offset the purchase price on the day you visit the theme park (which i did), my recommendation is that you should only apply for the annual pass when you have decided to pay it a visit. It makes no monetary sense in getting the annual pass now when you are thinking of going during the school holidays in June!

In my case, i paid S$74 for a one-day pass on 13 January 2013 and was required to top up only S$114 for an annual pass on the same day. For the next 364 days, a mere two visits to USS would mean i have gotten my money's worth.

Unlimited Entry is of course the most attractive benefit to apply for an annual pass. In addition, there are other advantages i personally thought to be worth mentioning here. 

PRIORITY ACCESS via VIP turnstile (valid for the first three hours of operation). 

Even though there is only one such turnstile, the waiting time to enter the park would be significantly shortened during peak periods and seasons. Note - it would not make much of a difference if all annual pass holders decide to come on the same day as you. 

SNEAK PREVIEWS of New Rides or Attractions @ USS.

I was invited for the yet to be opened Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase ride! For my post on the ride, please click here. Given the small scale of the theme park, i doubt there would be any more new ride or attraction before my pass expires. 

10% DISCOUNT at All Retail and Food and Beverage Outlets (with the exception of KT Grills and Hollywood China Bistro where you get 20%).

For the scrooge in me at the moment, even a 5% discount for an expensive burger set at Mel's Drive In would sound wonderful. 

Note - discount is not applicable at food carts, for liquor/alcohol purchases, prepackaged food and beverage items sold as souvenirs and refill of your souvenir water bottle as it is already 'heavily subsidised' at S$2 per refill. 

10% DISCOUNT for a Maximum of Six One-Day Passes

Honestly, i can make some pennies out of this. Anyone wants to have a 5% off their one-day passes (a minimum of 6 purchases is required)? Please contact me at a6729@singnet.com. There is already a loophole here! 

Other benefits can be found in the above picture. 

For a more detailed write-up on the benefits and terms and conditions of the annual pass, please click the following link:

http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Attractions/UniversalStudiosSingapore/AnnualPass

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Additional Information
Some of you have asked whether it makes sense to top up a S$100 for the universal express which allows you access to the priority queue.

If impatience is your signature trait, go ahead and pay the extra S$100. For the past three times i was at USS, i found the waiting time for most rides and attractions to be quite manageable.  

Biggie Chilli Burger @ Mel's Drive-In [Universal Studios Singapore]

The very first time i was at Universal Studios Singapore as part of the faculty's family day, my eyes were drawn to the retro and cool looking Mel's Drive In, which was based on a 1973 (American Graffiti). 

I was keen to have my lunch at the diner that day but as luck had it; the whole faculty seemed to have the same thinking as me. Once i stepped in during lunchtime, it's not hard to see that the place was filled with my colleagues from other departments! 

Sixth visit -  it took me this long to finally patronise the fast food restaurant that sells American favourite fare; burgers! With my annual pass, frequent visitation is a must and i get a 10% discount as well! 

Don't ask me why but i finally decided on getting the biggie chilli burger set (thinking back, i think it was the onions in the picture). Bring along your souvenir water bottle and use it for the drink that comes with the set! This is yet another benefit of buying the bottle. For the other advantages, please click here. 

First impression; the bun was too healthy looking (give me sesame seeds and more of that oily sheen please!) and the patty was half that thickness it should have been according to the menu board. Is food covered under Singapore's lemon law? 

Whatever the case, taste matters most. However, i had to lower my expectation of this burger since we have plenty of fast food restaurants in Singapore to indulge in burgers.

Price wise - at S$12, it was comparable to Carl's Junior. Taste wise - it was more like Big Mac from McDonald's (i guess further explanation is not required on how a big mac tastes like). Heck was i disappointed! Biggie, it wasn't and the chilli did not result in the 'kick' locals look forward to! 

If it's any consolation, i quite like the fries.

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Location

Hollywood Zone

Universal Studios Singapore

Sentosa Island

Menu

As Above [Mel's Drive In serves desserts, hot dogs and even a vegetarian burger]

Rent A Car with a Personal Chauffeur for a Free and Easy Travel @ Bintan Island

To remain indefinitely in an expensive resort hotel for four straight days would likely result in a big hole in my shallow pocket! Hence, we decided to make plans to explore Bintan's main town on our second day; Tanjong Pinang. 

Question is whether we should sign up for a local tour or rent a car.

A free and easy tour package would cost an exorbitant pricing of S$70 for each adult and S$60 for each child aged between three and twelve years old! 

Simple calculation tells me this would result in an outlay of S$480 for my family of six adults and two children (Joyvn, being less than three years old, will get to participate for free). I was telling myself it would in fact be cheaper for me to travel to Genting Highlands during the off peak season!

We figured renting a car might be a wallet-friendlier option and made an inquiry with the car rental company attached to the resort. 

Okay, at least it was more reasonable at only S$110 nett for six hours for a seven-seater car with a personal driver (each additional hour was chargeable at S$20).

Back in my mind, however, i know for sure i can get a better deal!

And i am damn right! Via another website, i found what i have been seeking; S$110 for eight hours and each extra hour was only S$10! Despite our initial reservations (reputation, reliability, safety etc), we agreed to give it a try.

Now that i am back in Singapore in one piece, i can only say the money was well spent! Mr Eko, our personal chauffeur, spoke good English, was friendly and accommodating to our requests and questions and took extremely good care of us, his passengers. 

The car was thankfully not a van (as we thought that it might be the case) but a Toyota family wagon! Nothing much to complain so long i can feel the air-conditioning blowing my way!

So for those who are keen to book a car with driver in Bintan, please send an email to Mr Adi (the main coordinator) at booking@goestobintan.com and do remember to append the following information:

Location of your resort/hotel
Date (date of rental)
Time (time of rental; please use Indonesian time) 
Contact Person (your name) 
Contact Number (your contact number)
Travel Agent (if any)

If you do not receive a reply in two working days, call Mr Adi at 9488 9890.

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Website 

http://www.goestobintan.com/