How many bowls can you eat?

Who says Golden Mile Complex is the only place you go when you are craving for Thai food? Folks, especially those living in the East/Bedok area, you have another option now. Even if you're not staying in the East, fret not! Thai Boat Noodle is only a stone's throw away from the MRT station.


Thai Boat Noodle offers authentic thai cuisine right in here in our sunny island. Founded by Khum Aum, a Thai-Chinese lady who is very passionate about Thai dishes. Thai Boat Noodles only use the freshest ingredients, most of them are sourced directly from Thailand, prepared by Thai chefs. You will find nothing short of authentic Thai food here in Thai Boat Noodles.


The name of this place says it all - Thai.Boat.Noodles.
The are 4 styles to choose from and they typically cost... $1 or $1.50 maximum. It is very cheap! You can also find many great and decently-priced thai food here.






The open-concept casual dining restaurant can house large groups comfortably (they have longer tables!). Love the bird cage lights and the see-through kitchen design.

Thai Milk Tea ($3)

This is quite different from your usual milk tea. You can taste more of the bitterness of the tea and the smoothness of the milk. A drink you cannot miss when you're patronising Thai food chains.

Look Choup (8 pieces @ $6.80)

This is actually the first time I tried this. Contrary to common beliefs, this is actually not sweet at all! Or perhaps Thai boat noodles did a good job. I like the yellow bean paste inside (yellow bean paste/red bean paste > peanuts anytime!). The 'skin' of this is quite exotic; I can't figure out what it is made of. Anyone can enlighten me? I'm too lazy to google. :p

Tom yum fried rice ($7.80) Tom Yum paste, mixed veg, prawns, cucumber, tomato

The fried rice is very rich and flavourful. I will love it even more if it is more dry. I find it a bit mushy for the Chinese in me. If you're a fan of more soggy fried rice and Tom yum, this is for you. Serving is goof for a person or two to share if you are ordering other dishes.

Crispy chicken skin ($4.80) Pieces of chicken skin fried to perfection, seasoned with own secret recipe

Don't be afraid of it! I mean it IS sinful but you undoubtedly can have it once in a blue moon. The chicken skin is surprisingly not too fat/oily. It is super crispy on the outside yet still quite juicy on the inside. It is perfect with awesome Tom yum sauce (secret recipe!) and sweet chili sauce.

Homemade Lemongrass ($3)

Not a fan of lemongrass so I did not finish this. I cannot appreciate the taste... yet. It will probably go very well with spicy dishes.





And here comes the highlight - THAI BOAT NOODLES.
They come in 4 different variations - soup, dry, spicy, tom yum.

Boat Noodles Soup ($1) Rice noodles, Pork ball, bean sprout, kang kong, pork broth

Boat Noodles Dry ($1) Rice noodles, pork ball, pork slice, bean spout, kang kong, homemade thai black sauce

Spicy Boat Noodles ($1) Glass noodles, pork ball, minced pork meat, cucumber, onion, tomato, chinese parsley

It is spicy and sour at the same time. Feels like an appetiser more than a main dish. Very light and refreshing.

Tom Yum Noodles ($1.50) Rice Noodles, prawn, fish slice, bean sprout, tomato wedge, kang kong, tom yum soup

Thai Pandan Jelly (4 pieces @ $5) Chestnut, coconut milk, pandan jelly

I am really not very picky with food but I don't really appreciate a lot of things made with coconut/coconut milk. Since Michelle likes it, it should be good!


They forgot to serve us the last drink - Homemade Roselle - to try. It's okay!




Overall, this is the place you can consider if you are looking for affordable, authentic thai food. It is a good place to have lunch or dinner in Singapore; it is crowded but not too packed. I would love to try their pad thai, mango sticky rice and mookata one day. Till then~




Thank you @ thai boat noodle for hosting us. Met a bunch of really welcoming and friendly people. All opinions are nonetheless, unbiased. 

Contours Express - Women-friendly gym

Many feel that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is expensive, tough and time-consuming. I agree, before I try Contours Express.
Moreover, female gyms are the best! I get really uncomfortable in mixed gyms, especially when I want to use the weights/equipments.

Who is Contours Express?

Contour Express is a neighbourhood all-women gym catered specially for us ladies. The coaches there will design a workout regime catered to your needs while guiding you along. I especially like the fact that you can probably find an outlet near you! Contour Express branches are commonly found in the less 'urban' areas such as Jurong East, Woodlands, Punggol etc. Their effective and stress-free workout programs only takes you 29 minutes.

