The Passion of Dee Pasion

Around SG

2012-01-14T14:55:00.000+08:00

Quick post... :)

Sometimes, I get iPhone 3G S photos which make me rethink if the big and heavy DSLR is worth the cost and hassle. Hee hee

I took both photos below while I was inside a bus.

Parkview Square. A friend said that they're choosy when it comes to tenants. They only accept reputable companies. Beautiful office building!

Raffles Hotel. Michael Jackson stayed here when he visited SG. Not sure if it's still the most expensive hotel in SG. In 2007, single occupancy was 700 SGD per night.

Cameron Highlands Nature Discovery Tour (Cont.)

2012-01-14T14:25:00.001+08:00

We were so hungry after trekking! Thank God our next stop was BOH Tea Plantation! :) Their cafeteria is awesome! We got another bird's eye view of the 'Giant Green Carpet of Malaysia'.

(From photo above) The tea farmers live in the plantation. The owners of BOH (Best of Highlands) provided them houses, a school, church, and supermarket within the plantation. Farmers earn 20 cents per kg of tea leaves, but they get free accommodations and schooling for their children.

After getting snacks at the cafeteria, we went inside the tea factory.

From the factory, we went to their store to get tea. :)

Then, our tour guide drove us back to our hotel. (I like how Titiwangsa Tours always picks us up from our hotel and then drives us back there--even when they didn't have to! :) I'm referring to the time we arrived from SG via Konsortium executive coach. Our hotel's admin said we should take a cab from the bus stop to the hotel, but Titiwangsa Tours got us one of their tour vans to take us to our hotel for FREE!!)

Cameron Highlands Nature Discovery Tour

2012-01-13T23:14:00.002+08:00

On our 2nd day in Cameron Highlands, we woke up early to join Titiwangsa Tours' Sunrise Tour at 5:30 AM, and then their Nature Discovery Tour at 9:30 AM. I've shared the Sunrise Tour in a previous post (here). This post is about the Nature Discovery Tour.

The tour van picked us up at our hotel, Hotel De La Ferns, at around 9:00 AM. Then, we passed by Strawberry Park Resort (shown in photo below) for the rest of our tour group. When everyone was in the van, we headed to a "Vantage point of the Tea Plantation with a bird's eye view of the 'Giant Green Carpet of Malaysia'". All photos below were taken from inside our tour van:

Our tour guide parked at a good spot so we could take all the photos we wanted. :)

By the time we were done taking photos, more tourists had parked near our van.

Next, we drove up Mount Brinchang--the highest point of Cameron Highlands (6,667 feet above sea level)--to trek up into the 200,000 year-old mossy forest. Along the way, our tour guide explained the medicinal value of some of the berries (shown in photo below) and made us smell/chew some leaves.

We had plenty of uphill and downhill trails. The ground was slippery because December is a bit rainy in Cameron Highlands. I'm so glad I brought the right shoes!! :)

Finally, we reached the beautiful mossy forest! The hike was so worth it!!! :)

In the 200,00 year-old mossy forest

Me. Very careful not to harm any of the plants.

By the way, our tour guide assured us that there are no poisonous snakes there. The poisonous ones prefer warm climates. :)

Oh! And this is not the end of the tour. I'll share the rest in another entry to keep this one short.

Cameron Highlands Agro Tour (Cont.)

2012-01-02T16:50:00.003+08:00

Our next stop was the largest strawberry farm in Cameron Highlands, Brinchang Strawberry Centre.

Strawberries are grown in coconut fiber, not soil, and each plant/pot has its own tiny hose which waters it. No chemicals are used to grow these strawberries.

We went strawberry picking for 20 RM per half kilo of fresh strawberries. It was fun and the strawberries were delicious! :)

Then, we went to the Big Red Strawberry Farm, where they "hydroponically" grow vegetables too. :) In the bottom right photo below, Satu shows the huge lettuce and its healthy roots. Because they're not grown in soil, the roots are able to move freely, and the lettuce grow bigger.

Photo below: (Left) Under the beds of lettuce are radish grown in coconut fiber, not soil. :) (Right) Water goes into the pipes on one end and leaves the pipes from the other end. The water used contains all-natural nutrients that make the plants grow bigger. :)

The moment we've been waiting for--scones tasting!!! :) My friend said the scones in Cameron Highlands are the best, so we were really excited to try them. We ordered fried ice cream too! Both the scones and fried ice cream were yummy!!!

Next stop was the Chrysanthemum Farm. These flowers generate Cameron Highlands more profit (400M USD annually) than vegetables (372M USD annually). Yellow and white are the most in-demand. No, these cannot be turned into tea. :)

The current generation of farmers uses nets to separate each plant. As the plants grow taller, they raise the nets higher from the ground to keep them from getting tangled with each other. The new farmers also "trick" the plants to grow 24x7 by switching on bulbs over them at night, making the plants think that the light is from the sun.

Last stop for the Agro Tour was dinner at Titiwangsa Hotel--famous Cameron Highlands steamboat! :) Mmmm...best steamboat I've had!

I had a wonderful time on this tour. :) Now, to me, Cameron Highlands means "advanced provincial life".

Cameron Highlands Agro Tour

2011-12-31T00:14:00.000+08:00

We joined Titiwangsa Tours' half-day agro tour. Our first stop was the Organic Farm. This is our excellent tour guide, Satu! :) We learned a lot from him, and he's very helpful and friendly.

A few of the farm's produce:

"Tented" crops because of global warming (i.e., the farmers now need to protect their plants from UV rays):

The government taught people the benefits of "terrace" farming. It's more friendly to the environment. Also, they urged farmers to produce diverse crops so they have income throughout the year.

Our second stop was an Overview of Watercress Farming:

Satu said that Cameron Highlands, like Genting Highlands, has cable cars too! :D

Then, our third stop was at Cactus Point:

That's just the first half of our agro tour. I'll share the rest in my next post. :)

Cameron Highlands Sunrise Tour

2011-12-28T23:36:00.000+08:00

In early December, I finally went to the place which, in 2008, made my boss say, "You've never been to Cameron Highlands?! You must be a good girlfriend then--because you never asked your boyfriend to take you!" LOL! :D

One of my favorite memories of Cameron Highlands is our "failed" Sunrise Tour. "Failed" because we didn't see the sun rise, we saw the fog rise. LOL! It was a fun experience nonetheless! ;)

Breakfast :)

We went to mid-height of Gunung Brinchang. The weather was too cold for me, so I had to use my coat's hood! :)

Foggy December Morning

Lots and lots of tea leaves! :)

That's me! :)

BOH (Best of Highlands) Tea Plantation Workers going to work at 7 AM. Thanks for smiling! :)

Two vans of tourists who didn't see the sun rise. :]

Nihon Mura Buffet

2011-12-27T22:54:00.000+08:00

My friends and I like the food at Nihon Mura. We eat there at least twice a month. I almost always get their Salmon Teriyaki Don lunch special.

Only recently, I got to try their Dinner Buffet at their Cathay Cineleisure outlet. It was great that we were quite early because there was a long queue outside while we were eating!

While waiting for our orders, we got anything we wanted from the conveyor.

Here are our orders!!! Yummy!!! :)

Each guest gets to choose one premium item from the "Special Treats for Buffet" menu. My friend and I chose these. Yummy too!!! :)

No wonder people didn't mind queueing outside--good food at a reasonable price! :)

Lovely Black & Gold Christmas Decors

2011-12-21T22:21:00.000+08:00

Orchard Road is a must-see during Christmas season. This year, my favorite Christmas decors during daytime are the black and gold ones of Paragon. :)

I also like this elephant the most, among all those I've seen for the Elephant Parade 2011.

At night, my favorite is Tangs (again :) ). The white lights in Paragon, in my opinion, somehow 'dilute' the sophistication of the black & gold theme.

Ending this post on a pleasant note, I also like these giant snow globes of ION Orchard! :)

'Twas Wickedly Awesome!

