I'm back!

It's been two months since I last wrote in my blog. I was on blog hiatus to accomplish bigger priorities in my life. That is to find a job here in Singapore. For almost two months, I devoted my time jobhunting to find that dream job here and I am happy to say, I succeeded. I was offered a job by a reputable MNC here and guess what? It’s exactly the same job I had in Manila! Yey. 

Getting the offer was no easy breezy especially if you’re a foreigner in Singapore. Getting your pass approved by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is another nerve –wracking experience. Filipinos who want to work here should know that MOM is stricter in approving new and even renewing work passes for foreigners. My company applied for my pass this Wednesday and it was approved just yesterday morning. Whew! I didn’t expect that it would be that quick nor it would be approved at all given the current situation. Thank God! God is good. 

So yeah, streetsmartgirl will be in Singapore for a while. Will be posting soon about my adventures and (mis)adventures in the Lion City. Ciao!

Kiseki Japanese Buffet, The Hereen

What’s the best way to celebrate a special day with a loved one? For me, it’s by indulging in good food. Erick and I celebrated our anniversary by dining out at Kiseki Japanese Buffet at the Hereen. We’ve always loved buffet and took our time to try all the dishes offered in the buffet while enjoying each other’s company. 

Kiseki Japanese Buffet prides itself as the mega Japanese buffet in mini prices. It is located at the basement of The Hereen in Orchard Road. We dined on a weekday dinner and paid SGD 63.60 for two, plus 10% service charge at SGD 6.36 and 7% GST at 4.90 for a total of SGD 74.86 (Php 2545). 

This was my dinner treat to Erick since he’s the one who’s been spending whenever we’re out in SG :) Thanks love! I told him to meet me at Somerset MRT at 6pm after work. We got there a bit early and the restaurant was just getting ready to open. But I’m glad we’re one of the first few customers.

The restaurant was huge almost occupying the whole basement floor. There are many tables which is suitable for big groups of friends and families. There are also different sections which you can choose to be seated plus there's a kids play area where your children can be left to play.

There are many stations in the buffet. You will be overwhelmed where to start first.

We started in the maki and sushi sections for our appetizer which is near the entrance of the restaurant. I used to not like eating raw but now it’s quite funny that sometimes I feel a craving to have tuna sashimi. 

There’s a full salad bar where you can customize your own salad with the freshest vegetables and seafood with a home-made salad dressing.

If you enjoy cold seafoods, there’s a cold selection where crabs, prawns, scallops, clams, and mussels are plentiful. The sashimi counter is just beside it.

So okay enough for the raw selections, if you fancy something grilled, there’s a grilling section where you can select your meat and ask the chef to grill them for you. We had some grilled beef and squid. You can also personalize your own pasta by choosing the toppings, sauce, and pasta. We had a seafood and bacon carbonara.

When ordering something grilled, you have to clip your table number to your plate and you don't have to wait for your food to be cooked. The food attendant will just deliver the food to your table.

The robatayaki counter offers various grilled selections like chicken meatballs, shitake mushroom, and salmon belly.  Shrimp lovers will be delighted to find out that during the buffet night, tempura was all over the menu – ebi tempura, tendon, kakiage, tempura udon, and more.

There’s an okonomiyaki station if you're craving for some savory Japanese pancake with a variety of ingredients. 

Erick loves soup and he was delighted to find that there was a nabemono bar offering shabu-shabu dishes. From the selection, you can customize what to be included in your shabu-shabu. We chose the hotpot with assorted meat, naruto maki, squid balls, and veggies.

After three hours of gluttonous eating, we are left with full stomachs and maybe a few pounds gained. We are two happy eaters. 

I always save the best for last..desserts!  There are quite a few selection but what we really loved was the Swiss chocolate roll. It was heavenly!

There were other desserts like mango pudding, flamingo mousse, fresh fruit slices, brownies, cupcakes, and even green tea ice cream. By the way, drinks are refillable and you can choose from fruit juices, sodas, coffee, tea.

Overall, our dining experience at Kiseki was good. My rating would be:

Food: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Value for money: 4/5

Kiseki will be moving to another location at Level 8, Orchard Central in June 2012. Visit Kiseki's website, print the voucher, and present at the new Orchard Central outlet to take advantage of an exclusive offer. 


