Sigh... Sushi

So.. we're now living in a lovely little town (or city, depending on how you view it) that has great fresh air, no traffic jams, inexpensive real estate... but no Japanese food! I mean real sashimi, sushi that has raw fish... not canned tuna!

Sushi rice was easily obtained as was sheets of Nori and a bamboo mat for rolling maki. In desparation we scoured the internet on sushi recipes and tried to substitute fish with local foods. Instead of unagi (BBQ eel), we were able to buy local Manuka Smoked fish which was really tasty. Tamago (egg omelette) was not too much a problem.. and of course, a local Maori delicacy, kina turns out to be Japanese uni! Sadly, we have not found fish of sashimi quality in our local market/supermarket, but we have found a NZ supplier that will service online orders. (we have yet to explore this option)

So as you see, our first attempt was not so presentable - we put too much rice, didnt roll them tight enough and they fell apart easily. Still, they tasted OK to someone feeling deprived of Japanese food! The smoked fish made great beer food too! (note our lovely styrofoam temporary dining table!) On our second attempt, we made tighter and neater rolls and even managed more than 1 type of maki (note we have a proper table now!)



Until we can find really fresh fish, any desires for sashimi must be satisfied by a 1 hour drive to the nearest larger city which has a real Japanese restaurant. Sigh...

Chilblains

Yesterday evening, after my gym workout, my toes started to itch severely and became mildly inflamed. A few days ago, I noticed that my toes ached but thought it was just from the new boots. Then, I was told I probably have chilblains. Chilblains? What is that? So I decided to do a bit of research.

Chilblains is a cold-related injury (not involving freezing) resulting from damaged blood vessels exposed to cold & humidity. It happens more commonly in temperate humid climates. According to one research, “susceptibility to chilblains increases when ambient temperature is less than 10 deg Celsius and relative humidity is more than 60%.” Hmmm, why does humidity play a role here?

What’s the cause of it? Well, it may be idiopathic, meaning, the cause is unknown, or I may have poor circulation, which is probable. My extremities are always cold when room temperature is around 22 deg Celsius. That is why I take supplements that are suppose to improve my circulation.

Right now, my toes still itch & I have been scratching them. Advise from the internet is to avoid scratching them (yeah, right) and keeping them warm…better go put on my thick socks.

So I have chilblains. Does that increase my susceptibility to frostbite, which is a cold-related injury involving freezing? I have yet to find that answer.

Reference:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilblain
2. http://www.epodiatry.com/chilblains.htm
3. Onset of chilblains in relation with weather conditions. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2008 Apr-Jun;20(2):17-20. www.ayubmed.edu.pk/JAMC/PAST/20-2/Naeem.pdf
4. Frostbite, Chilblains, and Trench Foot http://www.medicinenet.com/frostbite/article.htm#chil

Land of the Long White Cloud

Pilrgim has been in this other "down under" land for the past 2 months now... and is grateful to God for all His bountiful blessings during this transition period. Have made new friends and found a home as well... had chance to experience new culinary delights.. lots to share

Evechinus Chloroticus

What in the name is that? New Zealand sea urchin roe! It is also known as kina in the Maori language.

Kina a.k.a sea urchin roe in a tub

Walked into Georges Fisheries located on Victoria Avenue to buy some fish and noticed this tub with the words 'Kina Roe' written on it. Wondered what it was, read it carefully and realized it was sea urchin roe. Bought a 200gm tub the week after for NZD15.50 and made pasta aglio olio with sea urchin roe.

Sea urchin

The sea urchin in the tub were harvested from the Coromandel Peninsula. It was kept in clear Pacific waters. From observation, the color of New Zealand sea urchin is not as bright nor yellow as sea urchin or uni we get in Singapore. On the nose, I could only smell the sea water. On the tongue, it had a mild "seaweed" taste with a sweet aftertaste. It has a soft and creamy texture.

Sea urchin on a plate

Decided to make pasta aglio olio with kina for two. While the pasta was cooking in a pot of hot boiling salted water, sliced garlic was fried in a pan with hot olive oil. Once the pasta was al dente, transferred it into the pan & tossed it. Before serving, threw in all the kina into the pan & tossed the pasta again.

Pasta aglio olio with creamy kina

The kina melted with the heat & became like a creamy sauce. I could still taste the taste of the sea. The pasta went well with a New Zealand white wine.

