YOUR BINONDO GIRL

Walking through the busy streets of Binondo will remind you of the typical Chinatown in every country in the world you have visited.  One interesting fact is that it is the oldest Chinatown in the world built in 1594.  My initial knowledge of this place dates back in Kindergarten in St. Mary’s Academy  when we were told that Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo (founder  of the Religious of Virgin Mary) resided in this place. Aside from her, Blessed Lorenzo Ruiz also has his roots here.   So we are treading the grounds of the blessed ...

Contrary to its name which means “mountainous” ... nothing of that sort can be found but instead  mounds of  Chinese goodies   that would make you want to buy even if it was not planned or needed abound.   It is home to the many delights of tongue and the feast of colours.



Baby Dragon Fruit



Sea Cucumber




Pickled Mustard Leaves

And  my search for the more popular restaurants in Binondo led me to these ...

QUIKSNACK

Quik Snack @ Carvajal St.

Category                              : Indonesian-Chinese

Address                                : Carvajal St., Binondo Manila

Telephone Number              : 0918-9030446

Website                               : www.tjioethecaterer.ph

Other Services                     : Catering

Parking                                 : none

It is a quaint restaurant along the street of Carvajal.  I chanced upon the good-looking Operations Manager of the place who is Edwin Tjioe ( pronounced as Choo ) Tan and was told that this was established in 1967 by his grandmother, Pilar Lim. 



with the Operations Manager, Edwin Tan


It prides itself with the Indonesian – Chinese cuisine.  Everyone is friendly and accommodating.  Not your spic and span place but everything about it makes it authentic.  Makes it real.

The Kitchen

It is a place where parts of your conversation will be drowned with endless chatter and the clanging of the utensils.  This is not a dating place when you have to be cute and whisper sweet nothings to each other.  This is a place for friends who enjoy simplicity and for couples together for 7 years and above.  The place is your typical , practical Chinese restaurant with abundance of good food.  The waiter who attended to us never wrote our order ... taking everything from his memory but failed to remember the Bihon Sate.  Very casual. I like the noise ... it makes it authentic.  I love the smell ... it makes me look forward to good things to come.



Binondo Food Trippers



FOODIE’S ORDER:

(*) LUMPIANG SARIWA– Php 80.00  My mom’s favourite and the search for the best one is still on-going but EUREKA! I have found it. I was never a fan but this one – I like!  It will be served without having to properly introduce itself and say , “eat me, I’m good” ... in fact, I should call it unassuming.  As you peel off the plastic wrap ... the crepe-like wrapper is smooth without dominating the whole dish and  inside the lumpia is  a symphony of delicious goodness and identifying it would lead to a kaleidoscope of ingredients that in the end you won’t bother to find out ... you just have to finish it.

Lumpiang Sariwa

(*) NILASING NA HIPON – Php 85.00 . It is so crunchy and tasty and you would wonder, is the shrimp drunk or I wanna get a sub-zero and get  myself drunk as well.  Whether dipped in vinegar or as is ... best drunken shrimp I’ve met one fine noon.

Nilasing na Hipon

 KUTCHAY AH – Php 40.00 .  It is big for an empanada but small for a calzone. It is their take on that  bread with the almost the same ingredients as the lumpiang sariwa inside.  This is one good take-out food to bring home.  Just heat in your oven.


Kutchay Ah

NOODLE SOUP MISUA RENION – Php 110 . A hot bowl of misua with the twist – how about KIDNEY for the main ingredient? How does it taste? Good ... almost akin to liver and lengua in one meat.  There is something about the caramelized onion and the leeks that ties in flavor of this soup.

NOODLE SOUP MISUA RENION

OYSTER OMELETTE – Php 180.  This you have to eat with plain rice.  Oysters that never knew the word : scarcity.  It is an abundance of oysters wrapped in scrambled egg.  

Oyster Omelette

BIHON SATE – The dish we almost missed because the waiter forgot we ordered it. This is their “must-order”, the specialty of the house. This is the same reason why they are serving Indo-Chinese food. It is   deceiving though ... there is a spicy kick ready to unravel as it touches your tongue.  Odd for a pancit to be spicy ... but it is and it won’t even dare hide its true flavour.

