Board Games - Part 1

Hey guys!

For those board/card gamers out there like me, here's a post for you! These are some games that I own and/or have played before and I can't wait to share my experience! You can try them the next time you visit a game cafe and I hope these reviews can help you out when you're considering to purchase a game! I tend to go for games that are easy to learn and have minimal rules; so the following games should be easy for beginners. Extensions, variations and tips can be explored on your own.

Resistance

No. of players: 5-10
Est play time: 30 min
Genre: Strategy, party

How to play: Each player will draw a character card - Resistance (indicated as blue/fist, aka good guys) or Spy (indicated as red/targetboard, aka bad guys).

The ratio of Resistance to Spy is dependent on the number of players, as seen on the left of the image below.

After everyone has chosen his/her character card, randomly select a Leader. The Leader will instruct everyone, including him/herself, to close eyes. The Spies will then be ordered to open their eyes to acknowledge each other. After which, the Leader will order the Spies to close their eyes before getting everyone to open eyes again.

The game consists of maximum 5 rounds, each round includes a team building phase and a mission phase. The Leader position will be passed to the next person on the right after each round. At the start of the round, the Leader will select players, including or excluding him/herself, to participate in the mission. The number of members in the team is dependent on the total number of players and the round number, as seen on the right of the image above. After the Leader has made his/her decision, everyone will vote to approve/reject the team (by majority). If the team is rejected, the next player becomes the Leader and build his/her new team.

For the mission phase, the members will have a success and fail card each. They have to decide and pass one of the two cards to the Leader to shuffle. The Leader will open up the played cards to determine the success of the mission. The mission fails if one (or more) fail card has been played.

Spies win when:
- 5 mission teams are rejected in a single round (5 consecutive failed votes)
- 3 failed missions

Resistance wins when:
- 3 successful missions


Taboo

No. of players: 4+
Est play time: as long as you want
Genre: Family, creativity

How to play: This game has many versions and variations; there is Singaporean version; you can play in teams or individual. Generally, the idea of the game is to describe a particular word without mentioning the taboo words at the bottom of the card. Eg. describe "car" but cannot mention the words "car", "driver", "ride", "transport", "fast", "travel". The player on the left or right acts as the "police" to catch any taboo words used. The next player will take over the description role after the time limit. The objective of the game is to guess correctly as many words as possible.

Uglydoll

No. of players: 2-6
Est play time: 15 min
Genre: Speed, family

How to play: All uglydoll cards are shuffled and scattered face down on a tabletop. Turn by turn, each player flips over one random card. Whenever 3 of the same uglydoll appears, be the fastest to shout "ugly, ugly, ugly" and snatch as many of the 3 cards as possible. The player with the most cards on hand at the end is the winner.


Saboteur

No. of players: 3-10
Est play time: 30 min
Genre: Strategy, family

How to play: Each player will draw a character card - Miner or Saboteur. The ratio of Miner to Saboteur is dependent on the number of players. The character roles should be kept secret from one another.

• 3 players: 1 saboteur and 3 gold miners
• 4 players: 1 saboteur and 4 gold miners
• 5 players: 2 saboteurs and 4 gold miners
• 6 players: 2 saboteurs and 5 gold miners
• 7 players: 3 saboteurs and 5 gold miners
• 8 players: 3 saboteurs and 6 gold miners
• 9 players: 3 saboteurs and 7 gold miners
• 10 players: all dwarf cards

Set up the game area with the ladder card and the 3 end cards placed horizontally. The space between the ladder card and the 3 end cards is 7 cards long and the space between each of the 3 end cards is 1 card wide, as seen below.

For 3 to 5 players: Each player is dealt 6 cards.
For 6 to 7 players: Each player is dealt 5 cards.
For 8 to 10 players: Each player is dealt 4 cards.

Each turn, a player can choose to discard a card or play a path or action card. All path cards should be placed in the same orientation as the ladder card. The path card played should also connect all existing paths surrounding the played card. Upon carrying out an action, draw a new card from the draw pile.

When action cards with a red circle are placed in front of a player, it implies that the player is unable to play path cards from then on. The red cards can be neutralised with cards that have the corresponding symbol in green.

