tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66751800843119889002024-03-14T17:33:31.835+08:00Expat Adventures in SingaporeLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.comBlogger397125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-63776159907771858012016-07-16T04:14:00.004+08:002020-07-03T22:28:05.916+08:00And That's That <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Well I've reached the end of my Singapore posts and so I guess this really is going to be the last post on this blog! I promised I wouldn't just leave the blog hanging and while it may have taken awhile (we left Singapore in April) here we are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Thank you to all of you for reading the blog, commenting on it, liking posts, sharing posts and suggesting things for me to do. I'm only sorry I didn't get to do everything on my list but I'm not sure however long you live somewhere whether you actually would with day-to-day life happening too. The blog will stay here, I've invested too much love in it over the years for it not to and I shall keep checking on it and updating it if I become aware of changes. So if you are reading this and know something to be incorrect here then please do let me know. Not being in Singapore obviously makes it difficult to keep on top of changes but I would like to be able to amend posts accordingly if, for example, somewhere has subsequently closed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">If you'd like to know what I'm doing now you can follow my new blog, <a href="http://wheresthenextadventure.blogspot.co.uk/"><i>Where's the Next Adventure?</i></a><i>, </i>like the new blog's Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wheresthenextadventure/">here</a>, follow me on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Moggie78">here</a>, on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wheresthenextadventureblog/">here</a> and on Snapchat at @moggie78 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">In the meantime thank you again and I look forward to keeping in touch with you all. Just remember wherever life may take you don't forget to embrace it wholeheartedly!</span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Singapore1.352083 103.819836000000010.8441055 103.174389 1.8600605 104.46528300000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-76489547012004858892016-06-18T22:36:00.000+08:002016-06-18T22:36:00.790+08:00East Coast Sunrise and Sunset<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whilst we lived in Singapore we chose to live in the east coast area, specifically Katong. It was just chance that took us there, in fact my husband originally wanted to look at other areas but the agent he used when he first moved to Singapore took him there and we ended up living in the same condo (in different units) for our whole stay. As time went on many of our friends ended up living in that area too which was great. We got to know the area well and became very fond of our neighbourhood, getting to know many of our neighbours and feeling completely at home. Living where we did also meant that East Coast park was very close and provided us with much enjoyment in our free time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This post was inspired by a friend of ours who lived in the area and also enjoyed visiting East Coast park, particularly for the fantastic sunrises. Our friend took some amazing photos whilst she was living there. We decided we wanted to see this for ourselves too and we went many times (with a flask of tea in hand) but I never really got around to sharing any of those photos, certainly not on the blog anyway. Whilst we never got any sunrises (or sunsets) as good as hers here are a selection of some of the photos I took from different visits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">By the way if you want to see some of our friend's photos of the sunrises and a whole load of other great photos and posts check out her <a href="http://www.singaporetales.co.uk/">Singapore blog</a>. Just like us, her and her husband are no longer living in Singapore and now reside in India so take a look at her <a href="http://www.delhitales.com/">new blog</a> too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From sunrise to a couple of sunset photos</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com2East Coast Park Service Rd, East Coast Park, Singapore 4498761.3007842 103.91218660000004-29.601388800000002 62.603592600000042 32.2029572 145.22078060000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-74910401455000265052016-06-08T20:30:00.000+08:002016-06-08T20:30:16.457+08:00Sembawang Park <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our last Sunday (sob) in Singapore we made the trek to the north of the island to Sembawang park as it's an area that we'd never been to previously. Sembawang park like many others in Singapore is the perfect place for those living in the vicinity of it to get away from the hustle of the city and enjoy some relative tranquility, even if it is right next to a shipyard!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We took the MRT to Sembawang station and then walked the last part, I'm sure you could easily catch a bus though if you wanted. The park isn't right on the doorstep of the MRT station but if you don't mind a bit of walk it's perfectly doable by foot. There is also plenty of signage directing you along the park connector to this and other parks in the area and it's a pretty pleasant walk. It takes you past some landed properties and HDB's before ultimately hitting more open country with just a sprinkling of residences and shophouses housing a few small restaurants and convenience stores. The walk is pretty much a straight line before reaching the park right on the coast overlooking the Straits of Johor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we approached the park we heard the sound of a siren a few times. We briefly thought it was the island wide alarm but quickly realised it wasn't. I'm not sure what it was but can only assume it was connected to the shipyard in someway. Other than hearing this alarm though, as is so often the case, the road leading to the park was pretty deserted of any life.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">View towards Sembawang jetty from Beaulieu house</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a strong connection to Singapore's naval history in this area. As I mentioned the park is right next to a shipyard which was originally a naval base of the British Royal Navy from the 1920s until Singapore's independence. After entering the park, and with the shipyard on our left, we soon spotted Beaulieu House in front of us. The house was built in the 1910s as a seaside house for a family by the name of David who were in the mining business. The house is actually older than the naval base whose construction began in 1923. After the base was built the house was then acquired by the British government to be used as a residence by senior Naval officers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the Japanese Occupation it was believed to have been used by the Japanese as a Headquarters and watch towers were built to overlook the naval base. Following the end of the Japanese Occupation it was returned back to the British and used once again as a residence by officers and their families until the complete withdrawal of the British in 1971. It was then gazetted as a conservation area and subsequently became a seafood restaurant, which it still is today. By the time we'd walked all the way from the MRT station we were quite warm so popped in there to get a cold drink before exploring the park a little more. There are loads of newspaper cuttings etc about the place and trinkets dotted all over the restaurant. I've heard it is also a popular venue for weddings and whilst we were there a young couple were discussing their wedding plans with one of the staff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After finishing our drinks we went for a stroll around the park, firstly walking along Sembawang jetty which the British began building in the 1940s but abandoned during the Japanese Occupation. It was later completed by the Japanese. The park, being right on the coast, is great for enjoying cooling sea breezes. Although, as I said, we barely saw anybody on our walk to the park the park itself was quite busy. There were lots of families and groups of friends picnicking and enjoying themselves. I noticed some very cool climbing frames in the children's play areas, including a huge one that resembled a warship, if only I were a few years younger! I also noticed a petanque court, possibly the only one I've ever seen in Singapore, <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2015/01/memories-of-france.html">memories of a trip to France a couple of years ago for our friends wedding</a> came flooding back at that point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have to admit that whilst there may be a lot of historical (particularly naval) interest in the area I wasn't blown away by the park itself. It was nice to visit a different area but unless I lived there I doubt I'd look to go back. One nice fact I've learnt since my visit is that Sembawang beach (you can see some of it in my photo above) is one of only a few natural sandy beaches remaining in Singapore. Whilst it may not be extensive it makes a nice change from the artificial ones we all know on Sentosa and it was great to see people enjoying it that Sunday afternoon.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyo5DF3YCLN6nkmFFiHlLkbw_p_Pu5hkF45dq8BbytVJuDUbCJr3pWYdfBAPn-c6mtAuT4RqLIxJluygDG4xglCg-N1VblPed8GiODwmJRIBOoqZlSCzhLi4pPzT2l95vh68TC14h-x4Q/s1600/M+pic+IMG_2206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyo5DF3YCLN6nkmFFiHlLkbw_p_Pu5hkF45dq8BbytVJuDUbCJr3pWYdfBAPn-c6mtAuT4RqLIxJluygDG4xglCg-N1VblPed8GiODwmJRIBOoqZlSCzhLi4pPzT2l95vh68TC14h-x4Q/s640/M+pic+IMG_2206.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Looking towards the shipyard from the jetty</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I said whilst I may not choose to return if I'm ever back in Singapore it made for a pleasant afternoon out. As a final place to visit before leaving it was great to go to a completely different part of the island and see what it had to offer and maybe, if I had the chance, the area really needs further exploring.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Sembawang, Singapore1.4598649427264911 103.836057186126711.4578809427264912 103.83353568612671 1.4618489427264911 103.83857868612671tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-90992767478103084362016-05-15T00:11:00.001+08:002016-05-15T00:11:49.821+08:00Street Art and Shophouses of the Everton Road Area<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With time going against me in the rundown to our departure date I knew I just had to pick out a couple of things that I wanted to try and do before we left. As part of my <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">Red Dot Roaming</a> posts and just generally I had an ongoing, ever increasing list of places etc. that interested me. One of these places on the Red Dot Roaming list was the Everton Road and Spottiswoode Park Road area </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(reasonably close to Outram Park MRT) which</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I'd read had some beautifully preserved shophouses and also some interesting street art in Everton Road </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and from my long list of places I chose this as an area I wanted to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since going however, and unfortunately after I ran out of time in Singapore, I realised there are actually more murals than I saw on my visit, but I got a bit carried away on the day with the lovely shophouses and overlooked these - oops! I guess that just means I shall have to return to Singapore someday to catch up on what I missed. A search on the Internet though reveals countless photos and blogs of and about the mural I saw plus the one I didn't. They really are quite charming, all the more so as street art is quite a rare sight in Singapore.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwARx0QNEAgCIO82ITwYz5dwtN9rjbOzNQl03mKrC3YPORQLwtzEadIxqrE-Z2j7Uqz1dNJ-tN83hJ_ul60zAbm1LpW6WL7gDAc2mx8eFH0gvwYQMGqZsmiPKGSBjKjntI4b4_Mva2ek/s1600/IMG_4151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwARx0QNEAgCIO82ITwYz5dwtN9rjbOzNQl03mKrC3YPORQLwtzEadIxqrE-Z2j7Uqz1dNJ-tN83hJ_ul60zAbm1LpW6WL7gDAc2mx8eFH0gvwYQMGqZsmiPKGSBjKjntI4b4_Mva2ek/s640/IMG_4151.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The murals were painted by a local who lives close to Everton Road and who was inspired by the murals in Kampong Glam. The artist's first mural was the one I missed, for this one he got the permission of the building's owner (the great-grandson of the original owner of the building in the photo below) to paint his mural and the results have been very popular with visitors. I can't quite believe though that I saw the building that it's painted on and took a photo of it because I liked the ghost signage but didn't see the mural! Anyway as I said they are obviously very popular, indeed on the day I visited there were two other people admiring the one I did see and taking lots of photos.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The murals depict scenes from Singapore's past, a very different place to the Singapore I know but one I'd have loved the opportunity to have seen if I'd been alive at a different time. The artist actually has his own website and you can read a lot more about the murals and the process of painting them (in particular the one I saw) <a href="http://yipyc.com/blog/2015/12/12/provision-shop-mural-art/">here</a> if you are interested.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ghost signage dating from the 1930s, the building was originally a garage run by a Malacca born businessman, Choa Kim Keat.</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmFfnBmNt6WPqDUaO8A-A2lflp7es6oZBxTa5dOZ3UCIdmI6dNSM30bu_k6b4_eXCfvK1C3DaT1jCyfX7FsEMOt3yeZhLLSBT06UTlXCpmOXqn4ihXaMzOQPU_wK5PwmGvj9umrrs4YQ/s1600/IMG_4149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmFfnBmNt6WPqDUaO8A-A2lflp7es6oZBxTa5dOZ3UCIdmI6dNSM30bu_k6b4_eXCfvK1C3DaT1jCyfX7FsEMOt3yeZhLLSBT06UTlXCpmOXqn4ihXaMzOQPU_wK5PwmGvj9umrrs4YQ/s640/IMG_4149.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Couldn't resist a close up of the cat in this mural (apparently this is a local cat who lives in the neighbourhood)</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I said, although I went to see the murals, I also got distracted by the beautiful shophouses in the area. Everton Road and Spottiswoode Park Road are absolutely overflowing with some gorgeous ones, I had not realised there were so many until I got there and they just kept coming and coming. Whilst I was visiting I then recalled reading previously about a shophouse on Spottiswoode Park Road whose second storey has the honour of having the oldest painted facade in Singapore (the building dates from the 1890s) but, of course, I hadn't remembered this beforehand so hadn't established which one it actually was before my visit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm not an expert at all on shophouse design, other than I think they all look beautiful, but there did appear to be some differences between them which I guess means they are of different ages and have different styles and influences. For example, some almost looked a little art deco in style. Of course shophouses tend to be beautifully decorated and these and the five-foot ways did not disappoint, lots of beautiful tiles, beautiful coloured exteriors and charming decoration on the exterior. Wandering around these couple of roads it has undeniably become a trendy spot and I'm sure a highly sort after area to live if you can. As I wandered into Blair Road directly across from Everton Road at the crossroads with Spottiswoode Park Road, at the far end I noticed a few shophouses had been converted into nice looking bars and cafes. I didn't stop to try any that day, but maybe if I do return to Singapore some day I'll have to check out what is there then.