Pretty Flower

Beautiful flower at Flower dome, Gardens by the Bay.

Famous Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo Street

This is the famous and popular Kwan Im ( Goddess of Mercy) temple in Singapore, located at Waterloo street. I once read that Singapore actress Fann Wong, who also starred in Hollywood movie with Jackie Chan, will always prays at the temple whenever she is in Singapore. 

Don't be surprise to see a hindu temple just next to the Kwan Imm temple. As a racial and religion harmony country, we respect others religions. Where can you find two different religion temples standing to each other? 

Tourists like to take photo of this temple.

You can buy lotus flowers to offer to the Goddess of Mercy. During the 1st and 15th of the month, or Goddess of Mercy's birthday and Vesak day, this place will be bustling with people.

Visual Art Display at Esplanade

SIA First Class Cabin

I haven't travel with Singapore Airlines first class yet. My dream is to one day travel with SIA first class from Singapore to Switzerland,  a beautiful country for maybe two weeks holiday. How wonderful if I could see the aurora borealis from the plane or maybe milky way. We don't get to see these magical natural phenomenon in Singapore. But then, to travel first class with SIA to Switzerland cost maybe $12,643.20 for return trip. 
So maybe I should just save up for another three years. Looking at my saving now, spending $12,643.20 is really a lot. I think in life it is good to experience some luxury to pamper ourselves if we can afford it.  

Delicious Chinese Dim Sum at Imperial Treasure Nan Bei Tampines 1

In Singapore, there are many good Chinese restaurants that offers delicious food at reasonable price. However, it can be pricey if you include compulsory 10% service charge and 7% Goods Service Tax (GST).  Many Singaporeans like to have dim sum for their afternoon high tea. 

To celebrate Mother's Day, I took my parents to Chinese restaurant for Dim Sums at Tampines 1 shopping centre at Imperial Treasure Nan Bei restaurant. Personally I feel they provide quality, fresh and tasty dim sum with a wide variety. That's why I always like to go this restaurant as service is quite good too. Service staff would replace the plates frequently if they notice the plates are dirty. 

Its always good to have dim sum with hot Chinese tea. It helps to remove the greasy and hopefully dissolve the oil. 

Let's take a look at the 15 dim sums! For your information, prices indicated below is for per plate.

Variety of dim sums

Deep fried prawn dumpling (Comes in 5 pieces in bamboo steamer costs $8.50)

Ha Kau ( Prawn dumpling) costs $5.00. It comes with generous serving fresh prawn in this translucent skin.

Deep fried chicken wings with prawn paste. One of my favourite dish. ($7.00)

Siew Mai with mushroom, pork and fresh prawn,

I really love this Xiao Long Bao. Its a must order. This is Xiao Long Bao or Steamed minced pork dumpling with soup inside. Best eaten with black vinegar and sliced ginger. Be careful when you bite and not let the soupy juice flow away. ( $4.80)

Steamed Teochew dumpling. $3.60.

Prawn Dumpling noodle dry, You can add black vinegar and chilli sauce to make this taste better. I like the springy noodle. ($6.80)

Shrimp rice roll, another of my favourite dim sum. ($5.50)

Steamed custard bun. Be careful when you bite. The piping hot custard oozed out when you bite. ($3.90)

This yam puff is filled with pork and yam. ($3.90)

Pumpkin pastry. It is healthy and chewy to bite. Reminds me of nian gao, $3.60.

Almond cream. End the dim sum with desserts. This is good for complexion. 

Souffle egg ball, sweet dessert with banana inside. ($4.80).

Red bean pan cake. This is deep fried with sweet red bean inside.  This crispy sweet dessert is more expensive. ( $8.00). But I like this dessert. 

Poster found at Tampines Bus-stop

Arts in the City at Esplanade Theatre Basement 10 May to 23 June

I always feel happy everything I visits art museum, see beautiful or thought provoking arts. Arts in various forms just make me feel so good and happy. 

Most of my friends don't enjoy going to museum  well except two friends who also enjoy beautiful arts. 

If you want to see and experience arts, you can always go to Esplanade Theaters on the Bay. Every few months, they will change the visual art displays at the concourse and basement area by artists from the regions. 

