Posts Tagged ‘food’

Hostel LA

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The first hostel I stayed at was cozy and cute, run by a man named Hazdy and his friends/relatives. He knew the names of each and every person staying with him, greeting us by name and remembering what we had planned for the day so he could ask how it went. Now that’s some personalized service! He lived right there in the hostel too, so he was always around. I went to him whenever I had a question, ranging from how to get places to where to eat. I trusted his knowledge and judgment and thus spent less time online searching for those answers. He even introduced me to other hostelers when I returned from my day if they were sitting in the “lobby” area.

Now I am at a hostel that looks like it is run by a couple who also live on the premises. Last night they didn’t have the accommodation type I reserved, so today they gave me free breakfast. It was tasty and filling, with toast, eggs, fresh fruit, and tea. The living room is stacked with DVDs and there are couches, oversized pillows, and these special-made recliners situated throughout the common areas. It’s a comfortable place to stay and extremely clean too. There’s even a quaint garden area in the back and the entire place has a very open plan, with places where people on the second floor can look down to see parts of the first floor.

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From sports...

The first hostel experience got me thinking about how fun it could be to run a hostel. I was thinking that if I were to open one, it would be in Westwood. I’d convert one of those little homes around Gayley and Weyburn so food would be right across the street, bus stops would be nearby (especially the airport shuttle), and UCLA would be but a 15 minute walk. I’d go around the hot spots in LA to understand the best times to visit seasonally and even the optimal time of day, then I’d go searching for all the small things that wouldn’t appear in a tour guide. I’d set up a shuttle service to get people to some of the main areas in town (or at least to some reliable public transportation). I’d hire a friendly staff consisting of receptionists, housekeepers, a cook, and drivers.

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...to entertainment.

I would name this little place Hostella/Hostela/HosteLA, for hostel LA and keep it extremely clean. I’d have an array of TV channels, DVDs, and books for display as well as personal enjoyment. If there’s a particular show or novel that someone likes, they can opt to trade it for something my library doesn’t have. I’d provide free wireless DSL or something decently fast and at least two computer stations, complete with scanner and printer. I’d keep a collection of plug converters for those who don’t have them. I’d have some nice wardrobes for people to keep their clothes and some valuables locked away while they’re out. The front desk would be open 24/7, in case some people get stranded on their way in and show up at odd times.

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And of course a variety of great cuisine!

Ah, what a nice little fantasy I’ve conjured up! It would be a great chance for me to both share more of this city I’ve grown to love and explore it even further in my quest to provide the best inside tips. For those night owls, I’d even take them out to K-town for some BCD whenever I’m up and craving it. They’d get free reign on the kitchen so long as they cleaned up after themselves and I’d provide assistance for those who go grocery shop and buy just a bit too much for their legs and arms to handle. I’d also love to share with them the random things that they may not come across in typical tours, like the roving Kogi trucks that sell Korean food wherever they stop. If they want a nice beach to relax at, I’d tell them about my favorite quiet one in Malibu, where dolphins like to play.

Some things are more hidden away.

Some things are more hidden away.

I have so many ideas brewing that I wish this was possible! Unfortunately, the US in general is not a very backpacker-friendly place and LA is especially so. Unless they get a car, they really can’t appreciate all that the city has to offer (and even with a car, parking would be such a pain). Granted, there are still a fair share of hostels in the city, though they’re all in Hollywood or Santa Monica. The advantage of Westwood would be the access to college life, from visiting the campus itself to seeing what frat parties are all about. This dream would also be a huge investment to begin with, what with getting the place and then converting it to the appropriate layout. It would be so cool though – meeting travelers when I’m not traveling and showing them the best of Los Angeles.

What would you share about your town?

A series of “oops” moments

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DSC05333Wow, what an eventful day.  It started off quite well, with calls from Mizu announcing a pleasant surprise: I would get company on my way to the airport and even be given a ride!  That meant that I could sleep in a little and enjoy some extra rest.  By and by it came time to leave, so I took my stuff downstairs and hopped in the car.  We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare and ate some lunch, casually chatting until it was time to check in.  Mizu and Zen then went on their way and I prepared my documents for the counter.

