Three days from now I'll be back in Singapore with my parents and sisters and I'll be glad to get out of politics and heat for a while. I do hope to catch up on work while I'm there.
Singapore is like our second home. I like its moderate pace—not too slow and not too fast. It's not like Hong Kong where you burn yourself out shopping because stores are still open until midnight.
It's not overwhelming like Tokyo where you never have time to see everything because there's so much to see.
It's not too hot like Bangkok. Traffic isn't bad and everything is reachable by cab. In Singapore I never have to go down the tube!
What I like about Singapore can be summarized like this:
City-wise, it looks like a perfect version of Manila.
Airport is so near.
I have no fear of going to the toilet because Singaporeans understand renovation and modern toilets.
Plus, there's always something good to eat!
Here's where danger lies. I notice how my stomach always pops out majorly when I'm in Singapore and it's because I cannot resist chicken rice.
First chance I got (I had a one hour break from work) I slipped into the Mandarin Orchard's (formerly Meritus Mandarin) newly renovated Chatterbox.
![The newly renovated Chatterbox]()
In no time Chatterbox's famous chicken rice was right in front of me, with a glass of chilled fresh orange juice.
![IMG_3111]()
Here's a bird's eye view
![IMG_3110]()
(Tell you the truth, it didn't taste as good as the first time I tried it years ago. I think Chef Stevie's homemade chicken rice in Manila is better. I actually ordered some for tomorrow's dinner. I would like to blog it but Chef Stevie's chicken rice doesn't photograph well. It does, however, taste authentically good.)
The following day I had lunch by myself at the new Orchard Central mall. With so many new eating places, I chose to eat in a safe one because I was near starvation.
I ordered pork and oyster katsu but I didn't enjoy it as much as the Hong Kong branch we usually go to at World Trade Center.
![IMG_3462]()
Next day I dragged Jeroen to Din Tai Fung at the basement of the Paragon. It was Jeroen's first time and my third. Since I knew what to expect, I'm glad we didn't over order because people tend to do that at DTF.
You put this
![IMG_3505]()
on top of soupy dumplings
![IMG_3511]()
Shrimp fried rice for two
![IMG_3506]()
Delicious shrimp cake—Jeroen loved this
![IMG_3510]()
On our last night my uncle sent a van to take us to Powsing at Serangoon Garden Way, my special request for my birthday.
![IMG_3601]()
Six of us shared a ton of food including their famous chicken rice and fried chicken wings marinated in shrimp paste. (Not in picture: vegetable dishes)
I felt like crying because sometimes in Manila I really think of chicken rice and there I was having authentic chicken rice on my birthday and in Singapore!
![IMG_3595]()
![IMG_3598]()
Fried chicken wings with shrimp paste is really the bomb, promise!
![IMG_3599]()
On our last day, I made sure to try 4 Fingers Bonchon crispy chicken on Basement 4 of the new Ion Orchard mall because our cousins have been raving about it. They have been trying to bring this chicken to Manila but the franchise prices are unreal! So might as well enjoy the chicken in Singapore if you're there.
![IMG_3686]()
Here's the cool packaging. Unfortunately there is no place to sit in the vicinity. Standing room only.
![IMG_3689]()
My expectations were so high, but in the end this tasted better than any chicken rice I had this trip.
It doesn't photograph well, but trust me it's delish.
![IMG_3690]()
Ana, I cannot wait to drag you here!!
Singapore is like our second home. I like its moderate pace—not too slow and not too fast. It's not like Hong Kong where you burn yourself out shopping because stores are still open until midnight.
It's not overwhelming like Tokyo where you never have time to see everything because there's so much to see.
It's not too hot like Bangkok. Traffic isn't bad and everything is reachable by cab. In Singapore I never have to go down the tube!
What I like about Singapore can be summarized like this:
City-wise, it looks like a perfect version of Manila.
Airport is so near.
I have no fear of going to the toilet because Singaporeans understand renovation and modern toilets.
Plus, there's always something good to eat!
Here's where danger lies. I notice how my stomach always pops out majorly when I'm in Singapore and it's because I cannot resist chicken rice.
First chance I got (I had a one hour break from work) I slipped into the Mandarin Orchard's (formerly Meritus Mandarin) newly renovated Chatterbox.
In no time Chatterbox's famous chicken rice was right in front of me, with a glass of chilled fresh orange juice.
Here's a bird's eye view
(Tell you the truth, it didn't taste as good as the first time I tried it years ago. I think Chef Stevie's homemade chicken rice in Manila is better. I actually ordered some for tomorrow's dinner. I would like to blog it but Chef Stevie's chicken rice doesn't photograph well. It does, however, taste authentically good.)
The following day I had lunch by myself at the new Orchard Central mall. With so many new eating places, I chose to eat in a safe one because I was near starvation.
I ordered pork and oyster katsu but I didn't enjoy it as much as the Hong Kong branch we usually go to at World Trade Center.
Next day I dragged Jeroen to Din Tai Fung at the basement of the Paragon. It was Jeroen's first time and my third. Since I knew what to expect, I'm glad we didn't over order because people tend to do that at DTF.
You put this
on top of soupy dumplings
Shrimp fried rice for two
Delicious shrimp cake—Jeroen loved this
On our last night my uncle sent a van to take us to Powsing at Serangoon Garden Way, my special request for my birthday.
Six of us shared a ton of food including their famous chicken rice and fried chicken wings marinated in shrimp paste. (Not in picture: vegetable dishes)
I felt like crying because sometimes in Manila I really think of chicken rice and there I was having authentic chicken rice on my birthday and in Singapore!
Fried chicken wings with shrimp paste is really the bomb, promise!
On our last day, I made sure to try 4 Fingers Bonchon crispy chicken on Basement 4 of the new Ion Orchard mall because our cousins have been raving about it. They have been trying to bring this chicken to Manila but the franchise prices are unreal! So might as well enjoy the chicken in Singapore if you're there.
Here's the cool packaging. Unfortunately there is no place to sit in the vicinity. Standing room only.
My expectations were so high, but in the end this tasted better than any chicken rice I had this trip.
It doesn't photograph well, but trust me it's delish.
Ana, I cannot wait to drag you here!!