NEX Shopping Mall B2. Pie Face

Right from Sydney, pie face simply a nice meal on its own. The top of the pie has a emoticon face depending on the choice of filling you choose.

For me, I took the stack up pie, where scoops of mashed potatoes are put on top of the pie (covering the face) and a spoon of mashed peas topped it off.

My meal is completed at $9 (original $7, +$2 for a cuppa Gryphon tea).

The classic minced beef is a good choice, since Aussies pies mostly have minced or chunky beef. The pie is tasty with the stack and I would definitely go back to pie face again.

Yishun St 81, community centre. Buddy Hoagies cafeteria

Pork Loin $11.90

The pork chop was tender and flavourful. Worth the money. Baked potatoes came with butter melting in it, definitely charming to the last.

Air-conditioned area just opposite the main office, it has seatings for about 40pax. They offer rainbow cakes, pizzas, pasta and many western mains, and have plenty beverages including beer.

529 AMK Ave 10. Twenty Grammes

Most came here for waffles, so did we.

We had the charcoal waffle with salted egg sauce (was room temp) and scoop of sea salt caramel. 

TG chicken pie with truffle potato chips (those Pringles types, not fish & chips type)

I had the "house blend" drink with peaches in it. Tastes like a canned fruit drink.

Shandao Shi - Hua Shan Shi Chang - Fu Hang Dou Jiang - 善導寺 華山市場 阜杭豆漿

This is a place to go for one of the popular Taiwanese breakfast, but be prepared to queue for it for at least 30 minutes or more. I went on the typhoon day ( Typhoon Soudelor), and the whole place was closed.

Go to Exit 5 or look for Hua Shan Shi Chang (華山市場). Turn round the corner near the traffic junction, and the queue will start from there... Probably.

Then another corner and see the elevator/ lift.

Enter the door with the queue, go up the stairs on the left.

The second level is mostly food stalls including Fu Hang Dou Jiang.

The kitchen is busy making all the breakfast.

The menu is on top of the ordering station.

We ordered a hot soya milk, dough fritters, sweet pastry, thick puff with egg and a thin puff with egg.

Business hours: 5.30am to 12.30pm or while stocks last (Closed on Monday and Typhoon day)

Address: 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Section 1, Zhongxiao E Rd, 108號, 2F

地址：台北市中正區忠孝東路一段108號2樓(捷運善導寺站五號出口、華山市場二樓) 
電話/Tel：(02)2392-2175 
營業時間/Business hours：早上5:30am~中午12:30pm售完為止(週一公休)

75 Brighton Crescent. The Coffee Daily cafe.

Nested in the Serangoon Gardens, lies a humble cafe with popular rainbow cakes. We had breakfast here, and it was appetising.

I had the All-Time American set. Scrambled eggs were done fluffy and creamy which were very delicious. I like the croissant which had buttery taste and they had it toasted in halves.

We also had Glazed Bacon Waffles where the bacons were drizzled with maple syrup and cooked, it's sweet and tasty much like our Bak Kwa. 

Total for our breakfast was $37, and we thought it could be slightly more affordable. However, consider they were generous with the herbs and spices and were friendly when we asked for butter.

We could return again for the rainbow cakes.

Location: 75 Brighton Cres, 559216

Motorcycle parking friendly, with handful of lots.

Class 2A (including Class 2) Traffic Police Test

I could have taken the earlier date in March if not for the business trip to Hong Kong. After I booked the available date in April, a few days later I noted an earlier date in April! Oh well, the policy said no refunds. Hence, I started in November 2014, cleared everything in December 2014, could have attempted in March 2015, and now I passed my Class 2A! Hooray!

Traffic Police test for Class 2A/2.

It must be an old habit, during the Circuit Revision on Sunday, I asked the instructor what to bring for the test just to confirm. He said:

1) NRIC / passport

2) Driving license

5.40am Old habits die hard (See my Class 2B TP test). I woke up at this time again and had a light breakfast.

6.40am Left for SSDC

7.05am reached SSDC, saw a few students on level 5. Instructor shown us a list of our names and our pre-assigned number. I was number 9 today (Again!? must be a coincidence), so we had to take our respective number tag and surrender our NRIC and Driving License. I began putting on my riding gear.

7.15am all of us were told to go down to level 1 and start our warm up.Then I realised that the test today only have Class 2A and Class 2. I rode for about 4 rounds until all of us were round up to line up the bikes for the test later. 

7.55am We went to the Motorcycle Test Waiting area, and were told to take out our number tags. We could go for a break until 8.20am. So I went to the canteen and had a warm Kopi-O and plain bee hoon.. (again! haha.. routine habits for TP test. Ok I added luncheon meat this time).

