Archive for April 2022

As you may know, Marine Parade Library is closing from May 9 for a major revamp.

Having grown up with this library, I found this piece of news rather bittersweet. I know we have to accept changes to usher in new things - but aw, let a sentimental girl weep for a little...

My current book count on Goodreads is 1336, and I daresay 90% of the books I read are from the library or their e-book service, Libby! Furthermore, I only joined Goodreads in 2009, so whatever I read before is mostly not logged.

Yeah, that's a lot of books and time spent hanging round in MP NLB. 😂

So when I went to return my books there for the last time, I knew I had to take some photos to document how my library looked like before it went through the big renovation!

The familiar entrance to the library. Every user enjoys the initial rush of air-con when the glass doors slide open. Welcome to the library!

You are greeted with some booths and stands, but I usually make a beeline for the Book Drop because I usually lug about 10 books in my tote bag. After dropping my books, I'd browse the recommended titles on the adjacent shelves.

The staff usually have a theme and recommend books accordingly. It's Ramadan month now so we have books related to that! Previously, there were themes like Mystery/Detective, Environment etc.

You can spot the borrowing station in the background. When I was a little kid, I remember using my whole family's library cards to borrow books because we only had a limit of 4 books per person. That's too little for a bookworm like me. I remember feeling blessed when the loans went up to 8, and then 16.

At some point over the years the borrowing station also became very sophisticated and you could just put a stack of books and the machine would scan all of them at once! Nifty. They probably need to do that at the supermarkets now!

Nowadays I sit on one of the chairs in the 3rd floor (Adult Lending) and scan my books using the NLB app.

Here's the Adult Fiction area!

I can smell this picture! Lol. MP Library isn't very musty - but it still has a distinct book smell! Some libraries, especially the newer ones, tend to smell more like plastic.

I frequent the library so much that it got to a point where I could point out a book or two that I have read before from every shelf. Also - I also had the pleasure of borrowing brand new books - spines unbroken and mostly pristine!

Then I drop off or pick up some books in the donation shelf!

The second floor is actually the M floor.

When I was a child I completely ignored every floor other than the Children's floor. Plus, I didn't know what M stood for back then - modern? Mature? (It's Mezzanine)

I borrowed quite a few comics from here, especially in my teen years where I really liked Wolverine and the X-Men.

This is probably where I got my first taste of Dystopian fiction and Sci-Fi! I probably borrowed Tamora Pierce from here.

The view of the concourse/ex-cafe space from the M floor.

Sometimes there are exhibitions here! I've enjoyed a stamp collection exhibition, and an art exhibition by students from the neighbouring primary school (Tao Nan).

I don't really go to the cafe but I know many students hung out here! It was still sad when it closed.

Off to the next floor!

Level '2' is the Children's section. This is the part of the library where some noise is tolerated.

What you see when you push past the door!

You'll often see a couple of kids or even their parents in these study spaces. It's actually very nice to see parents reading to kids especially with the proliferation of iPads.

Kids section that I ironically spent more time in as an adult because I was trying to borrow suitable titles for my younger students. I once spotted a book called 'Quantum Physics for Babies' here. I also found a cute picture book called 'No Kimchi For Me!' which I totally related to - it was about a cat who hated kimchi in anything but kimchi pancake that her cat grandmother makes.

Something I love about my library - the full length ceiling to floor glass windows! Enjoy the beautiful view of the outside world! (Mostly traffic XD) The view from the 3rd floor is also excellent - super poetic and romantic on a rainy day (provided you do not freeze your butt off).

From outside, the glass exterior also makes this library super sleek and modern. It looks warm and cosy at night, especially after it rains - the street lights makes the whole scene glowy. For a long time however, this was partially obscured by the construction/sound barriers erected for the upcoming Thomson East Coast Line (TEL).

Let's head to the top and final floor!

This level is definitely much more quiet.

The stairs we climb! Most people just take the lift up. These stairs are actually quite noisy to walk in due to the metal edges, but I'm glad my library isn't so oppressively quiet - that would be uncomfortable and stressful!

The Adult Lending section is where I hang out nowadays.

It's where I borrow my Singapore collection books and where I started to read non-fiction and self help. It's also where I borrow my occasional Chinese novel or comic. The computer station here is also much less grimy than the one on the first floor if you want to search for a specific title.

