Singapore through my N97 - Buildings

日落了，组屋区里的灯光也即将慢慢的一点一点的亮起来了。


四四方方端端正正的窗口们，很严肃又很整齐的排列在这两栋大楼上。


跟其他的高高白白的摩登大楼站在同样的一个天空下，旧的Vanguard Building反而显得更加的充满色彩！


Vanguard Building上空的云朵像不像一粒一粒的棉花球？

Singapore through my N97 - Sushi and Ramen at Sakae Sushi

听说Wisma Atria里开了一间新的Sakae Sushi分店，食物还不错吃，就跑去试试看。一直以来都很喜欢Sakae Sushi让客人利用电脑自己点菜，自己埋单的这个服务，又快捷又方便。最讨厌在餐厅里一直对侍应生招手却不被理会的那种感觉了。



坐下来后，从电脑点了一份比较特别的Salmon Mango Temaki给朋友，而自己就点了一份传统的Unagi Temaki。一口咬下去，很开心紫菜是脆的。曾经吃过软软的紫菜包的Temaki，不止难吃死了，还乱咬不断的！Unagi Temaki里的Unagi酱不会太多太甜，跟饭配合得刚好。Unagi本身也够分量，不会吃完了一小片的鱼肉后剩下一大团饭。听朋友说，她的Salmon Mango Temaki也不错，软软的芒果的果香跟QQ的鲑鱼片的鲜甜配合得天衣无缝。相信这个很热带风味的Temaki在日本应该是吃不到吧？



接下来我们吃了一些Tekka Maki和California Maki。这两种Maki都很普通，不难吃，但也没有什么意外。觉得California Maki上的蛋有点少，后来发现sushi belt上有比较贵的California Mini Maki，却是整个外层都是蛋的，早知道就要份California Mini Maki好了！



朋友不想变成饭桶，就建议说不然叫一碗面来吃吧！我们叫了一碗Teriyaki Chicken Ramen，一上桌就被吓了一跳！哇咧！超大碗的咧！还好我们只叫了一碗来share！



本来以为这碗拉面应该没什么特别的，因为通常寿司店里卖的拉面都不怎样。可是一往碗里一看，啊！那颗蛋！蛋里的蛋黄是液体状态的咧！我立刻把蛋拿了起来咬了一口，蛋黄立刻流进嘴里，整个嘴里立刻充满了蛋香味！哇噻！有够赞的！（接下来就被朋友打了，因为我把唯一的半粒蛋啃掉了！）再来就是喝一喝汤汁了。汤汁很意外的香浓，很有满足感，却不会太咸。哇~ 是那种会让人不小心把整碗汤喝完的汤汁！主角拉面也不错，QQ的，鸡肉也不错，甜甜的鸡皮还有淡淡的烧烤味。总的来说，这碗拉面绝对是伸拇指的啦！




餐厅资料:
Wisma Atria
#03-15/15A 435
Orchard Road S238877
Tel: 6235 1158
Opening Hours:
11:30am - 10:00pm daily

Cloudywind Podcast (Chinese) #28 - It's a F1 Special Podcast

This is a F1 Special Podcast all about this special annual event that is second in popularity and importance to the National Day. This is the time when all participate in the F1 Road Closure and F1 Big Jam, and all put in their money for the F1 Match Bets, F1 Toto and F1 Big Sweep. The totally unrelated F1 Rocks concert is happening as well, where first class superstars all around the world perform in a third class venue.

这是一个特别制作的F1特别Podcast，为了庆祝这个只在国庆日之下的盛大活动。不管愿意或不愿意，大家都会参与这个一年一度的重要活动。大家都可以感受到大规模的F1大封路和F1大塞车，大家都会把钱赌在大规模的F1 Match Bets, F1 Toto和F1 Big Sweep。年轻人还可以买昂贵的票观看跟F1赛车完全没有关系的F1 Rocks演唱会，看第一等的世界巨星如何在第三等的场地表演！

PLAY >> Cloudywind Podcast (Chinese) #28 - It's a F1 Special Podcast

To subscribe to Cloudywind Podcast on iTunes...
1) Go to [Advanced] on Menu
2) Select [Subscribe to podcast]
3) Type in "http://cloudywind.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
4) Enjoy~~

Singapore through my N97 - ION, the high-end mall

ION刚建好后，问过朋友，门前那粒是什么东东。朋友说是山竹，我说是chiku。后来才发现原来是豆蔻（原来豆蔻在变成豆蔻油之前是长这个样子的！）。经过一番调查（其实只是google了一下），才知道乌节路会叫做乌节路是因为在1840年代，那里路旁都是豆蔻、胡椒和各类果园，所以之后那条路就叫做“Orchard Road”咯！那为什么中文版不是“果园路”，而是“乌节路”咧？因为当时新加坡崇洋？

