Singapora
I just came back from Singapore yesterday. It was just a quick day trip since I had a free ticket which was expiring and I had a shoot this week so I didn't want to stay long and blow my savings in one place. Good thing Josie was in town and I was able to catch up with my dearest friend (from my Shanghai days). I arrived at their apartment around 1030 am and was surprised to see her mom, older sister, brother in law and baby Justin. They were in town for Justin's shots but had to extend since he got sick. But they were flying out to Jakarta at 1245. So I got to hang out with my main boy, Justin, who is super cute and looks like Josie (ie her dad). He kept giving me big toothless grins. Then Joanne whips out her boobs to start breast feeding her baby. She told me to sit beside her while she nurses. And I was the one who felt uncomfortable, but after 3 minutes it was like normal life. Then they left for the airport with Josie's mom and we went to grab our Ba Kut Te（肉骨茶). I told her that I was so curious since I kept seeing it all over Asian Food Channel but my mom was like: "it's nothing special". Anyway, so we drive to their favorite Ba Kut Te place and it was closed. Apparently, after consulting with her driver, Josie said that Singaporeans don't eat pork during Mondays. And that particular Ba Kut Te place closes on Mondays because that's when they cook their soup, which means it doesn't get as tasty as they do during Sundays. So we decide to get Chicken Rice instead. So we drive over to the next eatery and we get roasted Chicken rice, with something like Kecap Manis but it's sweet Singaporean soy sauce with ground garlic and chilli sauce. We also ordered Kangkong. Thinking about it makes my mouth water already.
After lunch we head out to Wheelock. Where I got my Tokidoki Frenzies. I was wondering why the boxes were numbered, Josie explained that the store already opened the bloxes and marked it with corresponding numbers to the picture of the character. Isn't Singapore, great? I know it kinda takes the fun out of the blind box concept but at least I got to choose which toy I really wanted to buy. I had a fun looking around and checking out the other toys. There was so many Hello Kitty stuff!! While Josie was looking at her next Blythe purchase. She's gone gaga over these big headed barbie dolls (hmmmm that description sounds like Bratz, she'll kill me if she reads this!). I gave her a crocheted hat for her Blythe and promised to make an outfit. I am kinda excited since I've wanted to try out making crochet dresses.
Then we went to check out the Onitsuka Tiger store "Star three sixty". The Tokidoki X Onitsuka Fabre hi tops that I wanted was out of stock. Every time I go to that store the Filipina sales lady always tells me everything is out of stock. SIGH. They only had guy's sizes of the other sneaks that I wanted to get. GRRRR. While Josie checked out the Tokidoki X Onitsuka Lawnship shoes, I explained to her that the weird prints on the shoes were glow in the dark. I think I inadvertently made her a fan, because she bought the grey ones! While I bought Asics Tiger hi tops in yellow. HAHAHAHAHAH! And I think it was the first time we shopped together. I don't really count the times when we "shopped" while I lived in China because being on a tight budget I was scared of spending money there because I had a fixed amount without any immediate means of getting more money.