And thus began the adventure.  I went to get my passport out of my purse only to find it missing.  I checked all the compartments and tore apart my suitcase checking for it.  Pretty soon, I realized that I left it in the other purse I had been packing for the trip, which I had decided to leave behind because it was too big for my needs.  Dismayed, I called up Mizu and wailed the news to him.  He and Zen decided it would be best for them to pick me up and go get it, so I headed out to meet them along the way.

In the car, I called up Typea to check if anyone was at home to let me in.  Unfortunately, they had all gone out.  He gave me the numbers of his family members to call up and I went through each one, finally reaching his father.  We arranged for him to rush back to meet me.  While waiting, I called up the airline to ask about changing flights only to discover… I booked a flight for tomorrow.  -___-  As Mizu howled with laughter.  He was loving my newfound inner ditz!  Baffled at my own airheadedness, I considered my options and decided to opt for the bus option.

DSC05338Mizu kindly drove me to the bus departure and I got myself a ticket on a nice luxury vehicle.  We had some time before its departure, so I exchanged some money and then got some dessert to snack on.  Soon enough, it was time to board the bus and Mizu sent me on my way.  I settled in to the large comfy seat and watched the landscape whizz by as we headed off.  The rest of the trip was scattered with movie-watching and naps on and off, briefly interrupted twice to get off and go through immigration and customs.  It was very comfortable save for the cold air blasting overhead, which left me shivering towards the end of the trip.

We arrived at my stop unexpectedly and I rushed off, hoping it wasn’t too hard to get to the hostel.  Thankfully, it was an easy trip away and soon enough, I was settling in and meeting the others in my room.  I reported in to both my mother and Starfish as soon as I could get online so they’d know I made it to my first destination.  I then spent some time talking about travels with my roommates and then went to grab some dinner next door.  It’s far too late and I’m far too tired to do much else, so I just ate and typed the rest of the night away, occasionally chatting with some of the guys who work at the hostel.

Simple pleasures

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DSC05171It was a lovely day today and I had an equally lovely time going on an outing with Skim for the afternoon.  We met up at Bugis MRT and got on a bus that took us out to East Coast Park, where we were able to rent two bikes and take a nice ride.  A mere two minutes into our journey we nearly crashed into each other, as I tried to unsteadily pass my camera to her.  I never knew my right hand was so weak at maneuvering!  The opposite was for her, as she had trouble with her left hand, so there we were, a complete screaming disaster as we saved ourselves from near destruction.  I then switched to be on the left side and we managed to make the pass so she could take some pictures for me.  Why we couldn’t just stop our bikes like normal people I don’t know.  It’s far less exciting that way!

Doesn't that look like fun?

Doesn't that look like fun?

We went along the path and enjoyed cooling breezes from the ocean, quiet stretches in woodsy areas, and navigating around the sudden influx of people that would come upon us.  It was a lot of fun to be out in the sun and going through natural areas as we chatted about a variety of things, like our thoughts on careers and the type of work we do.  Along the way we stopped to watch some wakeboarders, parasailers, and windsailers having fun out on the water.  I don’t know if I’m fit enough to do that kind of thing, but I’d sure like to try someday!  First I want to learn how to surf though, which hopefully will be good for my sense of balance.  I’m really interested in water sports in general, so I hope I get around to trying all of them at some point.

DSC05184The one thing that wasn’t so enjoyable about the ride was when our butts started to get sore about two hours in.  I kept shifting around in an attempt to put weight on different areas, but once we stopped for a quick snack, we both felt the soreness creeping us.  At first walking was a little strange and I wondered if this is how it feels to get off a horse after a long journey.  I’ve only ever been on horses for brief times, about an hour or so, so I never got the bow legs that others have.  We were right by the ocean at that point, so we went down to the water so I could at least say I touched the ocean water here.  It’s a lesson from my trip to Australia that I’ve never forgotten – going in the water is something so simple, yet it’s something I didn’t do in the Gold Coast, so I’ll never repeat that mistake again.