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beautifully tiled shophouses and five-foot way</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCJMwNGLTk9nFvdni5dqKYN4gasGJwY403mR8OGjD8VQi8La_WUeT5hOqnqoHxTVixsaIu1TAohJdw5DLfqfszRVZRPRVbiLq1bbV8oL7wmyPQfnAKPtLvWnlF1jX6XyTCmb2vzl3CXE/s1600/IMG_4160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCJMwNGLTk9nFvdni5dqKYN4gasGJwY403mR8OGjD8VQi8La_WUeT5hOqnqoHxTVixsaIu1TAohJdw5DLfqfszRVZRPRVbiLq1bbV8oL7wmyPQfnAKPtLvWnlF1jX6XyTCmb2vzl3CXE/s640/IMG_4160.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the far end of Blair Road I came to this large open expanse of grass with some HDB's to the left. I was curious as to what this was and if you look at my photo below what the circular thing to the left is. I also wondered about the building frame over on the far side. I couldn't find anything out about the space and maybe it is just an open, undeveloped area but it was quite a pleasant and unexpected find at the end of the road.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was intrigued by this open expanse of grass and the shell of a building on the other side of it at the end of Blair Road which leads into Everton Road</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Contrast of the shophouses and the modern Pinnacle @ Duxton in the background</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I walked back towards the MRT station again I noticed how the more modern buildings of the area such as the Pinnacle @ Duxton towered over the old shophouses. A contrast I've always quite liked. I also noticed the sweet letterbox design on one of the shophouses in the photo below. They also had some seats out the front with matching cushion covers. I'm glad I took the time out to go up there before I left to have a look at this quite lovely area. It's a shame I missed part of the murals I went to see but I guess that's all the more reason to return and maybe he'll have painted some more by then!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Loved the design of this post box</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Pinnacle @ Duxton towers over the other buildings in the vicinity</span></i></td></tr>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com1Everton Rd, Singapore1.2759005 103.838619200000041.271932 103.83357670000004 1.2798690000000001 103.84366170000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-26304997459015128152016-04-19T17:58:00.000+08:002016-04-19T17:58:33.188+08:00Coney Island <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Somewhere I was determined to get to before we left Singapore was Coney Island or Pulau Serangoon as it is also known. So we earmarked a day and headed over there. We decided to get there by firstly <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2015/08/red-dot-roaming-kadaloor-lrt-punggol.html">revisiting a Red Dot Roaming walk</a> that we'd done previously and entering Coney Island via this route, making our walk just a little longer too. We took the MRT to Punggol and then got the LRT to Kadaloor and from there followed the Punggol Promenade Nature Walk around to the furthest entry point on to Coney Island near the Punggol Settlement, our intention being to walk the island and exit it at the other entrance point. When we first visited that area Coney Island was still in the process of being prepared for opening but we had seen it from our walk along the coast so knew this was one way of getting there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As planned we followed our previous route until we reached the far entrance to Coney Island. Just a short walk across the previously locked up bridge and we were on the island and ready to explore it further. The island has one main path that runs straight across it more or less and then a number of side paths taking you to the small beaches and coves, picnic areas, mangroves and so on. You can choose whether to walk straight across or you can detour off the main path as much as you want. It is easy to follow the smaller side paths round and back to the main path again. The island is obviously very popular with cyclists (as I said we walked it which is also perfectly doable) and the main path is pretty well laid out with the side paths being a little more rustic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite having already walked a fair distance from Kadaloor LRT we decided we would explore as much of the island as we could and found ourselves wandering off on to almost every side path we stumbled upon. As I said the majority of small paths take you off to small beaches and picnic spots. Despite there being a lot of people on the island (we visited on a Sunday) it wasn't too crazy and if you'd got a picnic I'm sure you could have found a spot to enjoy yourself. I assume, unlike the beaches on Sentosa, that these are natural beaches rather than man-made.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are warnings up at various points that the island has deliberately been left in a more rustic state and therefore to cover up and wear mosquito repellent, particularly around the beach areas. Personally, we didn't find it too bad but everyone has different levels of tolerance so go prepared if you are susceptible to insect bites. Also there are no refreshment facilities on the island so go prepared with water etc. There are toilets at the first entrance to the island near the Lorong Halus Wetland and some shelters as well as tree cover in places. There are also a number of hides dotted around for those keen on doing some bird watching on the island.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>One of the small beach areas</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't think anyone can have failed to heard about the infamous cow who is resident on the island. Unfortunately, and perhaps not surprisingly we didn't catch a glimpse of it. I imagine there were just too many people around. Also there is a lot of forest cover (remember the island has been left in a rustic state) so I guess it's very easy for the cow to hide up. Apparently there are also wild boar on the island, there are signs up advising what you should do if you encounter the cow or the wild boar but we didn't see any of those either. Has anyone been lucky enough to catch sight of either on their visit?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the more rustic side paths</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alongside the forested parts of the island there is also a boardwalk you can follow taking you through a mangrove area. The perfect way to explore this habitat without getting your feet wet! Before we visited I had also read about the abandoned beach villa on the island that at one time belonged to the Haw Par Brothers, those of Tiger Balm and Haw Par Villa fame. I love abandoned buildings but we didn't go looking for it as it is not safe and is also in a mangrove area subject to high tides. In case you are wondering the mangrove area you can walk through is not the same part of the island sadly. I just have to satisfy my interest in abandoned buildings by looking at these blog posts <a href="http://joyloh.com/blog/?p=10510">here</a> and <a href="https://remembersingapore.org/2015/11/01/coney-island-haw-par-beach-villa/">here</a>. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Boardwalk through the mangroves</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Main path through the centre of the island</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I said we opted to leave the island by the entrance/exit nearest to the Lorong Halus Wetland and from here we walked back past the wetlands towards Kadaloor LRT station. I really enjoyed our visit to Coney Island and am so pleased that I got to go there before we left. It's a great place to spend a day and get back to a more rustic side of Singapore.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Serangoon Island, Singapore1.4092951 103.921649600000021.3934211 103.90147960000003 1.4251691 103.94181960000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-80729992551151161122016-04-09T04:21:00.000+08:002016-04-09T04:21:33.637+08:00Ash & Elm <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recently got to sample Ash & Elm's lunch time weekday semi-buffet lunch. For this, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ash & Elm at the Intercontinental hotel, Bugis has taken the best from their signatures and offers diners the chance to enjoy dishes from the Charcuterie & Cheese Room, Wood-Fired Oven and Charcoal Grill. From these stations you can enjoy as much as you like (as you can from any good buffet) but the twist is that you can also combine it, if you wish, with a choice of a main course from a variety of daily options.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The semi-buffet lunch is perfect for those looking for a great venue for a business lunch as well as those looking for somewhere different to lunch with friends. The dining space is open and airy thanks to the skylight roof but also offers up cosy more private spots for an intimate lunch with friends or for enjoying a business lunch with colleagues or clients. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The salad station</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Charcuterie and Cheese Room</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I said, before enjoying your main course you can choose from a variety of appetizers and soups in a typical buffet style set up. We began our meal in the 'Charcuterie & Cheese Room', yes you read that right - a whole room dedicated to charcuterie and cheese! My companion for the meal is a big cheese fan so he was in heaven. There was a good selection of European cheeses, pates, meats and condiments to choose from. We both took an ample range which we then very quickly consumed. To accompany our starters we were given our own bread basket with a variety of breads including sourdough, bread sticks and more. The bread was accompanied by two types of butter one of which contained seaweed. The slightly salty taste to this butter really went well with the breads. In fact in the end I only had the seaweed butter.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our selection of breads</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">minestrone soup</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">seafood chowder</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Salad with roast duck </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fun interpretation of a mozzarella and tomato salad</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From meat and cheese we moved on to salads and soups. There were a choice of two soups on the day we went, seafood chowder and minestrone. As I'm not a huge fan of seafood I opted for the minestrone soup. This had just a little warming kick to it and was really good. My companion chose the seafood chowder which they said was excellent. After this we had to try some of the self-serve salad too. The options on the day we visited included a Caesar salad and roast duck which you could add to a base of various salad items of your choice, including beetroot (one of my favourites), sweet corn, tomatoes, lettuce etc. Alongside the conventional salads they also had a fun interpretation of the classic mozzarella and tomato salad which you can see in the photo above. It was fun to squeeze the balsamic dressing over it and then eat it straight off the cocktail stick.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Roasted French Free-Range Yellow Chicken Supreme<br />Basquaise-style with Basmati rice</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chargrilled Australian Angus Beef Striploin<br />Potato gratin, pan-seared French beans, natural jus</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After all the starters it was time for our mains. As I said previously Ash & Elm are offering a semi-buffet so you get all the benefits of a buffet plus the option of a main course too. Just make sure you leave enough room for it and then desserts too! There is a different daily selection of main courses, on the day I visited the choices were the chicken (above), Scottish salmon fillet, Parma ham flatbread, penne pasta and Australian Angus beef striploin (which my companion chose). The chicken was delicious, nice and moist and the tomato based sauce complimented it perfectly. I also got radishes with my meal, something of a treat in Singapore! I was pretty full by the time I'd finished though, if I'd realised I was going to get three pieces of chicken I'd have held back a little on the buffet. My companion's beef was also very generously portioned, something to keep in mind if you are dining here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fact that the main courses change daily also means you can take the opportunity to dine on other dishes on your next visit rather than having to choose from the same few each time. Therefore you have to return to enjoy some of the other offerings!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite the fact that I was quite full by that point, after a short break to let my lunch digest a little, I found some room for a selection of desserts. I have to admit to a sweet tooth so couldn't resist trying a few. The lemon meringue (front of the photo) was particularly nice and zesty but they were all very good. By the way there is also a chocolate fountain for you to dip fresh fruit etc into, how can you resist that at the end of your meal?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had a thoroughly enjoyable lunch and love the flexible nature of Ash & Elm's weekday lunch semi-buffet, if you want to dine light on just the buffet section you can or else you can enjoy a more filling meal. One that, on the day we went, meant I only wanted a very light bite in the evening. It's a relaxed spot for a different lunch concept serving up some great food at a great price. Go check it out soon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The semi-buffet lunch is available on its own as a spread of appetizers, soups and desserts for $38 or with a choice of main course at $48.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Level 1, Intercontinental Hotel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">80 Middle Road</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Singapore 188966</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Semi-buffet lunch (Mondays to Fridays) - 12pm to 2pm</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="http://intercontinental.com/singapore">intercontinental.com/singapore</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dining reservation (email): <a href="mailto:intercontinental.dining@ihg.com">intercontinental.dining@ihg.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dining reservation (telephone): (65) 6825 1008</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Payment methods: Cash and all major credit cards</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;">This blog resulted from an invitation and represents the thoughts and opinions of the writer. All information on this blog is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy or timeliness and the writer will not be liable for any losses, injuries or damages from the display or use of this information. All text and photos on this blog are the original works of the writer unless stated otherwise.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;">Thank you to Ash & Elm for the kind invitation.