the top ten.

So it has been a loooooong time between blogs… Ooops. Sorry! But really, there hasn’t been a whole lot of exciting stuff going on that I wish to fill your precious time up with reading. But I thought it was time to do a ‘Top Ten’ things to do in Singapore….. Over the past couple of months I have been blessed to share Singapore with friends and family from home. So, am starting to become a bit of an ‘expert’ in this area. And now that there is a really really ridiculously cheap airline which flies BNE – SIN & SYD – SIN, there is no excuses not to take advantage of the free accommodation and tour guide you could have in Singapore! – Be aware, the national past time in Singapore is eating and shopping, so there may be a bit of a theme to this list…..

awesomeness.

1. Chilli Crab – The national dish (besides chicken rice which you can get from the Hawkers Centre).

Ben & Chihiro love it!

Kevin & Pam love it!

Yes, I will make you get a ridiculous photo with a ridiculous bib if you come and visit!

Ok, I have only had chill crab at one restaurant, but it is the bomb. I only really go out to eat this when I have guests, so I frequent the same restaurant. Jumbos @ Clark Quay. You get a great view, sitting along the river and the ginormous bib they hand to you when you order the dish makes you realise there is no dainty or elegant way to eat this meal – definitely not one for a first date! They also give you deep fried buns (seriously, deep fried! deep fried & carbs = HEAVEN!) to dip into the amazing sauce and I usually order a really fresh duck and mango salad and some salted fish fried rice to accompany the meal. Be prepared to get your hands dirty!

2. Singapore Zoo.

Just chilling!

I am not really one for the zoo, but everyone says the Singapore Zoo is amazing, and once you go, you too will be singing it’s praises. There are no fences, all the areas are kept like the traditional habitat of the animal. There are no animals sitting on concrete like you see in many Asian zoos. The animals are respected and it is amazing to see them up close. If you do go, take an umbrella as there is not that much shelter and if it goes 4 days without raining in Singapore, you find yourself thinking, ‘wow, it has been aaaaaggees since it has rained’. Otherwise, find yourself forking out $8SGD for a bright orange or green poncho.

3. Breakfast at Flutes @ the Fort.

Asparagus, salmon and poached egg (minus the hollandaise sauce that usually accompanies)

BURGER!!!

How interesting that my favourite breakfast in Brisbane also shares it’s name with my favourite breakfast in Singapore (Flute – Coorparoo). You can choose a 2 or 3 course option for $32 - $38 SGD which is super ridiculously amazing price when you consider this is a fine dining restaurant and by night you would be looking at way over $100SGD for dinner per person. The options include a mixture of breakfast and lunch items and 5 different choices for each course. Also, (when you are not hungover – apologies to my gorgeous flatmate Lucy who was looking forward to sipping champagne with me when we went there with Tom the other week), you can get a glass of MUMM champagne for $15SGD. Set in an Queenslander style house (I kid you not), the atmosphere is beautiful set in a park so you don’t feel like you are in the city.

4. The light show in the Marina.

Every night at 8pm and 11am, Singapore puts on a spectacular laser light show which goes for about 10 minutes and is really actually quite cool. The Merlion is also located in this area so you can see that as well.

A massive slice of awesomeness - PS Cafe.

5. MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm CAKE @ PS Café

They even do Nanna puddings for people like me!!!!

mmmmmmmmmmmmm coffee!

If you fancy a ginormous slice of sweet sugary goodness, PS Café is your locale. While you need to be prepared to pay upwards of $12SGD for your slice, it is worth it. On a sunny afternoon, I recommend the Dempsey Hill location where you can sit out on the deck (or in the air con if you prefer) overlooking a rainforesty area….. Otherwise, at Ang Sian Hill there is a gorgeous, 3 level art deco inspired restaurant . One of my favourite things about PS Cafe is the use humungous bunches of fresh flowers (mainly lilies – my favourites!) as decoration.  This place is more than a coffee shop, although the meals can be a little hit and miss. But definitely, this is the spot for cake and coffee.

S* photo. Awesome View. 

6. Altitude Bar – The best view.

Many people go up Marina Bay Sands to get a view of the city, the problem with this is, you don’t get to VIEW Marina Bay Sands, which is a beautiful building. One of the few places in Singapore where you can get a fresh breeze (if you are lucky!) Altitude bar is the highest roof top bar in Singapore. It also comes with a price that matches, but drinking in Singapore is EXPENSIVE, so, for the view, pumping tunes and great atmosphere, it is totally worth it.