This time, I took some jumping shots and it looked so fun that Skim decided she’d get her feet wet for the sake of that.  Normally she wouldn’t want to touch that water because there’s a fair share of trash in it, but jumping over water is pretty awesome, so she just had to give it a try too.  What a fun day!  🙂

Midsummer celebration

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Our office hosted a dinner party for two dozen people tonight and it was a spectacular time!  It started with a fun invitation specially made for the occasion, with a fanciful menu to entice our guests. In the mid afternoon, Lorry and Starfish left to buy food to prepare and when they came back everyone started hustling to help make the dishes and entertain the guests.  The invited ranged from SMU students who had done a case study on our company culture to associates and potential associates of the training branch.  It was a good chance for us to properly meet some of the people Zen had been mentioning (and for them to all meet each other too).  The whole affair felt a bit like a big extended family gathering, complete with feast, courtesy C&S.

Pictures will show this better than words can describe, so let me include tasty visuals of the menu items offered:

Crunchy snacks and wine to start.

Crunchy snacks and wine to start.

Seasonal salad with summer dressings.

Seasonal salad with summer dressings.

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Baked potatoes with sour cream, bacon bits, and chives.

Bruschetta with rubbed garlic and fresh tomatoes.

Bruschetta with rubbed garlic and fresh tomatoes.

Prosciutto with cantaloupe.

Prosciutto with cantaloupe.

Smoked Norwegian salmon with caper and cream cheese.

Smoked Norwegian salmon with caper and cream cheese.

Choice cold cut of ham and cheddar cheese cube.

Choice cold cut of ham and cheddar cheese cube.

Spit roast whole chicken.

Spit roast whole chicken.

Honey-glazed ribs of pork.

Honey-glazed ribs of pork.

I don't remember what this was.

I don't remember what this was.

C&S cheese cubes!

C&S cheese cubes!

Belgian waffles, strawberries, marshmallows, and cookie sticks with dark chocolate bath.

Belgian waffles, strawberries, marshmallows, and cookie sticks with dark chocolate bath.

We had a lovely time between the food and the company and I started to lose my voice from the great conversations and laughter I took part in.  After the event was over, we all pitched in to clean up and ended the night happily collapsed in our seats unwinding before heading home.  Initially, we were going to share the pictures I took on Photobucket, but then decided it was more sensible to set up a Facebook page, which I happily set out to do.  After some detours I inadvertantly chanced upon, we finally got it up and running!  Now everyone can become our fan!

Fatigued

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Well, the library trip got canceled and I was instructed to stay at home, so I spent my Thursday mostly lying in bed but for the time I was downstairs eating some lunch.  Between Bubble Bang and Bejeweled, I passed away the time in a bit of a stupor.  I felt clammy and weak and pretty much just bummed around to try to recover.  I have been given Vitamin C pills to be taken twice daily and a bottle of cough syrup to be ingested thrice daily.  I am warned that the syrup may cause drowsiness – I wonder if that’s why I feel so lethargic.

Lying around all day certainly wasn’t good for my weak blood flow, so when I stood up at night to go eat a little dinner, I found myself getting lightheaded.  The world turned black as the blood rushed from my head and I got dizzy, but I was used to this feeling so I just stood very still waiting for it to pass.  Unfortunately, it seemed I was far more feeble then I anticipated, so the next thing I knew an image of the TED video I had just watched flashed before my mind and I was jolted back to consciousness with the loud clanging of my medicine bottles and iPod clattering to the ground.  My knees had given from under me and I was in a strange sort of kneeling/sitting position.

I quickly gathered up the things I had dropped and heard Chatty and Typea’s brother (I’ll call him Circle) asking each other if that noise came from them.  I made my way to the hall to apologize for the startle and then proceeded downstairs to eat something.  There’s an area on the back on my head that feels odd, kind of like there’s a pressure or weight on it.  My mind feels cloudy and though I can do everything without much fuss, I feel easily drained.  Nevertheless, my throat is not sore anymore (however I did get a few strange croaks when I was talking) and I have not had a fever, runny nose, or deep coughing.

