40sandfabulousaf

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Sun's out, legs out, for this workout devout! After an independent review found that Israel had not provided proof to support its allegations that thousands of UNRWA staff are linked to terror groups, the EU is calling for countries which cut funding to UNRWA, such as the US and UK, to resume funding. The US is refusing until it sees 'real progress', although what this means is anyone's guess. Meanwhile, Gaza remains at high risk of famine, especially in the North. Singapore is once again lending a helping hand. For the first time, our country is deploying Red Cross civilian volunteers to assist with ongoing relief operations. This latest tranche of support is valued at US$600million, no small feat for a nation the size of a full stop!

Time for another popular Southeast Asian dish, available mainly in Singapore and Malaysia - bak kut teh (literally translated as pork bone tea, essentially pork rib soup). The Malaysian version is known here as the 'Klang version' although whether it originated from the Klang Valley, I'm not sure. Their broth is more herbal, brewed with Chinese herbs. Ours is a clear soup flavoured with spices, lots of garlic and white pepper. When done well, the meat is so tender, it falls off the bone, as mine did. There were also fu pi (tofu skin) and pork balls in my bowl. The dish is usually eaten with rice or dough fritters so as to absorb the flavourful broth. This was my lunch on a cold rainy day this week and it was mega satisfying! To me, ge you qian qiu (each has its merits), I can't pick a favourite between the Klang version and ours.

This week, I watched a news report about how millions in the UK are in paid employment but struggle to make ends meet. 1 woman was in constant tears, whining about penny pinching and applying superglue to shoes instead of buying new ones. The camera panned to her making butter and cheese toasts for herself and a family member. I wondered why she's crying so much. Would she like to trade places with a Palestinian in Gaza? She has a home, lives in relative safety and enjoys grilled butter and cheese toasts. Palestinians live in crowded tents without clean water and many have just 1 meal a day.

If I don't sound sympathetic, that's because I'm not and won't apologise for it. Lots of people all over the world watch their spending now that prices of just about everything is much higher. Instead of being grateful for a full belly, a roof over her head, clean water and not fearing for her life everyday, it seems like she's taking the opportunity to throw a pity party for herself. To those residing in the UK who think they should not have to go to a community shop instead of a supermarket, get real, yes you have to. Or you could spend a week in Gaza fearing for your life, not having any community shops to buy cheap groceries from and maybe you'll wonder why your country continues to arm Israel.

Given Netanyahu's comments about protests at US' universities against this genocidal war in Gaza and the US' response, I'm beginning to wonder if the US refers to the United States of Israel or United States of America. Maybe it's time to refer to USA as USI instead. After all, it's Israel calling the shots in a country proclaiming to be the most powerful in the world. Powerful meh (colloquial speak for powerful, really)? If it were really powerful, it would be the USI telling Israel the terms rather than the other way around. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! In a previous post, I mentioned that I'd try Ireland's sharp cheddar. Turns out, they call it mature cheddar but, a rose by any name, as the saying goes. The texture is very crumbly; although the cheese came in slices, it broke off easily between my fingers. Flavour-wise, it's more intense than normal cheddar. This would be better sprinkled over vegetables or pasta rather than eaten with crackers. They also have red cheddar, which I'll try next for my weekly simple breakfast.

Noodles, when cooked to QQ perfection, are a love language. From instant ramen hacks to scallion/shallot/chilli oil noodles and wonton/tomato egg/fish soup/bak chor/curry chicken/duck/char siew/seafood/lobster/prawn/hokkien noodles, char kway teow, mee soto, mee rebus, mee goreng, bee tai mak, laksa, pad thai, pho, glass noodles, udon, soba, la mian (handpulled noodles), ban mian (board noodles), dao xiao mian (knife cut noodles), guksu and ramyeon, this delicious staple has captivated the world. They've cast a spell over me for sure; I eat them at least once a week!

I returned to the stall which sells dong bei leng mian (Northeastern Chinese cold noodles) as well as tomato egg noodles. This time I tried their hong shao pai gu dao xiao mian (braised pork rib knife cut noodles). This stall is manned by a middle aged couple from China. For $8, I got a good portion of meat, bak choy and hei mu er (tree ear mushrooms). Well marinated, tender pork, crunchy fresh vegetables, highly slurpable noodles and tasty clear broth, what's there not to like? They also have this dish in ma la soup, but I'll save that for the rainy months. I might try their jiao zi mian (dumpling noodles) next time I visit.

200 dead bodies have been uncovered at the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis after Israel's attacks. 200 innocent civilians, patients who were receiving medical treatment. Anthony Blinken claimed without Blinken (pun intended) that reports show there has not been violation of human rights in Gaza. Really? If your elderly grandparents were receiving medical treatment at a hospital which was raided and they died, do you consider this a violation of human rights? I don't trust the US iro human rights any longer. Also, why is the rules based order endorsing Israel's genocidal attacks on Palestinians?

