Road Warrior : Every moment counts
My featured road warrior for this week is Josephine Sicad-Minerva. A professional photographer based in Singapore. She takes amazing pictures and her talent has brought her around the region and across seas for her passion.
I'm very thankful that she accepted my request to feature her for this series.
"I don't think there's really enough words to put it all together how I feel every time I'm traveling. Every moment counts. The thrill of discovering or re-discovering something excites me. I wouldn't trade off with anything else in this world those experiences I've had on each of my travel. To travel makes me dream more. To dream more makes me feel more alive."
Food Sharing : Maggie Goreng from Akbar’s
Maggie Goreng from Akbar's is the best in town. There was a time when my colleague Ed and I ate it almost everyday that I stayed away from it for a month or so. So know, it's every so often, so that the taste remains really good and the craving stays.
You can get it with Ayam(Chicken) or Mutton, but I think its best with ayam. We've also added papadum to the meal and its a good complement. The taste is unique and distinct and so I cannot compare it with anything else. The flavor is far from the normal nasi goreng, probably because of the added Maggie mixture, the noodles are fried which gives it a different fresh taste to the normal maggie noodles.
Mixed with ayam, chilli, scrambled egg, spring onions and I think I see taugi(bean sprouts), topped with fried egg, it's just absolutely satisfying and fulfilling. From how it looks, it's not that enticing, but give it a try and be surprised.
We've tried heading there for dinner and it somehow taste a bit more spicy than during lunch, must be a different chef, but since I like it spicy it just makes it a lot more satisfying for me.
And one of the best things is not about the food, the the guy who seems to be managing the place, he speaks Filipino really well and Mandarin, that aside from Bahasa(I think). Makes the experience a lot more fun.
Hawker Center : N.A
Stall Name : Akbar 24 Hrs. Restaurant
Location: Lim Teck Kim Rd., Tanjong Pagar
Nearest MRT Station: Tanjong Pagar or Outram Park
Specialty : Maggie Goreng (Ayam or Mutton)
Movie Review : Oranges and Sunshine
This is a good recent release movie from down under. It's drama with a cause and against all odds. The story is about the forced migration of children from the UK to former colonies with most going to Australia.
The forced migrations started early last century and only ended in 1967. The movie is centered around the Margaret Humphreys and her uncovering of the forced migrations in past decades.
I think the acting is good, story is good and it plays out really well. Not to boring, just enough drama and there is enough stickiness to keep me on my seat and watch the whole thing.
Best to watch on weekend mornings.
Movie Review : Welcome to Dongmakgol
This is one of the good ones South Korea has made in recent years. The story and acting is perfect, the story, direction, visual effect and the actors came together really well. This movie was South Korea's entry into the Academy Awards in 2005 under the foreign language film category, unfortunately it did not progress and the Sea Inside from Spain won the category.
The story is set during the Korean war and soldiers from both sides merge on a village on a mountain which seems to be disconnected to what is happening in the peninsula. A mix of an american in the cast brought a bit of freshness but the real stars where Rhee Soo-hwa and Pyo Hyun-chul.
Aside from a really good story and cast, the visual effects and cinematography is just excellent, with a really good score the senses are pleasured. Some scenes are enhanced so well it could be packaged as separate shorts or MTV.
I can't say anything else except that this is a really good one, best to watch if you want to enjoy and nothing hanging over your head.
Movie Review : Cry, the Beloved Country
This one I just stumbled upon while looking for good films about South Africa. The fact that James Earl Jones and Richard Harris are the leads drew me to this, as well as I had a thing about watching something African at that time.
It's not horribly showing what happened during apartheid but more towards the humanity, discovery and acceptance from both sides of the color divide.
Food Sharing : Fried Chicken Briyani from Kamal’s
Fried Chicken Briyani from Kamal's is by far the best I've had. Kamal's is open for lunch until late afternoon but not for dinner, understandable considering it is right smack in the middle of offices, must be really slow during nights.
Kamal's is in a small alley, Stanley St., parallel to Cecil St. but it's really full during lunch. They serve other dishes but for lunch, its all about the fried chicken briyani, some side dishes can be ordered but this is the star of the show.
Movie Review : The Conspirator
This is a good one directed by Robert Redford and led by James McAvoy, a good combination. The story is from the aftermath of Lincoln's murder and the trial or lack there of the conspirators of the act.
James is assigned as the lawyer for Mary Suratt played by Robin Wright who is the only woman accused as the conspirator. The story is not so much with the trial but with the relationship and the character building between Frederick and Mary.
Movie Review : A Moment to Remember
A Moment to Remember is a 2004 South Korean movie, the original script of the title translates literally to Eraser in My Head. I think this movie is in the same level with My Sassy Girl.
I watched this with my wife and she was crying buckets full so be prepared if you intent to watch. The lead actor looked really familiar and after a bit of googling he was also the lead for John Woo's Reign of Assassins.
Movie Review : The Bang Bang Club
My flatmate mike enthusiastically shared with me this movie and as soon as I got a hold of it I sat down and watched it. Unlike most of what I watch, I did not research on this one so it was a nice surprise to know the leads where familiar actors.
Ryan Phillippe leads with Malin Akerman as the on-screen partner. Malin is from Watchmen for those who are not familiar. Ryan plays Greg Marinovich and the story is about how he joined the Bang Bang Club their experience Apartheid, the highs and the lows and it tries to show the lives of this group of photographers.
The story is good and is based from the book by 2 of the Bang Bang Club members. It plays out well, doe's not feel too fast and is laid out in a way that is easy to digest. Acting is not superb but I think it is good enough for the movie. The South African accent is not so apparent and as it is very distinct it's lack thereof would be very apparent.
It is a good movie, with ok story, ok acting ok sound track. Overall good movie to watch on weekend afternoons.
Road Warrior : Enjoy Every Single Minute of the Trip
Our road warrior for this week is Sandra Thea Cristina Delantar. Her work with Aboitiz Equity Ventures bring her around the Philippines every fortnight or so. A road warrior in the sense of the phrase.
She has enthusiastically accepted my request to feature her and a my big thanks goes to her for that. Below is how she describes her travel lifestyle and how she enjoys it.