Event: Banquet of Honor for Internationals

Music and food are elements when perfectly combined together are sure to entertain a crowd. Today is obviously not a travel blog entry. Music has always been part of the Filipino culture may it be rock, pop, jazz or hiphop genre.

 

 

This is my second time to be attending the Banquet of Honors in Victory Family Centre. But this time round in Choa Chu Kang which was organized by a group of Christian locals that do recognize the efforts of foreigners. From domestic helpers to white collared working populace. And we from our hearts are ever grateful to the kindness and acceptance...

 

Upon entering the main door, marshals warmly greeted us with an applause. It was their welcoming gesture to  guests. Frankly speaking, it felt a little awkward. Hehe.

Event started with live performances of Jam Review. The band consists of professional engineers that come together with common drive and passion towards music. Oh well if you have the talent, why not flaunt it? I always believe that talents are to be cultivated. Put it in good use and never waste it.

Followed by games, raffle draws and much more performances from other bands. Having said that, here are some photos.

 

 

Playing the famous Pinoy Henyo

Big thanks to the organizers.

 

Of course an event will never be a successful one without great food to fill your stomach! Here comes our delectable lunch! People queuing up for the buffet catered by Shainne Shawn's Services. True Filipino delicacies like Kare Kare, Pancit, Pinakbet & the ever crispy Lechon Kawali (roasted pork) were among the spread. Sinful treats like leche flan and buko pandan all in the house that afternoon. It was indeed a Filipino feast!

 

 

 

Filipino Caterer in Singapore

 

 - the end -

Village Changi Hotel & Pulau Ubin (Anniversary Staycation)

I was inspired by this quotation which I have read from Happy Wives Club.

“The difference between an ordinary marriage and an extraordinary marriage is in giving just a little ‘extra’ every day, as often as possible, for as long as we both shall live.”    
                                                                                                           -Fawn Weaver

For our 4th wedding anniversary, I have gotten my hubby a ROLEX cake. Tada!!! Haha. Luckily, I have a friend who is skilled in molding gum paste/fondant; turning them into an “edible” piece of art!  If you are interested for customized cakes, you can check out this website WWW.CELICIOUSCAKES.COM.

So I did my research and after comparing reviews and rates, I’ve decided to go for VILLAGE CHANGI HOTEL for an overnight staycation. Why? I thought it will be a good place to celebrate a wedding anniversary. Location was a distance from the hustle and bustle of the city. Good place to unwind.

 As the old saying goes, early bird catches the worm. The earlier you book, the more chances of getting good rates. And yes, I was able to get a good deal for booking 21 days in advance.

I wanted to surprise my hubby so I told him the night before that I was up to something. I only gave him 14 hours notice to pack his things! Tic Toc Tic Toc…. For guys generally I guess this is no sweat.

Checking in was a breeze. Front Desk lady named Christine was very polite and accommodating. Hotel had no wow factor for me. Interior was understated, neat and cozy. It was rather tranquil and relaxing. It is far from the hustle and bustle of the city which I like. 



Some activities that you can do within the hotel are Koi feeding at 6th floor; and make use of the complimentary bicycle for an hour.


Koi Pond

 One week before check-in, I have received an email offering me an upgrade to club room for an additional SGD50++. I was sceptical at first but eventually ended up grabbing this offer. So what are the privileges?

1.)     Cocktails and free flowing drinks from 6pm to 8pm at Club Lounge (located at 6^th floor). This is enough to keep you full in the evening. Ham, sandwiches, salad, potato wedges, salmon and fruits to name a few. We also enjoyed ourselves a glass of wine while chatting. 

2.)     Deluxe Room had been upgraded to Club Room. Personally I don’t know the difference since I haven’t seen the deluxe room myself. And yes, our room comes with a bath tub and rain shower.

