Another blog entry at 2 am..... On Jap Food!!!

Of late, I have been blogging at 2 am... Perhaps it's because of the video... Yes, still not happy with it, especially after viewing on my TV via DVD player... So I am in the midst of rendering again after some adjustment...

Today I had dinner with my mum at Sakae Sushi. She had this 1-for-1 Sashimi Classic thingy, so we had dinner at the Tiong Bahru branch (nearest one I guess)... We did not really enjoyed it, as we started to compare it to the Ichiban Boshi Jap Restaurant (with Kuriya Fish Market) in Great World City. Somehow we found the seaweed that they (IB) use for Temaki was better (same price), the Chawa Mushi was also better (but more ex), even the Sashimi was fresher (and I think it's cheaper, from my mum's calculation). I guess that's why I started to go there instead.

We had gone a long way since our first introduction to Japanese food almost 20 years ago... Not sure I had blog about it before, but, it's kind of funny that we hate our first bite. Perhaps it's the restaurant that we went to, but everything we ordered, it tasted the same, and it's all taste of the miso. We had never like the taste of miso, and still don't, and because most of the food that we had ordered then came with that taste, it puts us off Jap food for a long time; till I had my first sushi in Gold Coast (of all places!) years later. Perhaps it could be the cooking of those time, where miso is the taste...

Anyway, it was in Australia that I found out not all Jap food have miso taste.... Thus the adventure of learning more about Jap food starts... After I started working, there used to be a Jap restaurant (Asuka) that I discovered in Tiong Bahru and was opened by a Jap lady and her partner. Almost every month while I was out at site in Central Plaza, I would have at least 1 meal per month at that restuarant. It was good, but a bit pricy. I was such a regular there that they gave me their discount card and the lady could recognised me, along with the captain and the sushi counter chefs. It was a pity that I had to stop patronising it as I was no longer around that area. Not sure what happen to it, but it has since been long gone from Tiong Bahru Plaza.

So now, my mum got hooked on it as well - Well, not as hooked as I am... But she nows learns to appreciate it... Oh, the place to go for Jap Udon? Waruku at East Coast Park (Same car park as Long Beach Main Branch). Mother had the udon there and she loves that version (nice and slighty springly)... She also tried the Ichiban version and did not like it... Since then, she decided not to order that at any other places... Next location to try would be the Kuriya at Shaw Centre; by the same company - infact, they own chain Jap places like Kuriya Fine Dining at Great World City; Kuriya at Shaw Centre; Ichiban Boshi at various locations; Fiesta at various locations; and even Kuishin-Bo at Suntec...

The other place which I had quite good Jap food is Matsuo at Goldhill Plaza. It was mentioned, by this Jap guy that was interviewed for the Hokkaido Food Fest in Tampines Mall, in the Sunday's Life. Stumbled upon that restaurant while I was at customer site near Novena. Only issue was the place has this strong smell of fish, so if you are not comfortable with it, don't go there... You are warned... I guess the mark of a good Jap place is how many % of their customers are Japs... In Matsuo case, it's quite a high percent, especially dinner time, but then again, I had not been back there for a while, so I am not certain if it's still as popular as before....

Since then, I had Jap food in Malaysia, Australia (especially Melbourne, the seafood there is superb), Germany (eeks!) and even US. Now... If I could just get to Hokkaido, it would be great... Especially their fish market.... If I recall correctly, you could get fresh and good sashmi right at the market for a great price!

Talking about it makes me salivate again... Heh...

Ok, 30% more to go and it would be done....

Finally.... The Video is Ready! (Almost)

Yup... Finally the editing for the video to be used during the Cambodia photo exhitbition is over... Now my PC's CPU is using half of its resource to render the video for the final touch in creating a DVD.

I am currently using Sony Vegas to do this video... Been trying it out since the last Cambodia trip and I am still learning something new about this software. Of course, it's rather powerful, but in my hands, it's definitely not working to it's full potential! But as long as, occasionally, I can get some video out of it, it does not really matter to me anyway. Will be using the DVD Architect to create the DVD as well. There still so many such software in the market, I kind of wonder which one would be considered as the "de facto" for such situation (Like if we mention graphics, Adobe Photoshop would come into mind).... Then again, which one is Hollywood using... Ok, maybe not Hollywood, but George Lucas's choice would be great... :P Heh....

Mean time, you can see that I have not been blogging, if I did it's usually the nonsensical ones and so far, no more posting of pictures... Well, I have been so rooted to home country that I have not travelled since Feburary... I guess the reason could be my boss has been doing all the travelling instead of me.... Don't get me wrong, it's a good thing as I was literally not home for almost half a year, but after a while, kind of getting a bit restless if I don't get to travel.... So, now, I am looking for places to go for holiday.... No travel for work... Travel for fun! Heh....

The Canadian trip with coz is out of the question as her friend does not want to have someone not so familiar to her travelling.... Good thing though, their budget was like 6k for that trip and since I recently changed my car, that's out of my budget.... Canada will have to wait...

Anyway, I have to search for alternative... Good thing that a friend of mine is also looking for some place to go as well... Current target location seems to be Hokkaido.... Let's see how it goes... But not to fear.... I got a Penang trip coming up in Oct... A coz of mine is getting married then, taking the opportunity to visit Penang again (and to eat those favourite Penang food, of course).... Hmm... That reminds me... Got to start blotting the schedule and alerting my boss, before she pull some schedule that would be in conflict.... Yes, time to drop hints of leave taking.....

Looks like Russia is the "in" place to go.... First was a friend of ours that was there for almost 2 weeks, and now naniecheng is also going there... What more it's a paid trip... Of course it means you got to work while there... But think about it... It's a good way to travel... At least you get to be there, and I am certain you will get to see some sites while you are there.... I am certain she is reading up what to look out for while in Russia.... Now, if only my company does sell the products that I support there... Then again, I might not be the one being sent there...

Oh well... Let's see what's in store for the next half of the year... Soon it will be Christmas time again.... And then dawn of a new year.... Time flies, especially when you are trapped with lots of work....

Nothing better to do....

Your Birthdate: November 19

You are resilient, and no doubt your resilience has already been tested. You've had some difficult experiences in your life, but you are wise from them. Having had to grow up quickly, you tend to discount the advice of others. You tend to be a loner, having learned that the only person you can depend on is yourself. Your strength: Well developed stability and confidence Your weakness: Suspicion of others Your power color: Eggplant Your power symbol: Spade Your power month: October

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Your Heart Is Green

Love completes you, but that doesn't mean you seek it out. When love comes your way, you integrate it peacefully into the rest of you life. Your flirting style: Laid back Your lucky first date: Walking around aimlessly and talking Your dream lover: Is both enthusiastic and calm What you bring to relationships: Balance

What Color Heart Do You Have?

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to good manners and elegance. In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved. You'd like to your lover to think you are optimistic and happy. You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please. Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage something you've always wanted... though you haven't really thought about it. In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

You Have a Melancholic Temperament

Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything. You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life. You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you. Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace. You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life. Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times. At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you. You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others. You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.

What Temperment Are You?