Toasting a life a day

Setting free - what does it really really mean?

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:04:00 +0000

Truth, and not lies, can set you free -- can set your mind free. This is the biggest takeaway I had from watching the video below from Gangaji, an American spiritual and author.

If you are feeling a little stuck in the rut today, this may very well lift up your mood.

Here, she talks about being true to yourself and accepting the thought that "we are not enough". Feelings of inferiority, inadequacy, coincidentally is felt by almost every normal human being, so we drive ourselves to attain more and more. However, "enoughness" is almost non-existent. We can't possibly fill our brain with all the knowledge in the world, earn all the wealth in the world and etc. Hence, Gangaji expounds the need to be with ourselves and our state, whatever, wherever it is.

- May peace be with you -

May stillness be with you

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 04 May 2013 06:27:00 +0000

There are times when we feel in a rut and no number of positive thoughts can lift our mood. That's fine and I think there's no need to force ourselves to be happy. However, what we can do ourselves really is just to be still, to stand on the grounds of neutrality.

I tend to believe that our mood is on a linear scale where you can rate it from 0 to 10, with 10 being the happiest. Staying happy is not about being on number 10 all the time, but it's about not being from 0 to 4. Even lying on 5, the state of neutrality, can be a very nice feeling.

Be still, and slowly happiness will come searching for you.

Peace.

Best medicine in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 07:21:00 +0000

They say that laughter is the best medicine in the world. Perhaps "Stillness" should be the one. You can't be laughing forever, but you can always be in control of the stillness in your mind.

What should I write about today?

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:50:00 +0000

My lazy mind is working at its worst today, if it's even working.

Most of us have days when we're totally uninspired but I believe this is not an excuse to not think. In fact, it should be the pertinent reason that we start to THINK!

I'll just let the words flow and flow till something meaningful comes out of it. Even if there's none, at least I'm trying and I applaud at the fact that the brain is buzzing a little more than when I first started on this entry.

Anyways, as Def Leppard's Long Long Way to Go play on on my iTunes, my brain is mildly triggered. I suddenly am reminded of where I stand. Things may not be going well in life, but I tell myself that this life, this fearful life, is a journey and I must learn to walk on because the path is still a long one.

If you're like me feeling like you're stuck in a rut, delight in the fact that it's not just you that's stuck in a rut. You may be stuck there for a period of time -- feel free, just don't stay there all your life, 'cos you should be walking on the firm ground of Life, not remain put at one spot.

Cheers.

Espanol Expedition~

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:11:00 +0000

It's been a while since I went on an overseas vacation (business trips aren't conuted!) so I was really looking forward to the trip to Spain and Portugal planned a couple of months ago. And, boy, they didn't disappoint!

First, here's a quick introduction to the country: Spain, located at the Southwestern part of Europe, used to be one of the strongest nations in the world, making colonies out of several countries, such as the Philippines and Cuba. This puts them alongside powerhouses like the United Kingdom and France. However, today, Spain is one of the poorest countries in the European Union, incurring serious debts that threw its economuy into a crater and leaving many jobless.

To a tourist like me, it didn't matter that Spain is financially poor because it is incredibly rich in history, culture, history, architectually, gastronomically and what-nots to make the holiday a memorable one!

I shan't be going on about what most guide books will probably be sharing with you but here's some humble tips from me a first-time visitor:

1. If you are up for eating raw meat, try the fresh raw ham that is found at every corner of the streets.

2. If you don't speak Spanish, keep a translator ready as English is not frequently used. Otherwise, depend on gestures =P

3. Get your moolah ready for awesome and affordable shopping. In Barcelona, you can find near the La Ramblas a great shopping street with high street brands like Zara, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Mango (all Spanish brands), Shana, H&M and more. Buffer more time for payment as unattended cashier counters is a common occurence; it takes a while for staff to return to the counter.

4. If you're in Madrid and a factory outlet fan, be sure to visit Las Rozas Village for chic outlet shopping at more than 100 boutiques. It carries international brands like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Burberry, and even Spain's very own renowned Loewe.

5.Take the Eurostar train or domestic flights if you're travelling from city to city because journeys by car can be as long as 3 to 4 hours.