2011-12-20T23:40:00.000+08:00

I've recently been posting entries showing the different "Wicked the Musical" displays around Marina Bay Sands. I finally saw Wicked on Saturday, and now I understand why it is such a big hit! :-) Besides the music and costumes, I loved the storyline!!!

Anyway, since photography is not allowed inside the Marina Bay Sands Grand Theater, here are more of the costumes on display around MBS:

These 2 are among the costumes in my favorite scene--Elphaba and Glinda's "Short Day" in Emerald City. :-)

Additional fun factor for me was: My friend convinced our group to dress like witches when we see Wicked. Here's what I wore! :-)

A closer look at my Elphaba-inspired make-up. I'm so grateful for make-up tutorials on YouTube! :) God bless these talented tutors!!

More Wicked! :)

2011-11-30T20:35:00.000+08:00

Defying Gravity!!! :-)

Ooohhh...Elphaba uses MAC!

My friend who has read the book told me what those green shades are for. ;)

Photo of Glinda and Elphaba in the Emerald City

I'm Wickedly Excited! :)

2011-11-23T23:16:00.000+08:00

We went to MBS recently because I checked Sephora for the Too Faced Sweet Dreams palette. It's sold out, like in Sephora Takashimaya and Ion, but these displays made me think, "Coming here wasn't a waste of time after all! :-) "

The Elephant & Its 3.3-Carat Diamond

2011-11-22T22:31:00.000+08:00

Find the 3.3-carat diamond on "Pretty & Pink", the most precious elephant of Elephant Parade 2011 Singapore. :)

Yes, it's on that brooch! ;)

"Pretty & Pink", together with 9 other beautifully painted elephants, will be auctioned in January next year, in conservation of the Asian Elephant worldwide.

Tangs sells replicas and Elephant Parade art boxes too:

Medzs Simply Mediterranean

2011-11-16T23:06:00.001+08:00

We were supposed to go to Quiznos, our favorite subs place, but I saw the attractive interior of Medzs as I was heading to the ladies' room. So I told my friend about it, and we went to Medz Simply Mediterranean instead. :)

I had their 10 SGD salad. This was how I filled my plate. I loved it!!! :) The roasted bell peppers were the best! Among the dressings available, I chose the balsamic vinaigrette.

My fried ordered beef kebab. He let me have some of it, and we both agreed it's tasty too! :) He also had soup, bread, and extra caesar dressing (I let him take some of my salad. ;) ), so his bill came up to 18 SGD.

Medz is like Marche. They give out charge cards like this.

Outside Medz:

Actually, we wish we ordered the High Tea Set instead. Next time... ;)

Shoe Design! :)

2011-11-13T12:03:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was my first time to watch a shoe design competition. :)

Here are my personal favorites...

Top 1. I call it Moulin Rouge. :)

Top 2. I call it Saturday Night Fever. :)

Top 3. I call it Brokeback Mountain. :)

Singapore Zoo

2011-11-13T01:15:00.000+08:00

Last month, HO took me to the Singapore Zoo as a birthday gift. :-)

It was my first time in the SG Zoo, but I've been to the Night Safari thrice. I just wasn't interested because I've been to the Milwaukee Zoo, which is one of the largest in the US, so I thought I didn't have to see the SG Zoo. Well, I was so wrong!!! :-D

SG Zoo is lovely! I heard a young Caucasian boy tell his mom, "It looks like the Amazon. I think they're making it look like the Amazon." His mom replied, "Don't you think they're making the animals FEEL that?" :-)

Otter scratching its body against the log

Pygmy Hippo swimming amidst a school of fish

Wake up, Pumbaa!!!

Notice the fence? Yes, that 'huge lizard' crossed our walk way. Scary!!!

Imported from Australia!

This way!

This is how you do a hanging split! :)

Pretty black and white stripes!

Most Famous White Tiger

Revisiting Places We Love

2011-11-12T01:03:00.000+08:00

1. Modesto's Restaurant

2. Romulus (formerly known as Tom's) Cafe

Over the recent long weekend, HO and I were at Vivocity. We were glad we were able to quickly get a table at Modesto's, and then at Romulus. :-) Yummy food and coffee! It was one pleasant weekend!

Jurong Bird Park

2011-11-09T13:46:00.001+08:00

In September, I finally got motivated to see Jurong Bird Park because of a 30% off on Entrance Fees for Nikon Club members. :-)

There was a photo contest going on at that time, and I wanted to join. But, I didn't get to submit entries after I saw other contestants' photos. LOL! :-D The first prize was a D300s, but many contestants were using cameras equal to or more expensive than the grand prize!!!

Anyway, here are a few of the photos I took inside the park. :-)

Parrot by the Park Entrance

Male Mandarin Duck (Females aren't as colorful.)

Flamingos

Eagles

Red Lory

Colorful Lory

Scarlet Ibis

A scarlet ibis enjoying the flowing water.

Vulture

Ostrich (a dinosaur descendant!)

Pelicans Beak-ing :-/ ...The one on the left got hurt. One of the park keepers took it away for medical attention.

Great White Pelicans

Talking Behind "Someone's" Back :-)

Pelicans "take a bath" after feeding time. :-)

I Love SALEs!!! :)

2011-11-07T13:39:00.000+08:00

I got myself SALE items for my birthday this year. :-)

FitFlop Red Walkstars

FitFlop Red Trainers

FitFlop Pewter Trainers

Tokidoki for LeSportsac Waist Bag

These shoes and bag would be good for traveling. I pray my travel plans will materialize. :-)

Another SALE I really enjoyed recently was Body Shop's. I bought travel size shampoo & conditioner--Rainforest for dry hair, which is really good! :-) Plus, body wash, body butter, body mist, and eau de toilette in Japanese Cherry Blossom, my favorite scent from Body Shop!

God bless these merchants!!! :-)

Awesome Balloons!

2011-11-03T23:10:00.000+08:00

This is the first time I've seen balloons as awesome as these! :-) I don't know who the supplier is. Their balloons look really nice, and they're durable too!

Below are iPhone 3G S photos from a different occasion.

Halloween in USS

2011-10-30T22:33:00.000+08:00

I'm glad these are just TEMPORARY decors in Universal Studios Sentosa. :) Anyway, have a happy Halloween!!! ;)

Kraze Burgers in MBS' The Shoppes

2011-10-26T01:21:00.001+08:00

Photos from our first time at Kraze Burgers, Marina Bay Sands' The Shoppes:

Funny, we didn't order burgers! Haha! :D

Caesar Salad

Club Sandwich

We enjoyed both! :) I liked the club sandwich a lot!!! A few days after visiting Kraze Burgers, I ordered another club sandwich at Gelare, and I missed Kraze's so much! Kraze's is yummy! I would order it again when I go back to MBS. ;)

Bags Which Changed My Mind :)

2011-10-25T00:21:00.002+08:00

Years ago, I saw a photo of a Hollywood celebrity (I can't remember who.) carrying a Speedy with a shoulder strap (I'm sure it wasn't a Keepall. ;) ). I wanted one, but found out that it was custom-made! So, I didn't get to own one.

This year, LV released the Speedy Bandouliere!!! I already told myself (after my 2nd LV canvas bag in 2009) that I will not get another LV canvas bag. But, the Speedy Bandouliere was what I've been longing for ever since...! Plus, it looks good on a girl on a bicycle!!! See?!

[Photo Credit: Louis Vuitton]

I was going to get the bag from the newly-opened LV Island Maison on my birthday (just this month! :) )... But, when I looked in my closet, I saw one of my favorite bags--the Gucci Tattoo Heart Boston. I changed my mind (again). :)

Inside the LV Island Maison

2011-10-23T12:44:00.000+08:00

I've posted an entry about the LV Island Maison Opening. Now, I was able to go inside the luxurious flagship store! :-)

Tunnel connecting LV Island Maison and the LV store inside MBS' The Shoppes

Wow, a travelator!!! :-)

These bags remind me of the Hermes Kelly.

My first time to see Damier Ebony with "natural" cow hide leather.

It really looks like an "Epi Kelly". LOL! LV x Hermes Collaboration?!

