Singapore Adventure: First Singapore Holiday

May 31, 2007 (Vesak Day)

Rivervale Walk

Suntec Convention Center

Inspite of the holiday today, I, Eric and Doyle still didn't get a day off as our schedule for today was blocked with a lot of "fun" activities.

As planned, we set off to fix up our flat where we'll be transferring soon. (I am going to miss my Regency House tub. Sniff) We aired out the entire house, mopped the floors, wiped the furniture rid of dust and what have you. Several hours later, we finally finished and decided to unwind a little by popping in a video from the entertainment center into the machine. But we got tired of soon and so we agreed to head off to the next set of fun activities.

We went to the PC Show 2007 at the Suntec Convention Center. A techies' heaven and the place was (not) surprisingly packed, literally brimming with people! It was like we teleported back to Manila in Tutuban during the holidays. Still, we risked it. Nobody's going home empty handed! Hehehe.. Well, at least that's what we came there to do, shop! But too bad, Eric did not get his PS3 then. But Doyle, well, I am sure his night's will never be the same again. Hehehe... See those pictures on the top of this entry? They were taken with Doyle's brand new iMac's webcam. Way cool huh? Hehehe...

It still isn't too late for Eric and I. The PC Show is running from 31 May to 3 June, so we'll still get our chance to shop for gadgets like crazy. Hehehe.... After all, weekend's coming!

Singapore Adventure: My Latest Toy

I saw this at the Creative store in Plaza Singapura during lunch break. At the end of the day, I already had it in a bag to bring home. Hehehe... I am such an impulsive shopper!

Click on the photo to view the specifications of the Creative Zen Stone. Nice piece of item for a very cheap cost, only 69$! Fits right in to my small palm. :)

Singapore Adventure: Healthy Living (?)

Dinner is served. Yes, I and Eric have been converted, we are now vegetarians! Hahaha... Only for today. But of course, we intend to live by it.

The weight gain has to be managed, otherwise we will be doomed! Hehe.. Or at least, our clothes packed from the Philippines. >:)

Cheer us on, please.

Singapore Adventure: The Cookies @ Singapore Zoo

May 12, 2007, Saturday

Singapore Zoo

Night Safari Singapore

The Cookies had a great time at the Singapore Zoo. Thanks to my friend Lanie who played tour guide to the Cookies. Let's just let the photos speak. ;)

Click on the photo to be redirected to my Photobucket Album. ;)

Singapore Adventure: Big Spender

May 26, 2007, Saturday

Suntec Convention Center

Suntec City Mall

Marina Square

The Great Singapore Sale was launched last Friday, 25 May. And it will run for two months, ending exactly on 22 July. No surprise why there was a long queue of cars along Penang Road exactly in front of the Regency House. Which made me come to this realization why people in Singapore work so hard... Just so they have money to spend for the sale. Hehehe... Or at least, that's MY plan. Haha... First weekend of the sale period, and I was already on a roll. ;)

I purchased these two Lacoste bags at the Citibank Closed Door Sale Event for Citibank card holders. It always pays to have good friends with a soaring credit limit! Hehehe... Thanks, April for that display of your magnanimous nature. ;)

The pink backpack, I have always wanted. Even back home in Manila. The red handbag, I fell in love on sight. The red one I already used yesterday during the group "Pirates of the Carribean" movie date. Went nicely with the red shirt I had on. Hehehe...

Samsonite items were also on sale. I saw this nice backpack made for biking enthusiasts. I got one for my brother. A post birthday gift. I just hope he'll have good use for it.

It has a blinking light close to the bottom which can alert motorists that a biker is up ahead. Cool feature huh? ;)

Will just send it home to him when my Cookie comes on June.

At the Suntec Convention Center, a World Book Fair was also ongoing. We looked around and had my eye on this nice home improvement book about color schemes and combinations. I really thought it will come in handy in putting together our new flat. But my friends thought it was a bit too expensive at 40$, so with a broken heart, I had to let it go. I also looked around for a good scrapping book, but unfortunately, I didn't find any. But I did find a nice baking recipe book for my sister. Will send it home also through my Cookie. I hope she finds in useful in her baking classes. ;)

After a quick lunch at Pepper Lunch, April and I were off to check out some bed linen at Aussino. I picked these three. Hopefully, it will blend well with the blue walls of my room... Ugh! I can hardly imagine... :'(

I really, really, really hope it will work...

If you noticed, I stuck with my favorite color. At least, if I just couldn't stand the blue anymore, I have something nice in my room to stare at! Hahaha....

I can't wait for the next shopping trip. I still have a lot to spend for - pillows, some furniture for my room, some kitcen stuff. Hopefully there would be better deals in Ikea. Excited to see that famous place. Hehehe...

Singapore Adventure: Fire Drill

May 25, 2007, Friday

The Atrium @ Orchard

Orchard Road, Singapore

The two towers of The Atrium held a routine fire drill at the last day of the work week.

(Un)Fortunately, I am on the 5th floor of Tower 2. It was a long way down to the ground floor and a long walk to the open area across Park Mall where the "evacuees" are advised to assemble.

This photo depicts the "evacuees" of Barclays Capital scrambling toward the attendance record sheet. Hehehe...

Singapore Adventure: (Future) Housemates

May 17, 2007

#402 Regency House

Singapore

This picture captures one of our "cooking escapades". In the shot are my future housemates, Eric and Doyle. Yeah, I will soon be living in with two *ehem ehem* handsome guys. Hehehe...

Eric here has found an HDB with three bedrooms near the Sengkang MRT. I will renting one of his rooms. I am sure we'll have tons of fun "cooking escapades". Bwahaha... >:) Also, I am excited to shop at Ikea for wonderful things I can put in my room. Hehehe... And did you know that the Great Singapore Sale will launch soon? ;)

My stay here at the Regency House serviced residence will terminate on the 5th of June. Until then, I still enjoy free breakfast on weekdays, a bath tub in my master's bedroom, a nice dip in the swimming pool which I still have yet to try, and a short 10 minute walk to work. Hehehe...