The map action card allows the player to take a peek at one of the 3 end cards.
The demolish card allows the player to remove one path card in the game area.

The objective of Miners is to get to the Gold card amongst the 3 end cards.
The Saboteur will win the game if the Miners fail to do so when the cards run out.



More reviews are on the way, including The Forbidden Island, Dixit, Sushi Go and Khet 2.0 Laser Game.

So sorry for not posting anything for quite some time. I have been very busy with my new academic course - Master of Science (Audiology). I will write a post on it in the near future as well.

LOL (lots of love),
Jensylee

Module Review 4

14. LAJ2201 Japanese 2
Semester: 2
Type: UE
Difficulty level: 5/5
Interesting factor: 4/5
Workload: 1 x 2h lecture, 2 x 2h tutorial, 1 x 1h tutorial (there is a change in syllabus for the entire Japanese course - removal of the 1h tutorial and reduction of the number of chapters covered)

Description: Jap 2 is definitely not just about memorising grammar and vocab anymore; there are a lot more grammar forms that you need to learn - when and how to use them. Although you would already have a level of understanding for Jap by now, the piling up of grammar forms are just so heavy that you can get confused most of the time. However, the more there is to learn, of course it would be more advantageous to you when you have mastered them. Upon clearing Jap 2, you sbe able to read a map, combine many actions into one sentence, understand casual sentences (such as that in animes) and make more complex sentences etc. Jap 1, as in module review 3, is the learning of the Jap characters and learning to make very simple and formal sentences. So, you can see, it's a very big leap from Jap 1 to Jap 2. You can expect real otakus in the class too. Each level that you progress to is like a natural filter for otaku; if you're progressing up the levels, most likely you are an otaku too. Although I'm not an otaku, I would encourage you to take the module since you have already gone through so much in Jap 1, and you can get a certificate after clearing. However, just be mentally prepared that it will not be easier than Jap 1. Oh! And I almost forgot, the listening... is super tough. 

Assessment: There were just as many, or even more quizzes than Jap 1 - 13 vocab quizzes (based on number of chapters), 10 lecture/grammar quizzes, 4 listening quizzes, 1 oral exam, 1 listening exam, mid term (listening, grammar, vocab, reading) and final exam (listening, grammar, vocab, reading).

Grade: B

15. DSC2006 Operations Management
Semester: 2
Type: UE
Difficulty level: 4/5
Interesting factor: 3/5
Workload: 1 x 2h lecture, 1 x 1h tutorial 

Description: This module covers mainly the background job of a manager, such as inventory, queue and revenue management etc. The content is quite heavy for each topic. There will be a project but it only circles around one specific topic; so by the end of it, you would be somewhat an expert in that topic. As there is no mid-term, it is necessary that you revise well to prepare for the final exam, which mainly touch on calculations.

Assessment: Just like any other business modules, there would be tutorial questions for homework and to be able to answer them in class contributes to participation. On top of that, there was no mid-term but there was a project (5 man team) which you would need to write a report and present on. And finally, a final exam of MCQs.

Grade: A (surprisingly; i guess the project really helped)

I know this module review came a little late, like a week after bidding, but i hope it will help you in the future bidding. All the best for your current semester!!

Lots Of Love (LOL),
Jensylee

Desserts

Hey guys!

Ever got frustrated by those drool-inducing yet pocket-burning desserts? And travelling to the cafe itself is already a hassle. Fret not! I've listed 5 desserts (not in any order) that are low cost, can be found near you and still as awesome.

1. Ice cream

I stay in the west of Singapore, so Jurong Point is a convenient mall to go to. It has a few themed sections - Japanese, Korean, Hong Kong, sports - that you can explore. And within the Japanese street, there are a few nice, innovative and cheap food. One of which is the waffle ice cream (i don't exactly know the official name for it). It's a simple, tasty massive piece of ice cream with interesting looking waffle skin, which makes it look just like a magnified chocolate bar.  It comes in vanilla and chocolate flavour and it's just $3 for that huge chunk! I guess there are other flavours, like matcha, elsewhere but i have yet to come across those.

