HO CHI MINH CITY HOLIDAY

CHAO! Last month, Hubby and I were charmed by Vietnam's largest city, Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon. A long weekend -- we flew in Thursday, flew out Sunday -- was enough to see most of the main attractions since they were all in one district. Hoping to see Hanoi next...

   

Out On a Date in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
March 2012

Our HCMC Holiday Highlights:

1. It's only an hour and 45 minutes away from Singapore, via Tiger Airways.
2. Budget airfare via Tiger Airways: SGD200 round trip, per head (that's around Php7,000 each, round trip).
3. We crossed time zones. Had to push our watches one hour back. 6pm in Singapore / Manila is 5pm in Vietnam. 
4. Climate. It's hot and humid, like Singapore and Manila.
5. Communication. They speak very (very!) limited English. (Their language is of course Vietnamese.)
6. Currency: We're millionaires in Vietnam! Roughly, Php2,000 is equivalent to 1 million Vietnamese Dong. I must admit, I had a hard time with the currency the first few hours. Too many zeroes! Kaloka! Got the hang of it after our first meal, hehe. (1 VND = 00.002057 PHP)
7. Confirmed: it's the Scooter Capital of Asia.
8. We loved how they've preserved structures. Kitang-kita ang French influence sa architecture - so charming!  
9. Transportation. No trains yet. By 2014 pa raw. As usual, we walked a lot (we love long walks). We took the taxi a few times, they were very cheap compared to Singapore. HCMC's taxi fare is comparable to Manila's.
10. WE LOVE VIETNAMESE CUISINE. We've been fans of Vietnamese food (in Manila and Singapore) so it was such joy to finally try authentic Vietnamese fare. Everything tasted fresh and healthy. And meals were so cheap. Especially when you compare it with Singapore prices (which is unfair to do but still!), lalong napapasarap ang kain namin dahil ang mura-mura. 

Detailed blog entries on our HCMC long weekend next. 

Tôi yêu bạn!

HARRY POTTER EXHIBIT IN SG

I know a few people who'll go crazy over this.

A first in Asia: the Harry Potter Exhibit at the ArtScience Museum, Singapore. Tickets on sale by May 1.

Check the museum website for details.

SUMMER LOVIN'

I wonder where we'll end up for this year's beach getaway. Currently torn between two destinations -- places we've never been to before. Hmmm.

Out On a Date in Sabang, Palawan.
That's Hubby's inked back. Tattoo theme: Pinoy folklore.

Out On a Date in Boracay

Floating on Water
Palawan

Bulol by the Beach
Boracay

Senti over the Sunset
Pagudpud

True Colors
Pagudpud

LOVELY LEMONS

If life throws you a lemon, make lemonade. 

This is how we beat the heat.

Simple Joy: Homemade Lemonade and Lemon Iced Tea

PS
Follow me on Instagram. OutOnADate.

SINGAPORE RIVER CRUISE

We've been around Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, and Marina Bay on foot too many times. Para maiba naman, for the first time, we tried seeing these areas via the Singapore River Cruise. We enjoyed the same sights through a different perspective. 

40-minute cruise: SGD17 each
(around Php595 per adult)

Going under the bridges reminded me of "My Best Friend's Wedding."

Michael: Kimmy says if you love someone you say it, you say it right then, out loud. Otherwise, the moment just...

Julianne: Passes you by...

Michael: Passes you by. Yeah.

For more info on the SG River Cruise, visit their website.

PRETTY PANCAKES

The Date: Breakfast in Bed

Proud of my perfectly imperfect pancakes!

When you can't do perfectly round pancakes, I suggest you make them prettier and yes, yummier with bananas, strawberries and lots of honey.

Making life better is really in your hands. A lovely life lesson one Sunday morning. *wink*

TFS: THE FRENCH STALL

French Food in Little India?! Oui! 

Thanks to currystrumpet's suggestion, we got to try TFS: The French Stall, along Serangoon Road, Little India, Singapore (nearest MRT: Farrer Park).

Their sked:

3-6pm: Dessert & Drinks

6-10pm: Dinner

The facade of TFS Bistrot

#544 Serangoon Road corner Sturdee Road North, Singapore

Their lovely postcard-inspired tables.

