1 Out of 7 Billion
The world is getting smaller everyday but a lifetime is not enough to explore it. My adventure starts in Singapore.
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Weekend Food Adventures All Over Singapore
November 4, 2009
During the past few weekends, I had the chance to check out places for the first time.
1) Fika
I forgot how my sister and I ended at this place for lunch. I think she saw it when she was with her friends for a drink somewhere in the area.
Haven’t tried a Swedish resto in recent memory (does IKEA count?) so it truly fit into the plan of exploring Singapore on weekends.
Food was ok but don’t think I will be taking a return trip anytime soon except to try their other desserts (see photos of what we tried below)
Contact info:
257 Beach Road ; Ph +65 9002 3853
Swedish meatballs
2) Azzura Beach Bar
This place promotes itself as a venue for hydrosports activities, sumptuous bistro, Singapore first coffee cocktail bar, state of the art entertainment club (based on the Sentosa ad). The club wasn’t operational yet when I visited in mid October. Some of the hydrosports activities offered : banana boat, flying fish, kayak.
Rich (Herrera), one of my friends from Manila, visited Singapore for a work-related activity and recommend that we catch up here for drinks. Some of his local friends also joined in the afternoon.
Place is cool, better than Cafe del Mar (in my view). Only problem is that I really don’t want to get a one or two skin tones darker and I don’t swim.
Anyway, that doesn’t take away the fun if I just wish to go for a drink or too on a lazy Sunday afternoon in south Singapore!
Azzura is located along Siloso Beach, Sentosa island
Club Opening Hours
Mon-Thurs
9am – 12mn
Fri-Sun, Public Holidays & eve of Public Holidays
9am – 3am
All Water Sports Activities
9am – 7pm daily
3) Bonifacio
A colleague recommended this resto so tried it for Sunday lunch.
Finally, a place that offers great Philippine cuisine at a reasonable cost. Tried the sisig, Bicol express, lechon kawali and a few other desserts. Could barely walk after having a satisfying meal.
Hope you can try it especially if you are near the Outram/Chinatown area.
Contact information:
35 Kreta Ayer, Singapore 08900 ; Ph +65 6222 6676
Sisig (Oven-Roasted Pork Served on a Sizzling Plate)
Crispy Kangkong Puffs Topped with Tomato Mango Salsa
Boni Halo-Halo (Sweetened Banana and Macapuno string served with Milk Sorbet topped with Leche Flan)
Buko Pandan (Coconut String served with Pandan and Cream)
Palitaw (Rice Patties Covered with Sweet Grated Coconut and Cheese)
4) Riders Cafe
This resto has a Project Shop (PS) Cafe feel. Had afternoon tea (scones only, not the towering high tea tray haha). I think this place is better during brunch than afternoon especially as the area could get quite humid.
Quite interesting to see horses graze around the field.
If you are in the Bukit Timah area and have time to explore, try this cafe.
Contact information:
51 Fairways Drive, Bukit Timah Saddle Club ; Ph +65 6466 9819
Horsey horsey 123
Windy Singapore
January 17, 2009 — 3 Comments
It has been very windy in Singapore the past few days that if I were living only a few blocks away from the office I would certainly enjoy walking back home.
The average wind speed here is 15 to 20 kilometers per hour but it has been unusual recently, going up to 30 to 40 kph.
It’s great. I love it especially since it’s not too cold, a stark contrast to my experience in other countries during autumn or winter where I would literally tremble while walking and be forced to take a cab (well, I still take a cab unreasonably often haha).
Although the temperatures have dropped to as low as 24 degrees (even lower for the northern part of Thailand, roughly 2 degrees), it is still bearable. Reports say that between December and March, stronger winds over the South China Sea and parts of the region are caused when “occasional surges of cold air” head this way from northern China. Wow, that’s meteorology at work! Brings back memories of Secondary 1.
The only problem in having a windy environment is that it wastes the minutes I spend in the morning styling my hair. Hmmph. I guess other people have the same view.
So hold on to your wigs, bring your brush/comb/styling product, and carry a more reliable foldable umbrella (is there really one) and prepare to be blown away at least for another couple of days.
Anyway, here are a few self-pics in “genuinely” windy environments… I kinda like wind-styled hair. Haha.
Out in the sea, January 2009
Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand (May 2004)
Updates from Previous Weekends
November 9, 2008
Several friends have been asking what I’ve been up to for the past few weekends. Here’s a quick rundown.
1) FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup 2008 (Singapore Sports School)
The FINA/Area Swimming World Cup happens every year in a few countries (just like the F1). It’s an international meet whose participants have either competed in regional/world championships or just about to get into them (hence, the preparation).
I first caught it last year and learned a few things about swimming (unfortunately, still haven’t picked up the skill), i.e. flags are placed above the pool shortly before the backstroke event so swimmers know that they are a few meters away from turning over; that the swimming assistants (the ones that carry clothes basket) enter after the swimmers have gone to the pool.
