Hearsay that Roti John was invented by Shukor stall in 1975 when it was located the old Taman Serasi Hawker centre opposite Botanic Gardens.
Since there are a lot of expatriates staying around Cluny Road area, they try to garner more business from them by pan-frying slices of french loaf with eggs & onions. Essentially, that's a basic omelette sandwiched between baguette.
SO how the name "Roti John" come about? Roti is malay for bread and as for John, that's because they are hell lots of expatriates named John in those days ... so Bread for expatriates called John. hehehehe ... ok the last part was just my foolish guess. ;P
The above has been one of the nicest (i.e presentation) Roti John @ $3. Taste-wise, they are OK, you have choices of filling - minced chicken, mutton or sardines etc. One difference with others that i tried is that, they had flatted the Roti (bread) during pan-fried, makes it easier to eat, imho.
Unfortunately, I forgot the name, they are along Pasir Panjang Road (Opp O' COnners Building) & operates 24hrs - perfect for those nights when I need to burn some midnight oil.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Roti John
Burmese Buddhist Temple
I was around Balestier area (well, actually Toa Payoh) since I have to send mum for her mahjong session. The huge Burmese Buddhist Temple ((Maha Sasana Ramsi) certainly looks interesting, and most importantly, I haven't been there yet! So I decide to swing by and take a look at the Burmese temple, experience some Burmese culture as well too!
Layout is typical of any Buddhist temples, perhaps there are fine differences in architectural details & statues which more closely resembles those in Northern Part of Thailand.
This statue of Buddha is sculpted from white marble found in Sagyin Hill, Mayanmar. It has been transported from Mayanmar in 1916 and eventually arrived to Singapore in 1918. *phew* a 2 year feat!
On 3rd floor, the murals painted by devotees depicts the history of Maha Sasana Ramsi
It also houses another beautiful golden statue of Buddha. It's really an interesting visit, and if not for lack of time, I would surely comb the area searching for Burmese food.
More Info about Burmese Buddhist Temple (Maha Sasana Ramsi)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese_Buddhist_Temple
http://www.burmesebuddhisttemple.org.sg/index.htm
http://www.livelife.ecitizen.gov.sg/culture/heritage/ht_balestier.asp
Oh, btw Wan Qing Yuan(晚晴园) is just beside the Burmaese Buddhist Temple, pity that they are close for major repair works.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Some like it HOT!
When the going gets HOT, the Bougainvillea gets SIZZLING! Smack right in the middle of ECP Expressway, a stretch of Bougainvillea were blooming madly amidst the scorching heat.
They seems to be striving well, unfortunately, not so for the homo sapiens on this little red dot. I seeking temporary refuge in Shopping Centers & Libraries from now on.
Don't really feel like blogging in this heat, so will take a short summer blog break! ;P
= THE END =
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Alexandra Arch & South Ridges
One of the more exciting development in Singapore that got me really trilled aren't the F1 racing nor those Gambling Dens Integrated Resorts. The Park connectors network & various new trails around nature parks takes the cake instead.
Many have been lamenting for years on why we couldn't have a safe & bicycle-friendly road for cyclist, just like those found around Europe.
Instead of these bicycle friendly roads, there have been a network of Park Connectors & new trails been developed quietly & steadfastly.
I have been waiting for the completion of this particular connector at Alexandra. You seen one of side of the Arch in my previous post. Here is another side. Essentially, this is a bridge that connects HortPark to another part of the trail that leads to Telok Banglah Hill.
The Arch connects to another elevated walkway, which at this height, certainly not recommended those suffering from Acrophobia, I guess. But I can certainly foresee an exciting bird's eye of the surrounding forest to feast your eyes.
This, eventually, goes around, down and then up towards Telok Banglah Hill.
The Arch is officially open on 10~11 May 2008 along with HortPark.
It actually part of the the South Ridges 9km trails that goes from Kent Ridge Park all the way to Harbourfront MRT Station!
How exciting! I certainly will check out very soon!
LINKS
Discovery the Southern Ridges
Lazy Food#2 - Prosciutto with Grissini
Another food, or rather snack food for the lazy folks.