据说ION里有多达300间店面和餐厅，但当中很多都是超贵的高级名牌店，不是我这种平民可以消费得起的。那里的餐厅也不便宜，就连最便宜的Food Opera食阁和Bread Society面包店也是Food Republic和Bread Talk的升级版！汗~ 不过我倒很喜欢ION里的Directory。因为它是电子目录板，在touchscreen上指指点点后就可以很容易的以分类或楼层找到你要找的商店，又快又好玩！

离开ION之前，回头望了一望，突然发现其实ION的形状还蛮像波罗蜜的咧...


有点古早味的豆蔻和先进的玻璃银幕形成了有趣的对比。




ION的柱子有点像一棵棵的铁树，很努力的撑着那片大屋顶。


面对着年轻壮大的ION，Tangs要怎么保住它的顾客群咧？


从门外看就觉得LV的店面超高贵高级的，好像进去后就会有明星般的对待！


蛮喜欢门前的这红红弯弯的长椅，可以在血拼之间喘一口气，还是想想那个几千块的包包该不该买。


发现有个阿婆正在用DSLR很专业的在那边拍照，害我这个用手机拍照的有点不好意思了！看阿婆握DSLR的方式就知道她是懂的，don't pray pray ok！


这个外国小孩很好玩。他很早就站在那边，然后看着喷泉水一路从远方一个一个洞的逼近，最后看着喷泉水喷到自己的裤子上！


到了晚上亮灯后，门前的那几棵“树”变得更加明显了。

Field Exposure Tips

• Neutral-Point Method - Find a medium-toned object in the same light as the subject, frame it in the viewfinder and take a light reading to lock the exposure


• Constant-Tones Method - If there is no neutral point, twist the len focus to infinity or its closest focal point. This renders the viewfinder image completely blurred out, which usually removes the distracting extremes of color and helps the meter make a better choice for the exposure


• The F16 Rule - On a sunny day with the sun directly over your shoulder, the exposure will be 1/125 at f16 on ISO 100. Using exposure ratios, this equates to 1/250 at f11, 1/500 at f8 etc. Use this as a starting point and underexpose slightly.


• The Rouse Method - Set the exposure compensation to -2/3 stop underexposed. Generally the DSLR tends to overexpose, so this ensures you will always have slightly underexposed images in RAW. You can then edit them post-processing.


• Flash Exposure - To use flash in daylight to brighten the shadows, set flash unit compensation to -2 stops. At night, reduce to -1 stop.

Singapore through my N97 - When B&W is more suitable

有时候我们是需要把一切变得黑白分明的。



这张照片是在food court里拍的，当时我被上面挂着的红灯笼吸引住了，但天花板上的照明灯却又太显眼了。换成黑白照后，照明灯反而跟灯笼“合作”了起来，化成“星星”照耀着food court里用餐的客人们。



蛮喜欢这张在Esplanade里头拍的照片，可是N97的Auto White Balance不是很好（要在保安抓我之前拍到，所以没时间慢慢调white balance啦），我又忘了真正的颜色到底是偏黄还是偏绿。反正颜色版也是单色，不如把它改成黑白版好了！

Cloudywind Podcast (Cantonese) #27 - Which food belongs to who?

Suddenly, one country stands out to label some dishes as their national dishes and is determined to stop all other countries from hijacking. But do these dishes really belong to them? If Hainanese chicken rice does not belong to the Hainan island, then why use the word Hainanese? Is Nasi Lemak theirs or does it actually originated from another country's dish? And who has the proof that they own Chili crab?

突然之间有个国家开始把一些美食列为是他们国家的食品，并决定争回这些美食的拥有权。但追根究底，这些美食真的是属于那个国家的吗？海南鸡饭不是从海南岛来的吗？不然为什么叫作海南鸡饭？椰浆饭真的是他们的吗？还是从另外一个国家的一样食品演变出来的？辣椒螃蟹又是谁的？难道不是那个在50年代期间在某个国家的海边开了家螃蟹专卖店的师奶发明的吗？

PLAY >> Cloudywind Podcast (Cantonese) #27 - Which food belongs to who?