6. You needn't worry about toilets as they are readily available for free. What's better is that, more often than not, they are clean and comes with toilet paper.

7. Spanish food, especially fish, can be very salty. Include salad in your meals to balance out the sodium.

8. Fast food is, in my opinion, a tad steep in price so I suggest dining in their lil' chic cafes and try their local delights instead of the fried friends.

9. If you're in the vicinity of Seville, consider making a stopover at Portugal for a couple of nights.

Portugal is another beautiful country on its own, exuding with old-world charm and simplicity that will make you feel transported back in time, especially if you're from a modern, swanky city like Singapore, Tokyo or New York. You can't miss out Lisbon, of course. If you have the time, take a trip to Fatima and Coimbra too.

Below are some of the pictures I've snapped in Spain. Do enjoy! For more pictures (of both Spain and Portugal), please visit my facebook page, Life Toaster!

Is it a goal or desire?

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:59:00 +0000

Two days ago, I attended an enlightening talk which got me thinking till today.

We all have goals and dreams but why is it that some people can achieve them but some can't. This could very well be due to distractions that come into our minds, "polluting" our vision to look at our goals. For instance, I am c big snacker and many a time, my resolution to quit the chips and chocolates fell through cos of the urges that were put before me, be it gifts from friends, and thoughts like "I've only got one life, why not just enjoy?" And hence I pop another candy into my mouth.

The above analogy is of course a simple one. What I really mean to say is that we should learn to keep our vision deeply rooted in our minds if we badly want to achieve it. This brings us to the importance of decisions.

Hard work, as we were told since young, is crucial to success in life. Indeed it is, but more often than not, goals are achieved because of the decisions we make; working hard towards the wrong direction brings us to naught. Take for instance my snacking habit. With much discipline, I can stop buying snacks and painstakingly remind my family members again and again to not buy any too. Such factors can be well-controlled if I make the effort to do so. But there are so many other factors that are beyond my control. Say, on a bad day, a colleague who doesn't know my resolution kindly offers a piece of chocolate. I'll be very to take on the little perk-me-up and at that moment, my decision either makes or breaks my resolution. And if distracting thoughts like "go on, take it" took the better of me, it means that for that moment, I had forgone my vision for desire and made the wrong decision.

Keeping out desires is never easy. But if you put your mind to it, you definitely can achieve it, because the mind is controlled by you, and not the other way round. Hang in there! Meanwhile, I'll go dip into a bag of chips. Just kiddin' =P

Kit Kat galore

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:42:00 +0000

I think Kit Kat makes a very good snack because it comes in small servings and is able to satisfy cravings instantly without contributing significantly to your daily calorie count..plus, most of the time it's worth the calories.

The flavours of Kit Kat are really boundless and I must give it to Nestle in Japan for being to conjure all sorts of bizarre and interesting flavours.

Recently, I bought in Japan and tried 2 rather out-of-the-mind flavours, namely wasabi and chilli powder, and a not-so-special strawberry one.

The wasabi Kit Kat comes with the wafer biscuit wrapped in green cream and gives a mild pow to the gustatory senses when eaten. I must say I was quite surprised by how it tasted better than I thought. Those who don't fancy wasabi needn't be turned off by it 'cos the taste of this "Japanese mustard" is really light.

The chilli powder Kit Kat was no kick at all! Seriously, there's not the lightest hint of spice in it..until an after-taste comes along and tickles the buds a lil'. Nevertheless, it tasted pleasant -- wafer biscuit and cream bundled in what tasted like dark chocolate. Worth a try, definitely.

I also tried a more common flavour -- strawberry, but it's a special edition from the Tochigi prefecture. Compared to other strawberry Kit Kat that I've tried, I couldn't really tell what's distinctive about this one. Still, the white chocolate tasted fine with a fragrant strawberry scent.

If I have to rank them in order of preference, I'd say that the wasabi one is tops, followed by the chilli powder and, finally, the strawberry.

Kit Kat, love them or hate them, they'll always be part of our lives!

For Kit Kat fans, you may like to check out this very interesting blog, Jen Ken's Kit Kat Blog, that's alllll about these mini treats. Have fun savouring (visually, that is)!