2. Yogurt

Danone Greek Yogurt is my favourite 'true' yogurt, which is actually good for health. Unlike those overrated, more-like-milk-ice-cream froyo out there. It comes in different flavours - blueberry (my favourite!), strawberry and honey. It's $8 for 4: you can't even get 2 froyo with these! I like it creamy and has real fruity goodness blended in there. It's just nice for people who dislike the sour taste of mainstream yogurt and the serving is just nice too. You can conveniently find them in supermarkets! How great is that!

3. Chocolate Lava Cake

Here comes the most 'high-class' dessert out of the 5 (but if you're a true dessert lover, no one dessert is higher class than the other). The travelling and waiting time wasted on high class desserts can be better spent by baking your own. The ingredients are very convenient to get and required only in small amounts. It's quite simple to do it on your own too.

Ingredients (1 serving)
1 whole egg
1 egg yolk
25g sugar (can be reduced)
17g flour
45g chocolate chips
50g butter
cocoa powder (for layering the sides and bottom of the mould to prevent sticking)

Steps
1. Heat and mix the chocolate chips and butter (A).
2. Mix (by beater or by hand) the egg, egg yolk and sugar (B).
3. Pour (A) into (B).
4. Apply a thin layer of cocoa powder on the sides and base of mould.
5. Pour the batter into the mould. Do not fill it to the brim.
6. Put into the oven for 6min at 220 degree Celsius (depending on amount of batter, you might have to adjust the temperature and/or duration).
7. Use a butter knife to separate the cake from the mould, and serve it with a scoop of Wall's vanilla ice cream!
8. (Optional) Shake some icing onto the cake for aesthetic purpose.

*Idea: do try using white chocolate chips and inform me of the outcome! Would it turn out to be a nice white lava cake or would it turn yellow due to the butter?

4. Tokyo Banana

A fan of Tokyo Banana? Why trouble your friend to get it from Japan or frantically search every mall for it when you can make one yourself? You can find the link for the recipe and even a video on how to make it here: http://www.laikabawse.com/entertainment/tokyo-banana-cake/

5. Smoothie

Smoothie is the easiest drink that you can ever make, in just a matter of minutes! And the best thing about it? You can choose what you want to put into it;) The following is a general recipe with my favourite fruits; you can just throw in a whole fruit or alter the amount according to your own preference.

Ingredients (1 serving)
1 mango (peeled and sliced)
1 peach (peeled and sliced)
1/2 cup soy milk or fresh milk
1/2 cup orange juice (full of awesome vit C!)
Ice (optional)

Basically, just throw everything into a blender and spin it until smooth, then pour it into your favourite bottle/mug.

Simple desserts, great happiness. Even better if someone makes it for you ;D Hope you like them!

Lots Of Love (LOL),
Jensylee

P.S. this is not a sponsored post and photos/materials are gotten online for the benefit of the mass. I'm sorry if it's copyrighted D: just leave a comment and I'll take it down:)

Module Review 3

Hey guys!
NUS bidding has started, in case you're still in the holiday mood.
Oh right, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR, PEEPO!!!
Ok back to the topic.
I'm here with 3 more module reviews.

11. LAJ1201 Japanese 1
Semester: 1
Type: UE
Difficulty level: 5/5
Interesting factor: 4/5
Workload: 1 x 2h lecture, 2 x 2h tutorial, 1 x 1h tutorial

Description: For me, it was difficult because everything started with the lecturers speaking in Japanese and Japanese characters all over the place. I don't watch anime or read manga, and I've not learnt the language before, so it's very confusing and mind-freaking for most of the time. So be mentally prepared after you get cheated by the low bidding points. In this module, you get to learn how to write and read Japanese, and most importantly, speak Japanese (a feature of NUS language classes). Private Japanese classes don't really teach pronunciation and intonation which I feel is a pity. Although workload is high with homework and quizzes every tutorial, it kept me consistent throughout the semester.

Assessment: There were 13 vocab quizzes, 6 lecture/grammar quizzes, 4 listening quizzes, 1 oral exam, 1 listening exam, mid term (listening, grammar, vocab, reading) and final exam (grammar, vocab, reading). So basically, there were quizzes every week and every lesson. 