A first: Drinking Date at 3pm. Hehe.
Our glasses of white wine were suggested by the staff.
Didn't take note of what they're called, oops.

We only had dessert (dinner's served 6pm pa). 

Hubby and I enjoyed the Dark Chocolate Cake ala-mode and the Tiramisu.

We wanted to try the honey cheesecake but it was unavailable that day.

The French chef who owns the place envisioned The French Stall to be very homey and unpretentious -- read that from a magazine article displayed on the wall. Successful siya! (Actually, sila, it's run by a husband and wife team.) The place is so charming, the staff's very friendly, and the location very interesting. It's not exactly cheap here though. Our bill was almost SGD50 (around Php1,700). But we were so charmed, we vow to be back for dinner (soon, we hope).

Bon appetit!

SKINNY PIZZA

The thinnest pizza we've had so far is also the best. As in.

Inspired by "the lovely crackling sound of something crunchy...like the crust of hot roti prata and naan...," SKINNY PIZZA is a must-try. Thin kung thin. Skinny kung skinny. (Wish I were describing me. Lol.) 

It's among the more popular local restaurants in Singapore. How good is their pizza? We actually like theirs more than Mario Batali's Pizzeria Mozza (at super sarap na sa Mozza ha!). 

The skinny on what we've tried:

The lime-based Kampong Glam mocktail (as in mock-cocktail so non-alcoholic). OK naman. I wanted it more tart, more lime-y. But since may halo, I found it too sweet. After my first sip, I kinda wished I ordered soda na lang, like Hubby, hehe.

The Macadamia Crusted Pumpkin Salad, SGD11 (around Php385). This was highly recommended by the Pinoy staff. We didn't expect it to be THAT GOOD. It's definitely among the best salads we've had. Pwede palang ganun kasarap ang kalabasa! (Pumpkin and squash are interchangeable, right? Same specie?) We were so happy that we kept on thanking the Pinoy waiter for recommending it. 

"Yan po talaga ang pinapa-try kong salad sa mga Pinoy."

"Panalo!"

The Truffle Fries, Sausage, Seared Brie Cheese Starters, SGD15 (around Php525). It's cheaper if you choose three starters. They were all good. But our favorite is the brie cheese. ANG SARAP. Kung ako kaya mag-sear ng cheese sa bahay, ganun din kasarap? 

The Mozzarella Bolognese Pizza, SGD23 (around Php805). Fresh, flavorful, super-thin. ANG SARAP.

The Meatball Napolitana Pizza, same price as the Mozzarella Bolognese. IT WAS SO GOOD. Sabi nga ni Hubby, meatballs are so basic but very few can make them perfectly. Ito perfect. 

If you're in SG, and you love pizza, do yourself a favor - visit any of the Skinny Pizza branches: Raffles City (This is where we ate. MRT Station: City Hall), Wheelock, House at Dempsey Road or Great World City. For more info, visit their website.

P.S.

These orders were from two different dates. Hindi pa naman kami ganun katakaw. Lol.

MISS SAIGON

I must find time to blog about our recent weekend trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. As soon as I finish my paid writing projects (Money changes everything? Lol)...

Photo taken by Hubby,
at one of the HCMC Central Post Office gift shops.

HERE, FISHY FISHY!

I ordered these super cute seafood dumplings at the Ion Orchard food court exactly because they were that -- super cute! Bentang-benta sa akin. 

When I posted the photo on Facebook most people said di nila kaya kainin because they were:

• too cute, 
• looked alive, 
• nakakatakot, 
• nakakaawa. 

My Facebook reply: I agree. That's why I kissed them before taking a bite.

Now, I wonder, Ganito na ba ako katakaw? What most people won't eat, masayang-masaya kong binili to chow down. OMG. 

So were they good? OK lang. The stuffing: ground seafood (prawn, crab, and some fish). Was happier with the shark's fin dumpling. 

Dumplings: around SGD4
for each dumpling steamer set

Hubby ordered ToriQ (Japanese yakitori) for this merienda date.