To subscribe to Cloudywind Podcast on iTunes...
1) Go to [Advanced] on Menu
2) Select [Subscribe to podcast]
3) Type in "http://cloudywind.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
4) Enjoy~~

Singapore through my N97 - Around HDB estates

在新加坡，多数的人都住在组屋里。不管是新组屋区还是旧组屋区，那里总是自己的家园。找个下午，抽点时间在周围走走，你会找到令人安心的安宁，你会发现那些每次匆匆经过的地方，原来有这么多从来没注意到的有趣小细节。



在旧组屋区里，如牛车水一带，人们还是会用竹竿把洗好的衣服晾出去外面晒干。而每当开始下雨的时候，你就会听到左邻右舍的师奶喊“下雨咯！收衣服啊！”。



新组屋区里的组屋颜色都比较鲜艳。有一段时期，新组屋的底层地上都会铺大大片的碎石，好像会看起来比较意大利风，比较高贵那样。



下午时分会偶尔看到女佣在溜狗。孩子也好，宠物也好，只要是主人没时间去管的，女佣都得负责照顾。偶然看到女佣牵着这只贵妇狗，狗狗还穿鞋子咧！

Singapore through my N97 - Brown food

烤得金黄色的烤鸡看起来好油但也让人觉得好像皮都被烤脆了，好想一口就咬下去！再加上旁边红红油油的samba酱，你想开动了吗？


粗粗的又颜色暗淡的carrot cake加上白白滑滑的奶油，你想来杯咖啡了吗？

Urban photography tips

Just some urban photography tips that I read :)

• Fountains - To blur the water, use tripod and shutter speeds of between 4sec to 1/15sec


• Stained glasses - If there's very dark and very light glass in your composition, better bracket half a stop under, half a stop over and one stop over


• Stage performance - Use slow shutter speed and expose for the ambient light. Any movement by your subject is captured through the blur but the action can be stopped and the subject rendered sharp at the moment the flash is fired. If you don't have spot metering, zoom in and fill the frame with your subject to lock the exposure, then zoom out and recompose.


• Sports - Allow a minimum shutter speed of 1/250 but ideally 1/500 to freeze the action


• Museum - To photography without a tripod and flash, place the lens directly on the glass for support. This method will also eliminate unwanted reflections.

The latest spam email from mylove4u1@yahoo.com

刚收到一封新鲜滚热辣的垃圾邮件。哇~ 太可怜，太感人，太浪费我的时间了！他们真的以为每个人都是“太傻，太天真”的吗？

Dearest ,

I am writing this mail to you with tears and sorrow from my heart.With due respect trust and humility, i appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read through my letter i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business having gone through your remarkable profile, honestly i am writing this email to you with pains, tears and sorrow from my heart, i will really like to have a good relationship with you and i have a special reason why i decided to contact you, i decided to contact you due to the urgency of my situation,My name is Miss. joy Kipkalya Kones, 24yrs old female and I hail from Kenya in West Africa. My father was the former Kenyan road Minister. He and Assistant Minister of Home Affairs Lorna Laboso had been on board the Cessna 210, which was headed to Kericho and crashed in a remote area called Kajong'a, in western Kenya. The plane crashed on the Tuesday 10th, June,2008. You can read more about the crash through the below site:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/06/10/kenya.crash/index.html

After the burial of my father, my stepmother and uncle conspired and sold my father's property to an italian Expartriate and then shared the money among themselves leaving nothing for me. One faithful morning, I opened my father's briefcase and found out the documents which he have deposited huge amount of money in one bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin. I travelled to Burkina Faso to withdraw the money for a better life so that I can take care of myself and start a new life, on my arrival, the Bank Director whom I met in person told me that my father's instuction to the bank is that the money would only be release to me when I am married or present a trustee who will help me and invest the money overseas. I am in search of an honest and reliable person who will help me and stand as my trustee so that I will present him to the Bank for transfer of the money to his bank account overseas. I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe that you will not betray my trust. But rather take me as your own sister. Though you may wonder why I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you, well I will say that my mind convinced me that you may be the true person to help me. Moreso, I will like to disclose much to you if you can help me to relocate to your country because my stepmother have threaten to assassinate me. The amount is( $5.8 USD )Million United State Dollars, and I have confirmed from the bank in Burkina Faso on my arrival, You will also help me to place the money in a more profitable business venture in your Country. However, you will help by recommending a nice University in your country so that I can complete my studies. It is my intention to compensate you with 20% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my capital in your establishment. As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely. Awaiting your urgent and positive response. Please do keep this only to your self for now untill the bank will transfer the fund. I beg you not to disclose it till i come over because I am afraid of my wicked stepmother who has threatened to kill me and have the money alone ,I thank God Today that am out from my country (KENYA) but now In (Burkina Faso) where my father deposited this money with my name as the next of Kin.I have the documents for the claims.
please reply through my email address below;
joyfullkn@yahoo.com

Yours Sincerely

Joy Kipkalya Kones.

