How A Poor Boy Became #2 Richest Man In S’pore – Goh Cheng Liang
We all aspire to greatness in our lives. Here’s a story of how a poor boy, with only primary school education, made it in life. He is now Singapore’s #2 richest man, with an estimated A young Goh. Credit: 
Image Credit: 
Image Credit: Forbes[/caption]
It just comes to show that Goh’s rag-to-riches story abolishes the common belief that you need to be rich or educated to be successful in life. It took only selfless dedication and the refusal to accept defeat for the paint tycoon to achieve his goals.
Ben Franklin once said that anyone can do anything once they set their minds to. Should we adopt even a small portion of Goh’s resolute mindset, our own goals and dreams might not seem that impossible to achieve.
Do you know of any other inspiring stories from Singaporeans? We would love to hear from you!
(Header image credit: Photo by ST, Zaobao, Overcoming Your Own Imperfections – Story Of Chong Phit Lian
Overcoming Your Own Imperfections – Story Of Chong Phit Lian
Theodore Roosevelt once said that nothing worth having comes easy. This is exactly the case for Chong Phit Lian, ex-CEO of Jetstar and current CEO of Singbridge Corporate. In fact, it was this same resolve that saw her through troubled times since she was a young village girl.
[caption id="attachment_8552" align="alignnone" width="750"]
Image Credit: The Peak Magazine[/caption]
Her childhood
Born into a family with seven siblings, Chong spent most of her youth in a small village in Kulai, Johor. During the wee hours of the morning, a young Chong would accompany her father to work in a rubber plantation, where she would keep an eye on the rubber tappers under the blazing sun and fend off pests with a machete. Unfortunately, Chong’s father, the sole breadwinner of the family, passed away shortly before her O-level examinations. This did not dampen her resolve to succeed in life.
Her education
Undaunted, she decided to make her way across the border to further her studies in a polytechnic. Determined to complete her studies, Chong had, besides relying on grants and giving tuition, also resorted to borrowing money from her relatives.
Despite being accepted to an engineering course at a university in Birmingham, Chong’s fight for a better life continued. Throughout her tertiary education, she had to juggle various part-time jobs to see her through graduation.
Tragedy in the family
She also had to endure the loss of two of her siblings to tragic accidents.
[caption id="attachment_8553" align="alignnone" width="749"]
Image Credit: The Peak Magazine[/caption]
She recalls during an interview by Peak Magazine in 2015: “It was terrible for my mum. I told myself, ‘Now I have even more to make up and I need to do my very best’.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve gone through. Even if you fail in one aspect, it doesn’t mean you will fail in another. Every adversity can be an opportunity.”
Her career
Back in Singapore, she took several jobs in the engineering and business sector. Her hard work and determination eventually saw her become chief executive of Singapore Precision Industries and the Singapore Mint for 16 years. She eventually entered the airline industry after being appointed as CEO of Jetstar Asia Airways in 2006. The airline was then in dire financial straits.
[caption id="attachment_6092" align="alignnone" width="700"]
Image Credit: It was a risky venture for Chong, to be taking up a heavy responsibility especially without any experience in the sector. Her “never say die” attitude, however, proved instrumental in turning the business away from the red zone. Under her leadership, Jetstar Asia made S$6 million in revenue in 2010, bringing them back into profitable territory.
“You have to know your shortcomings. By so doing, you know what you need to do, keeping in mind your surroundings, your team’s strengths and weaknesses, and your objectives.”
She eventually left her post in 2012, and joined Singbridge Corporate, a Temasek Holdings subsidiary. Her significant projects include extensive urban development and management in China. Her accomplishments include a joint venture management company in the Sino-Singapore Jilin Food Zone, and strengthened ties between Singapore and Guangdong in property rights protection and R&D.
Life Lessons
To Chong, her road to success taught her that failure should never spell the end of progression. Instead, she deems failures as opportunities for an individual to pick themselves up and try again.
“I was never very smart, and had to repeat my O levels after I failed my Bahasa Malaysia. I’m not very tall, smart or good-looking. But I just had to overcome all these imperfections.”
