Ow Yang Jing Yi's 21st

Together with Ning, we decided to work out a surprise plan for this girl who is totally not concerned about any celebrations. You know how I realised the importance of birthdays (WHILE YOU ARE STILL YOUNG AND FEEL WORTHY OF CELEBRATION) when I was in Shanghai... Especially so when it is a 21st birthday. The official age of being an adult, the key to freedom. An overrated noun which everyone yearns for.

We had a rough idea from very long ago but was caught up with work and holidays. Initially, we wanted to mockup a tea party scenario with our homemade cakes, cookies and pastries. But we could not get the venue in time, could not order the cake in time, could not mass bake so many items in time. We failed. 

I know any cake can be bought easily from the bakeries outside... But it was her 21st... And in my imagination, a 21st birthday cake should be very different and characterized. Getting from a nearby bakery was the last thing I wished to do. Eventually, making the cake on my own is one of the options. Sorry JY, the cake wasn't really professionally done but I hope you can see our effort to make your 21st birthday cake "extraordinary". 

Planned to make a strawberry cake for her but I was in the layered cake mood (after baking my father's bday cake) so I had to think of a layer in another flavour. Butter? Would be too boring. Choc? Doesn't really fit into strawberries. I still have a lot of cream cheese so CHEESECAKE IT SHALL BE!! 

Baked 2 layers of strawberry cake and 1 layer (to be placed in the middle) of cheesecake! I forgot to take photo because I was too caught up with the hosting and surprise... Didn't have the chance to take the cross section of the cake. The cheesecake was nomz but the strawberry layer tasted more like mochi. The cake layers were so soggy and flabby and soft that some parts broke. I had to cut and fix the parts. The round cake turned out to be in an oval shape in the end... 

Made another batch of Strawberry cheesecake in cupcake form with Ning and XY came over on the surprise day itself to help me with the icing. Really damn nice and helpful. It was really none of her business. Ning was treating her like a maid HAHAHAHA.

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Surprise part!! WE NEVER INTENDED TO EAT SWEE CHOON. But we told JY we are heading over for her birthday supper! While Ning met JY outside, close friends gathered at my place to prepare for the big surprise. When everything was ready, I told the girls to come over to my place because I got the car and is able to drive all of us down to Swee Choon for supper! JY even put on a dress HEHEHEE Sorry for making you look forward to slurping down the salted egg yolks custard paste from liu sha bao. 

When the girls reached my place, I had to act damn irritated because "my parents were ordering me around to move things". ALL LIES. We were already starving and late for Swee Choon but my parents still wanted me to move the table down. I tried to get the girls to help me to carry the table down from the top floor. And I assured them we can leave for dim sum after moving that one last table down. JY was so understanding and eager to help. I swear I wanted to laugh out loud but cannot.... I HAD TO TANK. 

When the door opened on the top level, we heard a super loud and unified "HAPPY BIRTHDAY". (I didn't rehearse that part with them btw) It was then followed by birthday song in both English and Chinese. YAY. Surprise success I think we really shocked her. 

Can't believe she still asked if we are really going to Swee Choon afterwards. Hahahaha Siao need to bring so many people to Swee Choon I need to rent a truck first. So we settled on cake/cupcake party (no tea, but had plain water HAHA). Towards the later part, games and gambling came into picture. Typically, it should be followed by supper. There were quite a number of us and we occupied one long stretch of tables at Al-azhar. It really isn't difficult to gather everyone. It just requires some effort to initiate and the other end to take the slightest effort to show up. My supper of plaster prata (YES, AGAIN) and plain lassi was super duper delicious because it's FREE!!!!! Ning treated ALL OF US can you believe the generous working adult!!! 

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On her actual birthday (21st JAN), we met up to pass her presents and to eat! Because of some clashes in schedules, my mom joined us too and the best part? MY MOM's TREAT!!! LOL. We had Korean food at Beauty World top floor in between the peranakan restaurant and the bakery. 

The cafe was called "Pink Candy" and the cook is a beautiful Korean lady.

(from left) Helper, Cook, JY

She cooks at the counter right in front of you! Food was fresh and super delicious!!! FREE FOOD ALWAYS TASTE GOOD. HAHAHA. It's quite a small cafe it felt cosy and heartwarming when you see Koreans coming in for a meal and they seemed like super supportive loyal customers. 

Soy Bean Paste soup, Rice Cake

This is my favourite! Seafood pancake.

After that, we went to the food court (actually a small hawker) for Teh Tarik. They serve really good teh tarik. JY and I always eat cai fan with teh tarik after tuition on Sundays... Ahhhhh those days... I shared with my mom who barely touched her drink. It wasn't enough. Really love it soooo much I had to dabao another cup of teh tarik home! Hhehehe. 

Chilled and tcss. Amazed by how my mom managed to sit through our tcss session. 

Dear JY,
I hope you can feel our sincerity and appreciate your 21 years and more to come. We hoped to make your 21st a memorable one. Not really massive kababooom sort of celebration but we tried our best... 

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY OW YANG JING YI!!!!