Bihon Sate

TASTY DUMPLINGS

Facade of Taste Dumplings

Category                              : Chinese

Address                                : 629 Ongpin St. Binondo, Manila

                                             : 960 Masangkay, Binondo, Manila

Branch                                 : 583 NS Amoranto St., Quezon City


Telephone Number             : 02-242-5195

Business Hours                     : 10am – 9pm M, T, W, Th, F, Sat

                                              :  8am -  9pm Sun

Other Services                      : Delivery

Parking                                 : none

Modern design with ample space for loads of people.  A quick stop for snacks or hurried lunch. Waiters would clean the floor while you are eating. Needs to beef-up on  customer orientation.

Inside Tasty Dumplings


FOODIE’S ORDER:

PORK CHOP RICE – PHp 105 – big slab of pork chop meat fit for someone with huge appetite.  The batter makes it good.  Meat is tender.

(*) SILVER ROLL BREAD – Php 45 – deep fried ... making outside a bit crunchy and inside   texture  resembles a siopao.

Silver Roll Bread

HONGMA – Php 140 – tastes like pata tim .  This goes well with the silver roll bread.  One is not complete without the other.



Hongma



FRIED OR STEAMED DUMPLINGS -  Php 82 – inside the dumpling pouch is ground meat – too grounded it lacks texture .  I’m not into it.



Fried Dumplings



Steamed Dumplings



(*) WINTER MELON JUICE –  Php 45. It is from the “kundol” extract ... reminds me of gulaman and vanilla



Winter Melon Juice

DALANGHITA JUICE – Php 45 . Citrus drink – Filipino lemonade



Dalanghita Juice




THE PRESIDENT’S TEA HOUSE

Category                              : Chinese

Address                                : 809 Salazar St., Binondo, Manila

Branch                                  : SM MOA, Entertainment Mall, Central Business Park Bay Blvd.,
                                               Bay City,Pasay City

Telephone Number               : (02) 246-9082

Business Hours                     : 6:30am – 10pm  Daily

Other Services                      : Delivery

Parking                                  : ample ( in a vacant lot a few steps away )

There would always be a 1^st love – this is mine when it comes to Binondo restaurants. It has the ambiance of the food chaos  and authentic taste of old Chinatown.  It is not a place that you would want to be cozy and cute, the loud ruckus of chit-chat and the chopstick gestures would likely tell you ... this is home to a lot of regulars. There is also a dimsum cart parading inside the tea house.  Yes, no interior designer put an effort in making this one of the best designed restaurants in the Philippines but it has its charm, even better than the one in MOA which was obviously thought of and paid for to look good.  Though MOA’s Branch charm is the tropical feel , one of those emotions one would feel when eating by the shore.  It is like being on a vacation.

FOODIE’S ORDER:

(*) HOT PRAWN SALAD Php 390. This is a combination of crunchy fried prawns  and fruit salad with loads of mayonnaise.  This is so rich but eating this will make you forget to count the calories and just eat it with utter abandon.  This is throwing your resolves to the wind.  This is a must!

Hot Prawn Salad

(*) MINCED PORK LETTUCE Php 270. This is a Chinese appetizer.  The ice berg lettuce and ground pork (cooked with water chestnut, oyster sauce, garlic, ginger, cilantro, hoisin and soy) will be served separately .  You eat it by placing  the ground pork on a piece of lettuce and add hoisin sauce.  This could drip so watch out and protect your Sunday’s best. This is good. This is really good!



Minced Pork w/ Lettuce



BIRTHDAY NOODLES Php 220.  Chinese (Yi Mein) noodles with fresh spinach, sesame oil, vegetable stock, dark soy sauce , cornstarch , salt , chives and vegetables. This is your typical pancit but authentic birthday noodles in China is not cooked this way.  I am not big on this.

