OK Magazine Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

Singapore in Lights

November 19, 2009 by Janey

Our jovial group headed to Makasuntra Glutton Bay for dinner in two separate cabs. Good thing we were sharing cabs, which means we were able to split the cost too. In Singapore, the cabs usually charge (lawfully) extra during peak hours –the meter will show how much extra you need to pay for. Our cab fare came out pretty cheap because 4 of us split it.

Makasuntra Glutton Bay

Makasuntra Glutton Bay is also a hawker place –prices are more upscale than the one we tried the day before. It is an al fresco food center where stalls gather in one row offering different fares –Indian food, Hainanese chicken rice, bah kut teh, chicken satay, nasi lemak, chili crab, dimsum treats, prawn mee, char kway teow, laksa, curry fish, and a whole lot more hawker specials. The price ranges from $3.90 for a plate of BBQ wings to $25 for one chili crab.

It was tough to decide on what to order because everything looked so appetizing. Jen had an easier time. Jen’s goal in this Singapore trip is to finally try Singaporean chili crabs –the thing she wasn’t able to do during her last trip here. She was hesitating because the crab’s price was a bit expensive. I agreed to split the crab and the price with her. We were both happy campers.

That night, Jen happily scratched off that item on her “must do” list.

Everybody ordered ample dishes I think, except for me. Before I left, Kate recommended that I try the fried baby squid (SGD 10.00) at Boon Tat BBQ Seafood. I ordered that plus seafood rice (SGD 4.00). The spicy baby clams were eyeing me seductively, but with great effort, I refused to be seduced 🙂

I also ordered Buffalo chicken wings (SGD 1.30 per piece –minimum of 3 pieces) from Huat Huat, which tasted soooo good. They served it surprisingly with “calamansi” –I have no objections since I love calamansi.

Jen requested if she can split it with me since there’s a minimum order –honestly, I can finish the whole plate myself but I didn’t mind splitting it with her. I love Jen’s appetite –she eats a lot and I wonder how she maintains her sexy figure. With her likable appetite, I think she’d be a good food trip buddy –even in the Philippines or maybe Malaysia. She and I discussed possibility of going together to Sinulog in January or to Malacca (Kate’s Malacca stories prompted me) in February or March. Like me, Jen also loves to travel and her bouncy spirit adds positive energy to the scene.

Chrissy ordered Mee Goreng and a plate of the grilled chicken wings as well. Being the brain behind the website Kitchen Cow, it’s so easy to trust Chrissy’s taste as well. Jonel ordered Bah Kut The, as recommended by Chrissy. Ivy and Yoshke both shared their shrimp omelette and ordered Fresh Coconut juice.

Every plate on the table was delicious! We all tried each other’s dishes. The group gave a thumbs-up to Kate’s recommended fried baby squid that I ordered. Chrissy joked that I should carry in my conscience the death of “baby” squids –how babies died because of me. It was seriously yummy –better than the ones my family had at Xin Tian Di at Crowne Plaza.

We simply couldn’t step on the breaks of eating. The group was teasing me that my food occupied half of the table. Haha, I deny that allegation. Ivy claims my rice is good for three people. Am I that obvious? 😉

Merlion

After all that food, we decided to walk it off. Chrissy led the way as we traversed the Glutton Bay side and strolled to the Merlion spot.

Before the walk, we enjoyed the glittering lights of Shenton Way and took some group photos. We had quite a number of funny shots –dramatizing the Lee ad and doing all sorts of staging (I think the photos were in Ivy’s and Chrissy’ cameras).

Yoshke meanwhile drops a bomb or two –funny remarks that can catch you off guard at first, stunned at the absurdity and candidness. We were having a ball and we laughed all the way to the Merlion area.

We paused for a while and watched a cultural dance. Ivy and I reconnected again with our cameras and perspective shots.

Individually, paired, threesome-d, grouped, the long, simple, leisure walk was truly enjoyed. Spurts of laughter here and there.

The sound of water was so relaxing…

The Esplanade and the skyscrapers gleam wonderfully against the night sky. It was great to just take a breather and get drowned in the dance of lights.

Coming up: Singapore Day 3 in IKEA…

Noemi’s Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards Video Coverage

Ivy Baldoza Multiply Album

Singapore Day 1 Album

Singapore Day 2 Album

Singapore Day 2 Afternoon Album

Singapore Day 2 Night Album

Singapore Day 3 | IKEA Album

Related Post

Singapore and Nuffnang Blog Awards

Day 2: Tour de Singapore Lah!