Oh, and here's another fun fact: did you know that many Japanese students like to eat Kit Kat before exams? This is because the phrase sounds like "Kitto Katsu", which sort of means "sure to win", so it's believed to bring them good luck.

Where is happiness?

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 09:36:00 +0000

Everyday, we all search for happiness, don't we?

To some, happiness is in a chocolate. To another, happiness is in receiving flowers.

Yet, chocolate may be poison to one, and pollen in flowers may trigger an allergy in a person. Hence, happiness is not found in the object itself, but in the feeling that it exudes in a person at the point of experience.

This feeling is in us. In every one of us.

Having said this, there's really no need to go searching for happiness 'cos it's right inside you and you just need to go feel it. By not letting external factors control your feeling of happiness is how we can sustain this feeling. This, understandably, is a tall order so that brings me to the topic of yoga.

Yoga in modern society is perceived as some form of physical exercise--to stay fit and healthy. What is lesser known is that yoga, originally, is a way of life. It helped yogis to attain sustained happiness, or rather, peace of mind as that's how happiness can be exuded. Hence, yoga is really not just about postures, but also meditation, cleansing, etc -- all of which brings one closer to calm and happiness.

I'll be sharing more on yoga in my future posts!

Meanwhile, stay happy =)

Sunsets

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:26:00 +0000

I love sunsets, there's something very serene about them and to see the golden ball slowly sinking into the horizon is like dipping a lovely Oreo into milk -- a very fortunate experience. I'm just kidding! On a serious note, sunsets are incredibly lovely and how they set the world aglow is indeed very magical. Recently, I can't help feeling so happy that I caught 2 very lovely sunsets:

This one was taken at a roadside in Tokyo, near the Tokyo Skytree. I really love the colour gradation and the way the tree leaves creates a textured silhouette.

This was taken recently from the floating platform at Marina Bay. I thought the sky looks crayoned and the fact that it occurred during the Chinese New Year period, which signifies wealth and prosperity for the year ahead, makes the colour all the more symbolic. Ahh...Marina Bay, it never fails to bring a visual feast to visitors of this place.

Awesome Japanese ice cream..in winter

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 08:18:00 +0000

Ice cream is an inextricable part of my life so whenever I go overseas, I never fail to find opportunities to get a taste of the wonderful cold desserts that the country offers.

I was on a trip to Tokyo recently and got to try 4 fabulous-tasting ice cream. Despite being the winter season, I had one ice cream almost everyday! In fact, I think eating ice cream in winter makes the experience more enriching. What's more, the gooey yummies don't melt so fast!

My favourite during the trip is the matcha (green tea) ice cream by food giant Morinaga which I bought from a 7-11 convenience store. It is incredibly rich in the green tea flavour and the centre itself is soft and fragrant, reminding me of a good ol' cup of matcha latte. Definitely a must-try for green tea fans.

Next in line is the strawberry soft cream at Haneda airport! When served, it was so inviting that I forgot to take a photo of it before eating..so what you see is just half of the actual height. Haha!

The soft cream is indeed soft and not overwhelmingly sweet, which is the case for most softees. The taste of strawberry lingers nicely in the palate after each mouthful.

It was delightful to see that the crazily-popular gourmet chocolate brand, Royce, also has ice cream offerings. Without a doubt, I grabbed a piece of it when I saw it in a 7-11 convenience store.

Maybe I had expected more from Royce, but this wasn't as good as I thought/it looks from the packaging.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it as the chocolate chunk in the middle, when blended with the chocolate cream, doubles up the chocolatey taste well.

Red bean, or azuki, is almost synonymous with Japanese cuisine so how could I not try one that's in this flavour. Muraya's red bean ice lolly was refreshing but it wasn't rich enough for me in terms of flavour. That said, it is worth a try once if you're a red bean fan.

Hail to ice cream! May you find as much joy as I did in eating them.

Save on dental fees!

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 14:09:00 +0000

In my last post, I promised to share more about oral health 'cos I'm pretty peeved that I had spent so much moolah on drilling away my cavities and then filling them up in the past month. Not only did it burn a hole in my pocket but the pain and discomfort was just too much agony! Ugh.