I’d really like a jar of pickles.  I think I’ll buy some tonight on my way back.  (Yeah, I know, strange craving that may or may not have to do with how I feel… but hey, to me it’s comfort food, so that’s good enough!)

Sick

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I got sick today for whatever reason, so I’m too lazy to write too much.  I’m supposed to be out all day tomorrow, so I can’t throw in a last-minute post, which is why I decided I may as well just type a little something here.

It started in the morning when I woke up with a sore throat.  I think having the AC blaring over me all night had to do with that.  Not unusual though, since who doesn’t wake up with a scratchy voice?  Plus, I’ve been waking up with a slight sniffle from the chill.  I thought I had set the timer to stop sometime in the night, but apparently it didn’t work.  At work the AC blows over my head and kind of chills my head and shoulders, so I had to huddle in my hoodie.  Normally that’s enough, but I was still unusually cold.

We went out for lunch and I welcomed the heat outdoors and the chance to get my blood flowing.  I even ordered some fish soup in hopes of preventing any sickness, but back in the office I was distracted and unfocused as I tried to go on with my day.  Eventually, I went over to the couch area to lay down and work, but of course fell asleep rather quickly.  At some point I woke up when Mizu came to put my laptop in a safer place, but soon fell back into a daze.  I woke up sniffling again, but feeling much less feverish than before.

Sad.

Sad.

I opted to work at the big desk out front where it’s warmer, but before long, Mizu was trying to get some medicine for me and Starfish was chasing us off to the doctor’s.  I’m quite used to waiting out a fever and sweating it off, but with the whole swine flu craze, I didn’t want to refuse a check-up to ease everyone’s minds.  So off we went, with Mizu escorting me along to meet up with Typea so he could show us to a clinic.  I found that rather than resting my voice, I was straining it to speak audibly, often overdoing it.  Every time I stopped talking I felt my swollen throat sore from the exertion.

While we waited for the doc to get back from dinner, the three of us weighed ourselves and I was shocked to find that I am only 132 lbs.  Maybe that shouldn’t be so shocking, but as of late my weight had been more around the 140-145 mark, depending on how much I had just eaten.  Still, my driver’s license says I weigh 137, which was a round down from what I weighed back when I was 18.  Is it just this sickness or is Singapore good for my weight?  I guess I have noticed a little difference, but I didn’t think it’d be notable.  So, my check-up was nothing exciting, with no fever, no redness in my throat, or any other suspicious symptoms.  The doctor prescribed me some Vitamin C pills (she was shocked I don’t take them) and cough syrup and sent us on our way.

We all got some dinner together and Mizu and Typea complained about my whining and teased me about my weight (I shouldn’t eat because I’m too fat).  I didn’t care because I really don’t care much about my weight as long as it doesn’t tip me into the obese category.  They were jokingly calling me obese, but once I knew the kg to lb conversion, it was all good.  I can’t remember the last time I weighed this much.  Still, I’d much rather weigh more and have better toned muscles.  They’re still hiding behind a layer of fat these days.  Swimmer’s curse?

Now I’m back and lounging on the bed.  I spent some time downstairs watching Don’t Forget the Lyrics for the first time, then trudged my way upstairs and showered all my gross sweatiness away.  I have been instructed to not use the AC and Typea has set up the fan for me.  Apparently Starfish ordered I go to bed half an hour ago, but hey, 11 is still early.  That’s like three hours I’m losing out on here.  I think a long night’s sleep will be enough to cure me.  I hope so!  My childhood bookworm is eager to get to play in a library again, scouring books and articles and enjoying the quiet atmosphere.

Gluttony?

