Habitat Coffee & Tim Ho Wan

Just another short reviews of a cafe and restaurant which both, was my first try.

Last week, I had my brunch at Habitat Coffee, located at Upper Thomson, just opposite of Udders.  

"The Big Ben" - $14

salad, scrambled egg, sausage, hash browns, mini pancake and hollandaise sauce

At a weekday, and 2PM+, it was a full house even with waiting list for some others. 

My first impression of the place wasn't on how the interior looked like but how squeezy the cafe is. I'm guessing like most other F&B business, they hope to have as many tables as possible to be able to hold more customers. I couldn't even have a proper short chat with my friend as the tables between each other was too close and uncomfortable. I constantly hear people saying 'excuse me' in order to pass through behind me, as I was sitting by the door. 

Food: 

It was okay, not bad but neither was it extremely tasty. I like the hash browns though. 

Overall, not worth $14 for it. 

I would still hope to go back for a try on others in the menu, provided the cafe isn't overcrowded. 

Yesterday, I met up with my smallest aunt, her two kids and grandmother with my mom. Went all the way to Jurong, Westgate just to try out Tim Ho Wan! Yes, I haven't tried it before. I'm just not willing to queue for it. We met at 11AM, though we arrived a little late. The rest were already in queue and we only got a table at near to 12PM.

Bad lighting as it started to rain and I would prefer natural sunlight. 

Congee

Pan Fried Carrot Cake

Vermicelli Roll with Shrimps 

this was good! 

Har Gau 

another favorite!

Siew Mai

which came toppled 

Fried fish with some kind of salad sauce

which I didn't like it

Beancurd Skin Roll with Pork and Shrimps

Baked Char Siew Bun 

which is the reason on why I wanted to try Tim Ho Wan! 

Honestly, I was disappointed with the size of it. I thought it would be bigger though. The taste was pretty good, but wasn't up to what I expected. Maybe as I hear so many good reviews about it, my expectation went further up. 

I guess I still prefer the traditional steamed kind with soft fluffy bun.

Mango Pomelo Sago 

Red Dates and Chrysanthemum Jelly

Total price was $60+. Which I find it quite reasonable.

I will still go back for some of the dim sums that I like, but not with the long queue.

Side note, I had breakfast for dinner yesterday due to the whole day breakfast from McDonald's! Would love it if they offer this often.

Habitat Coffee:

• 223 Upper Thomson Road
• Singapore, Singapore 574355
• https://www.facebook.com/habitatcoffee/

Tim Ho Wan (Westgate):

3 Gateway Drive #01-13/14
Westgate, Jurong East
Singapore 608532
Tel: (65) 6686 2000

https://www.facebook.com/timhowan

Mini Food Post

Almost a month ago, went Westgate with mom, brother, grandma and two cousins because I wanted to try Osaka Ohsho's gyoza. It was pretty good, but not the best. Had this omelette rice set and it was quite delicious! Except that I could only finish half of it as the portion was too big. 

Only knew about this yishun 928's famous laksa recently and finally got to try it. Been having it for quite a few times now. Until my mom commented my face is popping out a lot of pimples. But it's so good! My current fixed cravings. 

Sakae Sushi buffet with the chinese gang from current class yesterday. Been so long since I last ate sakae!

Happy Food Day

Yesterday was one of the best day. Because I get to eat some of my cravings and favourite food!

In the morning, brother bought KFC porridge for me as breakfast.

Lunch time, met up with Eileen together with mom for our bak kut teh lunch! Long term craving and favourite. Highly recommend this stall based at Yishun.

Oyster Mid Wings 

Cabbage

Bak Kut Teh!

The usual three dishes we would order. I need to eat it again very soon. Never getting sick of it!

Around 4PM, we went for early dinner at Udders, Upper Thomson! Been recommending Eileen the Pancakes there!

Had the same, Udders Bite again as I need room for Ice Cream!

Chose this hazelnut flavour that I did not notice it was $5.7 until payment! Expensive one.

Just nice, father and the friends came or ice cream as well, then off for another favourite of mine. Curry Fish Head at Sin Ming Road! Been pestering dad to bring me there again since forever. Finally did.