After she toured me around the food court and we grabbed this particular Takoyaki which was super famous because the line for it snakes around the food court but luckily there was no line while we were there. I thought it was ok. It has a crunchy outside and it was gooey inside but the Tako (squid) was really big. Although, I'm so used to the Takoyaki they have in Samurai Balls from Harrison Plaza, which I love because their red sauce is spicy, sweet vs salty sweet with mayo. Ever since mayonnaise got banned from our house, we've all kept off the extra weight and I don't enjoy the taste compared to when I was a kid. After which we went to Muji, to get my pens and date book. I got my dad a memory foam butt cushion and my mom a inflatable foot bath basin. Going up the elevator..I look up and it was UNIQLO. Oh God, I had to restrain myself from going crazy. I got my sister a Jean Michel Basquiat dress while I got a Uniqlo X G.V.G.V dress, another Jean Michel Basquiat Dress and this top na Uniqlo X japanese girl collab (forgot her name). And still I came up to $100+ Singaporean! Which got me a free copy of the Uniqlo 2009 Fall/Winter Magazine plus free tote bag, which cost $20 sing at Kinokuniya. After Uniqlo we snuck into Topshop and all I can say is, how come they have better accessories there then the ones we have here? I got me 2 necklaces. And the new earrings they have out were scary. HUGE! It's like as big as half of your face! Then the necklaces where GIANT BALLS! I don't think so. Then we moved to ION, this new mall which had Kinokuniya. I went nuts there. But with full restraint. SIGH. I found the 35th Anniversary Hello Kitty Book with free bag and got Dadang a black one. I decided that I didn't need to have it. I found Ramon there, he was deciding if he should get the more expensive Sonny Lieuw graphic novel. While looking around Josie liked a graphic novel, which turns out to be the one which Ramon was thinking of getting. She got it and I made Ramon get it autographed because afterwards he was going to interview him. After years of waiting for Ramon to finish choosing his carefully selected books and then changing his mind over some books due to Josie having a discount card at Kinokuniya. I was soooo tired. I ended up purchasing the Hello Kitty book for Dadang and got a Japanese Magazine called Potato with Arashi in it (for Mads). I spent money so I could see what was inside and then give it as a gift, because I know she'd appreciate it more. I was thinking of buying Men's Non-no with Takuya Kimura on the cover but it was a little more expensive. But I know myself, I see it twice and I'm already over it. So I decided not to get it.
I was so pooped but Ramon hasn't had his lunch so we scoped out the Ion Food Court. Ramon chose Lemon Chicken while I got my Hong Lou Bo Gao 红萝卜糕 which is known as carrot cake. Funny, because I was lazy to speak in Chinese and regretted after since I couldn't understand the lady's thick accent. I've had Hong Lou Bo Gao 红萝卜糕 in Makansutra at the Manila Ocean Park but it's cooked different. I love the Sweet soy sauce and the spiciness! YUM. Now I'm craving for it! *mouth waters*. Ramon leaves to interview Sonny Lieuw while we head back to Josie's apartment. Where she insists on serving me more food. This time she let out some Indonesian dishes. This humba type dish made from loads of garlic and a bottle of black singaporean vinegar and this Chicken dish which looked suspiciously like Afritada but didn't taste anything like it, since it had Cinnamon, which gave it a funky taste. Then I asked her if I could vegge on her couch, which I did for one minute...then I heard my name. Apparently, I passed out on Josie's couch while watching TV and still holding on to the remote control. AHAHAHAHAHAHA! I was so tired.
Off to the Red House for Chili Crabs dinner with our Japanese friend Tac. We had an order of Chili crabs, 2 mantou 馒头 each person (technically, Mantou is steamed bread but in this case, in Manila it's called Silver dollar, it's the Chinese Fried bread you dip in condensed milk), to be dipped in Chili Crab sauce, we also had ho fan, this really tender barbequed squid dish, and tofu skin with veggies. Man, now I'm hungry!! Topped off with Thai coconut juice, which the owner of the place recommended. Who knew coconut from Thailand was so magical? It was sweet with the lovely smell of coconut and the meat was thick and tender. I love it! After dinner we were meeting up with Ramon and Ling at Dempsey Hill to have a few drinks. So we end up at this little place with a pool table and we get drinks and got to know some cool Singaporean girls. Boo is an up and coming actress who is complaining that roles for her are few and far in between since she's Australian Chinese and she barely speaks Chinese. And to be big in Singapore she needs to act in more Chinese tv shows. While Jean, an Indian Chinese girl is studying Musical Theater in Singapore. She used to be part of this hip-hop group called Illers. HEEHEEHEE. Ramon kept on speaking in Taglish! HAR HAR HAR. And kept repeating what he said again in English. He thought that Josie was Filipino and kept talking to her in Tagalog until he finally realized that she wasn't talking back in Tagalog. AHAHAHAHAHAHA. It was fun meeting all these interesting people. Hopefully, they'll get a break and become famous. I told boo to come to Manila to get gigs, since she's caucasian looking. She said she didn't speak Tagalog so Ramon and I were trying to convince her that it's not important but telling her about the Legend that is Sandara Park. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Anyway, at around 1130pm we decide to call it a night. Since Tac had work and the girls had a grueling day in school tomorrow with dancing, singing and acting everyday. We get back to the apartment, I take a shower and crash immediately to bed. But before that it's set that we have Ba Kut Te 肉骨茶 before I leave for Manila.