Adjective: spoiled spoyld

- Having the character or disposition harmed by pampering or oversolicitous attention

Singapore Adventure: Cookie Bye Bye 2

May 16, 2007

Changi Airport, Singapore

It's so sad my Cookie had to go back home. Sigh.

I took him to the airport for his Cebu Pacific flight back to the Philippines. (Thanks Eric for going with us. ) I am getting used to the MRTs and LRTs here just fetching and seeing my Cookie off to the airport.

The Changi Airport lies along the green line of the MRT. From where I am staying, which is close to the Dhoby Ghaut MRT, it requires 2 train transfers. One red line ride going to City Hall Interchange, then switch to the green line to the direction of the Changi Airport. Another transfer to an LRT from Tanah Merah to, finally, Changi Airport.

Here is the Cookies' last photo in Singapore. Sigh. I really miss my Cookie already. Sniff.

Singapore Adventure: Cookie Bye-Bye

Photo taken at the receiving area of my apartment at Regency House. This was shot a few hours before I took my Cookie to the Changi airport for his return flight to the Philippines, May 16, 2007. How the 5 days flew. Sigh.

I miss you, my Prince Cookie. :'(

Singapore Adventure: Cookie Send Off Party

May 15, 2007

Regency House

Penang Road, Singapore

I threw my Cookie a little send off party on his last night here in Singapore. It was a gathering of old and new friends. And we had a blast!

With the Cookies' powers combined, we served them dinner. Hehehe... Nice golden crispy chicken lollies care of Princess Cookie, and mouth-watering spaghetti care of Prince Cookie. Parang children's party, hindi ba? Haha...

And with the new camera, we took this lovely picture as a remembrance of the fun event.

Thanks to everyone who came. ;)

Singapore Adventure: How Many Cookies Can You See?

Okay, let's play a game... How many Cookies can you see in the picture? Cool huh?!

My Cookie paid me a visit here in Singapore for 5 days. But how the days flew. He's now back in Manila, and I miss him already. Sniff.

This photo is taken at the Regency House along Penang Road, the serviced apartment where I am staying until the last day of my first month here in Singapore. This is the receiving area. And the camera used to take the shot is a Canon Ixus 850 digital camera my Cookie bought at Funan for 565 SGD. That's only 17,515 PHP when converted. Nice. ;)

More photos of Cookie adventures in Singapore in the coming entries. Bear with me. ;)

Singapore Adventure: Legal

The idea that I am officially an Overseas Filipino Worker has finally kicked in. I have been here less than a week but I have already come to this realization. In the coming payday, when I remit money back home, I join the million other Pinoys who work their ass off abroad.

On my second day at work, I have already been issued the office ID and access cards. In effect, I can freely go about the premises of office and not feel so... hmmm... foreign? Hehe...

Well, my ID card has sustained some scratches already as it is really imperative to swipe the card at every entrance. The wash rooms are located at the service corridor already outside of the office realm and therefore requires us to swipe the access card prior to getting back in to the office area.

Also just this afternoon, I already received my Employment Pass which the PriceWaterhouseCoopers person pertain to as the "green card". Sigh. Feeling bagong bayani na ako, ika nga ni Eric. Hahaha...

What does this entail? Well, I can avail of a phone line, a flat, and a lot of other utilities here in Singapore. Cool, huh?!

Singapore Adventure: Coping

The first thing that I had to cope with here in Singapore is how to fill my tummy. So far, I have tried dining out and have been to the grocery several times.

For the dining out part, I have been to Burger King at the Plaza Singapura twice for lunch and had a big fat serving of a Whopper Jr. Meal, costs around 6 SGD. I have been also taken to eat at the Kopitiam. It's a food court popular in most malls here. I have eaten at the branches in Vivo City and Plaza Singapura. My college friends had also taken me to eat at the Glutton's Bay in Esplanade. Food was tasty, loved the Cereal Prawn! ;)

Of course, I can't afford to always eat out. My cooking skills have already been tested this early. So far, my cooking attempts have all been successful. Ask Rikrok, my constant dinner guest. Hehe... The fried chicken marinated in garlic and patis was a hit! The garlic rice and the tuna with onions was a bigger hit! Hehe... The menu for the coming days are still in the inception stage, but I sure hope I can figure something out that won't be so stressful to prepare. Yeah, I get stressed just thinking of what to have for dinner. Breakfast is served in my apartment free of charge, and lunch, I can just grab outside. But the dinner meal, I have to worry about. Big time!

So, that's how I am coping. I have survived the first week, almost. And I am just hyped that my Cookie will be here in two days time. Yey! I am thinking of a nice spaghetti welcome party for him. What do you think? ;)

Everywhere I look...

I see Cookies...

I miss you very, very, VERY much, my Prince Cookie...

Remembering My Papa

April 29, 2007

Hwa Zhong Xi Temple

This day marks the second death anniversary of my Papa. We lost him to lung cancer early moring of April 29 in 2005. In Chinese Culture, the "end of mourning" entails a ceremony involving the family of the departed and close friends. And this we did for my Papa.

Food of different kinds, especially my Papa's favorites were laid on the altar, incense and paper money burned, and prayers were offered. And most significantly, wearing the red color is part of the ceremony.

Here is a photo of my family at the steps of the columbarium where my Papa's ashes lay.

Two years later and I still miss my Papa. Everyday I think of him. I know deep down that he watches over us, guiding us through in every task and endeavor undertaken. And if he is here to see what we have become, I know he'll be truly happy and proud.