Xin Tian Di Restaurant

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5 Comments Filed Under: Walk the World: A BITE of Travel Tagged With: affordable hotels, Anton, best blog, best Travel blog, blogging community, cheap, Chrissy, dinner, En Route, Filipino, Frances, Fredz Decena, Hotel, in the Philippines, ironwulf, Ivy, Jen Juan, kate, Link Hotel, Little India, Lunch, Mad Manila, Makansuntra Glutton bay, Makasuntra Glutton Bay, menu, meowbykate, Mombloggers, money exchange, Mustafa, Noemi, Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards, OAP, OK Magazine, Our Awesome Planet, Pan Pacific Hotel, Pasalubong, price, region, Singapore, Singapore tales, Topaz Horizon, what to order, where to eat, where to stay

Day 2: Tour de Singapore Lah!

November 17, 2009 by Janey

After all the glam and recognition during Nuffnang’s Asia Pacific Blog Awards the night before, it was time to do the Singapore tour sponsored by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Image Source: Miss Noemi

But first, much love and thanks to Pringles and Nuffnang again for sponsoring the Singapore trip with my fellow bloggers. Nuffnang’s first international blogging award event was a complete success. Cheers!

Royal Selangor

Day 2 started with a trip to Clarke Quay –we visited Royal Selangor. Royal Selangor is the largest Malaysian pewter manufacturer and retailer of different tableware and gift items made out of pewter. It is a big Malaysian brand icon that offers handcrafted pewter objects initially from Kuala Lumpur but eventually branched out to 40 shops worldwide. With its excellent craftsmanship, now it exports to more than 20 countries with big retail outlets in London, Toronto, Melbourne, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore.

That morning was spent being crafty, we first learned how to mark a circular pewter plate. My design was crisscrossing the words “Bubba Love” “Jane Love” in a square and with an end tag of Between Bites.

Judd was having as much fun as I was 😉

After that “engraving” activity, the instructor taught us, her apprentice in the Royal Selangor Apprentice Pewtersmith workshop, how to make our circular plates into bowls. Everyone kept hammering away. I was having a tough time making my tin disc to obey. Everyone’s plates started to shape into a bowl –Jonel’s, Erica’s and Chrissy’s, except mine.

I even tried to channel negative energy and bring out the angst hidden somewhere in me to help me muster all the strength to hammer hard. With all the noise, I kept screaming, “I hate you!!! I hate you pewter!!!”

Err, no help there. The plate was still not forming. Not enough hate.

Thank goodness the lady instructor went over to our table and assisted me. I whispered jokingly in her ear, “I had a very happy childhood you know.” She got it immediately and laughed heartily. I was so relieved. Nobody laughs at my jokes –not even Bubba. I blame it to comic timing –but now I’m rethinking and it must have something to do with culture. If my career doesn’t work out here in Manila, I’m going to do stand up in Singapore.

(See, that’s a joke. Are you laughing? 😉 )

Finally, her intense hammering formed my disc into a bowl. YAY! It was such a stress-relieving activity for most –I remember some years ago, when I get stressed at work, I go to Timezone and find that game where you pounce on the bugs –it was my perfect stress reliever then.

Best thing was they let us take home our personalized bowls and the “School of Hard Knocks” apron. We were ecstatic!

Next stop was the Singapore Flyer.

The Singapore Flyer is an iconic landmark in the country, with its 28 glass capsules in the skies. With its slow movement, it gives one unique aerial views from every altitude and angle from a high altitude of 165 meters –the highest in the world.

(SPREAD THE L-O-V-E… LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Even altophobic or acrophobic people like me would not have a problem riding the Giant Observation Wheel. Getting a bird’s eye view of the city skyline of Singapore, everyone couldn’t help but take photos.

Turning Chinese at Chinatown

Lunchtime, the bus took us to Maxwell Center –where the best Hainanese chicken in Singapore is supposed to be –according to Kitchen Cow.

True enough, the line in that specific hawker stall was pretty long. But Chrissy stayed on and didn’t mind waiting in line for 15 minutes. If it were in the Philippines, I wouldn’t have waited, but since we are already in Singapore and the newspaper clippings and awards attest to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice being the best, I waited patiently with Chrissy, Paul and Jonel.

Thinking about that specific Hainanese Chicken Rice is making my tummy grumble now. It was seriously yummy and at a reasonable price.