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I find that my cravings have been playing a prominent role in my life lately, dictating where I spend my time after leaving the office.  Prior to coming to Singapore I had been making myself kimchi fried rice like it was the only sustenance that could support me.  Then upon coming here I fell into a pattern of wonton noodles or a rice noodle soup.  I had a brief stint with prata, salads, and the occasional you tiao as well.  For dinner I got obsessed with Crystal Jade La Mian, which has minced meat and mushroom noodles.  I then happened upon Din Tai Fung again, which has a nice big bowl of hot and sour soup that I love (not to mention the xiao long bao, of course).
toasted bread with cheese, tomato, and pestoAfter awhile of consistently eating at those two places, I started to crave udon again, so I began to try some of the Japanese places around.  That was going well until I got sick from one of the items I ate.  Since then I have rediscovered my love for dumplings (and all dumpling-like variations, like gyoza and xiao long bao).  What it really comes down to is whatever is made to be dipped in vinegar and ginger!  I’ve always loved sour things and currently that is my new fav.  I always used to eat dumplings with soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil so it was more salty and flavorful, but now I’m appreciating the taste of vinegar-soaked ginger.  It helps satisfy my sour craving when I can’t find pickles to devour.

Monday night Typea took me to place apparently well-known for its gyoza that still retain some juice inside.  We arrived as they were washing up for the night and managed to snag the last twenty they had for the day.  The tartness of that vinegar had quite a bite to it and my mouth was numb for awhile, but it was oh so good.  Then last night, Mizu directed me to a place that has dumplings, where I also got a large bowl of hot and sour soup.  Boy was that HOT and SOUR!  It truly lived up to its name and had me gasping for air as I gobbled down the dumplings drowned in vinegar.  I couldn’t quite taste the dumplings because my mouth was on fire and the sourness didn’t help, but it was still delicious.

delicious vanilla and chocolate ice cream with belgian wafflesTo add to my feeling of gluttony, we’ve had some great feasts in the office lately, from wonderful desserts that Violet baked to great snacks that Mac made.  Some of the stuff we’ve been quite spoiled with include chocolate cupcakes, toasted bread with tomatoes, cheese, and pesto, and a lunchtime salad bar.  Previously we’ve had tuna and apple salad, ice cream and waffles, and so many other delicious treats.  Yum yum!  It’s been really nice and I look forward to recreating what I can at home to enjoy someday.  I quite like cooking for myself, even if I end up eating the same three dishes all the time, so this will help add to my repertoire!

Recently I was reminded of Gushi’s and had a sudden desire to get their kimchi fried rice, which has a similar burning effect.  I can’t wait to go back and make kimchi fried rice, the family soup, and rice noodles with tomato, eggs, and mushrooms.  Mmm mmm good!  I also can’t wait to be able to get marinated mushrooms at Ralph’s and huge jars of pickles from Costco.  I had to resist the urge to buy more pickles last night because I think too much sour at a time makes me a bit nauseous.  I keep staring at this empty jar on my desk and regretting that though.  I’d also like to get some more salad so I can dribble Italian dressing all over it.  Right now I’ll settle for some kimchi ramen though.  🙂

Chirp chomp

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Haha, a lazy one.

Haha, a lazy one.

Today was Blood Donor’s Day and in celebration, all regular blood donors who gave at least once in 2008 were invited to the Jurong Bird Park for free.  Chatty, Typea’s mom, had an offer for two to go for free, which she kindly offered me when I mentioned the places I’ve been meaning to go to.  Mizu had promised me he’d take me around to similar things like the zoo and Night Safari, so I asked if he’d come along for this.  Luckily, he was free for the day and we were able to enjoy a leisurely brunch before going in.  He brought a fancy camera to take some nice photos, which was great since I had neglected to charge my camera’s battery.  Plus, it freed me up to take some video footage while the battery was still alive.

DSC04884It was a nice overcast day for the most part, which kept things cool.  Thankfully, the rain stayed away though and allowed us to enjoy a very nice time at the park.  Apparently a lot of people are blood donors because the place was packed!  From the bus that took us from Boon Lay to the park to the line to get in, we could tell it was going to be a crowded place.  It was still great fun though, as we made our way from penguins to flamingos to macaws to hawks to ostriches, and so much more!  There was even this beastly creature that was huge and rather ugly, with remnants of a dino-like crown protruding from his head.  Along the way, we came across a pelican feeding, where we were told about the seven types of pelicans in existence, and then got to see an entertaining bird show with all kinds of fun tricks.

