Jurong Bird Park

Jurong Bird Park is a place not to be missed by tourists when they visit Singapore. It is the largest bird park in the World, having the widest variety of birds that one could not have seen in their entire lives if they didn’t pop by the place. Jurong Bird Park is built in Jurong with the belief that Singaporeans and Tourists can escape from the urban life and appreciate nature.

Jurong Bird Park Singapore houses more than 8, 000 birds of 600 species and specializes in tropical birds, endangered birds, water birds, flightless birds and birds from Southeast Asia. The major attraction of the Jurong Bird Park is the largest walk-in aviary with tallest manmade waterfall. The tourist are entertained and educated via the Bird Shows in the Amphitheater and the Falconry Arena.

Furthermore, Jurong Bird Park is built on the basis that birds are free to fly where ever they want to without disturbing visitors. In this way, birds are not being caged up and visitors do not have to worry about birds attacking them!

Features

1. Birds & Buddies Show

The Birds and Buddies Show showcases a large number of species of performing birds in a single act. Besides highlighting the antics of talented birds like the mimicking cockatoos, this show is also a window for visitors to the natural behavior of birds like pelicans, flamingos and hornbills.

Venue: Pools Amphitheatre
Time: 11am & 3pm daily



2. Birds of Prey Show

In Birds of Prey Show, visitors can watch birds of prey such as eagles, hawks and falcons in a stimulated act of hunt.
Venue: Fuji Hawk Walk
Time: 10am & 4pm daily



3. Lory Loft - The World's Largest Walk

The Lory Loft showcases the Lory, a native bird of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Visitors can enter, traverse and exit Lory Loft at treetop level, allowing for a bird eye’s view of the majestic panorama. From beginning to end, the Lory Loft provides visitors with a 360 degrees elevated view of the environs.

Time: 8.30 am to 6pm daily



4. Waterfall Aviary

Home to more than 1,500 free-flying African birds. This is an enclosed sexton of the park with many small tropical birds and a beautiful man-made waterfall.

Time: 8.30am to 6pm daily



5. Penguin Expedition

House for more than 200 penguins of five different species : Humbolt, Rockhopper, Macaroni, Fairy and King penguin

Time: 8.30am to 6pm daily



6. World of Darkness

The exhibit uses a reversed lighting technique which transforms day to night and vice versa, allowing seeing night-active creatures during the daylight hours. The exhibit includes mainly owls.

Time: 8.30am to 6pm



7. Pelican Cove

In this aviary is the world's most complete collection of pelicans, including all of its seven species. It includes the world’s first underwater viewing gallery for pelicans, where they can be watch diving for their fish during feeding time.

Time: 2pm daily



8. Panorail

Take a ride on the air-conditioned Panorail for a panoramic view of the Park and into a tropical world of jungle mists at the Waterfall Aviary.

Time: 8.30am to 6pm daily



Basic Visitors Info

Opening hours:

- Park
8.30am to 6pm daily
(Last ticket sale at 5.30pm)

- Panorail Ride
8.30am to 6pm
(Last train leaves from Main Station at 5.45pm)

Rates:

-Park
Adult - S$18
Children (3-12 years old) - S$9

- Panorail
Adult- S$5
Children (3-12 years old) – S$2.50

How to get there:

Take MRT to Boon Lay station and transfer to bus number 194 or 251 at Boon Lay Bus Interchange.

For more information on Jurong Bird Park and other services, please visit WWW.BIRDPARK.COM.SG.

Sources: letstravelplease.com, wantet.com, travelerfolio.com, newsasia-singapore.com, viator.com, igougo.com

Singapore Zoo

Did you know that the Singapore Zoo followed the modern trend of displaying animals in naturalistic, 'open' exhibits, i.e. with hidden barriers, behind moats and shrubbery etc.? It also houses the largest captive colony of orangutans in the world!

