Food For Thought

Life lessons can be harsh and painful. But, sometimes these lessons are necessary so that we can be stronger and wiser for them. However, there is a way to cushion, or avoid these painful lessons. That is, by learning from people who had been through those harsh lessons and written about them, or kept a record of them. Study these diligently, understand the lessons they are teaching. They will save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches and headaches.

There simply is nothing to which we can attach ourselves, no matter how hard we try. In time, things will change and the conditions that produced our current desires will be gone. Why then cling to them now? - Master Hsing Yun

No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. - Epictetus

When, against one’s will, one is high pressured into making a hurried decision, the best answer is always “No,” because “No” is more easily changed to “Yes,” than “Yes” is changed to “No.” - Charles E. Nielson

Joy and sorrow are inseparable. Together they come and when one sits alone with you, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. - Kahlil Gibran

No amount of sophistication is going to allay the fact that all your knowledge is about the past and all your decisions are about the future. - Ian Wilson

Your opinion is your opinion, your perception is your perception – do not confuse them with ‘facts’ and ‘truth’. Wars have been fought and millions have been killed because of the inability of men to understand the idea that everybody has a different viewpoint. - John Moore

The difference between a wise and foolish man is this – the former sees much, thinks much, and speaks little; but the latter speaks more than he either sees or thinks. - William Scot Downey

When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens, and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy, peace and love. - Thich Nhat Hanh

We can talk about team or committee, but it is often the efforts of one or two people that keep things going. Then, when the project is completed successfully, everyone declares, “It is team work!” - Unknown

True wisdom is less presuming than folly. The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance. - Akhenaton

History records the successes of men with objectives and a sense of direction. Oblivion is the position of small men overwhelmed by obstacles. - William H. Danforth

Although at the moment they may be equal in their lack of a real answer, the man who replies “I’ll find out,” is much more valuable to his employer, his neighbour, and to himself than the man who replies “l don’t know.” - Unknown

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Shashlik Restaurant

Shashlik Restaurant, located in the Far East Shopping Centre, serves traditionally Russian and continental cuisine. The restaurant has been around for more than 30 years.

Word has it that the... "Shashlik’s Russo-Hainanese heritage was born from the legendary Troika Restaurant in 1963, where Hainanese chefs first interpreted the timeless recipes of Russian Chef, Mamochka Liber. When Troika’s golden era ended in January 1986, nine former employees pooled their life savings together and opened Shashlik Restaurant in April 1986, an ode to their Russo-Hainanese culinary heritage."

In 2013, the stalwarts who were getting on, decided to close the restaurant. However, two children of the late Mr Tan Niap Hin, a sharholder and captain of the Shashlik restaurant decided to buy over the restaurant and carry on the legacy of Shashlik Restaurant. Together with another shareholder, who was the son of a customer of the restaurant, they decided to take over the running of the restaurant.

With a rich 30 years heritage, they were not too far off when they say the restaurant has been serving generations of loyal diners from all over the world.

I have been to the restaurant once, or twice in the late 1980s. Recently, the name of the restaurant came up during a conversation and my mates thought that we should go and have a meal at the restaurant.

And here's what we had on our visit.

Escargots a la Bourguignonne Escargots sautéed in parsley garlic butter and toasted

Borscht A classic Russian broth with Angus beef brisket

Triple Mushroom Volute Creamy trio of Portobello, Shiitake and Button mushrooms.

Shashlik of Beef Their Shashliks are traditionally served without sauce as the meats are specially marinated. However you can request for sauce if you need any.

A side salad with the beef

Chicken a la Kiev Breaded chicken breast stuffed with parsley garlic butter, fried to a golden glory

Beef Stroganoff Sliced tenderloin braised to tender perfection

Crusted Rack of Lamb Roasted lamb rack marinated with herbs, serve with roasted sweet corn, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes

Fish en Papillote Fish wrapped in paper and baked in a tomato-based sauce to juicy tenderness

Baked Alaska Wellington of ice cream and sponge cake, covered with meringue, flambeed with dark rum

The Baked Alaska is a house speciality. I don't think there are many restaurants, if any at all that does baked Alaska nowadays. So, of course, we have to give that a try. Unfortunately, we were all intent on watching the fire, we forgot to kill it, so it was a bit burnt.

All in all, the food was good and the service was not bad.

We booked a table for 12 noon. We were one of the early arrivals.

By the time we left, the restaurant was quite busy. So, I guess they are doing all right, even under present circumstances.

A bit of old news and memorabilia on the wall.

A shareholder of the restaurant who was also the head waiter.

After his passing, his two children decided to step up and carry on the legacy.

Some old photos, and news clippings of the place in days gone by.

This was the uniform in the early days.

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Those Were The Days

This is Singpaore in the sixties and seventies.

A police station on top of a knoll. This was just beside my primary school.

A child welfare clinic - I guess what you would call a pediatric clinic, across the road from my primary school.

This was the local cinema where the locals go to watch movies - where I went to watch my movies.

Life was difficult in the villages, and most people live in attap houses.

This was my secondary school. It is still there, but it is not Bukit Panjang Government High School anymore. They have added an extention, and another school has taken over the premises.

Our Life Experiences

Our lives are a series of experiences. The more experiences we have, the more interesting our lives are, and the more fully we lived. Sharing our experiences and learning from others' experiences, we enrich each other's lives. Experiences - that is how we learn, how we grow stronger and wiser.

Experience is one thing you cannot get for nothing. And sometimes, we pay a high price for our experiences. That is why they say experience is not always the kindest of teachers, but it is surely the best. The more we had to pay for the lesson, the more valuable the lesson is to us.

Experience life in all possible ways – good-bad, bitter-sweet, dark-light, summer-winter. Experience all the dualities. Don’t be afraid of experience, because the more experience you have, the more mature you become. - Osho

Each one of us has our own evolution of life, and each one of us goes through different tests which are unique and challenging. But certain things are common. And we do learn things from each other’s experience. - A. R. Rahman

Words do not teach at all. It is life experience that brings you your knowing. But when you hear words that are a vibrational match to the knowing that you have accumulated, then sometimes it’s easier for you to sort it all out. - Unknown

During your life, everything you do and everyone you meet rubs off in some way. Some bit of everything you experience stays with everyone you’ve ever known, and nothing is lost. That’s what is eternal, these little specks of experience in a great, enormous river that has no end. - Harriet Doerr

Have a great day!

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Sun Pavilion

The Sun Pavilion, covered with clear glass, is an outdoor garden featuring one of the largest collection of cacti and succulent plants in Southeast Asia.

I took a walk through the Sun Pavilion, and the garden was just as amazing as the brochure said. Fans of cacti and succulents will surely love the place - the amazing desert-like landscapes. There are supposedly, over 1,000 desert plants comprising some 100 different species and varieties.

Here are some photos from my visit. Where possible, I have named them. I don't know much about cacti or succulents. Some of the cacti or succulents have information about them, but there are many I couldn't find a sign of.

Agave Guienola

Aloe Divaricata

Cardon

Common Tree Euphorbia

Ferocactus Histix

Grey Ghost Organ Pipe

Madagascar Ocotillo

Madagascar Palm

Senita Cactus

Silver Thicket

The rest, I am afraid I know not their names.

Some fun facts about Cacti from the Sun Pavilion

Cacti are mostly from the Americas, while succulent Euphorbias come from Africa and Madagascar.
Cacti get their name from the Greek word "kaktos", which means "thistle".
Cacti can survive from 15 to 300 years, depending on the species.

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