Kiseki Japanese Buffet Restaurant
#B1-01, The Heeren (near Somerset MRT Station)
Orchard Road Singapore
65 6736 1216

Outlet store shopping in Singapore

Of all the countries I've been to, I didn't expect that I'll be able to find outlet stores in Singapore. But as luck would have it, we went to IKEA in Alexandra Road which is just opposite Anchorpoint Shopping Center which houses a few store outlets like Charles and Keith, Pedro, Cotton On, G2000, Billabong, Giordano, among many others.

The stores here offer as much as 70% on selected items and you can find items for as low as SGD 5 for plain tees.

Here are some of the stores in Anchorpoint Shopping Center.

Charles and Keith

Cotton On

Billabong

To get to Anchorpoint, click here.

Anchorpoint
370 Alexandra Road
Singapore 159953
(65) 6475 2257
10am - 10pm

My Singapore shopping hauls

During my 13-day SG trip, I only promised to shop if it's on sale. Shopping in Singapore is quite expensive. True! That is if you didn't know the best places to get a good bargain. I managed to buy a few items on sale and this shopping experience made me realize that clothes and shoes in SG aren't that expensive only if you shop smartly.

Here are my shopping hauls and buying all of them makes me happy because I saved a lot! Conversion is at SGD 1 = Php 34. 

 Charles and Keith black leather bag

     Original price: SGD 69.90 /Php 2300

     Sale price: SGD 55.90 /1900

L-R: Charles and Keith tan office pumps, Rubi by Cotton On blue flats

                                                            
Charles and Keith shoes
Original price: SGD 53.90/Php 1800
Sale price: SGD 26.90/Php 917


Cotton On flats
Sale price: SGD 1o / Php 341

l-R: Cotton On Animal print blaser, Forever 21 belt, G2000 boatneck top

     Cotton on blazer: SGD 10 /Php 341

 G2000 top: SGD 13 / Php 443

        Forever 21 belt: SGD 4 /Php 136

Billabong maillot

Billabong swimsuit: SGD 20 /Php 682

L-R: Forever 21 amethyst leggings, Cotton On black leggings

Forever 21 leggings: SGD 9 /Php 306

Cotton On leggings: SGD 5 / Php 170

I made sure to visit some outlet stores in Singapore so I can take advantage of really discounted items. After all commuting isn't hard at all and I managed to do it on my own. I will blog about this in my next entry. 

Visita Iglesia in Singapore

Although I am not in Manila during the Holy Week, Erick and I found time to visit some churches here in Singapore to pray and reflect. We were able to visit five churches in the Serangoon district.

We started our Visita Iglesia with the church closest to our place. It was only a five-minute bus ride away. We attended the Stations of the Cross and the mass at St. Anne's Church and then went to the other nearby churches.


St. Anne's Church, Sengkang

The next church was in Upper Serangoon Road and was only eight bus stops away. The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a nice facade with a grotto and waiting benches outside.

Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary

St. Vincent de Paul is a small yet modern church in Yio Chu Kang Road. It was good to know that they hold Tagalog masses here every other Sunday of the month.

St. Vincent de Paul Church, Yio Chu Kang Rd

We missed the bus going to the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary so we had to wait for about 20 more minutes. By the time we got there, the church was already closed so we just prayed in the grotto. The church's location is a walking distance to the Serangoon Stadium and was situated in a quiet neighborhood in Serangoon. 

Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The last church on our list is the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Chartwell Drive. The church is located in an exclusive neighborhood in the district.

Church of St.  Francis Xavier

 Our Visita Iglesia was very worthwhile and provided us a time to reflect during the Holy Week. I am happy that I was able to practice this though I am far from home.

A day at IKEA

So finally, I had to chance to visit IKEA not just once but twice. We visited both stores in Alexandra Road and Tampines. We were supposed to buy Erick’s stuff in IKEA Alexandra but decided against it since it was a long commute from there to his house so we went to IKEA Tampines the next day which is one bus ride away.

IKEA is everyone’s happy place, I must say – from furniture shopping to food!

I’ve been hearing good things about IKEA food so we first tried their Swedish meatballs and the salmon since we got there lunch time.

 

Swedish meatballs

Salmon

 You wouldn't miss IKEA because of its blue and yellow building color.



IKEA in Alexandra Road

 Once you're inside, you will be delighted with all the stuff that you will see. There are lots of home  inspiration and ideas that you'll want to do in your own home -  from bedroom to the kitchen. 

When I saw the room below, I knew that it's the type of room I wanna have. The room itself was simple yet stylish. The space was maximized by using a divider between the bedroom and the closet.  And most of all, I loved it because there was a walk-in closet where I can stuff all my clothes and shoes :) 

Main bedroom

I really want to have a walk-in closet in my future home.  I especially loved the walk-in closet and adjoining bath and tub here.

