Recently, we had a celebration at Serenity at VivoCity. It is a Spanish bar and restaurant, touted as having some of the best tapas (appetizers) in town. The fame of its suckling pigs and paella also preceded its name. Hence, we decided to have our small celebration there and also check out the food at this Spanish joint.
Decorations at Serenity
Decorations at Serenity
Ambience at Serenity VivoCity
Ambience at Serenity VivoCity
With the posters depicting various parts of Spain as well as the decorations that contributes to a relaxing atmosphere, Serenity gave us quite a good first impression. With prompt service, we were quickly tucked to a cozy corner of the restaurant where we could have our mini celebration. (Do note that this is not an advertorial and we did not inform the management about the celebration)
What to drink at Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant
They say (or the menu says) that a visit to Serenity is never complete unless you have tried its Sangrias. So we believe and ordered 3 Sangrias…
Sangria Pantera Rosa @ Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant – (Red Wine, Raspberry Schnapps, Mixed Berries, Mint, Tonic)
Sangria Pantera Rosa @ Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant – (Red Wine, Raspberry Schnapps, Mixed Berries, Mint, Tonic)
Sangria De Coco – (White Wine, Malibu, Pineapple Juice)
Sangria De Coco – (White Wine, Malibu, Pineapple Juice)
Well, the verdict was not conclusive. Everyone had their own favourites. I liked mum’s Sangria De Coco while Kate loved the Classic Red. Bro enjoyed the Pantera Rosa. From another perspective, the conclusion is that there’s really a sangria suited for everyone! 🙂
What to eat at Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant
Deep Fried Spanish style cod fish cake
Deep Fried Spanish style cod fish cake
For tapas, we tried the cod fish cake. It was not that good. After our crab cakes lesson from USA, we should have avoided “seafood cakes” altogether. Though the crust was crispy, the insides did not do justice to the cod. Well, we’ll leave it as that. Next came the mains…
Pollo con samfaina – (Roasted spring chicken stuffed with Spanish style vegetable rice)
Pollo con samfaina – (Roasted spring chicken stuffed with Spanish style vegetable rice)
Do note that the Paella and Roasted Suckling Pig are hot favourites at Serenity and will take about 30 mins to 1 hour of preparation time (depending on the crowd). Hence, if you’re ordering it, sit down, order these before looking at the rest of the mains or tapas.
Paella. Our favourite has got to be the Paella. Its said that the secret lies in the grains and Serenity uses the Boomba which is able to absorb flavours up to three times as much as normal grain. This move proved to be wise. The Paella was SOOOOOOOOOO flavourful. All the flavours of the ingredients were fused into the tiny grains and bursts forth as you take each mouthful of it. The only comment is that although the ingredients (prawns, mussels) were fresh, the manner of preparation dried them a little too much.
Roasted Suckling Pig. The roasted suckling pig proved to be a favourite as well. At $98++ it had better be good. And it was. The skin was light and crispy. The meat was tender, almost falling off the bones. The combination of the crispy skin and flavourful tender meat? Yummilicious!
In terms of flavour, the roasted chicken was ok. But the rice that went along with it was actually quite good. A little bit sticky but rich in flavours. Perhaps thats where all the flavours of the chicken went to…
Conclusion
The total bill came up to $300+ for 5 people. A little on the ex side. But the authentic Spanish taste did tilt the balance. I mean if you fly 5 people to Valencia to taste the Paella, it would have cost a few thousand bucks right? Hence, for the authentic taste and refreshingly good Sangrias, we give it a thumbs up.
But not too often, else it might just burn a hole in your pocket!
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In our comments section below, tell us more about your visit to Serenity Bar and Restaurant at VivoCity!
Tim Ho Wan, the famous Hong Kong michelin-starred dim sum restaurant has opened its first outlet outside Hong Kong – right here in Singapore @ Plaza Singapura!
Tim Ho Wan @ Plaza Singapura
View of the seatings @ Tim Ho Wan Singapore
Queue for dim sum at Tim Ho Wan Plaza Singapura
If this is your first time eating at Tim Ho Wan, do note that the waiting time can be quite long. As we were eating as a family and needed 8 seats, the staff needed time to re-arrange the seats and wait for patrons to finish up as well. Hence, our total waiting time was close to 2 hours.
HOWEVER, if you are eating as a couple, it is much easier to arrange seats for you. As we were waiting, many couples went ahead of us. Hence, the waiting time for couples is about 30 minutes.
Once you reach the seats in front of the restaurant, you would be given the order chit to have a look at the menu so that you can place orders as soon as you’re seated.
Page 1 of Menu @ Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum
Page 2 of Menu @ Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum
What to order at Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum Restaurant
If you have no idea what to order at Tim Ho Wan, you definitely wont go wrong with the four heavenly kings (四大天王）- Steamed Egg Cake (香滑马来糕), Vermicelli Roll with Pig’s Liver（黄沙猪润肠）, Baked Bun with BBQ Pork （酥皮叉烧包）, Pan Fried Carrot Cake （香煎萝卜糕）。。。
Four heavenly kings (四大天王） @ Tim Ho Wan Singapore
Pan Fried Carrot Cake （香煎萝卜糕）from Tim Ho Wan Plaza Singapura
The carrot cake was flavourful, slightly crisp on the outside and layered on the inside with the textures felt as you go in for your first bite.
Steamed Egg Cake (香滑马来糕) from Tim Ho Wan
The steamed egg cake has always been the surprise for us (we’ve tried the original Tim Ho Wan in Mong Kok, Hong Kong some time back). This is because it is something sweet! Try having something sweet while you’re having the savoury dim sums. Doesnt sound quite right does it? But the egg cake somehow blends in seemlessly with its mild sweetness, light fluffy texture and fragrant brown sugar taste. Somehow it goes really well with the dim sums at Tim Ho Wan…
Baked Bun with BBQ Pork （酥皮叉烧包）@ Tim Ho Wan
The char siew bao as always been the highlight of Tim Ho Wan. So much so that each person is limited to 1 order of the famous dim sum! Unlike all other buns you’ve ever eaten, it is REALLY crispy on the outside and bursting with char siew flavours on the inside! An ingenious creation indeed. Still remember our first bite at Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok…ahh…
Oh, somehow the Singapore version of the baked bun with BBQ pork fares slightly poorer compared to its HK counterpart. Especially the char siew portion. This version is slightly on the sweet side while the one in HK is on the “Oh” side (“Oh” refers to “Oh, this is really good!”)
We also tried several other dim sums such as
Prawn Dumpling (晶莹鲜虾饺）
Garlic Mushroom Spinach Dumpling (金蒜香菇菠菜饺）
You wont miss much if you do not try these 2. But do try the following (plus beef ball – unfortunately we tucked in too fast and forgot to take photo of it :p)…
Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce （鼓汁蒸凤饺）
Beancurd Skin Roll with Pork and Shrimp (鲜竹卷）
Spring Roll with Crab Meat (螃蟹春卷)
The beancurd skin roll, beef ball and spring roll are the next few dim sums that you must try. The meats of the beancurd skin roll and beef ball are fresh, succulent and sort of dances around in your mouth (partly also because its hot) but still, it was yummy!
The spring roll had a sweet, seafood taste to its fillings. Something that you dont quite usually get with spring rolls (usually vege inside right?)
However, if you have space for only 1 other dish, you MUST ORDER the Tonic Medlar & Osmanthus Cake (杞子桂花糕)
Tonic Medlar & Osmanthus Cake (杞子桂花糕) @ Tim Ho Wan
Again, we tucked in ferociously before we took this photo (yes, this is almost the remains of the carcass). The taste was simply REFRESHING! Light refreshing sweetness with lasting tastes of the medlar and osmanthus….did we mention that it was refreshing?
You would definitely enjoy your trip to Tim Ho Wan @ Plaza Singapura. Even our mum who is quite a connoisseur herself (high tea / buffet queen) enjoyed the dim sum at Tim Ho Wan! Hence, we would definitely say it’s worth the wait to eat at Tim Ho Wan (添好运）!
Baked Bun with BBQ Pork （酥皮叉烧包）Tim Ho Wan
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食客 also known as ” The Restaurant Guest” is a Korean BBQ and Grill franchise. Ssikkek Restaurant has several outlets across Singapore in venues such as United Square, Bras Basah as well as this outlet at North Bridge Road!
Ssikkek Restaurant aka The Restaurant Guest @ North Bridge Road
We arrived at this Ssikkek outlet near Chinatown at about 6:30pm and as you can see from the picture, there was already a crowd outside the restaurant! As recommended by many blogs (including this Singapore Travel Blog), you should always make a reservation prior to visit. We could see from the waiting list that the queue number had already reach about 40 people. Thankfully, we made the reservations and we were seated promptly in less than 5 minutes!
What to eat at Ssikkek Korean BBQ and Grill Restaurant
Actually, we did not know what to eat at Ssikkek. We just saw the queue and made it a point to visit. But as they say, if you see a queue, join it! (eventhough sometimes as Singaporeans, you may not know exactly what you’re queuing for, case in point…)
And we were pleasantly surprised…
Variety of Meats including pork collar, pork belly, bacon and beef steaks
The first thing we noticed at the Restaurant Guest is that there is a good variety of meats. Pork collar, pork belly, bacon, beef steaks, marinated chicken and beef were all available. Other than the meats, there is also a small selection of vegetables, squid, prawns and korean dishes such as kim chi, glass noodles and pancakes…
A few choices of Korean cooked food available
Soft drinks, korean tea as well as orange juice are available as well. Kate made a concoction of sprite with orange which tasted like fizzy orange – not bad at all! The star of the show is of course the meats…
Best meats at Ssikkek Korean Restaurant
Close up of the meats available at Ssikkek Korean BBQ
We’ve tried almost all the meats at Ssikkek Korean Restaurant and we must say that although the variety is not that many, the quality more than made up for it. If you prefer to have some fatty bits in your lettuce wrap (which we ate 3 platefuls of to “act healthy” – who are we kidding right?), go for the pork belly. Otherwise, we recommend the pork collar.
It is quite unusual for pork meats to have white bits in the grains of the meat much akin to Kobe beef. But the pork collar at Ssikkek is one of the best korean grills we’ve had. The meat was tender, juicy (even after the BBQ which usually removes moisture) and had a fresh bite to it. Dipped in some reddish korean BBQ sauce, some kim chi, wrapped in green lettuce and stuffed meticulously into your mouth in 1 big mouthful? Just awesome!
Pros and Cons of eating at Ssikkek Korean Restaurant
Let’s start of the pros shall we? The taste was great. Fresh ingredients, no holds barred on the generosity and quality of the meats. Our BBQ plate was also great. The technology allowed smoke to be directed away from you while the oil seeps away through the seams of the plate, leaving you with awesome, well-cooked meat!
Well, there are 2 main cons. Kate pointed out that there weren’t small dishes as a Korean restaurant should have. You know the small dishes like that of Big Mama Korean Restaurant? Yup, those…
Secondly, we realised that although the restaurant has the technology of the BBQ plate which absorbs the smoke from the BBQ, it is not used throughout the restaurant. As a result of these few plates without the suction, the entire restaurant has a “smoke-filled” environment!
How to get to Ssikkek Korean Restaurant BBQ and Grill at North Bridge Road
Map of Ssikkek Korean Restaurant at North Bridge Road (Oriental Plaza)
Ssikkek Korean BBQ and Grill Restaurant
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Whether to eat at Ssikkek Korean Restaurant?
The price of eating at Ssikkek is $24++ every night and only $14++ from Mondays to Fridays for lunch. Sundays and PH costs the same at $24++ throughout the day. Ssikkek opens from 12pm to 2:30pm for lunch and 5:30pm to 10pm for dinner.
We say that given the quality and generous servings of meats at Ssikkek, it was really well-worth it. If you do not mind leaving the restaurant smelling of BBQ, great quality korean BBQ awaits you at the Restaurant Guest – Ssikkek Korean and BBQ Grill!
Orchard Road is Singapore’s premier shopping belt and like most of the shopping districts in the world (think Champ Elysees in Paris, Oxford street in UK and Nathan Road in Hongkong), Orchard Road is a 2.3km shopping belt that caters to the needs of all shoppers from the high end (at Paragon) to the trendy teens (at Far East).
If you’re travelling to Singapore, Orchard Road is definitely a place you must visit!
Map of Orchard Road – Singapore’s Shopping Belt
The whole Orchard Road stretch actually starts from Forum (or Orchard Adelphi) all the way to Plaza Singapura (Dhoby Ghaut MRT) on the other end (together with Cathay movie theatres). However, as Plaza Singapura is sort of de-linked from the rest of Orchard Road (hopefully the whole Orchard Road gets linked up with sheltered walkways in the future), therefore we started our walk down Orchard from Orchard Central.
Orchard Central @ Orchard Road Singapore
Opened in 2009, Orchard Central is the tallest shopping centre along Orchard Road. Although shopping has not really picked up since its opening days, it has carved a niche for itself in the wellness (many beauty salons and hair salons there) as well as the F&B arenas with many choices of restaurants there.
Centrepoint Orchard Road
On the opposite side of the road, you will see Centrepoint. The anchor store here is Robinsons (watch out for the Robinson Sales) as well as the Cold Storage Supermarket.
Orchard Road – 313 Somerset
313 Somerset (right at the doorsteps of Somerset MRT) is one of the busiest shopping centres in the whole of Orchard Road. It boasts of all brands that appeal to the masses (like Zara, Forever 21 etc) and excellent accessibility to the Somerset MRT station.
Orchard Road Singapore – Mandarin Gallery
Mandarin Gallery is a high end shopping mall beneath the Meritus Mandarin hotel. It boasts of high end brands such as Marc by Marc Jacobs & Emporio Armani. Singapore’s world renowned fashion designer Ashley Isham also has a boutique of the same name there. Many teens also flock to Antoinette – a boutique cafe, to enjoy their pastries and cakes!
Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza Orchard Road Singapore
Ngee Ann City or better known locals as Taka (short for Takashimaya, the anchor shopping tenant) has always been the iconic landmark of Orchard Road. It has a good mix of shops catering to the needs of the well-heeled as well as the masses. Plus, many activities takes place at the open area – Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, such as the annual Subaru Challenge.
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre
Wisma Atria has always been considered a “sister” shopping centre to Ngee Ann City because of the link that connects both shopping centres. Traffic would flow from Ngee Ann City to Wisma Atria and vice versa. Recently revamped, Wisma caters to a similar crowd as that of Ngee Ann City.
Ion Orchard – Singapore’s most iconic shopping centre
Ion Orchard is definitely Singapore’s most iconic shopping centre (Vivo City comes in a close 2nd). Like Ngee Ann City, it boasts of all the top brands and caters to the needs of all shoppers. With it’s excellent location (connecting to Orchard Road MRT Station), Ion Orchard is also one of the busiest shopping malls in Orchard Road. The next time you visit Ion Orchard, see if you notice this trend. The more affordable shops are actually located beneath the surface (B1 and below) while the expensive and high ends shops are above the surface…
Far East Plaza
Far East Plaza is one of the top spots for teens and young adults to shop at because of its B1 shops that offers chic fashion at reasonable prices.
Other notable shopping malls include Tangs, Scotts Square and Wheelock Place…
View from Deluxe Room of Singapore Marriott Tangs Plaza Hotel
Wheelock Place
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel Staycation Full Review
Tangs
If you’re looking for 1-for-1 Sangrias, then head on down to Fandango at Chijmes! Kate and I wanted to chill at Chijmes and we chanced upon the happy hour promotions at Fandango, so off we went! (Ok lah, let’s face it, Sangria is a chick’s drink, so you all can guess who wanted to go hor… :p)
The happy hour at Fandango Chijmes starts from 3pm to 7pm daily and is available for Sangrias, house pours and beers. For Sangrias, it is only available by the glass, not the jug.
Sangrias range from $15 to $18 per glass while costing $60 to $70 per jug. Since there is 1-for-1 promotion during happy hours, it means each sangria only costs $8 per glass! Therefore to let our readers know which are the best sangrias here (who are we kidding?! It’s happy hour!)…
We’ve tried 6 Sangrias (over a span of 3 hours – please pace yourself and remember IF YOU DRINK, DONT DRIVE!) and here they are…
Sangrias We’ve tried at Fandango Chijmes
1. Classic Red Sangria – Red Wine, Cherry Brandy and Orange Juice ($15) 2. Apple White Sangria – White Wine, Cointreau and Apple Juice ($15) 3. Rose Sangria – Rose Wine, Cointreau, Apple and Cranberry Juice ($15) 4. Oriental Sangria – White Wine, Cointreau, Jasmine green tea and Apple Juice ($16) 5. Lychee Sangria – White Wine, Lychee Liquour and Cranberry Juice ($16) 6. White Beer Sangria – Hoegaarden, Cointreau, Apricot Brandy and Apple Juice ($15)
Actually, we enjoyed ALL the Sangrias! But we feel that ladies will definitely dig the sweet Sangrias – Lychee, White Beer and Rose Sangrias. The cool thing is that they all come with fresh fruit bits for the real Sangria feel!