If the US champions women's rights, please tell me what you're doing about Palestinian women being so malnourished, they can't produce milk for their infants. Tell me what you're doing to address Israel killing thousands of Palestinian women. If you champion inclusivity, why are you excluding Palestine at the UN when most other countries support a two-state solution? The world is being held hostage by America and we don't like it. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! I've had naengmyeon (Korean cold noodles) before, but not dong bei leng mian (cold noodles from Northeastern China). On a very hot afternoon this week, I finally tried it. Both taste similar - tart from vinegar - except the Chinese version was slightly sweet and had more veggies. Mine came with cucumber and ginger strips, diced tomato, pickled cabbage, hardboiled egg and the bounciest noodles ever. I wouldn't call them QQ, they were doinkdoink! Between this and tomato egg noodles, I prefer the latter, but on a hot day, this was pleasant.

It was my first time catching up with LL at the swimming club. She enjoyed our lunch of laksa, oyster egg and seafood assam pedas (a Muslim seafood stew believed to have originated from Indonesia). Besides sharing the 3 dishes, we ended our meal with lava cake and vanilla ice cream. LL liked the relaxed ambience of the swimming club and the lack of crowds because going anywhere on weekends, including tourist favourite, Orchard Road, is a nightmare if you don't enjoy squeezing with throngs of people. For a change, I made a video of the premises and food because there's a restriction of 10 photos per post. So... enjoy!

Besides collecting the 3 tubs of Legend Age moisturisers I'd ordered from LL, I also tried a new product - their eye cream. After dotting eyes with cream, the top of the tube doubles up as a massager. Like their moisturiser, this is quickly absorbed into the skin, leaving it supple, smooth and velvety. There's no need to use a lot of it, which saves money, a godsend during these inflationary times. It's very relaxing to have an eye massage at the end of a long work day! I passed a tube to Mummy and she was equally impressed after trying it.

Meanwhile, over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza. Famine is still setting in, especially in the north. Israel claims to have let in more aid trucks and there were reports of 3 bakeries resuming operations, but bread alone won't eradicate malnutrition that now plagues many adults and children alike. Nourishing foods like meat and vegetables, if they can be found, are prohibitively expensive to most. New mothers aren't producing enough milk to feed their infants; even if these babies survive, who knows what damage is done to their health and internal organs, and how this will affect their futures.

A child born into a family is usually a joyous affair but there's no joy for Palestinians as Israel continues to rain attacks on Gaza. What little joy there is, is short-lived. Many of these little ones are either killed or die from hunger. The immense pain and suffering continues until a ceasefire finally happens, if it happens at all. It looks unlikely as long as certain countries keep arming Israel, enabling it to act with impunity and total disrespect for the rest of the world. I can only pray these evil parties will be punished and punished severely for their wickedness. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Grace gifted me Japanese rice crackers to go with weekend beers. I couldn't resist the urge to try some and opened 3 on the spot; 1 wasn't enough after that first bite! Not only are they beautifully packaged, they're very crunchy and yummy! These crackers also aren't overly greasy, unlike most commercial chips and, to me, taste better. The lobster flavour is highly addictive! I don't eat a lot of snacks, but 1 or 2 with beers is enjoyable. There aren't many of them so they won't last me very long.

Watching footage of pregnant mothers in Gaza with faces gaunt from malnutrition and babies with reed-thin limbs was very disturbing. From the above article, it appears Israelis might be making a land grab too. I'm highly sympathetic towards the Palestinians' suffering so I try to have simple breakfasts at least once a week out of compassion for them. Since Ireland is very supportive of Palestine, I bought Emmental cheese imported from their country to try out. There's also sharp cheddar which I'll buy next.

How does the rules based order justify Israel's genocide in Gaza? How does it explain away the official Palestinian death toll at close to 34,000 vs 1,200 Israeli deaths? How does it explain away continued weapons supplies to Israel when their settlers are making land grabs and committing violence against Palestinians? How does it explain withholding critical funding to UNRWA when it's the best organisation to deliver aid into Gaza? The rules based order seems to have failed Palestinians and failed at a massive scale. Who can say that 1 day, it will not fail the rest of humanity too? Some political actors (pun intended) shed crocodile tears over Ukraine but did they cry over the Palestinians' plight when they're suffering so much more? If not, why?

Where are Nicolette Mason and Callie Thorpe, who were so vocal about women's rights when some Iranian women wanted to shed their head coverings (their IG stories were full of them)? Why are they deathly silent about Palestinian women starving to death? Are they not women? Do they not also deserve human rights? These self-proclaimed feminists disgust me to the core when it comes to Gaza. What are they doing to protect women when they're most in need of protection, when they fear for their lives on a daily basis? Their feminism looks like a complete farce to me. I refuse to accept that women's rights only apply to some and not to all.

