Osmanthus Jelly/ Gui Hua/桂花糕 ... or at least it looks like it is

Yes, I like the fragrance of osmanthus! Got my first try eating the Gui Hua Tang Yuan and felt in love with the fragrance. It took me a while before I am able to try making my own jelly because I wasn't successful in finding the flower.

Thanks to technology, I found the place to purchase the flowers (in Singapore) from a lady who wrote in her blog. Knowing exactly where it will be available, I decided to look if my neighborhood area has it. Surprisingly, it is available in the Chinese Medical Hall. Thus, it's not that difficult afterall. Just head to your nearest Chinese Medical Hall and ask if they have it.

Note that this is one of the recipe that I came across for making Osmanthus Jelly. There seems to be several ways to making Osmanthus Jelly.

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Back to the recipe, I started with

1. a packet of 10g Konnyaku Jelly Powder (Unsweetened)
2. 950ml water (following the instruction of the Jelly Powder packet)
3. 210g sugar (following the instruction of the Jelly Powder packet)
4. 2 teaspoons* dried osmanthus flowers (following the recipe from the lady blogger, which is 1 tsp flower for every 400ml water).
5. Optional: Wolfberry 2 tsp (Rinse with water to preserve the taste)

* Note that the tsp don't not need to be a full rounded, just the normal level tsp will do.

Instructions

1. Add 2 teaspoons dried osmanthus flowers in 950ml water in a pot. Using medium heat, wait for the water (with flowers) to boil.
2. While waiting, use a big bowl and combine 210g sugar and 10g Konnyaku Jelly Powder and stir till sugar and jelly powder is blended in with each other. Leave aside and check on the water.
3. Once the water is boiling, switch to a lower heat and drain approximately half of the dried osmanthus flowers from the water. (Do not discard, leave aside).
4. Add in blended sugar + jelly powder gradually into the water and stir constantly to prevent any lumps.
5. When the entire portion of blended sugar + jelly powder are mixed into the water, keep stirring till water boils again.
6. Remove from heat and add in the flowers (that was removed in step 3 earlier on) and stir for a while.
7. Optional: Place wolfberry at the base of jelly mould
8. Pour the mixture into desired jelly mould.

Note: If you decide to make one big piece (which I did), after pouring the mixture into the mould, you may notice some bubbles. Using a spoon, press lightly on the bubbles to make them disappear.

Picture of my very first attempt Osmanthus Jelly

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Differences between Konnyaku Jelly Powder "Unsweetened" and "Premixed"

I had the opportunity to try out both the Konnyaku Jelly Powder "Unsweetened" and "Premixed".

I prefer Konnyaku Jelly Powder (Unsweetened) which gives a firmer, "Q" version and such that when you bite a piece, it it almost like you are taking a portion away from the jelly but it could be too sweet if the mixture was over-boiled when making.

The Konnyaku Jelly Powder (Premixed) is of a softer bite and it feels like eating a cake (fluffy-feel). Making the Osmanthus Jelly which the pre-mixed version seems to have a more flowery fragrance as compared to the unsweetened version.

Cheers to all

It's all about food~And I am not going to backdate my post~

Back dating seems a bit difficult so not going to back date my stuffs anymore. Thus, there are photos which are taken some time ago but only uploaded now.

A couple of food shots from several outings.

If you missed the chee cheong fun with sweet sauce, you can still find it at Chinatown.

This is an sweet dessert which has looks like cheong fun wrapped with mango + mango sauce but the white sheet is actually not. Not sure if I remembered correctly it being nata de coco but I was looking forward to a mochi or cheong fun wrap. Anyway, the big chunk of mango is as good as eating the mango itself.

A sweet treat from South Korea. I prefer the Crunky Lotte than the White Chocolate Dice.

And the spicy rice cake bought from NTUC

Alone at the Chinese Garden

Despite being 2 days late for Mid Autumn Festival, it's so exciting to see such a full moon. Almost missed it if there weren't those few people snapping away at its direction. See!

Sharing the few pictures that I captured that day when I decided on a solo picture taking session. If you see noise, your eyes are not playing a trick on you. Because I got the wrong setting (yet again... I just can't get anything right)

The three different spotlight

It was rather dark with an glowing orange sky when I took this picture. On the left, I made a huge photo-shop editing because there was a tree captured in it... I did wanted to remove it entirely but my skill is limited and it's going to destroy the reflection view. Sometimes I wish I can have my laptop with me so I can see the picture in a larger screen... Then I would be able to focus on the row of trees entirely with the reflection (although I don't know if my lens can cover that in one shot... But we can always rely on stitching... right?)

This place is really wonderful at night. An attempt to capture the whole view. This is the paranoma piece and a pity that I couldn't get that full "boat" in the left.