Since we’re at a Spanish restaurant, we decided to try out their Paella and 1 tapas…
Compared to the Paella we’ve tried at Serenity @ Vivocity, the Paella at Fandango pales in comparison. The main reason is because of the rice not being fragrant and flavourful. It does not taste as though the grains have fully absorbed the flavours of the seafood. Plus the texture was a little wet, further evidence that it should have been cooked a little longer – for the texture to be drier and for the flavours to be absorbed into the grain.
Mussels were also a little dry.
However, the saving grace was the prawns. Huge, succulent and do-ing (or “Q” as the Taiwanese would say). When the ingredients are fresh, it shows. It even shows in the pictures right?
The mixed mushrooms was sauteed in garlic, pepper and truffles. Oh so delicious! Although we had it by itself, we could have imagined a perfect match to a bun or some bread…ooh lala!
How to get to Fandango Tapas & Wine @ Chijmes for Happy Hour Sangrias
Fandango is located at Chijmes, a short walk from Raffles City. If you’re taking the MRT, it is a short walk from the City Hall MRT station. However, do note that Chijmes will be undergoing a $45 million renovation / facelift, expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014.
1-for-1 Happy Hour Sangria at Fandango Chijmes
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So the next time your girl wants to chill out over a glass of Sangria, do check out the Happy Hour at Fandango Chijmes and it could save you a couple of bucks!
Keisuke Tonkotsu King is certainly one of the best ramen joints in Singapore! We were introduced to this ramen outlet at the Orchid Hotel by Ninja Girls. Actually, we didnt quite remember the name of the outlet but vividly recall them saying “just look out for the queue!”.
Glad that we heard that last bit because there were several Japanese restaurants at Orchid Hotel BUT only 1 had a queue! What’s more, there was a queue even BEFORE the place opened for dinner at 6pm!
Keisuke Tonkotsu King at Orchid Hotel Singapore
Keisuke Tonkotsu King at Orchid Hotel Singapore
Just before opening hours, we were handed the ordering chit. At this Tonkotsu joint, you can order 3 versions of the ramen – the original , black spicy or red spicy. We ordered the Tonkotsu and Black Spicy Tonkotsu with all the toppings at $14.80++ and $15.80++ respectively. The Keisuke outlet at Orchid Hotel can only take about 24 guests. Hence, when we were sitted, our order chit were quickly taken and our ramen was served in UNDER 5 minutes FLAT!
Tonkotsu and Black Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen at Keisuke Tonkotsu King Orchid Hotel
Tonkotsu and Black Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen at Keisuke Tonkotsu King Orchid Hotel
The interior of the restaurant was decorated much like that of a local ramen joint in Japan. With the chefs shouting out in Japanese, for a moment, it kinda felt like we’re in Japan! Kate also introduced the grinding of sesame seeds to me. It is said that the sesame seeds bring out the taste of the Tonkotsu soup!
While grinding, our Tonkotsu ramen was served…
As one can imagine, the soup was just so rich and flavourful! No wonder they dare to call themselves “Tonkotsu King”! The thick pork broth was simmered till perfection and served with huge pork slices, black fungus, braised egg, a huge piece of seaweed and the irresistable ramen.
Here comes our tip.
You can actually just order the normal versions of the Tonkotsu ramen for only $10.80++ because…
THERE IS FREE FLOW OF EGGS AND SEASONED BEANSPROUTS!!
As kiasu Singaporeans, we couldnt resist the free flow bit and “went in for the kill” devouring half the container of beansprouts and 3 eggs each! That’s 2 normal eggs and 1 braised egg. Yah, a bit too much. My jeans were BURSTING at the seams as we left the place completely satisfied!
The only catch is that you will have to shell your own eggs – which in some instances (Tom’s instance) may be…well…messy. Oh, we were thinking that the other reason for serving the boiled eggs was for you to see the difference between braised and normal boiled eggs. IT WAS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!
The whites were flavourful but the yolk was still slightly runny. The entire texture was also softer compared to normal boiled eggs. Makes me want to order the braised eggs on my next visit. Owners are smart! :p
How to get to Keisuke Tonkotsu King – the Best Ramen in Singapore!
Keisuke Tonkotsu King is located at Orchid Hotel Singapore, a mere 2 minutes walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT. If you’re coming from Tanjong Pagar MRT, take exit A!
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Well, the next time you’re thinking where to enjoy a great bowl of ramen, take it from us (and Ninja Girls) to try out the Keisuke Tonkotsu Ramen at Orchid Hotel Singapore!
What’s there to eat at Changi Village Food Centre?
Nasi Lemak and Longan Red Tea Pudding at Changi Village Food Centre
There are many Nasi Lemak stalls at the Changi Village Food Centre and we came upon the international muslim food stall’s nasi lemak because of its long queue! Long queues equal good food right? So we joined to find out. The wait was only slightly more than 5 minutes and we ordered the fried chicken set. The price was quite steep at $3.50. In terms of quantity, you get an additional piece of drumlet. The chicken was excellent! Crispy on the outside and tender yet juicy on the inside. Im actually salivating as I write this! The rice and chili was quite common. Hence, overall, we’re not really sure if it’s worth $3.5. If it was $2.5, even with 1 less drumlet, we’d definitely recommend it.
Next, we tried the Longan Red Tea Pudding. Yet another famous dessert you must try at the Changi Village Food Centre. Again for $2 bucks, it was a little expensive. But we do recommend it. The taste of red tea in the form of a pudding/jelly was indeed refreshing. Coupled with the evaporated milk, it presented a different form of milk tea altogether!
Battle of the Chicken Chop Ipoh Hor Fun at Changi Village Hawker Centre
Located right in the middle of the hawker centre, there are 2 stalls that sells the delectable chicken chop Ipoh Hor Fun. If you do not notice carefully, you would think that the 2 stalls are one and the same since the signs on the stalls are very very similar. However, we asked the uncle of stall 1 and he said
“No, we are opposition. It is like Samsung, you have and I have.”
There you have it. Since they are “opposition”, we’ve got to settle this dispute right? For Kate, she thoroughly enjoyed stall 1. Actually, stall 1’s chicken resembled that of the taiwanese fried chicken. However, I tell you (overwriting Kate’s recommendation), Amigo’s Chicken Chop Hor Fun is definitely better. Firstly, you see the amount of chicken, it has almost double the amount for the same price of $3.50. Secondly, the chilli is spicy, sweet and aromatic. Thirdly, the chicken itself was crispy, flavourful, chunky and juicy. Last but not least, there was a queue of young army boys there!
So Amigo’s chicken chop ipoh hor fun comes out top in this battle!
Yup, it’s the left one!
Other foods in the vicinity
Mutton Murtabak, Egg and Plain Prata at Changi Village
The total price of the mutton murtabak, egg prata, plain prata and iced coffee was only $10. Have you seen the size of this generous mutton murtabak? The prata and murtabak were all CRISPY!!! The curry was rich, bursting with meaty flavours. A little spicy but it perfectly complemented the crispy and fresh pratas. Yummilicious!
How to get to Changi Village Food Centre
To get to Changi Village Food Centre, you will have to first take the MRT to Tampines MRT station and take bus 29. After a long bus ride, you will reach Changi Village Hawker Centre. However, to avoid all the travelling, why not consider a staycation at Village Hotel Changi? It is just a 3 minutes walk to the food centre and there you can enjoy all the great Singaporean Hawker foods that this famous food centre has to offer!
Pulau Ubin is one of the few remaining rural places in Singapore and is home to some Singaporeans who still live in Kampungs (village in Malay). Pulau Ubin (Granite Island) is located to the northwest of mainland Singapore and is one of the places that Kate has not visited before. Since it was Tom’s birthday, Kate decided to arrange a trip that includes a visit to Chek Jawa as well! Unfortunately, we visited Pulau Ubin on the worst day ever in Singapore’s history – the day that the haze hit 400PSI! (Ta ta ta! – eerie background music)
Changi Point Ferry TerminalAround Changi Point Ferry Terminal
To get to Pulau Ubin, you will have to take a ferry from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. The ferry ride from main land Singapore to Pulau Ubin takes about 10 minutes and costs $2.50 per person per trip. So it is $5 for a return trip per person.
Bumboat to Pulau UbinWaiting Area for Bumboat to Pulau UbinCaptain of our Ferry to Pulau Ubin from Changi Point Ferry TerminalFerry to Pulau Ubin from Changi Point Ferry Terminal
The catch is, THERE IS NO SCHEDULED DEPARTURE! You will have to wait patiently on one of these benches (see Uncle sitting on the bench?) and wait for 12 people to take the ferry together. I think we were relatively unlucky because we waited for an hour from 8 to 9am. Apparently, we just missed the ferry when we reached at 8am – but the prata / murtabak breakfast was really worth it (this we will discuss in the next post). Heh. Alternatively, you may wish to “book the entire ferry” by paying $30 for a single trip to Pulau Ubin.
Since we visited Pulau Ubin on the day the PSI hit 400, the ferry ride to Pulau Ubin was “exceptionally exciting”! Did you notice the visibility from the ferry in video? Almost ZERO! AND…the uncle was steering “hands-free” sometimes and drinking water with both hands, making the ferry ride more “thrilling” than it ought to be…
Well, actually Uncle’s steering was quite good and we had a smooth experience coming alongside Ubin. Soon we reached the entrance to Pulau Ubin!
Things to do at Pulau Ubin
Pulau Ubin Day TripPulau UbinMap of Pulau Ubin
After passing through the entrance and making a left turn, you will come upon the kampung itself. From the shops along the street, you can see that time has actually stopped in the 1970s – one of the beauties of this island. Most of these shops are bicycles shops or eateries.
It is also very easy to navigate Pulau Ubin. In fact, there are brown signs like these showing the directions/distances to the various attractions on the island.
Pulau Ubin Directional Sign
There are 3 main modes of transport on the island of Pulau Ubin.
The van is the fastest and costs $2 per person per ride. Bicycles costs $3 (and up) and is the most well-loved manner of exploring the island. The last mode…WALK! And walk we did to Chek Jawa, all 3.3 kilometres of it! Yes, the distance to walk from Pulau Ubin jetty to Chek Jawa mangrove/coastal board walk is 3.3km!
Nature on Pulau UbinOld Quarry of Pulau Ubin
Pulau Ubin was an island where quarrying and mining of granite used to be the main stay. Along the way, mining ceased but the quarry sites became lakes (quarry lakes) which you see today (bottom right hand corner of picture above).
What to see at Pulau Ubin Chek Jawa
After walking for about 40 minutes, we finally came to the entrance to Chek Jawa’s board walks. However, there were WILD BOARS at the entrance to the mangrove board walk! According to the safety caution sign for wild boars, you will just have to walk slowly, not have any sudden movements as you cross them. However, since Kate was afraid of the wild boars, we avoided the board walks at first and visited the Chek Jawa visitor centre…
Chek Jawa Visitor CentreAbout Chek Jawa Visitor Centre
Map of Chek Jawa Wetlands
The Chek Jawa Visitor Centre is located inside “House No. 1” – a beach front holiday house of a former government official during the colonial era. Inside, you’ll be introduced to the history of Chek Jawa as well as the rich bio-diversity that it offers. The visitor centre is also connected to the viewing jetty. On a clear day, you can enjoy great views of Chek Jawa as well!
As we stepped out of “House No. 1”, a baby wild boar spotted us and scampered away really quickly into the bushes! We were just as startled as it was! Then we noticed its family blocking our path back to the mangrove boardwalk! Hence, Kate closed her eyes and hugged close to me while I led her slowly and calmly past the wild boars!
Pulau Ubin Chek Jawa Mangrove BoardwalkPulau Ubin Chek Jawa Mangrove Boardwalk Tower
As you enter the board walk, you will notice a really tall tower. You can ascend it and enjoy cool sea views. But the climb itself is quite tiring and the tower sways a little. And if you are afraid of heights, we advise you not to do the climb because you can see through the steps to the ground level…scary sia…
Pulau Ubin Board WalkPulau Ubin Monkeys
As you walk along the boardwalk of Chek Jawa, you will be able to see the marine bio-diversity that it offers. Of course, the best time would be to visit during the low-tide where you can see hermit crabs, star fish and many other marine life forms! Unfortunately, we visited when it was high tide. However, we did catch several schools of fish of different species. LOTS OF THEM!
After visiting Chek Jawa, we began to walk back to the Ubin jetty. Guess what?! We saw monkeys and monitor lizards along the way! Hence, on this first visit for Kate, she saw all 3 natives of the island of Pulau Ubin – wild boars, monkeys and monitor lizards!
How to get to Pulau Ubin
To get to Pulau Ubin, you will have to first take the MRT to Tampines MRT station and take bus 29. After a long bus ride, you will reach Changi Point Ferry Terminal where you can take a ferry ride to Pulau Ubin for $2.5 per person per trip. However, to avoid all the travelling, why not consider a staycation at Village Hotel Changi? It is just a 3 minutes walk to the ferry terminal and you can enjoy all the facilities that the hotel offers! 2 swimming pools at that!
There are actually so many things to do in Singapore! There are major attractions you can visit, shopping, food, heritage and so much more! As Singaporeans, it is only right for us to introduce what Singapore has to offer and so we decided to create a list of the top 101 things to do and attractions in Singapore! As a Singapore Travel Blog, it is our pleasure to bring you the 101 things to do in Singapore! This post is likely to be our longest post ever!
Sentosa is a major tourist attraction in Singapore. It offers one of Singapore’s most beautiful beaches (at Siloso, Tanjong and Palawan Beach), fun activities, food, Singapore’s major attractions and even a Singapore staycation options for Singaporeans! So the things to do at Sentosa includes
1. Merlion. The merlion is a mystical animal of a cross between a mermaid and the lion. Word has it that a Palembang Prince, Sang Nila Utama spotted a tiger but mistook it for a lion and named the city “Singapura” aka “Lion City”. That is why our soccer team is today knowned as “the Lions”. But back to the merlion, it looks pretty much like this…
This merlion at Sentosa is the largest merlion in Singapore (The one that spurts water is at Marina Bay) and you can ascend it as well.
Merlion Sentosa Singapore
2. Universal Studios Singapore. Universal Studios Singapore is by itself a major attraction in Singapore. Located at the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Universal Studios Singapore boasts of rides, shows and activities for the entire family (get up close with Shrek!). There is even “Transformers the Ride : Ultimate 3D Battle” exclusive to Universal Studios Singapore.
3. Tiger Sky Tower. Ascend to the top of the Tiger Sky Tower and enjoy panoramic views of Sentosa, the ocean views and even the Singapore City skyline!
4. Fort Siloso. Learn about the history of Singapore and how the guns at Siloso were used to defend the city during World War 2. There is also a series of wax displays including this infamous replica of the photo taken during the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese during WW2…
5. Images of Singapore. Images of Singapore is a museum that depicts the history of Singapore from simple days (pre-modern era) to the modern Singapore as we know today.
6. Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom. Fans of beautiful butterflies? Then come close to these lovely creatures and other interesting insects at the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom!
7. Segway Eco Adventure. If you have not tried the Segway (think “Paul Blart : Mall Cop”), Sentosa offers you an opportunity to learn to handle this transportation tool and even letting you try to scale and descend some terrains (with guides of course). Once you’re comfortable, you can also opt to go on a tour of the island on the Segway!
8. Luge and Sky Ride. Feel a little need for speed? The Luge allows you travel at high speeds down the slopes! You can race a friend or just enjoy a leisurely descent through this 1.2km track. To ascend to the top of the track, you can also take the Sky Ride where you can enjoy views of the island (and maybe some thrills if you’re a little scared of heights).
9. 4D Magix. 4D is actually an expression of 3D images + physical experience of movement and/or effects. At 4D magix, you can enjoy movies, a 4D ride or even a 4D shooting game. Desperados (a 4D shooting game) is not as easy as it seems!!
10. Wavehouse Surfing.Surf’s up at the Wavehouse in Sentosa Island! Here you can ride the waves up to 10 foot in height!
11. Sentosa Beaches. Singapore is not known for its beaches and the best beaches in Singapore are at Sentosa. Siloso, Tanjong and Palawan are the major beaches with fine (man-made we suppose) sands that are suitable for chilling out or even beach activities such as volleyball, frisbee or soccer!
Beautiful day at Palawan Beach Sentosa
Enjoy a leisurely stroll down the beach or if you’re a real beach bum, you can take the beach tram to save some time (and effort)!
12. Ifly Singapore. Take flight at the world’s longest wind tunnel. The wind tunnel is used to simulate the “flying effect”, somewhat like a jump off a plane before you pull the parachute. Classes are also available for the kids. Some of them are really really pro!
13. Staycation in Sentosa. One of the many things to do in Singapore is to do a staycation in Singapore. Where else than the iconic Sentosa? Kate and I have enjoyed 2 staycations at Sentosa and we totally enjoyed ourselves! Our stays at Hard Rock Hotel as well as the Amara Sanctuary Resort were staycations that were really memorable. Take a look at the pool at Hard Rock Hotel!