From 10 May to 23 June, there is this Hokkien Rhymes. Hokkian is the largest dialect group in Singapore Chinese, followed by the Teochews, Cantonese and others dialect groups. 

In Singapore, Mandarin is taught in school and our government discourages the Chinese from speaking dialects as they think it is not easy to master three languages English, Mandarina and dialects. Chinese Radio and TV shows are not allowed to use dialects. Thus, the younger Chinese generation don't understand their own dialects. 

The purpose of the art work as explained by the artist is to preserve the selection of Hokkien rhymes before they disappear. 

 Youths break dance near the Esplanade by the Bay.

 Tourists posing with the Flipside Arts at Esplanade basement

 Beauty drink advertisement. Drink it and you stay young!

 Switzerland famous shop: NewAutomatic watch launch

Sunset at Marina Bay Sands

Singlish, Uniquely Singapore

Singlish is the unofficial language used by Singaporean. Singlish is a combination of English, Hokkian, Teochew (Chinese dialects), Malay and Indian language. 

It’s really endearing to hear another fellow Singaporean speak Singlish especially in others countries. Singlish allows us to identify fellow Singaporeans easily. That is one of the reasons why the four different races Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasians and others in Singapore can live in harmony for the past 48 years. You can say Singlish is the leveler and bond citizens. 

We accept each other and combine the different languages of the four main races to form a unique language that bond us. Though there are others who dismiss Singlish. My rational is if you want to speak perfect English, go ahead. But speaking perfect English don't give you a unique identity. I mean everybody around the world speaks this ang mo language. 

Most Singaporeans are proud of this unique language that is uniquely Singapore used by Singaporeans. Of course Singaporeans normally speak Singlish with fellow Singaporeans. We write and speak in proper English when necessary. Singlish actually breaks the barrier and bond the citizens better.

Commonly used Singlish

Pai sei ( sorry, also mean embarrassed)

Si mi: What?

Alamak: Exclamation

Bo chap: Don’t care

Watch this excellent video on Singlish by our talented and adorable Singaporeans, aka Dr Jia Jia and his elder brother. It is fun way of learning Singlish and the videos are hilarious! 

Dr Jia Jia and his elder brother in Singlish Minister

Beating Hymn of Tiger Mom

Free Attractions in Singapore Marina Bay Sands

Singapore is an expensive city. But there are some free attractions you can visit and enjoy. For example, you can experience Southeast Asia's largest light and water show, which is named The Wonder Full show in Singapore, at Marina Bay Sands, Event plaza at the promenade. The show is provided free daily at 8 pm. Well if it rain, then there be no show. 

You can bring some food and drink to sit at the event plaza and enjoy this free 13 minutes dazzling light and water show, with image projected on the water screens with inspiring music that accompany the water and light show. 

Stunning visual image projected on the water screen with the beautiful Singapore city as backdrop.

The Wonder Full Show

LOCATION

EVENT PLAZA AT THE PROMENADE

---

SHOWTIMES:

SUNDAY-THURSDAY:

8PM, 9:30PM

FRIDAY, SATURDAY:

8PM, 9:30PM, 11PM

WONDER FULL IS SHOWN NIGHTLY, WEATHER PERMITTING. DURATION IS 15 

MINUTES.

SHOWS AND SHOW TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR CANCELLATION AT THE DISCRETION OF MARINA BAY SANDS' MANAGEMENT.

Esplanade Theatre by the Bay

One of my favorite Singapore attraction is Esplanade Theatre by the Bay. There are concert hall, recital studio, music library, shops and restaurant. Once you exit the Esplanade Theatre, you can walk to the Merlion park or even to the Marina Bay Sands. Everytime I want to chill and relax, this is the place I go to. 

Art display outside Esplanade Theatre by the Bay

 Cheerful entrance design from the Esplanade concourse area for shopping and dining.

Program

 Visual Arts Display in Esplanade concourse area by Korean artist

Singapore National Pledge

The National Pledge is:

We, the citizens of Singapore,

pledge ourselves as one united people,

regardless of race, language or religion,

to build a democratic society

based on justice and equality

so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and

progress for our nation.

Singapore Pledge in four languages. Picture taken from Singapore Today