To me, this New Age 'feminism' is an insult to old school believers of women's rights like me. We believe the benefits should apply to all, not just a select few. Nicolette Mason's and Callie Thorpe's brand of feminism seems like a slap in the face for those of us who champion women's rights when Palestinian women are suffering so much. You wanna support feminism? You wanna advance women's rights? Like, really? Then walk the talk. Otherwise, shame on you. 下次见！

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! I've wanted to visit a new restaurant for some time but didn't get the chance to do so. Over the weekend, I finally stepped into the Malaysian dining establishment. Their decor is inspired by Qing Dynasty noodle houses, and features traditional Chinese paintings as well as wooden tables and stools. A wooden shelf in the centre of the restaurant neatly houses jars of Chinese wine. Their menu showcases a wide variety of Jiangxi province style noodles with different toppings for diners to select, as well as Malaysian pan mee.

I decided to try their sliced fish noodle soup. Just before serving, the waitress poured a small amount of hua diao jiu (Chinese rice wine) into the piping hot broth. This step added depth, flavour and fragrance to the soup. OMG it was divine! Thick, succulent and fresh slices of batang (spanish mackerel), nai bai (a type of bak choy) as well as Chinese parsley were perfectly complemented by QQ, highly slurpable thick bee hoon (rice vermicelli). Not a single strand of noodles was left; I finished it all. Definitely returning to try their other menu items.

I also revisited the local Western-style food stall selling seafood spaghetti. This time, I tried their spaghetti with mutton chops. $15.90 got me 3 decent sized, thick pieces of meat and a good amount of pasta. After finishing the mutton, I tossed the spaghetti with the tomato sauce and brown gravy and cleaned out the plate. I might try more local Western-style meals since they tend to be less overpriced. Mutton is tender and tastes just as good as lamb, so why pay premium? 3 lamb cutlets average about $36 - $48 here, more than double the price of my tasty meal!

Time for another hawker delight, lesser known amongst tourists but very popular with locals. There're 2 versions - oyster omelette and oyster egg. Flour is added to the oyster omelette for a lightly crispy finish, whilst oyster egg doesn't contain flour, so it's more fragrant and eggy. I prefer the latter and ordered it for lunch. Tearing apart the golden goodness revealed fresh plump molluscs, which, when paired with thick pieces of fluffy egg and dipped into the tangy chilli sauce, instantly transported my taste buds to paradise. This large, very filling plate was $6.

Lastly, we had rainy days lately, perfect for mee soto (Muslim chicken noodle soup) so that was what I had, with added chicken. Crunchy bean sprouts interspersed with noodles and a spicy, robust broth made this dish a killer combo. It was so delicious, after the meal, I complimented the stall owner and told him I'll be back, which made him nod and smile broadly. This mighty bowl of yum is priced at $4, to which I added $1 extra of chicken. Meanwhile, the situation still remains grim in Gaza. Their hospitals have been decimated by Israeli attacks, leaving them unable to treat patients. I'll continue to pray for a permanent ceasefire and two-state solution. There needs to be peace already. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! The US admitted for the first time that famine has begun in Gaza. 1 in 3 children suffer from malnutrition and severe malnutrition is rising. Israel claimed they would open Erez crossing and Ashdord port to allow more aid to enter the war-torn area but so far, there hasn't been much progress. The proverb, shang liang bu zheng xia liang wai, comes to mind when I read about the war in Gaza. Loosely translated, it means when a boss/superior lacks integrity, subordinates similarly lack it.

I forgot to order my noodles 'white' - no sauce - when I tried bak chor mee (pork noodles) at a different stall this week. Waste not want not, as the saying goes, so I tucked in. OMG it was SO delicious! The meepok (flat egg noodles) was silky and highly slurpable, fishballs were QQ as they should be and pork was well seasoned. Even their broth had a distinct meaty taste, an indication that it had been boiled with pork bones and wasn't just seasoning. Definitely will return for the bak chor mee as well as to try their other dishes.

The last time LL and I caught up, she asked if WWIII is coming. Kinda feels like we're already in the midst of it. The world is currently dealing with conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as an economic war the West is waging on China and Russia. Everything is more expensive, including basics like electricity, housing, clean water, food and transport. Prices of daily items like coffee are much higher than they were pre-covid. Salaries don't stretch as much as they used to. In rich countries, the working poor rely on food banks and free school lunches for their kids to make ends meet.

I was about to order otah to go with bee tai mak (short rice noodles) and curry vegetables for breakfast last Friday when I remembered the famine in Gaza and decided to go vegetarian out of compassion for Palestinians. The stall served onion rings that morning, so I ordered some. Without enough protein, I was very hungry by lunch time. It was a stark reminder that genocide by starvation is still happening in Gaza and innocent civilians are suffering. The increased humanitarian aid promised by Israel is also not flowing into the war-torn area fast enough to avert famine.

