Skip to main content

Birthday trip to Singapura

"I'd like to be a kid again but only because naps were insisted, twirling in circles was acceptable, and the only password I had to remember was open sesame." - Adan Burks
True.

It was unabashed fun posing with some childhood TV idols at Universal Studios.

At first I was hesitant thinking I was too old, but reckoned what the heck.

'Today I will grin and giggle like that third grader with pigtails that I was, and be quietly thrilled as when I won that little multiplication contest in class. Period.'

Touring Lion City was also officially starting a walking regimen. That's two at a time. Or three: exercising, touring, enjoying the sights. Though highly urban, the country girl in me had no complaints at a Lamborghini whisking by as we explored Marina Bay Sands.

No deadlines, no meetings, no homework, just holiday bliss.

Doing something unplanned and then finding out it feels wonderful should make it to my faves this week -

Like walking barefoot in a part of Gardens by the Bay which they call Scented Walk. Alongside is the Dragonfly Lake which serves as a good spot to view the Supertrees.

What a relief for tired feet after wearing wedges on the plane and walking in them around Merlion Park!

While my friend and I are neither tipplers nor teetotalers, we went up Altitude for its reputation as the world's highest alfresco bar -

"... pink and orange sunsets... the day winding down over busy China town, night lights and laser beams painting shapes and figures in the sky." (CNN Travel)

People there are well-dressed and well-mannered. Altitude, at 282 meters above sea level sits atop United Overseas Bank. I remember scrambling to activate international withdrawals on my UOB account a few hours before flying in; sort of teasing myself but there's a sense of security there somehow.


Singapore looks well-organized. I never saw a beggar the whole time I was there. Taxi drivers speak English. Guards can communicate.

Then it was time to go home. But not before enjoying familiar cuisine, the grilled chicken with sauce so divine it all tasted like a home-cooked meal.


Visit:  Our World * Smiling Sally * Picture Clusters * Share the Joy

Comments

  1. Oh, everything sounds so WONDERFUL and the food looks divine! I would love to have been there with you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Hazel,

    That chicken looks delicious. Thanks for sharing your blues.

    Happy Blue Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a wonderful experience. It's been years since I was in Singapore but I visited twice at the end of cruises, staying for a couple of days each time. It's such a nice city, feels safe even being out and about later at night.

    Your pictures and narrative brought back wonderful memories. Thanks!!

    My Blue Monday is of Indian women in colorful saris.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's always nice visiting Singapore from the Universal Studios to Sentosa to Super Trees to the Merlion, etc. I specially like the place at night.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful photos of places and food. Sounds like a fabulous trip. Happy B'day, Hazel! Have a great year ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  6. You're never too old Hazel ;D
    Well maybe I am for those shoes! Oh boy they make me feel I'd have a nose bleed being so high!
    You have some wonderful treasured memories I'm sure to last until your next birthday if not a lifetime!
    Happy Blue Monday :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Guess what, Nessie I did have a nosebleed wearing those wedges, lol... But I don't do it everyday, it's a different kind of high heels at work, so I thought I'd just go a little bit wedge-crazy on my holiday :)

      Delete
  7. Fun photos and quotes for HBM ~ enjoy ^_^ ~ carol

    ReplyDelete
  8. Seems an unforgettable birthday trip!

    ReplyDelete
  9. that's a great birthday treat. singapore is a destination.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Hazel
    Singapore is sooo cool these days, it always had the reputation of being a bit boring (especially after Bangkok) but these days it has come of age. That whole Sentosa area around Universal Studio is an amazing development. I am going to check out Altitude next time I am there. We had a fun time when we went for the weekend
    Here is what we did!
    littlewanderingwren.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/celebrate-perfect-weekend-in-singapore.html
    Wren

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Wren, when it came to food I was really itching to come back to Bangkok! When you check out Altitude, go on a Wednesday (unless they change nites). It's ladies' night - ladies come in free, drinks drop down 50% for ladies and they're even free for the first ten (or was is twenty... I forgot) ladies that get in :)

      Delete
  11. I love the quote at the beginning! I love spur of the moment adventures, too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love those shoes!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for the fun trip ! I enjoyed seeing your photos! You asked if I want to start a Literature Quiz meme., but if you see how few comments I got you would understand that bloggers are not really interested, besides Berowne is doing a literature quiz every week. Anyway thanks for your suggestion.
    Wil, ABCW Team

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your reply, Reader Wil. A literature quiz meme in the style of just like the one you did would have been fun.

      Delete
  14. awwww, we are all kids at heart! it's great that you had a wonderful time during your vacation!!!!! so happy for you!! :)

    thank you so much for sharing your vacation over at Food Friday, Hazel

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hazel - your sense of adventure and curiosity thrill me! So happy you had a fun jaunt for your birthday.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!

Tacloban . It's where I spent two months of great adventure with college buddies at about the same age as the young adult artists in this video  We Are The World for Philippines ( Cover by Filipino Artsts ) This is the church where I served as piano accompanist for the 1990 summer student choir, and some of the services. According to reports it was filled with dead bodies when this shot was taken. Photo Courtesy: AUP Network on FB On Saturday, November 24th, Central World management (the former WTC Bangkok) lent space for a Haiyan fundraiser without charge. I'd like to commemorate the highlights:   One Voice: Help Haiyan Victims was a serendipity. Organizing events is something I had to pay money to study in grad school. But it was live learning right there that night and observing the process was free. Skywatch : Mission Tacloban The Bangkok Charity Orchestra   reflected tranquility in their music. Poor typhoon victims would benef

Honor, Awards and a Game

Tuesday Couch Potatoes: Made of Honor Awards and a Game/Meme follow. Please scroll down a bit. My pick for this week's TCP theme (wedding movie) is Made of Honor. I like the humor in it. We've all been to several weddings but how many of us can say I've been to one in which the maid of honor was a he? The scene which particularly cracked me up is when the priest mistook the maid of honor for a gay man =) If you're familiar with some of my likes, you'd know why I also love the Scotland location of the wedding. For more of the synopsis click here ; and here's the trailer: Head over to Just About Anything for more wedding movies. ************ My super duper bloggy friend Thom of Thom's Place for Well Whatever and fellow Mom Tetcha of Pensive Thoughts awarded me this Beautiful Blogger award. I have to list seven things about me so here they are: 1. I love wearing jeans more than skirts. 2. One of my favorite colors is purple. 3. I don't mind spending su

Dyslexics and Developmental Pediatricians

Let me begin with an observation on the latter.  Developmental pediatricians in the Philippines are a rare breed. Or that's what I noticed. From society and organization websites, to forums, to word-of-mouth, to my own experience, they seem to be outnumbered by people who need their expertise. A parent of a child with developmental delays has to wait weeks or months to see one developmental pediatrician. Only thirty are listed on the Philippine Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Twenty-five in one Filipino autism blog, and that is not purely DevPeds. A child psychologist, child psychiatrist, and pediatric neurologist are mixed in the list, although they certainly are a big help too. At my son's speech therapy and psychology center I hear the same account from other parents - securing a time slot with a DevPed is hard. They are all fully booked throughout what could turn into a year. You may be lucky if someone withdraws but that rarely happens. I'm playing