Staycation at the Deluxe Pool View room of Shangri La’s Rasa Sentosa
Pool of Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa
14. Marine Life Park and Adventure Cove Water Park. The latest addition to Resorts World Sentosa, the Marine Life Park (world’s largest oceanarium) and Adventure Cove Water Park are major attractions in their own rights. The S.E.A Aquarium is the world’s largest aquarium as accredited by Guinness World Records with more than 100,000 marine life across 49 habitats! The Adventure Cove Water Park offers endless splashing fun with thrilling slides, relaxing lazy river and you can even experience a close encounter with rays.
15. Many other attractions in Sentosa! There are many many many other attractions in Sentosa such as the Maritime Experential Museum, Underwater World, Megazip Adventure, Flying Trapeze, Nature Discovery, Cable Car Ride, Malaysian Food Street Songs of the Sea and much much more!
Besides Sentosa, there are several major attractions in Singapore that you MUST VISIT!! This section will cover our favourite ones 🙂
Marina Bay
16. As one of the top things to do in Singapore, chinMarina Bay Sands.MBS is one of the most iconic structures in Singapore with its shape like a vessel on top of the 3 curved supporting structure. At the top of MBS is the Marina Bay Sands Sky Park. From here you can enjoy views of the Singapore city sky line as well as the Marina Bay region…
Close up view of Marina Bay Sands
17. Singapore Flyer. Singapore Flyer is currently the world’s largest observation wheel. The ride takes approximately 30 minutes and at the highest point, you can enjoy great views of the Marina Bay as well as other attractions in the area…
Singapore Flyer – The World’s Largest Giant Observation Wheel
18. Art Science Museum. The Art Science Museum is an iconic lotus shaped (to us, it’s really a hand) structure that features famous exhibitions from across the world such as Titanic, Harry Potter and Van Gogh.
19. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The Esplanade is yet another iconic structure in the Marina Bay Area. Affectionately known as “Durian” to the locals (cause they are shaped like durians dont they?), the Esplanade http://www.esplanade.com/index.jspis a performing arts avenue where we have caught several live performances and even the Phantom of the Opera!
View of Marina Bay and Esplanade from Lavo Italian Rooftop RestaurantFree Performances at the Esplanade
20. Marina Bay Merlion. This merlion at the Marina Bay is probably the most visited of all the merlions in Singapore. Yup, simply because it is easily accessible, free and spurts water! :p
Merlion @ Marina Bay
Singapore’s Tourism Icon – The Merlion
21. Marina Barrage. As part of Singapore’s strategy to control flood and to set up another water catchment area, the Marina Barrage was set up at the mouth of the Marina Bay. Besides these function, the Marina Barrage also offers a venue for locals to enjoy activities such as kayaking and kite flying. Events are also often held at the Barrage. The Barrage is also our favourite picnic site to enjoy views of the Marina Bay Sands!
Sunset @ Marina Barrage
22. Gardens by the Bay. Gardens by the Bay is a major accomplishment by Singapore to have a garden right in the heart of the city! At Gardens by the Bay, there is the indoor Flower Dome and Cloud Forest gardens as well as the iconic Supertrees with its light displays in the evening. The OCBC Skyway at the Supertree grove offers visitors panoramic views of the gardens.
Iconic Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay with Marina Bay Sands as the backdrop
23. Duck Tours River Cruise along Singapore River. To cover all the attractions at the Marina Bay, you can take a leisurely cruise along the Singapore River. The cruise along the Singapore River can take you to other attractions such as Clarke Quay and Boat Quay as well!
24. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay are favourite night spots for locals and foreigners alike. With the Singapore River as the backdrop, evenings come alive with bustling dining outlets, pubs and live performances. A firm favourite with the night owls!
2bearbear at Ni Pang Zi Grilled Fish Boat Quay
25. Raffles Hotel Singapore A short walk away towards Raffles City, you will find the iconic Raffles Hotel. The hotel is the oldest in Singapore and has its roots closely linked to Singapore’s history. This exclusive hotel is where foreign dignitaries, celebrities and famous people stay (Think Prince William, Queen of England, Jackie Chan and Michael Jackson). You will also see the famous Sikh doorman at the main lobby of Raffles hotel as well!
Zoos and Bird Park in Singapore
Although Singapore is small, we have some of the best animal conservatories in the world. If you have only time for one paid attractions, this Singapore Travel Blog recommends the Singapore Zoo…
26. Singapore Zoo. After visiting several zoos across the world, we still think that the Singapore Zoo is one of the best around. Not only does it have animals from various parts of the world, there are shows and activities for the entire family. One of the best things we like about the Singapore Zoo is that there are snippets of information sprinkled all around the zoo for the kids to learn.
Singapore Zoo Entrance
27. Night Safari. Can you believe that the world’s first night safari is located here in Singapore? The night safari comes alive when the sun goes down and the nocturnal animals come out to play. Some of the animals are even allowed to come close to you. So expect a little excitement at the Night Safari in Singapore!
28. River Safari. River Safari is the latest addition to the conservatories in Singapore. Inspired by the 8 most iconic rivers in the world, visitors will be able to see animals from the Mississippi, Congo, Nile, Ganges, Murray, Mekong, Yangtze and Amazon Rivers. In addition, the Giant Panda forest is also home to Kai Kai and Jia Jia – a pair of pandas from China.
River Safari Singapore Zoo
29. Jurong Bird Park. The Jurong Bird Park is definitely one of the best aviaries in the world. More than 5000 birds and over 350 species can be found here. There is even a 30m high waterfall to re-create an environment for the bird species. Bird shows are also interesting with birds flying over you at close proximity!
Singapore’s Culture & Heritage
The Singapore culture is an amalgamation of different cultures in our society. When Singapore was founded, different enclaves were formed according to the various races then. Today, these enclaves are part of our national identity and you can visit them to find out more about Singapore’s history!
30. Chinatown. Another top things to do in Singapore is to visit Chinatown. staycatiChinatown was an area where Chinese gathered in the past. It also has an alternate name – Cow-driven Water Cart (牛车水). This is because, in the past, water was delivered from house to house in a cow-driven water cart. Today, Chinatown still has Chinese-inspired buildings from times past and alot of shopping and eateries have sprouted, bringing new life to the area. Chinatown is right at the doorstep of the Chinatown MRT station.
Chinatown with Chinese New Year decorations
31. Kampong Glam. Kampong Glam is a ethnic quarter to experience the hospitality of the Malay people. As you enter the quarter, you will notice that the area still has the feel of the olden days while shopping and eating options are aplenty. Kampong Glam is a short walk from Bugis MRT station.
32. Little India. Another enclave not to be missed is Little India. Located at the Little India MRT (Serangoon Road), you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the Indian community. Enjoy Indian specialties such as the prata, thosai and various curries.
Little India Singapore’s Cultural Heritage
33. Mustafa Shopping Centre. For reasonable 24 hour shopping, head down to Mustafa Shopping Centre at the other end of Little India. Mustafa is really like a Singapore equivalent of Wal-mart but it opens 24 hours a day. For last minute no-frills shopping, look no further than Mustafa (even at 3am in the morning!)
34. Peranakan Culture. Rich Chinese traders in the past descended upon Singapore from the Malay archipelago and inter-married with the locals in Singapore. Their culture is a rich mix of Chinese and Malay cultures. Today, Peranakan plays an important part in Singapore’s culture and is typically well-known for nonya cuisines. You can visit the Peranakan culture in the Katong, Joo Chiat area and also follow the Peranakan heritage trail.
35. Eurasian Culture. Though the Eurasians have a small population in Singapore but they have let a huge mark. For more information about the history and contribution of the Eurasians to Singapore, visit the European community house at 139 Ceylon Road.
36. Singapore Botanic Gardens The Singapore Botanic Garden is the biggest park and gardens in Singapore and it boasts of many species of plants suitable for growth in the tropical climate. The iconic features will include the gazebo, swan lake, a performance arena, HUGE trees as well as a tree with its lowest branch almost touching the ground – a site where many couples take their wedding shots!
Morning walk to Botanical Gardens from Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Museums in Singapore
The National Heritage Board has been working hard to promote museums in recent years. During certain festivals or major holidays, the museums may have FREE ENTRY! Over the years, the free entries has started an appreciation for the arts in Singapore.
37. National Museum of Singapore. If you only have time for 1 museum, VISIT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE! You can see resident exhibitions such as the national treasures of gold ornaments from the 14th century as well as Singapore History sections. The museum opened in 1887 and is also a national monument itself. We thoroughly enjoyed the Singapore History section and it brought back memories of things when we were younger. The exhibits also shows how Singapore grew from a small fishing village to a modern, first world country that it is today.
National Museum of Singapore
38. Asian Civilisations Museum The Asian Civilisations Museum partners with museums from all over the world to show case exhibits primarily in 4 zones including China, India, Southeast Asia and the Islamic world.
39. Singapore Art Museum. The Singapore Art Museum houses and preserves modern contemporary art from Singapore and Southeast Asia.
40. Peranakan Museum. The Peranakan museum is a very interesting museum that showcases the Peranakan culture and cuisine. You will be able to learn more about their customs, their way of life, what they wear and how they lived in the past.
41. Singapore Philatelic Museum. Remember those first day covers that you collected as a child? THERE ARE LOTS OF THEM HERE! You can see all the various kinds of stamps from different genres and even limited editions as well! Stamp fans will definitely go crazy here!
42. Reflections at Bukit Chandu. Reflections at Bukit Chandu recounts the last major battle during World War 2 where the Malay Regiment put up a heroic fight against the Japanese at the Battle of Pasir Panjang.
43. Memories at Old Ford Factory. The Old Ford Factory was where the British (Gen Percival) surrendered to the Japanese (General Yamashita) during World War 2. The exhibitions has first hand accounts of the occupation up to the surrender of the Japanese forces in 1945.
Shopping in Singapore
Besides eating, Singaporeans’ favourite past time is SHOPPING! There are no lack of shopping options here in Singapore and we introduce a few to you here!
44. Orchard Road Shopping Belt. If you ask anyone in the streets, where to shop in Singapore, Orchard Road would definitely be the first place that comes to mind. At Orchard, you can find all kinds of goods from luxury to the trendy. It is like Singapore’s own version of Champs Elysees (of Paris) and Oxford Street (of London).
45. Shopping at Marina / Raffles City. Another favourite place to shop is the Marina / City Hall area. This is because, once you step out of the City Hall MRT station, you can either visit Raffles City Shopping Mall, or take a walk along Citylink mall where there are further shopping options. Citylink mall can then take you to Marina Square or Esplanade (MORE SHOPPING OPTIONS!). Finally from Marina Square you can take a short walk across the road to, yes you’ve guessed it, Marina Bay Sands!
46. VivoCity. VivoCity is a mid-range shopping centre where you can get pretty much everything. There’s even a cinema and hyper mart to complete the entire shopping experience. Located outside Sentosa island, it can be reached via the Harbour Front MRT station. From there, you can take a short walk across the board walk to reach Sentosa. Entry via the board walk is only $1!
47. Bugis. For shopping options for the young and trendy, head on down to Bugis street. Here you will find a wide selection of merchandise at competitive prices. If you have had enough of street shopping, Bugis junction and Bugis plus is just a stone’s throw away!
48. IT Shopping. For all your IT shopping needs, head on down to Funan the IT mall or Sim Lim Square. Funan is a reputable shopping mall where you will get IT products at relatively good prices. Sim Lim is more like a consolidation of small computer/IT-related shops and prices are usually lower simply because you never know where the items come from…But still, if you’re looking to build your own computer or replace certain parts like ram, hard disk etc. This is the place to be.
49. Souvenir Shopping. If you want shirts that says “My friend went to Singapore and got me this stupid shirt” OR “Singapore is a FINE City”, this is the place to be. You will be able to find magnets, fans, shirts and many many more at competitive prices. A good place to shop for souvenirs for your friends before you head home! Oh, while you’re there, you may consider taking up some snacks such as bak kwa (BBQ pork) or pastries for your friends as well. 🙂
50. Singapore Expo. The Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre is another great place to shop when sales are on. From time to time, you may have sales ranging from sporting products to furniture to children products and even foods! Be sure to check out whats on during the weekend that you’re here!
Food in Singapore
Singapore’s favourite national past time is FOOD!! Did you know that Singaporeans spends the highest per person (on average) for food in the world?! This section will introduce you to the various kinds of food that we enjoy here in Singapore!
Street Foods Street foods (known as hawker food to the locals) play an intimate part of the everyday Singaporean. In this portion, we will introduce you to the various street foods that you should try when you’re here in Singapore!
51. Chicken Rice. The humble chicken rice (sometimes known as Hainanese chicken rice) is the most international street food – that is to say, so far, all of our overseas friends loved it! Typically, there are 2 types of chickens that you can choose from. Steamed or roasted. Let us know which is your favourite in the comments section below! Rice is usually steamed with pandan leaves and flavours from the chicken to give that extra fragrance!
Flavourful steamed chicken rice
52. Minced Meat Noodles. As the name suggests, the noodles (choice of yellow noodles thin aka mee kia/thick, flat white noodles or flat yellow noodles aka mee pok) is usually mixed with a braised meat sauce, chilli (or ketchup), vinegar, soya sauce and served with minced meat, sometimes with a little pit of pig liver and mushrooms.
Minced Meat Mee Kia Teo Hong Fishball Minced Meat Noodles Fengshan Market
53. Wanton noodles. Another local favourite is the wanton noodles. Wanton is actually a small version of the meat dumpling and the noodles is also usually served with char siew (roasted pork).
54. Roasted meat with rice. The roasted pork combination (crispy skin pork and roasted pork aka 叉烧烧肉饭) with rice is a common staple in Singapore. Sweet with the char siew and savoury with the crispy roasted pork. Yummy!
55. Laksa. Thick white noodles are served in a rich and spicy coconut gravy, usually topped with cockles, sliced fish cake and sometimes chicken/ prawns (if it is a classy joint).
DIY Laksa which was not bad with huge fresh (peeled!) prawns
56. Mee Rebus. Since we’re at the spicy section of the street foods, let’s move on to the Malay dishes. The Mee Rebus is a yellow noodles dish served in a slightly sweet curry sauce with a peanut twist. Sliced green chilli and an egg usually completes this dish.
57. Mee Siam. Another popular Malay street food. Thin vermicelli is served in a mildly spicy and sour, soup-based gravy. Egg and tau pok (beancurd) completes the meal.
58. Roti Prata. Roti prata is one of our favourite meals for a breakfast on the weekends. It is essentially fried flour made to the shape of a pancake. It is crispy,fluffy, savoury and served with an Indian curry (could be fish, mutton or chicken). Some like to put sugar on it for a different taste 🙂
Prata Breakfast at Changi Village
59. Ice Kachang. Moving on to desserts, the ice kachang is a local favourite. It is shaved ice served with red bean, palm seeds, corn, jelly and topped with coloured sweet syrup and condensed milk. Nowadays, there are several variations to it including mango and even durian ice kachang!
60. Chendol. Another favourite Peranakan dessert is the chendol. The chendol is also shaved ice served with green starched jelly, coconut milk and the all important gula melaka (brown sugar syrup).
61. Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum Restaurant. There are actually alot more street foods such as the char kuay teow, hokkien mee, prawn noodles and more! But they are more of an acquired taste and not all of our overseas like them. Let’s move on to a hot favourite in town, Tim Ho Wan’s dim sum. It is touted as the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant! Other than Hong Kong, Singapore is the only other country to have its franchise and if you’re here, why not give it a try. Tim Ho Wan Singapore is located at Plaza Singapura and you can reach there via the Dhoby Ghaut MRT.
62. Sunday Buffet Brunch. Sunday Buffet Brunches are a recent trend and these brunches are typically classy late morning lunches that stretches to 3pm in the afternoon. They are characterised by high quality food (think foie gras, seafood and prime ribs), champagnes, great tasting/innovative dishes and excellent service. We have tried the Raffles Hotel’s Bar & Billiard Room, Lime @ Parkroyal on Pickering as well as Riverview Hotel’s Sunday Buffet Brunch. Dont forget the champagne or beer!
Bar and Billiard Room Raffles Hotel Sunday Brunch Pan Fried Foie Gras
Where to party in Singapore
If you’re thinking about where you can enjoy a great night out and party or chill out with your friends, here are some suggestions.
63. Clarke Quay. Clarke Quay is also home to some of the best clubs in Singapore including Zirca and Attica. If you’re thinking of just having some drinks, consider Brewerkz with its own crafted beers. Ah….
Clarke Quay at Night
64. Mohammad Sultan Road. Clubs and pubs line the streets of this “old” (old because people have been clubbing here since we were still wearing our diapers!) hangout place. If you’re thinking, of chilling out, the wine bars are also available!
65. Holland Village. Affectionately known to the locals as Holland V, this stretch of road is cordon off in the evenings to allow revelers to walk down the roads freely (especially after a drink or two). If you’re into live bands, Wala Wala starts the party with support of local acts. 1-for-1 beers go for as low as $16 (i.e. $8 a pint!). If you want to take it down a notch, Haagen Dazs and Cold Rock Ice Creamery can offer a cooling relieve on some humid evenings!