The zoo houses animals such as the Australian Outback, Cat country, Critters Longhouse, Elephants of Asia, Fragile Forest, Hamadryas Baboons, Orang Utan, Polar Bear, Primate Kingdom, Proboscis Monkeys, Rainforest Kidzworld, Reptile Garden, Wild Africa and White Tigers.



Eeveryone wants to gain a chance to be closer in contact with the animals, hence, they have animal shows ranging from Rainforest Fights Back, Splash Safari and to Elephants at Work and Play! Each presentation happens at least twice daily! So do catch them if you can!

Every kid loves animals. Bringing your children to the Singapore Zoo will definitely satisfy their desire to meet and interact with animals! They can expect the splashes of thrilling activities at Singapore Zoo’s Rainforest Kidzworld! This new and special attraction provides an educational, fun and engaging time with family-focused activities. Fun waiting at the water play area for the children, literary themed likes a wet animal wonderland!




Among various attractions that the zoo offers,one highlight is the "Breakfast with an Orangutan" programme that allows visitors to meet and interact closely with the orangutans in the zoo, amongst which includes the famous primate matriarch Ah Meng, (died on February 8, 2008) who was an icon of the Singapore tourism industry.

Animal shows, as well as token feedings coupled with live commentaries by keepers, are also the daily staple in the Singapore zoo!

Basic Visitors Info

- Getting there:

Address
80 Mandai Lake Road
Singapore 729826
Tel: (65) 6269 3411
Fax: (65) 6365 2331
E-mail: info@zoo.com.sg

By bus - From the City, take bus service 171 to Mandai Road. Alight at the first bus stop after the bus turns off Exit 7 of the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE). Transfer to bus service 927 or 926 (Do note that 926 only operates on Sundays and public holidays)

By Car/Taxi -
* From the City, take the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) towards Jurong
* Take Exit 24 into the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE)
* Take Exit 7 of the BKE and then turn right into Mandai Road at the traffic light
* At the next traffic light, turn right into Mandai Lake Road
* Journey will take approximately 30 minutes

- Opening hours:
8.30am to 6.00pm daily
(Last ticket sale at 5.30pm)

- Rates:
Adult S$18.00
Child (3 to 12 years old) S$9.00
(All prices include 7% GST, prices quoted are subject to change)

- Boat Ride (8.20am - 5.45pm):

Take in the scenic view of Seletar Reservoir on this leisurely cruise and you might just chance upon some shy animals living in the forest around the Singapore Zoo!

• A single trip boat ride takes approximately 15min
• Tickets can be purchased at the dock
• Last boat leaves Dock 1 (across from white tiger habitat) at 5.15pm
• Last boat leaves Dock 2 (next to Rainforest Kidzworld) at 5.30pm

space	Adult	Child (3-12 years old)
Admission	S$18.00	S$9.00
Tram (Unlimited Rides)	S$5.00	S$2.50
Boat (Single Trip)	S$5.00	S$2.50

- Tram Ride (8.30am - 6pm)

With unlimited tram rides, it’s easy learning about the animals in our 28-hectare zoo. Take your time and appreciate our inhabitants at your own pace.

• The tram ride covers 2.2km with three stops
• Tickets can be purchased at each station
• Last tram leaves Tram Station 1 (next to white rhino habitat) at 5.30pm

For more information on ticket packages, show times, feeding times and other services, please visit WWW.ZOO.COM.SG!

Sources: zoo.com.sg, wikipedia.com

Nightlife in Singapore (Part II)

Who says that Nightlife in Singapore is only about going to Night Spots? Singapore has plenty of activities available for crazy nocturnal people like you!

Night Attractions

1. Singapore Night Safari

Winner of the Tourism Awards 2004, 2003, 2000, 1999, 1997 and 1996 - Leisure Attraction of the Year.

Since it’s opening in 1994, this first night zoo has received utmost support and applause from people. As dusk approaches, the drama of the nocturnal world unfolds. Night Safari bring visitors on an bewitching journey to discover the mystery and romance in this intimate encounter with nature. Under delicate lighting, around 1000 animals of nearly 120 species can be admired in vast habitats as they go about their nightly routine.