I hear my alarm at 7am and Josie is surprised that I didn't even press snooze, I just got up and rushed to the bathroom. After taking a shower, we drive to the Ba Kut Te 肉骨茶 place. Although I am not blown away by it, I really do like how it tastes like, the spicy-peppery taste along with the herby smell. I really enjoyed the soup with the youtiao 油条 (Chinese Fried bread or Chinese Crullers). And the tea was amazing! It paired well with the spareribs! I would definitely go back next time but maybe at night or on a Sunday when they've cooked the pork longer and maybe try the offals (YUM!). Josie then brought me back to the airport and I was back in Manila by 2pm. Nice! I was able to make catch the Pond's fashion show so I can show my face to my Pond's client.
After lunch we head out to Wheelock. Where I got my Tokidoki Frenzies. I was wondering why the boxes were numbered, Josie explained that the store already opened the bloxes and marked it with corresponding numbers to the picture of the character. Isn't Singapore, great? I know it kinda takes the fun out of the blind box concept but at least I got to choose which toy I really wanted to buy. I had a fun looking around and checking out the other toys. There was so many Hello Kitty stuff!! While Josie was looking at her next Blythe purchase. She's gone gaga over these big headed barbie dolls (hmmmm that description sounds like Bratz, she'll kill me if she reads this!). I gave her a crocheted hat for her Blythe and promised to make an outfit. I am kinda excited since I've wanted to try out making crochet dresses.
Then we went to check out the Onitsuka Tiger store "Star three sixty". The Tokidoki X Onitsuka Fabre hi tops that I wanted was out of stock. Every time I go to that store the Filipina sales lady always tells me everything is out of stock. SIGH. They only had guy's sizes of the other sneaks that I wanted to get. GRRRR. While Josie checked out the Tokidoki X Onitsuka Lawnship shoes, I explained to her that the weird prints on the shoes were glow in the dark. I think I inadvertently made her a fan, because she bought the grey ones! While I bought Asics Tiger hi tops in yellow. HAHAHAHAHAH! And I think it was the first time we shopped together. I don't really count the times when we "shopped" while I lived in China because being on a tight budget I was scared of spending money there because I had a fixed amount without any immediate means of getting more money.
After she toured me around the food court and we grabbed this particular Takoyaki which was super famous because the line for it snakes around the food court but luckily there was no line while we were there. I thought it was ok. It has a crunchy outside and it was gooey inside but the Tako (squid) was really big. Although, I'm so used to the Takoyaki they have in Samurai Balls from Harrison Plaza, which I love because their red sauce is spicy, sweet vs salty sweet with mayo. Ever since mayonnaise got banned from our house, we've all kept off the extra weight and I don't enjoy the taste compared to when I was a kid. After which we went to Muji, to get my pens and date book. I got my dad a memory foam butt cushion and my mom a inflatable foot bath basin. Going up the elevator..I look up and it was UNIQLO. Oh God, I had to restrain myself from going crazy. I got my sister a Jean Michel Basquiat dress while I got a Uniqlo X G.V.G.V dress, another Jean Michel Basquiat Dress and this top na Uniqlo X japanese girl collab (forgot her name). And still I came up to $100+ Singaporean! Which got me a free copy of the Uniqlo 2009 Fall/Winter Magazine plus free tote bag, which cost $20 sing at Kinokuniya. After Uniqlo we snuck into Topshop and all I can say is, how come they have better accessories there then the ones we have here? I got me 2 necklaces. And the new earrings they have out were scary. HUGE! It's like as big as half of your face! Then the necklaces where GIANT BALLS! I don't think so. Then we moved to ION, this new mall which had Kinokuniya. I went nuts there. But with full restraint. SIGH. I found the 35th Anniversary Hello Kitty Book with free bag and got Dadang a black one. I decided that I didn't need to have it. I found Ramon there, he was deciding if he should get the more expensive Sonny Lieuw graphic novel. While looking around Josie liked a graphic novel, which turns out to be the one which Ramon was thinking of getting. She got it and I made Ramon get it autographed because afterwards he was going to interview him. After years of waiting for Ramon to finish choosing his carefully selected books and then changing his mind over some books due to Josie having a discount card at Kinokuniya. I was soooo tired. I ended up purchasing the Hello Kitty book for Dadang and got a Japanese Magazine called Potato with Arashi in it (for Mads). I spent money so I could see what was inside and then give it as a gift, because I know she'd appreciate it more. I was thinking of buying Men's Non-no with Takuya Kimura on the cover but it was a little more expensive. But I know myself, I see it twice and I'm already over it. So I decided not to get it.