66. St. James Power Station. Although not as crowded as compared to its heydays, St. James Power Station is still worth a mention. Conveniently located beside VivoCity, visitors can catch a movie and just hop over to St. James (literally across the road) and party at its various venues. You can party, enjoy some live performances, chill to some light tunes or simply enjoy a drink or 2 at the sports bar with the bros!
67. Zouk. You simply cannot write off Zouk can you? When you talk about the local club scene, Zouk comes to mind and there must be something about it to have survived for more than 20 years in Singapore! Located at Jiak Kim street beside the Grand Corpthorne Waterfront Hotel, it has been injecting life into the clubbing scene of Singapore since inception. Do check it out!
Cruises from Singapore
With the opening of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre, the cruise industry in Singapore is set for further growth. We have gone on a couple of cruises before and have really enjoyed ourselves!
68. Royal Caribbean Cruise. We have tried both RCC and Starcruise and we must say that RCC definitely comes out tops for us. There never seems to be a dull moment onboard eventhough we went for a longer cruise here. PLUS the food is so much better! Visit the fine dining daily! Visit our post and find out why!
Royal Caribbean Cruise – 8D7N Semarang, Bali (Kuta Nusa Dua), Lombok onboard Legend of the Seas
69. Starcruise. Before Royal Caribbean Cruise came online, there was Starcruise and we went on the Star Virgo as well. The cool thing about cruises is that you’ll just eat, play, sleep, repeat and the next thing you know, you’re at the next port! No lugging of luggage, catching of planes. Customs are a breeze as well. As for Star Virgo, it was a bit old when we were onboard but otherwise, the experience was still a positive one.
Besides Singapore itself, there are short trips that you can take from Singapore to visit nearby cities and islands!
70. Desaru. Less than 2 hours away by car is Desaru. Here you can enjoy beach activities, enjoy a spa, visit the Desaru fruit farm or watch fireflies by night!
Jet skis at Sand and Sandals Desaru
71. Legoland Malaysia. The newly opened Legoland Malaysia is also a mere 45 minutes drive away from Singapore. Kids will have so much fun while adults can seek thrills on the dragon ride as well!
Legoland Malaysia
72. Cameron Highlands. The drive to Cameron Highlands is about 3 hours and after that exhausting drive, you can reward yourself with fresh mountainous air! Here you can also pick your own strawberries or enjoy the world famous Boh tea.
73. Batam. Batam is a quick getaway for Singaporeans. After a ferry ride of 45 minutes, you’ll arrive in a different country, spend a little less and be able to pamper yourself to spas and seafood! All with the Singapore city skyline in sight!
74. Pulau Ubin. Other than the main island of Singapore, there are residents living on the island of Pulau Ubin. At Pulau Ubin, life seems to remain in the good old days of kampung life (village living) where neighbours know each other well and look out for each other. Visitors usually head to Pulau Ubin for bike trails, nature trails (Chek Jawa) or just cheap(er) seafood!
Pulau Ubin Chek Jawa Mangrove Boardwalk
Staycations in Singapore
Given the high number of luxury hotels concentrated on our small island, staycation at these Singapore luxury hotels seem to make a great relaxing getaway – quickly! We did some staycations and here they are…
75. Raffles Hotel Singapore Staycation.Arguably one of our best staycations in Singapore, the Raffles Hotel offers personalised service and exclusivity like no other. Did we mention that there are only suites in Raffles Hotel and that the staff actually remembers our preferences such as coffee, orange juice and Straits Times Newspapers?!
Iconic Sikh Doorman of the Raffles Hotel
76. Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore Staycation.Again, service was excellent. We recalled being brought to our seats at the pool and when it rained, being sheltered individually back to the changing rooms!
Swimming Pool at Ritz Carlton Singapore
77. Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa Staycation.The private plunge pool made the difference for us. Imagine being able to just step out of bed , right into the pool. Shiok.
Events Held in Singapore
There are many events held in Singapore each year. However, we are going to highlight a few of the prominent ones on our events calendar.
78. Singapore Formula One F1 Grand Prix. Definitely one of the top things to do in Singapore, Catch the thrills and spills (sounds so commercialised hor) at the Singapore Grand Prix. For non-F1 fans, you can also have the opportunity to catch world-famous acts performing live in Singapore! The Singapore Grand Prix is also currently the only night race on the F1 circuit!
Formula One (F1) Grand Prix Night Race Singapore
79. Chingay Street Parade. Each year, thousands of performers will take to the streets to showcase the Chingay Street Festival. The street parade is characterised by its vibrant colours, entertaining performances and topped off with fire works at the Bay.
Chingay Parade and Festival Singapore – Street Parade Culmination and Melting Pot of Cultures, Street Performances and Displays
80. Halloween Horror Nights.Each year, Universal Studios Singapore will organise the Halloween Horror Nights. The scare-actors are REALLY scary! The good thing is that they have a policy that they cannot touch you (and vice versa). We would have been frightened stiff if they could! The cool thing is that for the price of entry, you can also enjoy some of the usual rides at USS such as Battlestar Galactica!
81. Great Singapore Sale! During the months of June and July each year, the Great Singapore Sale (GSS) takes place where suppliers pull out all stops to woo consumers at this annual sales bonanza!
82. River Hongbao. During the Chinese New Year period, festivities termed as “River Hongbao” takes place at the floating platform of the Marina Bay. Here you will see familiar Chinese Zodiac animals (and their predictions for the year) as well as fun activities, well mostly for the kids. We will usually go there just to soak in the CNY atmosphere and ring in the new year!
Other Things to do in Singapore
83. Singapore Discovery Centre.Find out more about how Singapore came to be, the campaigns that we used to have (speak good English/Courtesy) and how we have developed over the years to become a first world country in a short span of 40 years. Plus, you will be able to catch some 3D movies at a cheaper rate ($9 vs $12) at the theatre at SDC.
84. Snow City. Missing snow? Snow City offers you an opportunity to experience snow in Singapore! Enjoy snow falling upon you as winter descends and there’s even a long ice slide where you can slide down using rubber tyres!
85. Ice skating rinks. Still on the theme of cold weathers, did you know that there are 3 ice skating rinks in Singapore? The ice skating rinks are located at Leisure Park Kallang, Jcube as well as Marina Bay Sands.
86. Singapore Science Centre. Singapore Science Centre is a bundle of fun for the kids. They will be exposed to simple theories in science through interactive activities.
87. MacRitchie Nature Trail Located at the MacRitchie reservoir, the nature trail takes you through the tropical forest that Singapore has preserved. You can also ascend to challenge the Tree Top walk – definitely not for the faint of hearts!
88. Southern Ridges. Still staying close to nature, the Southern ridges connects various popular parts of Singapore including Mount Faber and Harbour Front. Highlights include Faber Walk, Henderson Waves and Canopy Walk.
89. East Coast Park. On weekends, you will see East Coast Park FULL OF PEOPLE! Many head to East Coast Park to enjoy morning walks, leisure runs, rollerblade, cycle, kite flying, fishing, camping (yes! just need to apply permit easily via axs), BBQ and even cable skiing!
Viewing deck of Amber Beacon Tower (aka East Coast Park Yellow Tower)
90. Lau Pa Sat. Before Gluttons Bay and Malaysia Food Street, the first attempt to bring the best foods in Singapore under one roof was at Lau Pa Sat. Today, it is also home to the Satay Club.
91. Mount Faber. Mount Faber was where Kate and I used to date. Still remember the love sandwiches she made for me…ah…It is also here where you can catch fantastic views of sunrise in Singapore…
Mount Faber City view before sunrise Sunrise over City
92. Wild Wild WetWild Wild Wet is a water theme park in the east of Singapore. Taking the MRT to Pasir Ris MRT station, you can take the free shuttle bus to Wild Wild Wet. After completing a $2 million revamp, Wild Wild Wet has now a new ride known as Torpedo. Stationed at a 18 metre high capsule, you’ll drop almost vertically and reach speeds of up to 70km/h! The slide is over in 7 seconds flat!
Ular-Lah The Water Works Torpedo @ Wild Wild Wet Downtown East
93. Visit the Heartlands. If it’s your first time in Singapore, visit our heartlands! HDB (Housing and Development Board) flats are public housing that houses 80% of Singaporeans! Knowing the heartlands will definitely draw you closer to this island we call home!
94. Enjoy a cup of “Kopi” at a local coffeeshop. Firstly, the Singapore coffee is very different from what you drink anywhere else in the world. Some of our overseas friends swear by it. Yes, we too adore it. Goes perfectly with my morning newspapers. If you are from overseas, say “Kopi” (for coffee with milk and sugar) or “Kopi siew dai” (coffee with less sugar) and see the reaction of the stall owner. She may be amazed that you can order coffee – Singapore style!
95. Leisurely walk along the Singapore River.Besides the taking the river cruise, you can actually enjoy a leisurely walk along the Singapore river that takes you through Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Fullerton and finally the Marina Bay!
Tall colonial-era pillars as seen from the swimming pool of the Fullerton Singapore Hotel
96. NEWater Visitor Centre.At the NEWater Visitor Centre, you can find out how Singapore harnesses technology to open yet another “tap” in Singapore’s quest for water independence.
97. Visit to Asia Pacific Breweries. Ever heard of Tiger Beer? Did you also know that Tiger Beer is produced in Singapore? Visit APB and find out how Tiger Beer is created, bottled and finally delivered to you! Includes tasting of fresh Tiger Beer at the end of the visit!
98. Prawning.The activity of prawning has gathered steam in recent years, sprouting many outlets all across the island. The excitement is really when you catch one – especially after waiting for some time. Experts can catch almost one every 2 minutes on average!
99. Enjoy a Singapore Sling. The famous Singapore Sling was created by a bartender of the Raffles Hotel around 1915. It was said that women of the time were not allowed to drink alcoholic drinks in public. So this bartender decided to create a drink specially for the ladies under the guise of a nice bright colour and ladies really loved it. Guys on the other hand were also happy that there was a drink that they could get for their ladies. Win-win!
The Original Singapore Sling at the Long Bar Raffles Hotel
100. Reverse Bungy. At Clarke Quay, you can experience Bungy – in an opposite direction! The GMAX propels you 60 metres into the air at speeds of up to 200km/hr! Dropping down is another thrill by itself!
Reverse Bungee at Clarke Quay
101 Things to do in Singapore
101. This last one is for you to fill in. There are simply so many things to do and attractions in Singapore, tell us what you have enjoyed in the comments section below!
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P.S. Should you have further queries about your visit to Singapore or would like to have a group/private guided tour on your next trip here, feel free to drop us a mail through contact@2bearbear.com!
Lime Parkroyal on Pickering recently launched its Sunday Brunch champagne buffet! At Lime, time just passes by when you’re enjoying the champagne with good quality food on a lazy Sunday afternoon…ah…
Relaxed setting at Lime Parkroyal on Pickering
Relaxed setting at Lime Parkroyal on Pickering
The first thing we noticed about the restaurant was its relaxed setting. The restaurant, though on the first level is set against a row of greenery on the outside of the restaurant, making it feel as though you’re enjoying your brunch amidst a lush tropical setting.
Lime restaurant was spacious and details were also placed on its chairs and tables to enhance this relaxed setting. With a large space, the Sunday Brunch also offered a large variety of food…
Highlight of the food at Lime’s Sunday Brunch Champagne Buffet @ Parkroyal on Pickering
Appetizers at Lime Restaurant @ Parkroyal on Pickering
Appetizers at Lime Restaurant @ Parkroyal on Pickering
The appetizers at Lime were simple and really whets your appetite for more! The vine tomatoes with crab rillette was an instant hit! The sweet juicy tomatoes accompanied by fresh crab was just a perfect match. Who would have thought of it? Crab and tomatoes…hmm…
The salads were also a great starter. The Thai mango, pomelo and Thai beef salad were fresh and crunchy on every bite. The mildly hot taste also made this starter irresistible – Tom actually slurped up the entire bowl! The homemade salmon and mushroom soup are not to be missed as well!
Without much hesitation, we promptly moved into the stars of this Sunday Brunch Champagne Buffet!
Highlights of the Sunday Brunch at Lime restaurant
Highlights of the Sunday Brunch at Lime restaurant
Foie gras is usually a prominent feature for Sunday Brunches. But have you seen the foie gras at Lime? IT’s HUGE!! The generous serving allowed us to enjoy chock full of flavours on every bite! Served together with the passion fruit & apple compote, the pan-seared foie gras was just “oh so delicious!”
The mushroom risotto as well as the herb crusted cod didnt disappoint as well. Touted as stars of this buffet, be sure to try them out as you will be enticed by the rich flavours of the risotto as well as the fresh and tender cod! But dont get too carried away as there are still other highlights at this Sunday brunch!
Seafood section – Sashimi, Sushi, Pacific Oysters, Maine Lobsters and more!Seafood section – Sashimi, Sushi, Pacific Oysters, Maine Lobsters and more!
Asian picks, salads and 12 different cheeses!
Asian picks, salads and 12 different cheeses!
Prawn noodles, Braised lamb shank, fried rice and tiger prawns!
Prawn noodles, Braised lamb shank, fried rice and tiger prawns!
Beware of the prawn noodles…It is spicy! Kate coughed on her first sip of the soup!
Excellent service at Lime Restaurant at Parkroyal on Pickering
Service at Lime was simply impeccable! In the short 3 hours (yes, 3 hours just passes by at Lime’s Sunday Brunch!) we experienced the following…
1. Chairs were pulled as we were about to be seated and we were tucked in nicely at our seats. First time only lah. 2. Napkins were unfolded and placed individually on our laps. 3. Drinks were introduced to us including the type of wines and juices (eventually we still stuck to the champagne…) 4. Champagne was promptly topped up and we were asked politely each time. 5. Likewise with finished dishes. Permission was asked to clear dishes -even with empty plates. 6. Pizza slices and fried rice were served fresh from the kitchen to our tables. 7. Smiles were aplenty throughout our meal and we were served our coffee preferences individually at the end of our meal!
This kind of personalised service reminded us of our fine-dining experiences…
Other highlights at Lime’s Sunday Brunch Buffet
Herb crusted lamb rack and US prime rib
Herb crusted lamb rack and US prime rib
Like most brunches, there’s also a section serving roasted meats. The herb crusted lamb rack and US prime ribs were highlights at this section. Especially the lamb. It may have felt a little gamey at first, but the tenderness and flavourful fatty bits (observe the fatty bits in the photo above!) as well as the herbs soon took over. Yum!
Chef Alex’s specialties
Chef Alex’s specialties
Besides the usual Sunday Brunch fare, Chef Alex had other tricks up his sleeves. He told us that while he was in Dubai, he created the “A” sauce – the “Alex” sauce! This secretly guarded recipe makes the stir fried chicken with curry leaves so so flavourful! The tender chicken bites wrapped in “A” sauce was just irresistible. Other asian delights such as the beef cheek (2 days of preparations!), cereal pork and roasted duck also made this Sunday Brunch unique in its own ways.
Chef Alex striking a pose at the entrance of Lime Restaurant, Parkroyal on Pickering
Chef Alex striking a pose at the entrance of Lime Restaurant, Parkroyal on Pickering
Piper Heidsieck Champagne at Lime’s Sunday Champagne Brunch
Piper Heidsieck Champagne at Lime’s Sunday Champagne Brunch
How can a Sunday Brunch be complete without the bubbly? Lime’s Sunday Brunch Champagne Buffet offers the perfect match with the Piper Heidsieck. The french produced Piper Heidsieck Champagne is light, crisp and bubbly, making it a perfect companion with the quality food served. A touch of class to the Sunday Brunch 🙂
As we headed for the desserts, we found out that the DESSERTS WERE A WHOLE OTHER BUFFET!
Assortment of cakes including highlights of Key Lime Pie and Opera cake!
Assortment of cakes including highlights of Key Lime Pie and Opera cake!
We took slightly over an hour to work through the desserts and it was simply worth it! We just have to highlight that you must try the Lime Pie, Lime Marshmallow, Lime sorbet (in fact all things Lime was excellent), Opera Cake, Green Tea Tiramisu, Macarons as well as the ice creams (triple chocolate ice cream!)! (Going trigger crazy with the exclamation marks!)
For us, the desserts were a great highlight. The chocolates from the ice cream and Opera Cake was so sinfully rich! Lime items had a refreshing taste to it while the green tea tiramisu offered matcha tastes in layered textures!
To end off the meal, we had the cappuccino and latte (inclusive in the buffet). And yes, they were gourmet coffees…Ah…
Prices and Opening Hours of Sunday Brunch at Lime Restaurant @ Parkroyal on Pickering
The prices at Lime Restaurant and Bar for Sunday Brunch are
S$128 per adult Includes free flow of Piper Heidsieck Champagne, House Wines, Chilled Juices, Soft Drinks, Specialty Coffee and Tea.
S$88 per adult Includes free flow of Chilled Juices, Soft Drinks, Specialty Coffee and Tea.