7. Chinatown

Happy Hour!! - Note the 'promo girl' in the background.

If you want to shop or eat, Chinatown cannot be beaten on both fronts. There is a wide range of shops to wander through with some of the best prices in Singapore (just ask my Mum who carved it up!). Chinatown is also home to one of the best hawker centres in Singapore, it has an excellent, lively atmosphere and a great range of food and the beer promo ladies (I say ladies as these are the OLDEST promo girls I have ever seen!) are prompt and efficient with delivering beers to your table. The cheapest place to drink in Singapore is at the Hawker centres and this one has the best atmospheres.

8. East Coast Park

If you are into running, biking, rollerblading or walking, East Coast Park is where you wanna get to. You can hire bikes and rollerblades as well as carts which you can pedal around with your mates in. East Coast Park also has a wide range of Seafood restaurants (including Jumbos) as well as the 2^nd best hawker centre. This hawker centre is a lot more laid back, as it is by the beach. And when the sun goes down, you can see how the city extends onto the ocean which is literally brimming with cargo ships. As the night falls, they light up and it looks as though you are looking onto another city. The park also has wakeboarding and a skate park (which has zero graffiti!) if that is your preferred exercise method.

9. Orchard Rd

If you want to get seriously lost in a maze of underground shops as well as see shopping centre after shopping centre, lined up one after the other as far as the eye can see, Orchard Rd is your destination. During the different festive seasons, the decorations put up are just stunning – particularly the Christmas lights.

10. Buffet Brunch  - Senso

Dessert @ Senso

Buffets in Singapore are an institution. Seafood, Dinner, Japanese, Brunch, Ice cream, Thai, Indian, Chocolate – you name it, they will have it somewhere in the form of a buffet. Again, I have only been to one… can you imagine the amount of time I would need to spend in the gym or hanging out with Jillian if this became more than a special occasion affair? Senso was the chosen spot due to its price $98 SGD, Italian influence of food and the free flow Prosecco which came along with the package. Many brunches charge well over $150 and then ask for an extra $30-40 to include beer / wine with your meal, so Senso it was! This is also a really beautiful restaurant, which is smaller than your large hotel function rooms which cram with people, and the quality of the food was amazing. The service was excellent and your glass was never allowed to become empty!

Special mention to the Carrot Cake from Cedele....... YUM!

Low crime isn't no crime people - be vigilant!

More chili crab.... Seriously it is THIS good!

& if there is time, you can always get a Singapore Sling from Raffles....... Note this photo was taken BEFORE receiving the $90 bill for 3 cocktails..... 

Ho Chi Minh

The Caramel City! 

During a visit by the parentals, we were able to sneak away to Ho Chi Minh for a couple of days over the Chinese New Year long weekend.

First on the agenda upon waking up was to hit the markets! Now, Dad and I were fortunate enough to have watched a documentary on Vietnam the night before we left and learnt how to cross the road. Just walk in a straight line. Keep your pace steady. Don’t stop or make any sharp changes in direction. And the traffic won’t hit you.

Only 1 road rule in Vietnam: Don't Crash.

On our way, we managed to not get run over, and we decided to check out a temple that we came across.   As we were walking in, we had flowers and incense shoved into our hands then were treated to a show as to how to give our offerings. As we walked out, we were charged US$5 each for the experience. Yep, within 15 minutes of being out on the road, we had been ripped off! The great thing about travelling in Asia, is when you get ripped off, it is usually only a couple of dollars so one can’t really complain too much. (Yes, tight arse Jodie did complain Quite Loudly though!)

Mum giving up her offerings.

As we wandered through the streets and the locals were starting their day, I was keen to try a Vietnamese Iced Coffee that my man had raved… and raved…. and raved about (I know – it is quite a different look to his usual rants!) upon his return form Vietnam many years ago.

I noticed two ladies swigging on iced coffee from a bag and asked them where to get it from. They pointed to the end of the street…. and so our adventure began! Finally, we got to the MOST happening little restaurant we had seen all morning – filled to the brim with locals. And, much to my father’s displeasure, also harbouring quite a colony of insects. We were shuffled upstairs, and were seated on plastic chairs next to the dirty dishes which were stacked ever so neatly on the floor beside a large bucket of water. The looks on my parents faces….. hilarious! 

Mmmmmm...... Shot of Coffee, about 1/3 cup of condensed milk, add ice and stir..... YUM! Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the place we were at.... didn't want to be rude. 