Simply just wrap Prosciutto (Dry cured ham) around Grissini (Italian bread stick)
There are nicer Prosciutto around, but I need to pay a premium for them ahhh but I need to think of my budgets :(
Anyway, these are fine for an occasion indulgence during office breaks. And really, create stares in the office, wondering why I'm eating raw meat sashimi on giant glico stick. LOLz
Perhaps I just need more practice more on my wrapping skills so I can create a more presentable glico sashimi stick for photography ;P
=== THE END ===
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Seasons Change
On 4 May 2008 (Sunday) afternoon, all blue skies & everything nice. I was lazily & happily baking in hot sun treatment (with a layer of SPF50+ of coz ;P) on my trusty 2 wheels.
Everything looks fine and I'm expecting a spectacular sunset to go along with this kind of fine (but hot!) weather
3 hours later, something else came out of the blue instead. Smog begins to appear, clouding the whole skies as if to signify the arrival of an apocalypse.
I immediately felt uneasy & disturbed, but brushed off as yet another Sumatra forest fires at work. 
I was dead wrong! Something more terrible happen elsewhere in Asia. Cyclone batters Myanmar, casualties feared
I'm not too sure if our sudden "Seasons Change" here have got anything to do with Cyclone Nargis @ Myanmar or vice versa. Whatever it is, the no of death & casualties are extremely severe in Myanmar. 20,000 people dead, 40,000 still missing, and hundreds of thousands homeless ... and still counting?!
*sighz* I sincerely pray for safe & speedy rescue efforts and wish those homeless & suffering find strength to tide them through this difficult period.
Links
Myo Kyaw Htun Blog
Globalvoices:Unprecedented cyclone disaster
Google Cares:Google
Support disaster relief in Myanmar
Interactive Map: Myanmar Cyclone
=THE END=
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Minced Memories
I don't have a good memory. When asked about past events, no matter how bad or glorious it were. My recollections are often fragmented & finely minced up. I would remember a bits here & there, but not in entirety.
Fortunately, my sense of perceptions seems pretty fine. I mean I seems to require some sort external stimuli: sights, taste, smell etc for my memory to be operative. That's what happen when I while having this Mushroom Minced Pork Noodle in Pasir Panjang.
The familiar murkiness & wonderfully robust smell in the soup. The sediments are the essence of the soup. 
The Bouncy Pork ball, braised mushroom & the unique blend of sauce & Zhenjiang Vinegar. Suddenly, I seems to have been transported back in time. To the time when I was still working in Paya Lebar area.
This Mushroom Minced Pork noodle stall in Pasir Panjang is the same favorite stall of mine when I was working in Paya Lebar. It was my favorite but I lost touch after I moved to the West.
It's certainly wonderful to be seeing them once again in the West! Apparently, they've moved to the west and been staying around Depot Road too ;) 
No address, but do check the map.
They opened from Mon ~ Sat from morning till about 3pm
Close on Sunday.
View Larger Map
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Tanglin Halt Chicken Biryani
Queues don't lie, this is especially true when comes to food. And so, when I chanced upon a queue at Blk 49 Tanglin Halt Rd, Peking Room Kopitiam, I wasted no time to join the queue.
Surprising, Peking Room Kopitiam don't sells Peking food, not even typical china food. There's a chinese porridge & malay food stall which was closed when I was there for lunch.
Tanglin Halt Roti Prata was named so probably because they sell Roti Prata in the morning (One of Singaporeans' favourite breakfast & supper).By noon, they also sells Biryani for the lunch crowds.
When the plate of Chicken Biryani arrives, it sure doesn't looks so appetizing. I took my first bite anyway and pleasantly surprised at the soft textured rice. It reminds me fondly of Bario Rice (Highland rice that are only grown in Kelapit Highlands@Borneo) which I bought from Kuching last year.
Another bite at the chicken showed up another surprise - it's very tender and it would seems like the meat fibers have been shredded internally, though it still looked as complete outside. These tastes wonderful!
Curry is fine, flavorsome but bit tone down for my palate. Overall, I enjoyed this Biryani and will be glad to be back for more.
WHERE: Peking Room, Blk 49 Tanglin Halt Rd
View Larger Map
