Sunday, June 30, 2013

Lok lok satay celup #rarefind #yummy #food #eat #dinner #instafood #Singapore #igsg #foodspotting #foodie #instamood #igers



Lok lok satay celup #rarefind #yummy #food #eat #dinner #instafood #Singapore #igsg #foodspotting #foodie #instamood #igers

Mum used to stay here in her childhood days #history #firestation #Singapore #heritage



Mum used to stay here in her childhood days #history #firestation #Singapore #heritage

This is the only thing I liked....bbq pork bun lucky only q for 15 min. #Overated! #instagramsg #food #dinner #dimsum



This is the only thing I liked....bbq pork bun lucky only q for 15 min. #Overated! #instagramsg #food #dinner #dimsum

Monday, June 24, 2013

Profile pic #dunnowhatkindofexpression



Profile pic #dunnowhatkindofexpression

#Pink is a manly colour. Happy #divers! #aquadivers #tioman



#Pink is a manly colour. Happy #divers! #aquadivers #tioman

Good #salon #service onboard the boat to prevent drying out of #hair #femalesonly #aquadivers #tioman



Good #salon #service onboard the boat to prevent drying out of #hair #femalesonly #aquadivers #tioman

#Powerrangers or #pink #dolphins? #aquadivers #tioman



#Powerrangers or #pink #dolphins? #aquadivers #tioman

Kevin all geared up, #dreamy effect courtesy of the #haze #aquadivers #tioman



Kevin all geared up, #dreamy effect courtesy of the #haze #aquadivers #tioman

Angel always ready with a #pose #aquadivers #tioman



Angel always ready with a #pose #aquadivers #tioman

Gary getting ready for the first #plunge #aquadivers #tioman



Gary getting ready for the first #plunge #aquadivers #tioman

#Instructor : Everything #ok? #handsignals #aquadivers #tioman



#Instructor : Everything #ok? #handsignals #aquadivers #tioman

Calvin's turn... Joe double checks and does the finishing touches #wearefamily #aquadivers #tioman



Calvin's turn... Joe double checks and does the finishing touches #wearefamily #aquadivers #tioman

@alwyn_ First #leapoffaith with a 400 degree mask #aquadivers #tioman



@alwyn_ First #leapoffaith with a 400 degree mask #aquadivers #tioman

Andrew wearing #fins #aquadivers #tioman



Andrew wearing #fins #aquadivers #tioman

Photographer trying to gather the newbies to take a shot together #dive #tioman #aquadivers



Photographer trying to gather the newbies to take a shot together #dive #tioman #aquadivers

#Papa - the best #diving #instructor in the world! #aquadivers #tioman



#Papa - the best #diving #instructor in the world! #aquadivers #tioman

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Ready for your first dive?



Ready for your first dive?

Sunday, June 16, 2013

#tcc youth reunion! Good to see you guys! #wedding #banquet



#tcc youth reunion! Good to see you guys! #wedding #banquet

Congrats buddy!



Congrats buddy!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

#Fresh #Oyster #sashimi opened by professional shucker at home #skill #simplepleasures #ilovesaturdays #shiok #familytime #tasteofthesea



#Fresh #Oyster #sashimi opened by professional shucker at home #skill #simplepleasures #ilovesaturdays #shiok #familytime #tasteofthesea

Huge usa #oyster #yummy



Huge usa #oyster #yummy

My lovely #cappuccino in a nice #orange cup with #greentea and #yuzu #dutchcolonycoffeeco #pasarbella #foodstyling



My lovely #cappuccino in a nice #orange cup with #greentea and #yuzu #dutchcolonycoffeeco #pasarbella #foodstyling

One for one #macaron abd Brazil yellow bourbon #coffee at #dutchcolonycoffeeco #pasarbella



One for one #macaron abd Brazil yellow bourbon #coffee at #dutchcolonycoffeeco #pasarbella

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Love the #colour! Thanks for the #treat #yummy #macaron #artisansweets #dessert #time forsupper #sweettooth



Love the #colour! Thanks for the #treat #yummy #macaron #artisansweets #dessert #time forsupper #sweettooth

Saturday, June 08, 2013

Capuccino time with my dears #tiongbahrubakery #coffee #chocolate #pastry #meetup #likefinally



Capuccino time with my dears #tiongbahrubakery #coffee #chocolate #pastry #meetup #likefinally

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

My First Dreamtrip - Boracay, Philippines

Voted 2012 World's Best Island by Travel and Leisure magazine, Boracay lives up to its name with crystal clear waters and powdery sand.




We flew to Cebu, then to Caticlan airport which is the nearest to Boracay. The total travel time from Changi Airport in Singapore to the hotel- 8 hours. It was a 4 day 3 nite stay at the Boracay Regency Resort, airport transfers settled, including the boat transfer. The jetty was quite a mess, I'm glad we had the travel agent take care of all the paperwork and whisked us straight to the boat from the airport, even gave us shell necklaces. When we arrived at the hotel, there was a booth just for dreamtrippers, and refreshing pineapple juice for everyone. The Dreamtrip host Helena gave us our keys to the room and we had the day to ourselves.