DSC04897At the end of our trip, we took the tram for one more spin around the park and headed out to meet up with some of Mizu’s friends.  We stopped by the gift shop hoping to find a cute penguin pen to bring back to Starfish, but they didn’t have any.  🙁  We also came across this free pearl offer (where they would extract it in front of you), but it was only for real ticketholders.  🙁  I was so sad because I really wanted one so I could bring something back to Chatty to thank her.  Oh well.  We then squeezed back onto the bus to take us to the MRT and took a nice long ride to Ang Mo Kio to wait for Mizu’s buddies.  Typea’s been using my iPod touch to play Tap Tap Revenge (it’s like DDR but with your fingers on the touchscreen), which Mizu also enjoys, so we played a few rounds challenging each other as we sipped on some drinks.

Come dinnertime, I met Mizu’s classmate Gold, a Korean guy who studied in the states for a number of years, Gold’s roommate Jolly, a Korean guy who had just come to Singapore two months ago, and their mutual friend Youli, a Japanese girl who’s working over in Changi.  We made our way over to a food center called Chomp Chomp, where Mizu played host and got us all kinds of dishes to try, along with the most montrously-sized mugs of sugar cane I’ve ever seen.  We had a fun time fighting to make people eat more and even ended with a lovely competition between Mizu and Gold, who chugged the rest of their sugar cane drinks.  Poor Gold got himself a bit of a headache from the intense sugar rush.  I wish I had been able to film that footage!  Unfortunately my camera had long since died by that point, so I have no pictures or videos to share.  However, I’ll be getting all the fun shots that Mizu got on his camera in a few days!

After that, we ended the night chilling with drinks and some snacking, chatting about all kinds of random things (and, inevitably, showing them Tap Tap Revenge as well!).  Ah, what good times!  🙂

First encounter with the Goddess

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Disclaimer: Not for the faint of heart, if you get sickened easily by hearing of others’ bodily functions (though really, it’s not that graphic).

Well, I was off to a nice start with today’s post when my nausea caught up with me and I found myself, for the first time ever, learning to worship the porcelain goddess.  I had found it strange when I came back after a filling dinner, bloated from eating so much, yet still as nauseous as if I hadn’t eaten at all.  It wasn’t long after that I learned that my food was spoiled.  I’m quite sure it was the skinny little mushrooms wrapped in a thin slice of beef.  So there I was laying there, feeling as if my bile was rising, causing my saliva to go sour.  I went to the bathroom to spit out the bad juices only to find that I really was unwell.

In all of my life, I have felt nauseated many a time, but never once have I done more than gag a bit and flex that gag reflex a bit.  This would be the first time that I consciously regurgitated anything and it was surprisingly more natural than I ever imagined it to be.  I’m sure I was burped as a baby, but since then, the only time that my stomach has been unhappy enough with its contents was back in 5th grade, when I woke up to find that my nightmare had caused me to empty my stomach’s contents.  It was a completely novel experience to stand there and be conscious of what was happening to my body as my unhappy tummy threw out its contents in the only way it knows how.  I guess I found it a bit fascinating because I’ve only ever seen others do it before.  Experiencing it yourself makes it put on an entirely different dimension.

I curiously noted that the flow was so powerful that at one point it almost came out of my nose.  Gosh those muscles are strong!  Also, one of my contributions to the Goddess included red, which alarmed me for a moment until I smelled the scent of tomatoes.  Why I had that I have no idea, since I cannot recall what I might have had that included tomatoes, but I really doubt blood could manage to smell like that.  I did a quick check gurgling some water and checking my nose and but for a burst scar on my nose, there was no bleeding to be found.  Thank goodness.

Being my first time, I had no idea what to do afterwards, so I went online to look for some solutions.  What it came down to was: drink water.  And so I did, drinking down any more sourness that I smelled.  I didn’t know if it was better to lay down or sit straight, so I lay on the bed breathing deeply until that was uncomfortable, then sat up for awhile.  I called up my mom to confirm what action I should take and though I really wanted to eat some of that Mamee I had, I resisted the urge in case my stomach in its delicate state decided to rebel again.  It’s strange that though I lost my entire dinner, I feel less “hungry” than I had when I was full to the brim with that poison.  I guess the sour of bad food was mistaken for the sour of a stomach with nothing to be broken down by its acid.