Location:
80 Mandai Lake Road
Singapore, 729826
6269 3411

Opening Hours:
6pm to midnight (daily)
Last ticket sale: 11pm

Admission:
SGD 22 adults, SGD 11 children (3 - 12 years)
Tram Rides: SGD 10 adults, SGD 5 Children

2. G-Max Reverse Bungy and GX 5 Extreme Swing

Get your one-time experience here at Singapore’s first ever bungy! In the safety of the latest G-Max technology, experience an adventurous thrill of astronauts in a rocket launch. For the Extreme Swing, it is a fantastic experience and a whole new perspective on Clarke Quay! Feel the sensation of a short free fall and then a rush of adrenalin as you “fly” over the Singapore River!



Both attractions are located next to each other. Hence, you can enjoy the sensation of one ride and then, reward yourself to retail therapy and satisfy your taste buds before coming back for another ride!

Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 1pm until 1am
Friday: 1pm until 2am.
Saturday: 12pm until 2am.
Sunday: 12pm until 1am.

Admission:
$40 per person

Approximate Thrilling Time:
5 mins

Location:
Clarke Quay, 3E River Valley Road

Getting there:
Take the MRT and alight at Clarke Quay station, exit by the Eu Tong Sen Street and turn left to cross the Coleman Bridge.

Night Dining

A common favourite pastime among Singaporeans is definitely eating. On this thronged island of us, there is no limit to this habit. You can find delicious food whenever, day or night! Tuck in at one of the many 24-hour eating places, serving a gastronomical buffet of local and continental favourites! Many of the restaurants in Singapore open way past midnight too!

1. Lau Pa Sat Festival Market
18 Raffles Quay

How to Get There
By MRT : Raffles Place (EW14/NS26)
By Bus : 10, 70, 75, 82, 97, 100, 107, 130, 131, 131A, 162, 167, 186, 196, 507, 605, 608, 700, 970

2. Newton Food Centre
Along Clemenceau Ave North

How to Get There
By MRT : Newton (NS21)
By Bus : 54, 66, 67, 124, 143, 162, 162X, 167, 170, 171, 518, 700, 700A, 960

3. Geylang Serai Market
Beside Blk 1,3,4,5 Jalan Pasar Bahru

How to Get There
By MRT : Paya Lebar (EW8)
By Bus : 2, 7, 13, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30, 40, 51, 60, 60X, 61, 63, 67, 70, 70X, 76, 93, 94, 135, 154, 155, 197, 853C

4. Glutton’s Bay
#01-15 Esplanade Mall, Open 6pm to 3am daily.

How to Get There
MRT : City Hall (EW13/NS25)
Bus : 36, 56, 75, 77, 97, 106, 111, 133, 162, 171, 174M, 195, 700A, 857, 960, 961, NR1, NR2, NR6, NR7, NR8

5. East Coast Lagoon Food Village
1220 East Coast Parkway

How to Get There
MRT : Bedok (EW5)
Bus : 36, 401

Movies at night

Cinema goers in Singapore are notorious night birds. Cineplexes are scattered around the island and offer cinema buffs a wide selection of movies up to early hours in the morning.

1. Cathay Cineplex Orchard
8 Grange Road
Tel: (65) 6235 1155



2. Eng Wah (Suntec)
Level 3, Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Tel: (65) 6836 9074



3. Golden Village

- Golden Village Grand
Level 3, Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade
Tel: 1900 912 1234

- Golden Village Marina
Level 3, Marina Leisureplex, 5A Raffles Avenue
Tel: 1900 912 1234

- Golden Village Plaza
Level 7, Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road
Tel: 1900 912 1234



Sources: visitsingapore.com

Nightlife in Singapore (Part I)

Living in such a fast paced society like Singapore, night is the only time to unwind and chill-out. Thus, nightlife here in Singapore is never boring! There is a wide range and variety of hot spots and places to chill out at night to choose from.

