Singapore Experience: Part 3 - Food, Drink & Shop

Let's start this entry with a taste of Singapore.


The original Hainanese Chicken Rice - this might look norm but it's really good, especially the aroma of the rice with the smooth chicken meat ... so much better than the typical chicken rice!


Hokkien Prawn Noodle - a personal favorite when I first tasted it :P


Popiah - i like the Malaysian version better


Singapore Char Kway Teow - i never tasted a sweet version of char kway teow until now and it tastes funny and I can't finish the noodles


Singapore Laksa - full of coconut milk flavor but lack the ummphh of chili paste


Fried Carrot Cake - quite plain to my taste


I heard the Singaporeans love japs food and we tried some of the ramen at this shop near Orchard Road. Not many seats and choice of food but they said the soup is boiled for 8-hours without any MSG.

My Singaporean friend also invited me for lunch at Sushi Tei at Ngee Ann City. Love the food there and it's reasonable too if you are earning Singapore dollar! (thanks Chris for lunch)


We had our Christmas dinner at Brewerkz, facing the Clarke Quay waterfront, highly recommended by my cousin.


Crab Pasta - not sure what is the greeny thick sauce but this is too filling if consume alone


BBQ Pork Ribs - this is good stuff but need to be shared


Sausages with mash potato - not very interesting, taste wise

Have a Cuppa
When my cousin told us that she's bringing us to have nice coffee when we are down in Singapore, I welcomed the idea with excitement.

I feel in love with tcc (the coffee connoisseur) when I took that sip of Choco Rummin'. They have variety of coffee selection and food. Too bad I didn't get the chance to visit their outlet for a second time >.< (Gerald, next time ya)


tcc outlet in Plaza Singapura


Iced Kaffello Latte - iced coffee with coffee jelly


Azuki Coffee Cooler - coffee with a layer of special red beans


Choco Rummin' - bliss of chocolate cookie laced with golden rum and espresso


The Deep Blue Pack - a selection of seafood served with a tangy mayo dip, this is perfect for sharing


Spice Chic - pieces of fried chicken fillet, nothing spicy about the meat ... not recommended


Another interesting coffee joint in Singapore is the Coffee Club. Before our departure, we tried out their coffee and dessert at Vivocity.


Macademia Nut Toffee - interesting combination but I can't feel the macademia taste


Iced rambutan - nothing special about this drink, taste more like lychee smoothies


Muddy Mud Pie - this is actually cappuccino and chocolate ice cream covered with oreos

A special thanks to harryberry who provided me a whole list of what and where to eat in Singapore!

Shop, Shop, Shop

The shopping spree was tiring but I think we boosted up the Singapore economy with the rest of the shoppers in that few days of visit. In total, we bought 7 pairs of Charles & Keith on sale heels which you can't find in the Pavilion KL outlet. A number of shirts from G2000 at S$29.00 per piece and some other stuff.


This is all I bought - 1 pair of sunnies, bag, shoe and a crystal tee all under S$150. Nice? Please say yes ^^

With this final entry on my Singapore experience, I conclude in 4 words: I. WILL. BE. BACK!

Singapore Experience: Part 2 - Sentosa Island & Night Safari

We planned to have a nice brunch at Vivocity before heading to Sentosa Island. But when we reached the counter, all we saw can be described in 4 words: "people mountain people sea" (人山人海), literally means too many people.


you can purchase tickets at Vivocity to the different attractions/activities


this is the middle section of the long long queue

Sentosa Island
We skipped the counter and managed to buy the S$3.00 train tickets. When we reached Sentosa, we have to queued again for 30 mins for the tram to fetch us to the Dolphin Lagoon.


S$22 for Dolphin Lagoon and Underwater World but if you are a Singaporean or PR, you are entitled to a 25% discount. And if you are neither any of the above, then pay the price in full.


By the time we bought our tickets, it was already packed with all the front seats filled up for the Dolphin show. We have no choice but to drag our own plastic chair under the shade and seat behind the audience and make sure our butt stick to our chair, if not it will be gone with a snap of fingers! When the show stared, we were standing throughout as we can't view from our seat.


the crowds


the sun was out in full force ... evidence shown in the above pic, no she's not from middle east but related to me ;P

The 30 mins performances were definitely worth the wait by the adorable, intelligent and charming pink dolphins *clap clap*




Some lucky volunteers who performed hula hoop in front of the audience got a reward of being kissed by one of the dolphin. If you want to be kissed, make sure you are seated right in front to catch the presenter attention or you can call me and I'll arrange something for ya >_*


They are definitely into sun bathing ...