After lunch, we headed to Chinatown. This was where Ivy and I truly bonded over our cameras. We were each other’s designated photographers and we just spoke each other’s language in terms of composition. She was so fun to be with and I truly enjoyed taking her photos. I hope I got her some really good shots.

It was really fun visiting the Chinatown museum as we explore how the Chinese live so simply and swim deeper into their culture.

Mint Museum of Toys

Except at the work place, I’ve always maintained to be a kid at heart. Life is too short to be serious all the time. The best moments in our lives are the ones where we have looked at the world with so much exuberance, love and hope –full of whimsical dreams. It was at that time where heartaches were fleeting and simple joys were abundant.

One way that reminds us of the moments that passed is through items from our childhood.

“Whether you are a child at heart or an avid toy collector, The Mint Museum of Toys has something for everyone. Housed in a contemporary five-storey building, it boasts a rich mix of nostalgia, education and inspiration”.

We were lucky enough to meet the owner. He claims that he who has the most toys at the end of life’s journey is the richest. Richest in spirit.

To Go Orchard Road or Not

After the toy museum, there was an option to go to Orchard Road or return to the hotel. Most people went to Orchard Road, while I opted to return to the hotel and rest. I wanted time to rest and freshen up after that long day. Sweet sexy Jen and my PBB line buddy Jonel were supposed to go to Orchard but at the last minute decided to join me in my plans to explore the city in the evening with a revived energy.

Before returning to our rooms, the final group to explore the cityscape during nighttime included Ivy, Yoshke, Jen, Jonel, Chrissy and I. I was happy to retreat to my room and rest –was happy to see my pleasant roommate Kate home already –and by home, I mean the hotel room. She deviated from the group to meet with her Singapore friends just before lunch.

Carlos paid our room a quick visit and we bonded. He left a few minutes later so he could accompany Maki who wanted to check out the camera stores.

After showering, I felt so refreshed and revitalized –water really works wonders. I was raring to go and enjoy dinner with the group. I was the designated caller of the group so I phoned everyone to meet at the lobby.

Needless to say, the food trip at Makansutra Glutton Bay was as fantastic as the company. We barely noticed that it was almost 12 midnight laughing, bonding and strolling the streets of Singapore.

Stay tuned for Day 2 Night Time and Day 3: Shopping at IKEA…

Noemi’s Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards Video Coverage

Ivy Baldoza Multiply Album

Singapore Day 1 Album

Singapore Day 2 Album

Singapore Day 2 Afternoon Album

Singapore Day 2 Night Album

Singapore Day 3 | IKEA Album

Related Post

Singapore and Nuffnang Blog Awards

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5 Comments Filed Under: Walk the World: A BITE of Travel Tagged With: affordable hotels, Anton, best blog, best Travel blog, blogging community, cheap, Chrissy, dinner, En Route, Filipino, Frances, Fredz Decena, Hotel, in the Philippines, ironwulf, Ivy, Jen Juan, kate, Link Hotel, Little India, Lunch, Mad Manila, Makansuntra Glutton bay, meowbykate, Mombloggers, money exchange, Mustafa, Noemi, Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards, OAP, OK Magazine, Our Awesome Planet, Pan Pacific Hotel, Pasalubong, region, Singapore, Singapore tales, Topaz Horizon, where to stay

Singapore and the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards

November 10, 2009 by Janey

Almost Missed Singapore

October 22, 2009 –the clock just struck midnight. It’s Thursday –one more day to go and I’m off to Singapore… but here I am tossing and turning in my bed. My stomach is churning and I’m curled in a ball of pain. A soft dump (do not visualize) was already deposited a few minutes ago –how come my tummy is still twisting in painful knots. My mom heard me moaning in pain and suggested that she take me to the hospital.

We arrived at Medical City’s emergency room and after filling up a form found myself lying on a hospital bed with only a white curtain for privacy. I don’t like hospitals. It makes me nervous –traumatically nervous. 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with dengue that had me confined in Cardinal Santos for weeks –5 critical days in the ICU. My platelette count was extremely low that I had to undergo blood transfusion. In 2004, I also had regular visits to the hospital due to my mom’s health issues that time. The year that followed saw me again frequenting the hospital –a memory that still breaks my heart. In recent years, ER situations with my two sisters and my mom contracting Dengue contributed in my hospital trauma.

