Singapore: Short Getaway

Several weeks ago, me and husband decided to go to Singapore for a quick and short getaway. We spent 3 days 2 nights in Singapore. We chose to stay in One Farrer Park Hotel as it is close to Little India. Our plan on this trip was to do more culinary tour around Little India, Kampung Glam, Arab Street, and Bugis which are close (walking distance) from the hotel.

One Farrer Park Hotel and Hospital within the same building

Last time we used 3 days MRT card for tourist. But this time we didn't bother to buy it since it was all within a walking distance. 

First day, we came at night due to awesome massive delay of Lion Air. One Farrer Park Hotel was nice enough to upgrade 2 exhausted guest after such delay. It was instantly upgrade our experience for the better. 

Found a cute looking hotel on the way to Arab Street

2nd day, we decided to go to Arab street, Kampung Glam, and Bugis for some shopping and culinary tour. We walked around 30 minutes from hotel to Arab Street.

Bussaurah Street

Middle Eastern Restaurants filled the streets

This street took me to middle eastern. Everything on the street has middle eastern feeling. It was bright and sunny day too. So many restaurants and some gift shops there. We decided to pick a Yemen restaurant.

We ordered all combination of appetizers with Peeta bread. 

Left to right; hummus, falafel, fatoush salad, babaganoush and Peeta Bread on the bottom

This is how you are suppose to eat it, wrap it like sandwich and Yumm!!!

Lunch was supeeer yummy!!! I was not so sure about middle eastern food before. Husband (back then boyfriend) keep taking me to Middle Eastern restaurant but I was not always like it. Till I tried this one. Turned out it was soooo good. Apparently I hadn't eat a good proper and authentic one before.

With all the food on our belly, we went to Bugis Street for a quick shopping in Bugis Street Market. I was going to buy some dresses. Husband was not a big fan of crowded place. He was pouting all the time. So, we decided to go to Bugis Mall instead to get his favorite Chewy Junior. It was my turn to pout since I couldn't buy any new outfits in the market. :-(

Managed to buy this tho; Kaya Ball Durian Flavor

Aaah look how beautiful my Kaya Durian Ball

Last time I visited Singapore, I bought Egglet or Egg Waffle and I thought to myself that soon it is gonna be a new trend in Indonesia (Jakarta). Then not too long after that, it was indeed becoming a hawker trend in Jakarta. I have the same prediction for this Kaya Ball too. Let's wait and see.

Day 2
We were  too lazy to go out early. I was coughing all night long too. Seems like I caught a cold. We only went to Mustofa to buy Muruku snack (my most favorite snack), gifts, and some Indian spices. I am in the mood to cook a lot of Indian foods these days.

Ovomaltine was only Rp.80.000 in Mustofa Center

Food court in a Mall close by to our hotel 

cute decor

Bought this keychains for our apartment keys

Have you heard about Banana Apollo? It was very popular in Little India (Singapore) as one of the best Indian restaurant in town. We went there and they live up to our expectation. The food was served on banana leaf. Everything was super delicious. The restaurant was kind crowded. But we got a funny guy served us. We went back on the 3rd day before going back to the airport. I would definitely come back again the next time we visit Singapore. Seriously this place is a must visit for those who loves Indian foods.

Oooh I miss this foods again!!!

It was sort but enjoyable trip to Singapore. Would love to go there again someday soon.

Singapore Trip for a Shopaholic: Part 2 Little India, Candy Empire, Bugis Junction

Previous: first post on Singapore Trip, Here

Day 2 in Singapore:

My Plan would be:
1. Visiting Little India for South Indian Food
2. Visiting & Shopping in Mustofa Centre
3. Visiting & Shopping in Candy Empire for Candies, Ovomaltine Jam, and etc.

 I woke up around 9am and headed out at 10am. The nearest MRT is Kallang but it was located quite far. So we decided to take bus instead. Since our "Yours Singapore Card" could also be used for bus transportation. We walked for 5 minutes to the bus station.

3 Days Only Tourist Card

The price of each of this card is 35USD, but worry not, you will get your refund back for 15USD. You can use this card for 3 days and for any kind and any amount of transportation like MRT and Bus.

We took bus no 7 from Bef Geylang to Dhoby Ghaut. There were 14 stops on the way, but it wasn't a very long ride, only 15-20min. And I took MRT from there to Little India, only 1 stop.  Here is the link for bus route, just in case you need to use it someday, Bus Route.

I love the busy street of Little India. I can smell Indian food that I love so much. I dragged my boyfriend to a restaurant that I already knew as a good South Indian Food restaurant. The interior was still the same like last year (2013 August), but they used tab to order food now. How cool! The waiters were nice and the place were also clean. What I love the most, besides the foods, were the people there. They are so polite and nice, also very helpful.

The Foods look so yummy!!

Our lunch/late breakfast menu

 I forgot how much did we have to pay. I do remember we were not feeling sorry, either the foods were really good or the price is understandable. I think it was both. ^_^ One thing for sure, If I ever coming back again for vacation or work to Singapore, I will definitely visit this restaurant again. I could never find any place with better Prawn Masala than this one.

Here is the restaurant name card.