They're HUGE!!! I can't imagine carrying them when they're full of heavy stuff--because of the short handles.

View from the LV Island Maison's balcony

The pretty LV Island Maison's balcony! :-)

Leaving the LV Island Maison via the other door (outside The Shoppes)

View of MBS from LV Island Maison's dock

View of Fullerton Hotel and One Fullerton from LV Island Maison's dock

"On the Floor"

Italian Gourmet Dining at Cova Pasticceria

2011-10-14T01:21:00.001+08:00

Here's another Thanks-to-Groupon dining experience: Italian gourmet dining at Cova Pasticceria!!! :-) My dear HO, certified Groupon-holic, bought a 40 SGD voucher for only 20 SGD. :-D

Yummy herb & cheese breads for FREE!!! :)

All these breads are tasty and complimentary! :-)

We ordered a grilled shrimp salad. It was good. :-)

While waiting for our pizza, I took photos inside the restaurant.

This is our pizza! It looks exactly the same as our favorite pizza at Pizzeria Giardino, Chijmes. This one's good, but I have to admit that I like the crust of Giardino's more.

We also had a pasta dish with mussels. This is really good! I liked the sauce a lot. :-)

After finishing our food, I took a quick look at the pastries in their display cabinet, and I was unable to resist the tartlets!!! They had a wide variety of tartlets, and all looked yummy, yummy, yummy! Thinking I've had enough calories from the free breads already, I said, "take away". :-)

But, HO wanted to eat them immediately! So, here they are straight from the paper bag. Haha! And, yes, they're yummy, yummy, yummy!!! :-D

The Lion King Musical's Last Curtain Call in SG

2011-10-04T22:36:00.000+08:00

The Lion King Musical's last curtain call in Singapore is on October 30. So, if you haven't seen it yet, book your tickets NOW!!!

I've posted about The Lion King Musical before (previous entry here). In this post, I'm sharing the Lion King exhibits around Marina Bay Sands. I believe that, if you've seen the show, you'll appreciate these exhibits more! :)

(1) Maquette Figures Used in Development of The Lion King

Maquette Figure of "Wilderbeast"

Maquette Figure of "Half Fan"

Maquette Figure of "Mufasa"

Maquette Figures of "Male Dashikis"

Maquette Figure of "Female Tutu"

Maquette Figure of "Jungle Chorus"

Maquette Figure of "Simba"

(2) The Lion King Musical Photos, Sketches, and Trivia

Again, if you haven't seen the show, book your tickets NOW!!! :-)

SG Grand Prix Day 3 Highlights

2011-10-04T01:05:00.001+08:00

(1) God bless gentlemen!!! :-)

I visited my Bay Grandstand Seat only on Sunday.

The entertainment, Mambo Jambo, was good. I enjoyed the music the DJ played. :)

Problem was: My seat was too high from the race track to get good photos. This is my only decent panning photo after like a hundred tries! So, I decided to leave the grandstand and join the Walkabout-ers. :)

God bless the kind gentleman (very tall Caucasian) who let me take his good spot for a few minutes so I could take these photos!!! :) This is near the turn towards Esplanade.

Jenson Button

Fernando Alonso

Felipe Massa

(2) Thank God for F1 Concert Fan Passes!!! :-)

I was able to get close to the stage during the Linkin Park Concert because I made it to the Circuit Park before all fan passes were redeemed! Unlike previous F1 days (including last year's), the F1 staff wouldn't let me get multiple fan passes for my friends. :-/

Anyway, I went near the stage though it meant I'd be watching the concert "alone" (My friends saw the concert but they were outside the fan zone.). God was good. The couple standing in front of me was very nice. The lady would move her head to avoid my camera's lens, and they even gave me their extra bottled water for FREE! God bless kind people!!! :-)

Here are my photos from Linkin Park's concert:

I was so glad that I was able to use my DSLR (unlike during Shakira's concert)!!!

Linkin Park was REALLY good!!! I couldn't believe they were playing, singing, and rapping LIVE!!! They deserved to be this year's SG Grand Prix's MAIN entertainers. ;-)

SG Grand Prix Day 2 Highlights

2011-10-01T00:20:00.000+08:00

On the 2nd day of SG Grand Prix 2011, the highlights of the event for me were:

(1) Learning about the "hole" where drivers go in times of car trouble

(2) Shakira in concert!!! :-)

This photo (above) is the only decent shot from my D5000. Unfortunately, the guy standing in front of me kept dancing, waving his hands, and screaming, "Woohoo! Shakira!!!" :-/ So, I had to rely on my Lx5. All photos below are from my Lx5.

She's gorgeous! Her performances were very entertaining too! She was worth the long wait at Padang. ;)

SG Grand Prix Day 1 Highlights

2011-09-28T22:55:00.000+08:00

For me, the highlights of SG Grand Prix 2011's first day were:

(1) Charice in Concert :-)

I was amused to see some folks using their iPads to take photos or videos. The glow from their big iPad screens was getting in my camera's way. :-/ ...LOL! :-D

There was a huge crowd watching Charice! The locals beside me knew her song Pyramid and her role as Sunshine Corazon in Glee. :-)

Charice's guitarist is really good-looking! :-)

(2) My close encounter with Jenson Button!!! :-)

There were only a few people at the spot of the Circuit Park where my friends and I were BEFORE Jenson started walking towards us. I was VERY excited because I'd get a chance to take a close up photo of him!

So, I waited for him to get closer...as he was walking slowly...with heavy steps. You can tell he was unhappy with what happened to his car.

As he was getting closer, I kept distance to give him space.

But, alas, more people came running with their mobile phones pointed STRAIGHT TO HIS FACE!!! My goodness!!! Hence, my "clean" close-up photo of him which I have been anticipating for a few seconds turned out like this. :-/

Anyway, I was a bit disappointed...but I'm still happy that I got to see him up close even for a short while.

Life-Sized Lightning McQueen at the SG Grand Prix 2011

2011-09-27T23:26:00.000+08:00

Of all the SG Grand Prix 2011 photos I shared on Facebook, these are the ones which got the most attention from my friends! :-)

Life-Sized Lightning McQueen at the SG Grand Prix [Photo Credit: HO's D90]

Life-Sized Lightning McQueen at the SG Grand Prix [Photo from my Lx5]

Louis Vuitton Island Maison Opening

2011-09-18T23:28:00.001+08:00

My LV staff friend in Manila told me many months ago to watch out for their new flagship store in Singapore. So, when LV announced that it will finally open on Saturday, 17th September 2011, I went to MBS! :)

Alas, it was still closed in the afternoon, and the sign said "(something-something) Event 7-9 PM"!!! LOL! :D I lacked researching-before-going. Hee hee

Anyway, I decided to look around The Shoppes, wait for the sun to set, and then just come back at 7 PM. I had my Lx5 with me, so it was a good chance to capture the sunset and night lights at Marina Bay. :)

Bay Grandstand - Where my friends and I will be for the SG Night Race next week! :)

The sky looks like a penguin's tummy. :)

Red and yellow seats of the Esplanade Grandstand at the center

The Helix Bridge lights are switched on now.

Art & Science Museum :)

Under the Art & Science Museum :)

The LV Island Maison launch has started by the time I got back. Awesome structure & lighting!!! I can't wait to get my chance to go in! :)

At the LV store inside The Shoppes was the Guest Reception. There's a tunnel leading to the LV Island from this store.

I couldn't recognize the guests, and it was becoming uncomfortable trying to take photos w/ a compact camera through the crowds, so I decided to go home and just come back by the time the new store is not too crowded. :)

Birthday Celebration at Hard Rock RWS

2011-09-15T22:30:00.003+08:00

Last night was my first time at Hard Rock Cafe, Resorts World Sentosa. :) It was my flatmate's 16th birthday!

We had...

Jumbo Combo

Nachos

Beef Quesadilla

Mixed Grill

Fajita Combo

I was already full from eating too much of the YUMMY starters!!! The beef quesadilla was good, but I'm not used to having pineapple in my quesadilla. The mixed grill is good too, but the fajita combo remains to be one of my favorites at Hard Rock. :)

There was no live band last night.