Well, thank you all for viewing and this is it... As I have many repeated shots instead of wonderful (if I can even have one... Anyway, trial and error... trial and error....) thus... that's all I have to share... Cheers

P.S: If you want a bigger view of the pictures, don't click on the ones in the blog. Look at the ones in my flickr account (Top Right Hand Corner)

捍卫真爱 (Han Wei Zhen Ai ) - 神木与瞳 (Y2J)

作词,作曲：阿弟仔

M: 寻找 掉落的心跳

遗失的美好 爱情的记号

要深烙

F: 祈祷 不灭的火苗

无尽的浪涛
下一个拥抱 能到老

M:为了我的存在 你的存在
扞卫永恒的真爱 喝彩

不管再多艰难 再多阻碍
也要走的勇敢 灿烂

F:为了我的存在 你的存在
扞卫永恒的真爱 精彩
过了几个世代 几个审判
也要流传 我和你的浪漫

M: 体会炙热的绝对 洁白的纯粹

爱情的焠炼 要永远

F: 感觉 忘情的狂野 恣意的沉醉

爱情的光辉 要完美

M:为了我的存在 你的存在

扞卫永恒的真爱 喝彩
不管再多艰难 再多阻碍
也要走的勇敢 灿烂

F:为了我的存在 你的存在
扞卫永恒的真爱 精彩
过了几个世代 几个审判
也要流传 我和你的浪漫

B:为了我的存在 你的存在
扞卫永恒的真爱 喝彩
不管再多艰难 再多阻碍
也要走的勇敢 灿烂

B:为了我的存在 你的存在
扞卫永恒的真爱 精彩
过了几个世代 几个审判
也要流传 我和你的浪漫

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M:  xun zhao  diao luo de xin tiao

 yi shi de mei hao  ai qing de ji hao

 yao shen lao

F:  qi dao  bu mie de huo miao

 wu jin de lang tao

 xia yi ge yong bao  neng dao lao

M: wei le wo de cun zai  ni de cun zai

 han wei yong heng de zhen ai  he cai

 bu guan zai duo jian nan  zai duo zu ai

 ye yao zou de yong gan  can lan

F: wei le wo de cun zai  ni de cun zai

 han wei yong heng de zhen ai  jing cai

 guo le ji ge shi dai  ji ge shen pan

 ye yao liu chuan  wo he ni de lang man

M:  ti hui zhi re de jue dui  jie bai de chun cui

 ai qing de cui lian  yao yong yuan

F:  gan jue  wang qing de kuang ye  zi yi de chen zui

 ai qing de guang hui  yao wan mei

M: wei le wo de cun zai  ni de cun zai

 han wei yong heng de zhen ai  he cai

 bu guan zai duo jian nan  zai duo zu ai

 ye yao zou de yong gan  can lan

F: wei le wo de cun zai  ni de cun zai

 han wei yong heng de zhen ai  jing cai

 guo le ji ge shi dai  ji ge shen pan

 ye yao liu chuan  wo he ni de lang man

B: wei le wo de cun zai  ni de cun zai

 han wei yong heng de zhen ai  he cai

 bu guan zai duo jian nan  zai duo zu ai

 ye yao zou de yong gan  can lan

B: wei le wo de cun zai  ni de cun zai

 han wei yong heng de zhen ai  jing cai

 guo le ji ge shi dai  ji ge shen pan

 ye yao liu chuan  wo he ni de lang man

Hort Park Re-Re-Re-visited!

Yes, I love Parks but NO, I am not a lover of insects and pets. Especially if I encountered it accidentally! But always, I get to encounter them and I think my photography kaki(s) will like to go with me on photography trips because I almost can always get something special. Previously at Botanic Garden (months ago) I spotted a huge size iguana (luckily not kodomo dragon which is not possibly in Singapore (assured by my friend), and when I go MacRitchie Reservoir, I spotted monkeys (A LOT OF THEM!!) And now back at Hort Park, I spotted a lot of different (?) ? I don't know which categories I should classified them under but I spotted: 1. snail, 2. millipede, 3. iguana 4. black centipede(s)! Back to my trip to Hort Park Objective: Close Up shots Outcome: FAILURE! (First, I didn't bring my very very heavy tripod! I want to change to the one that my friend have!! it's SO LIGHT with the head included!!!) In the end, I sticked to what my friend proposed, 18-55mm with Hoya +4 filter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

See this insect? I am trying to recall if I took it with my +4 or without. Nevertheless, isn't it cute? It's like looking at me

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want plate-leave? (I was looking at the spots on the leaf when I took this picture but I realized it look more like a green plate (without a dish.)