Anyways, here's a recommendation to keep cavities at bay: use fluoride mouth rinse. Fluoride is really crucial for healthy teeth cos almost everything we eat contains some kind of acid that can cause harm to our pearly whites (or yellows for some people). This is because acid erodes the enamel, a layer of mineral-like stuff on our teeth, resulting in tooth decay. Read more at WebMD.

Upon the recommendation of the dentist, I bought this bottle of fluoride from Watsons: Pearlie White Fluorinze (2 for $2, 100ml each. It also comes in bigger sizes).

Note that you shouldn't be getting 'mouth wash' for this purpose; the key ingredient is fluoride. I didn't opt for Listerine or Colgate as the ingredient list didn't state anything about fluoride so I reckon that they didn't contain this mineral?

I've been using this for more than a month now and it's been really awesome. What's more, it's made in Singapore..somehow, local products make me feel assured! The compact size also makes it suitable for carrying on board airplanes, keeping your breath fresh and your teeth healthy!

This is definitely a worthy investment on top of your make-up, cleanser and other vanity (or some may call 'basic') necessities =)

Better gum health?

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:52:00 +0000

I caught this at a shop at 112 Katong mall. Roca chocolate candy improves your gum health. LOL!

More on oral health next week~

Just a thought

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 11:42:00 +0000

A war could be going on around you but if you can remain calm, you're truly divine.

hey hei, chocolate ice cream

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:37:00 +0000

Lately, I had my wisdom tooth extracted (cost me enough to get an iPad!) and was a semi-solid diet. For a couple of days, meals were of porridge, yogurt, oatmeal and, unavoidably, ice cream.

Speaking of ice cream, I had this incredibly delicious chocolate-flavoured one, called "hei" (黑), by Awfully Chocolate. It is a super premium dark chocolate ice cream made with natural ingredients.

According to the website, it contains a blend of our Awfully Chocolate's own chocolate and Belgian dark chocolate (min. 70% cocoa solids), real eggs, fresh milk and pure cream. And because of the low air content in the ice cream, it's very rich and dense, and it has less sugar than most other premium ice creams.

True to its word, joy is in hei and it's better if you get a few more people to share the pint ($11.60, also comes in Single and Double scoop servings at $3.80 and $6.20 respectively) with you because, once you start, you may find it hard to stop. With low sugar content, you can easily smell the fragrance and enjoy the rich taste of the chocolate. This is unlike those which are so sweet you can hardly taste the chocolate. hei is definitely the best and most serious chocolate ice cream I've ever had, and the calories are well worth it.

Address: 10 outlets in Singapore, including ION Orchard, Star Vista, VivoCity and Jurong Point
For a full list, visit http://www.awfullychocolate.com/singapore/storelocations.php
Rating: Will be back!

It's Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:47:00 +0000

Merry Christmas and happy happy holidays. Say Hello to Santa!

As much as I didn't want to eat this cute thing, it was an awesome fruit cake from Shangri-La Hotel.

Those Kisses are so lovely

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0000

It's been quite a while since a music moved my heart at the very first time I hear it. I kind of miss this feeling -- sort of a first love kind of feeling -- and was overjoyed when I fortuitously heard the track Those Kisses by The Fisherman Three while I caught the short film "The Ticket".

This beautiful track is so surreal and poignant, so much so it brings back the bittersweet mood you experience while listening to Augustana's Boston. I prowled the Net in search for the lyrics to no avail, so I decided to listen (and of course enjoy) the words and below is what I caught. Pardon me for any errors!

The Fishermen Three - Those Kisses

I got past through a thousand desserts

And come upon a mountain stream

I was blinded for a thousand sunsets

Then open my eyes to see

My angels coming closer

I feel her breath on me

Lipstick in the mirror

Blowing kisses in a dream

And though your kisses are blowing us away
And here they take us is where we’re gonna stay

Oh inside the darkness, all over the land

I can’t see anything but I can feel your hand

Send me a sparrow, show a little flame

Anything to help you make it home again

The sand was white as moonlight

As I woke from the beautiful dream

Oh if I could only see you

But there’s a dessert in between

I’m tracking a trail of petals

The night, it is alive

The wind keeps twisting and turning

But somehow I will arrive

And though your kisses are blowing us away

And where they take us is where we’re gonna stay

Oh inside the darkness, all over the land

I can’t see anything but I can feel your hand

Send me a sparrow, show a little flame

Anything to help you make it home again

A Room with a Meal

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I decided to pop by the recently-opened Alexandra Retail Centre and found that they offer a wide range of F&B for the busy office crowd. It was evening time when I was there so it there wasn't too much of on-the-go white collared people. Hence, I could take my pick on where to dine (instead of opting for the place with the shortest/no queue.