3.)    Breakfast at Club Lounge. Honestly I was disappointed with the breakfast spread. Very limited choices. I have asked the lady in charge whether we can have the breakfast downstairs instead. I was delighted that this can be requested from the front desk. They have given us 2 breakfast vouchers. And definitely the choices were much better!!! So I suggest that you have your breakfast at SaltWater Café…

 

4.)    Late check out at 2PM.  But they gave me until 3pm. It was a kind gesture since I’ve told them that we were here for our anniversary.

Hotel showcases two outdoor pools. First pool is located in the ground floor just beside the Salt Water cafe. It could be a little awkward to take a plunge in the morning as guests could be watching you as if you are a fish in an aquarium.

Second pool was located at 8^th floor. It was a medium sized pool with great view. We were literally watching airplanes above our head. Plus the Jacuzzi! To my surprise it was not as crowded as I thought… Do you see anyone around? Hmm...

Next morning, we headed to the ferry terminal for a short trip to PULAU UBIN.

It was within the neighbourhood. You wouldn’t get lost with its obvious signage.

5 to 10 minutes walk from Village Changi Hotel to Ferry Terminal

10 to 15 minutes jetty ride from Ferry Terminal to Pulai Ubin (SGD 2.50/pax)

Changi Ferry Terminal

 

Being a non-biker, we had to rent a tandem bicycle for 2.5 hours (SGD 8). Haha.

It was indeed a cheap date. But frankly speaking, we enjoyed every single minute of it. It is always nice to stop and smell the roses once in a while. Slow down and appreciate the world around you. Sometimes we go too fast in life that we miss its real beauty…

So here are some photos of the lush greeneries…

“Enjoy the little things in life… For one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”

-Kurt Vonnegut

 We left Pulau Ubin at 1pm. We had a quick lunch at this big hawker centre which is just a stone away from the hotel. We had managed to get back and check out on time.

  

This is the end of our meaningful first ever staycation in Singapore. Hope you guys enjoyed reading this! Until then. Keep on Ronski Doodling!!!

 - the end - 

Getting Around South Korea (Part Two)

This is continuation of Getting Around South Korea Part O-N-E.


Tips for travelers who don't know what to expect on a winter season. If you don't have much garments to keep you warm, you can always get tons of them in Seoul. It is going to be way cheaper than purchasing them from a tropical country and keeps you "in" style too...

NAMI ISLAND
It is a small but beautiful island that is almost 2hours away from Myeongdong. Literally breath taking. You are about to step your foot on an imaginary country wherein you have to purchase yourself an entry visa (simply means ticket).

So called Immigration



Begin your exploration with a 5 minute ferry ride. If this idea bores you, you can try the zip line. Choice is yours.  

  

Ferry ride Vs Zip line? What its gonna be?


Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Part of this island was where “Winter Sonata” was filmed. Now how is that for a starter?



You don’t have to worry where to get your food. They are all over the island -- hotdog stands; ice cream & coffee shops at your convenience. You can also find restaurants serving Korean barbeques with side dishes that are appealing to the taste buds.

 

 

 

Snowy island+ Icy lake + Beautiful art exhibits +  Brisk air  = SCENIC VIEW

 

 

 

    

 

 

DMZ (DEMILITARIZED ZONE)
 

This is the only tour that we’ve booked. This may not be for everyone.  To highlight:

 

• If my memory serves me right, children below 11years old are not permitted. I could be wrong so I suggest that you check this out before making any bookings.

• Be cautious on the dress code. Stay away from camouflage prints. This is not the place to be too trendy. If you are not sure what to wear, ask.

• For tourists who love to take photos, be mindful that there are prohibited areas. 

• We wanted to change to Panmunjeom Tour last minute but they told us that it must be done few days in advance. Missed the chance to step in the North Korea soil. Do you know that South Koreans are not allowed in Panmunjeom? Our tourist guide told us so.

 

                                                           Bridge of Freedom

DMZ package tour included hotel pick-up. Call time was 8am. Luckily our tourist guide can speak English well.  During the course of the trip she would share historical facts.

Impression: Inspiring & Heartbreaking.