The most big & full of meat fish head from all I've tried. Love! Since a pity I was too full for rice. If not, it would be the best combo.

How can this not be one of the best day ever?! 

Short Food Reviews

It's the 3rd post of the month and it's ending very soon. Nothing much to update with me only going for work and school. So shall just do a short update on some of the foods I had for October.

Just had Udders for early dinner with mom. Had the Udders Bite, $7.5 which consist of 5 mini pancakes, scramble eggs and sausage. It was pretty delicious. Definitely going back. This might be my new craving! Ice cream after that! Tried the new flavour, Corny Honey. While mom had chocolate and mango sherbet.

Impromptu dinner with three classmates at Pizzahut on 28th October, Monday after school. I was scrolling through my phone and went to Pizzahut's website and saw this weekday special 1 for 1. So while they came 1 by 1, I place my phone in front of their face and grin. And so we went! Awesome dinner with lots of laughters. Paid around $10 each. 

Went to Ikea, Tampines with Eileen after work during the holiday for dinner as our workplace was pretty near it. Had been craving for it and finally ate them! The chicken thigh and fries was on offer at $4.5 if I remember correctly. 

Forgot when was this. Mom's friend had planned with us to bring us for dinner for quite awhile ago and finally the date was confirmed. He drove us to some restaurant for vegetarian first where I gain around 10 mosquitoes' bites. Dinner part 2 was Dimsum at Chinatown! Was super full that night. 

Made Infused Water to try after reading about it online of the benefits. Tried the most basic first as it was the first try. Lemon and mint leaves. It was pretty bitter probably due to the lemon skin. Next try will be berries flavour!

One of the dinner date with mom at Herbivore, Fortune Center - Bugis. I love their mushroom soup with 'garlic' bread. Unfortunately, most of the time, it was corn soup. So I was elated that day! 

November is coming soon! Definitely looking forward to 2014, with new goals to strive towards. 

4th Appointment - Top Braces

10th Sep 2013, Tuesday

Went for my appointment bright and early at 8:15AM. Reached early to avoid rain, so had breakfast at Han's! 

The whole procedures took around 45mins. With me spending most of the time watching Avengers on the TV by the ceiling. 

Firstly, to place the bands with the right size. I've seen comments online that the process hurts as their Ortho used a lot of strength to push it in. Mine had no pain at all.

After that, I had no idea what they did. But I can only say, the whole thing was painless.

First day with the braces! No pain at all except you can feel a layer of metal between the lips and the teeth. Things changed after I had a nap. Can feel the tightness already.

Practically couldn't chew for the first 5-6 days. All I could do was swallow so it resulted in me having a hard time to release the waste back to nature. They couldn't digest properly in my body.

'

Day 5

The colour of the brackets slowly changed to mint green and now, at week two, it's more of pale green.

After the first week, I could chew normally already except still not used to food getting stucked. And I mean ALOT of food. Until I feel like I'm a hamster storing food by the side of my cheeks. 

Week 2

Can bite off something like burger without cutting it in smaller pieces already. Still pissed with the food getting stuck part. I'm sure it'll still happen for the next two years.

Around a couple of days after putting the bands, you will feel slight pain at the side of the cheeks due to the bands that pop out to hold the wire. Especially when you chew your food. The friction causes it to be more painful. But after awhile, the cheek will form a rough surface around the area and you can't feel the pain anymore. 

So far, only had one ulcer. Thank god! And no frictions between the metal brackets and the lips. 

Tip: Bring lots of sweets after the procedures as you can taste a very metalish bitter taste for a few hours. The sweets can help to cover up the taste.

3rd Appointment - Separators

Time for my third appointment and it's putting separators time, or commonly called, spacers.

For more information and purpose of it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodontic_spacer

Anyway, I had eight separators on and all it took was less than 5 mins for them to settle in.

Here's what it looks like: (photos grabbed from google)

I went to the net to search about the pain yesterday and all I got was most people feel that the pain from the separators are worse than putting and tightening of braces. Hoping it won't be that bad for me. 