This week, a friend who was into 'healthy fats', ate lots of avocado, nuts and seeds and used a lot of olive oil when he cooked, died. I tried to warn him because oils are oils, 'healthy' or not, but he didn't listen. There was only so much I could do; I didn't pursue it. This guy was heavily into fitness. He was so fit and strong and now he's gone. At this point, I dunno what to say, except if you're consuming a lot of so-called 'healthy fats', please think again. I don't want anyone else dying due to wrongful 'expert advice'. Pa followed the same and had a second heart attack a few years ago. I don't trust what I read nowadays. 下次见!

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Hari Raya Puasa fell on Wednesday in Singapore, marking the end of Ramadan. This year's holy month for Muslims has been sombre as they - and non Muslims alike - watched in horror at the devastation in Gaza. There was no respite for Palestinians; if they had anything at all to break their fast with, it was canned beans, lentils or peas. Ravaged by hunger - famine in Northern Gaza - babies and children wasted away and some began dying. About 300 aid trucks have finally entered the area, 60% of the 500 aid trucks which used to enter before the war. It's not anywhere near enough.

The official Palestinian civilian death toll stands at over 33,000 to date. This doesn't take into account victims who remain buried under the rubble from destroyed buildings, deaths from malnutrition and hospital patients who perished because there weren't enough medicines or the hospitals were raided. Over 75,000 have been injured as a result of this war. The unofficial civilian casualty numbers could very well be far higher. It's heartening to see other countries fighting back against genocide and seeking to stop arms supplies to Israel.

Since Hari Raya Puasa was a public holiday, I rested, exercised, spent time with Pa, caught up on current affairs and nourished myself with a bottle of birds' nest, a gift from N. I also had a simple breakfast of cheese and crackers out of compassion for Palestinians' suffering. Robbed of a truly joyous Aidilfitri this year by Israel's war in Gaza, many Muslims globally celebrated the festival of breaking fast with heavy hearts. Hopes for a ceasefire just before Ramadan, and then, in time for Hari Raya Puasa, were dashed.

Moved by the extent of Palestinian suffering, Singapore continues to raise funds for Gaza. Malaysian Muslims also extended Aidilfitri wishes. As I tucked into a hearty breakfast of chicken, braised flower mushrooms and bee tai mak (short rice noodles), I felt doubly grateful. Nutritious meals are hard to come by for the thousands of Palestinians who struggle to fill their stomachs everyday. I pray that enough food will flow into Gaza so that the effects of malnutrition can be reversed.

I no longer feel as sorry for low income people in rich countries who live in tents due to rising housing and rental costs. Their complaints pale in comparison to what Palestinians are going through. Over 1.5 million of them have to live in makeshift tents because their homes have been razed to the ground due to Israeli attacks AND fear for their lives everyday. In rich nations, the homeless can still access food banks, they can still eat, whereas up till recently, Gaza was under siege and arguably still is. Palestinians have no clean water, their children had started dying from starvation. Who is suffering way more? 下次见!

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Over the past few years, fusion cuisine has flooded our gastronomic scene. People act as though it's so innovative when our hawkers have been at it for as long as I can remember. Local western style food has been around since I was a kid. Purists may scoff but I prefer our version to 'authentic' Italian or other Western dishes. Cooked till QQ like noodles instead of al dente, spaghetti is springy rather than chewy. There's enough tomato sauce to resemble a broth; the result is a highly slurpable delight!

I first tried Legend Age skincare during covid. Their mask sheets, hydrating spray and makeup removal towellettes were so high quality that I've begun purchasing their moisturiser as well as eye cream to try. My first tub is used up and this is my second. Like their other products, this moisturiser truly delivers results; my skin stayed smooth and supple all day. I've placed orders for 3 more boxes! Once they're available, LL will contact me to catch up over a meal and collect them 😁 Goodbye Estee Lauder!

When I caught up with Grace and Douglas over the weekend, they made recooked roast pork for our snack. Grace's family bought a roast pig for Qing Ming (festival that honours ancestors) in Ipoh and, after their prayers, they divvied it up and brought some back. This meat was stirfried with dark soy sauce and garlic and it was divine with beers! The prices of seafood, fish, meat and poultry are much higher now, so we didn't let any pork go to waste and picked the plate clean.

So how beautiful is our government subsidised housing? Grace and Douglas moved into their flat in a new government housing development last year. Now that they've settled in, they're beginning to adore the place. And why not? There's a lot of greenery; I like hanging out at their balcony just to enjoy the gorgeous views. There's a park nearby so residents can exercise whenever they want to. Government flats are upgraded every few years with facilities such as new elevators and a fresh coat of paint.

Until certain countries stop warmongering and supplying other places with weapons in order to create havoc in Asia, I won't share their cooking influencers' recipes. We have tons of talent in this region anyway and their recipes are much more authentic. These countries are the very same ones arming Israel to the teeth, enabling it to create devastation in Gaza. I wholly reject your values since they're double standards anyway. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Out of compassion for Palestinians, I'm using a photo of my watermelon snack instead of an exercise one to begin the post. If Israel really opens new aid routes into Gaza instead of paying lip service, it takes time for food, clean water, blankets and medicines to be distributed to the masses. How many innocent civilians would've starved to death by then? Let's not forget that the majority of the population has had their homes destroyed.

