Christmas in Singapore

Everyone including tourists look forward to Christmas lightings all over Singapore as most Shopping malls are well decorated. Especially along Orchard road and Marina Bay, its kind of a Christmas exhibition with stunning streets lights stretching a mile from Tanglin to Concorde hotel. These lights usually starts on 3rd week of November and ends on first week of January. During Christmas period, shopping malls always put on extended hours and special deals to attracted customers. 

Ever since I lived in Madrid, I had never really celebrated Christmas so this year in Singapore, with my two young children, I try to put in effort to organised party with my friends and relatives. It was really nice and warmth to be here to celebrate with them. And of course, I have been busy shopping for presents and my children are very happy because they received many presents too. 

Other than shopping, parties, we do have countdown too. After attending the party on the eve's at my cousin place. I sneaked out after my children slept. I went Marina Bay Sands, Avalon to DANCE…. yes, its a disco. I recalled my last time to step into a disco was when I was about 7 months pregnant with my first child. I would say I am still young at heart to party till wee hours.  

Time files and we are ending 2013 in less than 24 hours. I hereby wish you and your love ones a Happy New Year and a good beginning for 2014. May you end 2013 with a loud BANG! And welcome 2014 with open arms with full of laughter and happiness. May you have a great journey ahead! 祝大家新年快了，心想事成.

Below are some pictures taken along Orchard road during the day and night.

My sis in law gave me this log cake and I manage to arrange a small
party with my family and relatives. Also a present for everyone 

Christmas lunch and gift exchange with friends

Enrique did a Christmas hat in his childcare on the eve 

Celebration with cousins on Christmas's eve

View outside Avalon (disco @ Marina Bay Sands)

Saw this sign printed on the hand towel of
Marina Bay Sands toilet

 Avalon Disco

Singapore delicacy

Singapore is a multiracial country with a majority population of Chinese with substantial Malay and Indian minorities. Currently, we have about 3.27 million of citizens, 0.54 million of permanent residents and 1.46 million of non resident.  Therefore, when it comes to food, Singapore offers a diverse selection from Indian, Chinese, Malay, Peranakan, Eurasian, Japanese, French food and many more.

Some local food that you should try when you are in Singapore are:

• Hainanese Chicken rice
• Chilli crab
• Bak kut teh
• Char kway teow
• Fried carrot cake
• Wantan mee
• Lor mee
• Sambal stingray
• Fried Hokkien mee
• Rojak
• Popiah
• Kway chap
• Laksa
• Oyster Omelette
• Bak Chang
• Roti prata and The tarik
• Satay
• Nasi lemak
• Fish head steamboat
• Desset- Ice Kachang, Cendol

Below are some food that I have tried so far. There are many more which I did not managed to take down the photos as I was too engrossed eating. I had put on 3kg in 3 weeks. Can you imagine the amount of food I am eating. One thing I can't stop eating is the king of fruits, Durian. I eat about 2-3 times per week. Sometimes, my relatives bought for us and sometimes we bought it on our own to satisfy our cravings. 

This Ang Ku kueh stall is located near Police cantamonent building

Ang Ku Kueh with 6 different flavours

Fish ball noodles

Roti Prata and The tarik

Mutton curry

Fish head steamboat with some side dishes 

Singapore style suckling pig 

Bak Kut mee- pork's noodle 

Duck meat, fried bean curd and fish cakes

Journey back to Singapore

We traveled on Thai Airways back to Singapore and I had a pleasant experience with them. Just before we depart, we completed the HongKong series- Triumph in the skies II, which is about the life of a group of young pilots. Most of the time, our kids were watching with us and we also shared with them that we will be taking aeroplane back to Singapore soon.

When we were checking-in, there were pilots and aircrew members near us, Enrique was excited. I told him that, they will be driving us to Bangkok for transit safely. At first, he was very shy and gave a 'look' not sure, if he was thinking why the pilots in the show were all tall and handsome but the one he was looking at was not too tall, normal looking and didn't look as smart as the one in the show. Hahaha…. the pilots waves to him and luckily, he responded. 

During the journey from Madrid to Bangkok was really tiring for all of us. Enrique did behave very well as I don't remember him creating a scene or whine loudly. Eduardo too, was good. As they grow, I am glad that they do behave well in the plane but the worse part is, in order for them to behave well, we as parents need to consistenly keep them ocuppied and entertain them throughout the journey. This process left both of us drained and exhausted.

In terms of meals, Enrique didn't eat too much this time as he was asleep and when awake, he didn't have much appetite. He took more breads and biscuits. For Eduardo, I prepared the bottled food as he has preference in his taste bud. I let him tried the ones from the plane but he rejected all. We bought one new toy for them and also brought along a few others.

This time, Enrique had his dinosaur bag with him and managed to handle all by himself. He also allowed the airport staff to help when we were at Bangkok for transit. Of course, throwing tatrum once in a while but overall, I must say he is indeed a very GOOD boy. For those who know him will know that he is super sticky to me and throw tantrum quite often. Once he is in his crying mode. No one likes him or wants to go near or handle him. His grandmother, was with him for two days and said she can't handle him. If I have to go out, I must bring him along. Cannot leave to her or even my mother and auntie whom he enjoys spending time with too. That's how untouchable he is when he is in his bad mood.