Eventually, my friend and I settled on Room Coffee. Bar. It is a little quaint-looking cafe located at the heart of the mall so you can't miss it.

The menu is pretty comprehensive, with selections ranging from sandwiches to burgers to pastas.

Since there was a 1-for-1 pasta promotion, we decided to give them a try. We ordered a Spaghetti Aglio Olio ($8) with prawns (meaning an additional $5), and Spaghetti Bolognese ($13). Both of them were served in a pretty powl (plate-cum-bowl). Interesting presentation I must say but the taste was to be seen, I mean, tasted.

Generally, the pasta didn't taste as good as they looked. However, I must say that they are pretty generous with the portions.

The Aglio Olio came with 5 prawns, which were crunchy but felt somehow artificial. The pasta was a teeny weeny too tougher than I'd like it to be.

Many a time, the minced meat in the sauce comes in pathetic portions but not this one. There was a heap of chicken--probably half the amount of pasta so I thought that was cool. While the texture was fine, unfortunately, I felt that the amount of salt was enough the make someone with hypertension do a double take.

Room Coffee.Bar also serves an array of desserts which looked decent, such as carrot cake, red velvet cake and muffin. There's also a great range of coffee and tea, of which I tried the Organic Chamomile by Taylors of Harrogate and was incredibly satisfied.

Address: 460 Alexandra Road #01-18, PSA Building (Alexandra Retail Centre)
Rating: Worth one try

A cafe for dogs and humans. Yay.

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 08:55:00 +0000

After much procrastination, our family finally made a trip down to Doggiestyle Cafe at Serangoon's nexhttp://www.nex.com.sg/ shopping mall to give it a try. In this cafe, both human beings and doggies are allowed to co-exist and have a great meal together, something that's usually confined to just the home.

Located at the rooftop (I wonder if the pun on 'roof' was intended), we had to take a special pets lift to get to the cafe. It was empty when we stepped in. Once inside, we unleashed the 2 doggies to let them roam around. They looked happy. One would think that a cafe for dogs wouldn't serve nice food for human beings but we were so wrong. The Western-styled dishes were great and the serving was big enough to feed a..husky? What's more, they came with interesting names.

Our doggies had a Doggie Yogurt Ice-cream ($3.90) and they looked super delighted to eat it. A human being who took a lick of it looked delighted too =P Yes, human beings can eat this too.

The human beings had a sumptuous meal too, consisting piping hot Oven-baked Potato ($7.90). There were 4 pieces of half-cut potatoes topped with cheese and bacon bits. This is special as I had expected something like those you see in Western restaurants -- cut and opened in the middle and smeared with sour cream. This is certainly worth a try.

We also had a Chicken Caesar Salad ($8.90) which came with a generous serving of chicken thigh (yea, you know how most chicken caesar salad is pathetic with their chicken). The grilled chicken was succulent and vegetables were fresh and crunchy.

The other dishes we tried were BBQ Chihuahua ($12.90), which is actually a pair of hot dogs..I wondered why they didn't name the dish BBQ dachshund. Heehee. But rest assured that the hot dog was made of pork and not dog meat *shudder*. We also shared a Maltese Mushroom & Chicken pasta ($12.90), named so probably because of its white colour.

Then there was also a plate of Frenchie Fish & Chips ($12.90). Why Frenchie, I do not know, cos the fish doesn't look like a dog in anyway. What's important is that it tastes good too. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. And it comes with tasty criss cut fries too.

Speaking of Frenchie, this reminds me of the bulldog we saw in the cafe, which was incredibly friendly but it gave me quite a scare when it leapt up to the empty seat next to mine and tried to lick my food. LOL. Be prepared for such incidents. Generally speaking, dogs owners are very friendly people so feel free to talk to them and ask them more about their pets and I'm sure they are more than willing to share their anecdotes.