Grade: B+

12. ACC2002 Managerial Accounting
Semester: 1
Type: UE
Difficulty level: 4/5
Interesting factor: 3/5
Workload: 1 x 2h lecture, 1 x 1h tutorial 

Description: This module is totally different from financial accounting, if you have read the review for that. Managerial accounting is more focused on planning and decision making. For non-business students, I don't think it will be useful and thus, not recommended. :( Most people would say it's a lot of common sense but there are also a lot of terms and concepts to grasp. So, I would say, don't bother joining the competition with the business students. Worse still, the lecturer is the fastest speaker I've ever seen. There's no time for us to digest, no time for us to ponder, there's only time for us to get lost in her words. Tutorial every week is also nothing but a waste of time. There's always insufficient time for the TA to finish going through the tutorial questions and since the answers were largely subjective, a lot of time was taken to sort things out among students. One hour is definitely not enough and not productive. In financial accounting, tutorials did clear my doubts and made me understand the topic better, but not in managerial accounting.

Assessment: There's a MCQ mid term test (not enough time => a lot of steps to take to arrive at the answers and because it's MCQ, there's nothing to guide you in your thought process) and a final exam comprising of MCQ and open ended questions. Other assessment components will include homework and class participation.

Grade: B-/S

13. GEK1507 Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
Semester: 1
Type: Science GEM
Difficulty level: 4/5
Interesting factor: 3/5
Workload: 2 x 2h lecture

Description: 5 words to fully describe this module => A HELL LOT OF CONTENT. However, the content was not difficult to understand. No chemical compounds, little/no scientific names, just MEMORISE.

Assessment: Mid term of 8 true/false/justify questions and a final exam of MCQ. In addition, there was a group project to create a video based on a CAM topic.

Grade: B-

Just a gentle reminder, Year 3s, please remember to file for graduation or file for graduation with option of honours project!

Lots Of Love (LOL),
Jensylee

Top 5 of my Bucket List

Being someone who enjoys adrenaline rushes and thrills, it's no surprise that I have a bucket list and I believe most of you should have guessed what will be on that list.

1. Bungee Jumping
Yupp, this is definitely on my bucket list. Well, you get to jump off from a certain height without actually dying. Why not? I've actually thought of the various ways to die and how each of them would feel like, and this is like a real enactment of jumping off a building! Not that I'm a sicko or anything but it seems interesting to experience what that feels like.

2. Amusement Parks
Oh yea! Amusement parks are where all the thrilling rides are. Roller coasters, viking ships, space shots... Visiting one is not enough! I'm intending to visit ALL amusement parks and try ALL the rides of different countries. It's when I get those near-death feeling that I cherish what I have now and that I'm thankful for being alive.

3. Sky Diving
Free falling~~~ I have actually dreamt of being a bird and I love how I could drift swiftly in the sky. That sense of freedom and that feeling of the wind brushing against my arms were indescribable. Although sky diving isn't exactly like that, it's the nearest I could get and falling back to the ground would remind me of returning back to reality after all the fun, so that I could stop dreaming of the impossible. Hahaha.

4. Hot Air Balloon
Wee~ Being on a hot air balloon seems like you are above everything else on the ground. Unlike a plane, you could still see what's going on down there and the beautiful sceneries that are difficult to come by. It's considerably cheaper and more peaceful than taking a heli, I guess?

5. Great Barrier Reef
Done with all the flying, it's time to explore the sea. Nature is the most beautiful creation and especially since the Great Barrier Reef is dying out due to global warming, I need to visit it soooooon!!!!!

Life is short; be adventurous. What adventures do you have on your bucket list?

Lots Of Love (LOL),
Jensylee

Visiting a Dentist

3 months ago, I had a swell in my gums at the front of my lower jaw. It was so painful and uncomfortable that I decided to visit someone that I dread seeing - a dentist. For many years, since the removal of my braces in 2008, I had always avoided the dentist whenever I could because each time I stepped into the dentist's office, it would mean pain. Even though I'm someone who is very tolerant of such sensation, I couldn't stand the piercing pain when a scaler tip touched my gums. And every time, there would be blood.

