The Misadventures of Marina Sands

In the world's 2nd most expensive construction site cum casino, we decided to go explore the newly opened Marina Sands. Walking across the Helix Bridge from the Singapore Flyer, we found ourselves walking through construction site after construction site.

Thanks to our luck .. or not so good luck in exploring the Marina Sands, we somehow found ourselves being led within the casino by the casino staff. Then faced, hell of a time, trying to get out of the casino, without paying the $100 levy. All in all, an interesting experience. Not being much of a gambler, the casino felt the same like everywhere else like Crown or the ones in Macau. The only surprising portion was the huge amounts of jackpot machines that just wasn't functioning yet.



Us - trying to take a photo on the roof..



The Marina Sands - Hotel Portion

Helix Bridge

In a Corner of Tiong Bahru ...

It was one of those occasions where there was flowers... then a cool trip down to a corner in Tiong Bahru where a modern and unique looking boutique hotel called Wangz Hotel was located.

Newly decorated, with a nice not-trying too hard kind of chic. On top of the hotel, lies Halo, the hotel bar with an amazing view of the Singapore skyline.



A small cozy bar, limited tables, amazing views. Do Dress casually, have a martini and chill the night away.

Wangz Hotel
231 Outram Road
Singapore 169040
Tel: (65) 6595 1388
Fax: (65) 6595 1399

Red Dot Museum - Weekend Flea

If there's a place that I love to head to religiously, it would be the regular, monthly Red Dot Museum flea market, MAAD for the locally made crafts...

I noticed for a while, that there was always a group of artists sitting around sketching people during the monthly flea market. But I never had the courage, until the one rainy day with my beloved. The group was actually the OIC - Organization of Illustration Council . Essentially, any interested parties can put their name in for a 20 min sketching session by a group of artists. The sketches will be put up once the 20 mins is over and can be purchased at $10 per piece..


Kawaii ! Did not really look like the both of us at all, but awww.. all so cute.

This one was an instant hit, we noted that the illustrator was Miel - the Straits Times cartoonist

Sitting down there for 20 minutes, without moving, in front of a group of people we didn't know, was a tad strange. We kept trading jokes and remarks and time just flew by fast.

It was a good day, exploring Duxton Hill, finding Pasta Brava, lazing at a cafe waiting for the rain to stop.

CNY ...

After missing out on CNY festivities at home for 2 years in a row, I was really glad for this year.


The pomfret that was bigger than my foot.


The relatives busy preparing the seafood..

The food that everyone brought over.. enough to feed an army. Or the full extended family for 3 days ...

Daddy sneaking food off the table for the dog...

Granny sleeping through the buzz of human activity..

The fabulous good food .. Yes .. that's pure shark's fin, painfully prepared by my uncle..

The feeling of home .. :)

Thaipusam 2010

Being a Singaporean for so long, it was my first time catching Thaipusam.

Thaipusam is a Hindu celebration for the birthday of the Hindu deity Subramaniam. Hindus show the sincerity of their faith, make and fulfil vows. When their prayers are answered, they fulfil their vows by piercing his cheeks, tongue, face or other suitable body parts with sharp objects. Next his friends or relatives load a kavadi on his shoulder and he goes on a 4km journey of faith.

As Thaipusam is not a public holiday here, normally, I would be at school or at work when it happened. Camping at the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple near Mohammad Sultan Road which was the resting place for the worshipers, I observed the removal of the kavadis.


They arrive at the designated pitstop ...

Surrounded by friends who help them to remove the kavadi, these same friends will apply pressure to the wounds using their fingers. Blood was spurting out for a few of the deeper wounds. My only thought was... "I hope he's not HIV positive" - l -


Once everything was removed, free, not in pain. Just calmly walking around