After food tripping at Food Rep, my friends and I headed to Sentosa.  I initially wanted to go to Universal Studios Singapore. Unfortunately, it was fully booked despite trying to get tickets a week before. Probably it was just because of the Halloween weekend. Perhaps on my next trip =.P

Due to time constraints, I wasn’t able have have my picture taken with actual Merlion. Good thing Sentosa has its own. Hehe.

My chaperones (back left to right) Rom and Obet, (front left to right) Kid and Anna.

In Sentosa, I went to:

• Sights of Singapore museum tour
• Luge and Skyride
• Bikini Bar

Wait for my next posts.

Before my friends and I went to Sentosa that Saturday, we ate lunch at Food Republic, Vivo City.

Hokkien Mae Prawn Noodles. Stir fried noodles with sprouts, squid, pork and prawns with Sambal chili on the side.

Nasi Lemak. Rice cooked with coconut cream. It’s normally served with sambal chili, chicken and small dried anchovies. Since, I planned on trying several dishes. I just ordered the rice.

Popiah. Fresh spring roll. It’s Singapore’s version of our fresh Lumpia.  It uses pretty much the same ingredients. However, instead of serving the peanut sauce separately, they spread it on the spring roll wrapper before putting the other ingredients.

Bak Kuh Teh. It’s a pork rib soup with a unique broth, Singapore’s version of our Nilaga.

Laksa. This is Singapore’s popular spicy noodle soup. Now, I’m hungry!

Beef Rendang. Indonesian beef dish cooked in coconut milk and spices. Singapore’s version of our Calderata. The main difference is the use of coconut milk.

Food Republic

Kaya is a local spread eaten on toast with butter. Yum! I ate the the famous Ya Kun Kaya Toast. They have a lot of branches in the city. My friends also recommended Toast Box.

Ya Kun (Far East Plaza)
14 Scotts Road
#01-16 Far East Plaza
Singapore 228213

Yes. This is an adult store.

Adult stores aren’t new.  However, it’s the location of this store that surprises me.  Usually, stores like this are in “hidden” locations.  They are usually not on high-traffic areas.  Not for House of Condom. It’s at the front side of Lucky Plaza, along Orchard Road, no less, which is probably the busiest street in Singapore. And there stands this store.

House of Condom
Lucky Plaza
Orchard Road
Singapore

The Filipina, Ann, helped us choose from a wide selection or German and internal beers. To my surprise, they served San Mig Light.

Beer was expensive. I paid S$50 (approx. Php 1,650) for 3 bottles of international beer. But shortly after paying the bill (around 12mn), the owner/manager of the bar joined our table and initially offered us another round of beer. On the house! Who won’t take that offer?

His name is Michael, Singaporean.  He claims to have ran his bar for over 2 decades. He talked about a lot of stuff…

• How he started as a dishwasher in Japan
• His rock and roll slash colored hair days
• Why most of his bar crew at Filipinos (from the waitresses, to cooks, to musicians, to drivers)
• How he takes care of his Pinoy-dominated crew. BTW, I asked Ann, our waitress, and confirmed that Michael is indeed a good boss.
• His son studying in Europe
• His business ventures in the Philippines and Cambodia
• Inviting Freddie Aguilar to his bar
• Be special request, you can order Filipino cuisine like Adobo and Crispy Pata

He kept on telling stories. He’d usually start this line: “Pare… I tell you…” Next thing we knew, he has already served us more beer that we originally ordered. And it was already 4AM on a weeknight! What a first night in Singapore!

Brauhaus Restaurant and Pub
United Square
101 Thomson Road #B1-13/14
Singapore 307591

You should try the one at Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice. It’s one of the more popular chicken rice places. It has hundreds of reviews at TripAdvisor. I also suggest you try their Cereal Prawns – deep fried jumbo prawns breaded with cereals.

I’m hungry already!

Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice
275 Thomson Road
#01-05 Novena Ville (Near Novena MRT Station [NS20])
Singapore

Since the Orchard MRT Station is just below, ION Orchard was the first mall I saw coming from the MRT.

He lives near Orchard Rd. To get to his place (according to Google Maps), I have to:

1. Take the free shuttle from Budget Terminal to Terminal 2 (where the MRT Station is)
2. Take the MRT green line to City Hall (NS25 / EW13)
3. Transfer to the MRT red line
4. Take another MRT to Orchard Road (NS22)
5. Walk to his place from there.

Here’s what the Changi MRT station looks like…  wow!

Most stations also have doors on the waiting platform.

Safe. Spacious. Clean. Convenient. Easy.  You simply buy the EZ-Link Card and go! You can also use this smart card when riding a bus.

Technically, I wasn’t really alone. I have managed to make some friends at the Airport. Meet Ronald (a Burmese national) and his nephew, John (picture at the right).

Some MRT ads…

ALL trains have designated areas / “reserved seats” for the elderly, pregnant women, people with disability and people traveling with kids/babies.  There’s also a jingle that plays to promote the seats. It goes (sings…) “Give up give up give up you seat for those in need. Love your ride!”

Finally, the map in the MRT has indicator lights.  You’ll know:

• what stations your train will be covering
• what your current station is
• what’s the next station

You’ll also know on what side will the doors open.