Yema




My Uncle and Aunt just came back from a short vacation at Manila. They got us some custard candies,Yema. It tastes like an Indian delicacy, Palgova(Milk Sweet). If you want to make some for yourself and friends, check out the recipe below.


Ingredients:

2 cans of condensed milk
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon of melted butter
3 tablespoons of chopped langka (jack fruit)
3 tablespoons of chopped nuts


Procedure:

In a bowl cream the egg yolk and condensed milk. Then pour in a casserole and cook slowly over medium fire. You should continue mixing it to avoid sticking. Cook it until it thickens. Add your chopped nuts and jackfruit. Let it cool and form the shape you want.

2 cans of condensed milk
plastic cellophane for wrapping

Directions:

  • You will have to use a regular frying pan to get the best result, not the non-stick one.
  • Pour the condensed milk in pan and put on medium heat.
  • Using a metal spatula, stir the milk as if you are scraping the bottom of the pan.
  • This must be done continuously to avoid burning the milk and to prevent it from sticking at the bottom of the pan. This will also ensure that it is cooked evenly.
  • You can tell that the yema is done if your condensed milk sticky.
  • Let it cool and wrap in cellophane cut outs for easy serving.


Credits: http://www.filipinofoodstore.com/

Lunch at Little India





We had a mouth-watering lunch at Banana Leaf Apollo at Little India with family. You guys should try Lassi - a yogurt-based drink which is made by blending yoghurt with water, salt, pepper, ice and Indian spices. These are the Lassi variations: Traditional mild-salted, sweet and mango. It was refreshing to drink during lunch, especially under such hot weather.

Share your interesting Little India experiences with me. Love to hear it from you!

Get Involved



We learn best when we are involved. Not just by mere observation but by participation. Spectators see what's on the stage; participants know what goes behind the scenes to put up a great show. Where do you want to be? - The spectator’s seat or working hard as a participant?

Why do we dream of doing great things and yet dread doing the hard work? Why do we want to remain at the comfortable audience seat where what we can learn is just so much? Spectators see things from afar, participants experience it first-hand. If you really want to achieve big things, you've got to expose yourself to bigger things.

As a spectator you see what's on stage. You get inspired.

As a participant you know the overview of the production. You inspire others!


Memorable Birthdays

What’s a birthday celebration without a birthday cake, birthday song, gifts, cards and delicious food? Besides these usual traditions, celebrating birthdays with a creative twist lies on the party planners who crack their brains to come out with the most-amazing theme and venue arrangements that are suited to your party needs.

Celebrate it BIG
A birthday is a special day to remember and celebrate life. Though it’s a one-day affair, much preparation goes into making that day a memorable one. Depending on the guests-list and budget one would decide how one would love to celebrate his/her birthday. Thinking of it may sometimes be a hassle, hunting for the location, choosing the right theme, sending out invitation cards and so on. The satisfaction comes after party is over; and you know that you’ve given your best and celebrated the most precious moments in life with your loved ones and friends.

Celebrate it with close ones
There’s the other group of people who like to celebrate their birthdays with their family members/close group of friends in the comfort of their own home or just going out for a simple dinner.

Surprise!
How great it is to have such awesome friend/family members to plan for surprises try their best to not leak out the secret and put the SURPRISE plan into action at the right moment. This makes it really a surprise if it’s not too ‘planned’ til the person knows what’s going on. It will then defeat the purpose of a surprise.

While methods in celebrating birthdays differ, one thing is for sure, everyone blows off the candles on their cake wishing for something better and greater! Here are some birthday celebrations that I’ve attended in the past few months…


Roshan’s 14th Birthday
Venue: Home sweet Home
Crowd: Family
Highlights: Surprise Party!

v
Hivashini’s 21st Birthday
Venue: Bugis
Crowd: Friends and Relatives
Highlights: Games, dance floor
Food: Indian

Willy Joe’s 26th Birthday
Venue: Chomp Chomp
Crowd: Friends
Highlights: Surprise over dinner

Grace Wong’s 19th Birthday
Venue: Love The World Pub at Singapore Flyer
Crowd: Friends
Highlights: Heartfelt music performances by friends
Food: Western

Dinesh Ryan’s 10th Birthday
Venue: Home Sweet Home
Crowd: Children
Highlights: Traffic Light theme party
Food: Hi-Tea

Jason Tan’s 23rd Birthday
Venue: Love The World Pub at Singapore Flyer
Crowd: Friends
Highlights: Surprise, Greeting cards on drum set part

Our Hearts Never Depart




Yesterday, while on Facebook, I came across this video that my friend Desmond recorded. After hitting the play button, I realised that it was something he had written and composed. The lyrics of the song ‘Our Hearts Never Depart’ somehow touched my heart. The most important thing to do while watching the video is to pay attention to the lyrics. It’s Desmond’s first attempt and I believe after much practice he’ll be able to bring out the best. The most important thing is to sing out your heart and I admire that.

