OUR AWESOME PLANET

SINGAPORE CHINATOWN WALK: Red Clogs Down the Five-Foot-Way™ (A Review) @VisitSingapore

Red Clogs Down the Five-Foot-Way™ A Chinatown Walk is a 3.5+ hours heritage walking tour of Singapore's Chinatown created by Journeys Singapore.  

It's one of the inspiration behind the Chinatown Food Tour by Ivan Man Dy in Manila.

Here's a photo essay review of my first walking tour experience in Singapore:

Your Awesome Singapore Series:

• GARDENS BY THE BAY: Singapore's Super Trees, Cloud Dome, and Sleeping Boy Child Art
• SINGAPORE CHINATOWN WALK: Red Clogs Down the Five Foot Way (A Review)
• SINGAPORE LITTLE INDIA WALK: Dhobis, Saris & a Spot of Curry (A Review)
• 328 KATONG LAKSA: The BEST Laksa in Singapore?
• THE INTAN: Peranakan Heritage Home-Museum by Antique Collector Alvin Yapp 

GARDENS BY THE BAY: Singapore's Iconic Super Trees, Cloud Dome, and Sleeping Child Installation Art @VisitSingapore

GARDENS BY THE BAY is Singapore's newest icon -- a $1-billion investment over a 100-hectare green park zone located in Marina Bay's "new downtown" area. It is known for its 12 Steel Giant Supertrees and 2 cooled dome conservatories: The Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome.

It is a project by Singapore's National Parks Board, which aims to boldly transform the City of Singapore into a "City in a Garden" instead of just a "Garden City". It was recently awarded the World Building of the Year in the World Architecture Festival 2012.

This is definitely one of the Singapore attractions I would recommend for a date with that special someone or to spend time with the family. You need to allot 3 hours max to explore the gardens.

Here are some tips on how to have an awesome experience in Gardens by the Bay:

Your Awesome Singapore Series:

• GARDENS BY THE BAY: Singapore's Super Trees, Cloud Dome, and Sleeping Boy Child 

Jewel Box, Mount Faber, Singapore

Mount Faber View -- The Highest Point in Singapore.

"An Extraordinary hideaway which stands out with its pleasing sense of rustic sophistication. The Jewel Box offers an ethereal ambiance in which you will enjoy the privacy and tranquility of nature, as well as the exquisite variety of bars & restaurant. In the midst of an enormous wealth of flora and fauna, of colorful sunsets, and songs of birds, this exuberant architectonic combination offers the most spectacular scenery of the city and harbour and is perfect for after-work drinks, intimate dinners and serious partying"
(www.mountfaber.com.sg)

(Left to Right) Apurva (Indian), Siriwan (Thailand), Mui - The boss (Singaporean), Donald (Australian), Alex (Singaporean), Birthday Boy Steven (Malaysian), Calvin (Chinese), and Mark (Australian).

Usually, our regional team meets twice a year and I always look forward to the group dinner. It is the only time I'm able to go to "bloggable" places, otherwise, we spend most of the time between the hotel and our Novena office. I was excited because I've never been to Mount Faber which is allegedly the highest point in Singapore. We went to Jewel box, Singapore's Iconic Hilltop Destination, which serves a 4 course set menu of salad, soup, entree and dessert. Despite the fantastic 180 degrees view of Sentosa, the lush forrest, and nearby islands, it was not enough to compensate for its uninspired ambiance and cuisine. They also have a very nice and enticing website but I have a hard time to even say that the food was OK.

In any case, it is always a nice experience and more learnings about Singapore. Thanks Alex for arranging this!

[Singapore #2] Makan Food that did not make the cut

1. Fish Head Curry -- My wife wanted to try this out and so we did. It was just okay, nothing to rave about or maybe we just had too much of everything that night. The huge snapper head served was enough for the three of us but with the other food on the table, it was way too much. There was so much fish meat that i thought it was an endless eating. Cooked in a spicy, tangy, tamarind curry with okra and tomatoes.

