Singapore 2013 Series: IKEA Alexandria and Botanic Gardens

I was set that day for an IKEA visit in Alexandria. I've nothing to do and no one to meet that day so I decided to pay IKEA a visit. I usually plot my IT before I leave the house. What train to take, where to stop, bus locations, etc. From Bukit Batok, I changed from red to green train and got off at Commonwealth station.

I looked for the bus stop, waited for the correct bus number before getting on it. I took the correct bus, unfortunately on the wrong direction. haha. I didn't panic though. I had a map and I knew I could easily find my way back.

I love the neighborhood where I got lost. So peaceful and as always, clean.  

And so, I retraced my steps, got into the correct bus and arrived at IKEA Alexandria. Wow. This one's definitely bigger than the one I've been to in Hong Kong. Bodega level lang :))

I didn't get to order the chicken nor the meatballs meal because the servings are best to be shared. In Tagalog, mahal kapag walang ka-share so I had to make do with these salmon wrap (and free water) in the mean time. Okay naman sya.

I had so many things - important and unimportant ones - that I wanted to buy but I held back because my friends promised that we'd come back here to shop on our last day. (past forward: we didn't get to shop!). 

I really loved the curtain design hence this photo below.

I think it was past 2pm when I went back to Commonwealth area, Tanglin Halt Market to be specific. I've been there twice already looking for the original peanut butter pancake stall that Tony went to when he was in SG but alas, I just can't seem to find it (it was probably closed when I went on a Monday) so I settled to the next best thing (that was also highly recommended) in Tanglin Halt: Tian Shui Chicken Rice. I've read that Tian Shui chicken rice always make it to the top best chicken rice in SG. I think I only paid SG$3 for the whole meal which could actually feed 2 persons! I tell you, Hawker Centers are the place to be when in Singapore.

After that late lunch, I knew I still had time to kill so I decided to pay Botanic Gardens a visit. It's so easy to get there as there's a direct MRT station that serves the park.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is super huge as in mahihiya ang Luneta Park and Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife level. I wish there were more parks in Manila than malls or condominiums. More room for kids (and grown ups alike) to roam around freely and just be crazy. I can imagine myself hanging out here whenever I have a free time, probably a book on my hand.

Philippine government, can we please, please, PLEASE have more parks in the city?

The Healing Garden is located on the far side of Botanic Gardens where I noticed very few people roamed. This area generally showcases a wide variety of plants with medicinal values from all parts of the world. If you take time to read all the texts, you'll learn a lot especially on identifying common house plants and of how they can be used to treat common maladies.

Based from personal experience, the Healing Garden indeed heals! I noticed there are benches scattered around the area, and so, uncooperative humid weather and a tired me resulted to a siesta session hahaha. I could imagine people combing the area casually looking at plants then seeing me napping on a bench lol. It was like I was part of the plant exhibit. I did not care, I loved my siesta there! I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to do another miles and miles of walking!

There's a lake in the middle of the garden.

With these pigeons and a duck (seen here being photographed by a very zealous tourist).

The lone duck is a character in itself and I reckoned, from the looks of it, she liked the attention.

That's it for this day's adventures!

Singapore 2013 Series: Sushi Tei

Being in Singapore meant I have to meet my high school bestfriend since the last time I was there we (obviously) didn't get to. I decided to meet her on a Monday, after her work. Good thing she could make it. We met at Vivo City because her workplace was near.

After looking around for a decent restaurant we finally decided on Sushi Tei. Mainly because of the ridiculous line outside and you know what they say in Singapore, if there's a long line of people waiting then food there must be good. It just took us around 30 minutes of waiting time before we got seated. I wish I could've taken a photo of Sushi Tei's interiors. It's really lovely!

Some of the selections from their menu. I drooled.

I feel terrible that I forgot what this was.

