Pokémon Go Fest 2020

This is my first Pokémon Go Fest that I attended and first time playing it virtually. 

Yup, 2020 had been a bummer year where covid-19 had turned everybody’s lives upside down. Due to the global pandemic, a lot of Pokémon go events were cancelled. Was actually planning to go Japan or Taiwan for Pokémon go Safari event this year but now it looks like it can only be a dream....😭😭

Tickets are sold at $14.99 USD each and can be used for 2 days from 10am to 8pm local time.

Pokémon Go fest events were usually organized in the US or Europe so I don’t have the chance to go so far just to play. Also, it’s not a free event as you need to buy tickets for them. I usually atttend Pogo Safari event which are free and close to where I lived such as in Japan or Taiwan.  Now I realize, there is really a great difference between paying $$ and free to attend. There are much more shiny Pokémons to catch in go fest events as compared to Pogo Safari events. Also, more freebies are given in go fest. For the first time, this virtual go fest 2020 was held online so you can play in the comfort of your home instead of sweating it out under the sun, grinding like mad for your shinies.

On day 1, when I opened the game at 10am, it started with water hour followed by grass, battle, friendship and fire. Different countries have different sequence.

Then I received 3 remote raid pass for free and got a surprise rotom Pokémon when I took a snapshot.

I also able to catch starter Pokémon wearing the pikachu visor hat which non tickets holders don’t have. In addition, there were free stickers given out every hour too 👍🏻  Yeah, I finally got some variety of stickers to send as gifts now.

However, the shiny rate was not v high on the first day as I only got 5 shinies. Noticed that many ppl also complained about the low shiny rate on the internet.

For Day 1, this was the special research we had to complete. It’s quite easy since you can easily catch the 20 fire Pokémon during the fire hour, and the 20 water type Pokémon in the water hour...etc. if you missed the first water hour, there will be a second water hour later. 

It’s funny to watch all the fire Pokémon suddenly disappear on the stroke of the clock at the hour and replace by water type etc.

Actually I was expecting day 2 to be more exciting as Niantic did not want to reveal much details and want to keep it as a surprise. However, I feel Day 1 was more fun and exciting as there was a rush against the clock to catch the type of Pokémon that can only appear at that particular hour. I completed day 2 special research quest in 1.5 hrs and spent the rest of the day shiny hunting.

Above are all my shinies caught during day 2. A total of 18 shinies. Managed to get shiny Gible and shiny unown but no sign of shiny snorlax!  Haven’t seen anyone post pics of shiny snorlax yet. Wonder if it’s even released??!! Shiny snorlax is the one I wanted the most! 😭 Hey Niantic, did u even release it??

Overall, it had been quite worth getting the ticket as I got tons of shiny Pokémons and freebies from it. Definitely would buy the ticket again next year if it is holding it online again. Although, it’s missing the fun part such as exploring new places and meeting new ppl and things, the pros are that I can enjoy catching shinies from the comfort and safety of my home and also save lots of money by not traveling. 

Was a bit sad when this event was over....it’s been a fun and fruitful 2 days for me.

As the saying goes ‘As life gives u lemons, make lemonade’ thus this year (& possibly next year) since I won’t be able to go traveling to other countries, I shall aim to save as much money as possible and motivate myself with this travel fund once this pandemic thing is over! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

New Ippudo Summer menu

Ippudo was having a new item on its menu when I visited last week at Mandarin Gallery. It’s called Tori Ton ramen consisting of 2 slices of chicken char siew, 2 slices of pork char siew and topped with onions, spring onion tempura bits and cabbage.The price was pretty reasonable at around $16-17 that also comes with mini salad and mentai butter at the side.

When it came, I was told to taste the soup first before adding the mentai butter. The soup taste like chicken broth which was not too heavy or oily. In fact, it was light enough to drink all by itself yet having a distinct chicken taste. Once I added the mentai butter, the taste changed totally. No wonder the waitress told us to taste the soup first before adding it. 

Now the soup had a slight spiciness to it with a stronger flavor which totally masked the light chicken flavor. It was so delicious that I used up all my mentai butter. The soup also had a bit of crunch due to the mentaiko from the mentai butter and also adding a seafood taste to it. Anyway, the flavor is just too complex to describe and best way was to just try it yourself.

The only thing I don’t really like was the noodle which was made from whole wheat soba. It had a v smooth texture but I still prefer the straight hakata style noodle.

Cantonese delight at Hong Lim Food Center

Managed to go downtown today and eat my fave hawker food at Hong Lim Food Center today. Due to the current work schedule, I’m unable to go out for lunch....it was v sad for me to be working in a area full of good, cheap hawker food but unable to go out and eat them. It was also sad to see these hawkers struggling with their business coz the usual lunch crowd are no longer there since most ppl are working from home or have this stupid work schedule which prevents them from eating out. 

Located on the second floor and at one end of the food center is this Cantonese Delight stall which was always long 30mins queue during lunch hour. However, today there were only a few people in line and I only waited about 5-10mins which was the shortest I ever waited for this stall. 

I initially wanted to order the curry fried chicken cutlet noodle and laksa yong tau foo. However, the laksa yong tau foo were sold out before 12.30pm. So, I just get the curry fried chicken cutlet noodle.