And now a lesson learned, to be more careful about what I eat.  It didn’t seem that unusual for the food to be a bit sour, but I guess I should have smelled more intently.  This was after going to this very restaurant yesterday and finding the seaweed salad to be stale.  Perhaps their quality just isn’t up there.  It’s time to find a new place to have my solo dinners now.  At first I was afraid to sleep lest I have another incident in my sleep, but it seems to have subsided and I think my stomach would have emptied things out more if it needed to do so.  So instead of a thoughtful entry on feminism, today you get a lovely depiction of my night.  With that, I should rest, so good night!

(I hope you don’t mind the lack of pictures… I think that may just make you worse off, so I didn’t take any.  :-P)

Now that’s cultural immersion!

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dsc04830Though I’ve been getting little tastes of Singaporean culture throughout my time here and occasionally something will remind me of China, it wasn’t until last night that I truly felt a strong cultural impression in everything around me.  We had gone to East Coast Park, where there’s an outdoor cafeteria of sorts with stall upon stall of laksa, satay, dong dongs (I can’t remember what they were called), stingray, and who knows what else.  I felt at once lost and amazed among all the dishes I’d never seen and had hardly heard of before.  Paths cut through the park to allow bike riders, rollerbladers, and other such athletic activities to ensue.  A little stage consisting of a piece of carpeting and a half watermelon backdrop provided the scene for an acrobatics show.  On one side, we could look out across a small patch of trees to the ocean beyond, which was filled with ships.

Dong dongs?  Use those sticks to pull'em out of their shells.

Dong dongs? Use those sticks to pull'em out of their shells.

Upon arrival, we wandered around looking for a table for the six of us.  I noticed one recently vacated and we went to stand there as we waited for one of the table clearers to come by with a bucket.  After it was cleared, a nearby one opened up and since that one fit six exactly, we quickly shifted over.  With the dishes removed and the table wiped down, we sat down and discussed what to eat (more like I sat there listening to them!).  A guy with a handful of disposable plates in his hand said something to us and I think we ordered our satay that way.  I went for a walk around the stalls with Starfish’s best friend Foodie, who ordered food with Zen and Mac (our company’s creative director).  Zen pointed out a stall that is very well-known for its good beef noodles and is also notorious for opening and closing as the owner pleased.  Even when a minister from Hong Kong came by hoping for a bite, he refused to open up to serve the man!  Haha, now that must be some amazing recipe.  Meanwhile, Starfish and Violet (Mac’s wife who comes by to the office regularly) sat and watched the table for us.

Oyster omelet!

Oyster omelet!

We ended up getting an oyster omelet, the satay, stingray, those “dong dongs,” some fried chicken wings, fried tofu, and some random noodles.  And thus I was introduced to “Singaporean junk food” at their oceanside park.  I tried a little bit of everything, even the scary-looking shells with the rubbery insides.  I hate rubbery foods and this was not much different, but at least now I’ve tried it!

Stingray.

Stingray.

The stingray was surprisingly good and not at all the rubbery texture that I thought it would be (come on, don’t they look like they’d be super chewy things?).  Instead, the meat was tender and much like some of the fish that I like to eat, so that was nice.  It was a pity that it was topped with some sort of spicy sauce though, so my mouth was burning the whole time and I mistakenly took all the food to be spicy when it was just that one thing!  Thankfully, when we were done eating, we got some nice cooling drinks – sugar cane!  I was surprised that the drink was a green shade, but I guess it makes sense since it’s from a plant.  The taste of that kind of sweet is very distinct from traditional sugar and it reminded me of a time in my childhood when I gnawed on the cane itself.  All in all it was a refreshing experience and I truly felt the vibe of a different culture.  Singapore in many ways is both Eastern and Western, so it was nice to see something that did not remind me of either China or the US.

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