8.30am We were rounded up to the circuit for a recap session. One instructor demonstrated how to lift up a Honda CB400, and push a figure 8 cycle around two cones. The other instructor rode 1 round to demonstrate the needful.

The instructors supervisor gave us a briefing on test routes and answered some testees' uncertainties. Sometimes, he would talk to us like we are just fresh trainees taking the riding course, but he is very concern about the safety for all of us, so I have to give that to him. 

9.30am Test started. There 6 for Class 2 and 19 for Class 2A. Throughout my test, I was aware of my mistakes and continue riding. The throttle for CB400 is so sensitive even the slightest nudge at it would push the speed of the bike. Many of us didn't like it, but we can't choose too much as well. There is just this limited number of bikes. 

10.15am completed my test. Return my number tag at level 1 along with others waiting at the starting point area. Had a 10 minute break. 

10.40am last person (number tag 25) returned, and all 25 of us rode the bikes up to return at Level 5. I went to my bike to put my helmet and get my personal stuff. 

11.10am We started waiting. The testers only started to come in at 12.05pm... it was such a long wait. Two guys I was talking to just now was wiped out, "Team SMU" polo shirt guy and bro Mudai from SingaporeBikes SYM group. All the best guys to your next test!

12.25pm Finally, the instructor announced "Congratulations, all of you have passed!" and I congratulated the Sikh next to me! We watched a mandatory video about road safety and accidents, and theft incidents and had to recite a riders pledge. 

Class 2A license completed, new sticker pasted over my license. Another year's wait for Class 2! 

56 Tanglin Road. Nassim Hill Bakery Bistro Bar

Breakfast is available from 8 am to 5 pm, and they choose to use eggs that are antibiotic and hormone free (correct as of this published date). 

We decided to visit this place on a Saturday morning before we catch the noon movie. This place is hidden at the old post office building at Tanglin junction, the carpark with limited parking lots (think no parking for motorcycles) is around the building from the junction. 

Country scrambled eggs 

Country scrambled eggs 18

with a choice of beerbeiser sausage, center cut bacon 

or honey baked ham

Bread basket that came with the any mains unless otherwise stated.

In fact they didn't say anything at all! 

All eggs served with a side salad, two pieces of toast, with butter and jam on the side, 

Egss Benedict - My favourite

Eggs Benedict 19 poached eggs, smoked ham with creamy Hollandaise sauce on white ciabatta

Bee's judgement: Good running poached eggs. 

Shape: 3/5 (not beautifully done. Ha! I've seen some beautifully shaped poached eggs)

Yolk texture: 5/5 (No water, good! Yolk is 

Cappucino with a really nice biscuit

Skillet Eggs

Skillet Eggs 20

'Shakshouka' - two sunny side up eggs served in a red pepper Harissa ragout, sliced Spanish chorizo sausages with slices of toasted baguette

Chocolate layered cake

Chocolate layered cake 8/slice 50/cake

a rich chocolate cake layered with dark ganache and buttercream frosting

Class 2B from Class 3 (SSDC): Revisiting the school for Class 2A, spotting common mistakes

At time of writing (18 Apr 2015), I am waiting for my Class 2A TP test. Whilst doing my revision for my Class 2A, there are also others revising for Class 2B and 2. I spotted this particular lady, obviously must be attractive that is why I spotted her right? hahaha. Anyway, I noticed for all of the stations, she had trouble with the narrow plank.

Hence, at the end of the lesson, I decided to strike a conversation with her and let her know her mistakes so she can improve from there. Ms Chan, here are the common mistakes not only you, but others (including me sometimes) made:

Common mistakes:

1. Narrow Plank

Move and twist shoulders to balance body weight against the bike. Avoid this because it would make you wobble and get off course, thus immediate failure. The trick is, I repeat again, 

• Look straight ahead, and far ahead (as if you saw a friend you are going to approach).
• Relax your shoulders, move only your elbows to balance the handlebar (because your bike is moving at such slow pace)
• Keep the momentum going by controlling the clutch (not the throttle). Controlling the biting point and the brakes will make sure you cross the narrow plank more than 6 secs. 

2. Crank course

• Position your bike as straight as possible at the starting point. I find this very useful now. When turning left into the starting point, do not cut the corner near the curb. Take a slightly wider left turn, and position bike STRAIGHT at the starting point. The PLUS side of this is, when you move off, you are well balanced instead of awkward position. 
• Too much turns, too many things to remember, too short a time? All these make me even more anxious. My trick is to keep my mind level, and don't rush to do all things at one go. Go through the steps again and again, and do it at 1 go. While practicing, do not mind all the mistakes first (e.g. wobbling, hit curb), ensure you get the steps right. After you get the hang of it, you will realise the mistakes will be gone by themselves. Even at Class 2A, I fell off my bike before, ha!

more common mistakes to come if I spot more. :-)