However, this time, the swell was my turning point. Initially, I thought it was just a minor infection and some medication and sorts would be all. Reality struck me when the dentist revealed my oral condition - general and localised gingivitis (gum infection: general refers to the entire mouth while localised is the prominent swell at the front), receding gums, decay and sensitive teeth. As such, it's the first time I was given antibiotics, asked to go through curettage and did a filling. Curettage is a deep gum pocket cleaning after injecting anaesthesia.  All these might seem alright, nothing serious, but what scared me the most was the effects of receding gums.

Apparently, our gums are not just pieces of flesh filling up the gaps between our teeth; there is bone in the gums which helps to keep our teeth erected and firm. When we don't have good oral hygiene, bacteria are trapped in the gum pockets and slowly degrade the bones. These bones can't be restored. So eventually, the gums will be "eaten away" and the teeth will start to lose their foothold and drop off. This usually happens to people with considerable years of living. Yet, it's happening to me!

So, my oral routine started to change. Now, I brush twice a day followed by a mouth rinse and each brush takes about 3 minutes. Just after a week or so, I could see the great improvement in my gum condition. There was no more bleeding and my gums look healthier with a tinge of pink (instead of red/brown).

I'm not sure if it's coincidental or fate that I found a job at a dental clinic not long after the incident. Having worked there for 3 months, I've seen many oral conditions. Some good but mostly bad, and there were a few really gross ones. They serve as a constant reminder for me to take good care of my teeth and gums. I also became more conscious like always keeping a lookout for trapped food and black spots.

I also came to know that I'm not the only one who's frightened by the thought of seeing a dentist and the reason is always pain. In fact, these are usually the ones who have poor oral hygiene. It's a vicious cycle, really. It's difficult to maintain good oral condition without regular updates on it from a professional. So when people don't do their regular check ups because of fear, their oral conditions deteriorate and it is these poor oral conditions that cause the pain.

Fear of pain -> avoid dentists -> oral problems -> real pain -> continue avoiding dentists

Therefore, my inspiration for this post is to help those who fear dentists and warn those who always think that they have no time, or there is no need, for dental check ups. Don't wait till your gums show signs of swelling and pain before you start taking action; by then, it will be too late. When you feel something, it means it's really bad. Teeth are not just cosmetically appealing, you need them for eating, so don't ignore them!

Below are 3 simple tips to care for your teeth and gums:

1. Practice good oral care
Floss, brush and rinse. Take note of the sequence! When you floss, wrap your tooth with the string and "scoop" out the dirt. Don't scrub your teeth with it; it will just spread the bacteria all over. Morning floss is optional. Brush at least twice a day. Use a soft brush and don't brush too hard, or else your gums will get hurt. Position your toothbrush on your gumline (where the gums and teeth meet) and go in circular motion. Brush for about 2-3 minutes, focusing more on areas that bleed easily or prone to infection/food trapping. Rinsing after you brush helps to clear up remaining bacteria that can't be reach by your toothbrush but rinsing alone does not do the trick! Stubborn dirt are not easily removed by rinsing; you need to dislodge them from your teeth physically by flossing and brushing. Choose the mouth wash that suits you best. Personally, I am not fond of the spicy/tingling feeling of Listerine, so I use Colgate's Fruity mouth wash. I don't think there is any significant difference between mouth washes, so just go with the one you prefer most.

2. Go for regular dental check ups
At least twice a year for scaling and polishing. The dentists can also help to check for decays that are not easily visible from your point of view. At the same time, they can provide you with feedback and help you improve on your brushing etc. I know that prices can be a turn off sometimes but it's just twice a year. Just do a simple scaling and polishing, and maybe a filling or two. If you don't take preventive measures, it will cost you even more when something like root canal/denture is needed.

3. Overcome your fear and relax
If you have been brushing well and going for regular check ups, there's nothing to fear about visiting the dentist. Just get over the first one or two visits and the subsequent ones are no challenge to you. Go in, have a chat with the dentist, rinse your mouth (basic courtesy), lie down and open your mouth, breathe deeply through your nose (it calms you down and prevents fogging on the dentist's mirror). Most dentists, or at least the ones whom I work with, are very friendly and understanding. If you feel really uncomfortable, you can always raise your hand to signal to the dentist or ask for an injection. That's if it's REALLY unbearable, be reasonable.

I'm not publicising for any clinic or for the profession. It's just a heartfelt advice after the horrifying incident of gingivitis. Cheers to healthy teeth and gums, everyone!

