Popular BookFest@Singapore 2014

Every year I look forward to BookFest@Singapore organised by Popular Bookstore, the largest bookstore chain in Singapore. I try to plan to buy the necessary stationery and books so that I don't have to buy for the rest of the year and I can enjoy steep discount up to 60%. Frankly speaking, I don't like to shop for clothes, watches,bags, shoes or jewelry which women my age like to splurge. My indulgence are books and cute stationery. Simply say, I'm a bookworm and person with few needs. 

I like this year BookFest as there is a exhibition on the history of Popular bookstore which is founded by Mr Chou Sing Chu who grew up in Shanghai and arrived in Singapore when he was 19 years old. It started as a Chinese bookstore. Today, it is the largest bilingual chain store in Singapore and Southeast Asia with branches in Hong Kong and Malaysia too. It is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. 

I'm delighted that talented and humorous Taiwanese author, producer and director 九把刀 Giddens Ko is in Singapore for the sharing and book-signing event today. This year I finally got his autograph and I took a photo with him. I'm thankful he chose Singapore for his first public appearance after the scandals. He shared that it is important to do what you say and to pursue your dream. He fulfilled my simple dream by signing the two books that I brought and kindly posed for picture with all the readers who queued up for his autograph. I hope next year he will come to Singapore again. As usual I enjoyed his humorous sharing. Despite the challenges he faced this year, he gave an interesting and insightful talk. 

Well if you love books and stationery, come down to Suntec city Hall 401 -405 which start on 12 Dec and end on 21 December. There are more book signing event by local and regional writers. You can find out more at Popular BookFest@Singapore here.

Date: 12 Dec to 21 Dec 2014

Time: 10 am to 10pm.

How to get there?

Just alight at Cityhall MRT or Esplanade MRT and walk to Suntec City.

Difficult airline customer? A picture is worth a thousand words.

The entrance

 Enter I Remember Gallery to learn the history of Popular Bookstore

 Publications by World Book Company

 Popular's Founder Mr Chou Sing Chu

 This poster show the evolution of Chinese language for the last four thousand years.

 Chinese characters are inspired from observing nature

You can find Popular Bookstores all around Singapore.

 Old textbook in Singapore

You can buy CD albums at BookFest too.

Wide range of stationery are available too.

 九把刀 Giddens Ko

 九把刀 Giddens Ko like to start with his childhood.

He aspired to be a comic artist initially but he lost his comic book.

 Speak out for what you believe in.

Difficult airline customer? A picture is worth a thousand words.

Christmas at Flower Dome

One of the reasons why I always go to Flower Dome Gardens by the Bay is because every three to four months, there will be a change of flower field and decoration. I love to be surrounded by nature be it flowers or trees as it always make me happy. From November to January, the flower dome decoration is inspired from the Christmas season.   

 I like cactus and succulent plants.

 Interesting facts on Christmas.

 I want to receive lots of Christmas presents too.

After flower dome, visit the Christmas market at Super tree area.

View of Singapore from the Plane

I love to travel and lately I've been travelling to lovely Taiwan, an island state with rich Chinese treasures at Taiwan National Palace Museum. Whenever I travel, I always book the window seat as I love to see the land from the plane. The following photos are taken from the plane to Singapore.

 View from the plane

 View of Singapore from the plane.

 Greenery in the city state

Singapore Changi airport and the iconic airport tower

九把刀 Giddens Ko is Coming to Singapore!

Hurray, the talented and funny Taiwanese author, director and producer 九把刀 Giddens Ko will be coming to Singapore in Singapore BookFest@Singapore Suntec City on 12 December at 7.30pm to 9.30pm for a talk and book signing event. This time I'm going to get his signature and hopefully pose a photo with him. 

He is a really good speaker and storyteller. His talk was really interesting, engaging and funny. An hour and a half sharing flew by very fast. This year I am interested in his speech. Though he was caught cheating to his girlfriend, he had the courage to admit his fault and apologise to his girlfriend. Really anticipate his sharing. 

You can click last year Giddens Ko's sharing here.

The Best Pumpkin Cheesecake in Singapore

Every time I go to  The Connoisseur Concerto (TCC), I must have their pumpkin cheesecake which I think is the best in Singapore. The cheesecake is not too sweet and you can feel the pumpkin rich fibre which is good for your health.

There are many TCC boutiques in Singapore mainly in the town area like Ion Orchard, Marina Bay Sands,Wisma Atria and others. Besides cheesecakes, they also serve pasta, main courses and a wide variety of coffee. It is quite pricey so I always use my membership card which save me 15%. 

Pumpkin cheesecake

Clack & Clams Crayfish pasta comes with generous clams and crayfish in spicy sauce.

Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay

I am delighted with this year Christmas market at Gardens by the Bay. For the first time, I get to experience a Europe Christmas in Singapore. They have imported an exquisitely beautiful light sculpture all the way from Italy. 

Besides Luminarie light sculptures that are specially constructed from Italy, there is also the two-century old  Spiegeltent or "Mirror Tent" in Dutch which is flown in from Netherlands. It is basically a large traveling tent constructed in wood and canvas and decorated with mirrors and stained glass. At the Christmas marketplace at Supertree groves area, you can shop at various cute wooden huts. You can also buy food like Kebabs and Chinese wrap or buns, or even desserts. 

Free admission at the following 

Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay from 29 November 2014 to 1 January 2015

Luminarie Light Sculptures: 7pm to midnight

Spiegeltent,a travelling 'mirror tent' from Netherlands will open from 5pm to midnight. Enjoy a special dining experience in the Spiegeltent.

Garden Rhapsody (Christmas Edition) A 12 minutes music and light show where lights on Super trees danced to popular Christmas tunes in the "Garden Rhapsody”
From 17 Nov 2014 - 6 Jan 2015 | 7:45 PM, 8:45 PM

Festive markets (29 Nov to 21 Dec)  2pm-11pm daily

Magical Luminarie Light Sculptures specially constructed from Italy

You can experience snow or 'foam' at selected timing in the Luminarie in tropical Singapore.

 Luminarie light sculpture at the entrance to Super tree grove.

 Experience Christmas at Super tree groves!

 Shop to your heart content at various Christmas tents and wooden huts.

 Food is available at around $8.00 for a kebab or Chinese food.

There is free 12 minutes music and light show where lights on Super trees danced to popular Christmas tunes in the "Garden Rhapsody” at 7.45pm and 8.45pm. 

 There are free performances on Friday and weekends in this stage.