Vacation in Singapore

Chatterbox, inside Mandarin Orchard, Singapore

Our stay in Singapore, as Anthony Bourdain would say, is a city of food porn. This is not an understatement.  It truly is a beautiful city with amazing food experiences.  The 1st picture in this post, well, that was our first meal, right when we landed, after we checked in at the fabulous hotel, Mandarin Orchard.  Chatterbox is famous for their Hainanese Chicken and Rice, well @ $26cdn, it better be damn good!!

Salted egg custard steam bun, Mandarin Orchard

Cereal Prawn, Boon Tung Kee

Singaporean red chili crab, No Signboard Seafood

Oh we ate so well during our far too short of a trip here.  I've never seen mr. eat and eat and eat throughout the trip! And I don't blame him! Food here is really really really...ok... one more.... REALLY good!!  It blows our minds away how amazing it was!  The above 3 dishes were knockouts.  Salted egg custard steam bun, from the breakfast buffet at Mandarin Orchard. I dream one day we will meet again.  Cereal prawn from Boon Tong Kee. Woww! That first bite....... wow...sweetness of the fresh prawn surrounded by the light, fried cereal batter, unfoundly amazing.  I wish I can have one right now.  Singaporean red chili crab from the famous restaurant, No Signboard Seafood.  Best chili sauce ever!! Especially over a bowl of plain rice..... oh I reminisce..... even the buffet breakfast in our hotel was .........amazing.  There must have been hundreds of dishes all at the ready.  Fried rice noodle, steam buns, yogurt, fruits...anything you can think of, they serve.  I normally eat little to nothing for breakfast but while in Singapore, I went back to the buffet table over and over again.  No shame!

collective of indulgence at Mandarin Orchard

coffee steam bun

more indulgences 

Aside for our amazing, overindulgence of food, I thoroughly enjoyed the sites of Singapore.  Unlike many other metropolitan cities that feels cramped & small, Singapore felt big & spacious, clean & well, clean!  Big shiny, glittering buildings side by side, gardens in the middle of the roads. Jay walking made impossible as there are shrubs and plants beautifully planted along side of streets.  Everyone says Singapore is very hot and humid, true, but with all the trees & plants pottered beautifully around, well, go ahead! Take a walk around Singapore! It is truly a beautiful city.  Mr and I both said we would move here one day :) I wished I took a scenic picture of Singapore.  I was too focus on their food, so all my pictures are food related. Next time dear ones. Next time.

Vacation in Philippines

Tali Beach, Tagaytay, Philippines

I had an amazing vacation thanks to Mr. this past March 2013.  Amazing.  It was my second time to Philippines and our first time to Singapore.  Everyday, we ate till our bellies extended past our waistlines.  Laundries were cleaned and folded by the maid.  Our bed was made every morning wherever we stayed (even in Singapore!) For 2 and a bit weeks, I lived in paradise, lived like a queen.   Oh to reminisce :)  

 

Beach front, Tali Beach, Tagaytay

Two years ago, my first visit to Philippines was a huge eye opener.  I couldn't believe almost over 95% of the country's population were considered as low income to poverty line.  While mr. & I stayed at a very upscale condo with butchers & maids in Makati. (Makati is considered to be an area where the richest, the most affluent stays) I saw children running the streets selling anything they could get their hands on.  I saw pockets of slums where children showered in the rain, literally.  I saw children, girls and boys wearing only an underwear running down the streets playing with a wooden stick while I was being driven around to see the sites of Manila.  I had trouble dealing with the realities of Philippines.  The rich can easily pay off the police.  A security officer working in Manila is considered to be an ill paying job.  A server at a restaurant can barely even afford a meal for their family.  Thing is, even with all the poverty in my face, the nicest, most humble people you will meet are in Philippines.  They are the most mannered! Rich or poor! 

Beach front, Tali beach, Tagaytay

This time around, I was amazed at how Philippines was developing.  There were oh so many developments being built! So many new condos, malls and buildings! I bet you there are more cranes in and around Manila than there are in Toronto!  Yes there are still some degree of poverty in Philippines but there is hope! I see it! So with this, I was able to really enjoy Manila and what its people have to offer. :)  Since mr had many family members here, we were spoiled rotten with food:)  Though I have to admit, for you to truly enjoy the old school Filipino food, you have to go outside of Manila, to the provinces where the traditions is truly valued.  My favorite soup and chicken adobo is from Tagaytay, Philippines homemade by a house maid never to be duplicated the same way by myself or anyone else.:) My favorite bola bola meatballs were homemade by the house cook who use to cook for mr. when he was a weee small child. :)  My time in Philippines this year made have been short, but it was a memorable one.  90% of my time here was spent outside of Manila, on a beach front or a sea front :)  You may have heard Philippines holds some of the worlds best beaches with untouched sands & corals.  Its true :) 

wooden boat :) his dad brought this boat for $300 only!!!!

 

fried fish :D delicious:) freshness is key.

fresh fruits from Tagaytay. :D 

 

Subic Yacht Club.  We stayed for one night here.  Ahhh the life of the rich :D 

one of the many homemade meals :) rustc but oh so true :D