If you haven’t already guessed from my title, I am slightly OBSESSED with the food back home in Singapore. Saying that it is amazing is an understatement. Whatever cuisine you like, I can assure you, you will find it here and the quality would be great!

Chinese, Thai, Malay, Indian and Western are just some of the amazing cuisines that are offered predominantly in many of the eating areas.

If you are coming to Singapore, no doubt about it you HAVE to try the local food. There are many places where you can find this but personally I think the food courts have the best tasting local food! I would recommend ION and Somerset which offer a wide variety of affordable high quality food. Some of my favourite must try dishes are the kway teow, mee goring, hor fun, hokkien mee, laksa (I could go on forever but trust me you definitely want to try these few! They are so so so good!) I kid you not but when I Skype my parents EVERY conversation we have we spend at least 15 minutes talking about all the places I need to go and eat at!

If you like hot, fiery, spicy food you definitely want to indulge in some Thai or Indian food. You have no idea how much I miss spice in my food, it is very rare that the food that we get here is spicy! Lemon grass, Thai Express, Rang Mahal and Maharajah are some good restaurants you might want to try if you want to excite your taste buds!

Want to go all out and splurge on a meal? There are some very high end restaurants at Marina Bay sands. A famous one is CUT with celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck another great dining experience is at Ku De Ta situated on a skypark on the 57^th floor. Not only is the food amazing the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful! Be warned that these experiences might just burn a hole in your wallets!

Ku De Ta

No matter what your tastes or budget, I assure you when it comes to food you have absolutely nothing to worry about when you are here on holiday! The only thing that you should worry about is missing it once you leave!

PS: Writing this blog entry was TORTURE … My stomach wouldn’t stop growling and my mouth was watering the entire time.

Wanna know the worst part about Singapore? It is INSANELY far away from America, over 15 000 miles away! Want to take a wild guess at how long it is going to take me to go back home this Christmas break?

29 hours!

For those of you who are interested my journey starts off with a four hour bus ride to New York. From New York I have a eight hour flight to Germany then a NINE hour stopover followed by another TWELVE hour flight back home! Just the thought of it makes me cringe… Actually doing it is going to be complete torture.

The worst part is that I am absolutely terrible at directions. I can NEVER get anywhere without getting lost! On my first day of college I misread my timetable and went to the wrong class and after I realized it took me one whole hour to find the right class which I obviously missed because it had already ended. So with the experiences I have had with getting places on my own … I am beyond terrified of travelling!

As long as the journey might be I am sure that every single minute of it would be worth it once I reach Singapore! So any of you guys who are turned off by the idea of long flights … don’t be! I can assure you that you will have a wonder time there and you will not regret making the journey. However you might want to bring countless things to entertain yourself with. Movies, music, books or even homework might seem appealing during a nine hour wait with nothing to do! Or if you can, the best thing to do is just sleep throughout and time will fly by. I unfortunately can never fall asleep easily but my brother tells me he falls asleep the second the flight takes off and twelve hours seems like a mere three to four hours.

It’s probably too late now but if anyone wants to come over this Christmas break you are welcome to stay at my house 🙂

Yes I know as college students many of you think visiting the zoo might be “boring” or “lame” but trust me you definitely DO NOT want to skip this tourist destination! The Singapore zoo is ranked number one on countless lists (I don’t know why but this makes me proud) and is a great way to spend a fun and relaxing day.

What makes our zoo so special? There are absolutely no cages! Singapore is the first country to introduce the concept of an open zoo which presents no visible barrier between the visitors and animals giving visitors a very interactive experience. It is famous for their incredible landscape design, with habitats simulating life in the wild for each of their animal species. The enclosures are separated behind vegetation, moats or other natural features. Not only do they provide up-close encounters with the species in the Primate Kingdom and Reptile Garden, the zoo showcases magnificent underwater views of sea creatures like the polar bears, sea lions and penguins.

