Da Vinci the Genius exhibition and Science Centre outing August 15, 2009
Posted by ferreroroche in Singapore Travel.Tags: da vinci the genius, exhibition, monalisa, omnimax theatre, science centre, singapore science centre, snow city
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a few weeks ago, I got to be a voter at the Science Buskers Festival, that is students and professionals used science to explain their ‘magic’, of course the winner is a professional, cos she bothered to costume up in a colourful manner and had clear loud confident voice. but second place was students from Polytechnics who performed ‘heart-stopping’ tricks.
well I decide to volunteer to this event because we were given goodie bag (inside is some memoribilia such as mugs, lanyard, pins etc, nothing exciting), tickets to Science Centre (I am not interested either cos I can get it for free anytime) and buffet lunch (ok , something exciting at least) and the most exciting one is ticket to the Da Vinci the Genius exhibition, each worth $12 (that means without free tix u gotta pay this amount )
btw the exhibition is ending on the 16th august, so if you like to know more about him, you should head down asap.
well no photographs allowed inside to maintain integrity of the exhibition, but on exhibits were some of his engineering works such as the bridge, the pulleys and flying machines, special city (city that would not be hit by plague, called it dream city), and of course the most famous of his work, the Mona Lisa and other paintings such as virgin on the rocks and the vesuvius man.
This picture is taken outside the exhibition, I cannot really say in detail what is all about, but by coming to the exhibition, you will realise what a genius he is. His interests stretched from engineering (war machines, construction pulleys and other tools, swimming aids etc) to anatomy (he disects dead body, but there are some on foetal development and I shudder to think of how he managed to get those done), to painting (Mona Lisa) and sculpture (he made a horse)
there are some interactive exhibits where u can try and test them out.
and the quite a bit of space are dedicated to deciphering the Mona Lisa, who she really is and such, and so is the Last supper painting.
all in all very interesting, they also show a few videos explaining the stuff and there is a movie playing too.
all of the exhibits come with nice description like this
anyway most of the stuff shown are replicas of the actual Da Vinci work, i think all of it are replicas? I am not sure about this as he lived in the 15th century so all his stuff had detoriated and too fragile to be moved around.
well this is an excuse to visit Louvre again rite, when I was in Paris I did not visit it, very sad.
I spent around an hour but towards the end I was rushing already cos I am very tired and still has many things to do in science centre.
Not to see all the exhibits, rather to do some work
anyway before that I managed to catch the Tesla Coil show, this exhibit located right in the centre of science centre, usually look uninteresting as they do not turn on the million watts electricity used in the show. anyway the point of tesla coil is that it is used to generate very high watts of electricity
for more info you can read its wiki here
quite popular show, and the electricity generated is really amazing, my small camera can capture it well, means its like 10x more amazing in real life and the buzzing sound is really very loud
the amount of electricity generated is so great it can light up a bulb without touching at all, in fact is like a few metres away from the real tesla coil
guess what gas fill the baloons? should be light gases right? either Hydrogen or Helium
yeah the huge explosion tells it all, its hydrogen
very fun, I like science centre a lot, when I was younger, I used to visit it almost every month (to omni max mainly though) and though they do not change many exhibits, all of theirs can occupy your whole day easily. Plus they have some special exhibits on some months too
well science centre entrance is quite cheap, i think its $10 For adults and cheaper for kids, and nearby there is the omni theatre and of course snow city. A very good but under-advertised entertainment centre that is both educational and fun for all ages
Changi Airport T3 July 16, 2009
Posted by ferreroroche in Singapore Travel.Tags: butterfly garden, fifa store, singapore changi airport, garden city
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So I spend quite a bit of time here before my flight to Penang,
I know why Changi is great, I mean there is so many things to do if u r stranded inside, let me repeat (INSIDE) the terminal.
the 3 terminals are connected by skytrain, or u can just walk. but the budget terminal is far away, so try not to get stranded there.
and the newest terminal is especially fantastic, they have 24 hr movie theatre showing quite recent movie, when i was there I think they were doing I am Legend by Will Smith. yeah its like 1st july when i was there.
and of course changi airport has many many big screens around showing sports, news etc.