Eduardo has been always the cheerful one among both. All he needs is just food to tame him down or to win him over. He loves to eat but doesn't like bread too much. He has a savoury tongue and his brother a sweet tooth. He is more active, means I had to walk him in the plane very frequent. many passengers kind of know him and played with him.  He didn't sleep well as he is a fussy sleeper who likes to sleep on bed or pram. In the plane, although we bought seats for both, it is still not comfortable enough for Eduardo. Therefore, he struggled to sleep, while Enrique adjusted better than his brother.

During the transit, we had a short break for Thai food and a little time for shopping. Below are some picture I took of Enrique. He has grown up! Hope he will become the wiser old man one day. Love my children to the max.

Business cum Holiday in Singapore

Yes, I am active in my blog again….finally! It's been a while since I last wrote. 

We have to returned to Singapore to process our visa application as we are extending our stay in Madrid till 2015.  Therefore, I have decided to stay till Chinese New Year with just my two children as it is only two months away. My hubby has to 'suffer' the cold season in Madrid alone when his visa is ready. Some how, I missed the cold weather there. Human beings are very fickle minded, when I was in Madrid, I miss Singapore weather but in Singapore, I miss the cold.

For the past three weeks, I have been busy getting ready the documentation for our visa application and in our free time we met some friends and relatives . I am indulging myself with all the local delights-durians and many more. Follow my footprints to Singapore and see what's happening.

Have a great week ahead!

Roast Chicken

Usually, I cook on weekdays and for weekends, we will eat out for at least one meal. Therefore, hunting for new or interesting food is my routine in Madrid. About three years ago, we had our Singaporeans lunch gathering at Casa Mingo for roast chicken and cider. It was around October to November period and we were sitting at the terrance with cooled breeze blowing on us. Since then, I never been there. But this October, I have a craving for roast chicken and we decided to revisit it with one of our new Singaporean friend.  Casa Mingo is the oldest cider house and probably the oldest in Spain. It is located at Paseo de la Florida 34, Madrid, about 10 mins walk from Principe Pio Metro station. If you are driving, parking is easily accessible too.  

The restaurant is design in a very traditional way with plenty of wood furnitures, bottles and barrels. The main menu is the Roast chicken, the size of our fried spring chicken in Singapore which cost 10.50 euro per plate.

For three adults we ordered a salad, one roast chicken, one portion of tripes a la Madrilena, one bottle of apple cider and one cider cake to share. The portion is just right. The only thing we missed, is the chilli sauce. My husband kept commenting that it would be perfect if we had our chilli sauce as the chicken is a little dry and he doesn't like breast meat. Luckily, our friend loves breast meat. Therefore, both Eric and I can have the rest of the parts. The best of the restaurant is that it is open throughout the day unlike a typical Spanish restaurant operating hours. Which means you can have dinner as early as 7pm instead of the usual at 9pm.

Skin Care Products

For skin care, I believe there is no ugly women but only lazy women. For more than a year, I have been using L'occitane skin care products. I have tried products from Clinique, Lancome, Biotherm, Clarins, Fancl and Faceshop before using L'occitane. I believe to switch products after sometime to see if other products will enhance my skin or otherwise. 

Growing older each year makes me feel that using the right skin care is really important to keep me from showing my real age. Currently, I am using the Immortelle precious collection- milk make up remover, cleansing form, toner, day and night moisturiser and eye balm. 

Immortelle is known as an everlasting flower: it never fades even after it has been picked. Its organic essential oil is rich in active molecules with unique and anti-ageing properties. Therefore, it helps to smooth lines and wrinkles, leaving skin smoother and firmer. After using for about 2 weeks, I can feel and tell the difference. I feel that my laughing lines around my mouth and lines near my eyes have reduced and it makes me feel younger.

As a shopaholic,I prefer to buy when they have promotion as I like their free gifts pack. In September, the promotion was to buy any of the products under the Immortelle precious collection and purchase another item which cost more than 9 euro, you can get a gift box which includes a moisturisers, toner and cleansing form.

Since my day moisturisers and eye balm are finishing, I bought these two with the cleansing form and toner and I've got myself two gift sets.

I would highly recommend you to try L'occitane for a smooth and firmer skin.

Romania Ice cream

I love ice-cream and so do you? Enrique loves it. A few months ago, when we went to visit the Pediatrician at Paseo de la Habana, we noticed a new ice cream shop was set up. Apparently, their business looks good.

After visiting the doctor, we went to taste it and my family love it. It has a rich taste in milk. Therefore, if you are not a milk lover, you might not like it too much. They serve waffle, ice cream cakes and for take-aways too. Many patrons just stop their car outside and grab an ice-cream and drive off and mostly are quite well to do. So Spanish too, enjoy luxury ice-cream.

From there on, whenever we bring the kids to the doctor, Enrique will request for his own cup of ice-cream. Sometimes, I have to distract his attention when we walked past the shop which is just next to the clinic.

Enjoy your favourite ice-cream today!