Not only can you go around viewing animals in their natural habitat there are many shows available throughout the day. In the mood for getting wet and having a good laugh? Definitely check out the “Splash Safari Show” with the mischievous California sea lion superstar. There are many other shows available such as the Elephants at Work and Play or the Animal Friends Show. If time permits I highly recommend checking all of them out as they truly are very entertaining and it also gives you the opportunity to sit back and relax after countless hours of walking around.

Feeling like you want to get LITERALLY want to get up close and personal with the animals? Not a problem! The “Breakfast with Orangutans” show is just for you. Guests are given a hands on experience and are allowed to take photos with the charming apes and other animals as they enjoy a buffet spread of western-style and local morning delights. Personally I’m terrified of animals so I won’t be signing up for this any time soon but it does seem like a once in a lifetime experience worth trying!

Animal lover or not, I can assure you that making a trip to the Singapore Zoo will definitely be worth it!

As we get closer and closer to winter the more and more I miss being back home in Singapore where it is always (maybe not always but most of the time) warm and sunny. To make things worse not only is it always rainy and cold these days … there is a hurricane looming close by!

Till today I was really proud of myself for being able to cope with the “cold” in Pennsylvania. Apparently I have experienced the least of what is yet to come… It hasn’t even started snowing yet I am already teeth chatteringly freezing whenever I step outside! Saying that the walks to class is torture is an understatement.What makes it worse is that the weather updates are never accurate I often leave my dorm inappropriately dressed for the rest of the day or without an umbrella (might I add I am ALWAYS affected by Murphy’s law).

Unlike most of my friends here in Penn State I feel extremely unprepared for the winter. I have never even seen snow let alone have the slightest idea how cold the cold would actually feel! Other than the fact that I am terrified, I am also extremely excited! Waking up to seeing everything covered in white … just like in the movies!

Anyways back to Singapore! If you want to be all warm and toasty during the December break you should definitely visit Singapore! The beach side hotels offer countless activities that would be a nice change from the negative temperatures here in the East Coast. For a few days you have the chance to leave the house with whatever you want to wear instead of being bundled up in layers upon layers of winter clothing. Might I add that the shopping during Christmas is amazing!

Living five minutes away from the beach back home in Singapore I deeply regret not making more trips especially since now I would have to make a four to five hour trip to enjoy some fun in the sun. The beaches in Singapore are beautiful surrounded with trees and greenery and countless activities to enjoy. Walking in feels like entering a new world!

                                                      Whether you want to unwind and relax or get a good workout there are multiple things you can engage in. Everyone should definitely try the cable skiing or wake-boarding. Not only is it incredibly fun it’s a great workout! However be warned your body might ache for a day or two! (at least mine did) Canoeing is another water sport I highly recommend. Rent a canoe out with a friend row it into the sea and lay back and enjoy the waves flowing under you while you are surrounded by the beauty of nature. If you are lucky you might just catch the setting of the sun which is truly a magnificent sight!

Don’t feel like getting wet? Not a problem! There are numerous exciting dry activities you can get involved in. A great bonding activity with a group would be to hire a 4 person’s bike. It is a great way to spend time chatting and laughing as well as getting some exercise. Just make sure you have an eye on the road and you do not end up crashing! If you drive past the food center it is definitely worth stopping and trying some of the local delicacies. The seafood served is freshly prepared and the variety offered is insane! You will definitely be staring at the menu for a long while but once the food arrives it will all be worth it.

The beaches in Singapore are definitely worth a visit especially after a busy day of shopping or sightseeing it is a perfect way unwind. Even if you are not in the mood for any activities just take a stroll or sit in the sand and just relax.

Ahhhhhhh 🙂

Living in America there is no end to all the huge departmental stores and malls available for endless hours of shopping. It is a little different back in Singapore we do not have large department stores like Macy’s but we sure do have many shopping centres scattered all over the city, some big some small and the variety available, HUGE!

