Da Paolo Gastronomia at Raffles City

I read about Da Paolo Gastronomia in local newspapers. It's a popular Italian restaurant famous for their pasta in Singapore. Thus I was excited when I saw Da Paolo Gastronomia is coming to Raffles City, my favourite shopping mall!

So yesterday I went to Da Paolo to try their pasta as I love pasta and I read of their delicious Banana Toffee tart though I don't really like to eat banana. Wow, though I don't like banana, I really like their Banana Toffee tart with rich creamy toffee on really hard tart. Really need to exert a lot of effort to break the tart.

I think the pasta is quite a disappointment. I chose spaghetti and carbonara sauce expecting to see an egg on top( normally there is a egg on top of pasta)  but I was told it was mixed already. I expect the pasta to be al dente but it was not. I saw another person enjoying al dente looking pasta with pesto sauce. Maybe next time I try pesto sauce with hand-made pasta. 

I saw a pretty lady who looks familiar. Then I remembered, she was featured on the Straits Times before with her father and brother. She was serving guests and instructing her staff. Quite a nice lady. 

Eating at Da Paolo Gastronomomia is not cheap. I spent a total of $36.05 for a cup of mint mocha ($6.50), banana toffee tart ($8.00) and Cabonara ($16.80) and additional sauteed mixed mushroom ($4.75) ,7% GST and 10% service charge. 

Nearest MRT: City Hall MRT

 You can choose salad, cold pasta and dessert here.

 Drink selection

I love Banana toffee tart ($8.00)

 Mint Mocha ($6.50)

 Carbonara ($16.80) and  additional sauteed mixed mushroom ($4.75)

 My hearty dinner!

Qantas Flight to Melbourne

Hi, I just updated my travel blog on Qantas Flight to Melbourne. To read more, click here

Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 Departure Hall

I'm back to Singapore this week. Wow, felt tired after the 8 hours flight and there is 3-hour time difference. But now I feel better. Anyway, I'll just share some attractions in one of the world best airport, Singapore Changi Airport. 

There are many attractive figurine sculptures for photo-taking opportunities. At Departure Hall Terminal 1, you get to pose with gigantic popular Pikachu cartoon. There is also a big beautiful organic sculpture.

Visitors also get to enjoy free snack, kacang puteh for visitors. Kacang puteh is actually a mixture of nuts in cone shaped packaging. I used to buy it when I watched movies. Besides enjoying free snack, I also shopped in the duty free shops to purchase MP3 player, SD card and also magazine which are much cheaper in the airport. 

Hmm, I love travel. My next trip will be to Hong Kong to explore Disneyland!

 Pikachu inside Changi Airport Terminal 1 departure hall.

 Duty free shop inside the departure hall at Changi Airport Terminal 1.

 Beautiful organic sculpture. 

 Kacang puteh.

  Free snack kacang puteh for visitors.

Goodbye Melbourne!

Today I'm going back to Singapore.  I had a great holiday in Melbourne. Back to my comfortable bed.

Weekend in Melbourne

Free Transport in Melbourne

Hi friends, I'm now in Melbourne enjoying my solo trip. I will update more when I'm back in Singapore next Monday. I just booked a day trip to yarra valley wine tasting and puffing billy train day trip for this Wednesday. 

One great thing about Melbourne is the free transport in the city.

Goodbye Singapore, Hello Australia!

Today I went to Challenger to buy powerbank for tomorrow trip to Melbourne. I also went to change currency as I be going there for shopping. I be going there for holiday for the next 9 days to be exact and be back in first week of December. I'm quite excited and scared too as I be going alone but thankfully day time is longer in late November and sun set at around 8.20pm in Melbourne.

I'll read up on where is the best breakfast or I just ask the staff there. I heard they are famous for coffee and I love coffee. I'll update my travel blog on my trip in Melbourne after I return. Meanwhile, you can read my previous posts in this blog which I started in 2013.

Sadly in Singapore, with high rental cost, some restaurants I blogged about have closed down. Some of the restaurants like Xinglong have ceased operation. Ok, that's all, I have to check my luggage and bag and make sure I bring the necessary stuff. 

Coldplay-A Sky Full of Stars

Currently my favourite song is A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay. I also like their other songs like Viva La Vida. They be coming to Singapore next year on 31 Mar and 1 April for A Head Full of Dream tour. 

Initially they only plan for 1 April concert, but due to overwhelming response, they decided to add 1 more date on 31 March next year. Tickets will be available for sales tomorrow at 10am!

http://www.sportshub.com.sg/sportshubtix/Pages/Coldplay-2017.aspx

1 More Week to Melbourne.

How time flies! Next Saturday night I be flying to Melbourne for about a week solo trip. It'll be a trip for me to rejuvenate, reflect and just enjoy myself. I finally submitted my resignation after working hard for the past 11 years. Its time for me to do what I always plan to do but had not much time. During this 1 year break, I intend to read books that I brought, travel and maybe just relax and do nothing. 