Trivia: Eating these noodles is lucky as the long strands of noodles symbolize a long life.  When eating the noodles, don’t break the noodles using the chopsticks or fork, but instead chew on the noodles when they are inside the mouth.

YANG CHOW FRIED RICE Php 200. Rice cooked in egg with carrots, peas, pork, shrimp and chives. I don’t know any Chinese restaurant in the Philippines that cook this in another manner. You can request to remove the shrimp or pork if you like. 

Trivia: This is from Eastern China.  While some are cooked with soy sauce and oyster sauce to give it the darker color, this one is not dark.



Yang Chow Fried Rice



MIXED VEGETABLES . The typical vegetables included in mixed vegetable platter are cauliflower, carrots, cabbage, French beans and peas with Chinese sauces sautéed together. It lacks the crunch that I look for in vegetables. Too soiled for me.

Mixed Vegetables

SIOMAI Php 80. It is a Dimsum with  pork and shrimp ( mixed with carrot, egg , spring onion and flour as the filling)  This is usually cooked by steaming and served with soy sauce and calamansi juice.  Don;pt forget the chili sauce- which is staple for me in this food , it can make or break it.

Trivia: It is best to drink tea in-between meals - about 2 hours after you have eaten. Are there good things about drinking tea with meals? Tea blocks absorption of nutrients. Drinking tea can help you lose weight!

FREE Tea in most Chinese Restaurants



PRESIDENT RESTAURANT

Interior

Category                              : Cantonese

Address                               : 746-750 Ongpin St Santa Cruz, Manila

Telephone Number             : (02) 244 7235

Business Hours                   : 10am – 11pm  Daily

Parking                                : none in front

This holds the pride of being the oldest restaurant in Chinatown.  This is in no way related to The President’s Tea House though it is just a stone throw away from the place.  Unlike the former, this depicts grandeur and opulence.  This used to be a theater in the bygone days  as seen in its vastness and high ceilinged structure.  The staff is in Chinese outfits.  This is often the venue for celebrations and it is practical to go there in a group of 12 for the typical Chinese Lauriat.  These are 10 dishes from appetizer to dessert served on a Lazy Susan or served one at a time.  This usually lasts for 2-3 hours so don’t eat fast ... savor each food and avoid the Yang Chow Rice to have room for the other Chinese goodness.

FOODIE’S ORDER:

(*) FRIED FROGS . This is one of my favorites.  Sounds queasy? Actually it is not.  It has always been compared to chicken but this is better for nibblers like me. 

(*) MINCED PORK LETTUCE Php 360.  Tastes just as good as the Tea House's  but pay a higher price for the ambiance.

STEAMED EEL W/ BLACK BEAN AND CHILI . A must they said.  I maybe adventurous with frogs ... but this one is not my cup of tea.

(*) MANGO TAPIOCA . My favourite Chinese dessert.  Mango puree with small  tapioca (sago) and shaved ice. A lovely ending.

WILD BOARS MEAT and HORSE MEAT are also available.  

Sihk Faahn! Eat!





SINGAPORE & MALAYSIA... ONCE MORE

I’ve been there many times before but this particular trip is one of the most engaging and as a foodie ... more exploratory. But let me start where it all began ... booking. This is the 1st time I’m flying Tiger Airways. Haven’t realized before that their favourite brand is Tiger. Tiger Beer, Tiger Coffee, Tiger Balm, Tiger Sky Tower, Tiger here and Tiger there. I’m a Golden Tigress as well ... from the Royal Pontifical University , of course.

When booking a promo fare ... look very closely ... hidden charges ( 15 kgs luggage? Add $10. Choose a seat? Add $10 ... and the long list follows ) Arriving at the NAIA , you have to pay 1620 (travel tax) and Terminal Fee of 750. For what? A toilet with “tabo” instead of a bidet, worn-out carpets that shouts Allergy!, water interruption announcements, brown outs and no seats available at the gates while waiting. Well, so much for the 750 terminal fee, I am paying so much taxes that I practically own a street in Makati.