On the verge of an adventure

Pilgrim is about to undertake one of the most exciting adventure in its life. The journey will take Pilgrim thousands of miles from home.. following the pillar of smoke by day and fire by night. It will be exciting... scary.. filled with extremes of emotions and everything else in between. Sad to leave loved ones and family behind, but Pilgrim is grateful that God has given the opportunity to travel and experience new cultures, hopefully make new friends and cherish old ones left behind.

Oath taking at ICA

After submitting all the necessary documents to the Malaysian High Commission, you will be issued a temporary Certificate of Renunciation within 10 working days. The actual certificate (Form K) will be issued 2 years later.

Your appointment with ICA to take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty is stated in the Singapore citizenship application letter of approval. If you cannot make it on the given date, you may change it online provided you have attended the National Education Experience (NEE).

When you attend the NEE, you must be dressed appropriately - no jeans, shorts, t-shirt, slippers etc - instructions are given clearly in the letter of approval. Reason for proper attire - you will enter the Parliament building & dressing appropriate is a sign of respect.

On the day of your appointment at ICA, go to 6th floor with:

• Singapore citizenship application letter of approval
• Temporary Form K
• Singapore pledge card obtained at NEE
• Singapore blue IC
• Passport photo x 4
• Deed poll (if necessary)
  

After taking the oath in front of a Commissioner of Oath, you will be given a temporary Singapore IC. You may apply for a Singapore passport the very same day. The passport will be ready within 4 working days. Your pink IC will be issued with 3-6 months. You will receive a letter to notify you about the date & venue.

Read the letter from ICA carefully and the process at ICA will, relatively, be a breeze.

Renunciation of Malaysian Citizenship

Disclaimer: This post does not have any pictures. Read on only if you want to get a rough idea of what to expect when you decide to renounce your Malaysian citizenship to take up Singapore citizenship. Procedures in the civil service change. Therefore, what is applicable today may not be applicable tomorrow.

Firstly, send in your application for Singapore citizenship. It took ICA 6 months to send me a letter of approval. Bring this letter of approval to the Malaysian High Commission - Consular Section - to obtain:

• Borang (Form) K
• Appointment date to submit the Borang K
  

You don't need to bring any photos, passports, birth certificate yet. I went to obtain the Borang K in mid-December and my appointment date to submit it was in late April 2009. You could try to negotiate for an earlier date but you would have to convince the officer. I have observed people trying. Some were successful, others not.

Documents to be submitted together with Borang K on your appointment day:

• Malaysian IC - original and 2 photocopies
• Malaysian BC - original (must be laminated) and 2 photocopies
• Malaysian PP - including expired copies.
  
• Lost of passport police report - If you did not keep all your passports from your very first one to the present one you are using, go to any police post in Singapore to make a police report. You must submit the original police report.
• Parents' IC - 2 photocopies for each parent. Originals are not needed
  If any of your parent is deceased, you have to provide 2 photocopies of the death certificate (this is what I overheard).
• 3 passport photos - with blue background.
  
• Deed poll - only if your name in the BC is different from Singapore IC etc. If you changed your name but don't have a deed poll, I can't help you. You better consult a lawyer.
  

If you need help, any kind of help, pay Louis Lee a visit at:

WTLEE Services
Block 77, #01-499
Indus Road
Singapore 161077
HP: 97933633

Speak to him, explain your situation and ask for his help. This is a business, therefore do expect to pay a fee. His motto is "Malaysia Boleh".

I have read other reports about consular officers being rude. This is far from true. They are friendly and helpful, you just need to be nice to them. Put yourself in their shoes, having to deal with so many people with so many demands day in day out. What goes around comes around.

I observed one young female (young enough to be internet savvy and research the procedure on the internet) who wanted a different appointment date than the one given. The officer tried to accommodate and gave the female 3 dates, all of which were rejected by the latter for various reasons like "I have to take leave", "I have to go overseas to work" or "I won't be in Singapore". She was just holding up the queue. Actually, I felt she behaved like a brat. Personally, I feel the people who are rude are the Apro security guards, and the occasional Malaysian applicant.

Wishing you all the best in renouncing your Malaysian citizenship.

