if you’re geeky like me and love spending some alone time with the computer once in a while (or perhaps everyday), check out these hidden object games. i love that they are not too addictive like one of those full-fledged games, yet fun enough to have kept me interested for months.

in a typical hidden object game, you are shown a picture of a cluttered place with a mass of different objects. a list of objects is also indicated, from which you’ll try to spot from the picture. intrigued? i have a sample of pictures here. do play along and leave your answers in the comment box if you wish!

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gosh, look at all these yummies! can you spot the fried chicken? or perhaps the lollipop? this screenshot was taken from the little shop of treasures game series. in the game, you are given only 5 minutes to search for 15 hidden objects. of course, there are several beautiful places that you would be poring over.

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sparklette.net has switched hosting servers! but before i even delve into the technical details, i would like to use this opportunity to get your opinion. what would you like to see on this blog? is it the food porn? the cute animal photos? do take this poll and let me have a clearer idea on what everyone is interested in. it would help improve my focus.

vote away!

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during special chinese occasions, it’s customary for us to celebrate by eating certain traditional food. mooncakes are eaten on mid-autumn festival. similarly, rice dumplings (粽子) are eaten on the dragon boat festival (端午节). this festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month on the chinese lunar calendar, hence it’s also known as double fifth.

for those of you that are unfamiliar with chinese culture, a rice dumpling is glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or pandan leaves, whose faint fragrance permeates into the rice. sometimes, blue coloring derived from blue pea flower is added to give the rice a sweetened tang. it certainly ramps up the uniqueness of this traditional snack!

Photo credit: SeetYing

with dragon boat festival falling on june 8 this year, i thought i would celebrate by showcasing unique rice dumplings from around the world (in addition to eating my favorite rice dumplings, of course).

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coffee drinkers in singapore are spoiled for choice. whether you’re in the mood for traditional coffee such as old town or ya kun, or western coffee like tcc or starbucks, a coffee joint is always nearby where you can get a cup of joe.

for many coffee lovers, mccafé is probably not within your preferred list of coffee joints. after all, mcdonald’s is known more for the fast food. when it comes to coffee and coffee alone, there are certainly many larger and more established café chains.

but here’s one thing about mccafé: they always try. a nice cup of coffee can be perfected by a touch of art. look how prettily they have done up my mochaccino!

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many of you are probably already familiar with oasis taiwan porridge. for 35 years, this riverside restaurant occupied a standalone building beside kallang basin, becoming a landmark in its own right. to many families, it’s a popular gathering place. i have friends who grew up going there for family dinners during special occasions.

but in land-scarce singapore, buildings with a rich history or sentimental value are being torn down to pave the way for modern developments. likewise, oasis had to suffer the same fate when it closed down in march this year to make way for the upcoming sports hub.

thankfully for its many loyal patrons, oasis opened again a month later in toa payoh town park — right opposite my office! in keeping with its tradition, the restaurant is still a standalone building. it even overlooks a large pond that should give its customers a sense of nostalgia.

naturally, a colleague of mine who has fond childhood memories of patronising the restaurant was eager to visit it again. so one weeknight after getting out of office, we simply crossed the streets and had our dinner there!

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