Free internet terminals too, but these are standing ones, so yeah quite uncomfortable if u r looking to get stranded for long.
and being a Garden City, Changi airport must mimic Singapore itself rite, so they have many many gardens.
Orchid Garden, Bamboo Garden, Koi Pond with nice garden etc.
but here in T3 the focus is their Butterfly Garden, more than 40 species of butterfly can be found here, and its really easy to get close to them as they have ripe flowers and pineapples to attract these butterflies.
its easy for photographers to get a good macro shot
but my camera sucks
well another thing they have in T3 is the FIFA store, well of course selling football jersey, football etc and FIFA merchandise
but I am there to take photo with the countdown clock for World Cup 2010 in South Africa
I hope and pray I will visit at least one world cup soon
well one last parting shot, taken at the butterfly garden, yeah they have a mini waterfall here. they also have dried butterfly in a glass cage. beautiful yet sad at the same time
Hard Rock Cafe, Changi Airport T3 July 10, 2009
Posted by ferreroroche in Singapore Travel, restaurant review.Tags: changi airport, hard rock cafe, terminal 3
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On the afternoon of my Penang trip, I had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe. This is only my second meal at Hard Rock cafe. Due to their global presence, to me they have this overpriced air around them.
The first time I had a Hard Rock Cafe meal is at KL Bukit Bintang. But I have no memory of it except that it was just normal western food and that its expensive.
well, actually we have many choices for lunch that day, initially I thought that MrK wanted to have lunch at Popeye’s, our favourite Chicken joint. but he said that can be had anytime since they are not at the transit area.
So we wanted to eat at the new T3, so we walked there. on 3rd level near the movie theatre supposedly had Gelare’ Cafe something we never had before, but we walked up and down that alley all we see is like Lerky Thai, Prima Taste, Ajisen, all the normal usual stuff. wasted quite alot of time
so we headed downstairs n saw Hard Rock Cafe with all their guitars and merchandise (yes they sell merchandise too, changi airport specials.)and this big poster saying 3 course lunch at 12.50 nett. so, thats even cheaper than then the food like Burger King upstairs. So we asked about soup of the day, and dessert of the day cos we dun want any scoop of ice cream crap as dessert.
anyway their answers were satisfactory so we had lunch there.
BTW, Tuesday is their steak day (one of the most anticipated) and Thursday is baby ribs day.
when I was there it was breaded fish day.
Service was excellent. the right course come at the right time.
The soup of the day is Corn Cream, I love it the cream not too thick, and I am a Corn lover so yeah.
WE also ordered an appetiser, potato skin, it was alright but it was filling. so we had no space for gelare but
the food was wonderful
and especially dessert, yeah I am a sucker for sweet things. Its blackforest cake and its really nice!
the bill come up to about 50 dollars but I think its quite good considering the food quality. I love their fries too. and we changed the drink to a Celine Ice TEA. and it taste really good.
well pictures for ya.
final verdict: Recommended, now i gotta see if the one in town also has the same good deal, cos I heard there is credit card promos too.
I have more post of my short adventure in T3 coming up soon.