Yes you heard me right, all you need is 29 minutes to get in shape. Of course you have to be diligent and watch what you put in your mouth to reach your goal.

What does a typical session looks like?

• Registration

Which is mandatory. You will be given a form with the usual details (contact info, current health, health of family members and goals) to fill up.

I like the fact that they asked what my goals are before personalising my workout regime for me. If you know me personally you will know I hate my flabby arms the most because they just don’t go away. Hence, I am glad the trainers took my concerns into consideration before planning my routine.

• Body test

First it is the typical height and weight. I shan’t disclose the figures because well, I am not exactly proud of them LOL. You can probably tell anyway!

Second, they will use a special equipment to measure your body fats and water percentage. It looks like it will hurt but don’t worry! It doesn’t! I was genuinely scared when they said it will hurt a lot haha. #lowpaintolerance



I am pretty surprised my water level is quite high. I don’t drink much water you see.
Body fats percentage is the most embarrassing one. That’s why I told you I am not skinny. I am just tiny, but fat. 19% is excellent and over 25.4% needs improvement, can you see where I stand now?

• Preparation

There are lockers for you to keep your things in. You can leave your water bottles and shoes there if you intend to work out regularly. Contour Express Jurong East has space for you to keep your stuff.

I changed into my comfy attire and sports shoes in their changing room.

• Warm up

Warming up is rather easy. All I had to do is cycle for 5 minutes on the bicycle machine. I have to burn a certain amount of calories during the time allocated.

• 29 minutes circuit training

The circuit training is repeated twice. There is a video playing and every time is sounds, you have to switch to another station. The training alternates between cardio (for your heart, coordination, whole body) and machines (for toning, building strength, targeting certain parts of the body).

They said I looked too happy for a person exercising LOL

A trainer will be there to guide you! Not to worry!

And CardioPS: I am quite a joke; can’t coordinate to save my life lol.

• Warm down

Warm down?! Pardon me I really don't know the word for it but you get the drift right. Did some stretching and toning. This is very crucial -  do it correctly and you will be free from muscle ache.


I feel good after my session with them! The intensity was okay, manageable for a weak person like me haha. Andddd we are done! Everything in 29 minutes. It is super express compared to the typical gym sessions right?! You will reap the same benefit despite that. You can stay on to work out a bit more if you wish.

Amenities

There are quite a handful of equipments for use, plenty of yoga mats, weights and whatnot. Basically it is everything you need in a small compacted place.

Other than this, there is:
1 shower room with basic shampoo and body wash.
1 ladies
1 changing area

There is hair dryer, mirror and hangers to hold your clothes.

Locations

Bukit Batok
Choa Chu Kang
Jurong East
Bishan
Tanjong Pagar
Yishun
Woodlands
Bedok
Pasir Ris
Tampines
Buangkok-Hougang
Serangoon

Spot one near your place yet?

Punggol

Why Contours Express?

1. Locations

What's better than the near proximity of the gym? I really don't know.


2. 29 minutes circuit training

All you need is 29 minutes per session to reach the fats burning region. The circuit training is a good mixture of cardio and toning equipments, which is helpful to tone, burn strength and flexibility. Furthermore, the equipments are designed specially for ladies! You will not gain bulky muscles from them.

If you can't even commit 29 minutes of your time, preferably 3 times a week, then you shouldn't complain about your body at all.


3. Ladies only gyms

I find it a tad uncomfortable when I work out in an unisex gym. Moreover, I am not familiar with the equipments at all so I feel stupid fidgeting around. Not a problem at Contours Express.


4. Personlised trainers and workout plan

There are personal trainers in the gym to plan a workout program specially for you and your target. They will be there to guide you along without exerting too much pressure on you, which is perfect. Every 8 weeks (iirc!) they will review your progression and make adjustments according. How personalised can it get? :D


5. Affordable plans

It is a monthly unlimited access membership with price plans from $79 - $109, depending on which plan you take. They have flexible paying schemes as well. Give them a call and the staff will gladly assist you.


6. Long operating hours 

From 1/3/2015, Coutours Express will operate from 6am - 11pm, 7 days a week. It is one of the longest operating gyms in Singapore.  You can go before your work/school or after. Let Contours Express fit into your schedule instead of fitting into the gym's!

PS, note that I went to the branch located in Jurong East. I am entirely sure whether this change in operating hours apply to all outlets. Please give them a call to confirm if you're interested.


