SG TO-DO LIST

During our recent SG trip, I knew there was so much to do in so little time. So I kept a very short and simple Personal To-Do List. All the four items on my list were suggested by the Lonely Planet.

J helped make sure I get to tick each item off the list. Awww.

Tried the SG Flyer, the world's tallest observation wheel.
This was too tourist-y for him but he came with me anyway. =)
Wala pa 'to the first time we were in SG.


I had to have SG Chili Crabs again!
J is not into seafood so I had this all to myself! Yes!
Dinner with K and B at the Newton Food Court


Had SG's traditional breakfast, the Kaya Toast.
With Teh-C, tea with milk.
I've tried this in Manila. It's better in SG, hehe.


Finally had the guts to ask the Raffles Hotel doorman for a photo.
Considered buying the stuffed toy version of him -- Over!


Accomplished all four. Got to do even more! =)

ANG INIT!

Manila's too-early and too-hot summer made me miss HongKong's December weather. The other day, it was 34C! Reports say with the El Nino, it could go as hot as 40C in Manila!

Wishing for cooler weather...


Photo above: December 30, 2009
Almost empty Avenue of Stars, HK


Our New Year's Eve Date
December 31, 2009
The very crowded Avenue of Stars, HK


I tried to take photos of the New Year fireworks.
But decided against multi-tasking.
Told myself, "Don't miss the moment! Enjoy the show!"

SG FOOD TRIP

Hungry much?

In our limited travel experience, Singapore stands out as the ultimate Asian food trip destination! We've been here twice and both times, we loved, loved, loved the food -- a melting pot (pun-intended) of Chinese, Indian, Malay, Thai, Middle Eastern, etc cuisine.

Here are some of the superb meals we enjoyed in various SG hawker centers (so far from the food courts we're used to).


Oyster Omelet


Satay Galore: pork, chicken, mutton satay


Crispy Baby Squid


Stingray


SG Friends who treated us in Chomp! Chomp! (Thank you!)


Hainanese Chicken Rice


I had to have Chili Crabs!


Fried Rice


Popiah: spring roll


Laksa: rice noodles in a coconut curry soup


Black Pepper Chicken


Super tasty Tiger Prawn


Spicy Kangkong


The Newlyweds who brought us to one of SG's more famous hawker centers,the Newton food Court


Roast Pork at the Changi Airport


Sarap!

BINONDO FOOD WOK POST SCRIPT

P.S. Where's the food?

I didn't want to spoil the fun for future Wok-kers so no, I really didn't do a "where we went" and "what we ate" piece.

Here's what I'll share: Dong Bei Dumpling (642 Nueva Street, Tel No 241-8912) is a must-try! It's a hole-in-the-wall joint where dumplings (the best I've tried in Manila) are freshly made right in front of you.



Another treat: We got the map for free!



I think this is sold at National Bookstore and Fully Booked.

Two of our favorite activities - walking and eating - rolled into one. Our verdict: the Binondo Food Wok should be part of every couple's date menu.

BINONDO FOOD WOK

To welcome the Chinese New Year, we nibbled our way through Chinatown for 4 hours! Thanks to Old Manila Walks' "Big Binondo Food Wok."

The Emperor


Lion Dance


Binondo Church. This is the meeting place for the Food Wok-kers.


We chanced upon a Valentine-Chinese New Year wedding in Binondo Church.


Binondo's most popular street


Shrine


My Ang Pao...


...was eaten by this Lion


My Favorite Stop of the entire Binondo Food Wok! Highly Recommended!


Kuchay Dumplings to die for!



Date Details:

PHP 1,200 per person
Full payment is required via the Old Manila Walks BDO account.

That Sunday, there were 2 Walks, 9am and 2:30pm.
We took the afternoon walk.

Wear you most comfortable shoes.
We were in sneakers.

Bring a fan or an umbrella.
Be ready to walk for at least 4 hours (ours was the Big Wok kasi).

For more info, check out http://www.oldmanilawalks.com/

SPRING FESTIVAL

Timing is everything! We were so lucky to have visited Singapore one weekend before Valentine and The Spring Festival (aka Chinese New Year). The streets and malls were all dressed up for the upcoming holidays! Such eye candy!

Lovely blooms!


What's my fortune for the New Year?


Entrace of the Suntec City Mall


The Citylink


Valentine Tree along Bugis Street


Chinatown


People's Park

IT'S OUR CHAIR!

I nearly fell off the edge of my seat (pun intended) when I saw this book cover!

The iconic Panton Chair changed the world!


The reproduction we got from Dimensione.


We got two of this. Very good choice indeed for the Retro Pop interiors we're trying to achieve! =)

VALENTINE'S DAY

You'd think one of the cheesiest couples on earth is all about about hearts, candies and flowers every 14th of February. Well, Surprise! Surprise! J and I don't do Valentine's Day (aka Extortion Day).

It's no red letter day for us, just our usual Date Day / Night. Last year, we spent it in Baguio with the rest of the clan. Tomorrow, we're nibbling our way to Chinatown for the Binondo Food Wok.

But since V-Day is major for every one else, I won't spoil the fun. No "don't-waste-your-time-and-money-on-Feb-14" rants here. I'm sharing some Love Rules* I can relate to. =)

For Single Women (Been there, done that!)...

"If he likes you, you'll know. If he doesn't, you'll be confused."
--sayitloud, on glamour.com

"Just because some cute girl (or guy) likes the same bizarro crap you do doesn't make her (or him) your soulmate."
--Rachel, in (500) Days of Summer

For Married Women (Living by these rules now!)...

"You need not think alike to love alike."
--Jillian Maxwell, Brooklyn

"All love that has not friendship for its base is like a mansion built upon the sand."
--poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox

"Let there be spaces in your togetherness."
--poet Kahlil Gibran

For every one who loves, I'm sharing our very own Love Rule...

"All or nothing."
--A and J


I'm wishing you all lots of love, any day, every day!




*Glamour, Mar2010