Prego, Fairmont Singapore June 30, 2009
Posted by ferreroroche in Anniversary Celebrations, Singapore Travel, restaurant review.Tags: fairmont singapore, italian food, prego, raffles city, raffles the plaza, westin
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Each month, given our limited budget, I usually (yes, sometimes i go crazy!) only eat at expensive places once or twice a month.
this month, WE decided to visit Prego at Fairmont Singapore (formerly known as Raffles the Plaza) because of 2 things
1> I love the real Italian pizza (those thin crust kind) and hate the pizza hut kind (bread kind which is thick)
a little OT: I have been to Italy, specifically Rome and Florence, but I didnt eat any pizza cos I was on tour and was on very tight schedule. REALLY have to go back there and do a slow, my own Angels and Demons tour of the churches. and of course visit Milan and Venice! but I did try pizza when i was in Amsterdam, that was the moment of my revelation of the real italian pizza, which is the uber thin and crispy crust
2> we have 50% off because of some credit card deals
well the total bill comes up to almost 90 bucks even after disc, but we did order quite a bit.
here are some pictures, yes i know its in wrong order.
their service is impeccable , the right course comes at the right time and there was no pileup of food at any time unlike in some other places.
well to be honest, first time eating in hotel ala carte. usually we only do buffett there. of couse Swensens at the Park Hotel in Orchard (prev called crown price hotel) doesnt count rite? plus its closed now due to renovations. maybe Swensens wont be there anymore next time.
but after reading mixed reviews on the food, we decided to take the plunge
and we are dead!!! yes the food is really bad!
their highly raved tiramisu, most of the reviews I read is saying that its the best tiramisu! but I have eaten better ones. nicely decorated with a Prego logo on top of the tiramisu itself! but really not worth the 15 bucks each. quite small serving too
My main course, Ravioli with Lobster and crab sauce.
I hate it, it sucks and its bloody expensive. While I know from watching all those travelogue that ravioli just means dumpling. I didnt expect it to be like this. plus there was only 3 pieces and cost like 35 bucks! the ravioli i expect is like small and many, just like 5x bigger than the normal macaroni and not 500x bigger n yet it sucks
The bottom 2 pic is the pizza. when we visited the restaurant, they had run out of pork, and thus their famous parma ham. so we ordered their mushroom pizza.
I forgot what mushroom its called. but I remember it was smelly! n we cant even eat much of the pizza so we pack it home.
my companion’s main course. Creamy spaghetty with bacon and ham, but since there wasnt any pork, they replaced with chicken. and it was very bland! really no taste at all
our soups, I had the carrot soup, and my companion the mushroom soup. very big serving. I was almost full after the soup. and the mushroom soup is really quite bland.
I think the best item is their complementary bread. super ironic i know It comes warm and the bread itself is really soft and fluffy yet the outer part is really crispy! and with the dip (it cost $3!!) it was really good. almost as good as a meal already!
well, needless to say, even if they increase the disc or have any kind of promo, we would not consider this place anymore.
a cruise to Kusu island April 5, 2009
Posted by ferreroroche in Singapore Travel.Tags: cruise, kusu island, photography, sentosa, Singapore, wedding cruise, wedding gowns, wedding show
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Kusu island is an offshore island of Singapore, the waters nearby this place is very very calm.
I went for a free, yes free haha dinner cruise to Kusu island, but it was closed when we reached the place cos the main purpose of the cruise is actually to attend a wedding show.
yes the wedding industry in singapore is very big, remain me of my time in Taipei, where there are a specified area lined with bridal shops, bridal bakery and photography studios, very fascinating. and twice while eating at a restaurant, there was a wedding being held at the same time.
cos wedding is a very expensive affair, easily can make u go bankrupt…cos owing $10,000 can make u go bankrupt. and wedding can cost more than that. wedding has elaborate tea ceremonies or other ceremonies for other cultures. eg Javanese culture, a week before need to go to spa to do different kinds of cleansing rituals. and it gets ridiculous when the cost adds up, from photoshoot, to wedding dinner and other kinds of arrangement.
the only time I heard that wedding actually make money is my grandaunt daughter’s wedding, yeah technically still my aunt…she lives in kampong area in east java and ppl from 3-5 villages attended her wedding and she made money from the sheer no of ppl that attend and the amt of money she need to fork out is very little. cos she also owns a restaurant so producing mass amount of food is easy cos she already have the manpower and expertise. she also hold it at her sprawling home, yes she owns a factory to process rice from the plantation to become the grains that we cook.