Sunday Brunch starts from 12pm to 3pm on Sundays. The prices are actually very competitive because if you take a look at the ala carte menu, the herb crusted cod fillet costs $38++ and mushroom risotto costs $24++ while the cakes go for $12++ per piece. If you take into consideration the variety of food that you’ll be having (including the foie gras, lamb and US prime rib), the price is a steal for quality food! Oh, don’t forget the bubbly! The Piper Heidsieck Champagne is one of the main ingredients for this Sunday Brunch!
How to get to Lime Restaurant @ Parkroyal on Pickering
Lime restaurant is located at level 1 of the Parkroyal on Pickering Hotel (3 Upper Pickering Street). Parkroyal on Pickering is just a 5 minutes walk away from Clarke Quay or Chinatown MRT. It is just beside the newly revamped Chinatown Point. With its location near to Chinatown as well as the Singapore River, Parkroyal on Pickering also makes a perfect staycation getaway!
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To the chefs and staff of Lime at Parkroyal on Pickering, kudos for an excellent Sunday Brunch champagne buffet, personalised service and great quality food! Welcome to the league of the Sunday Brunches!
For a champagne Sunday Brunch Buffet, Lime @ Parkroyal on Pickering definitely offers quality, value and great service! Enjoy!
**Special thanks to the great people @ Parkroyal on Pickering for making this preview possible!
A Staycation at Raffles Hotel Singapore would definitely not be complete without a taste of the original Singapore Sling from Long Bar Raffles Hotel!
The Original Singapore Sling at the Long Bar Raffles Hotel
The original Singapore Sling was created by Mr Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender at Raffles Hotel around 1915.
Legend has it that the Singapore Sling was created because ladies of the time were not supposed to consume alcohols in public. So the Singapore Sling was concocted to conceal the light alcohol in a bright fancy colour. The ladies were then happy that there was a drink available to them and the men were happy that they could buy drinks for their ladies! Win-win!
We were invited to a staycation at the Raffles Hotel Singapore and this little story was shared to us by the Resident Historian – Mr Leslie Danker. Cool huh? Let’s now find out what’s in this national drink of Singapore…
Ingredients of the Original Singapore Sling
The ingredients of the Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel are
30ml Gin
15ml Cherry Heering
7.5ml Dom Benedictine
7.5ml Cointreau
120ml Sarawak Pineapple Juice
15ml Lime Juice
10ml Grenadine
A dash of Angostura Bitters
Garnish with a slice of Pineapple and Cherry
How to make the Original Singapore Sling
If you’re interested to find out how to make the original Singapore Sling, here’s a demonstration done by a bartender at Long Bar Raffles Hotel during our staycation there.
As part of the demonstration to us, we were also shown how the slings of Cambodia, France, Indonesia, Philippines and Seychelles were made. Each of them are named after a Raffles Hotel in each of these countries.
Singapore Sling and the drinks of Cambodia, France, Indonesia, Philippines and Seychelles
If you have not tried the original Singapore Sling before, you have got to try it because it most definitely does not resemble ANY KIND of Singapore Sling we have tried before, ANYWHERE! Nope it does not resemble the ones at Clarke Quay or onboard SQ flights…
You have just read a post from the complete coverage of our staycation at the Raffles Hotel. You can find the rest of the posts here…
The Maritime Experiential Museum at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) is a must visit for the whole family! It not only has alot of information about the maritime history of asia, there are also interactive points throughout the museum that kids can enjoy! The best part is that the price is relatively cheap as well!
Things to do at the Maritime Experiential Museum
The Maritime Experential Museum Level 1
The Maritime Experential Museum Level 1
At the entrance of the museum, you will see the Bao Chuan…
Bao Chuan – Zheng He’s treasure ship
Bao Chuan – Zheng He’s treasure ship
Bao Chuan is actually the treasure ship of Zheng He’s fleet of ships. Its main symbol is the figurine called Bi Shu (did we spell that right?). Legend has it that Bi Shu stole treasure, kept it to himself but was discovered by Zheng He. Zheng He then punished Bi Shu and placed him to guard the treasure. Hence, now Bi Shu is associated with guardian of wealth, well…it’s all just a myth. The cool part is that it actually moves during the start of the show. The light brown portion will show a short clip about Zheng He and his expedition to this part of the world!
Moving to the left, you will see “The Souk” exhibition.
The Souk – Ports along the Maritime Silk Route
The Souk – Ports along the Maritime Silk Route
The Souk covers ports along the maritime silk route such as Quanzhou, Qui Nhon, Palembang, Malacca, Galle, Calicut, Muscat and Malindi.
Along the Souk
Along the Souk
Here, kids can play the various interactive games such as learning to trade in a port, taking photos superimposed on a traditional costume and watching video of the construction of the Omani Dhow (Jewel of Muscat)
Dhow – A gift from the government of Oman to Singapore
Dhow – A gift from the government of Oman to Singapore
The Dhow (aka Jewel of Muscat) is a centre piece in the Maritime Experiential Museum. It is a gift from Oman and it is entirely constructed out of organic material (i.e. no nails!). Fibres are interwoven and these strong fibres are then used to hold the pieces of wood that form the ship. After construction, the ship actually took the journey that the forefathers took and finally arrived in Singapore! Then President Nathan accepted the gift on behalf of the people of Singapore!
Information about the Dhow
Information about the Dhow
The other main attraction at the Maritime Experiential Museum is the Typhoon Theatre.
Entrance to the Typhoon Theatre
Entrance to the Typhoon Theatre
The story starts with a chinese trading/sea faring company being entrusted with carrying a gift from China to Oman.
Storyline of the Typhoon Theatre
Storyline of the Typhoon Theatre
The father (captain) and son (first mate) together with the ambassador takes the golden cup and begins on the journey. You will then enter the typhoon theatre which is actually a 4D show. The ship then enters a storm and eventually sinks, leaving the treasure at the bottom of the ocean. During the storm, you will feel the wind, droplets of water as well as the platform on which you’re seated, move a little.
The show nicely leads to S.E.A Aquarium – The World’s Largest Aquarium…
Sunken Ship at the S.E.A Aquarium – World’s Largest Aquarium
Sunken Ship at the S.E.A Aquarium – World’s Largest Aquarium
It is like a preview of the aquarium (enticing you to pay to go into the aquarium itself) where the sunken ship from the 4D movie is shown in the tank together with marine life inside.
Viewing point of the S.E.A Aquarium
Viewing point of the S.E.A Aquarium
Paying the low price to the maritime experiential museum, we think it is well worth it to enjoy the aquarium at these 2 viewing areas. You will be able to sea the sharks, hammer head at that plus all other smaller and interesting fish.
The Maritime Experential Museum Level B1
The Maritime Experential Museum Level B1
Moving on, you will arrive at the Maritime Archaeology Gallery. Here you will see artefacts from the Bakau and Temasek shipwrecks. Nearby is another main attraction of the museum – the Bao Chuan Cutaway
Bao Chuan Cutaway
Bao Chuan Cutaway
It is a cross-section of the ship showing its treasures such as the giraffe that Zheng He brought back to show to the emperor. Below which, there is also the pirates and pirate hunters exhibit. Zheng He was also a pirate hunter in pirate infested waters.
The Maritime Experiential Museum Opening Hours and Ticket Prices
Ticket Prices of the Maritime Experiential Museum
Adults : $5
Child (4-12) : $2
Seniors (>60) : $3
Ticket Prices Typhoon Theatre
Adults : $6
Child (4-12) : $4
Seniors (>60) : $3
The ticket prices of the Maritime Experiential Museum are quite cheap right?!
Opening Hours of the Maritime Experiential Museum
The opening hours of the Maritime Experiential Museum varies according to the time of the year. But mostly, it should be open from 10am to 8pm. The typhoon theatre will close 1 hour before the museum closes.
Navy Open House 2013 was a blast! It’s really cool to be up close with our very own Navy ships! The journey starts at the Singapore Expo. Although the queue was long, the queues moved very fast in an orderly fashion and soon we were heading into Changi Naval Base!
Navy Open House NOH 2013!
Navy Open House NOH 2013!
After a quick security check, we immediately chanced upon our very own submarines!
Submarine at the Navy Open House 2013!
Submarine at the Navy Open House 2013!
RSS Chieftain at the Navy Open House
RSS Chieftain at the Navy Open House
It was really cool to be able to see these amazing boats in action right in front of us! We also managed to catch the dynamic display segment by the Naval Diving Unit, Naval Helicopter as well as the submarines. Displays such as this just shows the professionalism of our Navy personnel. Professional and cool!
Chinook deploying divers during the dynamic display segment
Chinook deploying divers during the dynamic display segment
Our Navy’s quick response to intruders and threats
Our Navy’s quick response to intruders and threats!
Overcoming terrorist threats at sea!
Overcoming terrorist threats at sea!
Naval Helicopter dipping its sonar to detect any submarines!
I Love Navy Board with the Landing Ship Tank (LST)
I Love Navy Board with the Landing Ship Tank (LST)
One of the highlights of the day was the ship visit to our Navy ships. The Endurance Class LST (Landing Ship Tank) is the biggest class of ship in our Navy and it was amazing to have stepped on board this fine ship for the very first time!
In addition to the LST, visitors can also visit the Bedok Class Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs), Fearless Class Patrol Vessels, Victory Class Missile Corvettes as well as the Formidable Class Stealth Frigates!
Ships at the RSN’s Navy Open House!
Ships at the RSN’s Navy Open House!
Bedok Class Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs) at Navy Open House
Bedok Class Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs) at Navy Open House
Fearless Class Patrol Vessels
Fearless Class Patrol Vessels
Formidable Class Frigates
Formidable Class Frigates
You can also visit foreign warships at this year’s Navy Open House. One of the highlights must be the Littoral Combat Ships from the United States Navy – USS FREEDOM!
Foreign Warships at Navy Open House Singapore
Foreign Warships at Navy Open House Singapore
Close up of USS FREEDOM – Littoral Combat Ship from United States Navy
Close up of USS FREEDOM – Littoral Combat Ship from United States Navy
Besides ship visits, visitors can also ballot for a chance to ride onboard these ships as well! Duck rides were also available. Just have to Q. In case you ask where they sail to…the answer is “Cruise to Nowhere!” Sounds very Star Cruise hor? 🙂
Duck cruise at the Navy Open House!
Duck cruise at the Navy Open House!
There’s also a ONE SAF Avenue, where visitors can have plenty of photo opportunities with assets from the Army and Air Force. In the 3G SAF, the three services (land, sea and air) work together as one integrated and formidable fighting force! Phew!
Tanks from the Army
Tanks from the Army
Bionix Tanks at Navy Open House 2013
Bionix Tanks at Navy Open House 2013
Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) from the Air Force
Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) from the Air Force
Futuristic looking Typhoon Gun used onboard some of our Navy Vessels!
Futuristic looking Typhoon Gun used onboard some of our Navy Vessels!
If the weather gets hot or the rain threatens, no worries at all. There are several tents that you can visit. For the foodies, check out the F&B tent where there are many food and drinks options available. There are also performances on stage while you enjoy your meals! Don’t forget to try the Mao Shan Wang ice cream! Yummilicious!
At the Experience Zone, you can try your hand at fire fighting or prove your worth as a marksman at the shooting range.
Experience Zone at NOH 2013
Experience Zone at NOH 2013
Learn about knots and naval traditions at the Navy Open House
Learn about knots and naval traditions at the Navy Open House
Try your hand at the simulators at Navy Open House NOH 2013
Try your hand at the simulators at Navy Open House NOH 2013
The Mission Zone shows the capabilities of the RSN (Republic of Singapore Navy) as well as some of the operations it conducts with countries ALL OVER THE WORLD!!
Entrance to Mission Zone at the Navy Open House
Entrance to Mission Zone at the Navy Open House
Models of all the classes of ships in the Singapore Navy
Models of all the classes of ships in the Singapore Navy
After a quick introduction to the class of ships in the Navy, you will be able to enjoy a short video presentation of how the Navy is able to overcome emergency situations (such as an unknown contact) in a professional and decisive manner!
Heart Zone at the Navy Open House 2013
Heart Zone at the Navy Open House 2013
The Heart Zone shows the importance of people to the Navy. There are Navy personnel in the tent who can share some amazing stories with you. There is also a booth for taking photos and they can be given to you, printed, on the spot! Souvenirs are also available at the Heart Zone.
All in all, it was a fantastic experience at the Navy Open House 2013!
Kudos to the Navy and the excellent work that they are doing to protect our seas and ensure the continued growth of our economy! Thanks for having us at the Navy Open House 2013! Looking forward to Navy Open House 2016 already!
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Stand a chance to win a limited edition Navy Open House 2013 Teddy Bear
Ok, the contest this time is very simple. Just follow these 3 simple steps
1. Choose a photo showing you having a great time at the Navy Open House 2013 (along with a short caption) and send it to our email : contact@2bearbear.com
2.“Like” us on our facebook page : facebook.com/2bearbear
3. Your picture will be uploaded on our FB page. All you have to do is Get as many people as possible to like your photo on our facebook page!
The winner of the limited edition Navy Open House Teddy Bear (wearing the new pixelised uniform) will be the one with the most number of votes for your picture!
So keep those pictures coming in! Best of luck!
Tom,
2bearbear.com
Contest ends 30 Jun 2013
Disclaimer : This contest has no relation whatsoever to the Navy or Navy Open House 2013. We just happen to have an extra one and giving it away on 2bearbear.com!
CONTEST NOW CLOSED.
And the winning entry…
Winner of our Navy Open House Teddy Bear Facebook Giveaway
Samantha Chua has won our Navy Open House Teddy Bear Facebook Contest. For this, she walks away with the NOH Teddy Bear!
Thank you for your participation and we’ll see you at the next Navy Open House 2016!
Information on Navy Open House 2013
Navy Open House 2013 will be held from 18 to 19 May at Changi Naval Base. Yes! This Saturday and Sunday!
There will be loads of fun for the entire family! Fancy a ride on one of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) ships or try your hand at the simulators? The Navy Open House offers visitors a chance to have a glimpse of what our sailors do in the Navy!
There’s even an adrenaline charged “Storm and Rescue!” display twice daily, featuring the elite divers in action. If you’re sharp enough, you may even catch the periscope of our very own submarines!
How to get to Navy Open House 2013?
There is only one way to get to Changi Naval Base for the Navy Open House. That is by shuttle buses. The shuttle buses will depart from Singapore Expo Hall 3 from 8am to 4:30pm on 18May (Sat) and from 8:30am to 4:30pm on 19 May (Sun).
You can either drive to the Singapore EXPO (2000 lots available) or take a train to tanah merah mrt and change a train to arrive at the EXPO MRT station.
Navy Open House Opening Hours and Admission Prices
First of all, ADMISSION IS FREE! Although the opening hours is not specifically written, we suggest that you check out the timing of the last bus out and plan from there.
Map of Navy Open House 2013
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Remember to take pictures at the Navy Open House 2013! 2bearbear.com will be holding a contest for you to stand a chance to win souvenirs from the Navy Open House. All you have to do is to remember to take pictures of you having a great time at the Navy Open House 2013!
Further details of the contest will be announced on Saturday! Stay tuned!
In the meantime, snap away and capture those precious moments at the Navy Open House 2013!
Nestled at the corner of level 2 at Parkway Parade is Toby’s the Dessert Asylum. Kate and I saw the unpretentious ambience of the place and decided to give it a try.
Toby’s the Dessert Asylum @ Parkway Parade
Toby’s the Dessert Asylum @ Parkway Parade
The first thing we noticed was that the crew did not have any uniform or same-coloured polo-T. Everyone wore their own shirts to work. Everyone was able to be cashier, serve the food and clear the tables. Talk about empowering! Perhaps it’s a family owned business? Anyone care to comment?
We took some time to scan through the menu as there were simply too many items to choose from!
Mains Menu @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum
Mains Menu @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum
The blue lightning beside some of the dish represents “Chef’s recommendation” or something along those lines. This day, we decided to have one mains and one dessert to share, so we went with the pork stew baked rice.
Pork Stew Baked Rice with Chardonnay @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum – $12.95
Pork Stew Baked Rice with Chardonnay @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum – $12.95
The pork stew somewhat resembled the chinese mei cai kou rou. Surprisingly, this east (pork stew) meets west (baked rice with cheese) combination, worked really well and we tucked into it readily!
Next we had our dessert.
Dessert Menu @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum
Dessert Menu @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum
We scanned through the menu and decided to go for another chef’s recommendation that needed 15 minutes of waiting time – The Leaning Tower of Toby.
The Leaning Tower of Toby @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum – $12.95
The Leaning Tower of Toby @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum – $12.95
The tower was made up of 2 squarish pastries, sandwiched between a strawberry / whipped cream layer as well as a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with another roll-like pastry.
The highlight of this dessert would be the fresh cream that went really well with the pastry and berries (there were blue berries as well). We think that the taste and presentation was good. But the price was a little steep.
We also ordered a bottle of Chardonnay ($28.95) to accompany our meal and dessert.
