The Oblation & Budyong at Tambuli @ U.P. Diliman Quezon City; Philippines

The Oblation is something very familiar to me, (coming from and being an alumnus of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus) the statue is the symbol of the honour and excellence that U.P. imparts to its students.

Baby Dragon Playground @ Toa Payoh; Singapore

Toa Payoh seems to be an area with a lot of Dragon themed spots. This dragon is another one of the old mosaic playgrounds built in the 70s and 80s by Mr. Khor Ean Ghee. It's not as big as the other one at Blk 28 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh.

Van Gogh & Van Gogh Inspired Void Deck Art @ Pipit Road MacPherson; Singapore

On the walls of the void deck of an HDB block on Pipit Road, are some of the works (copies) of impressionist artist, Vincent Van Gogh, as well as other paintings that are inspired by Van Gogh's work and art style.

Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh @ Waterway Point Punggol; Singapore

I really love Bak Kut Teh (the clear peppery one). It's probably one thing I could have over and over again and not get tired of it.

Jollibee (Chicken Joy) @ Changi City Point; Singapore

For some reason I found myself at Changi City Point one day. So I decided to go to Jollibee, since there is a branch there, and check out how it's doing.

Shen Xi Lao Huo Tang @ Waterway Point Punggol; Singapore

My friends and I were looking for a place to have our dinner at Waterway Point and we wanted to try something new for a change (and forgo eating at the Cookhouse by Koufu again). We walked around and ended up at Shen Xi Lao Huo Tang.

Rong Kee Roasted Delight (Steamed Chicken Rice) @ Koufu Punggol Plaza; Singapore

One of my go to food stalls in Koufu Punggol Plaza would have to be Rong Kee Roasted Delight.

Duck Farm Statue @ Maplewood Park Lorong Ah Soo; Singapore

The area of Lorong Ah Soo (previously Jalan Hock Chye) used to be an area of duck and pig farms as well as coconut plantations. So it's not surprising that there would be a statue paying homage to the days that it was so.

Goen Japanese Udon Noodles (Japanese Tonkatsu Original Curry Rice) @ Wisma Atria Orchard Road; Singapore

Only two things would make me go to Orchard Road, my family/friends and food. And since the former wasn't around, then the food it was!

I love Japanese Curry and for me one of the best can be found in Food Republic of Wisma Atria. It's called Goen Japanese Udon Noodles. Before you judge, Goen specialises in both Udon and Japanese Curry; despite the name. And I have to say, their Japanese Curry is definitely one of the best!

Dragon Fountain @ Whampoa Drive; Singapore

In between some HBD blocks in Whampoa Drive stands a mighty dragon. Back in the 1970s and 1980s the 4 metre/3 storey tall dragon was a fountain, spouting water from its mouth. But due to poor maintenance, and the ever present danger of dengue due to mosquitos breeding in stagnant water, the once fountain is now a centre piece statue in the courtyards of the HDB blocks.

Little Vietnam Restaurant & Cafe @ Grandlink Square; Singapore

I was off on one of my solo "adventures" and along the way I got a hungry and after a week of eating nothing but junk, I wanted something healthy. I remember someone telling me about a Vietnamese restaurant nearby the Paya Lebar MRT Station. And since I was in the area, I decided to give it a go.

Kampong Lorong Buangkok (The Last Kampong); Singapore

Kampong Lorong Buangkok is the last kampong (Malay: "Village") in the main island of Singapore. It was built in 1956. Kampong Lorong Buangkok is also known as "Kampong Selak Kain" (Malay: "Village of the Sarong Lifters") because during floods the people of the village would lift their sarongs to be able to walk with ease through the flood waters. Kampong Lorong Buangkok retains the "Kampong Spirit" through not only the rustic wooden houses with aluminium roofs, but also through its traditional roots reflected by its residents.

Heritage Murals @ Everton Road; Singapore

Tucked away along Everton Road, are 3 more heritage murals created by the artist, Mr. Yip Yew Chong, which are a fun addition to the many colourful shophouses.

Filipino Cuisine (Lechon Kawali) @ Jurong East; Singapore

I found another Filipino food stall, this time in the west side of Singapore (Jurong East)! Simply named: "Filipino Cuisine". 

Mystical Banyan Treehouse @ Kallang Riverside Park; Singapore

Kallang Riverside Park is home to many banyan trees. They will greet you as you enter the park. Banyan trees have always been my favourite tree. Growing up in the Philippines, where banyan trees are locally called Balete, Balite or Baliti, I have heard of many stories of the spirits who like to call the banyan tree home and how sometimes it is a gateway between our world and the spirit world, hence Filipino's would sometimes call it the "Spirit Tree". But those stories never seemed to frighten me, in fact they would even intrigue me more.

Claypot Delights (Bak Kut Teh & Chicken Porridge) @ Koufu Punggol Plaza; Singapore

Whenever I feel a bit under the weather or just in need of warm soup, I always go get food at Claypot Delights at Koufu in Punggol Plaza.