We told the Hard Rock staff that it's my flatmate's birthday. They made him stand on the bar! And...

Free birthday sundae smack-dab on my flatmate's face!!!

It was a very FUN night! :) We walked around RWS after dinner, and then some of us had coffee at CBTL. I was too full by then to have anything more in my tummy. LOL! :D

A Rendezvous With HERMES Craftsmen

2011-09-08T23:37:00.002+08:00

Festival Des Metiers - A Rendezvous With HERMES Craftsmen. These photos were taken after hours because, having only my Lx5 with me (not my D5000 and zoom lens :) ), it was difficult to take photos through the thick crowds. Hee hee :)

Saddler's Booth:

Leatherworkers' Booths:

Gem Setter's Booth:

Watchmaker's Booth:

Engraver's Booth:

Silk Painter's Booth:

Fisherman's Market Seafood Buffet Restaurant

2011-08-31T23:17:00.001+08:00

We were supposed to go to Cafe Iguana, our favorite for Mexican food, but we chanced upon this 2-month old seafood buffet resto in Clark Quaye! :-)

It was still Closed, so we waited for like 15 minutes. Their menu (photo below) was too irresistible to us, seafood addicts! Hee hee.. :-)

This is where we sat while waiting for them to open, their al fresco dining area.

Here's a photo of Fisherman's Market's buffet on the 2nd floor of Central Mall. Not in photo are the Sushi, Oyster, Dessert, and Beverage counters.

They have an awesome view of Clark Quaye!!! :-) Pardon the pseudo-panoramic approach of capturing it please...Hehe

Here are what I had. :-)

My Plate #1. My favorite here are the scallops! :)

My Plate #2. My favorite here is the Garlic Shrimp!!! :-) I was lucky to have been at the Hot Food counter when the chef brought it out because it was gone shortly afterwards. I liked the Pork Spare Rib too! :-) ...and the sushi with raw salmon and roe!!

My Plate #3. The shrimp siew mai's good!! :-) The pepper crab is good too, but it was too messy to eat so I didn't really enjoy it much. Of course, I loved the shrimp cocktail! Shrimp addict, I am... ;-)

I'm ready for dessert! :-)

List of Free Drinks

I had 2 cups of hot green tea that night. Hee hee... :-) (Also in photo: The waitresses requested us to fill out the feedback form.)

My Desserts! :-) Everything was good, except for the Hazelnut Cake. It was a bit dry, but it was good with the soft-serve ice cream. ;-)

By the 2nd floor exit:

Would I recommend Fisherman's Market to friends? Yes! It's a good place for family dinner outs. Their restaurant is huge, and the price is just right. :-)

Mooncake Festival 2011

2011-08-30T23:58:00.000+08:00

I love mooncakes! :-) If it's the regular size, like in the 2nd photo below, I like it with double yoke.

This year, HO bought one box of double yoke mooncakes from Mandarin Orchard Hotel. He got a good discount from Groupon! :-)

The mooncake from Mandarin Orchard was good. ;-) But, this is still my favorite!!! Garden Pastry's crispy skin mooncake with walnuts and yoke! :-D I got one today @ 4.50 SGD. If I were slim, I'd get more. Hee hee..

We were at Clark Quaye today too. Decors for the Mooncake Festival are already up. :-)

Fine Dining @ Osteria Mozza

2011-08-30T00:26:00.000+08:00

Mozza in The Shoppes Marina Bay Sands has always been interesting to me and my friends. It looks classy, and it's always crowded. :-)

On Saturday, after watching The Lion King Musical, HO could not resist going inside Mozza to ask if there were seats available. Only then did we learn that Mozza has 2 restaurants--Pizzeria Mozza (casual dining) and Osteria Mozza (fine dining). Only bar seats were left at Pizzeria Mozza, while Osteria Mozza was going to open in 15 minutes. So, we chose Osteria Mozza.

While waiting for Osteria Mozza to open

The Mozzarella Bar

Table for 2

We asked for wholemeal bread and still water.

View of the Mozzarella Bar from our table

Empty tables for 4. Those tables were filled after a short while.

Compliments of the Mozzarella Bar. Yummy!

Osteria Mozza Bar Seats

Our appetizer - Grilled asparagus with mozzarella, bacon, and almonds

Waiters' Station

HO's pasta with shredded beef

My pasta with chicken liver. I really, really liked it! :-)

We shared this whole snapper. Photo before the waiter poured olive oil and squeezed the grilled lime on it.

The whole snapper, after the waiter explained what's inside. It's delicious! :-)

Mozza in Marina Bay Sands :-)

I thank HO for the "fine" dinner treat! :-)

The Liong King Musical in SG

2011-08-29T20:58:00.001+08:00

In June, I posted an entry about The Lion King Musical's Sneak Peek. After almost 3 months, I've finally seen the show!!! :-) I guess God allowed me not to see it in New York (sold out for 3 months) because He knew it would be coming to me here in Singapore. Hee hee..

Inside the Marina Bay Sands Theaters

Inside the Sands Theater before the show

Mini bar beside the Sands Theater

Yours truly.. Loved the show! Bravo!

I like the mirrored wall :)

Wow! I'll just come back when there's no crowd.

MBS Theaters Box Office

Scar

Rhinoceros & Birds

Simba & Nala

Rafiki. I love her voice!

Awesome, awesome props!!!

Wonderful costumes!

A closer look at Pumbaa on the right

Cute stuffed toys :)

We sat in Row AA. We really liked the view of the stage and incoming actors from behind us. Also, there were no audience's heads in front of us. :-) I am grateful to friends who saw the show before us who gave us tips on seat selection.

Mixing the Old and the New

2011-08-25T00:32:00.000+08:00

Old Bag, New Scarf

My old Burberry bag with a new Burberry scarf. That's my most favorite bag because it's all leather and it's black. :)

Old Phone, New Case

I like this Radius leather case a lot! I got it on sale @ 15 SGD only, because it's the last piece for iPhone 3G S at Best Denki. :)

Old Friends, New Restaurant

Dinner/reunion with former office mates at Yomenya Goemon, Marina Bay Link Mall. I liked the food!!! :) (Warning: My Indonesian friends didn't like it much. I guess because it's not spicy. Hee hee)

STGCC 2011 - My Wake Up Call

2011-08-24T01:19:00.000+08:00

My friends and I went to STGCC (Singapore Toy, Game, and Comic Convention) 2011 on Sunday, 21st August.

I was very late, so I only had 45 minutes to go around and photograph the cosplayers outside the Convention Hall. To me, it was fun, but really challenging to take "clean" shots! Haha! :D Anyway, I did my best to squeeze in the crowds of photographers, thinking that I will just edit the photos when I get home.

My big plan was to use iPhoto for post-processing. Alas, my plan's not as good as I thought it would be!!! My laptop is running oh so slowly, and the only option I have to delete out unwanted images in the background is Retouch. Sigh...

I thought I could get away with not buying and learning Photoshop ever, but, clearly, the photos above prove otherwise. :-]

NDP 2011 - Last Chance to Photograph Fireworks

2011-08-14T21:37:00.001+08:00

August 9, 2011 was the 46th Birthday of Singapore. It was also my last chance to photograph NDP 2011 Fireworks. My first 2 attempts were:

(1) Full-Dress Rehearsal on July 23, from the Esplanade Outdoor Theater - FAILED! I was too close to the fireworks, and I didn't have an Ultra-Wide Angle lens! :-D

(2) Preview on July 30, from beside the Floating Platform - PSEUDO-SUCCESSFUL! :-D I set my SLR's shutter at 2 seconds, which was not enough to capture the highlights of the fireworks. Also, I missed to increase the f-Stop as more fireworks were being displayed.