All in all, Toby’s the Dessert Asylum offers good service (friendly staff), warm and welcoming ambience. Standard of food is somewhat comparable to most western joints. Good place to hang out with friends!
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Live music by the pianist jazzed up the afternoon tea @ Chihuly
The Spring Weekend Afternoon Tea at Chihuly , Ritz Carlton has an emphasis on CHEESES this time round! Sure there are savoury dishes and all. BUT for desserts, cheeses range from ricotta to parmesan to mozzarella to feta and even goat cheese! Cheeses take centre stage!
Extensive spread at the Chihuly Lounge spring afternoon tea
Selection of sandwiches
We started off with the savoury dishes…
Savoury dishes @ the Afternoon Tea
Salmon & Scallops!
Close up of the scallop sushi!
There’s a great selection of sandwiches (including beef pastrami, smoked chicken and smoked salmon), canapes (smoked duck, scallops, salmon and eringi mushroom) and savoury dishes such as the steamed scallop siew mai, glazed wagyu beef ball with smoked garlic as well as the panko prawn with wasabi mayonnaise!
Our favourite from this selection has got to be the scallop and salmon! Both the salmon and scallop were VERY FRESH and the taste was very refreshing as well! The salmon roe really brought out the sweetness of salmon!
The wagyu beef ball and scallop siew mai should not be missed! Full flavoured beef infused with the smoky garlic makes this a must-try! The “white upon white” (scallop and white meat) steamed combination, also made this dish a favourite.
Highlight of the Spring Weekend Afternoon Tea @ Chihuly Lounge, Ritz Carlton Singapore
The highlight for the day has got to be the desserts!
Selection of desserts
More desserts!
Strawberry balsamic salad with Mascarpone Sorbet
There were so many choices of desserts! The ingenuity of the chefs to include cheeses into the various desserts also made the afternoon tea an unique experience! Desserts included
1. Ricotta Cheese Pudding 2. Coffee and Soft Guanaja Mascarpone Cream 3. Parmesan Macaroon 4. Citrus Cream Cheese Rolls 5. Fontainebleau with Berry Compote 6. Goat Cheese Crème Brûlée 7. Baked Vanilla Camembert Cheese Cake 8. Baked Apple with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Feta Cheese Almond Mousse and Lemon Jelly 9. Mozzarella Cheese with Tomato Raspberry and Brioche Toast 10. Honey Cheese Mousse with Apricot Rosemary Jelly 11. Blueberry Cheese Tart 12. Selection of Cheese with Crackers
Sounds yummy doesnt it? But you wouldnt have guessed that the hot seller is this…
What?! A mouse?!
Yes, the mouse is the hot seller! And it’s used as a decoration with all other desserts as well! Each time they appear on the trays, they’d be gone almost instantly!
It’s also here…
Ma look! They’re here as well!
The mouse is actually the Parmesan Macaroon! The ingenious combination made this dish delectable, refreshing and highly sought after!
Tea with ice made of tea!
It’s small little things like this that makes the afternoon tea an enjoyable one. Even if the ice melts, the taste does not get diluted because the ice is made of the same tea! 😮
How much is the Weekend Afternoon Tea at Chihuly Lounge , Ritz Carlton Singapore?
The price is for the afternoon tea is $52++. A little bit on the high side. However, the quality of the food that you’d be enjoying, more than made up for the price. Not to mention, the exquisite presentation of the desserts!
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Chihuly Lounge Ritz Carlton Singapore
Coupled with the classy ambience at Chihuly Lounge (high glass ceiling, classy beige/gold setting) and the piano background music accompaniment, the Spring Afternoon Tea at Chihuly Lounge, Ritz Carlton is definitely a must-visit for you afternoon high tea lovers out there!
**Special thanks to the great people @ Ritz Carlton Singapore for making this preview possible!
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is one of the main attractions in Singapore and houses the biggest Orchid display in the world. Here, you can unwind amidst the natural surroundings and if you’re lucky, spot the swans in its natural habitat or squirrels dashing right past you!
The Singapore Botanic Gardens was established by a horticultural society on a piece of abandoned land in 1859. It was handed over to be managed by the government in 1875 and since then it has evolved to include research, education, conservation as well as recreation.
Entrance to the Singapore Botanic Gardens at Cluny Road
History of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
There are many attractions at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. You can visit the largest display of Orchids in the world (over 60,000 varieties) at the National Orchid Garden ($5 per entry)
National Orchid Garden @ the Singapore Botanical Gardens
Enjoy performances at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage (only on selected dates)
Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage @ Singapore Botanic Gardens
Visit the Swan Lake
Swan Lake at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
A pair of swans at the Swan Lake
Or just simply relax at the gazebo and watch as others enjoy the greenery…
Gazebo where many couples took their wedding photos in Singapore
Directional signs in the Singapore Botanical Gardens
Common folks enjoying the gardens
How to get to the Singapore Botanic Gardens & Opening Hours
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is open from 5am to 12am daily.
Map of the Singapore Botanical Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is located along Holland road and Cluny Road. You can reach there by buses 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 123 and 174.
Little India is located in the area of Serangoon road in Singapore and is so named because it was one of the main areas where Indians congregated in the early days of Singapore. Then, Indians would be drawn to the vegetarian restaurants of Krishna Villas as well as Ananda Bhavan. Today, it is a main tourist attraction for visitors to learn more about the rich cultural heritage of Singapore.
Ellison Building @ the junction of Selegie Road and Bukit Timah Road
Little India @ Serangoon Road Singapore
The beauty of Little India is that it still displays the old world charms of times past. Today, you can still find old school barber shops, flower vendors and even a mini street market. As you walk along the shop houses, you will smell the distinct flavours of the flowers, spices and oils that transports you back into another time, away from the bustling city life just a few streets away.
Besides the many interesting pictures that you can take, there’s a place where almost all visitors would know about when it comes to shopping, and that is the 24 hours Mustafa Centre.
Mustafa Centre – 24 hours shopping in Singapore
Mustafa Centre is located at the junction of Serangoon Road and Syed Alwi Road, almost at the end of the Little India enclave. Here, you will be able to get almost everything. And we really do mean EVERYTHING. It is like a Wal-Mart that opens 24 hours. Somehow, we think it sells more stuff than Walmart.
For locals like us, Mustafa being 24 hours is like a god-send. This is because sometimes in the middle of the night if you are doing reports (due the next day) and you find that you have no more printer ink or running out of printing paper, you know that Mustafa is there to save the day!
For tourists, it is also a great place because after covering all the tourist attractions like Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Zoo, Singapore Flyer and Sentosa you still have time in the evening to do all your shopping and even get last minute shopping done if you are leaving early the next morning!
Besides the sights, sounds and shopping, you can also dig in to authentic Indian food along Little India. On our visit this time, we visited Komala’s (a vegetarian restaurant) and had the Onion Masala Meal. Yummilicious!
Onion Masala Meal at Komala’s
The Onion Masala was huge and was good for 2. The onions were really fresh and the thosai was crispy on the outside. There were also 3 dips to choose from – mint, coconut and tomato. All 3 flavours were interesting and fresh. Do give it a try when you visit Little India!
The crowd inside Komala’s
Elsewhere in Little India, there are also other local Indian fare that you should try such as a the prata as well as the chapati. There are of course other non-vegetarian curry dips such as mutton, chicken and even fish that you can choose from!
How to get to Little India in Singapore
Little India is located at Serangoon road, intersecting at Bukit Timah Road. The best way to get to Little India is via MRT of the same name. After covering Little India, you may also want to visit Sim Lim (on the side of Bukit Timah Road) for shopping of electronic goods.
Chomp Chomp Food Centre has been one of the hawker centres that we have always wanted to visit since time immemorial! (Cheem ah “time immemorial”, teens can consider using it in essays…) Well, for several reasons…
Firstly, if you take a look at the location of Chomp Chomp Food Centre (at 20 Kensington Park Rd) below
You’ll realise that the Serangoon Garden area is a nice little enclave that has amenities (banking, food, supermarket etc.) for the community that lives there. Quaint. Much akin to Holland Village.
Secondly, it is also a nice hangout area for teens and young adults. The al fresco setting, cheap hawker food and the unpretentious vibe, makes Chomp Chomp a great place to meet up with friends.
Last but not least, the food! We’ve tried the Hokkien Mee, BBQ Chicken Wings and Pizza from the first row of stalls…stalls 1,2 and 5 to be precise. Here’s the low down…
What’s there to eat at Chomp Chomp Food Centre
Chomp Chomp Food Centre
Legend has it that one of the best Hokkien Mee in Singapore is at Chomp Chomp Food Centre. We have yet to try it. Well, it means that the hokkien mee above is not it. Anyone knows which is the one that we should try?
This hokkien mee from stall 1 looks the part. Well arranged with lime at the side, bright red chili and even the thin white noodles that we prefer. However, it lacked the taste. The flavour of the stock was not infused into the noodles and it was the first thing we noticed right off the cuff. The chili was also too spicy! We take chili padi quite often and this chili is definitely not for the faint of heart (or tongue for that matter).
Dear reader, if you stay in the vicinity, please point us to the legendary hokkien mee!
Though not one of the best we’ve eaten, the BBQ wings at stall 2 is worth a try. The meat is still moist with some juices and the chili complimented the taste quite well. At $1.2 per piece, it is in line with the general prices of BBQ chicken wings.
The other main reason for our visit to Chomp Chomp Food Centre this time round is because of stall 5’s pizza. Friends have shared with us that the pizzas are only going for $3.90 each and there is also a variety of tastes to choose from. We chose the Tom Yam as well as the BBQ chicken and nope they did not disappoint.
The crust was thin and crispy while the Tom Yam flavour was mild but intriguing. No worries, no “hot” and “sudden” punch here. The prawn was also quite fresh. As for the BBQ chicken, there was a chunky piece of meat on each slice. Yum. Do give it a try and support the entrepreneurs who started this idea!
How to get to Chomp Chomp Food Centre
If you are driving, head to Serangoon Gardens. It is located at 20 Kensington Park Road. If you are going by public, buses 73, 136, 315 and 317 serves the area.
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Chomp Chomp Food Centre
If you have a great stall to recommend at Chomp Chomp Food Centre, do tell us in the comments section below! Enjoy your next makan at Chomp Chomp Food Centre, we will be sure to visit it again soon!
There are indeed so many things to do in Singapore! We found out recently that one of the exciting things to do in Singapore is actually to catch a match of the Singapore Slingers at the National Indoor Stadium!
We reached the National Stadium early and caught a glimpse of the cheer leading team practicing their dance moves. Besides performing to the tunes of Jay Chou, they also did a rendition of Gangnam Style.
Cheer Leaders of the Slingers practicing before the match
Cheer Leaders of the Slingers practicing before the match
This time, we caught the match between the Singapore Slingers and the Saigon Heat. The ticket prices range from 8 to 18 dollars but there are various discounts for students, SAFRA cards and so on.
Players of the Saigon Heat arrived earlier and hit the courts to get some warm up.
Saigon Heat players warming up
Saigon Heat players warming up
Speaking of warm ups, take a look at this video that shows the teams warming up just before the match.
As it was the first time that we watched a basketball match “live”, Kate and I were pleasantly surprised to see that they do introduce the players one by one just like the NBA!
Introducing players of Singapore Slingers before the start of the match
Introducing players of Singapore Slingers before the start of the match
Jeffers and Dulay caught our eyes. Well, mainly because one is the tallest and the other the shortest. We were wondering why Dulay is in the team, since he is really short in comparison to the rest of the team. Then we realised that he’s REALLY FAST and he was in the starting 5!
The match started with the Slingers off the blocks first. However, Saigon quickly closed the gap.
Singapore Slingers in Red (Dark Pink) in the Cancer Awareness Game in support of World Cancer Day 2013
Singapore Slingers in Red (Dark Pink) in the Cancer Awareness Game in support of World Cancer Day 2013
Slingers actually pulled as far as 20 points ahead in the 3rd Quarter. However, Saigon pulled back to 4 points with 2.5 minutes to go! We were quite shocked that such a big lead could be decimated in such a short time! However, the Slingers composed themselves and finally won the game 80 to 69! Congrats Slingers!
Singapore Slingers strategising with Head Coach
Singapore Slingers strategising with Head Coach
There are a few interesting observations from the Singapore Slingers match
1. Unlike NBA, where the commercials come in when the teams calls for “time out”, the ASEAN basketball league games goes for “media time-outs” when the TV goes for commercial breaks!
2. Wei Long, a great game you’ve played! This Singaporean netted 5 out of 8 three-pointers and made the crowd go wild!
3. The commentator not only has to comment on the match, he actually changes the music for the game as well! There are 2 different music for the Slingers when they attack and when they defend much akin to NBA matches
Hear the background music of this clip showing the last 15 seconds of the first half!
4. The drinks and snacks are REALLY EXPENSIVE! $10 for a can of Carlsberg beer and $4 for a packet of potato chips!
5. Although the stadium was not full, the atmosphere was still really great! Quite shiok to see spectators shouting at the referees from the sidelines :p
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There are so many things to do and attractions on Star Cruise Virgo! Let’s find out what are some of the things that you can do right here onboard the luxurius Star Cruise Virgo!
Star Cruises Pool/Slides, Restaurant & Theatre
Star Cruise has recently revamped and reinvented itself. It now boasts of a new water slide, posh restaurants as well as an excellent theatre
New Water Slide onboard Star Cruise VirgoItalian Restaurant Palazzo Starcruise Theatre for Shows onboard Virgo – The Lido
Free Flow of Food onboard Starcruise Virgo
You will usually gain a few pounds after a cruise. And why wouldn’t you? It is afterall FREE FLOW OF FOOD, 6 times a day (main meals plus snacks)! Be spoilt for choice at the wide variety of cuisine such as Western, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Italian and more!
Beef PattyClub SandwichMixed GrillVariety of Chinese Food onboard the SuperStar VirgoDelicately arranged Japanese Food @ Samurai RestaurantGreat Wines
You can also take your pick from the following venues …
Bella Vista Restaurant offering continental cuisine Mediterranean Buffet offering international buffet Noble House a classy Chinese restaurant Palazzo offering Italian gourmet cuisine Pavilion Restaurant offering Chinese family style cuisine Samurai Restaurant a classy Japanese restaurant The Taj offering Halal Indian Buffet Blue Lagoon offering 24 hours of Asian specialties!
Balcony Class onboard Star Cruise Virgo
The Balcony Class onboard the Star Cruise Virgo was amazing. Not only was the room spacious, you’ll get to wake up to splendid views of the sea every morning!
Bed in Balcony ClassYour very own Balcony and Views!
With some deals, you’ll get $200 spending credits when you book with the Balcony Class!
Other Things to do and Attractions onboard the Star Cruise Virgo
Sports & Fitness
A fitness guru? No problem! There are many work out venues all around the ship such as the Parthenon Pool for outdoor swimming, jacuzzi, Aquaswim for jet current exercising, Star Track (a jogging circuit), a Gymnasium as well as the Amphitheatre for Jumbo Chess/Checkers and table tennis!
Entertainment Venues
There are many entertainment venues throughout the ship such as the Galaxy of the Stars for some live music, cocktail and dance, the Lido for daily entertainment shows, Out of Africa for the Karaoke singers!
Something for the kids
For the kids, there’s an arcade (Starlight Video Arcade), Computer World, Child Care Centre @ Charlie’s Child Care Centre as well as a Library for book loans and reading!
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As part of our anniversary celebrations, Kate and I headed out to the Riverview Hotel BBBQ (Buffet Brunch Beer and BBQ!). The BBBQ starts from 12pm to 3pm and costs about $70 per person (inclusive of all taxes). It has a spread of international buffet, BBQ buffet as well as free flow of Erdinger / Heineken!
International Buffet on the inside 1
International Buffet on the inside 1
International Buffet on the inside 2
International Buffet on the inside 2
BBQ Buffet on the outside
BBQ Buffet on the outside
Free Flow of Beer from the Tap
Free Flow of Beer from the Tap
Besides the wide selection of food available, there’s also entertainment as well as views of the Singapore River…
Enjoy views of the Singapore River as you dine al fresco
Enjoy views of the Singapore River as you dine al fresco
Entertainment in terms of song and dance
Entertainment in terms of song and dance
These tourists also thoroughly enjoyed themselves by dancing in front of the stage when they were done with their meals. This BBBQ at Riverview Hotel really has a great mix of food, drinks and entertainment!
We chose a seat in the al fresco dining area and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The food was splendid and the surrounding view as well as live performance really lifted the atmosphere there. Here’s what we ate…
What we ate at Riverview Hotel BBBQ
BBQ available at the BBQ corner
BBQ available at the BBQ corner
The highlight of the meal at the Riverview Hotel BBBQ has got to be the BBQ! All of the food featured on this plate was fresh, tasty and simply excellent. The prawns were really fresh and succulent, huge ones at that. The pork ribs was our favourite – huge chunks of meat as you tuck in, use of hands are welcomed! The pork ribs is also a favourite among other diners, so our recommendation would be to order the pork ribs first before they run out! The sausage and beef was also quite good. Give them a try if you have additional “space”.