As all I could find was whether putting separators will be pain or not pain, I wanted to know if the pain will gradually increase and last for how long. So I shall just record down my own experience.

I have to keep the separators on until next Tuesday where it will be taken out and top braces will be fixed on.

Day 1, 4th Sep 2013, Wednesday - 5 hours after getting separators

Feeling pretty sore and there's like food stuck in between the teeth feeling. Feeling pain at my left side of teeth when I clench hard and  it's getting stronger. It's like the toothache kind of pain.

Day 2, 5th Sep 2013, Thursday

Woke up feeling aching in my mouth. The pain has spread throughout the other teeth. No longer feel something stuck in between the teeth because the soreness and achy-ness covered it. The teeth are sensitive now with slight soreness felt whenever my tongue touched them and when the top and bottom meet. Overall, pain still tolerable, but very uncomfortable. Still able to eat cheese fries.

Day 3, 6th Sep 2013, Friday

Feel much better. Not in as much pain as Day 2. But the soreness and tightness is getting more irritating at the lower set of teeth. Still able to eat potato curry puff but not the side crust.

Day 4, 7th Sep 2013, Saturday

Same as day 3. Minimal pain except being irritated by the soreness. Once awhile will keep shaking/pressing the teeth to make the feeling go away. But found out best way to let the feeling go is to eat things. Able to eat almost everything except stiff and hard food like meat, fried food and have to chew slowly with not able to chew with top touching the bottom rows of teeth.

Day 5, 8th Sep 2013, Sunday

Can eat almost normally except real hard things. Still pretty irritated by the soreness but the pain has been lowered. Can eat with some strength on the right side but not the left. Able to eat chicken wings today.

Day 6, 9th Sep 2013, Monday

Everything seems normal. No more soreness, no nothing. Can eat normally except feeling abit of pain on the left side but still can use strength. Cannot even feel the separators are inside unless I use my tongue to feel it.

The records shall stop here since tomorrow morning, I will remove the separators and fix in the top braces already.

Day Out With Mom

Went out with mom at 9:30AM for my appointment at Novena for braces. 

After that, went to Ling Zhi, vegetarian restaurant for the steamboat buffet. 

Trained to Chinatown afterwards to redeem my GST rebates and Mouse that was given when I bought the laptop which is like quite long ago. Took a train back to Yishun for Swensen's as they have the Happy Hour Promotion.

Two Sundaes for $10.80 only! 

Packed dinner and Sharetea after that and cabbed home!

Second Consultation - Prices

And so, I went for my second consultation that involves the introduction of different braces available for me to choose.

1. The normal metal kind
2. Ceramic which serves the same thing as the metal kind except that the brackets are transparent to make it less obvious.
3. Invisalign which I was hoping to opt for it.

Was quoted:
1. Metal - $3900
2. Ceramic - $4400
3. Invisalign - $7000

And that's how I was forced to let go the option of Invisalign. Chose Metal as since both Ceramic and Metal serve the same quality, why pay more? I don't think people will notice the difference unless they look up close. And, if any reasons the brackets dropped off, the clinic would fix it back free of charge. As for Ceramic, they will charge $90 for each bracket as it's more expensive.

My charges and payment details:

$3900 - less 5% as I paid full payment instead of instalment = $3705
$3705 - $215 (x-ray and models that I took in the first consultation) = $3490
$3490 + $244.30 (GST) = $3734.30

The package is inclusive of scaling and polishing once every three months throughout the treatment.

Paid $2250 on my own and mom paid the rest first in order to gain the 5% discount. More debts!

No extractions needed for now. Will see my mouth/lip 'shape' after 6 - 8 months into treatment and decide if I want to extract. No idea how to explain it well.


Next appointment will be putting in the separators!

Icon by Shunji Matsuo

Last Sunday, 11 August 2013

Went all the way to Tanjong Pagar, 100AM for hair treatment with Lihern. We bought the $38 groupon vouchers which includes Hair & Scalp treatment. Then I added additional step for the scalp treatment and a hair cut by my stylist which happens to be a senior one. 