China didn't even come close to doing what is being done to Gaza in Xinjiang and hypocritical nations, especially those which continue to arm Israel, accuse it of genocide. Please, just WHO is committing genocide? People in Xinjiang are well fed and sheltered against the elements. In Gaza, Palestinians are destitute, suffering from malnutrition and starvation, live in makeshift tents and are constantly in fear for their lives. The double standards under the rules based order are abundantly clear.

When boycotts of MacDonald's, Starbucks and other American brands began as a result of this Gaza war, several mainstream media tried to downplay the effects the boycotts will have on these giant conglomerates. I sniggered when I read their claims and my skepticism was right. Since then MacDonald's sales plunged in the Middle East as well as other Muslim countries. Starbucks has been similarly affected. Whilst MacDonald's is taking over all its franchisees in Israel hoping to exert better control on their PR, I think they're missing the point. As long as the US continues to arm Israel in this genocidal war, it's likely these boycotts will continue no matter their PR spin.

Moving onto food, noodles are very popular on social media, and rightly so, because they're so delicious. There's much more variety than the few types content creators are slurping down though. 1 of them is bee tai mak in Hokkien or lou shu fun in Cantonese. Both refer to short rice noodles with a springy QQ texture that resemble udon. I love them and when my usual breakfast haunt serves them, I'll usually order some. These noodles come in 'black' (with dark soy sauce) or 'white' (without) and both taste great! If you're visiting my country and looking to veer of the beaten culinary track, bee tai mak is something you might want to try.

I haven't shared as many cooking videos lately. The war in Gaza is something I follow closely. The level of starvation there is so acute that it would be insensitive to feature content from creators residing in countries which continue to arm Israel. I just can't bring myself to do it. The sight of civilians reduced to mere skin and bone haunts me at night. Recently, there was a New York post article attempting to frame famine in Gaza as a myth. In this part of the world where people are well read, we don't buy into their propaganda. Suffering shouldn't be trivialised, that is immoral. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! I read a report late last year stating that there was a surge in global demand for instant noodles due to the high cost of living. Arguably, it is still the case so far this year. Several instant ramen recipes, including hacks to zhng (elevate) the noodles, have appeared on social media. In Southeast Asia, people also stirfry them. If you want fresh ideas to jazz up instant ramen, I've included a coupla videos below. They can even be used as a substitute for pasta; I used to do that when the ex craved noodles to keep meals interesting.

Jammy eggs may be all the rage but I remain a firm fan of softboiled ones. Have you added soy sauce and pepper to 2 softboiled eggs, stirred them up and coated instant noodles with the mixture? For a balanced meal, add a side of blanched choy sum, bak choy or Napa cabbage. Softboiled is my favourite way to eat eggs and I'm not the only one. Friends drool when I post pics of them; before long, they share photos of their own. Alternatively, slurp them up plain as a snack!

When food remains expensive, the best solution is to explore our vibrant hawker scene. Pasta prices average between $12 - $28 in restaurants and cafes and they're often served with pitiful amounts of veggies and protein. At the coffee shop I visit during WFH lunches is a stall selling local Western fare. Their seafood pasta came with decent portions of fish, shrimp, imitation crab stick and there were julienned onions and carrots in the sauce. The price: $7.90.

Israel has claimed that it will open Ashdod Port and Erez Gate to allow more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. Whether it will carry this out and how soon will determine Palestinians' fate as this bloodstained war continues. To me, the pressure exerted on Israel was mainly due to the killing of aid workers operating under WCK, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. Many humanitarian aid workers, purportedly mainly Palestinians have perished, without a peep from Western governments and mainstream media. It seems like double standards again, right?

Clearly, what is preventing the possibility of long term peace is Israel. They have rejected a two state solution when the rest of the world is overwhelmingly for it. If they agree to it, then I may view future attacks by Hamas against Israel as inexcusable and unreasonable. Palestinians just want their own land, which is increasingly encroached upon by Israeli settlers. Try as I might, I can't find anything wrong with what they want. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Besides our internationally popular chilli crab, the dish also comes in black pepper and it's equally as delicious. Singaporeans love our black pepper sauce, so when I discovered that a noodle stall I patronise serves hei hu jiao ji shou gong mian (black pepper chicken handmade noodles), I had to order it. The cook shaved off noodles from a dough stick using a knife, added chicken cubes and veggies and voila, a messy affair that tasted utterly divine! The noodles were smooth yet chewy and evenly coated in sauce - my word, it was delicious.

I don't eat a lot of cheese due to high saturated fat levels but out of compassion and sympathy for Palestinians as famine sets in in Gaza, I had a simple breakfast of milk crackers and cheese over the weekend. The following news contains disturbing footage of an emaciated infant, its breathing shallow and weak. Already, children are dying from dehydration and malnutrition in the war-torn area. This makes me wonder, on top of genocide, is there ethnic cleansing going on? As the saying goes, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck......