反正闲着也是闲着，我决定跟她玩下去，看看这出戏她怎么演下去！

Ah dear,

Thank you you trust me ar! I read your email already very touch leh, so poor thing! How come your step mother like that one?

Let me tell you har, my name is Ah Beng, and I tell you I decided liao, I going to help you now!

Actually you said if you married also can get the money is it? I tell you, I Ah Beng very handsome one, so if you want to har, I can marry you one, don't need shy! But this kind of thing also must see lah, if you think like that get married too fast, I also can wait lah. So I also can be your trustee first lor.

Ah dear, you no worry ok? I Ah Beng is here. You email me and tell me how you want me help ok?

P.S. got photo or not har? can send me your photo look see?

Your dear,
Lee Xianz Beng

下回让你们知道她的回复哟~

Singapore through my N97 - Lunch at a Hong Kong cafe

East Coast Road有一间香港茶餐厅，朋友介绍过，电视推荐过，听说食物真的很道地很不错吃，不像满街的其他那些挂香港招牌卖乱七八糟食物的假香港茶餐厅。那天下午就决定去那边吃午餐好了。

发现平日在那边吃午餐的人不会太多（呃... 因为不是很多人会大老远的去到海边这么忧哉的吃午餐吧？），而且还有比较划算的set lunch哦！不过很可惜的是锅仔饭并不在set lunch菜单里，本来还很想试一下，看看有没有达到庙街锅仔饭的程度的说！


香港叉烧大王饭是招牌菜之一，果然真的很不错！叉烧够香又不会太过死甜，而且叉烧肉一层肥肉一层瘦肉的，口感很丰富！


XO炒萝卜糕外脆内软，本来看它黑黑的还以为会很甜，结果是咸的！而且上面还淋上了炒辣虾米碎！只是$5.50一小盘还真的有点贵...


芒果布丁就有点普通了，不过如果是吃set lunch的话就可以以$1.50买到，so why not?

The grand Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

新加坡最hito最壮观的寺庙应该数佛牙寺了。它就位于热闹的牛车水中，有四层楼（不包括顶楼）那么高！里面的装潢有够华丽的，一踏进正门便是恢宏壮美的百龙宝殿，庄严的弥勒尊佛就奉安在大殿中央，佛像超高大的说，突然觉得自己好渺小！寺里有电梯可以搭到每一层参拜不一样的菩萨，但第四层是一定要去的啦，因为佛陀的佛牙舍利就供奉在那里！里头金光闪闪的，从纯金铸造的佛牙舍利塔到满地的金地砖，连天花板的灯笼也是金黄色的！

在寺里发现有不少访客拍照，寺里的工作人员也没有阻止。虽然我也带了一架DSLR进寺，但我拍来拍去却没有拍到任何佛像。记得当初刚学摄影的时候，在香港的一间古庙里很不客气的拍照，结果被庙里的阿婆赶出去，大骂我不尊重神明！汗~ 自从那次之后我就学乖了，就连去到西藏，我也没拍到任何寺庙里的任何一尊佛像。不过想想也是啦，乱乱在那边用闪光灯闪神明还真的不大尊重咧！

Singapore through my N97 - Flats and clouds

要看南天白云其实不一定要出国。偶尔抬一抬头，你会发现新加坡也有很多很美的云朵哦！


灰灰的屋子加上秃秃的树，这张照片是不是很有冬天的感觉？其实那时候是中午太阳正猛的时候咧！


是谁在洗天空，还留下一堆的肥皂泡沫？


这片天像不像一幅油画，让这几座组屋也显得高贵多了？

Cloudywind Podcast (Chinese Hip-hop!) #26 - I'm not scared

This issue's podcast is more scary than listening to ghost stories during the Hungry Ghosts Festival. You're about to listen to Cloudywind's first attempt in Chinese Hip-hop! Be scared... be very scared!

Original song by MC HotDog, 我哈你
作曲 MC HotDog,陈复明

我知道你不爱我家 哈
我儿子的话 我媳妇的玩法 哈 so what
没差 你说什么 什么 对不起耳朵有点阻塞
请你让我搞的 糊里糊涂 继续把你骗得 糊里糊涂
就算媳妇投资 输到脱裤 就算儿子华语 根本不酷

你吹啊 我才不会怕 继续complain啊 讲到你挂
你可知道 读过书的精英比较会讲话
就算不会做工 相信他们 好吗
有留言有八卦别鸟他 我的薪水没那么夸张
yo这个位 我们就霸着霸着霸
最少还能做十年吧