Before I go on let me just mention that the currency exchange is about SIN$1.00 to US$1.25 which means you’ll probably find things there a lot cheaper and you can buy a lot more stuff!!!

If you haven’t got a lot of time to visit many places but you still want a really good shopping experience Orchard Road is definitely the place to go. As you walk down the road on both sides there is a continuous row of shopping centres with a wide variety of shops. If there is anything in particular that you are looking for you are bound to find it somewhere there, it just might take a while searching for it!

From retail chains like forever 21 to high end luxurious stores like Prada and Cartier there is something for everyone. The newest shopping centre is ION and it is definitely worth a visit. From the exterior design of the building to the bathrooms inside everything is impeccably designed and made. It holds majority of all the high end shopping brands so I would suggest save up before going! If not just go and enjoy the beauty of the place. Not only is the shopping there good the food is amazing. There is a food centre in the basement offering a wide variety of cuisines at affordable prices. It is definitely worth a visit!

Warning: Rest up before a trip to Orchard Road. There will be A LOT of walking but it will all be worth it once you are back in your hotel room gleefully smiling at all your shopping bags after a successful day of shopping!

Love the arts? Love to perform? The Esplanade is definitely the place for you!

Shaped like a durian (local fruit with a “unique” smell and by unique I mean terrible) this intricate and artistic building is impossible to miss. The modern and majestic look draws both Singaporeans and visitors right in.

The Esplanade is considered to be one of the busiest arts centers staging a wide range of performances that caters to the interests of many. From grand scale musical performances to intimate interactive performances there is something for the likes of everyone.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to go and see the “Phantom of the Opera” when they were playing. What a show that was! The grand set designs together with the complex lighting and eerie music that makes your hand stand, the show seemed like a spectacle! Not to mention the acting and singing by the performers was excellent! I too had the privilege of performing in one of the smaller stages when I was in tenth grade. Butterflies in my stomach and sweaty palms are just a few indications of how TERRIFIED I was! Thankfully the show was a success, even if I have to say so myself 🙂

Right outside the Esplande visitors are treated to the beautiful view of the river and the famous Merlion statue. It is an excellent place to relax and unwind or even have a picnic with family and family. The food in the area might be a little pricy so I suggest those on a budget pack a lunch and enjoy the area for free. If you are lucky you might also be able to catch the free performances that a staged on certain days during the week.

The Esplanade is definitely a place you have to visit if you are going to Singapore. Even if you are not a big fan of the arts just the unique structure and the beautifully decorated interior will leave you wanting to see more!

Ever wanted to be in two places at the same time? How does experiencing India in Singapore sound? All you have to do is turn around the corner and you’re stepping into a whole new world.

Welcome to Little India!

It is a place like no other and you truly get a sense of India! The crowd, shops, clothes and food, there is no end to everything Indian! There is a constant buzz and liveliness engulfed in this small area.

Being the shopaholic that I am, I love spending hours walking down the streets entering all kinds of shops and looking at what they have to sell. There is SOO much that you can find! Best part of it all is the satisfaction you get from finding the most amazing things at incredibly low prices. If you want to add some new and unique pieces to your wardrobe this is definitely the place to go. I assure there   will be no “who wore it better” competition if you shop from one of these stores! Then there is … MUSTAFA. Everyone who visits Singapore HAS to go to Mustafa. It started as a tiny shop and now it has grown into a huge 24hr retail hub that never seems to be empty. You can get anything and everything from electronics to groceries at the lowest prices! It definitely lives up to its name as a “one stop shop.”

Shopping is not the only thing Little India
is famous for. Walking along the street you are bound to come across many of the beautiful intricately sculpted traditional Hindu temples. Every time I walk by I am stunned by the detail and grandeur of these places of worship. If you have the time you should definitely take a look inside and experience the Hindu religion and culture. There is so much to learn and appreciate!

Visiting Little India is truly a wonderful experience and adventure. It sort of feels like an out of body experience as it is so different from what we are used to seeing everyday. So if anyone whats this experience, you know where to go looking!