Next year, I plan to travel to Hong Kong, South Korea (perhaps), and other places perhaps by myself. For the second half of the year, I plan to study. Maybe I go to Melbourne for study or self-study if I don't enjoy the coming Melbourne trip. 

Hmm, maybe before I travel to Melbourne, I go to Waterloo street Kuan Yin temple to pray for safe travel first.

Pikachu at Singapore Changi Airport 2016

I'm not really a fan of Pokemon game and I have no intention to download the game. But I really like the cute Pikachus dancing at Singapore Changi Airport.

National Gallery of Singapore

My cousins and I finally visited the National Gallery of Singapore, which is a short 10-minute walking distance from City Hall MRT. Arts by local artists and others regional artists are also on display inside the National Gallery, which used to be the Supreme Court in Singapore. 

I planned to see Wu GuanZhong's gallery but it was not ready yet. So we explored other art galleries. Of all the paintings I saw, I like Georgette Chen and Liu Kang paintings mainly because of the pastel and bright colour combination. 

Admission fees is $20 but it is free entry for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. 

https://www.nationalgallery.sg/visit

National Gallery of Singapore used to be a Supreme Court.

Guided tour in National Gallery

                              Life by the River by Singaporean artist Liu Kang

                       Lotus in a Breeze by Georgette Chen. I love this painting.

                                      Sentosa Island by See Cheen Tee

Artist and Model by Liu Kang

Put Down Your Whip by Xu Beihong

Chinese calligraphy 

Abstract Arts

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria. Singapore was under British rule before World War 2.

Samsui women constructed many of early Singapore buildings.

Portraits drawing done by the visitors.

Going to Melbourne Again!

This June I went to Australia Sydney and Melbourne with my youngest brother with a tour agency. We went to Great Ocean Road, Victoria market and Philips island to see cute penguins. We did not spend much time touring the city. Thus this November, I decided to venture to Melbourne again to explore art museum, library, cafe and park.

This time I be traveling solo in late November to early December. Fortunately there is longer day time as the sunset is around 8.20pm so I don't feel so scare. Actually there is another reason why I'm going to Melbourne. I plan to study in Melbourne next year for half a year. So its also a good time for me to check if the place is safe and friendly to foreigners or not. Initially I didn't really want to go. But alas, I didn't realise the hotel booking fees is charged to my credit card. I thought they only charge when I arrive. Since I already made payment, I might as well go there and enjoy myself. This time I be staying in a hotel at Elizabeth street as its cheaper than Southbank. I hope to find great cafe serving delicious breakfast and coffee.

Cooking Laksa for my Father

As shared previously, I don't really cook except for instant noodle for myself. Recently I cooked laksa for my father.Hmm, ok I didn't really prepare everything. Hehe, I just cooked the rice noodle and heat up the laksa sauce prepared by my mum and placed the cooked prawns and egg. A bowl of delicious laksa is ready!

 Home cooked laksa

 Just heat up the laksa sauce with lemongrass

Rice noodle and flat yellow noodle.

Fruit Yogurt at Llao Llao

Today afternoon, I had sanum, a special yogurt that allows me to choose 3 typed of fruits and crunch. I chose mango, pineapple, Strawberry and honey almond. Yummy yummy. 

Happy Monday! Jersey Boy Musical for You!

Happy Monday everyone! Today I feel like listening to Jersey Boys, my all time favourite musical. I'm glad I went to New York Broadway to watch Jersey Boys musical by awesome actors like Jarrod Spector. Boy Jarrod can sing really well! I have utmost respect to him. He hit all the right notes and I was glad I flew all the way from Singapore to watch his amazing performance. If Jarrod Spector is performing in Broadway again, who knows, I might buy a ticket and fly to New York to watch his performance again. 

Double Rainbow in Singapore

Yesterday it rained in Singapore. Many Singaporeans saw this double rainbow. At Tampines, we didn't get to see but I captured the sky as it was beautiful blend of orange and yellow. 

Image from google

New York

I was thinking of going back to New York to watch musicals again. 5 years ago, I went to New York alone just to watch Broadway musicals like Jersey Boys and Wicked as I was impressed with the Jersey Boys' lead singer performance. I spent 12 days in New York watching Broadway musical, visited various arts museums and just walk in the park. When you are alone, you find out who you really are and what you truly like as you have the time and power to decide what you want to do with your precious time.

After reading recent news on different places being targeted, maybe I go back to New York in few years time. I love New York.