</i></span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com280 Middle Rd, Singapore 1889661.2994296 103.85566949999998-29.5961784 62.547075499999977 32.1950376 145.16426349999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-24015217675038579692016-03-17T14:23:00.001+08:002016-05-27T18:52:34.359+08:00Walking the SG50 Golden Jubilee Walk <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During last year's festivities for SG50, Singapore's 50th anniversary of independence, a new walk route was laid especially to celebrate this. This follows an 8km route taking you through some of the history of Singapore right up to the modern day. We like walking and exploring so decided to give this route a go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The walk begins at the National Museum of Singapore, somewhere well worth visiting too if you haven't been. Although there is the marker in the photo below outside the museum one thing I would say is that the start and end of the walk are not that obvious. Whilst the trail of SG50 markers to follow the route around are generally good, though we did lose them at one point and looking at the map afterwards it seems we also missed a part of the walk so maybe in hindsight they weren't so clear, the start and end could definitely be better marked. Regardless though we still had a good walk!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Start of the SG50 Golden Jubilee Walk at the National Museum of Singapore</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">National Museum of Singapore </span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to the walk ... from leaving the National Museum of Singapore we headed towards Fort Canning Park and on past here towards the Peranakan museum and past the National Archives of Singapore. As we walked along Armenian Street I spotted this graffiti or street art on a wall, quite a rare sight in Singapore so it definitely caught my attention.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Graffiti on Armenian Street</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we walked on towards the Central Fire Station, Singapore's oldest operating fire station which also houses a heritage gallery. Along the route are several plaques with information about some of the places of interest you pass. I'm not altogether sure whether these were put in place for the jubilee walk or if they were already there. I suspect some of them were already there. The information was a bit limited though and it would be good if there could be a little more along the route.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Central Fire Station</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we approached the Singapore river I have since realized that this may have been where we missed part of the walk. It was around this point that a section of the footpath by the river was closed off for work so this may have been why or that the markers were not too clear at this point. Either way we followed markers that took us straight towards the Esplanade area and on to the H</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">elix bridge rather than walking near the Padang and National Gallery etc. Regardless though the walk we took at that stage, that obviously didn't quite follow the set route, was still very pleasant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I mentioned we completely lost the markers near the Helix bridge, maybe in hindsight because we took a slightly wrong route. However we headed on over the bridge and managed to pick up markers again on the opposite side which we followed into Gardens by the Bay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once we were in the gardens we followed the route around towards the Marina Barrage, walking past the domes and also near where the family of otters live. I'm still waiting for the day I see them but I suspect it probably is not going to happen now! The walk ends at the Marina Barrage but, as I said previously, it wasn't terribly obvious. Regardless though of these minor issues (which in no way spoilt our walk) and despite us taking the incorrect route the walk is very pleasant and lets you see both the historical and the more modern sides of Singapore. It's worth doing if you enjoy walking.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Closest I've got to seeing the otters at Gardens by the Bay</span></i></td></tr>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com2Singapore1.352083 103.819836000000010.8441055 103.174389 1.8600605 104.46528300000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-7750277307149331622016-03-09T12:45:00.001+08:002016-03-09T12:45:39.219+08:00The End of Our 'Expat Adventure in Singapore' <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So as many of you already know sadly we are leaving Singapore after (for me at least) just over five and a half years here. This isn't a post I particularly ever wanted to have to write but sadly I must. Naturally there are a whole mix of emotions going on but I am truly sad to be leaving a place I have come to consider as my second home and somewhere that I've made a life for myself in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">We'll be returning to the UK for now. I say for now as I strongly believe our days of living abroad are far from over but as yet we just don't know quite where. For those wondering, of course George our wonderful cat will also be joining us for this new chapter in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have many fantastic memories from my time here that I'll always hold dear and whilst no where is perfect and we've certainly had good times and bad I can't imagine having not taken the chance to live here now. Singapore will always be special to me but who knows what the future has in store for us ....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is lots I shall miss, in particular all our wonderful friends. We've been fortunate to live in the same condo (albeit in different units) our whole time here so I shall miss our local neighbourhood and the people I've got to know around here. Likewise I shall also miss my work colleagues who have been a great bunch of people to work with. I could go on and on about the things I'll miss but maybe I'll leave that for another time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So as life gets a little crazy now with farewells, packing and making the arrangements for some very important cargo to take his first flight I also wanted to let all of you know what the future holds for us. I shall continue to blog, I have a number of Singapore posts still to share as we try and do the last few 'must dos' so this blog isn't ceasing just yet. I do plan to start a new blog, I can't imagine not doing this anymore, which I am in the process of doing and I'll let you all know once it is up and running. As I say I certainly won't forget this blog (I've poured too much love into it these past years to do that) but obviously this one is very specific to life here so I feel the next stage of our lives needs something new. I do hope some of you will make the transition though and stay with me as I move on from Singapore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Watch this space! </span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-33388110680115263842016-02-25T12:53:00.001+08:002016-02-25T12:53:10.105+08:00Red Dot Roaming - Kranji MRT - Kranji War Cemetery<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having caught up with the new stations on the second part of the Downtown line I'm back to 'k' in my <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">Red Dot Roaming</a> series with a trip to Kranji MRT to visit the Kranji War Cemetery and Memorial.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cemetery is the final resting place of the Allied soldiers who died during the Battle of Singapore and the subsequent Japanese Occupation as well as those who died in other parts of South East Asia during World War II.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before the war the Kranji area was a military camp when Singapore fell the Japanese turned it into a prisoner-of-war camp. When the war ended it was decided that this spot would be designated as Singapore's war cemetery and the small cemetery already there, which had been started by the prisoners-of-war, was further developed. In time other war graves from Buona Vista, Changi and other places in Singapore were removed and re-interred at Kranji. In addition there are also a number of memorials at the cemetery with the largest being the Kranji War Memorial with the names of all those from the Air Force, Army and Navy who died but for whom no remains could be identified.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cemetery is just a short walk from the MRT station with the approach being up a quiet road which reminded me a little of an English country lane with the high leafy hedges. I've been to a few similar war cemeteries in northern France and Belgium and all of them have an air of peacefulness and calm to them, Kranji was no exception to this. There were only a couple of other people there and although the view from the top of the cemetery showed the typical view of developed Singapore and we were only a short walk from a major road, there was nothing really to hear here asides from bird song on the breeze.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sight of row upon row of white war graves is always a little heart wrenching, seeing the ages of those who gave their lives is also difficult. It is though, I think, important to visit such places and to take time to remember those who gave up so much for their generation and future ones. We probably spent around half an hour or so there looking at the memorials and just some of the many names from various countries and their regiments, reflecting quietly on that period of history.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Kranji War Cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), if you would like further information their website is, <a href="http://www.cwgc.org/">www.cwgc.org</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kranji MRT is on the North South Line (NS7).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you missed any of my previous Red Dot Roaming posts, check them out <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">here</a>!</span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com09 Woodlands Rd, Singapore 7386561.419029 103.75748699999997-29.476578500000002 62.44889299999997 32.3146365 145.06608099999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-7762132900018267642016-02-17T12:03:00.000+08:002016-02-17T12:03:21.511+08:00Red Dot Roaming - Hillview MRT - Singapore Quarry <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm currently playing a form of catch up with my <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">Red Dot Roaming</a> and posting some 'out of alphabetical sync' blog posts due to the opening of the second section of the Downtown Line last December. With that in mind then my next stop was Hillview MRT and a visit to the Singapore Quarry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Singapore Quarry, just like the former quarries at <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2013/07/red-dot-roaming-bukit-gombak-mrt-bukit.html">Bukit Batok Town Park</a> and <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2016/02/red-dot-roaming-beauty-world-mrt.html">Hindhede Nature Park</a>, was also a one time granite quarry, that has now been turned into a wetland habitat. Q</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">uarrying activities actually continued there until the late 1980s. Once quarrying stopped the huge crater was allowed to fill up with ground and rain water forming the lake that you can now view. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting there from Hillview MRT is very simple, just head towards the nearby Rail Mall and then to Jalan Asas just behind it. If you follow the road around you'll find a children's play area and in the corner an entrance to the track going towards the Singapore quarry and other routes. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I wonder where this track goes?</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As always there was a very helpful sign once we were on the tracks directing us on the short walk to the quarry. Just like <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2016/02/red-dot-roaming-beauty-world-mrt.html">Hindhede Nature Park</a> the Singapore Quarry is right besides <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2016/02/red-dot-roaming-beauty-world-mrt.html">Bukit Timah Nature Reserve</a>. I don't know if ordinarily you can access the nature reserve from here but at the moment, due to the renovations taking place, you can only access Bukit Timah Nature Reserve from the Hindhede Nature Park and only on weekends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The walk to the quarry did not take us long and was on a well laid out road, so easily accessible to all. When we arrived at the quarry, just as at the Hindhede Nature Park, there was one viewing point giving some information about the history of the quarry and the wildlife it was now possible to spot there. Despite us visiting on a public holiday we were practically the only people there so it was lovely to just sit and enjoy the peace and solitude for a little while. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On leaving the views of the quarry and walking back the way we had came we spotted another trail for mountain bikes. We did have a bit of a look but spotted a sign advising it was only for the use of mountain bikers and also that the route was not exactly designed for walking on. We left that and instead walked back past the entrance from Jalan Asas and on towards the Dairy Farm Nature Park and the MOE Dairy Farm Adventure Centre. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The route was once again a well laid out road, I guess because the adventure centre was further along so it would need to be accessible to vehicles, but devoid of pretty much anyone else but us. Our walk eventually brought us back around to Upper Bukit Timah Road and on to the MRT station but not before I passed this set of old steps up the side of the bank.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As with the Hindhede Nature Park this is not a particularly challenging walk so suitable all. It is also not that long a walk so can be easily enjoyed without giving up a lot of time. What is nice though is that it seems to be relatively undiscovered so provides a pleasant sanctuary for just a little while.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hillview MRT is on the Downtown Line (DT3).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you missed any of my previous Red Dot Roaming posts, check them out <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">here</a>! </span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0100 Dairy Farm Rd, Singapore 6790571.3647486 103.77613859999997-29.530858900000002 62.467544599999968 32.2603561 145.08473259999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-47378851362744673802016-02-02T19:52:00.000+08:002016-02-02T19:52:28.419+08:00Red Dot Roaming - Beauty World MRT - Hindhede Nature Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those of you with a keen eye may have noticed that my series of <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">Red Dot Roaming</a> adventures are being done alphabetically. However with the opening last December of the second section of the new Downtown Line there are some new stations on the MRT network and therefore potentially other places to visit. A little bit of investigation later and I soon discovered this was true of one of the new stations, Beauty World, which gave me the opportunity to easily explore the Hindhede Nature Park and also visit Bukit Timah Nature Reserve once again. So I'm backtracking to 'b' for my next Red Dot Roam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hindhede Nature Park is actually right next to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2011/05/jungle-trekking.html">somewhere we first visited a long time ago</a>, and I had no idea was the case until we returned to the area. The nature park is a lot smaller than I expected and a very straightforward walk, nice for families etc., but it still made a pleasant Sunday stroll. The main attraction of the park is undoubtedly the former Hindhede granite quarry. The site was an active quarry in the mid-1900s but now, just as in another of my <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2013/07/red-dot-roaming-bukit-gombak-mrt-bukit.html">Red Dot Roams to Bukit Batok town park</a>, the granite quarry has been turned into a nature park. After quarrying ceased at Hindhede quarry the crater left behind gradually filled with ground and rain water creating the lovely lake you can see in my photos below. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Entering the Hindhede nature park from Hindhede Drive you can easily follow some well laid out trails and in no time at all reach the viewing platform overlooking the quarry. By the way you can't get to view the quarry lake from any other point, just this one viewing point. As I mentioned above it does not take very long to get there or follow the trails in its vicinity so we then ventured off back to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The well-informed among you may know that Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is currently closed for renovations but if you visit the area on weekends you can now enter it via the Hindhede Nature Park (NB. this is currently the only point of access to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve) and at least see some of the reserve and also follow the summit trail. Word of warning, after the ease of the Hindhede Nature Park this walk and climb is quite a challenge. I did vaguely recall how steep the climb was but even so it was still quite something else doing it again, go prepared! I also personally feel the summit is just a little disappointing as, despite being the highest point in Singapore, the view from there really is very limited. However it was still good to revisit the reserve and it extended our visit to this part of the island.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hindhede quarry</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the top of the summit trail in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve - this sign is a bit of an understatement!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After our climb to the summit we had a brief rest and then began the, much easier, descent with the intention of finding some lunch to end our visit in one of the nearby places we had spotted on our walk from the MRT station. On the way back down Hindhede Drive you pass underneath part of the Rail Corridor where I spotted a runner on a Sunday jog, somewhere else I need to pay a visit to at some point soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beauty World MRT is on the Downtown Line (DT5).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you missed any of my previous Red Dot Roaming posts, check them out <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">here</a>!</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Hindhede Dr, Singapore 5893181.3470958 103.776158399999991.3431273 103.77111589999998 1.3510643 103.78120089999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-27462665339909350302016-01-29T21:06:00.000+08:002016-01-29T21:06:30.766+08:00'Phoenix Facial' at the Asian Wellness Spa, One Farrer Hotel and Spa <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recently had the opportunity to try out something very different, some of which I've never experienced before and the other, something I rarely do. I was lucky enough to sample the 'Phoenix Facial' at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aws.onefarrer/">Asian Wellness Spa</a> at <a href="https://www.onefarrer.com/Pages/Home.aspx">One Farrer hotel and Spa</a>, comprising of a traditional Chinese medicine consultation, a facial and acupuncture. I've always thought it would be interesting to have a traditional Chinese medicine consultation to see what they considered would help my overall wellness so I jumped at the chance to have one. The acupuncture was also a first for me and although I've never really thought about it previously I was curious to have the opportunity to experience this as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Asian Wellness Spa is one of two spas at the One Farrer Hotel and Spa, which is just a short walk from Farrer Park MRT station. The Asian Wellness Spa offers a range of treatments and targeted programmes to enhance both your emotional and physical well-being, incorporating both Western and traditional Chinese medicine. The 'Phoenix Facial' that I got to sample uses both traditional Chinese medicine and European techniques to treat the skin from within enhancing the blood circulation and collagen production.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Upon arrival at the spa I firstly had my consultation with the traditional Chinese medicine physician. She asked me a whole range of questions about my general well being and health as well as examining my tongue and taking my pulse on both wrists. As I said before this whole experience was very new to me but she took the time to explain everything in the consultation and how it relates to the principals of Chinese medicine. I have to say it was fascinating to learn about my body type and whilst I can't say I'll be able to follow her advice entirely there are certainly parts of it that provided some food for thought for the future. The consultation also helped her to assess where the needles would be placed during my acupuncture session. So as well as having the facial acupuncture she also decided on suitable points on my arms and legs that would help my general well-being.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From here I was then taken to the treatment room for my facial cleanse and mask. This was wonderfully relaxing and I could have happily dozed off a few times during the session. By the time this was completed I was incredibly relaxed and any nerves I may have had about my first acupuncture session were gone. The TCM physician had warned me I could experience a little pain during the acupuncture session but for me it felt like nothing more than a pin prick and any feeling I had of the needle being in my arms, legs and face soon disappeared. I did flinch a little more when she put the needles in my face but even with these I hardly felt a thing. I have to admit I was pleased that the whole experience was so pain free. I then had to lie fairly still for a period of time before the needles were removed. I really am not sure how long I was lying there for but I guess something like twenty to twenty five minutes. As I lay there I had the opportunity to just relax and tried to empty my mind of all thoughts, easier said than done, but I did try! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally I was given a moisturising on my face with a jade roller, very cold but a very refreshing way to end my facial.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Much of my experience at the Asian Wellness Spa was a first for me but I had a great time. The TCM physician was excellent and made the experience both interesting and enlightening. The Phoenix Facial itself was wonderfully relaxing and the acupuncture pain free and simple. I left the spa feeling invigorated and ready to get on with the rest of the day. Why not check out this and their other TCM rituals, treatments and programmes for yourself and in the process give yourself a wonderful treat too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Asian Wellness Spa is open daily from 1pm to 10pm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To book an appointment or discuss suitable experiences call +65 6705 7854 or email <a href="mailto:aws@onefarrer.com">aws@onefarrer.com</a> </span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This blog resulted from an invitation and represents the thoughts and opinions of the writer. All information on this blog is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy or timeliness and the writer will not be liable for any losses, injuries or damages from the display or use of this information. All text and photos on this blog are the original works of the writer unless stated otherwise.</span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank to you the Asian Wellness Spa, One Farrer Hotel and Spa for the kind invitation.</span></i></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com01 Farrer Park Station Rd, Singapore 2175621.312389 103.85437120000006-29.5832185 62.54577720000006 32.2079965 145.16296520000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-39062401403390954342016-01-20T12:54:00.002+08:002016-01-20T12:54:50.823+08:00Cantonese Cuisine at EMPRESS<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyone who's been down to the CBD area in the past months will have most likely noticed that the Asian Civilisations Museum and surrounding area has been having a bit of a makeover. This has resulted in the fairly recent opening of EMPRESS, a Chinese restaurant retaining some of the traditional whilst also embracing modern, fun dining. I was lucky enough to be able to head down there for lunch recently and I wasn't disappointed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The restaurant comprises both an indoor and outdoor seating area. We dined inside, it was raining and obviously you also get the benefit of a little air con too but at night I imagine some al fresco dining would be just perfect. The indoor dining space is lovely though, bright, open and airy. The restaurant space is modern but also includes some traditional Chinese elements to the design alongside the historical aspect of the museum building with the feature wall behind the bar giving you glimpses of the museum's facade. Although I didn't see it, I understand there is also a private dining room as well as the main dining area. All of this right on the Singapore river giving great views, whether by day or night, of the CBD, Boat Quay and the river.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was there on a week day lunchtime and imagine the restaurant being perfect whether you were a tourist straight out of the museum, an office worker looking somewhere different for you lunch (they have set lunch menus) or looking to hold a relaxed business lunch meeting. Equally with the bar area and outdoor seating this would make a great venue for a few early evening drinks or an evening meal.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of Mercury PR</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On to the food! We started our meal with the Triple Roast Platter ($28 for a small portion) a delicious dish and great for sharing, it can be ordered as a small, medium or large dish. It comprises of crackling roast pork, EMPRESS char siew and EMPRESS sweet and sticky pork ribs, certainly keeping to the restaurant's Cantonese roots. The fatty goodness of the char siew was delicious and the crackling roast pork was super crunchy. I could happily eat this dish again and again!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Triple Roast Platter - crackling roast pork, EMPRESS char siew and EMPRESS sweet and sticky pork ribs</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then tried a couple of the soups on offer, I was reliably informed that no Cantonese meal is complete without soup and these certainly did not disappoint. I had the king prawn dumpling in supreme broth ($14) with my companion having the teapot soup ($14), which I also tried a little of. Both soups have a chicken based broth and were incredibly hearty, just right for that rainy day. My soup had some delicious chunks of chicken in it as well as possibly the biggest dumpling I have seen or at least certainly eaten!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">King Prawn Dumpling in Supreme Broth</span></span></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Teapot Soup - Supreme Broth with pumpkin, seafood dumplings and crispy spring rolls</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The soups were followed by some delicious tofu, the seafood spinach tofu ($22 for a small portion). This is made in house and served with prawns, fish and scallops, this too can also be ordered as a small, medium or large portion. Whilst I may not be the biggest seafood eater around this was delightful. This was followed up by a delicious beef dish and one of several vegetarian options the fried brown rice medley ($20 for a small portion), available in small, medium or large portions and also giving diners a healthier option to choose as well if they wish.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrsUGYs6Nw8wySd5lJ0AD1Kx03NJNuIYPCvcaIsuvO78gak0pieHvXEdNMj_WCrxyQtSNwzK6a8CqNBtKJ-RP1AMUrtCzMNl9qWQdkc9Xtm-tlQe2tuLCBXg1JhVDO144XRbNBLS9Mag/s1600/Fried+Brown+Rice+Medley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrsUGYs6Nw8wySd5lJ0AD1Kx03NJNuIYPCvcaIsuvO78gak0pieHvXEdNMj_WCrxyQtSNwzK6a8CqNBtKJ-RP1AMUrtCzMNl9qWQdkc9Xtm-tlQe2tuLCBXg1JhVDO144XRbNBLS9Mag/s640/Fried+Brown+Rice+Medley.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fried Brown Rice Medley - Hon Shimeji mushrooms, asparagus, goji berries, pine nuts</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally came dessert, I always have room for a dessert but I'm generally not a fan of many Chinese desserts, EMPRESS though has come up with a range of desserts that are totally unexpected making them absolutely amazing! I had the Coconut Custard with Filo Pastry containing Thai pineapple, honey mango, passion fruit pearls and coconut ice cream. The result was something light and refreshing, perfect to round off a meal on the right note.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I admit that even after over five years living here I do sometimes still find traditional Chinese restaurants just a little intimidating. EMPRESS though has got it just right in my opinion, keeping some of those traditions but embracing a relaxed, unstuffy and modern approach too, both in its food and decor, making this a restaurant that is accessible and welcoming to all. Definitely a restaurant to add to your 'go-to' list.</span></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Opening Hours - EMPRESS</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monday - Sunday </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lunch: 11.30am – 3pm (Last Order 2.30pm) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dinner: 6pm – 11pm (Last Order 10.45pm) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Opening Hours - EMPRESS Bar </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sunday to Thursday 4pm – 12midnight </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Friday & Saturday 4pm – 1am</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Website <a href="http://www.empress.com.sg/">www.empress.com.sg</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/empressasiancivilisationsmuseum">www.facebook.com/empressasiancivilisationsmuseum</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For Enquiries and Reservations </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tel: 6238 8733 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Email: <a href="mailto:reservations@empress.com.sg">reservations@empress.com.sg</a> / <a href="mailto:info@empress.com.sg">info@empress.com.sg</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>This blog resulted from an invitation and represents the thoughts and opinions of the writer. All information on this blog is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy or timeliness and the writer will not be liable for any losses, injuries or damages from the display or use of this information. All text and photos on this blog are the original works of the writer unless stated otherwise.