I also borrow titles from the Singapore collection, borrow language books, art books and huge tomes like the HDB Homes of Singapore. This is usually my last stop when I go for my library run, and I usually sit on one of these black cubes to scan all my books before heading out.

Some other things I love about the library too are the clean toilets and water coolers (back before Covid).

It's time for me to leave... one last look! When the MPCC was first unveiled, people loved or hated this swirl design. Today, you can see that the facade is pretty much worn out and not as spiffy as before. Also, the roof is full of visible brown gunk.

Was I teary-eyed? You bet I was!

I believe the whole of MPCC is going under renovation, so it's goodbye to the basketball court too. I have so many memories here 😢😢

I didn't take photos of the 24hr book drop area because that area is mostly used by the vaccination centre now. However, did you know that NLB has an office at B1? I only know this because I once had an interview there. I was surprised because I never knew about the space.

Ending notes

Marine Parade Library is slated to re-open in 2025, so we'll be back then to check out the new changes!

Meanwhile, there will be a 24hr book dispenser at the Marine Parade NTUC and a Reading Corner at Marine Terrace. There will also be mobile library buses called Molly buses.

While these can never replace the library, I'll still check them out all the same because they sound interesting. I foresee myself using Libby more often though.

Thanks for the memories. (Or should I say,Thnks fr the Mmrs)

MP NLB, you are loved and will be so fondly missed!

With lots and lots of love,

Skye

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Update 2023:

Recently I had to cook all own meals, so I've been eating a lot of bread, chicken, eggs and noodles. It gets stale.

So I explored the freezer section on my fridge and found this bag of frozen fish.

FISH!! 🤩🤩🤩

Frozen fish is such a good idea for millennials like me, who can't really differentiate what's good fish or not (for cooking). Also, we can get them easily at the supermarket, instead of the wet market.

If you're a millennial like me, chances are you shop more at the supermarket than the wet market.

Why milliennials don't shop at the wet market (according to me)

By the time we get off work/school, the market is closed.
Sometimes auntie and uncles are unfriendly and screech at you. In the supermarket nobody yells at you and you can even complete your purchase without talking to anyone using the self-checkout.
We have no idea where to get what V.S. clearly demarcated aisles and standardised format in every supermarket.
The most damning: We have no idea what is 'good' and worry about being scammed. In the supermarket, everything is already labelled with its price. This extends to fruits... do you know how to listen to how a watermelon sounds?

That being said, of course, we sacrifice some freshness and quality when forgoing a trip to the wet market. BUT FOR THE CONVENIENCE AND EASE?

So I opened the packet and found three packets of fish fillets in it. I defrosted one.

Fishy having a good soak.

Then off into the pan he goes! I was lazy to chop up garlic so I went without.

I only used sesame oil (because it smells so good), and later added butter for good measure.

Also heated up my chickpeas, and later transferred everything onto a bed of leftover salad from the night before.

As usual, I liberally sprinkle my favourite condiments: red chilli flakes and black pepper. Skipping the Shichimi Togarashi (七味) because... I ran out 😭

You could probably also season the fish with miso or soy sauce! I liked it this way.

Alternate uses of this fish:

I think I once tried slicing the fish and added them my instant Tom Yum instant noodles. Crazy upgrade.
Fish atop of aglio olio pasta
Fish with some creamy sauce

Now, so how/where do you get this frozen fish?

NTUC, Lazada etc.

For how much?

~$12 / $12.90

Yes, I said EASY, not cheap. 😢

Apparently one packet (3pcs) is about $12 now! It used to be ~$8 according to my parents. That means one piece is now $4!!

We're unlikely to buy from this brand anymore, so I'm going to need to source for something cheaper. Maybe the Toba brand that is $10? We'll see! Or if I can somehow get my hands on Batang fish...

What kind of fish do you guys buy for your cooking? (Other than salmon)

Do you buy your fish from the wet market or the supermarket? Why? Let me know in the comments!! :)

Love,

Skye

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Hvala is a cafe specialising in Matcha and other Japanese teas and treats. They are really popular and usually you have to join the queue, before making your order at one of the three (?) order e-kiosks.