Here are my photos from the NDP 2011 proper. I will explain what I did differently this time at the bottom of this post. :-)

This time, we were at The Promontory. What I did wrong:

Photographers I spoke with on July 30 said I should be at Marina Bay by 2 PM on the actual NDP day. I got there at 3:30 PM and the good spots were already lined with tripods.
I didn't use my black card because I shot the fireworks using a wireless trigger, and I was far from my camera and tripod.
I should buy an UWA lens!!! (I'll get a Nikkor 10-24mm someday. ;-) )

What I did right:

I used Bulb.
Having seen the same fireworks sequence twice before, I knew when to open and close my shutter.
The reason I was far from my camera and tripod was: I let a young boy stand behind my tripod so he can enjoy the fireworks. He doesn't speak English, but I believe he (and his parents) appreciated the little act of kindness very much. :-) That caused me more joy than being able to take good photos of the fireworks. :-)

Mad for Garlic

2011-08-07T22:07:00.001+08:00

If you like garlic, like me, you'll like the food in Mad for Garlic, Suntec City. :-)

On our table

Above our heads

Garlic Snowing Pizza. Courtesy of Standard Chartered Bank's credit card! Weeeh!!! :) (Mad for Garlic Special Sweet Garlic Pizza topped with Shrimp and Pineapple Dice)

Lobster Pasta. Garlic Cream Sauce Pasta rich in Lobster Meat and Fish Roe.

Yummy! Two things I love--garlic and seafood! :-) For their full menu, click here.

Afternoon Biking @ East Coast Park

2011-08-06T22:48:00.001+08:00

I haven't used my bicycle for a long time, and it showed!!! Hahaha! :-D I was surprised to see the display like this as I was getting ready for today's afternoon biking at East Coast Park.

There's a new craze in East Coast Park, and it's tightrope walking! :-O

Around 5:30 PM, we reached the Bedok Jetty, and the clouds over East Coast Park were beautiful. :-)

Today was also the very first time I used these shoes! :-D So far, so good. I have yet to see if they're good on slippery, muddy, off-road trails. I hope so!

After an hour and a half of biking and photo shoots, we had dinner at my old favorite, Kebab Station Turkish Restaurant. I ordered Mixed Meat Kebab Rice. Ah....yummy!!! :-)

What a lovely day! :-) Praise God!!!

Pseudo-Macro (1:2)

2011-08-03T22:53:00.000+08:00

I bought the SIGMA 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG MACRO lens for Nikon because my flatmate has one but his is for Canon. Our friend has borrowed his lens a couple of times already, so I became interested in it, and I found good sample images and reviews on the internet.

Since I'm not really into macro, I decided to use it as my macro lens. Here are my initial tests of its macro mode.

Hmmm...I think it's quite good, considering it's only 298 SGD.

I tested its normal mode during the NDP (National Day Parade) Preview too.

I think it's good enough... :-]

SG NDP Preview Fireworks

2011-08-02T00:03:00.003+08:00

Below are photos of the fireworks on 30th July during the Singapore National Day Parade Preview. I tried the camera settings I learned from YouTube. The only instruction I didn't follow was to change the f-Stop as more fireworks are displayed. I now regret taking that tip for granted!!!

I used my D5000 and its kit lens since I don't have an UWA lens yet. :) Post-processing...I don't have Photoshop yet too. But, in my meek opinion, these are good enough for now. Hee hee :D

I should have increased the f-Stop at this point! Also, I really need to get an UWA lens!!! :D

Next time, I'll try using "Bulb". There were 2 hearts formed, but my 2" Shutter setting was too short to capture both hearts.

Another "I should have increased the f-Stop" moment :]

Another "I should have increased the f-Stop" and "I need an UWA lens" moment :]

Here is the video from Col. Sanders' look-alike. :) Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!!! :)

Happy 46th Birthday, Dear SINGAPORE!!!

2011-07-30T13:10:00.000+08:00

Photos from last week's Singapore National Day Parade Full Dress Rehearsal below. I stayed at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre from 5:00 PM onwards. It was a good spot. We were shaded from the sun, and there was music from a live band in the evening. :)

My problem was: My 18-55mm kit lens couldn't capture the fireworks because I was too close! Hahaha! :D I need a UWA lens!!! :) Nevertheless, it was an awesome experience being close to the fireworks. You'll see the bursts coming at yah, but only the ashes will reach you. AWESOME!!! :)

Happy birthday, dear Singapore! More birthdays and blessings to come!!! :)

Fish & Co. - Still Yummy!!! :)

2011-07-30T00:26:00.001+08:00

I haven't been to Fish & Co. for months! A few Fridays ago, we wanted to have dinner there, but there was a long queue so we decided to go some place else. On Thursday night, it wasn't crowded so we were able to celebrate my friend's birthday there. Yay! :)

The Seafood Feast was fantastic!!! :) :) :)

Seafood Feast. Baked king prawns with ebiko roe and mozzarella cheese, baked scallops with homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, prawn fritters, fried calamari, grilled dory fillet and succulent blue mussels in garlic lemon butter sauce, served on a bed of paella rice and chips.

King Prawns!!! My favorite!!! :)

As usual, customer service was good. They gave us all the sauces we asked for. :)

We got the "5.95 SGD Add-On With Main Dish" promo, and we chose our old favorite, Swordfish Collar.

Swordfish Collar @ only 5.95 SGD!!! Yummy!!! :)

I had a great time! Awesome food and quality time with an old friend of mine. :)

Lido is My New Favorite Movie House :)

2011-07-23T00:11:00.000+08:00

While walking from the bus stop to Shaw House:

View from Lido:

Rainbow spotted!!! :-)

They got IMAX!!! :-)

All photos above are from my iPhone 3G S. :-)

My Most Liked Facebook Photo

2011-07-19T13:33:00.002+08:00

Surprisingly, this is my most liked photo in Facebook to date. :) I added the caption, "Six feet tall tonight". Hehe..

My Most 'Like'-d Facebook Photo

I was very happy because I got the dress and bag on sale during this year's Great Singapore Sale! :D

Coast London Savannah Maxi Dress. Original price: 489 SGD. Discounted price: 220 SGD.
Raoul Genuine Leather Clutch. Original price: 258 SGD. Sale price: 30 SGD.

As much as possible, I wanted to use my old stuff. Problem was: My old long, evening dresses are in Manila. I didn't want to wear a cocktail dress to this event because my legs look awful right now--some parts dark, some fair, because of biking and running. Hee hee.. :) I bought the bag because it was really cheap, and it can fit more stuff--my Lumix Lx5, make-up, mobile phone, and wallet. ;)

Old Swarovski Earrings.
Old (antique! ;) ) Heuer Wristwatch. (my precious... :) )
Old Guess Leather Peep-Toe Pumps.

Oh! That Chomel ring on my finger is new...I "had to" buy it because I dropped it and scratched one of the crystals. :/ No, the saleslady did not oblige me to buy it, but my conscience told me I should. Hehe.. :]

Hair by Storm Hair by Monsoon. 65 SGD.
Make-up by Clinique Consultant. FREE with 100 SGD Clinique product purchase.

I like how meticulous the hair and make-up artists were! :D They were scolding me for giving them only one hour each, but I didn't mind the scolding. Hee hee.. Before I set my appointments with them, they told me they'd need only 45 mins. each, so the stress was on them. Haha! ;) I believe they did a great "hurried" job though. ;)

Here's my photo from the event's official photographer (who happens to be one of my good friends! Haha! ;) ). I was happy with myself. :) I now have something to show my grand-kids! Hee hee :D

Pulau Ubin - I Can't Believe I Didn't Need My Passport

2011-07-08T22:02:00.000+08:00

On the day before the Ketam 4-Hour Enduro Race, I went with my friends to Pulau Ubin to quickly check the race site. I brought my SLR anyway so I could take a few photos too. Here are a few of my shots. We couldn't believe we were still in Singapore. :)

I stayed in the jetty because it was raining.

Still in the jetty... My buddies were in the trails by then for a sunrise shoot.

Mother Nature's Spotlight

Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime... :)

Protect us please...

Welcome to my crib!

I dare not step on this bridge. I feel like I'm too heavy for it! :D

My rented bike! :) I asked for a basket. ;)

Their town square...

I wish there was no fence at this spot. That tree is just enchanting...