Singapore

[Singapore #1] Makan Food Trip - My Top 10 Favorites!

I always dread going to Singapore because I thought the place is so boring and the food is uninspired. I was only exposed to my usual routine of hotel to office and eating in Orchard Road, Clark / Boat Quay, or Suntec City Malls, the usual tourist route. Boy, was I dead wrong.

Singapore is a foodie haven! My taste palette just got expanded when I tasted the best of Singapore Makan delights. In fact, Singaporeans are known for their 24-hour passion for makan -- the malay word for "food" or "eat". Armed with a Uniquely Singapore Makan Delights brochure, a popular book called Makan Sutra (singapore makan bible), and a singapore local foodie, my family went on a makan food trip in Singapore. I now respect and appreciate Singaporeans passion for food and as they say, the best food is found along the streets. That I would have to agree 100%!

Here is my top 10 Makan Favorites! For those who will have a chance to go visit Singapore, you have to seek out these Makan Delights! Just an additional tip if you are going on a Makan food trip: a) bring your own tissue/ water and, b) you can say no to the wet towels and peanuts which usually comes with a fee.

1. Bak Kuh Teh -- This is the Singapore/ Malaysia version of our Bulalo. There are two versions the one with clear, aromatic broth that is full of garlic and white pepper and the one with a dark broth full of Chinese herbs that is good for your health. I like the latter one (dark broth) and it is usually served with white rice, yu tiao (chinese fried dough fritters), sliced red chillies in soy sauce, and a pot of Chinese tea.

Singapore

Sunset View

Equinox Sunset View, originally uploaded by antondiaz.

Magnificent view of Singapore dusk taken from the tallest building in Singapore :) I'm glad I had the chance to eat in Equinox Restaurant in Swissotel The Stamford. I've been traveling the whole week so I'll leave you with this photo from my travel :)

Bak Kuh Teh - My New Singaporean Dish Favorite

Bak Kuh Teh is the local version of bulalo for Singaporeans and the loop is alot better than our bulalo!

My Singapore Adventures 1: Are you a Chili Crab or Pepper Crab lover?

Asia Band 3 College, Singapore ( September, 26-30, 2005 )

Singapore has been my second work home. All of my trips this year have been in Singapore and this week is no exception. We had a leadership training for all the senior managers in our company in the asia region. Whenever I travel, I bring my hobby with me: Photography, Badminton and Culinary Adventures.

Night Photography. My first attempt at night photography of Clarke Quay, Singapore. I wished pasig river could be as beautiful as this. This place have always been a tourist winner ever since.

Chili Crab or Pepper Crab? I've always craved about these singapore favorites that nobody can match in the Philippines resto. For some reason, ever the Palm Beach in the Fort or Singapura Rasa cannot even compare to these authentic dishes from Jumbo Seafood Restaurant. The JUMBO chili crab has always been a winner over the JUMBO pepper crab because of its rich yummy sauce with fried or steam buns! If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're missing on one of the culinary adventures of your life.

I can't imagine that I've eaten in a Jumbo restaurant on two consecutive nights both in Clarke Quay. Their most famous restaurant is in East Coast -- most of the taxi drivers know this place. Recently, I learned that there are other recommended dishes that are sooo delicious in Jumbo. Don't forget to order Bamboo Clams with minced garlic and Crispy Baby Squid!! Equally Yummy!

Badminton. When visiting Singapore, I always make a point to play Badminton. Also, I always bring my badminton racket when I travel. It affects my game if I don't use my Armortek 800. There's a certain feel to it that I'm able to make excellent drop shots or control the flick of my wrist.

RC Airplane. On my way to Jumbo, I saw these Singaporeans flying RC plances that look like UFO sightings in the photo above. One day, I'll take up this hobby :)

Official Photographer. The problem with having photography as your hobby is the fact that people will leverage your hobby during meetings and ask you to be THE official photographer. One of my difficulty is asking a group to do a fun shot aside from the normal formal shots. I'm happy that I was able to talk some sense into the team and inspire them to have this wacky pose. (I'm the middle person on the first row)