Baby Dragon Playground @ Pipit Road MacPherson; Singapore

I went to see a friend who was visiting Singapore and staying in Circuit Road near the MacPherson MRT Station. After I decided to walk back to the station (since going to where my friend was staying only took me around 4 minutes and 3 bus stops), that's when I saw another Dragon (playground)!

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Maxwell Food Centre; Singapore

I always have avoided doing touristy things, but one day I decided to do something touristy for a change here in Singapore. So I headed to Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown to try Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice!

Little Guilin (Bukit Batok Town Park) @ Bukit Gombak; Singapore

I was in the west side of Singapore and decided to explore one of the parks I've heard of, "Little Guilin".

Chachacha Mexican Restaurant @ Holland Village; Singapore

One day I was craving for some Mexican food, and I remembered a Mexican restuarant in Holland Village that some of my friends and I ate dinner at a few months back. So I decided to go there to fill my craving.

Chachacha is Singapore's oldest Mexican restaurant, established in 1990.

Sensory Park @ Toa Payoh; Singapore

Toa Payoh has some interesting sights, and one of them is the Toa Payoh Sesory Park. It is literally a park that stimulates all the senses, which opened in 2009.

Coney Island (Pulau Serangoon); Singapore

Since I'm the type of person who is loves the outdoors, I decided to visit Coney Island and walk around and be immersed in nature for a change. Plus I live quite close to it too.

Encik Tan @ Waterway Point Punggol; Singapore

I've probably passed by this place several time already ever since moving to Punggol. I've also read about it from other blogs and everyone seems to have good words about Encik Tan. So one day, when a friend and I were thinking of a place to eat in Waterway Point, we both agreed to give Encik Tan a try.

Umbrella Trees @ Hindoo Road Little India; Singapore

I've always been a fan of Dr. Seuss and his crazy, kooky and colourful world. So imagine my amazement when I happen to chance on an art installation along Hindoo Road in Little India, which honestly looked like something you would see in Dr. Seuss' universe.?

Dinosaur Playground @ Toa Payoh; Singapore

Growing up, I loved dinosaurs (I still do, but in a much smaller dose). I loved the Jurassic Park film series and had dinosaur books and toys.

When I decided to walk back from the temple to the MRT Station in Toa Payoh, I got a bit lost after seeing the Dragon Playground and made a wrong turn and ended up finding another way to my destination.

Little Topy (Sinigang na Baboy) @ Kopi Wu Coffee Shop Yishun; Singapore

So you know how when you've been away from your country for quite sometime, you start missing the food? Well, that's been happening to me for the past several months. Last time I had real Filipino food was in December of last year. Chinese and Malay food have similar flavours and dishes to Filipino cuisine, but it's still not the same. My tastebuds and I have been looking for those familiar flavours from home for quite some time.

Dragon Pillar @ Toa Payoh; Singapore

Dragons had always had a significant meaning to me. Being born in the Year of the Dragon (1988) is one of those reasons. In East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures, dragons have a more divine and benelovent image compared to their Western counterparts. Asian dragons were bringers of rain, water, good luck, prosperity, power and protection (you name it, dragons can do it!).

Chicken Rice @ Canteen 2 NTU; Singapore

When I was still staying in the Graduate Hall 2 in NTU, I would frequent Canteen 2 a lot. It was one of the better canteens in NTU (or at least so I think). The best food stall (again, my opinion) is the Chicken Rice stall. It would be the one with one of the longest queue. The food is cheap, but very flavouful and tasty.

Dragon Playground @ Toa Payoh; Singapore

I visited a temple in Toa Payoh and on my way back to the MRT station (I decided to walk) I spotted a dragon! It wasn't exactly a literal dragon, a monitor lizard or a statue that you would see at temples; but a children's playground.

Heritage Murals (And Other Art Murals) @ Tiong Bahru; Singapore

I'm a big art fan and a supporter, I've always been. I guess it comes from the fact that I always liked to draw ever since I was young. As I got older I gained a deeper understanding of art and learned to be more creative in my thinking and attitude; from there I grew to appreciate all kinds of art and whatever form they come in.

Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery; Singapore

The Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery (Chinese: 光明山普覺禪寺 Guāngmíng Shān Pǔjué Chán Sì; English: "Bright Hill Pujue Chan Monastery"; Kong Meng San Monastery or KMSPKS for short) is the largest Buddhist temple of Mahayana tradition/teaching in Singapore. The temple has helped promote the teachings of Buddha and bring the Dharma (Chinese: 法 fǎ; Tibetan: ཆོས་ choe) closer to the people.

Snowskin Lavender & White Chocolate Pearls with Earl Grey Truffle Mooncake @ Starbucks

So now that it is Mid Autumn Festival (also known as Mooncake or Moon Festival sometimes), Starbucks here in Singapore made their annual mooncakes available for purchase.

Jollibee (Jolly Spaghetti) @ Novena Square 2; Singapore

I've been missing Manila and its sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Feeling nostalgic, and wanting to reminisce the good old days when I was young, I decided to check out Jollibee in Novena Square 2 here in Singapore.

Atlas Coffeehouse @ Bukit Timah; Singapore

So I met up with my friends and we all agreed to have brunch one Sunday, at this particular cafe called Atlas Coffeehouse along Bukit Timah Road/Duke's Road.

Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple; Singapore

The Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin (觀音菩薩; also known as: Avalokiteśvara Sanskrit: अवलोकितेश्वर, Chenrézik/Chenrézig Tibetan: སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས), the Goddess/Bodhisattva of Compassion and Mercy. The temple was built in 1884, and is one od the oldest Buddhist temples in Singapore. Its structure follows the traditional concept and design of Chinese architecture.

Nassim Hill Bakery Bistro Bar @ Tanglin Road/Nassim Hill; Singapore

If you want food that is a fusion of East and West with a gourmet twist, then Nassim Hill Bakery Bistro Bar is the place to go!

Japanese Cemetery Park; Singapore

The Japanese Cemetery in Hougang Singapore is the largest in South East Asia; spanning over 29,359 square meteres and having a total of 910 tombstones which marks the graves of young Japanese prostitutes, soldiers and convicted war criminals executed at Changi Prison.

Yueh Hai Ching Temple (Wak Hai Cheng Bio); Singapore

One of the oldest temples in Singapore, the Yueh Hai Ching Temple (Chinese: 粵海清廟Yuè Hǎi Qīng Miào; Teochew/Chaozhou dialect: Wak Hai Cheng Bio) was built in 1820 by sailors and traders from China to seek the Gods' help for safe travels on the sea. The temple literally means: "Qing Dynasty Styled Temple of the Cantonese Seas".  The temple was dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, Ma Zu (Chinese: 媽祖) and was the first Ma Zu temple of the Teochews who settled in Singapore.

Haw Par Villa (Story of 2 Brothers); Singapore

Haw Par Villa (or the Tiger Balm Garden) was built in 1937 by Aw Boon Haw ("The Tiger Balm King") for his younger brother, Aw Boon Par (as his residence), who helped in the creatation of their vast fortune and wealth with their famous Tiger Balm.

Haw Par Villa means: "Villa of the Tiger and Leopard" (Chinese: 虎豹別墅)

Leong San See Temple; Singapore

If there is a temple called Hong San See/Temple on Phoenix Hill/Phoenix Hill Temple there is a temple that is called Leong San See (Chinese: 龍山寺 Lóng Shān Sì; "Dragon Hill Temple" or "Temple on Dragon Hill").

Hong San See Temple; Singapore

Built between 1903 and 1913, for the Hokkien people settling in Singapore from Nan'an City Fujian Province, China. The temple is dedicated to the God of Fortune, Guang Ze Zun (廣澤尊王 or 郭聖王 or 聖王公). The Hong San See Temple (鳳山寺 Fèng Shān Sì; "Temple on Phoenix Hill") once had a view of the sea, but with high rise buildings now surrounding the temple, it no longer sees the sea. But the grandure of the temple still remains. The temple received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2010.

Punggol Waterway; Singapore

The Punggol Waterway was the product of an idea to connet the 2 water reservoirs in Singapore. The waterway has been recognized, not only by countries in South East Asia, but all over the world, for its, not only innovative design but for it's green eco-friendly design as well.

Thian Hock Keng Temple; Singapore

The Thian Hock Keng Temple (天福宫 Tiānfú Gōng; Temple of Heavenly Happiness) is the oldest Hokkien style temple in Singapore. It's a mix of Taoist and Buddhist. Its main temple is for the Goddess Ma Zu (媽祖), the Goddess of the Sea and protector of fishermen and seafarers. The second temple, at the back, is dedicated to Kuan Yin (觀音菩薩), the Goddess/Bodhisattva of Mercy. The temple was built in 1839, for the Hokkien immigrants settling in Singapore from Fujian, China. Tan Tock Seng and Si Hoo Keh both contributed money for the construction of the temple.

Homemade Iced (Honey Lemon) Tea

Living in Singapore and eating at the hawker centres has given me a taste for the local homemade iced lemon tea. It's good, light and refreshing, sometimes it can bea little bit too sweet, but still it's good. So good that I decided to try to make my own little homemade version (I took some inspiration from the Hong Kongese version); not to compete with the aunties, but just to have it when I want it here at the house (with less sugar and a bit more natural).

The Graves @ Tiong Bahru; Singapore

There is a burial plot in Tiong Bahru, which used to be a cemetery, amongst the pre-war art deco flats, food centres/shops and its busy streets. Cemetries, especially the older ones, are some of the best places to see the traditions and culture of a country (in my opinion) and with me being an adventurous person with a love for culture, art and history, I decided to go and see it for myself.

Growing: Peppermint

I've always loved growing my own plants and herbs. It comes from my fascination with permaculture and also stems from the fact that my grandmother and grandfather gave me my "green" thumbs and taught me a lot about plants and herbs and what herbs can do for you and your body. So naturally even if I'm currently living in Singapore, I decided to grow my own plants and herbs in pots.

Homemade Electrolyte Drink

I may not be a fan of the gym, but I do run, jog, hike and do yoga. And I sweat like no other, when I do such activities. And I have my own homemade and more natural version of Gatorade and Pocarri Sweat. It's simple and easy to make.