Beautiful trail!!!

Bikers' resting place :)

Awesome view! That's the Ketam Quarry... :)

Refreshments Truck

Don't you dare mess with her! ;)

Huge Chocolates, Rings & Shoes

2011-07-03T20:18:00.003+08:00

5-kg Nutella @ 70 SGD

4.5-kg Toblerone @ 135 SGD

When a straight guy tells you your ring is huge, you believe it because straight guys seldom notice women's accessories. :D (Ring from Nature Bijoux)

Green Lantern got distracted w/ my ring! :) (Ring from Nature Bijoux)

Confirmed, I'll be at least 5'10" at our party! LOL :D (Shoes from Guess)

Cirque Eloize iD & The Lion King Musical (Sneak Peek)

2011-06-11T14:36:00.000+08:00

On June 4, Marina Bay Sands gave a sneak peek of their latest attraction, Cirque Eloize iD, plus 3 songs from the famous The Lion King Musical! :-) I was so excited when I read their announcement on Facebook, so I made sure I'd be at the MBS Skating Rink early to catch the show.

Before the show. "Wow" cameras on the floor. :)

Before the show. The Lion King cast, supporting their peers who were going to perform.

My friend and I got a good spot on the 2nd floor. My problem was: I cannot use my 55-200mm lens! :-/ I had no choice but to just use my 18-55mm kit lens... This show made me realize that I should either buy an 18-200mm or always bring my Lx5 for wide-angle shots.

The show started with The Lion King drummers' beats:

The Lion King Drummers

The Lion King Drummer

Next, the emcee came onstage and introduced "the couple" from Cirque Eloize iD. (She must have forgotten their names! :-D )

Emcee

The couple from Cirque Eloize iD

Strong right arm!

This is how you roll over with a lady on your right arm! ;-)

Finale -- Thrown up in the air...(next photo)

...and then caught around his waist! :-)

Finally, it was time for 3 songs from The Lion King Musical! :-) I was so excited about this because I missed this show when we were in New York. When we went there to purchase tickets, the show was fully-booked for the NEXT 3 MONTHS!!!

First Song - The Circle of Life

The Liong King Choir

Nala and Simba without their Costumes. 2nd Song - Can You Feel the Love Tonight.

Last Song - He Lives in You

Thanks so much, MBS!!! :-) We'll watch The Lion King when it's not fully-booked! ;-) Most likely, that would mean "on a weekday". Hahaha! :-)

Cold Stone Creamery Opens in SG!!! :-)

2011-06-07T22:48:00.001+08:00

Cold Stone was my friend's favorite ice cream when he was in the US. (My favorite was Kopp's frozen custard! But I think it's available in Milwaukee only. Ooohhh...I miss Kopp's so much!!! And their giant burgers!!! Yummy!!! :) *Drool* Okay, anyway...) When I saw that Cold Stone had opened in Orchard Central, I told my friend we should go right away! ;)

There was a queue when we got there.

We chose the Founder's Favorite. :-)

Store's huge ceiling light:

Wow, cakes!!! :-) A bit pricey, but I want to try it on my or a friend's birthday!!!

Our "Gotta Have It (i.e., large) Founder's Favorite" served on a waffle bowl. The waffle is courtesy of DBS Indulge. :-) It was really, really yummy!!! :-D

After finishing our sinful indulgence, we went out of the store and noticed that the queue got LONGER... Wow! :-)

Groupon & Swensen's :-)

2011-06-07T22:31:00.001+08:00

My friend bought a 20 SGD Swensen's voucher for only 10 SGD from Groupon. We used it on Sunday, and it was worth it! :-) ...Because (1) they let us use the discounted voucher on a weekend, and (2) the food was good!!! (No, it was not my first time at Swensen's, but the food choices we made were all yummy this time. ;-) )

Deep Fried Mushrooms. Golden fried Shitake served with tartar sauce.

Sourdough 49ers Chicken. Chicken slices, turkey bacon and cheddar cheese sandwiched between sourdough football buns. Served with US fries and coleslaw.

Beef Lasagna. Juicy minced beef between layers of pasta and spinach, accompanied with tangy tomato sauce.

SG BOTANIC GARDEN - My Last Photography Class

2011-05-27T22:55:00.003+08:00

The "Day Outing" was my last Basic DSLR Photography lesson from Knowledge Bowl. Teacher Steven Yee took us to SG Botanic Garden. This is everyone's mandatory "leaf" shot. :) I chose the one which has a pinkish center.

"Mandatory" Leaf Shot

We were taught how to use a CPL. I bought a 52-mm Hoya Circular Polarizer Filter, and this is the shot I took with it.

How to Use a CPL

As we were asked to move back to the Visitors' Centre, I quickly snapped photos of people and trees I found interesting. :)

We were also taught how to shoot waterfalls, blurring the water.

"Mandatory" blur-the-water shot

It rained, so we had no choice but to finish the class under the walkway. When teacher dismissed us, I did another quick round of looking for interesting people and plants to photograph. :)

Love

A Lovers' Quarrel

The Sun is the Backlight

Where's Thumbelina?

The rain didn't stop soon, so we decided to call a cab. These are my shots while we were waiting for our cab by the Taxi Stand.

My backpack (Kata 3N1-20) & my flatmate's sturdy tripod (SLIK 330DX) :)

Cute kid! :)

Now I understand why even reputable people like jogging in SG Botanic Garden on weekends. It's so pretty! I'd definitely go back when the weather's nice!! ;-)

My Flatmate is a Roadie

2011-05-27T22:37:00.001+08:00

After months (years I think! :D ) of looking for the perfect bike, my flatmate finally came home with his very handsome road bike! :) He got it at a discounted price because of his OCBC credit card. Nice!!! I think I'm more excited for him because I immediately wanted to take photographs of his bike while it's still squeaky clean! LOL :D

Black, white and red...Love it! :)

He replaced the pedals.

Two water bottles. Better than carrying a hydration pack on your back. ;)

Cool red seat :)

Michelin!!! Cute mascot! :D

Part carbon...Wireless Cateye odometer...Etc. :)

Nihon Mura Lunch Special, No. 1 Chendol & Texas Strawberry Shortcake

2011-05-26T23:25:00.001+08:00

Some of the food that I'm currently addicted to... :-)

Nihon Mura Lunch Special
They make you choose an item in A + B + C. I usually get the Chawanmushi under C, Mussel Mentai from B and Salmon Teriyaki Don in A, plus top-up a dollar for a glass of Diet Coke. :-) Price for the whole lunch after service charge and tax is SGD 10.55 only. ;-)

Chawanmushi

Mussel Mentai

I tried the Chicken Yakitori, instead of Mussel Mentai, once. It's yummy too! :-)

Salmon Teriyaki Don

Number One Chendol

I get this chendol from the Kopitiam in Tampines 1 Mall. I don't know where else it's sold. For me, it's the next best thing to Halo-Halo, which I can only get in Lucky Plaza. Hehe :-)

Texas Chicken's Strawberry Shortcake
When you buy a value meal at Texas Chicken, you can top-up SGD 1.90 for a Strawberry Shortcake. Actually, it's their bun, topped with strawberry jam (w/ preserved whole strawberries!) and soft ice cream. I like it! :-)

Ketam 4-Hour Enduro Mountain Bike Race

2011-05-18T21:07:00.000+08:00

On Friday the 13th of May, lunchtime, my friends asked me to take their photos during the May 15th Ketam 4-Hour Enduro Mountain Bike Race. For me, it was a short notice!!! Haha! :D ...Because I don't know how to go to the race venue, and I cannot go there as their photographer alone.

God is good! :) On Saturday the 14th, I had friends going to Pulau Ubin. So I went with them to pre-determine how to get to Ketam. :) Then, on Sunday the 15th, one of my other photo hobbyist friends went with me to cover the race. **Super thanks, guys!!! :) Mwah!**

Here are some of the photos I took during the race. (If you're a participant and looking for your photos, I will upload my whole set on my Multiply--yup, even if it's old-fashioned! Haha! --this weekend. ;) I hope you find your photos there.)