Before we left, we got the doggies a box of Beef Pasta ($7.90) for their dinner later in the day.

Is this place worth going? Certainly, and I'll be back for more doggie food..for the dogs, of course.

Address: 23 Serangoon Central nex #04R-72 (Rooftop) Singapore 556083
Rating: Will be back!

5 ways to increase your productivity in your mornings..and get that extra zzz...

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:51:00 +0000

Do you lug yourself out of the bed every morning for work? And then scramble for time to do the 101 tasks we have every morning? Here's some tips to accumulate more time for that extra boost of beauty sleep.

1. Face and mouth go together

While rinsing your mouth with mouthwash, wash your face. By doing one after the other, you're effectively wasting time! I suggest pouring the mouthwash into your mouth before applying your cleanser on your face as the reverse feels icky -- the cleanser could easily get into your mouth.

Time saved: 2 mins

2. Don't dry up your time
Instead of laying around waiting for your moisturiser or liquid foundation to dry, do something productive. For me, while waiting for my moisturiser to dry, I'll prepare my breakfast. Once it's dry, I'll apply liquid foundation, and before slapping on the other stuff, I use the time to pick my outfit.

Time saved: 8 min

3. Pack in time
Pack your bag the night before so that you don't waste time gathering your stuff, and worse, feel stressed and flustered as time runs out.

Time saved: 5 mins

4. Enjoy your breakfast - ditch the papers
This is one task I believe should be truly enjoyed. Don't read newspapers while eating breakfast 'cos you may end up eating slower and worse, choke on your food (especially if you see news like bus strikes). Read the papers while waiting for the bus or train..suggest not ON the bus or train (see point 5 below).

Time saved: 15 mins

5. Find time in a tight space
Trains and bus might be too packed for you to read the papers. Also, it's inconsiderate to take up twice the space you require by opening up your arms. Hence, do something productive that requires less space -- check or reply your emails or Facebook messages while travelling -- you can easily keep your arms to your torso when using your smart device.

Time saved: 10 mins

Total time saved: 40 mins

By making little changes to your mornings, you can easily find 40 mins more of sleep!

5 foods that help me sleep better, and at a low cost!

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was a somewhat sleepless night for me. Maybe I was too excited that the next day is a Sunday! Now, I feel groggy ><

I guess we all have our sleepless nights so what do you do to overcome that? I noticed that if I take certain food/beverage before going to bed, it does help in sleeping more soundly. Of course, there's lots of scientific reason behind how these food help us sleep better but I shan't go deep into the details cos what works, works.

And you may be happy to know that it doesn't cost a lot to get your good night's sleep!

Chamomile tea
Worry not as this herbal tea contains no caffeine and instead, is a natural relaxant. Believe it or not, I once had this during a dinner gathering with some friends and halfway through, I felt like dozing off.

That said, not all chamomile teas are made equal. For myself, I enjoy brands like Twinings which is available at leading supermarkets in Singapore, and Gryphon. For the record, I really like Gryphon's wide range of exciting flavours, especially Hanami (but don't drink this at night 'cos there's caffeine!). Way to go, Gryphon!

Brew chamomile tea bag for about 3 minutes. I usually pour less than half a cup of water to the tea bag so that I don't wake up in the middle of the night to use the toilet. I avoid adding sugar or honey as the extra calories is not necessary at night.

The next time you find yourself staring at the moon while in bed, give this amazing tea a try.

Taste: 4.5/5
Effectiveness: 4.5/5
Value for moolah: 5/5

Salmon
Salmon is high in DHA which is said to promote melatonin levels, a key ingredient for good sleep regulation. There's also a chockful of magnesium pretty much a natural muscle relaxant. What's more, this fish tastes especially good with teriyaki sauce. Yums. What's even better is, though it's a relatively 'fatty fish' some researchers believe, the omega-3 fats together with other components in it can actually promote weight loss. I eat lots of Salmon and I don't find myself putting on weight so I guess there's some truth to it.

Salmon is easily available at supermarkets and these days, many hawker centres and food courts serve it too.

Taste: 4/5
Effectiveness: 4/5
Value for moolah: 4/5

Blueberries
There researches that show that high levels of antioxidants, a kind of substance in our bodies, can help one to sleep better. Blueberries contain lots of antioxidants, as evident from its deep blue colour. These small and cute blue spheres are touted one of the most powerful foods of nature so don't hesitate to pop a few more into your mouth.