We went for the Goma (Sesame) Cake ($8.90) and Warabi Mochi with Gelato ($8.90).

The Goma Slice was ~heavenly~. The sesame cream is fragrant and just dense enough. I liked that the sponge was not too airy too. The bigger, chopped toasty sesame bits at the outer layer also provided a welcome extra texture and crunch. Super good! However, since I now have ~not so sweet asian auntie tastebuds~, the cake would be 100% perfect for me if it were just a tad less sweet.

As for the Warabi Mochi with Gelato - there were about 8 pieces of warabi mochi! Gasp!

I mean, compare this to Nana's Green Tea's $8 matcha soft serve with warabi mochi (2pcs). The warabi mochi here seems to be smoother too.

We usually go to Nana's and share one soft serve cone after dinner. However, you need to order one item each to even sit in their cafe... Their warabi mochi is also often sold out. Therefore, considering everything - at a similar price point we're just gonna go to Hvala... 😆

If you've never been to Hvala, the matcha come in different degrees, with °1, Matcha degree 1 being the least intensity, and °3 being the strongest. °1 was sold out so we just went for °2, which was perfect for us and not too bitter.

Total bill came up to $22.13 after GST.

To note

One con is that if you sit near the glass door at the entrance, you're likely going to be stared at by the long queue of customers 👀

Seats are varied and mostly low so you may end up crouching quite a bit. One of the low tables was like a box-crate kind of table, so to sit, most people have to splay their legs in a rather uncomfortable position. In contrast, if you're lucky you may get a whole bench or plush sofa to yourself. Or sit on a tatami mat.

I would say the people on the soft sofa (that also come with tables) are the most comfortable. There was a couple on a sofa plugged into their laptop and watching a movie 😅 while in comparison another couple struggled and crouched over their box-crate. Lol.

Do take note that there is also a time limit! I think it's one hour or 90 minutes - the staff will inform you about it.

Overall: Pricey but can be an occasional treat! If you're a sesame fan, this cake would be too lovely to skip. Expect queues.

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HVALA

CHIJMES

30 Victoria St, #01-04/05,

Singapore 187996

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Love,

Skye

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Hey guys!

Just sharing some photos of a new nature area we visited.

It's a really small - you can complete it in maybe 10 minutes, but green spaces like these are definitely appreciated in our little urban concrete jungle.

It's located near Seletar Airport, or a ~20 minute bus ride from Sengkang MRT.

It's a very short boardwalk, so don't expect anything like Macritchie Reservoir! It's perfect for a little stroll after a meal at one of the nearby cafes like Wheeler's Estate or Summerhouse though.

This landscaping (pondscaping?) style is decidedly English - there is always a certain kind of unkemptness and wildness to it. Compare these to the neat, manicured gardens of the French and the simple but trimmed beauty in Japanese styled gardens. In English style landscapes, plants tend to be allowed to look overgrown or wild.

I love all sorts of gardens, but if I were to rank these three styles, English styled gardens will definitely be my favourite, followed by the Japanese style and French style. I love the romantic wilderness English styled gardens try to evoke! I think I only got to experience this once on a trip in Germany. It was breathtaking - beautiful, but also with a tinge of underlying tension that comes from the fear of experiencing wild nature.

If you're keen to learn more about English landscapes, check out this website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/how-has-the-english-landscape-garden-developed

You can spot turtles, dragonflies, fish, and interesting birds especially if you have a keen eye. We spotted quite a few telephoto enthusiasts!

A turtle basking in the (scorching) sun.

The lake is dotted with lily pads. I have yet to see an actual frog resting on a lotus/lily pad in real life, though. It's probably too hot for these amphibians friends to hang out in Singapore's weather.

Spotted this little 'shelter' at the end of our walk.

I couldn't help but feel like Totoro could live here.

Here's my imagined scene:

Totoro with bubble tea, acorns and an umbrella in case it rains because sometimes leaves make patchy shelters.

For more info about Hampstead Wetlands: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/hampstead-wetlands-park

There are also cool airplane themed playgrounds if you have a little one. Many dogs and their owners were spotted too! Overall, this was a fun escape from the buzz of the city, and you should probably check it out if you are plane spotting, or simply having a meal at one of the cafes or restaurants nearby.

Love

Skye

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