Dresser and walk-in closet

I also loved this another space which is typically suitable for a condo unit. The space is re-invented and maximized. You wouldn't feel that you're living inside a shoebox space. Haha.


Living room and dining room all in one space

What's cookin' house-band?

And finally, here's the bedroom. I think this unit is perfect for those living solo and young couples.



the bedroom

 I wouldn't leave IKEA without buying something. If I could just buy some stuff for my room and ship them all to Manila, I would. But IKEA food is the most I can take home. So chocolate bars for moi!
 

IKEA chocolate bars

IKEA, I will surely come back!

Singapore so far

Hey everyone! How was your weekend? I am blogging in Singapore right now where I am having a really great vacation.  I arrived last Thursday and was greeted by a rainy weather, exactly the same weather when I left Manila. But thankfully, everytime that we're out the weather was always cooperative.

This long vacation is turning out exactly as I didn't plan which is actually GREAT.  I had no itinerary at hand but Erick and I never run out of things to do while I am here in Singapore. I've just been here for four days and so far here's what I did.

Buffet steamboat dinner at Chinatown

We had a buffet steamboat dinner with some friends at Chinatown. Definitely good because it's been awhile since I had buffet!

Merlion i Light Show

We caught the last night of the i Light Marina Bay 2012 which featured the Merlion, among the many other structues along the bay. The event is a sustainable light art festival which made use of energy-efficient lighting and created awareness for energy-saving lighting technology for the urban environment.

Lazy Sunday afternoon

We spent our Sunday afternoon strolling around and just lazing around the Singapore Botanic Gardens. We brought some snacks for our mini picnic in the park.

IKEA feels like home :)

 We went to IKEA at Alexandra Rd. and Tampines. Erick bought a full length mirror and a side table for his almost bare room. We love IKEA food especially the Swedish meatballs and chicken wings.


Shoe haven at Charles and Keith outlet

 We checked some outlet stores in Anchorpoint Mall in Alexandra Rd. I only promised to shop if it's on sale.

Reunited :)

And spending time with each other everyday is priceless. Yihee :) I still have 9 more days to go in Singapore. I wish my vacation won't end.

Of birthday surprises

It was Erick's birthday last Wednesday and I thought to come up with a surprise for his birthday.  It was challenging this year to execute his birthday surprise since he's in Singapore. But I wouldn't be easily turned down by that.

A card sent via snail mail, an online birthday groupcard from his friends, and a birthday cake were the ones I thought from the start and decided that I could do all of them to make Erick's birthday special.

Birthday surprise #1

Birthday greeting card via snail mail.. This was Erick’s favorite birthday surprise.

I know I know.. sending letters via snail mail aren’t popular these days anymore in this age of Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and internet video calls. But hey, I would still love to receive old fashioned love letters and so I did to Erick! Exactly seven days before his birthday, I sent a greeting card thru our very reliable PhilPost. And I’m happy to say that they are very reliable indeed. I was told that it’d take a week before my mail gets delivered but voila it arrived in 6 days. Woot! for the fast mail service! My letter came just in time.


Birthday surprise #2

Online birthday groupcard from all of his friends

This one’s caught Erick in a big OOOOH.. thanks love! He surely enjoyed reading all the birthday messages from his family and friends as much as I enjoyed bugging/spamming his friends to sign his card :)

Here’s Erick’s birthday greeting card. 

Birthday boi ;p

I enjoyed doing this small project for him. I found this great paid greeting card service online. GroupCard provides greeting card services where you can ask your friends and families or just everyone else to sign the card for the recipient. What’s good is that everyone can chip in to a gift for the recipient. But a simple HBD greeting goes along way! Customizing the card is free but if you want it delivered to the recipient or print it you gotta upgrade for an annual membership or pay a one-time fee to be able to send/print the card. No worries, the one time fee is very minimal. GroupCard will deliver your card via email or post in the Facebook wall of the recipient. You can specify the date and time for delivery. Easy as 1-2-3.

It wasn’t easy asking all of Erick’s friends to sign in the groupcard. But with the help of his high school friends and officemates I’ve met, we were able to come up with birthday greetings from his 70 friends. Thanks so much friends!


Birthday surprise #3

Birthday cake from moi!

It's a white chocolate cake with strawberries on top

For me, a birthday is not a birthday without a cake. I remember seeing Erick’s surprised "teary-eyed" face when I surprised him with a birthday cake last year. Although I wouldn’t be able to see that this year which I was kinda looking forward to, I still wanted to give him a cake. I know he would still look like a teary-eyed birthday boy when he gets the surprise cake delivery.