The (extra) sensory perceptions of Chinese New Year

Auspicious Chinese Words greeting the New Year of the Golden Ox

Every year I greet Chinese New Year with mixed feelings. Over and above the busy hum of Singapore life, there are extra stimuli that assault the senses. Some pleasant and welcome, some otherwise. Let me see - to smell, to hear, to see, to taste, to touch.

On the pleasant olfactory front, my condo is filled with smells of festive food preparation. Breezes through the atrium bring wonderfuls smells from kitchens hard at work - oh.. they must be making stewed pork... mmm.. smells like garlic and ginger browning in a wok... wow, this smells like fish maw soup - yummy! Oooo... is that candied walnuts?Candied Walnuts

When the lifts open onto different floors en-route to my own apartment - I get tempting smells of kueh bangkit.. charcoal braziers and kueh kapit (love letters). Soon my own kitchen will be filled with the mouth watering aroma of sio bak (chinese roast pork).

Chinese Roast Pork (sio bak)

Sometimes, floating tendrils of incense smoke from a flat downstairs will make its way up to mine. It reminds me of my paternal grandmother's house. A smell that I sort of miss is the smell of fireworks - I remember as a child shrieking with delight as I tossed little red ones that explode with a sharp POP! and covering my ears as the thunderous explosions of huge chains of "proper" firecrackers are set off in front of the mansions of the well-to-do and Chinese businesses.

Glutinous Rice - a savoury treat!

Teasing the taste buds are sneaked samples of pineapple tart (every year I eat a few to try and understand the Singaporean obsession with pineapple tarts.. I'm not a fan of pineapple tarts.. melting moments with kueh bangkit, the welcome savoury relief of bak kwa (BBQ pork slices). I love the sticky salty-sweet-smoky-scumptious (I've run out of "s" adjectives now) of this chewy bit of meat. I look forward to the once a year treat of utterly sinful kueh lapis (a multi-layered, buttery, spicy cake) and the chewy morsel or two of nian gao (new year cake). My mother's delicious lor bak gao or chinese turnip cake has always represented chinese new year for me and I hope to cook one as tasty as hers. Chinese New Year must have a myriad delicious memories - many with auspicious names attached - exotic heady taste of braised dried oysters with black moss - otherwise known as hoe see fatt choy, utterly sinful treasures that are unearthed from the huge claypot of poon choy. This wonderful one pot meal is stuffed chockful of decadent seasonal goodies such as baby abalone, fish maw, braised shitake mushrooms, melt-in-your-mouth belly pork, goose web....

Poon Choy - an earthen pot full of treasures

The bin centre of my condo and indeed many housing estates are overflowing - owing to the Chinese (Singaporean?) obsession with all things new for the new year. Such waste. Spring cleaning is fine.. but many of the items thrown out are in perfectly good working order and can be re-used or donated to charity. Thankfully, some do donate and the Salvation Army centre receives truckloads everyday. The sight of these piles of clothes, boxes of (what's inside?) even plasma TVs remind me of what a consumer society we have become. Of course, the eye sees red everywhere. In this instance, an auspicious and happy red. Chinese will decorate the house with red banners with auspicious words and couplets, give ang pows (red packets / envelopes filled with money), dress in red coloured clothes (black would be a traditional no-no).

Roast Duck

Venturing into the shopping centres is quite an expedition. One has to battle crowds eager (desperate?) to stock up on seasonal goodies, clothes. (is there a recession? is the food free?) The ears are assaulted with raucous sounds of new year songs blasting out of speakers at full volume. Added to the din is the background hum of housewives admonishing children not to run too far away, husbands trying desperately to hurry their wives up so they can get to play golf or escape the mayhem, kids laughing as they run in and out and around boxes of mandarin oranges, cookies, pineapple tarts...

Mandarin Oranges (a pile of gold!)

Last but not least... touch - the more formal handshake for distant relatives, the warmth of a bear hug for family and close friends.. sticky hands from F&N Orange and Nian Gao, (sticky sweet glutinous rice flour cake) trying to fish out ang pows from bag to give to young ones.

Nian Gao

Ah. Maybe I do like this season after all, but I'm glad it comes only once a year! Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!!

The pilgrim is still here!

This blog has not been updated for a long time. Pilgrim has been very busy walking down this road called life. Hope pilgrim's life will settle down soon. Stay tuned!