but these scenarios are impossible in the city, cos restaurants are expensive, not to mention u need to rent a place cos ur own home is very small
therefore I have determined not to hold a wedding party, just register the marriage and go to honeymoon, i rather spend the money on holiday rite.
after attending this cruise/show I become more acquainted with the cost, well at least $10000
wedding photography package is around $3000 inclusive of makeup and actual day photography and the rest of the cost u can find out for yourself
but the cruise actually cost money for most ppl unless they are smart like us. we use UOB credit card promotion that offers the cruise for free.
we went ard singapore. through sentosa n then dock for a while at kusu island for the wedding show
meanwhile we were served dinner. buffet style…not bad also
the whole idea is to induce u to hold your wedding in a cruise
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A tourist in sunny Singapore September 19, 2008
Posted by ferreroroche in Singapore Travel.Tags: 4D Magix, DHL Baloons, sentosa, Singapore, Singapore Flyer, Tiger Live, travel, Underwater World
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Not too long ago, I become a tourist in this country that I think i know better than even my own birth city, Jakarta
Wake me up early…we go to…yeah the biggest and bestest mall in Singapore, VivoCity to eat carl’s Jr (ok this one is American burger chain )
vivocity has the biggest collection of my favourite brands, from Zara, Mango, GAP,F21 to river island and even On Pedder, la senza, aldo , Topshop, warehouse etcetcetc, movie theathre is good, even my banks are all there, plus Parking is free there hahaha due to our loyal visits there
After breakfast, I visited tiger’s Live, a place showcasing Tiger, the national beer brand. at night its a pub though, in the hippest place in town just across vivocity, St James Power station
Tiger’s Live is nothing to shout about really, just listening to history, watching some videos and learning how brewing its like in 4d but the last part is learning how to tap (becoming a bartender) Ice Cold tiger properly and finally drinking it down. I do not like beer so I gave it to my fellow tourists
Some pictures from Tiger’s Live
Look at the cute little tigers
Admission to tiger’s live is $19 per adult inclusive of a drink and a souvenir
after that, in a truly touristy fashion, we went to SENTOSA yay
after parking the car we got tickets for the 4D Sentosa Magix, then we got on the Sky ride….didnt get on the luge today, cos it wasnt free hehe…but I tried it before when mom was here and it was great fun
after enjoying some breeze and some candy eye to the girls at the beach and the scenery, we went for our 4D magix,
4D magix was awesome really, the water sprays and the electrical jolts really adds a good dimension to a movie. it was really fun
then we went to get up the merlion, this is my first time too despite having been to the merlion and took a picture with it with the cedar girls in our uniform the last time…it was such a nice pic.
inside the merlion, some videos before they told us to put our lucky coin into the merlion and I got the best prize haha…it was a nice handphone chain while others only got fans but fans are good too eh…it was a hot weather
the view from the merlion, the integrated resort is coming
the superstar gemini, I would love to get on it
after that we went to underwater world….woooh long que and super crowded..only managed to take few pics, and blur so disappointed with underwater world
Shy sea Horse
after that everyone was so tired and needed dinner so we skip the dolphin lagoon, sad sad sad I didnt get to see the pink dolphin cos the place was so inaccessible, we have to take a bus from underwater world to it and it is at the other end of sentosa and since we miss the show already and it was nearly 5, I sadly decided to skip it. there was no way to drive to the lagoon
anyway next is the outgoing attraction, The DHL Baloon
My car from the baloon…..wow guess which one?
some nice view
for someone whos very afraid of height the baloon really give me feeling of insecurity as it is open air and such, but really it was an exhilirating ride, i am quite sad that the baloon has to go
still 1 or 2 months before the baloon really leaves so please go and try it if u can, really a nice experience.
