Ghim Moh

Alright I have been home from vacation a long time and I guess it is ridiculous for me to still not have posted anything since being home. So here is my first. Don't be mad at me for neglecting my blog. Even my hubby asked me last night, "How come no updates?". Alright, I guess I will kick myself in the butt. I am now uploading almost 700 photos onto the computer. I know that's a lot. I hadn't even uploaded them yet.


Here you can see some of the stalls in the background.

So What is Ghim Moh? Well let's just say it is a regular stop on our Singapore visits. In fact, my hubby probably goes there everyday. Why? Food. Singapore is know for their outdoor markets with hawker stalls selling different local foods. Anyone can find something right up their alley. Even what the refer to as western food. Variety is key as we are there a lot! It is in my in-laws neighborhood. Literally walking distance, so it is very easy to access. Our first dish we order is Mee Pok, but I think we probably have it every other day in many different ways.



For breakfast the kids love, love, love Indian Prata. Only Marcus dares to actually eat it with the curry. McKayla and Maddox love it with sugar. Like crispy pancakes they are really delicious.





I am a huge fan of carrot cake. In fact, my hubby brought me back a gigantic piece from Montreal on the weekend and I indulged and practically ate the whole thing myself. You can find carrot cake in Singapore, but not at the Hawker Centers. In fact, you will be completely surprised if you order carrot cake and see what they give you. It looks nothing like carrot cake. Some locals of the older generation who have never had "western carrot cake" actually find our version weird. Funny.


Here it is half eaten because it is just that good. I forgot to take a pic. You can have it two ways with black sauce or not and with chili or not. Me? black with chili, please!


Here is the famous stall which sells the "carrot cake". Definitely need locals to be able to tell what is good and what isn't because I think there are three stalls that sells it at Ghim Moh and this one is the best.

You can also find a market at Ghim Moh selling fresh fruits. Mainly tropical which is probably one of the perks of being in Singapore fresh mango, pineapple, persimmon, pomello, rambutan, lychee, dragonfruit, guava, papaya, and you know that stinky one I talked about before durian.







When I first opened the camera the humidity in Singapore showed it's face and fogged up my camera. Luckily I had it packed well and the inside mechanisms didn't get any condensation on them. This is the Saturday market that would come to Ghim Moh selling all kinds of things from books to clothes to household items. See the crowd? And this is a small Hawker center in a neighborhood. Not even a downtown center. Suggestion don't go on the weekends or on Mondays when a lot of stalls close.




The whole reason for Singapore trips. Family. Grandparents definitely enjoy getting the time with the kids.

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What's on Charity's Phone?

You have to visit Jessica here to get more info and join me.





So I have been a slacker and haven't posted in a while. I have had back problems for three weeks and no I still have yet to seek a professional on the matter. Let's just say sitting at the computer and uploading pics was not on my priority list. So in the course of that time I did manage to take photos. So I have a lot to share with you. This first one was from walking the kids home from school. Actually I had to carry my little monkey to school and he walked himself home. Did not help the back situation at all. But it was a great photo moment turning into our street. Although I think I was just elated that we were almost home so I could lay down!



We even had a snow day which was fabulous. We don't get them that often and in all honesty it was actually a beautiful day. Just light snow the whole day. We struggled to build anything with the dry snow, but did manage to put together this guy.



After a week of not going to the grocery store because I just couldn't do it we finally bought more bananas. Monkey was happy.



Crummy weather for weeks and then we got beautiful clear blue skies. I love days like this with snow on the ground!



What's that? Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Very yummy and very evil. I don't ever want to know how bad it is for me because that would just ruin it for me. I know it is bad just don't need to know how bad! I got mine with jalapenos yum!




Last night my hubby shared his Chocolate covered strawberry with me. It almost broke my heart when my monkey wanted to share!



My Red Velvet cake from my Valentine dinner which hubby had to sit through. It was a fixed menu which is not his style, plus the options weren't exactly his style either. I enjoyed it thoroughly. We were the only family at dinner which felt kinda weird, but we enjoyed having our Love day with the whole family. Everyone cleaned their plates!





After our romantic Valentine dinner with all three kids daddy decided to break out his shark game and he kids swarmed. They love to gather around that phone. Obsession much?




My boys are pretty darn good looking. It's okay I don't need anyone to tell me.




After church Marcus took a snap of my in my Shabby Apple dress. Yes! I love it and yes! I got tons of compliments on it. Someone even asked me if I made it. Although I am not sure if that meant it looked homemade or if they think that I could be that awesome as to make something like that all by myself.



Another monkey picture for fun. he is a little cross-eyed in this one.



My self portrait. These are actually really hard with my camera phone! Definitely not skilled in that department.



