Daylight Robbery

4 August 2006 On the MRT train, somewhere between City Hall and Bugis Junction, our little fare evader giggles conspiratorially. It's totally objectionable to make three year olds pay full fare on the MRT. Perfectly good enough reason to boycott public transport, on grounds of principle. Why else did you think we only take taxis?

Far East Kid

30 July 2006 Hands up those of you who immediately knew that I wasn't alluding to Saffron's half-Singaporean roots with my entry title. Let me guess. You probably had several body piercings growing up in the late 80s/early 90s (ok, you at least had multiple earholes, most of which would have closed up by now); made friendship bracelets for all your friends; wore either a Guns n Roses or Metallica T-shirt at some point (or NKOTB, for some of you); used liquid paper (white-out, as they say in England) to publicly declare your allegiances on your schoolbags and textbooks; and whenever you weren't at Far East, you could be found at Scotts Picnic. Eating beef noodles and Yami Yogurt.

Anyway. Saffron is snapped here with Aunty Jamie, who has a nice shop at Far East Plaza selling nice clothes for nice (albeit skinny) girls. That's her little pooch, Buddy. Just as I was about to take this picture, Saffron instructed me to wait and, having noticed that Jamie's blouse was off-shouldered, promptly adjusted her own blouse to achieve the same Grecian look. It's only amusing now because she's all of 3 years old. If she was 16, it would be a different story. In fact, if she was 16, she wouldn't be anywhere near Far East Plaza. She'd be at home having intellectually stimulating discussions on religion and politics with Mummy and Daddy, after helping with the chores and setting up her web forum on Third World Debt Cancellation.

30 July 2006

Loitering at the hotel lobby awaiting the arrival of our cab to take us somewhere, quite possibly for a meal.


Saffron continues the tradition of feet pictures.

Water break

Saffron playing with the fountain at the Raffles. Quite possibly snapped whilst we were making our way from Dim Sum at Empire Cafe to Roomali Roti at Shahi Maharani.

Fried Rice Paradise

Late July, early August 2006 No prizes for guessing how we spent most of our time in Singapore. One of our first stops was Sakae Sushi where Saffron fell back into her routine of popping Edamame beans into the laps and hair of neighbouring diners while vying with Mummy for the much-coveted role of Pickled Ginger Purveyor.

Caught here gleefully tucking in to her staple Kaya Toast and Soft-boiled eggs. With lots of ground white pepper and light soy sauce.

There are many good things about living abroad, but chief among them surely has to be coming home. Especially if it's coming home to a big, no holds-barred, cook-out by Por Por Cindy, to her now-signature Peranakan-Hainanese spread of delicacies. (If you're ever lucky enough to be invited to join us at one of these, don't bother with the Buah Keluak. Nasty black bitter gooey stuff, that. I wouldn't touch it if I were you.)

Available at all hours, hot and varied, often consumed amidst colourful company, and never properly priced (and therefore always overpriced); what's not to like about Teochew porridge?

Prove that we don't just slum it when we're back in Singapore: a snapshot of the obligatory sit-down, slap-up meal at a respectable Chinese restaurant. Ahem.