after that we went to the Singapore flyer yay…
the biggest and newest attraction in singapore, the flyer is really a lot of hype, alhtough i went to the flyer many times already, I will be riding it the first time. I always go there only for the popeye’s before today and today too, after the ride I need popeyes lol.
the buildings are becoming surreal….and the sunset is beautiful
then we gotta que super long for dinner…YIKES so unlucky and a bad end to a perfect day as a tourist
anyway i prefer the baloon much more than the flyer, I enjoy the breeze, the fact tht I am connected with nature and there is a sort of swaying of baloon with the wind…makes me excited.
the flyer, typical singapore fashion, is safe clean ordered and que is part of way of life…at the baloon everyone is free to roam about and u will be called in for ur flight…no que is needed haha. the flyer was comfortable and sheltered, perhaps something i wanna get out of. I wanna experience, taste, feel something new when going for travel.
anyway some might disagree but thats my opinion
some prices (not updated) just a general feel
Luge and skyride: Skyride at$6 and there are several packages for the luge starting from $10 for 1 luge and 1 skypass
Sentosa 4d Magix: $25 per adult
Merlion :$15 per adult
DHL Baloon :$33 per adult
Singapore flyer:$30 per adult
parking at sentosa: Free except at the beach carpark ($1), car entrance is $2
but I got all those for free…thanks to a card…the singapore attraction association family card…so happy
I cant tell u more cos the card is not for everyone
another time, I will tell u more about the card that allows me to explore this city attractions more…
Last but not least, Presenting my beloved Mr K
Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve March 17, 2007
Posted by ferreroroche in Singapore Travel.add a comment
This nature reserve is open everyday from 6am to 7pm. Entry is $1 for adults and $0.50 for students and senior citizens. This park is a wetland reserve (in indon=rawa), a place for migratory birds and some local birds. One can go there to do photography of birds because really exotic birds come by here. The nature reserve itself is very large. I went there at 5pm, and MrK and I took the shortest route as we just wanted to know how was it like inside, even as we walked very fast, stopping only to take photos, we only managed to finish route A in 90 mins, double the recommended time. Maybe we got lost inside but it was still an enjoyable time.
some photographs
the view from the entrance bridge
the wetland
it is very peaceful there, with the sound of birds humming above, a serene place for a nice stroll.
Too bad it is outta the way, though there is a bus that goes there. A TIBS bus and I heard it’s quite frequent, comparable to A1 and A2(NUS shuttle buses) on weekends
I got there by car though, and if u need directions just e-mail me. Parking is free
More pictures
the view from the other side of the bridge
the fauna (the cute chameleon)
when I was there, there were many other tropics animal such as squirrels. I think after 21 years of city life with only the occasional travel, it is safe to say that I was estatic about seeing nature at such close distance.
Catherine told me before that in Bukit timah nature reserve she took a pic with a Gorrila, in the natural habitat, she was so happy about it that she send me the pic 3x thru email, either she is getting old or she was simply super happy bout it
the flora
the ‘bangaus’ suddenly i forgot the english word
the marsh wetland, this is the only one left in mainland singapore, well if u read the Singapore history, the whole of singapore used to look like this
at 7, it started to rain n we had to leave. we do take a small tour at the ‘museum’ it’s very nice too
we wanted to visit the goat farm but it was closed.
some performance pics June 24, 2006
Posted by ferreroroche in Singapore Travel.Tags: Singapore arts festival
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well super bored now waiting for argentina match so fiddle ard with new fonts n edit some pics i have in store trying to find my own unique font for my signature haha
anyway tom will be the last day for this acrobatics performance at cck mrt at 8pm
its free n its good entertainment the band is superb trust me
well speaking of the band, although they are like extras as in the main show is the acrobatics show they are realli good. the singer is superb, singapore idols is nothing AT ALL realli..they are just music accompaniment where in other show they wouldnot bother but this performance they hire a real superb LIVE band
oh argentina is playing now