Negitoro Maki Fried. Fried minced tuna with spring onion sushi roll

This too. It looks like Chawanmushi at first but it has lots of crab meat once you break into the custard/steamed egg. I've never tasted anything so rich! I am still allergic to crab good thing I found an antihistamine on my purse, for those moments that I would have a need of it such as that night.

This tiny cup is  actually super heavy on the tummy which I didn't anticipate at all.

Sashimi moriawase or three kinds. I forgot what kind of fish were these all I can identify right now was the salmon. lol.

Thanks baba Vianne for spending time with me and catch up with our lives. Thanks for the treat too!!

Singapore 2013: In a Sea of Red in Chinatown

Note: this is the 2nd post I wrote from my Singapore trip last January 2013. A continuation of this. 

When I first came to Singapore, I wasn't able to visit Chinatown being as it was a ninja SG visit. So naturally on my 2nd visit there, Chinatown was on my must-visit list. The festivities of the upcoming lunar new year made the experience more fun as the whole Chinatown seemed to be emitting an aura of excitement and joy.

It's super easy to get to Chinatown since there is a direct MRT station that serves this district. Just get on North East Line (or purple line which is easier to remember) and get off at Chinatown station. 

These scenes greeted me when I stepped out from the underground train.

I've never seen so much red in my entire life until that day. Everywhere, items in red colors are being sold. Charms, clothes, souvenirs, etc. They have it.

Amidst all the Chinese hullabaloo I spotted a familiar face.

Why it's Tintin the beloved French journalist/snoop character that Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi (using the pen name Hergé) created! Hee.

Tintin and Snowy

It's Captain Haddock!

I just had to take a photo with him.

Almost real life Tintin and Snowy figures.

At the end of Temple Street you can find, eh ano pa eh di, temples!

Sri Mariamman Temple

I also saw this giant snake-like lanterns. It turns out, snake pala talaga sya since it's gonna be year of the Snake soon! Unfortunately, I didn't see the head part :(

In between Temple and Smith Streets.

Smith Street is also best known as the food street in Chinatown. In here, restaurants and hawker stalls line the whole street where tourists and locals alike can satisfy their cravings for authentic Chinese dishes.

This is somewhere along Pagoda Street where many hostels can be found (and ongoing constructions for soon to open hostels!).

From there, I walked all the way to Sago Lane where the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum can be found.

This temple was built to house the, you got it, tooth relic of Buddha which was believed to have been found in a collapsed stupa in Myanmar in the 80's. I wonder how it found its way in Singapore hmm.

The blinding goldness of buddhas inside.

I didn't go inside and instead spent my time sitting and contemplating on the temple floor haha. I people watched, looked at all the tourists that took tons of pictures of the temple in contrast to locals who goes straight into lighting their incenses before offering prayers. It was really nice.

Then I went back to Smith Street again where I met my friend Diane. The lanterns have been lit, making it  dramatically beautiful!

Dried leg hams, anyone?

We ate dinner in the middle of Smith Street.

Satay and rice reminiscent of Cebu's puso. Sorry. ours win by a great margin.

Drat. I forgot the name of this. Anyone?

My lovely date that night who took all my giddy photos, after we got tricked/ripped off into buying various mochis and candy for a steep, steep price hahaha. Thanks, Diane!

It Wasn't Easy, Lion City

My long-awaited vacation finally came and I tell you, it was not without serious mishaps. 

JC and I arrived at Trinoma a little before 8am, still a few minutes earlier for the 8am shuttle bus scheduled to take me and other passengers to Clark Airport . See, when the opening of the TriNoma-Clark Airport Lounge was recently announced, I was one of the many people who were ecstatic with the news. It means 1) easier, non-stop travel from TriNoma to Clark airport and 2) cheaper alternative compared to its SM Megamall counterpart. Passengers only have to pay 200 pesos for the shuttle bus as opposed to the 400-peso fare when you're coming from SM Megamall. I've never availed of that. I'd rather commute than give in to the steep price.