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I know I know, the flower looks better than the petal but it's quite unique (imo).

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The best nearest distance I can get before it flew away. I want 105mm! The eyes would be so nice (if it's in focus).

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Stem? Stalk or Spiral? Was trying to capture the "hairs" on it but it didn't turn out as planned so...

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Relaxing my eyes, I looked up. Nothing special, nothing unique, and they are just trees, leaves and branches with no high rise building behind and it's enough to make me appreciate that.

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Is this lalang? That's was the question I had in mind. I have seen the stalk of lalang but this (as shown in picture), it must have been a long time ago (when I was in my primary or secondary where we have a field) where I saw it.

to be cont

Japanese Drama Untouchable

Title: アンタッチャブル

Title (English): Untouchable

Episodes: 9

Theme song: Orion by GIRL NEXT DOOR

Insert song: Koko ni Iru yo by 72

Synopsis

When reporter Narumi Ryoko loses her job at a first-rate publisher and ends up at a trashy tabloid called "Shukan Untouchable." She now chases celebrity scandals and sensational stories, but she hasn't lost her sense of duty or her persistence. While investigating her stories, she tends to notice details that imply some hidden truth beneath the surface, leading her to probe deeper into dangerous secrets.

Casts

Nakama Yukie as Narumi Ryoko

Kaname Jun as Toyama Shiro

Sato Tomohito as Takafuji Shinichi

Ashina Sei as Makise Misuzu

Urano Kazumi as Nishio Rika

Tsujitani Yoshimasa as Katayama Tamotsu

Tanaka Yoji as Nakahara Makoto

Sakai Toshiya as Jonouchi Hitoshi

Ozawa Yukiyoshi as Narumi Koji

Tanaka Tetsushi as Kashimura Hideaki

Terajima Susumu as Nagakura Eiichi

Above info extracted from wikipedia

My Review (Spoilers below)

Nakama Yukie was the reason that I watch the show (liked her since watching Trick). The beginning of the show, I was impressed with how an incident turned out to be a pre-planned one. But towards the middle, I was onto who the main culprit is (and proven right) because of too many such situations in other dramas where the closer the person is to you, the less suspecting you will be.

I was expecting something even larger (darker). I find it difficult to accept how the main culprit can manage to get his threat to the big boss because he could have been "finished off" easily.

But the story plot could have been worse if the creator is force to make another twist or force a happy ending or even worse, a sudden ending, which happens often (and sometimes comes with a disastrous impact on the show's entire plot). Thus, the ending is acceptable (for me).

As usual with most Japanese drama with each episode (at most 2/3) focused on a new story with same base characters, Untouchable is the same. But towards the end, I would suggested you get all the episodes (and your time) ready so you can watch them together because that's the few episodes that keeps one guessing who that person is, leading from one suspect to another.

(Still, I prefer Nakama Yukie in Trick than this.)

Yankee-kun to Megane-chan

Title: ヤンキー君とメガネちゃん

Title (romaji): Yankee-kun to Megane-chan

Also known as: Flunk Punk Rumble / Yanmega

Episodes: 10

Theme song: Loose Leaf by Hilcrhyme

Synopsis

Shinagawa Daichi used to be a good student who has now become a delinquent, while class president Adachi Hana was a delinquent who is now trying to move on. Her secret is discovered by Shinagawa, but she involves herself trying to correct his ways.

Main Cast

Narimiya Hiroki as Shinagawa Daichi

Naka Riisa as Adachi Hana

Hongo Kanata as Izumi Gaku

Koyanagi Yu as Chiba Seiya

Kawaguchi Haruna as Himeji Rinka

Suzuki Ryohei as Nerima Seiun

Minagawa Sarutoki as Sakai (homeroom teacher)

Furuta Arata as Shinagawa Chuta

Hori Chiemi as Shinagawa Kiyo

Owada Miho as Shinagawa Kairi

Ito Shiro as Adachi Tatsuo

Above info extracted from dramawiki.

My Review (Spoilers ahead)

Set in the classroom environment, it is a slight change of the usual Gokusen/GTO characters.

Here, you don't get to see teachers with good fighting skills. You get to see many students. One is the former yankee, Hana-san (our female lead), a current yankee Daichi-san(main lead), an elite student (who has another unknown secret) and their sidekicks.

Hana-san character reminds me of Gokusen's Yankumi in the first episode because of how persistence she is in trying to get all the students (in her class) to come to school. But a little surprise is how the show creator makes Hana-san's character to influence Daichi (as in trying to make him focus on changing his yankee style).