I always loved the Bola-Bola Siopao in the Departure Area. Price is exorbitant at PhP190 @ Saint Cinnamon. A bottle of Coke amounts to Php70.00 But inside the plane, I don’t smell the familiar “PAL smell” ... the one that makes my tummy ache for a while, I think it is the deodorizer they use. Tiger doesn’t have that smell ... does it mean, they don’t deodorize their plane? Of course, the options continue ... meat, veggie, chicken for only 10 SGD. Blankets? 13 SGD. Drinks? 3 SGD. Arrival: Since you are in a budget plane ... land in a budget terminal. Yes! With no flowers and colored murals in the airport. No walkalator ... walk with your feet. Of course, who cannot forget the ladies who were detained because their reason for coming to SG is not to see Shrek.

Get a cab. Get every single centavo of change. By the way, prepare your SGD especially if you are arriving at odd hours when the money changers are closed. It is a must to have e-Link card: loadable card for transportation ( MRT or bus ). Saves you a lot of money for transportation. The public transportation in SG is superb. One thing though, Singaporeans are always in a hurry. Stay on the left side of the hall or escalator to avoid being trampled upon. Taxis are everywhere ... but have a number to call a cab as well for rush hours.

My typical 6-Day Recommended Itinerary: ( Not for the Senior Citizens and those with heart and feet problems )

Day 1 : Simei Plaza or any mall near your place of stay. When buying electronics canvass the price here in the Philippines, canvass in reputable stores like Challenger , Harvey Norman or Best then buy in Sim Lim Square. Remember: ask for freebies. When buying a camera: Free tripod, cleaning kit, 8G memory card, case, etc. When buying a laptop: free sleeves, free mouse, free keyboard protector, etc.

Always bring an umbrella - it is either the sun is ruining your skin or it is drizzling.

Eat your lunch here or in Sentosa – take your pick.

This is unlike our very own Kopiroti ... the way the syllables were separated might have mattered. Here they serve viands and rice unlike here that it is famous for its coffee buns.

This restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes. Add 1 SGD for every choice . Total amount of would be 2.50 for 1 meat / 1 veggie. I don't like my choices of food here , most probably if I have chosen better , I would have liked it here. Long queue of patrons, must be good.

Afternoon Sunset Tour Sentosa -

You may pay the afternoon pass or just pay for the rides you want to take. Compute – it is the best way to decide.

Three ways to get there via

MTR and Monorail:

Cable Car:
MTR & Bus




Imbiah LookOut

1. Home of the Skyline Luge

2. Images of Singapore – see SG history told in hologram.



3. Take the picture of the Merlion . The Merlion in Marina Bay is sometimes undergoing maintenance.

4. Cable Car

5. Tiger Sky Tower – Gently rising 131 meters above sea level, relax inside the air-conditioned cabin of the Tiger Sky Tower and enjoy panoramic views across Sentosa and Singapore's Southern Islands – as well as neighboring Malaysia and even Indonesia. (SGD 15)



6. Butterfly Park

7. Desperados/Sentosa 4D Magix/Sentosa Cineblast – SGD 30


Siloso Point

1. Fort Siloso - it is all about war 2. Underwaterworld – SGD 25.90 (Adult) 17.60 (Child) be dazzled by the wealth of marine life via a 83 meter long tunnel at the Oceanarium. Must see.

Touch Pool is also a delight. Close encounter with manta rays and baby sharks.

3. Dolphin Lagoon – home of the pink dolphins. Shows in Subic are better. The pink river dolphin is a freshwater river dolphins who lives in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in South America. They are also known as Boto. Although they are bright pink usually, sometimes they are also gray, brown or white. Usually, when they are excited or surprised they become pinker.

Beaches

1. iFly

2. Megazip

3. Songs of the Sea. SGD 10.00 My fave in Sentosa. Winner of Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement for Event Spectacular and ASEANTA Award for Best Tourist Attraction. Be there 30-45 minutes before the show to get the best seat in the house ( the middle part ) Don’t stay too near the shore , you might get wet. This one amazing show. MUST SEE especially for the kids. It is a delight to the 5 senses.