They are available at markets and supermarkets and prices vary. Prices can be pretty steep at certain places, at about $4-$6 per 125g. However, at wet markets, it can be as low as $3 for the same amount. On another note, I noticed that they get cheaper in the early part of the year.

Taste: 3.4/5
Effectiveness: 4/5
Value for moolah: 3/5

Oatmeal
I know that oatmeal is a turn off for many people but I truly truly enjoy it and truth be told, I can eat it raw and dry. But you may want to throw in some raisins or dried apricots to healthily sweeten it, add some hot water and down it to warm your tummy. According to research, oats have melatonin and complex carbohydrates, both of which gets tryptophan going to regulate sleep. But take care not to add too much dried fruits to it as they can be high in sugar, which gets you high and excited, hence defeating the purpose of eating oats. Haha!

If not raw plain oats, I will usually buy Lowan's Apricot & Almod or Tropical Fruit muesli which is convenient and value-for-money, at about $4 for a 500g pack.

Taste: 4/5
Effectiveness: 3/5
Value for moolah: 4.5/5

Milk
I always enjoy milk, be it in the day, noon or at night. Based on my online research, there's no clear explanation for why milk can help promote sleep. While some think it's the tryptophan amino acid in milk, it could also be the melatonin in it. I usually add on some oatmeal to it as it makes this supper meal more gastronomically rewarding. Those keeping a watch on their weight can go for low-fat milk instead.

For myself, I enjoy meiji fresh milk as it doesn't have a funny taste or smell found in other brands which I shall not name.

Taste: 4/5
Effectiveness: 3.5/5

Value for moolah: 4.5/5

After all's said and eaten, of course, good sleep doesn't occur just through diet. Good life habits are crucial, like keeping active and healthy state of mind.

Though I feel tired now, nonetheless, it's time to enjoy my Sunday!

NB: I didn't eat the stuff above as I was too lazy to get out of bed!

Delicious Thai food on a budget

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 01:55:00 +0000

Satisfying your craving for Thai fare is not a tough affair in Singapore as Thai cuisine can be easily found everywhere. However, great Thai food is hard to come by, in my opinion, especially if you're talking about affordability. Hence, many people end up at popular chain joints like ThaiExpress or Siam Kitchen. Don't get me wrong; while they are tasty, I find them a tad steep and not so value-for-money.

Hence, I was really happy to find the Thai stall in Marina Square's food court, The Gallerie #04-101/102.

It was a fortuitous discovery as I happened to crave for Thai Tom Yum soup and this was the first stall I passed by that serves it. I order a bowl of Tom Yum fish rice noodles ($5.50) and the pineapple fried rice set ($5.90), which came with a soup and mango (or was it papaya?) salad.

Often, rice noodles are too soft that they stick together and then clings to your teeth. Either that, they are undercooked and they get stuck between your teeth. Whichever it is, good rice noodles are rare here. I was really therefore very pleased with this stall's rice noodles as it was firm to the bite, what the Italians would call al dente. The fish was fresh and fragrant, and most importantly, the soup was rich without being too spicy..that means I could drink more without difficulty. If you're a chilli powerhouse, the server would happily add more chilli for you.

The pineapple fried rice didn't disappoint either. The rice was a tad overcooked but overall, it tasted as good as what a casual dining restaurant could serve. In the rice is chockful of seafood, egg, pineapple cubes and raisins, certainly delightful. Topping it off is a slice of omelet which didn't taste any special but the thoughtful addition (note that there's already lots of egg in the fried rice) was much appreciated.

The next time you're craving for Thai food, you might want to swing by this affordable outlet.

I'll sure be back to try out other yummy-looking stuff on their menu, including the phad thai and tapioca cake!

Address: Marina Square, The Gallerie food court #04-101/102.

Rating: Will be back!

The psychology of eating a tomato

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 02:13:00 +0000

If your skin is prone to outbreaks and dryness, you may want to consider eating tomato as a natural remedy. Sounds like a turn off (I think most people, including myself, don't like the taste of it)? Not to worry, it's a matter of mind over body; I'll share with you how I eat a RAW tomato in this post.