7. Other classes

Other than circuit training, weight loss programs and vibration training, Contour Express also conduct various classes (in morning, noon and evening) like Zumba, Kickboxing and even dances like Hip Hop. You are free to join any, according to your timing.


8. Not too crowded

From what I saw, you do not have to queue or wait around for the machine. Since it is a circuit training program, other members shuffle around pretty often. The gym is not overly packed too and the atmosphere is relaxing and good.






But why exactly I find Contours Express, Jurong East, so different from other gyms?

The gym is nothing super outstanding in terms of the equipments and size. It may even pale in comparison to the big, fancy gyms out there in the market but what won me over is the warm hospitality from the trainers there. They guide you along the way but also give you enough room to learn and pick up on your own. They push you to challenge yourself yet they do not force you till you snap.
Furthermore, they know each member’s name. I can’t stress how much I feel about names. Addressing someone by his/her name is such a simple gesture yet a lot of people cannot see the magic it can do to relationships. Kudos to the extra effort and overwhelming passion. I can't say the same for all the branches (I saw good reviews on them though!) but I can vouch for the people I met in Jurong East outlet.


To be honest, I am not the most sociable person you know. I feel awkward most of the time, especially on the first meeting.

However, the warm smiles and friendliness of the trainers made me feel at ease.
The people there really tempt me to go back. I would have join as a paying member if my schedule permits, really!

With my trainer, Sweety!

CNY is more busy than I expected - did more house visiting and whatsnot this year. Still trying my best to clear whatever school work I need to do so let me write a quick one.



17/2/2015, Tuesday

Went for my appointment with the dentist, got my teeth cleaned and got a referral letter for my wisdom tooth surgery.


Will do a separate post about this once I see my surgeon.





18/2/2015, Wednesday

Went to school for 1 hour tutorial before heading back to JB for reunion dinner. Crazy ~3 hours of jam sigh. Went to check the house (which is quite nice) and visited my second aunt.

Dropped by a temple to pray before coming back to Singapore.
oovoo with sm and lt till 4am or so. Dead after that.




19/2/2015, Thursday

CNY day 1. Hop around many houses today.




20/2/2015, Friday

Crossed over to JB early in the morning. Slept till lunch time, had lunch, relatives came over, tons of kids and all, played with Jun Jun and Hong Hong, watched some fireworks, had steamboat dinner, stuck in traffic for an hour or so, back home.







21/2/2015, Saturday

Gave myself a little more rest because I was sleeping at around 3-4am the past few days + waking up early in the morning. Studied my ass off and I am not even near the end. Why they don't put it before CNY? I can't even enjoy my New Year.


Anyhow, watched TWD ep 9 and the quality is so bad. I don't know what I am watching?
(My very pathetic entertainment, please don't).




22/2/2015, Sunday

Studied. Information please stay in my brain. Had steamboat dinner and ended up feeling sick and nauseas for the rest of the night fml. Feels like that time in Busan.

This week is slightly more interesting than any others. Fell a little sick on Tuesday (after all the crazy schedules and not enough rest), went for a food tasting and a workout trial, coincidentally found a nearby Korean school, got zero for lab behaviour after slogging my guts out thanks to whoever who tossed needles in the wrong bin and acted as a saikang for yq and sw.

Back to yoga after a while! I definitely miss challenging myself! Butz, I shall spare my body for a couple of lessons. I've more fats than muscles right now LOL.



Oh tried natural froyo from KFC! Not bad eh, though passion fruit one is more light and refreshing.




4/2/2015, Wednesday

Test :o and met my group mates for one of the mods. I am kind of disappointed because we can do the discussion online. Sigh I guess I am deprived of social life. Don't think I meet anyone new since the start of this year!

This might sound weird, especially from an introvert like me wheee~




5/2/2015, Thursday

Lab day. Got a ridiculously high yield but I think there's something wrong? :(
Thought my luck got better since I found something I've left outside for a week but no LOL.




6/2/2015, Friday 

Test again yo. Then work, which is enjoyable with C & V. I am such a lousy friend - how can I forgot her birthday!! I can't even.. :(

*drastic change of emotions*


Met the girls for dinner at Koh Grill and Sushi Bar for.. SHIOK MAKI~

I don't wear a watch 99% of the time because you know, my phone acts like my everything. I like black watches - either with super thin or super thick strap. I am very particular when it comes to accessories. It is hard to find something I like so I rather not put on any.

Everything is great about this piece except... I still check the time on my phone even when I am wearing it. >w<