First stop was at Imjingak Park then we ended up in Ginseng Center.
 

 

 

  

What is expected in the tour? 

 

You can have a sneak peek of North Korea and its flag that is known to be highest in the world through binoculars at “Dora Observatory.”       

 

Short-film watching wherein headsets are provided (translated in different languages). 

 

Up close view of the “Bridge of Freedom.” North Korea being near yet so far.  I was emotional while gazing at this.

 

One of the highlight is the “3^rd Infiltration Tunnel.” Hard hats will be provided for your safety. If you are asthmatic, claustrophobic or with health issues, you may want to skip this. Tunnel is steep. At first it was easy but it’s the going back part that makes it difficult due to inclined slope.

 

 

 

Last stop of the tour is the Ginseng Center. I bought some Ginseng sweets to bring home.


TOY MUSEUM at INSADONG
 

For toy collectors and enthusiasts there is a small toy museum located in Insadong. If this is your thing, you can check out their vintage collection.

  

 

 

Keep on Ronski Doodling!!!

 - End -

 

 

Getting around South Korea (Seoul City) Part One

I highly recommend that couple should take a time off and spend quality time once in a while. I've read somewhere that Seoul is like Paris in Asia. Never been to Europe myself but I will have to agree that it is a romantic city. Cheesy isn't it? If you are looking for a travel destination that will offer both rich culture and modern city life then South Korea could just be the place for you...

If there are three things that I remember South Korea for it will be:

1.  Kimchi & Kimbap (Korean Sushi Rolls). You wouldn't have to worry where to eat your breakfast. Coffee shops are all over the place. It was perfect for winter. And oh boy I just love the street foods and Korean barbeque!!!

2.  Korean fashion & Korean Cosmetics. A trip to Korea wouldn't be complete without Korean cosmetics. You can find them in every corner... Of course who would not be astounded by Korean fashion? If you want to experience insane shopping experience, check out Myeongdong.

3.  Rich culture and heritage. Seeing the palaces myself was like a dream come true. I admire how they manage to preserve this. DMZ (Korean Demilitarized Zone) something not to be missed.


One downside is that English conversations could be difficult at times especially when you need directions. But overall, it was a great experience. A taste of different culture.

So here are some of the photos.


MYEONGDONG
This is shopper's paradise. Literally shop 'til you drop!!! Take a walk and enjoy the sight of busy shoppers!



Chicken to die for. Must try!!!

 



LOTTE WORLD

Korea may not have Disneyland but they have their own theme park that is world class. This is an indoor and outdoor theme park both for the young and old. Aside from the rides, you can just sit back and enjoy the Live Show featuring K Pop entertainment.

 

 



     

 K Popin Live 

 





 



 

 

 

N SEOUL TOWER
Communication & Observation Tower located in Namsam wherein you can see the rest of Seoul from the top. Cable car ride is available here. You can check out the Bear Museum which is part of the attraction... Hang named padlocks to make your visit a memorable one. You can purchase padlocks from the stalls around the area but it's going to be pricey. So... You can bring your own!  :)

 

 

 

 

  



Keepsake.



 

CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE   &   GYEONGBOKGUNG PALACE

Your trip to Seoul will never be complete without paying a visit to these palaces. This tells so much about their history. The façade is truly amazing. Ensure not miss the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at the Gyeongbokgung Palace. If you have the spare time, you can borrow their cultural costume for a worth taking picture. Last time we went it was free of charge! How cool is that?

Inside the Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can find the National Folk Museum.  
 

Changing of Royal Guards Ceremony

Gyeongbokgung Palace

                                                                

      National Folk Museum   

 



Changdeokgung Palace






 

NAMSANGOL HANOK VILLAGE
Another place to add to your list if you want to learn more about Korea. This showcases traditional Korean houses that had been preserved through out the years.

 

 

 

 



This is just PART ONE of my travel blog featuring South Korea! So keep on Ronski Doodling... :)