And also, it's very confusing when I initially thought it's difficult to get into the school. However, Rinka (whom I have an impression is not one with good grade) can suddenly transfer to the school and also, in the later episode, it turns out that Hana-san grade is at the last of the list (of the school and with a very low score for their exams), I am confused by how they can get entry in the first place. (If anyone can explain to me how the school admission works?)

Anyway, all in all, it's an enjoyable storyline with many laughs and easy storyline that does not put much stress to the heart. The pace is alright and the settings is just fine (as compared to the environment where you take one look and you will know it's studio set).

Side track

Saw some comments that Naka Riisa looks like Eriko Toda but based on this picture , I took she looks more like Nagasawa Masami.

Sunset @ Marina Keppel Bay

Oh.. yet another last minute proposed phototaking session. Suggested by my friend, we headed to Marina Keppel Bay Club to try capturing the sunset. A pity is that I didn't manage to get the idea how to take the picture nicely. BUT...I wish This is MINE~~ (sounds like Lord Of The Ring line? lol)

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Sigh.. I thought it look nice... But...

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Anyway, I saw this and was very curious whether is it purely a piece of art work or is it something useful. Anyone has any idea what it is?

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Sunset-ting~ When we reached there, the sun was so bright because there wasn't much buildings (almost none) and you can really see the BIG sun!

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Proof of "I was there"

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Sunset!

Singapore Art Festival

Trying to recall when was the last time I went for such event... It must be none? Haha.. Anyway, my photo taking kaki told me that I should take go and check it out. Although I was quite reluctant initially (because I didn't want to go alone), but in the end, my kaki was "onz" enough to revisit the place with me ah tada! There I went...

Upon reaching, I was already amazed by the "fire" around me.. From the ones that were hanged as shown above and below (continue to read on after the picture)
to the one that was manipulated by people (of course not by anyone) and it's really amazing how the fire was controlled to blast upwards (like rocket high as shown below) ...
...or how dim it can get without being put off. (The below picture is not yet the dimmest because it's too impossible to capture (for me))



If you think that was all, you are wrong. By the trees were again pots of fire (Not the song "Fire" though but it's a nice song introduce by my friend recently)

After "fire"-struck for quite sometimes, we finally moved further into the area and I saw this moving circle (which is so hard to capture in picture).

I think I like the tree better than the charcoal burning inside this ball. Somehow I associated this with Halloween when I first saw it.

And when I turned around.. I see this

Tried my best in capturing the flame

(to be cont. with more photos)

Just some rantings

Ever since I stopped my blogging at Chinatown, it seems to have attracted a lot of spams comments. Till date, I already rejected 10+ spam comments. Hopefully it will end ah~! Hopefully

Chinatown - Chinese New Year Deco

Well, this is taken during pre-Chinese New Year. As I was early, I went around alone taking pictures.. The place was SOOOO crowded that I was lucky to have the space to do some snapping.

Yes, it's blurred and it is done on purpose. Playing around with my camera....

Now, grabbing a spot at the bridge, I quickly snapped this word "spring" decoration.

Plum blossom! I like it so much because it's in pink... A pity this is a fake one.

The human traffic there was so scary that I had to wriggle my way out and finally found a resting spot beside the temple and continue "snapping". This lantern seems almost the same that was on display during the lantern festival.

Attempting to create a "moon" from the lantern "bulb"

Oh yeah, my friends reached! And OMG! Their DSLR ran out of battery! So in the end, we ended our photo taking session earlier than planned. A shot at their camera

Oh yeah, not before we tried to capture the moon but many failed attempts

My last shot before we called it a day

Chinatown

Don't be surprised if you found this entry in the year of 2010 but this is actually dated 2009 because I was busy with posting photos in flickr but not adding new entries here.

Date: On one of the Normal Saturdays, 26/09/09
Time: Morning to late noon

Me and my photo-taking kaki went to Chinatown hoping to get something nice. But as any normal days, it was quite a hot weather that day so lots of sweats were dripped (but no worries, the sun helped to clear it away).

Look at this! I mistaken it as SQL! But well.. it's just my mistake

Moving around, there was a stretch of colorful shop houses. A picture of one of the shop houses.

I am totally into the number 8!

At the end, you can go find this entrance/exit path:

Well, when we moved around, there is an lantern exhibition for moon cake festival. The material they used are very unique.

Films? no.. look carefully

Different fabrics

Using CD & bottles

The below pictures are taken somewhere near.. eh... Tanjong Pagar? My friend brought me there and told me that it is a very nice place (which indeed is) to take picture. The only thing is, I was so tired and all in sweat when we reach there. Hopefully I will have the chance to go back to the place because there were so many unique stuffs over there.

A pattern of a stone statue.

A good word for business engraved on the doors

And a very nice mailbox

The last shot before I left the premise