SANDS SKY PARK

We've seen Singapore from the Flyer. It was a gorgeous, breathtaking view of the city at 42 stories high, 165 meters above the ground.  

Out On A Date at the Singapore Flyer

One wet weekend, we decided to top that by going up 191 meters above the ground, 56 stories high.

Out On A Date at the Sands Sky Park

Here's the amazing view of Singapore from the Marina Bay Sands Sky Park. Nope, definitely not for those with acrophobia. 

Coming soon: Gardens By The Bay

Wet Weekend at the Observation Deck

The Singapore Flyer is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world.

The lotus-inspired ArtScience Museum

The world's longest elevated infinity pool

The Louis Vuitton Island

All the time we were up in the Sky Park I was singing the Carpenters' song --

"I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation

And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around

Your love's put me at the top of the world."

Hubby to me: Kaya umuulan eh.

LOL

We were actually considering booking a room at the MBS for the weekend. But the new me (on kuripot mode) won over. Saka na ang luxurious hotel room escapades. OK na muna sa Sands Sky Park. 

Tickets to the observation deck: SGD20 (Php640) each for adults, SGD14 each for children

High on Love (hope you are too!),

A

ANDY WARHOL: 15 MINUTES ETERNAL

"In the future, everybody will be world-famous for fifteen minutes." - Andy Warhol 

Hello, You Tube! 

Out On A Date at the Andy Warhol 15 Minutes Eternal
ArtScience Museum, Singapore

No photography allowed inside the exhibit.
So sa entrance lang kami nag-picture.

Hubby and I will be eternally grateful for having the chance to see the Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal exhibit at the ArtScience Museum. It features the largest collection of iconic works by pop artist Warhol, including Jackie, Marilyn Monroe, Campbell's Soup, Silver Liz, Time Capsule 51, The Last Supper.

It was such an overwhelming experience. We've always been Warhol fans. I love how he saw the beauty in everyday, ordinary objects. Pieces that we only got to see in books and the internet were 'in the flesh,' right before our eyes! Amazing.

The most revealing piece for me: The Time Capsules. They are boxes containing meaningful items collected by Warhol throughout different periods of his life. Although various studio assistants handled the boxes over the years, few people recognized the mass of materials as anything but "Andy's stuff." The boxes actually reveal new and important information about the artist's life. But only one box is open for viewing in this exhibit -- Box #51, which contains fashion magazines (including Vogue and Glamour) and fashion books.

There's a gift shop at the museum selling Warhol reprints. But Hubby and I opted to buy shirts from Uniqlo instead, see here.

Andy Warhol's Shoes
I have a hard-bound journal and stationary with this print.

The exhibit will be up until 12 August 2012.

Ticket price: SGD15 per adult (around Php480 each)

For details, visit the ArtScience Museum website. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Food For Thought. Good Food for a Good Cause.

#8 Queen Street, Singapore

(It's at the Sam at 8Q complex.)

Give clean water, make poverty history, inspire kind acts while you eat. Bongga. Game kami sa 'dating for a cause' so we tried Food For Thought. We had dinner here after seeing the film "Water Hands."

The facade.

The headless art installation (right in front of the resto and on top of the building across the street) is from another artist (name to follow), different from the one who created the headless Superman in front of the Singapore Art Museum. Headless as theme - Creepy? Artsy? Deep? All of the above?

The piece on SAM at 8Q reflects people's worldly and empty (thus mindless, headless) pursuits.

540 Jars hanging from the resto's ceiling. Read about the amazing light installation story here.

Zero-guilt indulgence? Hubby had the Crispy Curry Chicken with Spicy Chili Fries, Buttery Corn Salad and Roasted Tomatoes (SGD18, around Php630) on a placemat that says "Make poverty history." It was good. It's basic fried chicken with a twist -- nasa curry flavor ang twist. Big serving siya. It was actually good for two. Had we known na ganito kalaki, nag-share na lang kami.

I had the Calamari, Prawn & Salmon Risotto (also SGD18). It was good. Naumay nga lang ako. 

My placemat.

The food was good. But we're not raving. We're happy to have tried the place. And we got to help along the way so no complaints.

WATER HANDS at the SEA FILM FESTIVAL

Movie Date: "Water Hands," at the South East Asian Film Festival

SAM at 8Q, 222 Queen Street 

The festival will run until March 31, 2012

The Philippines' "Zombadings" is among the featured films! I'm so curious how the locals would find it.

Anyway, "Water Hands is a road movie about a Chinese sailor who starts doubting his beliefs after experiencing the beauty of the remote Balkan landscapes and the folk stories of the region. The more he explores the landscapes and the stories around him, the more he is determined to change something about himself. However, his attempt at making life-changing decisions become more difficult because of a woman, "She", a mysterious and sultry creature who keeps on calling him back to his country, his life and his reality."

