Sunday, March 30, 2014

Top 8 Famous Ingredients in Singaporean Dishes



Singapore cuisine has made a big impact in influencing their neighbouring countries. Because of this, dishes and preparations looks actually the same. So the question is, what makes them different and unique among others? The answer my friend relies on the ingredients that is almost available to every dishes that they have.

Have you ever wondered, of the best cuisine that can be found in Singapore? Or maybe some alternative ingredients that you can use in a certain dish? You can always rely on reading food blog, for their main purpose is to help and educate you with different food information.

Here are some of the lists of ingredients that is commonly known for Singaporean Dishes:

1. Rice Noodles - Unlike in the Philippines where noodles are made of eggs and flour. Here in Singapore noodles are made from rice, flat and white rice noodle.

It is commonly served with Clams and Chinese sausages. You can also add chili sauce or chili flakes depending on your preferences. This dish is called Fried KuehTeow. This dish is also available in China but is commonly ordered in Singapore.

2. Sambal - As much as Singaporean love Hainanese Chicken and seafood, they also love sambal.
Sambal is a chili paste which can be added to anything. Its versatility and the power in adjusting and blending to every dish make it an important ingredient in every dish. It is blended with candlenuts, shallots and fermented shrimp paste.
 
3. Pork Offal - this is the term use for pork stomach and intestines. Preparation of this ingredient is simple. All you have to do is braised in soy sauce and other herbs. You can also add pig tongue and ears depending on your taste buds.

4.Tofu – this is also one of the versatile ingredient among the listed here. It can be eaten as it is or have it deep fried. It is also best to add in soup with noodles. It blends well and adds texture and taste. Best to be ad

5. Nuts – this ingredient can be added to almost anything. From dumplings, soup and dessert.
The nutty favour adds additional aroma and texture to the dish too.

6. Lemak – is a coconut cream usually added in rice called NasiLemak. This dish actually came from Malaysia and is a favourite dish by Singaporean too. Though to make it a little different they now add sausages, fish cake, fried chicken wings and vegetables along with the nasilemak.

7. Curry –Singaporeans love for curry came from Indian cuisines like Fish head curry. The dish itself is purely Singaporean though.

8. Flour – Their love for dough is evident in the dishes they like. Such dishes would be curry puff, Murtabak and Roti prata.

Top 5 Best Wedding Photographers in Singapore



Weddings are just few of one’s lifetime events that should be captured and kept to be remembered even as years go by. There are lots of things to prepare for a wedding. From the shoes, the dress, to the suit and tie, each are detailed to make the bride and groom the perfect pair they have always been. The flowers, drapes, the lights that beautify the ceremony area are given with much effort to make sure everyone experience heaven within heaven.

From the things that surround the wedding ceremony to the guests that witness it, the actual day wedding photography should be equally great as well on capturing these wonderful moments.

There are many skilled wedding photographers all over the world that has proven themselves worthy of the fame. In Singapore alone, there are a number of wedding photographers that are booked by some of the country’s prominent couples.

Get to know these five best wedding photographers in Singapore:

COLE KOR

Founder of the Singapore-based photography company ‘2 of Us Photograhy’, Cole Kor is a member of the Fearless Photographers and already won 9 awards from different categories making him the Photographer of the Quarter Spring 2013. He has received numerous testimonials of satisfaction from his many clients already.

RAYMOND PHANG

He started photography on 2002 with Raymondfotogpraphie and six years after, he wanted to give it a new approach. This time he combined marriage with a journalistic wedding documentary style, and thus Raymond Phang Photography was born. He received the 2008 Singapore Young Photographer Award and was noted for his humility. He also does corporate photography and have worked with great brands already.

DUNCAN MCCALL

Duncan of Duncan McCall Photography knew he had it ever since he was little. He considers meeting new and different people as added perks to his career. He also has a Newcastle based studio and has worked with both wedding and corporate clients. He is very hands on with the details the soon to be wed couples ask for. He lets you sit down with him as he presents sample where you could choose the closest style he could use as guide.

DERRICK ONG

Derrick Ong just recently received two awards from the ISPWP Wedding Photography Contest for Venue or Location category and Bride Portrait Category. These though are just an add up to the other over 50 international awards he received. Derrick Ong believes that simplicity is the key to let the moment shine through.