The sunset was amazing!!! Dinner was at the hotel, after which we had a meet and greet session at the poolside where we had drinks with other dreamtrippers, won a bottle of wine in the lucky draw and ate birthday cake.



Island hopping - we were on this party boat booming loud dance music as we set forth to the islands surrounding Boracay, first up was Puka Beach, named after the Puka shell. The sand was much rougher than white beach. Snorkeling was not ideal because the currents were too strong.




 Crystal Cove was absolutely beautiful, great photo spots as we walked all over the island, and as the name suggests there were coves where you could find large crystals.



Grilled seafood lunch was served on one of the islands including a whole crab where we smashed with wooden sticks.


The sun was merciless, not a cloud in the sky, many of us got sunburnt, nevertheless, we all had lots of fun! Hanging out on the deck of the pool, splashing, watching the cute boys diving off the boat...We even had energy for water captain's ball at the hotel pool! Losers bought drinks...



D'talipapa was the best place for seafood, you buy the lobsters, crabs, oysters, fish, squid, prawns, whatever shellfish at a low low price from the wet market, then you send them to the surrounding eateries for cooking. Very fresh, very unique, and very full. I had eaten enough lobster for the next 3 years. It was huge and it was cheap!

The next day we went zorbing! That was so FUN! We just rolled down a hill into a pool, it looks scary but what an adrenaline rush! Exhilarating! Then we went helmet diving. Cool experience, but scuba diving is still preferred. The helmet weighed 37kg.



If I had more time I would have gone to Ariel's point for Cliff Diving. Looked so fun! Hubby is scared of heights. So no go.... plus he had diarrhea from eating cockles raw the night before. Bummer.


We had a BBQ dinner at the hotel, and the chefs started dancing gangnam style (= nice performance to end the night.

Sadly, we had to go home the next morning.....it was hard to say goodbye to such paradise.

Some travel tips for Boracay:

Terminal Fees for foreigners:
When we arrived at Cebu airport to transfer to Caticlan, we had to pay 200 pesos per person.
Upon departure from Caticlan, it was 200 pesos, at Manila airport it was 550 pesos per person, so don't go spending all your money before reaching the airport.

Cheaper alternatives to Caticlan is to fly to Kalibo airport, however you need to take a 1.5 hour van ride to the Cagban jetty.


The airplanes to Caticlan- hand carry luggage weight limit is only 5kg! I had to pay to check in luggage cos I thought it was the same 7kg. The airplanes are smaller, hence they have strict guidelines on hand carry luggage.



Boracay Regency did not have its own private beach, I guess most hotels don't, unless you are staying at the Shangri La. The whole stretch is open to public, known as White Beach ~4km. There were many people trying to sell you something. All sorts of water sports and activities, jewellery, massage, lobsters, all trying to get your attention. This brought to my mind memories of Maldives. So vastly different. I was missing the peace and quiet of having your own beach right infront of your own villa, with no intrusions. The whole street was full of them! Even on the beach. So if you like your privacy, you are better off at the high end hotels.

Shangri La


I thoroughly enjoyed myself during the short 4 days. I could say it would be counted as a peak life experience. Hubs and me both signed up for this dreamtrip not knowing anyone else who was going... and came home forging new friendships with a crazy bunch of people who were like minded, fun, and loved to travel. Plus, it was really affordable compared to what others have paid for such a beach holiday packed with activities and good food, and I did not have to break a sweat over any of the travel plans, it was all taken care of. Sometimes, you just can't put a pricetag on a life experience...the memories I have are priceless!

 

The dreamtrip was organized by Rovia, the travel agent that won best travel booking engine at the World Travel Awards, at wholesale price. To enjoy wholesale prices, you need to be a member of Worldventures which is the best travel club in the world! Worldventures bought over Rovia, a travel agent that has been in the corporate travel business for the past 20 over years, to pass on the wholesale discounts to travelers like you and me. Dreamtrips have unbeatable value for members, and the promise is, if you can find a cheaper deal for the same package, you will get to go for free. You can check out the award winning travel booking site here if you have not used Rovia before (click on shop for travel)

For more on Dreamtrips and Worldventures, please feel free to ask me any questions- add me to facebook so we can chat! Create memories and change lives!















 



Tuesday, June 04, 2013

#boracay #dreaming #caticlan #airplane



#boracay #dreaming #caticlan #airplane

Sunday, June 02, 2013

Home made thin crust #pizza from #chef alex n char #trattoria #yummy #slowfood #italian



Home made thin crust #pizza from #chef alex n char #trattoria #yummy #slowfood #italian

Saturday, June 01, 2013

Morning has broken, and #coffee has spoken. #flockcafe #tiongbahru #libertycoffee



Morning has broken, and #coffee has spoken. #flockcafe #tiongbahru #libertycoffee