We've categorized the types of nightlife destinations for your viewing convenience!

Pubs and Bars

1. The Sanctuary



The Sanctuary is the perfect al fresco dining establishment in the heart of Singapore's shopping district. At the well-named Sanctuary, guests enjoy respite from the hustle and bustle of the city under a verdant canopy of flora. It's been said that the Sanctuary is ' the ideal place for men to hang out while the ladies go shopping' and never a truer word was spoken. However, the peaceful calm of daytime at the Sanctuary morphs in the evening into a chill-out supper club with live acts.

Location: 435, Orchard Road, Wisma Atria #01-23 to #01-25
Tel: +65 6238 3473
Operation Hours:
Mondays to Thursdays: 11:00 – 02:00
Fridays to Saturdays: 11:00 – 03:00
Sundays: 11:00 – 01:00

2. Marrakesh



Marrakesh is truly an oasis in the heart of Clark Quay driven by the notion of a modernized Moroccan fantasy. A sexy, elegant atmosphere and intimate souk-style alcoves and brass lanterns combine to evoke a romantic atmosphere throughout.
Chilled out grooves of jazz and sexy uplifting music pulse through a wave of thick chatter, and make this exotic hideaway in Clark Quay transcend stuffy conventions of drinking in favour of an urban bar/lounge vibe.

Location: Blk 3D River Valley Road
Tel: +65 63387331
Operation Hours:
Mondays to Thursdays: 12:00 – 14:30 and 17:00 – 01:00
Fridays: 12:00 – 14:30, 17:00 – 02:00
Saturdays & Eve of Public Holidays: 17:00 – 02:00
Sundays & Public Holidays: 17:00 – 01:00

3. Clinic



Located right in the heart of Clarke Quay, Clinic’s unique alfresco is easily identified by its hospital whites, colourful pills, syringes, drips, test-tubes and paraphernalia in all manner of the clinical, all in tribute to the tongue-in-cheek pop art of Damien Hirst. The mood is at once controversial and conspiratorial. If you’re in on the joke, the ironic pharma-kitsch décor will appeal to you. The diverse space allows a crowd with varied tastes to enjoy their own brand of entertainment.

Location: Block 3C River Valley Road, #01-03 The Cannery, Clarke Quay
Tel: +65 6887 3733
Operation Hours: 17:30 - late

4. Bamboo Bar



An extension of The Forbidden City, a well-known restaurant, the Bamboo Bar features an extensive range of wines, liquors, and beers; signature drinks being The Butterfly Effect, The Terracotta and The Frosted Jade. On the large side, it has a seating capacity of close to 100 with plasma televisions strategically in place for the screening of all major games. True to its name, the bar's Oriental chill-out atmosphere is enhanced by lush bamboo surroundings in an absolute relaxing atmosphere.

Location: The Forbidden City, Clarke Quay 3A Merchant’s Court
Tel: +65 6557 6268
Operation Hours:
Sundays to Thursdays 15:00 – 03:00
Fridays to Saturdays & Public Holidays 15:00 – 06:00

Dance Clubs

1. ZIRCA



Singapore’s first mega dance and show club concept, opens its doors on 27 November 2008. The homegrown concept raises the bar for night clubs in Singapore by fusing live entertainment and dance club into one mega experience, with approximately 20,000 square feet that houses a capacity of over 2,000 clubbers. This revolutionary club concept is complete with glittery, Gotham city-like vibes that promises a multi-sensorial experience, where clubbers get treated to visual spectacles of performers doing death-defying stunts while grooving on the dance floor.

Location: Block 3C The Cannery, River Valley Road, Clarke Quay,
#01-02 to 05 & #02-01 to 08
Tel: +65 6235 2292
Website: www.zirca.sg
Operation Hours: Wednesdays to Saturdays 21:30- till late

2. St. James Power Station



Standing at 70,000 square feet huge, St James Power Station is an all-in-one entertainment destination. Set along the seaside space in the premise of Singapore’s first coal-fired power station built in 1927, St James Power Station offers nine distinctive outlets featuring a wide array of live entertainment and music styles.

