Singapore - McDonald's Aloo Tikkie - Latest - Septembrer 2013

Yesterday I was at Justin Bieber's concert part of F1.

Nope. I am not a fan of JB. I was chopping for my daughter. Different story.

Now, coming to the point, there, I saw a girl holding a news paper with the below pic. Surprised that a teenager was with a news paper? Yeah. Today, Newpaper etc etc were distributed at the CityHall MRT - as they regularly do, but unfortunately they all became either waste paper to hold all these teenagers' bottoms for hours or spreads for their food. I couldn't take pics otherwise, I would have written how eco irresponsible the organisers and public can be.

Goodbye Aloo!!

Anyway, the point is, McDonald's is saying Goodbye to the Aloo!!

I am sure they might have got good feedback on their lousy attempt. So, vegans/vegetarians, we are back to square one with no choice in McDonald's except for Waffles for breakfast for those who can tahan.

Buying Private Apartment/Property in Singapore - 1

Buying HDB (Housing Development Board) house in Singapore is a walk on the cake. Everything is in open and very clear. This includes the procedure to find, renovate, apply for permissions etc etc

From internet

However, when buying an apartment in a private condo, or EC a few points must be taken note of. I am writing this out of my experience and observation. If you think of or get a few more, add them to the list.

1. You have to first check your eligibility to buy. Though Singapore government is open to foreign investment and inviting talent, it is also very cautious about fulfilling its primary obligation towards its citizens by increasing affordability of living conditions. Part of this is imposing strict guidelines to buy and sell properties.

(Info - URA home buyer's guide, Living in HDB flats: Purchasing private property)

2. Of course you might have already worked out on the most important factor - Vitamin M - Money. How much cash, CPF, bank loan, Property tax, Stamp duty etc etc

(Info - MAS regulation 2013, CPF - buying a house, DBS mortgage affordability calculator, FAQ Stamp Duty , Buying a Home - MoneySense)

3. Next comes the location. Where do you want your home to be? away from crowd? or middle of the buzz? It completely depends on your taste and purpose. To get some idea on facilities, pricing, etc etc check sites like - Property Guru, ST Property or any other you find through your search engine.

4. You have done your homework on location and finance and found an agent to help you. Great! Now you find yourself standing in the middle of the condo, beside the pool and admiring the view! Superb! Now start asking these questions:-

From internet

• How many times a week will I be using the pool?
• Is there a Gym? how much workout can I do in this?
• Other facilities - Karaoke, Barbeque etc etc, how many times a month really me or my family use?
• etc etc

You are asking all these questions to justify the monthly maintenance. If you and your family (if you have any) will be using all the facilities once a month or in a quarter is fair enough. If you don't swim, don't do barbeque, hardly use gym once in a week, the money you are paying for maintenance is for others to enjoy and definitely a waste or unnecessary expenditure in your account.

If you are not so keen on the facilities and can live without a swimming pool in your compound which you may or may never use, a gym where you don't know what to do, then my suggestion is to go for those condos where you don't have

all these unnecessary bits occupying space and costly to maintain. Singapore government encourages healthy living among all its residents. Unlike many other Asian countries, the government didn't stop at 'promoting' health but moved forward to build sports complexes and public swimming pools. You can opt to go to these places and pay per use instead of incurring a fixed expenditure every month unnecessarily.

5. Fine, your kids want to learn swimming, you and your wife intend to lose some weight or get into shape. OK, this is the place you want to live. Next, approach the owner, if you can, or ask the agent to get a copy of the 'House Rules' (or some other similar title) to understand the dos and don'ts in and around the condo. The rules will give you a fair idea of living in the gated community. Though all the condos are bounded by the common rules stated by the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act, the condo Management Council, formed by the residents can still bring out guidelines for everyday maintenance.

6. By rule, the owner must pass a copy of house rules to the buyer. However, if the owner / agent says don't have a copy of the rules book, never mind, just walk up to the Management Office and introduce yourself as prospect buyer of one of the units and ask for a copy. If the Manager hesitates to give one, be polite to borrow one to read there. If you like the place and investing a fair share of your savings in to the unit, trust me, you will find the time to read the rules which will bind you down for a long time to come.

Rules set out conditions of living in the condo. Ex: Pets not allowed or birds not allowed as pets, children below 12  cannot roam around the condo without adults, visitors with vehicles cannot stay beyond 11 pm or overnight visitor car parking is not allowed, installation of any religious artifact outside the door or window visible to others is not permitted, etc etc. It can be anything. However, by reading and understanding the guidelines, you will not let some guard (usually they are the ones to do this sort of job after office hours as the Management Office works only during standard 'office' hours) tell you later that you are not following rules.