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Thank you to EMPRESS restaurant and Mercury PR for the kind invitation.</i></span></span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com01 Empress Pl, Singapore 1795551.287408 103.851722-29.6081995 62.543127999999996 32.1830155 145.160316tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-54172753070419267122016-01-12T16:49:00.000+08:002016-01-12T16:49:38.274+08:00Red Dot Roaming - Kovan MRT - Japanese Cemetery Park <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've had a long held interest in cemeteries and so the Japanese cemetery park had been on my list of places I wanted to get to for a very long time. Although not on the doorstep of Kovan MRT I decided it was still a doable walk (in reality about a twenty to twenty-five minute, very pleasant walk at a steady pace) and decided to make that my next <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">Red Dot Roaming</a> stop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Japanese cemetery park is the largest in South East Asia and contains within it the remains of Japanese prostitutes, civilians, soldiers and also convicted war criminals who were executed at Changi prison. It was established in 1891 to serve the burial needs of the Japanese living in Singapore. Three brothel keepers got the original government approval for a cemetery for the destitute Japanese prostitutes known as karayuki-san, who made up the biggest percentage of the Japanese population working in Singapore at that time, to have a final resting place here. The founders of the cemetery also owned rubber estates and so combined some of their own land with some public land to establish the graveyard. Gradually the cemetery was subsequently used to bury other members of the Japanese community from a whole variety of professions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the Japanese Occupation of Singapore a number of tombs and memorials were erected to commemorate the war dead. This includes a memorial for a number of Japanese war criminals who were executed at Changi prison for war time atrocities including the Sook Ching massacre, a military operation aimed at removing anti-Japanese elements from the Chinese community in Singapore. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cemetery was closed for burials in 1973 and named a memorial park in 1987.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you might expect there are also a few notable graves and memorials within the cemetery. These include one for Yamamoto Otokichi (also known as John Matthew Ottoson) who is recognised as the first Japanese resident of Singapore, living here from the late 1840s up to his death in 1867. He played a crucial role in opening up relations between Japan and the west and, from reading more about him since, seems to have led a fascinating life.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This grave caught my attention as the inscription is written in English</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I mentioned previously the walk from Kovan MRT to the cemetery park was very simple and takes you initially past a couple of condos and some shops and then through a number of quiet roads dotted with large houses. Although it's quite a twisty route through these residential streets it's easy enough to follow and in no time at all I was almost at my destination. The road that the cemetery park is on seems quiet and unassuming but the entrance is easy to find once you arrive. The park itself has a peacefulness that you'd expect from a cemetery and although surrounded by houses seems remote and distant from them once you enter inside.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This gravestone had a photo of the deceased on it and reminded me of some of the graves I saw on my visit to <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2011/06/bukit-brown-cemetery.html">Bukit Brown cemetery</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cemetery park is the perfect size for a leisurely stroll and helpfully included close to the entrance are some information plaques about the history of the cemetery as well as a diagram highlighting the different areas of the cemetery, notable graves etc. Most of the graves are naturally inscribed with Japanese characters but a few (like the one in my photo above) have their inscription written in English. I also noticed a few graves with photos of the deceased on them. I remember seeing graves with photos like this in Bukit Brown cemetery and although I couldn't read the gravestone inscriptions there or here seeing their photos gave me a connection with the person who once lived and worked here too, albeit many years ago in a very different Singapore.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Grave of Yamamoto Otokichi (John Matthew Ottoson) </span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tucked away down a residential street the cemetery seems almost forgotten by everyone, even those living on its doorstep. It gives an interesting insight into a part of Singapore's history and that of a particular community living here. It also touches in part on very difficult times in Singapore's history which are nonetheless very important. It's good to know that the graves here are safe from the threat of development and that those buried here can continue to rest in peace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kovan MRT is on the North East line (NE13).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you missed any of my previous Red Dot Roaming posts, check them out <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">here</a> and, of course, let me know if you think there's anywhere else I should be visiting! </span></span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com2825B Chuan Hoe Ave, Singapore 5498531.3649982 103.875778099999931.3491242 103.85560809999994 1.3808722 103.89594809999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-85485591047226506202016-01-05T19:39:00.001+08:002016-01-05T19:39:31.948+08:00Red Dot Roaming - Khatib MRT - Lower Seletar Reservoir Park <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still on the letter 'k' for my <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">Red Dot Roaming</a> exploring of Singapore as I've discovered a lot of great places to visit right on the doorstep of MRT stations beginning with that letter. Next up was a visit to the Lower Seletar Reservoir Park just a short walk from Khatib MRT station.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lower Seletar reservoir was completed in 1986, previous to that the Seletar river ran through the area with forests, plantations and farms on its banks. Sometimes I'd love to be able to time travel to get a glimpse of how places used to look. The park is a relatively small and peaceful space so is easy to enjoy in its entirety in an afternoon.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking towards a golf course which is not part of the park</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the day I visited the first section of the park, a sheltered part, nearest the junction of Yishun Avenue 1 and Yishun Avenue 2 was cordoned off and it looked like some work was being done on that part. However a short walk further along Yishun Avenue 1 and I was in the park. As I walked along admiring the, quite frankly, huge reservoir to my right (sometimes it's hard to believe such massive expanses of water can be found in Singapore) I noticed there was a water venture centre in the park. Here you can rent out kayaks, I didn't, anyone who knows me well would be far more surprised if I said I had, but I noticed a few out in the reservoir that afternoon.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jetty stretching out into the reservoir - perfect for an afternoon stroll</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the far end of the park was a jetty heading out into the waters of the reservoir. Along the walk were several boards giving you a little history of the reservoir. I also spotted a lizard along here and, of course, plenty of birds. On the afternoon I visited the weather had gone, in that very Singapore way, from a beautifully bright sunny day to rainy and a little cooler, this definitely made it more pleasant to walk around though. It also meant when I got to the end of the jetty and was right into the reservoir (just beyond the white covered part in my photo above) I got to benefit from some wonderfully cooling breezes from off the water, always a plus in Singapore. As well as the fact that the park was pretty much all mine for the afternoon!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking back from the jetty</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking towards a nearby HDB, one of those with a design painted on it</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was looking back towards the park I noticed the HDB in the photo above, one of many in Singapore with fun and creative designs on them which definitely make them stand out a little more. I also managed to capture a bird in flight in this particular photo which I like too. Later, when I left the park to walk back to the MRT station I saw some further examples of the HDB art which you can see in the last two photos below. All different and all very endearing.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That's a pretty big expanse of water!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Some more examples of HDB art (above and below) on my walk back to the MRT and from the MRT station platform.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was great to discover another little park in Singapore and one with such a lovely backdrop to it. Singapore is lucky to have so many parks etc. to spend time in outdoors and although this one was not the biggest, if you live near here or fancy seeing another part of the island one weekend this may just suit you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Khatib MRT is on the North South Line (NS14).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you missed any of my previous Red Dot Roaming posts, check them out <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/p/red-dot-roaming.html">here</a> and let me know if you think there's anywhere else I should be visiting!</span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0100 Yishun Ave 1, Singapore1.410333 103.831870699999971.410271 103.83179169999997 1.410395 103.83194969999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-32836983120144167142016-01-01T16:48:00.001+08:002016-01-01T17:06:46.003+08:00Sup Tulang - a Rather Gruesome Looking Dish!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to say that my husband is generally a little more adventurous with food than I am and not so long ago he decided, <a href="http://www.expatkiwis.com/">along with some friends of ours</a>, to try something he's been curious about for a long while. Here's his post about his first experience trying Sup Tulang.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this year we had some visitors from the UK and I took the opportunity to try a dish I’d been meaning to have for a number of years but never seemed to get around to. That was Rojak, which was consumed in the excellent Satay by the Bay part of the Gardens by the Bay complex, (we had done the Flower Dome and were on the way to the Supertree Grove Skyway) it was tangy, crunchy and wonderful, why did it take so long to have? As a result I began to wonder what else I’d been missing out upon and vowed to be more adventurous and eat new stuff (or new to me anyway). First on the list was Sup Tulang.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sup Tulang is essentially a bright shockingly red coloured soup made with mutton shanks. The shanks are served whole with the marrow still inside the bone cavity. One is expected to peel the remaining meat off the shank and suck the marrow out of the bone with a straw. Given the colour, the dish looks reasonably gruesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attention to the dish was peaked by its inclusion on one of Anthony Bourdain’s Singapore TV travel programmes that was recently shown again on the travel and leisure channel, TLC. In the show the anchor tries Sup Tulang with fellow celebrity chef Bobby Chinn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So having roped in<a href="http://www.expatkiwis.com/"> a couple of very willing volunteers</a> (the owner of this blog decided that she could miss out upon the experience) we set off in search of culinary adventure. The dish is available within the Golden Mile Food Centre, not to be confused with the Golden Mile Complex across the road. Initially and mistakenly we started our search here, however and with rising spirits of failure, relief and escape we realised our mistake and found the correct location.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once in the right place we quickly found the stall, Haji Kadir (run by an extremely affable chap, who may have been surprised by the adventurers wanting to try his dish) and the said dish was ordered. The adventure was about to begin, but not before two large bottles of Tiger had been purveyed from the drinks vendor across the other side of the food centre’s basement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the dish arrived it was indeed bright red, almost vampire blood like in its appearance, and was served with French bread (a sliced up baguette if you are sophisticated) that was a tad stale, this didn’t matter as the bread is dipped in the red sauce and mixed with the chili and vegetables (white cabbage). Given that the sauce was bright red we had assumed that it would be hotter than Hades but were pleasantly surprised by the flavour of this gruesome looking dish, reckon it would be great to serve up at a Halloween Feast. The meat falls off the bone and is incredibly tender as it has been braised (as opposed to roasted) and tastes of wonderful lamb. The next stage of the process is to suck the marrow out of the bone cavity with a straw acquired from the drinks Auntie or the proprietor of the sup tulang stall. The technique is to bash the marrow into a liquid in the cavity tube with the straw (or a plastic spoon handle) and suck it up quickly without looking at what you are doing, it looks like mushed up brain but tastes of intense mutton.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dish is messy to eat and stains your fingers so you look like you have committed a terrible crime. Take many many tissues or buy them from the Auntie or Uncle that will come to you and lastly don’t wear white!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each shank costs $1.5, we had three each so the dish cost $14 (including 50c for the bread).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Golden Mile Food Centre is on Beach Road, past the Park Royal Hotel and lots of fishing tackle shops, with the nearest MRT probably being Nicoll Highway or a trek from Bugis.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0505 Beach Rd, Singapore 1995831.3028979 103.863909000000041.2989294 103.85886650000003 1.3068664 103.86895150000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-36512393853666684182015-12-20T17:24:00.003+08:002015-12-20T17:24:26.370+08:00Fort Siloso and the Skywalk <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fort Siloso was one of the first places I visited when I moved to Singapore over five years ago but since that very early visit on a slightly rainy day which was also my first encounter with wild monkeys I've never returned. All that changed recently however which also meant I got to walk across the fairly newly opened Skywalk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did mention my first visit to Fort Siloso previously on my blog but this was only in passing in one of my very early posts from my first few months here. So now I think it's high time to make up for that properly! Fort Siloso is actually the only restored coastal gun battery from the twelve that originally made up 'Fortress Singapore' at the beginning of World War Two. A fort was first built here in 1874 when it became necessary to protect Singapore's port as trade flourished.