Exhibition at Raffles City Shopping Centre

I was shopping at the popular Raffles City Shopping centre which is located about Cityhall MRT station. A series of exhibition organised by the National Museum is displayed in the shopping centre. You can learn about our culture. 

Great Singapore Sales at The Connoisseur Concerto

Its the Great Singapore Sale in Singapore during the June school holiday! During this period, you can get 1 for 1 free main course or pasta if you are The Connoisseur Concerto (TCC) member. Else you can enjoy 50% off for the second main course or pasta.

    Baby Crayfish Salad with baby romaine lettuce. I love avocado and crayfish.

 Mushroom bites

                                                         They serve really good coffee

 Mentaiko shrimp martini with fish roe. This is best eaten when it is piping hot.

Mentaiko spaghetti with salmon tataki and sunny side egg! Quite delicious. 

For more information, visit their website at http://www.theconnoisseurconcerto.com/food.html

South East Asian Aquarium

If you plan to explore Southeast Asian largest aquarium, make sure you queue up early before its opening hours. I started to queue about 30 minutes after it open to the public, and I ended up queuing for 2 and a half hours.

Touted as the world's largest aquarium, you get to be immersed in the marine world. You get to see more than 800 species of marine animals like jellyfish, crabs, various types of fishes and sharks. Give your at least an hour to explore the aquarium. It is just so magical to be surrounded by fishes separated by the clear glass. 

For more information, visit the official website. 

http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Homepage/ThingsToDo/MarineLifePark/SEAAquarium

Racial Harmony in Singapore

Singapore's demographic comprises of about 74% Chinese, 13% Malays and 9% Indians while Eurasians and others form another 3%. Since Singapore gained independence in 1965, the different races live harmoniously together with an exception to 1969 race riots in Singapore. We are constantly reminded of Racial Harmony and students celebrate Racial harmony day by donning their respective ethnic wear and are reminded of the importance of respecting each others cultures and religions. 

If you exit from the Tanjong Pagar MRT station, and walk straight from the exit to Red Dot Museum, you pass by this artistic arts of Singapore's demographic at Telok Ayer Performing Arts Centre. 

From Wikipedia

Racial Harmony Day (Chinese: 种族和谐日; pinyin:Zhǒngzú Héxié Rì) is celebrated annually on 21 July in Singapore. The event is to commemorate the 1964 Race Riots, which took place on 21 July 1964.

Racial Harmony Day also represents a day for schools to reflect on, and celebrate Singapore's success as a racially harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of culture and heritage. In schools all across the nation on that day, students are encouraged to be dressed in their traditional costumes such as the Cheongsam and the Baju Kurung. Traditional delicacies are also featured in the celebrations. Traditional games such as Kutih-kutih and zero point are played in schools, where inter-class competitions are sometimes organised.

Indian dancers with different races audience.

Chinese opera 

Malay dancers and Chinese musicians

Scenic Botanic Garden

Botanic Garden is located near to Orchard Road, a popular premier shopping haven. Many Singaporeans and permanent residents especially many rich residents who live near this pricey private houses love to exercise in this lush greenery. I decided to visit this free garden with my parents. Who know I might spot some prominent former ministers and even our popular singer Stefanie Sun who shared that she like to exercise in Botanic Garden with her dad. 

Botanic Garden is really beautiful in the morning with the bright sunny sun trying to blaze its gentle sun ray upon the sleepy forest. This grand garden dame that is more than 150 years old is still so beautiful.

To find out more on Botanic Garden, you can visit their homepage http://www.sbg.org.sg/aboutus/ourhistory.asp

Gentle sun ray penetrating into the lush garden

Cascading Waterfall in the heart of Botanic Garden

White beauty

Graceful swan in swan lake
Walking into fairy green green land

Sunny flowers greeting you in the bright cheery morning!

National Orchid garden is open for view from 8.30 am 

Singaporeans working out early in the morning doing Tai chi. 

Educational poster on Ginger

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.