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.

Hotel Review: One Farrer Park, Singapore

This was my 3rd trip to Singapore and maybe his hundreds trip to Singapore. But it was our 2nd trip together. We decided to take a short holiday to Singapore while extending his VOA.

He let me choose the hotel we were gonna stay, because last time I didn't really like the hotel he chose. It took a long time for me to chose one. Then I saw one on Agoda with a glowing review. The price was cheap 1.7million rupiah/night but it has almost perfect review. We decided to stay in One Farrer Park in Little India.

We were lucky because this new hotel upgraded us from basic room to VIP Club Lounge Room without having to pay extra. I think it was suppose to be around 4million/night in the Club Lounge Room. Yeay me!!! I mean Yeay OFP!

Personal Lounge for Club Lounge Guest to have breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea time, basically any time meal for free!!

Snacks and Foods available almost all the time for Club Lounge Guests

Club Lounge Swimming Pool, pretty small but only for Club Lounge Guest, so it is decent size compare to the big shared one downstairs

Lounge seating area

Luxurious looking bathroom sets

Veranda Sitting area with Great View of The City

Enjoying our Tea Time 

We were the only one eating and probably staying on the Club Lounge Floor that 2 nights

This hotel deserves my vote. Room was cute and comfortable. I love that everything is using technology, from shutting down the drapes to automatic feet light to avoid bumping into things at night. The shower head was amazing. They gave us 2 options. I feel like showering under the hot water rain. Love the bathroom amenities too.

Next time, I would definitely stay there again. Tho, next time we can only afford the basic room. Also, it was only walking distance to Farrer MRT and Mustafa Centre too.
It was wonderful and amazing experience for us. I used to work a lot with Hotels to know a great one when I see it and this would be it. Excellent service, high-tech appliances, wonderful views, cute room and bathroom, great enjoyable food. Me and my partner would like to say personal thank you to the lady in the receptionist (we don't really know her name), Malik and Danial for their kindness and great service. Danial was actually befriending me on Instagram and frequently contacted me there too.  Who would have thought that I would make friend with one of the awesome Singapore people in the hotel. It is like his kindness was not just about service, but it was sincere. 

Hotel Link
Location: 9
Room    : 8
Foods    : 8
Service  : 9
Overall   : 8.5

Ps: Probably they could be better in terms of service in the lobby. Lobby area looked kinda dull and They don't have bellboy (or he was nowhere to be seen) and no one to open the door in the lobby.

Lion Air Massive Delay

As you probably already know about the recent news on Lion Air Massive Delay, we would like to share you what we also experienced on our recent holiday to Singapore.

Our flight JT158 was supposed to depart 6pm from gate D4 (so it says on the boarding pass). As we walked to D4, it was actually occupied by Air Asia and Jetstar. They told us Lion Air is located in D5 now.

Oh well! We went to D5 and they told us it was only for JT160 and JT158 is located in D7. Grrrrrr
We proceeded to D7 just to be told they were already booked for a Japan Airlines.

It was an hour to our departing time, yet we didn't know where the gate is. We were getting nervous. So did other passengers. I saw some of them started yelling at those Lion Air airport staffs. They have been throwing us off like a pingpong ball here and there, D4, D5, D7. We had been walking around back and forth to those gates. Jetstar and Air Asia staffs looked at us with sympathy.

They also delayed our flight for almost 2 hours. All they said is that there were some problem with the immigration. However, this time they gave us food, Hoka-Hoka Bento. I guess they learned something from the previous massive delay case. Still some passengers were already upset about the delay and the gate changing.

It also happened on our way back to Jakarta from Singapore. They moved the gate from A14 according to the boarding pass to A12. Fortunately there was no delay on the flight coming back to Jakarta.

We learned our lesson. No more Lion Air for us.

If you are looking for budget Airlines, maybe try Tiger Air, Jetstars, Air Asia, etc.

FYI, Batik Air is also part of Lion Air Group.

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!