7. Now you read the house rules and can imagine your life in the surroundings. Decide whether you are in or out of the deal. Or if you see something missing in the rules book, seek clarity. Know your rights and obligations before committing.

By pointing out these small details, I am not discouraging you from buying private property. You deserve to live in a comfortable and affordable place of your dreams. I am only asking you to include my personal few points to your check list, if you can.

Good luck in finding your dream home!!

McDonald's Aloo Tikkie - Vegetarian food - Singapore



 Finally, after seeing so many colourful ads in the news papers, few friends recommendations, I had to go and buy the new McDonald's Aloo Tikkie!

 

Here is what I felt after the first bite and gulped it down with some water flavoured with milo. I paid 50% extra on the whole meal and successfully contributed to the company's profits and charity activities for the year.

 

The aloo pattie is so bland and bad that if the company intends to continue the same item on the menu should stop using the existing cook and food researcher and consider hiring a new cook or research head for vegetarian section.

 

As usual, the bun used for the burger is dry felt somewhat old and not fresh.

 

The two pathetic tomato pieces felt so sad that I quickly closed the burger and wrapped it in its original casket sorry cover.

 

If McDonald's really want to offer a vegetarian choice in its menu and or attract a fair share of profits from the vegetarian or vegan group, they really should start with something better than this.
 

Last year we tried almost similar in India and threw more than half of the burger in the trash. Couldn't imagine such lousy horrible burger from a company which boasts world wide reputation. The only thing I can imagine that is contributing to its existence in that market is nothing but the new craze and money that is circulating in Indians. Nothing else!
 

My final words on this is - Not at all worth the amount spent. If you can find a toast box or Ya kun kaya near by spend the money on their toast. Every penny worth.

Latest - is the burger a hit with the customers? NO. To get rid of the stuff already prepared and/or to meet the pattie number target of the month, McDonald's has put Double Aloo Tikki burger on offer! Instead of one pattie you get two.



Kailash Purbath - Vegetarian food - Singapore

The best పచ్చిమిరపకాయ బజ్జి in Singapore!!!



Last week during our weekly grocery shopping in Mustafa, we went to get some chat at Kailashparbat. However, we wanted to go for Mirchi bajji and give it a try.

Whenever we see mirchi bajji on menu, in any restaurant, we order. Just to see how different the restaurant can make. We ate plain chilli, chilli stuffed with potato and chilli stuffed with amchoor and besan. Mostly, it will be chilli as it is or with aloo. There will be too much of besan or chilli. Sometimes too much of baking soda in the bajji batter that biting into the bajji will be like biting into sponge. Oily sponge.

This time when we ordered, we got ready for again some aloo stuffing which completely kills the taste and sometimes shape of the chilli. But what we ordered when it came to the table looked like my mom's!! Very less batter. Enough to cover the mirchi. Still with lots of hesitation and no expectation we bit into the bajji.

WOW!!! The mirchi bajji not only looked like but TASTED like my mom's!!!!!  [Just looks and some what taste. still nothing beats my mom's :-D]. Not too much batter, stuffed with jeera, ajwain and some spices. The mirchi hotness is less but enough to tango with the stuffed masala.

Mirchi lovers, next time when you are around the area, try for yourself :-) The restaurant is just in front of Mustafa's 2nd Exit.

 

Solution to Traffic jams in Singapore - 1



Traffic jams have become part of life in almost every major city on our dear Earth. Vehicle breakdown, accidents  etc etc are the major reasons. Most importantly lack of facilities to clear the mess - machines and humans, quickly and efficiently.

We all understand and agree that there is something called law and legal enforcement officials and

Photo: Julian Lim, Twitter@motorman

procedures etc etc which we shouldn't be interfered with. But I think it is very reasonable to ask them to move on and move fast to make everybody's lives easy and happy. Now, how do they do it? They are tied down by soooo many things!!! Now, it is becoming a totally different topic. So, let's stick with one we started with - Traffic.

 



The best solution to clear the traffic jams on major express ways is to use helicopters!!! Yes!! Quick movement across the sky can relieve EVERYBODY!!! Vehicles cleared - no traffic

jam. Victims sent to hospitals on time - lives saved. Damaged vehicles quickly available for inspection - insurance paperwork done almost instantly (here I am tempted to put a smiley face)

Every country is spending millions of dollars on defence, on a war and protection which may or may never happen. Just in the name of preparation and to show to the world that they are 'ready' to defend themselves in case 'somebody' attacks them. Sometimes when I hear about the US deployments in middle East, I wonder if it is really for peace as the animosity that is created seems to be much more. OK, another topic.