There are times when we can see ourselves in Chong’s experiences; times when burdens seem impossible to bear and failures overwhelm us. At these darkest moments, we’d say to take a leaf from her book, and keep pushing on. As long as you keep trying, you can always hope for the day when things turn for the better.
Do you know of any other inspiring stories from Singaporeans? We would love to hear from you!
(Header image by Also read: Meet Caryn Lim – Rising Entrepreneur In The Beauty Industry
Happn – How I Connected With The Girl I Crossed Paths With
“There she is again,
looking perfect as always,” I thought to myself. Sitting on the bench while waiting for the train, I nervously took a quick glance at her direction. Did she recognise me from the other times we’ve crossed paths at the MRT station?
She didn’t look like she did. Her fringe covered her eyes slightly as she looked down at her phone. Every now and then, she would type something and a smile would break across her face. She must be chatting to some dude, I obviously stand no chance.
Chance encounters
I sighed. Ever since I began my new job at Tanjong Pagar, I have to go through this uncomfortable situation every week. It was strange. Uncomfortable it was, but I still looked forward to seeing her. The sight of her messy hair but immaculate work clothes was enough to send me all aflutter. Her pretty smile and squinty eyes charmed me from the day I met her.
But I could never summon the courage to approach her. Why would someone like her even entertain the likes of me? I am far from the epitome of handsomeness, and neither am I close to the likes of Channing Tatum nor Tom Hardy. My geeky interests – Star Wars, video games, and Marvel comics would probably end the conversation between us very quickly.
Movement at the corner of my eye stirred me from my deep thoughts. The train was already on the platform and she was nowhere in sight. Pushing away any lingering emotions, I picked up my bag pack and quickly boarded the waiting train.
The world is too small for us not to meet
I trudged out of the train, more than glad to be off the packed carriage. Peak hours are not exactly the best time to travel on the MRT, especially after a long day at the office. Exhausted, I brightened up at the thought of KOI. Surely that would perk me up!
As I neared the venue, I did a double take. Isn’t that her? The lady I always crossed paths with at the MRT? As I squinted my eyes to verify, thoughts quickly raced through my mind. That can’t be anyone else, can it?
It is definitely her; I distinctly remember that she is wearing a blue dress today. And she is holding a cup of Ovaltine Macchiato, the same drink that I am planning to buy! Can’t believe she likes that same unconventional drink.
To approach her, or not?
My heart began to race. This is it, a perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation with her! Should I introduce myself immediately? Or play it cool instead by asking her for the price of the Ovaltine Macchiato? No, that would be stupid, there’s a price list on the screen for that very reason!
Should I mention that I’ve seen her plenty of times before this, to make things less awkward? Probably not, it would paint me as a stalker instead. Argh, this is agonising! But this is my chance, and I don’t want to miss this opportunity!
As I slowly approached her while figuring out the best one-liner, I saw her heading towards a group of ladies. There goes my chance. They began to laugh and talk animatedly, while sharing sips of each other’s drinks.
Stopping dead at my tracks, I knew that there was no way I could go through with the plan. Being all flustered over one lady was bad enough, but to be rejected in front of a group of ladies would probably spell the end of my self-confidence.
One of the girls noticed me staring and turned to my direction, a questioning look on her face. Swiftly turning away, I suddenly decided that it would be best to have a nice cup of cold water at home instead.
When I heard about Happn
As I poured hot coffee into my mug at my office’s pantry, I overheard a conversation.
“Oh, in that case, have you heard of Happn?” he pulled his phone out and showed the other colleague. “It’s like a dating app, but it’s about people you’ve crossed paths with or encountered before!”
My interest perked at the mention of this new dating app.
Rather than wait for a stroke of luck, create your own
Sitting at my office chair, I stared at my phone screen. I had downloaded the application, and had spent the previous night tinkering with my profile. So far, I’ve seen a few other profiles but not hers.
Opting for a short break from work, I launched a quick game of Tetris or two.
I stopped when I saw a new notification by Happn, asking me to check out new partners. I was about to swipe the alert away when a thought stopped me. No harm in checking the application out again.
I opened it and saw the same ones as just now. As I scrolled down, my jaw dropped.
