BREAKING NEWS ABOUT RIYAN!!!

He gained 2kg since he arrived here last November! Alhamdulillah! :)

Bento chef wannabe Day #18-22

Some food-screw ups this week... but still delicious and edible.

Day #18: Spaghetti with oyster mushrooms, in spinach sauce. Pa said he loved this! And rockmelon.

Day 19: Mee goreng basah with seafood and scrambled egg thrown in, watermelon and kiwis.

Day 20: Macaroni in tomato sauce with shreds of beef, rockmelon and kiwis.

 Day 21:  Curry fried rice with whole white button mushroom and mixed vegetables and beef sausage sides, banana and rockmelon.

Day 22: ahhhhh... this was the screw up. I made a perfect egg benedict using microwave technique. But i used a ladle with long stripy gaps and the white just slid through the gaps. So there you go. Egg yolk benedict.

Home made beef burger patty with cheese sandwich, egg benedict and pickled cucumber, drizzled with mustard and chilli sauce. Bananas and rockmelon.

Equal rights in SG. Let's push it - in whatever way you think it should be

"... regardless of race, language or religion

to build a democratic society

based on justice and equality

so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation."

I never REALLY understood what those lines meant though i had uttered it every morning, more than i could have known over the 16 years of schooling in SG. The 4 sacred lines were meaningless to me then - because i didn't understand what it meant, and it is meaningless to me now too - because now i know what it SHOULD REALLY mean. So it was and is just lip service. 

What equal rights are we referring to? If rights are equal why is it always lop-sided, favouring the left? Why are there instances where minorities fought for their rights but were rejected because policies are such and such. Who made those policies? Aren't the policies supposed to consider all that affect every individual, thus forming an anti-discriminatory society, an equal rights for all regardless of race or religion? Rights for the minorities to be inclusive too, no?

I find it hard to believe that the sunny island I adore-ly call home, comprising of more than 4 different cultures, still turn a blind eye to exercise equal rights. Come on, I'm not talking about extreme request but to meet the basic practical requests of one's daily lifestyle  in order for him or her to live in what he or she believes in. However, in the southern hemisphere where it now becomes my temporary home, where more than 50% are caucasions albeit Europeans etc, the minorities are well taken care of. Yes, there may be hatred expressed here and there, no doubt about it but where it comes to human rights, they are treated as equal. As equal as the majority. There is a Commission set up just for this and I dare you to directly or indirectly discriminate one in a workplace, a complaint will come flying right through the commissioner's window. And you are screwed. It's as simple as allowing one to observe the basic rights: allowing hijab at workplace for Muslims and observing the Kosher diet for Jews, among other practices. Rights are not exclusive to religions. Even employees with kids have their own rights. Companies are not allowed to observe or carry out an event where it will cause a disadvantage to employees with kids. That, my friend, is an indirect discrimination.

But in SG, i see the opposite. Imagine the last scenario mentioned above in an SG setting and you'll get other employees rolling their eyes; and bitch about how the disadvantaged employees spoil the company's initial decision etc. And the decision? Well, most companies tend to sway to the "majority wins" outcome. You cannot make it, too bad lorrr... 

And we, SG'eans tend to judge or stereotype cultures and people. Eh, he doesn't need to do it what... So it means it's ok that you don't do/need it too rite? Different people of the same culture may or may not have the same lifestyle as like we say, to each it's own. But that does't discount the fact that that very right should be ruled out altogether.

Now I'M starting to roll my eyes.

We really need to relook at our pledge. But that'll be the unthinkable and might start a riot (sarcastic). What was i thinking... tsk tsk tsk.... Review our policies is more practical.

I strongly encourage my fellow citizens to live abroad if their situations allow. Not necessarily for the rest of their entire life, but at least enough to experience what others practice that we do not. It'll open up ur vision and mind to whats's beyond the tiny island called home to a supposedly democratic society.

The kind of weather that i love

It's been raining with cool temperature the entire week albeit summer. Only yesterday was slightly hot at about 28 degrees. The day before, we woke up to a misty, foggy morning. It was beautiful. Brought us back to the time we drove in New Zealand in the fog. It was surreal but dangerous, i have to admit. For that morning, add in someone with a Sherlock Holmes coat and a smoking pipe, it made a perfect movie scene.

At that morning, I wished I had stayed at one of the houses near the Mount Ridley lookout. Open the bedroom door and all I would see and feel mist blowing into my face and the whole house would feel like those in a thriller or haunted movie. So refreshing!!!

I have to add that sometimes iphone takes too good a picture. Too clear that the fog "disappeared" too.  ><

Visibility was bad. Couldn't see past the park across the street. Actual was foggier. iphone was too good.

From Pa's ute. The fog was clearing.

Nurul's bento

Not sure what to expect for lunch, I made Nurul a simple bento - hamburger Ramly, fruits and muesli bar. But she had BBQ at school. The school said they catered to all the different dietary requirements including Halal, so she had beef sausages then. It's ok Kak, you were not in doubt, don't fret.  :)

Bento chef wannabe Day #14-17

We did a whole lot of groccery shopping at Hong Kong supermarket last Aust Day. Hong Kong supermarket is the Aussie cousin of Sheng Shiong. What you want, they'd have it and the price is cheaper than those sold at Woolies and the Asian shops at Craigieburn. I assumed it is because the suburb where they are, is like a little Asian town. Lots of Chinese and other Asian nationalities. You can count, with both hands, the number of Aussie caucasians you spot on the street. That's how Asian-ised that suburb is... heheheheheh. Mak bought hokkien noodles so i thot I'd make it for Pa's Bento one of the days.

 Day #14: Corned beef with mushroom sandwich, bananas and strawberries

No,it was not an open-faced sandwich. For photo taking only, i removed the top bread  :)

Day #15: Mee goreng semi-basah, bananas and strawberries (again! ehhehe ran out of other fruits)

 

Day #16: Nasi pattaya with teriyaki fried rice inside, strawberries and grapes.

Day #17: That's today! Macaroni in 4 cheese sauce sprinkled with parsley and crushed black peppers, bananas and kiwis (finally a different fruit!  :p)

I.LUV.GROCCERY.SHOPPING.

I am amazed at myself for some of the things i do. Things which i usually think only happen to other people. But in fact, I am one too! I used to wonder why oh why do aunties and makciks spend loooong hours in the supermarket strutting down aisle after aisle with their basket trolley in tow. Some shopped even in their baju butterfly!

And now i realise, I am one too! NO, not the baju butterfly! I dun wear that. Don't even have it at home. I just find that attire weird. But Cik Yon bought a mini baju butterfly for nurul when she was 1+ yrs old. That was so cute!!!! Think that baju works on kids but not on older folks. Anywhoooo, I was referring to the spending of an entire day at the supermarket. I can spend long hours in there, going down aisle after aisle. Looking and picking up items like i've never seen them before (actual fact, i see the items twice per week minimum). I'd read the ingredients and compared the prices like i would even buy them. It's just the entire supermarket experience that excites me! Its just so.... BIG! And things are orderly placed. I like! OCD?? Not really... hmmmm...

So i went to Woolies this morning with only 2 things in mind, a loose set of paper and a USB, for Nurul. But i came home with 5 items. That too, I limited myself to the timing since it was raining plus i had only $50 and determined not to spend anymore than that.  :P

There. Me.  :)