Besides BBQ and the free flow of beer, there are also some selection of seafood as well as sashimi available.
Erdinger beer and seafood
Erdinger beer and seafood
Sashimi!
Sashimi!
The crayfish laksa was also very tasty. The crayfish was again fresh, sweet and succulent. It complimented the laksa really really well. Do note that laksa is a spicy soup based noodle.
Crayfish Laksa at Riverview Hotel BBBQ
Crayfish Laksa at Riverview Hotel BBBQ
There are also other chinese foods available such as dim sum and fried rice.
Asian Cuisine
Asian Cuisine
For those health conscious, do remember to take your greens as well.
Salads available
Salads available
We rounded up our meals with desserts and ice creams with various toppings!
Desserts at Riverview Hotel BBBQ
Desserts at Riverview Hotel BBBQ
Flow serve ice cream with nuts and chocolate toppings
Flow serve ice cream with nuts and chocolate toppings
Flow serve ice cream with fruit toppings
Flow serve ice cream with fruit toppings
Last Words
The Riverview Hotel BBBQ is definitely well worth the $70 bucks per pax! The vast array of food, live entertainment, al fresco dining as well as free flow of beer makes this meal thoroughly enjoyable and memorable!
Remember to go straight for the BBQ pork ribs! Enjoy the natural chunky meat and juices oozing from the ribs, washed down with a pint of ice cold beer!
If you are a foodie and have not visited 2 Chefs Eating Place at Blk 116 Commonwealth Crescent, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! (Just to clarify, this is a non-sponsored post, food and price were just great)
We’ve tried a few of their specialties and were impressed by the standards and pricing at this eating place.
On a separate occasion, we’ve also tried their “most ordered” butter pork ribs as well as honey chicken. As most online foodies have mentioned, the butter pork ribs was interesting but wasnt really that good. There was too much of a milky taste to it and the mixture may stick to your teeth. But we also did not believe what the others said and ordered it as well. You may like to do likewise…
The star at 2 Chefs has got to be the 2 honey food. The honey chicken as well as the honey pork ribs. Although, both has the word “honey” to it, there’re actually quite different.
The honey chicken has slices of garlic that brings out the aroma of the chicken. The best of the lot we’ve got to say.
The honey pork ribs were tender on the inside and well marinated and fried on the outside. Yummy!
The rest of the fried prawn frites, 3 eggs spinach as well as hor fun were average. The price though was relatively cheap.
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Ever since Marina Bay Sands opened in April 2010, we’ve wanted to visit the Marina Bay Sands Skypark to see the views of Singapore from the 57th floor observatory.
After splurging at Todai Buffet Restaurant at B2 of Marina Bay Sands, we finally received some complimentary tickets to the skypark (part of a promotion at MBS) and got to visit the sky park!
Entrance to Marina Bay Sands Skypark
Entrance to Marina Bay Sands Skypark
Ticket Prices of Sands Skypark
Ticket Prices of Sands Skypark
Ticket Prices of Sands Skypark
The tickets cost $20 for adults, $14 for children aged 2-12 years old , $17 for senior citizens aged 65 years and above. There’s also guided tours held daily at a first come first served basis. Hence, it would be wise to buy the tickets early and sign up for the complimentary tours of the skypark. The tour would allow you to visit the infinity pool, otherwise you can only see the sky pool from a distance. The pool used to be open for visits to the public but guess the hotel guests didnt enjoy others walking pass and taking photos of them in pool…
There is actually an alternative way to enter the skypark. You can visit any of the skypark dining venues, namely Ku De Ta, Sky on 57 or The Chocolate Bar. For the same price of $20 bucks, you can also enjoy a beer (could be cheaper for soft drinks) and enjoy complimentary visit to the sky park. The entry area would be at the various restaurant counters – do visit the information counter for directions.
Time spent in queuing for skypark tickets
Time spent in queuing for skypark tickets
Miniature Model of Marina Bay Sands
Miniature Model of Marina Bay Sands
After spending some time in the queue and seeing the miniature model of MBS, we got into the lift up to the 56th floor. The lift was rather fast and there wasnt much issue with pressure difference of the ear. As the lift opened at the 56th floor, there was a lift attendant to guide us towards the park so as to control the “human traffic” as there were others taking the lift down as well.
First Floor – Inside the Lift up to Sands Skypark
First Floor – Inside the Lift up to Sands Skypark
Lift Attendant at the 56th Floor
Lift Attendant at the 56th Floor
Views of Attractions and Singapore City Skyline around Marina Bay Sands
The Marina Bay Sands Sky Park offers fantastic views of the city skyline as well as the attractions around MBS. Here are some views from the top of the Sands Skypark!
Singapore Flyer – Night View (Sponsors for a better camera anyone)
Singapore Flyer – Night View (Sponsors for a better camera anyone?)
Esplanade and Swissotel (Tallest Hotel in South East Asia)
Esplanade and Swissotel (Tallest Hotel in South East Asia)
The Float @ Marina Bay – Venue of the National Day Parade (NDP)
The Float @ Marina Bay – Venue of the National Day Parade (NDP)
Singapore City Skyline Central Business District (CBD)
Singapore City Skyline Central Business District (CBD)
Boat Quay and Clarke Quay – Dining and Night Life
Boat Quay and Clarke Quay – Dining and Night Life
Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool
Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool
Art Science Museum – Currently showing Harry Potter and Andy Warhol
Art Science Museum – Currently showing Harry Potter and Andy Warhol
Avalon Louis Vuitton (LV) and the Board Walk – Great place to walk and see the Marina Bay
Avalon Louis Vuitton (LV) and the Board Walk – Great place to walk and see the Marina Bay
Helix Bridge linking MBS to the Floating Platform and Marina Square (More Shopping!)
Helix Bridge linking MBS to the Floating Platform and Marina Square (More Shopping!)
HDB Flats (Singapore Subsidised Housing) in the distance
HDB Flats (Singapore Subsidised Housing) in the distance
Construction of the New National Stadium – Sports Hub
Construction of the New National Stadium – Sports Hub
Views of the Singapore City Skyline in the Day
Whats there At the Sands Sky Park
As mentioned, there are restaurants such as Ku De Ta and Sky on 57 at the skypark. There’s also a mini kiosk for food and drinks as well as a souvenir shop. You will also see this iconic mast at the front of the skypark.
Mast at the front of the Sands Sky Park
Mast at the front of the Sands Sky Park
Souvenir Shop and Food Kiosk at the top of Sands Sky Park MBS
Souvenir Shop and Food Kiosk at the top of Sands Sky Park MBS
Night Views from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park
Singapore Skyline from MBS at Night
Singapore Skyline from MBS at Night
Another view of Singapore Skyline from MBS at Night
Another view of Singapore Skyline from MBS at Night
The new Marina Cruise Centre – Think that is Voyager of the Seas by Royal Caribbean Cruise
The new Marina Cruise Centre – Think that is Voyager of the Seas by Royal Caribbean Cruise
View of the Singapore City Skyline at Night
Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you may see some fireworks from surrounding events as well!
Fireworks seen from Sands Sky Park
Fireworks seen from Sands Sky Park
Another view of the Fire Works from MBS Sky Park
Another view of the Fire Works from MBS Sky Park
Magnificent Sunsets seen from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park
Each evening, there will be throngs of crowd gathering at the left side of the sky park (hope this doesnt cause any stability issues to the ship :p) to view the magnificent sunset. Here’s a progression of the sunset…
Sunset as seen from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park 1
Sunset as seen from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park 1
Sunset as seen from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park 2
Sunset as seen from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park 2
Sunset as seen from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park 3
Sunset as seen from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park 3
Sunset as seen from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park 4
Sunset as seen from Marina Bay Sands Sky Park 4
Hope you’ll find time and enjoy a visit to the Marina Bay Sands Sky Park! Do leave us your comments after your next visit!
We’ll leave you now if views of the city just after sunset! Enjoy!
S One Expo Stuttgart (Beer Festival) Germany is held at the Marina at Keppel Bay from 6 November to 9 December. Here are 7 reasons why you should go!
7 Reasons why You should go to S One Expo!
1. Food – Stuttgart fare & Local Delights
You’ll get to experience authentic german food, especially those from Stuttgart such as the Maultaschen (meat dumplings – a traditional Swabian dish), Blackforest Cake as well as the Apple Pudding! Remember to choose the lentils (peas) to go with the Maultaschen, that is unless you’re fans of the cabbage or potato. The lentils have pieces of minced meat which adds to its flavour.
Maultaschen at S One Expo @ $8
Maultaschen at S One Expo @ $8
Local Hawker Fare
Local Hawker Fare
If German food does not ring your taste buds, why not try the array of local delights available? Choose from hawker fare such as laksa, char kway teow, bak kut teh, fried hokkien mee, chicken rice and fried carrot cake. There’s even a soya beancurd/drink store to add to the local flavour!
2. Experience German Culture
There are several german booths such as Cuckoo Clocks, Wooden Toys as well as Ginger Bread. There are on-going demonstrations to allow you to better understand these crafts during your visit at the S One Expo. There’s also a S One Mart that sells produce.
Cuckoo Clocks at S One Expo
Cuckoo Clocks at S One Expo
Wooden Figurines
Wooden Figurines
S One Mart
S One Mart
3. Something for the kids
You might be wondering what are the other
things to do at S One Expo
– especially for the kids. Well, there are clog making sessions, snow man making sessions and even a giant snow globe for kids to revel in!
Winter Wonderland for the Kids
Winter Wonderland for the Kids
4. Live Entertainment
Enjoy your german fare to the sounds of jazz, german oktoberfest music or even popular acts such as Jack and Rai. Live Entertainment is available from 3pm onwards at the Music Pavilion.
Live Performance at the Music Pavilion
Live Performance at the Music Pavilion
5. German Engineering & Museum
Out of the tent, you will see museums as well as booths featuring German engineering. Bosch, Mercedes as well as Porsche have set up booths with their sports car being the show piece. You may also choose to learn a little german history by visiting a few small museums that have been set up such as the Schiller Haus. Friedrich Schiller a famous german playright is featured in this replica of the building in Stuttgart.
Schiller Haus
Schiller Haus
6. Lucky Draw!
In addition to the culture and food that you get to enjoy, there’s even a lucky draw just for being there! You can take part in 2 separate draws. After registration, you’ll get a red coupon that allows you to take part in the daily draws to win prizes such as juicers, knives, pans and vacuum cleaners from brand names such as Bosch and WMF.
By spending only $10, you’ll get a blue coupon that allows you to take part in the grand lucky draw to win a Porsche Boxster!
Porsche Boxster to be won at S One Expo
Porsche Boxster to be won at S One Expo
7. Last but not least – FREEBIES!
After registration, you’d get $5 F&B vouchers free! $4.50 can get you local delights such as bak kut teh, fried hokkien mee. $1.5 can get you drinks as well as soya bean curd. But on weekends such as last week, each visitor could get either a sausage or beer (usual price $10) absolutely free!
Kate and I shared the beef german sausage as well as a lager for free! 😮
Free bratwurst and lager @ S One Expo
Free bratwurst and lager @ S One Expo
How to get to S One Expo
Driving is discouraged but the organisers have made free shuttle buses available at the following locations
Exit C @ Harbour Front MRT
Exit E @ Dhoby Ghaut MRT
Exit B @ City Hall MRT
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After all this talk about being in Germany, are you thinking about a trip to Stuttgart? You can check out the best hotel deals in Germany right here! With all the 7 reasons listed, don’t you agree that S One Expo is definitely worth a visit?
Crab Buffet at Ellenborough Market Cafe, Swissotel Merchant Court (almost mispelt Crab buffet as Carb buffet…) is now ongoing from 2 to 18 November 2012! Which means that tomorrow will be the last day! 😮
So is it worth a visit to have unlimited crabs at this buffet? Let’s find out!
About Crab Buffet Ellenborough Market – Absolutely InCRABulous
Absolutely InCRABulous is Ellenborough Market Cafe’s annual crab buffet. This year, the crab buffet boasts of Spanner Crabs, Snow Crab Claw on ice, Chilli Crabs with Golden Mantou, Pepper Crabs as well as Nonya Curry Crabs.
In addition, Ellenborough Market Cafe’s signature Durian Pengat is also available during the buffet. It is also mentioned on the information flyer that Crab Cakes with Hot Mango Salsa and Bread and Butter Pudding would also be available. Unfortunately, these were not available when we asked the chefs…Sigh.
Prices of the Crab Buffet @ Ellenborough Market Cafe Swissotel Merchant Court
This buffet is only available daily for dinner and for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The prices are as follows
Lunch Buffet (Saturday and Sunday) – $52++ for Adults / $26++ for Children (Aged 4-12)
Dinner Buffet (Daily) – $58++ for Adults / $29++ for Children (Aged 4-12)
There’s also an exclusive discount for OCBC Card members where One dines free with every three paying buffet adult diners.
Setting & Ambience @ Ellenborough Market Cafe
The buffet starts from 6:30pm to 10pm for dinners and when we arrived, there was already a queue outside! Good thing was that we made reservations but we could only get seats in the alfresco area which meant that all the seats inside were fully taken up that evening!
Entrance to Ellenborough Market Cafe , Swissotel Merchant Court
However, the first thing we noticed as we entered the restaurant was that the seats were actually very well spaced out and that the whole restaurant was huge and spacious! This meant that eventhough it was fully booked that evening, the crowd was not so huge (and noisy) as to affect the dining experience. This also translated to a more pleasant queue at the buffet lines.
The next thing we noticed was that the restaurant had a Peranakan theme to it. The centre pieces, displays and even the tables and chairs had a Peranakan feel to it.
Peranakan Displays in Ellenborough Market CafePeranakan Tables and Chairs
Highlight of the Buffet – Crabs Galore!!
The buffet lived up to its name in that there was an assortment of crabs available to choose from! From the cold platters, there was Spanner Crabs, Snow Crab Claw and even Alaskan Crab Claws!
But of course, the highlight was the famous Chilli Crab with Golden Mantou as well as the Black Pepper Crabs. The Slipper Lobster in Black Pepper Sauce was also a favourite of ours. Salt baked crabs and nonya crabs were also available at the buffet.
The buffet was generous in its servings and there was no lack of pincers for buffet lovers to go for. We had so many pincers that we lost count! Here’s a tip for you crab buffet lovers – We noticed that the Chilli Crabs had pincers that were particular huge (somewhat like Sri Lankan Crabs!) as compared to the black pepper crabs and salt baked crabs.
Close up of Chilli Crab, Mantou & Slipper Lobster
We strongly recommend the Chilli Crab as well as the Slipper Lobster. The Chili crab was not as spicy as the other versions and the sauce was enticing yet flavourful. The gravy really went well with the Mantou – but then again, any fried flour tastes good right? But we must say that the Golden Mantou was for real, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The slipper lobster on the other hand was fresh. The meat came off its shell rather easily and you can easily enjoy one big chunk of the lobster – Yummy!
The only bad thing about the crabs was that not all of it were fresh. There were actually some that were turning bad – soft and mushy. Therefore, choose the huge pincers (Sri Lankan Crab lookalikes) from the Chili Crabs! You wont go wrong with that!
Peranakan / Nonya Food
There must be a reason why the restaurant is decorated with a nonya theme. The nonya food it serves! There was actually a selection of peranakan food available at the crab buffet as well. Ayam Buah Keluak, Kueh Pie Tee, Nonya Curry Chicken and Crabs – Traditional Nonya fare were served up in that selection. We went for the braised pork with vinegar and was thoroughly satisfied.
The meat (and of course the skin) was fully infused with the soya sauce and mild vinegar which gave it that fragrant smell. The meat literally melted in your mouth. Dont be too overly concerned about its name with the word “vinegar” as it’s more like a condiment in this traditional dish.
Other selections at the Buffet
Besides the crabs and nonya food, there was also a small selection of sushi, sashimi as well as gourmet fish such as fried tilapia,sting rays and steamed garoupa to choose from. There was also an array of appetisers as well as mains such as lor mee, stir fried udon and fried rice available.
Sashimi Selection @ the crab buffet
Highlight for the ladies – DESSERTS!
Then came Kate’s favourite segment of any buffet – DESSERTS! And the desserts @ Ellenborough Market Cafe did not disappoint. There was a good mix of western desserts such as cakes and sweets as well as traditional desserts such as cheng tng, nonya kuehs and of course the signature dessert of Ellenborough Market – Durian Pengat!
Selection of Western Desserts at the buffetClose up of the dessertsTraditional Desserts @ Ellenborough Market Cafe
We tried all the traditional desserts and rounded them up in a nice flower shape…
Traditional Desserts in a flower shaped arrangement
Starting from the top (the dark one) in clockwise order was cheng tng, bubur terigu, almond paste, bobo chacha, white fungus with pear (good for the throat especially after all the durian pengat), ah balling glutinous rice balls with peanut fillings and last but not least – Durian Pengat right in the centre!