The lady boss was v friendly and nice with good customer service skills.  I mean, I don’t expect restaurant service or anything but at least she does not bark or snap at me and gave me a black sour face unlike some other hawkers who may have long queue of people buying from them but their altitude sucks. I don’t care how good your food taste but if your altitude sucks, I’m not buying from them. Period.

Tada~! Here is my curry fried cutlet chicken noodle. I love how creamy and flavorful their curry taste. The best part of this dish is the crispy chicken cutlet. It’s so crispy on the outside but still soft on the insides and it goes so well with the curry. My hubby said it’s har cheong gai type of chicken Secondly, I forgot how good it feels to buy food, sit down and eat it immediately while it’s hot at a hawker center. 😭

These are the little things we used to take for granted before the covid days. Now, it’s like this simple act of eating in a hawker center had brought such joy to my heart which had been devoid of all joys and happiness for the past 3-4 months. I can feel tears of happiness swelling in my eyes as I took down my mask to start eating. And I was grateful for the food and for being able to sit down and enjoy it......sighz.....the simple pleasure of life.

Next, we went the Diaso located in the basement of Chinatown point. They have a high end selection called Threepy. It’s also one of my happy place.

After getting some junks, we went to People’s Park Food Centre located across the street. There was this famous yong tau foo stall in the market. They dun sell noodles, rice or anything except yong tau foo. So basically, the only thing to go with the YTF was the soup. Daddy wana get some for dinner. I’m juz fine, whatever. The uncles manning the stall look scary and impatient. Not the kind of stall I would visit. 

However, there is a long queue there forever, just like Han Kee fish soup at Amoy food center.

To me, Yong tau foo pieces are nice but bit too oily.

And no noodles or any carbs at all....it’s drinking soup. 

Actually wanted to walk around more but daddy need to go back and work from home liao..

Guess what, I did not sweat at all eating in hawker center today coz the weather been crazy raining and cold. Nice weather to sleep in, which is why I’m on MC and not at work today🤫

When we finally reached home by taking the train from Chinatown to Buangkok MRT, it’s still drizzling and cold. Suddenly, daddy said PM Lee is making a speech at 4pm now. We see like 😱😱😰🤯

Another CCB again? Anyway, I left my house and went NEX immediately to get my yuan chai but so sad they dun have my fave TGY latte with qq rainbow.😩

I did not buy in the end. So I rush out to Nex and back home with empty hands.....at least I got a good workout....hahaha

Basically the next polling day which is public holiday will be on 10July Friday. Yeah! It’s my workday so I dun need to work. Haha!

Bad news: there will be no mid year bonus for govt employees. Now I wonder whether I can get 13th month at the end of this year. Best not to put any hopes high. This year has been braced urself!

Ring of fire solar eclipse-21 June 2020

The first solar eclipse of 2020 also known as ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse occurred today 21 June 2020.

The last time I saw this was on 27 Dec 2019, just before covid-19 begins....however unlike last year, Singapore was not able to view it.

I don’t know if this is a bad omen coz immediately after that, covid-19 began to spread in China where it originated and spread to the rest of the world. It felt like a different world before and after covid. 

Maybe I was just being paranoid but I don’t feel good about this and maybe it could be start of something else coming?? Btw, there will be another ring of fire solar eclipse coming Dec 2020. 

For now, I just wish 2020 will be over soon. We are all halfway through now and hopefully we can all survive through this year.

Breaking news: Start of Phase 2 on 19 June

Yeah! The news just announced that Phase 2 will start this coming Friday! Almost all businesses will open and dining out will be allowed again. No more takeaways! 

This means I can finally go shop at Diaso, Kinokuniya book store and UNIQLO starting this Friday! First, I need to satisfy my BBT craving from Yuancha-tieguanyin latte with QQ rainbow! Haha....
Finally.....sth to plan and look forward to....

Truedan brown sugar milk tea icecream

Being looking for this for a long time since I last saw it being advertised on 7-11. End up I found it at NTUC finest at 100AM. Truedan is a chain of bubble tea from Taiwan. There are branches in Singapore but I have not got the chance to try it yet. 

Conclusion: there wasn’t any pieces of peanuts on top, just some tasteless powder which was quite redundant. Brown sugar milk tea flavor was good and strong. Noticed a few pieces of ‘pearls’ inside which taste like dehydrated lumps of flour, not chewy at all which is to be expected. Inside of cone was coated with chocolate. 

Would not get it again as it just seem average to me. 

It’s Day 14 of phase 1 reopening. No bubble tea stores are opened yet. News of phase 2 opening seem to be near as recently someone was arrested for leaking phase 2 info....guess the plans are out but not yet officially released. I’m so looking forward to Kino, Pokémon center and UNIQLO....🥺

Day 56-last day of circuit breaker

Today is the last day of circuit breaker. But it makes no difference to me as tmr marked the start of a 3 phase gradual resumption of activities. Starting with phase 1 which is most ppl can return to work but no dining in allowed, no retail stores or bubble tea shops opened. Some kids can go back to school so it’s good news for some parents but since I got no kids, it’s no different for me. So basically, phase 1 is no different from circuit breaker to me. Face mask is a norm in future.

Good news is that, phase 2 might be starting in mid June so I’m so looking forward forward to dinning out again! Retail stores and bubble teas will be back and I can go shopping in UNIQLO again. I hope Kino can be open too. 

To date, there are 35292 cases in Singapore. No community cases were reported today.