我不怕你 我才不怕你
就算你选反对我的 我也一样不怕你
我不怕你 不在乎 你选谁 因为我姓李
一声命令军队站起

我知道你不爱ERP 你爱自由
给你一些bonus 你就眼睛发光跟发亮
平时没有事 让你complain
选择的时候记得让我赢光 oh no
我开始得意忘形 了 疯 我要保持形像及优秀
come on 手放在空中 因为听话的你 脑袋空空

你四处去打听 有关於我
你似乎不相信 我说了这麼多
买我的书 报纸不会错
介绍不会错 买了书 读了再说
你敢不敢说 我不好 你敢不敢说 如果说我就sue
有种 就别怕我
只要我说薪水不够 谁敢说太多

我不怕你 我才不怕你
就算你选反对我的 我也一样不怕你
我不怕你 不在乎 你选谁 因为我姓李
一声命令 军队站起

PLAY >> Cloudywind Podcast (Chinese Hip-hop!) #26 - I'm not scared

To subscribe to Cloudywind Podcast on iTunes...
1) Go to [Advanced] on Menu
2) Select [Subscribe to podcast]
3) Type in "http://cloudywind.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
4) Enjoy~~

Singapore through my N97 - Alley towards Raffles City

很多时候，我们都是因为贪方便要抄小路的时候才会想起小巷。小巷给人的感觉就是旁门左道的捷径，夜晚的时候甚至有危险恐怖的感觉。但在这个大闹市里，有时候走走小巷就会看到一些不一样的景色，也可以享受一下那一刻难得的宁静...

Singapore through my N97 - Ice-cream for a hot day

新加坡实在是太闷热了，所以如果你可以在这里找到个不喜欢吃雪糕的新加坡人的话，你可以去买4D, Toto, Big Sweep了！记得小时候总是在上课的时候就想着canteen里的冰棒！那时候都吃橙汁或葡萄汁制成的便宜冰棒，偶尔吃到里头有一点点vanilla雪糕的柠檬冰棒就超开心了！长大以后，自己会赚钱了，吃的雪糕也变富贵了。

在Bugis Junction里有一间叫MOF的日本餐馆，里头就卖了好多日式甜品。这些日式甜品大多数是绿茶、黑糖和红豆制成的，单是冰绿茶就有好几种！那天上门光顾，叫了一杯超有日本feel的冰绿茶加黑芝麻雪糕，朋友则叫了一杯冰绿茶加绿茶雪糕（有点太过绿茶OD了吧？）。





冰绿茶加黑芝麻雪糕还蛮不错的，黑芝麻雪糕的味道浓郁，但不致于盖过绿茶的茶香。整体来说是不错的甜品，也不会死甜，唯一的缺点就是价钱有一点贵。

除了日式雪糕，新加坡也有不少美式雪糕店，就如老字号Swensen's。记得以前最喜欢和朋友一起去Swensen's吃那个超大的Earthquake，吃完之后，撑的咧！近年流行吃Chocolate Fondue，Swensen's的菜单里当然也就增添了有雪糕的Fondue咯~


不过我还是觉得老土的香蕉船比较好吃...

Singapore through my N97 - Vivocity by the sea

Vivocity通常都是人山人海的。因为那边有好多著名品牌的商店又没有ERP，所以去那边血拼的本地人很多。因为那边靠近圣淘沙，所以要从那边乘搭轻轨去圣淘沙的旅客也很多。周末要去那边，只是找停车位就已经很考耐性了！不过热闹喧哗的Vivocity也有宁静的角落哦~


不管是炎热的七月还是多雨的九月，巨大的雪人还是很专心的站在那边默默的望海。谁说雪人要等到十二月才出现的？


这个逆向“喷水”池蛮好玩的！池里的水会很快速的咕噜咕噜就往洞里流去！


这里的海域有好多的大轮船小游艇，载了好多的游客出去吹海风，有钱又有闲真好！


从外面的走廊可以看到来回圣淘沙的轻轨。在那边发呆的时候发现轻轨列车有橙色、紫色、蓝色和绿色。听说还有粉红色，不过因为没搽防晒油的我不想被晒黑晒干，所以没等下去，也就没看到。谁可以告诉我到底有几种颜色的轻轨列车咧？


下午时分跑到走廊上真的超晒超热的，不过我相信当夜晚来临，走廊上的小灯都亮起来后，应该会很浪漫吧？


你知道吗？Vivocity三楼就是屋顶了，屋顶上有小花园，在那边看日落还不错哦！


Vivocity的屋顶上有一些水池，血拼累了后可以上去吹吹风看看水池里玩耍的小孩。不过我不明白的是，为什么水池的底部要用土黄色咧？搞得水池的水看起来好像超肮脏的！谁的馊主意啦？