Address: Harbourfront, 3 Sentosa Gateway
#01-01
Tel: +65 6270 7676
Directions: How to Get There?
Website: http://www.stjamespowerstation.com/
Operating Hours: 18:00 – 06:00 daily

Bar None (ex Firefly)
Firefly canto club found in St James Power Station has swopped premises with Bar None at the Singapore Marriott Hotel on 23 February 2009.

Bellini Room
Bellini Room, which used to serve a mixture of ‘live’ swing, big band and jazz music at St James Power Station, reopens in October 2009.

Boiler Room
Be it Top 40’s, Motown or all-time favourites, this room will focus on great live music and entertainment experience.

Dragonfly
A live music room for those who enjoy listening to Mandarin pop favourites performed by resident bands.

Gallery Bar
A bar lounge setting situated on the second level of the complex with a spectacular bird’s eye view of the other outlets.

Lobby
A bar at the lobby to lounge and chill out with friends; or watch the latest sports matches on screens.

Mono
The monochromatic themed karaoke venue, aptly named Mono, consists of a bar with seating for 50 people, and 10 individually designed rooms for those who prefer crooning behind closed doors.

Movida
Meaning ‘party’ in Cuban street slang, Movida is a live venue that celebrates the charm and spirit of world music served up by Live Musicians, DJs and other performers.

Powerhouse
A dance club at 10,000 sq ft, this is the largest outlet at St James and is poised to be the next congregation spot of youthful revelry by avid clubbers and fun loving party-goers.

Peppermint Park
An outdoor area offering happy hour deals and a great mix of music for after-work revelry.

Peppermint Park Sports Bar
A cosy and relaxing bar where you can enjoy a nice cold mug of Tiger Beer while watching your favourite sports programmes on their 12 screens.

3. dbl O (Double O)



dbl O is a dance club that focus on providing a premium and affordable clubbing experience in Singapore since 2000. It is now trying to reach out to a more creative audience and a wider young and trendy audience. Since May 2008, dbl O has organised many in-house campaigns, competitions and performances focusing only on art, music, fashion and dance.

Location: 11 Unity Street, #01-24 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6735 2008
Directions: How to Get There?
Website: http://www.dbl-o.com/
Operation Hours: Wednesdays to Saturdays 21:30- till late

4. ZOUK



One of Singapore’s famous nightlife destinations is definitely Zouk. Zouk opened its doors in Singapore in 1991 and has become a world renowned clubbing institution, credited with introducing dance music and club culture to the region and remaining its strongest perpetuator to this day. Zouk consists of 2 other sub clubs namely, Phuture and Velvet Underground.

t caters to adults and teenagers of all walks of life. Tourists who want to club and experience the lively nightlife of Singapore, head down to Zouk. For a more relaxed atmosphere, Phuture and Velvet Underground is just the right place.

Zouk has many resident DJs and definitely guest DJs from around the world, spinning music for the crowd so as they can enjoy the night spent at Zouk. Tourists will get to enjoy the music, chill with their friends and also drink their night away.
Every Wednesday is Mambo Jambo theme, for tourists who enjoy mambo jambo, they can head over to Zouk to enjoy themselves and get soaked in the Mambo Jambo atmosphere.

Address: 17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420
Phone: +65 6738 2988
Email: zoukclub@zoukclub.com

Stay tuned for more nightlife activities in Nightlife Part II!

Dining in Singapore! (Fine dining)

Fancy some fine dining instead?

Singapore offers a wide range of fine dining restaurants that has every cuisine you can think of.