Discovering her on Happn
I am staring at that lady’s profile page! Rubbing my eyes to make sure I wasn’t seeing things, I stared at her picture for a few more minutes before clicking on it with a trembling finger.
I let out a tiny squeal. She likes Star Wars! She is a big fan of Marvel Comics and loves a whole bunch of video games. Her taste in music is almost similar to mine, from Coldplay to Imagine Dragons, it was all too much to take in.
I grinned like a silly cheshire cat. This is all too surreal, for her to share so much common interests with someone like me! I knew that I had to do something or I’ll never forgive myself for a very long time.
Like or Charm?
Taking a deep breath to calm myself down, I brought up the happn application again. I could either click on like, in hopes that she would eventually click like on my profile and realise that I was similarly interested, or click on charm and go direct with my intentions.
Charming was unnerving for me, as I feared a cold response, but liking would probably mean no reply at all. But I also know that we will cross paths many, many times. Enough times for her to at least take notice of me eventually. My finger hovered over the like button and inched closer to the screen.
Everything happens by chance, but it all comes together perfectly
“Aaron! Stop using your phone and get back to work! Those reports are due today!” Startled, I stuffed my phone in my pocket and muttered a quick apology to my supervisor, who was glaring at me from the side of my table.
Waiting until my supervisor was out of sight, I pulled my phone out. My eyes widened with disbelief. I set my phone on the table and placed my hands on my face, groaning miserably.
I’d clicked the charm button.
Waiting
Standing in the populated train back home, I stared at my phone’s screen for an eternity. A whirlwind of thoughts was going through my head. Why did I click the charm button? Why hasn’t she replied to the accidental charm? How will I face her at the station when she knows that I’ve sent her a charm?
I put my phone away and willed myself to calm down. There’s no use worrying. It’ll happen if it does.
At that moment, my phone began to buzz. I tenatively picked my phone out from my pocket, as if I was afraid of what’ll be displayed on the screen.
Two parallel lines never meet, unless they are made for each other
“Hi! I’m on the same train as you! J”
My heart froze. It was her, messaging me through happn. Was this some kind of dream? I had to pinch myself to make sure this wasn’t a figment of my imagination. No, I am definitely awake and reading the message on my phone.
And she is on the same train as me, right now! I slowly looked up from my phone, my heart racing.
Full circle – There she is again,
standing at the opposite side of the carriage, the same messy hair and cheeky grin. The quick smile, squinty eyes, and her phone were all familiar to me. I stood rooted. She waved at me, motioning me to come towards her. My heart is beating so fast, it is going to jump out of my chest.
I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Eventually, a warm smile crept over my face, and I began to make my way towards her.
–
Inspired by true events
Have you crossed paths or had a chance encouter with someone that left you impressed? With only your memory of his or her face, and without a name or number, you can’t reach out or connect. With
https://www.facebook.com/discover.sg.official/posts/2004174123141613
Stressed? These Products Will Surely Help You Feel Better
Being stressed out can be quite a bummer. No one likes to be constantly worrying about their decisions, or having their nerves on the edge. Especially in sunny Singapore, where it’s a competition to perform and excel from an early age at school, we’re no strangers to that uncomfortable feeling.
[caption id="attachment_4808" align="alignnone" width="700"]Get some breathing space with Headspace
[caption id="attachment_4777" align="alignnone" width="700"] Image Credit: Apple and Android devices, and is free for the first 10 days. It should be noted, however, that Headspace can be quite pricy after the initial trial version expires, as you will need to subscribe if you wish to continue using the app.
A year’s worth of subscription costs about $95 USD, but unlocks hundreds of hours of meditation content. So if you happen to find yourself more serene after the free trial, perhaps subscribing will be a small price to pay for a more healthy body and mind.
3. Stress detecting technology
With the recent strides in modern technology, these products are specially invented with your stress levels in mind. It’s like your own personal therapist that you can carry around where you go!
Keep track of your health while on the go
[caption id="attachment_4778" align="alignnone" width="700"] Image Credit: Fitbit[/caption]
The newest fitness trackers from Fitbit, Apple and others boast a wide array of helpful technology and sensors to monitor your daily health. This is especially useful when you’re putting in overtime at work.
From continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking or step counting, these products provide you with useful insights on when your stress levels are at its peak. By utilising the measurements given, you can begin making healthy changes to your daily routine.
In fact, a Fitbit user Image Credit: Audio-Technica[/caption]
When you just need a moment of silence with your favourite tunes to get back your groove, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones will be a good investment. Leave distractions in the background as you listen to relaxing playlists done up by Spotify or Apple Music, which are specially tailored to boost your concentration and focus for a more productive day.
Sennheiser and Plantronics are brands well-known for their noise-cancelling headphones, but they tend to cost a bomb ($200 or more) for average users. For a cheaper but effective alternative, consider brands like Audio-Technica or Sony. Most electronic stores will sell these brands, but if you’re looking for a particular model, your best bet would be to head online to local seller TREOO.com to find what you’re looking for.
Spotify is free to download on various devices, but to avoid the annoying advertisements, and enjoy high definition quality, the subscription will cost you $9.90 a month.
Image Credit:
Image Credit: WABA Fun[/caption]
Does squishing plasticine get your mind off things, but you hate that oily feeling on your fingers? Make the jump to kinetic sand. It shares the same flexibility as modelling clay but keeps your hands clean! Made up of 98% pure sand, it was designed for relaxation purposes for both young and old!
What’s more, the sand only sticks to itself, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning up remaining residue. Of course, it’s best if you just wash your hands after playing with it. You can never be too sure!
Kinetic sand can be bought at a few selected stores in Singapore, most notably at .
With these products on hand, the tension and pressure that comes from our daily lives might be a little easier to manage. Do you know of other stress-relieving products we should hear about? Let us know!
(Header image credit: Because The Weather Has Been Such A Beach, We Need To Chill At These 5 Cool Beaches In SG
9 Quick Meals For The Busy Working Adult
When we’re caught up with the responsibilities at work, we tend to forget our hungry tummies. So consider taking some time off to prepare a quick meal that will surely leave you wanting for more. There’s no need to worry, you don’t have to be a master chef to whip these up. All you require is a simple kitchen and the willpower to try something new!
1. RedMart’s Thai Chicken Curry with Crunchy Vegetables and Fragrant Basmati
[caption id="attachment_5115" align="alignnone" width="700"]If you’re craving for something spicy, you’re in luck! You can easily create a hearty meal of Thai chicken curry mixed with French beans, baby corn and eggplants. All the ingredients you need can be conveniently ordered at local online grocery store RedMart as a set, so you’ll only need to put on your chef hat and start cooking!
[caption id="attachment_5116" align="alignnone" width="700"]Ingredients (provided by RedMart):
Red Curry Paste
Fish Sauce
Basmati Rice
Chicken Fillet
Coconut Cream
French Beans
Eggplant
Baby Corn
Coriander
Other Required Ingredients:
Salt
Cooking Oil
Directions:
- Bring the rice to a boil with double the amount of water (use a cup to measure) and a pinch of salt. Once boiling, stir a little, put a lid on, and turn the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes and set aside when done.
- Wash and dry all veggies and get chopping. Cut the ends off the beans and halve them, halve the baby corns lengthwise and – after disposing of the cap – cut eggplant to large chunks.
- Rinse chicken with cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Cut them into chunks that are slightly larger than bite-sized.
- Put a big frying pan or a medium wok on the fire and add some cooking oil. Once hot, throw in the chicken and curry paste, and fry for 2 minutes on high heat.
- Pour in the coconut cream and all prepared veggies. Refill the entire coconut cream container with water, swish around and tip into the pan. Let the curry come to a gentle bubble, turn down the heat and keep it on a simmer for about 7 minutes, stirring it regularly.
- If the sauce gets too thick, add a little more water.
- While the curry is bubbling, wash and chop up the fresh coriander leaves (discard the stems).
- Towards the end, add the fish sauce to the pot and give it a final stir.
- The curry is done when the beans and eggplants are cooked but still have their crunchiness.
- Serve with hot basmati rice and sprinkle fresh coriander on top.