8:30 and still no bus in sight. I've been bugging the lady behind the counter on why I'm still not seeing the bus. I was really pissed (and slowly going down the road of stress) because at first she can't provide a clear answer. But after all that's been said and discussed (with whomever she was talking to on the other side of her mobile phone), the bus never arrived (it broke down, didn't even manage to advise anyone). 

Screw you GENESIS BUS!

I've thought of leaving, catching a regular bus and commuting to Dau, just like I always do whenever I head to Clark Airport, but you know that feeling that the bus might still make it soon and this'll all be over soon still gnawed on me. I was really ready to do that but then the lady (I forgot to ask her name!) mentioned an option to take the shuttle bus coming from Megamall instead. It'll arrive at 9.30 and with 2 hours estimated travel time, we'll arrive in Clark Airport at 11.30am. My flight was 12.10. Good Lord. But I still took that bus.

After a worrisome 1 and 1/2 hours travel time and to cut this long story short, I MADE IT JUST IN TIME! I was running (and lugging my backpack in an a la Amazing Race pace which was really difficult ha!) the moment the bus opened its door. 

While paying for the travel tax and terminal fee, the PA system announced the closing of check in for my flight. I was so, SO relieved that I made it.

Arrival in Changi was another story.

For the first time in my traveling life, I got stopped in the immigration. I was seriously scared to death deep inside because this is Singa-freakin-pore! You don't get arrested in this country, you'd be a turd to do that. Not that I did anything wrong it's just that it's a really scary country full of scary rules.

 You know that big, empty rooms you see in documentaries such as Locked Up Abroad where they usher in someone for questioning? There really is such a room. It was awfully large for one person to be sitting and waiting on for whatever sentence was about to unfold.

A few minutes later I was called in and was asked how am I related to the person I wrote on the address. I answered all the necessary questions in the most boring-but-polite tone I could muster, you know, to make it look like I'm not gonna do anything illegal in their country.

After typing in god knows what in her computer keyboard, checking the invitation pass I provided for umpteenth time, the lady said that I can finally go but that I should wait for the other officer first. This part was a bit hazy to me cos I didn't understand what she said. I thought I still need to wait for something(?) or someone so I just stood awkwardly there in the hallway-like room. Turns out it was already the way towards the baggage claiming area (I realized this after following an Indian/Bangladeshi/Sri Lankan family who, like me, seemed to have been stopped too by the immigration officers).

I can't say that my ordeal stopped there. Know that saying it comes in threes? The third incident occurred in the last inspection point, inches away from the exit gate into the waiting/arrival area. Damn.

The officer asked me to take out the "knives" I have in my backpack. Damn. Those were the Swiss knives a friend asked me to carry in my pack since I'm checking in a bag. So I fished out the plastic, then we opened the boxes one by one while simultaneously answering the officer's questions. They're gift for friends. For when going on camping activities. Blah blah blah. 

I'm super thankful though that the officer was nice. I know I have nothing to be afraid of, I gave legit answers but it's still scary. This flight turned out to be too stressful that after I've been cleared I marched up outside and never looked back. Good thing this is not my first time in Changi.

I found Diane after a few minutes of looking. Joel arrived too not long after. I told them everything that happened to me to which poking fun ensued. LOL. I too was able to laugh it off now because finally, finally it's all over. My vacation officially begins.

What a way to welcome me again, Singapura!

photo nicked from Diane's Facebook account

I was starving by the time we got ourselves inside the train, mulling over where we'll be eating. After much debate we ended up somewhere in the alleys of Dhoby Ghaut Station in an apparently popular restaurant named JustAcia perhaps because of their unlimited dessert and drinks offering.

I ordered the cheapest on the menu bilang alam kong magpapalibre lang ako hahaha.

First meal!

Thanks for the bounty, Chip! Thanks for the photo, Madam!

And that concludes my eventful arrival in the Lion City. Goodnight!