Garden in the City

          Known for their great collection of plants and flowers all over the world, Gardens by the Bay exhibits a world-class garden in a city that spectacles the ecosystem of plants and its nurtured environment. This famous tourist attraction is located at Marina Gardens Drive. You can take the Circle Line (also known as Yellow Line) and alight at Bayfront MRT Station.

          Below are pictures from the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest- two glass biomes found at the facade of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Photos are taken by yours truly using iPhone 4s and edited them using VSCOcam

Flower Dome:

Cloud Forest:

Singapore Biennale 2013: If The World Changed

          Going to different exhibits yesterday has brought me to tears. I have never been to such events in my hometown. Art has really have its way in manifesting what one person is thinking and feeling.

          Singapore Biennale 2013 has opened its doors for me to contemporary art from Southeast Asia. With its beauty and wonder, I must say, my love for art has become more vehement. 82 artists have participated this year and all of their works are truly world-class and have strongly marked their propositions. In celebration of its fourth year, SB2013, held at different locations in Singapore, has induced its audience to open their eyes to a different dimension of the world we live in now. Various questions have been raised regarding world and national issues. Concepts and artistic practices of these artists have emerged to showcase their expertise in such a way that the audience would understand and reflect what is and what is going to happen in the world we live in today. 

Film, painting, graphic art, and the like were featured in 7 different venues: Singapore Art Museum, National Museum of Singapore, Penarakan Museum, Singapore Management University, National Library Building, Fort Canning Park, and Waterloo Center.

You can catch the Singapore Beinnale from October 26, 2013 - February 16, 2014
Ticket is at S$10 each for adults.

*Photos here are taken by yours truly using iPhone4s and edited through VSCOcam App

Getting Through Part1

Here is something I have somehow managed to master here in Singapore:
heating/cooking food using the microwave!!!

I have mistakenly chosen to live in a flat where I have to deal with arrogant and stingy landladies (owner and her Filipino girlfriend) everyday. A foodie like me will really find ways to be able to "survive." In the contract, one of the conditions says: Only light cooking is allowed. Little did I know that light cooking for her/them is just heating the food. I really should have asked her to elaborate before signing the contract. Anyway, to make things unbearable, we are not allowed to heat any raw food in the microwave because for her, that's considered cooking. Basically, all we can do is pre-heat water-based food and left-over. Her/Their irrational way of thinking is so good that it makes me question myself: "Am I really in a first world country? Seriously."

To enlighten me and further make me understand as to why, I have asked my flatmates about her brilliant house rules. They told me that the landlady does not want to lend her kitchenware or even the stove because apparently, the previous tenants who lived in her flat before us were a bunch of clumsy and inconsiderate people. So, okay. I get the point that she does not want that to happen again; however, when she posted and set the conditions in the advertisement and contract, she should have made EVERYTHING clear.

How on earth will I get through in this flat?

And so, my survival101 begins. Every time they are out of the flat or if their door is closed (Yes, they leave their door open so they can see what we do outside our rooms.), I always sneak in the kitchen and pre-heat everything and anything I want. I browsed through sites that teaches on how to poach eggs, cook rice, etc. using the microwave and voila! I am as successful as a hungry cat chasing for a sneaky mouse.

Here are the how-to steps. Enjoy!


1. Rice 

• microwave-safe container
• rice
• water

Rinse or soak the rice in the container before cooking. Put water together with the rice in your microwave-safe container. This is how I check if the water is just enough: I sink my index finger on the surface of the rice and see if the water level is 1/3 of my finger. Set the timer for 10-13minutes.

Caution: Container is VERY hot after cooking.

2. Eggs

• mug
• eggs
• water

Fill 1/2 of the mug with tap water. Gently crack an egg into the mug. Careful not to break the yolk when you crack the egg. Set the timer to 1 minute and 30 seconds. When you hear something pops, it means the egg is done. Drain the water out. Enjoy your poached eggs and don't forget to put some salt before munching on it!

As for the canned good, just pre-heat them in the microwave. :)

1, 2, 3, SURPRISE!

Happy happy birthday to my one and only!

We were on Skype few days after his trip here in Singapore and I randomly checked Tiger Air for a flight schedule to Manila. It was my lucky day to find out they have promo fare. I got my ticket for only $160! I messaged my TeamFab loves and his friends immediately to plan the surprise. I did everything while talking to him. Who says I can't be a ninja like him? Haha!

Three weeks left and I still have no clue as to how will I surprise him. I just told his friends to ask him out and I was thinking I'll just figure something out when the day comes. Thank you to ALL of our friends who have helped me plan this surprise. I hope Mr. Cuervo have been a good company to everyone. Haha!

Last night, his birthday eve, I did the surprise and I saw the most priceless reaction ever from him. He was there standing; stunned and could not utter a word. A hug and a kiss told me that he was VERY happy.

Of course, a ramen date will always be #1 in our list. Will you look at that smile? I can just swoon over it again and again.

Then, we wrapped the night up at Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar for supper with his family. An Italian cuisine restaurant located at Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City- just beside TGI Friday's. They serve antipasti, salad, pizza, small &big plates, pasta, wines etc. Food is fantastic; though, I hope they will serve the food accordingly and all at once.

I do not need to hope anymore that I will make your birthday wish come true because now, I believe I made it possible. With all my heart, thank you for always knocking at my door and making me realize that distance will never be a barrier between us. I never thought I could go this far just to see someone smile. I am thrilled and loved in this journey with you. Let's make our dreams come true!  Happy happy birthday, love! 

Ending the night with my birthday man before driving me home... I love you. 

Marti In Singapore

        Of all the dubious things in life, this is one of the certain things in mine. And, I am happy to have spent this unforgettable weekend with my one and only.

     
Day 1
September 6, 2013

I think this is the BEST morning I have ever had.

I woke up, not feeling groggy nor lethargic, at around 5:30am to get ready to go to the airport and fetch Marti. I was so excited that my heart felt like it was a blender machine that was about to burst. All I can think of that time was, "Finally, after 2 months!"

The moment I saw this 5'11, wearing coffee-colored leather jacket, and chinito walking towards me, I knew home was finally here. Just like in movies, everything just stopped for a brief moment and all I can see, hear, and feel were his smile, warm hug, and our lips touching each other. I really missed this amazing guy.

For his first day of visit here in Singapore, we went out for a stroll at Orchard Road and had a night out with his friends Dino and Jan at Bugis Plus.

Day 2
September 7, 2013

We just love theme parks. Period.

Happy couple in Happyland. :)

Ended the day at Haji Lane to shop and to have a taste of the famous Nando's Peri-Peri Chicken (Bugis Junction) for dinner.

Day 3
September 8, 2013

I would not miss Kai Kai and Jia Jia's Panda Party at River Safari for the world! My Sunday was complete being with the best man and my favorite animal in the world. And yes, this was my first ever close encounter with giant panda bears and a red panda bear. Thank God there were no glass walls in the zoo unlike the one I visited at Ueno Zoo, Japan. Oh heart, I was the happiest girl alive!

Day 4
September 9, 2013

And, tears began to roll down our eyes. It was time for him to go back home. It was a sucky feeling to say goodbye once more, but hey, I had the BEST weekend and in those four days, I know for a fact that things have gotten stronger between us; that we are certain of what we have.

I am loving him even more. 

Thank you so much, Love, for a wonderful weekend. I feel tremendously grateful and blessed to have shared this awesome experience with you. God is really great for holding our hands together in this journey. See you later, labidabs!