Why not for a change show the world that not a penny is spent on military in the name of preparation of defence instead use the personnel and the equipment for the betterment of humans?

Singapore Public Transport - insigh(t)s

1. Human traffic in train stations (in particular at the doors of trains!!) for authorities

One-way traffic!! Long ago when too many motor vehicles appeared on the roads, the ingenious came up with this idea for free flow of the traffic. Now apply to the human traffic. You go from one side and come out from the other whether into a station or train. Easy management in every angle!

2. Human traffic in train stations (in particular at the doors of trains!!) for individuals

When you are on the platform think about the time when you wanted to get out. Frustrated!! Isn’t it? Now, behave and wait for people to come out before you try to get in. Commonsense. You cannot fill up a bottle which is already full. Rushing for office? Start a little early from home. Wait for your turn to get into the train. Remember the universal law. You push and irritate somebody; somebody will do that to you. OK that is too metaphysical and philosophical. Let's try logic. You push and irritate others and in the process you too get irritated. Research shows that psychologically ANY mood an individual steps into will last for quite few hours. Soooo, your irritation may stay with you till lunch and in the mean time you may pass this 'mood' to few others who in turn try to pass to few others one of whom can be you and again you are irritated . . . .. . . . . a never ending story. Looong story short - Behave with conscious mind and treat others like humans in a civilised manner. Enjoy the ride!!!

3. Train stations - General Dos and Don'ts

• Hold your bag or belongings in front of you. If you are carrying a backpack, it is even more important. Imagine somebody in front of you rubbing their sweaty disgusting filthy linen on your nose. Yeah!!! It is disgusting.

• Every phone has media. Record the announcement about letting passengers out of the train before boarding. Play it LOUD when you want to get out.

• Say Thank You to the passengers who are kindly and patiently waiting for you to get out and not trying to push you inside again.

• Move with the flow. Don't PUSH!!! No point. 

• Don't keep too much of hope or expectation during the rush hours. Everybody is as busy as you are. Don't get into a crowded train during rush hours and expect people to treat you as royals. All are just Sardines. 

• Top up your card or at least check the balance in the evenings. Better is to have an auto top-up. This is not to inconvenience the people behind you in line at the gates. 

• Remember your Nursery teacher who taught you how to stand in line for your turn for the treat??? She really wanted you to remember it for life. Stand in line to get into the train. 

• Be compassionate towards everybody. Somebody is in a hurry? Let him/her pass by. One step behind is not going to kill you. There are people alive and kicking who tell stories about missing flights which were crashed later, bombed trains, smashed cars, collapsed buildings etc etc. 

• Give seat to anybody of any skin colour who is in need. What if the 'Reserved Seat' is taken? There is no rule that only 12 'needy' people should get into a carriage!!! A needy person need not necessarily be somebody with gray hair or a walking stick or lady with huge pregnant belly or blind or disabled. Needy can be anybody - lost someone and rushing to reach hospital or lost a job or simply somebody in pain or anguish. As fellow human, give up the seat so that he/she can rest and rejuvenate. May be in future somebody does that to you, for sure you will remember this incident. 

• We are Asians. We are with deeeeeep cultural values. The first value in ANY Asian country is to respect elders. You are given enough culture to respect the gray hair and the whole lot of wrinkles for their experience in life and knowledge and wisdom. Be a cultured Asian. 

• Play your songs soft unless you own a huge hearing aid manufacturing company or at least have major share in it and trying to boost its profits. Moreover people around you may not agree with your preference. The whole point of having earphones is to make sure that you are relaxed and enjoying YOUR song. 

• If the person next to you is irritating you with his/her song, tap on their shoulder and TELL them 'nicely' to decrease volume or gently tell them that the 'song' is disturbing you. Please help the society in become more civilised and cultured. Don't leave these poor lost souls who may be having nobody in their lives to teach them some good manners. Do some good today. 

• If you see anybody not giving up their seat to the needy, STEP-IN and make the person aware of the uncultured behaviour. 

• If you are not offered a seat when you are in need, ask for one nicely. 

• Ladies, don't sit cross legged in a crowded train. It is absolutely rude to keep kicking the person in front of you with your footware. If you want to maintain your class, get a car for yourself.

• Mini skirts. Please have some awareness of your body if you don't want somebody to click your panty and post on their blog. Cover up or accept their creativity and camera skills.