They too ... but in a sari under umbrellas o.O

After the dolphin show, we decided to skip the Underwater World because it was getting late and we don't want to miss our Night Safari adventure.

Night Safari
This premier night zoo houses over 900 animals of 135 exotic species in eight zones re-created to simulate geographic zones like the Southeast Asian rainforest, African savanna, Nepalese river valley, South American pampas and Burmese jungle. Strike out on your own along the walking trail or relax in a tram ride. Admission ticket at S$22.00 without the tram ride or S$32.00 comes with a 30 mins ride.


When we reached Night Safari by 7.30 pm, we were advised to queue early for the Creatures of the Night Show which starts at 8.30 pm. As usual, the queue is way too long. What to do? Get in line lah.

I didn't manage to snap any pictures because we are not allow to use flash as this might blind some of the animals in the long run. We are looking forward to this show and feel excited when we saw the first animals emerged from it's habitat. But then drops of rain starts to fall from the sky and getting heavier every minute and the show has to be canceled!

What? We waited 30 mins for a 5 mins show? Oh man ... this really sucks! And there is noway we are going to queue for the 9.30 pm show as the entrance is already packed with people! So we headed to the tram ride together with the rest of the people and kids.



We queued up for 1 hour for this!

Each animal exhibit is adopted by an organization or individual. During the ride, we saw a half asleep lion who probably thinks "another bunch of jokers", herds of elephants, rhinos, a Malayan tiger (who was adopted by Tiger Balm!), hyena, giant anteater and many more.


At the end of the ride, it was all worth it. By the time all this over and we reached my cousin's place by 11.30 pm, we headed straight to the 24 hr McD outlet to rejuvenate ourselves with food! I think the amount of time and energy spent queuing at Sentosa and Night Safari can make up for the year's quota!

Who said Singaporeans are kiasu? You should take a look at the tourist from India at the Night Safari! They push you, cut queue, run passed a barricade like a bunch of escaped inmates (we nearly have a stampede!), step on your foot without apologizing and demand unreasonably. Because the show was canceled due to the rain, these bunch of people who bought admission tickets without the tram ride demanded to ride on one when the service staff informed them politely they are not allow to do so. They refused to budge from the gate and cause all of us to wait and wait and wait. It's insane, really! Finally they gave up after all the shouting in their mother tongue English accent. Like DUH!


Next and final post on Singapore ... food, drink & shop

Singapore Experience: Part 1 - Christmas

I'll write about my Singapore experience in 3 parts. Yeah, I've that much to blog about for the 4 days/3 nites pleasure trip.


Me, sister and cousin boarded a coach in front of Corus Hotel at 9.00 am and arrived in Singapore Harbour Front by 2.00 pm on Christmas day.


The double-deck coach was comfortable with good seats, a pillow if you want to be a sleeping beauty waiting for Prince Ah Beng to rescue you, Subway sandwiches and coffee/tea of your choice. The only disappointed is their selection of movies. It sucks! Luckily I had my iPod and a good book with me :)


To get around Singapore, you just need to familiarize yourself with the MRT routes. Get yourself one of those EZ-link card and you can have unlimited rides on MRT/buses, to buy food and more (sometimes I wonder if Malaysia will ever catch up, no?).


Friends already pre-warned me that Singapore will be packed during Christmas.


I knew Orchard Road will have a human traffic jam but this is not what I had in mind o.O


You literally can't move very much in this situation.


People everywhere ... tourist and locals.


You can't even stop for a second to admire the decorations as people are pushing you around :(


Along Orchard Road, can't remember which building


Takashimaya Shopping Centre (TSC)


In front of Paragon entrance


Inside Paragon

My cousin sister said the Christmas deco this year is nothing to shout about but for me who never been to Singapore until now, I think there are some pretty impressive decorations.


I'm very grateful for my cousin, Siew Leng and her best friend, Karen for allowing us to accommodate at their place and took us around Singapore. A warm hug and big THANK YOU babes, for everything.

Also not forgetting my 2 Singaporean friends, Chris & Gerald for their hospitality when I agreed to meet up. Thanks guys for lunch and coffee and offered me your mobile phone when mine run out of credit! It's my pleasure to meet you both and 'see ya' on MSN (=^_^=)


Up next ... Sentosa Island and Night Safari.