Singapore: Round 7

Here are snippets of my seventh and latest trip to Singapore:

Ippudo

Shigemi Kawahara, the Ramen King, has elevated the level of ramen to the realm of art through his famous restaurant, Ippudo. His very first restaurant opened in 1985 in Fukuoka, Japan with a seating capacity for 10 people only. Through the years, it has expanded in the U.S., Hongkong, South Korea, Taipei, Australia and Singapore, satisfying the tastebuds of 20,000 people everyday.

My sister and I had dinner at Ippudo located at Singapore's Mandarin Gallery Mall last week. We were very intrigued by the restaurant especially since there were so many people queuing patiently outside.

I love their cute and classy interiors. 

It was so sulit to wait in line for all these! Everything was oishi!

After our sumptuous meal, there were still so many people waiting in line outside! Grabe!

Jones The Grocer

Imagine a store with its own walk-in cheese room. Wow!!! Jones The Grocer, a renowned producer of gourmet food, has one in its flagship store in Sydney, Australia. According to their website, it has set the benchmark for premium Australian gourmet food store since it was launched in 1996. I am so glad that they have opened a branch in sunny Singapore! 

My sister and I had brunch at Jones The Grocer's Mandarin Gallery outlet last week. I love its sleek and contemporary design! 

They didn't have a walk-in cheese room, but they still had so much cheese on display!

We had to wait for a few minutes before we were ushered to our seats. I saw a bunch of foreigners and some local Singaporeans.

Food was delectable!

Shiraz Singapore

My sister and I went shopping in Orchard last week. After a very long day, we had an unplanned dinner at Shiraz located at the side of the road near Takashimaya. It does not look like the usual carinderia in the Philippines because it's very clean and langaw-free for a sidewalk eatery!

Dean & Deluca

Giorgio DeLuca, a school teacher turned cheese merchant, and Joel Dean, a business manager, dreamed of creating a place that would offer customers a sumptuous celebration of food and a venue to experience all of the pleasures that cooking and eating can bring. The original Dean & Deluca opened for business in September 1977 in SoHo at the corner of Prince and Greene Streets. <taken from Dean & Deluca website>

Today, aside from the United States, Dean & Deluca has expanded to several international locations such as Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, The Middle East and just very recently, Singapore! It is located at the Level 4 of Orchard Central Mall.

According to their website, the Dean & Deluca brand represents a lifestyle with a focus on food—not just a retail brand. Everything was pricey but it was worth it!

Last July 21st, my sister and I had brunch here before we watched the famous broadway musical, Annie. Dining here made me want to visit New York all the more! I love the refreshing ambiance!

Feast your eyes! It was the perfect brunch!

Twelve Cupcakes: Handmade with Love

I was leisurely strolling in Bugis a couple of days ago until I saw the cute little stall of Twelve Cupcakes at the basement of Bugis Junction.

I couldn't stop staring at these beautiful cupcakes. To buy or not to buy?

They were quite pricey at 3 SGD each. But who could say no to these?

Chatterbox

Chatterbox has been making a name in Singapore since it opened way back in 1971. My sister was able to buy discounted online vouchers for this restaurant located at the 5th level of Mandarin Orchard Hotel, hence we were able to dine here two days ago. The lobby of the hotel is simply gorgeous.

The menu.

We feasted on their legendary Mandarin Chicken Rice and their signature Asian dish Mandarin Lobster Laksa.

Trans-Siberian Railway

Next on my bucket list: Trans-Siberian Railway. Once hailed as the 'fairest jewel in the crown of the Tsars', it remains as one of the greatest travel experiences.

Sneak Peek: Yogyakarta

The Borobudur.

Sneak Peek: Siem Reap

Sunrise at Angkor Wat.

Sneak Peek: Ho Chi Minh

Hôtel de Ville de Saigon illuminated at night.

Five-Star Dining at Pizzeria Mozza

I had a belated birthday celebration with my siblings at Pizzeria Mozza located at #2 Bayfront Avenue, #B1-42/46 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. This famous celebrity restaurant was founded by Chef Nancy Silverton, TV personality Mario Batali and restaurateur Joe Bastianich.

The dark interiors added to its elegant appeal.

I love the open kitchen concept.

Pizzeria Mozza also has branches in Newport Beach and Los Angeles.

We ordered a lot that night! Pricey, but really good food.

Beautiful Philippines

I took these photos of Mactan Island on my flight back to Manila earlier today. 

Such a pretty sight!

My Travel Map

"The sight of the world put mad ideas into me; 

as if I could wander away, wander for ever; 

see strange and beautiful things, 

one after the other." 

~ CS Lewis

According to Travbuddy, I have only visited 18% of the countries in the world. I have mostly visited countries in Asia and Europe. There are still so many other places to explore. I especially want to visit Machu Picchu in South America and see the Northern Lights in Norway. Here is my most updated travel map:

Being Twentysomething

I just read this very interesting article from Thought Catalog entitled, "Why Being In Your 20s Is Awesome." I love every single thing written here because it is so straight-to-the-point and it reminded me so much of my personal experiences. Let me quote some of my favorite lines from the article.

I've always been a segurista ever since before. When I was still a student, if I knew I had an exam, I would review my books and notes not only once, but twice or even thrice, just to make sure I understood everything. I didn't want to be caught off-guard. I've always been prepared. Or so I thought. When college ended in 2010, I suddenly found  myself standing at a crossroads. I didn't know where to go. Should I try out for a corporate job? Should I intern and travel abroad? Should I help my parents' business? Hay, whatever happened to Little Miss Ready?

As I look back at the events that have transpired in my life during the last two years, I am glad that I took the road less travelled. Most of my batchmates chose to immediately work for large corporations in the country, but I opted to go for an internship in the Czech Republic! I took this big leap secretly and hastily. My parents were in fact, among the last people to know, much to their disappointment. They told me that flying to the former communist country of Czechoslovakia was an insane idea! But I was persistent and very bull-headed. I was so excited and every bit as ready "to feel and see as much as [I] can, to take advantage of not being tied down to anything and anyone and to go balls to the wall with everything that [I] do". 

My parents were initially against my European internship because they wanted me to immediately work for a multinational company and consequently map out my career path. But my sentiments back then were exactly the same as the sentiments echoed in the article. "Why the hell are we in such a hurry to live some boring grown up adult life that we saw at a Crate & Barrel? Because once we do get there, we’re stuck for a long time. [Being twentysomething] is going to leave us eventually so you better freaking enjoy it." 

Eventually pursuing my internship in the Czech Republic turned out to be the best decision that I have ever made in my entire life! I decided to let go of my segurista ways and become more spontaneous like sleep in train stations, run away from a ticket controller, enter a gay bar, explore a new city alone and a whole lot more. It was a bit frightening, somewhat exhausting, but definitely fun and life-changing!  

It has been eight months since my internship ended and not a day goes by that I don't miss my adventure-filled year in Europe. Although I feel happy and blessed with the way things are going on right now (I work for an outstanding multinational company and I get to see my family and friends often), a part of me still thirsts for that foolish, impetuous and vagabond lifestyle that I once got accustomed to.

Indeed, what the article mentioned at the very end is true, "[We] should love every single moment of this hot mess of a decade. Chances are [we’ll] miss it before [we] even get to say “I’m 30.” 

Ayala Terraces Cebu

The Mind Museum

Last February 15, I was invited to check out the yet to be officially opened Mind Museum in Taguig City. My company gave out free tickets because they are one of the major donors of this world-class museum. There are over 250 exhibits about the Atom, Earth, Life, Universe and Technology.