National Day

Spend the national day with Alvin.

Started off with a drive around the site of our BTO area. Building progress not very fast. Still at 2-3 storey.

Then we went for lunch at famous laksa at Yishun. Already been there for a few times. This was one of the few days where there is long queue at the stall. Usually there is also queue, but not as long. Anyway the queue was moving fast, so not much of a issue.

I seated right in front of the stall as it is the only empty table. So I got the chance to observe the patrons and the workers. The preparation area is quite spacious behind. A few people prepares the orders. Ocassionally there will be a lady coming out from behind getting orders from the queue.

The stall owners are also very thoughtful to separate the gravy and the noodles for those having takeaways. They commented that this is because the noodles will not be soggy.

Yums, the long awaited noodles. I like mine with yellow noodles or mixed with beehoon. But usually if I am not the one ordering, I will make my order simplier so as not to trouble people.

This got to be the most flavourful laksa I ever had. Thick and fragrant gravy compliments the noodles perfectly. I always thought laksa don't match well with thick beehoon cos there is "no taste". I think the yellow noodles added a tinge of saltiness to the overall taste.

Spend the day catching up with dramas and met up with Terence & wife for dinner at Western Bar. The tv is showing NDP parade and I thought I would have a chance to emerse in NPD atmosphere in Singapore by participating in nationwide plegde taking or something as the previous national days was spend overseas. I envisioned that the whole Singapore will pause at certain time and recite pledge together or what. But well, it is not what I had imagined. lolz. Totally skipped the moment.

Totally forgot to take photos of the food we had. But overall, the food are not bad. Its the usual hangout for the guys, so I think I would have chances to take photos in future.

Rewatching the classics

Recently when people asked me what drama I am watching now, I would sheepishly reply that I am rewatching the 还珠格格 series. And all will give me the -_- look. This show is certainly a epic classic that I would be touched no matter how many times I watched it. I've got to admit that 琼瑶 is a very good writer. The thing about rewatching it now is that you could fast forward the parts that you do not like since I have already watched it before and I know the whole story, so no harm in skipping parts.

The best part I like revolves around 紫薇 and 尔康. I always watch in awe beliving in the possibility of such intense love and understanding of each other. It feels too good to be true.

Second part is definately better than first installment. The cast is prettier and more charming. But more draggy with the addition of the 香妃.

I skipped 3rd part totally as the majority of the casts are changed. The 2 female leads changed and somehow the series is just not the same anymore. Of the 4 leads in the show, only 尔康 remains. What a pity actually. Not a perfect competion to the show.

So now, I am catching the remake of the 还珠格格 ironically named 新还珠格格. I thought it will be totally revamp of the storyline like it would be a continuation of story from their children. But it ended up to have the same storyline but with some minor additions to the story. The drama seems to be of a different era from the previous. The headgear is smaller and different (more towards 步步惊心 type) and the era is more acceptable to westerners. So you guessed it. The revamped version has a addition of a westerner who works in the palace as a painter. Furthermore, to my surprise, the emperess is HK actress 邓翠雯. I found the actress looks familiar, but I did not expected it to be her until I googled. Ruby Lin had a guest appearance in the show as 夏雨何.

I'm speed watching the show. Generally, the show follows very very closely to the previous works but it is slightly faster paced than the previous. Though I'm already at the tenish episode of the show, I have difficulty differentiating 尔康 and 尔泰. They somehow looks the same. Perhaps because I am not very familiar with China actors so they tend to look the same to me. As I continued to watch the show, I am consistently comparing the previous series with the current.

For now, I concluded the previous version is better.