RedMart also offers other ready-to-cook recipes and ingredients for you to choose, so feel free to head down to their website and try out the different meals you can make!
2. Macaroni and Cheese
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTDkFpHZtrY[/embed]Maybe you were looking for something more western. Why not try your luck on a creamy bowl of macaroni and cheese? If you’re an avid fan of anything cheesy, this recipe is definitely a must try!
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 small yellow onion, diced small
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups 2% milk
3/4 pound elbow macaroni
3 cups grated sharp white cheddar
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper
Directions:
- Heat broiler. In a large straight-sided, oven-safe skillet, melt butter.
- Remove 1 tablespoon butter and combine with breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
- Add onion to skillet and cook until softened.
- Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
- Very gradually whisk in milk and bring to a simmer.
- Add macaroni and cook, stirring constantly and scraping bottom of pan, until tender, about 6 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in remaining cheese and the mustard, and season with salt and pepper.
- Top with breadcrumb mixture and broil until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Remember, for the best experience, creamy pastas are best eaten straight after cooking! Savour your cooking accomplishments at its peak, rather than letting it cool and get mushy.
3. Stir-Fried Spicy Korean Noodles
[caption id="attachment_4675" align="alignnone" width="700"]Ingredients:
1 packet of instant Korean ramen noodles
1 packet of included seasoning
1 packed of included dehydrated toppings
1-2 tablespoon ketchup
1/3 cup kimchi and its juices, roughly chopped
1 chicken fillet, sliced into thin pieces
1 glove garlic
2 teaspoon cooking oil
1/4 cup noodle cooking water
Salt and pepper to taste
Topping:
1 fried egg
1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
1 teaspoon chopped spring onions
Directions:
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Bring a saucepan of water to boil and cook noodles together with dehydrated toppings just shy of al dente. (slightly undercooked)
- In your frying pan, heat oil on medium high heat.
- Add chicken and saute until no longer pink.
- Then add garlic, and kimchi. Stir-fry for 30 seconds.
- Drain noodles, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid.
- Add noodles to frying pan, season with seasoning pack and ketchup.
- Pour in some reserved cooking liquid if too dry.
- Toss and mix well, and remove from heat.
- Top with egg, sesame seeds, and spring onions.
- Serve immediately.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjDGOaFDUQ/?tagged=maggigoreng[/embed]
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BC4BhCzQc3k/?tagged=maggigoreng[/embed]
The beauty of any instant noodle recipe is its versatility! You don’t have to be restricted to the recipe list above, let your creativity run wild! Feel free to add beef slices, tofu cubes, mushrooms or any other ingredients as you deem fit.
Credits: [caption id="attachment_4878" align="alignnone" width="700"] You can order the Black Pepper Chicken + Rice meal online on their website. [caption id="attachment_4879" align="alignnone" width="700"] Other Required Ingredients: Directions: FoodBox also boasts a few other ready-to-cook meals for the busy working adult, so do check them out if you’re looking for variety! It’s also good to note that FoodBox products can be stored at room temperature, and have a very long shelf life (more than a year!). [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEbQxWcDWqA[/embed] If the ever-increasing price of salmon in restaurants has put you off, this super easy to prepare dish might just be what you’re looking for. This simple yet elegant recipe fuses perfectly cooked salmon filets with crispy potatoes, marinated in lemon juice. All you need are the few ingredients, conveniently obtained at your nearest supermarket! Ingredients: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDkIbGiMajY/?tagged=bakedsalmon[/embed] Directions: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhRMW1dpX_o[/embed] For newcomers, mussels are the perfect ingredient to begin with! They’re inexpensive, delicious and easy to prepare. They also cook fast, making it perfect for the busy adult looking for a quick meal at home. This one-pot recipe immerses the shellfish in a delicious tomato soup for extra taste, something we’re sure that will leave you very satisfied in the belly department. Ingredients: Directions: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BChPpy7xTWl/?tagged=steamedmussels[/embed] The best thing about mussels is that you’re not restricted; it goes just as well with many other cooking recipes! Once you’re feeling confident, go right ahead and experiment with other combinations. Credits: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIK-GQ2uplg[/embed] This delicious one-pot recipe is perfect for those looking for a dish to bring to a pot luck event at the workplace! It’s fairly easy to prepare and takes a while to simmer, meaning that you’ll have free time to handle other tasks at home while waiting (don’t let it overcook though!). Ingredients: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDm4OUypPJE/?tagged=beefstew[/embed] Directions: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDovnxgPwJy/?tagged=beefstew[/embed] If you find yourself with plenty of leftovers, don’t worry! Just pop it in the freezer and reheat it for tomorrow’s meal, it’ll be just as appetising as before. Credits: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_8SEO7bJPM[/embed] The next time you decide to make a simple omelette, why not kick it up a notch and fry up a frittata instead? Think of it as a bigger brother of the omelette, more filling and delectable! This recipe will show you how to take the next big step for egg dishes. Ingredients: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDofN6FI-m8/?tagged=frittata[/embed] Directions: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDk6jSunC_H/?tagged=frittata[/embed] Of course, you can adjust this recipe to your heart’s desires. You can swap out any of the vegetable toppings with any ingredients to your liking, there’s no need to follow word for word. Credits: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KvttBE2wrI[/embed] Known for their delicious instant laksa noodles, Prima Taste has included filling dishes with rice that are just as easily prepared. They include local cuisine favourites, such as Curry Chicken and Beef Rendang, complimented with a combination of white and wholegrain basmati rice mixed with other grains. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BBfZ0SXh7v5/?tagged=primataste[/embed] https://www.instagram.com/p/BA_lAu3xyR_/?taken-by=catslavery They can easily be bought at local supermarket chains, or ordered online at their official Mastering these recipes may not put you on the same level as renowned chefs such as Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver, but you’ll definitely be able to cook a decent meal after work! No longer will you need to hopelessly sigh at the tiny portion of meat in your takeaway order of nasi padang, or have a hole burnt in your wallet after a week’s binge of fast food. [caption id="attachment_4693" align="alignnone" width="700"] Do you know of a one-pot recipe that every working adult should know about? Tell us about it! (Featured image credit: Also Read: 8 Delish Meals Under $10 In Orchard That Will Leave You Satisfied! – Part 2
4. FoodBox’s Black Pepper Chicken
Image Credit: If you really need a delicious meal, but you’re desperately short on time, FoodBox has you covered! Their products are quick and easy to prepare, and provide you with yummy meals to keep you going through the busy day. Their Black Pepper Chicken + Rice is a common favourite among the work crowd, with a spicy black pepper sauce that’s not too stinging but tasty enough, and fragrant rice which is made with a special blend of Asian herbs and spices.
Image Credit: Ingredients (provided by FoodBox):
2 unopened packs (1 Rice, 1 Black Pepper Chicken)
Hot Water
5. One-Pan Salmon and Veggie Dinner
Aluminum foil
Nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray
2 pounds of small red and yellow potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons lemon juice
4 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons chopped ginger
2 salmon fillets
1 bunch of asparagus, about 1 pound
6. Steamed Mussels
1 small leek, well-washed and chopped
1 small brown onion, chopped
1 long red chilli, chopped
1/4 bunch flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked and chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 kg mussels, scrubbed and debearded
100 ml extra virgin olive oil
300 ml white wine (can be substituted with chicken stock!)
2 bay leaves
7. Beef Stew With Carrots & Potatoes
4 lbs of pot roast beef, cut into bite size pieces
1/4 cup of all purpose flour
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 onions, cut into bite size pieces
1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
1 cup of red wine (not required, just remember to add a little more salt for taste!)