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fort went on to play a role in World War Two when the guns were turned inland from their usual position pointing out to sea to defend Singapore against the land invasion by the Japanese. During the subsequent Japanese occupation the fort was used as a Prisoner of War camp and after the Japanese surrender was used by the Royal Navy until it was handed over to the Singapore Government at the time of the British withdrawal from Singapore.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now you can go and visit the fort for yourself and learn about its history. The information about the fort is nicely displayed in the various buildings and mainly focuses on its role during World War Two. Apart from a couple of parts which you do have to pay for it is completely free to explore. The displays consist of everything you'd expect with information boards, photos, pictures, videos and interactive sections. We visited mid-week and it was pretty much empty. The first time I visited was on a Sunday when you'd expect it to be a little busier but I don't recall there being many people there then either but perhaps this was because it was a rainy day. This little part of Sentosa is quite different from the rest of the island and if you are looking for something more than just the usual pursuits available here it is well worth stopping by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, as I mentioned, we also got to walk on the new Skywalk which opened earlier this year and which you can now use to get to the fort. When you arrive at the Skywalk you take a lift (I think you can also take the stairs) up eleven storeys and when you step outside there is a great view from the treetops. Here you can see across Sentosa and back to the mainland, spy the cable car, spot some of the iconic condos in the area and, if nothing else, enjoy a pleasant breeze too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like lots of similar attractions when you first step out of the lift there is an area with a glass bottomed floor so you can stand on it and look down to the ground below. I couldn't resist taking the standard 'feet on the glass floor' photo when I was there. The actual walk then takes you at treetop height over parts of the fort and surrounding area, giving you an interesting bird's eye view of everything. The skywalk is also free and worth doing if you are going to visit Fort Siloso.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I said this part of Sentosa is just a bit different from much of the rest of the island, maybe that's why it was relatively empty on both my visits? Either way though it is just as worthy of going to as the rest is and for those of you who write off the rest of the island then perhaps this is the bit you should be going to. It's great to see that this fort has been preserved and this important piece of Singapore's history is being shared. </span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Siloso Rd, Singapore1.2553742 103.818496699999971.2514057 103.81345419999997 1.2593427000000001 103.82353919999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-6596698361610946832015-12-07T09:59:00.000+08:002015-12-07T09:59:15.263+08:00Christmas Comes Early at Ryan's Grocery <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are still making your Christmas dinner plans and planning on cooking at home at some point over the festive season, look no further than <a href="http://www.ryansgrocery.com/">Ryan's Grocery</a> for all your Christmas goodie needs! Whether you are looking for a joint of beef or a delicious piece of ham Ryan's Grocery have got it covered and best of all they offer a range of organic and gluten free products!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ryan's Grocery was inspired by the founders' son who suffered from various food intolerances. After many trips to Australia to source organic meats and gluten-free produce for him and in the process forming relationships with many specialist producers in Western Australia they set up Ryan's Grocery as a means of supporting a community of customers here who also suffered from various intolerances. Ryan's Grocery has a full-service butchery on site which sources and exclusively imports grass fed organic Blackwood Valley beef from Western Australia. The beef is imported by the carcass and then sectioned into various cuts and offered for sale in their store. As well as beef you can also get antibiotic-free, hormone-free, free range chickens and gluten-free, preservative-free, organic sausages made on site to a home recipe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I mentioned above for Christmas Ryan's Grocery has some very special offers to get your taste buds tingling and get your festive season off to the right start. They've made it exceptionally easy for you by offering some Christmas Gourmet Roast sets containing a range of products. Christmas Roast Set A (</span><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">priced at $298 for 10-12 people and including two complimentary bottles of Latasha’s Kitchen Relish and Chutney worth $31.90) comes complete with a roast turkey (5-6 kg) and a choice of house-made mushroom or chestnut stuffing and cranberry sauce. The set also includes a delicious organic, grass-fed roast beef (2kg) marinated with Italian mixed herbs and a gluten-free honey baked ham (1kg).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">If that doesn't sound right for you there is also the Classic Christmas Roast Set B (priced at $198 for 10-12 people and including a complimentary bottle of Latasha’s Kitchen Relish worth $15.95) this one comes with a roast turkey, honey baked ham and a free-range Linley Valley roast pork (2kg) marinated in red wine and garlic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">If you are looking just to order individual roast items never fear because you have the option of taking home a grass-fed organic roast beef (2kg for $160), free-range roast pork ($60 for 2 kg) or an antibiotic-free free-range roast chicken marinated with red pepper, onion, garlic and parsley ($50 for 2kg). In addition to this, Ryan’s Grocery also offers a host of grass-fed lamb and beef cuts that are perfect for grilling or roasting for your Christmas meals.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1aw9x-fXws1Q9KooeCEzTcgGJ4ikEVO3n5CgNbTBpcomc-msyjrwBh4KJP1wxGFXpGBO-R7KzU-bUhzg3nFmln-ZGIVFSEkXCuXukH6MZR_lv7RwKXcRqCX7KXbRgeO5GE1UbQWwMug/s1600/Ryan-Chicken_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1aw9x-fXws1Q9KooeCEzTcgGJ4ikEVO3n5CgNbTBpcomc-msyjrwBh4KJP1wxGFXpGBO-R7KzU-bUhzg3nFmln-ZGIVFSEkXCuXukH6MZR_lv7RwKXcRqCX7KXbRgeO5GE1UbQWwMug/s640/Ryan-Chicken_1.jpg" width="582" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Image Courtesy of Food News PR</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are after some sausages instead, Ryan’s Grocery are offering three different sausage platters consisting of their gluten-free organic sausages, handmade on site (priced at $29 for 8-10 sausages depending on the platter). With a variety of flavours that include Steak and Merlot, Australia Bush Tomato Pepper Berry and Cranberry & Chestnut. All sausage platters also come with a complimentary bottle of Absolute Organic French Mustard.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkIVYkv4rMZNC0Cl_SuEYphdqOciANZz1BOdlKQi0lGaO-txK6VRqdovkG7YctRZsHYqhw1VvyRGszdl4rhHkDqyqTzeHtaVhNgZXEpvI0rDcEgxun1xgdeLSDKlRZVE9-keQucxVsc4/s1600/Farmhouse+Sausages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkIVYkv4rMZNC0Cl_SuEYphdqOciANZz1BOdlKQi0lGaO-txK6VRqdovkG7YctRZsHYqhw1VvyRGszdl4rhHkDqyqTzeHtaVhNgZXEpvI0rDcEgxun1xgdeLSDKlRZVE9-keQucxVsc4/s640/Farmhouse+Sausages.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Image Courtesy of Food News PR</span></i></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">All orders must be placed before 18th December 2015</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">. From now until</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;"> 8th December 2015</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">, customers can also receive a 10% early bird discount for all Christmas Gourmet Roasts, Meats and Sausage Platter orders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: start;">As well as the delicious meats Ryan's Grocery are also offering a range of Christmas gifts and treats direct from Western Australia. These include, </span><span style="text-align: start;">a Great Southern Truffles Gift Hamper ($39.90), </span><span style="text-align: start;">a Colmena Pure Honey Collection (from $28.00 onwards), </span><span style="text-align: start;">the Triston Bay Dressing Gift Pack ($29.00) and </span><span style="text-align: start;">Sweet William’s Santa’s Chocolates ($6.50). Take a look at their website for further details.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0h8STFoNfWDJ7BqsORjkxoEpJ2EfD3zoUX0o1AhKdq7SmF7NfeIkevrI7BSBiEtA-TpJj58gqi4VPBPfs9-yoGtQ1oTYIFp-xk1DacxdFsJCMZKAfAJRmEQ0Y0paTQ7MuDaxilWHHGM/s1600/Sweet+William+Mini+Santas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0h8STFoNfWDJ7BqsORjkxoEpJ2EfD3zoUX0o1AhKdq7SmF7NfeIkevrI7BSBiEtA-TpJj58gqi4VPBPfs9-yoGtQ1oTYIFp-xk1DacxdFsJCMZKAfAJRmEQ0Y0paTQ7MuDaxilWHHGM/s640/Sweet+William+Mini+Santas.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Image Courtesy of Food News PR</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orders for gourmet roasts and gluten-free sausages can be placed in-store or online at </span><a href="http://www.ryansgrocery.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.ryansgrocery.com</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Orders for Christmas gift sets can only be placed in-store. Christmas home delivery is available for purchases above $200.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ryan’s grocery is located at 29 Binjai Park and is open daily from 10am to 8pm (except Thursdays when they open from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9.30am to 4pm).</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com029 Binjai Park, Singapore 5898311.33656 103.787228000000031.3206855 103.76705800000003 1.3524345 103.80739800000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-8475551523496884022015-11-29T18:27:00.000+08:002015-11-29T18:27:42.782+08:00Carry On <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you may know my working hours are not typically 9 - 5 and so I sometimes find I have early finishes meaning that I have the occasional free afternoon. When I do I quite like a little 'me time' and if I have nothing else planned or I'm not exploring somewhere new in Singapore I will take myself off for a coffee close to where we live. My previous regular haunt, as is sadly often the case in Singapore, suddenly closed with no warning but friends mentioned another place not too far away that they thought I might like to try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, thanks to them, I discovered <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CarryOnBeing/timeline?ref=page_internal">Carry On</a> a quirky, fun coffee shop (far more so than my previous coffee shop of choice in the neighbourhood) offering a range of coffees, teas, things to eat and also some wine and beers. I admit when my friend first told me about the place I struggled to find it! She told me where it was but I passed by it several times on the bus before I finally saw it. The entrance is quite understated, hidden beneath the five foot way of the shophouse it is in but I like that as it fits in well with the style of building it is housed in and also gives the place more of an intimate personalised feel to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although I tend to mainly go in the afternoons, I go on various days and at different times and still it is not unusual to see regular faces there which I also like. Now I go fairly often the staff recognise me too and remember what I like to have, always a nice touch. Carry On seems popular with a variety of people, those studying, working, Mum's picking up their children from the nearby school or simply those just catching up with friends.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are fun design features throughout, this table is made from an old sewing machine</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I mentioned they offer a range of coffees, teas and some light bites too. I've only had the coffee but the food looks good and the names of the teas intrigue me. Ones to try in the future I think. Asides from the coffee etc. Carry On also sells a range of bags which are easily viewed in the cafe whilst you enjoy your break. I'm not sure how much they are but they come in a range of styles including rucksacks, both big and small and smaller bags too. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The reason I come here</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Carry On has definitely now become my local cafe of choice for a little me time when I can. It's a welcoming, friendly place, perfect for killing some time or people watching. If you find yourself in the area, or if you live close by, why not check it out for yourself too.</span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0348 Tanjong Katong Rd, Singapore 4371151.303647 103.8965221.3016625 103.8940005 1.3056315 103.8990435tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-29835648852054046902015-11-20T16:58:00.001+08:002015-11-20T16:58:58.762+08:00Shopping with honestbee.com <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recently became aware of a fairly new shopping site in Singapore called <a href="http://honestbee.com/">honestbee.com</a> and decided to give them a try for myself. I've used grocery shopping websites before, of course, though primarily when we lived in the UK. Here in Singapore, although I have in the past, I generally tend to just pop to the supermarket near my work or at one of the few that are very close to where we live whenever we need things and just pick them up as and when. However with some of the heavier stuff the thought of delivery is, I admit, far more appealing than lugging it home in weather conditions not generally suited for that type of strenuous exercise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what's honestbee.com I hear you ask and what's so special about them? Well the first thing that attracted me was that t</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hey offer delivery from various stores rather than just one as is more typical. This obviously gives you a whole load more selection and convenience when you shop. They offer delivery from both Cold Storage and FairPrice </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">but also from a whole host of other shops, think Pet Lovers Centre, Watsons, Crystal Wines, GNC and Gastronomia to name just a few. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Y</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ou can also order and have delivery the very same day meaning that theoretically you could order everything you need to cook your favourite meal that evening in the morning and have someone else do all the hard work of going to the supermarket for you. Honestbee have a team of personal shoppers ready to take your shopping list to the store (or stores) of your choice and pick up those items for you once you submit your order. Also they have delivery slots of one hour, again meaning it's far more convenient and less intrusive on your daily life than having to be available for a large chunk of the day waiting for your delivery to arrive! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Payment is only made after delivery of your goods and like any grocery online delivery service if an item isn't available they offer either the option of the delivery of a substitute or the option not to have the item replaced. Therefore before charging your card they'll make sure any adjustments to your final bill are taken into account. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So with all this in mind I decided to give them a go for myself. Setting up my new account was incredibly simple, in fact it probably took less than five minutes. For my first delivery I decided to have a delivery on a different day from my day of ordering that was more convenient for me, but at the time I was ordering (late morning on a week day) I could have had my deliveries by late afternoon that same day if I had wanted to. I ordered from two separate stores selecting the same delivery slot for both and after selecting my items and quantities I received confirmation that my order was in process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the day of my delivery (by the way they also deliver on weekends and Public Holidays) about an hour before it was due I received two text messages from the personal shoppers going to the stores I'd ordered from advising me that two items were not available. As I said you don't pay your bill until after delivery has been made and the final bill takes into account any adjustments required. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although my deliveries came from two different delivery drivers (because I shopped from two different stores) they arrived at practically the same time right at the start of my hour delivery slot so there was absolutely minimal disruption to my day! At the time of the delivery they just hand your shopping over to you, no fuss and no signing for items etc. The shopping is delivered in Honestbee re-usable bags (though the shopping inside it is still also in the bag from the store you've chosen to shop from) that you can either keep and use again or return on your next shop. Just a few days after receiving my delivery I received my final bill with all the necessary deductions made and charged to the card I registered with my account, so simple and so hassle free!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">George checking out the shopping to see what is for him</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll definitely be using them again, for the heavy items and bigger shops they are perfect and it is so simple to register and subsequently use the site. Of course, I'll still be going to the supermarket (and other stores) as well but it's great to know such a simple, hassle free online shopping service, covering so many different stores, is available. It really is like handing your shopping list to a friend to do it for you. Don't take my word for it though, go try them for yourselves and see if you too aren't converted!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;"><i>This blog resulted from an invitation to try out honestbee.com's service for myself and represents the thoughts and opinions of the writer. All information on this blog is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy or timeliness and the writer will not be liable for any losses, injuries or damages from the display or use of this information. All text and photos on this blog are the original works of the writer unless stated otherwise.</i></span></span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Singapore1.352083 103.819836000000010.8441055 103.174389 1.8600605 104.46528300000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-23121615970616528912015-11-10T10:34:00.000+08:002015-11-10T10:34:05.095+08:00Ruamrudee Roaming (Bangkok Food Tour of the Soi)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My travelling husband has been writing again, this time about some of the food and places he has eaten in on his numerous visits for work to Bangkok. If you like what you read you can follow him on Twitter, @asksirstamford </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have travelled to Bangkok many times, always staying in the stay hotel (the Novotel at Ploenchit), which is a perfectly reasonable four star hotel with a pool and in a reasonably good location. An added advantage of the hotel is its proximity to a range of great restaurants and a couple of good bars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Coffee Bean by Dao</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On one of my first trips to Bangkok, whilst I worked for a regional bank in Singapore, a colleague took us to one of her favourite restaurants. Looking at the menu I was amazed to see that it was a selection of Thai and Italian inspired dishes, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as well as an enormous selection of cakes and buns</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, I know, it’s a strange combination, I always go for the Thai dishes. I cannot vouch for any of the cakes as I do not have a sweet tooth and have never sampled any of them. Now, on my visits, I stay at the end of the street and go to the restaurant regularly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I usually order a starter or appetiser, the Thai Fishcakes, the prawn balls (minced prawn, deep fried and served with sweet chili sauce) or the spicy chicken wings are always excellent winners, followed by a main course with steamed rice. The mains I usually have are often based around the Thai curry theme, red / green / massaman / jungle with beef, chicken or duck. The curries all feature a good level of spice but little chili heat (perhaps I am immune these days, so don’t take my word for it) and the oriental flavour shines up from the pristine plates and bowls. For something a little bit different, why not try the soft-shell crab (I always feel guilty eating a crab that was in the process of moving house), it’s crunchy, sweet and very tasty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Price-wise, the restaurant is reasonable, the above meal usually costs between 600 and 800 baht, with a couple of Singha beers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Baan Glom Gig</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a restaurant I would never have found on my own, as it nestles at the bottom of a dimly lit street, just off the main Ruamrudee Soi, that serves a street food market during the day and a paradise of food scraps for the local stray cats by night. Once off the street you step into an oasis of calm with both outdoor and indoor dining areas (there is a function room upstairs), with the decor being white and clean with interesting artifacts / photos on the walls (there is a statue of Chairman Mao, I am not sure why). Having discovered the place, I come here on every trip, usually more than once, but why? Simple the food is truly excellent. As with Coffee Bean, I usually order a starter and a main (two starters and a main is way too much for one person, please believe me). My starter of choice is a de-constructed chicken drumstick, with the chicken minced and combined with glass noodles and then moulded back into the shape of a drumstick and deep fried. This is very tasty and a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">little unusual, it puts KFC to shame. Mains are usually the aforementioned curries but on my last trip I selected the large river prawn dish, truly excellent but not that healthy as it is cooked in rather a lot of delicious garlic butter, with the fish’s flesh being sweet and flavoursome (it is a monster prawn).</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hyde & Seek</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hyde & Seek is a gastrobar (whatever a gastrobar is) at the top of the Soi, next to the Plaza Athenee Residences and Hotel and close to the BTS station at Ploenchit, serving western style dishes and a good range of beers and wines (including the ever popular Beer Lao). Just before last Christmas I had to spend a weekend in the city and decided to have Sunday lunch in the bar. Choosing the rack of lamb with roasted potatoes although there is also a creamy dauphinoise potatoes option. The lamb was perfectly cooked, very pink for me and was followed up with a few chilled out beers on the outside terrace. If you happen to be hungry, I’d advise against ordering the scallop dish (although it is fantastic), as it contains only one solitary breadcrumb encrusted mollusc, served in the shell (this does however save room for much more booze).</span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0Bangkok, Thailand13.7563309 100.5017651000000613.2627269 99.856318100000053 14.2499349 101.14721210000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-91683336328574725592015-11-03T21:45:00.000+08:002015-11-03T21:45:18.437+08:00Tanjong Pagar Railway Station <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we first moved to Singapore the Tanjong Pagar railway station was still open with a train service linking Singapore and Malaysia. The station closed in June 2011, having opened in 1932, and I recall at the time of its closure there being lots of interest in the station and what would become of the building. Sadly I never got to travel on the railway when it was in use, nor did I get to take it on its final journey, though I know several people who did. After its closure I passed by the art deco building many times and wondered what would become of it. Lots of rumours and suggestions circulated but nothing concrete seemed to happen until e</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">arlier this year (I think in time for Chinese New Year) it was announced that the station would be opened to visitors on Public Holidays. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a lover of history and also abandoned buildings that seem to have stories to share this instantly went on my list as somewhere I had to get to on one of the numerous holidays.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We decided to wait a couple of Public Holidays before heading down there and finally went not so long ago. In case you didn't know it's free to enter and then you can spend as little or as much time as you want exploring the place. The day we went it was not excessively busy and there were a mix of families, photographers with some impressive gear making the most of the backdrop to do photography shoots of the buildings and site or with their latest muse in place.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The station's ticket hall</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When you enter the station you first go into the large airy ticket hall with its high vaulted ceiling and quite beautiful murals high above you. The murals depict various economic activities including rice planting and shipping activities. As I said I never got here whilst it was an operating station but I imagine this being a hive of activity, full of people about to embark on their journeys and others waiting to meet loved ones and friends. The signage is still up for places like the station police office and the office for the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Off to the sides of the main halls are a few rooms, now empty but once upon a time no doubt teeming with life. I don't know what happened in these rooms but I imagine maybe a waiting room, various eateries, a lost and found office and so on, all the essential parts of any busy terminus station.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just one of the empty rooms off the main ticket hall</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The platforms in some aspects seem (I guess) to have been left as they were at the time of the station's closure. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although I was also a little disappointed that none of the platform signage indicating you were arriving in Singapore (which I assume there must have been) had been left.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In contrast though the platform shops seemed simply to have been closed up with their signage still clearly on display. I wonder where the people who owned, ran or worked in these shops ended up or where those shops moved to. The platforms too have a collection of small rooms, some of which are open, some not. Again I guess these were booths for station staff, eateries, toilets perhaps (a few still had sinks attached to the walls) and one booth that must have been an immigration point as there were still signs up requesting passports. Seeing all these abandoned rooms and sections of the station I couldn't help but think more about all the people that must have past through it over the years and wonder what their stories were. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Platform shops</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once you are out on the platforms you can walk the full length of both sides. The platforms are a substantial length, long enough apparently to accommodate long mail trains. Of course now the majority of the track has been removed and grass has grown over the open space. But closer towards the station buildings track still remains and provides great photo opportunities. It is strangely fun to stand in the middle of a railway track, something you would never normally be able to do, even if you do know that no trains will be coming into the station.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We walked down the one platform almost to the end and then back up on the other one towards the main station. On this far side one you also get to see a little bit of some railway sidings and track that have also been left. We left via the main station building taking in again for one last time the beautiful high ceiling and amazing murals.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking towards the main station buildings</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking down the track</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Get your passports ready</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">F M S R stands for Federated Malay States Railways</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I wonder where that door leads to?</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a fantastic way to spend our holiday morning and I really recommend that you take the chance to visit the railway on one of Singapore's many Public Holidays when it is open. It's a great opportunity to see a little bit of Singapore's past that is usually off limits to the general public. For me it was amazing to be able to see these now abandoned places that were once such a hub of life. I couldn't help but imagine all the stories these buildings could tell if only they could talk. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Only this past week, as I've been finishing this post, I've actually been reading that parts of the station platforms will, in the future, be making way for the construction of the next sections of the Circle Line. Whilst they are looking at ways of preserving the platforms, as the buildings and parts of the platform were previously gazetted as national monuments, who knows whether this may, in time, limit chances to visit this site. I'm so glad I've had the chance to see the station now even if I never got to experience it whilst it was in use.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com030 Keppel Rd, Singapore 0890591.272837 103.83691799999997-29.622773000000002 62.528323999999969 32.168447 145.14551199999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-62192884644961465972015-10-25T21:24:00.000+08:002015-10-26T14:07:03.222+08:00Candlenut - Peranakan Dining<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our wedding anniversary this year we decided to utilise some of the hotel loyalty points I have acquired through the course of my travels for work (mainly to Hanoi, Saigon and Bangkok) to have a <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2015/10/sofitel-so-staycations.html">staycation in a Singapore city hotel</a>. As part of the celebration we decided to have dinner at a <a href="http://www.mylifeinsin.com/2015/02/singapore-candlenut-fancy-and-yummy.html">Peranakan restaurant we had previously visited in January</a> (when some friends headed back to Europe).