Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (Pork Rib Tea - 肉骨茶 )

A bit of translation first - Bak Kut is pork rib. Teh is tea. However, here it is not tea in the sense of the word, but rather a broth or soup. So, rightly, Bak Kut Teh is Pork Rib soup, or broth. That's as close to the translation as I can get.

Song Fa is presumably the name of the man who started it all, way back in 1969 when he was serving Bak Kut Teh to the tables gathered by his pushcart. That was the humble beginnings of Song Fa Bak Kut Teh.

They are now a Singaporean restaurant chain that sells Teochew-style pork rib soup, or bak kut teh. Its mission is to "preserve the dining experience of this heritage dish, and it aspires to cultivate generations of people who will enjoy it. Today, Song Fa is favoured by old and young, locals and tourists, and At Song Fa, the heritage of Bak Kut Teh lives on in its truest sense."

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh received its biggest endorsement in 2016 when it was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand. They were awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for four consecutive years (2016 - 2019). I don't know if Song Fa is still around, but they have indeed come a long way.

I have dined at their other outlets once or twice, but this is my first time at this outlet - at a friends suggestion, since we happened to be in the area. For the locals, it is the outlet at the Chinatown Plaza.

This was the spread we had - for three people.

We each had a bowl of the Bak Kut Teh. This was what we were there for, after all. We shared the rest of the dishes.

Pork kidney soup.

Pork liver soup.

'Ngo Hiang' which translates to 'Five-spice' - is essentially a composition of various meats and vegetables and other ingredients, seasoned with five-spice powder after which it is named, rolled inside a beancurd skin and deep-fried.

Kailan vegetables.

Pickle salted vegetables.

Bean curd.

Dried bean curd.

Fritters.

The soup is made from herbs and spices, and very peppery flavoured. This is the main selling feature in Bak Ku Tehs - the hot, spicy herbal soup. I guess that is why they called it tea, as in a herbal tea, instead of soup. The soup is really lovely, and customers usually asked for an extra bowl of soup. Stuff will also go round topping up the soup for customers.

They now sell their herbal mix in sachets too. All you need to do when cooking pork ribs is to add them into the soup, and you have Bak Kut Teh.

Their menus.

A painting of the pushcart icon can be seen featured in their shops to let customers know how it all got started and how far they have come.

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Nuggets of Gold

Sometimes, the best wisdom and deepest lessons in life come from a few simple words. You would be familiar with some of these proverbs, axioms, maxims... If not, it is good to acquaint yourself with a few of these words of wisdom. Learn the lessons therein. Some of which are very profound. Later on, you can pepper your conversations with them to impress your friends.

It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference. - Tom Brokaw

You cannot put the same shoe on every foot. - Publilius Syrus

The more we do, the more we can do. - William Hazlitt

It is madness for sheep to talk peace with a wolf. - Thomas Fuller

Remorse, the fatal egg by pleasure laid. - William Cowper

There is often wisdom under a shabby cloak. - Caecillus Statius

Fatigue is the best pillow. - Benjamin Franklin

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is today. - Chinese proverb

There is a tendency for things to right themselves. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. - Aristotle

It’s not knowing what to do, it’s doing what you know. - Tony Robbin

There is nothing as deceptive as an obvious fact. - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Potential remains potential until it is motivated. - Unknown

Practice is the best of all instructors. - Publilius Syrus

All cruelty springs from weakness. - Seneca

There is a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue. - Edmund Burke

Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth. - Aesop

If you can’t return a favour, pass it on. - A.L. Brown

There is a middle ground in things. - Horatius

Have faith. What is meant to be will always find its way. - Unknown

Have a great day!

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River tarenna

Tarenna fragrans, or commonly called the River Tarenna, is a native plant of Singapore.

From the National Parks site.

"One of the most attractive native species that we have planted till date is the River Tarenna. As the scientific name suggests, the flowers are delightfully fragrant. This small low-branching tree can grow up to 2.5 m tall, and can tolerate being in full sun or semi-shade. When in season, it flowers profusely, and the entire plant can be covered with flowers. "

River Tarenna grows best outdoors, under direct sunlight. They are best propagated from seeds, although sometimes stem-cuttings can work too.

Other than the above, there is not much information on this plant.

There are quite a few these River Tarenna on my walk route. They are still very young plants. I must look out for their blooming season, to take more pictures.

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Young Love

There is no adventure in life that is as exciting, as stimulating, as two young people in search of the love of their life. Nothing like young love. I wonder if they had known that it would be a difficult, complicated, and maybe heart breaking adventure, would they still want to embark on it. Would they, maybe wait a bit until they are older and more mature - until they know a bit more about human nature, and about love.

Why? Because young people are still on a path of self-discovery, defining themselves and trying to define a combined relationship at the same time. That is a lot to take in.

They are likely to have a very romantic idea of what love is. They probably think of love as a lovey, dovey, warm fuzzy feeling. This may be so, in the initial stage. But, it is after the honeymoon, that you truly learn about love, and what true love is. That is when you find out who you have truly married. And it may surprise them to find that that was not what they had signed up for.

Here are some advice for the young ones out there looking for that special someone. You might like to think about the following and take them into consideration, when choosing a life partner.