Bowl after bowl of Pho (noodle soup) came out until finally the only person who could speak a rudimentary amount of English came to get our order. We requested three Vietnamese Iced coffees (to which my parents quickly explained Take AWAY!!). Finally, armed with bags of deliciousness, we were off! – Seriously, my parents could not have gotten out of there faster! I would have loved to have tried their Pho but I knew there was NO WAY my parents would come back!

Finally, we made our way to the hustle and bustle of the Ben Thanh Market. Unfortunately, we entered via the fresh produce, and I nearly lost my parents as I weaved my way through the throng to get away from the fumes of fish, herbs, spices, meats of every type of animal you could imagine all mixed together with the aroma of flowers.

I have been to many markets, but was quite overwhelmed by this one! The aisles were so tiny and completely filled to the brim with customers of every race, and each store had a feisty Vietnamese woman touting her wares. We had some success at purchasing some gifts and homewares and after about an hour, my father declared he had had enough!

Turns out this lady had had enough too.

We wandered through the streets and found the National Museum and had a sticky beak through there whilst on our way to the War Remnants Museum.

By the time we arrived there, the museum was closing for lunch! We found out the hard way that most museums around Vietnam close for lunch so we had to kill two hours. After making my dad walk around four blocks, we settled on the restaurant directly beside the museum for lunch! (and boy, did I not hear the end of that one! –Mum and I had to put him on a drip of Mai Tais to get him to shut up!).

Getting ready to hit the Mai Tais!

Fortunately, service was not their strongest suit, and after a 2 course meal which took almost 2 hours to arrive, we set back off for the museum.

The War Remnants Museum is amazing and the best thing to see in Ho Chi Minh. A lot of the exhibits are photographs from the war and that is the kind of thing I like to soak up. Particularly disturbing was the Agent Orange exhibit which showed the impact of the chemical warfare on the children of the period.

Beautiful Peace Statue at the War Remnants Museum.

After walking through here for several hours, it was back to the hotel for us. For the second time that day, we lined the pockets of the locals. Stupidly, I accepted a ride from a taxi that was sitting outside the museum and had approached us. As I was sitting in the front seat, I could see his meter was running much faster than any other cab. We ended up paying $US15 for a ride that should have cost $US6….. Again, happy to get ripped off in Asia… Again, I ranted and raved about how I ‘should have known better!’

Seriously, EVERY hour is cocktail hour for these crazy kids! Enjoying a cheeky pre-dinner beverage at the rooftop bar of our hotel.

The view as the sun goes down.......

The next day, we checked out the Reunification Palace and planned on doing more shopping, however at Noon on the Sunday of Chinese New Year, Ho Chi Minh shut down. Completely. So Mum and Dad went back to ‘Tom’s Bar’ (the bar that my man frequented during his holiday in Ho Chi Minh – right on the corner from our hotel) to drink and watch some tennis and I went for a workout in the hotel gym to try and negate some of the effects of our 3-4 times daily iced coffees!

Re-enactment of the storming of the palace which marked the end of the war.

Amazed by the technology!

Communications room used during the war in the Reunification Palace.

Presidential Office

On our last day, we headed out on a tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels. An excellent way to spend a day and learn about the Viet Cong’s warfare techniques. The propaganda though, was hilarious.

Examples of traps set by Viet Cong.

Watch your step...

White girl playing war games. 

This is how the Viet Cong communicated to tread lightly.

“The Americans, they shoot at everyone, and everything, even our pots and pans” – Not the Pots and Pans!

“The Americans, they kill our innocent women”  - then in the next exhibit, they praise their women for fighting through the day, then schooling children and harvesting rice through the day. Innocent?

**Note, I am not pro Viet Cong or Pro the American Alliance, just found how they criticised the American Alliance interesting!

Self portrait in the tunnels. 

That afternoon, I finally convinced (read: forced) my parents (actually, my dad! – Mum is as keen as me to try out local delights) into eating on the street. Our last meal – and our BEST meal – was Beef Pho on the streetside. Again, I had confirmed that the best places to eat in Asia are the places where the chairs are plastic and the locals are in abundance. Although, I am worried I have turned Dad into a vegetarian………

Dad's first foray into street food.... Pork Buns.

Mum getting stuck into it like a local!

Dad, 'what the hell is this garbage?' - Um, only the most awesome meal you will have in Vietnam!

All in all, an amazing place to visit – particularly if you are interested in the history of the war. Food. Or seeing one hell of a crazy place in operation!