Ireland has been outspoken about their support for Palestinians, thus, my weekly groceries included Gouda imported from them. I intend to have simple breakfasts of cheese and milk crackers from time to time to remind myself of the suffering in Palestine. Tempting as it is to rant about inflation and falling living standards, the destitution in the war-torn area is a stark reminder of how blessed we are. Cheese and crackers might be a simple meal to me, but to Palestinians, they may very well be luxury. In other parts of the world, people are still losing their homes or evicted from rented property.

Unlike some wealthy nations which withhold funding to UNRWA at a time when starvation is rife in Palestine, Singapore and Malaysia are doing their utmost to help. Several rounds of donations have been made by both countries, even as their citizens face elevated prices back home. If we can afford to eat, we can try to alleviate the suffering in Gaza in any way we can. Whether it's raising awareness, donating, or letting their voices be heard, every bit helps. It may not be much, but at the very least, some power is restored there using solar panels with our country's help.

I won't forget the devastation in Palestine for a very long time and, should there be retaliation against countries which have perpetuated this war through their supply of weapons to Israel, I can't guarantee that I'll condemn it. If even I, a non-Muslim, feel this way, who's to say Muslims all over the world don't? It took me awhile to condemn Israel's genocide in Gaza because my country's ties with them go back a long way. It's come to the point where I cannot excuse the atrocities committed against Palestinians any longer. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! I'm more convinced with every passing day that genocide is being committed against the Palestinians in Gaza. This belief grows with the emergence of horrifying videos and images of malnourished, emaciated people, such as the one below. Anyone who has a humanitarian streak, who possesses compassion, will be very aghast at this level of sheer suffering. I shared them with J who was totally appalled, as was I.

If Israel alleges that there isn't mass starvation in Gaza, my reply is: prove it. Release current video footage of trucks full of food and critical medical supplies entering the war-torn area, as well as of adequate rations of food and basic necessities being distributed. At present, what I've seen, read and watched suggests that an entire population risks famine as a result of Israel severely restricting Palestinians' access to food. To me, this is downright nefarious and morally wrong. Until there's irrefutable proof that enough aid is flowing into Gaza, allies that continue supplying weapons to Israel should also be held accountable for their reluctance to stop doing so.

If, in future, Western countries accuse China of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, my retort will be "What about the genocide in Gaza and your continued weapons supplies to Israel?" This war has exposed the hypocrisy of nations which believe in their own exceptionalism and moral superiority. What morals are they even talking about? The fastest way to prevent mass famine in Gaza is a permanent ceasefire, not building a port for humanitarian aid to be shipped by sea. By the time this project is completed, many more Palestinians might have starved to death!

Seeing the severe deprivation of Palestinians over the last few months makes me even more grateful for substantial breakfasts with protein, vegetables and a carbohydrate. This Gaza war made me realise that everything we've taken for granted can vanish in an instant. It also made me question whether the rules based order is still relevant in today's world. When countries blatantly flout those rules, yet insist that others abide by it, it reeks of double standards. Maybe it's time to do away with this outdated system and observe international law instead?

https://themedialine.org/by-region/arab-countries-take-aim-at-israel-and-western-supporters-through-boycotts-on-ramadan/

I welcome a multipolar world where countries have their say in global affairs rather than being dictated to by others. Having our voices heard and our nations' interests as well as sovereignty respected is important. This is especially so in light of Israel's violation of human rights in Gaza today. Multipolarity seems to be a fairer system than the rules based order and I hope it's here to stay. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Our government distributed another set of vouchers to all households to help with the rising cost of living. These vouchers are split into those for dining out and the ones for buying groceries. I used to donate them to charity; now that GST has increased by another 1% this year on top of a whopping 18% rise in water bills (IIRC another 7% next year), I gave them to my parents. This lessens their financial burden since they have retired.

At a time when many retirees around the world struggle with the cost of basic essentials, I feel thankful that my parents eat well. Making sure that they're comfortable means fewer cafe and restaurant visits. Dining out often is possible by avoiding overpriced artisanal dishes. Avocado toasts served at cafes average between $12 - $18 in Singapore, whereas in the photo below, black pepper stirfried chicken and vegetables, tomato and onion scrambled eggs and stirfried hairy gourd with rice cost me $4.50. Higher nutrition, more wallet-friendly.

If we crave fried chicken, local food stalls do a great job making them crispy on the outside and juicy, tender and flavourful on the inside. For $4.50, I got fried chicken, rice, stirfried cauliflower with fu pi (tofu skin) and stirfried green beans. Add iced local coffee at $1.60 and the total cost of my lunch was $6.10, whereas a KFC Zinger meal with a burger, fries and Coke is priced at $6.50. For many of us, dining out often nowadays involves making smart choices and focusing on nutrition instead of aesthetics. I do visit cafes and restaurants once or twice a week at most instead of a few times a week.