1. Les Amis (French)

Les Amis is situated at the shopping paradise of Singapore, Orchard Road. Take a walk down from Orchard MRT and you’ll reach Shaw Center which holds Les Amis. Les Amis specializes in French Dining with a dash of Asian influences and some modern flare. Having two temperature-controlled cellars, Les Amis offers the most celebrated tipple from the world's vineyards. Most of the wines are French, specifically chosen to complement each separate flavour to be found in the perfect dishes.

If you want to experience one of Singapore's best restaurants, Les Amis should be top of your list. A harmonious feast for the senses, Les Amis is the place for those who have high expectations of food and those who simply seek the exceptional in everything. Les Amis definitely deserves its spot in the list of the 100 finest restaurants in the world.



Location:
1 Scotts Road
#02-16 Shaw Centre
Singapore 228208
(Opposite HSBC Bank, Tanglin Branch)
Tel: (65) 6733 2225
Wesbite: http://www.lesamis.com.sg/webtop/index2.html
Operating hours:
Mon - Fri: Lunch 12noon (Last seating at 2pm), Dinner 7pm (Last seating at 9.30pm)
Saturdays: Dinner 7pm (Last seating at 9.30pm)
Sundays: Closed
Holidays: closed on certain holidays. Please call to enquire.

2. Otto Ristorante (Italian)

Located in the landmark Red Dot Traffic building, the interior of Otto Ristorante supplies elegant chic and effortless taste through a beautifully considered white line and black wood interior. For those warm Singaporean days when the three-course set menu makes for a special lunch, there is the al fresco lounge and bar, where all that's needed to complete the perfect summer's lunch is a glass of chilled Italian white from the extraordinary list. You'll enjoy the best qualities of Italian hospitality, a traditional welcome and a shared reverence for all things edible. Like the food itself, Otto Ristorante supplies the heart and soul of regional Italy in a guise which is decidedly contemporary and, most importantly, a sensory feast worthy of the praise heaped on it.



Location:
28, Maxwell Road, #01-02
Red Dot Traffic Building
Singapore 069120
Tel: 6227 6819
Website: http://www.ottoristorante.com.sg
Opening hours:
Mon - Fri: Lunch from Noon to 2.30pm, Dinner from 6.30pm to 10.30pm
Saturdays: dinner from 6.20pm to 10.30pm
Sundays: Closed
Reservations strongly recommended.

3. Dozo Restaurant (Japanese)

Dozo is a one-of-a-kind modern Japanese concept that offers a multi-course degustation menu offering the best of Japanese, French and European cuisine. Dozo also provides an intimate amience with its five separate private dining rooms and three semi-private rooms.



Location:
491 River Valley Road
#02-02 S248371
Tel: 6838 6966
Website: http://www.dozo.com.sg/index.html
Operating Hours:
Daily: 11.30am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm - 10pm
Lunch: 11.30am 3pm, Dinner: 5.30pm 10pm
Mon - Sun: 11:30 am - 03:00 pm 05:30 pm - 10:00 pm

4. Iggy's (Fusion)

This restaurant provides a highly personal and gastronomic dining experience. The cuisine at Iggy’s is a fushion of the founder’s travels and dining experiences, resulting in ingredients from Asia, Europe and Australia.
Services include:
• Menu Customization
• Menus for those with dietary restrictions or special requests
• Online Reservations



Locations:

- Orchard Branch
56 Monk's Hill Terrace
S228543
Tel: 6732 5693
Website: http://www.iggys.com.sg
Operating Hours: Mon - Sun: 12:00 pm - 02:00 pm 07:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Getting There: Nearest MRT - Newton, Little India

- Tanglin Branch
1 Cuscaden Road
#03-00 The Regent Singapore S249715
Tel: 6732 2234
Fax: 6737 9912
Website: http://www.iggys.com.sg
Operating Hours: Lunch: Noon 2pm (Mon Fri), Dinner: 7pm 10pm (Mon Sun)
Mon-Fri: 12noon - 2pm, 7pm - 10pmSat-Sun 7pm - 10pm
Mon - Sun: 12:00 pm - 09:30 pm

5. Shiraz

This cosy and elegant restaurant offers a modern ambience in which to enjoy an age-old cuisine Persian food. Try one of the full-flavoured Persian stews or signature charcoal-grilled kebabs, and complement your meal with something from the extensive wine list. Belly-dancing is also one of the main highlights.



