Sunday, 7 December 2014

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.

Thursday, 4 December 2014

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 'm
irror 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.

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Christmas Light-up at Orchard Road Singapore 2014

Christmas light-up along Orchard Road is an annual event since 1984 and started by Singapore Tourism Board.I overheard tourists saying Christmas is too commercial. 

Indeed, even for non-Christians in Singapore, there is this practice of exchanging gifts with your colleagues on Christmas party for many companies. I think it is good to set a budget for the gift exchange so that you don't overspend your salary. Though I'm not a Christmas, I always anticipate the Christmas light-up in Orchard road as the street will look like a sparkling fairyland with shimmering light flowing from the trees lining the busy street.I think this year Christmas light up is more impressive compared to last year.

The Christmas light-up will end on 1 January 2015.

The Christmas Light-Up will end on Sunday 5 January 2014. The time of light-up are as follows:
6.30 pm to 6.00 am on Christmas Eve and both New Year’s Eves; 
6.30 pm to 2.00 am on Fridays and Saturdays; 
6.30 pm to 12.00 midnight on Mondays to Thursdays and on Sundays. 
Sparkling Christmas light-up along Orchard Road.
 Outside Wistma Atria shopping mall.
 Outside Tang Shopping mall.
 Glittering Ion Shopping mall

 Christmas sculpture outside Orchard gateway.

Saturday, 22 November 2014

Birding Around at Jurong Bird Park

The last time I was at Singapore Jurong Bird Park, I was about 10 years old and that is a whopping 23 years ago! I thought that I could complete the sightseeing at Jurong Bird Park within two hours since the birds are much smaller than the gigantic elephant or lion at Singapore Zoo. I was so wrong. Instead it took us about five hours to really explore the place and see the different bird species via walking and not the trams. There are so many bird species at Jurong Bird Park be it the pinky flamingo, hornbills and toucans, the cute penguins, the smart parrot and the largest man-made waterfall! 

Most of the birds are kept in the huge cages. However there are some birds that have access to much bigger area like the Lory in Lori Loft Paradise, swans and pelicans. I also explored the Breeding and Research Centre when we saw the nursery where babies birds are kept in the intensive care unit.

How to get to Jurong Bird Park?
Alight at Boon Lay MRT and take bus 194.
 Rainbow Lory
 There are two performances namely High Flyers Show and King of the Skies Show.
 Near to the entrance is the penguin home.
 This penguin stood still for some time. Was it sleeping?
 Different types of Penguins.
 The photo taking area with colorful parrots.
 Stage for the High Flyer Show which start at about 3pm. 
 Scarlet Ibis look really colorful but the place kinda stink. 
 Hornbills & Toucans section. Birds are kept in rather rusty old cage. 
 Two lovely birds inside a bigger cage and we could get into the cage to be up close and personal with them.
 I love the Lory Loft where it is like a bird paradise where bright rainbow colour little parrots flew above our heads and they looked so happy and beautiful.

 This is actually Lory Loft where little parrots live in a big greenery home but high above is a wide net.
 It was fun to cross over this dangling bridge.
 As you cross over the bridge, be prepared that the loft might fly near you. 
 See the gigantic cage at the left? It is the home of the eagles and vultures. 
 Ostrich is dinosaur descendant. 
 BaoBao, or baby in Chinese sang Happy Birthday song during the High Flyers Show.
 Sassy the parrot is super cute. She can pass things around.
 Flamingo joined in the fun at the High Flyer Show

 This shoebill can really stand still for so long that my friend thought it was a statue. 
During mediaval times, the rich used falcon for hunting purpose.
 The alert and charismatic owl.
 Pelicans cove.
 Saw the Black swan for the first time!
 White swan 
 The largest man-made waterfall in Singapore. You can spot unique bird species in the Waterfall Aviary. 
 This cute parrot could follow what I said like "Hello" in a sweet sweet voice.
 Flamingo