Total: $32 (UP $40) + $25 + GST = $60.95 + $38 (Groupon)

Spent so much for my hair! Side note, my hair is short now again which I'm liking it! 

After that, went off the meet Eileen and her family for the 7th Month Dinner.

Busy period coming, with all the talks after classes, then FOH volunteer, and most important UT3. 

Day out with Mom & Brother

Tiring but fun Saturday! 27th July 2013

Out for my appointment early in the morning at 7AM, then breakfast and back home. Napped and went out to meet Mom at 4:30PM at Bishan to Expo Electronics Fair. Had her lunner at Aljunied first, then went to Changi City Point to walk around while waiting for brother to reach.

Went Skechers and bought her a pair of shoes as her current ones is too dirty already.

Off for a short visit to the Fair after that, then to Changi Airport Terminal 3 for Earle Swensen's. As mother wants to eat the free flow salads and fruits and her favourite ice cream. Queued for almost an hour due to peak hour! 

My dessert and the foods shared between me and brother. Total bill: $118

Took bus back home after that! And only reached home at almost 12AM. 

Braces Appointment #1

I finally took the first step and booked an appointment for my first consultation.

Decided on "About Braces", Dr Stefan Vaz after looking at reviews and forum.

8 Sinaran Drive, Novena Specialist Center #06-01, Singapore 307470
aboutbraces.org/


Saturday, 27th July 2013, 8AM

Pretty fun experience for me.

Doing the moulds, x-ray and photo taking

Total bill:

Orthopantomogram : $80.25
Lateral Cephalogram : $80.25
Study Models : $69.55

Total: $230.05

If I were to take up their package for braces, this fee would be waived off.

Next appointment on 28th August 2013, Wednesday, 10:15AM

Hopefully the pricing offered would be cheap and no extractions needed although I know it only happens with very very slim chance.

Can't wait!

Seoul Garden

Seoul Garden with my two classmates! Vanessa and Kylin again. Planned quite a couple of weeks ago, but postponed due to some reasons. Had an awesome time eating and laughing. Thank you Seoul Garden for having student price!

Side note, UT1 is over! 

925 Chicken Rice & Pee Mak

Last minute planning to watch Pee Mak with Vanessa during class. Booked the tickets in advance!

After the UT, went for dinner first at 925 Chicken Rice. First try. Heard a lot of raves about it.

It's pretty good! Now I know why my cousin can finish the whole chicken with another two of her friends.

Pee Mak at 7:30PM! Another awesome movie. Funny, Sad and Sweet all in one movie.

5/5! 

Bused home and do RJ before having the chance to rest and end the night. Boo.

20th Birthday

Planned for dinner with Mom, Eileen and Maggie! Wanted to spend that day with the special people on the special day. The mother and two closest & bestest friends. 

Mom's friend offered to bring us go somewhere to eat. Ended up with Swensens at Changi Airport as mom could eat the ice cream! They had free flow salad and fruits included too. 

Most of the food we ordered. Ended up with $106 bill. Quite expensive! Paid half each with mom.

The special people in my life. 

Mom and the guy that offered to drive and bring us for dinner! 

Just realised my mom's eyes were closed :/

Walked around T3 after that and drove off, dropping Eileen and Maggie home! 

Pretty happy with everything that happened on this day! School, Ikea, Dinner. 

Happy 20th Birthday to me!

Ikea With Eileen

On this Special Day, my birthday!

Headed to school in the morning for UT Clinic first then met up with Eileen in the afternoon to Tampines Ikea!

Had my first meal over there! Was starving.

Went to shop for my wants after that! Intended to look for shoe rack, shelves and table. Decided on only my working table and a chair due to budget, and also couldn't find the suitable rack and shelves. 

Decided on these two!

$69. Was considering for very long as it was quite expensive compared to other small tables I saw. But still ended up with this for it's sturdiness and foldable function.

$35. The chair was an easy choice, on the other hand. The cheapest, and not too large.

Bought a few other minor items and off we go! Lugged everything ourselves and took a cab! $15 damage.