The film-maker, Vladimir Todorovic on his creation, "After hearing numerous folk stories from the region (Serbia / Montenegro) and comparing them to the everyday life of an expatriate in Singapore, I decided to make a movie capturing these polarities. Thus, one half of the movie focuses on the reality of common people living in the economically devastated Balkans, while the other half paints quasi-bourgeois life of a foreigner in Singapore." 

Tickets: SGD10 each

Water Hands' director, writer, producer Vladimir Todorovic

I love how quiet the movie was. And it was fresh not to really see the cast mouthing their lines. You'll never get to see the sailor (Water Hands means sailor daw in Chinese.). While "She" (who represents the sailor's mother, sister, girlfriend, wife, mistress) has several exposures, never siya magsasalita on-cam. Puro thoughts. Puro reading out their exchange of love letters. 


With the journey Hubby and I are currently taking, relate na relate ako sa pelikula. I actually cried at the end of the movie, after "She" asked the final line of the film, "When are you coming home?" 

TRANSFORMERS: THE RIDE

Last week, we were freedom fighters in the ultimate 3D battle against the forces of evil!

We finally got to try Universal Studios Singapore's latest ride: Transformers, the ultimate 3D battle. It was super hi-tech, super fun! Parang masaya kung full length film ito. Haha! Waiting time for the ride: at least 30 minutes. So worth it.

With Optimus Prime.

Mahaba ang pila for photo op kaya sa gilid na lang ako pumwesto.

It's Bumblebee! He's my niece's favorite. 

I can't wait for her (and my sis P, and nephew T) to go to Universal Studios.

One day soon. *wink*

The first time we were here, sinamahan lang talaga ako ni Hubby. He's not into theme parks. But with the Transformers ride, gusto na rin talaga niya pumunta.  

It was a very fun date! Aside from the sights, rides and shows, another thing that made us smile: senior citizen couples lining up for the Transformers ride. We're so with you Lolos and Lolas! No one's too old for some play time.

Added joy: the park's only 45-minutes away via train from our Punggol home. Andyan lang siya. Just like the movies, madali lang mag-take three, four, five...!

For ticket info, check their website.

AT THE SAM

"Wish you were here." 

That's the overseas text message I sent Hubby when I visited the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) on my own last month. (See earlier post about it.) 

Headless Superman.
"No One Can Save Us." Mojoko + Eric Foenander

So when he came back from Manila, I made sure he'd see the wonderful SAM exhibits too. To me that's among the signs that you really love someone - you want everything to be shared experiences. 

We had a SAM date one Friday. Yes, I made sure Friday night (6-8pm) para free admission uli, yey!

Silly at the SAM
(Di kita pose ko.)

Amazing LED lights installation. 

"V" by Li Hui.

More from the Chimera exhibit.

From one of the Learning Galleries.

From the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize.

India's entry.

Korea's entry.

The winning entry from the Philippines -- Rodel Tapaya's Pinoy folklore mural.

At first glance this seems like an ordinary Persian rug right?

"Red Carpet," Rashid Rana (Chimera exhibit)

Up close, the artwork reveals photos of slaughtered animals.

Extreme close-up: Extremely bloody!

Now, for the piece that moved me the most. 

"Ash Color Mountains," by Aida Makoto of Japan. It's among the Jurors' Choice Awardees in The Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize.

"From afar, this monumental painting appears like a traditional Eastern landscape painting of the perennial misty mountains."

"However, the details reveal a different story altogether, for the mountains are composed of masses of office workers piled up high." 

"Like many of (the painter's) generation, he was a child of a 'salary man,' many of whom were often absent from the family because of the demands of work."

OMG. Major. Heartbreak. Moment.

Of course I remembered my Dad. He's been an OFW, one of the most talented Civil Engineers / Project Managers in the Middle East, almost all his professional life. We see him only once a year, for 45 days. Good thing we all make the effort to stay close. Snail mail, overseas calls, cassette tape recordings nung '80s!. Skype, Facebook and Face Time ngayon. So although we're physically apart, he's very much present in our lives. And we're close. Surprisingly even closer than some fathers and daughters who've lived under one roof all their lives. Good thing my Mom and Sister have been granted visas to move with him.

I also remembered all my mommy officemates. They'd always wish for more time with their kids. But like the men in the painting, they're forced to be away from the family because of the demands of work. 

Bilib ako sa artwork na ito. Ang tindi ng details! Pero ang mas matindi - the memories and emotions na hinugot niya from me. 

I tried so hard not to cry the first time I saw this. But it was just too powerful. 

We love museums.