The tomato is one of the greatest gifts from nature and it's thanks to the chockful of antioxidants in them. If you just do a quick search on Google, you'll find tons of review raving about its goodness, and I am no exception. It is high in Vitamins C and A, both of which are known to be essential elements to good skin, and rich concentration of lycopene. Check out WHFoods for more information.

I used to have pretty bad and sensitive skin and whenever I take chocolates, biscuits or what Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors/sinseh would term 'heaty' food, I'll have an outbreak and dry skin. That's really sad isn't it. Hence, for a period of time, I had to forgo eating my favourite snacks because my skin condition was getting worse.

I saw a dermatologist but the cream and medication prescribed weren't of much help. That's when I thought I should heal from within the body. A friend of mine recommended me to eat a tomato everyday. "OMG, are you serious?" was my first thought. While I love tomato sauce (ketchup), I don't think the tomato is one of the tastiest food around. But I've managed to overcome the psychological barrier of eating a raw tomato. Here's how:

Step 1: Bring the tomato close to your mouth. Smell it. (Honestly, an unpeeled tomato doesn't smell much so don't worry).

Step 2: Talk to the tomato. Tell it: "Thank you for giving me good skin." Kiss it. It's all about psychoing yourself to like it.

Step 3: Bite into the tomato. By this time, you'll get a whiff of nature and possibly a repulsive indescribable sour taste. Oh, and mind the juice!

Step 4: Your tongue may ask you to stop, but your mind gotta stay strong. Tell yourself: just swallow it! Forget the taste, I can do it!

Step 5: Keep thinking "this will give me good skin" and will yourself to take the next bite.

Step 6: A mouthful by a mouthful, finish the tomato.

It's really doable if you put your mind to it. Nowadays, I have pretty smooth skin and I still get to enjoy my chocolates and biscuits with no worries. Just one tomato a day for about 3 weeks and you should start seeing results. It's not so difficult; it's boils down to the habit of the mind. Nowadays, I eat tomato as a snack and though I still don't like the taste of it, I just eat it without thinking too much about it. Hail the tomato!

Before I end, let me share a riddle with you:

Chilli sauce and tomato sauce were running together. What did chilli sauce say to tomato sauce when tomato sauce was falling behind?

Ans: Catch up! (ketchup)

Cheers!

A sweet and fattening experiment

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 13:19:00 +0000

Just for experimentation purpose, I had a really sinful day and was on a sugar high all day, thanks to a high sugar and high fat diet, which I 'rewarded' myself to cos it's the weekend! Now I finally understand why high-sugar foods should be taken minimally.

Breakfast consisted of Lindt almond chocolate and Magnum ice-cream (my all-time favourite off-the-shelve ice cream), which I balanced out with a small cup of yogurt and oatmeal! I know that this is not exactly a balanced diet but I guess it'll do for the weekend. For morning tea break, I had a large piece of delectable Turkish chocolate cake and it kept me incredibly queasy for the rest of the morning. Nonetheless, it was well worth it. Close to noon, I popped a few pieces of savoury Lay's potato chips. Our bodies need sodium, don't they, I convinced myself.

The highlight for the day was chicken rice from the legendary Zhou Kee Hainanese Chicken & Roasted Rice at Ang Mo Kio Ave 10. Each grain was plump without being too oily and the chicken was succulent and juicy. Chilli is not needed as it's so good you can eat it on its own. Thereafter, I completed my meal with a piece of dark chocolate Tim Tam and Ribena. Yum.

While my taste buds were perked by the tasty treats, by late afternoon, my radar was on all-time low and I felt incredibly sleepy and lethargic. I couldn't think well and all I craved for was some sleep. But I didn't nap or whatsoever as I didn't want to waste a beautiful Saturday sleeping.

Hunger didn't strike till late in the evening and by then, I knew I should cut out the sugar so all I had was a lovely cup of milk and muesli. Lovely. By now, as I'm typing this, I sense my body moving back to status quo and I feel more energetic and alert. No wonder they say nature gives us the best things in life. Thank you, milk and muesli.

First toast!

noreply@blogger.com (Kai) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:46:00 +0000

Everyday brings a new life. Let's toast to life!