Numerous comments flooded his Facebook and many agreed that the song brought back many memories of their individual friendship journey. I believe that there is power in friendships. We are created to be relational and not alone. Friends do play an important part in our lives. This song somehow accompanies my desire for building strong friendships with people around me. Music melts the heart and lyrics add meaning to the song. As I reflected about my friends while listening to the song, it just added much meaning to this very special thing called ‘Friendship’.

Now, how I wished that I wrote and composed this song. As I sit here in my room on a rainy day, I want to thank all my friends for being part of my life. I may have thanked you many times but it’s never enough to just say thank you. Friendship starts with the heart, from the day we met til the end we run together and stand by each other through thick and thin. When everyone else run away from me, I know that my friends will be there for me. I may have made wrong choices and done many things that I should not have done but it is people like you who chose to love and accept me for who I am.

It’s because of your relentless encouragement and support that I’ve been running my race with confidence. I just want to say... I never had a friend like YOU! I hope that I could sing this song for you one day… but for now I dedicate this song for the years of friendship we had thus far and the many more great years of growing what that started with love despite differences. May our hearts never depart.

Our Hearts Never Depart
Verse 1:
It's just so hard to believe
That we're fated to meet
No matter where you will be

Pre-chorus:
We'll be there for each other
This love like no other
We'll run til the end together

Chorus:
You'll be my friend, always
You helped me to see and believe
The things that you've done for me
I know that you love me
Care and assure me
Our hearts will never depart

Verse 2:
Later when we drew close
We treasure this love like gold
Should if there're times when we feel cold

Verse 3:
My friend I appreciate you
Relations we have is so true
Friendship weren't meant to lose

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2009


400 bloggers were in for a treat and more at the first-ever Asia-Pacific Blog Awards on October 23, 2009 at Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore.It was a joyous occasion for bloggers, coming together under one roof to celebrate the achievements of fellow bloggers in region.


Nuffnang.com is Asia-Pacific’s first and leading blog advertising community. With a deep-rooted passion in blogging, Timothy Tiah together with Cheo Ming Shen set out with an idea to establish an advertising community in Asia. Nuffnang.com has grown rapidly within these two years since it started in early 2007 and currently has offices in four countries, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Australia.


Camera lights were flashing at the red carpet as bloggers put on their ‘bloggerwood’ smiles. Instant photo prints were given to all attendees by Canon.

Timothy Tiah
Co-Founder of Nuffnang.com

The event got kick-started when Co-founders, Timothy Tiah and Cheo Ming Shen opened the evening with an encouraging speech, sharing with the bloggers and guests on their two-year journey. Talking to a passionate crowd of bloggers, they thanked each individual for their valuable support.

Cheo Ming Shen
Co-Founder of Nuffnang.com

They ended their speech with their favourite quote “The Best Is Yet To Be!” which has been a reminder to move their vision forward. The crowd gave a resounding round of applause to the two guys behind the success of Nuffnang.com.

Not forgetting the main highlight of the night, The Award Winners:

Kenny Sia (Malaysia)

Jayden Tan (Singapore)

Wendy Cheng, Xiaxue(Singapore)
Best Blog Shop: bonitochico.livejournal.com
Best Food Blog: ieatishootipost.sg
Best Fashion Blog: ladymelbourne.blogspot.com
Best Parenting Blog: childhood101.blogspot.com
Best Travel Blog: ironwulf.net
Best Celebrity Blog: joannepeh.com
Best Entertainment Blog: kennysia.com
Best Geek Blog: mrgadget.com.au
Best Original Blog Design: xiaxue.blogspot.com
Best Influential Blog: xiaxue.blogspot.com
Best Hidden Gem: dedoodleblog.blogspot.com
Region's Best Blog: xiaxue.blogspot.com
Best Pringles Video Contest: jayleif.blogspot.com

Nuffie: Raine Chai

The night would not been fantastic without, Allan Wu from Amazing Race who was the host for the night. Singaporean Band, Electrico brought the roof down with their rocky music. Also, a big thank you to the Nuffies who worked hard to make this event possible.