Lots Of Love (LOL),
Jensylee

My boyfriend's birthday!

Hi guys!

12 October is a good day for me because it's the day my beloved boyfriend was born 23 years ago. This year's theme was set to be "The First" and here I am, typing the First post about his birthday. :D Because of work, we had to celebrate a day early and this day of surprises was planned in the midst of my mid terms. Despite that, I only hit one solid wall of not being able to get his present (still unknown to him) on time. He was also rather skeptical and afraid of what was planned for him but he did well in cooperating. So here goes our day of adventure...

B1, Fountain of Wealth, Suntec City Mall
It's the first shop on the left of the entrance of Tower 5 (MRT)

He was first led to Suntec City Mall, clueless about where we were going to have our lunch - L'Entrecode! I chose this place because it's known for its steak and we both love steak! The atmosphere was very serene and romantic (because of the dim lights). We settled on a French onion soup with cheese bread, and 2 classic Steak and Fries - medium and medium rare. There was actually a daily lunch special (light Steak and Fries with a soup, drink and dessert for $19.90) but we missed it at the entrance :( Oh wells...

The soup was quite nice but it gets too salty when nearing the bottom. Cheese bread was soaked in the soup and I recommend that you eat the bread before it gets too soggy. Although the soup taste was very strong, it didn't mask the greatness of cheese, which threw me into the clouds when I took the first bite. But as I said, it started to get too salty and I got rather queasy after a while. Luckily, we shared that bowl of soup. If only, there were mushroom soup.

French Onion Soup - $9

Coming to the steak, the portion of a classic looked small initially but we both ended up struggling to clean the plates. The steak was really good and totally worth the price. If you are a big eater, you could try large ($39.90). It was sliced up, so it's very convenient. You don't have to spend your energy on cutting up the steak; you just need to simply indulge in the awesomeness of the meat. What's most special about the dish was the sauce! We couldn't get enough of it, especially when the fries was not spiced.

Steak and Fries (classic) - $29.90

After the filling meal, we went to the Alive Museum on level 3 of the mall. We took about 1 hour to finish the entire museum but we didn't stop at every photo-taking point. So, set aside at least 1.5 hours if you intend to go with photo-philic people. Haha. There were some really interesting and funny scenes while quite a number of the others orbit around superheros like Hulk, Superman, Batman...

 

The third surprise was something that he has always wanted to go - a real-life escape room. There are many of them in Singapore, given the popularity of this game. I came across Xcape (Bugis), FreeSG and Exit Plan (New Bridge Road, Chinatown) when I did my research. Due to budget constraint, we went Exit Plan.

I have tried Xcape before and personally, I think that:
1. Xcape is more suitable for many players because
2. The rooms are bigger and a game can involve more than one room,
3. The clues in the rooms are more messed up, and

4. There are many codes to break in such a short time.

On the other hand, Exit Plan was a right choice for us because:

1. There's only one small room to play in,

2. The progression is sequenced, and

3. We were given unlimited helplines (Xcape only had 2).

Despite all these differences, both are equally challenging and fun. Although we sought help a lot of times and we didn't pass the last obstacle, it was a very good bonding session. I would recommend couples to go and work your brains together once in a while. We also came across 2 other escape rooms that day - Lockdown (Suntec, beside Alive Museum) and The Phantom Joker Escape (Neil Road, near Pinnacle@Duxton).

The next and last stop was the Pinnacle @ Duxton. My plan for that was to bring him up to the level 50 sky bridge to watch the sunset and blow the candles on his surprise birthday cake. So, I sought help from my cousin who lives there for the access cards to the sky bridge (visitors have to pay $5, goodness gracious!) and got her to buy a cake. The sad things were, her aunt gave the cake away when we went up to collect the cards and the haze was so bad that the sun was nowhere to be seen. In the end, we only took some pictures, enjoyed the scenery and ate a bit of the cake. Well, that wasn't too bad anyway.

It was then followed by an impromptu dinner with his family and had ice cream at Daily Scoop, Clementi. And I would like to take this chance to wish him once again, Happy 23rd Birthday! :*

Lots Of Love (LOL),

Jensylee