4. Other Beach attractions.

Dinner at Vivo City’s Food Republic – if you are looking for ambience of the Old China , this is the place you should go to – street life appeal with the convenience of the air conditioning units.


Chicken Rice at Sergeant – good! Don’t forget the condiments. Choose roasted but steamed is good for health. But I always prefer taste for health – Life is Short! Chicken Rice for me is over rated – I’ve yet to taste something that it is so good that I will recommend. This is too bland for me. I’ve tasted 3 chicken rice in SG and the one in EDSA Shangri-La. Not for me.


Tutu Coconut Cake – It got its name from the sound of the bamboo device that makes a “too-too” sound when steam is coming out of it. It is rice cake w/ fillings of coconut or peanut (your choice) – 2 of my faves - w/ pandan leaves at the bottom to enhance the fragrance. 2 SGD for 4 pcs. Minimum price of .60 w/o fillings – who would want that anyway?

VIVO CITY Mall – where you can find National Geo Store. Try getting a Tourist Pass for a discount card and freebies.

Day 2: Enroute to Johor Bahru ( “New Jewel”) which is one of the three main urban centers of Malaysia. Bus Fare: 2.40 SGD.


Shop around the Central Shopping Mall ... again it is going to my fave shoe store that is making me come back to Malaysia ... Vincci ( aka VNC in the Philippines ) . 50% off the Philippine price. Is that heaven or what. And again ... I told myself, I think I have room for 2 more shoes.

LUNCH: FOOD JUNCTION

It is imperative for us to eat in Food Courts because of our different tastes in food –

Beef Rendang – my hubby’s fave ( because he doesn't have much choice ). It is spicy caldereta – Indonesian style. Best tasting rendang better than Marina Bay Sands’. It is made from beef slowly cooked in coconut milk, spices and sometimes kerisik (toasted coconut paste) for several hours until almost all the liquid is gone, allowing the meat to absorb the spicy condiments. Spices: ginger, galangal, turmeric leaf, lemon grass and chillies.


Nasi Lemak – national dish of Malaysia. This comes as a platter of food wrapped in banana leaf, with cucumber slices, small dried anchovies (ikan bilis), roasted peanuts, hard boiled egg, and hot spicy sauce (sambal) at its core. Rice is soaked in coconut cream and steamed. My fave! Delish!


After lunch, we went to Sim Lim Square ( Ronchor Canal Road, SG – very near the bus station going to JB ) , the electronics hub of SG, lower prices but be very careful ... always remember , canvass 1st. Always, you get freebies for your cameras like cases, cleaning kits, memory cards, etc. For laptops, you can get a bag, sleeves, USB, mouse, mouse pad , etc. Avail ... avail ... avail. Opppss and don’t forget the GST Form . You get tax refund for every 100 SGD you spend ... anywhere in SG.


Visit the Bugis Night Market.


Dinner is Served at Bugis Junction:

BBQ Wings – a common sight in SG . Roasted wings in Dijon mustard, brown sugar and garlic powder. Ordinary.



Beef Satay – BBQ with hoisin sauce (which makes it different) and peanut sauce dipping ( chili paste, coconut milk, lemon juice, fish sauce, chunky peanut butter) Too small serving.



Curry Mixed Rice with either Fish or Chicken- standard fried rice mixed with curry powder for a spicier flavor. Usually comes with pork or chicken or beef with the sauce smothered all over the rice. This may sometimes come w/ potatoes. Not my cup of tea but my sister’s fave.



Popiah – spring rolls




HK Style Beancurd Salad



Chendol – their version of halo-halo for 2 SGD . For sharing – too sweet for my tooth . The dessert's basic ingredients consist of coconut milk, a worm-like jelly made from rice flour with green food coloring (usually derived from the pandan leaf), shaved ice and palm sugar. Next to these basic recipe, other ingredients such as red beans, glutinous rice, grass jelly, creamed corn, might also be included.



Of course, this is all best done with a very patient and generous friend to show you around and minimize the “lost world” stage. For this, we are forever grateful to Sandra, our host and new-found friend.