"400 opinion movers & shakers gathered at the awards"
I’m one of them are you?

Snippets of the Asia-Pacific Blog Awards and exclusive interviews with top bloggers were featured on The Breakfast Show NTV7 (Malaysia) on November 2, 2009 Thank You, Nuffnang for this great opportunity to be part of this milestone event.

Fellow bloggers from Singapore...

Andy Kwan (ANdyStorM)

Shawn Lee

Alton Keh


Fauzi Rassull

Beyond blog advertising, Nuffnang.com prides itself in being a community for bloggers by bloggers, organising and supporting a wide range of blogger attended events like movie screenings, seminars/workshops, parties, and more. Continue to make history!


We blog to express, not to impress!

Have you packed your bag for camp?

Click link to view embedded video


We are just TWO DAYS away from our first-ever Ushers Camp!

See below for the updated 'To bring' list. As you should have already known, due to hygiene reasons, we are unable to rent sleeping bags and we hope you've found sleeping bags to tuck yourself into! Bring along your umbrella, just in case it rains..(please pray for good weather, yea?) Gonna wear our usher tee on Sunday and we will be moving around, so let's travel light!


Things To Bring for camp:
**We will be wearing Usher Tee on SUNDAY.
1. Pants
2. Undergarments
3. Sandals/Slippers
4. Water Bottle
5. Towel
6. Toiletries (tooth brush; tooth paste; soap; etc)
7. Jacket (optional)
8. Torchlight (optional)
9. Writing Materials
10. Bible
11. Plastic Bag (for Dirty Clothes)
12. Personal Medication (If any)
13. Umberella (In-case of rain)
14. Sleeping Bag

We feel your heart pumping! See you on SATURDAY!

Publicity Team
PolyDINS Ushers Camp 2009

Blessings In A Bag


Youths were gathered to splash their creativity on the billboard and bins at the launch of Blessings In A Bag new Drop-off point on Sunday, October 4 at SCAPE Youth Park. Alongside with the launch of the new collection point, Blessings In A Bag team held a donation drive for the Manila flood survivors. Members of the public came and gave donations-in-kind generously.


Blessings In A Bag is a non-profit organization that seeks to partner with existing communities, orphanages, schools, homes as well as initiatives to provide for the needs of underprivileged, abused and medically-ill children across Asia.


On a personal note, it was a fun-filled time for me to be part of the launch, painting for a good cause. I want to thank my extended family members for their generous contributions. It was amazing to have Stephen and my friends (Alex Pham and David Eng) who took their time-off on a Sunday to paint the billboard. It was great to see Emily Tan coming all the way down with her entire family to drop-off donation items. I’m happy that I’ve got friends who share a similar heart-beat and love for the community.



I also would like to thank Blessings In A Bag Team for giving us this opportunity to showcase our creativity and most importantly Emily Teng (Founder/Director of BIAB) for spear-heading this movement and being the agent of change: a blessing to those who have lost everything but their hope.


With this new drop-off point located in the heart of the city, it is a convenient for the public to drop off their donations-in-kind to help those in need. For more information, please visit http://blessingsinabag.org/.


Drop-off Locations(Singapore):

COMICS MART
10 JALAN SERENE
#02-05 SERENE CENTRE
11am-8pm DAILY

*SCAPE YOUTH PARK
(Opposite Orchard Cineleisure)
113 Somerset Road
The bin is located on the lobby, inside the building.
Tuesday-Sunday 10am to 10pm


Related links:

Achieving Dreams


I spent the afternoon watching YouTube videos and came across an inspirational speech by the late Dr Randy Pausch. Many great take away points.


Even though he was battling cancer, he did not choose to be an object of pity. While fighting his battle, he remained strong, even physically. He shared that we can still go after our childhood dreams. Highlighting he did not live out his childhood dream (being in football league), he shared a meaningful quote:


"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted."


"When you do a bad job and no one points it out to you, it means they've given up on you. So when someone pushes you hard, it means they care for you."


"Brick walls are there for a reason: They let us prove how badly we want things"



A. People vs. things

B. Decide if you're a Tiger or Eeyore

C. Work and play well with others

1. Tell the truth

2. Apologize (properly)

  • I'm sorry
  • It was my fault
  • How do I make it right? - Sincerity

3. Wait, and people will share their good side


source: Dr Randy Pausch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ya9BXClRw)

Ushers Express Issue 2

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