PAUL SANTOS

Paul Santos is a full time professional documentary wedding photographer.  He was able to obtain an International Licentiateship qualification in wedding photography through The British Institute of Professional Photography. Paul Santos also garnered great reviews from his clients as a wedding photographer.

What is the Difference of International School with Traditional School?



There could be some misconceptions regarding international schools. The most common is that it is a school for foreigners or kids from other nationalities transferring to a school not their native. What some should know is that a school is international not because of the students enrolled but on the framework they follow. That same framework results to gaining students that came from other countries. Some students of international schools are expected to be children of diplomats, missionaries, staff of international organizations or foreign businessmen.

Here are some of the differences of an international school with a traditional school:

Curriculum

This is the definitive difference of international to traditional schools. International schools follow another country’s curriculum, which promotes international education. Some international schools adopt the curriculum based on the International Baccalaureate or International General Certificate of Secondary Education. Some locals also enroll to international schools to learn more of international education that can be useful for employment or plans for education abroad.

Same on traditional schools, international schools also has basic subjects like mathematics, science, reading and language, arts, and physical education. Traditional schools on some countries on the other hand have a subject that teaches the country’s national language. They also have the subject History that discusses the origin and highlights of their country.

Some international schools also uses different textbooks depending on the curriculum they follow. Some have manuals provided for them as reading materials or softbound text books. Traditional schools have set of textbooks required for them that have specific authors which aresometimes written by professors or mentors from their country.

Student – Teacher Ratio

International schools often have a lesser student – teacher ratio as compared to traditional schools. Since traditional schools have a greater number of enrollees, one teacher is equivalent to more than 30 students. For international schools, there are times when a teacher is equivalent to less than 20 students.

There are advantages for that, both for the teacher and the student. With a lesser number of students, the teacher is less likely to be stressed or have a hard time teaching, as just compared to a bigger number of students in a class. With a more intimate class discussion, the teacher is also able to take one step forward to discussing a lesson and won’t have to rely on text book alone.

For the students, with a lesser teacher – student ratio, international school teachers can have more time and space to look into their needs. There is more interaction within the class so for introvert students, this can be a good opportunity to step up. Although traditional schools are also great too because you have more chances to create new friends and form big groups. Group activities can be an option for teachers to develop the kids’ social interaction.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Traffic Issues in Singapore



Compared to its neighboring country like Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, Singapore is relatively ahead in terms of traffic ease. Normally driving in Singapore isn’t much of a hassle because of their well thought road network system and smooth road quality.

Singapore is also efficient with the road safety signage and road safety equipments used during construction that redirects vehicle to avoid traffic. The traffic officials are also very strict on abiding and implementing their road safety rules. All of these are done not just to avoid traffic but also to avoid vehicular accidents.

But though Singapore has been one of those ahead in terms of traffic, they also still have some traffic issues that should be taken care of as well.


THE DRIVERS

Drivers in Singapore tend to be defensive at times. They don’t move quickly or pull up at road traffic lights. Most drivers prefer to go to the fast lane without realizing that sometimes it doesn’t make much difference. Consider that most vehicles go to the fast lane and they don’t overtake, then there is a great possibility for congestion. These drivers also are used to taking it slowly while they back their vehicle for a parking slot with the tendency to block the traffic movement on the road. The hassle can be avoided, but the “slow” part of doing it makes it so.

Related to being defensive is their pride, or not wanting to give in or give way. You all know very well that such attributes cause traffic one way or another. Some Singaporean drivers would not care less on giving you a space on the highway especially if they are driving some luxurious vehicle. So much for the “Me First!” sign on their cars. If you encounter a driver like this, think twice of starting an argument as there are big chances you’ll end up in a brawl and you don’t want that to happen especially on the road. You’ll waste the time of many orders.

RESTRICTED AREAS

The city center is one to be considered as the most important restricted area in Singapore. Restriction would mean you would have to pay additional road tax to get in the area during work hours on weekdays (Mondays to Fridays). There are also some parts of the highway that are restricted on rush hours. You can pay the additional road tax through the ERP system or Electronic Road Pricing. This system, with the help of a radio communication system, deducts the ERP charges from cash cards. Each car has what they call an IU or In-vehicle Unit. It is a device on the windscreen that includes the cash card. The charges range from $0.50 to $2.50.