Day 3:

Marina Bay : “destination with endless opportunities for people to “explore new living and lifestyle options, exchange new ideas and information for business, and be entertained by rich leisure and cultural experiences”

Here are the sights to visit on foot:

1. Youth Olympic Park – see the paintings of children





2. The Helix Bridge , previously known as the Double Helix Bridge , is a pedestrian bridge linking Marina Centre with Marina South in the Marina Bay area in Singapore.



Try looking for the ice cream sandwich vendor here for only 1 SGD. Flavors: peppermint, mango, chocolate, vanilla, corn, etc. Yum-O!



3. Singapore Flyer - a giant Ferris wheel described by its operators as an observation wheel, it reaches 42 stories high making it the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, 5 m (16 ft) taller than the Star of Nanchang and 30 m (98 ft) taller than the London Eye.



4. Marina Bay Sands - an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay . Developed by Las Vegas Sands, it is billed as the world's most expensive stand alone casino property at S$8 billion, including cost of the prime land. It is also known for its infinity edge swimming pool but you have to pay 20 SGD to go to the top of this building.



My places of interest in MBS:

a. Louis Vuitton flagship store - reason why I came back to SG



b. Cut – restaurant owned by Wolfgang Puck - world renowned Food Network Star Chef, the caterer to Oscars Governor's Ball



c. Mozza – restaurant owned by Mario Batalli - Iron Chef - needs reservation to be accomodated during peak season:(



d. Larger than life pictures of the Master Chefs



Lunch can be eaten here at RASAPURA MASTERS but prepare to pay a higher price as compared to the usual restaurants in SG. This surrounds a synthetic ice skating rink. They have our very own, Gerry’s Grill here.

Pondok’s Curry laksa (in many places referred to simply as “laksa”) is a coconut-based curry soup. The main ingredients for most versions of curry laksa include tofu puffs, fish sticks, shrimp and cockles. Laksa is commonly served with a spoonful of sambal chilli paste and garnished with Vietnamese coriander, or laksa leaf. Yum-O!



Nihon Mura’s Chicken Katsu Curry Rice – Jap breaded porkchop. Crunchy outside and tender inside with curry sauce. Very generous amount of rice. 6.90 SGD Delish!



Char Kway Teow – fried flat noodles dubbed as a poor labourers meal. Ingredients include: Oil, Garlic, Sambal oelek (chile paste) , Chinese sausages, Shrimp, Soy sauce , Brown sugar , Eggs, Mung bean sprouts , Scallions. Taste like charred to me.



5. ArtScience Museum - The architecture is said be a form reminiscent of a lotus flower. It is designed by the architect Moshe Safdie. Referred to as "The Welcoming Hand of Singapore" by Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson, it is anchored by a round base in the middle, with ten extensions referred to as "fingers". The design concept for each finger denotes various gallery spaces sporting skylights at the "fingertips" which are included as sustainable illumination for the dramatically curved interior walls.



6. 2011 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - The 5.073km-long Marina Bay Street Circuit offers a combination of long straights and fast and demanding turns, providing drivers with a gruelling challenge fit for a champion. We saw the race route and even saw Lamborghini Gallardo Murcielago R-GT in colors of black, red, green and orange practicing for the Prix.

7. Singapore River Harbor – see the MBS from the back as you walk towards the Esplanade



8. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay - a waterside building located on six hectares of waterfront land alongside Marina. Restaurants and curio shops are also located here.



I love a small specialty shop here which sells Parisian goods.

9. Merlion – unfortunately for us, it was being renovated. Just visit Sentosa to have a picture with the icon. Much bigger san the water coming out of its mouth. In the picture ... the blue tarpaulin covers the Merlion.

10. Fullerton Hotel – 7-star hotel. Can be seen as well in the Marina.

11. Swisotel The Stamford – the tallest in SG and used to be the tallest in Asia



12. Hershey's Store - On the way to MTR you can find one. Home of my new fave, Nutrageous by Reese



ORCHARD ROAD – shopping to the max : high end brands



My places of Interests:
1. Takashimaya – large Japanese Department store chain housing the famous brands LVuitton, Fendi, Chanel, Sephora, etc



2. AFC Studio – 181 Orchard Road, #07-02 Orchard Central - a must see for chefs and foodies. It has a studio for cooking demonstration.