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peranakan food is unique to South East Asia, well really to the Malaysian Peninsula and Singapore and is an amalgamation of traditional Malay food with the food of the eighteenth century Chinese merchantmen and settlers to the region. The story goes that an early trader visited the region to sell his wares, fell in love with a beautiful local lady and decided to stay. In order to please him she started to incorporate the flavours he missed from his Chinese home into the local dishes she knew how to cook. And so Peranakan or Nonya cuisine was born.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A key ingredient of Peranakan or Nonya cuisine is the fruit or nut from the mangrove growing Keluak tree, found extensively throughout the South East Asian countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. The fruit or nut is highly poisonous when it is harvested from the tree and contains Hydrogen Cyanide (not a great plus for the human diet) but can be made edible through a fermentation process involving boiling and burying in ash and banana leaves. It is thought that the process makes the cyanide soluble in water and can therefore be washed away. I often wonder how people discovered these processes to convert seeming dangerous items into something that can be safely eaten (the other one I really want to try is the Japanese fish, fugu), especially as these processes were developed in the distant past without the benefit of modern scientific practices. In Singapore and Malaysia the nut is known as Buah Keluak or the Candlenut (hence the name of the restaurant).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So to our dinner with the poisonous nut. Candlenut, located at the Dorsett Residences on New Bridge Road, on the western edge of the Central Business District, operates a tasting menu philosophy for dinner at the weekends (a different concept from when we previously visited) with the menu changing dependent upon what is available and fresh when the chef visits the local market. The menu comprises of a number of appetisers, main courses and a choice of dessert. When we booked the table we were sent the week’s menu and asked if there was anything we’d like to change due to dietary requirements / challenges. As I cannot eat mushrooms we requested beforehand that one of the dishes was substituted for something else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the menu we were dining to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The starters (as you can see) were Kueh Pie Tee, warm minced pork in a laksa leaf, chicken satay and tumbuk prawns with starfruit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kueh Pie Tee - little cupcake-like shells filled with yummy savoury goodness that come in self-assembly format at Candlenut. The filling was a prawn based sauce with ginger that is spooned into the shells and topped with crunchy peanuts. One needs to eat the shell quickly as the crispy base tends to absorb the moist sauce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laksa Leaf Pork Relish – little parcels of minced pork wrapped in a laksa leaf. It was similar to a Chinese dish I had many years ago where the pork or chicken was wrapped in a lettuce leaf but this one had a tangy after-taste of banana chili. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Chicken Satay – satay is one of our local favourites (in fact we ate a lot over the summer when we had some young visitors here) and is served at Candlenut with a sharp apple and mint dressing that contrasts excellently with the succulent chicken skewer. The apple and mint makes a great change to the usual serving of peanut and chili sauce. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Tumbuk Prawns – this minced prawn dish was served on a slice of starfruit and was the perfect bite-sized morsel. The sharp freshness of the fruit complimenting the savoury deliciousness of the minced prawn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main dishes were then served with a bowl of sticky Thai-style rice, and consisted of a rawon soup with beef cheek (containing the Candlenut), a vegetable curry dish (our substituted non-mushroom dish), braised pork belly, baby squid and tiger prawns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rawon soup of beef cheek, Buah Keluak and fried shallots – the dark colour and texture of the soup is dictated by the use of the candlenut (rawon refers to a rich gravy created by grinding the processed nut into a paste) with the once under-used and now trendy beef cheek being delicious and melt in your mouth smooth. Pleased to state that this dish was excellent and although it contained a once poisonous nut we are both still very much alive and kicking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Braised Pork Belly – a wonderful pork dish in a soy bean and chili gravy, where the pork fell onto the fork with just the right mixture of flesh and pork fat to make the dish excellent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wok Fried Baby Squid, Cherry Tomatoes, Sambal – this was a great and spicy addition to the meal that gave a real chili kick with the sweetness of the cherry tomatoes. Usually I try to avoid sambal sauce as it can often be way too much and can over-power the dish it accompanies (a classic example of this is the BBQ stingray that many hawker stalls serve) but not in this case. The balance was perfect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grilled Tiger Prawns – these were excellent and I ate them both as the blog owner is not usually one for overt sea food like prawns in the shell. The prawns were sweet and the coconut sauce complimented perfectly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For dessert we chose the Buah Keluak Ice Cream (that nut again) which comes complete with popping candy and the Textures of Coconut, with both being excellent palate cleansing finishing touches to an excellent meal. Unfortunately we were too busy eating to take any photos of these!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candlenut is an excellent restaurant with great service that aims to keep the Peranakan traditions alive whilst updating the dishes with modern twists. It is a great place for an informal dinner with tasty food that is tailored towards Singapore residents and tourists looking for an exotic taste adventure alike. Well worth a visit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For other Peranakan restaurants the reader could also try Blue Ginger, the rendang is great, as is the achar, in Tanjong Pagar (take a look at <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2015/10/sofitel-so-staycations.html">this post</a> for some photos of some of the delicious food we had on our visit) or Chili Padi, try the popiah, in Joo Chiat.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com2331 New Bridge Rd, Singapore 0887641.2797913 103.839866000000031.2797293 103.83978700000003 1.2798533 103.83994500000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-78886975229126901552015-10-19T21:17:00.002+08:002015-10-19T21:17:53.464+08:00Sofitel So Staycation(s)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've been lucky enough to enjoy a couple of staycations in Singapore (take a look <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2012/10/singapore-staycation.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.expatadventuresinsingapore.com/2015/04/hotel-clover-33-jalan-sultan-perfect.html">here</a> for some inspiration for your own) and since these have taken the opportunity to spontaneously enjoy a couple more, this time at the Sofitel So on Robinson Road, just near to Lau Pa Sat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hotel is in a beautiful heritage building, mixing the best of the old and the new in its style and decor. Owing some of its style and design features to Karl Lagerfeld it's really quite impressive. I particularly liked all the little extra details and nods to its location in Singapore. From the cushions in our room with Robinson Road and Joo Chiat cushion covers, the coffee table with the outline of Singapore painted on to it and the hand shaped towel and bathroom robe hangers in the bathroom, quite amazing. Of course we also got to benefit from a well stocked minibar with both complimentary tea and coffee, items you'd expect to pay for and some surprising little extras, some beautifully fragranced complimentary toiletries and, an absolute must these days, wifi access! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We opted for two separate one night stays (having enjoyed our first so much) one over a public holiday weekend and one for our wedding anniversary. Both times we had the chance to enjoy both the hotel and also a little more of the surrounding area. Everything about the hotel was just lovely and second time around we were especially lucky as we managed to get an upgrade which gave us a bigger room and our own balcony giving us a fantastic place to sit amongst the grand pillars at the front of the building. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On our first stay our room over looked Lau Pa Sat but we didn't notice any noise coming from there, the windows are obviously well glazed and we had a great nights sleep. The second time around we did hear a few cars being driven at ridiculous speeds outside during the night, but what can you do about that? Particularly as we hear them sometimes where we live in the east and used to hear them back in the UK too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our upgraded room on our second stay (above and below) check out that bath!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After checking in ( the first time we stayed there) we decided to go out for a late lunch somewhere close by. After an extensive search of what was in the area (and open as it was a Sunday) we settled on Blue Ginger, a Peranakan restaurant I'd heard amazing things about previously. It definitely did not disappoint, especially as we were served achar which is one of my favourite condiments, that was a definite winning moment for me! I really could eat it simply as it is. As well as the achar we, of course, did enjoy a variety of delicious dishes, including ngo heong and chicken and beef favourites such as beef rendang. All were beautiful prepared and absolutely delicious, it is definitely a restaurant to visit if you've never tried Peranakan food. By the way on our second stay we also went to a different Peranakan restaurant for our anniversary meal, check back on the blog shortly for a post about that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I said we stayed at the Sofitel So on a holiday weekend (on our first stay) and in the evening, after letting our lunch settle and having done some suitable staycation chilling, we went for a wander and something to eat in the Chinatown area. I guess because it was a holiday evening and also a Sunday Chinatown was pretty empty of life, though this may also have been because a lot of places were shut. However this made for a pleasant walk around this part of the city without the usual throng of people everywhere and despite this we still found somewhere to eat and enjoyed a pleasant meal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon returning to the hotel we went to the rooftop bar for a couple of drinks before retiring. The rooftop bar has a funky, modern feel and decor overlooking the hotel pool. You can enjoy drinks by the bar or at one of the tables dotted around, admire the surrounding office buildings and skyscrapers and enjoy some funky beats as you do. Second time around we opted not to have a drink up there though as there was a private birthday party in progress and it was a little too busy and noisy for us that evening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breakfast the following morning on both occasions was the usual range of both Western and Asian options as well as fruit, yogurt and other lighter choices all washed down with fruit juice, coffee or tea. Again the breakfast area embraced the funky modern decor of the whole hotel and was a very pleasant start to both days. Of course with a one night stay breakfast means that all too soon it's time to check out and head home but, if nothing else, we knew we had a cat waiting to greet us and tell us off for going away for the night!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Down a backstreet in Chinatown</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking towards the Central Business District</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On both of our stays we had a lovely time right on our doorstep and without having to set foot on a plane or remember to take our passports. I've definitely become a fan of staycations since we tried it for the first time in Singapore on our first wedding anniversary three years ago. It's a great opportunity to enjoy just a little spoiling and explore your hometown just like a tourist. Where do you like to stay in Singapore and why?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BTW don't forget too to keep checking the blog for a separate post about our evening restaurant choice for our anniversary meal during our second stay.</span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com035 Robinson Rd, Singapore 0688981.2799543 103.84970479999993-29.6156542 62.541110799999927 32.1755628 145.15829879999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6675180084311988900.post-46009244682770163562015-10-02T16:46:00.001+08:002015-10-06T08:19:58.022+08:00Say What??<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you know Singapore you'll, of course, know about Singlish. I've lived here a little over five years and although in that time I've come to learn some I don't pretend to know a great deal. But if you are new to Singapore or a tourist here you may find yourself completely in the dark about it.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In case you don't know Singlish is a dialect spoken uniquely in Singapore. The vocabulary consists of words originating from English, Malay, Hokkien, Teochew and Tamil to name just a few. You only need to be in the country a short while to hear it spoken in most day-to-day settings you are likely to find yourself in.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never fear though if that's you struggling to understand because the <a href="https://www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/singapore/kitchener/stay/destination/singapore-idioms.html">PARKROYAL Hotel on Kitchener Road</a> has come up with something that may help just a little. They have taken some of the confusion out of it all by collecting together and sharing on their website a handful of popular and well known Singlish expressions. As you can see from below each expression is colourfully illustrated, an example of how to use it is given and more importantly what it means if you hear it used. You can see this includes such fun expressions as, 'don't play play', 'bo jio' and 'blur like sotong' (a personal favourite of mine) to name just a few. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you are flummoxed by something you've heard on the bus or at the wet market why not check out their helpful page. It might just give you the answer you need and make your time in Singapore (whether it is short or long) all the more enriching.</span><br>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00998722555113260012noreply@blogger.com0