5 carrots, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
3 stalks of celery, cut into bite size pieces
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 cup of tomato paste
3 1/2 cups of beef broth
1 bay leaf, dried or fresh
1 tablespoon of fresh thyme
1 tablespoon of fresh rosemary, minced
1 cup of frozen but thawed baby peas
Salt and pepper to taste
8. One-Skillet Asparagus, Cherry Tomato & Feta Cheese Frittata
olive oil
1 bunch (15 stalks) asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 small onion, diced small
1 cup cherry tomatoes (or normal tomatoes sliced to smaller bits), cut in half
1 cup whole milk
6 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup crumbled feta
9. Prima Taste Ready Meals
Image Credit: Giphy[/caption]
3 Spooky Places In Singapore So Scary That Ghosts Also Scared – Part 2
This is Part 2 of the haunted places in Singapore series. For part 1: Ask any Singaporean guy about ghost stories during his time in the army and he’ll gladly (hur hur) sit you down and recount the infamous tales surround Tekong. One of these tales is the renown story of the death of a recruit from Charlie Company. He was found dead during a route march on a Thursday night, hanging from a tree with his organs neatly positioned next to his corpse. Eventually, his platoon mates reported sightings of the dead recruit around the bunk, with beds being shaken and doors being slammed. A medium was brought in, who suggested a third door to be built in the bunk for the dead soldier’s spirit to leave the place peacefully. The same story was also rumoured to be the reason why no training is conducted during Thursday nights. Originally named as Mount Pleasant by George Henry Brown, a ship owner who bought the land to grow coffee beans, the land later fell into the hands of Hokkien clans and was converted into a burial ground. The cemetery was opened to the public in 1922 but was closed in 1973. With the moon or your flashlights as the only sources of light, just the trip to Bukit Brown itself is unnerving. If these spooky tales aren’t enough to deter you from venturing into these haunted places, we’d say to go ahead and make the thrilling visits. But embark on these adventures at your own risk and remember, we did warn you. Do you know other spooky Singapore haunts that we should know about? This is Part 2 of the haunted places in Singapore series. For part 1:
Springleaf Prata Place is known among Singaporean foodies for having an extensive menu featuring a smorgasbord of Indian eats. With a menu boasting more than 50 flavours of pratas, it’s no wonder Springleaf Prata Place is a favourite among late night supper eaters! This Halal-certified Indian food chain has a menu that would blow the competition out of the water. At first glance, it would be a daunting task for newcomers to decide what exactly to eat with the number of prata variants available for choosing. But never fret, we have you covered on where exactly to begin your journey for some greasy goodness! For those wishing to start thing slow, perhaps browsing through the list of specialty pratas would be a good idea. Many people swear by Portobello Mozzarella prata, which goes at an affordable price of $5, expressing delight at the delectable combination of melted cheese with mushrooms. Just remember to put the cameras down and tuck in before it gets cold under the air-conditioner though! (Yes, there is air-conditioning, rejoice!) For those who prefer a more simple gastronomical experience, perhaps the plain prata would be more to your liking. At a price of $1.10 for a piece, it’s hard to resist. Don’t be turned off by the lack of toppings, the crispy texture that it boasts should be the set standard of prata kosongs around the island. Each bite just gets way better when dipped into their delicious curry. If you’re feeling a little braver, why not dive into their Ultimate Hawkerfest tab? These are their signature dishes created for the Annual Hawker Festival (UHF), a charity event which celebrates our diverse street food. With huge amounts of innovation in these masterpieces, we are certain you will definitely be left wanting more once you’re done with your order. For people looking for a blend of Eurasian and Indian cuisine, the $5 Prata Blaster has you covered. A wonderful dish featuring plain prata combined with scrumptious eggs benedict and two slices of turkey ham, topped off with savoury hollandaise sauce. The creation has definitely gained a lot of die-hard fans and is often recommended over the island. Others who are looking for a more filling fare should consider the $7 Murtaburger. Exactly as its name sounds, the people behind the recipe have meshed two juicy mutton patties with egg prata serving as the buns, spread with generous helpings of mayonnaise, black pepper sauce and mozzarella cheese. It’s like the Indian burger you never knew you wanted! Want a dish that can satisfy not only your prata cravings, but your friends as well? Look no further, the Ultimate Murtabak will make certain of that. At a hefty price of $12, this