This one is the most challenging birthday surprise plan. First, I had to search for all bakeshops in Singapore that provide cake delivery. I found a few but was not quite sure if they have a good delivery service.. until I found BreadTalk. They just started their delivery service and there are quite a few cakes in the selection to choose from. What’s really great is they have free delivery offered for a limited time to anywhere in Singapore. Greatness!  I ordered a cake online two days before Erick’s birthday but encountered some problem with the processing of the payment using my credit card. I had to call my credit card company to confirm if the payment went through since I didnt get a confirmation message. I posted a message for BreadTalk's Facebook wall. After a few minutes of posting it. I got the confirmation from them that they got my order. Good thing, they confirmed my order asap. It was already 12mn when I posted that message and I received a reply in a matter of minutes. Two thumbs up for the quick response!

Preparing all these surprises made me giddy all weeklong. hehe. Erick actually hinted a few days before his day that I was hiding a secret from him. Lol. I simply told him that he will know in time. I do miss him these days but somehow I was relieved from the "pangungulila" by preparing his birthday surprises. Who said that you can’t surprise your loved one when you are apart because of time, money, and distance. For sure, there are so many ways to do that but you gotta be creative and resourceful.

Happy Birthday Love! XOXO

My two-day Singapore trip (day 2)

I woke up feeling energized for the day. We explored Universal Studios, Sentosa, and we watched Songs of the Sea which I missed the last time I was in SG.

We already purchased our USS tickets online to avoid the long lines in the counter. We realized we were a bit early for the opening of the park so we had first our traditional Singaporean breakfast at Toast Box in Vivo City.

my peanut butter kaya toast and coffee <3

We bought our tram tickets going to Sentosa and then headed directly to Universal Studios.

While at Universal Studios, here are some of the things we did..

Seriously, it was a challenge getting a solo pic at the globe

Our first stop was Hollywood Boulevard..

Hanging out by the bench

Still kids at heart, we were delighted to see the Shrek's ogre house and Princess Fiona's castle at Far Far Away. 

Knock knock

outside someone else's castle

Who likes to move it, move it? We do at Madagascar!

with friends from Madagascar

Welcome to Waterworld for an action-filled time. This was a definitely sensational show - with the great sound effects, explosions, and stunts, we felt that we are on an action movie.

Waterworld

Who would forget the movie Jurassic Park? If you're a Steven Spielberg loyal or an 80 or 90's baby, you must have watch this hit movie.

Dinosaurs run amok

And oh by the way, can I just say that we had a really delicious laksa for lunch at the Discovery Food Center. Ansarap!

Laksa for lunch. yummy!

After our lunch, we headed to Ancient Egypt where we rode the Revenge of the Mummy - a psychological roller coaster thriller ride. Two thumbs up for this ride for scaring the hell out of me.

Revenge of the Mummy

By afternoon, we’ve gone to most attractions and tried all the available rides. Too bad (or good -- because I'd wet my pants if I rode it hehe) Battlestar Galactica was still closed.

Galactica

I haven't been to New York so walking in these NY sidewalks was the next best thing. And yeah being up close and personal with Beetle Juice!

Beetle Juicin'

We also met Frankenstein on the way who strangled me.. hehe

HELP.......

My most favorite part of any tour is shopping for souvenirs :)

Can I just get this for free?

And how could I forget the Hershey’s Store in USS waiting for meeeee.

I so love Reese's. HEAVEN!

We headed to Sentosa afterwards to stroll around while waiting for the Songs of the Sea show. We rode the tram and dropped by Palawan Beach.

In Palawan Beach, you can find the suspension bridge to the southernmost point of Continental Asia.

Here!

We returned to the tram station by 7pm for the show. We managed to get good seats. I can't believe that I actually missed Songs of the Sea the last time I was there.

It was indeed a great and entertaining show. Coolness.

Seriously, don't miss it!

Really feeling dead tired, we got to the hotel around 9pm. We met some SG friends at Bugis to give them the liquors we bought at Duty Free. We were supposed to go to Mustafa Center to do some more pasalubong shopping since it’s open 24 hours but my feet couldn't walk anymore..boooo.

So we just stayed at the hotel and watched TV while nursing my tired feet.

In a few hours, I said goodbye to SG again. Whew, the weekend passed too quickly. Well, two days for a vacay is actually short. Time flies when you’re having fun!

See you soon SG, for good.