Fish, meat, poultry, eggs and tofu aside, I also love seafood; cuttlefish is high in protein, low in saturated fat and a rich source of vitamin B12. I choose it sometimes when I have yong tau foo (they're the light brown slices in the following photo). Because cuttlefish is mostly tasteless on its own, yong tau foo customers normally dip it in sauces. In order to reduce my salt intake, I dip everything in the light briny broth and have my noodles plain, without soy sauce or oil. This seafood, eaten in moderation, is a rich source of nutrients and I have it on rotation with other proteins.

It wasn't long ago when I expressed horror as the death toll in Gaza reached 20,000; today, it has surged past 32,000. Survivors aren't faring any better - emaciated bodies, gaunt faces and haunted eyes tell a story of immense hardship and 1 by 1, they're dying. This genocide is the worst I've seen inflicted on an entire population and it's sickening that some hypocritical nations still supply Israel with weapons whilst trying to appear sympathetic to Palestinians' suffering. They have no right to dictate to other countries what human rights are; I'll never believe them again. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Pa had intended to buy me a birthday lunch at 1 of the top Chinese restaurants in the country. Covid, and the hyperinflation which resulted from global economies reopening at roughly about the same time, has turned me off travelling far away and dining at crowded spots. Instead, I requested to have xiao long bao (soup dumplings), stirfried egg whites with conpoy, men mian xian (braised longevity noodles) and red bean pancakes. He obliged and I was happy slurping up the broth from those delicious xiao long bao!

There was a full day of site visits for work and it was like a school excursion! Whilst I can't share videos and photos of the places I visited, they'd arranged for a catered lunch. Crispy wanton, battered fish, chicken, mixed vegetables, spring roll and fried rice - a tasty balanced meal that made me pretty happy. With a full belly, we continued with the back-to-back site visits. It was a hectic day and I was exhausted, but it was interesting and enjoyable.

I don't crave fastfood but when the craving for laksa hits, it's so intense, I dash to the nearest place which serves a decent version to get my fix. QQ thick bee hoon (vermicelli) submerged in fragrant spicy broth is topped with fish cake slices, see hum (cockles), tau pok (bean puff), crunchy bean sprouts and a dollop of sambal. This bowl of laksa cost $5 with added see hum. Toss in an iced local coffee and the total came up to $6.80, roughly about the same price as a Macdonald's meal here. Naturally, I gravitate towards our local favourite since I find it more delicious than fastfood!

A breakfast value meal at Macdonald's is priced at $6 - $9.60 in my country, whereas my hearty morning meal of noodles with bouncy fish cake, onion scrambled eggs and curry vegetables set me back just $3.70. A hot coffee is priced at 70 cents at my usual breakfast hangout, bringing the total to $4.40. High protein and fibre for a fraction of the price of a fastfood meal; why would I not opt for local fare? To me, fastfood meals are overpriced based on their nutritional value.

ASEAN is sending help to Gaza. Singapore has completed its first airdrop of food and critical supplies. Malaysia's NGO, KHOM, will be doing the same for food boxes. More importantly, they're not being hypocritical about it, unlike countries sending weapons to Israel that enable it to commit genocide and in the same breath, pretending to send aid to Palestinians. I mean, you can't sincerely want to save the very same people you're indirectly killing, right? 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! It isn't often that I come across sambal udang (prawns/shrimp) at cai fan (mixed dishes and rice) stalls, so when I saw some, I just had to order it. It's a less internationally famous dish available in Singapore and Malaysia, but it is delicious. I don't tolerate very spicy food well, so the mild kick is something I appreciate. My eyes don't water, my mouth doesn't feel as if it's on fire and, at the same time, it enhances the flavour of my meal.

I haven't tried curry pork ribs, so when my usual breakfast place served them, I ordered them to go along with bee tai mak (short rice noodles). According to the stall owner, their customers love the dish because they cook the pork till its texture resembles mutton and I could see why after my first bite. Chewy yet tender, the meat was completely coated with fragrant curry and spices. Somehow, the dish paired so well with crisp stirfried cabbage and utterly delicious bee tai mak (short rice noodles). It was so good, I even gave their curry chicken a go.

For my birthday in advance, Grace and Douglas bought big Chinese pomfret (a more expensive type of fish), which they steamed Cantonese style with plenty of chopped garlic and Chinese parsley. I almost finished the entire fish, it was so delicious! They also cooked vinegared pork trotter and rice. Finally, all of this good food was washed down with beer. I'm grateful for da yu da rou (big fish big meat) during this period of food inflation.

As I tucked into thick succulent slices of fresh fish, crunchy cabbage and fragrant yi mian (ee fu noodles), I was humbled by the knowledge that an entire population is starving in war-torn Gaza. The situation is so dire that the UN has warned about imminent famine by May. This is on top of over 31,000 killed and 70,000 injured by Israeli attacks. Some countries' leaders have insisted that Israel has the right to self defence. Whilst I agree, that does not give it any right to commit genocide.