I was so pooped but Ramon hasn't had his lunch so we scoped out the Ion Food Court. Ramon chose Lemon Chicken while I got my Hong Lou Bo Gao 红萝卜糕 which is known as carrot cake. Funny, because I was lazy to speak in Chinese and regretted after since I couldn't understand the lady's thick accent. I've had Hong Lou Bo Gao 红萝卜糕 in Makansutra at the Manila Ocean Park but it's cooked different. I love the Sweet soy sauce and the spiciness! YUM. Now I'm craving for it! *mouth waters*. Ramon leaves to interview Sonny Lieuw while we head back to Josie's apartment. Where she insists on serving me more food. This time she let out some Indonesian dishes. This humba type dish made from loads of garlic and a bottle of black singaporean vinegar and this Chicken dish which looked suspiciously like Afritada but didn't taste anything like it, since it had Cinnamon, which gave it a funky taste. Then I asked her if I could vegge on her couch, which I did for one minute...then I heard my name. Apparently, I passed out on Josie's couch while watching TV and still holding on to the remote control. AHAHAHAHAHAHA! I was so tired.
Off to the Red House for Chili Crabs dinner with our Japanese friend Tac. We had an order of Chili crabs, 2 mantou 馒头 each person (technically, Mantou is steamed bread but in this case, in Manila it's called Silver dollar, it's the Chinese Fried bread you dip in condensed milk), to be dipped in Chili Crab sauce, we also had ho fan, this really tender barbequed squid dish, and tofu skin with veggies. Man, now I'm hungry!! Topped off with Thai coconut juice, which the owner of the place recommended. Who knew coconut from Thailand was so magical? It was sweet with the lovely smell of coconut and the meat was thick and tender. I love it! After dinner we were meeting up with Ramon and Ling at Dempsey Hill to have a few drinks. So we end up at this little place with a pool table and we get drinks and got to know some cool Singaporean girls. Boo is an up and coming actress who is complaining that roles for her are few and far in between since she's Australian Chinese and she barely speaks Chinese. And to be big in Singapore she needs to act in more Chinese tv shows. While Jean, an Indian Chinese girl is studying Musical Theater in Singapore. She used to be part of this hip-hop group called Illers. HEEHEEHEE. Ramon kept on speaking in Taglish! HAR HAR HAR. And kept repeating what he said again in English. He thought that Josie was Filipino and kept talking to her in Tagalog until he finally realized that she wasn't talking back in Tagalog. AHAHAHAHAHAHA. It was fun meeting all these interesting people. Hopefully, they'll get a break and become famous. I told boo to come to Manila to get gigs, since she's caucasian looking. She said she didn't speak Tagalog so Ramon and I were trying to convince her that it's not important but telling her about the Legend that is Sandara Park. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Anyway, at around 1130pm we decide to call it a night. Since Tac had work and the girls had a grueling day in school tomorrow with dancing, singing and acting everyday. We get back to the apartment, I take a shower and crash immediately to bed. But before that it's set that we have Ba Kut Te 肉骨茶 before I leave for Manila.
I hear my alarm at 7am and Josie is surprised that I didn't even press snooze, I just got up and rushed to the bathroom. After taking a shower, we drive to the Ba Kut Te 肉骨茶 place. Although I am not blown away by it, I really do like how it tastes like, the spicy-peppery taste along with the herby smell. I really enjoyed the soup with the youtiao 油条 (Chinese Fried bread or Chinese Crullers). And the tea was amazing! It paired well with the spareribs! I would definitely go back next time but maybe at night or on a Sunday when they've cooked the pork longer and maybe try the offals (YUM!). Josie then brought me back to the airport and I was back in Manila by 2pm. Nice! I was able to make catch the Pond's fashion show so I can show my face to my Pond's client.