Location:
3A River Valley Road
#01-06 Merchants Court S179020
Neighbourhood: Marina Square / City Hall
Tel: 6334 2282
Website: http://www.shirazfnb.com
Operating Hours: Sat & Sun: 06:30 pm - 12:30 am
Tue - Fri: 12:00 pm - 02:30 pm 06:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Getting There: Nearest MRT - Clarke Quay

Sources: singaporeexpats.com, eatlikeys.wordpress.com, luxury-insider.com, singaporefinedining.com, insing.com, singaporefinedining.com

Dining in Singapore! (Local favourites)

Time to makan!

"Makan" is the Malay word for "eat". We Singaporeans affectionately use this term whenever we go and feast on our local delights. Singapore is well-loved for its range of ethnic food and world class cuisines. Atlhough Singapore is only a small little “red-dot”, the choices of food we have here, is definitely an eye-opener for you!

Some Local favourites:

1. Bak Kut Teh

Chinese pork ribs cooked in five different types of herbs and spices, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, dang gui, pepper and garlic. It is eaten with rice and often accompanied with Chinese Tea.



Try it at:
Ng Ah Sio Pork Ribs Soup Eating House
208 Rangoon Road
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday. 6am to 2pm

2. Satay

It is a dish consisting of bite-sized pieces of meat grilled on skewers. They are choices of chicken, mutton, pork and beef. They are also usually served with a flavorful spicy peanut sauce, slices of cucumbers and onion.



Try this at:
Satay Sejati
Blk 14 Haig Road
#01-23 Haig Road Cooked Food Centre S430014
(Katong Branch)
Getting There: Nearest MRT - Paya Lebar

3. Roti Prata

It is a type of Indian pancake made of flour. It comes with many variations of fillings such as egg, cheese, onions, meat or even topped off with a scoop of ice cream. It is usually served with hot curry gravy but some people prefer to eat with sugar.



Try this at:
Casuarina Curry
136/138 Casuarina Road., Singapore 579524

4. Chilli Crab

How can you miss the infamous Chilli Crab that originated right here in Singapore? The crabs are lightly fried or steamed first with ginger, before being stir-fried in a chilli sauce made mostly with chilli paste, ketchup, and chicken eggs. Commonly served with bread for mopping up the sauce.



Try this at:
Jumbo Seafood Restaurant
East Coast Seafood Centre
Blk 1206 East Coast Parkway #01-07/08
Singapore 449883

Recommended Hawker Centers:

To enjoy a the rich culture of flavours, come to our hawker centers! We have them all here, just for you!

1. Chomp Chomp Food Center
Location: Serangoon Garden.
A wide variety of food at reasonable prices!

2. Lau Pa Sat Food Center
Location: Boon Tat Street, Shenton Way, Robinson Road
Lau Pa Sat transformed from a wet market to a food center offering a wide variety of local food!

3. Newton Circus Food Center
Location: Newton Circus.
The most well known hawker center in Singapore. A definite must-go for seafood lovers!

Stay tuned for the next post on fine dining in Singapore!

Sources: singaporeexpats.com, eatlikeys.wordpress.com, insing.com,

Shopping in Singapore (Part II)

Besides mainstream shopping malls, Singapore also offers a wide variety of street shops, places bursting with our very own local flavour and indie shops!

Bugis Street- “The largest street-shopping location in Singapore”.

It has always been one of the most vibrant and colourful places in Singapore. It is a wonderful place if you want to get cheap deals in Singapore! There are approximately 600 retail shops there and more are coming in after the expansion. They offer attractive fashion, ranging from head to toe and also lifestyle products.




Getting there: Nearest MRT station is Bugis EW12.