2009, I smell again that familiar cheerless sanitary odor. An ER attendant took blood sample and strapped me up with IV for loss fluids. Medical City attended to me efficiently and that eased me a lot. They were very thorough, courteous and well organized.

Acute Gastroentiritis –I think it’s more commonly known as stomach flu. I filed a sick leave that day. If I didn’t feel better by 6pm, the plan was to not go. I’m taking a bigger risk if I do. Singapore will always be there anyway.

I felt better in the afternoon. God is good. I was probably meant to go.

I need the weekend break because I have been under a lot of stress at work the past few months.

Singapore Day 1

It was an early start that day –we checked in at 430am. What a stunning coincidence that my roommate Kate who I’ve never met before was the one behind me at the entrance queue. I handed Kate the chocolate carrot cake from the newly opened Chocolat I brought for her as a “room-warming gift.” We checked in and paid for the airport tax (which is by the way inconveniently at the far side of the terminal). After Mica picked a dress from the bag, Kate accompanied me to the Exit area so I can hand the bag off to CW.

The whole group had breakfast c/o Nuffnang. Both Kate and I had the Spanish sardines –I know I should be careful ordering fish with my condition but I couldn’t help myself.

We boarded the plane and I was seated next to Ivy, who I also met for the first time. We both dozed off during the flight. The plane was terribly quiet, which probably meant everyone was knocked out as we were.

The plane landed safely in Singapore. A private coaster took us to Link Hotel –where all the delegates are comfortably billeted.

Image Source: Sexy Nomad

Jen, Jonel, Chrissy, Kate and I walked in the neighborhood and found a hawker place at the Central Plaza Mall. Jen and I both got the chicken rice, Kate had lemon chicken and Jonel and Chrissy got a delicious duck rice from another place. Dessert was the chocolate carrot cake that everyone shared except Chrissy and I. By chance, Kate really likes carrot cake!

Image Source: Sexy Nomad

After lunch, Chrissy strayed to run an errand while our foursome visited Little India with Kate as our guide. Kate was based in Singapore for 1-year for work and just came back home 3 months ago. We visited the temple but unfortunately it was closed from 12:15 PM to 4 PM.

Image Source: Sexy Nomad

Biting Jen’s Hat

It was quite an interesting visit to Little India. We went around the stores and took a refreshing break at Kaaraikudi restaurant. The colorful food looked so scrumptious and if I weren’t so full from lunch, I would have ordered a couple dishes. The cold milk tea was a good break from the afternoon sun.

Image Source: Sexy Nomad

We headed to Mustafa Center, which is a 24-hour mall –it would be great to have a 24-hour mall in Manila.

Whenever I am overseas, my interests always include buying their local junk food. Junk food like chips and knickknacks also says a lot about that country’s food culture. There was quite an array of interesting food finds in Mustafa –Papa Dum in tube cans and of course, I couldn’t help but buy Pringles! Pringles in soft shell crab flavor caught my attention. I bought a few for myself and some for “pasalubong.”

We headed back to Link Hotel and settled in. Kate and I bonded while resting on the bed. Around 5pm, we started to prep for the Nuffnang Blog Awards.

Right before leaving our room, the front desk called and said I had a package there. Somebody sent a bouquet of beautiful white roses with a sweet note.

Nuffnang Blog Awards

Every single one looked astonishing in their attires. This perfectly suits the evening because the Nuffnang Blog Awards is the biggest blog awards in the Asia Pacific region. Delegates from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and, of course, the Philippines were really stunning in their outfits. Venue was at the Pan Pacific Hotel.

Image Source: Sexy Nomad

A 4-course dinner was served and every course was delightful –from the appetizer to the dessert.

Nuffnang Co-founders Ming and Tim welcomed everyone and shared with the guests Nuffnang’s journey from the time it started. Amazing Race Asia’s host Allan Wu hosted the event. There was a magic show act by JC Sum and Magic Babe Ning while Electrico provided the evening’s rock music. Electrico’s lead singer said that it’d be a wish come true if he sees the whole crowd in cocktail dresses and suits mosh pit to their music.

Table 35 includes Noemi, Anton, Fran, Paul, Jen, Ivy, Alodia and Ashley.

Several Philippine bloggers were finalists in different blog categories including Jehzlau, Chrissy, Bryanboy and Ironwulf. Ironwulf’s En Route bagged the Best Travel Blog in Asia Pacific (congrats Ferdz!!!).