Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Hello Singapore! It's good to be back in the garden city. Like what I promised myself several years ago, I'll go back to sunny Singapore when I get the chance as I miss this city so much! The COVID-19 pandemic stymied travel plans but now that restrictions have been lifted, I took time off from work last May to revisit and explore Singapore. May is the height of the dry season in Southeast Asia and despite the scorching heat and humidity, it is a lovely time to explore Singapore's signature indoor and outdoor attractions.
I love the early morning rainshowers and the warm and breezy summer evenings. Balmy tropical evenings are best for strolling along Singapore's Esplanade and Merlion Park. Stop for a cool, fruity drink or ice cream on your way home!
Cavenagh Bridge
Before heading out to enjoy Singapore's night time skyline, drop by Lau Pa Sat or Tell Ayer Market at Raffles Quay for delectable Singaporean street style food housed in a charming Victorian style food market building. There are also al fresco dining spots amidst smoky kebab and satay barbecue stalls. Getting a table is quite tricky though as this area is fully occupied all the time. If you're lucky enough to get a table, the dining experience gets doubly fun as you have a great view of Singapore's ultra-modern skyscrapers and busy night scape.
The Bugis Subway Station area
Getting around the city is easy with Singapore Tourist Pass. If you're in a hurry, taxi rides are convenient and affordable. Just remember the zip code of the area where you are staying. The taxi driver usually asks for the post code for faster navigation.
A must have for tourists! Get this ticket card at the airport to avail of hassle free, unlimited bus and subway rides.
We love Ya Kun Kaya Toast! Kaya Jam (sweet coconut spread) with butter is sandwiched together in toasted bread or French toast and dipped in poached egg. Washed down with retro style Yakun coffee, it's the perfect breakfast fare to start the day.
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The scenic Balestier area with its beautiful heritage buildings and traditional shops. There are hawker centers nearby and mini malls with upscale supermarkets and restaurants that cater to upwardly mobile condominium dwellers.
Singapore's version of the London Eye.
This is what we came for- the Avatar Experience at the Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay and Tulipmania at the Flower Dome. The misty, cool atmosphere inside the dome was a welcome respite from the scorching summer heat.
Wandering around the Supertree Grove
One of the Michelin rated stalls at the Jurassic Food Nest Food Hall fronting the Supertree Grove area. Yes, the Biryanani was really good! It totally deserved its bib gourmand accolade.
At this point, I may have scratched out the Netherlands from my travel bucketlist. Who knew that tulips originated from Turkiye? Fascinating! It was the last day of Tulipmania and we were lucky to catch the last show. And oh, where will all these tulips go when the flower show is over?
The lotus shaped ArtScience Museum that is a few walks away from Gardens by the Bay. We headed here to see the Future World Exhibition, a Team Labs production.
The Helix Bridge or (Double Helix Bridge) is a stunning piece of modern architecture. It is the world's first curved bridge. It's more mesmerizing when lighted up at night!
After a pasta and pizza snack at The Shoppes, we headed to the Skypark Observation Deck, 56 storeys high to get an unencumbered view of the Singapore skyline.
All the degustatory patisserie and confectionery dreams at the depachika section of Takashimaya SG at Orchard Road.
The journey is the destination! We are talking about the Jewel Changi Airport which is a destination in itself and the vortex of everything cool.
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Iced Kapi ni Tomas (coffee named after St. Thomas), cream cheese bagel and a new book are all it takes to enjoy a quiet "me time" somewhere close to home. Located inside the famous Lizards mansion (now Angelicum School run by the Dominican Order in the Philippines), Cafe Año is a good place for a coffee run if you're visiting Iloilo City and have limited time to explore the city's heritage landmarks.
This is a quiet cafe for locals too enjoy some privacy (if you're not the "Starbucks type person"), good conversation and decent grub and coffee. A nice view of an elegant mansion is a bonus too.
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Finding the perfect scent is a lifelong quest. Sometimes your nose just knows that you have found The One! I have finally found mine in a bottle of 802 Praline Vanilla by Scentsmith Perfumery, a gender-neutral scent. I've always been partial to gourmand scents like vanilla when paired with other notes.