This year, I watched with Auleine and Vincent. Lots of events but the longest one was the 1500m race which lasted for 20 mins or so.
Vincent, Auleine, and me
Tao Li (Singapore)
2) Dinner at Project Shop Cafe
Had dinner with Ben, Jeremy, Duncan, Desmond at Project Shop Cafe. With this visit, I can say that I’ve tried all PS Cafe’s in Singapore. Good food and chat ; ended around 1130pm.
PS Cafe (Palais) with Ben, Jeremy, Duncan, Desmond
3) Theater Weekend
I spent several hours in the theater during the weekend of 8-9 November.
“Gemuk Girls”
The Necessary Stage
Synopsis
Kartini and Juliana are not your typical mother-daughter pair — one loud and overbearing, the other straitlaced and on the threshold of entering politics. Together, they are Gemuk Girls and proud of it (Gemuk = fat)
One day, they receive shocking news about Kartini’s father who had been arrested and detained in the 1960′s. Suddenly the floodgates of the family’s emotional past are thrown open. Can a family survive as they struggle to reconcile the past with the present? Will Kartini and Juliana continue to be Gemuk Girls?
Gemuk Girls is a bold and often darkly humorous look at family politics and the politics of the day.
I was amazed with the execution of this production, including the production design and multimedia effect. The performers were effective in their respective roles and I would say very witty in delivery.
I went with Pierre who had acted in several productions including at least one at The Necessary Stage theater over at Marine Parade Community Center.
Pierre knew the people in Gemuk Girls.
Najib Soiman, Alin Mosbit, Siti Khalijah
“Avenue Q”
Esplanade Theater
Synopsis (from www.allmusicals.com)
Avenue Q is about real life. It’s about finding a job, losing a job, learning about racism, getting an apartment, getting kicked out of your apartment, being different, falling in love, promiscuity, avoiding commitment, hangovers, internet porn, and discovering the world.
Here’s a video from a live performance/promo at the West End (length 6 mins 30 sec)
This is the 2nd time I’m catching this musical. Still laughed a lot and so did Pierre and Levin who joined me that afternoon.
Levin and Pierre
4) Lunch at Jones the Grocer
9 Dempsey Road
#01-12 Tanglin Village
Dempsey Road
Singapore
Ph +65 6476 1512
Been here a few times and one Sunday, I had brunch with my sister. The fudge and cupcakes continue to be the highlight of the meal. Yummy!
Fudge (Jones the Grocer, Dempsey)
MAAD Market
August 11, 2008
In a moment of brilliance, I remembered that the MAAD market was happening at the Red Dot Museum at the beginning of August (so this is a really late entry!).
MAAD stands for Market of Artists and Designers. It happens every first weekend of the month. Lots of interesting stuff, mostly those you can’t easily find in retail outlets around Singapore. It’s a good venue for artists and designers to showcase their wares.
The Red Dot Museum has red windows.
I was able to buy several items during previous visits (i.e. customised laptop cases, transparent laptop stand, bracelets for friends). In this trip, I got a humorous book about the unique aspects of Japan, a box of postcards on Beijing, a compilation of award winning love stories and poems.
One thing that was different from this month’s MAAD was an area where you can pay SGD8 for art class students to draw a portrait of you based on their vantage point. You sit still at one spot and they do the work. I was conscious of being looked so I didnt go for it. Maybe next time.
Area for local artists to perform surrounded by market stalls
More stalls selling great stuff
I also realised during such visit that the Red Dot Museum was walking distance from the Tanjong Pagar MRT station. I usually take the cab to the musem. Always good to learn alternative ways to reach a spot.
Singapore MRT Train Network :
Red Dot Museum is very near Maxwell Foodhouse, a popular hawker center. You should try to porridge when you have the chance!
National Day
August 6, 2008
Singapore’s 43rd birthday soon so that means it’s my 3rd consecutive year to catch the activities for National Day!
The theme for this year’s NDP is “Celebrating the Singapore Spirit” and the theme song reflects this theme by calling Singaporeans to “Shine for Singapore”.
National Day Parade Trailer
In line with this theme, the concept of the music video aims to reflect the Singapore Spirit through the unfolding of three inspirational stories that portrays compassion, determination and the nurturing of the young.
The first story tells of how a newspaper delivery man perseveres to train for a vertical marathon by taking the stairs to distribute papers despite his old age.
Another story illustrates how a boy shows compassion to girl with a limp by designing a pair of special shoes for her, to enable her to walk normally.
The last story depicts how parents and teachers can nurture a child by being supportive and patient in understanding her creative vision.
The music video ends with the piecing up of the child’s art pieces to form a huge star – the motif of the music video that signifies every Singaporean is a star in their own way, shining bright for Singapore.
“Shine for Singapore” music video directed by Gloria Chee; starring Nat Ho
Theme song performed by Hady Mirza (English version),
Joi Chua (Mandarin)