Thursday, March 27, 2014

Uses of Air Pressure Tanks in Different Industries

Industries nowadays use complex systems to deliver tasks fast and efficient. Machines have become more and more complicated as time goes by, but still, the main purpose of different equipment is to make the job easier with lesser manpower and faster time.

Among the most used facilities in factories and industries today are air pressure tanks. From the term itself, air pressure tanks make use of compressed air to move objects fast and efficient. Different industries use different air pressures, depending on what materials need to be moved.

Air pressure tanks are closed containers that hold gases at a substantial pressure. Tanks are usually cylindrical in shape and its size usually vary per use. Most air pressure tanks are made of steel, making it sure that no air can pass through any holes.

Air pressures in big industries are used in moving huge amounts of chemicals and other liquid and solid materials. For example, big manufacturers of food and beverages use air pressures to distribute their product easily. Pharmaceutical industries also make use of air pressure to make high-quality medicines and to make sure that waste products are segregated properly.

For big commercial establishments, air pressure tanks are used in heating, ventilation and conditioning industries.

Air pressure is also used in managing sewage in municipalities and cities. By using air pressure, waste products are moved efficiently without any spill overs that could harm the people.

For water utilities, air pressure is used to make sure that water is delivered to each household. Without air pressure, it will be difficult for water to come out of the faucet, as the places where people live in vary in latitude. Tall condominiums and skyscrapers also need air pressure to make sure that water flows properly even up to the highest point of any building.

Air pressure tanks can also be used in storing chemicals and liquefied gases such as ammonia, chlorine, butane and liquefied petroleum gas. Air pressure tanks are used in mining operations, oil refineries and petrochemical plants.

Among the most popular air pressure tank is what divers use to breathe underwater. With air pressure tanks, divers can submerged in different depth of water. Oxygen tanks contain highly compressed air to provide sufficient air for divers when they are under water. Divers can select the pressure to be used while breathing.


However, people must always be careful in using air pressure tank, as most accidents do occur when use is improper. For you to know how to use air pressure tanks, you may contact a supplier. If you see that there are already problems with your air pressure tank, it is best to call an expert, as pressure vessels are highly dangerous. 

Washing Clothes by Hand vs. Washing Machines

One inevitable chore that you have to do when living on your own is doing the laundry. Most people hate this chore and try to work around it by bringing home a bagful of dirty laundry when they visit their parents—but seriously, how long will you depend on mom to do your laundry for you?

Washing clothes is actually a chore that won’t need to be difficult if you work out a system or a schedule. First order of business is deciding how you want to wash your clothes. If you live in a condominium or apartment, it might be smarter to invest in a washing machine. Most new washing machines are small enough for condo living. There is even a washing machine model that also has a dryer function. This is space-saving and energy-saving. It means that you can get more use out of one machine.

However, using a washing machine for your clothes may have some unexpected cons too. Washing your clothes too often using a washing machine may wear them out or make them fade too early.  It may also use up more energy. A washing machine will also need regular checking and maintenance: cleaning the lint screen, draining the machine thoroughly, etc.

If you want a little more care for your clothes, you may consider hand washing them. This ensures that you are able to wash them the way they need to be cared for. This is especially great for clothes that are delicate, like lace, or clothes that have stains that need to be cared for differently.

Whether you choose washing by machine or hand washing, set a schedule for your laundry so it fits in seamlessly with your day. One load is usually enough for clothes of one or two people. This means you can just have one morning to do a load of whites, then a load of colored clothing. If using a washer and dryer, you can dry immediately after washing and set aside for ironing.

If you prefer hand washing, split it up in two sessions so you don’t feel tired. A great tip is to have separate hampers for white clothing, colored clothing and undergarments. This way you don’t need to spend more time segregating clothing on laundry day; you can just toss in your used clothing in the appropriate hamper after taking a bath. You can do the whites on a weekend morning and the coloreds on a weekday morning since they require less maintenance.


Do more research on the best kind of washing method for you. In general, using a washing machine is much more convenient than hand washing, and most will opt for this.