Dinner : Food Fare at Simei Plaza

This food hall an ideal choice for an inexpensive but good meal. The second floor is air-conditioned, comprising more tables and chairs than the first floor. Diners are mainly families, office workers and shoppers. Stalls serve local cuisine such as fried noodles, curry and Indian rojak.

Roasted Peking Duck: served with rice and peanuts. This is the most inexpensive way to eat Peking Duck.

Noodles w/ Crispy Wanton - not exceptional

Jin Fook Dessert’s Ice kachang, a mound of grated ice on a base consisting of jelly, red beans, corn and attap seeds, and topped with various kinds of coloured sugar syrups such as gula melaka, rose syrup and evaporated milk. For sharing .



Day 4 : UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ( Separate Blog )

China Town

Budget Shopping bazaar style.

Dining: Erich's Wuerstelstand - home of quality grilled sausages - Austrian Style . I am not too keen on recommending this . We are used to salty sausages. This is authentic European taste.

" The Last Sausage Kiosk Before the Equator "

Day 5: Tampines Mall and Ikea

IKEA – it is my very own Universal Studios  I love this place ever since I got hold of their catalogue a long long time ago. Neat stuff. Clean lines for the home. You can bring home the furniture because they are collapsible. Ending a fully loaded trip with a BANG.



Here you will be given tape measure, pencil and notepads. It is open from 10am - 11pm. Free shuttle at Tampines Mall. Free catalogue as well, just ask.




And if you are lucky , the King of Pop will drive you.





Shopping at IKEA:
1. You choose, compare and test all the things in the showroom.



2. Write down your choice.
3. You pick things yourself.



4. You take your products home yourself.



5. You assemble it at home.
6. If you change your mind – return!



You can eat at Ikea Restaurant . Try their sausage sandwich at 1 SGD. They have humongous condiments containers.




Make sure you equip yourself w/ a luggage scale to avoid excess baggage. They are pretty strict in SG but you can request for a group check-in.

Don't forget to claim the tax refund. For goods that you will check-in, you may claim it before you enter the pre-departure area. For goods that you will hand-carry, you may claim it inside the pre-departure area.

There are surprisingly good food finds inside the budget terminal.



Chicken Rice, again! Try the dried , fried onions. Superb. Top your soup, rice or noodles with this. Yum-O!

And there are affordable shops as well. Who would want to bring home SG coins ? Buy something than keep the coin as a souvenir .



Foodie Discoveries:

1. Four Leaves – this is the leading bakery chain in SG. Mini World – wide range of mini pastries and buns – YUM-O! My favourite is their version of pigs in a blanket.




2. Horlick’s Malted – it is everywhere in SG but you can buy it in Cold Storage. Try it! Might be too sweet for you. Good alternative to your usual cereal drink.




3. Reese’s Nutrageous Candy Bar is made with chocolate and loaded with crunchy roasted peanuts, smooth rich caramel and the distinctive taste of REESE’S peanut butter. A Must!

But no matter how you plan the trip, there will always be blocks along the way. No matter how good the intentions are. Just enjoy it. Plan it. Without the itinerary, maybe we would have ended up spending time at the home we are staying in or missing on a lot of good things and sights. I wouldn't want my family and my friends to miss the things I saw there before but also wanted to enjoy new things with them. There is commitment in trips as well. Living with each others idiosyncracies and differences ... but we ended as good friends , still. There is too much walking but we won't get to see the real Singapore if we are riding the MTR or the bus. It lacks the cold weather that I always loved when I am out of the out of country but I cannot discount the fact that the warmth of Ashlee, Sandra and Don's hospitality can beat the weather factor hands down.

It is not only a trip ... it is a journey of discovery among family and friends. And if you will ask me ... I will do it again, and again.