Chinatown

You hear bargains! You hear “sales pitch”! You hear chewing, crunching, and food moistening in the mouth. This is Shopping in Singapore Chinatown. The best time to visit Chinatown is during the Chinese Lunar New Year as everything you need for Chinese New Year is there. The best thing about shopping in Chinatown is that one can offer bargain-prices for almost anything! Ranging from electrical and electronic goods to clothes and cosmetics. The central shopping area is the area around the junction of Cross Street with New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Seng Street, which includes shopping complexes like Chinatown Point, Yue Hwa, People's Park Complex and Chinatown Complex.



Getting there: A short walk from Outram Park EW16/NE or Chinatown NE4 MRT Stations.

Mustafa Centre

If you want to have some late night shopping, Mustafa Centre Singapore can be a good suggestion! It is the one and only shopping centre that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days in a week the whole year round. This multilevel store offers almost everything ranging from food, luggage, medicines, apparels, and electronics to gold jewellery. You can call it as a one-stop service convenience shopping mall, where you can get everything in just one night.

Getting there: Nearest MRT station is Farrer Park.

Indie Shops

1. SURRENDER (Open Daily 2-9pm)
Owners Earn Chen and Mo’ Wax DJ/producer James Lavelle

Where did the name come from: James came up with the philosophy of ‘surrendering to life’ and so when we started our clothes label in 2004 we decided to call it Surrender.

What do they sell:Their own line of apparel under the Surrender brand, plus bags, accessories, shoes and Japanese clothing labels like Neighbour, Visvim and Head Porter.

Address:119 Devonshire Road

Transport:Nearby Stations is Somerset

2. CHO LON (Open Mon-Fri 11am-7.30pm, Sat 11am-8.30pm, Sun noon-7pm)
Owner Ros Lovell

Where did the name come from: The lady and her husband were on their first buying trip to Hanoi in November 2001 and they overheard a lady use the word ‘cho lon’. It had a beautiful sound to it and they were desperately trying to come up with a name just then. The words literally mean ‘marketplace’.

What do they sell: Opened since 2002, the shop sells almost everything from vintage furniture, designer light fixtures and old and new accessories to quirky books such as ‘The Funniest Things You Never Said’, ‘A Thousand Places to See Before You Die’ and ‘How to Walk in High Heels’.

Address: 43 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-73 Chip Bee Gardens

Transport: Bus Lines 7, 61, 75, 106, 970.

3. L’ARTICHAUT (Open Mon–Fri 10am-7.30pm; Sat noon-5pm.)
Owners Kazumi Hiruma and Lynette May-Pjuen

Where did the name come from: L’Artichaut, when loosely translated means ‘art hot’. They want their gallery to have hot art that gets people’s hearts racing.

What do they sell: They stock up to 25 designers from countries like Paris, Italy, Belgium, Japan and Singapore. An example is the label OSel by actress-turned-jewellery-designer Nadya Hatugalung. New designers include Alex & Chloe, Argentum, Atelier11, Boudoir and Corpus Christi.

Address:37 Novena Terrace (62529155, www.lartichaut. com).

Transport: MRT Novena

4. THE WIZARD OF OZ
Owner Yieh Chen

Where did the name come from: The owner wanted something that was easy to remember and wouldn’t give a pre-conceived image of what the shop might sell. Our shoes are unique – apart from your everyday black shoes, we stock pairs with metallic studs, New Rock punk boots as well as zebra and horse-skin shoes. Everything but Dorothy’s red ruby slippers.

What do they sell: Men’s and ladies’ shoes, belts, handbags and other accessories like cigarette cases and lighters. All at 50 to 90 per cent off their retail prices.

Address:59 Ubi Avenue #05-08

Transport: Nearby Stations Eunos, Bus Lines 63

Sources: visitsingapore.com, bugis-street.com, travel-singapore-with-me.com, travel.yahoo.com, rafflescity.com.sg, timeoutsingapore.com