Rainy Season in Singapore

It has been raining heavily for the past few days. Yesterday it was pouring almost the whole day long. At Tampines, there was a flash flood that caused car to be towed away. Still, I like rain because its a good respite from the hot weather in Singapore which is almost sunny the whole year long. 

View of Orchard Road from Shaw Lido. I was waiting for my cousin as we met to watch Spiderman movie.

Enlightenment Day of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva

Today is the Enlightenment day of the benevolent Kuan Yin. On this special day, the temple is filled with many devotees and I had to squeeze my way through the crowd to pray. Finally the Kuan Yin statue is back at the altar after days of chanting. I don't know why, after praying I feel happy. I think I have affinity with Kuan Yin. For example, I happened to select a television channel and the actor in the show was explaining the meaning of heart sutra. For me, I go to Kuan Yin temple at Waterloo street every week to pray. 

Public Transport in Singapore: MRT

Singapore is a very small island in Southeast Asia. It is about 50km by 27km. Owning a brand new car is very expensive in Singapore as you need to purchase Certificate of Entitlement (COE) which can costs about $50,000.00 depending on the bidding price. 

For me, I don't have a driving license as I had an unpleasant experience driving a go-kart at Escape theme park when I was a teenager. Well, those were the days. I was so daring taking those scary roller-coaster ride. Now I dare not even try the Viking ride.  Anyway, it is very convenient to travel from one point to the other end of Singapore via the MRT or public bus. I enjoy exploring Singapore by riding the clean public air-conditioned double-decker bus as I can see more from the top of the bus. But then sometimes taking MRT is much faster compared to taking a bus especially from the east to the western part of Singapore

Anyway, I also enjoy taking MRT during non-peak hours. The train is very quiet when there are not many people. 

 MRT during off-peak hours.

 Toa Payoh MRT station

Grassroots Book Room at Bukit Pasoh

Today my buddy asked me out to a bookshop at Bukit Pasoh. At Grassroots Book Room, you can buy beautiful artworks by local artists, inspiring quotes and both Mandarin and English books. The owners are very thoughtful and chairs are provided in the cosy bookshop. I spent about an hour reading the popular comic book The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye. This book is now a New York International bestseller.

Its a very beautiful bookshop where charming decorative items are thoughtfully placed in the bookshop. I also love the artworks by local artists and maybe I buy one painting to decorate my bedroom. 

If you are tired, you can head to a cafe inside the bookshop. A cup of matcha latte costs $5 which is slightly cheaper compared to another nearby cafe, The Reading room. 

Nearest MRT station: Outram MRT station

 I love these paintings by local artist, Mr Lee Kow Fong. 

 The entrance.

 Inside the bookshop, there is Open Book Cafe serving drinks like Matcha latte, coffee and cakes.

 Inspiring quotes on wooden blocks. 

You can find out more about Singapore different districts from these books.

Open Book Cafe inside the bookshop

Home-baked Cakes

Yesterday my mum baked pumpkin cake for us and the cake was so delicious that it was finished yesterday! She must be influenced by my youngest brother who had been baking cakes. Yesterday my youngest brother baked matcha cake and today we finished eating it. 

I think my mum baked the best pumpkin cake as she used fresh pumpkin. 

Pumpkin cake

Matcha cake

Kuan Yin Temple at Waterloo Street Temple

Recently I went to Kuan Yin temple at Waterloo street but instead of Kuan Yin statue, I only saw a photo of Kuan Yin statue. I checked with the staff at the temple and the lady said that Kuan Yin statue is at the upper floor of the temple for prayer recitation. Kuan Yin statue will only be back at the temple at the ground floor on Kuan Yin day this month. 

Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant at Hotel Grand Mercure Roxy

Last Saturday, my youngest brother treated my parents and me to a sumptuous dinner at Jia Wei Chinese restaurant at Grand Mercure Roxy hotel which is located in Katong. 

They are known for their Peking duck so my brother ordered one whole duck as there is 50% discount till August. In Beijing, I tried the famous Quanjide Peking duck so I was not so impressed especially after I ate some of the duck meat in another fried ginger duck dish. The waitress told us that we could choose to cook the other half of the duck in any style we want. I find the meat rather tough and not as tender. 

However I love their fried beancurd and soft shell crab with salted egg yolk and also their fried ee mee noodles. Service was good too. For all the dishes that we had, it only cost about $130plus.

 Salted egg yolk soft shell crabs

 Prawns and mushroom

 Fried beancurd is really good. Crispy outside and soft inside.

 Peking duck 

 Duck with ginger.

My brother ordered the whole Peking duck since there is 50% discount till August.

 Fried ee mee noodle with duck.

 This plate is beautiful.

Chocolate Cake Baked by my Brother.

Yesterday my youngest brother baked another chocolate cake! Wow now I don't have to buy cake. It's weird, my youngest brother said he enjoyed baking cake but don't like to eat. I think it's ok because I like to eat chocolate cake.

Views Along SBS Transit Bus 21 Route

I prefer to take public transport in Singapore especially double-decker bus as I like to see vantage view outside. Thus, when possible and the travelling time is faster, I will choose double-decker bus instead of MRT as there is not much to see in underground tunnel. 

It is best to travel during non-peak hours as I don't have to squeeze in a crowded bus or train with many others. I can just sit in the air-conditioned double-decker bus and just enjoy the views along the road. 

Recently I took bus 21 from outside Novena MRT station back to Tampines central. Transport fare is about $1.65 and it took about 50 minutes to reach my destination.  

Along the ride, I took photos of the the street as shown below. 

Old Shophouses along Geylang road.

Some of the shophouses are adorned with beautiful art craving.  

 Not many people taking public transport during off-peak hours.

 Provisions shops at the public housing flats.

The dome looking architecture is Singapore Sports Hub.

 MRT tracks.

 Bus stop at Sims Avenue

 Construction along the road. There are always constructions in Singapore. 

 I like SBS Transit new double-decker bus.

 Old iconic bus stop design at Sims Ave.

 Street decoration along Geylang road during Hari Raya.

Newborn Baby!

Today I went to hospital to visit a relative. In the hospital lift, I was delighted to see a nurse pushing a newborn baby inside a small transparent box on a trolley towards me. I was curious and so peered to look at the baby inside the box. 

The baby is so small and its the first time I saw a newborn baby! The baby's father and grandmother who were with the baby looked so happy. Actually, I had been dreaming of cute babies for the past few years. Anyway, I enjoy my freedom now and if I'm destined to have kids, I'll have them. Babies are cute to look at but they also will cry and parents really need to spend time with them to nurture them. I wish the newborn baby I met today has a bright and happy future! Out of 7 billion people in this world, its affinity that lead me to see the newborn baby. 

Yummy Cakes Baked by My Brother

I had craving for chocolate cake by awfully chocolate. But today my youngest brother baked  delicious chocolate cake topped with creamy rich chocolate. Recently, he also baked apple pie and it was fantastics. I'm not a fan of apple pie, but I like the apple pie baked by my brother. I think my youngest brother is really a talented baker. 

Dark creamy rich chocolate cake.

Apple pie.

Inside Singapore Airlines on National Geographic

I love flying with Singapore Airlines! Why? Because the plane carries the Singapore flag high up in the sky and I love their services!