Vietnamese Butcher

The Notre Dame - turned the corner and thought we had landed in Europe!

nyc....NYC....N-Y-C!!!!!!!!!!!

@ the top of the Rivington Hotel NYE!

Partying down - NY style!

So the summer break has been and gone and it didn’t quite turn out as expected. 4 glorious weeks spent with my man was the best Christmas present I could receive. It was so lovely to not have to be in any sort of countdown mode – usually our daily skype calls, sms and emails end with me relaying where we are on the countdown of weeks / workdays / Monday mornings left until we meet again. I can tell you that was probably the hardest thing when I left him at the departure lounge in Brisbane, realising that we were back into countdown mode. Dislike.

So yes, both quality and quantity time with my man was on the cards for my break and I got loads of both which was refreshing for the soul. It was also wonderful to catch up with friends and family – lots of lunches, coffees, bbqs, Christmas parties etc to be able to fill the gaps of what emails and skype calls seem to miss.

However, on a night when I told my man that he had to take me to see a the latest rom com and to my favourite restaurant in Brisbane, our holiday plans (of being in our house and doing n-o-t-h-i-n-g!) went a little haywire.

After sitting through the first completely cringeworthy –about-to-walk-out-any-minute-if-this-movie-does-not-improve – movie New Years Eve, we followed up with a much more palatable Fajitas and Sangria. The movie was based in New York for New Years Eve – something we have had on our ‘todo’ list and we had put off until New Years 2013. However, my man must have had his drink spiked because it was after our entrée of corn chips and jack cheese that he started to declare ‘screw it – lets go to NYC for NYE this year!’ – as in, literally, 10 days time.

As soon as we got home, he was on the www researching flights…. hotels…. and getting all pumped up for the event. I thought he was crazy, and went to bed. It wasn’t until I was able to sleep on his grand plans and consider our situation that I was able to get on board – and agree, this was the time to do it. We had friends already going to NYC for the event, we are financially (gulp) able to decide to make a trip of a lifetime happen 10 days out, and we are removed from each other for 90 percent of the year so * it. Let’s Do It!

10 days later we were boarding Korean Airways Business Class for the trip of a lifetime.

Words cannot describe the AMAZING time we had…… so I’ll let the pictures do the talking!

Cosmopolitan in the A380 Business Class Lounge at 40 000 feet .... Don't mind if I do!

Concrete Jungle. Love it!

Had to be done!

BROADWAY! - The tall building in the centre of the pic is where the ball drop happens.

Central Park. We did ice-skate, but I didn't get any piccies :(

& I thought Singapore went OTT with decorations. At least these were classy! Cartier  & Fendi on 5th Ave

Bloomingadales - funnily enough, they go all out on decorating and ensuring the first floor looks amazing... the rest needs a serious makeover! This was the case with Saks as well.

Massive crowds @ Broadway

Squirrel eating the leftovers of the mammoth pretzel fed by......

The crazy man in the park!

Loved the old buildings. Loved the bare trees. LOVED THE BLUE SKY!!! I miss a blue sky so much in cloudy, hazy, polluted ol' Singapore :(

The Bull @ Wall St

Stock Exchange

The boys hoping for a better 2012!

I <3 Trump. Celebrity Apprentice is my 2nd favourite show.... Behind Survivor of course!

People lining up to buy UGG boots

Carb Loading in Little Italy pre NYE Festivities!

Our delightful travelling companions!

The man and I .... *sigh*

The view from the Penthouse @ Rivington where we saw in 2012. This apartment was also used in the remake of the film 'Arthur ' as Russel Brand's apartment 

More crowds at Rockefellar Centre

View from Top of The Rock - Green building is The Empire State Building

We were able to catch up with a mate of Tom's from Timor who is now working in the UN office in NYC..... Here's hoping he can help land my man a job ;)

Columbus Circle & Trump Towers.......

The only museum we went into (mainly due to incredible lines - we don't do lines!) was the Museum of Modern Art & Design.... Took us less than an hour to get through the 4 levels..... not very interesting! However, the restaurant on the top floor was THE BEST FIND! Awesome food + amazing ambiance + fantastic service...... 

+ THE VIEW! Central park in the winter..... *sigh* how nice are seasons??!

NYC...... View from the HELICOPTER!

Another Bird's Eye View!

On our flight home (sniff!), we had a 12 hour stopover in Korea

& saw SNOW!!!!

Palace in the city...... amazing!

& yes.... it had to be done! Thanks to my A*mazing Man.... Xx