My Red Velvet cake from my valentine dinner. Really yummy. I had to stuff my face because I couldn't leave it uneaten, but I was so full.



A finishing shot of my princess. She loves dressing up and going to fancy dinners just as much as I do.

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What's on Charity's Phone?

So this week i have a lot of photos stored up because I missed last week. And if you are hungry perhaps this post isn't the best to read until you have some food in your bellies because there is a lot of it!




Who needs Cirque du Soleil when you have street performers like these?



I secretly wish I could be just as flexible as these girls. We passed them on the way to dinner and they were still working hard on the way back after dinner!



Ramen from Ippudo. Really yummy, but had to actually stand inline for almost an hour to get a table.



This pic is for Jessica who has a plate wall this restaurant had a bowl wall. Fitting being a ramen place.




A sign that was posted on a hallway which had couches. Apparently they felt the need to put up such a sign. Who was it that caused such a problem? I actually just thought it was funny perhaps I should put a similar sign in my kids bedroom. Maybe with a little tweaking.



The history of the Kueh Tutu




Getting ready to steam.




This kind lady let me take a photo of her making it. Basically rice flour steamed with peanut or coconut inside. I love the coconut!!!





Happy Lemon!



Rock Salt and Cheese Cocoa sounds gross, but if you like salty sweet, so yummy!




Frying the Prata. The kids pretty much ate these every other day while we were here. Probably not the healthiest breakfast. Indian pancakes.




D24 Durian. Really smelly, but a lot of people love it. I am not one of those people!




Nonya dumpling. I really wish they had these in Canada. They have similar salty kinds, but this one has a sweet meat that is so yummy. My kids fell in love with it too. Only two days left in Singapore and I can't really decide what to eat. I am going to miss a lot of it!

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New Year's Masquerade!

So this year I broke tradition which usually includes game night with friends and family bringing in the New Year with laughter and fun. This year I went out! I know for those who know me I really don't go out much. In fact, I rarely go out unless I am dragging one or more of my three children with me! So on that odd occasion when we get a girl's night together I have a blast! Here in Singapore with the readily available, wonderful family, it is easier to have some alone time or some couple time with my hubby which has been extremely nice.

Now back to New Year's. We have a friend who invited us to Stereolab for their Masquerade New Year's Eve Party. I have to say it has been awhile since I have been to such an event. I am normally quite happy staying home or going to see a movie. I know boring! Once in a while I like to go out and listen to loud music and dance the night away. I didn't have my own mask, but luckily I got a grab bag at the entrance and it provided me with one along with some noise makers. I know in theory fun, but hearing whistle sounds the whole night got irritating. I have to say I was a little envious of the gorgeous masks that I saw that night. compared to my cheap paper mask But I am being positive and was really grateful I had a mask at all. I am trying to be positive this year because another blogger friend of my sent out a challenge here.



Needless to say at 12:30 I think we were done with the loud music because our stomachs were calling out to us. What have I yet to eat here that I love? BBQ Stingray. Sooooo yummy.


Stingray number one not very nice, but still yummy!


Stingray number two. Much better. Sadly stall number 53 which has the best was sold out.



Then we continued with Hokkien Mee



Next, Oyster Omelet. Yummm...



To top up the 1 a.m. feeding was Bearded Man's Cheng Tng. (Which is a special one that was created by a friendly bearded man. Apparently you have to do the action of stroking a beard and then rounding your arms out to describe what kind of Cheng Tng you want.) So yummy minus all of the stuff that I don't like about regular ones.

I think this year I should start using my thesaurus more instead of using the same descriptive words over and over! I promise to do better in that area.



Another pic with my hubby because we are so cute. Don't deny it you know we are.



This is me 2011. I am 20 *wink* and I am showing you eleven.

All photos courtesy of my fabulous Singaporean host of the evening who graciously took all the pictures I asked. Oh another thing I wanted to get a pic of the famous hawker lady with the mile high hair, but sadly I chickened out along with my hubby who ignored me when I asked him to be paparazzi! I know the nerve!

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What's on Charity's (or really Donavan's) phone?

SO another addition and I have to say that having to use someone else's phone to take picture's is annoying!!



So the title is a lie this photo was taken from a friends phone who emailed it to me...no nap so he fell asleep on the couch during dinner. SO sweet.



This was also taken by that same friend who found Marcus' love of ribs enjoyable to watch. He seriously ate more than any of us adults did for sure!! Here he is thinking this is good, but the expression is priceless I had to include it!!



The kids at Keppel Club after a few hours in the arcade getting a snack before dinner.




And saving the best for last another food shot!! This time curry puff. Crispy goodness!



It is so super tasty. hmmmm I haven't had breakfast yet now I want a curry puff!!

Looking forward to Christmas and more yummy food.

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