If you are not happy being single, you will never be happy in a relationship. Get your own life and love it first. Then share it. Love when you're ready. Not when you're lonely. - Unknown

You may fall in love with the beauty of someone, but remember that finally you have to live with the character, not the beauty. - Unknown

Just because someone does not love you the way you want them to, does not mean they do not love you with all they have. - Unknown

Love those who will love you when you have nothing to offer but your company. - Unknown

If you have to convince someone you’re right for them, then they aren’t right for you. - Unknown

Someone who love you will find time for you. - Unknown

Enjoy this song - 'Looking for Love' by Johnny Lee

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Peace Lilies

Spathiphyllum is a genus of about 47 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Araceae. Certain species of Spathiphyllum are commonly known as spathe or peace lilies. The peace lily is a tropical species. But although it is called a "lily", the peace lily is not a true lily. They are evergreen herbaceous perennial plants.

The flowers are produced in a spadix, surrounded by a white, yellowish, spathe. The showy part of the flower features a white, hood-like sheath (known as a spathe) which resembles a white flag of surrender. That's probably where they get their name.

Peace lilies are generally grown in the ground outdoors but they are also popular houseplants. There are several reasons why this is so.

1. They are known to be an adaptable and low-maintenance. Peace lilies do not need large amounts of light or water to survive.
2. This tropical shade-loving plant helps cleanse the air we breathe. Apparently, they filter more indoor pollutants than most other plants.
3. Small varieties look attractive on a table top and bigger ones can occupy a nice-sized spot on the floor.

However, peace lilies are poisonous to dogs and cats. So, if you keep pets at home, it might not be a good idea to grow peace lilies in the house - unless you are able to keep them away from the pets.

Outdoors, Peace lilies grow best in shady places. They need only to be watered approximately once a week, or when the soil is dry.

Peace lily leaves are big and oval shaped, narrowing to a point at the tip.

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Cheap Medicine

Laughter is cheap medicine. When possible, where possible, laugh. It may not add years to your life, but it will surely add life to your years.

Take a look at today’s selection of Wacky Humour. Remember the ones you like best, and go spread some laughter around. No one will ever has enough laughter, or complain that they have laughed too much.

May your weekend be fill with laughter.

The difference between us and other people is that their money looks bigger and their troubles smaller. - Evan Esar

Despite a lifetime of service to the cause of sexual liberation, I have never caught venereal disease, which makes me feel rather like an Arctic explorer who has never had frostbite. - Germaine Greer

My grandfather’s a little forgetful, but he likes to give me advice. One day, he took me aside, and left me there. - Ron Richards

Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die. - Mel Brooks

So tell me, where shall I go? To the left, where nothing’s right? Or to the right, where nothings left? - Unknown

There is never a deed so foul that something couldn’t be said for the guy; that’s why there are lawyers. - Melvin Belli

Some taxpayers close their eyes, some stop their ears, some shut their mouths, but all pay through the nose. - Evan Esar

Truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with a seat missing, but it hurts. - Lt. Frank Drebin

The government has discovered a great new way of cutting down on unemployment – they’re going to raise the school leaving age to forty-seven. - Jerry Dennis

What do I do when I see someone extremely gorgeous? I stare, I smile and when I get tire … I put the mirror down. Gaurav Sindana

There is one other reason for dressing well, namely that dogs respect it, and will not attack you in good clothes. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is. - Ellen Degeneres

The girl who is chaste is probably a virgin; the girl who is chased is probably not. - Evan Esar

Vegetarianism – You are what you eat, and who wants to be a lettuce? - Peter Burns

She asked me if I wanted to attend her wedding, and I started crying as I said, “I do.” - Jarod Kintz

They say love is blind… and marriage is an institution. Well, I’m not ready for an institution for the blind just yet. - Mae West

Have a great weekend!

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A Great Day!

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Thought of the day

"It is paradoxical, yet true, to say, that the more we know, the more ignorant we become in the absolute sense, for it is only through enlightenment that we become conscious of our limitations. Precisely one of the most gratifying results of intellectual evolution is the continuous opening up of new and greater prospects." - Nikola Tesla

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Joke of the day

Good Sales

An artist asked the gallery owner if there had been any interest in his paintings on display at that time.
“I have good news and bad news,” the owner replied. “The good news is that a gentleman enquired about your work and wondered if it would appreciate in value after your death. When I told him it would, he bought all fifteen of your paintings.”
“That’s wonderful!” the artist exclaimed. “What’s the bad news?”
“The guy was your doctor.”

Source

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How about some music. Music always brightens up the day.

Best Day of My Life – American Authors

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Every day is a great day if you have learned something, heard some nice music, and had a laugh. May every day be a great day for you!

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Butterfly Pea

Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as butterfly pea, is a perennial herbaceous plant, with elliptic, obtuse leaves. It is a plant species belonging to the family Fabaceae which is commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family.

This plant is native to equatorial Asia. It grows as a vine or creeper.

However, they can be 'trained' to climb up structures. Construct a nice structure and the plant will provide shades for you.

The fruits are long, flat pods with six to ten seeds in each pod. They can be seen at the lower hand corner. They resemble Holland peas, and are edible when tender.

Butter pea is grown as an ornamental plant, requiring little care when cultivated.

The colour of flower has made the it a popular dye, and it is also used as a natural food colouring to colour desserts. In some places, the flowers are also dipped in batter and fried.

The flowers can also be made into tea. Butterfly pea flower tea, commonly known as Blue Tea is a caffeine free herbal tea, or beverage made from a decoction or infusion of the flower petals or even whole flower. Butterfly pea flower tea gains its distinctive tint from the deep blue colour of the petals.

Apparently, in India, Butterfly pea is revered as a holy flower, used in daily puja rituals.

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