Less then a minute before the race starts

Go!!!

My boy friends! :)

Lady biker, wow! :)

The most hard-working racer! :)

I wonder if the racers will see this small sign... :D

Team tents and supporters

Probably the youngest participant

Endurance

Relaxing while the others were hard at work in the trails :)

Enduro Race = Enduro Photography!!! :D

Looking for the Road Less Taken

German Girl Shrine

What's the story behind that wheel? Hmmm...

I see a star... :)

Ooohhh...Scary tool!

In the Woods

Under the Glaring Sun

Red Cross

This Is How We Do It

Togetherness

"Ha! I'm ahead of you!" :)

Yeah!!!

In the Shade

I admire the ladies who joined this race. I don't have the guts and biking skills to join! :)

Fight! :)

Hahaha! Those 2 are my friends, and I was surprised to hear them chit-chatting!!! :P

Enjoying the scenery while the boys did another round in the trails... :)

My rented bike :D

Cute kid! :)

More tough ladies :)

Wow, cigarette break?!?! :D

Aaawww...What happened?

Flat Tire :(

Cool mohawk! ;)

Photography Purchases

2011-05-18T01:23:00.001+08:00

Teacher required us to bring a CPL on our Day Outing so I bought this, Hoya Circular Polarizer. :) I got the 52-mm since all my 3 lenses are 52-mm anyway, and I have no plans of buying other lenses soon. ;) Teacher recommended the 77-mm CPL and a 52-mm to 77-mm step up ring, but I didn't want them because they'd occupy more space in my camera bag.

I was so glad I hadn't bought a wireless remote control yet--when teacher advised us not to get the original Nikon remote control. :) He recommended this one, Pixel Wireless Remote Control, because it works up to 35 meters away and even when it's inside your pocket! ;)

He told us to get sturdy tripods. I didn't have to buy one because my flatmate has a good tripod. :) Teacher's preferred tripod is a SLIK 340DX; while my flatmate has a SLIK 330DX, and he lets me use it anytime. Yipee!!! :)

So...With the savings on the tripod, I bought a bigger camera bag. You see, I don't want to use my Longchamp bag to a photo outing again. Hahaha! :D Here's the bag I bought. Brand loyalty strikes again! :) I got the Kata 3N1-20 because it can be used as a backpack, sling bag and cross body bag. I love Kata!!! :) :) :)

(Photo credit: Google Images)

Bubble Milk Tea & Prawn Mee

2011-05-18T00:34:00.001+08:00

I was recently addicted to bubble milk tea and prawn mee! :-D

This is Koi Cafe's regular hazelnut milk tea with half serving of sugar and less bubbles (a.k.a. pearls). Yummy! :) The queue at Koi Cafe is always long...even up to their closing time, which is 10 PM! That's why my friends would call them for advance orders. ;)

Another yummy drink is Eskimo's yam milk tea! I got half serving of sugar and less pearls too. It's a bit pricey, so I frequent Koi Cafe more. Hee hee :)

Now this one...I have to stop eating almost everyday! This is Kopitiam Tampines 1's prawn mee. They let you put as much crispy pork fat as you want!!! Since I can't resist the yummy little things, I have to avoid this noodle dish for my heart's sake!!! Hahaha! :D

Nike Goddess Run at the MARINA BARRAGE

2011-05-11T00:16:00.000+08:00

I didn't sign up for the Nike Goddess Run on Saturday, May 7, 2011, because I only wanted to go see the Marina Barrage for the first time, take photos of the place and, at the same time, take photos of my friends who were running. :-) It was the right decision! I was able to take decent photos of my friends. ;-) Plus, the sky was really beautiful that day!!! **Thank you, Lord! When I see pretty skies, I see you more handsomely. ;-) **

Sharing some of my photos below...I hope you'll like them too. :-)

Lots of Nike Goddesses!!

Spectators Like Me :)

Macho Guy Blowing the Horn!!! :-D (Sorry, this is as far as my 55-200mm lens can go. Supporters were not allowed on the bridge. :-/ )

"Running is for Girls" :-)

"Running is a b*tch. Literally." -- LOL! :-D Being in IT, it made me think, "Running is a bAtch. The batch is running!!!"

"Girls 'Just Do It' better!" Cool!!! :-)

Cool Down Area :)

At almost sunset...

Sunset

My goddess friends after the race :)

My goddess friend :)

The colors of the sky remind me of the Philippine flag. :)

The sky is turning purple now...Lovely! :)

I edited this photo! :-D That is NOT the moon; that's a lighted "Nike Goddess" balloon! Hee hee :-)

The MBS Hotel lights are switched on now. Kites still flying. :-)

More of SG's Bldgs. I Like

2011-05-07T14:17:00.001+08:00

Photos from my iPhone 3GS ... :-)

SG National Library

Millenia Walk (shopping center) and its calming man-made falls

Millenia Tower (which looks like a pencil :) )

Salted Egg Crabs

2011-05-07T13:54:00.001+08:00

Irvin's Salted Egg Crab

Fisher's Tavern Salted Egg Crab

I discovered Salted Egg Crabs just last month. I've tried Irvin's and Fisher's Tavern's so far. Allow me to compare them:
- Taste: As you will note in the photos above, Irvin's has more sauce. Meaning, like Chili Crab, you get to enjoy your deep-fried bun dipped in the sauce more. :) However, the thick sauce of the Salted Egg Crab from Fisher's Tavern is more yummy! :)
- Price: They're the same. We got a smaller crab at Irvin's, so it was 30 SGD only. At Fisher's Tavern, we paid 40 SGD for each crab because it's quite bigger.

But(!), my friend says the Salted Egg Crab at No Signboard Seafood, Geylang, is better than Fisher's Tavern. So, we gotta try that too!!! ;)

Before Mom Had Me

2011-05-07T01:42:00.002+08:00

This is my new Facebook profile photo. It's a picture of my mom way before she had me. She had the perfect figure, flawless skin & a pretty face. :-) She's a bright student too! ;-)

I thank God for giving me a very wonderful mom! :-) She was my first tutor, make-up artist, wardrobe consultant and 'Independent Woman' guru. I love her so, so much!!!

Sentosa Boardwalk - Sunset & Fireworks

2011-05-02T16:53:00.001+08:00

I went to Sentosa Boardwalk on Saturday (30th April) and Sunday (1st May) evening because I missed the fireworks on Saturday night. :-] It was frustrating and funny at the same time because:
--> On Saturday night, I packed my tripod and camera shortly before 9 PM so I could move on to my friends' party. Just when I had zipped my bag, the fireworks started! Waaahhh!!! ...Hahaha! :-D
--> Then, on Sunday night, I got too busy looking for random couples at the Boardwalk so I could practice my "pre-nup" skills. Nine PM came, the fireworks started, and I was unable to change my kit lens to my 55-200mm zoom lens. Sigh...double jeopardy!!! :-/ Hihihi :-)

Anyway, lessons learned:
--> Before visiting a new place, research on what's good to shoot there.
--> Then, when you're there, always have presence of mind. :-D

Here are the shots I like from those 2 "solo" night outings. :-)

Sentosa Boardwalk @ sunset

The sign and the huge pink origamic swan

The cable cars @ sunset. The sun sets behind Harbourfront.

Just follow these lights to Sentosa... ;)

Sentosa's Merlion

On the right: Further developments ongoing

Reflection #1

Reflection #2

The following photos are the ones which were regretfully (LOL! :-D ) taken using my 18-55mm lens. I now understand why teacher has been telling us to get the 18-200mm VR 2 lens from the beginning. :-] No need to change lenses and miss pretty moments.

Oh no! The dragon terrified the merlion!!! :-O

If I had Photoshop, that guy with the camera over there would have digitally vanished. Hehe :)

Laser Show @ MBS

2011-04-24T12:16:00.000+08:00

My Basic Photography classmates and I went to the Merlion Park last night to take photos of the Marina Bay Sands Laser Show. It's Lesson #8 of our course, the Night Outing. :) These are the photos which I like best from my camera:

Before the show...We were there an hour before the show so that we could set up our tripods.