Basically, everything was good but you can give the almond paste a miss. Of course, the best was still the Durian Pengat!
Durian Pengat – The signature dessert @ Ellenborough Market Cafe
Tasting the durian pengat was literally eating durians itself! It was rich, flavourful and even had the fibres of that of the durian mixed into it! Heavenly! The durian pengat went well with the pandan chiffon cake and of course the golden mantou! (What?!) Yes! Enjoy it with the mantou for your own version of durian puff!
To round things up, we had a healthy dose of fruits (durian pengat also counted as fruit right?)
Fruit Platter
as well as the complimentary coffee and tea.
Excellent Service
There’s something that we want to mention about the service. It was excellent! Contrary to what is written on some food review blogs (and note that this is NOT a paid article), the service was really really good! Here are examples of why we say so
1. We told the manager that we wanted to have seats in the air conditioned area once it was available. She remembered and came back to us when it was available later on. She even got the staff to bring our food over for us.
2. The lady and gentlemen serving us at the alfresco area was prompt with their service. Once we were sat down, the lady asked us for our beverage options and came back with our ice water in a jiffy. The gentlemen also cleared our tables as soon as we were done with our food.
3. But the most amazing part was this. Seeing that we were struggling to use the tool to crack the pincers, the lady offered to bring our pincers to be cracked open and brought them back to us. Not once but twice! She was also the one who linked up with the manager to bring us to the seats inside. Kudos to the service team!
Verdict
The excellent service really made our experience at Ellenborough Market Cafe an unforgettable one. It seemed as though they were exclusively serving us but in actual fact the restaurant was at full capacity.
The large variety of food was also a plus. Not only in terms of mains but in terms of desserts as well. Most buffets would only have a measly dessert section. Ellenborough Market Cafe certainly blew their competitors away in terms of variety and value.
The taste of the crabs and quantity of pincers that you could have was great as well.
The only draw back is that some of the crabs were not fresh. They went mushy instead of turgid and succulent as it ought to be. So please stick to the Chili Crab (large) pincers as recommended above and you’d be fine.
Overall, the crab buffet at Ellenborough Market Cafe / Swissotel Merchant Court scores 3.75 out of 5 stars for us! But excluding the service standards, it would be more of a 3.
How to get to Ellenborough Market Cafe @ Swissotel Merchant Court
Swissotel Merchant Court is located at Clarke Quay right beside Central Shopping Mall. Take the Northeast Line (NEL) to Clarke Quay station and take a short walk along the river and you will see the Ellenborough Market Cafe just before the Read Bridge.
As mentioned in the best chicken rice in Singapore post, we did mention the Yishun outlet as one of the contenders for the best chicken rice in Singapore.
The Long Queue
Long queues at Yishun 925 Hainanese Chicken Rice
Well, long queues always form the basis of whether a chicken rice stall is worth trying and at Yishun 925, the queue does not stop!
We joined the queue of 10 people (after lunch hours), sat down, ate and the queue was still there!!
Taste Test
As mentioned previously, the rice here was worth a try. However, when we tried it again this day, the standard sort of dropped.
Chicken rice at Yishun 925 Hainanese Chicken Rice
The rice did not seem to be as flavourful as before. The chicken was still good but could be easily taken out by Tiong Bahru or Mei Ling Street.
Close up of the chicken at Yishun 925 Hainanese Chicken Rice
The saving grace for our outing this time was the chilli. Flavourful, solid chilli that packs a slight punch. The cost of our meal for 2 person was $7.60 which is considered quite expensive for kopitiam price.
Verdict
After another round at this chicken rice stall, it seems to us that it has dropped out of contention for the best chicken rice stall in Singapore. Mei Ling Street, Tiong Bahru and Wee Nam Kee at Thomson Road still have the upper hand in this epic battle.
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Finally got to visit Switch : by Timbre over the Halloween period! The entire restaurant was decorated to suit the theme and the waiters/waitresses also had costumes on – some scaring us as they brought the food to the table!
About Switch by Timbre
Halloween at Switch : By Timbre
As we were being seated (with loud music in the background), we were told by our waiter that we had to order drinks prior to our food. So he introduced us to the Erdinger / Pizza deal at 33++
Erdinger & Pizza deal @ Switch by Timbre
The deal comes with 2 pints of Erdinger and a cheese (margherita) pizza by default. You can choose to upgrade the pizza to duck or meats with some top up. One of the interesting things we noticed was that order was done via the ipad!
Orders via ipad @ Switch by Timbre
The waiter showed us how we could make orders, cancel orders and send orders by confirming your choices twice. It was quite refreshing that the restaurant has decided to keep up with the times as well as the youths by using the ipad as a tool for taking orders. Of course this is in line with the government’s call for productivity! With the ipad, waiters were not required to stand by your side while you state your orders. Our drinks were brought to us within 3 minutes of pressing the confirm button and the food came shortly after.
Switch is also known for supporting local aspiring artistes and bands. During the halloween period, Little Green Frog took the stage and brought the audience to live with its fun brand of singing. The rendition of “Zombie” really sounded like that of the Cranberries – the heavy nasal version which was really cool.
Little Green Frog performing at Switch by Timbre
All in all, the ambience was great (albeit a little loud) and Switch by Timbre is recommended as a great chillax place to hang out with friends and if you’re into local music, a great venue to support our budding artistes!
How to get to Switch by Timbre
The best option to get to Switch by Timbre is taking to MRT Bras Basah MRT Station and exiting @ Exit A. It is just beside the station exit. Bras Basah MRT is located on the circle line.
Alternatively, you may want to alight at City Hall and take a short walk towards the Singapore Arts Museum.
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Gardens by the Bay is Singapore’s latest attraction located right in the heart of the city! You can also easily access Gardens by the Bay via Dragonfly Bridge, a link bridge from Marina Bay Sands!
Entrance to Gardens by the Bay
About Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is the amalgamation of a vision of Nparks (National Parks Singapore) – To have a city in a garden. In 2006, a competition was held to shortlist the design ideas for gardens by the bay and in 2007, the gardens broke ground. In 2011, a preview of Gardens by the Bay, including the Flower Dome, was held in conjunction with the 20th World Orchid Conference. Since then artistes such as Jason Mraz has entertained at the Gardens as well.
Things to do & Attractions at Gardens by the Bay
Map of Gardens by the Bay
There are many note-worthy attractions at Gardens by the Bay, namely
Gardens by the Bay – Flower Dome
The Flower Dome houses unique and unusual species such as the Baobabs and other floral displays that changes with the seasons. You can see some pictures of the Baobabs here. Species here belong to the cool-dry regions.
Gardens by the Bay – Cloud Forest
Cloud Forest houses the plant species of the highlands such as orchids, ferns and pitcher plants. There’s also a 35metres man-made waterfall and mountain. Species here belong to the cool-moist regions.
Man-made Waterfall at Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay – The Supertrees
One of the main attractions of Gardens by the Bay is the Supertrees! Here you can enjoy magnificent views from the Skyway or just sit back, relax and enjoy the Rhapsody (show of light and sounds) that takes place each night at 7:45pm and 8:45pm!
Supertrees and the Skyway at Gardens by the Bay Singapore
Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay in the evening
Supertrees during the light and sound show Rhapsody
There are also dining options at the Supertree such as Hill Street Coffee Shop, Peach Garden Noodle House, Texas Chicken, Canele Patisserie Chocolaterie and Casa Verde.
Dining options available at the Supertree Grove
Gardens by the Bay – Heritage Gardens
The Heritage Gardens showcases the plants that are closely linked to the different ethnic groups in Singapore. Here you can visit the Indian Garden, Chinese Garden as well as the Malay Garden.
Chinese Garden with Marina Bay Sands (MBS) as the backdrop
Gardens by the Bay – Dragonfly Lake
The Dragonfly Lake plays an integral part in sustaining the ecosystem @ Gardens by the Bay. Here you can also catch spectacular views of the domes, Supertrees as well as the Singapore Flyer!
View of the Singapore Flyer, Supertrees & Domes from Dragonfly Bridge
Dragonfly Island @ Gardens by the Bay
Admission Rates to Gardens by the Bay
Admission to the outdoor gardens are free while there are charges to the Conservatories (Flower Dome and Cloud Forest) & Skyway.
You can either take the MRT to Bay Front MRT Station and take a short walk from Marina Bay Sands across the Dragonfly Bridge
By Foot :
If you are at the Helix Bridge, you can take a short walk leading under the ECP bringing you to Bay South Garden.
Verdict
Gardens by the Bay is definitely a must visit attraction in Singapore. There are so many things to do here at Gardens by the Bay! You can check out the interesting species inside the 2 conservatories, enjoy views from the Skyway, leisure cruise on the Garden Cruiser or just check out the free gardens at your own pace. Definitely a must visit for visitors young and old!
Today (28th October 2012) marks another milestone in Singapore’s tourism calendar as the 1st ever Red Bull Flugtag Singapore took flight at Siloso Beach Sentosa!
1st ever Red Bull Flugtag Singapore!
What is Red Bull Flugtag Singapore?
Well, Red Bull Flugtag (pronounced as Floog Tug – which means “Flying Day”) is actually an event whereby home-made flying machines take off from a platform at a height of 6 metres. Teams of 4 are then judged not only by flight distance, but also showmanship (explaining the dance performance of teams before their flights) as well as creativity of the aircraft (resulting in this year’s flying durian and prawns).
Flying bird @ Red Bull Flugtag Singapore!
Talk about technicalities
What we actually love about the event is that it commensurates both bravery (taking off from a height of 6 metres?!) as well as brains (you really need to be creative at the same time technical to build a craft worthy to appear at the event!). At the same time, it provides loads of entertainment to the crowds who soaked in every minute of it!
About Red Bull Flugtag Singapore
The inaugural Red Bull Flugtag Singapore took flight with 38 teams participating and the “Chick Mobile” took centre stage as it took the first ever Red Bull Flugtag in Singapore to a roaring start!
Chickmobile with its chicks sounders @ Red Bull Flugtag 2012!
Before the start of the flug tag, members of Chickmobile were seen giving out little chicks that made sounds as heard in the video! Audience were also requested to sound these chicks as chickmobile made their historic flight at Silosa Beach Sentosa!
Chicks given out by crew of Chickmobile @ Red Bull Flugtag Singapore
This video shows the team getting ready and moving up the ramp towards the platform while the next team gets ready. Notice the sounds in the background! (really sounds like chickens huh?)
Chickmobile getting ready for Redull Flug Tag’s inaugural flight!
Red Bull Flugtag Singapore: The first flight at the first ever!
Well, here it is, the first flight at the 1st ever Red Bull Flugtag Singapore by Team Chickmobile! As expected, it went down crashing but full points for entertainment value and courage!
First flight at Red Bull Flugtag Singapore!
Red Bull Flugtag Singapore took place from 12pm to 5pm today and the winners for this year’s Red Bull Flugtag Singapore are… (*Drumrolls*)
1st Place: Team Super Sevens 2nd Place: Team Riff Raff Rubber Ruckus 3rd Place: Team Flurry Express Prize for the Wackiest Team Performance: The Serial Flyers The MINI Prize for the longest flight distance:
Team Amphibious Dragonfly Drone (Distance: 18.2m)
Current World Record stands at 69.79m!
Photo Gallery of Red Bull Flugtag Singapore
We will now leave you with a gallery of some of the photos taken at this year’s Red Bull Flugtag Singapore!
Ramp @ Redbull Flugtag Singapore
Tents where the aircrafts were held
View of the 6 metres platform at Red Bull Flugtag Singapore
Directions to Red Bull Flugtag Singapore
Red Bull’s Mini Coopers
How to get to Sentosa
By MRT : First you will have to take the North East Line (NEL -purple colour line) to Harbour Front Station. Here you will arrive at Vivocity – one of the biggest shopping malls in Singapore
By Tram : After arriving at Vivocity, you can choose to take the tram into Sentosa which costs $3.50 The tram is available at level 3 of Vivocity
By Foot : Vivocity is connected to Sentosa via a boardwalk and if you enter Sentosa via the boardwalk, it costs only $1! Once you enter Sentosa, you can then take the Tram and buses around Sentosa! Cool eh?
By Cable Car : From Harbour Front MRT , head towards Harbour Front Tower 2. There, you can take the cable car into Sentosa for $29 and at the same time, take in inspiring views of Singapore!
By Car : You can also drive into Sentosa, entry costs between $2 to $7 and parking costs between $1 to $5. Car pool to save!
Alamak, we made a really HUGE boo boo with our post on Sentosa Spooktacular 2012! In actual fact, Universal Studios Singapore (USS) also has Halloween Horror Nights 2, a continuation of Halloween Horror Nights last year!
Halloween Horror Nights 2 will be held on 19-21 and 25-28 October 2012. Halloween Horror Nights 2 will take place from 8pm to 12 midnight this year! The ticket types for Halloween Horror Nights 2 are as follows:
Ticket Prices for Halloween Horror Nights 2
Event Admission Ticket $68
(purchased from 1 to 28 October 2012)
Universal Express $40
(Get priority access to 3 haunted houses and selected attractions!)
Guests @ Resorts World Sentosa $58
(Use your card key at the ticket booth for the discount)
Annual Pass Holders $45
(Flash your annual pass for the discount)
RWS Invites $50
(Flash the RWS Invites card for the discount)
In addition, there is also a R.I.P Tour that gives you a VIP tour of all the attractions and haunted houses @ Halloween Horror Nights 2. The R.I.P tour costs $148.
About Halloween Horror Nights 2
This year, the Puppet Master will be “host” of Halloween Horror Nights 2. Last year, the Director really gave us the chills. We’re sure that the Puppet Master (workshop of dolls) will be able to do likewise. The other characters will include Doctor Dementia (The Insanitarium), the Undertaker (the Dungeon of Damnation) as well as the High Priest with his ancient curses.
As with Halloween Horror Nights 2011, rides such as Battlestar Galactica as well as Transformers : The Ride, are also available.
Hence, our recommended strategy would be to quickly get to the front of the queue and when the gates open, validate your tickets and RUN straight past all the scareactors to your desired rides. Take a few rides (before the crowds come) and head to the haunted houses. This is because the rides will always result in queue times of even up to an hour. Doing it in this sequence will allow you to finish the rides (a few times) quickly and head to the haunted houses with time to spare at the end of the night for some drinks and makan.
With the rides as an attraction, we would prefer to go for Halloween Horror Nights as compared to Spooktacular
For those who have been to HHN2 this year, do leave your comments below!
Have a frightful evening at Halloween Horror Nights…
Yet another foodie post for you food lovers out there! This time, we’re gonna visit the Golden Mile Food Centre! There are really loads of good food at the Golden Mile Food Centre tucked away close to the end of beach road next to Kampong Glam Community Club.
Map of Golden Mile Food Centre
Golden Mile Food is located along Beach Road and the buses 100, 961 and 960 can take you there quite easily. According to this piece of news from Channel News Asia, Golden Mile Food Centre is set to undergo a facelift and will go through 2 months of renovation starting in Sep 12. Let’s hope that the food that we’re gonna introduce here remains after the renovation!
1. Keng Heng Whampoa Teochew Lor Mee
Keng Heng Whampoa TeoChew Lor Mee @ Golden Mile Food CentreLor Mee
Lor Mee is really one of those food whereby you get accustomed to the taste. For those who do not know where lor mee is, it’s basically noodles drenched in thick dark soya-based sauce. Usually the ingredients include fish cake and some pork. The Lor Mee at Keng Heng was quite normal, the only ingredient that stood out was its chilli. It packs a slight punch and brings out the flavour of the noodles.
2. Golden Mile Fried Kuay Teow Mee
Golden Mile Fried Kuay Teow Mee Char Kway Teow
Apparently this fried kuay teow mee (basically 2 kinds of noodles fried together in a sweet sauce) has been around for many years now. The 2nd generation has taken over. The ingredients used are VERY fresh, the prawn was still succulent (not soft like some others) and the wok hei (very slight burnt fragrance) is infused into the noodles. Excellent dish. Must try when you’re there!
3. Chung Cheng Chilli Mee
Chung Cheng Chilli MeePork Rib Soup
The Chung Cheng Chilli Mee is famous for its (of course!) Chilli Mee! However, we had tried the chilli mee previously and was thoroughly satisfied. However, this time, we wanted to try something less fiery and opted for the pork rib soup kuay teow instead. Bad choice, should have stuck with what its famous for. The soup was quite bland. Perhaps because we were there relatively early. There was only a few slices of the ribs. The chilli mee on the other hand comes with generous servings of the chilli, fiery yet shiok. Do give the chilli mee a try and tell us what you think!
Name of the stall is called – Fried Hokkien Prawn MeeFried Prawn Noodle
This fried hokkien prawn noodle is apparently quite famous. We waited 20 minutes for portion on a weekday pre-lunch timing! However, it was all worth the wait. This rendition is the drier version which we prefer and the stock (made of prawns and ribs) have been infused into the noodles. The texture of the noodles remained chewy (not soggy) and each mouth is that much more enjoyable with fresh ingredients used. A Must try as well!
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