I found this in front of a Hindu Temple in Little India

I got Mahendi Tattoo. Yeaay!!

Our happy tummies require exercise now. So off we go to find Mustafa Centre. I went there last August for another shopping spree with my co-workers. I was planning to buy gifts for family and friends there. I found a building name Mustafa Centre, turned out it was a shoes store. So, make sure you go to the right Mustafa Centre. The real one was a bigger building of 3 floors.

Shoes Store Mustafa Centre

Real Mustafa Centre (sorry took it from the side)

I went crazy there. I spent a million rupiah and I think he spent slightly more than a million rupiah. These are the stuff that we found in Mustafa Centre. We don't have this Magnum Black and Mini Mint varian in Indonesia.

I am collecting Jelly Beans in the office.

Super happy with the bags..cheap and cute.

Fake Magnum 

Should have buy a lot more of this one because it was really yummy!

 Those were some of the stuffs that we bought. We didn't take pictures of most of them.

On the way to Little India, I saw that Bugis Junction were having Pre-Renovation Sale up to 80%. I told him that we had to go back to Bugis Junction after Mustofa. He said okay. But we decided to visit Candy Empire store first, located in 9 Raffles Boulevard. It was inside a mall (I forgot what mall) level 1. I found it and it wasn't as big as I expect it would be. I mean it says "empire" I thought it was gonna be huge. Turned out it was just a size of small studio apartment. But they do have a lot of collection of sweets from all over the world. Having a sweet tooth myself, I had to spoiled myself there. Hehehe...

Oooh Heaven on Earth.

Ovomaltine series...Yeay!!!

                   

 Our last stop was Bugis Junction, before we go back to Hotel. We were lucky because Bugis Junction was on the path of bus 7 route. Easier for us to go back to our hotel.

I bought mostly underwear's and we had dinner there. I love their Basement Level. There were so much of food options. He had soup in Spoon Soup place and I got to try all the snacks and foods down there. These are what I got for dinner:

Egglet yummy!

Korean Chon Chicken

I tried Egglet and Korean Chon Chicken even before they became famous and crawl their way in to Indonesian food hawkers market. Tired and full, we decided to go home. While I was waiting for the bus, I saw this Bugis Street. It looks interesting. So, I keep that in mind to visit Bugis Street the next day.

 That is all my journey for day 2 in Singapore. Stay tune to find out why I did another shopping spree in Bugis Street, What I found in there and Why I was so happy yet feel sorry for making Bugis Street my last shopping destination. Thank you for reading this post. I hope you will have a good time in Singapore next time you visit the Lion Head Country. See ya!

Singapore Trip for a Shopaholic: Part 1, Sephora Shopping

Hi there,

I would like to share my experience going on a shopping trip to Singapore last month. I keep trying to write about it, but I got so lazy hehehe.

Pictures taken before, during, and after the flight to Singapore.

Me and Giant decided to go to Singapore to extent his Visa to be able to stay longer in Indonesia. I stayed in a hotel Hollywood 81 in Geylang Road. Hotel

It was cheap, around 70USD/night. The room was a bit too small, but it was clean and they have a nice and helpful staffs. It was a bit far from the MRT Station, so we decided to buy a 3 days "Your Singapore" ticket for 35USD with refund 15USD/card. This ticket will allow us to travel using MRT and bus too. The closes MRT to our hotel was a bit further away, so we prefer taking bus from Geylang Road. Usually bus no 7 because it covers route to the central of the city like Dholbi Gaut, Orchard, and Bugis Junction.

The first thing I did after arriving in Singapore was visiting my office (We have office branch in Singapore too) for a office related business. Then we took MRT to a closer location from the hotel. Turned out it was not close at all. We had to walk around 30min around noon. It was crazy hot and I started to be more cranky. I could not stand hot weather..well neither cold weather.

We went to hotel and went to Orchard road to find Sephora store. It was not easy to find it. We practically lost our way several times. We kept trying to find the store because I thought the store is not gonna be inside of a mall, we spent 2 hours walking around the Orchard Road. Then we decided to ask random woman on the street. I believed a woman might now Shepora store, since it is one of the biggest make up store in the world. And I  was right. Finally we found it inside a mall, ION Orchard. They should let us know which floor it is. So it will be easier to find. Sigh.

GlamGlow Mud for 92SGD or around Rp.900.000.
Woa this is crazy. I think the price in Jakarta is around Rp.750.000

Boyfriend not having a good time in make up store ;-p

I don't understand why people keep wanting to go back to this place. Most of the products price were actually more expensive than the one being sold in Indonesia. I bought GlamGlow (well bf bought it for me) for 35USD and it was 92SGD in Singapore. Too much when they are being sold for 75USD in Indonesia/Jakarta.

I only bought several things from Sephora, mostly because they are cute.

1. Sephora Cotton pads
2. 3 Shepora Mini Bubbles
3. Shepora Dry Shampoo
4. Benefit Mascara: They're Real


 In the next post I will write about our experience visiting, shopping, and eating in Little India, Bugis Junction, and Bugis Street. Not to miss, find out why I was crying and almost hyperventilating in Singapore Airport before coming back to Indonesia.


2nd Post here!!!