Still waiting... :)

And the show starts! :)

The laser show was only 15 minutes long. After that, I turned around and saw this cute couple. :) I know it's a lousy shot, but I like how cute they look enjoying the view. Obviously, they grew old together and still love each other's company. Sweet!!! :)

Panning & Paddling

2011-04-23T14:10:00.000+08:00

My second outing with my photography-enthusiast friends was on 16th April 2011, at the PDA Paddle Championship in Bedok Reservoir. It was a good chance to practice "panning". :) Here are my best shots during the outing. Hee hee :D

Random Team

Random Paddler

My friend is on boat #1. :)

My friend's team is leading!! :D

Yay! My friend's team won! They brought home 4 golds in total!! :)

I can say that taking Basic Photography lessons is worthwhile. :) I used Shutter Priority mode in the photos above. During F1 season last year, I used Sports mode! Hahaha! :D

Supermoon 2011

2011-03-26T00:40:00.001+08:00

My photography-enthusiast friends scheduled a night outing on March 19 at the Changi Boardwalk. It was my first night outing, my first time at Changi Boardwalk, and my first time to use my one-year old tripod. :-D Plus, on March 18, I bought a Nikkor 55-200mm VR lens! What a crammer!!! Hahaha! :-D

This is the web page which convinced me to get the 55-200mm lens:
http://www.dpnotes.com/nikon-55-200mm-vr-nikkor-lens/ ;-)

Here are some of my photos from our Supermoon outing:

My best shot of the Supermoon on March 19, 2011. I was too lazy to take out my tripod. :-D

This was where I finally took out my tripod. Peer pressure! Hee hee :-D

Under the supermoon, using a tripod again and beginning to like it! LOL :-)

My last 'tripod' shot because I was hungry already... :-D

I took photos using my Lumix Lx5 too. I brought it with me for wide angle shots. The 3 photos below are from the Lx5.

Wet boardwalk. Thank God the rain stopped before sunset! :-)

Rich kiddos' parking space... :-)

I feel so small and insignificant, yet God loves me anyway. :-)

Other photos from my Nikon D5000:

Lonely tree

Fishing on the boardwalk & on your own boat

Fishing in the water

Before the sun hid behind the clouds

Praying for and Helping Japan

2011-03-22T01:06:00.001+08:00

It's been almost a month since I last posted an entry... The reason is: I didn't know what to write, given the sad events in Japan (and other parts of the world).

As we all know, the damaged nuclear reactors are still being worked on, so let's continue to pray for God's guidance and protection on the workers and the people near Fukushima.

My friend shared this cool video re: one of the ways we can help Japan. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did! :)

Strike 2: MacBook Pro!

2011-02-25T23:11:00.004+08:00

This is the second time that Apple released the upgraded version of their product shortly after I had just bought one!!! :-O The first time was when I bought my iPhone (details in my previous post).

On Thursday last week, I bought a MacBook Pro 13-inch which still has Core 2 Duo processors. I was told that the i5 version will NOT be out soon. But, Apple upgraded their MBPs and announced yesterday (exactly one week after I bought a MBP!!!) that the 13-inch is now available with the i5 processors!!! :-/

So today I went to the store where I purchased my notebook to check what they're selling. Their posters and display units were still Core 2 Duo 13-in. MBPs, but only one unit's left, and they now accept pre-orders for the 13-in. i5.

Thank God, the Apple guy made me happy by saying he prefers my MBP over the new ones because he'd choose NVidia over other graphics anytime. :-) My hardware knowledgeable friend also said that my notebook's good since I got FREE upgrade to 8 GB RAM, among other freebies. :-)

My MBP "Starter Kit"

Free Upgrade to 8 GB RAM

I got a 20% discount on Apple Care.

My friend and I got the 3-User Office at a discounted price.

Free Bluetooth Mouse (I chose the mouse over a VGA or HDMI Adapter.)

Free slip case, keyboard guard, palm rest protector, and track pad protector

I'm happy again, but I've learned my lesson well. Next time, I'll wait for a newly-upgraded Apple product before buying. :-D

Davao Nightlife

2011-02-22T22:08:00.001+08:00

Last post on Davao... ;)

My cousins took me to Matina Town Square. While waiting for our other cousins, we had coffee and cakes at Blugre Coffee. (More on Blugre in my previous post. :) )

It was a crowded Saturday night in MTS. The place reminded me of Malate in Manila.

This is where we stayed for some drinks, food and live music. :) MTS is a good place to hang out on weekends. ;)

After the band's last set, we went to my cousin's friend's videoke bar, Mic One. He gave us the huge, KonZert room!!! We loved it! That's where we stayed 'til almost 5 o' clock in the morning! Hahaha! :-D

Food Trip: Davao

2011-02-21T23:11:00.001+08:00

Beko's Lechon De Leche

We had Beko's Lechon De Leche in Davao twice...on 2 consecutive nights!!! :-D The meat was so tender and tasty! The skin was crispy and yummy! Mmmmm..I'm drooling as I type. LOL!

Mandarin Tea Garden's Fish and Scallops

Mandarin Tea Garden's Noodles and Spareribs

On the first night that we had Beko's lechon de leche, we ordered Chinese takeout from Gaisano Mall's Mandarin Tea Garden restaurant too. Huge family...lots of delicious food. :-D

Lyndon's Ribs

My cousin who lives in Davao kept raving about Lyndon's ribs and sauteed scallops from Day 1. I almost didn't have time to try it! An hour before checking in my flight out of Davao, I was able to try their ribs. We pre-ordered via telephone, and my cousin picked them up while I was packing my suitcase. :-D My cousin was right. They're magnifico! :-) Their sauteed scallops was unavailable that night, so that's another item added in my to-go-back-for list. ;-)

Lola Abon's Sweets

A former officemate in Manila introduced me to Lola Abon's sweets. Her dad often traveled to-and-from Davao and brought her their durian sweets. Thank God she shared them with us! :-D I liked them a lot, so I made sure that when I visited Davao I'd bring some back to my flatmates and officemates in Singapore. I got jackfruit and mangosteen sweets as well, since I knew many of my friends do not eat durian. Hehe ;-)

Paradise Island

2011-02-16T23:01:00.002+08:00

Still on Davao...Hehe :-)

My to-do list included "island hopping and Paella Valenciana @ Paradise Island Resort". We were at the Ferry Terminal to Paradise Island at 9:00 AM.

Ferry Terminal to Paradise Island

Samal Island

Approaching Samal Island

Clear water :)

After like 5 mins., we were at Paradise Island. :-)

Even clearer waters @ Paradise Island :)

@ Paradise Island Resort

Unfortunately, we were unable to island hop because I didn't know that the boat had to be booked early (as in days ahead). :-| So, I just looked forward to yummy paella!

But, the waiter said paella was unavailable, and he apologized many times because I asked him many times if there's ANY way they can serve us paella! :-(

I was really disappointed, but I cheered up right away because I didn't want my family to be affected. ;-) I ordered their other seafood (my favorite!) dishes for comfort. Hee hee :-D

Seafood with Lemon Sauce

Fried Seafood Basket

Seafood with Oyster Sauce

Grilled Tuna Belly

My cousin, who lives in Davao, ordered her favorite dessert:

Mango Float

We had refreshing fruit shakes too. :-)

Mango Shake

Durian Shake

We finished our lunch at around 12:15 PM, and so the kids went back swimming.

Thank God, the waiter came back to inform us that they've replenished their ingredients for Paella!!! Weee!!! :-D I ordered the Large Paella Valenciana so we can bring home most of it. :-)

Large Paella Valenciana

Yummy!!! :-)

(Side note: Next time we're in Davao, I'll try the paella at Hola Espana. My cousin said that I'd like that even more. :-) )

We left the resort at 2:30 PM because our relatives were expecting us back in the city by then. My nephew was having so much fun at the beach that he didn't want to leave!!! LOL :-D The reviews on the Internet were right--Paradise Island Resort is indeed a great family getaway! :-)