Even though life is hard in my country at the mo thanks to food hyperinflation, I try to remember that for innocent Palestinians in Gaza, surviving is a struggle. We may not have a lot to spare for lavishness if we want to save for a comfortable retirement, but we eat nutritious meals. When confronted by the tremendous suffering of an entire population, our deteriorating standards of living pale in comparison. My heart, mind and prayers are with the Palestinians as their death toll soars in the midst of the conflict with Israel and their survivors starve. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! LL, my expat friend from China, spent Chinese New Year in Shandong, her hometown, and she was eager to catch up upon her return. We had much to update each other over shao kao (Chinese BBQ) and, although she doesn't drink often, she happily shared beers with me because the meat and vegetables skewers were very delicious. The mutton ones were divine: tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned. Finally, we shared a brownie for dessert with coffee.

I chanced upon a Muslim stall which serves mee goreng (fried noodles) along with various dishes, so I decided to try it. An overeasy egg, egg tofu with cabbage, broccoli with hei mu er (tree ear mushrooms) and stirfried bittergourd completed the meal. Everything, especially the bittergourd, was delicious and the noodles were QQ, just the way I like them. The veggies were fresh and crunchy and I was so stuffed from all that food, I sipped my coffee very slowly. I'll be back to try their other dishes!

I revisited the fish soup stall, ordered their new mala fish thick bee hoon (rice vermicelli) soup and instantly regretted my decision. It was a very hot afternoon; once I tasted the spice, I knew my tee would be soaked in sweat by the end of the meal. Nonetheless, the thick slices of fish were very fresh and they're what I keep returning for. I like the original and tomato broths best, but this mala version would be great on cold rainy days. I might try the fried fish instead of blanched fish slices next time.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/03/15/wisma-putra-malaysia-strongly-denounces-israels-airstrike-on-ops-ihsans-humanitarian-assistance-in-gaza/123717

Globally, thousands struggle to make ends meet as hyperinflation over the past few years caused prices of basic essentials to skyrocket. Daily meals with seafood, fish, poultry and meat that used to be taken for granted are a thing of the past for many households. Being able to afford nourishment is a blessing; I'm grateful that family members, close friends and I still eat relatively well. We've cut back on unnecessary spending, sure, but we don't go to bed hungry and consume enough nutrients. There's much to be thankful for despite these leaner times.

Ramadan this year is an especially sombre one; Muslims around the world watch in horror as Israel killed over 31,000 innocent Palestinians. As if that is not bad enough, plans to attack Rafah, where over 1 million displaced civilians are sheltering, have been approved. More aid is slated to flow into Gaza, but it won't completely prevent genocide if Israel continues to murder thousands of innocent people. A permanent ceasefire and two-state solution are the only ways to end the conflict. 下次见!

#Youtube

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! Last week was an extra dose of meat - I introduced N to a restaurant which serves a divine Iberico pork wat dan hor fun (wok fried broad rice noodles in egg gravy). Besides that, we ordered qing long cai (Royale chives) and lamb chops, along with 2 bottles of red. We also had fun chatting to the wait staff after the restaurant closed for the day. So far, family and friends have all loved the hor fun and N was no exception; it's SO delicious!

Occasionally, I don't mind having pasta if it isn't ridiculously overpriced. I came across aglio olio spaghetti with mutton chops for $15.50 when SC, MI, ML and I caught up over lunch and tried it. The meal was heavy and filling, so I wasn't hungry during my usual dinner time and for the price, there was enough meat. I won't mind visiting this place sporadically and trying the other items on their menu. Asian cuisine tends to deliver better nutritional bang for my buck, but this spaghetti was quite okay.

I also chose stirfried pork slices to go with my cai fan (mixed dishes and rice). The reason I'm rebalancing meat, fish/seafood and poultry with tofu and eggs is, it feels wrong to reject certain groups of food when innocent civilians in Gaza are starving. Meat and poultry are nutritious and I can reduce the saturated fat consumed by slicing off the skin and fat before eating. It just doesn't seem right to obsess about longevity when Palestinian lives are tragically cut short on a daily basis for months now. I'm grateful for the nourishing meals I can afford.

When I caught up with LL, an expat from China (photos in the next post), she shared that in the past, she didn't check the prices of groceries. Nowadays, she keeps an eye out for discounted items and specials. Global prosperity seems like a distant memory as price hikes chip away at disposable incomes. In most countries, food is so expensive, lower income households find it difficult to put food on the table. Malnutrition is a risk, amongst adults and children alike.

Unlike countries talking about sending aid to Gaza and building temporary ports, all whilst supplying weapons to Israel and enabling them to commit genocide, Singapore is helping with action rather than empty words. $8.1mil raised by a charity will be dispersed to the UNRWA. Considering that my country is the size of a full stop on the world map, it is a decent sum. This conflict has opened our eyes to the hypocrisy of certain parties who proclaim to be champions of human rights. 下次见!

#Youtube