enormous dish of prata filled with juicy tandoori chicken, mushrooms and melted cheese will definitely leave you and your friends in a food coma for the next few hours! It’s definitely not a meal you should tackle alone, unless you pride yourself as a heavy eater. An honourable mention would be the $4 Prata Goreng, a delectable symbiosis of the traditional fried Mee Goreng with bits of crunchy prata thrown into the mix. If you ever find yourself craving for noodles and prata at the same time, this meal is specially made just for your troubles. Don’t forget to quench your thirst after all that heavy eating, I’d personally recommend their Teh Tarik. The hot one goes for $1.20, while the cold one would set you back 30 cents more, but so worth it when you consider the hot weather we’ve been having these few months! Have we convinced you yet to make Springleaf your next favourite prata spot? Tell all your friends about it and set a day when everyone’s free for a visit. And don’t worry about the address, we’ll provide it at the end. You can thank us by buying a Prata Blaster and sending it our way! (Joking, but we don’t mind if you really do.) Springleaf Prata Place @ The Rail Mall Springleaf Prata Place @ Upper Thomson Springleaf Prata Place @ Jalan Tua Kong Website: https://www.facebook.com/realspringleafprataplace Also Read: A 3 Minute Rundown Of Timbre’s Newly Launched Container & Food Truck-Style Food Court https://www.facebook.com/discover.sg.official/posts/1979206058971753 Image Credit: Wikipedia[/caption]
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Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons[/caption]
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Image Credit: Jo Naylor[/caption]
Springleaf Prata Joint Serves Over 50 Flip-tastic Flavours – Here Are The Highlights You Cannot Miss
Address: 396 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678048
Opening Hours: 7AM – 12 Midnight, last order at 11.30 PM
Address: 1 Thong Soon Avenue, Singapore 787431
Opening Hours: 7AM – 12 Midnight, last order at 11.30 PM
Phone Number: 6459 5670
Address: 57B Jalan Tua Kong, Singapore 457251
Opening Hours: 7AM – 12 Midnight, last order at 11.30PM
Phone Number: 8693 5393
4 Haunted Places In Singapore So Spooky That Even The Ghosts Also Scared – Part 1
This is Part 1 of the haunted places in Singapore series. For part 2: Unfortunately, the popularity of the place eventually caught the notice of the authorities and security of the infrastructure has tightened. Essentially, venturing into Old Changi Hospital today will mean contending with both the living and non-living. 2. The Yellow Tower Situated at East Coast Park, the Yellow Tower (also known as the Amber Beacon Tower) may seem inconspicuous to many onlookers. At first. It’s only when one learns about the story behind it does its horror take root. A popular ghost tale surrounding Punggol MRT reached its peak during its construction. Plans were made to extend the North-East MRT line further than Punggol, but construction workers eventually encountered inexplicable difficulties such as haywire machinery and unexplained drained batteries. The breaking point was the sighting of a figure walking down from the tunnel at late night, with its severed head floating a few inches away. The workers believed that it was one of their own, who was accidentally beheaded during a tragic accident. Needless to say, the workers refused to continue the expansion and the project was abandoned. If you’ve got through these 4 scary places, congratulations! We hope you’re not too spooked. For more scary stories and pictures, stay tuned for part 2. This is Part 1 of the haunted places in Singapore series. For part 2:
School mergers are often a bittersweet experience. Some may view it as a blessing, with new opportunities and experiences waiting for them in a new place, while others may focus on the irreplaceable loss of their favourite things in the previous school. Indeed, this may resonate with many secondary school students at the present as the local news has reported an extensive merger exercise of twenty-two secondary schools. The exercise will be carried out over the next two years and the mergers are due to a shortage of cohort intakes. There’s definitely plenty of excitement and anticipation among not only the students, but even the teachers as well! If you’re one of them, you might be caught in a whirl of emotions. Will everything be the same? Will I fit in with the new surroundings? What should I do? Does this new uniform look fat on me? Discover SG brings you up-to-date news on the latest events, local news, festivals, and anything else exciting happening in Singapore. Copyright © 20123 GRVTY Media Pte Ltd (Co. Reg. 201431998C). All Rights Reserved. Image Credit:
Image Credit: Singapore Paranormal Investigators via Yahoo[/caption]
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Image Credit: 20 Years Running Wild Blog[/caption]
6 Experiences To Expect When Your School Merges With Another. Fret Not!
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