Praline Vanilla has the following fragrance profile:
Scentsmith Type: Sweet
Top Notes: Black currant and pear
Middle Notes: Iris, jasmine and orange blossom
Base: Praline, vanilla, patchouli and tonka bean
Another thing I love about this fragrance is the apothecary style packaging which is perfectly my aesthetic. Definitely a homegrown perfumery brand worth checking out!
Scenthsmith Perfumery
Upper Ground Floor, SM City Iloilo (In front of Aeropostale)
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Fancy a quiet pajama party or self-care chill time?
An Airbnb is a good alternative to pricey hotels if you want a staycation or just a change of scenery. And why would we want a change of scenery when we are already in our comfort zones? Sometimes we need to focus on completing a personal project like an art or craft project, a space to meditate or contemplate or just to work or study without any distractions. Sliding into your comfortable bed and falling asleep is the last thing you need.
There are lots of good Airbnb accommodations in Iloilo City (mostly condominium studios) to choose from depending on your budget and mood. There is one Superhost Airbnb accommodation worth checking out. Cozy Homestay in an Attic Studio is the perfect millennial boho style room that is wonderfully spacious, super clean and comfortable. I booked a stay several months ago and truly enjoyed the cozy setting and natural wood aesthetic. There were plenty of self-help books to read so my stay was very chill, relaxing and good for the soul. I need to start writing the first few pages of my novel so another booking at the Attic Studio should be in order soon.
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Wednesday, April 26, 2023
The recently concluded Summer AnimeFest 2023 held at Festive Walk Iloilo was a treasure trove of kawaii finds for the young and not-so-young alike. As a Gen-Xer, I grew up on Japanese cartoons but sadly our generation missed out on cosplay and such. But as generation at the cusp of analog and digital culture, we kinda caught up on the newer Anime stuff, thanks partly to Netflix. Anyway, there were cosplay contests, anime toy exhibition and bazaar. I found myself awkwardly swarming around the bazaar booths with millennials and Gen-Zs (people young enough to be my kids!). Yes, there were good stuff that appealed to Gen-Xers so I am remotely not THAT old.
One of my uber cute finds at the bazaar were these cute waterproof stickers and mini easel cards by Purr Crafts x Studio. I have not outgrown my love for cute stickers and of course anything feline inspired. These inspirational mantra cards sit on my office desk to remind me that yes, I am still growing.
If you love hand drawn cat stickers and stationery like me, visit Purr Crafts x Studio on their Facebook page. You can also find them on Instagram.
Kawaii forever!
I adore the interiors of the Dai Pai Dong. Decorated in both and chic and kitschy Chinoiserie, it is the perfect place to enjoy a solo dinner or a dinner date. The place was quiet and empty with only a couple of tables occupied. I liked it that way though. It's like having the entire restaurant to myself. Hehehe.
The menu offering is sparse and simple, sorely lacking the signature Hong Kong dishes that define a real Dai Pai Dong. Anyway, I settled for the generic Hainanese Chicken Rice paired with hot black tea. Much to my horror, the tea was served lukewarm in a melamine tumbler. I want tea properly served so I gave the food attendant the unsolicited, spicy advice that decent tea should be served in ceramic cups to retain the heat. If you want more customers, serve tea properly!
The Hainanese Chicken Rice didn't satisfy my unusually large appetite that night so I ordered another dish in the menu. This time, it’s another generic Chinese fare--Wonton Noodles. I also ordered a slice of lemon square which was served from the cafe upstairs.
I'm very forgiving when it comes to reviewing food, but I have to stay the wonton noodle dish was salty enough to elevate my blood pressure by several points. Too salty that I left it virtually untouched. I enjoyed the lemon square (I bake a better version at home though) to wash the salty aftertaste of the Wonton noodles. My verdict? Skip the food at Dai Pai Dong next time and just have coffee and cake in the cafe upstairs. Oh Dai Pai Dong, work on your menu and polish your food preparation techniques to attract more customers. The building is too pretty to be hastily reincarnated into another joint.
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